Expression of the homeobox transcription factor Prox1 in human chronic liver disease and in hepatocellular/cholangiocellular carcinoma

Aims: Prox1, a homoebox transcription factor, is expressed in hepatoblasts and adult hepatocytes, but not in biliary cells, which are supposed to derive from hepatoblasts. The aim of the study was to investigate the gene expression and immunohistological localisation of Prox1 in normal, cirrhotic and peritumoral liver samples as well as in hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinomas. Methods: Human liver samples were subjected to Prox1 messenger RNA quantification and to immunofluorescent double stainings with hepatocytes (HepPar1), biliary epithelial (CK–7; cytokeratin 7) and hepatic progenitor cell markers…