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Gao J, Lan T, Kostallari E, Guo Y, Lai E, Guillot A, Ding B, Tacke F, Tang C, Shah VH. Angiocrine signaling in sinusoidal homeostasis and liver diseases. J Hepatol 2024:S0168-8278(24)00349-0. [PMID: 38763358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.05.014] [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: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
The hepatic sinusoids are composed of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), which are surrounded by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and contain liver-resident macrophages called Kupffer cells, and other patrolling immune cells. All these cells communicate with each other and with hepatocytes to maintain sinusoidal homeostasis and a spectrum of hepatic functions under healthy conditions. Sinusoidal homeostasis is disrupted by metabolites, toxins, viruses, and other pathological factors, leading to liver injury, chronic liver diseases, and cirrhosis. Alterations in hepatic sinusoids are linked to fibrosis progression and portal hypertension. LSECs are crucial regulators of cellular crosstalk within their microenvironment via angiocrine signaling. This review discusses the mechanisms by which angiocrine signaling orchestrates sinusoidal homeostasis, as well as the development of liver diseases. Here, we summarise the crosstalk between LSECs, HSCs, hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and immune cells in health and disease and comment on potential novel therapeutic methods for treating liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhang Gao
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tian Lan
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Enis Kostallari
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Yangkun Guo
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Enjiang Lai
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Adrien Guillot
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bisen Ding
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Chengwei Tang
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Vijay H Shah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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Wang C, Felli E, Selicean S, Nulan Y, Lozano JJ, Guixé-Muntet S, Bosch J, Berzigotti A, Gracia-Sancho J. Role of calcium integrin-binding protein 1 in the mechanobiology of the liver endothelium. J Cell Physiol 2024; 239:e31198. [PMID: 38451745 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31198] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) dysfunction is a key process in the development of chronic liver disease (CLD). Progressive scarring increases liver stiffness in a winch-like loop stimulating a dysfunctional liver cell phenotype. Cellular stretching is supported by biomechanically modulated molecular factors (BMMFs) that can translocate into the cytoplasm to support mechanotransduction through cytoskeleton remodeling and gene transcription. Currently, the molecular mechanisms of stiffness-induced LSECs dysfunction remain largely unclear. Here we propose calcium- and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1) as BMMF with crucial role in LSECs mechanobiology in CLD. CIB1 expression and translocation was characterized in healthy and cirrhotic human livers and in LSECs cultured on polyacrylamide gels with healthy and cirrhotic-like stiffnesses. Following the modulation of CIB1 with siRNA, the transcriptome was scrutinized to understand downstream effects of CIB1 downregulation. CIB1 expression is increased in LSECs in human cirrhosis. In vitro, CIB1 emerges as an endothelial BMMF. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells and LSECs, CIB1 expression and localization are modulated by stiffness-induced trafficking across the nuclear membrane. LSECs from cirrhotic liver tissue both in animal model and human disease exhibit an increased amount of CIB1 in cytoplasm. Knockdown of CIB1 in LSECs exposed to high stiffness improves LSECs phenotype by regulating the intracellular tension as well as the inflammatory response. Our results demonstrate that CIB1 is a key factor in sustaining cellular tension and stretching in response to high stiffness. CIB1 downregulation ameliorates LSECs dysfunction, enhancing their redifferentiation, and reducing the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Wang
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eric Felli
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sonia Selicean
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yeliduosi Nulan
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Juan José Lozano
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Guixé-Muntet
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Bosch
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Annalisa Berzigotti
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
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Martínez-López S, Ángel-Gomis E, Gómez-Hurtado I, Fernández-Iglesias A, Morante J, Gracia-Sancho J, Boix P, Cubero FJ, Zapater P, Caparrós E, Francés R. Cirrhosis-downregulated LSECtin can be retrieved by cytokines, shifts the TLR-induced LSECs secretome and correlates with the hepatic Th response. Liver Int 2024; 44:996-1010. [PMID: 38293766 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15836] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS We evaluated tolerogenic C-type lectin LSECtin loss in cirrhosis and its potential regulation by cytokines. METHODS Liver tissue from patients with cirrhosis and healthy controls, immortalised and generated LSECtin-CRISPR immortalised LSECs, and murine primary LSECs from the CCl4 model were handled. RESULTS LSECtin expression was reduced in liver tissue from cirrhotic patients, and it decreased from compensated to decompensated disease. Increased phosphorylation of MAPK, Akt and NFkB was observed upon LSECtin stimulation in LSEC murine cell line, showing a pattern of inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines either restrained (IL-10, CCL4) or unrestrained (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CCL2). CD44 attenuated whereas LAG-3 increased all substrates phosphorylation in combination with TLR4 and TLR2 ligands except for NFkB. TNF-α, IL-1 β, IL-6 and CCL2 were restrained by LSECtin crosslinking on TLRs studied. Conversely, IL-10 and CCL4 were upregulated, suggesting a LSECtin-TLRs synergistic effect. Also, LSECtin was significantly induced after IL-13 stimulation or combined with anti-inflammatory cytokines in cirrhotic and immortalised LSECs. Th17 and regulatory T cells were progressively increased in the hepatic tissue from compensated to decompensated patients. A significant inverse correlation was present between gene expression levels of CLEC4G/LSECtin and RORγT and FOXP3 in liver tissues. CONCLUSION LSECtin restrains TLR proinflammatory secretome induced on LSECs by interfering immune response control, survival and MAPKs signalling pathways. The cytokine-dependent induction of LSECtin and the association between LSECtin loss and Th17 cell subset expansion in the liver, provides a solid background for exploring LSECtin retrieval as a mechanism to reprogram LSEC homeostatic function hampered during cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Martínez-López
- Hepatic and Intestinal Immunobiology Group, Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- IIS ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, Alicante, Spain
| | - Enrique Ángel-Gomis
- Hepatic and Intestinal Immunobiology Group, Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- IIS ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, Alicante, Spain
| | - Isabel Gómez-Hurtado
- Hepatic and Intestinal Immunobiology Group, Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- IIS ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, Alicante, Spain
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anabel Fernández-Iglesias
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Morante
- Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Boix
- Hepatic and Intestinal Immunobiology Group, Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- IIS ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, Alicante, Spain
| | - Francisco J Cubero
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Zapater
- Hepatic and Intestinal Immunobiology Group, Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- IIS ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, Alicante, Spain
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto IDIBE, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
| | - Esther Caparrós
- Hepatic and Intestinal Immunobiology Group, Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- IIS ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, Alicante, Spain
| | - Rubén Francés
- Hepatic and Intestinal Immunobiology Group, Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- IIS ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, Alicante, Spain
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto IDIBE, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
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Osna NA, Tikhanovich I, Ortega-Ribera M, Mueller S, Zheng C, Mueller J, Li S, Sakane S, Weber RCG, Kim HY, Lee W, Ganguly S, Kimura Y, Liu X, Dhar D, Diggle K, Brenner DA, Kisseleva T, Attal N, McKillop IH, Chokshi S, Mahato R, Rasineni K, Szabo G, Kharbanda KK. Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Outcomes: Critical Mechanisms of Liver Injury Progression. Biomolecules 2024; 14:404. [PMID: 38672422 PMCID: PMC11048648 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040404] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and represents a spectrum of liver injury beginning with hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) progressing to inflammation and culminating in cirrhosis. Multiple factors contribute to ALD progression and disease severity. Here, we overview several crucial mechanisms related to ALD end-stage outcome development, such as epigenetic changes, cell death, hemolysis, hepatic stellate cells activation, and hepatic fatty acid binding protein 4. Additionally, in this review, we also present two clinically relevant models using human precision-cut liver slices and hepatic organoids to examine ALD pathogenesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia A. Osna
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA
| | - Irina Tikhanovich
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA;
| | - Martí Ortega-Ribera
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.O.-R.); (G.S.)
| | - Sebastian Mueller
- Center for Alcohol Research, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.M.); (C.Z.); (J.M.); (S.L.)
- Viscera AG Bauchmedizin, 83011 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Chaowen Zheng
- Center for Alcohol Research, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.M.); (C.Z.); (J.M.); (S.L.)
| | - Johannes Mueller
- Center for Alcohol Research, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.M.); (C.Z.); (J.M.); (S.L.)
| | - Siyuan Li
- Center for Alcohol Research, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.M.); (C.Z.); (J.M.); (S.L.)
| | - Sadatsugu Sakane
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (R.C.G.W.); (H.Y.K.); (W.L.); (S.G.); (Y.K.); (X.L.); (D.D.); (K.D.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Raquel Carvalho Gontijo Weber
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (R.C.G.W.); (H.Y.K.); (W.L.); (S.G.); (Y.K.); (X.L.); (D.D.); (K.D.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Hyun Young Kim
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (R.C.G.W.); (H.Y.K.); (W.L.); (S.G.); (Y.K.); (X.L.); (D.D.); (K.D.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Wonseok Lee
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (R.C.G.W.); (H.Y.K.); (W.L.); (S.G.); (Y.K.); (X.L.); (D.D.); (K.D.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Souradipta Ganguly
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (R.C.G.W.); (H.Y.K.); (W.L.); (S.G.); (Y.K.); (X.L.); (D.D.); (K.D.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Yusuke Kimura
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (R.C.G.W.); (H.Y.K.); (W.L.); (S.G.); (Y.K.); (X.L.); (D.D.); (K.D.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (R.C.G.W.); (H.Y.K.); (W.L.); (S.G.); (Y.K.); (X.L.); (D.D.); (K.D.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Debanjan Dhar
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (R.C.G.W.); (H.Y.K.); (W.L.); (S.G.); (Y.K.); (X.L.); (D.D.); (K.D.); (D.A.B.)
| | - Karin Diggle
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (R.C.G.W.); (H.Y.K.); (W.L.); (S.G.); (Y.K.); (X.L.); (D.D.); (K.D.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - David A. Brenner
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (R.C.G.W.); (H.Y.K.); (W.L.); (S.G.); (Y.K.); (X.L.); (D.D.); (K.D.); (D.A.B.)
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Tatiana Kisseleva
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Neha Attal
- Department of Surgery, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA; (N.A.); (I.H.M.)
| | - Iain H. McKillop
- Department of Surgery, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA; (N.A.); (I.H.M.)
| | - Shilpa Chokshi
- The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, Foundation for Liver Research, London SE59NT, UK;
- School of Microbial Sciences, King’s College, London SE59NT, UK
| | - Ram Mahato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA;
| | - Karuna Rasineni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA;
| | - Gyongyi Szabo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.O.-R.); (G.S.)
| | - Kusum K. Kharbanda
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA;
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
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Wang J, Wu Z, Xia M, Salas SS, Ospina JA, Buist-Homan M, Harmsen MC, Moshage H. Extracellular vesicles derived from liver sinusoidal endothelial cells inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells in vitro. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167020. [PMID: 38244390 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167020] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) play a crucial role in maintaining liver microcirculation and exchange of nutrients in the liver and are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and Kupffer cells (KCs) has been considered to be responsible for the onset of liver fibrosis and the aggravation of liver injury. However, the paracrine regulatory effects of LSECs in the development of MASLD, in particular the role of LSEC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of LSEC-derived EVs on HSCs and KCs. Primary rat LSECs, HSCs and KCs were isolated from male Wistar rats. LSEC-derived EVs were isolated from conditioned medium by ultracentrifugation and analyzed by nanoparticle tracking analysis, and expression of specific markers. LSEC-derived EVs reduced the expression of activation markers in activated HSCs but did not affect quiescent HSCs. Also, LSEC-derived EVs suppressed proliferation of activated HSCs activation, as assessed by Xcelligence and BrdU assay. LSEC-derived EVs also increased the expression of inflammatory genes in HSCs that normally are lowly expression during their activation. In contrast, EVs decreased the expression of inflammatory genes in activated KCs. In summary, our results suggest that LSEC-derived EVs may attenuate the fibrogenic phenotype of activated HSCs and the inflammatory phenotype of KCs. Our results show promise for LSEC-derived EVs as therapeutic moieties to treat MASLD. In addition, these EVs might prove of diagnostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyu Wang
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Zongmei Wu
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Mengmeng Xia
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sandra Serna Salas
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Johanna Arroyave Ospina
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Manon Buist-Homan
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Groningen, the Netherlands; University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martin C Harmsen
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Groningen, the Netherlands; University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Han Moshage
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Groningen, the Netherlands; University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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6
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Manco M, Ammirata G, Petrillo S, De Giorgio F, Fontana S, Riganti C, Provero P, Fagoonee S, Altruda F, Tolosano E. FLVCR1a Controls Cellular Cholesterol Levels through the Regulation of Heme Biosynthesis and Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Flux in Endothelial Cells. Biomolecules 2024; 14:149. [PMID: 38397386 PMCID: PMC10887198 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020149] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Feline leukemia virus C receptor 1a (FLVCR1a), initially identified as a retroviral receptor and localized on the plasma membrane, has emerged as a crucial regulator of heme homeostasis. Functioning as a positive regulator of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthase 1 (ALAS1), the rate-limiting enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway, FLVCR1a influences TCA cycle cataplerosis, thus impacting TCA flux and interconnected metabolic pathways. This study reveals an unexplored link between FLVCR1a, heme synthesis, and cholesterol production in endothelial cells. Using cellular models with manipulated FLVCR1a expression and inducible endothelial-specific Flvcr1a-null mice, we demonstrate that FLVCR1a-mediated control of heme synthesis regulates citrate availability for cholesterol synthesis, thereby influencing cellular cholesterol levels. Moreover, alterations in FLVCR1a expression affect membrane cholesterol content and fluidity, supporting a role for FLVCR1a in the intricate regulation of processes crucial for vascular development and endothelial function. Our results underscore FLVCR1a as a positive regulator of heme synthesis, emphasizing its integration with metabolic pathways involved in cellular energy metabolism. Furthermore, this study suggests that the dysregulation of heme metabolism may have implications for modulating lipid metabolism. We discuss these findings in the context of FLVCR1a's potential heme-independent function as a choline importer, introducing additional complexity to the interplay between heme and lipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Manco
- Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.A.); (S.P.); (F.D.G.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (S.F.); (F.A.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Giorgia Ammirata
- Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.A.); (S.P.); (F.D.G.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (S.F.); (F.A.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Sara Petrillo
- Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.A.); (S.P.); (F.D.G.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (S.F.); (F.A.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Francesco De Giorgio
- Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.A.); (S.P.); (F.D.G.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (S.F.); (F.A.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Simona Fontana
- Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.A.); (S.P.); (F.D.G.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (S.F.); (F.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Via Santena 5/bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Chiara Riganti
- Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.A.); (S.P.); (F.D.G.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (S.F.); (F.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Via Santena 5/bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Paolo Provero
- Department of Neurosciences “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Torino, Corso Massimo D’Azeglio 52, 10126 Torino, Italy;
- Center for Omics Sciences, Ospedale San Raffaele IRCCS, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Sharmila Fagoonee
- Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.A.); (S.P.); (F.D.G.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (S.F.); (F.A.)
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, CNR c/o Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Fiorella Altruda
- Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.A.); (S.P.); (F.D.G.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (S.F.); (F.A.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Emanuela Tolosano
- Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone”, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.A.); (S.P.); (F.D.G.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (S.F.); (F.A.)
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy
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7
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Velliou RI, Legaki AI, Nikolakopoulou P, Vlachogiannis NI, Chatzigeorgiou A. Liver endothelial cells in NAFLD and transition to NASH and HCC. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:314. [PMID: 37798474 PMCID: PMC11072568 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04966-7] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, which is characterised by obesity, insulin resistance, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. NAFLD is the most frequent liver disease worldwide and more than 10% of NAFLD patients progress to the inflammatory and fibrotic stage of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can lead to end-stage liver disease including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most frequent primary malignant liver tumor. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) are strategically positioned at the interface between blood and hepatic parenchyma. LSECs are highly specialized cells, characterised by the presence of transcellular pores, called fenestrae, and exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic characteristics under physiological conditions. However, during NAFLD development they undergo capillarisation and acquire a phenotype similar to vascular endothelial cells, actively promoting all pathophysiological aspects of NAFLD, including steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. LSEC dysfunction is critical for the progression to NASH and HCC while restoring LSEC homeostasis appears to be a promising approach to prevent NAFLD progression and its complications and even reverse tissue damage. In this review we present current information on the role of LSEC throughout the progressive phases of NAFLD, summarising in vitro and in vivo experimental evidence and data from human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rallia-Iliana Velliou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Aigli-Ioanna Legaki
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Polyxeni Nikolakopoulou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos I Vlachogiannis
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonios Chatzigeorgiou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece.
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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8
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Abstract
Chronic liver diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or viral hepatitis are characterized by persistent inflammation and subsequent liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis critically determines long-term morbidity (for example, cirrhosis or liver cancer) and mortality in NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Inflammation represents the concerted response of various hepatic cell types to hepatocellular death and inflammatory signals, which are related to intrahepatic injury pathways or extrahepatic mediators from the gut-liver axis and the circulation. Single-cell technologies have revealed the heterogeneity of immune cell activation concerning disease states and the spatial organization within the liver, including resident and recruited macrophages, neutrophils as mediators of tissue repair, auto-aggressive features of T cells as well as various innate lymphoid cell and unconventional T cell populations. Inflammatory responses drive the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and HSC subsets, in turn, modulate immune mechanisms via chemokines and cytokines or transdifferentiate into matrix-producing myofibroblasts. Current advances in understanding the pathogenesis of inflammation and fibrosis in the liver, mainly focused on NAFLD or NASH owing to the high unmet medical need, have led to the identification of several therapeutic targets. In this Review, we summarize the inflammatory mediators and cells in the diseased liver, fibrogenic pathways and their therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Hammerich
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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9
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Lurje I, Gaisa NT, Weiskirchen R, Tacke F. Mechanisms of organ fibrosis: Emerging concepts and implications for novel treatment strategies. Mol Aspects Med 2023; 92:101191. [PMID: 37236017 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis, or tissue scarring, develops as a pathological deviation from the physiological wound healing response and can occur in various organs such as the heart, lung, liver, kidney, skin, and bone marrow. Organ fibrosis significantly contributes to global morbidity and mortality. A broad spectrum of etiologies can cause fibrosis, including acute and chronic ischemia, hypertension, chronic viral infection (e.g., viral hepatitis), environmental exposure (e.g., pneumoconiosis, alcohol, nutrition, smoking) and genetic diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency). Common mechanisms across organs and disease etiologies involve a sustained injury to parenchymal cells that triggers a wound healing response, which becomes deregulated in the disease process. A transformation of resting fibroblasts into myofibroblasts with excessive extracellular matrix production constitutes the hallmark of disease, however, multiple other cell types such as immune cells, predominantly monocytes/macrophages, endothelial cells, and parenchymal cells form a complex network of profibrotic cellular crosstalk. Across organs, leading mediators include growth factors like transforming growth factor-β and platelet-derived growth factor, cytokines like interleukin-10, interleukin-13, interleukin-17, and danger-associated molecular patterns. More recently, insights into fibrosis regression and resolution of chronic conditions have deepened our understanding of beneficial, protective effects of immune cells, soluble mediators and intracellular signaling. Further in-depth insights into the mechanisms of fibrogenesis can provide the rationale for therapeutic interventions and the development of targeted antifibrotic agents. This review gives insight into shared responses and cellular mechanisms across organs and etiologies, aiming to paint a comprehensive picture of fibrotic diseases in both experimental settings and in human pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Lurje
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Charité Mitte and Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine T Gaisa
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Charité Mitte and Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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10
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Gil M, Azkargorta M, Fuster C, Martínez-Gómez M, Raurell I, Barberá A, Pericàs JM, Hide D, Elortza F, Genescà J, Martell M. Proteomic Analysis of Dysfunctional Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells Reveals Substantial Differences in Most Common Experimental Models of Chronic Liver Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11904. [PMID: 37569282 PMCID: PMC10418749 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241511904] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular markers of dedifferentiation of dysfunctional liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) have not been fully elucidated. We aimed at deciphering the molecular profile of dysfunctional LSEC in different pathological scenarios. Flow cytometry was used to sort CD11b-/CD32b+ and CD11b-/CD32b- LSEC from three rat models of liver disease (bile duct ligation-BDL; inhaled carbon tetrachloride-CCl4; and high fat glucose/fructose diet-HFGFD). A full proteomic profile was performed applying nano-scale liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-MS) and analyzed with PEAKS software. The percentage of CD32b- LSEC varied across groups, suggesting different capillarization processes. Both CD32+ and CD32b- LSEC from models are different from control LSEC, but differently expressed proteins in CD32b- LSEC are significantly higher. Heatmaps evidenced specific protein expression patterns for each model. Analysis of biological significance comparing dysfunctional CD32b- LSEC with specialized CD32b+ LSEC from controls showed central similarities represented by 45 common down-regulated proteins involved in the suppression of the endocytic machinery and 63 common up-regulated proteins associated with the actin-dependent cytoskeleton reorganization. In summary; substantial differences but also similarities in dysfunctional LSEC from the three most common models of liver disease were found, supporting the idea that LSEC may harbor different protein expression profiles according to the etiology or disease stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mar Gil
- Liver Diseases, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Liver Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.G.); (C.F.); (M.M.-G.); (I.R.); (A.B.); (J.M.P.); (D.H.)
| | - Mikel Azkargorta
- Proteomics Platform, CIC bioGUNE, BRTA (Basque Research & Technology Alliance), Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain; (M.A.); (F.E.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carla Fuster
- Liver Diseases, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Liver Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.G.); (C.F.); (M.M.-G.); (I.R.); (A.B.); (J.M.P.); (D.H.)
| | - María Martínez-Gómez
- Liver Diseases, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Liver Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.G.); (C.F.); (M.M.-G.); (I.R.); (A.B.); (J.M.P.); (D.H.)
| | - Imma Raurell
- Liver Diseases, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Liver Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.G.); (C.F.); (M.M.-G.); (I.R.); (A.B.); (J.M.P.); (D.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aurora Barberá
- Liver Diseases, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Liver Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.G.); (C.F.); (M.M.-G.); (I.R.); (A.B.); (J.M.P.); (D.H.)
| | - Juan Manuel Pericàs
- Liver Diseases, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Liver Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.G.); (C.F.); (M.M.-G.); (I.R.); (A.B.); (J.M.P.); (D.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Diana Hide
- Liver Diseases, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Liver Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.G.); (C.F.); (M.M.-G.); (I.R.); (A.B.); (J.M.P.); (D.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Felix Elortza
- Proteomics Platform, CIC bioGUNE, BRTA (Basque Research & Technology Alliance), Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain; (M.A.); (F.E.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan Genescà
- Liver Diseases, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Liver Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.G.); (C.F.); (M.M.-G.); (I.R.); (A.B.); (J.M.P.); (D.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Martell
- Liver Diseases, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Liver Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.G.); (C.F.); (M.M.-G.); (I.R.); (A.B.); (J.M.P.); (D.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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11
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Ortega-Ribera M, Gibert-Ramos A, Abad-Jordà L, Magaz M, Téllez L, Paule L, Castillo E, Pastó R, de Souza Basso B, Olivas P, Orts L, Lozano JJ, Villa R, Bosch J, Albillos A, García-Pagán JC, Gracia-Sancho J. Increased sinusoidal pressure impairs liver endothelial mechanosensing, uncovering novel biomarkers of portal hypertension. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100722. [PMID: 37151732 PMCID: PMC10154975 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100722] [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: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Portal hypertension (PH) is a frequent and severe clinical syndrome associated with chronic liver disease. Considering the mechanobiological effects of hydrostatic pressure and shear stress on endothelial cells, we hypothesised that PH might influence the phenotype of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) during disease progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of increased hydrodynamic pressure on LSECs and to identify endothelial-derived biomarkers of PH. Methods Primary LSECs were cultured under normal or increased hydrodynamic pressure within a pathophysiological range (1 vs. 12 mmHg) using a microfluidic liver-on-a-chip device. RNA sequencing was used to identify pressure-sensitive genes, which were validated in liver biopsies from two independent cohorts of patients with chronic liver disease with PH (n = 73) and participants without PH (n = 23). Biomarker discovery was performed in two additional independent cohorts of 104 patients with PH and 18 patients without PH. Results Transcriptomic analysis revealed marked deleterious effect of pathological pressure in LSECs and identified chromobox 7 (CBX7) as a key transcription factor diminished by pressure. Hepatic CBX7 downregulation was validated in patients with PH and significantly correlated with hepatic venous pressure gradient. MicroRNA 181a-5p was identified as pressure-induced upstream regulator of CBX7. Two downstream targets inhibited by CBX7, namely, E-cadherin (ECAD) and serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 1 (SPINK1), were found increased in the bloodstream of patients with PH and were highly predictive of PH and clinically significant PH. Conclusions We characterise the detrimental effects of increased hydrodynamic pressure on the sinusoidal endothelium, identify CBX7 as a pressure-sensitive transcription factor, and propose the combination of two of its reported products as biomarkers of PH. Impact and Implications Increased pressure in the portal venous system that typically occurs during chronic liver disease (called portal hypertension) is one of the main drivers of related clinical complications, which are linked to a higher risk of death. In this study, we found that pathological pressure has a harmful effect on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and identified CBX7 as a key protein involved in this process. CBX7 regulates the expression of E-cadherin and SPINK1, and consequently, measuring these proteins in the blood of patients with chronic liver disease allows the prediction of portal hypertension and clinically significant portal hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martí Ortega-Ribera
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Gibert-Ramos
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laia Abad-Jordà
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Magaz
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Téllez
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, Instituto Ramon y Cajal de Investigacion Biosanitaria (IRYCIS), Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Paule
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, Instituto Ramon y Cajal de Investigacion Biosanitaria (IRYCIS), Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Castillo
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, Instituto Ramon y Cajal de Investigacion Biosanitaria (IRYCIS), Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raül Pastó
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bruno de Souza Basso
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- PUCRS, Escola de Ciências, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Biofísica Celular e Inflamação, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Pol Olivas
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lara Orts
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan José Lozano
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Villa
- Grupo de Aplicaciones Biomédicas, Institut de Microelectrònica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), Esfera UAB, Bellaterra, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBERBBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Bosch
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Agustín Albillos
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, Instituto Ramon y Cajal de Investigacion Biosanitaria (IRYCIS), Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan Carles García-Pagán
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. Address: IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, Rosselló 149, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. Tel.: +34 932275400 #4306
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12
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Kaur S, Kidambi S, Ortega-Ribera M, Thuy LTT, Nieto N, Cogger VC, Xie WF, Tacke F, Gracia-Sancho J. In Vitro Models for the Study of Liver Biology and Diseases: Advances and Limitations. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 15:559-571. [PMID: 36442812 PMCID: PMC9868680 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In vitro models of liver (patho)physiology, new technologies, and experimental approaches are progressing rapidly. Based on cell lines, induced pluripotent stem cells or primary cells derived from mouse or human liver as well as whole tissue (slices), such in vitro single- and multicellular models, including complex microfluidic organ-on-a-chip systems, provide tools to functionally understand mechanisms of liver health and disease. The International Society of Hepatic Sinusoidal Research (ISHSR) commissioned this working group to review the currently available in vitro liver models and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each in the context of evaluating their use for the study of liver functionality, disease modeling, therapeutic discovery, and clinical applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savneet Kaur
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Srivatsan Kidambi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
| | - Martí Ortega-Ribera
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Le Thi Thanh Thuy
- Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Natalia Nieto
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Victoria C Cogger
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Wei-Fen Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- Liver Vascular Biology, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland.
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13
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Yin K, Patten D, Gough S, de Barros Gonçalves S, Chan A, Olan I, Cassidy L, Poblocka M, Zhu H, Lun A, Schuijs M, Young A, Martinez-Jimenez C, Halim TYF, Shetty S, Narita M, Hoare M. Senescence-induced endothelial phenotypes underpin immune-mediated senescence surveillance. Genes Dev 2022; 36:533-549. [PMID: 35618311 PMCID: PMC9186388 DOI: 10.1101/gad.349585.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Senescence is a stress-responsive tumor suppressor mechanism associated with expression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Through the SASP, senescent cells trigger their own immune-mediated elimination, which if evaded leads to tumorigenesis. Senescent parenchymal cells are separated from circulating immunocytes by the endothelium, which is targeted by microenvironmental signaling. Here we show that SASP induces endothelial cell NF-κB activity and that SASP-induced endothelial expression of the canonical NF-κB component Rela underpins senescence surveillance. Using human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), we show that SASP-induced endothelial NF-κB activity regulates a conserved transcriptional program supporting immunocyte recruitment. Furthermore, oncogenic hepatocyte senescence drives murine LSEC NF-κB activity in vivo. Critically, we show two distinct endothelial pathways in senescence surveillance. First, endothelial-specific loss of Rela prevents development of Stat1-expressing CD4+ T lymphocytes. Second, the SASP up-regulates ICOSLG on LSECs, with the ICOS-ICOSLG axis contributing to senescence cell clearance. Our results show that the endothelium is a nonautonomous SASP target and an organizing center for immune-mediated senescence surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin Yin
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
- Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 München, Germany
| | - Daniel Patten
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Gough
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | | | - Adelyne Chan
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Ioana Olan
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Liam Cassidy
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Poblocka
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Haoran Zhu
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Lun
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Martijn Schuijs
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Young
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | | | - Timotheus Y F Halim
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Shishir Shetty
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Masashi Narita
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
- Tokyo Tech World Research Hub Initiative (WRHI), Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-0026, Japan
| | - Matthew Hoare
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
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Constantin AM, Mihu CM, Boşca AB, Melincovici CS, Mărginean MV, Jianu EM, Ştefan RA, Alexandru BC, Moldovan IM, Şovrea AS, Sufleţel RT. Short histological kaleidoscope - recent findings in histology. Part I. ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY = REVUE ROUMAINE DE MORPHOLOGIE ET EMBRYOLOGIE 2022; 63:7-29. [PMID: 36074664 PMCID: PMC9593135 DOI: 10.47162/rjme.63.1.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This article is a review of new advances in histology, concerning either classification or structure of different tissular elements (basement membrane, hemidesmosomes, urothelium, glandular epithelia, adipose tissue, astrocytes), and various organs' constituents (blood-brain barrier, human dental cementum, tubarial salivary glands, hepatic stellate cells, pineal gland, fibroblasts of renal interstitium, Leydig testicular cells, ovarian hilar cells), as well as novel biotechnological techniques (tissue engineering in angiogenesis), recently introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Marie Constantin
- Discipline of Histology, Department of Morphological Sciences, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
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Cell Death in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010048. [PMID: 35008212 PMCID: PMC8750350 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The progression of liver tumors is highly influenced by the interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding environment, and, consequently, can determine whether the primary tumor regresses, metastasizes, or establishes micrometastases. In the context of liver cancer, cell death is a double-edged sword. On one hand, cell death promotes inflammation, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, which are tightly orchestrated by a variety of resident and infiltrating host cells. On the other hand, targeting cell death in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma could represent an attractive therapeutic approach for limiting tumor growth. Further studies are needed to investigate therapeutic strategies combining current chemotherapies with novel drugs targeting either cell death or the tumor microenvironment. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Closely associated with liver inflammation and fibrosis, hepatocyte cell death is a common trigger for acute and chronic liver disease arising from different etiologies, including viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, and fatty liver. In this review, we discuss the contribution of different types of cell death, including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, or autophagy, to the progression of liver disease and the development of HCC. Interestingly, inflammasomes have recently emerged as pivotal innate sensors with a highly pathogenic role in various liver diseases. In this regard, an increased inflammatory response would act as a key element promoting a pro-oncogenic microenvironment that may result not only in tumor growth, but also in the formation of a premetastatic niche. Importantly, nonparenchymal hepatic cells, such as liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, and hepatic macrophages, play an important role in establishing the tumor microenvironment, stimulating tumorigenesis by paracrine communication through cytokines and/or angiocrine factors. Finally, we update the potential therapeutic options to inhibit tumorigenesis, and we propose different mechanisms to consider in the tumor microenvironment field for HCC resolution.
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The Hepatic Sinusoid in Chronic Liver Disease: The Optimal Milieu for Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13225719. [PMID: 34830874 PMCID: PMC8616349 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary During the development of chronic liver disease, the hepatic sinusoid undergoes major changes that further compromise the hepatic function, inducing persistent inflammation and the formation of scar tissue, together with alterations in liver hemodynamics. This diseased background may induce the formation and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is the most common form of primary liver cancer and a major cause of mortality. In this review, we describe the ways in which the dysregulation of hepatic sinusoidal cells—including liver sinusoidal cells, Kupffer cells, and hepatic stellate cells—may have an important role in the development of HCC. Our review summarizes all of the known sinusoidal processes in both health and disease, and possible treatments focusing on the dysregulation of the sinusoid; finally, we discuss how some of these alterations occurring during chronic injury are shared with the pathology of HCC and may contribute to its development. Abstract The liver sinusoids are a unique type of microvascular beds. The specialized phenotype of sinusoidal cells is essential for their communication, and for the function of all hepatic cell types, including hepatocytes. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) conform the inner layer of the sinusoids, which is permeable due to the fenestrae across the cytoplasm; hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) surround LSECs, regulate the vascular tone, and synthetize the extracellular matrix, and Kupffer cells (KCs) are the liver-resident macrophages. Upon injury, the harmonic equilibrium in sinusoidal communication is disrupted, leading to phenotypic alterations that may affect the function of the whole liver if the damage persists. Understanding how the specialized sinusoidal cells work in coordination with each other in healthy livers and chronic liver disease is of the utmost importance for the discovery of new therapeutic targets and the design of novel pharmacological strategies. In this manuscript, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of sinusoidal cells and their communication both in health and chronic liver diseases, and their potential pharmacologic modulation. Finally, we discuss how alterations occurring during chronic injury may contribute to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, which is usually developed in the background of chronic liver disease.
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Verhulst S, van Os EA, De Smet V, Eysackers N, Mannaerts I, van Grunsven LA. Gene Signatures Detect Damaged Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells in Chronic Liver Diseases. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:750044. [PMID: 34746184 PMCID: PMC8564042 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.750044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells have a gatekeeper function in liver homeostasis by permitting substrates from the bloodstream into the space of Disse and regulating hepatic stellate cell activation status. Maintenance of LSEC's highly specialized phenotype is crucial for liver homeostasis. During liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, LSEC phenotype and functions are lost by processes known as capillarization and LSEC dysfunction. LSEC capillarization can be demonstrated by the loss of fenestrae (cytoplasmic pores) and the manifestation of a basement membrane. Currently, no protein or genetic markers can clearly distinguish healthy from damaged LSECs in acute or chronic liver disease. Single cell (sc)RNA sequencing efforts have identified several LSEC populations in mouse models for liver disease and in human cirrhotic livers. Still, there are no clearly defined genesets that can identify LSECs or dysfunctional LSEC populations in transcriptome data. Here, we developed genesets that are enriched in healthy and damaged LSECs which correlated very strongly with healthy and early stage- vs. advanced human liver diseases. A damaged LSEC signature comprised of Fabp4/5 and Vwf/a1 was established which could efficiently identify damaged endothelial cells in single cell RNAseq data sets. In LSECs from an acute CCl4 liver injury mouse model, Fabp4/5 and Vwf/a1 expression is induced within 1-3 days while in cirrhotic human livers these 4 genes are highly enriched in damaged LSECs. In conclusion, our newly developed gene signature of damaged LSECs can be applicable to a wide range of liver disease etiologies, implicating a common transcriptional alteration mechanism in LSEC damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Elise Anne van Os
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Vincent De Smet
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Eysackers
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
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