Hepatocytes make up 70-80% of the cytoplasmic mass of the liver. These cells are involved in protein synthesis, protein storage and transformation of carbohydrates, synthesis of cholesterol, bile salts and phospholipids, and detoxification, modification and excretion of exogenous and endogenous substances. The hepatocyte also initiates the formation and secretion of bile.
Albumin
a hepatic
cell-specific marker.
PMID: 16543069
alpha-Fetoprotein
(AFP)
a hepatic
cell-specific marker.
PMID: 16543069
alpha-anti-Trypsin
a mature hepatocyte marker. PMID: 16543069
Annexin I and
Annexin II
useful markers
for detecting not only actively proliferating hepatocytes but
also hepatocytes in preproliferative and postproliferative
stages.
PMID: 7519163
anti-liver-kidney
microsome antibody
can be
considered as a marker for endoplasmic reticulum in rat
hepatocytes.
PMID: 3552922
C-reactive protein (CRP)
a prototype acute phase protein which has
been known to be synthesized in hepatocytes.
PMID: 12637157
Hep is a relatively specific marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PMID: 12170084, PMID: 9796718
Hepatocyte
Paraffin 1 (Hep Par 1)
specific for
hepatocyte mitochondria, is considered the most specific and
sensitive marker of normal and neoplastic hepatocytes and has been
used in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinomas.
PMID: 15272534,
PMID: 14668552,
PMID: 11732796,
PMID: 17001880,
PMID: 11404191
Leucine
Aminopeptidase (LAP)
a domain-specific
marker for hepatocyte plasma membranes.
PMID: 6304108,
PMID: 6201493
Prospero-related
homeobox 1 (Prox1)
a stable
hepatocyte marker during liver development, injury and regeneration,
and is absent from "oval cells".
PMID: 16770575
Rex3
a marker for hepatocyte
differentiation/dedifferentiation processes and tumor formation.
PMID: 16959394
Tyrosine
Aminotransferase
terminally
differentiated hepatocyte marker.
PMID: 15516738
Tryptophan
Oxygenase
terminally
differentiated hepatocyte marker.
PMID: 15516738
WT1
a common marker of both hepatocyte and
endothelial progenitors.
PMID: 15607745