Fibroblast growth factor 10 attenuates advanced liver fibrosis through hepatocyte fibroblast growth factor receptor 2...

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and advanced fibrotic stages are significant contributors to cirrhosis and liver-related mortality, yet no therapies directly target fibrosis in the later stages of the disease. Fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) facilitates epithelial repair, yet its function and epithelial receptor requirements in chronic liver fibrogenesis are unclear.

We quantified hepatic FGF10 and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) expression across fibrosis stages in biopsies from patients with MASLD and mouse models. We then augmented hepatic FGF10 using adeno-associated virus-mediated liver expression or subcutaneous recombinant human FGF10 in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) and high-fat diet plus CCl₄-induced advanced fibrosis. Histology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, RNA sequencing and primary hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) assays were used to assess the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms.

Hepatic FGF10 and FGFR2 protein expression were significantly reduced at advanced disease stages. Restoring FGF10 led to regression-associated remodelling of established bridging fibrosis, a decrease in inflammatory cytokines and a reduction in hepatocyte apoptosis, even with continued CCl₄ exposure, indicating histologic regression rather than slowed progression. These therapeutic effects required hepatocyte FGFR2, as hepatocyte-specific FGFR2 deletion abolished protection and the associated transcriptional reprogramming of matrix and cytokine networks. In primary hepatocytes, FGF10 activated FGFR2-FGFR substrate 2α (‌FRS2α) signalling, increased inhibitory phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β at Ser9 and suppressed nuclear factor kappa B, thereby lowering transforming growth factor β1 and other cytokines and indirectly limiting HSC activation. The efficacy extended to a high-fat diet plus CCl₄ model of steatohepatitis.

These findings elucidate a hepatocyte-centric FGF10-FGFR2 axis functioning as an epithelial regulator of inflammation and fibrogenesis. Hepatocyte-targeted reinforcement of FGFR2 signalling, alone or combined with metabolic therapies, represents a translational strategy to reprogram the fibrotic niche and facilitate fibrosis regression-associated architectural remodelling in advanced liver fibrosis.

Hepatic FGF10 and FGFR2 decline consistently with fibrosis stage in patient liver biopsies and complementary mouse models. Restoring FGF10 through AAV-Fgf10 or recombinant FGF10 reduces hepatocyte apoptosis, inflammation and extracellular matrix deposition. Hepatocyte FGFR2 is required for FGF10-mediated antifibrotic effects and drives transcriptional reprogramming that limits fibrogenesis.