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Herrera-Marcos LV, Arbones-Mainar JM, Osada J. Lipoprotein Lipidomics as a Frontier in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Biomarker Discovery. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8285. [PMID: 39125855 PMCID: PMC11311740 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158285] [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] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a progressive liver disease characterized by the build-up of fat in the liver of individuals in the absence of alcohol consumption. This condition has become a burden in modern societies aggravated by the lack of appropriate predictive biomarkers (other than liver biopsy). To better understand this disease and to find appropriate biomarkers, a new technology has emerged in the last two decades with the ability to explore the unmapped role of lipids in this disease: lipidomics. This technology, based on the combination of chromatography and mass spectrometry, has been extensively used to explore the lipid metabolism of NAFLD. In this review, we aim to summarize the knowledge gained through lipidomics assays exploring tissues, plasma, and lipoproteins from individuals with NAFLD. Our goal is to identify common features and active pathways that could facilitate the finding of a reliable biomarker from this field. The most frequent observation was a variable decrease (1-9%) in polyunsaturated fatty acids in phospholipids and non-esterified fatty acids in NAFLD patients, both in plasma and liver. Additionally, a reduction in phosphatidylcholines is a common feature in the liver. Due to the scarcity of studies, further research is needed to properly detect lipoprotein, plasma, and tissue lipid signatures of NAFLD etiologies, and NAFLD subtypes, and to define the relevance of this technology in disease management strategies in the push toward personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis V. Herrera-Marcos
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50013 Zaragoza, Spain; (L.V.H.-M.); (J.O.)
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón, CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS) Aragon, E-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, E-28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose M. Arbones-Mainar
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS) Aragon, E-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, E-28029 Madrid, Spain
- Adipocyte and Fat Biology Laboratory (AdipoFat), Translational Research Unit, University Hospital Miguel Servet, E-50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), E-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jesús Osada
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50013 Zaragoza, Spain; (L.V.H.-M.); (J.O.)
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón, CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS) Aragon, E-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, E-28029 Madrid, Spain
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2
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Bonanini F, Singh M, Yang H, Kurek D, Harms AC, Mardinoglu A, Hankemeier T. A comparison between different human hepatocyte models reveals profound differences in net glucose production, lipid composition and metabolism in vitro. Exp Cell Res 2024; 437:114008. [PMID: 38499143 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114008] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocytes are responsible for maintaining a stable blood glucose concentration during periods of nutrient scarcity. The breakdown of glycogen and de novo synthesis of glucose are crucial metabolic pathways deeply interlinked with lipid metabolism. Alterations in these pathways are often associated with metabolic diseases with serious clinical implications. Studying energy metabolism in human cells is challenging. Primary hepatocytes are still considered the golden standard for in vitro studies and have been instrumental in elucidating key aspects of energy metabolism found in vivo. As a result of several limitations posed by using primary cells, a multitude of alternative hepatocyte cellular models emerged as potential substitutes. Yet, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the precise applications for which these models accurately reflect the metabolic competence of primary hepatocytes. In this study, we compared primary hepatocytes, stem cell-derived hepatocytes, adult donor-derived liver organoids, immortalized Upcyte-hepatocytes and the hepatoma cell line HepG2s in their response to a glucose production challenge. We observed the highest net glucose production in primary hepatocytes, followed by organoids, stem-cell derived hepatocytes, Upcyte-hepatocytes and HepG2s. Glucogenic gene induction was observed in all tested models, as indicated by an increase in G6PC and PCK1 expression. Lipidomic analysis revealed considerable differences across the models, with organoids showing the closest similarity to primary hepatocytes in the common lipidome, comprising 347 lipid species across 19 classes. Changes in lipid profiles as a result of the glucose production challenge showed a variety of, and in some cases opposite, trends when compared to primary hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Madhulika Singh
- Metabolomics and Analytics Center, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Netherlands
| | - Hong Yang
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Amy C Harms
- Metabolomics and Analytics Center, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Netherlands
| | - Adil Mardinoglu
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Hankemeier
- Metabolomics and Analytics Center, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Netherlands.
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3
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Suominen S, Hyypijev T, Venäläinen M, Yrjänäinen A, Vuorenpää H, Lehti-Polojärvi M, Räsänen M, Seppänen A, Hyttinen J, Miettinen S, Aalto-Setälä K, Viiri LE. Improvements in Maturity and Stability of 3D iPSC-Derived Hepatocyte-like Cell Cultures. Cells 2023; 12:2368. [PMID: 37830581 PMCID: PMC10571736 DOI: 10.3390/cells12192368] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology enables differentiation of human hepatocytes or hepatocyte-like cells (iPSC-HLCs). Advances in 3D culturing platforms enable the development of more in vivo-like liver models that recapitulate the complex liver architecture and functionality better than traditional 2D monocultures. Moreover, within the liver, non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) are critically involved in the regulation and maintenance of hepatocyte metabolic function. Thus, models combining 3D culture and co-culturing of various cell types potentially create more functional in vitro liver models than 2D monocultures. Here, we report the establishment of 3D cultures of iPSC-HLCs alone and in co-culture with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hASCs). The 3D cultures were performed as spheroids or on microfluidic chips utilizing various biomaterials. Our results show that both 3D spheroid and on-chip culture enhance the expression of mature liver marker genes and proteins compared to 2D. Among the spheroid models, we saw the best functionality in iPSC-HLC monoculture spheroids. On the contrary, in the chip system, the multilineage model outperformed the monoculture chip model. Additionally, the optical projection tomography (OPT) and electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system revealed changes in spheroid size and electrical conductivity during spheroid culture, suggesting changes in cell-cell connections. Altogether, the present study demonstrates that iPSC-HLCs can successfully be cultured in 3D as spheroids and on microfluidic chips, and co-culturing iPSC-HLCs with NPCs enhances their functionality. These 3D in vitro liver systems are promising human-derived platforms usable in various liver-related studies, specifically when using patient-specific iPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siiri Suominen
- Heart Group, Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center and Science Mimicking Life Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland (L.E.V.)
| | - Tinja Hyypijev
- Heart Group, Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center and Science Mimicking Life Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland (L.E.V.)
| | - Mari Venäläinen
- Heart Group, Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center and Science Mimicking Life Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland (L.E.V.)
| | - Alma Yrjänäinen
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Hanna Vuorenpää
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Mari Lehti-Polojärvi
- Computational Biophysics and Imaging Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Mikko Räsänen
- Department of Technical Physics, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Aku Seppänen
- Department of Technical Physics, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Hyttinen
- Computational Biophysics and Imaging Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Susanna Miettinen
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Katriina Aalto-Setälä
- Heart Group, Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center and Science Mimicking Life Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland (L.E.V.)
- Heart Hospital, Tampere University Hospital, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Leena E. Viiri
- Heart Group, Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center and Science Mimicking Life Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland (L.E.V.)
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4
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Kiseleva OI, Kurbatov IY, Arzumanian VA, Ilgisonis EV, Zakharov SV, Poverennaya EV. The Expectation and Reality of the HepG2 Core Metabolic Profile. Metabolites 2023; 13:908. [PMID: 37623852 PMCID: PMC10456947 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13080908] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
To represent the composition of small molecules circulating in HepG2 cells and the formation of the "core" of characteristic metabolites that often attract researchers' attention, we conducted a meta-analysis of 56 datasets obtained through metabolomic profiling via mass spectrometry and NMR. We highlighted the 288 most commonly studied compounds of diverse chemical nature and analyzed metabolic processes involving these small molecules. Building a complete map of the metabolome of a cell, which encompasses the diversity of possible impacts on it, is a severe challenge for the scientific community, which is faced not only with natural limitations of experimental technologies, but also with the absence of transparent and widely accepted standards for processing and presenting the obtained metabolomic data. Formulating our research design, we aimed to reveal metabolites crucial to the Hepg2 cell line, regardless of all chemical and/or physical impact factors. Unfortunately, the existing paradigm of data policy leads to a streetlight effect. When analyzing and reporting only target metabolites of interest, the community ignores the changes in the metabolomic landscape that hide many molecular secrets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga I. Kiseleva
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street, 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (E.V.I.); (E.V.P.)
| | - Ilya Y. Kurbatov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street, 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (E.V.I.); (E.V.P.)
| | - Viktoriia A. Arzumanian
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street, 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (E.V.I.); (E.V.P.)
| | - Ekaterina V. Ilgisonis
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street, 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (E.V.I.); (E.V.P.)
| | - Svyatoslav V. Zakharov
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie gory Street, 1/3, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Ekaterina V. Poverennaya
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street, 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (E.V.I.); (E.V.P.)
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5
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Parsamanesh N, Kooshkaki O, Siami H, Santos RD, Jamialahmadi T, Sahebkar A. Gene and cell therapy approaches for familial hypercholesterolemia: An update. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103470. [PMID: 36572377 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103470] [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: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal codominant hereditary illness marked by the heightened risk of early atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and high blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). FH patients can have homozygous or heterozygous variants. This condition has been linked to variations in the genes for the LDL receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B, proprotein convertase subtilisin/Kexin 9 (PCSK9), and LDLR adaptor protein 1. Drugs such as statins, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors are currently widely available, allowing for the theoretical normalization of plasma LDL-C levels mostly in patients with heterozygous FH. However, homozygous FH patients usually have a poor response to traditional lipid-lowering therapy and may have a poor prognosis at a young age. LDL apheresis and novel pharmacological therapies such as microsomal transfer protein inhibitors or anti-angiopoietin-like protein 3 monoclonal antibodies are extremely expensive and unavailable in most regions of the world. Therefore, the unmet need persists for these patients. In this review, we discuss the numerous gene delivery, gene editing, and stem cell manipulation techniques used in this study to correct FH-causing LDLR gene variations in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. Finally, we looked at a variety of studies that corrected genetic defects that caused FH using the ground-breaking clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) gene editing technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negin Parsamanesh
- Zanjan Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Omid Kooshkaki
- Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Haleh Siami
- School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Raul D Santos
- Lipid Clinic Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo, Medical School Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tannaz Jamialahmadi
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Department of Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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6
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Li R, Zhao Y, Yourick JJ, Sprando RL, Gao X. Phenotypical, functional and transcriptomic comparison of two modified methods of hepatocyte differentiation from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Biomed Rep 2022; 16:43. [PMID: 35371477 PMCID: PMC8972237 DOI: 10.3892/br.2022.1526] [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: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Directed differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into hepatocytes could provide an unlimited source of liver cells, and therefore holds great promise for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, drug screening and toxicology studies. Various methods have been established during the past decade to differentiate human iPSCs into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) using growth factors and/or small molecules. However, direct comparison of the differentiation efficiency and the quality of the final HLCs between different methods has rarely been reported. In the current study, two hepatocyte differentiation methods were devised, termed Method 1 and 2, through modifying existing well-known hepatocyte differentiation strategies, and the resultant cells were compared phenotypically and functionally at different stages of hepatocyte differentiation. Compared to Method 1, higher differentiation efficiency and reproducibility were observed in Method 2, which generated highly homogeneous functional HLCs at the end of the differentiation process. The cells exhibited morphology closely resembling primary human hepatocytes and expressed high levels of hepatic protein markers. More importantly, these HLCs demonstrated several essential characteristics of mature hepatocytes, including major serum protein (albumin, fibronectin and α-1 antitrypsin) secretion, urea release, glycogen storage and inducible cytochrome P450 activity. Further transcriptomic comparison of the HLCs derived from the two methods identified 1,481 differentially expressed genes (DEGs); 290 Gene Ontology terms in the biological process category were enriched by these genes, which were further categorized into 34 functional classes. Pathway analysis of the DEGs identified several signaling pathways closely involved in hepatocyte differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, including 'signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells', 'Wnt signaling pathway', 'TGF-beta signaling pathway' and 'PI3K-Akt signaling pathway'. These results may provide a molecular basis for the differences observed between the two differentiation methods and suggest ways to further improve hepatocyte differentiation in order to obtain more mature HLCs for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
| | - Yang Zhao
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Yourick
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
| | - Robert L Sprando
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
| | - Xiugong Gao
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
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7
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Blaszkiewicz J, Duncan SA. Advancements in Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery Using iPSC-Derived Hepatocyte-like Cells. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:573. [PMID: 35456379 PMCID: PMC9030659 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Serving as the metabolic hub of the human body, the liver is a vital organ that performs a variety of important physiological functions. Although known for its regenerative potential, it remains vulnerable to a variety of diseases. Despite decades of research, liver disease remains a leading cause of mortality in the United States with a multibillion-dollar-per-year economic burden. Prior research with model systems, such as primary hepatocytes and murine models, has provided many important discoveries. However, progress has been impaired by numerous obstacles associated with these models. In recent years, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based systems have emerged as advantageous platforms for studying liver disease. Benefits, including preserved differentiation and physiological function, amenability to genetic manipulation via tools such as CRISPR/Cas9, and availability for high-throughput screening, make these systems increasingly attractive for both mechanistic studies of disease and the identification of novel therapeutics. Although limitations exist, recent studies have made progress in ameliorating these issues. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in iPSC-based models of liver disease, including improvements in model system construction as well as the use of high-throughput screens for genetic studies and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen A. Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
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8
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Gatzios A, Rombaut M, Buyl K, De Kock J, Rodrigues RM, Rogiers V, Vanhaecke T, Boeckmans J. From NAFLD to MAFLD: Aligning Translational In Vitro Research to Clinical Insights. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10010161. [PMID: 35052840 PMCID: PMC8773802 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most same-stage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients exhibit similar histologic sequelae, the underlying mechanisms appear to be highly heterogeneous. Therefore, it was recently proposed to redefine NAFLD to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in which other known causes of liver disease such as alcohol consumption or viral hepatitis do not need to be excluded. Revised nomenclature envisions speeding up and facilitating anti-MAFLD drug development by means of patient stratification whereby each subgroup would benefit from distinct pharmacological interventions. As human-based in vitro research fulfils an irrefutable step in drug development, action should be taken as well in this stadium of the translational path. Indeed, most established in vitro NAFLD models rely on short-term exposure to fatty acids and use lipid accumulation as a phenotypic benchmark. This general approach to a seemingly ambiguous disease such as NAFLD therefore no longer seems applicable. Human-based in vitro models that accurately reflect distinct disease subgroups of MAFLD should thus be adopted in early preclinical disease modeling and drug testing. In this review article, we outline considerations for setting up translational in vitro experiments in the MAFLD era and allude to potential strategies to implement MAFLD heterogeneity into an in vitro setting so as to better align early drug development with future clinical trial designs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Joost Boeckmans
- Correspondence: (A.G.); (J.B.); Tel.: +32-(0)-2-477-45-94 (A.G.)
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Parafati M, Bae SH, Kirby RJ, Fitzek M, Iyer P, Engkvist O, Smith DM, Malany S. Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocytes Phenotypic Screening Reveals Small Molecules Targeting the CDK2/4-C/EBPα/DGAT2 Pathway Preventing ER-Stress Induced Lipid Accumulation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249557. [PMID: 33334026 PMCID: PMC7765409 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a large impact on global health. At the onset of disease, NAFLD is characterized by hepatic steatosis defined by the accumulation of triglycerides stored as lipid droplets. Developing therapeutics against NAFLD and progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains a high priority in the medical and scientific community. Drug discovery programs to identify potential therapeutic compounds have supported high throughput/high-content screening of in vitro human-relevant models of NAFLD to accelerate development of efficacious anti-steatotic medicines. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology is a powerful platform for disease modeling and therapeutic assessment for cell-based therapy and personalized medicine. In this study, we applied AstraZeneca’s chemogenomic library, hiPSC technology and multiplexed high content screening to identify compounds that significantly reduced intracellular neutral lipid content. Among 13,000 compounds screened, we identified hits that protect against hiPSC-derived hepatic endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced steatosis by a mechanism of action including inhibition of the cyclin D3-cyclin-dependent kinase 2-4 (CDK2-4)/CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPα)/diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) pathway, followed by alteration of the expression of downstream genes related to NAFLD. These findings demonstrate that our phenotypic platform provides a reliable approach in drug discovery, to identify novel drugs for treatment of fatty liver disease as well as to elucidate their underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Parafati
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.P.); (S.H.B.)
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
| | - Sang Hyo Bae
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.P.); (S.H.B.)
| | - R. Jason Kirby
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
| | - Martina Fitzek
- Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK;
| | - Preeti Iyer
- Molecular AI, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, 431 83 Mölndal, Sweden; (P.I.); (O.E.)
| | - Ola Engkvist
- Molecular AI, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, 431 83 Mölndal, Sweden; (P.I.); (O.E.)
| | - David M. Smith
- Emerging Innovations Unit, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge SG8 6HB, UK;
| | - Siobhan Malany
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.P.); (S.H.B.)
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +352-273-6400
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10
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Kongmanas K, Punyadee N, Wasuworawong K, Songjaeng A, Prommool T, Pewkliang Y, Manocheewa S, Thiemmeca S, Sa-ngiamsuntorn K, Puttikhunt C, Faull KF, Hongeng S, Avirutnan P. Immortalized stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells: An alternative model for studying dengue pathogenesis and therapy. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008835. [PMID: 33216752 PMCID: PMC7717553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Suitable cell models are essential to advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of liver diseases and the development of therapeutic strategies. Primary human hepatocytes (PHHs), the most ideal hepatic model, are commercially available, but they are expensive and vary from lot-to-lot which confounds their utility. We have recently developed an immortalized hepatocyte-like cell line (imHC) from human mesenchymal stem cells, and tested it for use as a substitute model for hepatotropic infectious diseases. With a special interest in liver pathogenesis of viral infection, herein we determined the suitability of imHC as a host cell target for dengue virus (DENV) and as a model for anti-viral drug testing. We characterized the kinetics of DENV production, cellular responses to DENV infection (apoptosis, cytokine production and lipid droplet metabolism), and examined anti-viral drug effects in imHC cells with comparisons to the commonly used hepatoma cell lines (HepG2 and Huh-7) and PHHs. Our results showed that imHC cells had higher efficiencies in DENV replication and NS1 secretion as compared to HepG2 and Huh-7 cells. The kinetics of DENV infection in imHC cells showed a slower rate of apoptosis than the hepatoma cell lines and a certain similarity of cytokine profiles to PHHs. In imHC, DENV-induced alterations in levels of lipid droplets and triacylglycerols, a major component of lipid droplets, were more apparent than in hepatoma cell lines, suggesting active lipid metabolism in imHC. Significantly, responses to drugs with DENV inhibitory effects were greater in imHC cells than in HepG2 and Huh-7 cells. In conclusion, our findings suggest superior suitability of imHC as a new hepatocyte model for studying mechanisms underlying viral pathogenesis, liver diseases and drug effects. A model system resembling normal human liver cells is needed for advancement of hepatotropic infectious disease research. Here we show that immortalized cells (imHC) derived from human stem cells have a higher efficiency of DENV replication and a lower rate of cell death in response to DENV infection than the cancer cell-derived model systems currently used. The imHC also have active fat metabolism and respond well to anti-viral drug treatment, making them an attractive model for the initial stage of drug discovery and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kessiri Kongmanas
- Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Metabolomics and Phenomics Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nuntaya Punyadee
- Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kasima Wasuworawong
- Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Adisak Songjaeng
- Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tanapan Prommool
- Molecular Biology of Dengue and Flaviviruses Research Team, Medical Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yongyut Pewkliang
- Excellent Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Siriphan Manocheewa
- Siriraj Metabolomics and Phenomics Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Somchai Thiemmeca
- Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Graduate Program in Immunology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Chunya Puttikhunt
- Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Molecular Biology of Dengue and Flaviviruses Research Team, Medical Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kym Francis Faull
- Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Suradej Hongeng
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Panisadee Avirutnan
- Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Metabolomics and Phenomics Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Molecular Biology of Dengue and Flaviviruses Research Team, Medical Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail:
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11
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Pek NMQ, Liu KJ, Nichane M, Ang LT. Controversies Surrounding the Origin of Hepatocytes in Adult Livers and the in Vitro Generation or Propagation of Hepatocytes. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 11:273-290. [PMID: 32992051 PMCID: PMC7695885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2020.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial cells in the liver (known as hepatocytes) are high-performance engines of myriad metabolic functions and versatile responders to liver injury. As hepatocytes metabolize amino acids, alcohol, drugs, and other substrates, they produce and are exposed to a milieu of toxins and harmful byproducts that can damage themselves. In the healthy liver, hepatocytes generally divide slowly. However, after liver injury, hepatocytes can ramp up proliferation to regenerate the liver. Yet, on extensive injury, regeneration falters, and liver failure ensues. It is therefore critical to understand the mechanisms underlying liver regeneration and, in particular, which liver cells are mobilized during liver maintenance and repair. Controversies continue to surround the very existence of hepatic stem cells and, if they exist, their spatial location, multipotency, degree of contribution to regeneration, ploidy, and susceptibility to tumorigenesis. This review discusses these controversies. Finally, we highlight how insights into hepatocyte regeneration and biology in vivo can inform in vitro studies to propagate primary hepatocytes with liver regeneration-associated signals and to generate hepatocytes de novo from pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lay Teng Ang
- Correspondence Address correspondence to: Lay Teng Ang, PhD, Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Stanford-UC Berkeley Siebel Stem Cell Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.
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12
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Manzini S, Busnelli M, Colombo A, Kiamehr M, Chiesa G. liputils: a Python module to manage individual fatty acid moieties from complex lipids. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13368. [PMID: 32770020 PMCID: PMC7415148 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70259-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipidomic analyses address the problem of characterizing the lipid components of given cells, tissues and organisms by means of chromatographic separations coupled to high-resolution, tandem mass spectrometry analyses. A number of software tools have been developed to help in the daunting task of mass spectrometry signal processing and cleaning, peak analysis and compound identification, and a typical finished lipidomic dataset contains hundreds to thousands of individual molecular lipid species. To provide researchers without a specific technical expertise in mass spectrometry the possibility of broadening the exploration of lipidomic datasets, we have developed liputils, a Python module that specializes in the extraction of fatty acid moieties from individual molecular lipids. There is no prerequisite data format, as liputils extracts residues from RefMet-compliant textual identifiers and from annotations of other commercially available services. We provide three examples of real-world data processing with liputils, as well as a detailed protocol on how to readily process an existing dataset that can be followed with basic informatics skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Manzini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Marco Busnelli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Colombo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Mostafa Kiamehr
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33014, Tampere, Finland
| | - Giulia Chiesa
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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13
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Darakhshan S, Bidmeshki Pour A, Kowsari-Esfahan R, Vosough M, Montazeri L, Ghanian MH, Baharvand H, Piryaei A. Generation of Scalable Hepatic Micro-Tissues as a Platform for Toxicological Studies. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2020; 17:459-475. [PMID: 32666397 PMCID: PMC7392990 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-020-00272-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, there is an urgent need for scalable and reliable in vitro models to assess the effects of therapeutic entities on the human liver. Hepatoma cell lines, including Huh-7, show weakly resemblance to human hepatocytes, limiting their significance in toxicity studies. Co-culture of hepatic cells with non-parenchymal cells, and the presence of extracellular matrix have been shown to influence the biological behavior of hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to generate the scalable and functional hepatic micro-tissues (HMTs). METHODS The size-controllable HMTs were generated through co-culturing of Huh-7 cells by mesenchymal stem cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells in a composite hydrogel of liver-derived extracellular matrix and alginate, using an air-driven droplet generator. RESULTS The generated HMTs were functional throughout a culture period of 28 days, as assessed by monitoring glycogen storage, uptake of low-density lipoprotein and indocyanine green. The HMTs also showed increased secretion levels of albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and fibrinogen, and production of urea. Evaluating the expression of genes involved in hepatic-specific and drug metabolism functions indicated a significant improvement in HMTs compared to two-dimensional (2D) culture of Huh-7 cells. Moreover, in drug testing assessments, HMTs showed higher sensitivity to hepatotoxins compared to 2D cultured Huh-7 cells. Furthermore, induction and inhibition potency of cytochrome P450 enzymes confirmed that the HMTs can be used for in vitro drug screening. CONCLUSION Overall, we developed a simple and scalable method for generation of liver micro-tissues, using Huh-7, with improved hepatic-specific functionality, which may represent a biologically relevant platform for drug studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Darakhshan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, 6714414971, Iran
| | - Ali Bidmeshki Pour
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, 6714414971, Iran.
| | - Reza Kowsari-Esfahan
- Department of Cell Engineering, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, P.O. Box: 16635-148, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Montazeri
- Department of Cell Engineering, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Ghanian
- Department of Cell Engineering, 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, P.O. Box: 16635-148, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Abbas Piryaei
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 19395-4719, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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14
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Larsen LE, Smith MA, Abbey D, Korn A, Reeskamp LF, Hand NJ, Holleboom AG. Hepatocyte-like cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells: A versatile tool to understand lipid disorders. Atherosclerosis 2020; 303:8-14. [PMID: 32460140 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2020.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dyslipidemias are strongly linked to the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Most dyslipidemias find their origin in the liver. In recent years, the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into hepatocyte-like cells has provided a versatile platform for the functional study of various dyslipidemias, both rare genetic dyslipidemia as well as common lipid disorders associated with insulin resistance or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, iPSC-derived hepatocytes can serve as a cell model for developing novel lipid lowering therapies and have the potential of regenerative medicine. This review provides an overview of these developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars E Larsen
- Department of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mikhaila A Smith
- Departments of Genetics and Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Deepti Abbey
- Departments of Genetics and Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Amber Korn
- Department of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Laurens F Reeskamp
- Department of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nicholas J Hand
- Departments of Genetics and Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
| | - Adriaan G Holleboom
- Department of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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15
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Corbett JL, Duncan SA. iPSC-Derived Hepatocytes as a Platform for Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:265. [PMID: 31803747 PMCID: PMC6873655 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is one of the largest organs in the body and is responsible for a diverse repertoire of metabolic processes. Such processes include the secretion of serum proteins, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, bile acid and urea synthesis, detoxification of drugs and metabolic waste products, and vitamin and carbohydrate storage. Currently, liver disease is one of the most prevalent causes of mortality in the USA with congenital liver defects contributing to a significant proportion of these deaths. Historically the study of liver disease has been hampered by a shortage of organ donors, the subsequent scarcity of healthy tissue, and the failure of animal models to fully recapitulate human liver function. In vitro culture of hepatocytes has also proven difficult because primary hepatocytes rapidly de-differentiate in culture. Recent advances in stem cell technology have facilitated the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from various somatic cell types from patients. Such cells can be differentiated to a liver cell fate, essentially providing a limitless supply of cells with hepatocyte characteristics that can mimic the pathophysiology of liver disease. Furthermore, development of the CRISPR-Cas9 system, as well as advancement of miniaturized differentiation platforms has facilitated the development of high throughput models for the investigation of hepatocyte differentiation and drug discovery. In this review, we will explore the latest advances in iPSC-based disease modeling and drug screening platforms and examine how this technology is being used to identify new pharmacological interventions, and to advance our understanding of liver development and mechanisms of disease. We will cover how iPSC technology is being used to develop predictive models for rare diseases and how information gained from large in vitro screening experiments can be used to directly inform clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen A. Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
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16
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Compromised Barrier Function in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem-Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from Type 2 Diabetic Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20153773. [PMID: 31375001 PMCID: PMC6696227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In diabetic patients, high blood glucose induces alterations in retinal function and can lead to visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy. In immortalized retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cultures, high glucose concentrations are shown to lead to impairment in epithelial barrier properties. For the first time, the induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (hiPSC-RPE) cell lines derived from type 2 diabetics and healthy control patients were utilized to assess the effects of glucose concentration on the cellular functionality. We show that both type 2 diabetic and healthy control hiPSC-RPE lines differentiate and mature well, both in high and normal glucose concentrations, express RPE specific genes, secrete pigment epithelium derived factor, and form a polarized cell layer. Here, type 2 diabetic hiPSC-RPE cells had a decreased barrier function compared to controls. Added insulin increased the epithelial cell layer tightness in normal glucose concentrations, and the effect was more evident in type 2 diabetics than in healthy control hiPSC-RPE cells. In addition, the preliminary functionality assessments showed that type 2 diabetic hiPSC-RPE cells had attenuated autophagy detected via ubiquitin-binding protein p62/Sequestosome-1 (p62/SQSTM1) accumulation, and lowered pro- matrix metalloproteinase 2 (proMMP2) as well as increased pro-MMP9 secretion. These results suggest that the cellular ability to tolerate stress is possibly decreased in type 2 diabetic RPE cells.
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17
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Kiamehr M, Heiskanen L, Laufer T, Düsterloh A, Kahraman M, Käkelä R, Laaksonen R, Aalto-Setälä K. Dedifferentiation of Primary Hepatocytes is Accompanied with Reorganization of Lipid Metabolism Indicated by Altered Molecular Lipid and miRNA Profiles. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20122910. [PMID: 31207892 PMCID: PMC6627955 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20122910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) undergo dedifferentiation upon the two-dimensional (2D) culture, which particularly hinders their utility in long-term in vitro studies. Lipids, as a major class of biomolecules, play crucial roles in cellular energy storage, structure, and signaling. Here, for the first time, we mapped the alterations in the lipid profile of the dedifferentiating PHHs and studied the possible role of lipids in the loss of the phenotype of PHHs. Simultaneously, differentially expressed miRNAs associated with changes in the lipids and fatty acids (FAs) of the dedifferentiating PHHs were investigated. Methods: PHHs were cultured in monolayer and their phenotype was monitored morphologically, genetically, and biochemically for five days. The lipid and miRNA profile of the PHHs were analyzed by mass spectrometry and Agilent microarray, respectively. In addition, 24 key genes involved in the metabolism of lipids and FAs were investigated by qPCR. Results: The typical morphology of PHHs was lost from day 3 onward. Additionally, ALB and CYP genes were downregulated in the cultured PHHs. Lipidomics revealed a clear increase in the saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) containing lipids, but a decrease in the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) containing lipids during the dedifferentiation of PHHs. In line with this, FASN, SCD, ELOVL1, ELOVL3, and ELOVL7 were upregulated but ELOVL2 was downregulated in the dedifferentiated PHHs. Furthermore, differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, and the constantly upregulated miR-27a and miR-21, and downregulated miR-30 may have regulated the synthesis, accumulation and secretion of PHH lipids during the dedifferentiation. Conclusion: Our results showed major alterations in the molecular lipid species profiles, lipid-metabolizing enzyme expression as wells as miRNA profiles of the PHHs during their prolonged culture, which in concert could play important roles in the PHHs’ loss of phenotype. These findings promote the understanding from the dedifferentiation process and could help in developing optimal culture conditions, which better meet the needs of the PHHs and support their original phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Kiamehr
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland.
| | | | - Thomas Laufer
- Hummingbird Diagnostics GmbH, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
- Department of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany.
| | | | - Mustafa Kahraman
- Hummingbird Diagnostics GmbH, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
- Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | - Reijo Käkelä
- Helsinki University Lipidomics Unit, Helsinki Institute for Life Science (HiLIFE) and Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Reijo Laaksonen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland.
- Zora Biosciences, 02150 Espoo, Finland.
| | - Katriina Aalto-Setälä
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland.
- Heart Hospital, Tampere University Hospital, 33520 Tampere, Finland.
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