Jag1 insufficiency alters liver fibrosis via T cell and hepatocyte differentiation defects

Abstract

Fibrosis contributes to tissue repair, but excessive fibrosis disrupts organ function. Alagille syndrome (ALGS, caused by mutations in JAGGED1) results in liver disease and characteristic fibrosis. Here, we show that Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) mice, a model for ALGS, recapitulate ALGS-like fibrosis. Single-cell RNA-seq and multi-color flow cytometry of the liver revealed immature hepatocytes and paradoxically low intrahepatic T cell infiltration despite cholestasis in Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) mice. Thymic and splenic regulatory T cells (Tregs) were enriched and Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) lymphocyte immune and fibrotic capacity was tested with adoptive transfer into Rag1(-/-p mice, challenged with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) or bile duct ligation (BDL). Transplanted Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) lymphocytes were less inflammatory with fewer activated T cells than Jag1(+/+) lymphocytes in response to DSS. Cholestasis induced by BDL in Rag1(-/-) mice with Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) lymphocytes resulted in periportal Treg accumulation and three-fold less periportal fibrosis than in Rag1(-/-) mice with Jag1(+/+) lymphocytes. Finally, the Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) hepatocyte expression profile and Treg overrepresentation were corroborated in patients' liver samples. Jag1-dependent hepatic and immune defects thus interact to determine the fibrotic process in ALGS. Despite severe cholestatic liver disease due to bile duct paucity, intrahepatic fibrosis in Alagille syndrome (ALGS) differs from other cholestatic liver diseases. The way cell populations are affected by ALGS and interact to influence disease progression was investigated in an ALGS mouse model.Intrahepatic ALGS-like pericellular fibrosis is recapitulated by mice.Single-cell transcriptomics and flow cytometry identified dysregulation of maturing hepatocytes and T cells during fibrosis onset and propagation. and ALGS hepatocytes express a hepatoblast-like signature, suggesting disrupted hepatocyte maturation and compromised activation.Regulatory T cells are enriched in mice and can limit periportal fibrosis, as demonstrated by cell transplantations into immunodeficient mice followed by surgically induced cholestasis Despite severe cholestatic liver disease due to bile duct paucity, intrahepatic fibrosis in Alagille syndrome (ALGS) differs from other cholestatic liver diseases. The way cell populations are affected by ALGS and interact to influence disease progression was investigated in an ALGS mouse model.