Dancing Spirals of Liver Stem Cells

Jain, Ishita

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109759 Copy

Description

Title

Dancing Spirals of Liver Stem Cells

Author(s)

Jain, Ishita

Issue Date

2021

Keyword(s)

• Liver Stem Cells
• Cellular Mechanics

Abstract

Serendipitously, putting liver stem cells on a circular shaped surface resulted in a beautiful pattern of green biliary cells and red hepatocytes. To make the happy coincidence even merrier they started dancing in a spiral like in this image when treated with the growth factor TGFb2. Using concise microcontact printing and various growth factor treatments , I study the complex patterning and sometimes dancing of liver stem cells. Liver stem cells can differentiate either into hepatocytes (like the red cells here), the major cell type in the liver or bile duct forming cells (like the green cells). How this bifurcation of cell fate happens in response to cellular mechanics and soluble factor is the main focus of my research. This simple yet complex enough phenomenon of patterning on a circular surface revealed useful insights into the whole process.Here, in response to the growth factor TGFb, the cells on the periphery not only express the green biliary marker OPN, but change their morphology to elongated cells, and start rotating on the edges possibly signifying the beginning of duct formation.

Type of Resource

Image

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109759

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2021 Ishita Jain

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