Coordinated changes of mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant enzymes during osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Mitochondrial respiration regulates adipogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult multipotent stem cells which can be isolated from bone marrow, adipose tissue as well as other tissues and have the capacity to differentiate into a variety of mesenchymal cell types such as adipocytes, osteoblasts and chondrocytes. Differentiation of stem cells into mature cell types is guided by growth factors and hormones, but recent studies suggest that metabolic shifts occur during differentiation and can modulate the differentiation process. We therefore investigated mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial respiration and the mitochondrial membrane potential during adipogenic differentiation of human MSCs. In addition, we inhibited mitochondrial function to assess its effects on adipogenic differentiation. Our data show that mitochondrial biogenesis and oxygen consumption increase markedly during adipogenic differentiation, and that reducing mitochondrial respiration by hypoxia or by inhibition of the mitochondrial electron transport chain significantly suppresses adipogenic differentiation. Furthermore, we used a novel approach to suppress mitochondrial activity using a specific siRNA-based knockdown of the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which also resulted in an inhibition of adipogenic differentiation. Taken together, our data demonstrates that increased mitochondrial activity is a prerequisite for MSC differentiation into adipocytes. These findings suggest that metabolic modulation of adult stem cells can maintain stem cell pluripotency or direct adult stem cell differentiation.

Permeability transition pore-mediated mitochondrial superoxide flashes regulate cortical neural progenitor differentiation

In the process of neurogenesis, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) cease dividing and differentiate into postmitotic neurons that grow dendrites and an axon, become excitable, and establish synapses with other neurons. Mitochondrial biogenesis and aerobic metabolism provide energy substrates required to support the differentiation, growth and synaptic activity of neurons. Mitochondria may also serve signaling functions and, in this regard, it was recently reported that mitochondria can generate rapid bursts of superoxide (superoxide flashes), the frequency of which changes in response to environmental conditions and signals including oxygen levels and Ca²⁺ fluxes. Here we show that the frequency of mitochondrial superoxide flashes increases as embryonic cerebral cortical neurons differentiate from NPCs, and provide evidence that the superoxide flashes serve a signaling function that is critical for the differentiation process. The superoxide flashes are mediated by mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, and pharmacological inhibition of the mPTP suppresses neuronal differentiation. Moreover, superoxide flashes and neuronal differentiation are inhibited by scavenging of mitochondrial superoxide. Conversely, manipulations that increase superoxide flash frequency accelerate neuronal differentiation. Our findings reveal a regulatory role for mitochondrial superoxide flashes, mediated by mPTP opening, in neuronal differentiation.

Changing appetites: the adaptive advantages of fuel choice

Cells are capable of metabolizing a variety of carbon substrates, including glucose, fatty acids, ketone bodies, and amino acids. Cellular fuel choice not only fulfills specific biosynthetic needs, but also enables programmatic adaptations to stress conditions beyond compensating for changes in nutrient availability. Emerging evidence indicates that specific switches from utilization of one substrate to another can have protective or permissive roles in disease pathogenesis. Understanding the molecular determinants of cellular fuel preference may provide insights into the homeostatic control of stress responses, and unveil therapeutic targets. Here, we highlight overarching themes encompassing cellular fuel choice; its link to cell fate and function; its advantages in stress protection; and its contribution to metabolic dependencies and maladaptations in pathological conditions.

Altered oxygen metabolism associated to neurogenesis of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from a schizophrenic patient

Schizophrenia has been defined as a neurodevelopmental disease that causes changes in the process of thoughts, perceptions, and emotions, usually leading to a mental deterioration and affective blunting. Studies have shown altered cell respiration and oxidative stress response in schizophrenia; however, most of the knowledge has been acquired from postmortem brain analyses or from nonneural cells. Here we describe that neural cells, derived from induced pluripotent stem cells generated from skin fibroblasts of a schizophrenic patient, presented a twofold increase in extramitochondrial oxygen consumption as well as elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), when compared to controls. This difference in ROS levels was reverted by the mood stabilizer valproic acid. Our model shows evidence that metabolic changes occurring during neurogenesis are associated with schizophrenia, contributing to a better understanding of the development of the disease and highlighting potential targets for treatment and drug screening.

Stem cell metabolism in tissue development and aging

Recent advances in metabolomics and computational analysis have deepened our appreciation for the role of specific metabolic pathways in dictating cell fate. Once thought to be a mere consequence of the state of a cell, metabolism is now known to play a pivotal role in dictating whether a cell proliferates, differentiates or remains quiescent. Here, we review recent studies of metabolism in stem cells that have revealed a shift in the balance between glycolysis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress during the maturation of adult stem cells, and during the reprogramming of somatic cells to pluripotency. These insights promise to inform strategies for the directed differentiation of stem cells and to offer the potential for novel metabolic or pharmacological therapies to enhance regeneration and the treatment of degenerative disease.

Free iron catalyzes oxidative damage to hematopoietic cells/mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and suppresses hematopoiesis in iron overload patients

OBJECTIVES

Transfusional iron overload is of major concern in hematological disease. Iron-overload-related dyserythropoiesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related damage to hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function are major setbacks in treatment for such disorders. We therefore aim to investigate the effect of iron overload on hematopoiesis in the patients and explore the role of ROS in iron-induced oxidative damage in hematopoietic cells and microenvironment in vitro.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The hematopoietic colony-forming capacity and ROS level of bone marrow cells were tested before and after iron chelation therapy. In vitro, we first established an iron overload model of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) and umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC). ROS level, cell cycle, and apoptosis were measured by FACS. Function of cells was individually studied by Colony-forming cell (CFC) assay and co-culture system. Finally, ROS-related signaling pathway was also detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

After administering deferoxamine (DFO), reduced blood transfusion, increased neutrophil, increased platelet, and improved pancytopenia were observed in 76.9%, 46.2%, 26.9%, and 15.4% of the patients, respectively. Furthermore, the colony-forming capacity of BMMNC from iron overload patient was deficient, and ROS level was higher, which were partially recovered following iron chelation therapy. In vitro, exposure of BMMNC to ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) for 24 h decreased the ratio of CD34(+) cell from 0.91 ± 0.12% to 0.39 ± 0.07%. Excessive iron could also induce apoptosis, arrest cell cycle, and decrease function of BMMNC and UC-MSC, which was accompanied by increased ROS level and stimulated p38MAPK, p53 signaling pathway. More importantly, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) or DFO could partially attenuate cell injury and inhibit the signaling pathway induced by excessive iron.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that iron overload injures the hematopoiesis by damaging hematopoietic cell and hematopoietic microenvironment, which is mediated by ROS-related signaling proteins.

Metabolome and metaboproteome remodeling in nuclear reprogramming

Nuclear reprogramming resets differentiated tissue to generate induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. While genomic attributes underlying reacquisition of the embryonic-like state have been delineated, less is known regarding the metabolic dynamics underscoring induction of pluripotency. Metabolomic profiling of fibroblasts vs. iPS cells demonstrated nuclear reprogramming-associated induction of glycolysis, realized through augmented utilization of glucose and accumulation of lactate. Real-time assessment unmasked downregulated mitochondrial reserve capacity and ATP turnover correlating with pluripotent induction. Reduction in oxygen consumption and acceleration of extracellular acidification rates represent high-throughput markers of the transition from oxidative to glycolytic metabolism, characterizing stemness acquisition. The bioenergetic transition was supported by proteome remodeling, whereby 441 proteins were altered between fibroblasts and derived iPS cells. Systems analysis revealed overrepresented canonical pathways and interactome-associated biological processes predicting differential metabolic behavior in response to reprogramming stimuli, including upregulation of glycolysis, purine, arginine, proline, ribonucleoside and ribonucleotide metabolism, and biopolymer and macromolecular catabolism, with concomitant downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation, phosphate metabolism regulation, and precursor biosynthesis processes, prioritizing the impact of energy metabolism within the hierarchy of nuclear reprogramming. Thus, metabolome and metaboproteome remodeling is integral for induction of pluripotency, expanding on the genetic and epigenetic requirements for cell fate manipulation.

Degradation of IF1 controls energy metabolism during osteogenic differentiation of stem cells

Differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) requires the rewiring of energy metabolism. Herein, we demonstrate that the ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (IF1) is expressed in hMSCs and in prostate and colon stem cells but is not expressed in the differentiated cells. IF1 inhibits oxidative phosphorylation and regulates the activity of aerobic glycolysis in hMSCs. Silencing of IF1 in hMSCs mimics the metabolic changes observed in osteocytes and accelerates cellular differentiation. Activation of IF1 degradation acts as the switch that regulates energy metabolism during differentiation. We conclude that IF1 is a stemness marker important for maintaining the quiescence state.

Metabolic plasticity in stem cell homeostasis and differentiation

Plasticity in energy metabolism allows stem cells to match the divergent demands of self-renewal and lineage specification. Beyond a role in energetic support, new evidence implicates nutrient-responsive metabolites as mediators of crosstalk between metabolic flux, cellular signaling, and epigenetic regulation of cell fate. Stem cell metabolism also offers a potential target for controlling tissue homeostasis and regeneration in aging and disease. In this Perspective, we cover recent progress establishing an emerging relationship between stem cell metabolism and cell fate control.

Mitochondrial metabolism as a regulator of keratinocyte differentiation

Mitochondrial metabolism has traditionally been thought of as a source of cellular energy in the form of ATP. The recent renaissance in the study of cellular metabolism, particularly in the cancer field, has highlighted the fact that mitochondria are also critical biosynthetic and signaling hubs, making these organelles key governors of cellular outcomes.^1-5 Using the epidermis as a model system, our recent study looked into the role that mitochondrial metabolism and ROS production play in cellular differentiation in vivo.⁶ We showed that conditional deletion of the mitochondrial transcription factor, TFAM within the basal cells of the epidermis results in loss of mitochondrial ROS production and impairs epidermal differentiation and hair growth. We demonstrated that mitochondrial ROS generation is required for the propagation of Notch and β-catenin signals which promote epidermal differentiation and hair follicle development respectively. This study bolsters accumulating evidence that oxidative mitochondrial metabolism plays a causal role in cellular differentiation programs. It also provides insights into the role that mitochondrial oxidative signaling plays in a cell type-dependent manner.

Enhanced tissue production through redox control in stem cell-laden hydrogels

Cellular bioenergetics and redox (reduction-oxidation) play an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation, key aspects of building new tissues. In the present study, we examined the metabolic characteristics of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) during proliferation and differentiation in both monolayer and three-dimensional biomaterial scaffolds. In monolayer, hASCs exhibited higher glycolysis and lower ox-phos as compared to both adipogenic and osteogenic differentiated cells, and hASCs demonstrated the Warburg effect (aerobic glycolysis). However, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels increased during adipogenic differentiation, but decreased during osteogenic differentiation. Similarly, a decrease in ROS levels along with a higher mitochondrial membrane potential and viability was observed in hASCs encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels containing an adhesion peptide (RGD), compared to PEG hydrogels with a scrambled control peptide (GRD), demonstrating that adhesion-dependent signaling can also regulate ROS production and bioenergetics. As a result, we hypothesized that we could modulate osteogenesis in PEG hydrogels containing the adhesion peptide (RGD) by further reducing ROS levels using a small therapeutic molecule, L-carnitine, a metabolite with purported antioxidant effects. We observed reduced ROS levels, no effect on mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased osteogenic differentiation and tissue production in cells in the presence of L-carnitine. These results suggest the potential to manipulate tissue production by modulating cellular metabolism.

Environmental oxygen tension regulates the energy metabolism and self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells

Energy metabolism is intrinsic to cell viability but surprisingly has been little studied in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The current study aims to investigate the effect of environmental O2 tension on carbohydrate utilisation of hESCs. Highly pluripotent hESCs cultured at 5% O2 consumed significantly more glucose, less pyruvate and produced more lactate compared to those maintained at 20% O2. Moreover, hESCs cultured at atmospheric O2 levels expressed significantly less OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG than those maintained at 5% O2. To determine whether this difference in metabolism was a reflection of the pluripotent state, hESCs were cultured at 5% O2 in the absence of FGF2 for 16 hours leading to a significant reduction in the expression of SOX2. In addition, these cells consumed less glucose and produced significantly less lactate compared to those cultured in the presence of FGF2. hESCs maintained at 5% O2 were found to consume significantly less O2 than those cultured in the absence of FGF2, or at 20% O2. GLUT1 expression correlated with glucose consumption and using siRNA and chromatin immunoprecipitation was found to be directly regulated by hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-2α at 5% O2. In conclusion, highly pluripotent cells associated with hypoxic culture consume low levels of O2, high levels of glucose and produce large amounts of lactate, while at atmospheric conditions glucose consumption and lactate production are reduced and there is an increase in oxidative metabolism. These data suggest that environmental O2 regulates energy metabolism and is intrinsic to the self-renewal of hESCs.

Passage-dependent cancerous transformation of human mesenchymal stem cells under carcinogenic hypoxia

Bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) either promote or inhibit cancer progression, depending on factors that heretofore have been undefined. Here we have utilized extreme hypoxia (0.5% O2) and concurrent treatment with metal carcinogen (nickel) to evaluate the passage-dependent response of hMSCs toward cancerous transformation. Effects of hypoxia and nickel treatment on hMSC proliferation, apoptosis, gene and protein expression, replicative senescence, reactive oxygen species (ROS), redox mechanisms, and in vivo tumor growth were analyzed. The behavior of late passage hMSCs in a carcinogenic hypoxia environment follows a profile similar to that of transformed cancer cells (i.e., increased expression of oncogenic proteins, decreased expression of tumor suppressor protein, increased proliferation, decreased apoptosis, and aberrant redox mechanisms), but this effect was not observed in earlier passage control cells. These events resulted in accumulated intracellular ROS in vitro and excessive proliferation in vivo. We suggest a mechanism by which carcinogenic hypoxia modulates the activity of three critical transcription factors (c-MYC, p53, and HIF1), resulting in accumulated ROS and causing hMSCs to undergo cancer-like behavioral changes. This is the first study to utilize carcinogenic hypoxia as an environmentally relevant experimental model for studying the age-dependent cancerous transformation of hMSCs.

Physiological roles of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species

Historically, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) were thought to exclusively cause cellular damage and lack a physiological function. Accumulation of ROS and oxidative damage have been linked to multiple pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cancer, and premature aging. Thus, mROS were originally envisioned as a necessary evil of oxidative metabolism, a product of an imperfect system. Yet few biological systems possess such flagrant imperfections, thanks to the persistent optimization of evolution, and it appears that oxidative metabolism is no different. More and more evidence suggests that mROS are critical for healthy cell function. In this Review, we discuss this evidence following some background on the generation and regulation of mROS.

Nampt expression increases during osteogenic differentiation of multi- and omnipotent progenitors

Despite emerging data showing that metabolic changes occur with stem cell differentiation, the cross-talk between factors governing energy metabolism and epigenetic modification is not understood. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) participates in both energy metabolism and protein modification processes. Changes of the intracellular NAD concentration have been shown to correlate with differentiation of adult and embryonic stem cells. In the present study, we investigated the expression pattern of Nampt, the rate-limiting enzyme in NAD salvaging pathway, during osteogenic differentiation of the multipotent mouse fibroblast C3H10T1/2 and the omnipotent preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. We found that Nampt was increasingly expressed during differentiation in both cell models. The increase of Nampt was associated with higher NAD concentration and Sirt1 activity. Knockdown of Nampt or addition of its specific inhibitor FK866 leads to lower intracellular NAD concentration and decline in osteogenesis. These findings indicate that osteogenic differentiation correlates with intracellular NAD metabolism in which Nampt plays a regulatory role.

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species promote epidermal differentiation and hair follicle development

Proper regulation of keratinocyte differentiation within the epidermis and follicular epithelium is essential for maintenance of epidermal barrier function and hair growth. The signaling intermediates that regulate the morphological and genetic changes associated with epidermal and follicular differentiation remain poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by mitochondria are an important regulator of epidermal differentiation by generating mice with a keratinocyte-specific deficiency in mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which is required for the transcription of mitochondrial genes encoding electron transport chain subunits. Ablation of TFAM in keratinocytes impaired epidermal differentiation and hair follicle growth and resulted in death 2 weeks after birth. TFAM-deficient keratinocytes failed to generate mitochondria-derived ROS, a deficiency that prevented the transmission of Notch and β-catenin signals essential for epidermal differentiation and hair follicle development, respectively. In vitro keratinocyte differentiation was inhibited in the presence of antioxidants, and the decreased differentiation marker abundance in TFAM-deficient keratinocytes was partly rescued by application of exogenous hydrogen peroxide. These findings indicate that mitochondria-generated ROS are critical mediators of cellular differentiation and tissue morphogenesis.

Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to impairment of insulin sensitivity and adiponectin secretion in adipocytes

Adipocytes play an integrative role in the regulation of energy metabolism and glucose homeostasis in the human body. Functional defects in adipocytes may cause systemic disturbance of glucose homeostasis. Recent studies revealed mitochondrial abnormalities in the adipose tissue of patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, patients with mitochondrial diseases usually manifest systemic metabolic disorder. However, it is unclear how mitochondrial dysfunction in adipocytes affects the regulation of glucose homeostasis. In this study, we induced mitochondrial dysfunction and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by addition of respiratory inhibitors oligomycin A and antimycin A and by knockdown of mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA), respectively. We found an attenuation of the insulin response as indicated by lower glucose uptake and decreased phosphorylation of Akt upon insulin stimulation of adipocytes with mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, the expression of glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) and secretion of adiponectin were decreased in adipocytes with increased ROS generated by defective mitochondria. Moreover, the severity of insulin insensitivity was correlated with the extent of mitochondrial dysfunction. These results suggest that higher intracellular ROS levels elicited by mitochondrial dysfunction resulted in impairment of the function of adipocytes in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis through attenuation of insulin signaling, downregulation of Glut4 expression, and decrease in adiponectin secretion. Our findings substantiate the important role of mitochondria in the regulation of glucose homeostasis in adipocytes and also provide a molecular basis for the explanation of the manifestation of diabetes mellitus or insulin insensitivity in a portion of patients with mitochondrial diseases such as MELAS or MERRF syndrome.

Atad3 function is essential for early post-implantation development in the mouse

The mitochondrial AAA+-ATPase ATAD3 is implicated in the regulation of mitochondrial and ER dynamics and was shown to be necessary for larval development in Caenorhabditis elegans. In order to elucidate the relevance of ATAD3 for mammalian development, the phenotype of an Atad3 deficient mouse line was analyzed. Atad3 deficient embryos die around embryonic day E7.5 due to growth retardation and a defective development of the trophoblast lineage immediately after implantation into the uterus. This indicates an essential function of Atad3 for the progression of the first steps of post-implantation development at a time point when mitochondrial biogenesis and ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation are required. Therefore, murine Atad3 plays an important role in the biogenesis of mitochondria in trophoblast stem cells and in differentiating trophoblasts. At the biochemical level, we report here that ATAD3 is present in five native mitochondrial protein complexes of different sizes, indicating complex roles of the protein in mitochondrial architecture and function.

Analysis of mitochondrial function and localisation during human embryonic stem cell differentiation in vitro

Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) derivatives show promise as viable cell therapy options for multiple disorders in different tissues. Recent advances in stem cell biology have lead to the reliable production and detailed molecular characterisation of a range of cell-types. However, the role of mitochondria during differentiation has yet to be fully elucidated. Mitochondria mediate a cells response to altered energy requirements (e.g. cardiomyocyte contraction) and, as such, the mitochondrial phenotype is likely to change during the dynamic process of hESC differentiation. We demonstrate that manipulating mitochondrial biogenesis alters mesendoderm commitment. To investigate mitochondrial localisation during early lineage specification of hESCs we developed a mitochondrial reporter line, KMEL2, in which sequences encoding the green fluorescent protein (GFP) are targeted to the mitochondria. Differentiation of KMEL2 lines into the three germ layers showed that the mitochondria in these differentiated progeny are GFP positive. Therefore, KMEL2 hESCs facilitate the study of mitochondria in a range of cell types and, importantly, permit real-time analysis of mitochondria via the GFP tag.

Monitoring mitochondrial inner membrane potential for detecting early changes in viability of bacterium-infected human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Introduction

One of the most challenging safety issues in the manufacture of cell based medicinal products is the control of microbial risk as cell-based products cannot undergo terminal sterilization. Accordingly, sensitive and reliable methods for detection of microbial contamination are called for. As mitochondrial function has been shown to correlate with the viability and functionality of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) we have studied the use of a mitochondrial inner membrane potential sensitive dye for detecting changes in the function of mitochondria following infection by bacteria.

Methods

The effect of bacterial contamination on the viability of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) was studied. BMMSC lines were infected with three different bacterial species, namely two strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, three strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and three strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis. The changes in viability of the BMMSCs after bacterial infection were studied by staining with Trypan blue, by morphological analysis and by monitoring of the mitochondrial inner membrane potential.

Results

Microscopy and viability assessment by Trypan blue staining showed that even the lowest bacterial inocula caused total dissipation of BMMSCs within 24 hours of infection, similar to the effects seen with bacterial loads which were several magnitudes higher. The first significant signs of damage induced by the pathogens became evident after 6 hours of infection. Early changes in mitochondrial inner membrane potential of BMMSCs were evident after 4 hours of infection even though no visible changes in viability of the BMMSCs could be seen.

Conclusions

Even low levels of bacterial contamination can cause a significant change in the viability of BMMSCs. Moreover, monitoring the depolarization of the mitochondrial inner membrane potential may provide a rapid tool for early detection of cellular damage induced by microbial infection. Accordingly, mitochondrial analyses offer sensitive tools for quality control and monitoring of safety and efficacy of cellular therapy products.

A small molecule modulator of prion protein increases human mesenchymal stem cell lifespan, ex vivo expansion, and engraftment to bone marrow in NOD/SCID mice

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been shown to have potential in regenerative approaches in bone and blood. Most protocols rely on their in vitro expansion prior to clinical use. However, several groups including our own have shown that hMSCs lose proliferation and differentiation ability with serial passage in culture, limiting their clinical applications. Cellular prion protein (PrP) has been shown to enhance proliferation and promote self-renewal of hematopoietic, mammary gland, and neural stem cells. Here we show, for the first time, that expression of PrP decreased in hMSC following ex vivo expansion. When PrP expression was knocked down, hMSC showed significant reduction in proliferation and differentiation. In contrast, hMSC expanded in the presence of small molecule 3/689, a modulator of PrP expression, showed retention of PrP expression with ex vivo expansion and extended lifespan up to 10 population doublings. Moreover, cultures produced a 300-fold increase in the number of cells generated. These cells showed a 10-fold increase in engraftment levels in bone marrow 5 weeks post-transplant. hMSC treated with 3/689 showed enhanced protection from DNA damage and enhanced cell cycle progression, in line with data obtained by gene expression profiling. Moreover, upregulation of superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2) was also observed in hMSC expanded in the presence of 3/689. The increase in SOD2 was dependent on PrP expression and suggests increased scavenging of reactive oxygen species as mechanism of action. These data point to PrP as a good target for chemical intervention in stem cell regenerative medicine.

Evaluation of umbilical cord blood CD34 (+) hematopoietic stem cell expansion in co-culture with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the presence of TEPA

BACKGROUND

During the last three decades hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) have become a standard protocol for the treatment of many hematologic malignancies and non-malignant disorders. Umbilical cord blood (UCB), as a source of HSCs, has many advantages compared with other sources. One major drawback in using this source in treatment of adult patients is the low HSC dose available. Ex vivo expansion of HSCs is a solution to overcome this limitation. In this study we used TEPA, as a Cu chelator, and human bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to investigate expansion rate of UCB-HSCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CB-HSCs were isolated using miniMACS magnetic separation system. We cultured the enriched CD34(+)cells in various conditions: culture condition A, supplemented only with recombinant cytokines; culture condition B, supplemented with BM-MSCs as a cell feeder layer and recombinant cytokines; culture condition C, supplemented with recombinant cytokines and TEPA; culture condition D, supplemented with recombinant cytokines, BM-MSCs as a cell feeder layer and TEPA. In order to evaluate the HSC expansion, we performed cell count, analysis of CD34(+) expression by flow cytometry, and colony-forming cell assay on Day 10 after culture.

RESULTS

The most fold increase in CD34(+) cell, total cell, and total colony numbers was observed in culture condition D (110.11 ± 15.3, 118.5 ± 21, and 172.9 ± 44.7, respectively) compared to other conditions.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that co-culture of HSCs with BM-MSCs in the presence of copper chelating agent (TEPA) could dramatically increase expansion rate of UCB-HSCs. Therefore, this strategy could be useful for HSC expansion.

The Important Role of Osteoblasts and Citrate Production in Bone Formation: "Osteoblast Citration" as a New Concept for an Old Relationship

It has been known for about seventy years that bone, in all vertebrates, contains uniquely high citrate levels. However, the role of citrate, its source, its regulation, and its implication in normal bone formation and in bone disorders have remained largely unknown. For the past thirty-five years, the relationship of citrate in bone has been a neglected area of attention and research. It has recently been discovered that citrate is critical for the structure of the apatite nanocrystal, and is required to impart the important properties of bone such as its stability, strength, and resistance to fracture. This brings to focus the need for a renewed interest and research into the relationships of citrate in bone formation. A most fundamental question that must be resolved is "What is the source of citrate in bone?". This presentation provides a historical review of the early research to the present status of citrate implications in bone. This leads to a new concept of the role of osteoblasts as specialized citrate producing cells that provide the source of citrate in bone formation; i.e. the "osteoblast citration" process. This also brings into focus a new insight into the role of zinc in bone in relation to osteoblast citrate production. The genetic/hormonal/metabolic relationships of "net citrate production" are described. The intent of this presentation is to provide the background for a new perspective of the important implications of osteoblasts and citrate in bone formation; which, hopefully, will stimulate a renewed interest and essential research.

Is mitochondrial DNA content a potential biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction?

Mitochondrial dysfunction is central to numerous diseases of oxidative stress. Changes in mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA) content, often measured as mitochondrial genome to nuclear genome ratio (Mt/N) using real time quantitative PCR, have been reported in a broad range of human diseases, such as diabetes and its complications, obesity, cancer, HIV complications, and ageing. We propose the hypothesis that MtDNA content in body fluids and tissues could be a biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction and review the evidence supporting this theory. Increased reactive oxygen species resulting from an external trigger such as hyperglycaemia or increased fat in conditions of oxidative stress could lead to enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis, and increased Mt/N. Altered MtDNA levels may contribute to enhanced oxidative stress and inflammation and could play a pathogenic role in mitochondrial dysfunction and disease. Changes in Mt/N are detectable in circulating cells such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells and these could be used as surrogate to predict global changes in tissues and organs. We review a large number of studies reporting changes in MtDNA levels in body fluids such as circulating blood cells, cell free serum, saliva, sperm, and cerebrospinal fluid as well as in tumour and normal tissue samples. However, the data are often conflicting as the current methodology used to measure Mt/N can give false results because of one or more of the following reasons (1) use of mitochondrial primers which co-amplify nuclear pseudogenes (2) use of nuclear genes which are variable and/or duplicated in numerous locations (3) a dilution bias caused by the differing genome sizes of the mitochondrial and nuclear genome and (4) template preparation protocols which affect the yields of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Development of robust and reproducible methodology is needed to test the hypothesis that MtDNA content in body fluids is biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction.

Hydrogen peroxide-induced poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation regulates osteogenic differentiation-associated cell death

We set out to investigate the role of poly(ADP-ribosylation), the attachment of NAD(+)-derived (ADP-ribose)(n) polymers to proteins, in the regulation of osteogenic differentiation of SAOS-2 cells and mesenchymal stem cells. In osteogenic differentiation medium, SAOS-2 cells showed mineralization and expressed alkaline phosphatase and osteoblastic marker genes such as Runx2, osterix, BMP2, and osteopontin. The cells also released hydrogen peroxide, displayed poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activation, and showed commitment to cell death (apoptosis and necrosis). Scavenging reactive oxygen species by glutathione or decomposing hydrogen peroxide by the addition of catalase reduced differentiation, PARP activation, and cell death. We silenced the expression of the main PAR-synthesizing enzyme PARP-1 and the PAR-degrading enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) in SAOS-2 osteosarcoma cells (shPARP-1 and shPARG, respectively). Both shPARP-1- and shPARG-silenced cells exhibited altered differentiation, with the most notable change being increased osteopontin expression but decreased alkaline phosphatase activity. PARP-1 silencing suppressed both apoptotic and necrotic cell death, but the PARP inhibitor PJ34 sensitized cells to cell death, indicating that the effects of PARP-1 silencing are not related to the activity of the enzyme. PARG silencing resulted in more apoptosis and, in the last days of differentiation, a shift from apoptosis toward necrosis. In conclusion our data prove that hydrogen peroxide-induced poly(ADP-ribose) signaling regulates cell death and osteodifferentiation.

Continuous and uninterrupted oxygen tension influences the colony formation and oxidative metabolism of human mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive cell source for tissue engineering applications due to their multipotentiality and increased expansion potential compared to mature cells. However, the full potential of MSCs for cellular therapies is not realised, due, in part, to premature proliferative senescence and impaired differentiation capacity following expansion under 20% oxygen. Bone marrow MSCs reside under reduced oxygen levels (4%-7% oxygen), thus this study investigates the effects of uninterrupted physiological oxygen tensions (2%, 5%) on MSC expansion and subsequent differentiation. Expansion potential was evaluated from colony formation efficiency, population-doubling rates, and cellular senescence. Colony formation was significantly reduced under 5% oxygen compared to 2% and 20% oxygen. Population-doubling time was initially shorter with 20% oxygen, but subsequently no significant differences in doubling time were detected between the oxygen conditions. MSCs expanded with 20% oxygen contained a greater proportion of senescent cells than those under physiological oxygen levels, indicated by a three to fourfold increase in β-galactosidase staining. This may be related to the approximately twofold enhanced mitochondrial oxygen consumption under this culture condition. Chondrogenic differentiation was achieved following expansion at each oxygen condition. However, osteogenesis was only achieved for cells expanded and differentiated at 20% oxygen, indicated by alkaline phosphatase activity and alizarin red staining. These studies demonstrate that uninterrupted hypoxia may enhance long-term MSC expansion, but results in a population with impaired osteogenic differentiation potential. Thus, novel differentiation conditions are required to enable differentiation to nonchondrogenic lineages using hypoxia-cultured MSCs.

Death receptors and mitochondria: two prime triggers of neural apoptosis and differentiation

BACKGROUND

Stem cell therapy is a strategy far from being satisfactory and applied in the clinic. Poor survival and differentiation levels of stem cells after transplantation or neural injury have been major problems. Recently, it has been recognized that cell death-relevant proteins, notably those that operate in the core of the executioner apoptosis machinery are functionally involved in differentiation of a wide range of cell types, including neural cells.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

This article will review recent studies on the mechanisms underlying the non-apoptotic function of mitochondrial and death receptor signaling pathways during neural differentiation. In addition, we will discuss how these major apoptosis-regulatory pathways control the decision between differentiation, self-renewal and cell death in neural stem cells and how levels of activity are restrained to prevent cell loss as final outcome.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Emerging evidence suggests that, much like p53, caspases and Bcl-2 family members, the two prime triggers of cell death pathways, death receptors and mitochondria, may influence proliferation and differentiation potential of stem cells, neuronal plasticity, and astrocytic versus neuronal stem cell fate decision.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying key checkpoints responsible for neural differentiation as an alternative to cell death will surely contribute to improve neuro-replacement strategies.

The role of DNA repair in the pluripotency and differentiation of human stem cells

All living cells utilize intricate DNA repair mechanisms to address numerous types of DNA lesions and to preserve genomic integrity, and pluripotent stem cells have specific needs due to their remarkable ability of self-renewal and differentiation into different functional cell types. Not surprisingly, human stem cells possess a highly efficient DNA repair network that becomes less efficient upon differentiation. Moreover, these cells also have an anaerobic metabolism, which reduces the mitochondria number and the likelihood of oxidative stress, which is highly related to genomic instability. If DNA lesions are not repaired, human stem cells easily undergo senescence, cell death or differentiation, as part of their DNA damage response, avoiding the propagation of stem cells carrying mutations and genomic alterations. Interestingly, cancer stem cells and typical stem cells share not only the differentiation potential but also their capacity to respond to DNA damage, with important implications for cancer therapy using genotoxic agents. On the other hand, the preservation of the adult stem cell pool, and the ability of cells to deal with DNA damage, is essential for normal development, reducing processes of neurodegeneration and premature aging, as one can observe on clinical phenotypes of many human genetic diseases with defects in DNA repair processes. Finally, several recent findings suggest that DNA repair also plays a fundamental role in maintaining the pluripotency and differentiation potential of embryonic stem cells, as well as that of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. DNA repair processes also seem to be necessary for the reprogramming of human cells when iPS cells are produced. Thus, the understanding of how cultured pluripotent stem cells ensure the genetic stability are highly relevant for their safe therapeutic application, at the same time that cellular therapy is a hope for DNA repair deficient patients.

High mitochondrial DNA copy number and bioenergetic function are associated with tumor invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

We previously reported a gradual increase of relative mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number during the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Because mitochondria are the intracellular organelles responsible for ATP production, we investigated the associations among mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial bioenergetic function, tumor invasion and the expression levels of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in a series of seven ESCC cell lines, including 48T, 81T, 146T, TE1, TE2, TE6 and TE9. Among them, TE1 had the highest relative mtDNA copy number of 240.7%. The mRNA of mtDNA-encoded ND1 gene (2.80), succinate-supported oxygen consumption rate (11.21 nmol/min/10(6) cells), ATP content (10.7 fmol/cell), and the protein level of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) were the highest and the lactate concentration in the culture medium (3.34 mM) was the lowest in TE1. These findings indicate that TE1 exhibited the highest bioenergetic function of mitochondria. Furthermore, TE1 showed the highest trans-well migration activity of 223.0 cells/field, the highest vimentin but the lowest E-cadherin protein expression levels, which suggest that TE1 had the highest invasion capability. We then conducted a knockdown study using pLKO.1-based lentiviral particles to infect TE1 cells to suppress the expression of TFAM. Molecular analyses of the parental TE1, control TE1-NT and TFAM knockdown TE1-sh-TFAM(97) cells were performed. Interestingly, as compared to the control TE1-NT, TE1-sh-TFAM(97) exhibited lower levels of the relative mtDNA copy number (p = 0.001), mRNA of mtDNA-encoded ND1 gene (p = 0.050), succinate-supported oxygen consumption rate (p = 0.065), and ATP content (p = 0.007), but had a higher lactate concentration in the culture medium (p = 0.010) and higher protein level of lactate dehydrogenase. A decline in mitochondrial bioenergetic function was observed in TE1-sh-TFAM(97). Significantly, compared to the control TE1-NT, TE1-sh-TFAM(97) had a lower trans-well migration activity (p < 0.001), a higher E-cadherin level but a lower vimentin protein level, which indicates a decrease of invasiveness. Taken together, we suggest that high relative mtDNA copy number and bioenergetic function of mitochondria may confer an advantage for tumor invasion of ESCC.

Biochemistry and biology: heart-to-heart to investigate cardiac progenitor cells

BACKGROUND

Cardiac regenerative medicine is a rapidly evolving field, with promising future developments for effective personalized treatments. Several stem/progenitor cells are candidates for cardiac cell therapy, and emerging evidence suggests how multiple metabolic and biochemical pathways strictly regulate their fate and renewal.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

In this review, we will explore a selection of areas of common interest for biology and biochemistry concerning stem/progenitor cells, and in particular cardiac progenitor cells. Numerous regulatory mechanisms have been identified that link stem cell signaling and functions to the modulation of metabolic pathways, and vice versa. Pharmacological treatments and culture requirements may be exploited to modulate stem cell pluripotency and self-renewal, possibly boosting their regenerative potential for cell therapy.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Mitochondria and their many related metabolites and messengers, such as oxygen, ROS, calcium and glucose, have a crucial role in regulating stem cell fate and the balance of their functions, together with many metabolic enzymes. Furthermore, protein biochemistry and proteomics can provide precious clues on the definition of different progenitor cell populations, their physiology and their autocrine/paracrine regulatory/signaling networks.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Interdisciplinary approaches between biology and biochemistry can provide productive insights on stem/progenitor cells, allowing the development of novel strategies and protocols for effective cardiac cell therapy clinical translation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Biochemistry of Stem Cells.

Effects of intravascular laser irradiation of blood in mitochondria dysfunction and oxidative stress in adults with chronic spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the clinical effects of intravascular laser irradiation of blood (ILIB) therapy on oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in subjects with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) resulting from trauma.

BACKGROUND DATA

Little is known about how ILIB may generate antioxidant defenses in humans, and there is still a lack of randomized, sham-control studies to indicate its influence on different metabolic pathways.

METHODS

Twenty-four chronic SCI subjects (assigned to a sham and a study group), and 12 normal subjects were recruited. The study group underwent 1 h daily of ILIB for 15 days over 3 weeks. The sham group underwent ILIB with no laser power.

RESULTS

Baseline measurements established higher oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in the SCI subjects than in the normal subjects. At day 15 of therapy, the study group revealed a significantly higher mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, white blood cell adenosine triphosphate (WBC ATP) synthesis, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) with significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), than did the sham group. The study group intragroup comparison revealed significantly increased mtDNA copy numbers, WBC ATP synthesis, and TAC, with significantly reduced MDA, compared with its baseline measurements. The sham group intragroup comparisons demonstrated no statistical differences. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the study group was significantly reduced at days 10 and 15, with significantly higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) at day 45.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study results contribute to the knowledge about the effectiveness of ILIB in alleviating oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in chronic SCI patients.

An active mitochondrial biogenesis occurs during dendritic cell differentiation

Dendritic cells (DC) are sentinels of the immune system deriving from circulating monocyte precursors recruited to sites of inflammation. In a previous report (Del Prete et al., 2008) we showed that, after differentiation, DC exhibited increased number of condensed mitochondria and dynamic changes in their energy metabolism. A study is presented here showing that the DC differentiation process is characterized by increased expression level and activity of mitochondrial respiratory complexes, as well as by an increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number. Moreover, DC are equipped with more efficient antioxidant protection systems, over expressed most likely to detoxify increased ROS production, as a consequence of the much higher mitochondrial activity. Kinetic analysis of the three main mitochondrial biogenesis-associated genes revealed that the peak in PPARγ coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α) gene expression was suddenly reached few hours after the onset of the differentiation. While PGC-1α expression rapidly declines, the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) expression gradually increased. These findings demonstrate that an active mitochondrial biogenesis occurs during DC differentiation and further suggest that an early input by the master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis PGC-1α is needed to trigger the subsequent activation of the downstream transcription factors, NRF-1 and TFAM in this process.

Leukocyte mitochondrial DNA alteration in systemic lupus erythematosus and its relevance to the susceptibility to lupus nephritis

The role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations in the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unclear. We investigated sequence variations in the D310 region and copy number change of mtDNA in 85 SLE patients and 45 normal subjects. Leukocyte DNA and RNA were extracted from leukocytes of the peripheral venous blood. The D310 sequence variations and copy number of mtDNA, and mRNA expression levels of mtDNA-encoded genes in leukocytes were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) and PCR-based direct sequencing, respectively. We found that leukocyte mtDNA in SLE patients exhibited higher frequency of D310 heteroplasmy (69.4% vs. 48.9%, p = 0.022) and more D310 variants (2.2 vs. 1.7, p = 0.014) than those found in controls. Among normal controls and patients with low, medium or high SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), an ever-increasing frequency of D310 heteroplasmy was observed (p = 0.021). Leukocyte mtDNA copy number tended to be low in patients of high SLEDAI group (p = 0.068), especially in those harboring mtDNA with D310 heteroplasmy (p = 0.020). Moreover, the mtDNA copy number was positively correlated with the mRNA level of mtDNA-encoded ND1 (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1) (p = 0.041) and ATPase 6 (ATP synthase subunit 6) (p = 0.030) genes. Patients with more D310 variants were more susceptible to lupus nephritis (p = 0.035). Taken together, our findings suggest that decrease in the mtDNA copy number and increase in D310 heteroplasmy of mtDNA are related to the development and progression of SLE, and that the patients harboring more D310 variants of mtDNA are more susceptible to lupus nephritis.

Vascular smooth muscle cells initiate proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells by mitochondrial transfer via tunneling nanotubes

Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising candidates for regenerative cell-based therapy. The mechanisms underlying MSC differentiation and other functions relevant to therapeutic avenues remain however a matter of debate. Recent reports imply a critical role for intercellular contacts in MSC differentiation. We studied MSC differentiation to vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in a coculture model using human primary MSCs and VSMCs. We observed that under these conditions, MSCs did not undergo the expected differentiation process. Instead, they revealed an increased proliferation rate. The upregulated MSC proliferation was initiated by direct contacts of MSCs with VSMCs; indirect coculture of both cell types in transwells was ineffective. Intercellular contacts affected cell growth in a unidirectional fashion, since VSMC proliferation was not changed. We observed formation of so-called tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) between MSCs and VSMCs that revealed an intercellular exchange of a fluorescent cell tracker dye. Disruption of TNTs using cytochalasin D or latrunculin B abolished increased proliferation of MSCs initiated by contacts with VSMCs. Using specific fluorescent markers, we identified exchange of mitochondria via TNTs. By generation of VSMCs with mitochondrial dysfunction, we show that mitochondrial transfer from VSMCs to MSCs was required to regulate MSC proliferation in coculture. Our data suggest that MSC interaction with other cell types does not necessarily result in the differentiation process, but rather may initiate a proliferative response. They further point to complex machinery of intercellular communications at the place of vascular injury and to an unrecognized role of mitochondria in these processes.

Induction of muscle regeneration by RNA-mediated mitochondrial restoration

Skeletal muscle injury is associated with general down-regulation of mitochondrial function. Postinjury regeneration of skeletal muscle occurs through activation, proliferation, and differentiation of resident stem cells, including satellite cells and endothelial precursor cells. We wanted to determine the role of mitochondrial function in the regeneration process. Using a previously described method for complex-mediated delivery to intracellular mitochondria, a combination of polycistronic RNAs encoding the H strand of the rat mitochondrial genome was administered to injured rat quadriceps muscle, resulting in restoration of mitochondrial mRNA levels, organellar translation, and respiratory capacity. Intramuscular ATP levels were elevated on pcRNA treatment of injured muscle; concomitantly, levels of reactive oxygen species in the injured muscle were reduced. These effects combined to produce a notable increase in the rate of wound resolution, accompanied by reduction of fibrosis and acceleration of myogenesis, vasculogenesis, and resumption of muscle contractile function. There was evidence of proliferation of Pax7+ satellite cells, expression of muscle-specific regulatory factors in a specific time sequence, and formation of new myofibers in the regenerating muscle. RNA-induced wound resolution and satellite cell proliferation were sensitive to mitochondrial inhibitors, indicating the importance of oxidative phosphorylation. These results highlight the activation of endogenous stem cells through mitochondrial restoration as a possible alternative to implantation of cultured stem cells.

Energy metabolism plasticity enables stemness programs

Engineering pluripotency through nuclear reprogramming and directing stem cells into defined lineages underscores cell fate plasticity. Acquisition of and departure from stemness are governed by genetic and epigenetic controllers, with modulation of energy metabolism and associated signaling increasingly implicated in cell identity determination. Transition from oxidative metabolism, typical of somatic tissues, into glycolysis is a prerequisite to fuel-proficient reprogramming, directing a differentiated cytotype back to the pluripotent state. The glycolytic metabotype supports the anabolic and catabolic requirements of pluripotent cell homeostasis. Conversely, redirection of pluripotency into defined lineages requires mitochondrial biogenesis and maturation of efficient oxidative energy generation and distribution networks to match demands. The vital function of bioenergetics in regulating stemness and lineage specification implicates a broader role for metabolic reprogramming in cell fate decisions and determinations of tissue regenerative potential.

Hepatocyte-like cells differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells: relevance to cellular therapies

Maturation of induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) has been proposed to address the shortage of human hepatocytes for therapeutic applications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate hiPSCs, HLCs and hepatocytes, all of human origin, in terms of performance metrics of relevance to cell therapies. hiPSCs were differentiated to HLCs in vitro using an established four-stage approach. We observed that hiPSCs had low oxygen consumption and possessed small, immature mitochondria located around the nucleus. With maturation to HLCs, mitochondria showed characteristic changes in morphology, ultrastructure, and gene expression. These changes in mitochondria included elongated morphology, swollen cristae, dense matrices, cytoplasmic migration, increased expression of mitochondrial DNA transcription and replication-related genes, and increased oxygen consumption. Following differentiation, HLCs expressed characteristic hepatocyte proteins including albumin and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha, and intrinsic functions including cytochrome P450 metabolism. But HLCs also expressed high levels of alpha fetoprotein, suggesting a persistent immature phenotype or inability to turn off early stage genes. Furthermore, the levels of albumin production, urea production, cytochrome P450 activity, and mitochondrial function of HLCs were significantly lower than primary human hepatocytes.

CONCLUSION

- hiPSCs offer an unlimited source of human HLCs. However, reduced functionality of HLCs compared to primary human hepatocytes limits their usefulness in clinical practice. Novel techniques are needed to complete differentiation of hiPSCs to mature hepatocytes.

A persistent level of Cisd2 extends healthy lifespan and delays aging in mice

The CISD2 gene, which is an evolutionarily conserved novel gene, encodes a transmembrane protein primarily associated with the mitochondrial outer membrane. Significantly, the CISD2 gene is located within the candidate region on chromosome 4q where a genetic component for human longevity has been mapped. Previously, we have shown that Cisd2 deficiency shortens lifespan resulting in premature aging in mice. Additionally, an age-dependent decrease in Cisd2 expression has been detected during normal aging. In this study, we demonstrate that a persistent level of Cisd2 achieved by transgenic expression in mice extends their median and maximum lifespan without any apparent deleterious side effects. Cisd2 also ameliorates age-associated degeneration of the skin, skeletal muscles and neurons. Moreover, Cisd2 protects mitochondria from age-associated damage and functional decline as well as attenuating the age-associated reduction in whole-body energy metabolism. These results suggest that Cisd2 is a fundamentally important regulator of lifespan and provide an experimental basis for exploring the candidacy of CISD2 in human longevity.

Characterization of metabolic changes associated with the functional development of 3D engineered tissues by non-invasive, dynamic measurement of individual cell redox ratios

Non-invasive approaches to assess tissue function could improve significantly current methods to diagnose diseases and optimize engineered tissues. In this study, we describe a two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy approach that relies entirely on endogenous fluorophores to dynamically quantify functional metabolic readouts from individual cells within three-dimensional engineered tissues undergoing adipogenic differentiation over six months. Specifically, we employ an automated approach to analyze 3D image volumes and extract a redox ratio of metabolic cofactors. We identify a decrease in redox ratio over the first two months of culture that is associated with stem cell differentiation and lipogenesis. In addition, we demonstrate that the presence of endothelial cells facilitate greater cell numbers deeper within the engineered tissues. Since traditional assessments of engineered tissue structure and function are destructive and logistically intensive, this non-destructive, label-free approach offers a potentially powerful high-content characterization tool for optimizing tissue engineering protocols and assessing engineered tissue implants.

Crosstalk between mitochondrial (dys)function and mitochondrial abundance

A controlled regulation of mitochondrial mass through either the production (biogenesis) or the degradation (mitochondrial quality control) of the organelle represents a crucial step for proper mitochondrial and cell function. Key steps of mitochondrial biogenesis and quality control are overviewed, with an emphasis on the role of mitochondrial chaperones and proteases that keep mitochondria fully functional, provided the mitochondrial activity impairment is not excessive. In this case, the whole organelle is degraded by mitochondrial autophagy or "mitophagy." Beside the maintenance of adequate mitochondrial abundance and functions for cell homeostasis, mitochondrial biogenesis might be enhanced, through discussed signaling pathways, in response to various physiological stimuli, like contractile activity, exposure to low temperatures, caloric restriction, and stem cells differentiation. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction might also initiate a retrograde response, enabling cell adaptation through increased mitochondrial biogenesis.

OXPHOS supercomplexes as a hallmark of the mitochondrial phenotype of adipogenic differentiated human MSCs

Mitochondria are essential organelles with multiple functions, especially in energy metabolism. Recently, an increasing number of data has highlighted the role of mitochondria for cellular differentiation processes. Metabolic differences between stem cells and mature derivatives require an adaptation of mitochondrial function during differentiation. In this study we investigated alterations of the mitochondrial phenotype of human mesenchymal stem cells undergoing adipogenic differentiation. Maturation of adipocytes is accompanied by mitochondrial biogenesis and an increase of oxidative metabolism. Adaptation of the mt phenotype during differentiation is reflected by changes in the distribution of the mitochondrial network as well as marked alterations of gene expression and organization of the oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS). Distinct differences in the supramolecular organization forms of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) were detected using 2D blue native (BN)-PAGE analysis. Most remarkably we observed a significant increase in the abundance of OXPHOS supercomplexes in mitochondria, emphasizing the change of the mitochondrial phenotype during adipogenic differentiation.

Energy metabolism in nuclear reprogramming

Nuclear reprogramming with stemness factors enables resetting of somatic differentiated tissue back to the pluripotent ground state. Recent evidence implicates mitochondrial restructuring and bioenergetic plasticity as key components underlying execution of orchestrated dedifferentiation and derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells. Aerobic to anaerobic transition of somatic oxidative energy metabolism into a glycolytic metabotype promotes proficient reprogramming, establishing a novel regulator of acquired stemness. Metabolomic profiling has further identified specific metabolic remodeling traits defining lineage redifferentiation of pluripotent cells. Therefore, mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism comprise a vital axis for biomarker discovery, intimately reflecting the molecular dynamics fundamental for the resetting and redirection of cell fate.