A precise equilibrium between cellular differentiation and proliferation is fundamental for tissue homeostasis. Maintaining this balance is particularly important for the liver, a highly differentiated organ with systemic metabolic functions that is endowed with unparalleled regenerative potential. Carcinogenesis in the liver develops as the result of hepatocellular de-differentiation and uncontrolled proliferation. Here, we identified SLU7, which encodes a pre-mRNA splicing regulator that is inhibited in hepatocarcinoma, as a pivotal gene for hepatocellular homeostasis. SLU7 knockdown in human liver cells and mouse liver resulted in profound changes in pre-mRNA splicing and gene expression, leading to impaired glucose and lipid metabolism, refractoriness to key metabolic hormones, and reversion to a fetal-like gene expression pattern. Additionally, loss of SLU7 also increased hepatocellular proliferation and induced a switch to a tumor-like glycolytic phenotype. Slu7 governed the splicing and/or expression of multiple genes essential for hepatocellular differentiation, including serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (Srsf3) and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (Hnf4α), and was critical for cAMP-regulated gene transcription. Together, out data indicate that SLU7 is central regulator of hepatocyte identity and quiescence.

es. We show that Del-1, via its interaction with the αvβ3 integrin, promotes several critical functions in the niche, including HSC retention, hematopoietic progenitor cell cycle progression, and myeloid lineage commitment of HSCs. Del-1 thereby regulates myelopoiesis under steady-state conditions and in G-CSF-or inflammation-induced stress myelopoiesis, as well as myelopoiesis reconstitution under regenerative/transplantation conditions. Del-1 is hence a niche component that serves a juxtacrine homeostatic adaptation of the hematopoietic system in inflammation-related and regeneration myelopoiesis. ResultsDel-1 expression in the BM. First, we sought to investigate whether Del-1 is present in the BM. We initially studied the expression of the Del-1-encoding gene Edil3 in the BM niche and hematopoietic cell populations. We found that Edil3 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the endosteal region as compared with the central BM (cBM) ( Figure 1A), suggesting that Del-1 is enriched at the endosteal area of the BM. Analysis of sorted cells from CXCL12-GFP mice (33, 34) demonstrated that Edil3 was highly expressed integrin receptors (29-31). It consists of three N-terminal EGF-like repeats and two C-terminal discoidin I-like domains, and hence also is designated EGF-like repeats and discoidin-I-like domains-3 (EDIL3) (32). We have previously identified Del-1 as an endogenous modulator of leukocyte adhesion through interaction with integrin αLβ2 (LFA-1; CD11a/CD18) (29, 31). Moreover, Del-1 interacts with β3 integrin (CD61) via an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif on the second EGF-like repeat (30).In the present work, we observed that Del-1 is expressed by several major cellular components of the HSC niche, though not by hematopoietic progenitors. In particular, Del-1 is expressed by those niche cells that have a major role in the maintenance of HSCs, i.e., arteriolar endothelial cells and perivascular CAR cells (3,6,7,9,15). In addition, Del-1 is expressed by cells of the osteoblastic lineage that crucially mediate the engraftment of HSCs in the post-transplantation niche (3,17,18). This spatial distribution of Del-1 raised the possibility that it might be involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis. We addressed this hypothesis using in vivo models of steady-state, regenerative, and stress hematopoiesis and in vitro mechanistic approach-

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) was recently found to play a critical role in memory consolidation in rats and mice, and hippocampal or systemic administration of recombinant IGF2 enhances memory. Here, using a gene therapy-based approach with adeno-associated virus (AAV), we show that IGF2 overexpression in the hippocampus of aged wild-type mice enhances memory and promotes dendritic spine formation. Furthermore, we report that IGF2 expression decreases in the hippocampus of patients with Alzheimer's disease, and this leads us to hypothesize that increased IGF2 levels may be beneficial for treating the disease. Thus, we used the AAV system to deliver IGF2 or IGF1 into the hippocampus of the APP mouse model Tg2576 and demonstrate that IGF2 and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) rescue behavioural deficits, promote dendritic spine formation and restore normal hippocampal excitatory synaptic transmission. The brains of Tg2576 mice that overexpress IGF2 but not IGF1 also show a significant reduction in amyloid levels. This reduction probably occurs through an interaction with the IGF2 receptor (IGF2R). Hence, IGF2 and, to a lesser extent, IGF1 may be effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

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Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) are effective gene delivery vehicles that can mediate long-lasting transgene expression. However, tight regulation and tissue-specific transgene expression is required for certain therapeutic applications. For regulatable expression from the liver we designed a hepatospecific bidirectional and autoregulatory tetracycline (Tet)-On system (Tet(bidir)Alb) flanked by AAV inverted terminal repeats (ITRs). We characterized the inducible hepatospecific system in comparison with an inducible ubiquitous expression system (Tet(bidir)CMV) using luciferase (luc). Although the ubiquitous system led to luc expression throughout the mouse, luc expression derived from the hepatospecific system was restricted to the liver. Interestingly, the induction rate of the Tet(bidir)Alb was significantly higher than that of Tet(bidir)CMV, whereas leakage of Tet(bidir)Alb was significantly lower. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of this vector, an AAV-Tet(bidir)-Alb-expressing interleukin-12 (IL-12) was tested in a murine model for hepatic colorectal metastasis. The vector induced dose-dependent levels of IL-12 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), showing no significant toxicity. AAV-Tet(bidir)-Alb-IL-12 was highly efficient in preventing establishment of metastasis in the liver and induced an efficient T-cell memory response to tumor cells. Thus, we have demonstrated persistent, and inducible in vivo expression of a gene from a liver-specific Tet-On inducible construct delivered via an AAV vector and proved to be an efficient tool for treating liver cancer.