Enhancement of adult liver regeneration in mice through the hepsin-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway

Abstract Given the widespread use of partial hepatectomy for treating various liver pathologies, understanding the mechanisms of liver regeneration is vital for enhancing liver resection and transplantation therapies. Here, we demonstrate the critical role of the serine protease Hepsin in promoting...

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Main Authors: Yu-Fei Tsai, Mo-Chu Fang, Chien-Hung Chen, I-Shing Yu, Chia-Tung Shun, Mi-Hua Tao, Cheng-Pu Sun, Jean Lu, Jin-Chuan Sheu, Yu-Chen Hsu, Shu-Wha Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07357-1
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author Yu-Fei Tsai
Mo-Chu Fang
Chien-Hung Chen
I-Shing Yu
Chia-Tung Shun
Mi-Hua Tao
Cheng-Pu Sun
Jean Lu
Jin-Chuan Sheu
Yu-Chen Hsu
Shu-Wha Lin
author_facet Yu-Fei Tsai
Mo-Chu Fang
Chien-Hung Chen
I-Shing Yu
Chia-Tung Shun
Mi-Hua Tao
Cheng-Pu Sun
Jean Lu
Jin-Chuan Sheu
Yu-Chen Hsu
Shu-Wha Lin
author_sort Yu-Fei Tsai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Given the widespread use of partial hepatectomy for treating various liver pathologies, understanding the mechanisms of liver regeneration is vital for enhancing liver resection and transplantation therapies. Here, we demonstrate the critical role of the serine protease Hepsin in promoting hepatocyte hypertrophy and proliferation. Under steady-state conditions, liver-specific overexpression of Hepsin in adult wild-type mice triggers hepatocyte hypertrophy and proliferation, significantly increasing liver size. This effect is predominantly driven by the catalytic activity of Hepsin, engaging the EGFR-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Significantly, administering Hepsin substantially enhances hepatocyte proliferation and facilitates liver regeneration following a 70% partial hepatectomy. Crucially, the proliferation induced by Hepsin is a transient event, without leading to long-term adverse effects such as liver fibrosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, as evidenced by extensive observation. These results offer substantial potential for future clinical applications and translational research endeavors in the field of liver regeneration post-hepatectomy.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2399-3642
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Communications Biology
spelling doaj-art-0983f6cecc4843dba79d7399de51a4832024-12-22T12:41:57ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-12-017111510.1038/s42003-024-07357-1Enhancement of adult liver regeneration in mice through the hepsin-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathwayYu-Fei Tsai0Mo-Chu Fang1Chien-Hung Chen2I-Shing Yu3Chia-Tung Shun4Mi-Hua Tao5Cheng-Pu Sun6Jean Lu7Jin-Chuan Sheu8Yu-Chen Hsu9Shu-Wha Lin10Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityLaboratory Animal Center, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityDepartment and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityBiomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), Academia SinicaGenomics Research Center, Academia SinicaDepartment of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityAbstract Given the widespread use of partial hepatectomy for treating various liver pathologies, understanding the mechanisms of liver regeneration is vital for enhancing liver resection and transplantation therapies. Here, we demonstrate the critical role of the serine protease Hepsin in promoting hepatocyte hypertrophy and proliferation. Under steady-state conditions, liver-specific overexpression of Hepsin in adult wild-type mice triggers hepatocyte hypertrophy and proliferation, significantly increasing liver size. This effect is predominantly driven by the catalytic activity of Hepsin, engaging the EGFR-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Significantly, administering Hepsin substantially enhances hepatocyte proliferation and facilitates liver regeneration following a 70% partial hepatectomy. Crucially, the proliferation induced by Hepsin is a transient event, without leading to long-term adverse effects such as liver fibrosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, as evidenced by extensive observation. These results offer substantial potential for future clinical applications and translational research endeavors in the field of liver regeneration post-hepatectomy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07357-1
spellingShingle Yu-Fei Tsai
Mo-Chu Fang
Chien-Hung Chen
I-Shing Yu
Chia-Tung Shun
Mi-Hua Tao
Cheng-Pu Sun
Jean Lu
Jin-Chuan Sheu
Yu-Chen Hsu
Shu-Wha Lin
Enhancement of adult liver regeneration in mice through the hepsin-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway
Communications Biology
title Enhancement of adult liver regeneration in mice through the hepsin-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway
title_full Enhancement of adult liver regeneration in mice through the hepsin-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway
title_fullStr Enhancement of adult liver regeneration in mice through the hepsin-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway
title_full_unstemmed Enhancement of adult liver regeneration in mice through the hepsin-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway
title_short Enhancement of adult liver regeneration in mice through the hepsin-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway
title_sort enhancement of adult liver regeneration in mice through the hepsin mediated epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07357-1
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