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Hepatic stellate and endothelial cells maintain hematopoietic stem cells in the developing liver.

ABSTRACT: The liver maintains hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) during development. However, it is not clear what cells are the components of the developing liver niche in vivo. Here, we genetically dissected the developing liver niche by systematically determining the cellular source of a key HSC niche factor, stem cell factor (SCF). Most HSCs were closely associated with sinusoidal vasculature. Using Scfgfp knockin mice, we found that Scf was primarily expressed by endothelial and perisinusoidal hepatic stellate cells. Conditional deletion of Scf from hepatocytes, hematopoietic cells, Ng2+ cells, or endothelial cells did not affect HSC number or function. Deletion of Scf from hepatic stellate cells depleted HSCs. Nearly all HSCs were lost when Scf was deleted from both endothelial and hepatic stellate cells. The expression of several niche factors was down-regulated in stellate cells around birth, when HSCs egress the developing liver. Thus, hepatic stellate and endothelial cells create perisinusoidal vascular HSC niche in the developing liver by producing SCF.

SUBMITTER: Lee Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7649724 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Hepatic stellate and endothelial cells maintain hematopoietic stem cells in the developing liver.

Lee Yeojin Y Leslie Juliana J Yang Ying Y Ding Lei L

The Journal of experimental medicine 20210301 3

The liver maintains hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) during development. However, it is not clear what cells are the components of the developing liver niche in vivo. Here, we genetically dissected the developing liver niche by systematically determining the cellular source of a key HSC niche factor, stem cell factor (SCF). Most HSCs were closely associated with sinusoidal vasculature. Using Scfgfp knockin mice, we found that Scf was primarily expressed by endothelial and perisinusoidal hepatic s ...[more]

PMID: 33151261

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Project description:BackgroundAs a critical cellular component in the hepatic stem cell niche, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play critical roles in regulating the expansion of hepatic stem cells, liver regeneration, and fibrogenesis. However, the signaling of HSCs, particularly that involved in promoting hepatic stem cell expansion, remains unclear. While the overexpression of galectins has been identified in regenerating liver tissues, their involvement in cell-cell interactions between HSCs and hepatic stem cells remains to be elucidated.MethodsTo generate a liver regeneration rat model and establish a hepatic oval cell microenvironment as a stem cell niche, 2-acetylaminofluorene treatment plus partial hepatectomy was performed. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to detect the emergence of hepatic stem cells and their niche. Liver parenchymal cells, non-parenchymal cells, and HSCs were isolated for gene and protein expression analysis by qPCR or western blotting. To evaluate the effect of galectins on the colony-forming efficiency of hepatic stem cells, c-Kit-CD29+CD49f+/lowCD45-Ter-119- cells were cultured with recombinant galectin protein, galectin antibody, galectin-producing HSCs, and galectin-knockdown HSCs.ResultsFollowing liver injury, the cytokeratin 19+ ductal cells were robustly induced together with the emergence of OV6+CD44+CD133+EpCAM+ hepatic stem cells. The activated desmin+ HSCs were recruited around the periportal area and markedly enriched in the galectin-positive domain compared to the other non-parenchymal cells. Notably, the HSC fraction isolated from regenerating liver was accompanied by dramatically elevated gene and protein expression of galectins. Hepatic stem cells co-cultured with HSCs significantly enhanced colony-forming efficiency. Conversely, single or double knockdown of galectin-1 and galectin-3 led into a significant function loss, impaired the co-cultured hepatic stem cells to attenuated colony size, inhibited colony frequency, and reduced total cell numbers in colonies. On the other hand, the promotive function of galectins was further confirmed by recombinant galectin protein supplementation and galectins blocking antibodies.ConclusionsOur findings, for the first time, demonstrated that galectins from activated HSCs contribute to hepatic stem cell expansion during liver regeneration, suggesting that galectins serve as important stem cell niche components.

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Hepatic stellate and endothelial cells maintain hematopoietic stem cells in the developing liver.

Publications

Hepatic stellate and endothelial cells maintain hematopoietic stem cells in the developing liver.

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