Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
Semin Liver Dis. 2023 May;43(2):234-244. doi: 10.1055/a-2097-0660. Epub 2023 May 22.
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 α (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.
肝细胞核因子 4α(HNF4α)是核受体超家族的一个高度保守成员,在肝脏、肾脏、胰腺和肠道中高水平表达。在肝脏中,HNF4α仅在肝细胞中表达,对于胚胎期和出生后的肝脏发育以及成人正常的肝功能是必不可少的。它被认为是肝分化的主要调节因子,因为它调节许多与肝细胞特异性功能相关的基因。HNF4α 的表达和功能丧失与慢性肝病的进展有关。此外,HNF4α 是化学性肝损伤的靶标。在这篇综述中,我们讨论了 HNF4α 在肝脏病理生理学中的作用,并强调了其作为肝脏疾病治疗靶点的潜在用途。