Integrated transcriptomic and phenotypic analyses reveal spatiotemporal variation in neutrophil Cd14 expression after hepatectomy

Neutrophils are key mediators of both hepatic injury and repair. This study aimed to characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of Cd14 expression in neutrophils following hepatectomy and to explore its potential role in liver regeneration. We performed an integrated transcriptomic and phenotypic analysis of neutrophil Cd14 expression using bioinformatics and flow cytometry in immune cells isolated from murine livers after 70% partial hepatectomy. Cd14 ranked among the top 10 markers distinguishing activated liver neutrophils from quiescent or stimulated non-hepatic neutrophils. Both Cd14 mRNA and CD14 protein levels were significantly upregulated in hepatic neutrophils, peaking at 24 h after hepatectomy (p = 0.012). Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that Cd14 was associated with Toll-like receptor 4 and IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathways—both implicated in hepatocyte proliferation—suggesting that Cd14 serves as a marker of a pro-regenerative neutrophil phenotype and represents a potential therapeutic target to enhance liver regeneration following hepatectomy.