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Zhang L, Zhao C, Dai W, Tong H, Yang W, Huang Z, Tang C, Gao J. Disruption of cholangiocyte-B cell crosstalk by blocking the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis alleviates liver fibrosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:379. [PMID: 38010435 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05032-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
B cells can promote liver fibrosis, but the mechanism of B cell infiltration and therapy against culprit B cells are lacking. We postulated that the disruption of cholangiocyte-B-cell crosstalk could attenuate liver fibrosis by blocking the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis via a cyclooxygenase-2-independent effect of celecoxib. In wild-type mice subjected to thioacetamide, celecoxib ameliorated lymphocytic infiltration and liver fibrosis. By single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry, CXCR4 was established as a marker for profibrotic and liver-homing phenotype of B cells. Celecoxib reduced liver-homing B cells without suppressing CXCR4. Cholangiocytes expressed CXCL12, attracting B cells to fibrotic areas in human and mouse. The proliferation and CXCL12 expression of cholangiocytes were suppressed by celecoxib. In CXCL12-deficient mice, liver fibrosis was also attenuated with less B-cell infiltration. In the intrahepatic biliary epithelial cell line HIBEpiC, bulk RNA sequencing indicated that both celecoxib and 2,5-dimethyl-celecoxib (an analog of celecoxib that does not show a COX-2-dependent effect) regulated the TGF-β signaling pathway and cell cycle. Moreover, celecoxib and 2,5-dimethyl-celecoxib decreased the proliferation, and expression of collagen I and CXCL12 in HIBEpiC cells stimulated by TGF-β or EGF. Taken together, liver fibrosis can be ameliorated by disrupting cholangiocyte-B cell crosstalk by blocking the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis with a COX-2-independent effect of celecoxib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhao Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 1, 4th Keyuan Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chong Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 1, 4th Keyuan Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Wenting Dai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 1, 4th Keyuan Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Huan Tong
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Wenjuan Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhiyin Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chengwei Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 1, 4th Keyuan Road, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Jinhang Gao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 1, 4th Keyuan Road, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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