Functional Heterogeneity of Cholangiocytes

Marco Marzioni; Shannon S. Glaser; Heather Francis; Jo Lynne Phinizy; Gene LeSage; Gianfranco Alpini

doi:10.1055/s-2002-34501

Seminars in Liver Disease, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Semin Liver Dis 2002; 22(3): 227-240
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-34501

Functional Heterogeneity of Cholangiocytes

Marco Marzioni¹ , Shannon S. Glaser² , Heather Francis² , Jo Lynne Phinizy² , Gene LeSage³ , Gianfranco Alpini^1,3,4

¹Medical Physiology, The Texas A&M University System HSC, COM, Temple, Texas
²Division of Research and Education, Scott & White Hospital, Temple Texas
³Department of Internal Medicine, Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
⁴Internal Medicine and Medical Physiology, The Texas A & M University System HSC, COM and Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The objective of this article is to summarize the findings related to the notion that cholangiocytes, within small and large intrahepatic ducts, are heterogeneous regarding (1) morphology; (2) secretion in response to hormones and peptides and to bile acids; and (3) proliferation in response to injury or toxins, including bile duct ligation (BDL), acute carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) administration, chronic feeding of bile salts (i.e., taurocholate [TC] or taurolithocholate [TLC]) or α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT). After an overview of the morphology of the biliary epithelium, we provide a summary of cholangiocyte function, the in vivo models, and the in vitro experimental tools (i.e., small and large cholangiocytes or small and large intrahepatic bile duct units [IBDU]), which allowed us to demonstrate cholangiocyte heterogeneity. After a discussion on the receptors, transporters, and channels that are heterogeneously expressed by cholangiocytes, we discuss the different-sized ducts that differentially respond to injury and toxins. Finally, we review the human diseases that selectively target specific-sized ducts.

KEYWORDS

Ductal secretion - intrahepatic biliary epithelium - liver injury - proliferation - secretin

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Referenzen

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