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Mapping of mitogen and metabolic sensitivity in organoids defines requirements for human hepatocyte growth
Human hepatocytes remain hard to grow in vitro. Here, the authors temporally map the early stages of organoid growth initiated from fetal and adult hepatocytes, leveraging this knowledge to design maturation and improved expansion conditions.
- Delilah Hendriks
- , Benedetta Artegiani
- & Hans Clevers
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| Open Access
Harnessing whole human liver ex situ normothermic perfusion for preclinical AAV vector evaluation
Developing clinically predictive model systems for evaluating gene transfer and gene editing technologies has become increasingly important. This study introduces human liver ex situ normothermic perfusion as a model to evaluate gene therapy vectors, paving the way for advanced liver disease treatment.
- Marti Cabanes-Creus
- , Sophia H. Y. Liao
- & Leszek Lisowski
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Inhibition of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase prevents hepatic ferroptosis under an active state of sterol synthesis
Ferroptosis has been connected to liver disease through unclear mechanisms. Here, the authors identify the terminal enzyme of cholesterol synthesis, 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, as a regulator of ferroptosis in hepatocytes that suppresses ferroptosis through 7-dehydrocholesterol accumulation.
- Naoya Yamada
- , Tadayoshi Karasawa
- & Masafumi Takahashi
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Cellular reprogramming in vivo initiated by SOX4 pioneer factor activity
Upon physiological injury, hepatocytes transdifferentiate into biliary epithelial cells, a process involving molecular rewiring. Here, authors show that Sox4 organizes the early steps, acting as a pioneer factor to decommission hepatocyte enhancers and open chromatin around biliary genes.
- Takeshi Katsuda
- , Jonathan H. Sussman
- & Ben Z. Stanger
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Heterogeneity of hepatocyte dynamics restores liver architecture after chemical, physical or viral damage
Hepatocytes regenerate the liver after injury, however, the tissue repair mechanisms have been little explored. Here, the authors show that midlobular and pericentral hepatocytes increase their number and size in response to chemical, physical, and viral insults facilitating liver regeneration.
- Inmaculada Ruz-Maldonado
- , John T. Gonzalez
- & Carlos Fernández-Hernando
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Identification of myeloid-derived growth factor as a mechanically-induced, growth-promoting angiocrine signal for human hepatocytes
After partial liver resection, the remaining liver blood vessels receive more blood flow and get mechanically stretched. Here the authors show that MYDGF is released from the stretched cells of these liver vessels, and that it is required and sufficient to promote liver regeneration and cell proliferation.
- Linda Große-Segerath
- , Paula Follert
- & Eckhard Lammert
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Intraocular liver spheroids for non-invasive high-resolution in vivo monitoring of liver cell function
Longitudinal monitoring of liver function in vivo is hindered by the lack of high-resolution non-invasive imaging techniques. Here, the authors show a crucial and unique tool for longitudinal in vivo imaging of liver spheroids at cellular resolution to study liver physiology and disease.
- Francesca Lazzeri-Barcelo
- , Nuria Oliva-Vilarnau
- & Per-Olof Berggren
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Senescence-associated 13-HODE production promotes age-related liver steatosis by directly inhibiting catalase activity
Polyunsaturated fatty acid-derived bioactive lipids play critical roles as signalling molecules in metabolic processes. Here, the author show 13-HODE produced by senescent hepatocytes and macrophages activates SREBP1 by directly inhibiting CAT activity and promotes age-related steatosis.
- Jinjie Duan
- , Wenhui Dong
- & Chunjiong Wang
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Bile proteome reveals biliary regeneration during normothermic preservation of human donor livers
Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is increasingly used for preserving and evaluating donor livers before transplantation. Here, the authors demonstrate increased regenerative protein profiles in the bile of perfused livers considered suitable for transplantation, providing insight into the mechanisms linked to recovery of the biliary tree following ischemia-reperfusion injury.
- Adam M. Thorne
- , Justina C. Wolters
- & Vincent E. de Meijer
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ZHX2 emerges as a negative regulator of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation during acute liver injury
Mitochondria dysfunction contributes to acute liver injuries. Zhang et al. find that Zhx2 deletion enhances mitochondrial function by promoting electron transport chain gene expression via PGC-1α dependent and independent manner.
- Yankun Zhang
- , Yuchen Fan
- & Chunhong Ma
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Farnesoid X receptor activation by bile acids suppresses lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis
Ferroptosis is a regulated form of cell death occurring upon lipid peroxidation. Here, the authors discovered that activation of the Farnesoid X receptor by bile acids suppresses ferroptosis through upregulation of anti-ferroptotic genes.
- Juliane Tschuck
- , Lea Theilacker
- & Kamyar Hadian
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Article
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The mitochondrial fusion protein OPA1 is dispensable in the liver and its absence induces mitohormesis to protect liver from drug-induced injury
The role of the mitochondrial fusion protein OPA1 in liver function is unknown. Here, authors showed that OPA1 is dispensable in the liver, and that the mitohormesis induced by OPA1 deletion prevents liver injury and contributes to liver resiliency.
- Hakjoo Lee
- , Tae Jin Lee
- & Yisang Yoon
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p21-activated kinase 4 suppresses fatty acid β-oxidation and ketogenesis by phosphorylating NCoR1
PPARα corepressor NCoR1 is a key regulator of fatty acid β-oxidation and ketogenesis. Here, the authors demonstrate that p21-activated kinase 4 phosphorylates NCoR1 at T1619/T2124, resulting in PPARα transrepression and ketone body reduction.
- Min Yan Shi
- , Hwang Chan Yu
- & Eun Ju Bae
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Long-term ex situ normothermic perfusion of human split livers for more than 1 week
Long-term machine perfusion of human livers outside the body is an emerging field with tremendous potential for the assessment, recovery, and modification of organs prior to transplantation. Here, the authors report the long-term ex situ perfusion of human livers and demonstrate the ability to split and perfuse these organs using a standardised protocol.
- Ngee-Soon Lau
- , Mark Ly
- & Carlo Pulitano
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In vivo PAR-CLIP (viP-CLIP) of liver TIAL1 unveils targets regulating cholesterol synthesis and secretion
Here the authors develop viP-CLIP, a technique allowing the identification of RNA binding proteins (RBP) targets in mouse tissues, and identify the RBP Tial1 as a regulator of cholesterol metabolism in the liver.
- Hasan Vatandaslar
- , Aitor Garzia
- & Markus Stoffel
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Regorafenib inhibits EphA2 phosphorylation and leads to liver damage via the ERK/MDM2/p53 axis
The mechanism underlying regorafenib’s hepatotoxicity during anticancer therapy remains elusive. Here, the authors show regorafenib inhibits the phosphorylation of EphA2 at Ser897 resulting in the accumulation of p53 and contributes to hepatocytes apoptosis and the formation of hepatotoxicity.
- Hao Yan
- , Wentong Wu
- & Peihua Luo
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Alternative promoters in CpG depleted regions are prevalently associated with epigenetic misregulation of liver cancer transcriptomes
The regulatory mechanisms of alternative promoters remain to be investigated. Here, the authors explore the sequence and epigenetics landscape of alternative promoters and how they regulate gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Chirag Nepal
- & Jesper B. Andersen
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Early life gut microbiota sustains liver-resident natural killer cells maturation via the butyrate-IL-18 axis
Liver-resident natural killer cells develop locally and have multiple immunological roles in situ. Here the authors investigate the gut-liver axis and show the impact of the intestinal microbiota on the development of liver-resident natural killer cells.
- Panpan Tian
- , Wenwen Yang
- & Xiaohong Liang
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Acute liver steatosis translationally controls the epigenetic regulator MIER1 to promote liver regeneration in a study with male mice
Early lipid accumulation is thought to contribute to liver regeneration through unclear functional mechanisms. Here the authors identify an epigenetic regulator, MIER1, that bridges the acute lipid accumulation and cell cycle gene transcription during liver regeneration after surgical resection in male mice.
- Yanhao Chen
- , Lanlan Chen
- & Qiurong Ding
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O-GlcNAcylation enhances CPS1 catalytic efficiency for ammonia and promotes ureagenesis
Hyperammonemia occurs in liver diseases affecting ureagenesis, and is life-threatening. Here, the authors show that liver UDP-GlcNAc is increased during hyperammonemia, leading to O-GlcNAcylation of the rate-limiting ureagenesis enzyme CPS1, that enhanced ureagenesis and ammonia detoxification. They also showed that pharmacological increase of protein O-GlcNAcylation reduces hyperammonemia in mouse models of liver disease.
- Leandro R. Soria
- , Georgios Makris
- & Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
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Biliary NIK promotes ductular reaction and liver injury and fibrosis in mice
Excessive expansion of cholangiocytes in the liver leads to ductular reaction and liver disease. Here, the authors show that genetic ablation, or pharmacological inhibition, of biliary NIK blocks ductular reaction, liver inflammation, and liver fibrosis in mice by modulating secretion of cholangiokines that mediate liver inflammation and fibrosis.
- Zhiguo Zhang
- , Xiao Zhong
- & Liangyou Rui
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Mettl3-mediated mRNA m6A modification controls postnatal liver development by modulating the transcription factor Hnf4a
m6A is the most abundant RNA modification of eukaryotic mRNAs and is involved in various physiological and pathological processes. Here the authors show a role for Mettl3-mediated RNA m6A modification in postnatal liver development by regulating the Hnf4a-centered transcriptional network
- Yan Xu
- , Zhuowei Zhou
- & Qi Zhang
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Loss of immunity-related GTPase GM4951 leads to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease without obesity
Obesity is a major risk factor for fatty liver disease. Here, using a forward genetic screen, the authors identify the gene GM4951 as a GTPase involved in lipid oxidation and development of NAFLD in mice.
- Zhao Zhang
- , Yu Xun
- & Bruce Beutler
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Autophagy impairment in liver CD11c+ cells promotes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through production of IL-23
The function of autophagy and how this affects non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is not fully known. Here the authors show that in mice with a targeted disruption of the autophagy pathway in CD11c+ cells, development of NAFLD is accelerated involving IL-23 and blocking of IL-23 reduces disease.
- Lauriane Galle-Treger
- , Doumet Georges Helou
- & Omid Akbari
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The aberrant upregulation of exon 10-inclusive SREK1 through SRSF10 acts as an oncogenic driver in human hepatocellular carcinoma
Alternative splicing is dysregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, the authors investigate the role of the splice variant of Splicing Regulatory Glutamic Acid and Lysine Rich Protein 1 (SREK1) and its upstream regulator, Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 10 (SRSF10) in sustaining the oncogenic signal.
- Cunjie Chang
- , Muthukumar Rajasekaran
- & Jianxiang Chen
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| Open Access
The E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Trim31 alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by targeting Rhbdf2 in mouse hepatocytes
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease with complex disease mechanisms. Here the authors report that the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Trim31 mitigates development of NASH via inhibition of rhomboid 5 homolog 2 (Rhbdf2) in mice.
- Minxuan Xu
- , Jun Tan
- & Bochu Wang
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Formyl peptide receptor 2 determines sex-specific differences in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis
Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) higher in men than premenopausal women. Here the authors report that formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) levels are regulated by estrogen, and that FPR2 contributes to NAFLD resistance in female mice.
- Chanbin Lee
- , Jieun Kim
- & Youngmi Jung
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A propolis-derived small molecule ameliorates metabolic syndrome in obese mice by targeting the CREB/CRTC2 transcriptional complex
Disruption of CREB/CRTC2, a key gluconeogenic transcriptional complex, has been shown to ameliorate insulin resistance in mice. Here, the authors show that the inhibitor artipllin C and the synthetic compound A57, which presents with higher inhibitory activity, improve insulin sensitivity in obese mice by inhibiting CREB-CRTC2 interaction.
- Yaqiong Chen
- , Jiang Wang
- & Yi Liu
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Spatial Transcriptomics to define transcriptional patterns of zonation and structural components in the mouse liver
Global transcriptional differences across lobular units in the liver remain unknown. Here the authors perform spatial transcriptomics of liver tissue to delineate transcriptional differences in physical space, confirm lobular zonation along transcriptional gradients and suggest the presence of previously uncharacterized structures within liver tissue.
- Franziska Hildebrandt
- , Alma Andersson
- & Johan Ankarklev
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Environmental eustress modulates β-ARs/CCL2 axis to induce anti-tumor immunity and sensitize immunotherapy against liver cancer in mice
The impact of positive environment stimulations (eustress) on cancer biology remains poorly understood. Here the authors show that exposure to an environment enrichment stimulates anti-tumor immunity and reduces tumor growth in preclinical models of liver cancer.
- Chaobao Liu
- , Yang Yang
- & Hui Wang
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Article
| Open Access
GWAS of serum ALT and AST reveals an association of SLC30A10 Thr95Ile with hypermanganesemia symptoms
Circulating liver enzymes, like alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), are highly heritable and predictive of disease. Here, the authors perform a genome-wide association study on ALT and AST, revealing a rare variant in SLC30A10 associated with elevated ALT and AST.
- Lucas D. Ward
- , Ho-Chou Tu
- & Paul Nioi
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Transplantation of discarded livers following viability testing with normothermic machine perfusion
The shortage of viable donated livers limits patient access to liver transplantation. Here the authors report the use of normothermic machine perfusion to help identify viable organs from livers discarded based on current clinical criteria, which are then transplanted to recipients in a single-arm clinical trial.
- Hynek Mergental
- , Richard W. Laing
- & Darius F. Mirza
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Defective HNF4alpha-dependent gene expression as a driver of hepatocellular failure in alcoholic hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis, a common cause of liver failure, lacks effective treatment. Here, the authors show altered hepatic HNF4a isoform expression and hypermethylation of its target genes in patients. HNF4a dysregulation is improved in vitro by TGFb or PPARg modulation suggesting potential therapeutic avenues.
- Josepmaria Argemi
- , Maria U. Latasa
- & Ramon Bataller
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Liver-target nanotechnology facilitates berberine to ameliorate cardio-metabolic diseases
Berberine has lipid-lowering effects and other metabolic benefits, but it presents with poor bioavailability. Here the authors conjugate berberine to liver-targeting nanoparticles, and show increased accumulation of berberine in the liver, improved metabolic profiles and reduced atherosclerotic plaques in mice.
- Hui-Hui Guo
- , Chen-Lin Feng
- & Jian-Dong Jiang
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| Open Access
Single cell RNA sequencing of human liver reveals distinct intrahepatic macrophage populations
The development of single cell RNA sequencing technologies has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of tissue biology. Here, MacParland et al. performed single cell RNA sequencing of human liver samples, and identify distinct populations of intrahepatic macrophages that may play specific roles in liver disease.
- Sonya A. MacParland
- , Jeff C. Liu
- & Ian D. McGilvray
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Epigenomic map of human liver reveals principles of zonated morphogenic and metabolic control
Spatial mapping of genomic programs in tissue cells is an important step in the understanding of organ function and disease. Here, the authors provide a spatially resolved epigenomic and transcriptomic map of human liver and show porto-central gradients in metabolic and morphogen networks and transcription factor binding sites as a basis to better understand liver regeneration and function.
- Mario Brosch
- , Kathrin Kattler
- & Jochen Hampe
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Insulin/Snail1 axis ameliorates fatty liver disease by epigenetically suppressing lipogenesis
Insulin promotes lipogenesis but, on the other hand, insulin resistance is associated with increased lipogenesis in the liver. Here the authors show that Snail1 is upregulated by insulin and inhibits lipogenesis by repressing Fasn expression but insulin-mediated Snail1 upregulation is impaired during obesity and insulin resistance.
- Yan Liu
- , Lin Jiang
- & Liangyou Rui
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| Open Access
HGF/R-spondin1 rescues liver dysfunction through the induction of Lgr5+ liver stem cells
Organ regeneration by transplantation of ESC/iPSC-derived tissues is a promising but still challenging approach. Here Lin et al. show that liver damage caused by a chemical insult induces not only fibrosis but also Lgr5+ cell expansion that can be further promoted by treatment with HGF/R-spondin1.
- Yuan Lin
- , Zhe-Ping Fang
- & Wei-Jie Zhou
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| Open Access
Hepcidin is regulated by promoter-associated histone acetylation and HDAC3
Hepcidin controls systemic iron levels by inhibiting intestinal iron absorption and iron recycling. Here, Pasricha et al. demonstrate that the hepcidin-chromatin locus displays HDAC3-mediated reversible epigenetic modifications during both erythropoiesis and iron deficiency.
- Sant-Rayn Pasricha
- , Pei Jin Lim
- & Hal Drakesmith
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| Open Access
A novel humanized mouse lacking murine P450 oxidoreductase for studying human drug metabolism
Human liver chimeric mice are increasingly used for drug testing in preclinical development, but express residual murine p450 cytochromes. Here the authors generate mice lacking the Por gene in the liver, and show that human cytochrome metabolism is used following repopulation with human hepatocytes.
- Mercedes Barzi
- , Francis P. Pankowicz
- & Karl-Dimiter Bissig
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| Open Access
The GCN5-CITED2-PKA signalling module controls hepatic glucose metabolism through a cAMP-induced substrate switch
GCN5 inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis through acetylation of PGC-1α. Here the authors show that GCN5 also activates hepatic gluconeogenesis by acetylating histone H3K9, and that the affinity of GCN5 for its different substrates is regulated via phosphorylation at S275 by PKA in a CITED2-dependent manner.
- Mashito Sakai
- , Tomoko Tujimura-Hayakawa
- & Michihiro Matsumoto
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| Open Access
Mfsd2a+ hepatocytes repopulate the liver during injury and regeneration
Hepatocytes are highly specialized cells and their fate is determined by their position in the liver as either periportal or perivenous hepatocytes. Here, Pu et al. show through genetic lineage tracing for Mfsd2 that periportal hepatocytes proliferate and reprogram into pericentral hepatocytes during liver regeneration and injury.
- Wenjuan Pu
- , Hui Zhang
- & Bin Zhou
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| Open Access
CUG-binding protein 1 regulates HSC activation and liver fibrogenesis
Activation of hepatic stellate cells is a critical event in the development of fibrosis, which is driven by TGF-beta and inhibited by IFN-gamma. Here Wu et al. show that the RNA binding protein CUGBP1 is increased by TGF-beta signalling and promotes IFN-gamma mRNA degradation.
- Xingxin Wu
- , Xudong Wu
- & Qiang Xu
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| Open Access
Differential hepatic distribution of insulin receptor substrates causes selective insulin resistance in diabetes and obesity
Type 2 diabetes and obesity are associated with increased hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis, known as selective insulin resistance. Here Kubota et al. explain selective insulin resistance in the liver with the zonal distribution and selective insulin-mediated regulation of Irs1 and Irs2.
- Naoto Kubota
- , Tetsuya Kubota
- & Takashi Kadowaki
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MicroRNA-378 limits activation of hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrosis by suppressing Gli3 expression
Liver fibrosis is a pathogenic driver of many liver diseases, so understanding its regulation might open the door to new therapies. Here the authors perform a screen for miRNA candidates and identify that miR-378 inhibits liver fibrosis in mice by interfering with Hedgehog signalling in hepatic stellate cells.
- Jeongeun Hyun
- , Sihyung Wang
- & Youngmi Jung
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| Open Access
MICU1 regulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake dictates survival and tissue regeneration
Mitochondrial calcium uptake is a highly regulated process, and calcium overload can lead to cell death. Here, using knockout mouse model, the authors show that the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) regulator MICU1 is needed to prevent calcium overload and promotes survival under liver regeneration and postnatal adaptation-associated stress.
- Anil Noronha Antony
- , Melanie Paillard
- & György Hajnóczky
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| Open Access
Bone marrow-derived monocytes give rise to self-renewing and fully differentiated Kupffer cells
Tissue-resident macrophages are mostly derived from embryonic progenitors. Scott et al. develop a mouse model to specifically deplete Kupffer cells (KC) in vivoand show that monocyte-derived cells can repopulate KC niche and behave similar to their embryonically-derived counterparts.
- Charlotte L. Scott
- , Fang Zheng
- & Martin Guilliams
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| Open Access
ESRP2 controls an adult splicing programme in hepatocytes to support postnatal liver maturation
Alternative RNA splicing is important during organismal development. Here, the authors perform RNA-Seq on mouse and human liver samples to provide a comprehensive view of splicing events during liver development and growth, and identify Espr2 as a main regulator of these splicing processes.
- Amruta Bhate
- , Darren J. Parker
- & Auinash Kalsotra
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| Open Access
Circadian control of bile acid synthesis by a KLF15-Fgf15 axis
Bile acids are important for the absorption of nutrients. Here the authors provide a molecular explanation for the oscillatory release of bile acids, showing that diurnal expression of the transcription factor KLF15 regulates FGF15 secretion from enterocytes, which then inhibits bile acid synthesis in the liver.
- Shuxin Han
- , Rongli Zhang
- & Mukesh K. Jain
Hepatocytes differentiate into intestinal epithelial cells through a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal cell state in culture