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Portal fibroblasts with mesenchymal stem cell features form a reservoir of proliferative myofibroblasts in liver fibrosis
Author(s) -
Lei Lin,
Bruneau Alix,
El Mourabit Haquima,
Guégan Justine,
Folseraas Trine,
Lemoinne Sara,
Karlsen Tom Hemming,
Hoareau Bénédicte,
Morichon Romain,
GonzalezSanchez Ester,
Goumard Claire,
Ratziu Vlad,
Charbord Pierre,
Gautheron Jérémie,
Tacke Frank,
Jaffredo Thierry,
Cadoret Axelle,
Housset Chantal
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.32456
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , myofibroblast , biology , progenitor cell , fibrosis , population , cancer research , hepatic stellate cell , pathology , cellular differentiation , microbiology and biotechnology , gene signature , stem cell , immunology , medicine , gene expression , genetics , gene , endocrinology , environmental health
Background and Aims In liver fibrosis, myofibroblasts derive from HSCs and as yet undefined mesenchymal cells. We aimed to identify portal mesenchymal progenitors of myofibroblasts. Approach and Results Portal mesenchymal cells were isolated from mouse bilio‐vascular tree and analyzed by single‐cell RNA‐sequencing. Thereby, we uncovered the landscape of portal mesenchymal cells in homeostatic mouse liver. Trajectory analysis enabled inferring a small cell population further defined by surface markers used to isolate it. This population consisted of portal fibroblasts with mesenchymal stem cell features (PMSCs), i.e., high clonogenicity and trilineage differentiation potential, that generated proliferative myofibroblasts, contrasting with nonproliferative HSC‐derived myofibroblasts (‐MF). Using bulk RNA‐sequencing, we built oligogene signatures of the two cell populations that remained discriminant across myofibroblastic differentiation. SLIT2 , a prototypical gene of PMSC/PMSC‐MF signature, mediated profibrotic and angiogenic effects of these cells, which conditioned medium promoted HSC survival and endothelial cell tubulogenesis. Using PMSC/PMSC‐MF 7‐gene signature and slit guidance ligand 2 fluorescent in situ hybridization, we showed that PMSCs display a perivascular portal distribution in homeostatic liver and largely expand with fibrosis progression, contributing to the myofibroblast populations that form fibrotic septa, preferentially along neovessels, in murine and human liver disorders, irrespective of etiology. We also unraveled a 6‐gene expression signature of HSCs/HSC‐MFs that did not vary in these disorders, consistent with their low proliferation rate. Conclusions PMSCs form a small reservoir of expansive myofibroblasts, which, in interaction with neovessels and HSC‐MFs that mainly arise through differentiation from a preexisting pool, underlie the formation of fibrotic septa in all types of liver diseases.