E-cadherin, guardian of liver physiology

Abstract

E-cadherin is a cell-to-cell adhesion molecule involved in epithelial cell behavior, tissue formation and cancer suppression. In the liver, E-cadherin is expressed by hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells. However, the exact role of E-cadherin in hepatic pathophysiology remains largely unknown. Recently, specific loss of E-cadherin in liver epithelial cells has been shown to favor periportal fibrosis, periportal inflammation and liver cancer progression, suggesting that E-cadherin is a central liver protector.