Abstract
The role of Kupffer cells (KCs) in liver regeneration is complicated and controversial. To investigate the distinct role of F4/80+ KCs at the different stages of the regeneration process, two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PHx) was performed in mice to induce physiological liver regeneration. In pre- or post-PHx, the clearance of KCs by intraperitoneal injection of the anti-F4/80 antibody (α-F4/80) was performed to study the distinct role of F4/80+ KCs during the regenerative process. In RNA sequencing of isolated F4/80+ KCs, the initiation phase was compared with the progression phase. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining of Ki67, HNF-4α, CD-31, and F4/80 and Western blot of the TGF-β2 pathway were performed. Depletion of F4/80+ KCs in pre-PHx delayed the peak of hepatocyte proliferation from 48 h to 120 h, whereas depletion in post-PHx unexpectedly led to persistent inhibition of hepatocyte proliferation, indicating the distinct role of F4/80+ KCs in the initiation and progression phases of liver regeneration. F4/80+ KC depletion in post-PHx could significantly increase TGF-β2 serum levels, while TGF-βRI partially rescued the impaired proliferation of hepatocytes. Additionally, F4/80+ KC depletion in post-PHx significantly lowered the expression of oncostatin M (OSM), a key downstream mediator of interleukin-6, which is required for hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration. In vivo, recombinant OSM (r-OSM) treatment alleviated the inhibitory effect of α-F4/80 on the regenerative progression. Collectively, F4/80+ KCs release OSM to inhibit TGF-β2 activation, sustaining hepatocyte proliferation by releasing a proliferative brake.
Highlights
Liver regeneration is the most significant reaction of the liver to an injury, which is super-orchestrated by intracellular crosstalk to recover the tissue lost and to maintain homeostasis and all the hepatic functions
Given the dynamic changes in macrophages in response to liver damage [13,14,15], we study whether F4/80+ Kupffer cells (KCs) regulate the termination of liver regeneration in addition to initiation
The injection of α-F4/80 in pre-PHx markedly eliminates almost 70% of F4/80+ KCs, and the elimination is sustained for 48 h after PHx (Figure 1A–D)
Summary
Liver regeneration is the most significant reaction of the liver to an injury, which is super-orchestrated by intracellular crosstalk to recover the tissue lost and to maintain homeostasis and all the hepatic functions. The process of liver regeneration can be divided into three phases: initiation, progression, and termination [2]. It remains unclear how these phases are highly interlinked and bounded. To distinguish KCs function between the initiation and termination phases of liver regeneration, anti-F4/80 antibody (α-F4/80) was intraperitoneally injected at different time points before or after PHx, which could clear almost 70% of F4/80+ KCs in mice [11,12]. Selective clearance of F4/80+ KCs in pre- or post-PHx reveals the distinct roles during initiation and progression of liver regeneration rather than termination. In addition to initiating regeneration, F4/80+ KCs sustain the progression phase of liver regeneration by releasing oncostatin M (OSM) to block TGFβ2 activation
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