RRC ID 87169
Author Pu W, Zhu H, Zhang M, Pikiolek M, Ercan C, Li J, Huang X, Han X, Zhang Z, Lv Z, Li Y, Liu K, He L, Liu X, Heim MH, Terracciano LM, Tchorz JS, Zhou B.
Title Bipotent transitional liver progenitor cells contribute to liver regeneration.
Journal Nat Genet
Abstract Following severe liver injury, when hepatocyte-mediated regeneration is impaired, biliary epithelial cells (BECs) can transdifferentiate into functional hepatocytes. However, the subset of BECs with such facultative tissue stem cell potential, as well as the mechanisms enabling transdifferentiation, remains elusive. Here we identify a transitional liver progenitor cell (TLPC), which originates from BECs and differentiates into hepatocytes during regeneration from severe liver injury. By applying a dual genetic lineage tracing approach, we specifically labeled TLPCs and found that they are bipotent, as they either differentiate into hepatocytes or re-adopt BEC fate. Mechanistically, Notch and Wnt/β-catenin signaling orchestrate BEC-to-TLPC and TLPC-to-hepatocyte conversions, respectively. Together, our study provides functional and mechanistic insights into transdifferentiation-assisted liver regeneration.
Volume 55(4)
Pages 651-664
Published 2023-4-1
DOI 10.1038/s41588-023-01335-9
PII 10.1038/s41588-023-01335-9
PMID 36914834
PMC PMC10101857
MeSH Cell Differentiation / genetics Cell Proliferation / genetics Epithelial Cells Hepatocytes Liver* Liver Regeneration* Stem Cells
IF 27.605
Resource
Mice RBRC01071