Liver sinusoids are lined by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC), which represent approximately 15 to 20% of the liver cells, but only 3% of the total liver volume. LSEC have unique functions, such as fluid filtration, blood vessel tone modulation, blood clotting, inflammatory cell recruitment, and metabolite and hormone trafficking. Different subtypes of liver endothelial cells are also known to control liver zonation and hepatocyte function. The liver has the exceptional ability to regenerate from small remnants. The past decades have seen increasing awareness in the role of non-parenchymal cells in liver regeneration despite not being the most represented population. While a lot of knowledge has emerged, clarification is needed regarding the role of LSEC in sensing shear stress and on their participation in the inductive phase of regeneration by priming the hepatocytes and delivering mitogenic factors. It is also unclear if bone marrow-derived LSEC participate in the proliferative phase of liver regeneration. Similarly, data are scarce as to LSEC having a role in the termination phase of the regeneration process. Here, we review what is known about the interaction between LSEC and other liver cells during the different phases of liver regeneration. We next explain extended hepatectomy and small liver transplantation, which lead to “small for size syndrome” (SFSS), a lethal liver failure. SFSS is linked to endothelial denudation, necrosis, and lobular disturbance. Using the knowledge learned from partial hepatectomy studies on LSEC, we expose several techniques that are, or could be, used to avoid the “small for size syndrome” after extended hepatectomy or small liver transplantation.
The extraordinary ability of the liver to regenerate has been known since the Antiquity. The cellular and molecular mechanisms supporting regeneration have being intensely studied for decades. Yet, understanding how the process is fine-tuned to maintain an appropriate cell mass, cell composition and cell organization for an efficient function during lifetime homeostasis and wound healing remains a mystery. Hepatocytes, which accomplish numerous metabolic functions, represent 60% of all liver cells and account for 80% of the liver mass [1]. A large bulk of them, mainly midzonal hepatocytes [2], enter the replicative program when liver mass abruptly decreases as after toxic, ischemic, or viral insults or after surgical removal of part of the organ to restore volume and function. Kupffer cells (KC) and other hepatic immune cells, hepatic stellate cells (HSC), cholangiocytes, and LSEC interact with hepatocytes to support hepatocyte regeneration and ensure a functional structure of the lobule [3][4][5][6][7]. In this review, we will focus on how LSEC take part in each step of liver regeneration, from the inductive phase to the termination phase.
Hepatocyte proliferation peaks at 24 or 48 h post PHx in rat or mouse, respectively, and proliferative endothelial cells are identified from 72 h post PHx. This does not mean they remain inactive until then [3][5][6][7]. Right after PHx, LSEC experience an increased shear stress due to the brutal redirection of the entire portal blood flow, normally distributed to the full-size
organ, into the smaller vascular bed of the liver remnant. The larger the resection, the larger the mismatch between the portal blood inflow and the remnant vascular network [12][13]. Therefore, the pressure (but not necessarily the flow) in the sinusoidal network and the increased shear stress inversely correlate with the size of the liver remnant. Mechanoreceptors transform this mechanical signal into a biological one [14][15]. Intracellular pathways activated by shear stress include stimulation of transmembrane proteins, activation of ion channels, intracellular calcium mobilization, Notch1 signaling, activation of the transcription factor KLF2, expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and CD44, as well as c-fos, c-myc and c-jun [16][17][18][19][20]. These molecular responses are crucial to ‘prime’ the hepatocytes for liver regeneration [5]. This evidences a causal link between shear stress and the initiation of liver regeneration. Indeed, in a model of portal vein ligation in rats, Lauber et al. showed that the hepatic mitotic index was correlated with the relative amount of liver parenchyma excluded from portal perfusion [21][22]. Studies in liver transplantation, and in particular, analyses following transplantation of small grafts, support a link between portal pressure induced-shear stress and magnitude of the liver regeneration [23][24]. It has been shown that the intraoperative portal hemodynamic changes in partial liver grafts strongly affect their post-transplant regeneration [25]. In particular, in small liver grafts, an immediate and remarkable increase in the graft portal vein flow within safe range may contribute to rapid liver regeneration after transplantation. In humans, small liver grafts induce a greater induction of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and hepatocyte growth factors (HGF) and of a liver regeneration response when compared to the response in patients receiving a larger organ [25]. Accordingly, the occlusion of the mesenteric artery to reduce portal hyper-pressure in an experimental model of 70% PHx in rodent reduced the magnitude of regeneration [13]. An alternative and not mutually exclusive explanation of the endothelial shear-stress stimulus for regeneration is that the increased liver inflow (through the portal vein) brings larger amounts of growth factors to the liver remnant stimulating cell proliferation more
vigorously. Such growth factors come from the pancreas (insulin) or from the intestine (such as epithelial growth factor (EGF) produced by the duodenal Brunner’s glands) [3][26][27][28]. A change in the exposure of the remnant liver and of the remnant sinusoidal bed to gut microbial products (including lipopolysaccharides) according to liver inflow might also contribute to
the modulation of the regenerative response [29]. Altogether, these results support that the increased portal inflow and the increased shear stress are inaugural stimuli after hepatectomy that fine-tune the magnitude of the proliferative response of the hepatocytes.
In response to shear stress, endothelial cells secrete NO [30][13]. NO helps liver regeneration by enhancing the response of hepatocytes to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a potent mitogen [31]. The NO antagonist L-NAME reduces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induction post hepatectomy and impairs liver regeneration while the defects are rescued with the NO donor 3-morpholinosydnonimine-1 [13][18]. It has been suggested that sensing of shear stress by endothelial cells also indirectly activates HGF. Indeed, several authors reported that endothelial cells increase their expression of urokinase-type plasminogen (uPA) when under laminar shear stress [32][33]. uPA is an activator of matrix metalloproteinases [34]. Matrix remodeling indirectly releases growth factors bound to matrix proteins [35]. By this process, HGF is quickly released during the first hours of liver regeneration. uPA also activates the just-released HGF by transforming it from an inactive single-chain form to the active heterodimeric HGF [36][37][38]. In addition, LSEC secrete HGF in the early hours post-hepatectomy. The secretion of HGF is mediated by the VEGF/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) pathway, along with that of Wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 2 (Wnt2), which is another hepatocyte mitogen, through the upregulation of the Id1 transcription factor. Id1 knockout mice showed decreased expression of HGF and Wnt2, but the injection of LSEC isolated from a wild type mouse, or from an Id1 knockout mouse which have been transduced with HGF and Wnt2 restored hepatovascular regeneration [39]. Subsequently, Wang et al. proposed that HGF and Wnt2- rich bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells are recruited to the regenerating liver [9]. The relative contribution of bone marrow cells, mature LSEC and intrahepatic LSEC progenitors to HGF production remains unresolved. The question is difficult to tackle as bone marrow-derived, progenitor derived and mature LSEC share the same morphology and are phenotypically indistinguishable once differentiated [40][41][42]. Using bone marrow transplantation experiments, Fuji and colleagues first demonstrated the recruitment of bone marrow endothelial progenitors into the regenerating liver [43]. Later, Wang et al., showed that bone marrow-derived LSEC contributed to 25% of LSEC population three days after a 70% hepatectomy. Following hind limbs irradiation, which reduces the percentage of the peripheral leucocyte count by 40%, post-hepatectomy regeneration was found to be delayed [9]. Although missing leucocytes, other than bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitors, may have negatively influenced liver regeneration [44], restoration of regeneration upon injection of the irradiated rats with HGF-rich bone marrow progenitors 1 day after PHx (but not after three days) supports the involvement of marrow-derived LSEC [9].
Moreover, the fact that the injection of bone marrow progenitors at day three did not rescue liver growth, propounded the idea that LSEC stimulate hepatocyte proliferation in early timings after PHx to coordinate liver regeneration [9][45]. Several signaling pathways that mobilize bone marrow-derived progenitor cells have been identified. The best known is the interaction of stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1), secreted in tissue (and here in the liver) in response to VEGF, with CXCR7 expressed on bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells [46][47][48]. Furthermore, SDF-1, secreted by hepatocytes, interacts with ICAM1 and VCAM1 on endothelial cells membranes to strengthen the binding of VLA-4 and LFA-1, present on bone marrow-derived endothelial cells [49]. Such cell adhesion mechanisms are key for the efficacious recruitment of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells [50][51][52][53]. Other signaling proteins, such as erythropoietin, granulocyte (and macrophage) colony stimulating factor (G(M)-CSF) shown to increase the mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells may also contribute to the recruitment of bone marrow cells to the regenerating liver [54]. LSEC also interact with platelets and monocytes. After hepatectomy, platelets adhere to LSEC and activate them to secrete growth factors such as IL-6. These proteins stimulate proliferation of hepatocytes to ensure liver regeneration [55] and reviewed in [56]. LSEC also recruit monocytes that also stimulate regeneration. Indeed, CD11b KO mice, in which the interaction between LSEC and monocytes is disabled, exhibit reduced liver regeneration and increased mortality after PHx [57]. Figure 2 recapitulates in a schematic manner the essential role of native LSEC and recruited bone marrow-derived LSEC as early initiators and coordinators for hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration. More research is needed, in order to analyze the different endothelial sub-populations and to study their respective spatio-temporal contribution to regeneration.
Figure 2. Liver sinusoid and endothelial cells during the (A) inductive phase and (B) angiogenic phase of liver regeneration
after partial hepatectomy. Scheme on the role of LSEC during regeneration after partial hepatectomy during the inductive
phase (A) where (1) growth factors, (2) increased shear stress, as well as (3) bone marrow endothelial progenitors induce
the proliferation of the hepatocytes. This is also overused during the proliferative phase (B), where LSEC upregulate
angiopoietin-2 paracrine secretion and proliferating hepatocytes, which experience a relative hypoxia, secrete pro-angiogenic
factors to induce the proliferation of LSEC. Recruited endothelial progenitor cells become LSEC during regeneration. HGF:
Hepatic growth factor; NO: Nitric oxide; TGB-β1: Tumor growth factor beta 1; Wnt2: Wingless-type MMTV integration site
family, member 2; HIF: Hypoxia inducible factor; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor.
During the angiogenic phase, LSEC upregulates the expression of angiopoietin-2. This pro-angiogenic factor indirectly stimulates LSEC proliferation in a paracrine manner through upregulation of VEGFR2 [58] (Figure 2). VEGFR2 is the main mediator of VEGF signal during liver regeneration [8]. Hepatocytes engaged in cell cycle or that newly completed cell division also express pro-angiogenic factors, mainly VEGF and angiopoietins, that subsequently stimulate a pro-angiogenic response characterized by DNA synthesis and cell duplication of LSEC [59][60][61]. Hepatocytes, which number has increased upon cell division, experience relative hypoxia that engage the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway and the downstream production of pro-angiogenic factors [62] (Figure 2B). Subsequently, endothelial cell proliferation leads to the elongation of the sinusoidal network. While hepatocyte replication reaches its maximum 24 to 48 h after hepatectomy in rats, and mice, respectively, LSEC proliferation peaks at post-surgery day 3 to 4 in rodents.
During early regeneration, LSEC reduce their production of tumor growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), an inhibitor of hepatocyte proliferation, through the downregulation of angiopoietin-2, a Tie2 receptor antagonist. Interestingly, TGF-β1 is thought to participate to the regulation of the termination of liver regeneration. Indeed, TGF-β1 is upregulated after the first wave of hepatocyte proliferation and its expression is maintained, associated with proliferation of non-parenchymal cells and “reconstruction” of the extracellular matrix scaffold [58][63]. Furthermore, TGF-β1 induces the synthesis of new extra cellular matrix proteins, which bind and subsequently inactivate newly secreted HGF and other growth factors [3][37][64]. Hepatocytes are, thus, maintained in a quiescent state.
Overall, research has shown that LSEC and endothelial progenitors are essential in
liver regeneration initiation, proliferation and termination phases, and a decrease of bonemarrow-derived cells or/and a decrease of factors secreted by endothelial cells negatively impact the liver re-growth.
For years, it was supposed that the inability of the hepatocytes to proliferate after a SFSS-setting hepatectomy led to organ’s functional insufficiency. As a support, several teams described blunted or delayed hepatocyte proliferation after extended hepatectomy. Clavien’s group reported a decreased number of mitosis despite magnified Ki67 expression in extended versus 70% hepatectomy. High expression of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, in the small remnant was found to be the cause of decreased hepatocyte proliferation as in p21 KO animals, hepatocyte proliferation was preserved, improving the animals’ survival [70]. Moreover, failure to upregulate transcription factors (such as c-fos) necessary to drive cell cycle beyond G1 phase and delay of the proliferation phase has been observed in rats by other groups [71][72]. Failure of hepatocyte proliferation as the mechanism for SFSS and PHLF is opposed by several authors: Hepatocyte doublings after small for size setting hepatectomy in rats was ampler than after a well tolerated 70% liver resection [73]. Immunohistological studies confirmed high index of hepatocyte proliferation in small for size human grafts [74][75]. These works suggest that PHLF and SFSS are not due to a failure of hepatocytes to proliferate (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Liver sinusoid and endothelial cells during the (A) inductive phase and (B) angiogenic phase of liver regeneration
after extended hepatectomy.Scheme on the role of LSEC during regeneration after extended hepatectomy during the
inductive phase (A) where (1) growth factors, (2) severe shear stress, as well as (3) bone marrow endothelial progenitors
induce the proliferation of the hepatocytes. Severe shear stress induces sinusoidal denudation and hemorrhage. During
the proliferative phase (B), non-functional hypoxic hepatocytes and hemorrhage-induced necrosis lead to organ function
insufficiency and PHLF. Recruited endothelial progenitor cells become LSEC during regeneration. HGF: Hepatic growth
factor; NO: Nitric oxide; TGB-β1: Tumor growth factor beta 1; Wnt2: Wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member
2; HIF: Hypoxia inducible factor; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor.
The histological examination of the morphology of SFSS livers reveals the presence of endothelial denudation, hemorrhage, sinusoidal congestion and collapse of the space of Disse. Islets of hepatocytes (i.e., cluster of hepatocytes without interposition of sinusoids), and hepatocyte ballooning are also readily seen signing poor hepatocellular function [73][76].
Such observations support the fact that primary vascular damage is one of the causes of liver dysfunction. Hence, some authors suggested to rename the syndrome as “small for flow syndrome” with evidence that shear stress and perturbations of the microcirculation were significant contributors to the surgery-induced liver failure. Indeed, studies support that the
portal flow rather than the size of the liver remnant is the predictive factor for SFSS [77][78]. Portal vein pressure higher than 20 mmHg increases the risk of SFSS [79]. It was also associated with increased HGF concentrations and accelerated organ hypertrophy [68]. Moreover, in the context of liver graft, providing that the portal pressure and flow are maintained under a given threshold, small livers regarded as too small for survival (defined by a graft-to-recipient weight ratio >0.8%) have been transplanted successfully [80]. The mechanism underlying functional failure and mortality in SFSS remains elusive. While the post-surgery increase in portal pressure and shear stress is needed to support regeneration (Figure 2), excessive portal pressure and excessive shear stress cause vascular damage and hepatocyte hyper-proliferation in extended resection that could be detrimental for the organ function. It has been suggested that islets of hepatocytes disconnected from the ordered sinusoidal organization experience a profound hypoxia leading to cell and organ dysfunction of the “SFSS liver remnant” [73][74]. Hyper-proliferation of the hepatocytes, the fact that hepatocyte proliferation and sinusoidal cell proliferation are not in phase and the sinusoidal damage are three additive factors explaining that the growing mass of hepatocyte is improperly vascularized. Hepatocyte dysfunction and damage to the endothelium followed by hemorrhage in the liver parenchyma that can lead to necrosis, participate to liver failure [81] (Figure 3).
The theory is supported by pre-clinical as well as clinical data showing that manipulations to reduce the portal flow, and thus, to mitigate the shear stress (hence endothelial damage and hepatocyte hyper-proliferation) in a SFSS-setting hepatectomy were effective in preventing liver failure. For instance, it has been reported that the ligation of the splenic artery (whether performed pre-, during, or immediately after surgery) reduced the portal flow by 52% and subsequently also mortality [82][83]. Other techniques, such as splenectomy [84], splenorenal shunt [68], hemiporto-caval shunt [85] or mesocaval
shunt with ligation of the superior mesenteric artery [86] to decrease portal flow successfully reduced mortality rates. Mechanical modulation of portal flow is currently being explored by Vibert’s team in a clinical trial (NCT02390713) where a pneumatic ring is used to modulate the diameter of the portal vein after major hepatectomy. This device precisely modulates the portal flow, as opposed to the techniques introduced immediately above. Pharmacological reduction of the portal flow has been reported to have a similar beneficial effect: Olprione, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor with vasodilating properties, demonstrated reduction in endothelial damage and hepatocyte apoptosis through the up-regulation of NO synthase in rats [87]. Prostaglandin E1 also increased survival rates and liver regeneration [88]. Administration of NO donor FK 409 increased survival from 28.6% to 80%, an effect associated with decreased expression of Egr1, endothelin-1 and endothelin-1
receptor A and up–regulation of heme oxygenase-1 [89]. Up- and down-regulation of these genes were also observed by Xu et al., using somatostatin in a rat model of orthotopic liver transplantation [90]. More recently, Mokham et al., confirmed positive effects of the modulation of portal flow in pigs [91]. It is anticipated that these procedures decrease the post-surgery hyperflow with, as a consequence, the preservation of the integrity of the sinusoids and the mitigation of the proliferative stimulus for hepatocytes. In support of this, slowing down hepatocyte regeneration with ERK1/2 et MEK inhibitor after 90% PHx in rats reduced the transient hepatocyte to LSEC numerical mismatch, maintained the liver architecture and improved the animal survival [73]. Therefore, the regulation of portal blood flow prevents post-operative failure by reducing hepatocyte proliferation (hence transiently avascular hepatocyte islets), as well as endothelial damage. Understanding whether the acceleration of angiogenesis and LSEC renewal as to match the high level of hepatocyte regeneration, and repair the sinusoidal damage would prevent SFSS, remains to be demonstrated. At the moment, there are no data available on the proliferation of LSEC or on cell types contributing to vascular remodeling after extended hepatectomy. In recent work, our team proposed experimental evidence that the stimulation of angiogenesis at early time points during regeneration of a small remnant prevented SFSS-induced mortality. Maneuvers, such as hepatic artery ligation concomitant to extended hepatectomy
or treatment with DMOG, a prolyl hydroxylase domain inhibitor that activates HIF-1α, triggered an early pro-angiogenic response and prevented the collapse of hepatic sinusoids in the small for size regenerating liver [92]. Altogether, these pre-clinical and clinical data support the importance of remodeling the sinusoidal network according to hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration to maintain a functional lobular structure and sustain the metabolic activity of the proliferating hepatocytes. Mitigating the proliferative response after extended hepatectomy is beneficial to the patient’s life. In the same perspective, triggering early LSEC proliferation after extended hepatectomy may be useful in maintaining the organization of the lobule and the function of hepatocytes.
Due to their location in the liver lobule, interposed between blood stream and hepatocytes, embraced by hepatic stellate cells and in physical contact with Kupffer cells, LSEC interact with and integrate an array of information from the environment. In this review, we presented research supporting the critical role of LSEC during liver regeneration. LSEC are necessary for the proliferation of hepatocyte and for the maintenance of an organized architecture of the lobule. Bone marrow- derived and native LSEC cooperate to play a role in the initiation, proliferative and termination phases of liver regeneration. The process becomes non-operational upon extended hepatectomy. Extreme and brutal increase in portal pressure leads to endothelial denudation with subsequent tissue necrosis and disturbance of the lobule structure. Regenerating hepatocytes do not have an organized vascular network along with which to align. Therefore, their function is compromised and leads to organ failure. The essential role of LSEC in liver regeneration designate them as attractive targets in reducing mortality. Surgical procedures and pharmaceutical treatments that decrease portal pressure also maintain the conventional lobular architecture with great results with respect to survival, both in animal and clinical studies. The need for a competent sinusoidal network to ensure proper function during regeneration supports the major role of LSEC and encourages more research targeting LSEC in liver regeneration.
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/ijms22158053