hepatocytespecific

Hepatocyte-specific refers to genes, proteins, promoters, or regulatory elements that are expressed predominantly in hepatocytes, the main parenchymal cells of the liver. In healthy adults, these features support the liver’s roles in metabolism, detoxification, plasma protein synthesis, and bile production. The term is often used in research and biotechnology to describe liver-restricted expression or characteristics that help distinguish hepatocytes from other cell types.

Common hepatocyte-specific markers and genes include: Albumin (ALB), a major plasma protein synthesized by hepatocytes; Alpha-1 antitrypsin (SERPINA1); Transthyretin (TTR). Metabolic and detoxification enzymes such as certain cytochrome P450s (e.g., CYP3A4, CYP2E1) and phase II enzymes like UGT1A1. Key liver functions are supported by genes involved in the urea cycle and glucose metabolism, such as CPS1 and G6PC. Transporters with prominent hepatocyte expression include the sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP, SLC10A1) and organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1, SLCO1B1).

Hepatocyte-specific promoters, such as those from albumin or transthyretin genes, are widely used to drive liver-restricted expression in gene therapy and transgenic models. In stem cell biology, hepatocyte-specific gene expression is a criterion for evaluating differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells or hepatocyte-like cells.

Caveats include that no marker is perfectly exclusive to hepatocytes; expression can be detectable at low levels in other tissues or alter with development, disease, or culture conditions. Thus, “hepatocyte-specific” often denotes high or predominant expression rather than absolute exclusivity.