BMP9 Promotes an Epithelial Phenotype and a Hepatocyte-like Gene Expression Profile in Adult Hepatic Progenitor Cells.

ABSTRACT: Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, has emerged as a new player in chronic liver diseases (CLDs). Its levels increase in the fibrotic liver where it promotes fibrogenesis. It also regulates hepatic progenitor cells (oval cells in rodents), a cell population that contributes to repopulate the liver and recover functionality upon severe damage, but it can also be pro-fibrogenic, depending upon the hepatic microenvironment. Here we analyze the effect of chronic exposure to BMP9 in oval cells. We show that cells chronically treated with BMP9 (B9T-OC) display a more epithelial and hepatocyte-like phenotype while acquiring proliferative and survival advantages. Since our previous studies had revealed a functional crosstalk between BMP9 and the HGF/c-Met signal

SUBMITTER: Addante A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8834621 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature