High-throughput sequencing of the human hepatic progenitor cell niche in PSC and HCV.

This study identified hepatic progenitor cell (HPC) niche-associated signalling pathways relevant in different chronic liver diseases using a high-throughput sequencing approach. The HPC niche was isolated using laser microdissection from patient samples diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), as models for hepatocellular or biliary regeneration. Differentially expressed genes in the HPC niche of PSC and HCV correlated to pathways involved in immune signalling, fibrogenesis and angiogenesis. Overall design: Cells (HPCs or hepatocytes) were isolated from frozen tissue using laser microdissection. RNA was amplified using the Clonetech SMARTER Ultra Low kit and processed for sequencing. Each sample was run on two lanes.