CD133-Src-TAZ signaling stimulates ductal fibrosis following DDC diet-induced liver injury

Chronic liver injury follows inflammation and liver fibrosis; however, the molecular mechanism underlying fibrosis has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the role of ductal WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1)/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) was investigated after liver injury. Ductal TAZ-knockout (DKO) mice showed decreased liver fibrosis following a Diethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (DDC) diet compared to wild-type (WT) mice, as evidenced by decreased expression levels of fibrosis inducers, including connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf)/cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2), cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (Cyr61/CCN1), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (Tgfb1), in DKO mice. Similarly, TAZ-knockout (KO) cholangiocyte organoids showed decreased expression of fibrosis inducers. Additionally, the culture supernatant of TAZ-KO cholangiocyte organoids decreased the fibrogenic gene expression in liver stellate cells. Further studies revealed that prominin 1 (PROM1/CD133) stimulated TAZ for fibrosis. After the administration of DDC diet, fibrosis was decreased in CD133-KO (CD133-KO) mice compared to that in WT mice. Similarly, CD133-KO cholangiocyte organoids showed decreased Ctgf, Cyr61, and Tgfb1 expression levels compared to WT cholangiocyte organoids. Mechanistically, CD133 stabilized TAZ via Src activation. Inhibition of Src decreased TAZ levels. Similarly, CD133-knockdown HCT116 cells showed decreased TAZ levels, but reintroduction of active Src recovered the TAZ levels. Taken together, our results suggest that TAZ facilitates liver fibrosis after a DDC diet via the CD133-Src-TAZ axis.