Liver fibrosis is characterized by the activation of perivascular hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the release of fibrogenic nanosized extracellular vesicles (EVs), and increased HSC glycolysis. Nevertheless, how glycolysis in HSCs coordinates fibrosis amplification through tissue zone-specific pathways remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that HSC-specific genetic inhibition of glycolysis reduced liver fibrosis. Moreover, spatial transcriptomics revealed a fibrosis-mediated up-regulation of EV-related pathways in the liver pericentral zone, which was abrogated by glycolysis genetic inhibition. Mechanistically, glycolysis in HSCs up-regulated the expression of EV-related genes such as Ras-related protein Rab-31 (RAB31) by enhancing histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation on the promoter region, which increased EV release. Functionally, these glycolysis-dependent EVs increased fibrotic gene expression in recipient HSC. Furthermore, EVs derived from glycolysis-deficient mice abrogated liver fibrosis amplification in contrast to glycolysis-competent mouse EVs. In summary, glycolysis in HSCs amplifies liver fibrosis by promoting fibrogenic EV release in the hepatic pericentral zone, which represents a potential therapeutic target.

• MeSH
• extracelulární vezikuly * metabolismus   MeSH
• glykolýza * MeSH
• jaterní cirhóza * metabolismus   patologie   genetika   MeSH
• jaterní hvězdicovité buňky * metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• játra metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši MeSH
• Rab proteiny vázající GTP metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• Rab proteiny vázající GTP MeSH

Reconstruction of heterogeneity through single cell transcriptional profiling has greatly advanced our understanding of the spatial liver transcriptome in recent years. However, global transcriptional differences across lobular units remain elusive in physical space. Here, we apply Spatial Transcriptomics to perform transcriptomic analysis across sectioned liver tissue. We confirm that the heterogeneity in this complex tissue is predominantly determined by lobular zonation. By introducing novel computational approaches, we enable transcriptional gradient measurements between tissue structures, including several lobules in a variety of orientations. Further, our data suggests the presence of previously transcriptionally uncharacterized structures within liver tissue, contributing to the overall spatial heterogeneity of the organ. This study demonstrates how comprehensive spatial transcriptomic technologies can be used to delineate extensive spatial gene expression patterns in the liver, indicating its future impact for studies of liver function, development and regeneration as well as its potential in pre-clinical and clinical pathology.

• MeSH
• anotace sekvence MeSH
• B-lymfocyty cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• dendritické buňky cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• endoteliální buňky cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• erytroblasty cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• genetická heterogenita * MeSH
• genová ontologie MeSH
• hepatocyty cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• játra cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Kupfferovy buňky cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• makrofágy cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši MeSH
• neutrofily cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• transkriptom * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH