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Nyholm I, Sjöblom N, Pihlajoki M, Hukkinen M, Lohi J, Heikkilä P, Mutka A, Jahnukainen T, Davenport M, Heikinheimo M, Arola J, Pakarinen MP. Deep learning quantification reveals a fundamental prognostic role for ductular reaction in biliary atresia. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0333. [PMID: 38051554 PMCID: PMC10697619 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iiris Nyholm
- Section of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Liver and Gut Research Group, Children and Adolescent Department, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Pediatric Research Center, Children and Adolescent Department, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nelli Sjöblom
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjut Pihlajoki
- Pediatric Research Center, Children and Adolescent Department, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maria Hukkinen
- Section of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Liver and Gut Research Group, Children and Adolescent Department, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jouko Lohi
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Heikkilä
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aino Mutka
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timo Jahnukainen
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Transplantation, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mark Davenport
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, King’s College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Markku Heikinheimo
- Pediatric Research Center, Children and Adolescent Department, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Child, Adolescent, and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Johanna Arola
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko P. Pakarinen
- Section of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Liver and Gut Research Group, Children and Adolescent Department, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Pediatric Research Center, Children and Adolescent Department, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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Li Y, Yuan SL, Yin JY, Yang K, Zhou XG, Xie W, Wang Q. Differences of core genes in liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma: Evidence from integrated bioinformatics and immunohistochemical analysis. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 14:1265-1280. [PMID: 36051101 PMCID: PMC9305567 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i7.1265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are common adverse consequences of chronic liver injury. The interaction of various risk factors may cause them to happen. Identification of specific biomarkers is of great significance for understanding the occurrence, development mechanisms, and determining the novel tools for diagnosis and treatment of both liver fibrosis and HCC.
AIM To identify liver fibrosis-related core genes, we analyzed the differential expression pattern of core genes in liver fibrosis and HCC.
METHODS Gene expression profiles of three datasets, GSE14323, GSE36411, and GSE89377, obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, were analyzed, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between patients with liver cirrhosis and healthy controls were identified by screening via R software packages and online tool for Venn diagrams. The WebGestalt online tool was used to identify DEGs enriched in biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. The protein–protein interactions of DEGs were visualized using Cytoscape with STRING. Next, the expression pattern of core genes was analyzed using Western blot and immunohistochemistry in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver cirrhosis mouse model and in patient liver samples. Finally, Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier plotter online server.
RESULTS Forty-five DEGs (43 upregulated and 2 downregulated genes) associated with liver cirrhosis were identified from three GEO datasets. Ten hub genes were identified, which were upregulated in liver cirrhosis. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of the three core genes, decorin (DCN), dermatopontin (DPT), and SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), revealed that they were highly expressed in the CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis mouse model. The expression levels of DCN and SOX 9 were positively correlated with the degree of fibrosis, and SOX 9 level in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in fibrosis patients. However, high expression of DPT was observed only in patients with liver fibrosis, and its expression in HCC was low. The gene expression profiling interactive analysis server (GEPIA) showed that SOX9 was significantly upregulated whereas DCN and DPT were significantly downregulated in patients with HCC. In addition, the Kaplan-Meier curves showed that HCC patients with higher SOX9 expression had significantly lower 5-year survival rate, while patients with higher expression of DCN or DPT had significantly higher 5-year survival rates.
CONCLUSION The expression levels of DCN, DPT, and SOX9 were positively correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis but showed different correlations with the 5-year survival rates of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Shou-Li Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jing-Ya Yin
- Center of Liver Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Xin-Gang Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Wen Xie
- Center of Liver Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Center of Liver Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
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Lin Y, Zhang F, Zhang L, Chen L, Zheng S. Characteristics of SOX9-positive progenitor-like cells during cholestatic liver regeneration in biliary atresia. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:114. [PMID: 35313986 PMCID: PMC8935712 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02795-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The progression of Biliary Atresia (BA) is associated with the number of reactive ductular cells (RDCs) whose heterogeneity in origin and evolution in humans remains unknown. SOX9-positive liver progenitor-like cells (LPLCs) have been shown to participate in RDCs and new hepatocyte formation during cholestatic liver regeneration in an animal model, which implies the possibility that hepatocyte-reprogrammed LPLCs could be a source of RDCs in BA. The present study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of SOX9-positive LPLCs in BA for exploring new possible therapeutic targets by manipulating the bi-differentiation process of LPLCs to prevent disease progression. Methods Twenty-eight patients, including 24 patients with BA and 4 patients with Congenital Choledochal Cyst as the control group, were retrospectively recruited. Liver biopsy samples were classified histologically using a 4-point scale based on fibrosis severity. LPLCs were detected by SOX9 and HNF4A double positive staining. Single immunohistochemistry, double immunohistochemistry, and multiple immunofluorescence staining were used to determine the different cell types and characteristics of LPLCs. Results The prognostic predictors of BA, namely total bile acid (TBA), RDCs, and fibrosis, were correlated to the emergence of LPLCs. SOX9 and HNF4A double-positive LPLCs co-stained rarely with relevant markers of portal hepatic progenitor cells (portal-HPCs), including CK19, CK7, EPCAM, PROM1 (CD133), TROP2, and AFP. Under cholestasis conditions, LPLCs acquired superior proliferation and anti-senescence ability among hepatocytes. Moreover, LPLCs arranged as a pseudo-rosette structure appeared from the periportal parenchyma to the portal region, which implied the differentiation from hepatocyte-reprogrammed LPLCs to RDCs with the progression of cholestasis. Conclusions LPLCs are associated with disease progression and prognostic factors of BA. The bipotent characteristics of LPLCs are different from those of portal-HPCs. As cholestasis progresses, LPLCs appear to gain superior proliferation and anti-senescence ability and continually differentiate to RDCs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-02795-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Lin
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, and Key Laboratory of Neonatal Disease, Ministry of Health, 399 Wan Yuan Road, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Ludi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Lian Chen
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 399 Wan Yuan Road, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Shan Zheng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, and Key Laboratory of Neonatal Disease, Ministry of Health, 399 Wan Yuan Road, Shanghai, 201102, China.
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SOX9 contributes to the progression of ductular reaction for the protection from chronic liver injury. Hum Cell 2022; 35:721-734. [DOI: 10.1007/s13577-022-00683-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Arboleda-Bustan JE, Ribalta T, Albert A, Cuadras D, Martín-Solé O. Expression of Protein SOX9 in Biliary Atresia. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2022; 74:e21-e26. [PMID: 34789667 DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000003356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Biliary atresia (BA) is still an enigmatic disease. Deeper knowledge of its pathophysiology could help develop better treatments. SOX9 regulates bile duct development, liver regeneration and fibrosis; therefore, it could be determinant in characterizing BA liver damage. Aim: To study if there is a SOX9 expression pattern in liver biopsies from BA patients. METHODS Liver biopsies from BA patients (group BA), from age-matched infants without primary hepatic disease (group Control), and from patients with other liver conditions (group OLC) were compared. Expression of SOX9 was checked for: amount, intensity of immunoreaction, localization within ductular structures, perifibrotic epithelial cells, and lobular cells. The scores were added to create a scale from 0 to 11 that allowed group comparison. SOX9 Scale and liver survival were also looked for a correlation. RESULTS All BA cases had a score >4, while all controls scored <4. OLC livers scored 1 to 8 (3.5 ± 2.0) (P < 0.001 between all groups). A cut-off at 4 had 100% sensitivity and 88.24% specificity to differentiate BA from Controls and from OLC (area under receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.9989 (95% confidence interval: 0.9964-1.000). Strong expression of SOX9 was observed mainly in the nuclei of proliferated ductules of portal spaces and fibrotic bridges. SOX9 Scale score could not be related to liver survival in this study. CONCLUSION In BA livers, SOX9 is mainly expressed in reactive ductular epithelium, following a pattern significantly different from that seen in non-BA patients; thus, SOX9 Scale may have a role in the diagnosis of BA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Teresa Ribalta
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, and Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Asteria Albert
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Cuadras
- Department of Statistics, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oriol Martín-Solé
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
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6
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Suzuki Y, Sasaki T, Kakisaka K, Abe H, Takikawa Y. Evaluation of SOX9-Positive Hepatocytes in Human Liver Specimens and Mature Mouse Hepatocytes. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2544:217-225. [PMID: 36125722 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2557-6_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The liver has a remarkable regenerative capacity with different modes of regeneration according to the type and extent of an injury. It has been reported that mature hepatocytes could transdifferentiate into a cholangiocyte phenotype. Sry HMG box protein 9 (SOX9) is one of the earliest biliary markers that regulate bile duct development. We have found that SOX9-positive biphenotypic hepatocytes appear in severe acute liver injury patients' liver specimens accompanied by an elevation in plasma interleukin-8 levels. In vitro assays revealed that interleukin-8 homologs induce the expression of SOX9 in mature mouse hepatocytes. Here, we describe the methods used to detect SOX9-positive hepatocytes in human liver specimens and to induce SOX9-positive hepatocytes in mature mouse hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Suzuki
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Yahaba, Iwate, Japan.
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences Molecular Pathophysiology, Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Iwate, Japan.
- Division of Allergy and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Yahaba, Iwate, Japan.
| | - Tokio Sasaki
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Yahaba, Iwate, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kakisaka
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Yahaba, Iwate, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Abe
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Yahaba, Iwate, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Takikawa
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Yahaba, Iwate, Japan
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El-Araby HA, Saber MA, Radwan NM, Taie DM, Adawy NM, Sira AM. SOX9 in biliary atresia: New insight for fibrosis progression. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2021; 20:154-162. [PMID: 33349604 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2020.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis is a hallmark determinant of morbidity in biliary atresia (BA) even in successfully operated cases. Responsible factors for this rapid progression of fibrosis are not completely defined. Aberrant expression of the transcription factor SOX9 and hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) proliferation have roles in fibrogenesis in cholestatic disorders. However, they were not investigated sufficiently in BA. We aimed to delineate the relation of SOX9 and HPCs to fibrosis and its progression in BA. METHODS Forty-eight patients with BA who underwent an initial diagnostic liver biopsy (LB) and consequent intraoperative LB were recruited and compared to 28 cases with non-BA cholestasis that had an LB in their diagnostic workup. Liver fibrosis, tissue SOX9 and HPC expressions were studied in both BA and non-BA-cholestasis cases. Liver fibrosis, SOX9, and HPCs' dynamic changes in BA cases were assessed. Relation of fibrosis and its progression to SOX9 and HPCs in BA was assessed. RESULTS SOX9 and HPCs in ductular reaction (DR) form were expressed in 100% of BA and their grades increased significantly in the second biopsy. The rapidly progressive fibrosis in BA, represented by fibrosis grade of the intraoperative LB, correlated significantly to SOX9-DR and HPC-DR at the diagnostic (r = 0.420, P = 0.003 and r = 0.405, P = 0.004, respectively) and the intraoperative (r = 0.460, P = 0.001 and r = 0.467, P = 0.001, respectively) biopsy. On the other hand, fibrosis, SOX9-DR, and HPC-DR were significantly lower in non-BA cases at a comparable age (P < 0.001, P = 0.006, and P = 0.014, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Fibrosis in BA is rapidly progressive within a short time and is significantly correlated to SOX9 and HPCs. Assessment of targeting SOX9 and HPCs on fibrosis progression is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanaa Ahmed El-Araby
- Department of Pediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Nutrition, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, 32511 Shebin El-koom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Magdy Anwar Saber
- Department of Pediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Nutrition, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, 32511 Shebin El-koom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Noha Mohamed Radwan
- Department of Pediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Nutrition, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, 32511 Shebin El-koom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Doha Maher Taie
- Department of Pathology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, 32511 Shebin El-koom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Nermin Mohamed Adawy
- Department of Pediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Nutrition, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, 32511 Shebin El-koom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Ahmad Mohamed Sira
- Department of Pediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Nutrition, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, 32511 Shebin El-koom, Menoufia, Egypt.
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Russell JO, Ko S, Monga SP, Shin D. Notch Inhibition Promotes Differentiation of Liver Progenitor Cells into Hepatocytes via sox9b Repression in Zebrafish. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:8451282. [PMID: 30992706 PMCID: PMC6434270 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8451282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver regeneration after most forms of injury is mediated through the proliferation of hepatocytes. However, when hepatocyte proliferation is impaired, such as during chronic liver disease, liver progenitor cells (LPCs) arising from the biliary epithelial cell (BEC) compartment can give rise to hepatocytes to mediate hepatic repair. Promotion of LPC-to-hepatocyte differentiation in patients with chronic liver disease could serve as a potentially new therapeutic option, but first requires the identification of the molecular mechanisms driving this process. Notch signaling has been identified as an important signaling pathway promoting the BEC fate during development and has also been implicated in regulating LPC differentiation during regeneration. SRY-related HMG box transcription factor 9 (Sox9) is a direct target of Notch signaling in the liver, and Sox9 has also been shown to promote the BEC fate during development. We have recently shown in a zebrafish model of LPC-driven liver regeneration that inhibition of Hdac1 activity through MS-275 treatment enhances sox9b expression in LPCs and impairs LPC-to-hepatocyte differentiation. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibition of Notch signaling would promote LPC-to-hepatocyte differentiation by repressing sox9b expression in zebrafish. We ablated the hepatocytes of Tg(fabp10a:CFP-NTR) larvae and blocked Notch activation during liver regeneration through treatment with γ-secretase inhibitor LY411575 and demonstrated enhanced induction of Hnf4a in LPCs. Alternatively, enhancing Notch signaling via Notch3 intracellular domain (N3ICD) overexpression impaired Hnf4a induction. Hepatocyte ablation in sox9b heterozygous mutant embryos enhanced Hnf4a induction, while BEC-specific Sox9b overexpression impaired LPC-to-hepatocyte differentiation. Our results establish the Notch-Sox9b signaling axis as inhibitory to LPC-to-hepatocyte differentiation in a well-established in vivo LPC-driven liver regeneration model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sungjin Ko
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Donghun Shin
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
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Song Z, Dong R, Shen Z, Chen G, Yang Y, Zheng S. Surgical outcome and etiologic heterogeneity of infants with biliary atresia who received Kasai operation less than 60 days after birth: A retrospective study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2017; 96:e7267. [PMID: 28658122 PMCID: PMC5500044 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000007267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the impact of etiologic heterogeneity and operation age on prognosis of infants with biliary atresia (BA) who received Kasai operation prior to 60 days of age.From 2004 to 2010, 158 infants received Kasai operation before turning 60 days old. According to Davenport 2012 classifications, 4 groups of BA were defined: cystic BA, syndrome BA, and associated malformation, cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated BA, and isolated BA. Native (autologous) liver survival rates and incidence of cholangitis 2 years after operation, as well as jaundice clearance rates 3 months after operation, were recorded.Although infants who received the operation between 51 and 60 days of age had a better jaundice clearance 3 months after operation and lower incidence of cholangitis as compared with those under 40 or between 41 and 50 days of age, there was no significant difference in survival rates. Among types of BA, infants with cystic BA had the best prognosis. In the syndrome BA and associated malformations group, as well as CMV-associated group, infants who received the operation early (<40 days of age) had a worse outcome as compared with those who received the operation between 41 and 50 days or 51 and 60 days of age.Both clinical etiologic heterogeneity and operation age may influence BA prognosis.
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10
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Yamazaki T, Wakai M, Enosawa S, Tokiwa T. Analysis of soluble factors in conditioned media derived from primary cultures of cirrhotic liver of biliary atresia. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2017; 53:564-573. [PMID: 28364348 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-017-0144-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare and serious liver disease in newborn infants. Previously, we reported that non-parenchymal cell (NPC) fractions from cirrhotic liver of BA may contain hepatic stem/progenitor cells in primary culture of NPC fractions. In this study, NPC fractions were subjected to primary or passage culture and found that clusters of hepatocyte-like cells appear even without adding hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to the culture medium, but not in their passage culture used as a control. Based on these findings, conditioned media (CMs) were collected and soluble factors in the CMs were analyzed in order to elucidate the mechanism of the appearance of hepatocyte-like cells or their clusters. A large amount of active HGF consisting of α and β chains was detected in CMs derived from primary culture, but not in CMs from passage culture, as determined by western blot analysis, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4, oncostatin M (OSM), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were not detected in any of the CMs. The number of hepatocyte-like cells in primary culture tended to decrease following treatment with the HGF receptor c-Met inhibitor, SU11274 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the clusters of hepatocyte-like cells tended to increase in size and number when freshly isolated NPC fractions were cultured in the presence of 10% of CMs collected after 3-4 wk of primary culture. In conclusion, these findings indicate that CMs derived from primary culture of NPC fractions of BA liver contain a large amount of active HGF, which may activate hepatic stem/progenitor cells and promote the appearance of hepatocyte-like cells or their clusters through HGF/c-Met signaling. The present study would lead to cell therapy using the patient's own cells for the treatment of BA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taisuke Yamazaki
- Department of Liver Cell Biology, Kohno Clinical Medicine Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Mariko Wakai
- Department of Liver Cell Biology, Kohno Clinical Medicine Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin Enosawa
- Division for Advanced Medical Sciences, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Tokiwa
- Department of Liver Cell Biology, Kohno Clinical Medicine Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
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Villasenor A, Stainier DYR. On the development of the hepatopancreatic ductal system. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 66:69-80. [PMID: 28214561 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The hepatopancreatic ductal system is the collection of ducts that connect the liver and pancreas to the digestive tract. The formation of this system is necessary for the transport of exocrine secretions, for the correct assembly of the pancreatobiliary ductal system, and for the overall function of the digestive system. Studies on endoderm organ formation have significantly advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern organ induction, organ specification and morphogenesis of the major foregut-derived organs. However, little is known about the mechanisms that control the development of the hepatopancreatic ductal system. Here, we provide a description of the different components of the system, summarize its development from the endoderm to a complex system of tubes, list the pathologies produced by anomalies in its development, as well as the molecules and signaling pathways that are known to be involved in its formation. Finally, we discuss its proposed potential as a multipotent cell reservoir and the unresolved questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alethia Villasenor
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
| | - Didier Y R Stainier
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
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