Convergence of Wnt Signaling on the HNF4α-Driven Transcription in Controlling Liver Zonation

Background & Aims In each hepatocyte, the specific repertoire of gene expression is influenced by its exact location along the portocentrovenular axis of the hepatic lobule and provides a reason for the liver functions compartmentalization defined "metabolic zonation." So far, few molecular players controlling genetic programs of periportal (PP) and perivenular (PV) hepatocytes have been identified; the elucidation of zonation mechanisms remains a challenge for experimental hepatology. Recently, a key role in induction and maintenance of the hepatocyte heterogeneity has been ascribed to Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We sought to clarify how this wide-ranging stimulus integrates with hepatocyte specificity. Methods Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) allowed the transcriptional profiling of hepatocytes derived from in vitro differentiation of liver stem cells. The GSK3β inhibitor 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO) was used for β-catenin stabilization. Co-immunoprecipitations were used to study biochemical protein interactions while ChIP assays allowed the in vivo inspection of PV and PP genes regulatory regions. Results We found that spontaneous differentiation of liver stem cells gives rise to PP hepatocytes that, after Wnt pathway activation, switch into PV hepatocytes. Next, we showed that the Wnt downstream player LEF1 interacts with the liver-enriched transcriptional factor HNF4α. Finally, we unveiled that the BIO induced activation of PV genes correlates with LEF1 binding to both its own and HNF4α consensus, and the repression of PP genes correlates with HNF4α displacement from its own consensus. Conclusion Our data show a direct and hitherto unknown convergence of the canonical Wnt signaling on the HNF4α-driven transcription providing evidences of a mechanism controlling liver zonated gene expression.