HNF4α in Hepatocyte Health and Disease

Abstract

Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) is a highly conserved member of the nuclear receptor superfamily expressed at high levels in the liver, kidney, pancreas, and gut. In the liver, HNF4α is exclusively expressed in hepatocytes, where it is indispensable for embryonic and postnatal liver development and for normal liver function in adults. It is considered a master regulator of hepatic differentiation because it regulates a significant number of genes involved in hepatocyte-specific functions. Loss of HNF4α expression and function is associated with the progression of chronic liver disease. Further, HNF4α is a target of chemical-induced liver injury. In this review, we discuss the role of HNF4α in liver pathophysiology and highlight its potential use as a therapeutic target for liver diseases.

Nuclear hormone receptor NHR-49 is an essential regulator of stress resilience and healthy aging in Caenorhabditis elegans

“…HNF4α is a conserved NHR found in many species ranging from sponges to D. melanogaster to vertebrates ( Sluder et al, 2002 ; Sladek, 2011 ; Taubert et al, 2011 ). Mammalian HNF4α regulates liver and pancreas development and function, and D. melanogaster HNF also controls lipid metabolism ( Palanker et al, 2009 ; Kotulkar et al, 2023 ).…”