Modular Microarchitecture of Human Liver

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Harald Friedrich Teutsch (†)
• Subject Area: Gastroenterology
• Term: from 2006 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 23117948

Human liver parenchyma is organized according to a modular principle that integrates the metabolically heterogeneous liver cells into structural-/functional units. Because of the homogeneity of the tissue, very little is known about the microarchitecture of the parenchymal units. We have developed a technique with which parenchymal units can be made visible and reconstructed three-dimensionally. So far, a secondary module composed of 14 primary modules was reconstructed. Preliminary studies indicate a considerable degree of variability in the shape and size of primary modules as well as in the number of primary units integrated into secondary modules, leading to secondary modules of different size and shape. Furthermore, primary modules may be composed of smaller microcirculation subunits. Further studies are therefore needed, also to investigate how liver parenchyma is formed by the combination of differently shaped and sized modules. Knowledge of the three-dimensional organization will provide a new basis for the study of the metabolic heterogeneity of liver cells and for the study of liver development, regeneration and disease (congestion, cirrhosis, focal liver disease).

• DFG Programme: Research Grants