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Bonilla-Pons SÀ, Nakagawa S, Bahima EG, Fernández-Blanco Á, Pesaresi M, D'Antin JC, Sebastian-Perez R, Greco D, Domínguez-Sala E, Gómez-Riera R, Compte RIB, Dierssen M, Pulido NM, Cosma MP. Müller glia fused with adult stem cells undergo neural differentiation in human retinal models. EBioMedicine 2022; 77:103914. [PMID: 35278743 PMCID: PMC8917309 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Visual impairments are a critical medical hurdle to be addressed in modern society. Müller glia (MG) have regenerative potential in the retina in lower vertebrates, but not in mammals. However, in mice, in vivo cell fusion between MG and adult stem cells forms hybrids that can partially regenerate ablated neurons. Methods We used organotypic cultures of human retina and preparations of dissociated cells to test the hypothesis that cell fusion between human MG and adult stem cells can induce neuronal regeneration in human systems. Moreover, we established a microinjection system for transplanting human retinal organoids to demonstrate hybrid differentiation. Findings We first found that cell fusion occurs between MG and adult stem cells, in organotypic cultures of human retina as well as in cell cultures. Next, we showed that the resulting hybrids can differentiate and acquire a proto-neural electrophysiology profile when the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is activated in the adult stem cells prior fusion. Finally, we demonstrated the engraftment and differentiation of these hybrids into human retinal organoids. Interpretation We show fusion between human MG and adult stem cells, and demonstrate that the resulting hybrid cells can differentiate towards neural fate in human model systems. Our results suggest that cell fusion-mediated therapy is a potential regenerative approach for treating human retinal dystrophies. Funding This work was supported by La Caixa Health (HR17-00231), Velux Stiftung (976a) and the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, (BFU2017-86760-P) (AEI/FEDER, UE), AGAUR (2017 SGR 689, 2017 SGR 926).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Àngel Bonilla-Pons
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Shoma Nakagawa
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Elena Garreta Bahima
- Pluripotency for Organ Regeneration, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Álvaro Fernández-Blanco
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martina Pesaresi
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Justin Christopher D'Antin
- Centro de Oftalmología Barraquer, Barcelona, Spain; Institut Universitari Barraquer, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ruben Sebastian-Perez
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniela Greco
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Eduardo Domínguez-Sala
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Raúl Gómez-Riera
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Rafael Ignacio Barraquer Compte
- Centro de Oftalmología Barraquer, Barcelona, Spain; Institut Universitari Barraquer, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mara Dierssen
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre On Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Montserrat Pulido
- Pluripotency for Organ Regeneration, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - Maria Pia Cosma
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain; Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell an Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Science, Guangzhou 510530, China.
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2
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Basu A, Tiwari VK. Epigenetic reprogramming of cell identity: lessons from development for regenerative medicine. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:144. [PMID: 34301318 PMCID: PMC8305869 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01131-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms are known to define cell-type identity and function. Hence, reprogramming of one cell type into another essentially requires a rewiring of the underlying epigenome. Cellular reprogramming can convert somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can be directed to differentiate to specific cell types. Trans-differentiation or direct reprogramming, on the other hand, involves the direct conversion of one cell type into another. In this review, we highlight how gene regulatory mechanisms identified to be critical for developmental processes were successfully used for cellular reprogramming of various cell types. We also discuss how the therapeutic use of the reprogrammed cells is beginning to revolutionize the field of regenerative medicine particularly in the repair and regeneration of damaged tissue and organs arising from pathological conditions or accidents. Lastly, we highlight some key challenges hindering the application of cellular reprogramming for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitava Basu
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Vijay K Tiwari
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
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3
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Reprogramming Restores Vision in Mice by Changing DNA Methylation. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:1526-1528. [PMID: 34097224 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00729-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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4
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Arumugam K, Shin W, Schiavone V, Vlahos L, Tu X, Carnevali D, Kesner J, Paull EO, Romo N, Subramaniam P, Worley J, Tan X, Califano A, Cosma MP. The Master Regulator Protein BAZ2B Can Reprogram Human Hematopoietic Lineage-Committed Progenitors into a Multipotent State. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108474. [PMID: 33296649 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Bi-species, fusion-mediated, somatic cell reprogramming allows precise, organism-specific tracking of unknown lineage drivers. The fusion of Tcf7l1-/- murine embryonic stem cells with EBV-transformed human B cell lymphocytes, leads to the generation of bi-species heterokaryons. Human mRNA transcript profiling at multiple time points permits the tracking of the reprogramming of B cell nuclei to a multipotent state. Interrogation of a human B cell regulatory network with gene expression signatures identifies 8 candidate master regulator proteins. Of these 8 candidates, ectopic expression of BAZ2B, from the bromodomain family, efficiently reprograms hematopoietic committed progenitors into a multipotent state and significantly enhances their long-term clonogenicity, stemness, and engraftment in immunocompromised mice. Unbiased systems biology approaches let us identify the early driving events of human B cell reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Arumugam
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - William Shin
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Valentina Schiavone
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lukas Vlahos
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiaochuan Tu
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Davide Carnevali
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordan Kesner
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Evan O Paull
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Neus Romo
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Prem Subramaniam
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy Worley
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiangtian Tan
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea Califano
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, J.P. Sulzberger Columbia Genome Center, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Maria Pia Cosma
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain; Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.
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Cell-Based Therapeutic Approaches for Cystic Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155219. [PMID: 32718005 PMCID: PMC7432606 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a chronic autosomal recessive disease caused by defects in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR). Cystic Fibrosis affects multiple organs but progressive remodeling of the airways, mucus accumulation, and chronic inflammation in the lung, result in lung disease as the major cause of morbidity and mortality. While advances in management of CF symptoms have increased the life expectancy of this devastating disease, and there is tremendous excitement about the potential of new agents targeting the CFTR molecule itself, there is still no curative treatment. With the recent advances in the identification of endogenous airway progenitor cells and in directed differentiation of pluripotent cell sources, cell-based therapeutic approaches for CF have become a plausible treatment method with the potential to ultimately cure the disease. In this review, we highlight the current state of cell therapy in the CF field focusing on the relevant autologous and allogeneic cell populations under investigation and the challenges associated with their use. In addition, we present advances in induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell approaches and emerging new genetic engineering methods, which have the capacity to overcome the current limitations hindering cell therapy approaches.
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The Pleiotropic Effects of the Canonical Wnt Pathway in Early Development and Pluripotency. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9020093. [PMID: 29443926 PMCID: PMC5852589 DOI: 10.3390/genes9020093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The technology to derive embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells from early embryonic stages and adult somatic cells, respectively, emerged as a powerful resource to enable the establishment of new in vitro models, which recapitulate early developmental processes and disease. Additionally, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) represent an invaluable source of relevant differentiated cell types with immense potential for regenerative medicine and cell replacement therapies. Pluripotent stem cells support self-renewal, potency and proliferation for extensive periods of culture in vitro. However, the core pathways that rule each of these cellular features specific to PSCs only recently began to be clarified. The Wnt signaling pathway is pivotal during early embryogenesis and is central for the induction and maintenance of the pluripotency of PSCs. Signaling by the Wnt family of ligands is conveyed intracellularly by the stabilization of β-catenin in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus, where it elicits the transcriptional activity of T-cell factor (TCF)/lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF) family of transcription factors. Interestingly, in PSCs, the Wnt/β-catenin–TCF/LEF axis has several unrelated and sometimes opposite cellular functions such as self-renewal, stemness, lineage commitment and cell cycle regulation. In addition, tight control of the Wnt signaling pathway enhances reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotency. Several recent research efforts emphasize the pleiotropic functions of the Wnt signaling pathway in the pluripotent state. Nonetheless, conflicting results and unanswered questions still linger. In this review, we will focus on the diverse functions of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway on the developmental processes preceding embryo implantation, as well as on its roles in pluripotent stem cell biology such as self-renewal and cell cycle regulation and somatic cell reprogramming.
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Vetter ML, Hitchcock PF. Report on the National Eye Institute Audacious Goals Initiative: Replacement of Retinal Ganglion Cells from Endogenous Cell Sources. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2017; 6:5. [PMID: 28316878 PMCID: PMC5354473 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.6.2.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This report emerges from a workshop convened by the National Eye Institute (NEI) as part of the "Audacious Goals Initiative" (AGI). The workshop addressed the replacement of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from exogenous and endogenous sources, and sought to identify the gaps in our knowledge and barriers to progress in devising cellular replacement therapies for diseases where RGCs die. Here, we briefly review relevant literature regarding common diseases associated with RGC death, the genesis of RGCs in vivo, strategies for generating transplantable RGCs in vitro, and potential endogenous cellular sources to regenerate these cells. These topics provided the clinical and scientific context for the discussion among the workshop participants and are relevant to efforts that may lead to therapeutic approaches for replacing RGCs. This report also summarizes the content of the workshop discussion, which focused on: (1) cell sources for RGC replacement and regeneration, (2) optimizing integration, survival, and synaptogenesis of new RGCs, and (3) approaches for assessing the outcomes of RGC replacement therapies. We conclude this report with a summary of recommendations, based on the workshop discussions, which may guide vision scientists seeking to develop therapies for replacing RGCs in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica L Vetter
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Peter F Hitchcock
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA ; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Sanges D, Simonte G, Di Vicino U, Romo N, Pinilla I, Nicolás M, Cosma MP. Reprogramming Müller glia via in vivo cell fusion regenerates murine photoreceptors. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:3104-16. [PMID: 27427986 DOI: 10.1172/jci85193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vision impairments and blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa result from severe neurodegeneration that leads to a loss of photoreceptors, the specialized light-sensitive neurons that enable vision. Although the mammalian nervous system is unable to replace neurons lost due to degeneration, therapeutic approaches to reprogram resident glial cells to replace retinal neurons have been proposed. Here, we demonstrate that retinal Müller glia can be reprogrammed in vivo into retinal precursors that then differentiate into photoreceptors. We transplanted hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) into retinas affected by photoreceptor degeneration and observed spontaneous cell fusion events between Müller glia and the transplanted cells. Activation of Wnt signaling in the transplanted HSPCs enhanced survival and proliferation of Müller-HSPC hybrids as well as their reprogramming into intermediate photoreceptor precursors. This suggests that Wnt signaling drives the reprogrammed cells toward a photoreceptor progenitor fate. Finally, Müller-HSPC hybrids differentiated into photoreceptors. Transplantation of HSPCs with activated Wnt functionally rescued the retinal degeneration phenotype in rd10 mice, a model for inherited retinitis pigmentosa. Together, these results suggest that photoreceptors can be generated by reprogramming Müller glia and that this approach may have potential as a strategy for reversing retinal degeneration.
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Shinn-Thomas JH, del Campo JJ, Wang J, Mohler WA. The EFF-1A Cytoplasmic Domain Influences Hypodermal Cell Fusions in C. elegans But Is Not Dependent on 14-3-3 Proteins. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0146874. [PMID: 26800457 PMCID: PMC4723337 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Regulatory and biophysical mechanisms of cell-cell fusion are largely unknown despite the fundamental requirement for fused cells in eukaryotic development. Only two cellular fusogens that are not of clear recent viral origin have been identified to date, both in nematodes. One of these, EFF-1, is necessary for most cell fusions in Caenorhabditis elegans. Unregulated EFF-1 expression causes lethality due to ectopic fusion between cells not developmentally programmed to fuse, highlighting the necessity of tight fusogen regulation for proper development. Identifying factors that regulate EFF-1 and its paralog AFF-1 could lead to discovery of molecular mechanisms that control cell fusion upstream of the action of a membrane fusogen. Bioinformatic analysis of the EFF-1A isoform’s predicted cytoplasmic domain (endodomain) previously revealed two motifs that have high probabilities of interacting with 14-3-3 proteins when phosphorylated. Mutation of predicted phosphorylation sites within these motifs caused measurable loss of eff-1 gene function in cell fusion in vivo. Moreover, a human 14-3-3 isoform bound to EFF-1::GFP in vitro. We hypothesized that the two 14-3-3 proteins in C. elegans, PAR-5 and FTT-2, may regulate either localization or fusion-inducing activity of EFF-1. Methodology/Principal Findings Timing of fusion events was slightly but significantly delayed in animals unable to produce full-length EFF-1A. Yet, mutagenesis and live imaging showed that phosphoserines in putative 14-3-3 binding sites are not essential for EFF-1::GFP accumulation at the membrane contact between fusion partner cells. Moreover, although the EFF-1A endodomain was required for normal rates of eff-1-dependent epidermal cell fusions, reduced levels of FTT-2 and PAR-5 did not visibly affect the function of wild-type EFF-1 in the hypodermis. Conclusions/Significance Deletion of the EFF-1A endodomain noticeably affects the timing of hypodermal cell fusions in vivo. However, prohibiting phosphorylation of candidate 14-3-3-binding sites does not impact localization of the fusogen. Hypodermal membrane fusion activity persists when 14-3-3 expression levels are reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica H. Shinn-Thomas
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, MC-6403, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030–6403, United States of America
- * E-mail: (WAM); (JHST)
| | - Jacob J. del Campo
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, MC-6403, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030–6403, United States of America
| | - Jianjun Wang
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, MC-6403, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030–6403, United States of America
| | - William A. Mohler
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, MC-6403, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030–6403, United States of America
- * E-mail: (WAM); (JHST)
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Lin R, Ding Z, Ma H, Shi H, Gao Y, Qian W, Shi W, Sun Z, Hou X, Li X. In Vitro Conditioned Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote De Novo Functional Enteric Nerve Regeneration, but Not Through Direct-Transdifferentiation. Stem Cells 2015; 33:3545-57. [PMID: 26302722 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Injury or neurodegenerative disorders of the enteric nervous system (ENS) cause gastrointestinal dysfunctions for which there is no effective therapy. This study, using the benzalkonium chloride-induced rat gastric denervation model, aimed to determine whether transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) could promote ENS neuron regeneration and if so, to elucidate the mechanism. Fluorescently labeled BMSC, isolated from either WT (BMSC labeled with bis-benzimide [BBM]) or green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transgenic rats, were preconditioned in vitro using fetal gut culture media containing glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and transplanted subserosally into the denervated area of rat pylorus. In the nerve-ablated pylorus, grafted BMSC survived and migrated from the subserosa to the submucosa 28 days after transplantation, without apparent dedifferentiation. A massive number of PGP9.5/NSE/HuC/D/Tuj1-positive (but GFP- and BBM-negative) neurons were effectively regenerated in denervated pylorus grafted with preconditioned BMSC, suggesting that they were regenerated de novo, not originating from trans-differentiation of the transplanted BMSC. BMSC transplantation restored both basal pyloric contractility and electric field stimulation-induced relaxation. High levels of GDNF were induced in both in vitro-preconditioned BMSC as well as the previously denervated pylorus after transplantation of preconditioned BMSC. Thus, a BMSC-initiated GDNF-positive feedback mechanism is suggested to promote neuron regeneration and growth. In summary, we have demonstrated that allogeneically transplanted preconditioned BMSC initiate de novo regeneration of gastric neuronal cells/structures that in turn restore gastric contractility in pylorus-denervated rats. These neuronal structures did not originate from the grafted BMSC. Our data suggest that preconditioned allogeneic BMSC may have therapeutic value in treating enteric nerve disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Lin
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medicine/GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Zhen Ding
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medicine/GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Huan Ma
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Division of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiying Shi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanjun Gao
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Qian
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Weina Shi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoli Sun
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Xiaohua Hou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuhang Li
- Department of Medicine/GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Moving epithelia: Tracking the fate of mammalian limbal epithelial stem cells. Prog Retin Eye Res 2015; 48:203-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2015.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Wei HJ, Nickoloff JA, Chen WH, Liu HY, Lo WC, Chang YT, Yang PC, Wu CW, Williams DF, Gelovani JG, Deng WP. FOXF1 mediates mesenchymal stem cell fusion-induced reprogramming of lung cancer cells. Oncotarget 2015; 5:9514-29. [PMID: 25237908 PMCID: PMC4253450 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Several reports suggest that malignant cells generate phenotypic diversity through fusion with various types of stromal cells within the tumor microenvironment. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) is one of the critical components in the tumor microenvironment and a promising fusogenic candidate, but the underlying functions of MSC fusion with malignant cell have not been fully examined. Here, we demonstrate that MSCs fuse spontaneously with lung cancer cells, and the latter is reprogrammed to slow growth and stem-like state. Transcriptome profiles reveal that lung cancer cells are reprogrammed to a more benign state upon MSC fusion. We further identified FOXF1 as a reprogramming mediator that contributes not only to the reprogramming toward stemness but also to the p21-regulated growth suppression in fusion progeny. Collectively, MSC fusion does not enhance the intrinsic malignancy of lung cancer cells. The anti-malignant effects of MSC fusion-induced reprogramming on lung cancer cells were accomplished by complementation of tumorigenic defects, including restoration of p21 function and normal terminal differentiation pathways as well as up-regulation of FOXF1, a putative tumor suppressor. Such fusion process raises the therapeutic potential that MSC fusion can be utilized to reverse cellular phenotypes in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Jian Wei
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan. Stem Cell Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Jac A Nickoloff
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Wei-Hong Chen
- Stem Cell Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Hen-Yu Liu
- Stem Cell Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Cheng Lo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan. School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ting Chang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Pan-Chyr Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Wen Wu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - David F Williams
- Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Juri G Gelovani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Win-Ping Deng
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan. Stem Cell Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
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Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in a growing list of malignancies and are believed to be responsible for cancer initiation, metastasis and relapse following certain therapies, even though they may only represent a small fraction of the cells in a given cancer. Like somatic stem cells and embryonic stem cells, CSCs are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into more mature, less tumorigenic cells that make up the bulk populations of cancer cells. Elimination of CSCs promises intriguing therapeutic potential and this concept has been adopted in preclinical drug discovery programs. Herein we will discuss the progress of these efforts, general considerations in practice, major challenges and possible solutions.
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Development of a lentivirus vector-based assay for non-destructive monitoring of cell fusion activity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102433. [PMID: 25028973 PMCID: PMC4100873 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-to-cell fusion can be quantified by endowing acceptor and donor cells with latent reporter genes/proteins and activators of these genes/proteins, respectively. One way to accomplish this goal is by using a bipartite lentivirus vector (LV)-based cell fusion assay system in which the cellular fusion partners are transduced with a flippase-activatable Photinus pyralis luciferase (PpLuc) expression unit (acceptor cells) or with a recombinant gene encoding FLPeNLS+, a nuclear-targeted and molecularly evolved version of flippase (donor cells). Fusion of both cell populations will lead to the FLPe-dependent generation of a functional PpLuc gene. PpLuc activity is typically measured in cell lysates, precluding consecutive analysis of one cell culture. Therefore, in this study the PpLuc-coding sequence was replaced by that of Gaussia princeps luciferase (GpLuc), a secretory protein allowing repeated analysis of the same cell culture. In myotubes the spread of FLPeNLS+ may be limited due to its nuclear localization signal (NLS) causing low signal outputs. To test this hypothesis, myoblasts were transduced with LVs encoding either FLPeNLS+ or an NLS-less version of FLPe (FLPeNLS−) and subsequently co-cultured in different ratios with myoblasts containing the FLPe-activatable GpLuc expression cassette. At different times after induction of cell-to-cell fusion the GpLuc activity in the culture medium was determined. FLPeNLS+ and FLPeNLS− both activated the latent GpLuc gene but when the percentage of FLPe-expressing myoblasts was limiting, FLPeNLS+ generally yielded slightly higher signals than FLPeNLS− while at low acceptor-to-donor cell ratios FLPeNLS− was usually superior. The ability of FLPeNLS+ to spread through myofibers and to induce reporter gene expression is thus not limited by its NLS. However, at high FLPe concentrations the presence of the NLS negatively affected reporter gene expression. In summary, a rapid and simple chemiluminescence assay for quantifying cell-to-cell fusion progression based on GpLuc has been developed.
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Bonfanti P, Barrandon Y, Cossu G. 'Hearts and bones': the ups and downs of 'plasticity' in stem cell biology. EMBO Mol Med 2012; 4:353-61. [PMID: 22383126 PMCID: PMC3403293 DOI: 10.1002/emmm.201200220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Revised: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
More than a decade ago, ‘plasticity’ suddenly became a ‘fashionable’ topic with overemphasized implications for regenerative medicine. The concept of ‘plasticity’ is supported by old transplantation work, at least for embryonic cells, and metaplasia is a classic example of plasticity observed in patients. Nevertheless, the publication of a series of papers showing rare conversion of a given cell type into another unrelated cell raised the possibility of using any unaffected tissue to create at will new cells to replace a different failing tissue or organ. This resulted in disingenuous interpretations and a reason not to fund anymore research on embryonic stem cells (ESc). Moreover, many papers on plasticity were difficult to reproduce and thus questioned; raising issues about plasticity as a technical artefact or a consequence of rare spontaneous cells fusion. More recently, reprogramming adult differentiated cells to a pluripotent state (iPS) became possible, and later, one type of differentiated cell could be directly reprogrammed into another (e.g. fibroblasts into neurons) without reverting to pluripotency. Although the latter results from different and more robust experimental protocols, these phenomena also exemplify ‘plasticity’. In this review, we want to place ‘plasticity’ in a historical perspective still taking into account ethical and political implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Bonfanti
- Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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16
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Abstract
Reprogramming of adult somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells may provide an attractive source of stem cells for regenerative medicine. It has emerged as an invaluable method for generating patient-specific stem cells of any cell lineage without the use of embryonic stem cells. A revolutionary study in 2006 showed that it is possible to convert adult somatic cells directly into pluripotent stem cells by using a limited number of pluripotent transcription factors and is called as iPS cells. Currently, both genomic integrating viral and nonintegrating nonviral methods are used to generate iPS cells. However, the viral-based technology poses increased risk of safety, and more studies are now focused on nonviral-based technology to obtain autologous stem cells for clinical therapy. In this review, the pros and cons of the present iPS cell technology and the future direction for the successful translation of this technology into the clinic are discussed.
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