Epigenomic map of human liver reveals principles of zonated morphogenic and metabolic control

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

A deeper epigenomic understanding of spatial organization of cells in human tissues is an important challenge. Here we report the first combined positional analysis of transcriptomes and methylomes across three micro-dissected zones (pericentral, intermediate and periportal) of human liver. We identify pronounced anti-correlated transcriptional and methylation gradients including a core of 271 genes controlling zonated metabolic and morphogen networks and observe a prominent porto-central gradient of DNA methylation at binding sites of 46 transcription factors. The gradient includes an epigenetic and transcriptional Wnt signature supporting the concept of a pericentral hepatocyte regeneration pathway under steady-state conditions. While donors with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease show consistent gene expression differences corresponding to the severity of the disease across all zones, the relative zonated gene expression and DNA methylation patterns remain unchanged. Overall our data provide a wealth of new positional insights into zonal networks controlled by epigenetic and transcriptional gradients in human liver.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number4150
JournalNature communications
Volume9
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 30297808
ORCID /0000-0002-7133-7474/work/142251275