Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40857400›Full record

ArticleHepatology communications2025

Leukemia inhibitory factor promotes human cholangiopathies, and its inhibition improves cholestasis in Abcb4-/- mice.

Cristina Di Giorgio, Ginevra Urbani, Carmen Massa, Silvia Marchianò, Michele Biagioli, Martina Bordoni, Ginevra Lachi, Benedetta Sensini, Rachele Del Sordo, Francesca Paniconi and 14 more

Abstract read
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Article in Hepatology communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

24 authors.

Cristina Di GiorgioDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7125-8963
Ginevra UrbaniDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Carmen MassaDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Silvia MarchianòDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Michele BiagioliDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Martina BordoniBAR Pharmaceuticals S.r.l., Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Ginevra LachiDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Benedetta SensiniDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Rachele Del SordoDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Francesca PaniconiDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Eleonora GiannelliDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Maria Rosaria SetteDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Luigi CariDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Elva MorrettaDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Maria Chiara MontiDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Rosa De GregorioDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Valentina SepeDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Angela ZampellaDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Ainhoa LapitzDepartment of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country CIBERehd, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.
Piotr MilkiewiczLiver and Internal Medicine Unit, Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Malgorzata MilkiewiczDepartment of Medical Biology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
Jesus M BanalesDepartment of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country CIBERehd, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.
Eleonora DistruttiAzienda Ospedaliera di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Stefano FiorucciDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrimary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are immune-mediated cholestatic disorders characterized by progressive biliary inflammation and fibrosis, for which treatment options remain limited, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic targets. The leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is an IL-6-related cytokine that dysregulates the communication between epithelial cells and extracellular matrices by binding a heterodimeric complex formed by LIF receptor (LIFR) and gp130. The role of the LIF/LIFR system in PSC and PBC and its potential as a therapeutic target remain unclear.

methodsWe investigated LIF/LIFR system alteration in PSC and PBC and assessed the therapeutic potential of LIFR antagonism in a genetic mouse model of PSC (Abcb4-/- mice). Single-cell transcriptomics analyses were performed to evaluate LIF and LIFR expression in human liver samples. Whole liver RNA-seq and immunostaining were used to assess LIF/LIFR levels and correlation with fibrotic and immune markers. The effects of LIFR antagonism were evaluated in vitro using LRI-310, a steroidal LIFR antagonist, on human cholangiocytes, HSCs, endothelial cells, and macrophages. In vivo, LRI-310 was administered to Abcb4-/- mice, and effects on liver injury, cholestasis, fibrosis, leukocyte infiltration, and gene expression were assessed.

resultsLIF expression s enriched in human cholangiocytes, while LIFR is predominantly expressed by HSCs, endothelial cells, and macrophages. Whole liver RNAseq analysis and liver sections immunostaining demonstarted that increased LIF expression correlates with expression of markers of hepatic fibrosis and immune activation in PSC and PBC patients. LRI-310, a steroidal LIFR antagonist, attenuated human cholangiocytes activation and expression of inflammatory mediators, as well as the activation of liver sinusoidal cells and hepatic fibroblasts. In Abcb4-/- mice administration of LRI-310 mitigated liver injury, cholestasis, liver leukocytes infiltration and reduced the expression of biomarkers associated with fibrosis, inflammation, and bile acid dismetabolism.

conclusionCholangiocyte-derived LIF promotes the formation of a pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic niche centred on damaged cholangiocytes. LIFR antagonism reverses fibrosis and immune dysregulation in Abcb4-/- mice, supporting the development of anti-LIFR therapies in human cholangiopathies.

Indexed as

Cholangitis, SclerosingCholestasisLeukemia Inhibitory FactorLiver Cirrhosis, BiliaryReceptors, OSM-LIFAnimalsATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 4ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily BDisease Models, AnimalHumansLeukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha SubunitLiverMaleMiceMice, KnockoutATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 4ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily BLeukemia Inhibitory FactorLeukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha SubunitLIF protein, humanLIFR protein, humanReceptors, OSM-LIFcholestatic liver diseaseLIF/LIFR axisLIFR antagonismliver fibrosis

Identifiers

PMID40857400
PMCPMC12385065

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