Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has roles in cell proliferation, differentiation and organ homeostasis, including the liver. AhR depletion induces undifferentiation and pluripotency in normal and transformed cells. Here, AhR-null mice (AhR−/−) were used to explore whether AhR controls liver regeneration and carcinogenesis by restricting the expansion of stem-like cells and the expression of pluripotency genes. Short-term CCl4 liver damage was earlier and more efficiently repaired in AhR−/− than in AhR+/+ mice. Stem-like CK14 + and TBX3 + and pluripotency-expressing OCT4 + and NANOG + cells expanded sooner in AhR−/− than in AhR+/+ regenerating livers. Stem-like side population cells (SP) isolated from AhR−/− livers had increased β-catenin (β-Cat) signaling with overexpression of Axin2, Dkk1 and Cyclin D1. Interestingly, β-Cat, Axin2 and Dkk1 also increased during regeneration but more notably in AhR-null livers. Liver carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) produced large carcinomas in all AhR−/− mice but mostly premalignant adenomas in less than half of AhR+/+ mice. AhR-null tumoral tissue, but not their surrounding non-tumoral parenchyma, had nuclear β-Cat and Axin2 overexpression. OCT4 and NANOG were nevertheless similarly expressed in AhR+/+ and AhR−/− lesions. We suggest that AhR may serve to adjust liver repair and to block tumorigenesis by modulating stem-like cells and β-Cat signaling.
Introduction
Although cell renewal is very scarce in most mammalian tissues under homeostatic conditions, a rapid regenerative response can be observed in certain organs upon exposure to toxic or harmful molecules. Lung and liver are among those organs since they can reestablish normal tissue architecture and functionality from the activation of undifferentiated precursors after treatment with damaging chemicals1–3.
Liver regeneration can be experimentally induced by partial hepatectomy or toxic injury, the former exemplified by two-third hepatic resection and the second by acute carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment2–4. The mechanisms and cell types involved differ between both processes. While partial hepatectomy predominantly activates the division of quiescent hepatocytes3, 4, the response to acute toxic damage appears to be associated to the proliferation of hepatocytes and to a plausible increase in undifferentiated liver stem-like cells4–7. Hepatic CCl4 toxicity involves necrotic cell death and an acute inflammatory reaction caused by the infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages to the dead tissue2. Undifferentiated cells expressing pluripotency-inducing factors also appear to have a significant role in liver cancer progression and dissemination8–10. Despite some controversy about the phenotype of liver stem cells, certain molecular markers including cytokeratin 14 (CK14)11, 12 and TBX313 have been proposed to define early progenitor liver cells. Interestingly, a subpopulation of cells expressing Axin2 and TBX3 has been identified close to the central vein whose self-renewing potential is dependent on Wnt signals produced by the endothelium13. In addition, recent studies have identified pluripotency and reprogramming factors OCT4, NANOG and SOX2 as relevant molecular intermediates able to sustain stem-like properties in the liver and the progression of hepatocellular carcinomas from hepatic cancer stem cells14–18.
The aryl hydrocarbon/dioxin receptor (AhR) interacts with signalling pathways controlling not only the cell response to toxic and carcinogenic compounds but also relevant physiological functions19, 20. Recent work suggests that AhR may have a causal role in maintaining cell differentiation in the immune system21–24, gonads25, melanoma tumors26, 27 and skin epithelium28. AhR expression appears also relevant in embryonic stem cells29, 30, osteoblasts31, 32 and embryonic teratocarcinoma cells33. Notably, AhR deficiency exerts a profound impact in the hepatic system so that AhR-null mice have reduced liver size and portal fibrosis34–36 and a persistent intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt37, 38.
Previous studies have shown that AhR activation by its prototype carcinogenic ligand TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) inhibits caudal fin and heart regeneration in zebrafish larvae, suggesting a link between AhR signalling and activation of embryonic-like cells early in development39. In mammals, few reports have shown that TCDD can partially impair liver regeneration in mice after two-third partial hepatectomy possibly by controlling the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21Cip1 and p27Kip1 40, 41.
In this work, we have used AhR wild type (AhR+/+) and AhR-null (AhR−/−) mice to investigate how AhR deficiency affects the activation of stem-like and pluripotent cells in the liver during regeneration after acute exposure to the hepatotoxin CCl4 and in hepatic tumors induced by the carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN). We have found that AhR depletion improved liver regeneration and promoted the growth of large hepatocarcinomas likely by a mechanism involving increased proliferation and the activation of cells expressing stemness markers. These results could be of interest to develop non-toxic AhR antagonists to restore liver structure and function after toxic injury or after surgical intervention. Non-toxic AhR agonists could be also useful for inhibiting liver tumor growth. Consequently, lack of AhR could be also considered a bad prognostic value in liver cancer.
Results
AhR deficiency improves liver regeneration after acute toxic injury
We have used the liver response to acute CCl4 toxicity as an experimental approach to analyze the role of AhR in tissue regeneration. A single dose of CCl4 induced severe organ damage with ample necrotic areas surrounding the central vein and periportal areas of the hepatic parenchyma in both AhR+/+ and AhR−/− mice. (Fig. 1a). However, quantification of necrotic regions revealed that regeneration took place faster and more efficiently in AhR−/− mice since very few necrotic lesions remained at 72 h from treatment and their parenchyma was fully restored by 4 days. AhR+/+ mice, on the contrary, exhibited a delayed regenerative process that became significant at 72 h, persisting their hepatic lesions for at least 4 days (Fig. 1a). Nonetheless, regeneration was completed by 7 days from CCl4 administration in both genotypes. AhR expression transiently increased during the repair process in CCl4 exposed AhR+/+ mice, reaching a maximum at 72 h in cells located close to the central vein to decrease to very low levels at 4 days (Fig. 1b). AhR induced by the regenerative process was transcriptionally active as determined by the marked induction of its canonical target gene Cyp1a1, that reached maximum levels at 72 h (Fig. 1c ). As expected, AhR expression or Cyp1a1 induction were undetectable in AhR−/− livers (Fig. 1b).
Liver regeneration after CCl4 treatment involved enhanced cell proliferation in AhR+/+ and AhR−/− mice, although the kinetic with time differed between both genotypes. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression rapidly increased in AhR−/− livers reaching maximum values at 24 to 36 h to gradually decrease at later time points (Fig. 2a ). PCNA positive cells also accumulated in AhR+/+ livers although their kinetic was delayed until 48 to 72 h from CCl4 exposure (Fig. 2a ). Interestingly, AhR−/− but not AhR+/+ livers had a significant amount of cytosolic PCNA protein at early stages of regeneration, probably resulting for a nuclear to cytoplasmic shuttling process that takes place to protect from apoptosis and to sustain cell survival and resistance to toxic agents42, 43. Thus, the more efficient regeneration observed in AhR-null livers involved an earlier proliferative response.
AhR modulates the generation of cell types expressing stem-like and pluripotency markers after CCl4 induced toxicity
Liver regeneration after exposure to toxic chemicals such as CCl4 seems to predominantly involve the activation of stem-like cells expressing, among others, CK14, c-kit and Flt311, 12, 44 markers. Resident primary hepatocytes could also contribute to resolve necrotic tissue damage induced by CCl4 3, 45. AhR−/− livers had increased basal numbers of CK14-expressing cells as compared to AhR+/+ mice (Fig. 2b). Shortly after CCl4 treatment (e.g. 48 h), CK14 expression was maintained in AhR+/+ livers and moderately decreased in AhR−/− livers. At later times from 72 h to 4 days, CK14 decreased to very low levels in both genotypes (Fig. 2b). T-box transcription factor TBX3 is considered an early marker of pericentral liver progenitor cells13. Untreated AhR−/− livers had detectable numbers of TBX3 positive cells that markedly increased at 48 and 72 h after CCl4 treatment. Basal AhR+/+ livers did not show detectable TBX3 positivity and this cell type only became induced at 48 h following CCl4 administration (Fig. 3a ). We have previously reported that AhR represses pluripotency factors OCT4 and NANOG in human embryonic teratocarcinoma cells33. OCT4 expressing cells were significantly more abundant in basal AhR−/− liver parenchyma than in AhR+/+ livers (Fig. 3b ). After CCl4 treatment, OCT4 expression peaked from 24 to 48 h in AhR-null mice to then progressively decrease at 72 h and 4 days (Fig. 3b). In AhR+/+ livers, OCT4 positive cells also increased during regeneration but with a delayed kinetic reaching its maximum at 72 h and decaying to initial levels at 4 days (Fig. 3b). Endogenous expression of NANOG was also higher in AhR−/− livers and became maximally induced at 48 h (Fig. 3c ). Similarly to OCT4, NANOG positive cells were less abundant in naive AhR+/+ livers and they did not significantly accumulate until late regeneration at 4 days (Fig. 3c).
AhR−/− livers have increased number of side population cells and upregulation of the β-Cat pathway
We next used cell sorting to analyze the stem-like side population (SP) in untreated AhR+/+ and AhR−/− mouse livers. Complete livers from naive AhR+/+ and AhR−/− mice were processed, stained for the stem-like markers CD133+ , CD44+ and CD29+ and positive cells isolated and characterized (see the Methods). AhR deficient livers had a significant increase in SP cells with respect to wild type livers (Fig. 4a ), which is consistent with their enhanced content in cell populations expressing progenitor and pluripotency markers. Recent studies have associated the stem cell phenotype in the liver with the upregulation of the Wnt/β-Cat signaling pathway and the activation of pluripotency factors OCT4, NANOG, TBX3 and SOX246–48. We therefore decided to analyze the Wnt/β-Cat pathway in SP cells isolated from AhR+/+ and AhR−/− livers. mRNA expression of β-Cat and of its transcriptional partners Tcf4 and Lef1 was markedly increased in AhR−/− SP cells as compared to AhR+/+ SP cells (Fig. 4b ). No significant differences were observed for the Wnt receptor Lrp6 between both genotypes (Fig. 4b ). Consistently, the expression of the canonical Wnt/β-Cat target gene Axin2 was increased whereas that of Dickkopf-related protein 1 (Dkk1) was markedly repressed in AhR−/− SP cells (Fig. 4c ). Additional Wnt/β-Cat target genes Cyclin D1, c-Jun and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (Mmp2) were also overexpressed in AhR−/− SP cells with respect to AhR+/+ SP cells (Fig. 4d ). The analysis of liver sections revealed similar levels of β-Cat protein in untreated AhR+/+ and AhR−/− mice (Fig. 5a ). However, early during regeneration (24 h), β-Cat significantly accumulated in the pericentral region of AhR−/− livers and such accumulation persisted for at least 36 h, to then return to basal levels at 48 h (Fig. 5a ). AhR+/+ livers, on the contrary, only showed moderate β-Cat localization to pericentral areas at 72 h from CCl4 treatment (Fig. 5a ). Axin2 mRNA was overexpressed under basal conditions in AhR−/− livers and its levels decreased from 48 h in parallel with the reduction in β-Cat protein (Fig. 5b ). In AhR+/+ livers, Axin2 mRNA also decreased at 48 h from CCl4 exposure to return to basal levels at later times (Fig. 5b ). Basal Dkk1 mRNA expression was repressed in AhR−/− livers as compared to AhR+/+ livers, but transiently increased at 48 h from treatment. In AhR expressing livers, Dkk1 became steadily repressed along the regenerative process (Fig. 5c ). Thus, β-Cat signaling was enhanced in stem-like SP liver cells and at early stages of liver regeneration in vivo.
AhR deficiency increases liver tumor progression by diethylnitrosamine (DEN)
We next used DEN-induced liver tumors to investigate if tumors growing in AhR deficient mice have altered expression of AhR-regulated pluripotency genes and changes in β-Cat activation. Acute DEN treatment at young age (e.g. 4 and 5 weeks after birth) did not affect survival of AhR+/+ mice during a 1 year period. However, it did significantly affect the viabilility of AhR−/− mice since close to 25% of the animals died between 4 and 12 months after treatment (Fig. 6a ). Mice surviving 12 months after DEN treatment were killed and their tumors used for analyses. In agreement with a previous report49, AhR deficiency induced massive liver tumors larger than 1 cm3 in 25% of the animals; tumors invaded more than three quarters of the liver in the remaining 75% of AhR−/− mice (Fig. 6b ). Almost half of AhR+/+ mice did not develop any distinguishable liver tumor and only a small fraction had lesions invading large areas of the liver or with sizes over 1 cm3 (Fig. 6b ). In fact, tumor growth significantly increased total liver weight in AhR-null but not in wild type mice (Fig. 6c ). Macroscopic evaluation identified small lesions (Fig. 6d, upper left) with steatosis in most AhR+/+ mice despite some animals having larger size tumors (Fig. 6d, upper right). AhR−/− mice, on the contrary, developed tumors with marked multiplicity and extensive vascularization and lymphocyte infiltration (Fig. 6e, upper). Pathological examination revealed that even the larger AhR+/+ tumors were pre-malignant adenomas whereas a significant fraction of those present in AhR−/− mice progressed to malignant hepatocarcinomas (Fig. 6d,e ).
Protein analysis of tumors growing in AhR+/+ mice revealed a marked downregulation of AhR expression in the tumor proper (T) as compared to surrounding non-tumoral tissue (NT) from the same livers. AhR was undetectable in tumoral (T) and non-tumoral tissue (NT) of AhR−/− mice (Fig. 7a ). Thus, liver tumor progression may be associated to AhR downregulation. β-Cat protein was barely detectable in non-tumoral tissue (NT) of AhR+/+ livers but highly expressed in surrounding non-tumoral tissue (NT) of AhR−/− livers (Fig. 7b, left panels). β-Cat was moderately expressed in largest AhR+/+ tumors (T) (Fig. 7b, upper right) but highly expressed and with nuclear localization in most AhR−/− tumors (T) (Fig. 7b, lower right). Consistently, mRNA expression of the β-Cat target gene Axin2 was significantly higher in AhR−/− than in AhR+/+ liver tumors (Fig. 7c ). We next used immunofluorescence to determine whether liver tumor growth involved changes in the expression of OCT4 and NANOG. We found that both OCT4 and NANOG were similarly expressed and with a comparable cellular distribution in AhR+/+ and AhR−/− liver tumors, with a more punctuate pattern in the case of NANOG (Fig. 7d,e ).
Discussion
With the exception of the lung in mammals and the caudal fin in zebrafish, tissue regeneration is a rare event and mostly restricted to the liver. Mammalian liver can be induced to regenerate to its initial mass after exposure to necrotic inducing agents or after tissue loss caused by partial hepatectomy2, 3. Although some controversy exists, it is generally accepted that liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy is largely hepatocyte-dependent whereas regeneration in response to toxic compounds such as CCl4 relies in liver progenitor stem-like cells with some contribution from primary hepatocytes2–4. To date, little is known about the mechanisms and molecular intermediates that initiate, limit and terminate liver regeneration. Previous work has shown that AhR activation by TCDD can block heart and caudal fin regeneration in zebrafish50, 51. In the mouse, TCDD inhibited liver regeneration after two-third partial hepatectomy possibly by blocking the cell cycle through a p21Cip1-dependent mechanism40, 41. A recent study has revealed that TCDD enhanced the toxic effects of CCl4 in mouse liver probably by increasing cytochrome P450-2E1 expression in an AhR-dependent manner52. Here, we have investigated liver regeneration after CCl4-induced damage and the liver response to the tumor inducing agent DEN in AhR-null background. The main conclusion from this work is that AhR deficiency improves liver regeneration after acute toxic damage but promotes hepatocarcinoma development likely by the expansion of stem-like cells and the upregulation of pluripotency-related factors including β-Cat. From a clinical point of view, this work indicates that AhR deficiency could be beneficial to increase liver regeneration after toxic injury or tissue loss (e.g. from partial hepatectomy) but detrimental as a potential cause of liver carcinogenesis.
AhR depletion improved liver regeneration after CCl4-induced injury including a more efficient and complete repair of necrotic regions surrounding the central vein and periportal areas, despite AhR−/− mice having similar sensitivity to this toxic compound. The more competent regeneration observed in AhR−/− livers was probably the consequence of an earlier proliferative response reaching maximum values by 24–36 h after injury, whereas it took over 48 h in AhR+/+ livers, in agreement with previous data from transplanted wild type mice53, 54. Consistently with current hypotheses2, 3, the accelerated repair in AhR-lacking mice could be related to the activation of progenitor stem-like cells residing in the liver under basal conditions. Accordingly, cells expressing adult liver progenitor markers CK14 and TBX311–13 were more abundant in AhR−/− livers and, importantly, they expanded soon at the beginning of the regeneration process, closely following the kinetics of proliferation and repair. Pluripotency factors OCT433, 55, 56 and NANOG33, both regulated by AhR in human embryonic teratocarcinoma cells, were also overexpressed basally and shortly after liver repair in AhR-null mice. These data suggest that, in absence of AhR, enlarged pools of liver cells with stem-like characteristics may trigger an earlier regenerative reaction ultimately resulting in a more efficient repair. Therefore, AhR could serve as a limiting factor controlling physiological regeneration in order to avoid liver overgrowth. Such possibility agrees with the fact that AhR becomes upregulated in wild type livers around the time window when repair was about to be completed.
Enhanced Wnt/β-Cat signaling has been involved in the proliferation of normal and transformed liver cells, at least in part due to the upregulation of a set of pluripotency factors including OCT4 and NANOG15–18, 48. Interestingly, stem-like side population cells isolated from AhR−/− liver under physiological conditions showed upregulation of canonical Wnt/β-Cat signaling, suggesting a link between overactivation of this pathway and induction of OCT4 and NANOG in residing pluripotent stem cells early during liver repair. In fact, β-Cat has been proposed as a novel regulator of NANOG to sustain liver pluripotency48. The implication of β-Cat signaling in AhR-dependent liver regeneration was also supported by additional observations: first, the marked increase in β-Cat levels shortly after damage in AhR−/− mice but not in AhR+/+ mice; second, Axin2 was upregulated while Dkk1 was repressed in basal AhR−/− livers, supporting the existence of an endogenous regulatory pathway; third, Dkk1 was induced in AhR-null livers once regeneration reached its maximum, which suggested a mechanism to attenuate the process since Dkk1 can inhibit β-Cat signaling57. Thus, AhR and β-Cat may be interconnected in a regulatory network controlling the generation of stem-like and pluripotent cells needed for liver regeneration. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that AhR activation alters Wnt/β-Cat signaling impairing tissue regeneration in zebrafish39, 58 and the formation of the urogenital sinus during prostate development59.
In agreement with a previous study using a different AhR-null mice line49, AhR deficiency strongly increases the susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis eventually reducing survival in a significant fraction of mice. AhR−/− mice developed markedly large tumors, with increased multiplicity and vascularization and with complete penetrance. AhR expression affected malignancy since liver carcinomas could be recovered from AhR−/− mice whereas adenomas were predominant in AhR+/+ mice. Notably, the causal role of AhR in liver tumorigenesis gains additional support from the fact that, in AhR+/+ tumors, it was strongly repressed in the tumor proper but not in the surrounding non-tumoral parenchyma. Although more work is needed to clarify this differential pattern of expression, it agrees with our previous observations describing cell-autonomous and stromal dependent functions of AhR in melanoma primary tumorigenesis and metastasis26. Similarly to that found for CCl4-induced injury, β-Cat expression and activation were also increased in AhR−/− tumors, again suggesting the existence of a β-Cat/AhR signaling network limiting progression of liver carcinogenesis. Interestingly, OCT4 and NANOG expression did not significantly differ between AhR+/+ adenomas and AhR−/− carcinomas, a result that probably reflects a differential function of both genes in regeneration after acute toxicity with respect to liver carcinogenesis.
In summary, physiological control of AhR expression may be required to adjust a proportional proliferative response to repair necrotic damage in the liver caused by toxic chemicals. As AhR has relevant roles in controlling differentiation and pluripotency, and since β-Cat signaling promotes liver regeneration and is associated to the activation of pluripotency factors, it is reasonable to assume that a signaling network involving AhR and β-Cat could control the timing and the intensity of liver regeneration to restore tissue architecture and to avoid overgrowth. A similar network could also limit liver carcinogenesis in presence of AhR by restricting tumor growth and malignant progression. One relevant question that remains to be investigated is to what extent the effects reported here depend on the expansion of liver stem-like cells, on the absence of AhR in those cells or on both phenomena. The first possibility is supported by recent observations from our laboratory showing that AhR deficiency also improves lung regeneration after naphthalene-induced damage through an increase in the pool of basal and Clara stem-like cells (Hernández-Morales, unpublished observations), and that AhR-null testes have increased levels of early progenitor cells25. The second would imply that AhR deprivation triggers cell autonomous effects leading to undifferentiation and stemness. Indeed, AhR deficiency differentially affects melanoma primary tumorigenesis and metastasis depending on whether it is depleted in the tumor cell or in the stroma26, 27. Further, AhR knockdown enhances the undifferentiated phenotype of human embryonic teratocarcinoma cells by upregulating pluripotency genes OCT4 and NANOG33. It appears likely that AhR not only modulates stem cell function but also the expansion of undifferentiated cell populations. Further work will provide important insights into these novel roles of AhR.
Methods
Mice and treatments
AhR+/+ and AhR−/− mice were generated by gene targeting as previously described35. For liver regeneration experiments, male mice were used since the hormonal status of female rodents significantly affects the response to hepatotoxins60–62. Thus, four to five AhR+/+ and AhR−/− male mice for each time point at 12 to 14 weeks of age were treated with a single i.p. dose of 0.7 ml/Kg of pure CCl4 solution (Panreac 131245.1611) dissolved in sunflower oil; the same number of control mice received an equal volume of solvent. Mice were sacrificed 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 4 days and 7 days after treatment and livers collected and processed for analysis. For liver tumor formation, 30 AhR+/+ and 30 AhR−/− male mice were injected twice at 4 and 5 weeks of age i.p. with 15 mg/Kg body weight diethylnitrosamine (DEN) (Sigma N0258) dissolved in sunflower oil. A set of 10 AhR+/+ and 10 AhR−/− control mice received the same volume of sunflower oil and they were followed during the duration of the experiment. All work involving mice has been performed in accordance with the National and European legislation (Spanish Royal Decree RD53/2013 and EU Directive 86/609/CEE as modified by 2003/65/CE, respectively) for the protection of animals used for research. Experimental protocols using mice were approved by the Bioethics Committee for Animal Experimentation of the University of Extremadura (Registry 109/2014) and by the Junta de Extremadura (EXP-20160506-1). Mice had free access to water and rodent chow.
Antibodies and reagents
The following antibodies were used: anti-AhR (Immunostep EB11767 1:50), anti CK14 (COVANCE AF64 1:100), anti-OCT4 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology sc-5279, 1:200), anti-NANOG (Novus Biologicals NBP2-13177SS 1:50), anti-PCNA (Biolegend, 307902 1:50), anti-TBX3 (ABIN 1714884 1:50), anti-β-Cat (Becton-Dickinson 610153 1:200).
Hematoxylin/eosin staining of liver sections
Liver tissues were fixed overnight at room temperature in buffered formalin and included in paraffin. Sections were prepared at 3 μm, deparaffinated in xylol and gradually re-hydrated to phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Tissues were incubated for 3 min with hematoxylin, washed with tap water and stained with eosin for 1 min. After a final washing step, sections were de-hydrated, mounted and observed in a NIKON TE2000U microscope equipped with 4× (0.10 numeric aperture), 10× (0.25 numeric aperture) and 20× (0.40 numeric aperture) objectives.
Immunohistochemistry
Paraffin-embedded livers were sectioned at 3 μm, deparaffinated and re-hydrated to PBS. Sections were incubated for 45 min in PBS containing 0.25% Triton X-100 (PBS-T) and 0.3% H2O2 to block endogenous peroxidase activity. Following washing in PBS-T, unspecific binding was blocked by incubation in PBS-T solution containing 2 mg/ml gelatin (PBS-T-G) and 0.1 M lysine. A primary antibody against the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was added for 16–18 h and, after washing in PBS-T-G, sections were incubated for 1 h at room temperature with the corresponding biotin-conjugated secondary antibody. After a final washing step in PBS-T-G, the streptavidin-peroxidase complex was added and the presence of PCNA revealed with diaminobenzidine (DAB). Nuclei were then counterstained with Harris hematoxylin and sections de-hydrated and mounted with Eukitt (Kindler GmBH). A NIKON TE2000U microscope equipped with 4× (0.10 numeric aperture), 10× (0.25 numeric aperture) and 20× (0.40 numeric aperture) objectives was used for microscopic observation.
Immunofluorescence
Liver sections (3 μm) were initially processed as indicated above but omitting the blocking step. Unspecific epitopes were blocked by 1 h incubation at room temperature in TBS-T containing 0.2% gelatin and 3% BSA. Sections were incubated overnight at 4 °C with the corresponding primary antibodies diluted in PBS-T containing 0.2% gelatin, washed in the same gelatin solution and incubated for 1 h at room temperature with Alexa-488 or Alexa-633- labeled secondary antibodies. After washing the excess of secondary antibody, sections were dehydrated, mounted on Mowiol and visualized using an Olympus FV1000 confocal microscope (Olympus). Objectives used were: 10× (0.40 numeric aperture) and 20× (0.70 numeric aperture). Fluorescence analysis was done using the FV10 software (Olympus). DAPI was used to stain cell nuclei.
Reverse transcription and real-time PCR
Total RNA was purified from liver tissues at different times after CCl4 or DEN treatment. Tissues were grinded in liquid nitrogen, extracted using a Trizol reagent (Ambion)/ chloroform solution, centrifuged and the supernatants precipitated with isopropanol and centrifuged again at 15000 g for 30 min at 4 °C. Pellets were dissolved in DEPC-treated water and the resulting solution further purified with the High Pure RNA Isolation Kit (Roche). Reverse transcription was done using random priming and the iScript Reverse Transcription Super Mix (Bio-Rad). Real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed using SYBR® Select Master Mix (Life Technologies) in a Step One Thermal Cycler (Applied Biosystems) as indicated25, 33. Gapdh was used to normalize target gene expression (ΔCt) and 2−ΔΔCt to calculate changes in mRNA levels with respect to untreated conditions. Primer sequences used are indicated in Supplementary Table 1.
SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting
SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting were performed using total protein extracts essentially as described25. Briefly, AhR+/+ and AhR−/− liver tumors and surrounding non-tumoral tissue were minced, homogenized in ice-cold lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 0.5% Nonidet P-40, 1 mM phenyl-methyl sulfonyl fluoride, 1 mM NaF, 1 mM sodium orthovanadate, 1 mM DTT, 10 mM β-glycerophosphate and 4 μg/μl Complete protease inhibitor cocktail) and centrifuged at 15000 g for 30 min at 4 °C. Protein concentration was quantified in the supernatants using the Coomassie Plus protein assay reagent (Pierce) and bovine serum albumin as standard. Aliquots of 20-30 μg total protein were electrophoresed in 8% SDS-PAGE gels which were transferred to nitrocellulose membranes by electroblotting. Membranes were blocked in TBS-T (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 0.2% Tween-20) containing 5% non-fat milk. Blots were incubated with a primary antibody against AhR and with the corresponding secondary antibody, washed in TBS-T and revealed using the Super-signal luminol substrate (Pierce) in a ChemiDoc XRS + equipment (Bio-Rad).
Side population (SP) isolation by cell sorting
The side population (SP) containing stem-like cells was isolated from AhR+/+ and AhR−/− livers essentially as described with some modifications63. In brief, livers were finely minced in PBS and rotated for 30 min at 37 °C in digestion solution (PBS containing 0.5 U/ml Dispase and 60 U/ml collagenase (Invitrogen)). Once digested, tissues were homogenized by passing through a 21-gauge syringe, filtered by a 0.40 μm mesh and centrifuged at 300 g for 5 min. Pellets were then resuspended in sorting medium (PBS containing 10% FBS) prior to use. To isolate SP cells, complete cellular pools obtained from each liver were stained for 90 min at 37 °C with a solution containing 5 μg/ml Hoechst 33342 (Sigma Aldrich). Cells were then centrifuged and resuspended in HEPES-HBSS buffer and incubated with 50 μM Fumitremorgin C (Sigma Aldrich) to inhibit the ABCG2 extrusion pump. Propidium iodide at a concentration of 10 nM was used to discriminate dead cells from the purification. Cells staining positive for the undifferentiation markers CD133 + , CD44 + and CD29 + were considered representative of the SP population. A MoFlo Astrium EQ flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter) was used.
Statistical analyses
Quantitative data are shown as mean ± SD. Comparisons between experimental conditions was done using GraphPad Prism 6.0 software (GraphPad). The student´s t test was used to analyze differences between two experimental groups and ANOVA for the analyses of three or more groups. The Mann-Whitney non-parametric statistical method was used to compare rank variations between independent groups.
Electronic supplementary material
Acknowledgements
The support and help of the Servicio de Técnicas Aplicadas a las Biociencias (STAB) of the Universidad de Extremadura is greatly acknowledged. This work was supported by grants to P.M.F-S. from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2014-51813-R) and from the Junta de Extremadura (GR15008 and IB16210). Research at P.M.F.-S. laboratory was also funded by the Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cáncer (RTICC), Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (RD12/0036/0032). N.M.-M. was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and A.M.-H. by the Junta de Extremadura. E.B and B.P. were supported by Junta de Extremadura. All Spanish funding is co-sponsored by the European Union FEDER program.
Author Contributions
N.M.M. design, performed and discussed a significant part of the experiments; E.V., A.M.H. and B.P. contributed to immunohistochemical analyses and data discussion; G.B.F. contributed to data organization and discussion; J.M.M. helped design the study and to organize and discuss data; P.M.F.S. design, disuss and coordinated the study and wrote the paper.
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Footnotes
Electronic supplementary material
Supplementary information accompanies this paper at doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10984-w
Publisher's note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
References
- 1.Eisenhauer P, et al. Endogenous distal airway progenitor cells, lung mechanics, and disproportionate lobar growth following long-term postpneumonectomy in mice. Stem Cells. 2013;31:1330–1339. doi: 10.1002/stem.1377. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Michalopoulos GK. Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy: critical analysis of mechanistic dilemmas. Am. J. Pathol. 2010;176:2–13. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.090675. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Taub R. Liver regeneration: from myth to mechanism. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2004;5:836–847. doi: 10.1038/nrm1489. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Fausto N, Campbell JS. The role of hepatocytes and oval cells in liver regeneration and repopulation. Mech. Dev. 2003;120:117–130. doi: 10.1016/S0925-4773(02)00338-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Sell S. Heterogeneity and plasticity of hepatocyte lineage cells. Hepatology. 2001;33:738–750. doi: 10.1053/jhep.2001.21900. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6.Sell S. The hepatocyte: heterogeneity and plasticity of liver cells. Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 2003;35:267–271. doi: 10.1016/S1357-2725(02)00182-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7.Shafritz DA, Dabeva MD. Liver stem cells and model systems for liver repopulation. J. Hepatol. 2002;36:552–564. doi: 10.1016/S0168-8278(02)00013-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8.Chang TS, et al. Activation of IL6/IGFIR confers poor prognosis of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma through induction of OCT4/NANOG expression. Clin. Cancer Res. 2015;21:201–210. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-13-3274. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 9.Muller M, et al. The role of pluripotency factors to drive stemness in gastrointestinal cancer. Stem Cell Res. 2016;16:349–357. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2016.02.005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 10.Nagano H, et al. Novel therapeutic target for cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2012;19:600–605. doi: 10.1007/s00534-012-0543-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 11.Lee EJ, Russell T, Hurley L, Jameson JL. Pituitary transcription factor-1 induces transient differentiation of adult hepatic stem cells into prolactin-producing cells in vivo. Mol. Endocrinol. 2005;19:964–971. doi: 10.1210/me.2004-0034. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12.Seki S, et al. Expression of progenitor cell markers in livers with fulminant massive necrosis. Hepatol. Res. 2003;25:149–157. doi: 10.1016/S1386-6346(02)00205-X. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 13.Wang B, Zhao L, Fish M, Logan CY, Nusse R. Self-renewing diploid Axin2(+) cells fuel homeostatic renewal of the liver. Nature. 2015;524:180–185. doi: 10.1038/nature14863. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 14.Cheung PF, et al. Hepatic cancer stem cell marker granulin-epithelin precursor and beta-catenin expression associate with recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget. 2016;7:21644–21657. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.7803. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 15.Kuo, K.K. et al. Positive Feedback Loop of OCT4 and c-JUN Expedites Cancer Stemness in Liver Cancer. Stem Cells (2016). [DOI] [PubMed]
- 16.Yin X, et al. Coexpression of gene Oct4 and Nanog initiates stem cell characteristics in hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition through activation of Stat3/Snail signaling. J Hematol Oncol. 2015;8 doi: 10.1186/s13045-015-0119-3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 17.Zhou JJ, et al. Hepatitis C virus core protein regulates NANOG expression via the stat3 pathway. FEBS Lett. 2014;588:566–573. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.11.041. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 18.Zhou JJ, et al. Hepatitis C virus core protein regulates OCT4 expression and promotes cell cycle progression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol. Rep. 2016;36:582–588. doi: 10.3892/or.2016.4775. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 19.Mulero-Navarro S, Fernandez-Salguero PM. New Trends in Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Biology. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2016;4 doi: 10.3389/fcell.2016.00045. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 20.Pohjanvirta, R. The AH receptor in Biology and Toxicology, Edn 1st. (John Wiley & Sons, New York; 2012).
- 21.Esser C, Rannug A. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor in barrier organ physiology, immunology, and toxicology. Pharmacol. Rev. 2015;67:259–279. doi: 10.1124/pr.114.009001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 22.Esser C, Rannug A, Stockinger B. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor in immunity. Trends Immunol. 2009;30:447–454. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2009.06.005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 23.Quintana FJ, et al. Control of T(reg) and T(H)17 cell differentiation by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Nature. 2008;453:65–71. doi: 10.1038/nature06880. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 24.Veldhoen M, et al. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor links TH17-cell-mediated autoimmunity to environmental toxins. Nature. 2008;453:106–109. doi: 10.1038/nature06881. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 25.Rico-Leo EM, et al. piRNA-associated proteins and retrotransposons are differentially expressed in murine testis and ovary of aryl hydrocarbon receptor deficient mice. Open Biol. 2016;6 doi: 10.1098/rsob.160186. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 26.Contador-Troca M, et al. The dioxin receptor has tumor suppressor activity in melanoma growth and metastasis. Carcinogenesis. 2013;34:2683–2693. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgt248. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 27.Contador-Troca M, et al. Dioxin receptor regulates aldehyde dehydrogenase to block melanoma tumorigenesis and metastasis. Molecular cancer. 2015;14 doi: 10.1186/s12943-015-0419-9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 28.Rico-Leo EM, Alvarez-Barrientos A, Fernandez-Salguero PM. Dioxin Receptor Expression Inhibits Basal and Transforming Growth Factor beta-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition. J. Biol. Chem. 2013;288:7841–7856. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.425009. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 29.Ko CI, et al. Repression of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Is Required to Maintain Mitotic Progression and Prevent Loss of Pluripotency of Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells. 2016;34:2825–2839. doi: 10.1002/stem.2456. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 30.Wang Q, et al. Ah Receptor Activation by Dioxin Disrupts Activin, BMP, and WNT Signals During the Early Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells and Inhibits Cardiomyocyte Functions. Toxicol. Sci. 2016;149:346–357. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfv246. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 31.Sharan K, et al. A novel quercetin analogue from a medicinal plant promotes peak bone mass achievement and bone healing after injury and exerts an anabolic effect on osteoporotic bone: the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor as a mediator of osteogenic action. J. Bone Miner. Res. 2011;26:2096–2111. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.434. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 32.Yu H, et al. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor suppresses osteoblast proliferation and differentiation through the activation of the ERK signaling pathway. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 2014;280:502–510. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2014.08.025. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 33.Morales-Hernandez A, et al. Alu retrotransposons promote differentiation of human carcinoma cells through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Nucleic Acids Res. 2016;44:4665–4683. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkw095. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 34.Corchero J, Martin-Partido G, Dallas S, Fernandez-Salguero P. Liver portal fibrosis in dioxin receptor-null mice that overexpress the latent transforming growth factor-beta-binding protein-1. Int. J. Exp. Pathol. 2004;85:295–302. doi: 10.1111/j.0959-9673.2004.00397.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 35.Fernandez-Salguero P, et al. Immune system impairment and hepatic fibrosis in mice lacking the dioxin-binding Ah receptor. Science. 1995;268:722–726. doi: 10.1126/science.7732381. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 36.Schmidt JV, Su GH-T, Reddy JK, Simon MC, Bradfield CA. Characterization of a murine Ahr null allele: Involvement of the Ah receptor in hepatic growth and development. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1996;93:6731–6736. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.13.6731. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 37.Lahvis GP, et al. Portosystemic shunting and persistent fetal vascular structures in aryl hydrocarbon receptor-deficient mice. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2000;97:10442–10447. doi: 10.1073/pnas.190256997. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 38.Lahvis GP, et al. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor is required for developmental closure of the ductus venosus in the neonatal mouse. Mol. Pharmacol. 2005;67:714–720. doi: 10.1124/mol.104.008888. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 39.Mathew LK, Simonich MT, Tanguay RL. AHR-dependent misregulation of Wnt signaling disrupts tissue regeneration. Biochem. Pharmacol. 2009;77:498–507. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2008.09.025. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 40.Jackson DP, Li H, Mitchell KA, Joshi AD, Elferink CJ. Ah receptor-mediated suppression of liver regeneration through NC-XRE-driven p21Cip1 expression. Mol. Pharmacol. 2014;85:533–541. doi: 10.1124/mol.113.089730. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 41.Mitchell KA, Lockhart CA, Huang G, Elferink CJ. Sustained aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity attenuates liver regeneration. Mol. Pharmacol. 2006;70:163–170. doi: 10.1124/mol.106.023465. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 42.Naryzhny SN, Lee H. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the cytoplasm interacts with components of glycolysis and cancer. FEBS Lett. 2010;584:4292–4298. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.09.021. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 43.Ohayon D, et al. Cytoplasmic proliferating cell nuclear antigen connects glycolysis and cell survival in acute myeloid leukemia. Sci Rep. 2016;6 doi: 10.1038/srep35561. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 44.Bisgaard HC, Nagy P, Ton PT, Hu Z, Thorgeirsson SS. Modulation of keratin 14 and alpha-fetoprotein expression during hepatic oval cell proliferation and liver regeneration. J. Cell Physiol. 1994;159:475–484. doi: 10.1002/jcp.1041590312. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 45.Koniaris LG, McKillop IH, Schwartz SI, Zimmers TA. Liver regeneration. J. Am. Coll. Surg. 2003;197:634–659. doi: 10.1016/S1072-7515(03)00374-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 46.Cheung PF, et al. Granulin-epithelin precursor is an oncofetal protein defining hepatic cancer stem cells. PLoS One. 2011;6 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028246. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 47.Safa AR. Resistance to Cell Death and Its Modulation in Cancer Stem Cells. Crit. Rev. Oncog. 2016;21:203–219. doi: 10.1615/CritRevOncog.2016016976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 48.Wagner RT, Xu X, Yi F, Merrill BJ, Cooney AJ. Canonical Wnt/beta-catenin regulation of liver receptor homolog-1 mediates pluripotency gene expression. Stem Cells. 2010;28:1794–1804. doi: 10.1002/stem.502. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 49.Fan Y, et al. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor functions as a tumor suppressor of liver carcinogenesis. Cancer Res. 2010;70:212–220. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-3090. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 50.Hofsteen P, Mehta V, Kim MS, Peterson RE, Heideman W. TCDD inhibits heart regeneration in adult zebrafish. Toxicol. Sci. 2013;132:211–221. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfs329. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 51.Mathew LK, Andreasen EA, Tanguay RL. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation inhibits regenerative growth. Mol. Pharmacol. 2006;69:257–265. doi: 10.1124/mol.105.018044. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 52.Mejia-Garcia A, et al. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin enhances CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in an aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent manner. Xenobiotica. 2013;43:161–168. doi: 10.3109/00498254.2012.707790. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 53.Weglarz TC, Degen JL, Sandgren EP. Hepatocyte transplantation into diseased mouse liver. Kinetics of parenchymal repopulation and identification of the proliferative capacity of tetraploid and octaploid hepatocytes. Am. J. Pathol. 2000;157:1963–1974. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)64835-3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 54.Weglarz TC, Sandgren EP. Timing of hepatocyte entry into DNA synthesis after partial hepatectomy is cell autonomous. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2000;97:12595–12600. doi: 10.1073/pnas.220430497. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 55.Bunaciu RP, Yen A. Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor AhR Promotes retinoic acid-induced differentiation of myeloblastic leukemia cells by restricting expression of the stem cell transcription factor Oct4. Cancer Res. 2011;71:2371–2380. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-2299. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 56.Cheng J, et al. Tryptophan derivatives regulate the transcription of Oct4 in stem-like cancer cells. Nat Commun. 2015;6 doi: 10.1038/ncomms8209. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 57.Niida A, et al. DKK1, a negative regulator of Wnt signaling, is a target of the beta-catenin/TCF pathway. Oncogene. 2004;23:8520–8526. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1207892. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 58.Mathew LK, Sengupta SS, Ladu J, Andreasen EA, Tanguay RL. Crosstalk between AHR and Wnt signaling through R-Spondin1 impairs tissue regeneration in zebrafish. FASEB J. 2008;22:3087–3096. doi: 10.1096/fj.08-109009. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 59.Schneider AJ, Branam AM, Peterson RE. Intersection of AHR and Wnt signaling in development, health, and disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2014;15:17852–17885. doi: 10.3390/ijms151017852. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 60.Eagon PK. Alcoholic liver injury: influence of gender and hormones. World J Gastroenterol. 2010;16:1377–1384. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i11.1377. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 61.Mennecozzi M, Landesmann B, Palosaari T, Harris G, Whelan M. Sex differences in liver toxicity-do female and male human primary hepatocytes react differently to toxicants in vitro? PLoS One. 2015;10 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122786. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 62.Waxman DJ, Holloway MG. Sex differences in the expression of hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes. Mol. Pharmacol. 2009;76:215–228. doi: 10.1124/mol.109.056705. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 63.Gadepalli VS, Vaughan C, Rao RR. Isolation and characterization of murine multipotent lung stem cells. Methods Mol. Biol. 2013;962:183–191. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-236-0_15. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.