A pivotal role of BEX1 in liver progenitor cell expansion in mice

BACKGROUND: The activation and expansion of bipotent liver progenitor cells (LPCs) are indispensable for liver regeneration after severe or chronic liver injury. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating LPCs and LPC-mediated liver regeneration remain elusive. METHODS: Hepatic brain-expressed X-linked 1 (BEX1) expression was evaluated using microarray screening, real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. LPC activation and liver injury were studied following a choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented (CDE) diet in wild-type (WT) and Bex1(−/−) mice. Proliferation, apoptosis, colony formation and hepatic differentiation were examined in LPCs from WT and Bex1(−/−) mice. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma was detected in Bex1-deficient LPCs and mouse livers, and was silenced to analyse the expansion of LPCs from WT and Bex1(−/−) mice. RESULTS: Hepatic BEX1 expression was increased during CDE diet-induced liver injury and was highly elevated primarily in LPCs. Bex1(−/−) mice fed a CDE diet displayed impaired LPC expansion and liver regeneration. Bex1 deficiency inhibited LPC proliferation and enhanced LPC apoptosis in vitro. Additionally, Bex1 deficiency inhibited the colony formation of LPCs but had no effect on their hepatic differentiation. Mechanistically, BEX1 inhibited peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma to promote LPC expansion. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that BEX1 plays a pivotal role in LPC activation and expansion during liver regeneration, potentially providing novel targets for liver regeneration and chronic liver disease therapies. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-018-0905-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.