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Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Cardiomyocytes have limited regenerative capacity; consequently, regenerative therapies are in high demand. There are currently several potential strategies for heart regeneration, with one approach involving in situ generation of new cardiomyocytes from endogenous cell sources. Direct cardiac reprogramming has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach to regenerating the damaged heart by directly converting endogenous cardiac fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells. Following our first report of direct cardiac reprogramming, significant advances have elucidated the molecular mechanisms associated with cardiac reprogramming. These advances have also improved cardiac-reprogramming efficiency by enabling direct in vivo cardiac reprogramming. Moreover, progress has been made in cardiac reprogramming of human fibroblasts. Although basic research has supported substantial progress in this field, numerous challenges remain in terms of clinical application. Here, we review the current state of cardiac reprogramming as a new technology for understanding and treating cardiovascular diseases.
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Sadahiro T. Direct Cardiac Reprogramming ― Converting Cardiac Fibroblasts to Cardiomyocytes ―. Circ Rep 2019; 1:564-567. [PMID: 33693102 PMCID: PMC7897695 DOI: 10.1253/circrep.cr-19-0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Despite advances in cardiovascular therapy, mortality in heart disease still remains high. Direct cardiac reprogramming is a promising approach for cardiac tissue repair involving in situ generation of new cardiomyocytes from endogenous cardiac fibroblasts. Although, initially, the reprogramming efficiency was low, several developments in reprogramming methods have improved the in vitro cardiac reprogramming efficiency. Subsequently, in vivo cardiac reprogramming has demonstrated improvement in cardiac function and fibrosis after myocardial infarction. Here, we review recent progress in cardiac reprogramming as a new technology for cardiac regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taketaro Sadahiro
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba
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53
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Barreto S, Hamel L, Schiatti T, Yang Y, George V. Cardiac Progenitor Cells from Stem Cells: Learning from Genetics and Biomaterials. Cells 2019; 8:E1536. [PMID: 31795206 PMCID: PMC6952950 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac Progenitor Cells (CPCs) show great potential as a cell resource for restoring cardiac function in patients affected by heart disease or heart failure. CPCs are proliferative and committed to cardiac fate, capable of generating cells of all the cardiac lineages. These cells offer a significant shift in paradigm over the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes owing to the latter's inability to recapitulate mature features of a native myocardium, limiting their translational applications. The iPSCs and direct reprogramming of somatic cells have been attempted to produce CPCs and, in this process, a variety of chemical and/or genetic factors have been evaluated for their ability to generate, expand, and maintain CPCs in vitro. However, the precise stoichiometry and spatiotemporal activity of these factors and the genetic interplay during embryonic CPC development remain challenging to reproduce in culture, in terms of efficiency, numbers, and translational potential. Recent advances in biomaterials to mimic the native cardiac microenvironment have shown promise to influence CPC regenerative functions, while being capable of integrating with host tissue. This review highlights recent developments and limitations in the generation and use of CPCs from stem cells, and the trends that influence the direction of research to promote better application of CPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Barreto
- Guy Hilton Research Centre, School of Pharmacy & Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK; (S.B.); (T.S.); (Y.Y.)
| | | | - Teresa Schiatti
- Guy Hilton Research Centre, School of Pharmacy & Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK; (S.B.); (T.S.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Ying Yang
- Guy Hilton Research Centre, School of Pharmacy & Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK; (S.B.); (T.S.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Vinoj George
- Guy Hilton Research Centre, School of Pharmacy & Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK; (S.B.); (T.S.); (Y.Y.)
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54
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Zhang Z, Zhang W, Nam YJ. Stoichiometric optimization of Gata4, Hand2, Mef2c, and Tbx5 expression for contractile cardiomyocyte reprogramming. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14970. [PMID: 31628386 PMCID: PMC6800441 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51536-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of fibroblasts to induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) offers potential strategies for new cardiomyocyte generation. However, a major challenge of this approach remains its low efficiency for contractile iCMs. Here, we showed that controlled stoichiometric expression of Gata4 (G), Hand2 (H), Mef2c (M), and Tbx5 (T) significantly enhanced contractile cardiomyocyte reprogramming over previously defined stoichiometric expression of GMT or uncontrolled expression of GHMT. We generated quad-cistronic vectors expressing distinct relative protein levels of GHMT within the context of a previously defined splicing order of M-G-T with high Mef2c level. Transduction of the quad-cistronic vector with a splicing order of M-G-T-H (referred to as M-G-T-H) inducing relatively low Hand2 and high Mef2c protein levels not only increased sarcomeric protein induction, but also markedly promoted the development of contractile structures and functions in fibroblasts. The expressed Gata4 and Tbx5 protein levels by M-G-T-H transduction were relatively higher than those by transductions of other quad-cistronic vectors, but lower than those by previously defined M-G-T tri-cistronic vector transduction. Taken together, our results demonstrate the stoichiometric requirement of GHMT expression for structural and functional progresses of cardiomyocyte reprogramming and provide a new basic tool-set for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Young-Jae Nam
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. .,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. .,Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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55
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Ge JY, Zheng YW, Liu LP, Isoda H, Oda T. Impelling force and current challenges by chemicals in somatic cell reprogramming and expansion beyond hepatocytes. World J Stem Cells 2019; 11:650-665. [PMID: 31616541 PMCID: PMC6789182 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v11.i9.650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the field of regenerative medicine, generating numerous transplantable functional cells in the laboratory setting on a large scale is a major challenge. However, the in vitro maintenance and expansion of terminally differentiated cells are challenging because of the lack of specific environmental and intercellular signal stimulations, markedly hindering their therapeutic application. Remarkably, the generation of stem/progenitor cells or functional cells with effective proliferative potential is markedly in demand for disease modeling, cell-based transplantation, and drug discovery. Despite the potent genetic manipulation of transcription factors, integration-free chemically defined approaches for the conversion of somatic cell fate have garnered considerable attention in recent years. This review aims to summarize the progress thus far and discuss the advantages, limitations, and challenges of the impact of full chemicals on the stepwise reprogramming of pluripotency, direct lineage conversion, and direct lineage expansion on somatic cells. Owing to the current chemical-mediated induction, reprogrammed pluripotent stem cells with reproducibility difficulties, and direct lineage converted cells with marked functional deficiency, it is imperative to generate the desired cell types directly by chemically inducing their potent proliferation ability through a lineage-committed progenitor state, while upholding the maturation and engraftment capacity posttransplantation in vivo. Together with the comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of chemical drives, as well as the elucidation of specificity and commonalities, the precise manipulation of the expansion for diverse functional cell types could broaden the available cell sources and enhance the cellular function for clinical application in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Yun Ge
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Yun-Wen Zheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Affiliated Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Li-Ping Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Affiliated Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hiroko Isoda
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Oda
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
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56
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Song SY, Yoo J, Go S, Hong J, Sohn HS, Lee JR, Kang M, Jeong GJ, Ryu S, Kim SHL, Hwang NS, Char K, Kim BS. Cardiac-mimetic cell-culture system for direct cardiac reprogramming. Theranostics 2019; 9:6734-6744. [PMID: 31660065 PMCID: PMC6815967 DOI: 10.7150/thno.35574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Cardiovascular diseases often cause substantial heart damage and even heart failure due to the limited regenerative capacity of adult cardiomyocytes. The direct cardiac reprogramming of fibroblasts could be a promising therapeutic option for these patients. Although exogenous transcriptional factors can induce direct cardiac reprogramming, the reprogramming efficiency is too low to be used clinically. Herein, we introduce a cardiac-mimetic cell-culture system that resembles the microenvironment in the heart and provides interactions with cardiomyocytes and electrical cues to the cultured fibroblasts for direct cardiac reprogramming. Methods: Nano-thin and nano-porous membranes and heart like electric stimulus were used in the cardiac-mimetic cell-culture system. The human neonatal dermal fibroblasts containing cardiac transcription factors were plated on the membrane and cultured with the murine cardiomyocyte in the presence of the electric stimulus. The reprogramming efficiency was evaluated by qRT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Results: Nano-thin and nano-porous membranes in the culture system facilitated interactions between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes in coculture. The cellular interactions and electric stimulation supplied by the culture system dramatically enhanced the cardiac reprogramming efficiency of cardiac-specific transcriptional factor-transfected fibroblasts. Conclusion: The cardiac-mimetic culture system may serve as an effective tool for producing a feasible number of reprogrammed cardiomyocytes from fibroblasts.
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57
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Ieda M. Key Regulators of Cardiovascular Differentiation and Regeneration: Harnessing the Potential of Direct Reprogramming to Treat Heart Failure. J Card Fail 2019; 26:80-84. [PMID: 31541743 DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of death worldwide, with the number of patients with heart failure increasing rapidly in aging societies. As adult cardiomyocytes are terminally differentiated cells and opportunities for heart transplantation are very limited, regenerative medicine may become a game changer in heart failure treatment. To develop strategies for generating cardiomyocytes, vascular cells, and other supporting cells, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of cardiovascular differentiation during development and from pluripotent stem cells. Master regulators for cardiovascular differentiation can generate new cardiomyocytes and vascular cells directly from other differentiated cells such as fibroblasts. Fibroblasts can be directly reprogrammed into cardiomyocytes by overexpressing a combination of 3 cardiac-specific transcription factors (Gata4, Mef2c, Tbx5) both in vitro and in vivo, which restores cardiac function after myocardial infarction in mice. Moreover, a direct reprogramming-based approach can be used to identify new key regulators of the cardiovascular mesoderm, which can differentiate into all 3 types of cardiovascular cells including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. This review provides a perspective on how key regulators for cardiovascular differentiation and regeneration can be identified and used to develop new treatments for heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Ieda
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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58
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Ameliorating the Fibrotic Remodeling of the Heart through Direct Cardiac Reprogramming. Cells 2019; 8:cells8070679. [PMID: 31277520 PMCID: PMC6679082 DOI: 10.3390/cells8070679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronary artery disease is the most common form of cardiovascular diseases, resulting in the loss of cardiomyocytes (CM) at the site of ischemic injury. To compensate for the loss of CMs, cardiac fibroblasts quickly respond to injury and initiate cardiac remodeling in an injured heart. In the remodeling process, cardiac fibroblasts proliferate and differentiate into myofibroblasts, which secrete extracellular matrix to support the intact structure of the heart, and eventually differentiate into matrifibrocytes to form chronic scar tissue. Discovery of direct cardiac reprogramming offers a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent/attenuate this pathologic remodeling and replace the cardiac fibrotic scar with myocardium in situ. Since the first discovery in 2010, many progresses have been made to improve the efficiency and efficacy of reprogramming by understanding the mechanisms and signaling pathways that are activated during direct cardiac reprogramming. Here, we overview the development and recent progresses of direct cardiac reprogramming and discuss future directions in order to translate this promising technology into an effective therapeutic paradigm to reverse cardiac pathological remodeling in an injured heart.
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59
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Stone NR, Gifford CA, Thomas R, Pratt KJB, Samse-Knapp K, Mohamed TMA, Radzinsky EM, Schricker A, Ye L, Yu P, van Bemmel JG, Ivey KN, Pollard KS, Srivastava D. Context-Specific Transcription Factor Functions Regulate Epigenomic and Transcriptional Dynamics during Cardiac Reprogramming. Cell Stem Cell 2019; 25:87-102.e9. [PMID: 31271750 PMCID: PMC6632093 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2019.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ectopic expression of combinations of transcription factors (TFs) can drive direct lineage conversion, thereby reprogramming a somatic cell's identity. To determine the molecular mechanisms by which Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) induce conversion from a cardiac fibroblast toward an induced cardiomyocyte, we performed comprehensive transcriptomic, DNA-occupancy, and epigenomic interrogation throughout the reprogramming process. Integration of these datasets identified new TFs involved in cardiac reprogramming and revealed context-specific roles for GMT, including the ability of Mef2c and Tbx5 to independently promote chromatin remodeling at previously inaccessible sites. We also find evidence for cooperative facilitation and refinement of each TF's binding profile in a combinatorial setting. A reporter assay employing newly defined regulatory elements confirmed that binding of a single TF can be sufficient for gene activation, suggesting that co-binding events do not necessarily reflect synergy. These results shed light on fundamental mechanisms by which combinations of TFs direct lineage conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R Stone
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Casey A Gifford
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at Gladstone, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | | | | | | | - Tamer M A Mohamed
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at Gladstone, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | | | | | - Lin Ye
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Pengzhi Yu
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at Gladstone, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | | | - Kathryn N Ivey
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at Gladstone, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Katherine S Pollard
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Deepak Srivastava
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at Gladstone, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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60
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Jia Y, Chang Y, Guo Z, Li H. Transcription factor Tbx5 promotes cardiomyogenic differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts treated with 5‐azacytidine. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:16503-16515. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Jia
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan People's Republic of China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqiao Chang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang People's Republic of China
| | - Zhikun Guo
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang People's Republic of China
| | - He Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan People's Republic of China
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61
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Yu JSL, Palano G, Lim C, Moggio A, Drowley L, Plowright AT, Bohlooly‐Y M, Rosen BS, Hansson EM, Wang Q, Yusa K. CRISPR-Knockout Screen Identifies Dmap1 as a Regulator of Chemically Induced Reprogramming and Differentiation of Cardiac Progenitors. Stem Cells 2019; 37:958-972. [PMID: 30932271 PMCID: PMC6767549 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Direct in vivo reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts into myocytes is an attractive therapeutic intervention in resolving myogenic deterioration. Current transgene-dependent approaches can restore cardiac function, but dependence on retroviral delivery and persistent retention of transgenic sequences are significant therapeutic hurdles. Chemical reprogramming has been established as a legitimate method to generate functional cell types, including those of the cardiac lineage. Here, we have extended this approach to generate progenitor cells that can differentiate into endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes using a single inhibitor protocol. Depletion of terminally differentiated cells and enrichment for proliferative cells result in a second expandable progenitor population that can robustly give rise to myofibroblasts and smooth muscle. Deployment of a genome-wide knockout screen with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-guide RNA library to identify novel mediators that regulate the reprogramming revealed the involvement of DNA methyltransferase 1-associated protein 1 (Dmap1). Loss of Dmap1 reduced promoter methylation, increased the expression of Nkx2-5, and enhanced the retention of self-renewal, although further differentiation is inhibited because of the sustained expression of Cdh1. Our results hence establish Dmap1 as a modulator of cardiac reprogramming and myocytic induction. Stem Cells 2019;37:958-972.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Benzamides/pharmacology
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Cadherins/genetics
- Cadherins/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation/drug effects
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cellular Reprogramming/drug effects
- Cellular Reprogramming/genetics
- Dioxoles/pharmacology
- Fibroblasts/cytology
- Fibroblasts/drug effects
- Fibroblasts/metabolism
- Gene Editing/methods
- Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5/genetics
- Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5/metabolism
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Muscle, Smooth/cytology
- Muscle, Smooth/metabolism
- Myocardium/cytology
- Myocardium/metabolism
- Myocytes, Cardiac/cytology
- Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects
- Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism
- Primary Cell Culture
- Pyrazoles/pharmacology
- Pyridines/pharmacology
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/metabolism
- Repressor Proteins/genetics
- Repressor Proteins/metabolism
- Stem Cells/cytology
- Stem Cells/drug effects
- Stem Cells/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S. L. Yu
- Stem Cell Genetics, Wellcome Sanger InstituteHinxton, CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Department of Cell BiologyThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Giorgia Palano
- KI/AZ Integrated CardioMetabolic Center (ICMC), Department of MedicineKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Cindy Lim
- Bioscience Heart Failure, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech UnitAstraZenecaGothenburgSweden
| | - Aldo Moggio
- KI/AZ Integrated CardioMetabolic Center (ICMC), Department of MedicineKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Lauren Drowley
- Bioscience Heart Failure, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech UnitAstraZenecaGothenburgSweden
| | - Alleyn T. Plowright
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech UnitAstraZenecaGothenburgSweden
| | | | - Barry S. Rosen
- Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech UnitAstraZenecaGothenburgSweden
| | - Emil M. Hansson
- KI/AZ Integrated CardioMetabolic Center (ICMC), Department of MedicineKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Qing‐Dong Wang
- Bioscience Heart Failure, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech UnitAstraZenecaGothenburgSweden
| | - Kosuke Yusa
- Stem Cell Genetics, Wellcome Sanger InstituteHinxton, CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Stem Cell GeneticsInstitute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
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62
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Sadahiro T. Cardiac regeneration with pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and direct cardiac reprogramming. Regen Ther 2019; 11:95-100. [PMID: 31304202 PMCID: PMC6606831 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2019.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. Cardiomyocytes (CMs) have poor regenerative capacity, and pharmacological therapies have limited efficacy in severe heart failure. Currently, there are several promising strategies for cardiac regeneration. The most promising approach to remuscularize failing hearts is cell transplantation therapy using newly generated CMs from exogenous sources, such as pluripotent stem cells. Alternatively, approaches to generate new CMs from endogenous cell sources in situ may also repair the injured heart and improve cardiac function. Direct cardiac reprogramming has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach to regenerate injured hearts by directly converting endogenous cardiac fibroblasts into CM-like cells. Through cell transplantation and direct cardiac reprogramming, new CMs can be generated and scar tissue reduced to improve cardiac function; therefore, cardiac regeneration may serve as a powerful strategy for treatment of severe heart failure. While substantial progress has been made in these two strategies for cardiac regeneration over the past several years, challenges remain for clinical translation. This review provide an overview of previous reports and current challenges in this field.
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Key Words
- BMP, bone morphogenic protein
- CFs, cardiac fibroblasts
- CMs, cardiomyocytes
- CPCs, cardiac progenitor cells
- Cardiomyocytes
- Direct reprogramming
- ESCs, embryonic stem cells
- Fibroblasts
- GHMT, GMT plus Hand2
- GMT, Gata4
- MI, myocardial infarction
- Mef2c, and Tbx5
- PSCs, pluripotent stem cells
- Pluripotent stem cells
- Regeneration
- SeV-GMT, Sendai virus vector expressing GMT
- iCMs, induced cardiomyocyte-like cells
- iPSCs, induced pluripotent stem cells
- miRs, microRNAs
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Affiliation(s)
- Taketaro Sadahiro
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennoudai, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
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63
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Beyret E, Martinez Redondo P, Platero Luengo A, Izpisua Belmonte JC. Elixir of Life: Thwarting Aging With Regenerative Reprogramming. Circ Res 2019; 122:128-141. [PMID: 29301845 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.117.311866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
All living beings undergo systemic physiological decline after ontogeny, characterized as aging. Modern medicine has increased the life expectancy, yet this has created an aged society that has more predisposition to degenerative disorders. Therefore, novel interventions that aim to extend the healthspan in parallel to the life span are needed. Regeneration ability of living beings maintains their biological integrity and thus is the major leverage against aging. However, mammalian regeneration capacity is low and further declines during aging. Therefore, modalities that reinforce regeneration can antagonize aging. Recent advances in the field of regenerative medicine have shown that aging is not an irreversible process. Conversion of somatic cells to embryonic-like pluripotent cells demonstrated that the differentiated state and age of a cell is not fixed. Identification of the pluripotency-inducing factors subsequently ignited the idea that cellular features can be reprogrammed by defined factors that specify the desired outcome. The last decade consequently has witnessed a plethora of studies that modify cellular features including the hallmarks of aging in addition to cellular function and identity in a variety of cell types in vitro. Recently, some of these reprogramming strategies have been directly used in animal models in pursuit of rejuvenation and cell replacement. Here, we review these in vivo reprogramming efforts and discuss their potential use to extend the longevity by complementing or augmenting the regenerative capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ergin Beyret
- From the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Gene Expression Laboratory, La Jolla, CA (E.B., P.M.R., A.P.L., J.C.I.B.); and Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, Guadalupe, Spain (P.M.R.)
| | - Paloma Martinez Redondo
- From the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Gene Expression Laboratory, La Jolla, CA (E.B., P.M.R., A.P.L., J.C.I.B.); and Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, Guadalupe, Spain (P.M.R.)
| | - Aida Platero Luengo
- From the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Gene Expression Laboratory, La Jolla, CA (E.B., P.M.R., A.P.L., J.C.I.B.); and Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, Guadalupe, Spain (P.M.R.)
| | - Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte
- From the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Gene Expression Laboratory, La Jolla, CA (E.B., P.M.R., A.P.L., J.C.I.B.); and Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, Guadalupe, Spain (P.M.R.).
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64
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Guo Y, Lei I, Tian S, Gao W, Hacer K, Li Y, Wang S, Liu L, Wang Z. Chemical suppression of specific C-C chemokine signaling pathways enhances cardiac reprogramming. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:9134-9146. [PMID: 31023824 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) is a potentially promising strategy for regenerating a damaged heart. However, low fibroblast-cardiomyocyte conversion rates remain a major challenge in this reprogramming. To this end, here we conducted a chemical screen and identified four agents, insulin-like growth factor-1, Mll1 inhibitor MM589, transforming growth factor-β inhibitor A83-01, and Bmi1 inhibitor PTC-209, termed IMAP, which coordinately enhanced reprogramming efficiency. Using α-muscle heavy chain-GFP-tagged mouse embryo fibroblasts as a starting cell type, we observed that the IMAP treatment increases iCM formation 6-fold. IMAP stimulated higher cardiac troponin T and α-actinin expression and increased sarcomere formation, coinciding with up-regulated expression of many cardiac genes and down-regulated fibroblast gene expression. Furthermore, IMAP promoted higher spontaneous beating and calcium transient activities of iCMs derived from neonatal cardiac fibroblasts. Intriguingly, we also observed that the IMAP treatment repressed many genes involved in immune responses, particularly those in specific C-C chemokine signaling pathways. We therefore investigated the roles of C-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3), CCL6, and CCL17 in cardiac reprogramming and observed that they inhibited iCM formation, whereas inhibitors of C-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1), CCR4, and CCR5 had the opposite effect. These results indicated that the IMAP treatment directly suppresses specific C-C chemokine signaling pathways and thereby enhances cardiac reprogramming. In conclusion, a combination of four chemicals, named here IMAP, suppresses specific C-C chemokine signaling pathways and facilitates Mef2c/Gata4/Tbx5 (MGT)-induced cardiac reprogramming, providing a potential means for iCM formation in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Guo
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Spinal Surgery Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Ienglam Lei
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Shuo Tian
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Wenbin Gao
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Karatas Hacer
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, and.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Yangbing Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, and.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Shaomeng Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, and.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Liu Liu
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109,
| | - Zhong Wang
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109,
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Ensuring expression of four core cardiogenic transcription factors enhances cardiac reprogramming. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6362. [PMID: 31019236 PMCID: PMC6482135 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42945-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that forced expression of core cardiogenic transcription factors can directly reprogram fibroblasts to induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs). This cardiac reprogramming approach suggests a potential strategy for cardiomyocyte regeneration. However, a major challenge of this approach remains the low conversion rate. Here, we showed that ensuring expression of four cardiogenic transcription factors (i.e. Gata4 (G), Hand2 (H), Mef2c (M), and Tbx5 (T)) in individual fibroblasts is an initial bottleneck for cardiac reprogramming. Following co-transduction of three or four retroviral vectors encoding individual cardiogenic transcription factors, only a minor subpopulation of cells indeed expressed all three (GMT) or four (GHMT) factors. By selectively analyzing subpopulations of cells expressing various combinations of reprogramming factors, we found that co-expression of GMT in individual fibroblasts is sufficient to induce sarcomeric proteins. However, only a small fraction of those cells expressing GMT were able to develop organized sarcomeric structures and contractility. In contrast, ensuring expression of GHMT markedly enhanced the development of contractile cardiac structures and functions in fibroblasts, although its incremental effect on sarcomeric protein induction was relatively small. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanistic basis of inefficient cardiac reprogramming and can help to devise efficient reprogramming strategies.
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66
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Wang M, Ling W, Xiong C, Xie D, Chu X, Li Y, Qiu X, Li Y, Xiao X. Potential Strategies for Cardiac Diseases: Lineage Reprogramming of Somatic Cells into Induced Cardiomyocytes. Cell Reprogram 2019; 21:63-77. [DOI: 10.1089/cell.2018.0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Wang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenhui Ling
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chunxia Xiong
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dengfeng Xie
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinyue Chu
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yunxin Li
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Qiu
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuemin Li
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiong Xiao
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Keepers B, Liu J, Qian L. What's in a cardiomyocyte - And how do we make one through reprogramming? BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2019; 1867:118464. [PMID: 30922868 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Substantial progress is being made in the field cardiac reprogramming, and those in the field are hopeful that the technology will be formulated for therapeutic use. Beyond the excitement around generating a revolutionary new approach for treating ischemic heart diseases, cardiac reprogramming has delivered provocative findings that challenge common notions of cell fate and cell identity. Have we really made de novo cardiomyocytes? To answer this question, the essential characteristics of this unique and important cell type must first be defined. In this review, we walk through the history of scientific inquiry into cardiomyocytes, and then we examine the core features of cardiomyocytes as detailed in modern definitions. Informed by this, we turn to cardiac reprogramming to analyze the various screening approaches and ultimate factor combinations used in each study. We follow this with a dissection of the evidence used to support the authors' claims of successfully creating cardiomyocytes, and we end by discussing what is known about the molecular mechanisms of cardiac reprogramming. Through this analysis, we find interesting differences between the study designs and their results, but it becomes clear that the field at large is generating cells that closely match the textbook definition cardiomyocyte. However, the differences noted between the results of each study are largely unexplained, reflecting the need for further research in both cardiac reprogramming and in native cardiomyocyte biology. Knowledge gained from future research will help move the field towards better reprogramming techniques and technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Keepers
- McAllister Heart Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- McAllister Heart Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- McAllister Heart Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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French BA, Holmes JW. Implications of scar structure and mechanics for post-infarction cardiac repair and regeneration. Exp Cell Res 2019; 376:98-103. [PMID: 30610848 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Regenerating cardiac muscle lost during a heart attack is a topic of broad interest and enormous potential impact. One promising approach is to regenerate or re-engineer new myocardium in situ, at the site of damage, by injecting cells, growth factors, and other materials, or by reprogramming aspects of the normal wound healing process. A wide variety of strategies have been explored, from promoting angiogenesis to injection of a variety of different progenitor cell types, to re-engineering resident cells to produce key growth factors or even transdifferentiate into myocytes. Despite substantial progress and continued promise, clinical impact of this work has fallen short of expectations. One contributing factor may be that many efforts focus primarily on generating cardiomyocytes, with less attention to re-engineering the extracellular matrix (ECM). Yet the role of the ECM is particularly crucial to consider following myocardial infarction, which leads to rapid formation of a collagen-rich scar. This review combines a brief summary of current efforts to regenerate cardiomyocytes with what is currently known about the structure and mechanics of post-infarction scar, with the goal of identifying principles that can guide efforts to produce new myocytes embedded in an extracellular environment that facilitates their differentiation, maintenance, and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent A French
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Holmes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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69
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Role of cyclooxygenase-2-mediated prostaglandin E2-prostaglandin E receptor 4 signaling in cardiac reprogramming. Nat Commun 2019; 10:674. [PMID: 30787297 PMCID: PMC6382796 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08626-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct cardiac reprogramming from fibroblasts can be a promising approach for disease modeling, drug screening, and cardiac regeneration in pediatric and adult patients. However, postnatal and adult fibroblasts are less efficient for reprogramming compared with embryonic fibroblasts, and barriers to cardiac reprogramming associated with aging remain undetermined. In this study, we screened 8400 chemical compounds and found that diclofenac sodium (diclofenac), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, greatly enhanced cardiac reprogramming in combination with Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) or GMT plus Hand2. Intriguingly, diclofenac promoted cardiac reprogramming in mouse postnatal and adult tail-tip fibroblasts (TTFs), but not in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Mechanistically, diclofenac enhanced cardiac reprogramming by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2/prostaglandin E receptor 4, cyclic AMP/protein kinase A, and interleukin 1β signaling and by silencing inflammatory and fibroblast programs, which were activated in postnatal and adult TTFs. Thus, anti-inflammation represents a new target for cardiac reprogramming associated with aging. Fibroblasts can be directly reprogrammed to cardiomyocytes, but reprogramming is less efficient for adult compared to embryonic fibroblasts. Here, the authors find that inhibition of inflammation and Cox-2-prostaglandin-cAMP-IL-1β signaling enhances reprogramming efficiency of adult, but not embryonic fibroblasts.
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70
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Ebrahimi B. Cardiac progenitor reprogramming for heart regeneration. CELL REGENERATION 2019; 7:1-6. [PMID: 30671223 PMCID: PMC6326243 DOI: 10.1016/j.cr.2018.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction leads to the loss of a huge number of cardiomyocytes and the reparatory response to this phenomenon is scar tissue formation, which impairs heart function. Direct reprogramming technology offers an alternative strategy for the generation of functional cardiomyocytes not only in vitro, but also in vivo in the site of injury. Results have demonstrated cardiac tissue regeneration and improvement in heart function after myocardial infarction following local injection of vectors encoding reprogramming transcription factors or miRNAs. This shows the great potential of cardiac reprogramming technology for heart regeneration. However, in addition to cardiomyocytes, other cell types, including endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells are also required to be generated in the damaged area in order to achieve complete cardiac tissue regeneration. To this aim induced proliferative/expandable cardiovascular progenitor cells (iCPCs) appear to be an appropriate cell source, which is capable of differentiation into three cardiovascular lineages both in vitro and in vivo. In this regard, this study goes over in vitro and in vivo cardiac reprogramming technology and specifically deals with cardiac progenitor reprogramming and its potential for heart regeneration.
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Key Words
- CASD, cell-activation and signaling-directed
- Cellular reprogramming
- ECs, endothelial cells
- FGF, fibroblast growth factor
- GMT, Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5
- Heart regeneration
- Myocardial infarction
- PI3K/AKT, phosphoinositol 3-kinase pathway
- SMCs, smooth muscle cells
- TF, transcription factor
- Transdifferentiation
- VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor
- iCMs, induced cardiomyocytes
- iCPCs, induced cardiac progenitor cells
- iCSs, induced cardiospheres
- iPSC, induced pluripotent stem cell
- p38 MAPK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Ebrahimi
- Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
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71
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Saito S, Lin YC, Nakamura Y, Eckner R, Wuputra K, Kuo KK, Lin CS, Yokoyama KK. Potential application of cell reprogramming techniques for cancer research. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:45-65. [PMID: 30283976 PMCID: PMC6326983 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2924-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 09/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The ability to control the transition from an undifferentiated stem cell to a specific cell fate is one of the key techniques that are required for the application of interventional technologies to regenerative medicine and the treatment of tumors and metastases and of neurodegenerative diseases. Reprogramming technologies, which include somatic cell nuclear transfer, induced pluripotent stem cells, and the direct reprogramming of specific cell lineages, have the potential to alter cell plasticity in translational medicine for cancer treatment. The characterization of cancer stem cells (CSCs), the identification of oncogene and tumor suppressor genes for CSCs, and the epigenetic study of CSCs and their microenvironments are important topics. This review summarizes the application of cell reprogramming technologies to cancer modeling and treatment and discusses possible obstacles, such as genetic and epigenetic alterations in cancer cells, as well as the strategies that can be used to overcome these obstacles to cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeo Saito
- Saito Laboratory of Cell Technology, Yaita, Tochigi, 329-1571, Japan
- College of Engineering, Nihon University, Koriyama, Fukushima, 963-8642, Japan
| | - Ying-Chu Lin
- School of Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan
| | - Yukio Nakamura
- Cell Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0074, Japan
| | - Richard Eckner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, 07101, USA
| | - Kenly Wuputra
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan
| | - Kung-Kai Kuo
- Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Shen Lin
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan.
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan.
| | - Kazunari K Yokoyama
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan.
- Faculty of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
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72
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Werner JH, Rosenberg JH, Um JY, Moulton MJ, Agrawal DK. Molecular discoveries and treatment strategies by direct reprogramming in cardiac regeneration. Transl Res 2019; 203:73-87. [PMID: 30142308 PMCID: PMC6289806 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2018.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac tissue has minimal endogenous regenerative capacity in response to injury. Treatment options are limited following tissue damage after events such as myocardial infarction. Current strategies are aimed primarily at injury prevention, but attention has been increasingly targeted toward the development of regenerative therapies. This review focuses on recent developments in the field of cardiac fibroblast reprogramming into induced cardiomyocytes. Early efforts to produce cardiac regeneration centered around induced pluripotent stem cells, but clinical translation has proved elusive. Currently, techniques are being developed to directly transdifferentiate cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes. Viral vector-driven expression of a combination of transcription factors including Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 induced cardiomyocyte development in mice. Subsequent combinational modifications have extended these results to human cell lines and increased efficacy. The miRNAs including combinations of miR-1, miR-133, miR-208, and miR-499 can improve or independently drive regeneration of cardiomyocytes. Similar results could be obtained by combinations of small molecules with or without transcription factor or miRNA expression. The local tissue environment greatly impacts favorability for reprogramming. Modulation of signaling pathways, especially those mediated by VEGF and TGF-β, enhance differentiation to cardiomyocytes. Current reprogramming strategies are not ready for clinical application, but recent breakthroughs promise regenerative cardiac therapies in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Werner
- Department of Clinical and Translational Science, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - John H Rosenberg
- Department of Clinical and Translational Science, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - John Y Um
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Michael J Moulton
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Devendra K Agrawal
- Department of Clinical and Translational Science, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska.
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73
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Cui M, Wang Z, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. Genetic and epigenetic regulation of cardiomyocytes in development, regeneration and disease. Development 2018; 145:145/24/dev171983. [PMID: 30573475 DOI: 10.1242/dev.171983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic and postnatal life depend on the uninterrupted function of cardiac muscle cells. These cells, termed cardiomyocytes, display many fascinating behaviors, including complex morphogenic movements, interactions with other cell types of the heart, persistent contractility and quiescence after birth. Each of these behaviors depends on complex interactions between both cardiac-restricted and widely expressed transcription factors, as well as on epigenetic modifications. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the genetic and epigenetic control of cardiomyocyte differentiation and proliferation during heart development, regeneration and disease. We focus on those regulators that are required for both heart development and disease, and highlight the regenerative principles that might be manipulated to restore function to the injured adult heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Cui
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, and Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Zhaoning Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, and Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rhonda Bassel-Duby
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, and Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Eric N Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, and Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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74
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Isomi M, Sadahiro T, Ieda M. Progress and Challenge of Cardiac Regeneration to Treat Heart Failure. J Cardiol 2018; 73:97-101. [PMID: 30420106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac muscle has limited proliferative capacity, and regenerative therapies are highly in demand as a new treatment strategy. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies have been developed, but these medical therapies have limited effects to cure patients with severe heart failure. Moreover, heart transplantation is limited due to the low number of donor organs. Thus, heart regeneration holds great potential to offer innovative therapy to treat heart failure patients. Currently, there are several strategies for heart regeneration. Transplantation of somatic stem cells was safe and modestly improved cardiac function after myocardial infarction mainly through paracrine mechanisms. Alternatively, new cardiomyocytes could be generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to transplant into injured hearts. However, several issues remain to be resolved prior to using iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, such as a potential risk of tumorigenesis and poor survival of transplanted cells in the injured heart. More recently, direct cardiac reprogramming has emerged as a novel technology to regenerate damaged myocardium by directly converting endogenous cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells to restore cardiac function. Following our first report of cardiac reprogramming, an improvement in cardiac reprogramming efficiency, in vivo direct cardiac reprogramming, and cardiac reprogramming in human cells were reported by many investigators. While these previous studies have advanced regenerative research, many challenges remain. Here, we review the current status of cardiac regenerative technology, a great hope to treat cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Isomi
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Taketaro Sadahiro
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Masaki Ieda
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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75
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Klose K, Gossen M, Stamm C. Turning fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes: technological review of cardiac transdifferentiation strategies. FASEB J 2018; 33:49-70. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.201800712r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Klose
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) Berlin Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies (BSRT) Berlin Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Manfred Gossen
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) Berlin Germany
- Helmholtz‐Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG)Institute of Biomaterial Science Teltow Germany
| | - Christof Stamm
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) Berlin Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies (BSRT) Berlin Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)Partner Site Berlin Berlin Germany
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular SurgeryDeutsches Herzzentrum Berlin (DHZB) Berlin Germany
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76
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Direct Cardiac Reprogramming: A Novel Approach for Heart Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19092629. [PMID: 30189626 PMCID: PMC6165160 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2018] [Revised: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac diseases are among the most common causes of death globally. Cardiac muscle has limited proliferative capacity, and regenerative therapies are highly in demand as a new treatment strategy. Although pluripotent reprogramming has been developed, it has obstacles, such as a potential risk of tumor formation, poor survival of the transplanted cells, and high cost. We previously reported that fibroblasts can be directly reprogrammed to cardiomyocytes by overexpressing a combination of three cardiac-specific transcription factors (Gata4, Mef2c, Tbx5 (together, GMT)). We and other groups have promoted cardiac reprogramming by the addition of certain miRNAs, cytokines, and epigenetic factors, and unraveled new molecular mechanisms of cardiac reprogramming. More recently, we discovered that Sendai virus (SeV) vector expressing GMT could efficiently and rapidly reprogram fibroblasts into integration-free cardiomyocytes in vitro via robust transgene expression. Gene delivery of SeV-GMT also improves cardiac function and reduces fibrosis after myocardial infarction in mice. Through direct cardiac reprogramming, new cardiomyocytes can be generated and scar tissue reduced to restore cardiac function, and, thus, direct cardiac reprogramming may serve as a powerful strategy for cardiac regeneration. Here, we provide an overview of the previous reports and current challenges in this field.
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77
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Direct Reprograming to Regenerate Myocardium and Repair Its Pacemaker and Conduction System. MEDICINES 2018; 5:medicines5020048. [PMID: 29867004 PMCID: PMC6023490 DOI: 10.3390/medicines5020048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The regenerative medicine field has been revolutionized by the direct conversion of one cell type to another by ectopic expression of lineage-specific transcription factors. The direct reprogramming of fibroblasts to induced cardiac myocytes (iCMs) by core cardiac transcription factors (Gata4, Mef2c, Tbx5) both in vitro and in vivo has paved the way in cardiac regeneration and repair. Several independent research groups have successfully reported the direct reprogramming of fibroblasts in injured myocardium to cardiac myocytes employing a variety of approaches that rely on transcription factors, small molecules, and micro RNAs (miRNAs). Recently, this technology has been considered for local repair of the pacemaker and the cardiac conduction system. To address this, we will first discuss the direct reprograming advancements in the setting of working myocardium regeneration, and then elaborate on how this technology can be applied to repair the cardiac pacemaker and the conduction system.
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78
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Riching AS, Zhao Y, Cao Y, Londono P, Xu H, Song K. Suppression of Pro-fibrotic Signaling Potentiates Factor-mediated Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts into Induced Cardiomyocytes. J Vis Exp 2018:57687. [PMID: 29912202 PMCID: PMC6101528 DOI: 10.3791/57687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trans-differentiation of one somatic cell type into another has enormous potential to model and treat human diseases. Previous studies have shown that mouse embryonic, dermal, and cardiac fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into functional induced-cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) through overexpression of cardiogenic transcription factors including GATA4, Hand2, Mef2c, and Tbx5 both in vitro and in vivo. However, these previous studies have shown relatively low efficiency. In order to restore heart function following injury, mechanisms governing cardiac reprogramming must be elucidated to increase efficiency and maturation of iCMs. We previously demonstrated that inhibition of pro-fibrotic signaling dramatically increases reprogramming efficiency. Here, we detail methods to achieve a reprogramming efficiency of up to 60%. Furthermore, we describe several methods including flow cytometry, immunofluorescent imaging, and calcium imaging to quantify reprogramming efficiency and maturation of reprogrammed fibroblasts. Using the protocol detailed here, mechanistic studies can be undertaken to determine positive and negative regulators of cardiac reprogramming. These studies may identify signaling pathways that can be targeted to promote reprogramming efficiency and maturation, which could lead to novel cell therapies to treat human heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Riching
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - Yuanbiao Zhao
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - Yingqiong Cao
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - Pilar Londono
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - Hongyan Xu
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University
| | - Kunhua Song
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus;
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79
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Direct phenotypic conversion of human fibroblasts into functional osteoblasts triggered by a blockade of the transforming growth factor-β signal. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8463. [PMID: 29855543 PMCID: PMC5981640 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26745-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A procedure to generate functional osteoblasts from human somatic cells may pave the way to a novel and effective transplantation therapy in bone disorders. Here, we report that human fibroblasts were induced to show osteoblast phenotypes by culturing with ALK5 i II, which is a specific inhibitor for activin-like kinase 5 (ALK5) (tumor growth factor-β receptor 1 (TGF-β R1)). Cells cultured with ALK5 i II expressed osteoblast-specific genes and massively produced calcified bone matrix, similar to the osteoblasts induced from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-OBs). Treatment with vitamin D3 in addition to ALK5 i II induced more osteoblast-like characters, and the efficiency of the conversion reached approximately 90%. The chemical compound-mediated directly converted osteoblasts (cOBs) were similar to human primary osteoblasts in terms of expression profiles of osteoblast-related genes. The cOBs abundantly produced bone matrix in vivo and facilitated bone healing after they were transplanted into immunodeficient mice at an artificially induced defect lesion in femoral bone. The present procedure realizes a highly efficient direct conversion of human fibroblasts into transgene-free and highly functional osteoblasts, which might be applied in a novel strategy of bone regeneration therapy in bone diseases.
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80
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S-phase Synchronization Facilitates the Early Progression of Induced-Cardiomyocyte Reprogramming through Enhanced Cell-Cycle Exit. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051364. [PMID: 29734659 PMCID: PMC5983785 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) holds a great promise for regenerative medicine and has been studied in several major directions. However, cell-cycle regulation, a fundamental biological process, has not been investigated during iCM-reprogramming. Here, our time-lapse imaging on iCMs, reprogrammed by Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) monocistronic retroviruses, revealed that iCM-reprogramming was majorly initiated at late-G1- or S-phase and nearly half of GMT-reprogrammed iCMs divided soon after reprogramming. iCMs exited cell cycle along the process of reprogramming with decreased percentage of 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine (EdU)+/α-myosin heavy chain (αMHC)-GFP+ cells. S-phase synchronization post-GMT-infection could enhance cell-cycle exit of reprogrammed iCMs and yield more GFPhigh iCMs, which achieved an advanced reprogramming with more expression of cardiac genes than GFPlow cells. However, S-phase synchronization did not enhance the reprogramming with a polycistronic-viral vector, in which cell-cycle exit had been accelerated. In conclusion, post-infection synchronization of S-phase facilitated the early progression of GMT-reprogramming through a mechanism of enhanced cell-cycle exit.
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81
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Xu J, Lian W, Li L, Huang Z. Generation of induced cardiac progenitor cells via somatic reprogramming. Oncotarget 2018; 8:29442-29457. [PMID: 28199972 PMCID: PMC5438743 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) represent a more effective cell-based therapy for treatment of myocardial infarction. Unfortunately, their therapeutic application is limited by low yield of cell harvesting, declining quality and quantity during the ageing process, and the need for highly invasive heart biopsy. Therefore, there is an emerging interest in generating CPC-like stem cells from somatic cells via somatic reprogramming. This novel approach would provide an unlimited source of stem cells with cardiac differentiation potential. Here we would firstly discuss the different types of CPC and their importance in stem cell therapy for treatment of myocardial infarction; secondly, the necessity of generating induced CPC from somatic cells via somatic reprogramming; and finally the current progress of somatic reprogramming in cardiac cells, especially induced CPC generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyong Xu
- Institute of Biological Therapy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen City Shenzhen University Immunodiagnostic Technology Platform, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Lian
- Institute of Biological Therapy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen City Shenzhen University Immunodiagnostic Technology Platform, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lingyun Li
- Institute of Biological Therapy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen City Shenzhen University Immunodiagnostic Technology Platform, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhong Huang
- Institute of Biological Therapy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen City Shenzhen University Immunodiagnostic Technology Platform, Shenzhen, China
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82
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Hodgkinson CP, Pratt RE, Kirste I, Dal-Pra S, Cooke JP, Dzau VJ. Cardiomyocyte Maturation Requires TLR3 Activated Nuclear Factor Kappa B. Stem Cells 2018; 36:1198-1209. [PMID: 29676038 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The process by which committed precursors mature into cardiomyocytes is poorly understood. We found that TLR3 inhibition blocked cardiomyocyte maturation; precursor cells committed to the cardiomyocyte lineage failed to express maturation genes and sarcomeres did not develop. Using various approaches, we found that the effects of TLR3 upon cardiomyocyte maturation were dependent upon the RelA subunit of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB). Importantly, under conditions that promote the development of mature cardiomyocytes NFκB became significantly enriched at the promoters of cardiomyocyte maturation genes. Furthermore, activation of the TLR3-NFκB pathway enhanced cardiomyocyte maturation. This study, therefore, demonstrates that the TLR3-NFκB pathway is necessary for the maturation of committed precursors into mature cardiomyocytes. Stem Cells 2018;36:1198-1209.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conrad P Hodgkinson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Mandel Center for Heart and Vascular Research, and the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North California, USA
| | - Richard E Pratt
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Mandel Center for Heart and Vascular Research, and the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North California, USA
| | - Imke Kirste
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Mandel Center for Heart and Vascular Research, and the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North California, USA
| | - Sophie Dal-Pra
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Mandel Center for Heart and Vascular Research, and the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North California, USA
| | - John P Cooke
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Victor J Dzau
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Mandel Center for Heart and Vascular Research, and the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North California, USA
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83
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Direct Cardiac Reprogramming: Progress and Promise. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:1435746. [PMID: 29731772 PMCID: PMC5872587 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1435746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The human adult heart lacks a robust endogenous repair mechanism to fully restore cardiac function after insult; thus, the ability to regenerate and repair the injured myocardium remains a top priority in treating heart failure. The ability to efficiently generate a large number of functioning cardiomyocytes capable of functional integration within the injured heart has been difficult. However, the ability to directly convert fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells both in vitro and in vivo offers great promise in overcoming this problem. In this review, we describe the insights and progress that have been gained from the investigation of direct cardiac reprogramming. We focus on the use of key transcription factors and cardiogenic genes as well as on the use of other biological molecules such as small molecules, cytokines, noncoding RNAs, and epigenetic modifiers to improve the efficiency of cardiac reprogramming. Finally, we discuss the development of safer reprogramming approaches for future clinical application.
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84
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Ghazizadeh Z, Rassouli H, Fonoudi H, Alikhani M, Talkhabi M, Darbandi-Azar A, Chen S, Baharvand H, Aghdami N, Salekdeh GH. Transient Activation of Reprogramming Transcription Factors Using Protein Transduction Facilitates Conversion of Human Fibroblasts Toward Cardiomyocyte-Like Cells. Mol Biotechnol 2018; 59:207-220. [PMID: 28509990 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-017-0007-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Derivation of cardiomyocytes directly from patients' own fibroblasts could offer a new therapeutic approach for those with ischemic heart disease. An essential step toward clinical application is to establish safe conversion of human fibroblasts into a cardiac fate. Here we aimed to efficiently and safely generate cardiomyocytes from human fibroblasts by direct delivery of reprogramming recombinant cell permeant form of reprogramming proteins followed by cardio-inductive signals. Human fetal and adult fibroblasts were transiently exposed to transactivator of transcription-fused recombinant OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC for 2 weeks and then were directly differentiated toward protein-induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (p-iCLCs) in a cardiac fate niche, carried out by treatment with a set of cardiogenic small molecules (sequential treatment of Chir, and IWP-2, SB431542 and purmorphamine). The cells showed cardiac phenotype over a period of 3 weeks without first undergoing reprogramming into or through a pluripotent intermediate, shown by lack of expression of key pluripotency markers. p-iCLCs exhibited cardiac features at both the gene and protein levels. Our study provides an alternative method for the generation of p-iCLCs which shortcut reprogramming toward allogeneic cardiomyocytes in a safe and efficient manner and could facilitate generation of genetic material-free cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaniar Ghazizadeh
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. .,School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Hassan Rassouli
- Department of Molecular Systems Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hananeh Fonoudi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Alikhani
- Department of Molecular Systems Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Talkhabi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Darbandi-Azar
- Rajaie Cardiovascular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shuibing Chen
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hossein Baharvand
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Nasser Aghdami
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Regenerative Biomedicine at Cell Science Research, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh
- Department of Molecular Systems Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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85
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Nanotechnology-Based Cardiac Targeting and Direct Cardiac Reprogramming: The Betrothed. Stem Cells Int 2017; 2017:4940397. [PMID: 29375623 PMCID: PMC5742458 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4940397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases represent the first cause of morbidity in Western countries, and chronic heart failure features a significant health care burden in developed countries. Efforts in the attempt of finding new possible strategies for the treatment of CHF yielded several approaches based on the use of stem cells. The discovery of direct cardiac reprogramming has unveiled a new approach to heart regeneration, allowing, at least in principle, the conversion of one differentiated cell type into another without proceeding through a pluripotent intermediate. First developed for cancer treatment, nanotechnology-based approaches have opened new perspectives in many fields of medical research, including cardiovascular research. Nanotechnology could allow the delivery of molecules with specific biological activity at a sustained and controlled rate in heart tissue, in a cell-specific manner. Potentially, all the mediators and structural molecules involved in the fibrotic process could be selectively targeted by nanocarriers, but to date, only few experiences have been made in cardiac research. This review highlights the most prominent concepts that characterize both the field of cardiac reprogramming and a nanomedicine-based approach to cardiovascular diseases, hypothesizing a possible synergy between these two very promising fields of research in the treatment of heart failure.
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86
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Zhou H, Morales MG, Hashimoto H, Dickson ME, Song K, Ye W, Kim MS, Niederstrasser H, Wang Z, Chen B, Posner BA, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. ZNF281 enhances cardiac reprogramming by modulating cardiac and inflammatory gene expression. Genes Dev 2017; 31:1770-1783. [PMID: 28982760 PMCID: PMC5666675 DOI: 10.1101/gad.305482.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes represents a potential means of restoring cardiac function following myocardial injury. AKT1 in the presence of four cardiogenic transcription factors, GATA4, HAND2, MEF2C, and TBX5 (AGHMT), efficiently induces the cardiac gene program in mouse embryonic fibroblasts but not adult fibroblasts. To identify additional regulators of adult cardiac reprogramming, we performed an unbiased screen of transcription factors and cytokines for those that might enhance or suppress the cardiogenic activity of AGHMT in adult mouse fibroblasts. Among a collection of inducers and repressors of cardiac reprogramming, we discovered that the zinc finger transcription factor 281 (ZNF281) potently stimulates cardiac reprogramming by genome-wide association with GATA4 on cardiac enhancers. Concomitantly, ZNF281 suppresses expression of genes associated with inflammatory signaling, suggesting the antagonistic convergence of cardiac and inflammatory transcriptional programs. Consistent with an inhibitory influence of inflammatory pathways on cardiac reprogramming, blockade of these pathways with anti-inflammatory drugs or components of the nucleosome remodeling deacetylase (NuRD) complex, which associate with ZNF281, stimulates cardiac gene expression. We conclude that ZNF281 acts at a nexus of cardiac and inflammatory gene programs, which exert opposing influences on fibroblast to cardiac reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanyu Zhou
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Maria Gabriela Morales
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Hisayuki Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Matthew E Dickson
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Kunhua Song
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Wenduo Ye
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Min S Kim
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Hanspeter Niederstrasser
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Zhaoning Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Beibei Chen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Bruce A Posner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Rhonda Bassel-Duby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Eric N Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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87
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Liu Z, Wang L, Welch JD, Ma H, Zhou Y, Vaseghi HR, Yu S, Wall JB, Alimohamadi S, Zheng M, Yin C, Shen W, Prins JF, Liu J, Qian L. Single-cell transcriptomics reconstructs fate conversion from fibroblast to cardiomyocyte. Nature 2017; 551:100-104. [PMID: 29072293 PMCID: PMC5954984 DOI: 10.1038/nature24454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Direct lineage conversion offers a new strategy for tissue regeneration and disease modelling. Despite recent success in directly reprogramming fibroblasts into various cell types, the precise changes that occur as fibroblasts progressively convert to the target cell fates remain unclear. The inherent heterogeneity and asynchronous nature of the reprogramming process renders it difficult to study this process using bulk genomic techniques. Here we used single-cell RNA sequencing to overcome this limitation and analysed global transcriptome changes at early stages during the reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs). Using unsupervised dimensionality reduction and clustering algorithms, we identified molecularly distinct subpopulations of cells during reprogramming. We also constructed routes of iCM formation, and delineated the relationship between cell proliferation and iCM induction. Further analysis of global gene expression changes during reprogramming revealed unexpected downregulation of factors involved in mRNA processing and splicing. Detailed functional analysis of the top candidate splicing factor, Ptbp1, revealed that it is a critical barrier for the acquisition of cardiomyocyte-specific splicing patterns in fibroblasts. Concomitantly, Ptbp1 depletion promoted cardiac transcriptome acquisition and increased iCM reprogramming efficiency. Additional quantitative analysis of our dataset revealed a strong correlation between the expression of each reprogramming factor and the progress of individual cells through the reprogramming process, and led to the discovery of new surface markers for the enrichment of iCMs. In summary, our single-cell transcriptomics approaches enabled us to reconstruct the reprogramming trajectory and to uncover intermediate cell populations, gene pathways and regulators involved in iCM induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqing Liu
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Li Wang
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Joshua D. Welch
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Hong Ma
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Yang Zhou
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Haley Ruth Vaseghi
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Shuo Yu
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Joseph Blake Wall
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Sahar Alimohamadi
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Michael Zheng
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Chaoying Yin
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Weining Shen
- Department of Statistics, University of California at Irvine
| | - Jan F. Prins
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Jiandong Liu
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Li Qian
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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88
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Ghiroldi A, Piccoli M, Ciconte G, Pappone C, Anastasia L. Regenerating the human heart: direct reprogramming strategies and their current limitations. Basic Res Cardiol 2017; 112:68. [DOI: 10.1007/s00395-017-0655-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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89
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Akbari B, Wee P, Yaqubi M, Mohammadnia A. Comprehensive transcriptome mining of the direct conversion of mesodermal cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10427. [PMID: 28874788 PMCID: PMC5585404 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10903-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The direct reprogramming of somatic cells is a promising approach for regenerative medicine, especially in the production of mesoderm layer-derived cells. Meta-analysis studies provide precise insight into the undergoing processes and help increase the efficiency of reprogramming. Here, using 27 high-throughput expression data sets, we analyzed the direct reprogramming of mesodermal cells in humans and mice. Fibroblast-derived cells showed a common expression pattern of up- and down-regulated genes that were mainly involved in the suppression of the fibroblast-specific gene expression program, and may be used as markers of the initiation of reprogramming. Furthermore, we found a specific gene expression profile for each fibroblast-derived cell studied, and each gene set appeared to play specific functional roles in its cell type, suggesting their use as markers for their mature state. Furthermore, using data from protein-DNA interactions, we identified the main transcription factors (TFs) involved in the conversion process and ranked them based on their importance in their gene regulatory networks. In summary, our meta-analysis approach provides new insights on the direct conversion of mesodermal somatic cells, introduces a list of genes as markers for initiation and maturation, and identifies TFs for which manipulating their expression may increase the efficiency of direct conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijan Akbari
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ping Wee
- Department of Medical Genetics and Signal Transduction Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Moein Yaqubi
- Department of Psychiatry, Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology at McGill University, Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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90
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Umei TC, Yamakawa H, Muraoka N, Sadahiro T, Isomi M, Haginiwa S, Kojima H, Kurotsu S, Tamura F, Osakabe R, Tani H, Nara K, Miyoshi H, Fukuda K, Ieda M. Single-Construct Polycistronic Doxycycline-Inducible Vectors Improve Direct Cardiac Reprogramming and Can Be Used to Identify the Critical Timing of Transgene Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18081805. [PMID: 28825623 PMCID: PMC5578192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct reprogramming is a promising approach in regenerative medicine. Overexpression of the cardiac transcription factors Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) or GMT plus Hand2 (GHMT) directly reprogram fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs). However, the critical timing of transgene expression and the molecular mechanisms for cardiac reprogramming remain unclear. The conventional doxycycline (Dox)-inducible temporal transgene expression systems require simultaneous transduction of two vectors (pLVX-rtTA/pLVX-cDNA) harboring the reverse tetracycline transactivator (rtTA) and the tetracycline response element (TRE)-controlled transgene, respectively, leading to inefficient cardiac reprogramming. Herein, we developed a single-construct-based polycistronic Dox-inducible vector (pDox-cDNA) expressing both the rtTA and TRE-controlled transgenes. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunostaining revealed that pDox-GMT increased cardiac reprogramming three-fold compared to the conventional pLVX-rtTA/pLVX-GMT. After four weeks, pDox-GMT-induced iCMs expressed multiple cardiac genes, produced sarcomeric structures, and beat spontaneously. Co-transduction of pDox-Hand2 with retroviral pMX-GMT increased cardiac reprogramming three-fold compared to pMX-GMT alone. Temporal Dox administration revealed that Hand2 transgene expression is critical during the first two weeks of cardiac reprogramming. Microarray analyses demonstrated that Hand2 represses cell cycle-promoting genes and enhances cardiac reprogramming. Thus, we have developed an efficient temporal transgene expression system, which could be invaluable in the study of cardiac reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiko C Umei
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Yamakawa
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Naoto Muraoka
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Taketaro Sadahiro
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Mari Isomi
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Sho Haginiwa
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Hidenori Kojima
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Shota Kurotsu
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Fumiya Tamura
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Rina Osakabe
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Hidenori Tani
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Kaori Nara
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Miyoshi
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Keiichi Fukuda
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Masaki Ieda
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
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91
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Bektik E, Dennis A, Prasanna P, Madabhushi A, Fu JD. Single cell qPCR reveals that additional HAND2 and microRNA-1 facilitate the early reprogramming progress of seven-factor-induced human myocytes. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183000. [PMID: 28796841 PMCID: PMC5552090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The direct reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte (CM)-like cells (iCMs) holds great promise in restoring heart function. We previously found that human fibroblasts could be reprogrammed toward CM-like cells by 7 reprogramming factors; however, iCM reprogramming in human fibroblasts is both more difficult and more time-intensive than that in mouse cells. In this study, we investigated if additional reprogramming factors could quantitatively and/or qualitatively improve 7-factor-mediated human iCM reprogramming by single-cell quantitative PCR. We first validated 46 pairs of TaqMan® primers/probes that had sufficient efficiency and sensitivity to detect the significant difference of gene expression between individual H9 human embryonic stem cell (ESC)-differentiated CMs (H9CMs) and human fibroblasts. The expression profile of these 46 genes revealed an improved reprogramming in 12-week iCMs compared to 4-week iCMs reprogrammed by 7 factors, indicating a prolonged stochastic phase during human iCM reprogramming. Although none of additional one reprogramming factor yielded a greater number of iCMs, our single-cell qPCR revealed that additional HAND2 or microRNA-1 could facilitate the silencing of fibroblast genes and yield a better degree of reprogramming in more reprogrammed iCMs. Noticeably, the more HAND2 expressed, the higher-level were cardiac genes activated in 7Fs+HAND2-reprogrammed iCMs. In conclusion, HAND2 and microRNA-1 could help 7 factors to facilitate the early progress of iCM-reprogramming from human fibroblasts. Our study provides valuable information to further optimize a method of direct iCM-reprogramming in human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Bektik
- Department of Medicine, Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- School of Integrative and Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Adrienne Dennis
- Department of Medicine, Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Prateek Prasanna
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Anant Madabhushi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Ji-Dong Fu
- Department of Medicine, Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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92
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Kojima H, Ieda M. Discovery and progress of direct cardiac reprogramming. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:2203-2215. [PMID: 28197667 PMCID: PMC11107684 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2466-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac disease remains a major cause of death worldwide. Direct cardiac reprogramming has emerged as a promising approach for cardiac regenerative therapy. After the discovery of MyoD, a master regulator for skeletal muscle, other single cardiac reprogramming factors (master regulators) have been sought. Discovery of cardiac reprogramming factors was inspired by the finding that multiple, but not single, transcription factors were needed to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from fibroblasts. We first reported a combination of cardiac-specific transcription factors, Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT), that could convert mouse fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells, which were designated as induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs). Following our first report of cardiac reprogramming, many researchers, including ourselves, demonstrated an improvement in cardiac reprogramming efficiency, in vivo direct cardiac reprogramming for heart regeneration, and cardiac reprogramming in human cells. However, cardiac reprogramming in human cells and adult fibroblasts remains inefficient, and further efforts are needed. We believe that future research elucidating epigenetic barriers and molecular mechanisms of direct cardiac reprogramming will improve the reprogramming efficiency, and that this new technology has great potential for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Kojima
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaki Ieda
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
- AMED-PRIME, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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93
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Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death in the world. The limited regenerative capacity of adult cardiomyocytes is the major barrier for heart regeneration. After myocardial infarction, myofibroblasts are the dominant cell type in the infarct zone. Therefore, it is a good idea to reprogram terminally differentiated myofibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells directly, providing a good strategy to simultaneously reduce scar tissue and increase functional cardiomyocytes. Transcription factors were first identified to reprogram myofibroblasts into cardiomyocytes. Thereafter, microRNAs and/or small molecules showed great potential to optimize the reprogramming process. Here, we systemically summarize and compare the major progress in directed cardiac reprogramming including transcription factors and miRNAs, especially the small molecules. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges needed to be overcome to apply this strategy clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueqiu Chen
- Institute for Cardiovascular Science & Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of The First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Building 1, Room 1628, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215007, China.,Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215007, China
| | - Ziying Yang
- Institute for Cardiovascular Science & Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of The First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Building 1, Room 1628, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215007, China
| | - Zhen-Ao Zhao
- Institute for Cardiovascular Science & Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of The First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Building 1, Room 1628, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215007, China.
| | - Zhenya Shen
- Institute for Cardiovascular Science & Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of The First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Building 1, Room 1628, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215007, China.
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94
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Ebrahimi B. In vivo reprogramming for heart regeneration: A glance at efficiency, environmental impacts, challenges and future directions. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2017; 108:61-72. [PMID: 28502796 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2017.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Replacing dying or diseased cells of a tissue with new ones that are converted from patient's own cells is an attractive strategy in regenerative medicine. In vivo reprogramming is a novel strategy that can circumvent the hurdles of autologous/allogeneic cell injection therapies. Interestingly, studies have demonstrated that direct injection of cardiac transcription factors or specific miRNAs into the infarct border zone of murine hearts following myocardial infarction converts resident cardiac fibroblasts into functional cardiomyocytes. Moreover, in vivo cardiac reprogramming not only drives cardiac tissue regeneration, but also improves cardiac function and survival rate after myocardial infarction. Thanks to the influence of cardiac microenvironment and the same developmental origin, cardiac fibroblasts seem to be more amenable to reprogramming toward cardiomyocyte fate than other cell sources (e.g. skin fibroblasts). Thus, reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts to functional induced cardiomyocytes in the cardiac environment holds great promises for induced regeneration and potential clinical purposes. Application of small molecules in future studies may represent a major advancement in this arena and pharmacological reprogramming would convey reprogramming technology to the translational medicine paradigm. This study reviews accomplishments in the field of in vitro and in vivo mouse cardiac reprogramming and then deals with strategies for the enhancement of the efficiency and quality of the process. Furthermore, it discusses challenges ahead and provides suggestions for future research. Human cardiac reprogramming is also addressed as a foundation for possible application of in vivo cardiac reprogramming for human heart regeneration in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Ebrahimi
- Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
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95
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Talkhabi M, Zonooz ER, Baharvand H. Boosters and barriers for direct cardiac reprogramming. Life Sci 2017; 178:70-86. [PMID: 28427897 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2017.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 04/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Heart disease is currently the most significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, which accounts for approximately 33% of all deaths. Recently, a promising and alchemy-like strategy has been developed called direct cardiac reprogramming, which directly converts somatic cells such as fibroblasts to cardiac lineage cells such as cardiomyocytes (CMs), termed induced CMs or iCMs. The first in vitro cardiac reprogramming study, mediated by cardiac transcription factors (TFs)-Gata4, Tbx5 and Mef2C-, was not enough efficient to produce an adequate number of fully reprogrammed, functional iCMs. As a result, numerous combinations of cardiac TFs exist for direct cardiac reprogramming of mouse and human fibroblasts. However, the efficiency of direct cardiac reprogramming remains low. Recently, a number of cellular and molecular mechanisms have been identified to increase the efficiency of direct cardiac reprogramming and the quality of iCMs. For example, microgrooved substrate, cardiogenic growth factors [VEGF, FGF, BMP4 and Activin A], and an appropriate stoichiometry of TFs boost the direct cardiac reprogramming. On the other hand, serum, TGFβ signaling, activators of epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and some epigenetic factors (Bmi1 and Ezh2) are barriers for direct cardiac reprogramming. Manipulating these mechanisms by the application of boosters and removing barriers can increase the efficiency of direct cardiac reprogramming and possibly make iCMs reliable for cell-based therapy or other potential applications. In this review, we summarize the latest trends in cardiac TF- or miRNA-based direct cardiac reprogramming and comprehensively discuses all molecular and cellular boosters and barriers affecting direct cardiac reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood Talkhabi
- Department of Animal Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Elmira Rezaei Zonooz
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Baharvand
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran.
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96
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Abstract
Myocardial infarction afflicts close to three quarters of a million Americans annually, resulting in reduced heart function, arrhythmia, and frequently death. Cardiomyocyte death reduces the heart’s pump capacity while the deposition of a non-conductive scar incurs the risk of arrhythmia. Direct cardiac reprogramming emerged as a novel technology to simultaneously reduce scar tissue and generate new cardiomyocytes to restore cardiac function. This technology converts endogenous cardiac fibroblasts directly into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells using a variety of cocktails including transcription factors, microRNAs, and small molecules. Although promising, direct cardiac reprogramming is still in its fledging phase, and numerous barriers have to be overcome prior to its clinical application. This review discusses current findings to optimize reprogramming efficiency, including reprogramming factor cocktails and stoichiometry, epigenetic barriers to cell fate reprogramming, incomplete conversion and residual fibroblast identity, requisite growth factors, and environmental cues. Finally, we address the current challenges and future directions for the field.
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97
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Rastegar-Pouyani S, Khazaei N, Wee P, Yaqubi M, Mohammadnia A. Meta-Analysis of Transcriptome Regulation During Induction to Cardiac Myocyte Fate From Mouse and Human Fibroblasts. J Cell Physiol 2017; 232:2053-2062. [PMID: 27579918 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ectopic expression of a defined set of transcription factors (TFs) can directly convert fibroblasts into a cardiac myocyte cell fate. Beside inefficiency in generating induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs), the molecular mechanisms that regulate this process remained to be well defined. The main purpose of this study was to provide better insight on the transcriptome regulation and to introduce a new strategy for candidating TFs for the transdifferentiation process. Eight mouse and three human high quality microarray data sets were analyzed to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which we integrated with TF-binding sites and protein-protein interactions to construct gene regulatory and protein-protein interaction networks. Topological and biological analyses of constructed gene networks revealed the main regulators and most affected biological processes. The DEGs could be categorized into two distinct groups, first, up-regulated genes that are mainly involved in cardiac-specific processes and second, down-regulated genes that are mainly involved in fibroblast-specific functions. Gata4, Mef2a, Tbx5, Tead4 TFs were identified as main regulators of cardiac-specific gene expression program; and Trp53, E2f1, Myc, Sfpi1, Lmo2, and Meis1 were identified as TFs which mainly regulate the expression of fibroblast-specific genes. Furthermore, we compared gene expression profiles and identified TFs between mouse and human to find the similarities and differences. In summary, our strategy of meta-analyzing the data of high-throughput techniques by computational approaches, besides revealing the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the gene expression program, also suggests a new approach for increasing the efficiency of the direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into iCMs. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 2053-2062, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shima Rastegar-Pouyani
- Institute of Medical Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Niusha Khazaei
- Institute of Medical Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Ping Wee
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Medical Genetics and Signal Transduction Research Group, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Moein Yaqubi
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Abdulshakour Mohammadnia
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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98
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Abad M, Hashimoto H, Zhou H, Morales MG, Chen B, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. Notch Inhibition Enhances Cardiac Reprogramming by Increasing MEF2C Transcriptional Activity. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 8:548-560. [PMID: 28262548 PMCID: PMC5355682 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Conversion of fibroblasts into functional cardiomyocytes represents a potential means of restoring cardiac function after myocardial infarction, but so far this process remains inefficient and little is known about its molecular mechanisms. Here we show that DAPT, a classical Notch inhibitor, enhances the conversion of mouse fibroblasts into induced cardiac-like myocytes by the transcription factors GATA4, HAND2, MEF2C, and TBX5. DAPT cooperates with AKT kinase to further augment this process, resulting in up to 70% conversion efficiency. Moreover, DAPT promotes the acquisition of specific cardiomyocyte features, substantially increasing calcium flux, sarcomere structure, and the number of spontaneously beating cells. Transcriptome analysis shows that DAPT induces genetic programs related to muscle development, differentiation, and excitation-contraction coupling. Mechanistically, DAPT increases binding of the transcription factor MEF2C to the promoter regions of cardiac structural genes. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the reprogramming process and may have important implications for cardiac regeneration therapies. Notch activation is a barrier for GHMT-induced cardiac cell reprogramming Notch blockade by DAPT improves GHMT-induced cardiac reprogramming DAPT increases sarcomere organization, calcium flux, and beating in GHMT reprogramming DAPT enhances transcriptional activity of MEF2C in GHMT reprogramming
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Abad
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cell Plasticity and Cancer Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), c/Natzaret, 115-117, Barcelona 08035, Spain.
| | - Hisayuki Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Huanyu Zhou
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Maria Gabriela Morales
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Beibei Chen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rhonda Bassel-Duby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Eric N Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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99
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Abstract
Reprogramming cell fates towards pluripotent stem cells and other cell types has revolutionized our understanding of cellular plasticity. During the last decade, transcription factors and microRNAs have become powerful reprogramming factors for modulating cell fates. Recently, many efforts are focused on reprogramming cell fates by non-viral and non-integrating chemical approaches. Small molecules not only are useful in generating desired cell types in vitro for various applications, such as disease modeling and cell-based transplantation, but also hold great promise to be further developed as drugs to stimulate patients’ endogenous cells to repair and regenerate in vivo. Here we will focus on chemical approaches for generating induced pluripotent stem cells, neurons, cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes and pancreatic β cells. Significantly, the rapid and exciting advances in cellular reprogramming by small molecules will help us to achieve the long-term goal of curing devastating diseases, injuries, cancers and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Ma
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Linghao Kong
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Saiyong Zhu
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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100
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Christoforou N, Chakraborty S, Kirkton RD, Adler AF, Addis RC, Leong KW. Core Transcription Factors, MicroRNAs, and Small Molecules Drive Transdifferentiation of Human Fibroblasts Towards The Cardiac Cell Lineage. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40285. [PMID: 28071742 PMCID: PMC5223186 DOI: 10.1038/srep40285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Transdifferentiation has been described as a novel method for converting human fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells. Such an approach can produce differentiated cells to study physiology or pathophysiology, examine drug interactions or toxicities, and engineer cardiac tissues. Here we describe the transdifferentiation of human dermal fibroblasts towards the cardiac cell lineage via the induced expression of transcription factors GATA4, TBX5, MEF2C, MYOCD, NKX2–5, and delivery of microRNAs miR-1 and miR-133a. Cells undergoing transdifferentiation expressed ACTN2 and TNNT2 and partially organized their cytoskeleton in a cross-striated manner. The conversion process was associated with significant upregulation of a cohort of cardiac-specific genes, activation of pathways associated with muscle contraction and physiology, and downregulation of fibroblastic markers. We used a genetically encoded calcium indicator and readily detected active calcium transients although no spontaneous contractions were observed in transdifferentiated cells. Finally, we determined that inhibition of Janus kinase 1, inhibition of Glycogen synthase kinase 3, or addition of NRG1 significantly enhanced the efficiency of transdifferentiation. Overall, we describe a method for achieving transdifferentiation of human dermal fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells via transcription factor overexpression, microRNA delivery, and molecular pathway manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Christoforou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Syandan Chakraborty
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert D Kirkton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Andrew F Adler
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Kam W Leong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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