Onecut1 partially contributes to liver progenitor cell transition and acquisition of metastatic potential in hepatocellular carcinoma

Metastasis-initiating cells are considered originating from stem cell-like cancer cells. In hepatocellular carcinoma, liver progenitor-like cells are reported to be derived from hepatocytes, indicating possible acquisition of metastatic potential during hepatocyte-to-cholangiocyte transdifferentiation. With a single cell RNA-seq study of hepatocyte-to-cholangiocyte transdifferentiation, we reveal that heptaocytes transit into liver progenitor cells and then differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells or cholangiocytes. In a hepatically differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, gradual expression of ONECUT1 represents liver progenitor cell transition, with low dose-dependent acquisition of metastatic potential, suggesting that tumor cells acquire metastatic potential in early stage of LPC transition. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.