Shen Zhenyang, Shen Bo, Dai Weiming, Zhou Cui, Luo Xin, Guo Yuecheng, Wang Junjun, Xu Xianjun, Sun Zhongshang, Cai Xiaobo, Dong Hui, Lu Lungen
Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
iScience. 2023 Apr 5;26(5):106572. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106572. eCollection 2023 May 19.
Liver non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) play a critical role in the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We aimed to explore the heterogeneity of NPCs and identify NASH-specific subpopulations contributing to NASH progression. Through single-cell RNA sequencing, we uncovered a proinflammatory subpopulation of Itgad/Fcrl5 macrophages with potential function of modulating macrophage accumulation and promoting NASH development. We also identified subpopulations of Egr1 and Ly6a liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), which might participate in pathological angiogenesis and inflammation regulation. The Itgad/Fcrl5 macrophages, Egr1 LSECs, and Ly6a LSECs emerged in the early stage and expanded significantly along with pathological progression of liver injury during NASH. Cell-cell interactions between hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and Itgad/Fcrl5 macrophages, Egr1 LSECs or Ly6a LSECs were enhanced in NASH liver. Our results revealed that expansion of Itgad/Fcrl5 macrophages, Egr1 LSECs or Ly6a LSECs was strongly associated with NASH severity, suggesting these subpopulations might be involved in NASH progression.
肝脏非实质细胞(NPCs)在非酒精性脂肪性肝炎(NASH)的进展中起关键作用。我们旨在探索NPCs的异质性,并确定促成NASH进展的NASH特异性亚群。通过单细胞RNA测序,我们发现了Itgad/Fcrl5巨噬细胞的促炎亚群,其具有调节巨噬细胞积聚和促进NASH发展的潜在功能。我们还鉴定了Egr1和Ly6a肝窦内皮细胞(LSECs)的亚群,它们可能参与病理性血管生成和炎症调节。Itgad/Fcrl5巨噬细胞、Egr1 LSECs和Ly6a LSECs在早期出现,并随着NASH期间肝损伤的病理进展而显著扩增。在NASH肝脏中,肝星状细胞(HSCs)与Itgad/Fcrl5巨噬细胞、Egr1 LSECs或Ly6a LSECs之间的细胞间相互作用增强。我们的结果表明,Itgad/Fcrl5巨噬细胞、Egr1 LSECs或Ly6a LSECs的扩增与NASH严重程度密切相关,提示这些亚群可能参与NASH的进展。