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Blackford SJI, Yu TTL, Norman MDA, Syanda AM, Manolakakis M, Lachowski D, Yan Z, Guo Y, Garitta E, Riccio F, Jowett GM, Ng SS, Vernia S, Del Río Hernández AE, Gentleman E, Rashid ST. RGD density along with substrate stiffness regulate hPSC hepatocyte functionality through YAP signalling. Biomaterials 2023; 293:121982. [PMID: 36640555 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes (hPSC-Heps) may be suitable for treating liver diseases, but differentiation protocols often fail to yield adult-like cells. We hypothesised that replicating healthy liver niche biochemical and biophysical cues would produce hepatocytes with desired metabolic functionality. Using 2D synthetic hydrogels which independently control mechanical properties and biochemical cues, we found that culturing hPSC-Heps on surfaces matching the stiffness of fibrotic liver tissue upregulated expression of genes for RGD-binding integrins, and increased expression of YAP/TAZ and their transcriptional targets. Alternatively, culture on soft, healthy liver-like substrates drove increases in cytochrome p450 activity and ureagenesis. Knockdown of ITGB1 or reducing RGD-motif-containing peptide concentration in stiff hydrogels reduced YAP activity and improved metabolic functionality; however, on soft substrates, reducing RGD concentration had the opposite effect. Furthermore, targeting YAP activity with verteporfin or forskolin increased cytochrome p450 activity, with forskolin dramatically enhancing urea synthesis. hPSC-Heps could also be successfully encapsulated within RGD peptide-containing hydrogels without negatively impacting hepatic functionality, and compared to 2D cultures, 3D cultured hPSC-Heps secreted significantly less fetal liver-associated alpha-fetoprotein, suggesting furthered differentiation. Our platform overcomes technical hurdles in replicating the liver niche, and allowed us to identify a role for YAP/TAZ-mediated mechanosensing in hPSC-Hep differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J I Blackford
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, UK; Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, UK; Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, UK; NIHR Imperial BRC iPSC and Organoid Core Facility, Imperial College London, UK.
| | - Tracy T L Yu
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, UK
| | - Michael D A Norman
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, UK
| | - Adam M Syanda
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR Imperial BRC iPSC and Organoid Core Facility, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Michail Manolakakis
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Dariusz Lachowski
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Ziqian Yan
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, UK
| | - Yunzhe Guo
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, UK
| | - Elena Garitta
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR Imperial BRC iPSC and Organoid Core Facility, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Federica Riccio
- Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, UK
| | - Geraldine M Jowett
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, UK; Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, UK
| | - Soon Seng Ng
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR Imperial BRC iPSC and Organoid Core Facility, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Santiago Vernia
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, UK
| | | | - Eileen Gentleman
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, UK.
| | - S Tamir Rashid
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR Imperial BRC iPSC and Organoid Core Facility, Imperial College London, UK.
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The adverse effects of hypoxia on hiHep functions via HIF-1α/PGC-1α axis are alleviated by PFDC emulsion. Biochem Eng J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2021.108152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Gu C, Du W, Chai M, Jin Z, Zhou Y, Guo P, Zhou Y, Tan WS. Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells affect urea synthesis and the cell apoptosis of human induced hepatocytes by secreting IL-6 in a serum-free co-culture system. Biotechnol J 2021; 17:e2100096. [PMID: 34378873 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202100096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bioartificial livers (BALs) are emerging as a potential supportive therapy for liver diseases. However, the maintenance of hepatocyte function and viability is a major challenge. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted extensive attention for providing trophic support to hepatocytes, but only few studies have explored the interaction between human MSCs and human hepatocytes, and very little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms whereby MSCs affect hepatocyte function, especially in serum-free medium (SFM). CONCLUSION The SFM co-culture strategy showed major advantages in maintaining hiHep function and viability, which is of great significance for the clinical application of hiHeps in BALs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ce Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China
| | - Wenjing Du
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China
| | - Miaomiao Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China
| | - Ziyang Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China
| | - Yi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China
| | - Pan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Song Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China
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Rose S, Ezan F, Cuvellier M, Bruyère A, Legagneux V, Langouët S, Baffet G. Generation of proliferating human adult hepatocytes using optimized 3D culture conditions. Sci Rep 2021; 11:515. [PMID: 33436872 PMCID: PMC7804446 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80019-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Generating the proliferation of differentiated normal adult human hepatocytes is a major challenge and an expected central step in understanding the microenvironmental conditions that regulate the phenotype of human hepatocytes in vitro. In this work, we described optimized 3D culture conditions of primary human hepatocytes (PHH) to trigger two waves of proliferation and we identified matrix stiffness and cell-cell interactions as the main actors necessary for this proliferation. We demonstrated that DNA replication and overexpression of cell cycle markers are modulate by the matrix stiffness while PHH cultured in 3D without prior cellular interactions did not proliferate. Besides, we showed that PHH carry out an additional cell cycle after transient inhibition of MAPK MER1/2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Collagen cultured hepatocytes are organized as characteristic hollow spheroids able to maintain survival, cell polarity and hepatic differentiation for long-term culture periods of at least 28 days. Remarkably, we demonstrated by transcriptomic analysis and functional experiments that proliferating cells are mature hepatocytes with high detoxication capacities. In conclusion, the advanced 3D model described here, named Hepoid, is particularly relevant for obtaining normal human proliferating hepatocytes. By allowing concomitant proliferation and differentiation, it constitutes a promising tool for many pharmacological and biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Rose
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Frédéric Ezan
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Marie Cuvellier
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Arnaud Bruyère
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Vincent Legagneux
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Sophie Langouët
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France.
| | - Georges Baffet
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France.
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