Project description:Objective: The rs641738C>T variant located near the membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain containing 7 (MBOAT7) locus is associated with fibrosis in liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcohol-related liver disease, hepatitis B and C. We aim to understand the mechanism by which the rs641738C>T variant contributes to pathogenesis of NAFLD. Design: Mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of MBOAT7 (Mboat7 Δhep) were generated and livers were characterised by histology, flow cytometry, qPCR, RNA sequencing and lipidomics. We analysed the association of rs641738C>T genotype with liver inflammation and fibrosis in 846 NAFLD patients and obtained genotype-specific liver lipidomes from 280 human biopsies. Results: Allelic imbalance analysis of heterozygous human liver samples pointed to lower expression of the MBOAT7 transcript on the rs641738C>T haplotype. Mboat7 Δhep mice showed spontaneous steatosis characterised by increased hepatic cholesterol ester content after 10 weeks. After 6 weeks on a high fat, methionine-low, choline-deficient diet, mice developed increased hepatic fibrosis as measured by picrosirius staining (p<0.05), hydroxyproline content (p<0.05) and transcriptomics, while the inflammatory cell populations and inflammatory mediators were minimally affected. In a human biopsied NAFLD cohort, MBOAT7 rs641738C>T was associated with fibrosis (p=0.004) independent of the presence of histological inflammation. Liver lipidomes of Mboat7 Δhep mice and human rs641738TT carriers with fibrosis showed increased total lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) levels. The altered LPI and phosphatidylinositol subspecies in MBOAT7 Δhep livers and humans rs641738TT carriers were similar. Conclusion: Mboat7 deficiency in mice and human points to an inflammation-independent pathway of liver fibrosis that may be mediated by lipid signalling and a potentially targetable treatment option in NAFLD.
Project description:Liver fibrosis is a strong predictor of long-term mortality in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; yet the mechanisms underlying the progression from the comparatively benign fatty liver state to advanced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis are incompletely under-stood. Using a cell type-resolved genomics approach, we show that comprehensive alterations in hepatocyte genomic and transcriptional settings during NASH progression, led to a partial loss of hepatocyte identity. The hepatocyte reprogramming was under tight cooperative control of a net-work of NASH-activated transcription factors (TFs), as exemplified by Elf3 and Glis2. Indeed, Elf3 and Glis2 controlled hepatocyte identity and fibrosis-dependent hepatokine genes targeting disease-associated hepatic stellate cell (HSC) gene programs. Thus, interconnected TF networks not only promoted hepatocyte dysfunction, but also directed the intra-hepatic crosstalk with HSCs necessary for NASH and fibrosis progression implying molecular “hub-centered” targeting strategies to be superior to existing mono-target approaches as currently used in NASH therapy.
Project description:Background: HGF/c-Met signaling plays a pivotal role in hepatocyte survival and tissue remodeling during liver regeneration. Treatment with HGF has been shown to accelerate resolution of fibrotic liver lesions in experimental animal models. To formally address the importance of c-Met signaling in hepatocytes in the context of chronic liver injury, we have used hepatocyte-specific Metfl/fl;Alb-Cre+/- conditional knockout mice (KO) and a model of liver fibrosis. Methods: CCl4 was administrated biweekly over a period of 4 weeks (injury phase), and the animals were followed over the next 4 weeks (healing phase). Macroscopic and microscopic changes during the injury and healing phases were monitored by IHC. Deposition of ECM was assessed by Sirius red staining and hydroxiproline content. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) was estimated by a-SMA using WB and IHC. Expression levels of the selected key fibrotic molecules were evaluated by RT-qPCR and WB. Time-dependent global transcriptomic changes from whole livers and isolated hepatocytes were examined using gene expression microarrays. Results: Loss of HGF/c-Met signaling in hepatocytes altered the hepatic microenvironment and dramatically aggravated hepatic fibrogenesis. Increased liver damage was associated with decreased hepatocyte proliferation, progressive accumulation of HSCs, and delayed fibrinolysis causing increased collagen deposit. Dystrophic calcification of necrotic areas impaired phagocytosis, resulting in sustained inflammatory and fibrogenic signaling further augmenting severity of fibrogenesis. Global gene-expression analysis demonstrated upregulation of key fibrogenic molecules, such as Tgf-â and Pdgf-â, paralleled by a decreased expression of genes important for cell cycle, stress response and regeneration, which could be attributed to the c-Met deficiency in hepatocytes. Additionally, key chemotactic and inflammatory cytokines, including Ccl2, SDF1/Cxcr4 and Spp1, were upregulated in Metfl/fl;Alb-Cre+/- hepatocytes. However, the major pro-fibrotic signaling originated from the non-parenchymal cell compartments, as revealed by cell type-specific gene expression signatures. Conclusion: These results indicate that lack of c-Met signaling in hepatocytes disrupts the balance between extracellular matrix production and degradation and establish a protective role for c-Met against adverse microenvironment leading to the development of fibrotic liver disease. In the present study, we reported a detailed and comprehensive dynamic characterization of the cellular and molecular alterations involved in fibrosis in the liver of c-Met transgenic mice. Liver samples from female animals were collected at various time-points after fibrosis induction using CCL4 ranging from 0 weeks to 3 weeks. Tissue samples were divided into two parts; one was fixed in 10% formalin for histological evaluation and the other was used for RNA analysis.
Project description:The experiment was to identify gene expression changes in mouse liver macrophages upon resolution from inflammation.<br>Macrophages were isolated from mouse livers 24 hours (inflammation) and 72 hours (resolution) following injury (hepatic fibrosis).<br>RNAs were prepared and hybrised on Affymetrix Mouse Genome 1.0 ST arrays.
Project description:The causative role of activated Hedgehog signaling in liver fibrosis was investigated in vivo. Using hydrodynamics-based transfection, a transgenic mouse model has been developed that expresses Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), a ligand for Hedgehog signaling, in the liver. Levels of hepatic fibrosis and fibrosis-related gene expression were assessed in the model.