PLX105852

GSE102683: RNA sequencing based comparative analysis of human hepatic progenitor cells and their niche from alcoholic steatohepatitis livers

• Organsim human
• Type RNASEQ
• Target gene
• Project ARCHS4

Hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) are small cells with a relative large oval nucleus and a scanty cytoplasm situated in the canals of Hering, that express markers of (immature) hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. HPCs are present in large numbers in alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease. To date, the mechanisms responsible for proliferation and differentiation of human HPCs are still poorly understood and the role of HPCs in ASH development is unknown. In this study, we aimed to characterise human HPCs and their interactions with other cells through comparison, on both protein and RNA level, of HPC-enriched cell populations from adult human liver tissue using different isolation methods. Fresh human liver tissue was collected from ASH explant livers and HPC-enriched cell populations were obtained via three different isolation methods: side population (SP), EpCAM and TROP-2 membrane marker isolation. Gene expression profiles of fluorescent activated cell sorted HPCs, whole liver extracts and laser microdissected HPC niches were determined by RNA sequencing. Immunohistochemical evaluation of the isolated populations indicated the enrichment of HPCs in the SP, EpCAM+ and TROP-2+ cell populations. Pathway analysis of the transcription profiles of human HPCs showed an enrichment and activation of known HPC pathways like Wnt/-catenin, TWEAK and HGF. Integration of the HPC niche profile suggests autocrine signalling by HPCs (TNF, PDGFB and VEGFA) as well as paracrine signalling from the surrounding niche cells including MIF and IGF-1. In addition, we identified IL-17A signalling as a potentially novel pathway in HPC biology. In conclusion, we provide the first RNA-seq based, comparative transcriptome analysis of isolated human HPCs from ASH patients and revealed active signalling between HPCs and their surrounding niche cells in ASH livers and suggest that HPCs can actively contribute to liver inflammation. SOURCE: Stefaan Verhulst (stverhul@vub.ac.be) - Liver cell biology lab Vrije Universiteit Brussel