Alternative splicing rewires Hippo signaling pathway in hepatocytes to promote liver regeneration

Sushant Bangru, Waqar Arif, Joseph Seimetz, Amruta Bhate, Jackie Chen, Edrees H. Rashan, Russ P. Carstens, Sayeepriyadarshini Anakk, Auinash Kalsotra

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

During liver regeneration, most new hepatocytes arise via self-duplication; yet, the underlying mechanisms that drive hepatocyte proliferation following injury remain poorly defined. By combining high-resolution transcriptome and polysome profiling of hepatocytes purified from quiescent and toxin-injured mouse livers, we uncover pervasive alterations in messenger RNA translation of metabolic and RNA-processing factors, which modulate the protein levels of a set of splicing regulators. Specifically, downregulation of the splicing regulator ESRP2 activates a neonatal alternative splicing program that rewires the Hippo signaling pathway in regenerating hepatocytes. We show that production of neonatal splice isoforms attenuates Hippo signaling, enables greater transcriptional activation of downstream target genes, and facilitates liver regeneration. We further demonstrate that ESRP2 deletion in mice causes excessive hepatocyte proliferation upon injury, whereas forced expression of ESRP2 inhibits proliferation by suppressing the expression of neonatal Hippo pathway isoforms. Thus, our findings reveal an alternative splicing axis that supports regeneration following chronic liver injury.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)928-939
Number of pages12
JournalNature Structural and Molecular Biology
Volume25
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Biology

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