Exploring multiple quantitative trait loci models of hepatic fibrosis in a mouse intercross

The Genetic Architecture of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Liver fibrosis is a multifactorial trait that develops in response to chronic liver injury. Our aim was to characterize the genetic architecture of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver fibrosis using the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel, a panel of more than 100 genetically distinct mouse strains optimized for genome-wide association studies and systems genetics.

METHODS

Chronic liver injury was induced by CCl₄ injections twice weekly for 6 weeks. Four hundred thirty-seven mice received CCl₄ and 256 received vehicle, after which animals were euthanized for liver histology and gene expression. Using automated digital image analysis, we quantified fibrosis as the collagen proportionate area of the whole section, excluding normal collagen.

RESULTS

We discovered broad variation in fibrosis among the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel strains, demonstrating a significant genetic influence. Genome-wide association analyses revealed significant and suggestive loci underlying susceptibility to fibrosis, some of which overlapped with loci identified in mouse crosses and human population studies. Liver global gene expression was assessed by RNA sequencing across the strains, and candidate genes were identified using differential expression and expression quantitative trait locus analyses. Gene set enrichment analyses identified the underlying pathways, of which stellate cell involvement was prominent, and coexpression network modeling identified modules associated with fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide a rich resource for the design of experiments to understand mechanisms underlying fibrosis and for rational strain selection when testing antifibrotic drugs.

Alveolar bone healing in mice genetically selected in the maximum (AIRmax) or minimum (AIRmin) inflammatory reaction

The exact role of inflammatory immune response in bone healing process is still unclear, but the success of the alveolar bone healing process seems to be associated with a moderate and transitory inflammatory response, while insufficient or exacerbated responses seems to have a detrimental influence in the healing outcome. In this context, we performed a comparative analysis of mice strains genetically selected for maximum (AIRmax) or minimum (AIRmin) acute inflammatory response to address the influence of inflammation genes in alveolar bone healing outcome. Experimental groups comprised 8-week-old male or female AIRmax and AIRmin submitted to extraction of upper right incisor, and evaluated at 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after upper incision extraction by micro-computed tomography (μCT), histomorphometry, birefringence, immunohistochemistry and molecular (PCRArray) analysis. Overall, the results demonstrate a similar successful bone healing outcome at the endpoint was evidenced in both AIRmin and AIRmax strains. The histormophometric analysis reveal a slight but significant decrease in blood clot and inflammatory cells density, as well a delay in the bone formation in AIRmax strain in the early times, associated with a decreased expression of BMP2, BMP4, BMP7, TGFb1, RUNX2, and ALP. The evaluation of inflammatory cells nature reveals increased GR1+ cells counts in AIRmax strain at 3d, associated with increased levels of neutrophil chemoattractants such as CXCL1 and CXCL2, and its receptor CXCR1, while F4/80+ cell prevails in AIRmin strain at 7d. Also, our results demonstrate a relative predominance of M2 macrophages in AIRmin strain, associated with an increased expression of ARG1, IL10, TGFb, while M1 macrophages prevail in AIRmax, which parallel with increased IL-1B, IL-6 and TNF expression. At late repair stage, AIRmax presents evidences of increased bone remodeling, characterized by increased density of blood vessels and osteoclasts in parallel with decreased bone matrix density, as well increased levels of MMPs, osteoclastogenic and osteocyte markers. In the view of contrasting inflammatory and healing phenotypes of AIRmin and AIRmax strains in other models, the unpredicted phenotype observed suggests the existence of specific QTLs (Quantitative trait loci) responsible for the regulation 'sterile' inflammation and bone healing events. Despite the similar endpoint healing, AIRmax strain delayed repair was associated with increased presence of neutrophils and M1 macrophages, supporting the association of M2 cells with faster bone healing. Further studies are required to clarify the elements responsible for the regulation of inflammatory events at bone healing sites, as well the determinants of bone healing outcome.

Systems Genetics of Liver Fibrosis

This systems genetics analysis comprises quantitative measurements of hepatic fibrogenesis in mouse models and mapping of quantitative traits in mouse genetic reference populations. It is part of a large mapping project of fibrogenic genes including the analyses of experimental crosses from different inbred mouse strains. Extensive quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of fibrosis phenotypes and liver expression profiling in combination with in silico mapping facilitated the identification of QTL regions and underlying candidate genes that confer fibrosis susceptibility also in humans. Moreover, the approach led to the identification of interacting QTLs and gene networks in liver fibrosis, providing a key experimental platform for the development of novel, more precise therapeutic interventions. Here, we provide a use case for the application of different analysis tools and the integration of multiple datasets determined in F2 intercrosses and BXD recombinant inbred lines to identify, finemap and affirm fibrosis susceptibility loci.