Influence of Progenitor-Derived Regeneration Markers on Hepatitis C Virus-Related Cirrhosis Outcome (ANRS CO12 CirVir Cohort)

Deep learning quantification reveals a fundamental prognostic role for ductular reaction in biliary atresia

BACKGROUND

We aimed to quantify ductular reaction (DR) in biliary atresia using a neural network in relation to underlying pathophysiology and prognosis.

METHODS

Image-processing neural network model was applied to 259 cytokeratin-7-stained native liver biopsies of patients with biliary atresia and 43 controls. The model quantified total proportional DR (DR%) composed of portal biliary epithelium (BE%) and parenchymal intermediate hepatocytes (PIH%). The results were related to clinical data, Sirius Red-quantified liver fibrosis, serum biomarkers, and bile acids.

RESULTS

In total, 2 biliary atresia biopsies were obtained preoperatively, 116 at Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) and 141 during post-KPE follow-up. DR% (8.3% vs. 5.9%, p=0.045) and PIH% (1.3% vs. 0.6%, p=0.004) were increased at KPE in patients remaining cholestatic postoperatively. After KPE, patients with subsequent liver transplantation or death showed an increase in DR% (7.9%-9.9%, p = 0.04) and PIH% (1.6%-2.4%, p = 0.009), whereas patients with native liver survival (NLS) showed decreasing BE% (5.5%-3.0%, p = 0.03) and persistently low PIH% (0.9% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.11). In Cox regression, high DR predicted inferior NLS both at KPE [DR% (HR = 1.05, p = 0.01), BE% (HR = 1.05, p = 0.03), and PIH% (HR = 1.13, p = 0.005)] and during follow-up [DR% (HR = 1.08, p<0.0001), BE% (HR = 1.58, p = 0.001), and PIH% (HR = 1.04, p = 0.008)]. DR% correlated with Sirius red-quantified liver fibrosis at KPE (R = 0.47, p<0.0001) and follow-up (R = 0.27, p = 0.004). A close association between DR% and serum bile acids was observed at follow-up (R = 0.61, p<0.001). Liver fibrosis was not prognostic for NLS at KPE (HR = 1.00, p = 0.96) or follow-up (HR = 1.01, p = 0.29).

CONCLUSIONS

DR predicted NLS in different disease stages before transplantation while associating with serum bile acids after KPE.

Chronic cholestasis detection by a novel tool: automated analysis of cytokeratin 7-stained liver specimens

Background

The objective was to build a novel method for automated image analysis to locate and quantify the number of cytokeratin 7 (K7)-positive hepatocytes reflecting cholestasis by applying deep learning neural networks (AI model) in a cohort of 210 liver specimens. We aimed to study the correlation between the AI model’s results and disease progression. The cohort of liver biopsies which served as a model of chronic cholestatic liver disease comprised of patients diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Methods

In a cohort of patients with PSC identified from the PSC registry of the University Hospital of Helsinki, their K7-stained liver biopsy specimens were scored by a pathologist (human K7 score) and then digitally analyzed for K7-positive hepatocytes (K7%area). The digital analysis was by a K7-AI model created in an Aiforia Technologies cloud platform. For validation, values were human K7 score, stage of disease (Metavir and Nakunuma fibrosis score), and plasma liver enzymes indicating clinical cholestasis, all subjected to correlation analysis.

Results

The K7-AI model results (K7%area) correlated with the human K7 score (0.896; p < 2.2e^− 16). In addition, K7%area correlated with stage of PSC (Metavir 0.446; p < 1.849e^− 10 and Nakanuma 0.424; p < 4.23e^− 10) and with plasma alkaline phosphatase (P-ALP) levels (0.369, p < 5.749e^− 5).

Conclusions

The accuracy of the AI-based analysis was comparable to that of the human K7 score. Automated quantitative image analysis correlated with stage of PSC and with P-ALP. Based on the results of the K7-AI model, we recommend K7 staining in the assessment of cholestasis by means of automated methods that provide fast (9.75 s/specimen) quantitative analysis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13000-021-01102-6.

Serum keratin 19 (CYFRA21-1) links ductular reaction with portal hypertension and outcome of various advanced liver diseases

BACKGROUND

Keratins (Ks) represent tissue-specific proteins. K18 is produced in hepatocytes while K19, the most widely used ductular reaction (DR) marker, is found in cholangiocytes and hepatic progenitor cells. K18-based serum fragments are commonly used liver disease predictors, while K19-based serum fragments detected through CYFRA21-1 are established tumor but not liver disease markers yet. Since DR reflects the severity of the underlying liver disease, we systematically evaluated the usefulness of CYFRA21-1 in different liver disease severities and etiologies.

METHODS

Hepatic expression of ductular keratins (K7/K19/K23) was analyzed in 57 patients with chronic liver disease (cohort i). Serum CYFRA21-1 levels were measured in 333 Austrians with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) of various etiologies undergoing hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement (cohort ii), 231 French patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (cohort iii), and 280 hospitalized Germans with decompensated cirrhosis of various etiologies (cohort iv).

RESULTS

(i) Hepatic K19 levels were comparable among F0-F3 fibrosis stages, but increased in cirrhosis. Hepatic K19 mRNA strongly correlated with the levels of other DR-specific keratins. (ii) In ACLD, increased serum CYFRA21-1 associated with the presence of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH; HVPG ≥ 10 mmHg) (OR = 5.87 [2.95-11.68]) and mortality (HR = 3.02 [1.78-5.13]; median follow-up 22 months). (iii) In alcoholic cirrhosis, elevated serum CYFRA21-1 indicated increased risk of death/liver transplantation (HR = 2.59 [1.64-4.09]) and of HCC (HR = 1.74 [1.02-2.96]) over the long term (median follow-up 73 months). (iv) In decompensated cirrhosis, higher serum CYFRA21-1 predicted 90-day mortality (HR = 2.97 [1.92-4.60]) with a moderate accuracy (AUROC 0.64), independently from established prognostic scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic K19 mRNA and serum CYFRA21-1 levels rise in cirrhosis. Increased CYFRA21-1 levels associate with the presence of CSPH and reliably indicate mortality in the short and long term independently of conventional liver biochemistry markers or scoring systems. Hence, the widely available serum CYFRA21-1 constitutes a novel, DR-related marker with prognostic implications in patients with different settings of advanced liver disease.

Human Hepatic Cancer Stem Cells (HCSCs) Markers Correlated With Immune Infiltrates Reveal Prognostic Significance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Several markers have been reported to be specific for hepatic cancer stem cells (HCSCs), which is usually thought to be highly associated with poor clinical outcomes. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells act as an important factor for oncogenesis. Little is known about the correlation of HCSC markers to prognosis and immune infiltrates.

Methods

Expression of HCSC markers was analyzed through Oncomine database, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and Integrative Molecular Database of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCCDB), respectively. The prognostic effect of HCSC markers was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier plotter in association with different tumor stages, risk factors, and gender. The correlation of HCSC markers to tumor-infiltrating immune cells was tested by Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). HCSC markers related gene sets were investigated by GEPIA, with their biological functions being analyzed by Cytoscape software.

Results

The expression level of 10 HCSC markers in HCC was higher than that in normal tissues in at least one database. Among them, high expression of CD24, SOX9, and SOX12 was positively correlated with poor prognosis (CD24: OS P = 0.0012, PFS P = 7.9E–05. SOX9: OS P = 0.012. SOX12: OS P = 0.0004, PFS P = 0.0013, respectively). However, the expression of CD13, CD34 and ALDH1A1 was associated with prolonged OS and PFS. SOX12 was significantly upregulated in poor prognosis of HCC patients with different conditions. Besides, total nine HCSC markers were identified to be positively associated with immune infiltration, including SOX12. Furthermore, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway was found to be one major pathway of these HCSC markers related gene networks.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that seven upregulated HCSC markers (CD90, EpCAM, CD133, CD24, SOX9, CK19, and SOX12) are related with poor prognosis and immune infiltration in HCC. In addition, we find that high SOX12 expression remarkably affect prognosis in male HCC patients but not in female. HCC patients under viral infection or alcohol intake with increased SOX12 expression had poorer prognosis. Therefore, HCSCs markers likely play an important role in tumor related immune infiltration and SOX12 might be a potential therapeutic target in patients with HCC.

Cellular and functional loss of liver endothelial cells correlates with poor hepatocyte regeneration in acute-on-chronic liver failure

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Acute hepatic insult triggers regeneration. If acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients have a poorer regenerative response than acute liver failure (ALF) patients, and if so, the mechanisms underlying this, are not well understood.

METHODS

We investigated the status of hepatocyte proliferation, hepatic progenitor cell (HPC) mediated regeneration, non-parenchymal cells (through immunohistochemistery), cytokines and growth factors (cytokine bead array) in liver and peripheral blood of ACLF (n = 29) and ALF (n = 17) patients. Liver endothelial cells, mesenchymal cells and Kupffer cells were isolated from explant livers and analysis of regenerative factors was done by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

Unlike ALF, the ACLF livers showed decreased hepatocyte proliferation (p < 0.001) and profound ductular-reaction with increased CK19 + hepatocytes (p < 0.0001). However, only decrease in Ki67+ hepatocytes was associated with 28 day mortality in ACLF (p < 0.001; HR = 0.78; 95% CI 0.69-0.88). In both groups, increase in plasma hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (OR = 21.87 p = 0.002;), macrophage colony stimulating factor (MCSF) (OR = 21.73; p = 0.002) and stromal derived factor (SDF1)(OR = 10.2; p = 0.001) were associated with hepatocyte proliferation and decreased (> fivefolds) levels were associated with poor hepatocyte regeneration in ACLF patients. ACLF livers showed decrease in endothelial cells (p < 0.01) and expression of regenerative angiocrine factors C-X-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CXCR7), Inhibitor of DNA Binding 1(IDI) and HGF compared to ALF. In co-culture, while ALF liver mesenchymal stromal cells (LMSCs) induced the expression of CXCR7, IDI and HGF in human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVECs), the ACLF LMSCs were defective and showed decreased production of SDF-1, HGF and MCSF compared to ALF.

CONCLUSIONS

Decrease in hepatic endothelial cells and their regenerative angiocrine functions indicated by defective CXCR7-ID1 dependent HGF expression underlie the poor hepatocyte proliferation in ACLF compared to ALF patients. A robust hepatocyte self-replication is lacking in the livers of ACLF patients and is associated with poor survival.