Modeling hepatic fibrosis in TP53 knockout iPSC-derived human liver organoids.

Abstract

Hepatic fibrogenesis is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, ultimately predisposing to hepatocarcinogenesis. The lack of reliable models that faithfully recapitulate early stage fibrogenesis is one of the main limitations in identifying translationally relevant therapeutics. Here, we establish a model using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TP53 knockout iPSC (endoderm)-derived human hepatic organoids (eHEPOs) to mimic human liver fibrosis. Transcriptomic profiling of TP53KO-eHEPOs revealed enrichment of pathways associated with inflammation, ECM remodeling, and fibrosis, with notable alterations in pivotal fibrotic regulators. We also find increased expression of myofibroblasts and fibrosis markers (PDGFRB, COL1A1, COL3A1, COL11A1) and early liver cancer markers (GPC3 and MUC1). Histological analysis confirmed advanced fibrotic hallmarks and exposure to an exogenous profibrotic environment (pf-ME) further enhanced these fibrotic phenotypes. This model provides a valuable platform for exploring the role of key driver genes, such as TP53, in the initiation and progression of fibrosis, enabling the study of hepatic progenitor cell transformation across diverse microenvironmental contexts. As such, it holds the potential for advancing early stage drug discovery and the identification of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of liver fibrosis.