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Cools L, Dastjerd MK, Smout A, Merens V, Yang Y, Reynaert H, Messaoudi N, Smet VD, Kumar M, Verhulst S, Verfaillie C, van Grunsven LA. Human iPSC-derived liver co-culture spheroids to model liver fibrosis. Biofabrication 2024; 16:035032. [PMID: 38865994 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad5766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The lack of adequate humanin vitromodels that recapitulate the cellular composition and response of the human liver to injury hampers the development of anti-fibrotic drugs. The goal of this study was to develop a human spheroid culture model to study liver fibrosis by using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived liver cells. iPSCs were independently differentiated towards hepatoblasts (iHepatoblasts), hepatic stellate cells (iHSCs), endothelial cells (iECs) and macrophages (iMΦ), before assembly into free floating spheroids by culturing cells in 96-well U-bottom plates and orbital shaking for up to 21 days to allow further maturation. Through transcriptome analysis, we show further maturation of iECs and iMΦ, the differentiation of the iHepatoblasts towards hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) and the inactivation of the iHSCs by the end of the 3D culture. Moreover, these cultures display a similar expression of cell-specific marker genes (CYP3A4, PDGFRβ, CD31andCD68) and sensitivity to hepatotoxicity as spheroids made using freshly isolated primary human liver cells. Furthermore, we show the functionality of the iHeps and the iHSCs by mimicking liver fibrosis through iHep-induced iHSC activation, using acetaminophen. In conclusion, we have established a reproducible human iPSC-derived liver culture model that can be used to mimic fibrosisin vitroas a replacement of primary human liver derived 3D models. The model can be used to investigate pathways involved in fibrosis development and to identify new targets for chronic liver disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cools
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mina Kazemzadeh Dastjerd
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ayla Smout
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vincent Merens
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yuwei Yang
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Reynaert
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nouredin Messaoudi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vincent De Smet
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Stem Cell Institute Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Catherine Verfaillie
- Stem Cell Institute Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
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Vashishat A, Patel P, Das Gupta G, Das Kurmi B. Alternatives of Animal Models for Biomedical Research: a Comprehensive Review of Modern Approaches. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:881-899. [PMID: 38429620 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10701-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Biomedical research has long relied on animal models to unravel the intricacies of human physiology and pathology. However, concerns surrounding ethics, expenses, and inherent species differences have catalyzed the exploration of alternative avenues. The contemporary alternatives to traditional animal models in biomedical research delve into three main categories of alternative approaches: in vitro models, in vertebrate models, and in silico models. This unique approach to artificial intelligence and machine learning has been a keen interest to be used in different biomedical research. The main goal of this review is to serve as a guide to researchers seeking novel avenues for their investigations and underscores the importance of considering alternative models in the pursuit of scientific knowledge and medical breakthroughs, including showcasing the broad spectrum of modern approaches that are revolutionizing biomedical research and leading the way toward a more ethical, efficient, and innovative future. Models can insight into cellular processes, developmental biology, drug interaction, assessing toxicology, and understanding molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Vashishat
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Preeti Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India.
| | - Ghanshyam Das Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Balak Das Kurmi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India.
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Carvalho AM, Bansal R, Barrias CC, Sarmento B. The Material World of 3D-Bioprinted and Microfluidic-Chip Models of Human Liver Fibrosis. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2307673. [PMID: 37961933 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Biomaterials are extensively used to mimic cell-matrix interactions, which are essential for cell growth, function, and differentiation. This is particularly relevant when developing in vitro disease models of organs rich in extracellular matrix, like the liver. Liver disease involves a chronic wound-healing response with formation of scar tissue known as fibrosis. At early stages, liver disease can be reverted, but as disease progresses, reversion is no longer possible, and there is no cure. Research for new therapies is hampered by the lack of adequate models that replicate the mechanical properties and biochemical stimuli present in the fibrotic liver. Fibrosis is associated with changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix that directly influence cell behavior. Biomaterials could play an essential role in better emulating the disease microenvironment. In this paper, the recent and cutting-edge biomaterials used for creating in vitro models of human liver fibrosis are revised, in combination with cells, bioprinting, and/or microfluidics. These technologies have been instrumental to replicate the intricate structure of the unhealthy tissue and promote medium perfusion that improves cell growth and function, respectively. A comprehensive analysis of the impact of material hints and cell-material interactions in a tridimensional context is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Carvalho
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
| | - Ruchi Bansal
- Translational Liver Research, Department of Medical Cell Biophysics, Technical Medical Center, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7522 NB, The Netherlands
| | - Cristina C Barrias
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IUCS - Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, CESPU, Rua Central de Gandra 1317, Gandra, 4585-116, Portugal
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Ietto G, Iori V, Gritti M, Inversini D, Costantino A, Izunza Barba S, Jiang ZG, Carcano G, Dalla Gasperina D, Pettinato G. Multicellular Liver Organoids: Generation and Importance of Diverse Specialized Cellular Components. Cells 2023; 12:1429. [PMID: 37408262 PMCID: PMC10217024 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over 40,000 patients in the United States are estimated to suffer from end-stage liver disease and acute hepatic failure, for which liver transplantation is the only available therapy. Human primary hepatocytes (HPH) have not been employed as a therapeutic tool due to the difficulty in growing and expanding them in vitro, their sensitivity to cold temperatures, and tendency to dedifferentiate following two-dimensional culture. The differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into liver organoids (LO) has emerged as a potential alternative to orthotropic liver transplantation (OLT). However, several factors limit the efficiency of liver differentiation from hiPSCs, including a low proportion of differentiated cells capable of reaching a mature phenotype, the poor reproducibility of existing differentiation protocols, and insufficient long-term viability in vitro and in vivo. This review will analyze various methodologies being developed to improve hepatic differentiation from hiPSCs into liver organoids, paying particular attention to the use of endothelial cells as supportive cells for their further maturation. Here, we demonstrate why differentiated liver organoids can be used as a research tool for drug testing and disease modeling, or employed as a bridge for liver transplantation following liver failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Ietto
- General, Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, ASST-Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Innovation Technology (DiMIT), University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Valentina Iori
- General, Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, ASST-Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Innovation Technology (DiMIT), University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Mattia Gritti
- Department of General Surgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Inversini
- General, Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, ASST-Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Innovation Technology (DiMIT), University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Angelita Costantino
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy;
| | - Sofia Izunza Barba
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Z. Gordon Jiang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Giulio Carcano
- General, Emergency and Transplant Surgery Department, ASST-Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Innovation Technology (DiMIT), University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Daniela Dalla Gasperina
- Department of Medicine and Innovation Technology (DiMIT), University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST-Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pettinato
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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