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Miyazaki N, Takami S, Uemura M, Oiki H, Takahashi M, Kawashima H, Kanamori Y, Yoshioka T, Kasahara M, Nakazawa A, Higashi M, Yanagida A, Hiramatsu R, Kanai-Azuma M, Fujishiro J, Kanai Y. Impact of gallbladder hypoplasia on hilar hepatic ducts in biliary atresia. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2024; 4:111. [PMID: 38862768 PMCID: PMC11166647 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-024-00544-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biliary atresia (BA) is an intractable disease of unknown cause that develops in the neonatal period. It causes jaundice and liver damage due to the destruction of extrahepatic biliary tracts,. We have found that heterozygous knockout mice of the SRY related HMG-box 17 (Sox17) gene, a master regulator of stem/progenitor cells in the gallbladder wall, exhibit a condition like BA. However, the precise contribution of hypoplastic gallbladder wall to the pathogenesis of hepatobiliary disease in Sox17 heterozygous embryos and human BA remains unclear. METHODS We employed cholangiography and histological analyses in the mouse BA model. Furthermore, we conducted a retrospective analysis of human BA. RESULTS We show that gallbladder wall hypoplasia causes abnormal multiple connections between the hilar hepatic bile ducts and the gallbladder-cystic duct in Sox17 heterozygous embryos. These multiple hilar extrahepatic ducts fuse with the developing intrahepatic duct walls and pull them out of the liver parenchyma, resulting in abnormal intrahepatic duct network and severe cholestasis. In human BA with gallbladder wall hypoplasia (i.e., abnormally reduced expression of SOX17), we also identify a strong association between reduced gallbladder width (a morphometric parameter indicating gallbladder wall hypoplasia) and severe liver injury at the time of the Kasai surgery, like the Sox17-mutant mouse model. CONCLUSIONS Together with the close correlation between gallbladder wall hypoplasia and liver damage in both mouse and human cases, these findings provide an insight into the critical role of SOX17-positive gallbladder walls in establishing functional bile duct networks in the hepatic hilus of neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanae Miyazaki
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shohei Takami
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, the University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mami Uemura
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Center for Experimental Animals, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hironobu Oiki
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, the University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Saitama Children's Medical Center, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masataka Takahashi
- Division of Surgery, Department of Surgical Specialties, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawashima
- Department of Surgery, Saitama Children's Medical Center, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kanamori
- Division of Surgery, Department of Surgical Specialties, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takako Yoshioka
- Department of Pathology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mureo Kasahara
- Organ Transplantation Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsuko Nakazawa
- Department of Clinical Research, Saitama Children's Medical Center, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
| | - Mayumi Higashi
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ayaka Yanagida
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryuji Hiramatsu
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masami Kanai-Azuma
- Center for Experimental Animals, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun Fujishiro
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, the University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiakira Kanai
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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Okumura A, Aoshima K, Tanimizu N. Generation of in vivo-like multicellular liver organoids by mimicking developmental processes: A review. Regen Ther 2024; 26:219-234. [PMID: 38903867 PMCID: PMC11186971 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2024.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver is involved in metabolic reactions, ammonia detoxification, and immunity. Multicellular liver tissue cultures are more desirable for drug screening, disease modeling, and researching transplantation therapy, than hepatocytes monocultures. Hepatocytes monocultures are not stable for long. Further, hepatocyte-like cells induced from pluripotent stem cells and in vivo hepatocytes are functionally dissimilar. Organoid technology circumvents these issues by generating functional ex vivo liver tissue from intrinsic liver progenitor cells and extrinsic stem cells, including pluripotent stem cells. To function as in vivo liver tissue, the liver organoid cells must be arranged precisely in the 3-dimensional space, closely mimicking in vivo liver tissue. Moreover, for long term functioning, liver organoids must be appropriately vascularized and in contact with neighboring epithelial tissues (e.g., bile canaliculi and intrahepatic bile duct, or intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts). Recent discoveries in liver developmental biology allows one to successfully induce liver component cells and generate organoids. Thus, here, in this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on liver development with a focus on its application in generating different liver organoids. We also cover the future prospects in creating (functionally and structurally) in vivo-like liver organoids using the current knowledge on liver development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumu Okumura
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0071, Japan
| | - Kenji Aoshima
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0071, Japan
| | - Naoki Tanimizu
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0071, Japan
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Biliary Atresia Animal Models: Is the Needle in a Haystack? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147838. [PMID: 35887185 PMCID: PMC9324346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive fibro-obliterative process with a variable degree of inflammation involving the hepatobiliary system. Its consequences are incalculable for the patients, the affected families, relatives, and the healthcare system. Scientific communities have identified a rate of about 1 case per 10,000-20,000 live births, but the percentage may be higher, considering the late diagnoses. The etiology is heterogeneous. BA, which is considered in half of the causes leading to orthotopic liver transplantation, occurs in primates and non-primates. To consolidate any model, (1) more transport and cell membrane studies are needed to identify the exact mechanism of noxa-related hepatotoxicity; (2) an online platform may be key to share data from pilot projects and new techniques; and (3) the introduction of differentially expressed genes may be useful in investigating the liver metabolism to target the most intricate bilio-toxic effects of pharmaceutical drugs and toxins. As a challenge, such methodologies are still limited to very few centers, making the identification of highly functional animal models like finding a "needle in a haystack". This review compiles models from the haystack and hopes that a combinatorial search will eventually be the root for a successful pathway.
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