Working Paper Article Version 1 This version is not peer-reviewed

Osteoprotegerin is More Than a Possible Serum Marker in Liver Fibrosis: A Study into Its Function in Human and Murine Liver

Adhyatmika Adhyatmika
,
Leonie Beljaars
,
Kurnia Putri
,
Habibie Habibie
,
Carian Boorsma
,
Catharina Reker-Smit
,
Burak Guney
,
Axel Haak
,
Keri Mangnus
,
Eduard Post
,
Klaas Poelstra
,
Kim Ravnskjær
,
Peter Olinga
,
Barbro Melgert
*
Version 1 : Received: 11 February 2020 / Approved: 14 February 2020 / Online: 14 February 2020 (03:28:28 CET)

How to cite: Adhyatmika, A.; Beljaars, L.; Putri, K.; Habibie, H.; Boorsma, C.; Reker-Smit, C.; Guney, B.; Haak, A.; Mangnus, K.; Post, E.; Poelstra, K.; Ravnskjær, K.; Olinga, P.; Melgert, B. Osteoprotegerin is More Than a Possible Serum Marker in Liver Fibrosis: A Study into Its Function in Human and Murine Liver. Preprints 2020, 2020020185 Adhyatmika, A.; Beljaars, L.; Putri, K.; Habibie, H.; Boorsma, C.; Reker-Smit, C.; Guney, B.; Haak, A.; Mangnus, K.; Post, E.; Poelstra, K.; Ravnskjær, K.; Olinga, P.; Melgert, B. Osteoprotegerin is More Than a Possible Serum Marker in Liver Fibrosis: A Study into Its Function in Human and Murine Liver. Preprints 2020, 2020020185

Abstract

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) serum levels are associated with liver fibrogenesis and have been proposed as a biomarker for diagnosis. However, the source and role of OPG in liver fibrosis are unknown, as is the question whether OPG expression responds to treatment. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the regulation of OPG production and its biological activity in human and mouse livers. OPG levels were significantly higher in lysates of human cirrhotic and mouse fibrotic livers compared to healthy livers. Hepatic OPG expression localized in cirrhotic collagenous bands in and around myofibroblasts. Single cell sequencing of murine liver cells showed hepatic stellate cells (HSC) to be the main producers of OPG in healthy livers. Using mouse precision-cut liver slices, we found OPG production induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) stimulation. Moreover, OPG itself stimulated expression of genes associated with fibrogenesis in liver slices through TGFβ1, suggesting profibrotic activity of OPG. Resolution of fibrosis in mice was associated with significantly lower OPG levels in livers as compared to their fibrotic counterparts.OPG stimulates fibrogenesis through TGFβ1 and is closely associated with the degree of fibrogenesis. It may therefore be a novel drug target for liver fibrosis or be used as a biomarker for treatment success of novel antifibrotics.

Keywords

cirrhosis; TGFβ1; CCl4; resolution; hepatic stellate cells; osteoprotegerin; RANKL; TRAIL

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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