Rat transcriptomic profiling of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells during chronic liver disease reveals stage-specific secretory signature

RNAseq was applied to define the transcriptome of primary LSECs from rats with acute liver injury, mild liver fibrosis and advanced chronic liver disease (CLD) (due to CCl4 or thioacetamide administration). Results showed different transcriptomic profile during progression of CLD, and a large number of significant de-regulated genes (1412) were shared in cirrhotic CCl4- and TAA-LSECs (fold-change>1.5 and p-vale<0.05)compared with their respective healthy-LSECs. RNA-seq transcriptomic profiles were derived from liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) isolated during chronic liver disease (CLD). Wistar Han rats underwent inhalation exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 2 weeks (n=5), 6 weeks (n=5) or 12-14 weeks (n=6). Healthy LSECs were isolated of Wistar Han animals (n=6). Additionally, RNA-seq was performed from LSECs isolated of healthy Sprague-Dawley rats (n=5) and of TAA-cirrhotic rats (n=5).