1
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Shang T, Jiang T, Cui X, Pan Y, Feng X, Dong L, Wang H. Diverse functions of SOX9 in liver development and homeostasis and hepatobiliary diseases. Genes Dis 2024; 11:100996. [PMID: 38523677 PMCID: PMC10958229 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The liver is the central organ for digestion and detoxification and has unique metabolic and regenerative capacities. The hepatobiliary system originates from the foregut endoderm, in which cells undergo multiple events of cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation to form the liver parenchyma and ductal system under the hierarchical regulation of transcription factors. Studies on liver development and diseases have revealed that SRY-related high-mobility group box 9 (SOX9) plays an important role in liver embryogenesis and the progression of hepatobiliary diseases. SOX9 is not only a master regulator of cell fate determination and tissue morphogenesis, but also regulates various biological features of cancer, including cancer stemness, invasion, and drug resistance, making SOX9 a potential biomarker for tumor prognosis and progression. This review systematically summarizes the latest findings of SOX9 in hepatobiliary development, homeostasis, and disease. We also highlight the value of SOX9 as a novel biomarker and potential target for the clinical treatment of major liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiyu Shang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Tianyi Jiang
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xiaowen Cui
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
| | - Yufei Pan
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
| | - Xiaofan Feng
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Liwei Dong
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
- Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Second Military Medical University & Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200438, China
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2
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Chen F, Zhang K, Wang M, He Z, Yu B, Wang X, Pan X, Luo Y, Xu S, Lau JTY, Han C, Shi Y, Sun YE, Li S, Hu YP. VEGF-FGF Signaling Activates Quiescent CD63 + Liver Stem Cells to Proliferate and Differentiate. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2308711. [PMID: 38881531 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the liver stem cells (LSCs) holds great promise for new insights into liver diseases and liver regeneration. However, the heterogenicity and plasticity of liver cells have made it controversial. Here, by employing single-cell RNA-sequencing technology, transcriptome features of Krt19+ bile duct lineage cells isolated from Krt19CreERT; Rosa26R-GFP reporter mouse livers are examined. Distinct biliary epithelial cells which include adult LSCs, as well as their downstream hepatocytes and cholangiocytes are identified. Importantly, a novel cell surface LSCs marker, CD63, as well as CD56, which distinguished active and quiescent LSCs are discovered. Cell expansion and bi-potential differentiation in culture demonstrate the stemness ability of CD63+ cells in vitro. Transplantation and lineage tracing of CD63+ cells confirm their contribution to liver cell mass in vivo upon injury. Moreover, CD63+CD56+ cells are proved to be activated LSCs with vigorous proliferation ability. Further studies confirm that CD63+CD56- quiescent LSCs express VEGFR2 and FGFR1, and they can be activated to proliferation and differentiation through combination of growth factors: VEGF-A and bFGF. These findings define an authentic adult liver stem cells compartment, make a further understanding of fate regulation on LSCs, and highlight its contribution to liver during pathophysiologic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Kunshan Zhang
- Stem Cell Translational Research Center, School of Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Minjun Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhiying He
- Department of Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Bing Yu
- Department of Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Xinghua Pan
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Yuping Luo
- Stem Cell Translational Research Center, School of Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Shoujia Xu
- Shanghai Baixian Biotechnology co., Ltd, Shanghai, 201318, China
| | - Joseph T Y Lau
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
| | - Chunsheng Han
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yufang Shi
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Robert-Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Yi E Sun
- Stem Cell Translational Research Center, School of Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Siguang Li
- Stem Cell Translational Research Center, School of Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Yi-Ping Hu
- Department of Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
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3
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Gribben C, Galanakis V, Calderwood A, Williams EC, Chazarra-Gil R, Larraz M, Frau C, Puengel T, Guillot A, Rouhani FJ, Mahbubani K, Godfrey E, Davies SE, Athanasiadis E, Saeb-Parsy K, Tacke F, Allison M, Mohorianu I, Vallier L. Acquisition of epithelial plasticity in human chronic liver disease. Nature 2024; 630:166-173. [PMID: 38778114 PMCID: PMC11153150 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07465-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
For many adult human organs, tissue regeneration during chronic disease remains a controversial subject. Regenerative processes are easily observed in animal models, and their underlying mechanisms are becoming well characterized1-4, but technical challenges and ethical aspects are limiting the validation of these results in humans. We decided to address this difficulty with respect to the liver. This organ displays the remarkable ability to regenerate after acute injury, although liver regeneration in the context of recurring injury remains to be fully demonstrated. Here we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) on 47 liver biopsies from patients with different stages of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease to establish a cellular map of the liver during disease progression. We then combined these single-cell-level data with advanced 3D imaging to reveal profound changes in the liver architecture. Hepatocytes lose their zonation and considerable reorganization of the biliary tree takes place. More importantly, our study uncovers transdifferentiation events that occur between hepatocytes and cholangiocytes without the presence of adult stem cells or developmental progenitor activation. Detailed analyses and functional validations using cholangiocyte organoids confirm the importance of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in this process, thereby connecting this acquisition of plasticity to insulin signalling. Together, our data indicate that chronic injury creates an environment that induces cellular plasticity in human organs, and understanding the underlying mechanisms of this process could open new therapeutic avenues in the management of chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Gribben
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Vasileios Galanakis
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alexander Calderwood
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eleanor C Williams
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ruben Chazarra-Gil
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Miguel Larraz
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carla Frau
- Berlin Institute of Health Centre for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Puengel
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Adrien Guillot
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Edmund Godfrey
- Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Susan E Davies
- Department of Histopathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emmanouil Athanasiadis
- Greek Genome Centre, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Medical Image and Signal Processing Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Allison
- Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK.
- Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Irina Mohorianu
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK.
- Berlin Institute of Health Centre for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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4
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Alexander WB, Wang W, Hill MA, O'Dell MR, Ruffolo LI, Guo B, Jackson KM, Ullman N, Friedland SC, McCall MN, Patel A, Figueroa-Guilliani N, Georger M, Belt BA, Whitney-Miller CL, Linehan DC, Murphy PJ, Hezel AF. Smad4 restricts injury-provoked biliary proliferation and carcinogenesis. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050358. [PMID: 38415925 PMCID: PMC10924230 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a deadly and heterogeneous type of cancer characterized by a spectrum of epidemiologic associations as well as genetic and epigenetic alterations. We seek to understand how these features inter-relate in the earliest phase of cancer development and through the course of disease progression. For this, we studied murine models of liver injury integrating the most commonly occurring gene mutations of CCA - including Kras, Tp53, Arid1a and Smad4 - as well as murine hepatobiliary cancer models and derived primary cell lines based on these mutations. Among commonly mutated genes in CCA, we found that Smad4 functions uniquely to restrict reactive cholangiocyte expansion to liver injury through restraint of the proliferative response. Inactivation of Smad4 accelerates carcinogenesis, provoking pre-neoplastic biliary lesions and CCA development in an injury setting. Expression analyses of Smad4-perturbed reactive cholangiocytes and CCA lines demonstrated shared enriched pathways, including cell-cycle regulation, MYC signaling and oxidative phosphorylation, suggesting that Smad4 may act via these mechanisms to regulate cholangiocyte proliferation and progression to CCA. Overall, we showed that TGFβ/SMAD4 signaling serves as a critical barrier restraining cholangiocyte expansion and malignant transformation in states of biliary injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- William B. Alexander
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Wenjia Wang
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Margaret A. Hill
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Michael R. O'Dell
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Luis I. Ruffolo
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Bing Guo
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Katherine M. Jackson
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Nicholas Ullman
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Scott C. Friedland
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Matthew N. McCall
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Ankit Patel
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | | | - Mary Georger
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Brian A. Belt
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Christa L. Whitney-Miller
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - David C. Linehan
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Patrick J. Murphy
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Aram F. Hezel
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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5
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Cho CJ, Brown JW, Mills JC. Origins of cancer: ain't it just mature cells misbehaving? EMBO J 2024:10.1038/s44318-024-00099-0. [PMID: 38773319 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00099-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
A pervasive view is that undifferentiated stem cells are alone responsible for generating all other cells and are the origins of cancer. However, emerging evidence demonstrates fully differentiated cells are plastic, can be coaxed to proliferate, and also play essential roles in tissue maintenance, regeneration, and tumorigenesis. Here, we review the mechanisms governing how differentiated cells become cancer cells. First, we examine the unique characteristics of differentiated cell division, focusing on why differentiated cells are more susceptible than stem cells to accumulating mutations. Next, we investigate why the evolution of multicellularity in animals likely required plastic differentiated cells that maintain the capacity to return to the cell cycle and required the tumor suppressor p53. Finally, we examine an example of an evolutionarily conserved program for the plasticity of differentiated cells, paligenosis, which helps explain the origins of cancers that arise in adults. Altogether, we highlight new perspectives for understanding the development of cancer and new strategies for preventing carcinogenic cellular transformations from occurring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles J Cho
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Brown
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jason C Mills
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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6
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Liu Y, Zhou Y, Ahodantin J, Jin Y, Zhu J, Sun Z, Wu X, Su L, Yang Y. Generation and characterization of mature hepatocyte organoids for liver metabolic studies. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261961. [PMID: 38700490 PMCID: PMC11166457 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte organoids (HOs) generated in vitro are powerful tools for liver regeneration. However, previously reported HOs have mostly been fetal in nature with low expression levels of metabolic genes characteristic of adult liver functions, hampering their application in studies of metabolic regulation and therapeutic testing for liver disorders. Here, we report development of novel culture conditions that combine optimized levels of triiodothyronine (T3) with the removal of growth factors to enable successful generation of mature hepatocyte organoids (MHOs) of both mouse and human origin with metabolic functions characteristic of adult livers. We show that the MHOs can be used to study various metabolic functions including bile and urea production, zonal metabolic gene expression, and metabolic alterations in both alcoholic liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as hepatocyte proliferation, injury and cell fate changes. Notably, MHOs derived from human fetal hepatocytes also show improved hepatitis B virus infection. Therefore, these MHOs provide a powerful in vitro model for studies of human liver physiology and diseases. The human MHOs are potentially also a robust research tool for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Liu
- Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yaxing Zhou
- Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - James Ahodantin
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis, and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, Departments of Pharmacology and Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Yu Jin
- Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Juanjuan Zhu
- Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zhonghe Sun
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Xiaolin Wu
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Lishan Su
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis, and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, Departments of Pharmacology and Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Yingzi Yang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Program in Gastrointestinal Malignancies, Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Gastrointestinal Malignancies, Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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7
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Wu B, Shentu X, Nan H, Guo P, Hao S, Xu J, Shangguan S, Cui L, Cen J, Deng Q, Wu Y, Liu C, Song Y, Lin X, Wang Z, Yuan Y, Ma W, Li R, Li Y, Qian Q, Du W, Lai T, Yang T, Liu C, Ma X, Chen A, Xu X, Lai Y, Liu L, Esteban MA, Hui L. A spatiotemporal atlas of cholestatic injury and repair in mice. Nat Genet 2024; 56:938-952. [PMID: 38627596 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01687-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Cholestatic liver injuries, characterized by regional damage around the bile ductular region, lack curative therapies and cause considerable mortality. Here we generated a high-definition spatiotemporal atlas of gene expression during cholestatic injury and repair in mice by integrating spatial enhanced resolution omics sequencing and single-cell transcriptomics. Spatiotemporal analyses revealed a key role of cholangiocyte-driven signaling correlating with the periportal damage-repair response. Cholangiocytes express genes related to recruitment and differentiation of lipid-associated macrophages, which generate feedback signals enhancing ductular reaction. Moreover, cholangiocytes express high TGFβ in association with the conversion of liver progenitor-like cells into cholangiocytes during injury and the dampened proliferation of periportal hepatocytes during recovery. Notably, Atoh8 restricts hepatocyte proliferation during 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-collidin damage and is quickly downregulated after injury withdrawal, allowing hepatocytes to respond to growth signals. Our findings lay a keystone for in-depth studies of cellular dynamics and molecular mechanisms of cholestatic injuries, which may further develop into therapies for cholangiopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baihua Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyi Shentu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haitao Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Shijie Hao
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiangshan Xu
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuncheng Shangguan
- Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health and Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lei Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Cen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiuting Deng
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan Wu
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chang Liu
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yumo Song
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiumei Lin
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Yue Yuan
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wen Ma
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ronghai Li
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yikang Li
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ministry of Health, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, NHC Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiwei Qian
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ministry of Health, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, NHC Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Wensi Du
- China National GeneBank, BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tingting Lai
- China National GeneBank, BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tao Yang
- China National GeneBank, BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chuanyu Liu
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
- Shanxi Medical University-BGI Collaborative Center for Future Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiong Ma
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ministry of Health, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, NHC Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Ao Chen
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xun Xu
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
- Shanxi Medical University-BGI Collaborative Center for Future Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yiwei Lai
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China.
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China.
- Shanxi Medical University-BGI Collaborative Center for Future Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Longqi Liu
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China.
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China.
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- China National GeneBank, BGI Research, Shenzhen, China.
- Shanxi Medical University-BGI Collaborative Center for Future Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Miguel A Esteban
- BGI Research, Hangzhou, China.
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China.
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University-BGI Research Center for Integrative Biology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Lijian Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
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8
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Andrews TS, Nakib D, Perciani CT, Ma XZ, Liu L, Winter E, Camat D, Chung SW, Lumanto P, Manuel J, Mangroo S, Hansen B, Arpinder B, Thoeni C, Sayed B, Feld J, Gehring A, Gulamhusein A, Hirschfield GM, Ricciuto A, Bader GD, McGilvray ID, MacParland S. Single-cell, single-nucleus, and spatial transcriptomics characterization of the immunological landscape in the healthy and PSC human liver. J Hepatol 2024; 80:730-743. [PMID: 38199298 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an immune-mediated cholestatic liver disease for which there is an unmet need to understand the cellular composition of the affected liver and how it underlies disease pathogenesis. We aimed to generate a comprehensive atlas of the PSC liver using multi-omic modalities and protein-based functional validation. METHODS We employed single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (47,156 cells and 23,000 nuclei) and spatial transcriptomics (one sample by 10x Visium and five samples with Nanostring GeoMx DSP) to profile the cellular ecosystem in 10 PSC livers. Transcriptomic profiles were compared to 24 neurologically deceased donor livers (107,542 cells) and spatial transcriptomics controls, as well as 18,240 cells and 20,202 nuclei from three PBC livers. Flow cytometry was performed to validate PSC-specific differences in immune cell phenotype and function. RESULTS PSC explants with parenchymal cirrhosis and prominent periductal fibrosis contained a population of cholangiocyte-like hepatocytes that were surrounded by diverse immune cell populations. PSC-associated biliary, mesenchymal, and endothelial populations expressed chemokine and cytokine transcripts involved in immune cell recruitment. Additionally, expanded CD4+ T cells and recruited myeloid populations in the PSC liver expressed the corresponding receptors to these chemokines and cytokines, suggesting potential recruitment. Tissue-resident macrophages, by contrast, were reduced in number and exhibited a dysfunctional and downregulated inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ stimulation. CONCLUSIONS We present a comprehensive atlas of the PSC liver and demonstrate an exhaustion-like phenotype of myeloid cells and markers of chronic cytokine expression in late-stage PSC lesions. This atlas expands our understanding of the cellular complexity of PSC and has potential to guide the development of novel treatments. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare liver disease characterized by chronic inflammation and irreparable damage to the bile ducts, which eventually results in liver failure. Due to a limited understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of disease, treatment options are limited. To address this, we sequenced healthy and diseased livers to compare the activity, interactions, and localization of immune and non-immune cells. This revealed that hepatocytes lining PSC scar regions co-express cholangiocyte markers, whereas immune cells infiltrate the scar lesions. Of these cells, macrophages, which typically contribute to tissue repair, were enriched in immunoregulatory genes and demonstrated a lack of responsiveness to stimulation. These cells may be involved in maintaining hepatic inflammation and could be a target for novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tallulah S Andrews
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada; Department of Computer Science, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - Diana Nakib
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Catia T Perciani
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Xue Zhong Ma
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Lewis Liu
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Erin Winter
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Damra Camat
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Sai W Chung
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Patricia Lumanto
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Justin Manuel
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Shantel Mangroo
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Bettina Hansen
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M6, Canada
| | - Bal Arpinder
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Cornelia Thoeni
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Blayne Sayed
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Jordan Feld
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Adam Gehring
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada; Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Aliya Gulamhusein
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Gideon M Hirschfield
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Amanda Ricciuto
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Gary D Bader
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.
| | - Ian D McGilvray
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
| | - Sonya MacParland
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
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9
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Gu W, Huang X, Singh PNP, Li S, Lan Y, Deng M, Lacko LA, Gomez-Salinero JM, Rafii S, Verzi MP, Shivdasani RA, Zhou Q. A MTA2-SATB2 chromatin complex restrains colonic plasticity toward small intestine by retaining HNF4A at colonic chromatin. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3595. [PMID: 38678016 PMCID: PMC11055869 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47738-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasticity among cell lineages is a fundamental, but poorly understood, property of regenerative tissues. In the gut tube, the small intestine absorbs nutrients, whereas the colon absorbs electrolytes. In a striking display of inherent plasticity, adult colonic mucosa lacking the chromatin factor SATB2 is converted to small intestine. Using proteomics and CRISPR-Cas9 screening, we identify MTA2 as a crucial component of the molecular machinery that, together with SATB2, restrains colonic plasticity. MTA2 loss in the adult mouse colon activated lipid absorptive genes and functional lipid uptake. Mechanistically, MTA2 co-occupies DNA with HNF4A, an activating pan-intestinal transcription factor (TF), on colonic chromatin. MTA2 loss leads to HNF4A release from colonic chromatin, and accumulation on small intestinal chromatin. SATB2 similarly restrains colonic plasticity through an HNF4A-dependent mechanism. Our study provides a generalizable model of lineage plasticity in which broadly-expressed TFs are retained on tissue-specific enhancers to maintain cell identity and prevent activation of alternative lineages, and their release unleashes plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Gu
- Division of Regenerative Medicine & Hartman Institute for Organ Regeneration, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- BeiGene Institute, BeiGene (Shanghai) Research & Development Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200131, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Huang
- Division of Regenerative Medicine & Hartman Institute for Organ Regeneration, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Pratik N P Singh
- Department of Medical Oncology, Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sanlan Li
- Division of Regenerative Medicine & Hartman Institute for Organ Regeneration, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Ying Lan
- Division of Regenerative Medicine & Hartman Institute for Organ Regeneration, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Min Deng
- Division of Regenerative Medicine & Hartman Institute for Organ Regeneration, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Lauretta A Lacko
- Division of Regenerative Medicine & Hartman Institute for Organ Regeneration, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Human Therapeutic Organoid Core Facility, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jesus M Gomez-Salinero
- Division of Regenerative Medicine & Hartman Institute for Organ Regeneration, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Shahin Rafii
- Division of Regenerative Medicine & Hartman Institute for Organ Regeneration, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Michael P Verzi
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Ramesh A Shivdasani
- Department of Medical Oncology, Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Qiao Zhou
- Division of Regenerative Medicine & Hartman Institute for Organ Regeneration, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Human Therapeutic Organoid Core Facility, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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10
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Chen Y, Yan Y, Li Y, Zhang L, Luo T, Zhu X, Qin D, Chen N, Huang W, Chen X, Wang L, Zhu X, Zhang L. Deletion of Tgm2 suppresses BMP-mediated hepatocyte-to-cholangiocyte metaplasia in ductular reaction. Cell Prolif 2024:e13646. [PMID: 38623945 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Transglutaminase 2 (Tgm2) plays an essential role in hepatic repair following prolonged toxic injury. During cholestatic liver injury, the intrahepatic cholangiocytes undergo dynamic tissue expansion and remodelling, referred to as ductular reaction (DR), which is crucial for liver regeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the dynamics of active cells in DR are still largely unclear. Here, we generated Tgm2-knockout mice (Tgm2-/-) and Tgm2-CreERT2-Rosa26-mTmG flox/flox (Tgm2CreERT2-R26T/Gf/f) mice and performed a three-dimensional (3D) collagen gel culture of mouse hepatocytes to demonstrate how Tgm2 signalling is involved in DR to remodel intrahepatic cholangiocytes. Our results showed that the deletion of Tgm2 adversely affected the functionality and maturity of the proliferative cholangiocytes in DR, thus leading to more severe cholestasis during DDC-induced liver injury. Additionally, Tgm2 hepatocytes played a crucial role in the regulation of DR through metaplasia. We unveiled that Tgm2 regulated H3K4me3Q5ser via serotonin to promote BMP signalling activation to participate in DR. Besides, we revealed that the activation or inhibition of BMP signalling could promote or suppress the development and maturation of cholangiocytes in DDC-induced DR. Furthermore, our 3D collagen gel culture assay indicated that Tgm2 was vital for the development of cholangiocytes in vitro. Our results uncovered a considerable role of BMP signalling in controlling metaplasia of Tgm2 hepatocytes in DR and revealed the phenotypic plasticity of mature hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqing Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yujing Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tingting Luo
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinlong Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan Qin
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ning Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wendong Huang
- Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing, China
| | - Liqiang Wang
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xianmin Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Wuhan University (Hubei Cancer Hospital), Wuhan, China
| | - Lisheng Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine/College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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11
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Mavila N, Siraganahalli Eshwaraiah M, Kennedy J. Ductular Reactions in Liver Injury, Regeneration, and Disease Progression-An Overview. Cells 2024; 13:579. [PMID: 38607018 PMCID: PMC11011399 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Ductular reaction (DR) is a complex cellular response that occurs in the liver during chronic injuries. DR mainly consists of hyper-proliferative or reactive cholangiocytes and, to a lesser extent, de-differentiated hepatocytes and liver progenitors presenting a close spatial interaction with periportal mesenchyme and immune cells. The underlying pathology of DRs leads to extensive tissue remodeling in chronic liver diseases. DR initiates as a tissue-regeneration mechanism in the liver; however, its close association with progressive fibrosis and inflammation in many chronic liver diseases makes it a more complicated pathological response than a simple regenerative process. An in-depth understanding of the cellular physiology of DRs and their contribution to tissue repair, inflammation, and progressive fibrosis can help scientists develop cell-type specific targeted therapies to manage liver fibrosis and chronic liver diseases effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirmala Mavila
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (M.S.E.); (J.K.)
- Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Mallikarjuna Siraganahalli Eshwaraiah
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (M.S.E.); (J.K.)
| | - Jaquelene Kennedy
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (M.S.E.); (J.K.)
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12
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Scheidecker B, Poulain S, Sugimoto M, Kido T, Kawanishi T, Miyajima A, Kim SH, Arakawa H, Kato Y, Nishikawa M, Danoy M, Sakai Y, Leclerc E. Dynamic, IPSC-derived hepatic tissue tri-culture system for the evaluation of liver physiology in vitro. Biofabrication 2024; 16:025037. [PMID: 38447229 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad30c5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Availability of hepatic tissue for the investigation of metabolic processes is severely limited. While primary hepatocytes or animal models are widely used in pharmacological applications, a change in methodology towards more sustainable and ethical assays is highly desirable. Stem cell derived hepatic cells are generally regarded as a viable alternative for the above model systems, if current limitations in functionality and maturation can be overcome. By combining microfluidic organ-on-a-chip technology with individually differentiated, multicellular hepatic tissue fractions, we aim to improve overall functionality of hepatocyte-like cells, as well as evaluate cellular composition and interactions with non-parenchymal cell populations towards the formation of mature liver tissue. Utilizing a multi-omic approach, we show the improved maturation profiles of hepatocyte-like cells maintained in a dynamic microenvironment compared to standard tissue culture setups without continuous perfusion. In order to evaluate the resulting tissue, we employ single cell sequencing to distinguish formed subpopulations and spatial localization. While cellular input was strictly defined based on established differentiation protocols of parenchyma, endothelial and stellate cell fractions, resulting hepatic tissue was shown to comprise a complex mixture of epithelial and non-parenchymal fractions with specific local enrichment of phenotypes along the microchannel. Following this approach, we show the importance of passive, paracrine developmental processes in tissue formation. Using such complex tissue models is a crucial first step to develop stem cell-derivedin vitrosystems that can compare functionally with currently used pharmacological and toxicological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Scheidecker
- CNRS UMI 2820, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, 153-8505 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Stéphane Poulain
- Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, 153-8505 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Sugimoto
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 997-0035 Yamagata, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, 160-8402 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taketomo Kido
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of Tokyo, 113-0032 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takumi Kawanishi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 920-1102 Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Atsushi Miyajima
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of Tokyo, 113-0032 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Soo Hyeon Kim
- Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, 153-8505 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Arakawa
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 920-1102 Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yukio Kato
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 920-1102 Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Masaki Nishikawa
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, University of Tokyo, 113-8654 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mathieu Danoy
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, University of Tokyo, 113-8654 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Sakai
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, University of Tokyo, 113-8654 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eric Leclerc
- CNRS UMI 2820, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, 153-8505 Tokyo, Japan
- CNRS UMR 7338, Laboratoire de Biomécanique et Bioingénierie, Université de Technologies de Compiègne, 60203 Compiègne, France
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13
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Wang H, Gong J, Chen J, Zhang W, Sun Y, Sun D. Intestinal microbiota and biliary system diseases. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1362933. [PMID: 38558851 PMCID: PMC10978682 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1362933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The incidence of biliary system diseases has been continuously increasing in the past decade. Biliary system diseases bring a heavy burden to humanity and society. However, the specific etiology and pathogenesis are still unknown. The biliary system, as a bridge between the liver and intestine, plays an indispensable role in maintaining the physiological metabolism of the body. Therefore, prevention and treatment of biliary diseases are crucial. It is worth noting that the microorganisms participate in the lipid metabolism of the bile duct, especially the largest proportion of intestinal bacteria. Methods We systematically reviewed the intestinal microbiota in patients with gallstones (GS), non-calculous biliary inflammatory, and biliary tract cancer (BTC). And searched Pubmed, Embase and Web of science for research studies published up to November 2023. Results We found that the abundance of Faecalibacterium genus is decreased in GS, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and BTC. Veillonella, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Enterococcus genus were significantly increased in PSC, PBC and BTC. Interestingly, we found that the relative abundance of Clostridium was generally reduced in GS, PBC and BTC. However, Clostridium was generally increased in PSC. Discussion The existing research mostly focuses on exploring the mechanisms of bacteria targeting a single disease. Lacking comparison of multiple diseases and changes in bacteria during the disease process. We hope to provide biomarkers forearly diagnosis of biliary system diseases and provide new directions for the mechanism of intestinal microbiota in biliary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Wang
- Department of Health, The Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Junfeng Gong
- Department of General Surgery, The Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Jingyi Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Health, The Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Yanjun Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Dengqun Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital, Hefei, China
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14
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Katsuda T, Sussman JH, Ito K, Katznelson A, Yuan S, Takenaka N, Li J, Merrell AJ, Cure H, Li Q, Rasool RU, Asangani IA, Zaret KS, Stanger BZ. Cellular reprogramming in vivo initiated by SOX4 pioneer factor activity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1761. [PMID: 38409161 PMCID: PMC10897393 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45939-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue damage elicits cell fate switching through a process called metaplasia, but how the starting cell fate is silenced and the new cell fate is activated has not been investigated in animals. In cell culture, pioneer transcription factors mediate "reprogramming" by opening new chromatin sites for expression that can attract transcription factors from the starting cell's enhancers. Here we report that SOX4 is sufficient to initiate hepatobiliary metaplasia in the adult mouse liver, closely mimicking metaplasia initiated by toxic damage to the liver. In lineage-traced cells, we assessed the timing of SOX4-mediated opening of enhancer chromatin versus enhancer decommissioning. Initially, SOX4 directly binds to and closes hepatocyte regulatory sequences via an overlapping motif with HNF4A, a hepatocyte master regulatory transcription factor. Subsequently, SOX4 exerts pioneer factor activity to open biliary regulatory sequences. The results delineate a hierarchy by which gene networks become reprogrammed under physiological conditions, providing deeper insight into the basis for cell fate transitions in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Katsuda
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jonathan H Sussman
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Graduate Group in Genomics and Computational Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kenji Ito
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Katznelson
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Salina Yuan
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Naomi Takenaka
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Allyson J Merrell
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hector Cure
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qinglan Li
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Reyaz Ur Rasool
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Irfan A Asangani
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kenneth S Zaret
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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15
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Mašek J, Andersson ER. Jagged-mediated development and disease: Mechanistic insights and therapeutic implications for Alagille syndrome. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 86:102302. [PMID: 38194749 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Notch signaling controls multiple aspects of embryonic development and adult homeostasis. Alagille syndrome is usually caused by a single mutation in the jagged canonical Notch ligand 1 (JAG1), and manifests with liver disease and cardiovascular symptoms that are a direct consequence of JAG1 haploinsufficiency. Recent insights into Jag1/Notch-controlled developmental and homeostatic processes explain how pathology develops in the hepatic and cardiovascular systems and, together with recent elucidation of mechanisms modulating liver regeneration, provide a basis for therapeutic efforts. Importantly, disease presentation can be regulated by genetic modifiers, that may also be therapeutically leverageable. Here, we summarize recent insights into how Jag1 controls processes of relevance to Alagille syndrome, focused on Jag1/Notch functions in hepatic and cardiovascular development and homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Mašek
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. https://twitter.com/JanMasekLab
| | - Emma R Andersson
- Dept of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
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16
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Carter LE, Bugiel S, Nunnikhoven A, Verster AJ, Petronella N, Gill S, Curran IHA. Comparative genomic analysis of Fischer F344 rat livers exposed for 90 days to 3-methylfuran or its parental compound furan. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 184:114426. [PMID: 38160780 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.114426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Furan is a naturally forming compound found in heat-processed foods such as coffee, canned meats, and jarred baby food. It is concurrently found with analogues including 2-methylfuran (2-MF) and 3-methylfuran (3-MF), and toxicity studies demonstrate all are potent liver toxins. Toxicity studies found 3-MF is more toxic than either furan, or 2-MF. The present analysis assesses the transcriptional response in liver samples taken from male Fischer (F344) rats exposed to furan or 3-MF from 0 to 2.0 and 0-1.0 mg/kg bw/day, respectively, for 90 days. Transcriptional analyses found decreased liver function and fatty acid metabolism are common responses to both furan and 3-MF exposure. Furan liver injury promotes a ductular reaction through Hippo and TGFB signalling, which combined with increased immune response results in ameliorating perturbed bile acid homeostasis in treated rats. Failure to activate these pathways in 3-MF exposed rats and decreased p53 activity leads to cholestasis, and increased toxicity. Finally, BMD analysis indicate many of the most sensitive pathways affected by furan and 3-MF exposure relate to metabolism - malate dehydrogenase and glucose metabolism with BMDLs of 0.03 and 0.01 mg/kg bw/day for furan and 3-MF exposure, respectively, which agrees with BMDLs previously reported for apical and microarray data.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Carter
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - S Bugiel
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - A Nunnikhoven
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - A J Verster
- Bureau of Food Surveillance and Science Integration, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - N Petronella
- Bureau of Food Surveillance and Science Integration, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - S Gill
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - I H A Curran
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
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17
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Iqbal A, Van Hul N, Belicova L, Corbat AA, Hankeova S, Andersson ER. Spatially segregated defects and IGF1-responsiveness of hilar and peripheral biliary organoids from a model of Alagille syndrome. Liver Int 2024; 44:541-558. [PMID: 38014627 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Alagille syndrome (ALGS) manifests with peripheral intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) paucity, which can spontaneously resolve. In a model for ALGS, Jag1Ndr/Ndr mice, this occurs with distinct architectural mechanisms in hilar and peripheral IHBDs. Here, we investigated region-specific IHBD characteristics and addressed whether IGF1, a cholangiocyte mitogen that is downregulated in ALGS and in Jag1Ndr/Ndr mice, can improve biliary outcomes. METHODS Intrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids (ICOs) were derived from hilar and peripheral adult Jag1+/+ and Jag1Ndr/Ndr livers (hICOs and pICOs, respectively). ICOs were grown in Matrigel or microwell arrays, and characterized using bulk RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, and high throughput analyses of nuclear sizes. ICOs were treated with IGF1, followed by analyses of growth, proliferation, and death. CellProfiler and Python scripts were custom written for image analyses. Key results were validated in vivo by immunostaining. RESULTS Cell growth assays and transcriptomics demonstrated that Jag1Ndr/Ndr ICOs were less proliferative than Jag1+/+ ICOs. IGF1 specifically rescued survival and growth of Jag1Ndr/Ndr pICOs. Jag1Ndr/Ndr hICOs were the least proliferative, with lower Notch signalling and an enrichment of hepatocyte signatures and IGF uptake/transport pathways. In vitro (Jag1Ndr/Ndr hICOs) and in vivo (Jag1Ndr/Ndr hilar portal tracts) analyses revealed ectopic HNF4a+ hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS Hilar and peripheral Jag1Ndr/Ndr ICOs exhibit differences in Notch signalling status, proliferation, and cholangiocyte commitment which may result in cholangiocyte-to-hepatocyte transdifferentiation. While Jag1Ndr/Ndr pICOs can be rescued by IGF1, hICOs are unresponsive, perhaps due to their hepatocyte-like state and/or expression of IGF transport components. IGF1 represents a potential therapeutic for peripheral bile ducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afshan Iqbal
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Noemi Van Hul
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lenka Belicova
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Agustin A Corbat
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simona Hankeova
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emma R Andersson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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18
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Sutton H, Karpen SJ, Kamath BM. Pediatric Cholestatic Diseases: Common and Unique Pathogenic Mechanisms. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 19:319-344. [PMID: 38265882 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-031521-025623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Cholestasis is the predominate feature of many pediatric hepatobiliary diseases. The physiologic flow of bile requires multiple complex processes working in concert. Bile acid (BA) synthesis and excretion, the formation and flow of bile, and the enterohepatic reuptake of BAs all function to maintain the circulation of BAs, a key molecule in lipid digestion, metabolic and cellular signaling, and, as discussed in the review, a crucial mediator in the pathogenesis of cholestasis. Disruption of one or several of these steps can result in the accumulation of toxic BAs in bile ducts and hepatocytes leading to inflammation, fibrosis, and, over time, biliary and hepatic cirrhosis. Biliary atresia, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and Alagille syndrome are four of the most common pediatric cholestatic conditions. Through understanding the commonalities and differences in these diseases, the important cellular mechanistic underpinnings of cholestasis can be greater appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Sutton
- The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
| | - Saul J Karpen
- Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Binita M Kamath
- The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
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19
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Hrncir HR, Bombin S, Goodloe B, Hogan CB, Jadi O, Gracz AD. Sox9 links biliary maturation to branching morphogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.15.574730. [PMID: 38293117 PMCID: PMC10827067 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.15.574730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Branching morphogenesis couples cellular differentiation with development of tissue architecture. Intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) morphogenesis is initiated with biliary epithelial cell (BEC) specification and eventually forms a heterogeneous network of large ducts and small ductules. Here, we show that Sox9 is required for developmental establishment of small ductules. IHBDs emerge as a webbed structure by E15.5 and undergo morphological maturation through 2 weeks of age. Developmental knockout of Sox9 leads to decreased postnatal branching morphogenesis, manifesting as loss of ductules in adult livers. In the absence of Sox9, BECs fail to mature and exhibit elevated TGF-β signaling and Activin A. Activin A induces developmental gene expression and morphological defects in BEC organoids and represses ductule formation in postnatal livers. Our data demonstrate that adult IHBD morphology and BEC maturation is regulated by the Sox9-dependent formation of precursors to ductules during development, mediated in part by downregulation of Activin A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Hrncir
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University. Atlanta, GA USA
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, Emory University
| | - Sergei Bombin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University. Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Brianna Goodloe
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University. Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Connor B Hogan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University. Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Othmane Jadi
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Adam D Gracz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University. Atlanta, GA USA
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, Emory University
- Lead contact:
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20
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Singh S, Lian Q, Budiman T, Taketo MM, Simons BD, Gupta V. Heterogeneous murine peribiliary glands orchestrate compartmentalized epithelial renewal. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2732-2745.e5. [PMID: 37909044 PMCID: PMC10842076 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
The extrahepatic branches of the biliary tree have glands that connect to the surface epithelium through narrow pits. The duct epithelia undergo homeostatic renewal, yet the identity and multiplicity of cells that maintain this tissue is unknown. Using marker-free and targeted clonal fate mapping in mice, we provide evidence that the extrahepatic bile duct is compartmentalized. Pit cholangiocytes of extramural glands renewed the surface epithelium, whereas basally oriented cholangiocytes maintained the gland itself. In contrast, basally positioned cholangiocytes replenished the surface epithelium in mural glands. Single-cell sequencing identified genes enriched in the base and surface epithelial populations, with trajectory analysis showing graded gene expression between these compartments. Epithelia were plastic, changing cellular identity upon fasting and refeeding. Gain of canonical Wnt signaling caused basal cell expansion, gastric chief cell marker expression, and a decrease in surface epithelial markers. Our results identify the cellular hierarchy governing extrahepatic biliary epithelial renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serrena Singh
- Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Qiuyu Lian
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Tifanny Budiman
- Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Makoto M Taketo
- Kyoto University Hospital-iACT (Colon Cancer Project), Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Benjamin D Simons
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA, UK; Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Vikas Gupta
- Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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21
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Jiang M, Ren J, Belmonte JCI, Liu GH. Hepatocyte reprogramming in liver regeneration: Biological mechanisms and applications. FEBS J 2023; 290:5674-5688. [PMID: 37556833 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
The liver is one of the few organs that retain the capability to regenerate in adult mammals. This regeneration process is mainly facilitated by the dynamic behavior of hepatocytes, which are the major functional constituents in the liver. In response to liver injury, hepatocytes undergo remarkable alterations, such as reprogramming, wherein they lose their original identity and acquire properties from other cells. This phenomenon of hepatocyte reprogramming, coupled with hepatocyte expansion, plays a central role in liver regeneration, and its underlying mechanisms are complex and multifaceted. Understanding the fate of reprogrammed hepatocytes and the mechanisms of their conversion has significant implications for the development of innovative therapeutics for liver diseases. Herein, we review the plasticity of hepatocytes in response to various forms of liver injury, with a focus on injury-induced hepatocyte reprogramming. We provide a comprehensive summary of current knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing hepatocyte reprogramming, specifically in the context of liver regeneration, providing insight into potential applications of this process in the treatment of liver disorders, including chronic liver diseases and liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Ren
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Guang-Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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22
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Nejak-Bowen K, Monga SP. Wnt-β-catenin in hepatobiliary homeostasis, injury, and repair. Hepatology 2023; 78:1907-1921. [PMID: 37246413 PMCID: PMC10687322 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Wnt-β-catenin signaling has emerged as an important regulatory pathway in the liver, playing key roles in zonation and mediating contextual hepatobiliary repair after injuries. In this review, we will address the major advances in understanding the role of Wnt signaling in hepatic zonation, regeneration, and cholestasis-induced injury. We will also touch on some important unanswered questions and discuss the relevance of modulating the pathway to provide therapies for complex liver pathologies that remain a continued unmet clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
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23
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Melis M, Marino R, Tian J, Johnson C, Sethi R, Oertel M, Fox IJ, Locker J. Mechanism and Effect of HNF4α Decrease in a Rat Model of Cirrhosis and Liver Failure. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 17:453-479. [PMID: 37993018 PMCID: PMC10837635 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS HNF4α, a master regulator of liver development and the mature hepatocyte phenotype, is down-regulated in chronic and inflammatory liver disease. We used contemporary transcriptomics and epigenomics to study the cause and effects of this down-regulation and characterized a multicellular etiology. METHODS Progressive changes in the rat carbon tetrachloride model were studied by deep RNA sequencing and genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis of transcription factor (TF) binding and chromatin modification. Studies compared decompensated cirrhosis with liver failure after 26 weeks of treatment with earlier compensated cirrhosis and with additional rat models of chronic fibrosis. Finally, to resolve cell-specific responses and intercellular signaling, we compared transcriptomes of liver, nonparenchymal, and inflammatory cells. RESULTS HNF4α was significantly lower in 26-week cirrhosis, part of a general reduction of TFs that regulate metabolism. Nevertheless, increased binding of HNF4α contributed to strong activation of major phenotypic genes, whereas reduced binding to other genes had a moderate phenotypic effect. Decreased Hnf4a expression was the combined effect of STAT3 and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) activation, which similarly reduced expression of other metabolic TFs. STAT/NFκB also induced de novo expression of Osmr by hepatocytes to complement induced expression of Osm by nonparenchymal cells. CONCLUSIONS Liver decompensation by inflammatory STAT3 and NFκB signaling was not a direct consequence of progressive cirrhosis. Despite significant reduction of Hnf4a expression, residual levels of this abundant TF still stimulated strong new gene expression. Reduction of HNF4α was part of a broad hepatocyte transcriptional response to inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Melis
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Rebecca Marino
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jianmin Tian
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Carla Johnson
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Rahil Sethi
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael Oertel
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ira J Fox
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Joseph Locker
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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24
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Niknejad N, Fox D, Burwinkel JL, Zarrin-Khameh N, Cho S, Soriano A, Cast AE, Lopez MF, Huppert KA, Rigo F, Huppert SS, Jafar-Nejad P, Jafar-Nejad H. ASO silencing of a glycosyltransferase, Poglut1 , improves the liver phenotypes in mouse models of Alagille syndrome. Hepatology 2023; 78:1337-1351. [PMID: 37021797 PMCID: PMC10558624 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Paucity of intrahepatic bile ducts (BDs) is caused by various etiologies and often leads to cholestatic liver disease. For example, in patients with Alagille syndrome (ALGS), which is a genetic disease primarily caused by mutations in jagged 1 ( JAG1) , BD paucity often results in severe cholestasis and liver damage. However, no mechanism-based therapy exists to restore the biliary system in ALGS or other diseases associated with BD paucity. Based on previous genetic observations, we investigated whether postnatal knockdown of the glycosyltransferase gene protein O -glucosyltransferase 1 ( Poglut1) can improve the ALGS liver phenotypes in several mouse models generated by removing one copy of Jag1 in the germline with or without reducing the gene dosage of sex-determining region Y-box 9 in the liver. APPROACH AND RESULTS Using an ASO established in this study, we show that reducing Poglut1 levels in postnatal livers of ALGS mouse models with moderate to profound biliary abnormalities can significantly improve BD development and biliary tree formation. Importantly, ASO injections prevent liver damage in these models without adverse effects. Furthermore, ASO-mediated Poglut1 knockdown improves biliary tree formation in a different mouse model with no Jag1 mutations. Cell-based signaling assays indicate that reducing POGLUT1 levels or mutating POGLUT1 modification sites on JAG1 increases JAG1 protein level and JAG1-mediated signaling, suggesting a likely mechanism for the observed in vivo rescue. CONCLUSIONS Our preclinical studies establish ASO-mediated POGLUT1 knockdown as a potential therapeutic strategy for ALGS liver disease and possibly other diseases associated with BD paucity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Niknejad
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Duncan Fox
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Genetics & Genomics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Jennifer L. Burwinkel
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Neda Zarrin-Khameh
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine and Ben Taub Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Soomin Cho
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | | | - Ashley E. Cast
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Mario F. Lopez
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Kari A. Huppert
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | | | - Stacey S. Huppert
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | | | - Hamed Jafar-Nejad
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Genetics & Genomics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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25
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Huang WJ, Qiu BJ, Qi XS, Chen CY, Liu WM, Zhou SA, Ding M, Lu FF, Zhao J, Tang D, Zhou X, Fu GB, Wang ZY, Ma HQ, Wu YL, Wu HP, Chen XS, Yu WF, Yan HX. CD24 +LCN2 + liver progenitor cells in ductular reaction contributed to macrophage inflammatory responses in chronic liver injury. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:184. [PMID: 37784089 PMCID: PMC10546777 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01123-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CD24+CK19+/CD24+SOX9+ resident liver cells are activated and expanded after chronic liver injury in a ductular reaction. However, the sources and functions of these cells in liver damage remain disputed. RESULTS The current study combined genetic lineage tracing with in vitro small-molecule-based reprogramming to define liver progenitor cells (LPCs) derived from hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal tissues. tdTom+ hepatocytes were isolated from ROSA26tdTomato mice following AAV8-Tbg-Cre-mediated recombination, EpCAM+ biliary epithelial cells (BECs) from wild-type intrahepatic bile ducts and ALB/GFP-EpCAM- cells were isolated from AlbCreERT/R26GFP mice. A cocktail of small molecules was used to convert the isolated cells into LPCs. These in vitro cultured LPCs with CD24 and SOX9 expression regained the ability to proliferate. Transcriptional profiling showed that the in-vitro cultured LPCs derived from the resident LPCs in non-parenchymal tissues expressed Lipocalin-2 (Lcn2) at high levels. Accordingly, endogenous Cd24a+Lcn2+ LPCs were identified by integration of sc-RNA-sequencing and pathological datasets of liver dysfunction which indicates that LPCs produced by ductular reactions might also originate from the resident LPCs. Transplantation of in-vitro cultured Cd24a+Lcn2+ LPCs into CCl4-induced fibrotic livers exacerbated liver damage and dysfunction, possibly due to LCN2-dependent macrophage inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS CD24+LCN2+ LPCs constituted the expanding ductular reaction and contributed to macrophage-mediated inflammation in chronic liver damage. The current findings highlight the roles of LPCs from distinct origins and expose the possibility of targeting LPCs in the treatment of chronic hepatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Jian Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- Celliver Biotechnology Inc., Shanghai, China
| | - Bi-Jun Qiu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University., Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Shu Qi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Cai-Yang Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Wen-Ming Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Min Ding
- Department of Interventional Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng-Feng Lu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University., Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Gong-Bo Fu
- Department of Medical Oncology, First School of Clinical Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Southern Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Qian Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Ling Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Ping Wu
- International Cooperation Laboratory On Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Song Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
| | - Wei-Feng Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200120, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
| | - He-Xin Yan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200120, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
- Celliver Biotechnology Inc., Shanghai, China.
- Department of Interventional Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
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Hrncir HR, Hantelys F, Gracz AD. Panic at the Bile Duct: How Intrahepatic Cholangiocytes Respond to Stress and Injury. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2023; 193:1440-1454. [PMID: 36870530 PMCID: PMC10548281 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
In the liver, biliary epithelial cells (BECs) line intrahepatic bile ducts (IHBDs) and are primarily responsible for modifying and transporting hepatocyte-produced bile to the digestive tract. BECs comprise only 3% to 5% of the liver by cell number but are critical for maintaining choleresis through homeostasis and disease. To this end, BECs drive an extensive morphologic remodeling of the IHBD network termed ductular reaction (DR) in response to direct injury or injury to the hepatic parenchyma. BECs are also the target of a broad and heterogenous class of diseases termed cholangiopathies, which can present with phenotypes ranging from defective IHBD development in pediatric patients to progressive periductal fibrosis and cancer. DR is observed in many cholangiopathies, highlighting overlapping similarities between cell- and tissue-level responses by BECs across a spectrum of injury and disease. The following core set of cell biological BEC responses to stress and injury may moderate, initiate, or exacerbate liver pathophysiology in a context-dependent manner: cell death, proliferation, transdifferentiation, senescence, and acquisition of neuroendocrine phenotype. By reviewing how IHBDs respond to stress, this review seeks to highlight fundamental processes with potentially adaptive or maladaptive consequences. A deeper understanding of how these common responses contribute to DR and cholangiopathies may identify novel therapeutic targets in liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Hrncir
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Fransky Hantelys
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Adam D Gracz
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
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Chen F, Schönberger K, Tchorz JS. Distinct hepatocyte identities in liver homeostasis and regeneration. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100779. [PMID: 37456678 PMCID: PMC10339260 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of metabolic liver zonation is spontaneously established by assigning distributed tasks to hepatocytes along the porto-central blood flow. Hepatocytes fulfil critical metabolic functions, while also maintaining hepatocyte mass by replication when needed. Recent technological advances have enabled us to fine-tune our understanding of hepatocyte identity during homeostasis and regeneration. Subsets of hepatocytes have been identified to be more regenerative and some have even been proposed to function like stem cells, challenging the long-standing view that all hepatocytes are similarly capable of regeneration. The latest data show that hepatocyte renewal during homeostasis and regeneration after liver injury is not limited to rare hepatocytes; however, hepatocytes are not exactly the same. Herein, we review the known differences that give individual hepatocytes distinct identities, recent findings demonstrating how these distinct identities correspond to differences in hepatocyte regenerative capacity, and how the plasticity of hepatocyte identity allows for division of labour among hepatocytes. We further discuss how these distinct hepatocyte identities may play a role during liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Chen
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Jan S. Tchorz
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
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28
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Akiyama S, Saku N, Miyata S, Ite K, Nonaka H, Toyoda M, Kamiya A, Kiyono T, Kimura T, Kasahara M, Umezawa A. Drug metabolic activity as a selection factor for pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatic progenitor cells. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 199:155-178. [PMID: 37678970 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
As a metabolic organ, the liver plays a variety of roles, including detoxification. It has been difficult to obtain stable supplies of hepatocytes for transplantation and for accurate hepatotoxicity determination in drug discovery research. Human pluripotent stem cells, capable of unlimited self-renewal, may be a promising source of hepatocytes. In order to develop a stable supply of embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived hepatocytes, we have purified human ESC-derived hepatic progenitor cells with exposure to cytocidal puromycin by using their ability to metabolize drugs. Hepatic progenitor cells stably proliferated at least 220-fold over 120 days, maintaining hepatic progenitor cell-like properties. High drug-metabolizing hepatic progenitor cells can be matured into liver cells by suppressing hepatic proliferative signals. The method we developed enables the isolation and proliferation of functional hepatic progenitors from human ESCs, thereby providing a stable supply of high-quality cell resources at high efficiency. Cells produced by this method may facilitate cell therapy for hepatic diseases and reliable drug discovery research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeko Akiyama
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Advanced Pediatric Medicine (National Center for Child Health and Development), Tohoku University School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Noriaki Saku
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoko Miyata
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenta Ite
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidenori Nonaka
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masashi Toyoda
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan; Research team for Aging Science (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihide Kamiya
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tohru Kiyono
- Project for Prevention of HPV-related Cancer, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tohru Kimura
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of BioSciences, Kitasato University School of Science, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Mureo Kasahara
- Department of Pathology, National Center for Child Health and Development Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Umezawa
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
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29
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Lan T, Tai Y, Zhao C, Xiao Y, Yang Z, Zhang L, Gan C, Dai W, Tong H, Tang C, Huang Z, Gao J. Atypical cholangiocytes derived from hepatocyte-cholangiocyte transdifferentiation mediated by COX-2: a kind of misguided liver regeneration. Inflamm Regen 2023; 43:37. [PMID: 37452426 PMCID: PMC10347763 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-023-00284-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocyte-cholangiocyte transdifferentiation (HCT) is a potential origin of proliferating cholangiocytes in liver regeneration after chronic injury. This study aimed to determine HCT after chronic liver injury, verify the impacts of HCT on liver repair, and avoid harmful regeneration by understanding the mechanism. METHODS A thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury model was established in wild-type (WT-TAA group) and COX-2 panknockout (KO-TAA group) mice. HCT was identified by costaining of hepatocyte and cholangiocyte markers in vivo and in isolated mouse hepatocytes in vitro. The biliary tract was injected with ink and visualized by whole liver optical clearing. Serum and liver bile acid (BA) concentrations were measured. Either a COX-2 selective inhibitor or a β-catenin pathway inhibitor was administered in vitro. RESULTS Intrahepatic ductular reaction was associated with COX-2 upregulation in chronic liver injury. Immunofluorescence and RNA sequencing indicated that atypical cholangiocytes were characterized by an intermediate genetic phenotype between hepatocytes and cholangiocytes and might be derived from hepatocytes. The structure of the biliary system was impaired, and BA metabolism was dysregulated by HCT, which was mediated by the TGF-β/β-catenin signaling pathway. Genetic deletion or pharmaceutical inhibition of COX-2 significantly reduced HCT in vivo. The COX-2 selective inhibitor etoricoxib suppressed HCT through the TGF-β-TGFBR1-β-catenin pathway in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Atypical cholangiocytes can be derived from HCT, which forms a secondary strike by maldevelopment of the bile drainage system and BA homeostasis disequilibrium during chronic liver injury. Inhibition of COX-2 could ameliorate HCT through the COX-2-TGF-β-TGFBR1-β-catenin pathway and improve liver function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Lan
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yang Tai
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chong Zhao
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yang Xiao
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhu Yang
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Linhao Zhang
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Can Gan
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Wenting Dai
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Huan Tong
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chengwei Tang
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhiyin Huang
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Jinhang Gao
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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30
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Nguyen T, Mills JC, Cho CJ. The coordinated management of ribosome and translation during injury and regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1186638. [PMID: 37427381 PMCID: PMC10325863 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1186638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Diverse acute and chronic injuries induce damage responses in the gastrointestinal (GI) system, and numerous cell types in the gastrointestinal tract demonstrate remarkable resilience, adaptability, and regenerative capacity in response to stress. Metaplasias, such as columnar and secretory cell metaplasia, are well-known adaptations that these cells make, the majority of which are epidemiologically associated with an elevated cancer risk. On a number of fronts, it is now being investigated how cells respond to injury at the tissue level, where diverse cell types that differ in proliferation capacity and differentiation state cooperate and compete with one another to participate in regeneration. In addition, the cascades or series of molecular responses that cells show are just beginning to be understood. Notably, the ribosome, a ribonucleoprotein complex that is essential for translation on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in the cytoplasm, is recognized as the central organelle during this process. The highly regulated management of ribosomes as key translational machinery, and their platform, rough endoplasmic reticulum, are not only essential for maintaining differentiated cell identity, but also for achieving successful cell regeneration after injury. This review will cover in depth how ribosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum, and translation are regulated and managed in response to injury (e.g., paligenosis), as well as why this is essential for the proper adaptation of a cell to stress. For this, we will first discuss how multiple gastrointestinal organs respond to stress through metaplasia. Next, we will cover how ribosomes are generated, maintained, and degraded, in addition to the factors that govern translation. Finally, we will investigate how ribosomes and translation machinery are dynamically regulated in response to injury. Our increased understanding of this overlooked cell fate decision mechanism will facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for gastrointestinal tract tumors, focusing on ribosomes and translation machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jason C. Mills
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Charles J. Cho
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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31
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Owen T, Carpino G, Chen L, Kundu D, Wills P, Ekser B, Onori P, Gaudio E, Alpini G, Francis H, Kennedy L. Endothelin Receptor-A Inhibition Decreases Ductular Reaction, Liver Fibrosis, and Angiogenesis in a Model of Cholangitis. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 16:513-540. [PMID: 37336290 PMCID: PMC10462792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) leads to ductular reaction and fibrosis and is complicated by vascular dysfunction. Cholangiocyte and endothelial cell crosstalk modulates their proliferation in cholestatic models. Endothelin (ET)-1 and ET-2 bind to their receptor, ET-A, and cholangiocytes are a key source of ET-1 after bile duct ligation. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of ET-A inhibition in PSC and biliary-endothelial crosstalk mediated by this pathway. METHODS Wild-type and multidrug resistance 2 knockout (Mdr2-/-) mice at 12 weeks of age were treated with vehicle or Ambrisentan (ET-A antagonist) for 1 week by daily intraperitoneal injections. Human control and PSC samples were used. RESULTS Mdr2-/- mice at 4, 8, and 12 weeks displayed angiogenesis that peaked at 12 weeks. Mdr2-/- mice at 12 weeks had enhanced biliary ET-1/ET-2/ET-A expression and secretion, whereas human PSC had enhanced ET-1/ET-A expression and secretion. Ambrisentan reduced biliary damage, immune cell infiltration, and fibrosis in Mdr2-/- mice. Mdr2-/- mice had squamous cholangiocytes with blunted microvilli and dilated arterioles lacking cilia; however, Ambrisentan reversed these alterations. Ambrisentan decreased cholangiocyte expression of pro-angiogenic factors, specifically midkine, through the regulation of cFOS. In vitro, ET-1/ET-A caused cholangiocyte senescence, endothelial cell angiogenesis, and macrophage inflammation. In vitro, human PSC cholangiocyte supernatants increased endothelial cell migration, which was blocked with Ambrisentan treatment. CONCLUSIONS ET-A inhibition reduced biliary and liver damage in Mdr2-/- mice. ET-A promotes biliary angiocrine signaling that may, in turn, enhance angiogenesis. Targeting ET-A may prove therapeutic for PSC, specifically patients displaying vascular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis Owen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Guido Carpino
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lixian Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Debjyoti Kundu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Payton Wills
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Burcin Ekser
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Paolo Onori
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Research, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Heather Francis
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Research, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Lindsey Kennedy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Research, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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32
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Xie S, Wei S, Ma X, Wang R, He T, Zhang Z, Yang J, Wang J, Chang L, Jing M, Li H, Zhou X, Zhao Y. Genetic alterations and molecular mechanisms underlying hereditary intrahepatic cholestasis. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1173542. [PMID: 37324459 PMCID: PMC10264785 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1173542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary cholestatic liver disease caused by a class of autosomal gene mutations results in jaundice, which involves the abnormality of the synthesis, secretion, and other disorders of bile acids metabolism. Due to the existence of a variety of gene mutations, the clinical manifestations of children are also diverse. There is no unified standard for diagnosis and single detection method, which seriously hinders the development of clinical treatment. Therefore, the mutated genes of hereditary intrahepatic cholestasis were systematically described in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuying Xie
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shizhang Wei
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruilin Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, 5th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting He
- Department of Pharmacy, 5th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Zhang
- Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ju Yang
- Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Chang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manyi Jing
- Department of Pharmacy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haotian Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xuelin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanling Zhao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Giuli L, Santopaolo F, Pallozzi M, Pellegrino A, Coppola G, Gasbarrini A, Ponziani FR. Cellular therapies in liver and pancreatic diseases. Dig Liver Dis 2023; 55:563-579. [PMID: 36543708 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2022.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, developments in regenerative medicine in gastroenterology have been greatly enhanced by the application of stem cells, which can self-replicate and differentiate into any somatic cell. The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells has opened remarkable perspectives on tissue regeneration, including their use as a bridge to transplantation or as supportive therapy in patients with organ failure. The improvements in DNA manipulation and gene editing strategies have also allowed to clarify the physiopathology and to correct the phenotype of several monogenic diseases, both in vivo and in vitro. Further progress has been made with the development of three-dimensional cultures, known as organoids, which have demonstrated morphological and functional complexity comparable to that of a miniature organ. Hence, owing to its protean applications and potential benefits, cell and organoid transplantation has become a hot topic for the management of gastrointestinal diseases. In this review, we describe current knowledge on cell therapies in hepatology and pancreatology, providing insight into their future applications in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Giuli
- Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Hepatology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Santopaolo
- Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Hepatology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Pallozzi
- Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Hepatology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Pellegrino
- Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Hepatology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetano Coppola
- Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Hepatology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Gasbarrini
- Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Hepatology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Romana Ponziani
- Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Hepatology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Lee SH, So J, Shin D. Hepatocyte-to-cholangiocyte conversion occurs through transdifferentiation independently of proliferation in zebrafish. Hepatology 2023; 77:1198-1210. [PMID: 36626626 PMCID: PMC10023500 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Injury to biliary epithelial cells (BECs) lining the hepatic bile ducts leads to cholestatic liver diseases. Upon severe biliary damage, hepatocytes can convert to BECs, thereby contributing to liver recovery. Given a potential of augmenting this hepatocyte-to-BEC conversion as a therapeutic option for cholestatic liver diseases, it will be important to thoroughly understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the conversion process. APPROACH AND RESULTS Towards this aim, we have established a zebrafish model for hepatocyte-to-BEC conversion by employing Tg(fabp10a:CFP-NTR) zebrafish with a temporal inhibition of Notch signaling during regeneration. Cre/loxP-mediated permanent and H2B-mCherry-mediated short-term lineage tracing revealed that in the model, all BECs originate from hepatocytes. During the conversion, BEC markers are sequentially induced in the order of Sox9b, Yap/Taz, Notch activity/ epcam , and Alcama/ krt18 ; the expression of the hepatocyte marker Bhmt disappears between the Sox9b and Yap/Taz induction. Importantly, live time-lapse imaging unambiguously revealed transdifferentiation of hepatocytes into BECs: hepatocytes convert to BECs without transitioning through a proliferative intermediate state. In addition, using compounds and transgenic and mutant lines that modulate Notch and Yap signaling, we found that both Notch and Yap signaling are required for the conversion even in Notch- and Yap-overactivating settings. CONCLUSIONS Hepatocyte-to-BEC conversion occurs through transdifferentiation independently of proliferation, and Notch and Yap signaling control the process in parallel with a mutually positive interaction. The new zebrafish model will further contribute to a thorough understanding of the mechanisms of the conversion process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Hoon Lee
- Department of Developmental Biology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Juhoon So
- Department of Developmental Biology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Donghun Shin
- Department of Developmental Biology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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35
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Shi ZD, Pang K, Wu ZX, Dong Y, Hao L, Qin JX, Wang W, Chen ZS, Han CH. Tumor cell plasticity in targeted therapy-induced resistance: mechanisms and new strategies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:113. [PMID: 36906600 PMCID: PMC10008648 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01383-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the success of targeted therapies in cancer treatment, therapy-induced resistance remains a major obstacle to a complete cure. Tumor cells evade treatments and relapse via phenotypic switching driven by intrinsic or induced cell plasticity. Several reversible mechanisms have been proposed to circumvent tumor cell plasticity, including epigenetic modifications, regulation of transcription factors, activation or suppression of key signaling pathways, as well as modification of the tumor environment. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, tumor cell and cancer stem cell formation also serve as roads towards tumor cell plasticity. Corresponding treatment strategies have recently been developed that either target plasticity-related mechanisms or employ combination treatments. In this review, we delineate the formation of tumor cell plasticity and its manipulation of tumor evasion from targeted therapy. We discuss the non-genetic mechanisms of targeted drug-induced tumor cell plasticity in various types of tumors and provide insights into the contribution of tumor cell plasticity to acquired drug resistance. New therapeutic strategies such as inhibition or reversal of tumor cell plasticity are also presented. We also discuss the multitude of clinical trials that are ongoing worldwide with the intention of improving clinical outcomes. These advances provide a direction for developing novel therapeutic strategies and combination therapy regimens that target tumor cell plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Duo Shi
- Department of Urology, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Urology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.,School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Urology, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Kun Pang
- Department of Urology, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Urology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhuo-Xun Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, 11439, USA
| | - Yang Dong
- Department of Urology, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Urology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lin Hao
- Department of Urology, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Urology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jia-Xin Qin
- Department of Urology, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Urology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, 11439, USA.
| | - Cong-Hui Han
- Department of Urology, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China. .,Department of Urology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China. .,School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Jiangsu, China. .,Department of Urology, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Heilongjiang, China.
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36
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Li L, Cui L, Lin P, Liu Z, Bao S, Ma X, Nan H, Zhu W, Cen J, Mao Y, Ma X, Jiang L, Nie Y, Ginhoux F, Li Y, Li H, Hui L. Kupffer-cell-derived IL-6 is repurposed for hepatocyte dedifferentiation via activating progenitor genes from injury-specific enhancers. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:283-299.e9. [PMID: 36787740 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Stem cell-independent reprogramming of differentiated cells has recently been identified as an important paradigm for repairing injured tissues. Following periportal injury, mature hepatocytes re-activate reprogramming/progenitor-related genes (RRGs) and dedifferentiate into liver progenitor-like cells (LPLCs) in both mice and humans, which contribute remarkably to regeneration. However, it remains unknown which and how external factors trigger hepatocyte reprogramming. Here, by employing single-cell transcriptional profiling and lineage-specific deletion tools, we uncovered that periportal-specific LPLC formation was initiated by regionally activated Kupffer cells but not peripheral monocyte-derived macrophages. Unexpectedly, using in vivo screening, the proinflammatory factor IL-6 was identified as the niche signal repurposed for RRG induction via STAT3 activation, which drove RRG expression through binding to their pre-accessible enhancers. Notably, RRGs were activated through injury-specific rather than liver embryogenesis-related enhancers. Collectively, these findings depict an injury-specific niche signal and the inflammation-mediated transcription in driving the conversion of hepatocytes into a progenitor phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Lei Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ping Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhaoyuan Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shujie Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaolong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Haitao Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wencheng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jin Cen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yunuo Mao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), College of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiong Ma
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ministry of Health, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Shanghai 200001, China
| | - Lingyong Jiang
- Department of Oral & Cranio-maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Yu Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Florent Ginhoux
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore 138648, Singapore; Translational Immunology Institute, Singhealth/Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore; Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif 94800, France
| | - Yixue Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 510320, China.
| | - Hong Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Lijian Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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37
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Tian C, Li L, Fan L, Brown A, Norris EJ, Morrison M, Glazer ES, Zhu L. A hepatoprotective role of peritumoral non-parenchymal cells in early liver tumorigenesis. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:286886. [PMID: 36728410 PMCID: PMC10040241 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Various 3D models of hepatocytes (HCs) have been established to assess liver functions in vitro. The contribution of the hepatic non-parenchymal cells (NPCs), however, is largely neglected in these models. Here, we report a comparative study of hepatic spheroids generated from freshly isolated mouse whole liver cells (WLCs) and HCs (referred to as SphWLC and SphHC, respectively). We found that HC differentiation was preserved better in SphWLC than in SphHC, and, when co-cultured with liver tumor spheroids (SphT), SphWLC showed more potent suppression of SphT growth compared to SphHC. Histological characterization revealed marked activation and accumulation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) at the SphWLC:SphT interface. We found that mixing HSCs in both 3D and 2D HC:tumor co-cultures provided potent protection to HCs against tumor-induced cell death. Activation of HSCs at the tumor border was similarly found in liver tumors from both mice and patients. Overall, our study suggests a hepatoprotective role of peritumoral HSCs in liver tumorigenesis and the potential application of SphWLC as a useful 3D model for dissecting the liver's response to tumorigenesis in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Tian
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Liyuan Li
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Li Fan
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Anthony Brown
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Eric J Norris
- STEMCELL Technologies, Vancouver, BC V6A 1B6, Canada
| | - Michelle Morrison
- Department of Surgery and Cancer Center, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Evan S Glazer
- Department of Surgery and Cancer Center, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Liqin Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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38
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Shi L, Shen W, Davis MI, Kong K, Vu P, Saha SK, Adil R, Kreuzer J, Egan R, Lee TD, Greninger P, Shrimp JH, Zhao W, Wei TY, Zhou M, Eccleston J, Sussman J, Manocha U, Weerasekara V, Kondo H, Vijay V, Wu MJ, Kearney SE, Ho J, McClanaghan J, Murchie E, Crowther GS, Patnaik S, Boxer MB, Shen M, Ting DT, Kim WY, Stanger BZ, Deshpande V, Ferrone CR, Benes CH, Haas W, Hall MD, Bardeesy N. SULT1A1-dependent sulfonation of alkylators is a lineage-dependent vulnerability of liver cancers. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:365-381. [PMID: 36914816 PMCID: PMC11090616 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00523-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Adult liver malignancies, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Most individuals are treated with either combination chemotherapy or immunotherapy, respectively, without specific biomarkers for selection. Here using high-throughput screens, proteomics and in vitro resistance models, we identify the small molecule YC-1 as selectively active against a defined subset of cell lines derived from both liver cancer types. We demonstrate that selectivity is determined by expression of the liver-resident cytosolic sulfotransferase enzyme SULT1A1, which sulfonates YC-1. Sulfonation stimulates covalent binding of YC-1 to lysine residues in protein targets, enriching for RNA-binding factors. Computational analysis defined a wider group of structurally related SULT1A1-activated small molecules with distinct target profiles, which together constitute an untapped small-molecule class. These studies provide a foundation for preclinical development of these agents and point to the broader potential of exploiting SULT1A1 activity for selective targeting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Shi
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Cancer Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - William Shen
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mindy I Davis
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ke Kong
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Phuong Vu
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Supriya K Saha
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ramzi Adil
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Johannes Kreuzer
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Regina Egan
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tobie D Lee
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Patricia Greninger
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan H Shrimp
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Wei Zhao
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ting-Yu Wei
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mi Zhou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jason Eccleston
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan Sussman
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ujjawal Manocha
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Vajira Weerasekara
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Cancer Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hiroshi Kondo
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Cancer Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vindhya Vijay
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Cancer Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Meng-Ju Wu
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Cancer Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sara E Kearney
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey Ho
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph McClanaghan
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ellen Murchie
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Giovanna S Crowther
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samarjit Patnaik
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Matthew B Boxer
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - David T Ting
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William Y Kim
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vikram Deshpande
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cristina R Ferrone
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cyril H Benes
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wilhelm Haas
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
| | - Nabeel Bardeesy
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- The Cancer Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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39
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Katsuda T, Sussman J, Ito K, Katznelson A, Yuan S, Li J, Merrell AJ, Takenaka N, Cure H, Li Q, Rasool RU, Asangani IA, Zaret KS, Stanger BZ. Physiological reprogramming in vivo mediated by Sox4 pioneer factor activity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.14.528556. [PMID: 36824858 PMCID: PMC9948957 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.14.528556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Tissue damage elicits cell fate switching through a process called metaplasia, but how the starting cell fate is silenced and the new cell fate is activated has not been investigated in animals. In cell culture, pioneer transcription factors mediate "reprogramming" by opening new chromatin sites for expression that can attract transcription factors from the starting cell's enhancers. Here we report that Sox4 is sufficient to initiate hepatobiliary metaplasia in the adult liver. In lineage-traced cells, we assessed the timing of Sox4-mediated opening of enhancer chromatin versus enhancer decommissioning. Initially, Sox4 directly binds to and closes hepatocyte regulatory sequences via a motif it overlaps with Hnf4a, a hepatocyte master regulator. Subsequently, Sox4 exerts pioneer factor activity to open biliary regulatory sequences. The results delineate a hierarchy by which gene networks become reprogrammed under physiological conditions, providing deeper insight into the basis for cell fate transitions in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Katsuda
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jonathan Sussman
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kenji Ito
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
| | - Andrew Katznelson
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
| | - Salina Yuan
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Allyson J. Merrell
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Naomi Takenaka
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
| | - Hector Cure
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Qinglan Li
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
| | - Reyaz Ur Rasool
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Irfan A. Asangani
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kenneth S. Zaret
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ben Z. Stanger
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
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40
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Huppert SS, Schwartz RE. Multiple Facets of Cellular Homeostasis and Regeneration of the Mammalian Liver. Annu Rev Physiol 2023; 85:469-493. [PMID: 36270290 PMCID: PMC9918695 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-032822-094134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Liver regeneration occurs in response to diverse injuries and is capable of functionally reestablishing the lost parenchyma. This phenomenon has been known since antiquity, encapsulated in the Greek myth where Prometheus was to be punished by Zeus for sharing the gift of fire with humanity by having an eagle eat his liver daily, only to have the liver regrow back, thus ensuring eternal suffering and punishment. Today, this process is actively leveraged clinically during living donor liver transplantation whereby up to a two-thirds hepatectomy (resection or removal of part of the liver) on a donor is used for transplant to a recipient. The donor liver rapidly regenerates to recover the lost parenchymal mass to form a functional tissue. This astonishing regenerative process and unique capacity of the liver are examined in further detail in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey S Huppert
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Robert E Schwartz
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA;
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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41
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Rigual MDM, Sánchez Sánchez P, Djouder N. Is liver regeneration key in hepatocellular carcinoma development? Trends Cancer 2023; 9:140-157. [PMID: 36347768 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The liver is the largest organ of the mammalian body and has the remarkable ability to fully regenerate in order to maintain tissue homeostasis. The adult liver consists of hexagonal lobules, each with a central vein surrounded by six portal triads localized in the lobule border containing distinct parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells. Because the liver is continuously exposed to diverse stress signals, several sophisticated regenerative processes exist to restore its functional status following impairment. However, these stress signals can affect the liver's capacity to regenerate and may lead to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most aggressive liver cancers. Here, we review the mechanisms of hepatic regeneration and their potential to influence HCC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Del Mar Rigual
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Growth Factors, Nutrients and Cancer Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, CNIO, Madrid, ES-28029, Spain
| | - Paula Sánchez Sánchez
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Growth Factors, Nutrients and Cancer Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, CNIO, Madrid, ES-28029, Spain
| | - Nabil Djouder
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Growth Factors, Nutrients and Cancer Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, CNIO, Madrid, ES-28029, Spain.
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42
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Kim M, Rizvi F, Shin D, Gouon-Evans V. Update on Hepatobiliary Plasticity. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:13-23. [PMID: 36764306 PMCID: PMC10005859 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1760306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
The liver field has been debating for decades the contribution of the plasticity of the two epithelial compartments in the liver, hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells (BECs), to derive each other as a repair mechanism. The hepatobiliary plasticity has been first observed in diseased human livers by the presence of biphenotypic cells expressing hepatocyte and BEC markers within bile ducts and regenerative nodules or budding from strings of proliferative BECs in septa. These observations are not surprising as hepatocytes and BECs derive from a common fetal progenitor, the hepatoblast, and, as such, they are expected to compensate for each other's loss in adults. To investigate the cell origin of regenerated cell compartments and associated molecular mechanisms, numerous murine and zebrafish models with ability to trace cell fates have been extensively developed. This short review summarizes the clinical and preclinical studies illustrating the hepatobiliary plasticity and its potential therapeutic application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwook Kim
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Fatima Rizvi
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Section, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Donghun Shin
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Valerie Gouon-Evans
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Section, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
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43
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Gromowski T, Lukacs-Kornek V, Cisowski J. Current view of liver cancer cell-of-origin and proposed mechanisms precluding its proper determination. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:3. [PMID: 36609378 PMCID: PMC9824961 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02843-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are devastating primary liver cancers with increasing prevalence in many parts of the world. Despite intense investigation, many aspects of their biology are still largely obscure. For example, numerous studies have tackled the question of the cell-of-origin of primary liver cancers using different experimental approaches; they have not, however, provided a clear and undisputed answer. Here, we will review the evidence from animal models supporting the role of all major types of liver epithelial cells: hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and their common progenitor as liver cancer cell-of-origin. Moreover, we will also propose mechanisms that promote liver cancer cell plasticity (dedifferentiation, transdifferentiation, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition) which may contribute to misinterpretation of the results and which make the issue of liver cancer cell-of-origin particularly complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Gromowski
- grid.5522.00000 0001 2162 9631Department of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Veronika Lukacs-Kornek
- grid.10388.320000 0001 2240 3300Institute of Experimental Immunology, University Hospital of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jaroslaw Cisowski
- Department of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
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Kim M, Delgado E, Ko S. DNA methylation in cell plasticity and malignant transformation in liver diseases. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 241:108334. [PMID: 36535346 PMCID: PMC9841769 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The liver possesses extraordinary regenerative capacity mainly attributable to the ability of hepatocytes (HCs) and biliary epithelial cells (BECs) to self-replicate. This ability is left over from their bipotent parent cell, the hepatoblast, during development. When this innate regeneration is compromised due to the absence of proliferative parenchymal cells, such as during cirrhosis, HCs and BEC can transdifferentiate; thus, adding another layer of complexity to the process of liver repair. In addition, dysregulated lineage maintenance in these two cell populations has been shown to promote malignant growth in experimental conditions. Here, malignant transformation, driven in part by insufficient maintenance of lineage reprogramming, contributes to end-stage liver disease. Epigenetic changes are key drivers for cell fate decisions as well as transformation by finetuning overall transcription and gene expression. In this review, we address how altered DNA methylation contributes to the initiation and progression of hepatic cell fate conversion and cancer formation. We also discussed the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of targeting DNA methylation in liver cancer, its current limitations, and what future research is necessary to facilitate its contribution to clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwook Kim
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Evan Delgado
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Sungjin Ko
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.
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Chen T, Dalton G, Oh SH, Maeso-Diaz R, Du K, Meyers RA, Guy C, Abdelmalek MF, Henao R, Guarnieri P, Pullen SS, Gregory S, Locker J, Brown JM, Diehl AM. Hepatocyte Smoothened Activity Controls Susceptibility to Insulin Resistance and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 15:949-970. [PMID: 36535507 PMCID: PMC9957752 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a leading cause of cirrhosis, strongly associates with the metabolic syndrome, an insulin-resistant proinflammatory state that disrupts energy balance and promotes progressive liver degeneration. We aimed to define the role of Smoothened (Smo), an obligatory component of the Hedgehog signaling pathway, in controlling hepatocyte metabolic homeostasis and, thereby, susceptibility to NASH. METHODS We conditionally deleted Smo in hepatocytes of healthy chow-fed mice and performed metabolic phenotyping, coupled with single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), to characterize the role of hepatocyte Smo in regulating basal hepatic and systemic metabolic homeostasis. Liver RNA-seq datasets from 2 large human cohorts were also analyzed to define the relationship between Smo and NASH susceptibility in people. RESULTS Hepatocyte Smo deletion inhibited the Hedgehog pathway and promoted fatty liver, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. We identified a plausible mechanism whereby inactivation of Smo stimulated the mTORC1-SREBP1c signaling axis, which promoted lipogenesis while inhibiting the hepatic insulin cascade. Transcriptomics of bulk and single Smo-deficient hepatocytes supported suppression of insulin signaling and also revealed molecular abnormalities associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Analysis of human bulk RNA-seq data revealed that Smo expression was (1) highest in healthy livers, (2) lower in livers with NASH than in those with simple steatosis, (3) negatively correlated with markers of insulin resistance and liver injury, and (4) declined progressively as fibrosis severity worsened. CONCLUSIONS The Hedgehog pathway controls insulin sensitivity and energy homeostasis in adult livers. Loss of hepatocyte Hedgehog activity induces hepatic and systemic metabolic stress and enhances susceptibility to NASH by promoting hepatic lipoxicity and insulin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Chen
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - George Dalton
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Seh-Hoon Oh
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Kuo Du
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rachel A Meyers
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Cynthia Guy
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Ricardo Henao
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Paolo Guarnieri
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Steven S Pullen
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Simon Gregory
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Joseph Locker
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - J Mark Brown
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Anna Mae Diehl
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
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Zhao C, Matalonga J, Lancman JJ, Liu L, Xiao C, Kumar S, Gates KP, He J, Graves A, Huisken J, Azuma M, Lu Z, Chen C, Ding BS, Dong PDS. Regenerative failure of intrahepatic biliary cells in Alagille syndrome rescued by elevated Jagged/Notch/Sox9 signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2201097119. [PMID: 36469766 PMCID: PMC9897440 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201097119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the robust healing capacity of the liver, regenerative failure underlies numerous hepatic diseases, including the JAG1 haploinsufficient disorder, Alagille syndrome (ALGS). Cholestasis due to intrahepatic duct (IHD) paucity resolves in certain ALGS cases but fails in most with no clear mechanisms or therapeutic interventions. We find that modulating jag1b and jag2b allele dosage is sufficient to stratify these distinct outcomes, which can be either exacerbated or rescued with genetic manipulation of Notch signaling, demonstrating that perturbations of Jag/Notch signaling may be causal for the spectrum of ALGS liver severities. Although regenerating IHD cells proliferate, they remain clustered in mutants that fail to recover due to a blunted elevation of Notch signaling in the distal-most IHD cells. Increased Notch signaling is required for regenerating IHD cells to branch and segregate into the peripheral region of the growing liver, where biliary paucity is commonly observed in ALGS. Mosaic loss- and-gain-of-function analysis reveals Sox9b to be a key Notch transcriptional effector required cell autonomously to regulate these cellular dynamics during IHD regeneration. Treatment with a small-molecule putative Notch agonist stimulates Sox9 expression in ALGS patient fibroblasts and enhances hepatic sox9b expression, rescues IHD paucity and cholestasis, and increases survival in zebrafish mutants, thereby providing a proof-of-concept therapeutic avenue for this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengjian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan, 610041People’s Republic of China
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Jonathan Matalonga
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Joseph J. Lancman
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Lu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan, 610041People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaoxin Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan, 610041People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiv Kumar
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Keith P. Gates
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Jiaye He
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI53715
| | | | - Jan Huisken
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI53715
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI53706
| | - Mizuki Azuma
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS66045
| | - Zhenghao Lu
- Chengdu Organoidmed Medical Laboratory Ltd., Sichuan, 610041People’s Republic of China
| | - Chong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan, 610041People’s Republic of China
| | - Bi-Sen Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan, 610041People’s Republic of China
| | - P. Duc Si Dong
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
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Rosenberg N, Van Haele M, Lanton T, Brashi N, Bromberg Z, Adler H, Giladi H, Peled A, Goldenberg DS, Axelrod JH, Simerzin A, Chai C, Paldor M, Markezana A, Yaish D, Shemulian Z, Gross D, Barnoy S, Gefen M, Amran O, Claerhout S, Fernández-Vaquero M, García-Beccaria M, Heide D, Shoshkes-Carmel M, Schmidt Arras D, Elgavish S, Nevo Y, Benyamini H, Tirnitz-Parker JEE, Sanchez A, Herrera B, Safadi R, Kaestner KH, Rose-John S, Roskams T, Heikenwalder M, Galun E. Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma derives from liver progenitor cells and depends on senescence and IL-6 trans-signaling. J Hepatol 2022; 77:1631-1641. [PMID: 35988690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Primary liver cancers include hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and combined HCC-CCA tumors (cHCC-CCA). It has been suggested, but not unequivocally proven, that hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) can contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. We aimed to determine whether HPCs contribute to HCC, cHCC-CCA or both types of tumors. METHODS To trace progenitor cells during hepatocarcinogenesis, we generated Mdr2-KO mice that harbor a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) reporter gene driven by the Foxl1 promoter which is expressed specifically in progenitor cells. These mice (Mdr2-KOFoxl1-CRE;RosaYFP) develop chronic inflammation and HCCs by the age of 14-16 months, followed by cHCC-CCA tumors at the age of 18 months. RESULTS In this Mdr2-KOFoxl1-CRE;RosaYFP mouse model, liver progenitor cells are the source of cHCC-CCA tumors, but not the source of HCC. Ablating the progenitors, caused reduction of cHCC-CCA tumors but did not affect HCCs. RNA-sequencing revealed enrichment of the IL-6 signaling pathway in cHCC-CCA tumors compared to HCC tumors. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis revealed that IL-6 is expressed by immune and parenchymal cells during senescence, and that IL-6 is part of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Administration of an anti-IL-6 antibody to Mdr2-KOFoxl1-CRE;RosaYFP mice inhibited the development of cHCC-CCA tumors. Blocking IL-6 trans-signaling led to a decrease in the number and size of cHCC-CCA tumors, indicating their dependence on this pathway. Furthermore, the administration of a senolytic agent inhibited IL-6 and the development of cHCC-CCA tumors. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that cHCC-CCA, but not HCC tumors, originate from HPCs, and that IL-6, which derives in part from cells in senescence, plays an important role in this process via IL-6 trans-signaling. These findings could be applied to develop new therapeutic approaches for cHCC-CCA tumors. LAY SUMMARY Combined hepatocellular carcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma is the third most prevalent type of primary liver cancer (i.e. a cancer that originates in the liver). Herein, we show that this type of cancer originates in stem cells in the liver and that it depends on inflammatory signaling. Specifically, we identify a cytokine called IL-6 that appears to be important in the development of these tumors. Our results could be used for the development of novel treatments for these aggressive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nofar Rosenberg
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Matthias Van Haele
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational Cell and Tissue Research, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Pathology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Tali Lanton
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Neta Brashi
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Zohar Bromberg
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hanan Adler
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hilla Giladi
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Amnon Peled
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Daniel S Goldenberg
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jonathan H Axelrod
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alina Simerzin
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Chofit Chai
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Mor Paldor
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Auerlia Markezana
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Dayana Yaish
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Zohar Shemulian
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Dvora Gross
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shanny Barnoy
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maytal Gefen
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Osher Amran
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Sofie Claerhout
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational Cell and Tissue Research, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mirian Fernández-Vaquero
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - María García-Beccaria
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Danijela Heide
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michal Shoshkes-Carmel
- Department of Genetics and Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Center for Translational Research, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Dirk Schmidt Arras
- Institut für Biochemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany; Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Sharona Elgavish
- Bioinformatics Unit, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yuval Nevo
- Bioinformatics Unit, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hadar Benyamini
- Bioinformatics Unit, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Janina E E Tirnitz-Parker
- Centre for Medical Research, University of Western Australia & Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Crawley, Australia
| | - Aranzazu Sanchez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
| | - Blanca Herrera
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
| | - Rifaat Safadi
- The Liver Institute, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Klaus H Kaestner
- Department of Genetics and Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Center for Translational Research, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Stefan Rose-John
- Institut für Biochemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tania Roskams
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational Cell and Tissue Research, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mathias Heikenwalder
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; The M3 Research Institute, Rosenauer Weg 30, Medical Faculty Tuebingen (MFT), 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Eithan Galun
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Liu HL, Yang AY, Xiong QF, Zhong YD, Liu DX, Huang P, Feng XN, Zhang Y, Yang YF. Aberrant cytokeratin 7 expression by hepatocytes can predict the ductopenia grade in primary biliary cholangitis. BMC Gastroenterol 2022; 22:443. [PMID: 36324070 PMCID: PMC9628093 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-022-02538-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aberrant cytokeratin 7 expression by hepatocytes (CK7+Hs) is the hallmark characteristic of cholestasis diseases, especially in ductopenia diseases such as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). This study attempted to evaluate the differences and relationships between the clinical and histological features of aberrant cytokeratin 7 (CK7) expression by hepatocytes in PBC patients. Methods The clinicopathological data of patients diagnosed with PBC at the Second Hospital of Nanjing between January 2016 and September 2018 were analysed with SPSS 20.0. Results Eighty-nine PBC patients who underwent liver biopsy were enrolled in this study, and 15, 29 and 45 patients had aberrant CK7 expression by hepatocytes (CK7+Hs (2 +), CK7+Hs (1 +), and CK7−Hs, respectively). There were significant differences in TB, DB, ALP, TA, IgM, interface activity, and ductopenia grade between patients with CK7−Hs and CK7+Hs (2 +) (P < 0.05). The ductopenia grade was also significantly different between patients with CK7+Hs (2 +) and CK7+Hs (1 +) according to sex (P < 0.05). Upon merging the data of CK7+Hs (2 +) and CK7+Hs (1 +) into CK7+Hs, we found significant differences in AMA, AMA-M2, anti-gp210, TB, DB, ALP, TA, IgM, fibrosis, and ductopenia grade between CK7+Hs and CK7−Hs (P < 0.05). The odds ratios (ORs) (and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) of CK7+Hs according to anti-gp210, ductopenia grade, and interface activity were 6.413 (95% CI 1.363–30.162), 4.145 (95% CI 1.898–9.052) and 3.247 (95% CI 1.556–6.775), respectively (P < 0.05). Spearman's rank correlation according to interface activity and ductopenia grade in patients with CK7+Hs (2 + , 1 + , 0) was r = 0.359 (P = 0.001) and r = 0.396 (P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion CK7+Hs serves as a cholestasis index of PBC and are associated with the ductopenia grade and interface activity. Aberrant cytokeratin 7 expression by hepatocytes can predict the ductopenia grade in primary biliary cholangitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Li Liu
- Southeast University School of Medicine, No87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009, China.,The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Teaching Hospital of Southeast University, No.1 Zhongfu Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210003, China
| | - An-Yin Yang
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.1 Zhongfu Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210003, China
| | - Qing-Fang Xiong
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.1 Zhongfu Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210003, China
| | - Yan-Dan Zhong
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.1 Zhongfu Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210003, China
| | - Du-Xian Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.1 Zhongfu Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210003, China
| | - Ping Huang
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.1 Zhongfu Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210003, China
| | - Xiao-Ning Feng
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.1 Zhongfu Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210003, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Southeast University School of Medicine, No87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yong-Feng Yang
- The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Teaching Hospital of Southeast University, No.1 Zhongfu Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210003, China. .,Department of Liver Diseases, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.1 Zhongfu Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210003, China.
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Peng J, Li F, Wang J, Wang C, Jiang Y, Liu B, He J, Yuan K, Pan C, Lin M, Zhou B, Chen L, Gao D, Zhao Y. Identification of a rare Gli1 + progenitor cell population contributing to liver regeneration during chronic injury. Cell Discov 2022; 8:118. [PMID: 36316325 PMCID: PMC9622734 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-022-00474-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In adults, hepatocytes are mainly replenished from the existing progenitor pools of hepatocytes and cholangiocytes during chronic liver injury. However, it is unclear whether other cell types in addition to classical hepatocytes and cholangiocytes contribute to hepatocyte regeneration after chronic liver injuries. Here, we identified a new biphenotypic cell population that contributes to hepatocyte regeneration during chronic liver injuries. We found that a cell population expressed Gli1 and EpCAM (EpCAM+Gli1+), which was further characterized with both epithelial and mesenchymal identities by single-cell RNA sequencing. Genetic lineage tracing using dual recombinases revealed that Gli1+ nonhepatocyte cell population could generate hepatocytes after chronic liver injury. EpCAM+Gli1+ cells exhibited a greater capacity for organoid formation with functional hepatocytes in vitro and liver regeneration upon transplantation in vivo. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that EpCAM+Gli1+ cells can serve as a new source of liver progenitor cells and contribute to liver repair and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayin Peng
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Li
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chaoxiong Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiao Jiang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Biao Liu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juan He
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Yuan
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenyu Pan
- grid.24516.340000000123704535Department of General Surgery, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Moubin Lin
- grid.24516.340000000123704535Department of General Surgery, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Luonan Chen
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong Gao
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Zhao
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China ,grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang China
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50
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Jain I, Berg IC, Acharya A, Blaauw M, Gosstola N, Perez-Pinera P, Underhill GH. Delineating cooperative effects of Notch and biomechanical signals on patterned liver differentiation. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1073. [PMID: 36207581 PMCID: PMC9546876 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03840-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Controlled in vitro multicellular culture systems with defined biophysical microenvironment have been used to elucidate the role of Notch signaling in the spatiotemporal regulation of stem and progenitor cell differentiation. In addition, computational models incorporating features of Notch ligand-receptor interactions have provided important insights into Notch pathway signaling dynamics. However, the mechanistic relationship between Notch-mediated intercellular signaling and cooperative microenvironmental cues is less clear. Here, liver progenitor cell differentiation patterning was used as a model to systematically evaluate the complex interplay of cellular mechanics and Notch signaling along with identifying combinatorial mechanisms guiding progenitor fate. We present an integrated approach that pairs a computational intercellular signaling model with defined microscale culture configurations provided within a cell microarray platform. Specifically, the cell microarray-based experiments were used to validate and optimize parameters of the intercellular Notch signaling model. This model incorporated the experimentally established multicellular dimensions of the cellular microarray domains, mechanical stress-related activation parameters, and distinct Notch receptor-ligand interactions based on the roles of the Notch ligands Jagged-1 and Delta-like-1. Overall, these studies demonstrate the spatial control of mechanotransduction-associated components, key growth factor and Notch signaling interactions, and point towards a possible role of E-Cadherin in translating intercellular mechanical gradients to downstream Notch signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishita Jain
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA
| | - Ian C Berg
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA
| | - Ayusha Acharya
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA
| | - Maddie Blaauw
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA
| | - Nicholas Gosstola
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA
| | - Pablo Perez-Pinera
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA
| | - Gregory H Underhill
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA.
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