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Li P, Ma X, Huang D, Gu X. Exploring the roles of non-coding RNAs in liver regeneration. Noncoding RNA Res 2024; 9:945-953. [PMID: 38680418 PMCID: PMC11046251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver regeneration (LR) is a complex process encompassing three distinct phases: priming, proliferation phase and restoration, all influenced by various regulatory factors. After liver damage or partial resection, the liver tissue demonstrates remarkable restorative capacity, driven by cellular proliferation and repair mechanisms. The essential roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), predominantly microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNA (circRNA), in regulating LR have been vastly studied. Additionally, the impact of ncRNAs on LR and their abnormal expression profiles during this process have been extensively documented. Mechanistic investigations have revealed that ncRNAs interact with genes involved in proliferation to regulate hepatocyte proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation, along with liver progenitor cell proliferation and migration. Given the significant role of ncRNAs in LR, an in-depth exploration of their involvement in the liver's self-repair capacity can reveal promising therapeutic strategies for LR and liver-related diseases. Moreover, understanding the unique regenerative potential of the adult liver and the mechanisms and regulatory factors of ncRNAs in LR are crucial for improving current treatment strategies and exploring new therapeutic approaches for various liver-related diseases. This review provides a brief overview of the LR process and the ncRNA expression profiles during this process. Furthermore, we also elaborate on the specific molecular mechanisms through which multiple key ncRNAs regulate the LR process. Finally, based on the expression characteristics of ncRNAs and their interactions with proliferation-associated genes, we explore their potential clinical application, such as developing predictive indicators reflecting liver regenerative activity and manipulating LR processes for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghui Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, Henan, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Di Huang
- Department of Child Health Care, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China
| | - Xinyu Gu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, Henan, China
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Liu Q, Wang S, Fu J, Chen Y, Xu J, Wei W, Song H, Zhao X, Wang H. Liver regeneration after injury: Mechanisms, cellular interactions and therapeutic innovations. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1812. [PMID: 39152680 PMCID: PMC11329751 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The liver possesses a distinctive capacity for regeneration within the human body. Under normal circumstances, liver cells replicate themselves to maintain liver function. Compensatory replication of healthy hepatocytes is sufficient for the regeneration after acute liver injuries. In the late stage of chronic liver damage, a large number of hepatocytes die and hepatocyte replication is blocked. Liver regeneration has more complex mechanisms, such as the transdifferentiation between cell types or hepatic progenitor cells mediated. Dysregulation of liver regeneration causes severe chronic liver disease. Gaining a more comprehensive understanding of liver regeneration mechanisms would facilitate the advancement of efficient therapeutic approaches. This review provides an overview of the signalling pathways linked to different aspects of liver regeneration in various liver diseases. Moreover, new knowledge on cellular interactions during the regenerative process is also presented. Finally, this paper explores the potential applications of new technologies, such as nanotechnology, stem cell transplantation and organoids, in liver regeneration after injury, offering fresh perspectives on treating liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- Translational Medicine CentreThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan ProvinceChina
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan ProvinceChina
| | - Senyan Wang
- Translational Medicine CentreThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan ProvinceChina
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan ProvinceChina
| | - Jing Fu
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal TransductionNational Center for Liver CancerMinistry of Education Key Laboratory on Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver CancerShanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato‐biliary Tumor BiologyEastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University/NAVAL Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yao Chen
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal TransductionNational Center for Liver CancerMinistry of Education Key Laboratory on Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver CancerShanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato‐biliary Tumor BiologyEastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University/NAVAL Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jing Xu
- Translational Medicine CentreThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan ProvinceChina
| | - Wenjuan Wei
- Translational Medicine CentreThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan ProvinceChina
| | - Hao Song
- Translational Medicine CentreThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan ProvinceChina
| | - Xiaofang Zhao
- Translational Medicine CentreThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan ProvinceChina
| | - Hongyang Wang
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal TransductionNational Center for Liver CancerMinistry of Education Key Laboratory on Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver CancerShanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato‐biliary Tumor BiologyEastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University/NAVAL Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
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Zhang C, Sun C, Zhao Y, Ye B, Yu G. Signaling pathways of liver regeneration: Biological mechanisms and implications. iScience 2024; 27:108683. [PMID: 38155779 PMCID: PMC10753089 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver possesses a unique regenerative ability to restore its original mass, in this regard, partial hepatectomy (PHx) and partial liver transplantation (PLTx) can be executed smoothly and safely, which has important implications for the treatment of liver disease. Liver regeneration (LR) can be the very complicated procedure that involves multiple cytokines and transcription factors that interact with each other to activate different signaling pathways. Activation of these pathways can drive the LR process, which can be divided into three stages, namely, the initiation, progression, and termination stages. Therefore, it is important to investigate the pathways involved in LR to elucidate the mechanism of LR. This study reviews the latest research on the key signaling pathways in the different stages of LR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Cell Differentiation and Regulation, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Pulmonary Fibrosis, Henan Center for Outstanding Overseas Scientists of Pulmonary Fibrosis, College of Life Science, Institute of Biomedical Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Caifang Sun
- State Key Laboratory Cell Differentiation and Regulation, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Pulmonary Fibrosis, Henan Center for Outstanding Overseas Scientists of Pulmonary Fibrosis, College of Life Science, Institute of Biomedical Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Yabin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory Cell Differentiation and Regulation, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Pulmonary Fibrosis, Henan Center for Outstanding Overseas Scientists of Pulmonary Fibrosis, College of Life Science, Institute of Biomedical Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Bingyu Ye
- State Key Laboratory Cell Differentiation and Regulation, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Pulmonary Fibrosis, Henan Center for Outstanding Overseas Scientists of Pulmonary Fibrosis, College of Life Science, Institute of Biomedical Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - GuoYing Yu
- State Key Laboratory Cell Differentiation and Regulation, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Pulmonary Fibrosis, Henan Center for Outstanding Overseas Scientists of Pulmonary Fibrosis, College of Life Science, Institute of Biomedical Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
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Zhao Y, Ye W, Wang YD, Chen WD. HGF/c-Met: A Key Promoter in Liver Regeneration. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:808855. [PMID: 35370682 PMCID: PMC8968572 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.808855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a peptide-containing multifunctional cytokine that acts on various epithelial cells to regulate cell growth, movement and morphogenesis, and tissue regeneration of injured organs. HGF is sequestered by heparin-like protein in its inactive form and is widespread in the extracellular matrix of most tissues. When the liver loses its average mass, volume, or physiological and biochemical functions due to various reasons, HGF binds to its specific receptor c-Met (cellular mesenchymal-epithelial transition) and transmits the signals into the cells, and triggers the intrinsic kinase activity of c-Met. The downstream cascades of HGF/c-Met include JAK/STAT3, PI3K/Akt/NF-κB, and Ras/Raf pathways, affecting cell proliferation, growth, and survival. HGF has important clinical significance for liver fibrosis, hepatocyte regeneration after inflammation, and liver regeneration after transplantation. And the development of HGF as a biological drug for regenerative therapy of diseases, that is, using recombinant human HGF protein to treat disorders in clinical trials, is underway. This review summarizes the recent findings of the HGF/c-Met signaling functions in liver regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Receptors-Mediated Gene Regulation, The People's Hospital of Hebi, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Wenling Ye
- Key Laboratory of Receptors-Mediated Gene Regulation, The People's Hospital of Hebi, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yan-Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Wei-Dong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Receptors-Mediated Gene Regulation, The People's Hospital of Hebi, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
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Abstract
The liver is uniquely bestowed with an ability to regenerate following a surgical or toxicant insult. One of the most researched models to demonstrate the regenerative potential of this organ is the partial hepatectomy model, where two thirds of the liver is surgically resected. The remnant liver replenishes the lost mass within 1014 days in mice. The distinctive ability of the liver to regenerate has allowed living donor and split liver transplantation. One signaling pathway shown to be activated during the process of regeneration to contribute toward the mass and functional recovery of the liver is the Wnt/-catenin pathway. Very early after any insult to the liver, the cellmolecule circuitry of the Wnt/-catenin pathway is set into motion with the release of specific Wnt ligands from sinusoidal endothelial cells and macrophages, which, in a paracrine manner, engage Frizzled and LDL-related protein-5/6 coreceptors on hepatocytes to stabilize -catenin inducing its nuclear translocation. Nuclear -catenin interacts with T-cell factor family of transcription factors to induce target genes including cyclin D1 for proliferation, and others for regulating hepatocyte function. Working in collaboration with other signaling pathways, Wnt/-catenin signaling contributes to the restoration process without any compromise of function at any stage. Also, stimulation of this pathway through innovative means induces liver regeneration when this process is exhausted or compromised and thus has applications in the treatment of end-stage liver disease and in the field of liver transplantation. Thus, Wnt/-catenin signaling pathway is highly relevant in the discipline of hepatic regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikai Hu
- *School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- †Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- †Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- ‡Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- §Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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