Activation of the EGFR-PI3K-CaM pathway by PRL-1-overexpressing placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorates liver cirrhosis via ER stress-dependent calcium

Background: Cholesterol accumulation and calcium depletion induce hepatic injury via the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. ER stress regulates the calcium imbalance between the ER and mitochondria. We previously reported that phosphatase of regenerating liver-1 (PRL-1)-overexpressing placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PD-MSCs^PRL−1) promoted liver regeneration via mitochondrial dynamics in a cirrhotic rat model. However, the role of PRL-1 in ER stress-dependent calcium is not clear. Therefore, we demonstrated that PD-MSCs^PRL−1 improved hepatic functions by regulating ER stress and calcium channels in a rat model of bile duct ligation (BDL). Methods: Liver cirrhosis was induced in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats using surgically induced BDL for 10 days. PD-MSCs and PD-MSCs^PRL−1 (2 × 10⁶ cells) were intravenously administered to animals, and their therapeutic effects were analyzed. WB-F344 cells exposed to thapsigargin (TG) were cocultured with PD-MSCs or PD-MSCs^PRL−1. Results: ER stress markers, e.g., eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), were increased in the nontransplantation group (NTx) compared to the control group. PD-MSCs^PRL−1 significantly decreased ER stress markers compared to NTx and induced dynamic changes in calcium channel markers, e.g., sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ -ATPase 2b (SERCA2b), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU), and voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) (*p < 0.05). Cocultivation of TG-treated WB-F344 cells with PD-MSCs^PRL−1 decreased cytosolic calmodulin (CaM) expression and cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca²⁺ concentrations. However, the ER Ca²⁺ concentration was increased compared to PD-MSCs (*p < 0.05). PRL-1 activated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling via epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which resulted in calcium increase via CaM expression. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PD-MSCs^PRL−1 improved hepatic functions via calcium changes and attenuated ER stress in a BDL-injured rat model. Therefore, these results provide useful data for the development of next-generation MSC-based stem cell therapy for regenerative medicine in chronic liver disease.