Dynamics of compartment-specific proteomic landscapes of hepatotoxic and cholestatic models of liver fibrosis.

Abstract

Accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in liver fibrosis is associated with changes in protein abundance and composition depending upon etiology of the underlying liver disease. Current efforts to unravel etiology-specific mechanisms and pharmacological targets rely on several models of experimental fibrosis. Here, we characterize and compare dynamics of hepatic proteome remodeling during fibrosis development and spontaneous healing in experimental mouse models of hepatotoxic (carbon tetrachloride [CCl₄] intoxication) and cholestatic (3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine [DDC] feeding) injury. Using detergent-based tissue extraction and mass spectrometry, we identified compartment-specific changes in the liver proteome with detailed attention to ECM composition and changes in protein solubility. Our analysis revealed distinct time-resolved CCl₄ and DDC signatures, with identified signaling pathways suggesting limited healing and a potential for carcinogenesis associated with cholestasis. Correlation of protein abundance profiles with fibrous deposits revealed extracellular chaperone clusterin with implicated role in fibrosis resolution. Dynamics of clusterin expression was validated in the context of human liver fibrosis. Atomic force microscopy of fibrotic livers complemented proteomics with profiles of disease-associated changes in local liver tissue mechanics. This study determined compartment-specific proteomic landscapes of liver fibrosis and delineated etiology-specific ECM components, providing thus a foundation for future antifibrotic therapies.