Host-pathogen interactions in the Plasmodium-infected mouse liver at spatial and single-cell resolution.

Upon infecting its vertebrate host, the malaria parasite initially invades the liver where it undergoes massive replication, whilst remaining clinically silent. The coordination of host responses across the complex liver tissue during malaria infection remains unexplored. Here, we perform spatial transcriptomics in combination with single-nuclei RNA sequencing over multiple time points to delineate host-pathogen interactions across Plasmodium berghei-infected liver tissues.

Spatially segregated defects and IGF1-responsiveness of hilar and peripheral biliary organoids from a model of Alagille syndrome.

Background & Aims: Alagille syndrome (ALGS) manifests with peripheral intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) paucity, which can spontaneously resolve. In a model for ALGS, Jag1 mice, this occurs with distinct architectural mechanisms in hilar and peripheral IHBDs. Here, we investigated region-specific IHBD characteristics and addressed whether IGF1, a cholangiocyte mitogen that is downregulated in ALGS and in Jag1 mice, can improve biliary outcomes.

Spatial Transcriptomics to define transcriptional patterns of zonation and structural components in the mouse liver.

Reconstruction of heterogeneity through single cell transcriptional profiling has greatly advanced our understanding of the spatial liver transcriptome in recent years. However, global transcriptional differences across lobular units remain elusive in physical space. Here, we apply Spatial Transcriptomics to perform transcriptomic analysis across sectioned liver tissue.

DUCT: Double Resin Casting followed by Micro-Computed Tomography for 3D Liver Analysis.

The liver is the biggest internal organ in humans and mice, and high auto-fluorescence presents a significant challenge for assessing the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the organ at the whole-organ level. Liver architecture is characterized by multiple branching lumenized structures, which can be filled with resin, including vascular and biliary trees, establishing a highly stereotyped pattern in the otherwise hepatocyte-rich parenchyma. This protocol describes the pipeline for performing double resin casting micro-computed tomography, or "DUCT".

Notch-IGF1 signaling during liver regeneration drives biliary epithelial cell expansion and inhibits hepatocyte differentiation.

In the adult liver, a population of facultative progenitor cells called biliary epithelial cells (BECs) proliferate and differentiate into cholangiocytes and hepatocytes after injury, thereby restoring liver function. In mammalian models of chronic liver injury, Notch signaling is essential for bile duct formation from these cells. However, the continual proliferation of BECs and differentiation of hepatocytes in these models have limited their use for determining whether Notch signaling is required for BECs to replenish hepatocytes after injury in the mammalian liver.

Severe liver disease resembling PSC in mice with K5-Cre mediated deletion of Krüppel-like factor 5 (Klf5).

Chronic cholestatic liver diseases including primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) present a complex spectrum with regards to the cause, age of manifestation and histopathological features. Current treatment options are severely limited primarily due to a paucity of model systems mirroring the disease. Here, we describe the Keratin 5 (K5)-Cre; Klf5 mouse that spontaneously develops severe liver disease during the postnatal period with features resembling PSC including a prominent ductular reaction, fibrotic obliteration of the bile ducts and secondary degeneration/necrosis of liver parenchyma.

DUCT reveals architectural mechanisms contributing to bile duct recovery in a mouse model for Alagille syndrome.

Organ function depends on tissues adopting the correct architecture. However, insights into organ architecture are currently hampered by an absence of standardized quantitative 3D analysis. We aimed to develop a robust technology to visualize, digitalize, and segment the architecture of two tubular systems in 3D: oble resin asting micro computed omography (DUCT).

Loss of hepatocyte cell division leads to liver inflammation and fibrosis.

The liver possesses a remarkable regenerative capacity based partly on the ability of hepatocytes to re-enter the cell cycle and divide to replace damaged cells. This capability is substantially reduced upon chronic damage, but it is not clear if this is a cause or consequence of liver disease. Here, we investigate whether blocking hepatocyte division using two different mouse models affects physiology as well as clinical liver manifestations like fibrosis and inflammation.

Biomimetic niches reveal the minimal cues to trigger apical lumen formation in single hepatocytes.

The symmetry breaking of protein distribution and cytoskeleton organization is an essential aspect for the development of apicobasal polarity. In embryonic cells this process is largely cell autonomous, while differentiated epithelial cells collectively polarize during epithelium formation. Here, we demonstrate that the de novo polarization of mature hepatocytes does not require the synchronized development of apical poles on neighbouring cells.

mRNA Binding Protein 2 Transgenic Mice Are More Prone to Develop a Ductular Reaction and to Progress Toward Cirrhosis.

The insulin-like growth factor 2 () mRNA binding proteins (IMPs/IGF2BPs) IMP1 and 3 are regarded as oncofetal proteins, whereas the hepatic IMP2 expression in adults is controversially discussed. The splice variant IMP2-2/p62 promotes steatohepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Aim of this study was to clarify whether IMP2 is expressed in the adult liver and influences progression toward cirrhosis.

Invasive Ductular Reaction Operates Hepatobiliary Junctions upon Hepatocellular Injury in Rodents and Humans.

Ductular reaction (DR) is observed in virtually all liver diseases in both humans and rodents. Depending on the injury, DR is confined within the periportal area or invades the parenchyma. On severe hepatocellular injury, invasive DR has been proposed to arise for supplying the liver with new hepatocytes.

Metabolic Remodeling during Liver Regeneration.

Liver disease is linked to a decreased capacity of hepatocytes to divide. In addition, cellular metabolism is important for tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Since metabolic changes are a hallmark of liver disease, we investigated the connections between metabolism and cell division.

Premature activation of Cdk1 leads to mitotic events in S phase and embryonic lethality.

Cell cycle regulation, especially faithful DNA replication and mitosis, are crucial to maintain genome stability. Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)/cyclin complexes drive most processes in cellular proliferation. In response to DNA damage, cell cycle surveillance mechanisms enable normal cells to arrest and undergo repair processes.

CDK10 Mutations in Humans and Mice Cause Severe Growth Retardation, Spine Malformations, and Developmental Delays.

In five separate families, we identified nine individuals affected by a previously unidentified syndrome characterized by growth retardation, spine malformation, facial dysmorphisms, and developmental delays. Using homozygosity mapping, array CGH, and exome sequencing, we uncovered bi-allelic loss-of-function CDK10 mutations segregating with this disease. CDK10 is a protein kinase that partners with cyclin M to phosphorylate substrates such as ETS2 and PKN2 in order to modulate cellular growth.

Macrophage Depletion Attenuates Extracellular Matrix Deposition and Ductular Reaction in a Mouse Model of Chronic Cholangiopathies.

Chronic cholangiopathies, such as primary and secondary sclerosing cholangitis, are progressive disease entities, associated with periportal accumulation of inflammatory cells, encompassing monocytes and macrophages, peribiliary extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and ductular reaction (DR). This study aimed to elucidate the relevance of macrophages in the progression of chronic cholangiopathies through macrophage depletion in a 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) mouse model. One group of mice received a single i.

Hepatic Stellate Cells Improve Engraftment of Human Primary Hepatocytes: A Preclinical Transplantation Study in an Animal Model.

Human hepatocytes are used for liver cell therapy, but the small number of engrafting cells limits the benefit of cell transplantation. We tested whether cotransplantation of hepatocytes with hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) could improve hepatocyte engraftment in vivo. Human primary hepatocytes were transplanted into SCID mice either alone or in a mixture with HSCs (quiescent or after culture activation) or LX-2 cells (ratio 20:1).

Liver progenitor cells yield functional hepatocytes in response to chronic liver injury in mice.

Background & Aims: Self-renewal of mature hepatocytes promotes homeostasis and regeneration of adult liver. However, recent studies have indicated that liver progenitor cells (LPC) could give rise to hepatic epithelial cells during normal turnover of the liver and after acute injury. We investigated the capacity of LPC to differentiate into hepatocytes in vivo and contribute to liver regeneration.

Participation of liver progenitor cells in liver regeneration: lack of evidence in the AAF/PH rat model.

When hepatocyte proliferation is impaired, liver progenitor cells (LPC) are activated to participate in liver regeneration. We used the 2-acetaminofluorene/partial hepatectomy (AAF/PH) model to evaluate the contribution of LPC to liver cell replacement and function restoration. Fischer rats subjected to AAF/PH (or PH alone) were investigated 7, 10 and 14 days post-hepatectomy.

Kupffer cells influence parenchymal invasion and phenotypic orientation, but not the proliferation, of liver progenitor cells in a murine model of liver injury.

Activation of myofibroblasts (MF) and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition predispose the expansion and differentiation of liver progenitor cells (LPC) during chronic liver injury. Because Kupffer cells (KC) are active modulators of tissue response and fibrosis, we analyzed their role in a model of LPC proliferation. A choline-deficient diet, supplemented by ethionine (CDE) was administrated to C57Bl/6J mice that were depleted of KC by repeated injections of clodronate (CLO) and compared to PBS-injected mice.