TAZ stimulates liver regeneration through interleukin-6–induced hepatocyte proliferation and inhibition of cell death after liver injury

In response to liver injury, the liver undergoes a regeneration process to retain its mass and function. However, the regeneration mechanism has not been fully clarified. This study investigated the role of transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), a Hippo-signaling effector, in liver regeneration. We observed that TAZ stimulates liver regeneration after liver injury. After partial hepatectomy (PHx) or carbon tetrachloride damage, TAZ was required for liver regeneration to increase hepatic cell proliferation and resist hepatic apoptosis, which were decreased in liver-specific TAZ knockout (LKO) mice. TAZ stimulated macrophage infiltration, resulting in IL-6 production, which induced liver regeneration. In LKO mice, IL-6–induced activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, ERK, and PKB was decreased. We also observed that periductal fibrogenesis was significantly increased in LKO mice during liver regeneration after PHx, which was caused by increased hepatic apoptosis. Our results suggest that TAZ stimulates liver regeneration through IL-6–induced hepatocyte proliferation and inhibition of cell death after liver injury.—Kim, A. R., Park, J. I., Oh, H. T., Kim, K. M., Hwang, J.-H., Jeong, M. G., Kim, E.-H., Hwang, E. S., Hong, J.-H. TAZ stimulates liver regeneration through interleukin-6–induced hepatocyte proliferation and inhibition of cell death after liver injury. FASEB J. 33, 5914–5923 (2019). www.fasebj.org.