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ResearchIn-Press PreviewGastroenterologyHepatology Open Access | 10.1172/JCI196730

Epigenetically controlled endothelial promyelocytic leukemia drives liver inflammation and fibrosis

Can Gan,1 Enjiang Lai,1 Yang Tai,1 Shuai Chen,2 Chong Zhao,1 Wenting Dai,1 Zhu Yang,1 Bei Li,3 Tian Lan,1 Yang Xiao,1 Yangkun Guo,1 Jiaxin Chen,1 Bo Wei,1 Zhaodi Che,4 Sheng Cao,5 Mengfei Liu,6 Frank Tacke,7 Chengwei Tang,1 Vijay H. Shah,5 Haopeng Yu,8 Fei Wang,4 Zhiyin Huang,1 and Jinhang Gao1

1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Find articles by Gan, C. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Find articles by Lai, E. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Find articles by Chen, S. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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1Department of Gastroenterology, Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

3Department of Biliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

4The First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States of America

6Division of Digestive Disease, Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America

7Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

8West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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Published March 17, 2026 - More info

J Clin Invest. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI196730.
Copyright © 2026, Gan et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Published March 17, 2026 - Version history
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Abstract

Cellular and molecular heterogeneity in the liver has been increasingly recognized to drive liver fibrosis progression, but the particular events that occur initially in response to liver injury and trigger the immune cell recruitment remain unclear. Here, we identify epigenetically aberrant liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) as key players in this process. Mechanistically, the epigenetic readers like bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4)-dependent super-enhancers (SEs) activate proinflammatory genes, including promyelocytic leukemia (PML). PML in turn binds BRD4 and amplifies proinflammatory angiocrine signaling through phase separation-dependent SE-activation via PML/BRD4 condensate formation. In mouse models, LSEC-specific depletion of the PML/BRD4 complex mitigates liver inflammation and fibrosis. Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals that epigenetically aberrant LSECs exhibit a reprogrammed proinflammatory angiocrine landscape in mouse fibrotic livers. TIMP1+ LSECs promote the recruitment of CD63+ monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMFs) during liver fibrosis progression. Thereby, PML/BRD4 in LSECs governs inflammatory immune cell recruitment in liver fibrosis. Pharmacological BRD4 inhibition or epigenetic PML-SE repression alleviates liver inflammation and fibrosis. In conclusion, PML/BRD4-mediated SE activation via phase separation drives proinflammatory angiocrine signaling in LSECs, initiating the inflammatory cascade and subsequent immune cell recruitment during liver fibrosis.

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View Movie S1. Portal venography of noncirrhotic and cirrhotic human livers. Portal venography revealed irregular and tortuous hepatic vasculature in human cirrhotic livers.

View Movie S1. Portal venography of noncirrhotic and cirrhotic human livers. Portal venography revealed irregular and tortuous hepatic vasculature in human cirrhotic livers.

View Movie S2. Intravital imaging of liver sinusoids in mice administered olive oil or CCl4. DAOSLIMIT revealed sinusoidal distortion and congested blood flow in CCl4-treated fibrotic mouse livers.

View Movie S3. Intravital imaging of F4/80 and MPO in mice administered olive oil or CCl4. DAOSLIMIT increased macrophage (F4/80) and neutrophil (MPO) infiltration in CCl4-treated fibrotic mouse livers.

View Movie S4. Intravital imaging of WGA, CD166, and F4/80 in mice administered olive oil or CCl4. DAOSLIMIT revealed increased macrophage infiltration in proximity to CD166+ endothelial cells in CCl4-treated Brd4fl/fl livers, a phenomenon not observed in Brd4LSEC mouse livers. WGA serves as a marker of endothelial cells.

View Movie S5. Intravital imaging of WGA, F4/80, and CD63 in mice administered olive oil or CCl4. DAOSLIMIT indicated increased infiltration of CD63+ macrophages in proximity to endothelial cells in CCl4-treated Brd4fl/fl livers, whereas this phenomenon was absent in Brd4LSEC mouse livers.

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Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
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