Macrophage derived Wnt signalling opposes Notch signalling in a Numb mediated manner to specify HPC fate in chronic liver disease in human and mouse

During chronic injury, regeneration of the adult liver becomes impaired. In this context bipotent Hepatic Progenitor Cells (HPCs) become activated and can regenerate both cholangiocytes and hepatocytes. Notch and Wnt signalling during hepatic ontogeny are described, but their roles in HPC mediated liver regeneration are unclear. Here we show in human diseased liver and murine models of the ductular reaction with biliary and hepatocyte regeneration that Notch and Wnt signalling direct HPC specification within the activated myofibroblasts and macrophages HPC niche. During biliary regeneration, Numb is downregulated in HPCs, Jagged1 promotes biliary specification within HPCs. During hepatocyte regeneration, macrophage derived canonical Wnt signalling maintains Numb within HPCs, and Notch signalling is reduced promoting hepatocyte specification. This dominant Wnt state is stimulated through engulfment of hepatocyte debris by niche macrophages and can directly influence the HPCs. Macrophage Wnt3a expression in turn facilitates hepatocyte regeneration – thus exemplifying a novel positive feedback mechanism in adult parenchymal regeneration.