Cited by 67Liver Diseases and ImmunityLiver physiology and pathologyInflammatory Bowel Disease

Osteopontin characterizes bile duct–associated macrophages and correlates with liver fibrosis severity in primary sclerosing cholangitis

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De Muynck, Kevin, Heyerick, Lander, De Ponti, Federico F., Vanderborght, Bart, Meese, Tim, Van Campenhout, Sanne, Baudonck, Leen, Gijbels, Eva +15 more·2024·Hepatology

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an immune-mediated cholestatic liver disease for which pharmacological treatment options are currently unavailable. PSC is strongly associated with colitis and a disruption of the gut-liver axis, and macrophages are involved in the pathogenesis of PSC. However, how gut-liver interactions and specific macrophage populations contribute to PSC is incompletely understood. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We investigated the impact of cholestasis and colitis on the hepatic and colonic microenvironment, and performed an in-depth characterization of hepatic macrophage dynamics and function in models of concomitant cholangitis and colitis. Cholestasis-induced fibrosis was characterized by depletion of resident KCs, and enrichment of monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMFs) in the liver. These MoMFs highly express triggering-receptor-expressed-on-myeloid-cells-2 ( Trem2 ) and osteopontin ( Spp1 ), markers assigned to hepatic bile duct-associated macrophages, and were enriched around the portal triad, which was confirmed in human PSC. Colitis induced monocyte/macrophage infiltration in the gut and liver, and enhanced cholestasis-induced MoMF- Trem2 and Spp1 upregulation, yet did not exacerbate liver fibrosis. Bone marrow chimeras showed that knockout of Spp1 in infiltrated MoMFs exacerbates inflammation in vivo and in vitro , while monoclonal antibody-mediated neutralization of SPP1 conferred protection in experimental PSC. In human PSC patients, serum osteopontin levels are elevated compared to control, and significantly increased in advanced stage PSC and might serve as a prognostic biomarker for liver transplant-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our data shed light on gut-liver axis perturbations and macrophage dynamics and function in PSC and highlight SPP1/OPN as a prognostic marker and future therapeutic target in PSC.

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  1. [53]Wang X Lopategi A Ge X Lu Y Kitamura N Urtasun R. Osteopontin induces ductular reaction contributing to liver fibrosis. Gut. 2014; 63: 1805– 1818. 24496779

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Authors
De Muynck, K., Heyerick, L., De Ponti, F. F., Vanderborght, B., Meese, T., Van Campenhout, S., Baudonck, L., Gijbels, E., Rodrigues, P. M., Banales, J. M., Vesterhuus, M., Folseraas, T., Scott, C. L., Vinken, M., Van der Linden, M., Hoorens, A., Van Dorpe, J., Lefere, S., Geerts, A., Van Nieuwerburgh, F., Verhelst, X., Van Vlierberghe, H., & Devisscher, L.
Affiliations
  • Department of Basic & Applied Medical Sciences, Gut-Liver Immunopharmacology Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
  • Ghent University Hospital (BE)
  • Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
  • Ghent University (BE)
  • Liver Research Center Ghent, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
  • Ikerbasque (ES)
  • Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
  • Oslo University Hospital (NO)
  • Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (BE)
  • Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
  • Department of Pharmaceutics, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Corresponding author
Devisscher, Lindsey
Venue
Hepatology
Published
2023-08-02
Volume
79
Issue
2
Pages
269-288
ISSN
0270-9139 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4385516083
Cited by
64
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 3
FWCI
11.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Hepatology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (publishedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (1805718N, 12R0321N, 1801721N, 1S47219N, G009514N, G010214N, G073723N)
  • Universiteit Gent (1805718N)
  • Servier
  • Kom op tegen Kanker
  • Vlaamse regering
  • Stand Up To Cancer
  • Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds UGent
  • H2020 European Research Council (851908)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Liver Diseases and Immunity
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Liver physiology and pathology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Keywords
primary sclerosing cholangitis, osteopontin, liver fibrosis, gut-liver axis, colitis, cholestasis, monocyte-derived macrophages, TREM2, Kupffer cells, prognostic factors, bone marrow chimeras
MeSH terms
Bile Ducts, Cholestasis, Colitis, Humans, Liver Cirrhosis, Macrophages, Cholangitis, Sclerosing, Osteopontin

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