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Talifu Z, Zhang C, Xu X, Pan Y, Ke H, Li Z, Liu W, Du H, Wang X, Gao F, Yang D, Jing Y, Yu Y, Du L, Li J. Neuronal repair after spinal cord injury by in vivo astrocyte reprogramming mediated by the overexpression of NeuroD1 and Neurogenin-2. Biol Res 2024; 57:53. [PMID: 39135103 PMCID: PMC11318173 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00534-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a common disabling disease, irreversible neuronal death due to spinal cord injury (SCI) is the root cause of functional impairment; however, the capacity for neuronal regeneration in the developing spinal cord tissue is limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate how defective neurons can be replenished and functionally integrated by neural regeneration; the reprogramming of intrinsic cells into functional neurons may represent an ideal solution. METHODS A mouse model of transection SCI was prepared by forceps clamping, and an adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying the transcription factors NeuroD1 and Neurogenin-2(Ngn2) was injected in situ into the spinal cord to specifically overexpress these transcription factors in astrocytes close to the injury site. 5-bromo-2´-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was subsequently injected intraperitoneally to continuously track cell regeneration, neuroblasts and immature neurons marker expression, neuronal regeneration, and glial scar regeneration. In addition, immunoprotein blotting was used to measure the levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway-related protein expression. We also evaluated motor function, sensory function, and the integrity of the blood-spinal cord barrier(BSCB). RESULTS The in situ overexpression of NeuroD1 and Ngn2 in the spinal cord was achieved by specific AAV vectors. This intervention led to a significant increase in cell regeneration and the proportion of cells with neuroblasts and immature neurons cell properties at the injury site(p < 0.0001). Immunofluorescence staining identified astrocytes with neuroblasts and immature neurons cell properties at the site of injury while neuronal marker-specific staining revealed an increased number of mature astrocytes at the injury site. Behavioral assessments showed that the intervention did not improve The BMS (Basso mouse scale) score (p = 0.0726) and gait (p > 0.05), although the treated mice had more sensory sensitivity and greater voluntary motor ability in open field than the non-intervention mice. We observed significant repair of the BSCB at the center of the injury site (p < 0.0001) and a significant improvement in glial scar proliferation. Electrophysiological assessments revealed a significant improvement in spinal nerve conduction (p < 0.0001) while immunostaining revealed that the levels of TGF-β protein at the site of injury in the intervention group were lower than control group (p = 0.0034); in addition, P70 s6 and PP2A related to the TGF-β pathway showed ascending trend (p = 0.0036, p = 0.0152 respectively). CONCLUSIONS The in situ overexpression of NeuroD1 and Ngn2 in the spinal cord after spinal cord injury can reprogram astrocytes into neurons and significantly enhance cell regeneration at the injury site. The reprogramming of astrocytes can lead to tissue repair, thus improving the reduced threshold and increasing voluntary movements. This strategy can also improve the integrity of the blood-spinal cord barrier and enhance nerve conduction function. However, the simple reprogramming of astrocytes cannot lead to significant improvements in the striding function of the lower limbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuliyaer Talifu
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
- University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Shandong, 266113, China
| | - Chunjia Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xin Xu
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
- University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Shandong, 266113, China
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Shandong Province, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Yunzhu Pan
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
- University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Shandong, 266113, China
| | - Han Ke
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Shandong Province, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Zehui Li
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Wubo Liu
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Shandong Province, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Huayong Du
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Xiaoxin Wang
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Feng Gao
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Degang Yang
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Yingli Jing
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Yan Yu
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Liangjie Du
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Jianjun Li
- School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, 100068, China.
- University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Shandong, 266113, China.
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Shandong Province, Jinan, 250100, China.
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Krupa I, Treacy NJ, Clerkin S, Davis JL, Miller AF, Saiani A, Wychowaniec JK, Reynaud EG, Brougham DF, Crean J. Protocol for the Growth and Maturation of hiPSC-Derived Kidney Organoids using Mechanically Defined Hydrogels. Curr Protoc 2024; 4:e1096. [PMID: 38984433 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.1096] [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] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
With recent advances in the reprogramming of somatic cells into induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs), gene editing technologies, and protocols for the directed differentiation of stem cells into heterogeneous tissues, iPSC-derived kidney organoids have emerged as a useful means to study processes of renal development and disease. Considerable advances guided by knowledge of fundamental renal developmental signaling pathways have been made with the use of exogenous morphogens to generate more robust kidney-like tissues in vitro. However, both biochemical and biophysical microenvironmental cues are major influences on tissue development and self-organization. In the context of engineering the biophysical aspects of the microenvironment, the use of hydrogel extracellular scaffolds for organoid studies has been gaining interest. Two families of hydrogels have recently been the subject of significant attention: self-assembling peptide hydrogels (SAPHs), which are fully synthetic and chemically defined, and gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels, which are semi-synthetic. Both can be used as support matrices for growing kidney organoids. Based on our recently published work, we highlight methods describing the generation of human iPSC (hiPSC)-derived kidney organoids and their maturation within SAPHs and GelMA hydrogels. We also detail protocols required for the characterization of such organoids using immunofluorescence imaging. Together, these protocols should enable the user to grow hiPSC-derived kidney organoids within hydrogels of this kind and evaluate the effects that the biophysical microenvironment provided by the hydrogels has on kidney organoid maturation. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Directed differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into kidney organoids and maturation within mechanically tunable self-assembling peptide hydrogels (SAPHs) Alternate Protocol: Encapsulation of day 9 nephron progenitor aggregates in gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels. Support Protocol 1: Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) culture. Support Protocol 2: Organoid fixation with paraformaldehyde (PFA) Basic Protocol 2: Whole-mount immunofluorescence imaging of kidney organoids. Basic Protocol 3: Immunofluorescence of organoid cryosections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Krupa
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niall J Treacy
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Shane Clerkin
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jessica L Davis
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aline F Miller
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alberto Saiani
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry & Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jacek K Wychowaniec
- UCD School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
- Current address: AO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel G Reynaud
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dermot F Brougham
- UCD School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John Crean
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
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Farbehi N, Neavin DR, Cuomo ASE, Studer L, MacArthur DG, Powell JE. Integrating population genetics, stem cell biology and cellular genomics to study complex human diseases. Nat Genet 2024; 56:758-766. [PMID: 38741017 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01731-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem (hPS) cells can, in theory, be differentiated into any cell type, making them a powerful in vitro model for human biology. Recent technological advances have facilitated large-scale hPS cell studies that allow investigation of the genetic regulation of molecular phenotypes and their contribution to high-order phenotypes such as human disease. Integrating hPS cells with single-cell sequencing makes identifying context-dependent genetic effects during cell development or upon experimental manipulation possible. Here we discuss how the intersection of stem cell biology, population genetics and cellular genomics can help resolve the functional consequences of human genetic variation. We examine the critical challenges of integrating these fields and approaches to scaling them cost-effectively and practically. We highlight two areas of human biology that can particularly benefit from population-scale hPS cell studies, elucidating mechanisms underlying complex disease risk loci and evaluating relationships between common genetic variation and pharmacotherapeutic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nona Farbehi
- Garvan Weizmann Center for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Drew R Neavin
- Garvan Weizmann Center for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anna S E Cuomo
- Garvan Weizmann Center for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Population Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lorenz Studer
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel G MacArthur
- Centre for Population Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Population Genomics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joseph E Powell
- Garvan Weizmann Center for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
- UNSW Cellular Genomics Futures Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Chen B, Khan H, Yu Z, Yao L, Freeburne E, Jo K, Johnson C, Heemskerk I. Extended culture of 2D gastruloids to model human mesoderm development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.21.585753. [PMID: 38585971 PMCID: PMC10996563 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.21.585753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Micropatterned human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) treated with BMP4 (2D gastruloids) are among the most widely used stem cell models for human gastrulation. Due to its simplicity and reproducibility, this system is ideal for high throughput quantitative studies of tissue patterning and has led to many insights into the mechanisms of mammalian gastrulation. However, 2D gastruloids have only been studied up to 48h. Here we extended this system to 96h. We discovered a phase of highly reproducible morphogenesis during which directed migration from the primitive streak-like region gives rise to a mesodermal layer beneath an epiblast-like layer. Multiple types of mesoderm arise with striking spatial organization including lateral mesoderm-like cells on the colony border and paraxial mesoderm-like further inside the colony. Single cell transcriptomics showed strong similarity of these cells to mesoderm in human and non-human primate embryos. However, our data suggest that the annotation of the reference human embryo may need to be revised. This illustrates that extended culture of 2D gastruloids provides a powerful model for human mesoderm differentiation and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohan Chen
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Hina Khan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Zhiyuan Yu
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - LiAng Yao
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Emily Freeburne
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kyoung Jo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Craig Johnson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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5
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Ang CE, Olmos VH, Vodehnal K, Zhou B, Lee QY, Sinha R, Narayanaswamy A, Mall M, Chesnov K, Dominicus CS, Südhof T, Wernig M. Generation of human excitatory forebrain neurons by cooperative binding of proneural NGN2 and homeobox factor EMX1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2308401121. [PMID: 38446849 PMCID: PMC10945857 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308401121] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Generation of defined neuronal subtypes from human pluripotent stem cells remains a challenge. The proneural factor NGN2 has been shown to overcome experimental variability observed by morphogen-guided differentiation and directly converts pluripotent stem cells into neurons, but their cellular heterogeneity has not been investigated yet. Here, we found that NGN2 reproducibly produces three different kinds of excitatory neurons characterized by partial coactivation of other neurotransmitter programs. We explored two principle approaches to achieve more precise specification: prepatterning the chromatin landscape that NGN2 is exposed to and combining NGN2 with region-specific transcription factors. Unexpectedly, the chromatin context of regionalized neural progenitors only mildly altered genomic NGN2 binding and its transcriptional response and did not affect neurotransmitter specification. In contrast, coexpression of region-specific homeobox factors such as EMX1 resulted in drastic redistribution of NGN2 including recruitment to homeobox targets and resulted in glutamatergic neurons with silenced nonglutamatergic programs. These results provide the molecular basis for a blueprint for improved strategies for generating a plethora of defined neuronal subpopulations from pluripotent stem cells for therapeutic or disease-modeling purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheen Euong Ang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Victor Hipolito Olmos
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Kayla Vodehnal
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Bo Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- HHMI, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Qian Yi Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Rahul Sinha
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Aadit Narayanaswamy
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Moritz Mall
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Kirill Chesnov
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Caia S. Dominicus
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, CambridgeshireCB10 1SA, United Kingdom
- OpenTargets, Hinxton, CambridgeshireCB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Südhof
- HHMI, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Marius Wernig
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
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Gill JK, Rehsia SK, Verma E, Sareen N, Dhingra S. Stem cell therapy for cardiac regeneration: past, present, and future. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2024; 102:161-179. [PMID: 38226807 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2023-0202] [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] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac disorders remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Current clinical strategies, including drug therapy, surgical interventions, and organ transplantation offer limited benefits to patients without regenerating the damaged myocardium. Over the past decade, stem cell therapy has generated a keen interest owing to its unique self-renewal and immune privileged characteristics. Furthermore, the ability of stem cells to differentiate into specialized cell types, has made them a popular therapeutic tool against various diseases. This comprehensive review provides an overview of therapeutic potential of different types of stem cells in reference to cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, it sheds light on the advantages and limitations associated with each cell type. An in-depth analysis of the challenges associated with stem cell research and the hurdles for its clinical translation and their possible solutions have also been elaborated upon. It examines the controversies surrounding embryonic stem cells and the emergence of alternative approaches, such as the use of induced pluripotent stem cells for cardiac therapeutic applications. Overall, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers involved in the field of regenerative medicine, guiding the development of safe and effective stem cell-based therapies to revolutionize patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaideep Kaur Gill
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre Regenerative Medicine Program, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB, R2H2A6, Canada
| | - Sargun Kaur Rehsia
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre Regenerative Medicine Program, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB, R2H2A6, Canada
| | - Elika Verma
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre Regenerative Medicine Program, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB, R2H2A6, Canada
| | - Niketa Sareen
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre Regenerative Medicine Program, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB, R2H2A6, Canada
| | - Sanjiv Dhingra
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre Regenerative Medicine Program, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB, R2H2A6, Canada
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Yang Y, McCullough CG, Seninge L, Guo L, Kwon WJ, Zhang Y, Li NY, Gaddam S, Pan C, Zhen H, Torkelson J, Glass IA, Charville G, Que J, Stuart J, Ding H, Oro A. A Spatiotemporal and Machine-Learning Platform Accelerates the Manufacturing of hPSC-derived Esophageal Mucosa. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.24.563664. [PMID: 37961271 PMCID: PMC10634774 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived tissue engineering offers great promise in designer cell-based personalized therapeutics. To harness such potential, a broader approach requires a deeper understanding of tissue-level interactions. We previously developed a manufacturing system for the ectoderm-derived skin epithelium for cell replacement therapy. However, it remains challenging to manufacture the endoderm-derived esophageal epithelium, despite both possessing similar stratified structure. Here we employ single cell and spatial technologies to generate a spatiotemporal multi-omics cell atlas for human esophageal development. We illuminate the cellular diversity, dynamics and signal communications for the developing esophageal epithelium and stroma. Using the machine-learning based Manatee, we prioritize the combinations of candidate human developmental signals for in vitro derivation of esophageal basal cells. Functional validation of the Manatee predictions leads to a clinically-compatible system for manufacturing human esophageal mucosa. Our approach creates a versatile platform to accelerate human tissue manufacturing for future cell replacement therapies to treat human genetic defects and wounds.
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Naderi-Meshkin H, Cornelius VA, Eleftheriadou M, Potel KN, Setyaningsih WAW, Margariti A. Vascular organoids: unveiling advantages, applications, challenges, and disease modelling strategies. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:292. [PMID: 37817281 PMCID: PMC10566155 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03521-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding mechanisms and manifestations of cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes, on vascular cells such as endothelial cells, pericytes, and vascular smooth muscle cells, remains elusive partly due to the lack of appropriate disease models. Therefore, here we explore different aspects for the development of advanced 3D in vitro disease models that recapitulate human blood vessel complications using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, which retain the epigenetic, transcriptomic, and metabolic memory of their patient-of-origin. In this review, we highlight the superiority of 3D blood vessel organoids over conventional 2D cell culture systems for vascular research. We outline the key benefits of vascular organoids in both health and disease contexts and discuss the current challenges associated with organoid technology, providing potential solutions. Furthermore, we discuss the diverse applications of vascular organoids and emphasize the importance of incorporating all relevant cellular components in a 3D model to accurately recapitulate vascular pathophysiology. As a specific example, we present a comprehensive overview of diabetic vasculopathy, demonstrating how the interplay of different vascular cell types is critical for the successful modelling of complex disease processes in vitro. Finally, we propose a strategy for creating an organ-specific diabetic vasculopathy model, serving as a valuable template for modelling other types of vascular complications in cardiovascular diseases by incorporating disease-specific stressors and organotypic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hojjat Naderi-Meshkin
- The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Victoria A Cornelius
- The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Magdalini Eleftheriadou
- The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Koray Niels Potel
- The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Wiwit Ananda Wahyu Setyaningsih
- The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sleman, D.I. Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
| | - Andriana Margariti
- The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
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Yousafzai MS, Hammer JA. Using Biosensors to Study Organoids, Spheroids and Organs-on-a-Chip: A Mechanobiology Perspective. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:905. [PMID: 37887098 PMCID: PMC10605946 DOI: 10.3390/bios13100905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The increasing popularity of 3D cell culture models is being driven by the demand for more in vivo-like conditions with which to study the biochemistry and biomechanics of numerous biological processes in health and disease. Spheroids and organoids are 3D culture platforms that self-assemble and regenerate from stem cells, tissue progenitor cells or cell lines, and that show great potential for studying tissue development and regeneration. Organ-on-a-chip approaches can be used to achieve spatiotemporal control over the biochemical and biomechanical signals that promote tissue growth and differentiation. These 3D model systems can be engineered to serve as disease models and used for drug screens. While culture methods have been developed to support these 3D structures, challenges remain to completely recapitulate the cell-cell and cell-matrix biomechanical interactions occurring in vivo. Understanding how forces influence the functions of cells in these 3D systems will require precise tools to measure such forces, as well as a better understanding of the mechanobiology of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Biosensors will prove powerful for measuring forces in both of these contexts, thereby leading to a better understanding of how mechanical forces influence biological systems at the cellular and tissue levels. Here, we discussed how biosensors and mechanobiological research can be coupled to develop accurate, physiologically relevant 3D tissue models to study tissue development, function, malfunction in disease, and avenues for disease intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sulaiman Yousafzai
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - John A. Hammer
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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10
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Cerrada V, García-Consuegra I, Arenas J, Gallardo ME. Creation of an iPSC-Based Skeletal Muscle Model of McArdle Disease Harbouring the Mutation c.2392T>C (p.Trp798Arg) in the PYGM Gene. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2434. [PMID: 37760875 PMCID: PMC10525199 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092434] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
McArdle disease is a rare autosomal recessive condition caused by mutations in the PYGM gene. This gene encodes the skeletal muscle isoform of glycogen phosphorylase or myophosphorylase. Patients with McArdle disease have an inability to obtain energy from their muscle glycogen stores, which manifests as a marked exercise intolerance. Nowadays, there is no cure for this disorder and recommendations are intended to prevent and mitigate symptoms. There is great heterogeneity among the pathogenic variants found in the PYGM gene, and there is no obvious correlation between genotypes and phenotypes. Here, we present the generation of the first human iPSC-based skeletal muscle model harbouring the second most frequent mutation in PYGM in the Spanish population: NM_005609.4: c.2392T>C (p.Trp798Arg). To this end, iPSCs derived from a McArdle patient and a healthy control were both successfully differentiated into skeletal muscle cells using a small molecule-based protocol. The created McArdle skeletal muscle model was validated by confirming distinctive biochemical aspects of the disease such as the absence of myophosphorylase, the most typical biochemical feature of these patients. This model will be very valuable for use in future high-throughput pharmacological screenings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Cerrada
- Grupo de Investigación Traslacional con Células iPS, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés García-Consuegra
- Laboratorio de Enfermedades Mitocondriales y Neuromusculares, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquín Arenas
- Laboratorio de Enfermedades Mitocondriales y Neuromusculares, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - M. Esther Gallardo
- Grupo de Investigación Traslacional con Células iPS, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
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11
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Giarrizzo M, LaComb JF, Bialkowska AB. The Role of Krüppel-like Factors in Pancreatic Physiology and Pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108589. [PMID: 37239940 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108589] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) belong to the family of transcription factors with three highly conserved zinc finger domains in the C-terminus. They regulate homeostasis, development, and disease progression in many tissues. It has been shown that KLFs play an essential role in the endocrine and exocrine compartments of the pancreas. They are necessary to maintain glucose homeostasis and have been implicated in the development of diabetes. Furthermore, they can be a vital tool in enabling pancreas regeneration and disease modeling. Finally, the KLF family contains proteins that act as tumor suppressors and oncogenes. A subset of members has a biphasic function, being upregulated in the early stages of oncogenesis and stimulating its progression and downregulated in the late stages to allow for tumor dissemination. Here, we describe KLFs' function in pancreatic physiology and pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Giarrizzo
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Joseph F LaComb
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Agnieszka B Bialkowska
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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12
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Konoe R, Morizane R. Strategies for Improving Vascularization in Kidney Organoids: A Review of Current Trends. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:503. [PMID: 37106704 PMCID: PMC10135596 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Kidney organoids possess the potential to revolutionize the treatment of renal diseases. However, their growth and maturation are impeded by insufficient growth of blood vessels. Through a PubMed search, we have identified 34 studies that attempted to address this challenge. Researchers are exploring various approaches including animal transplantation, organ-on-chips, and extracellular matrices (ECMs). The most prevalent method to promote the maturation and vascularization of organoids involves transplanting them into animals for in vivo culture, creating an optimal environment for organoid growth and the development of a chimeric vessel network between the host and organoids. Organ-on-chip technology permits the in vitro culture of organoids, enabling researchers to manipulate the microenvironment and investigate the key factors that influence organoid development. Lastly, ECMs have been discovered to aid the formation of blood vessels during organoid differentiation. ECMs from animal tissue have been particularly successful, although the underlying mechanisms require further research. Future research building upon these recent studies may enable the generation of functional kidney tissues for replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryuji Morizane
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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13
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Medina-Cano D, Corrigan EK, Glenn RA, Islam MT, Lin Y, Kim J, Cho H, Vierbuchen T. Rapid and robust directed differentiation of mouse epiblast stem cells into definitive endoderm and forebrain organoids. Development 2022; 149:dev200561. [PMID: 35899604 PMCID: PMC10655922 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is a powerful model system for deconstructing embryonic development. Although mice are the most advanced mammalian model system for genetic studies of embryonic development, state-of-the-art protocols for directed differentiation of mouse PSCs into defined lineages require additional steps and generates target cell types with lower purity than analogous protocols for human PSCs, limiting their application as models for mechanistic studies of development. Here, we examine the potential of mouse epiblast stem cells cultured in media containing Wnt pathway inhibitors as a starting point for directed differentiation. As a proof of concept, we focused our efforts on two specific cell/tissue types that have proven difficult to generate efficiently and reproducibly from mouse embryonic stem cells: definitive endoderm and neural organoids. We present new protocols for rapid generation of nearly pure definitive endoderm and forebrain-patterned neural organoids that model the development of prethalamic and hippocampal neurons. These differentiation models present new possibilities for combining mouse genetic tools with in vitro differentiation to characterize molecular and cellular mechanisms of embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Medina-Cano
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Emily K. Corrigan
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Rachel A. Glenn
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Cell and Developmental Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mohammed T. Islam
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yuan Lin
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Juliet Kim
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Hyunwoo Cho
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Thomas Vierbuchen
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10065, USA
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14
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Cacciamali A, Villa R, Dotti S. 3D Cell Cultures: Evolution of an Ancient Tool for New Applications. Front Physiol 2022; 13:836480. [PMID: 35936888 PMCID: PMC9353320 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.836480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, research is undergoing a drastic change in the application of the animal model as a unique investigation strategy, considering an alternative approach for the development of science for the future. Although conventional monolayer cell cultures represent an established and widely used in vitro method, the lack of tissue architecture and the complexity of such a model fails to inform true biological processes in vivo. Recent advances in cell culture techniques have revolutionized in vitro culture tools for biomedical research by creating powerful three-dimensional (3D) models to recapitulate cell heterogeneity, structure and functions of primary tissues. These models also bridge the gap between traditional two-dimensional (2D) single-layer cultures and animal models. 3D culture systems allow researchers to recreate human organs and diseases in one dish and thus holds great promise for many applications such as regenerative medicine, drug discovery, precision medicine, and cancer research, and gene expression studies. Bioengineering has made an important contribution in the context of 3D systems using scaffolds that help mimic the microenvironments in which cells naturally reside, supporting the mechanical, physical and biochemical requirements for cellular growth and function. We therefore speak of models based on organoids, bioreactors, organ-on-a-chip up to bioprinting and each of these systems provides its own advantages and applications. All of these techniques prove to be excellent candidates for the development of alternative methods for animal testing, as well as revolutionizing cell culture technology. 3D systems will therefore be able to provide new ideas for the study of cellular interactions both in basic and more specialized research, in compliance with the 3R principle. In this review, we provide a comparison of 2D cell culture with 3D cell culture, provide details of some of the different 3D culture techniques currently available by discussing their strengths as well as their potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Silvia Dotti
- *Correspondence: Andrea Cacciamali, ; Silvia Dotti,
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15
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Hidalgo Aguilar A, Smith L, Owens D, Quelch R, Przyborski S. Recreating Tissue Structures Representative of Teratomas In Vitro Using a Combination of 3D Cell Culture Technology and Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9050185. [PMID: 35621463 PMCID: PMC9138123 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9050185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro studies using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are a valuable method to study aspects of embryogenesis, avoiding ethical issues when using embryonic materials and species dissimilarities. The xenograft teratoma assay is often traditionally used to establish pluripotency in putative PSC populations, but also has additional applications, including the study of tissue differentiation. The stem cell field has long sought an alternative due to various well-established issues with the in vivo technique, including significant protocol variability and animal usage. We have established a two-step culture method which combines PSC-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) with porous scaffolds to enhance their viability, prolonging the time these structures can be maintained, and therefore, permitting more complex, mature differentiation. Here, we have utilised human embryonic stem cell-derived EBs, demonstrating the formation of tissue rudiments of increasing complexity over time and the ability to manipulate their differentiation through the application of exogenous morphogens to achieve specific lineages. Crucially, these EB-derived tissues are highly reminiscent of xenograft teratoma samples derived from the same cell line. We believe this in vitro approach represents a reproducible, animal-free alternative to the teratoma assay, which can be used to study human tissue development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucy Smith
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK; (A.H.A.); (L.S.); (D.O.); (R.Q.)
| | - Dominic Owens
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK; (A.H.A.); (L.S.); (D.O.); (R.Q.)
| | - Rebecca Quelch
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK; (A.H.A.); (L.S.); (D.O.); (R.Q.)
| | - Stefan Przyborski
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK; (A.H.A.); (L.S.); (D.O.); (R.Q.)
- Reprocell Europe, NETPark, Sedgefield TS21 3FD, UK
- Correspondence:
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16
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Clever Experimental Designs: Shortcuts for Better iPSC Differentiation. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123540. [PMID: 34944048 PMCID: PMC8700474 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
For practical use of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) for disease modelling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine, the cell differentiation process needs to be properly refined to generate end products with consistent and high quality. To construct and optimize a robust cell-induction process, a myriad of cell culture conditions should be considered. In contrast to inefficient brute-force screening, statistical design of experiments (DOE) approaches, such as factorial design, orthogonal array design, response surface methodology (RSM), definitive screening design (DSD), and mixture design, enable efficient and strategic screening of conditions in smaller experimental runs through multifactorial screening and/or quantitative modeling. Although DOE has become routinely utilized in the bioengineering and pharmaceutical fields, the imminent need of more detailed cell-lineage specification, complex organoid construction, and a stable supply of qualified cell-derived material requires expedition of DOE utilization in stem cell bioprocessing. This review summarizes DOE-based cell culture optimizations of PSCs, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which guide effective research and development of PSC-derived materials for academic and industrial applications.
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17
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From Spheroids to Organoids: The Next Generation of Model Systems of Human Cardiac Regeneration in a Dish. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413180. [PMID: 34947977 PMCID: PMC8708686 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Organoids are tiny, self-organized, three-dimensional tissue cultures that are derived from the differentiation of stem cells. The growing interest in the use of organoids arises from their ability to mimic the biology and physiology of specific tissue structures in vitro. Organoids indeed represent promising systems for the in vitro modeling of tissue morphogenesis and organogenesis, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, drug therapy testing, toxicology screening, and disease modeling. Although 2D cell cultures have been used for more than 50 years, even for their simplicity and low-cost maintenance, recent years have witnessed a steep rise in the availability of organoid model systems. Exploiting the ability of cells to re-aggregate and reconstruct the original architecture of an organ makes it possible to overcome many limitations of 2D cell culture systems. In vitro replication of the cellular micro-environment of a specific tissue leads to reproducing the molecular, biochemical, and biomechanical mechanisms that directly influence cell behavior and fate within that specific tissue. Lineage-specific self-organizing organoids have now been generated for many organs. Currently, growing cardiac organoid (cardioids) from pluripotent stem cells and cardiac stem/progenitor cells remains an open challenge due to the complexity of the spreading, differentiation, and migration of cardiac muscle and vascular layers. Here, we summarize the evolution of biological model systems from the generation of 2D spheroids to 3D organoids by focusing on the generation of cardioids based on the currently available laboratory technologies and outline their high potential for cardiovascular research.
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18
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Gómez DP, Boudreau F. Organoids and Their Use in Modeling Gut Epithelial Cell Lineage Differentiation and Barrier Properties During Intestinal Diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:732137. [PMID: 34485312 PMCID: PMC8414659 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.732137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of intestinal epithelium homeostasis is a complex process because of the multicellular and molecular composition of the gastrointestinal wall and the involvement of surrounding interactive signals. The complex nature of this intestinal barrier system poses challenges in the detailed mechanistic understanding of intestinal morphogenesis and the onset of several gut pathologies, including intestinal inflammatory disorders, food allergies, and cancer. For several years, the gut scientific community has explored different alternatives in research involving animals and in vitro models consisting of cultured monolayers derived from the immortalized or cancerous origin cell lines. The recent ability to recapitulate intestinal epithelial dynamics from mini-gut cultures has proven to be a promising step in the field of scientific research and biomedicine. The organoids can be grown as two- or three-dimensional structures, and are derived from adult or pluripotent stem cells that ultimately establish an intestinal epithelium that is composed of all differentiated cell types present in the normal epithelium. In this review, we summarize the different origins and recent use of organoids in modeling intestinal epithelial differentiation and barrier properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianne Pupo Gómez
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Francois Boudreau
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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19
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Augustine R, Dan P, Hasan A, Khalaf IM, Prasad P, Ghosal K, Gentile C, McClements L, Maureira P. Stem cell-based approaches in cardiac tissue engineering: controlling the microenvironment for autologous cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 138:111425. [PMID: 33756154 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Cardiac tissue engineering strategies focusing on biomaterial scaffolds incorporating cells and growth factors are emerging as highly promising for cardiac repair and regeneration. The use of stem cells within cardiac microengineered tissue constructs present an inherent ability to differentiate into cell types of the human heart. Stem cells derived from various tissues including bone marrow, dental pulp, adipose tissue and umbilical cord can be used for this purpose. Approaches ranging from stem cell injections, stem cell spheroids, cell encapsulation in a suitable hydrogel, use of prefabricated scaffold and bioprinting technology are at the forefront in the field of cardiac tissue engineering. The stem cell microenvironment plays a key role in the maintenance of stemness and/or differentiation into cardiac specific lineages. This review provides a detailed overview of the recent advances in microengineering of autologous stem cell-based tissue engineering platforms for the repair of damaged cardiac tissue. A particular emphasis is given to the roles played by the extracellular matrix (ECM) in regulating the physiological response of stem cells within cardiac tissue engineering platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Augustine
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Pan Dan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Transplantation Surgery, Regional Central Hospital of Nancy, Lorraine University, Nancy 54500, France; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Anwarul Hasan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
| | | | - Parvathy Prasad
- International and Inter University Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala 686560, India
| | - Kajal Ghosal
- Dr. B. C. Roy College of Pharmacy and AHS, Durgapur 713206, India
| | - Carmine Gentile
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia; School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Lana McClements
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Pablo Maureira
- Department of Cardiovascular and Transplantation Surgery, Regional Central Hospital of Nancy, Lorraine University, Nancy 54500, France
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20
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Kim MS, Kim DH, Kang HK, Kook MG, Choi SW, Kang KS. Modeling of Hypoxic Brain Injury through 3D Human Neural Organoids. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020234. [PMID: 33504071 PMCID: PMC7911731 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain organoids have emerged as a novel model system for neural development, neurodegenerative diseases, and human-based drug screening. However, the heterogeneous nature and immature neuronal development of brain organoids generated from pluripotent stem cells pose challenges. Moreover, there are no previous reports of a three-dimensional (3D) hypoxic brain injury model generated from neural stem cells. Here, we generated self-organized 3D human neural organoids from adult dermal fibroblast-derived neural stem cells. Radial glial cells in these human neural organoids exhibited characteristics of the human cerebral cortex trend, including an inner (ventricular zone) and an outer layer (early and late cortical plate zones). These data suggest that neural organoids reflect the distinctive radial organization of the human cerebral cortex and allow for the study of neuronal proliferation and maturation. To utilize this 3D model, we subjected our neural organoids to hypoxic injury. We investigated neuronal damage and regeneration after hypoxic injury and reoxygenation. Interestingly, after hypoxic injury, reoxygenation restored neuronal cell proliferation but not neuronal maturation. This study suggests that human neural organoids generated from neural stem cells provide new opportunities for the development of drug screening platforms and personalized modeling of neurodegenerative diseases, including hypoxic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Soon Won Choi
- Correspondence: (S.W.C.); (K.-S.K.); Tel.: +82-2-880-1298 (S.W.C.); +82-2-880-1246 (K.-S.K.)
| | - Kyung-Sun Kang
- Correspondence: (S.W.C.); (K.-S.K.); Tel.: +82-2-880-1298 (S.W.C.); +82-2-880-1246 (K.-S.K.)
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21
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Haykal MM, Nahmias C, Varon C, Martin OCB. Organotypic Modeling of the Tumor Landscape. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:606039. [PMID: 33330508 PMCID: PMC7732527 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.606039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease and it is now clear that not only epithelial tumor cells play a role in carcinogenesis. The tumor microenvironment is composed of non-stromal cells, including endothelial cells, adipocytes, immune and nerve cells, and a stromal compartment composed of extracellular matrix, cancer-associated fibroblasts and mesenchymal cells. Tumorigenesis is a dynamic process with constant interactions occurring between the tumor cells and their surroundings. Even though all connections have not yet been discovered, it is now known that crosstalk between actors of the microenvironment drives cancer progression. Taking into account this complexity, it is important to develop relevant models to study carcinogenesis. Conventional 2D culture models fail to represent the entire tumor microenvironment properly and the use of animal models should be decreased with respect to the 3Rs rule. To this aim, in vitro organotypic models have been significantly developed these past few years. These models have different levels of complexity and allow the study of tumor cells alone or in interaction with the microenvironment actors during the multiple stages of carcinogenesis. This review depicts recent insights into organotypic modeling of the tumor and its microenvironment all throughout cancer progression. It offers an overview of the crosstalk between epithelial cancer cells and their microenvironment during the different phases of carcinogenesis, from the early cell autonomous events to the late metastatic stages. The advantages of 3D over classical 2D or in vivo models are presented as well as the most promising organotypic models. A particular focus is made on organotypic models used for studying cancer progression, from the less complex spheroids to the more sophisticated body-on-a-chip. Last but not least, we address the potential benefits of these models in personalized medicine which is undoubtedly a domain paving the path to new hopes in terms of cancer care and cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M. Haykal
- Université Paris-Saclay, Institut Gustave Roussy, Inserm U981, Biomarqueurs Prédictifs et Nouvelles Stratégies Thérapeutiques en Oncologie, Villejuif, France
| | - Clara Nahmias
- Université Paris-Saclay, Institut Gustave Roussy, Inserm U981, Biomarqueurs Prédictifs et Nouvelles Stratégies Thérapeutiques en Oncologie, Villejuif, France
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22
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Sahu S, Sharan SK. Translating Embryogenesis to Generate Organoids: Novel Approaches to Personalized Medicine. iScience 2020; 23:101485. [PMID: 32864586 PMCID: PMC7441954 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The astounding capacity of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) to differentiate and self-organize has revolutionized the development of 3D cell culture models. The major advantage is its ability to mimic in vivo microenvironments and cellular interactions when compared with the classical 2D cell culture models. Recent innovations in generating embryo-like structures (including blastoids and gastruloids) from PSCs have advanced the experimental accessibility to understand embryogenesis with immense potential to model human development. Taking cues on how embryonic development leads to organogenesis, PSCs can also be directly differentiated to form mini-organs or organoids of a particular lineage. Organoids have opened new avenues to augment our understanding of stem cell and regenerative biology, tissue homeostasis, and disease mechanisms. In this review, we provide insights from developmental biology with a comprehensive resource of signaling pathways that in a coordinated manner form embryo-like structures and organoids. Moreover, the advent of assembloids and multilineage organoids from PSCs opens a new dimension to study paracrine function and multi-tissue interactions in vitro. Although this led to an avalanche of enthusiasm to utilize organoids for organ transplantation studies, we examine the current limitations and provide perspectives to improve reproducibility, scalability, functional complexity, and cell-type characterization. Taken together, these 3D in vitro organ-specific and patient-specific models hold great promise for drug discovery, clinical management, and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sounak Sahu
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 560, Room 32-04, 1050 Boyles Street, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Shyam K. Sharan
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 560, Room 32-33, 1050 Boyles Street, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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23
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Mun SJ, Hong YH, Ahn HS, Ryu JS, Chung KS, Son MJ. Long-Term Expansion of Functional Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatic Organoids. Int J Stem Cells 2020; 13:279-286. [PMID: 32323516 PMCID: PMC7378903 DOI: 10.15283/ijsc20060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A human cell-based liver model capable of long-term expansion and mature hepatic function is a fundamental requirement for pre-clinical drug development. We previously established self-renewing and functionally mature human pluripotent stem cell-derived liver organoids as an alternate to primary human hepatocytes. In this study, we tested long-term prolonged culture of organoids to increase their maturity. Organoid growing at the edge of Matrigel started to deteriorate two weeks after culturing, and the expression levels of the functional mature hepatocyte marker ALB were decreased at four weeks of culture. Replating the organoids weekly at a 1:2 ratio in fresh Matrigel, resulted in healthier morphology with a thicker layer compared to organoids maintained on the same Matrigel and significantly increased ALB expression until three weeks, although, it decreased sharply at four weeks. The levels of the fetal hepatocyte marker AFP were considerably increased in long-term cultures of organoids. Therefore, we performed serial passaging of organoids, whereby they were mechanically split weekly at a 1:3∼1:5 ratio in fresh Matrigel. The organoids expanded so far over passage 55, or 1 year, without growth retardation and maintained a normal karyotype after long-term cryopreservation. Differentiation potentials were maintained or increased after long-term passaging, while AFP expression considerably decreased after passaging. Therefore, these data demonstrate that organoids can be exponentially expanded by serial passaging, while maintaining long-term functional maturation potential. Thus, hepatic organoids can be a practical and renewable cell source for human cell-based and personalized 3D liver models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seon Ju Mun
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea.,Department of Functional Genomics, Korea University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Yeon-Hwa Hong
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea.,Department of Functional Genomics, Korea University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Hyo-Suk Ahn
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jae-Sung Ryu
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Kyung-Sook Chung
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea.,Department of Functional Genomics, Korea University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon, Korea.,Biomedical Translational Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Myung Jin Son
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea.,Department of Functional Genomics, Korea University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon, Korea
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24
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Kim J, Koo BK, Knoblich JA. Human organoids: model systems for human biology and medicine. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2020; 21:571-584. [PMID: 32636524 PMCID: PMC7339799 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-020-0259-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 944] [Impact Index Per Article: 236.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The historical reliance of biological research on the use of animal models has sometimes made it challenging to address questions that are specific to the understanding of human biology and disease. But with the advent of human organoids — which are stem cell-derived 3D culture systems — it is now possible to re-create the architecture and physiology of human organs in remarkable detail. Human organoids provide unique opportunities for the study of human disease and complement animal models. Human organoids have been used to study infectious diseases, genetic disorders and cancers through the genetic engineering of human stem cells, as well as directly when organoids are generated from patient biopsy samples. This Review discusses the applications, advantages and disadvantages of human organoids as models of development and disease and outlines the challenges that have to be overcome for organoids to be able to substantially reduce the need for animal experiments. Human organoids are valuable models for the study of development and disease and for drug discovery, thus complementing traditional animal models. The generation of organoids from patient biopsy samples has enabled researchers to study, for example, infectious diseases, genetic disorders and cancers. This Review discusses the advantages, disadvantages and future challenges of the use of organoids as models for human biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihoon Kim
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Bon-Kyoung Koo
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
| | - Juergen A Knoblich
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria. .,Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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25
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Cui KW, Engel L, Dundes CE, Nguyen TC, Loh KM, Dunn AR. Spatially controlled stem cell differentiation via morphogen gradients: A comparison of static and dynamic microfluidic platforms. JOURNAL OF VACUUM SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. A, VACUUM, SURFACES, AND FILMS : AN OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VACUUM SOCIETY 2020; 38:033205. [PMID: 32255900 PMCID: PMC7093209 DOI: 10.1116/1.5142012#suppl] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The ability to harness the processes by which complex tissues arise during embryonic development would improve the ability to engineer complex tissuelike constructs in vitro-a longstanding goal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In embryos, uniform populations of stem cells are exposed to spatial gradients of diffusible extracellular signaling proteins, known as morphogens. Varying levels of these signaling proteins induce stem cells to differentiate into distinct cell types at different positions along the gradient, thus creating spatially patterned tissues. Here, the authors describe two straightforward and easy-to-adopt microfluidic strategies to expose human pluripotent stem cells in vitro to spatial gradients of desired differentiation-inducing extracellular signals. Both approaches afford a high degree of control over the distribution of extracellular signals, while preserving the viability of the cultured stem cells. The first microfluidic platform is commercially available and entails static culture, whereas the second microfluidic platform requires fabrication and dynamic fluid exchange. In each platform, the authors first computationally modeled the spatial distribution of differentiation-inducing extracellular signals. Then, the authors used each platform to expose human pluripotent stem cells to a gradient of these signals (in this case, inducing a cell type known as the primitive streak), resulting in a regionalized culture with differentiated primitive streak cells predominately localized on one side and undifferentiated stem cells at the other side of the device. By combining this approach with a fluorescent reporter for differentiated cells and live-cell fluorescence imaging, the authors characterized the spatial and temporal dynamics of primitive streak differentiation within the induced signaling gradients. Microfluidic approaches to create precisely controlled morphogen gradients will add to the stem cell and developmental biology toolkit, and may eventually pave the way to create increasingly spatially patterned tissuelike constructs in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiara W Cui
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Leeya Engel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Carolyn E Dundes
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Tina C Nguyen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Kyle M Loh
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Alexander R Dunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
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26
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Cui KW, Engel L, Dundes CE, Nguyen TC, Loh KM, Dunn AR. Spatially controlled stem cell differentiation via morphogen gradients: A comparison of static and dynamic microfluidic platforms. JOURNAL OF VACUUM SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. A, VACUUM, SURFACES, AND FILMS : AN OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VACUUM SOCIETY 2020; 38:033205. [PMID: 32255900 PMCID: PMC7093209 DOI: 10.1116/1.5142012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The ability to harness the processes by which complex tissues arise during embryonic development would improve the ability to engineer complex tissuelike constructs in vitro-a longstanding goal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In embryos, uniform populations of stem cells are exposed to spatial gradients of diffusible extracellular signaling proteins, known as morphogens. Varying levels of these signaling proteins induce stem cells to differentiate into distinct cell types at different positions along the gradient, thus creating spatially patterned tissues. Here, the authors describe two straightforward and easy-to-adopt microfluidic strategies to expose human pluripotent stem cells in vitro to spatial gradients of desired differentiation-inducing extracellular signals. Both approaches afford a high degree of control over the distribution of extracellular signals, while preserving the viability of the cultured stem cells. The first microfluidic platform is commercially available and entails static culture, whereas the second microfluidic platform requires fabrication and dynamic fluid exchange. In each platform, the authors first computationally modeled the spatial distribution of differentiation-inducing extracellular signals. Then, the authors used each platform to expose human pluripotent stem cells to a gradient of these signals (in this case, inducing a cell type known as the primitive streak), resulting in a regionalized culture with differentiated primitive streak cells predominately localized on one side and undifferentiated stem cells at the other side of the device. By combining this approach with a fluorescent reporter for differentiated cells and live-cell fluorescence imaging, the authors characterized the spatial and temporal dynamics of primitive streak differentiation within the induced signaling gradients. Microfluidic approaches to create precisely controlled morphogen gradients will add to the stem cell and developmental biology toolkit, and may eventually pave the way to create increasingly spatially patterned tissuelike constructs in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiara W Cui
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Leeya Engel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Carolyn E Dundes
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Tina C Nguyen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Kyle M Loh
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Alexander R Dunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
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