Volume 74, Issue 3 pp. 1578-1594
Original Article

Perivenous Stellate Cells Are the Main Source of Myofibroblasts and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Formed After Chronic Liver Injuries

Shan-Shan Wang

Corresponding Author

Shan-Shan Wang

Department of Hepatic Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE AND REPRINT REQUESTS TO:

Bo O. Zhou, Ph.D.

State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

320 Yueyang Road

Shanghai 200031, China

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel.: +1-86-21-54921403

or

Shan-Shan Wang, Ph.D.

Department of Hepatic Oncology, Liver Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel.: +1-86-18321396043

or

Zhenggang Ren, M.D., Ph.D.

Department of Hepatic Oncology, Liver Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel.: +1-86-13681971302

Search for more papers by this author
Xinyu Thomas Tang

Xinyu Thomas Tang

State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

These authors contributed equally to this work.Search for more papers by this author
Minghui Lin

Minghui Lin

State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

These authors contributed equally to this work.Search for more papers by this author
Jia Yuan

Jia Yuan

Department of Hepatic Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Search for more papers by this author
Yi Jacky Peng

Yi Jacky Peng

State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Search for more papers by this author
Xiujuan Yin

Xiujuan Yin

State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

Search for more papers by this author
GuoGuo Shang

GuoGuo Shang

Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Search for more papers by this author
Gaoxiang Ge

Gaoxiang Ge

State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China

Search for more papers by this author
Zhenggang Ren

Corresponding Author

Zhenggang Ren

Department of Hepatic Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE AND REPRINT REQUESTS TO:

Bo O. Zhou, Ph.D.

State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

320 Yueyang Road

Shanghai 200031, China

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel.: +1-86-21-54921403

or

Shan-Shan Wang, Ph.D.

Department of Hepatic Oncology, Liver Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel.: +1-86-18321396043

or

Zhenggang Ren, M.D., Ph.D.

Department of Hepatic Oncology, Liver Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel.: +1-86-13681971302

Search for more papers by this author
Bo O. Zhou

Corresponding Author

Bo O. Zhou

State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE AND REPRINT REQUESTS TO:

Bo O. Zhou, Ph.D.

State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

320 Yueyang Road

Shanghai 200031, China

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel.: +1-86-21-54921403

or

Shan-Shan Wang, Ph.D.

Department of Hepatic Oncology, Liver Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel.: +1-86-18321396043

or

Zhenggang Ren, M.D., Ph.D.

Department of Hepatic Oncology, Liver Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel.: +1-86-13681971302

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 05 April 2021
Citations: 4
Supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program on Stem Cell and Translational Research (2017YFA0106400), the National Key Program on Stem Cell and Translational Research (2018YFA0107201, 2017YFA0106400), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81902812, 31771637, 81730006).
Potential conflict of interest: Nothing to report.

Abstract

Background and Aims

Studies of the identity and pathophysiology of fibrogenic HSCs have been hampered by a lack of genetic tools that permit specific and inducible fate-mapping of these cells in vivo. Here, by single-cell RNA sequencing of nonparenchymal cells from mouse liver, we identified transcription factor 21 (Tcf21) as a unique marker that restricted its expression to quiescent HSCs.

Approach and Results

Tracing Tcf21+ cells by Tcf21-CreER (Cre-Estrogen Receptor fusion protein under the control of Tcf21 gene promoter) targeted ~10% of all HSCs, most of which were located at periportal and pericentral zones. These HSCs were quiescent under steady state but became activated on injuries, generating 62%-67% of all myofibroblasts in fibrotic livers and ~85% of all cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in liver tumors. Conditional deletion of Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor 2 (Tgfbr2) by Tcf21-CreER blocked HSC activation, compromised liver fibrosis, and inhibited liver tumor progression.

Conclusions

In conclusion, Tcf21-CreER–targeted perivenous stellate cells are the main source of myofibroblasts and CAFs in chronically injured livers. TGF-β signaling links HSC activation to liver fibrosis and tumorigenesis.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.