Unraveling the transcriptional determinants of liver sinusoidal endothelial cell specialization
Willeke de Haan, Cristina Ionica Øie, Mohammed Benkheil, Wouter Dheedene, Stefan Vinckier, Giulia Coppiello, Xabier L. Aranguren, Manu Beerens, Joris Jaekers, Baki Topal, Catherine M. Verfaillie, Bård Smedsrød, Aernout Luttun
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are the first liver cells to encounter waste macromolecules, pathogens, and toxins in the blood and are highly specialized. Although some transcription factors are known to play a role in LSEC specialization, information about the specialized LSEC signature and its transcriptional determinants remains incomplete. Here, we show that Musculoaponeurotic Fibrosarcoma (C-MAF), GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4), and Meis homeobox 2 (MEIS2) are important transcriptional regulators of the unique LSEC signature and that they affect the interaction of LSECs with viruses.