Cited by 102Liver physiology and pathologySingle-cell and spatial transcriptomicsTissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Cellular plasticity balances the metabolic and proliferation dynamics of a regenerating liver

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Chembazhi, Ullas V., Bangru, Sushant, Hernaez, Mikel, Kalsotra, Auinash·2021·Genome Research

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

The adult liver has an exceptional ability to regenerate, but how it maintains its specialized functions during regeneration is unclear. Here, we used partial hepatectomy (PHx) in tandem with single-cell transcriptomics to track cellular transitions and heterogeneities of ∼22,000 liver cells through the initiation, progression, and termination phases of mouse liver regeneration. Our results uncovered that, following PHx, a subset of hepatocytes transiently reactivates an early-postnatal-like gene expression program to proliferate, while a distinct population of metabolically hyperactive cells appears to compensate for any temporary deficits in liver function. Cumulative EdU labeling and immunostaining of metabolic, portal, and central vein–specific markers revealed that hepatocyte proliferation after PHx initiates in the midlobular region before proceeding toward the periportal and pericentral areas. We further demonstrate that portal and central vein proximal hepatocytes retain their metabolically active state to preserve essential liver functions while midlobular cells proliferate nearby. Through combined analysis of gene regulatory networks and cell–cell interaction maps, we found that regenerating hepatocytes redeploy key developmental regulons, which are guided by extensive ligand-receptor-mediated signaling events between hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells. Altogether, our study offers a detailed blueprint of the intercellular crosstalk and cellular reprogramming that balances the metabolic and proliferative requirements of a regenerating liver.

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Crossref · 10.1101/gr.267013.120

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  • Numerous changes in mRNA abundance and splicing occur within the first 3 weeks of life, as hematopoiesis and proliferative activity are reduced, and gene products involved in metabolism are induced.

    “Numerous changes in mRNA abundance and splicing occur within the first 3 weeks of life (Bhate et al. 2015; Chembazhi et al. 2021; Liang et al. 2022), as hematopoiesis and proliferative activity are reduced, and gene products involved in metabolism are induced (Zaret 2002; Gordillo et al. 2015).”

    From ESRP2–microRNA-122 axis promotes the postnatal onset of liver polyploidization and maturation (2025) · cites this paper as Chembazhi et al. 2021

    The Results section on postnatal maturation reports changes in gene expression between P14 and adult hepatocytes, supporting the mRNA-abundance portion of the cited clause. It does not establish that these changes occurred within the first three weeks of life. The Discussion describes measuring splicing within single cells as future work, rather than reporting postnatal splicing changes. The later clause about hematopoiesis and metabolism is attributed to other citations in the citing sentence. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Several studies suggest that hepatocyte proliferation leads to metabolic remodelling and that hepatocytes across the liver can adapt dynamically to changes during regeneration.

    “Several studies suggest that hepatocyte proliferation leads to metabolic remodelling and that hepatocytes across the liver can adapt dynamically to changes during regeneration106,107,[131], [132], [133], [134], [135]”

    From Distinct hepatocyte identities in liver homeostasis and regeneration (2023) · cites this paper as [106]

    The Results (Cell type composition, heterogeneity, and metabolic dynamics) describe transient changes in metabolic pathways alongside increased proliferation-related activity after partial hepatectomy. The Discussion describes dynamic hepatocyte states in different liver regions. The paper does not establish that proliferation itself causes the metabolic remodelling; it presents both as coordinated responses during regeneration. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • During pan-zonal regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy, hepatocytes across the liver underwent transient fetal reprogramming to acquire proliferative potential.

    “During pan-zonal regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy, hepatocytes across the liver underwent transient fetal reprogramming to acquire proliferative potential.106,107”

    From Distinct hepatocyte identities in liver homeostasis and regeneration (2023) · cites this paper as [106]

    The Abstract and Discussion report that, after partial hepatectomy, a subset of hepatocytes reversibly activates an early-postnatal-like program and enters a proliferative state. They do not describe fetal reprogramming across the liver: proliferation begins in the midlobular region, while distinct hepatocytes near the portal and central veins maintain metabolic activity. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Transient changes in hepatocyte identity are required when hepatocytes re-enter the cell cycle in response to injury, while others increase metabolic function to maintain hepatic metabolism.

    “Transient changes in hepatocyte identity are required when hepatocytes re-enter the cell cycle in response to injury, while others increase metabolic function to maintain hepatic metabolism.25,104,106,107,134”

    From Distinct hepatocyte identities in liver homeostasis and regeneration (2023) · cites this paper as [106]

    The Discussion (page not available) reports transient changes in hepatocyte gene programs before cell-cycle entry after partial hepatectomy, while other hepatocytes enter a metabolically hyperactive state. The Results, “Division of labor balances the proliferation and metabolic demands of a regenerating liver” (page not available), reports increased metabolic-gene expression in that subset. The paper does not establish that these identity changes are required across liver injuries generally; it studies partial hepatectomy and says whether the pattern occurs in other injury models remains unknown. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • scRNA-seq analysis identified four hepatocyte states after PHx: quiescent (5328), transition (5137), proliferating (6769), and hypermetabolic (1038) among 18,272 hepatocytes.

    “Importantly, single-cell transcriptomic analysis identified distinct clusters among 18,272 hepatocytes corresponding to quiescent (5328 hepatocytes), transition (5137 hepatocytes), proliferating (6769 hepatocytes), and hypermetabolic (1038 hepatocytes) states after PHx.6”

    From Constitutive Androstane Receptor Regulates Bile Acid Homeostasis and Metabolism During Liver Regeneration (2026) · cites this paper as [6]

    The Results sections on cell-type composition and division of labor report 18,272 hepatocytes and classify them into the four named states. Our copy does not give the claimed count for each state (5,328; 5,137; 6,769; and 1,038). The 18,272 cells also include samples from uninjured adult and postnatal livers, not only samples collected after PHx. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Chembazhi, U. V., Bangru, S., Hernaez, M., & Kalsotra, A.
Affiliations
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
Corresponding author
Kalsotra, Auinash
Venue
Genome Research
Published
2021-03-01
Volume
31
Issue
4
Pages
576-591
ISSN
  • 1088-9051 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-5469
OpenAlex
W3133820991
Cited by
102
References
147
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 2
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Genome Research (publishedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • NIH (R01HL126845, R01AA010154, T32-EB019944)
  • Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA514335)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Liver physiology and pathology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Keywords
liver regeneration, partial hepatectomy, hepatocyte proliferation, cellular plasticity, cell-to-cell communication, non-parenchymal cells, developmental gene regulatory networks, single-cell transcriptomics
MeSH terms
Cell Plasticity, Animals, Hepatectomy, Liver, Liver Regeneration, Hepatocytes, Cell Proliferation, Mice, Single-Cell Analysis, Transcriptome

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