Endothelial cells form blood vessels in the body and mediate essential metabolic exchange between blood and surrounding tissues. However, recent studies indicate that, despite their role in blood circulation, these endothelial cells regulate many important biological processes, such as cell-fate decision during organogenesis and defining microenvironment for stem cell niches.
Our lab uses zebrafish and focuses on the paracrine signaling betweeen endothelial cells and target tissue cells in the embryo and in adult organs. We have previously demonstrated that, in zebrafish, signals from endothelial cells regulate apico-basal polarization of the contacting hepatocytes in the liver. Utilizing this endothelial-hepatocyte interaction as a model, we will further apply cellular and genetic approaches to understand the roles of endothelial signals and guidance during liver organ formation and regeneration. Ultimately, these studies shall help to gain new insights into human hepatic and vascular disease pathologies.
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Sakaguchi, T.*, Sadler, K.C., Crosnier, C., Stainier, D.Y.R.* (2008) Endothelial signals modulate hepatocyte apico-basal polarization in zebrafish. Curr. Biol. 18(20):1565-1571.*Co-correspondence
Sakaguchi, T., Kikuchi, Y., Kuroiwa, A., Takeda, H., Stainier, D.Y.R. (2006) The yolk syncytial layer regulates myocardial migration by influencing extracellular matrix assembly in zebrafish. Development 133(20):4063-4072
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