Hepatic stellate cells contribute to liver regeneration through galectins in hepatic stem cell niche
Abstract Background As a critical cellular component in the hepatic stem cell niche, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play critical roles in regulating the expansion of hepatic stem cells, liver regeneration, and fibrogenesis. However, the signaling of HSCs, particularly that involved in promoting hepa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Stem Cell Research & Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13287-020-01942-x |
| _version_ | 1818300947984547840 |
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| author | Jian-Yun Ge Yun-Wen Zheng Tomonori Tsuchida Kinji Furuya Hiroko Isoda Hideki Taniguchi Nobuhiro Ohkohchi Tatsuya Oda |
| author_facet | Jian-Yun Ge Yun-Wen Zheng Tomonori Tsuchida Kinji Furuya Hiroko Isoda Hideki Taniguchi Nobuhiro Ohkohchi Tatsuya Oda |
| author_sort | Jian-Yun Ge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background As a critical cellular component in the hepatic stem cell niche, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play critical roles in regulating the expansion of hepatic stem cells, liver regeneration, and fibrogenesis. However, the signaling of HSCs, particularly that involved in promoting hepatic stem cell expansion, remains unclear. While the overexpression of galectins has been identified in regenerating liver tissues, their involvement in cell-cell interactions between HSCs and hepatic stem cells remains to be elucidated. Methods To generate a liver regeneration rat model and establish a hepatic oval cell microenvironment as a stem cell niche, 2-acetylaminofluorene treatment plus partial hepatectomy was performed. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to detect the emergence of hepatic stem cells and their niche. Liver parenchymal cells, non-parenchymal cells, and HSCs were isolated for gene and protein expression analysis by qPCR or western blotting. To evaluate the effect of galectins on the colony-forming efficiency of hepatic stem cells, c-Kit−CD29+CD49f+/lowCD45−Ter-119− cells were cultured with recombinant galectin protein, galectin antibody, galectin-producing HSCs, and galectin-knockdown HSCs. Results Following liver injury, the cytokeratin 19+ ductal cells were robustly induced together with the emergence of OV6+CD44+CD133+EpCAM+ hepatic stem cells. The activated desmin+ HSCs were recruited around the periportal area and markedly enriched in the galectin-positive domain compared to the other non-parenchymal cells. Notably, the HSC fraction isolated from regenerating liver was accompanied by dramatically elevated gene and protein expression of galectins. Hepatic stem cells co-cultured with HSCs significantly enhanced colony-forming efficiency. Conversely, single or double knockdown of galectin-1 and galectin-3 led into a significant function loss, impaired the co-cultured hepatic stem cells to attenuated colony size, inhibited colony frequency, and reduced total cell numbers in colonies. On the other hand, the promotive function of galectins was further confirmed by recombinant galectin protein supplementation and galectins blocking antibodies. Conclusions Our findings, for the first time, demonstrated that galectins from activated HSCs contribute to hepatic stem cell expansion during liver regeneration, suggesting that galectins serve as important stem cell niche components. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T05:15:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-25e0d243cdc241f6926f2ae34abfccde |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1757-6512 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T05:15:13Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Stem Cell Research & Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-25e0d243cdc241f6926f2ae34abfccde2022-12-21T23:58:27ZengBMCStem Cell Research & Therapy1757-65122020-09-0111111310.1186/s13287-020-01942-xHepatic stellate cells contribute to liver regeneration through galectins in hepatic stem cell nicheJian-Yun Ge0Yun-Wen Zheng1Tomonori Tsuchida2Kinji Furuya3Hiroko Isoda4Hideki Taniguchi5Nobuhiro Ohkohchi6Tatsuya Oda7Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of TsukubaDepartment of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of TsukubaDepartment of Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Yokohama City UniversityDepartment of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of TsukubaFaculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of TsukubaDepartment of Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Yokohama City UniversityDepartment of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of TsukubaDepartment of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of TsukubaAbstract Background As a critical cellular component in the hepatic stem cell niche, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play critical roles in regulating the expansion of hepatic stem cells, liver regeneration, and fibrogenesis. However, the signaling of HSCs, particularly that involved in promoting hepatic stem cell expansion, remains unclear. While the overexpression of galectins has been identified in regenerating liver tissues, their involvement in cell-cell interactions between HSCs and hepatic stem cells remains to be elucidated. Methods To generate a liver regeneration rat model and establish a hepatic oval cell microenvironment as a stem cell niche, 2-acetylaminofluorene treatment plus partial hepatectomy was performed. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to detect the emergence of hepatic stem cells and their niche. Liver parenchymal cells, non-parenchymal cells, and HSCs were isolated for gene and protein expression analysis by qPCR or western blotting. To evaluate the effect of galectins on the colony-forming efficiency of hepatic stem cells, c-Kit−CD29+CD49f+/lowCD45−Ter-119− cells were cultured with recombinant galectin protein, galectin antibody, galectin-producing HSCs, and galectin-knockdown HSCs. Results Following liver injury, the cytokeratin 19+ ductal cells were robustly induced together with the emergence of OV6+CD44+CD133+EpCAM+ hepatic stem cells. The activated desmin+ HSCs were recruited around the periportal area and markedly enriched in the galectin-positive domain compared to the other non-parenchymal cells. Notably, the HSC fraction isolated from regenerating liver was accompanied by dramatically elevated gene and protein expression of galectins. Hepatic stem cells co-cultured with HSCs significantly enhanced colony-forming efficiency. Conversely, single or double knockdown of galectin-1 and galectin-3 led into a significant function loss, impaired the co-cultured hepatic stem cells to attenuated colony size, inhibited colony frequency, and reduced total cell numbers in colonies. On the other hand, the promotive function of galectins was further confirmed by recombinant galectin protein supplementation and galectins blocking antibodies. Conclusions Our findings, for the first time, demonstrated that galectins from activated HSCs contribute to hepatic stem cell expansion during liver regeneration, suggesting that galectins serve as important stem cell niche components.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13287-020-01942-xGalectinsHepatic stem cell nicheHepatic progenitor cellsHepatic oval cellsHepatic stellate cellsLiver regeneration |
| spellingShingle | Jian-Yun Ge Yun-Wen Zheng Tomonori Tsuchida Kinji Furuya Hiroko Isoda Hideki Taniguchi Nobuhiro Ohkohchi Tatsuya Oda Hepatic stellate cells contribute to liver regeneration through galectins in hepatic stem cell niche Stem Cell Research & Therapy Galectins Hepatic stem cell niche Hepatic progenitor cells Hepatic oval cells Hepatic stellate cells Liver regeneration |
| title | Hepatic stellate cells contribute to liver regeneration through galectins in hepatic stem cell niche |
| title_full | Hepatic stellate cells contribute to liver regeneration through galectins in hepatic stem cell niche |
| title_fullStr | Hepatic stellate cells contribute to liver regeneration through galectins in hepatic stem cell niche |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hepatic stellate cells contribute to liver regeneration through galectins in hepatic stem cell niche |
| title_short | Hepatic stellate cells contribute to liver regeneration through galectins in hepatic stem cell niche |
| title_sort | hepatic stellate cells contribute to liver regeneration through galectins in hepatic stem cell niche |
| topic | Galectins Hepatic stem cell niche Hepatic progenitor cells Hepatic oval cells Hepatic stellate cells Liver regeneration |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13287-020-01942-x |
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