Back to Search
Start Over
Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals a Hepatic Stellate Cell-Activation Roadmap and Myofibroblast Origin During Liver Fibrosis in Mice.
- Source :
-
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) [Hepatology] 2021 Nov; Vol. 74 (5), pp. 2774-2790. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Aug 21. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Background and Aims: HSCs and portal fibroblasts (PFs) are the major sources of collagen-producing myofibroblasts during liver fibrosis, depending on different etiologies. However, the mechanisms by which their dynamic gene expression directs the transition from the quiescent to the activated state-as well as their contributions to fibrotic myofibroblasts-remain unclear. Here, we analyze the activation of HSCs and PFs in CCL <subscript>4</subscript> -induced and bile duct ligation-induced fibrosis mouse models, using single-cell RNA sequencing and lineage tracing.<br />Approach and Results: We demonstrate that HSCs, rather than PFs, undergo dramatic transcriptomic changes, with the sequential activation of inflammatory, migrative, and extracellular matrix-producing programs. The data also reveal that HSCs are the exclusive source of myofibroblasts in CCL <subscript>4</subscript> -treated liver, while PFs are the major source of myofibroblasts in early cholestatic liver fibrosis. Single-cell and lineage-tracing analysis also uncovers differential gene-expression features between HSCs and PFs; for example, nitric oxide receptor soluble guanylate cyclase is exclusively expressed in HSCs, but not in PFs. The soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator Riociguat potently reduced liver fibrosis in CCL <subscript>4</subscript> -treated livers but showed no therapeutic efficacy in bile duct ligation livers.<br />Conclusions: This study provides a transcriptional roadmap for the activation of HSCs during liver fibrosis and yields comprehensive evidence that the differential transcriptomic features of HSCs and PFs, along with their relative contributions to liver fibrosis of different etiologies, should be considered in developing effective antifibrotic therapeutic strategies.<br /> (© 2021 The Authors. Hepatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Carbon Tetrachloride administration & dosage
Carbon Tetrachloride toxicity
Cell Lineage immunology
Cells, Cultured
Gene Expression Regulation immunology
Gene Knock-In Techniques
Hepatic Stellate Cells metabolism
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental chemically induced
Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental pathology
Male
Mice
Mice, Transgenic
Primary Cell Culture
RNA-Seq
Single-Cell Analysis
Hepatic Stellate Cells immunology
Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental immunology
Myofibroblasts immunology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1527-3350
- Volume :
- 74
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34089528
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.31987