Dynamic Transcriptional and Epigenetic Changes Drive Cellular Plasticity in the Liver.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Following liver injury, a fraction of hepatocytes adopt features of biliary epithelial cells (BECs) in a process known as biliary reprogramming. The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular events accompanying this dramatic shift in cellular identity.

Approach and results

We applied the techniques of bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), single-cell RNA-seq, and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing to define the epigenetic and transcriptional changes associated with biliary reprogramming. In addition, we examined the role of TGF-β signaling by profiling cells undergoing reprogramming in mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion in the downstream TGF-β signaling component mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (Smad4)

SUBMITTER: Merrell AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8271088 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature