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de Jong YP. Mice Engrafted with Human Liver Cells. Semin Liver Dis 2024. [PMID: 39265638 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1790601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Rodents are commonly employed to model human liver conditions, although species differences can restrict their translational relevance. To overcome some of these limitations, researchers have long pursued human hepatocyte transplantation into rodents. More than 20 years ago, the first primary human hepatocyte transplantations into immunodeficient mice with liver injury were able to support hepatitis B and C virus infections, as these viruses cannot replicate in murine hepatocytes. Since then, hepatocyte chimeric mouse models have transitioned into mainstream preclinical research and are now employed in a diverse array of liver conditions beyond viral hepatitis, including malaria, drug metabolism, liver-targeting gene therapy, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, lipoprotein and bile acid biology, and others. Concurrently, endeavors to cotransplant other cell types and humanize immune and other nonparenchymal compartments have seen growing success. Looking ahead, several challenges remain. These include enhancing immune functionality in mice doubly humanized with hepatocytes and immune systems, efficiently creating mice with genetically altered grafts and reliably humanizing chimeric mice with renewable cell sources such as patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells. In conclusion, hepatocyte chimeric mice have evolved into vital preclinical models that address many limitations of traditional rodent models. Continued improvements may further expand their applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ype P de Jong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
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2
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Mezler M, Jones RS, Sangaraju D, Goldman DC, Hoffmann M, Heikkinen AT, Mannila J, Chang JH, Foquet L, Pusalkar S, Chothe PP, Scheer N. Analysis of the Bile Acid Composition in a Fibroblast Growth Factor 19-Expressing Liver-Humanized Mouse Model and Its Use for CYP3A4-Mediated Drug-Drug Interaction Studies. Drug Metab Dispos 2023; 51:1391-1402. [PMID: 37524541 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.123.001398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous biomedical applications have been described for liver-humanized mouse models, such as in drug metabolism or drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies. However, the strong enlargement of the bile acid (BA) pool due to lack of recognition of murine intestine-derived fibroblast growth factor-15 by human hepatocytes and a resulting upregulation in the rate-controlling enzyme for BA synthesis, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 7A1, may pose a challenge in interpreting the results obtained from such mice. To address this challenge, the human fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF19) gene was inserted into the Fah-/- , Rag2-/- , Il2rg-/- NOD (FRGN) mouse model, allowing repopulation with human hepatocytes capable of responding to FGF19. While a decrease in CYP7A1 expression in human hepatocytes from humanized FRGN19 mice (huFRGN19) and a concomitant reduction in BA production was previously shown, a detailed analysis of the BA pool in these animals has not been elucidated. Furthermore, there are sparse data on the use of this model to assess potential clinical DDI. In the present work, the change in BA composition in huFRGN19 compared with huFRGN control animals was systematically evaluated, and the ability of the model to recapitulate a clinically described CYP3A4-mediated DDI was assessed. In addition to a massive reduction in the total amount of BA, FGF19 expression in huFRGN19 mice resulted in significant changes in the profile of various primary, secondary, and sulfated BAs in serum and feces. Moreover, as observed clinically, administration of the pregnane X receptor agonist rifampicin reduced the oral exposure of the CYP3A4 substrate triazolam. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Transgenic expression of FGF19 normalizes the unphysiologically high level of bile acids in a chimeric liver-humanized mouse model and leads to massive changes in bile acid composition. These adaptations could overcome one of the potential impediments in the use of these mouse models for drug-drug interaction studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Mezler
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Robert S Jones
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Dewakar Sangaraju
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Devorah C Goldman
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Matthew Hoffmann
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Aki T Heikkinen
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Janne Mannila
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Jae H Chang
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Lander Foquet
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Sandeepraj Pusalkar
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Paresh P Chothe
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
| | - Nico Scheer
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigshafen, Germany (M.M.); Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.S.J., D.S., J.C.C.); Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, Oregon (D.C.G., L.F.); Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Disposition & Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey (M.H.); Symeres Finland Oy, Oulu, Finland, operating under Admescope brand (A.T.H., J.M.); Global Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (S.P., P.P.C.); and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany (N.S.)
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3
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Uchida T, Imamura M, Hayes CN, Suehiro Y, Teraoka Y, Ohya K, Aikata H, Abe-Chayama H, Ishida Y, Tateno C, Hara Y, Hino K, Okamoto T, Matsuura Y, Aizaki H, Wake K, Kohara M, Liang TJ, Oka S, Chayama K. HBV with precore and basal core promoter mutations exhibits a high replication phenotype and causes ER stress-mediated cell death in humanized liver chimeric mice. Hepatology 2023; 78:929-942. [PMID: 36896966 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Mutations within the precore (PC) and basal core promoter (BCP) regions of the HBV genome are associated with fulminant hepatitis and HBV reactivation. These mutations may enhance viral replication, but little is known about whether they directly induce damage to the liver. We investigated mechanisms of direct cytopathic effects induced by the infection with PC/BCP mutants in the absence of immune response in vitro and in vivo . APPROACH AND RESULTS Mice with humanized livers and hepatocytes derived from humanized mice were infected with either wild-type or mutant-type PC/BCP HBV, and the HBV replication and human hepatocyte damage were evaluated. HBV proliferated vigorously in mice with PC/BCP-mutant infection, and the severe loss of human hepatocytes with a slight human ALT elevation subsequently occurred only in PC/BCP mutant mice. In PC/BCP mutant infection, the accumulation of HBsAg in humanized livers colocalized with the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to apoptosis through unfolded protein response in HBV-infected hepatocytes. RNA-sequencing revealed the molecular characteristics of the phenotype of PC/BCP mutant infection in a humanized mouse model. Reduced ALT elevation and higher HBV DNA levels in this model are consistent with characteristics of HBV reactivation, indicating that the hepatocyte damage in this model might mimic HBV reactivation followed by hepatocyte damage under immunosuppressive conditions. CONCLUSION PC and BCP mutations were associated with enhanced viral replication and cell death induced by ER stress using HBV infection models. These mutations might be associated with liver damage in patients with fulminant hepatitis or HBV reactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuro Uchida
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Michio Imamura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - C Nelson Hayes
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yosuke Suehiro
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuji Teraoka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazuki Ohya
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Aikata
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiromi Abe-Chayama
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Center for Medical Specialist Graduate Education and Research, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuji Ishida
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- PhoenixBio Co., Ltd., Higashihiroshima, Japan
| | - Chise Tateno
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- PhoenixBio Co., Ltd., Higashihiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuichi Hara
- Department of Hepatology and Pancreatology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan
| | - Keisuke Hino
- Department of Hepatology and Pancreatology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan
| | - Toru Okamoto
- Institute for Advanced Co-creation Studies, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Matsuura
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hideki Aizaki
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenjiro Wake
- Liver Research Unit, Minophagen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michinori Kohara
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - T Jake Liang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shiro Oka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Collaborative Research Laboratory of Medical Innovation, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Hiroshima Institute of Life Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
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4
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Hogan G, Winer BY, Ahodantin J, Sellau J, Huang T, Douam F, Funaki M, Chiriboga L, Su L, Ploss A. Persistent hepatitis B virus and HIV coinfections in dually humanized mice engrafted with human liver and immune system. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28930. [PMID: 37403703 PMCID: PMC11298785 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28930] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB), caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), remains a major medical problem. HBV has a high propensity for progressing to chronicity and can result in severe liver disease, including fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. CHB patients frequently present with viral coinfection, including human immunodeficiency virus type (HIV) and hepatitis delta virus. About 10% of chronic HIV carriers are also persistently infected with HBV, which can result in more exacerbated liver disease. Mechanistic studies of HBV-induced immune responses and pathogenesis, which could be significantly influenced by HIV infection, have been hampered by the scarcity of immunocompetent animal models. Here, we demonstrate that humanized mice dually engrafted with components of a human immune system and a human liver supported HBV infection, which was partially controlled by human immune cells, as evidenced by lower levels of serum viremia and HBV replication intermediates in the liver. HBV infection resulted in priming and expansion of human HLA-restricted CD8+ T cells, which acquired an activated phenotype. Notably, our dually humanized mice support persistent coinfections with HBV and HIV, which opens opportunities for analyzing immune dysregulation during HBV and HIV coinfection, and preclinical testing of novel immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn Hogan
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Benjamin Y Winer
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - James Ahodantin
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, Departments of Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julie Sellau
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Tiffany Huang
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Florian Douam
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Masaya Funaki
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, Departments of Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Luis Chiriboga
- Department of Pathology, New York University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lishan Su
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, Departments of Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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5
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Colón-Thillet R, Stone D, Loprieno MA, Klouser L, Roychoudhury P, Santo TK, Xie H, Stensland L, Upham SL, Pepper G, Huang ML, Aubert M, Jerome KR. Liver-Humanized NSG-PiZ Mice Support the Study of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Antiviral Therapies. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0517622. [PMID: 37199630 PMCID: PMC10269919 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05176-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a pathogen of major public health importance that is largely incurable once a chronic infection is established. Only humans and great apes are fully permissive to HBV infection, and this species restriction has impacted HBV research by limiting the utility of small animal models. To combat HBV species restrictions and enable more in vivo studies, liver-humanized mouse models have been developed that are permissive to HBV infection and replication. Unfortunately, these models can be difficult to establish and are expensive commercially, which has limited their academic use. As an alternative mouse model to study HBV, we evaluated liver-humanized NSG-PiZ mice and showed that they are fully permissive to HBV. HBV selectively replicates in human hepatocytes within chimeric livers, and HBV-positive (HBV+) mice secrete infectious virions and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) into blood while also harboring covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). HBV+ mice develop chronic infections lasting at least 169 days, which should enable the study of new curative therapies targeting chronic HBV, and respond to entecavir therapy. Furthermore, HBV+ human hepatocytes in NSG-PiZ mice can be transduced by AAV3b and AAV.LK03 vectors, which should enable the study of gene therapies that target HBV. In summary, our data demonstrate that liver-humanized NSG-PiZ mice can be used as a robust and cost-effective alternative to existing chronic hepatitis B (CHB) models and may enable more academic research labs to study HBV disease pathogenesis and antiviral therapy. IMPORTANCE Liver-humanized mouse models have become the gold standard for the in vivo study of hepatitis B virus (HBV), yet their complexity and cost have prohibited widespread use of existing models in research. Here, we show that the NSG-PiZ liver-humanized mouse model, which is relatively inexpensive and simple to establish, can support chronic HBV infection. Infected mice are fully permissive to hepatitis B, supporting both active replication and spread, and can be used to study novel antiviral therapies. This model is a viable and cost-effective alternative to other liver-humanized mouse models that are used to study HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossana Colón-Thillet
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Daniel Stone
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Michelle A. Loprieno
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lindsay Klouser
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Pavitra Roychoudhury
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Tracy K. Santo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hong Xie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Laurence Stensland
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sarah L. Upham
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Gregory Pepper
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Meei-Li Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Martine Aubert
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Keith R. Jerome
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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6
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Uchida T, Teraoka Y, Imamura M, Abe-Chayama H, Makokha GN, Hayes CN, Aikata H, Hamamura S, Ishida Y, Tateno C, Shirouzu T, Kawai S, Tanaka Y, Ohdan H, Okada S, Chayama K. A novel cDNA-uPA/SCID/Rag2 -/- /Jak3 -/- mouse model for hepatitis virus infection and reconstruction of human immune system. J Viral Hepat 2023; 30:262-272. [PMID: 36575861 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Although human hepatocyte-transplanted immunodeficient mice support infection with hepatitis viruses, these mice fail to develop viral hepatitis due to the lack of an adaptive immune system. In this study, we generated new immunodeficiency cDNA-urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)/SCID/Rag2-/- /Jak3-/- mice and established a mouse model with both a humanized liver and immune system. Transplantation of human hepatocytes with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A24 resulted in establishment of a highly replaced liver in cDNA-uPA/SCID/Rag2-/- /Jak3-/- mice. These mice were successfully infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) for a prolonged period and facilitate analysis of the effect of anti-HCV drugs. Administration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from an HLA-A24 donor resulted in establishment of 22.6%-81.3% human CD45-positive mononuclear cell chimerism in liver-infiltrating cells without causing graft-versus-host disease in cDNA-uPA/SCID/Rag2-/- /Jak3-/- mice without human hepatocyte transplantation. When mice were transplanted with human hepatocytes and then administered HLA-A24-positive human PBMCs, an alloimmune response between transplanted human hepatocytes and PBMCs occurred, with production of transplanted hepatocyte-specific anti-HLA antibody. In conclusion, we succeeded in establishing a humanized liver/immune system characterized by an allo-reaction between transplanted human immune cells and human liver using a novel cDNA-uPA/SCID/Rag2-/- /Jak3-/- mouse. This mouse model can be used to generate a chronic hepatitis mouse model with a human immune system with application not only to hepatitis virus virology but also to investigation of the pathology of post-transplantation liver rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuro Uchida
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuji Teraoka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Michio Imamura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiromi Abe-Chayama
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Center for Medical Specialist Graduate Education and Research, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Grace Naswa Makokha
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Clair Nelson Hayes
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Aikata
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Satoko Hamamura
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,PhoenixBio Co., Ltd., Higashihiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuji Ishida
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,PhoenixBio Co., Ltd., Higashihiroshima, Japan
| | - Chise Tateno
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,PhoenixBio Co., Ltd., Higashihiroshima, Japan
| | - Takayuki Shirouzu
- Molecular Diagnostics Division, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shintaro Kawai
- Molecular Diagnostics Division, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuka Tanaka
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hideki Ohdan
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Seiji Okada
- Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection and Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Collaborative Research Laboratory of Medical Innovation, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Hiroshima Institute of Life Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
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7
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Tamaki Y, Shibata Y, Hayakawa M, Kato N, Machii A, Ikeda Y, Nanizawa E, Hayashi Y, Suemizu H, Ito H, Ishikawa T. Treatment with hepatocyte transplantation in a novel mouse model of persistent liver failure. Biochem Biophys Rep 2022; 32:101382. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2022.101382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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8
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Zerdoug A, Le Vée M, Uehara S, Lopez B, Chesné C, Suemizu H, Fardel O. Contribution of Humanized Liver Chimeric Mice to the Study of Human Hepatic Drug Transporters: State of the Art and Perspectives. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2022; 47:621-637. [DOI: 10.1007/s13318-022-00782-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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9
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Du Y, Zhang W, Qiu H, Xiao C, Shi J, Reid LM, He Z. Mouse Models of Liver Parenchyma Injuries and Regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:903740. [PMID: 35721478 PMCID: PMC9198899 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.903740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice have genetic and physiological similarities with humans and a well-characterized genetic background that is easy to manipulate. Murine models have become the most favored, robust mammalian systems for experimental analyses of biological processes and disease conditions due to their low cost, rapid reproduction, a wealth of mouse strains with defined genetic conditions (both native ones as well as ones established experimentally), and high reproducibility with respect to that which can be done in experimental studies. In this review, we focus on murine models for liver, an organ with renown regenerative capacity and the organ most central to systemic, complex metabolic and physiological functions for mammalian hosts. Establishment of murine models has been achieved for all aspects of studies of normal liver, liver diseases, liver injuries, and regenerative repair mechanisms. We summarize key information on current mouse systems that partially model facets of clinical scenarios, particularly those associated with drug-induced acute or chronic liver injuries, dietary related, non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD), hepatitis virus infectious chronic liver diseases, and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). In addition, we also include mouse models that are suitable for studying liver cancers (e.g., hepatocellular carcinomas), the aging process (senescence, apoptosis), and various types of liver injuries and regenerative processes associated with them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Du
- Department of General Surgery, Ji’an Hospital, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Ji’an, China
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Wencheng Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hua Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Ji’an Hospital, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Ji’an, China
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Canjun Xiao
- Department of General Surgery, Ji’an Hospital, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Ji’an, China
| | - Jun Shi
- Department of General Surgery, Ji’an Hospital, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Ji’an, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiying He, ; Lola M. Reid, , ; Jun Shi,
| | - Lola M. Reid
- Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology, Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: Zhiying He, ; Lola M. Reid, , ; Jun Shi,
| | - Zhiying He
- Department of General Surgery, Ji’an Hospital, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Ji’an, China
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiying He, ; Lola M. Reid, , ; Jun Shi,
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10
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Protocol for chronic hepatitis B virus infection mouse model development by patient-derived orthotopic xenografts. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264266. [PMID: 35196351 PMCID: PMC8865695 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background According to the World Health Organization, more than 250 million people worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus, and almost 800.000 patients die annually of mediated liver disorders. Therefore, adequate biological test systems are needed that could fully simulate the course of chronic hepatitis B virus infection, including in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods In this study, we will assess the effectiveness of existing protocols for isolation and cultivation of primary cells derived from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of the yield of viable cells and their ability to replicate the hepatitis B virus using isolation and cultivation methods for adhesive primary cells, flow cytometry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Another part of our study will be devoted to evaluating the effectiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma grafting methods to obtain patient-derived heterotopic and orthotopic xenograft mouse avatars using animal X-ray irradiation and surgery procedures and in vivo fluorescent signals visualization and measurements. Our study will be completed by histological methods. Discussion This will be the first extensive comparative study of the main modern methods and protocols for isolation and cultivation primary hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tumor engraftment to the mice. All protocols will be optimized and characterized using the: (1) efficiency of the method for isolation cells from removed hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of their quantity and viability; (2) efficiency of the primary cell cultivation protocol in terms of the rate of monolayer formation and hepatitis B virus replication; (3) efficiency of the grafting method in terms of the growth rate and the possibility of hepatitis B virus persistence and replication in mice. The most effective methods will be recommended for use in translational biomedical research.
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11
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Du Y, Broering R, Li X, Zhang X, Liu J, Yang D, Lu M. In Vivo Mouse Models for Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Their Application. Front Immunol 2021; 12:766534. [PMID: 34777385 PMCID: PMC8586444 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.766534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the availability of effective vaccination, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a major challenge worldwide. Research efforts are ongoing to find an effective cure for the estimated 250 million people chronically infected by HBV in recent years. The exceptionally limited host spectrum of HBV has limited the research progress. Thus, different HBV mouse models have been developed and used for studies on infection, immune responses, pathogenesis, and antiviral therapies. However, these mouse models have great limitations as no spread of HBV infection occurs in the mouse liver and no or only very mild hepatitis is present. Thus, the suitability of these mouse models for a given issue and the interpretation of the results need to be critically assessed. This review summarizes the currently available mouse models for HBV research, including hydrodynamic injection, viral vector-mediated transfection, recombinant covalently closed circular DNA (rc-cccDNA), transgenic, and liver humanized mouse models. We systematically discuss the characteristics of each model, with the main focus on hydrodynamic injection mouse model. The usefulness and limitations of each mouse model are discussed based on the published studies. This review summarizes the facts for considerations of the use and suitability of mouse model in future HBV studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqin Du
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ruth Broering
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Xiaoran Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dongliang Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengji Lu
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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12
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Tsuge M. Are Humanized Mouse Models Useful for Basic Research of Hepatocarcinogenesis through Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection? Viruses 2021; 13:v13101920. [PMID: 34696350 PMCID: PMC8541657 DOI: 10.3390/v13101920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem that can lead to liver dysfunction, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Current antiviral therapies can control viral replication in patients with chronic HBV infection; however, there is a risk of HCC development. HBV-related proteins may be produced in hepatocytes regardless of antiviral therapies and influence intracellular metabolism and signaling pathways, resulting in liver carcinogenesis. To understand the mechanisms of liver carcinogenesis, the effect of HBV infection in human hepatocytes should be analyzed. HBV infects human hepatocytes through transfer to the sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP). Although the NTCP is expressed on the hepatocyte surface in several animals, including mice, HBV infection is limited to human primates. Due to this species-specific liver tropism, suitable animal models for analyzing HBV replication and developing antivirals have been lacking since the discovery of the virus. Recently, a humanized mouse model carrying human hepatocytes in the liver was developed based on several immunodeficient mice; this is useful for analyzing the HBV life cycle, antiviral effects of existing/novel antivirals, and intracellular signaling pathways under HBV infection. Herein, the usefulness of human hepatocyte chimeric mouse models in the analysis of HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masataka Tsuge
- Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Department of Biomedical Science, Research and Development Division, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; ; Tel.: +81-82-257-1510
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
- Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
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13
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Khoshdel-Rad N, Zahmatkesh E, Bikmulina P, Peshkova M, Kosheleva N, Bezrukov EA, Sukhanov RB, Solovieva A, Shpichka A, Timashev P, Vosough M. Modeling Hepatotropic Viral Infections: Cells vs. Animals. Cells 2021; 10:1726. [PMID: 34359899 PMCID: PMC8305759 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of an appropriate platform for a better understanding of the molecular basis of hepatitis viruses and the absence of reliable models to identify novel therapeutic agents for a targeted treatment are the two major obstacles for launching efficient clinical protocols in different types of viral hepatitis. Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, and the development of model systems for efficient viral replication is necessary for basic and applied studies. Viral hepatitis is a major health issue and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite the extensive efforts that have been made on fundamental and translational research, traditional models are not effective in representing this viral infection in a laboratory. In this review, we discuss in vitro cell-based models and in vivo animal models, with their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the most important findings that have been retrieved from each model are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niloofar Khoshdel-Rad
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran; (N.K.-R.); (E.Z.)
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Ensieh Zahmatkesh
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran; (N.K.-R.); (E.Z.)
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Polina Bikmulina
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (P.B.); (M.P.); (A.S.)
- World-Class Research Center “Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Maria Peshkova
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (P.B.); (M.P.); (A.S.)
- World-Class Research Center “Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Nastasia Kosheleva
- World-Class Research Center “Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- FSBSI ‘Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 125315 Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeny A. Bezrukov
- Department of Urology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.B.); (R.B.S.)
| | - Roman B. Sukhanov
- Department of Urology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.B.); (R.B.S.)
| | - Anna Solovieva
- Department of Polymers and Composites, N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Anastasia Shpichka
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (P.B.); (M.P.); (A.S.)
- World-Class Research Center “Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter Timashev
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (P.B.); (M.P.); (A.S.)
- World-Class Research Center “Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Department of Polymers and Composites, N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran; (N.K.-R.); (E.Z.)
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran
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14
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Bao YL, Wang L, Pan HT, Zhang TR, Chen YH, Xu SJ, Mao XL, Li SW. Animal and Organoid Models of Liver Fibrosis. Front Physiol 2021; 12:666138. [PMID: 34122138 PMCID: PMC8187919 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.666138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis refers to the process underlying the development of chronic liver diseases, wherein liver cells are repeatedly destroyed and regenerated, which leads to an excessive deposition and abnormal distribution of the extracellular matrix such as collagen, glycoprotein and proteoglycan in the liver. Liver fibrosis thus constitutes the pathological repair response of the liver to chronic injury. Hepatic fibrosis is a key step in the progression of chronic liver disease to cirrhosis and an important factor affecting the prognosis of chronic liver disease. Further development of liver fibrosis may lead to structural disorders of the liver, nodular regeneration of hepatocytes and the formation of cirrhosis. Hepatic fibrosis is histologically reversible if treated aggressively during this period, but when fibrosis progresses to the stage of cirrhosis, reversal is very difficult, resulting in a poor prognosis. There are many causes of liver fibrosis, including liver injury caused by drugs, viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver, fatty liver and autoimmune disease. The mechanism underlying hepatic fibrosis differs among etiologies. The establishment of an appropriate animal model of liver fibrosis is not only an important basis for the in-depth study of the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis but also an important means for clinical experts to select drugs for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis. The present study focused on the modeling methods and fibrosis characteristics of different animal models of liver fibrosis, such as a chemical-induced liver fibrosis model, autoimmune liver fibrosis model, cholestatic liver fibrosis model, alcoholic liver fibrosis model and non-alcoholic liver fibrosis model. In addition, we also summarize the research and application prospects concerning new organoids in liver fibrosis models proposed in recent years. A suitable animal model of liver fibrosis and organoid fibrosis model that closely resemble the physiological state of the human body will provide bases for the in-depth study of the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and the development of therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Long Bao
- College of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Li Wang
- College of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Hai-Ting Pan
- College of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Tai-Ran Zhang
- College of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Ya-Hong Chen
- Health Management Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Shan-Jing Xu
- School of Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Chian
| | - Xin-Li Mao
- School of Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Chian.,Key Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Techniques & Rapid Rehabilitation of Digestive System Tumor, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Shao-Wei Li
- Key Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Techniques & Rapid Rehabilitation of Digestive System Tumor, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
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15
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Liu Y, Maya S, Ploss A. Animal Models of Hepatitis B Virus Infection-Success, Challenges, and Future Directions. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050777. [PMID: 33924793 PMCID: PMC8146732 DOI: 10.3390/v13050777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects more than 250 million people worldwide, which greatly increases the risk for terminal liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Even though current approved antiviral therapies, including pegylated type I interferon (IFN) and nucleos(t)ide analogs, can effectively suppress viremia, HBV infection is rarely cured. Since HBV exhibits a narrow species tropism and robustly infects only humans and higher primates, progress in HBV research and preclinical testing of antiviral drugs has been hampered by the scarcity of suitable animal models. Fortunately, a series of surrogate animal models have been developed for the study of HBV. An increased understanding of the barriers towards interspecies transmission has aided in the development of human chimeric mice and has greatly paved the way for HBV research in vivo, and for evaluating potential therapies of chronic hepatitis B. In this review, we summarize the currently available animal models for research of HBV and HBV-related hepadnaviruses, and we discuss challenges and future directions for improvement.
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16
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Kanbe A, Ishikawa T, Hara A, Suemizu H, Nanizawa E, Tamaki Y, Ito H. Novel hepatitis B virus infection mouse model using herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase transgenic mice. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 36:782-789. [PMID: 32515517 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.15142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The chronicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the result of impaired HBV-specific immune responses that cannot eliminate or cure the infected hepatocytes efficiently. Previous studies have used immunodeficient mice such as herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase NOD/Scid/IL2Rrnull (HSV-TK-NOG) mice. However, it is difficult to analyze the immune response in the previous models. In the present study, we established a novel HBV infection model using herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) mice in which the host immune system was not impaired. METHODS Herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase mice were injected intraperitoneally with ganciclovir (GCV). Seven days after GCV injection, GCV-treated mice were transplanted with 1 × 106 hepatocytes from HBV-transgenic (HBV-Tg) mice. RESULTS Serum alanine aminotransferase levels in HSV-TK mice increased 1 and 2 weeks after GCV injection. The number and viability of hepatocytes from the whole liver of HBV-Tg mice significantly increased using digestion medium containing liberase. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive areas in the liver tissue were observed for at least 20 weeks after HBsAg-positive hepatocyte transplantation. In addition, we measured HBsAg in the serum after transplantation. HBsAg levels in HBV-Tg hepatocyte-replaced mice increased 4 weeks after transplantation. Furthermore, we examined the immune response in HSV-TK mice. The increase in hepatitis B surface antibody levels in replaced mice was maintained for 20 weeks. Also, interferon-γ-producing cells were increased in non-replaced mice. CONCLUSIONS A novel HBV infection mouse model will help to understand the mechanisms of HBV tolerance similar to human chronic HBV-infected patients and can be used to develop a new strategy to treat chronic HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumu Kanbe
- Department of Informative Clinical Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu City, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ishikawa
- Department of Radiological and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akira Hara
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu City, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Suemizu
- Department of Laboratory Animal Research, Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Eri Nanizawa
- Department of Radiological and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuki Tamaki
- Department of Radiological and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Ito
- Department of Informative Clinical Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu City, Japan
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17
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Lai F, Wee CYY, Chen Q. Establishment of Humanized Mice for the Study of HBV. Front Immunol 2021; 12:638447. [PMID: 33679796 PMCID: PMC7933441 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.638447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral hepatitis particularly Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is still an ongoing health issue worldwide. Despite the vast technological advancements in research and development, only HBV vaccines, typically given during early years, are currently available as a preventive measure against acquiring the disease from a secondary source. In general, HBV can be cleared naturally by the human immune system if detected at low levels early. However, long term circulation of HBV in the peripheral blood may be detrimental to the human liver, specifically targeting human hepatocytes for cccDNA integration which inevitably supports HBV life cycle for the purpose of reinfection in healthy cells. Although there is some success in using nucleoside analogs or polyclonal antibodies targeting HBV surface antigens (HBsAg) in patients with acute or chronic HBV+ (CHB), majority of them would either respond only partially or succumb to the disease entirely unless they undergo liver transplants from a fully matched healthy donor and even so may not necessarily guarantee a 100% chance of survival. Indeed, in vitro/ex vivo cultures and various transgenic animal models have already provided us with a good understanding of HBV but they primarily lack human specificity or virus-host interactions in the presence of human immune surveillance. Therefore, the demand of utilizing humanized mice has increased over the last decade as a pre-clinical platform for investigating human-specific immune responses against HBV as well as identifying potential immunotherapeutic strategies in eradicating the virus. Basically, this review covers some of the recent developments and key advantages of humanized mouse models over other conventional transgenic mice platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fritz Lai
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cherry Yong Yi Wee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qingfeng Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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18
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CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of hepatitis B virus in chronically infected humanized mice. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 20:258-275. [PMID: 33473359 PMCID: PMC7803634 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem. New treatment approaches are needed because current treatments do not target covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the template for HBV replication, and rarely clear the virus. We harnessed adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors and CRISPR-Staphylococcus aureus (Sa)Cas9 to edit the HBV genome in liver-humanized FRG mice chronically infected with HBV and receiving entecavir. Gene editing was detected in livers of five of eight HBV-specific AAV-SaCas9-treated mice, but not control mice, and mice with detectable HBV gene editing showed higher levels of SaCas9 delivery to HBV+ human hepatocytes than those without gene editing. HBV-specific AAV-SaCas9 therapy significantly improved survival of human hepatocytes, showed a trend toward decreasing total liver HBV DNA and cccDNA, and was well tolerated. This work provides evidence for the feasibility and safety of in vivo gene editing for chronic HBV infections, and it suggests that with further optimization, this approach may offer a plausible way to treat or even cure chronic HBV infections.
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Zhang LL, Li JL, Ji MX, Tian D, Wang LY, Chen C, Tian M. Attenuated P. falciparum Parasite Shows Cytokine Variations in Humanized Mice. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1801. [PMID: 33013831 PMCID: PMC7516016 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A recently developed humanized mouse has been used to assess the immune response evoked against the isolated attenuated C9 parasite clone (C9-M; carrying a single insertion disrupting the open reading frame (ORF) of PF3D7_1305500) of Plasmodium falciparum. Significant human RBC engraftment was achieved by ameliorating the residual non-adaptive immune response using clodronate-loaded liposome treatment. Controlled reactive professional phagocytic leukocytes in immunodeficient mice allowed for sizeable human blood chimerism and injected huRBCs acted as bona fide host cells for P. falciparum. huRBC-reconstituted immunodeficient mice received infectious challenge with attenuated P. falciparum C9 parasite mutants (C9-M), complemented (C9-C), and wild type (NF54) progenitors to study the role of immune effectors in the clearance of the parasite from mouse circulation. C9-M and NF54 parasites grew and developed in the huRBC-reconstituted humanized NSG mice. Further, the presence of mutant parasites in deep-seated tissues suggests the escape of parasites from the host's immune responses and thus extended the survival of the parasite. Our results suggest an evasion mechanism that may have been employed by the parasite to survive the mouse's residual non-adaptive immune responses. Collectively, our data suggest that huRBCs reconstituted NSG mice infected with attenuated P. falciparum is a valuable tool to explore the role of C9 mutation in the growth and survival of parasite mutants and their response to the host's immune responses. This mouse might help in identifying novel chemotherapeutic targets to develop new anti-malarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei-Lei Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jin-Long Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ming-Xin Ji
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dan Tian
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Li-Yan Wang
- Department of Operating Room, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Operating Room, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Miao Tian
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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20
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Burwitz BJ, Zhou Z, Li W. Animal models for the study of human hepatitis B and D virus infection: New insights and progress. Antiviral Res 2020; 182:104898. [PMID: 32758525 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a member of the Hepadnaviridae family and infects hepatocytes, leading to liver pathology in acutely and chronically infected individuals. Co-infection with Hepatitis D virus (HDV), which requires the surface proteins of HBV to replicate, can exacerbate this disease progression. Thus, the >250 million people living with chronic HBV infection, including 13 million co-infected with HDV, would significantly benefit from an effective and affordable curative treatment. Animal models are crucial to the development of innovative disease therapies, a paradigm repeated again and again throughout the fields of immunology, neurology, reproduction, and development. Unfortunately, HBV has a highly-restricted species tropism, infecting limited species including humans, chimpanzees, and treeshrews. The first experimentally controlled studies of HBV infection were following inoculation of human volunteers in 1942, which identified the transmissibility of hepatitis through serum transfer and led to the hypothesis that the etiological agent was viral. Subsequent research in chimpanzees (Desmyter et al., 1971; Lichter, 1969) and later in other species, such as the treeshrews (Walter et al., 1996; Yan et al., 1996), further confirmed the viral origin of hepatitis B. Shortly thereafter, HBV-like viral infections were identified in woodchucks (Summers et al., 1978; Werner et al., 1979) and ducks, and much of our understanding of HBV replication can be attributed to these important models. However, with the exodus of chimpanzees from research and the limited reagents and historical data for treeshrews and other understudied species, there remains an urgent need to identify physiologically relevant models of chronic HBV infection. While large strides have been made in generating such models, particularly over the past two decades, there is still no available model that faithfully recapitulates the immunity and pathogenesis of HBV infection. Here, we discuss recent advancements in the generation of murine and non-human primate (NHP) models of HBV/HDV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Burwitz
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA.
| | - Zhongmin Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Wenhui Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China; Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 102206, China.
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21
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Animal Models Used in Hepatitis C Virus Research. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21113869. [PMID: 32485887 PMCID: PMC7312079 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The narrow range of species permissive to infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) presents a unique challenge to the development of useful animal models for studying HCV, as well as host immune responses and development of chronic infection and disease. Following earlier studies in chimpanzees, several unique approaches have been pursued to develop useful animal models for research while avoiding the important ethical concerns and costs inherent in research with chimpanzees. Genetically related hepatotropic viruses that infect animals are being used as surrogates for HCV in research studies; chimeras of these surrogate viruses harboring specific regions of the HCV genome are being developed to improve their utility for vaccine testing. Concurrently, genetically humanized mice are being developed and continually advanced using human factors known to be involved in virus entry and replication. Further, xenotransplantation of human hepatocytes into mice allows for the direct study of HCV infection in human liver tissue in a small animal model. The current advances in each of these approaches are discussed in the present review.
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Tricot T, De Boeck J, Verfaillie C. Alternative Cell Sources for Liver Parenchyma Repopulation: Where Do We Stand? Cells 2020; 9:E566. [PMID: 32121068 PMCID: PMC7140465 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute and chronic liver failure is a highly prevalent medical condition with high morbidity and mortality. Currently, the therapy is orthotopic liver transplantation. However, in some instances, chiefly in the setting of metabolic diseases, transplantation of individual cells, specifically functional hepatocytes, can be an acceptable alternative. The gold standard for this therapy is the use of primary human hepatocytes, isolated from livers that are not suitable for whole organ transplantations. Unfortunately, primary human hepatocytes are scarcely available, which has led to the evaluation of alternative sources of functional hepatocytes. In this review, we will compare the ability of most of these candidate alternative cell sources to engraft and repopulate the liver of preclinical animal models with the repopulation ability found with primary human hepatocytes. We will discuss the current shortcomings of the different cell types, and some of the next steps that we believe need to be taken to create alternative hepatocyte progeny capable of regenerating the failing liver.
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23
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Li F, Wang Z, Hu F, Su L. Cell Culture Models and Animal Models for HBV Study. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1179:109-135. [PMID: 31741335 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-9151-4_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Highly representative and relevant cell and mouse models are required for HBV study, including uncovering its lifecycle, investigation of the viral-host interaction, and development and evaluation of the novel antiviral therapy. During the past 40 years, both HBV cell culture models and animal models have evolved over several generations, each with significant improvement for specific purposes. In one aspect, HBV cell culture models experienced the original noninfection model including HBV plasmid DNA transfection and HBV genome integrated stable cells such as HepG2.2.15 which constitutively produces HBV virus and HepAD38 cells and its derivatives which drug-regulated HBV production. As for HBV infection models, HepaRG cells once dominated the HBV infection field for over a decade, but its complicated and labor-extensive cell differentiation procedures discouraged primary researchers from stepping in the field. The identification of human NTCP as HBV receptor evoked great enthusiasm of the whole HBV field, and its readily adaptive characteristic makes it popular in many HBV laboratories. Recombinant cccDNA (rc-cccDNA) emerged recently aiming to tackle the very basic question of how to eventually eradicate cccDNA without HBV real virus infection. In the other aspect, HBV transgenic mouse was firstly generated in the 1990s, which was helpful to decipher HBV production in vivo. However, the HBV transgenic mice were naturally immune tolerant to HBV viral products. Subsequently, a series of nonintegrated HBV mouse models were generated through plasmid hydrodynamic tail vein injection and viral vector-mediated delivery approaches, and HBV full life cycle was incomplete as cccDNA was not formed from HBV relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA). Human NTCP transgenic mouse still could not support productive HBV infection, and humanized mouse liver with human hepatocytes which supported whole HBV life cycle still dominates HBV infection in vivo, a value but expensive model until now. Other methods to empower mouse to carry HBV cccDNA were also exploited. In this chapter, we summarized the advantages and disadvantages of each model historically and provided protocols for HBV infection in HepG2-NTCP cells, HBV rc-cccDNA transfection in HepG2 cells, and HBV infection in NRG-Fah-/- liver humanized mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Li
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zhuo Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Fengyu Hu
- Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lishan Su
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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24
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Dagur RS, Wang W, Makarov E, Sun Y, Poluektova LY. Establishment of the Dual Humanized TK-NOG Mouse Model for HIV-associated Liver Pathogenesis. J Vis Exp 2019:10.3791/58645. [PMID: 31566621 PMCID: PMC6822171 DOI: 10.3791/58645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the increased life expectancy of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), liver disease has emerged as a common cause of their morbidity. The liver immunopathology caused by HIV-1 remains elusive. Small xenograft animal models with human hepatocytes and human immune system can recapitulate the human biology of the disease's pathogenesis. Herein, a protocol is described to establish a dual humanized mouse model through human hepatocytes and CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) transplantation, to study liver immunopathology as observed in HIV-infected patients. To achieve dual reconstitution, male TK-NOG (NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Sug Tg(Alb-TK)7-2/ShiJic) mice are intraperitoneally injected with ganciclovir (GCV) doses to eliminate mouse transgenic liver cells, and with treosulfan for nonmyeloablative conditioning, both of which facilitate human hepatocyte (HEP) engraftment and human immune system (HIS) development. Human albumin (ALB) levels are evaluated for liver engraftment, and the presence of human immune cells in blood detected by flow cytometry confirms the establishment of human immune system. The model developed using the protocol described here resembles multiple components of liver damage from HIV-1 infection. Its establishment could prove to be essential for studies of hepatitis virus co-infection and for the evaluation of antiviral and antiretroviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghubendra Singh Dagur
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center;
| | - Weimin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center
| | - Edward Makarov
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center
| | - Yimin Sun
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center
| | - Larisa Y Poluektova
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center
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25
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Humanized Mouse Models for the Study of Hepatitis C and Host Interactions. Cells 2019; 8:cells8060604. [PMID: 31213010 PMCID: PMC6627916 DOI: 10.3390/cells8060604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is commonly attributed as a major cause of chronic hepatotropic diseases, such as, steatosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. As HCV infects only humans and primates, its narrow host tropism hampers in vivo studies of HCV-mammalian host interactions and the development of effective therapeutics and vaccines. In this context, we will focus our discussion on humanized mice in HCV research. Here, these humanized mice are defined as animal models that encompass either only human hepatocytes or both human liver and immune cells. Aspects related to immunopathogenesis, anti-viral interventions, drug testing and perspectives of these models for future HCV research will be discussed.
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26
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Gaska JM, Balev M, Ding Q, Heller B, Ploss A. Differences across cyclophilin A orthologs contribute to the host range restriction of hepatitis C virus. eLife 2019; 8:e44436. [PMID: 31074414 PMCID: PMC6510530 DOI: 10.7554/elife.44436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The restricted host tropism of hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains incompletely understood, especially post-entry, and has hindered developing an immunocompetent, small animal model. HCV replication in non-permissive species may be limited by incompatibilities between the viral replication machinery and orthologs of essential host factors, like cyclophilin A (CypA). We thus compared the ability of CypA from mouse, tree shrew, and seven non-human primate species to support HCV replication, finding that murine CypA only partially rescued viral replication in Huh7.5-shRNA CypA cells. We determined the specific amino acid differences responsible and generated mutants able to fully rescue replication. We expressed these mutants in engineered murine hepatoma cells and although we observed increases in HCV replication following infection, they remained far lower than those in highly permissive human hepatoma cells, and minimal infectious particle release was observed. Together, these data suggest additional co-factors remain unidentified. Future work to determine such factors will be critical for developing an immunocompetent mouse model supporting HCV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M Gaska
- Department of Molecular BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Metodi Balev
- Department of Molecular BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Qiang Ding
- Department of Molecular BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Brigitte Heller
- Department of Molecular BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
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27
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Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) affects more than 257 million people globally, resulting in progressively worsening liver disease, manifesting as fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The exceptionally narrow species tropism of HBV restricts its natural hosts to humans and non-human primates, including chimpanzees, gorillas, gibbons, and orangutans. The unavailability of completely immunocompetent small-animal models has contributed to the lack of curative therapeutic interventions. Even though surrogates allow the study of closely related viruses, their host genetic backgrounds, immune responses, and molecular virology differ from those of HBV. Various different models, based on either pure murine or xenotransplantation systems, have been introduced over the past years, often making the choice of the optimal model for any given question challenging. Here, we offer a concise review of in vivo model systems employed to study HBV infection and steps in the HBV life cycle or pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine Cherry
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, W2 1PGLondon, U.K
| | - Harry Gunn
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, W2 1PGLondon, U.K
| | - Marcus Dorner
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, W2 1PGLondon, U.K
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28
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Li J, Xing F, Chen F, He L, So KF, Liu Y, Xiao J. Functional 3D Human Liver Bud Assembled from MSC-Derived Multiple Liver Cell Lineages. Cell Transplant 2019; 28:510-521. [PMID: 29895168 PMCID: PMC7103600 DOI: 10.1177/0963689718780332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2015] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The severe shortage of donor liver organs requires the development of alternative methods to provide transplantable liver tissues such as stem cell-derived organoids. Despite several studies describing the generation of vascularized and functional liver tissues, none have succeeded in assembling human liver buds containing hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). Here, we report a reproducible, easy-to-follow, and comprehensive self-assembly protocol to generate three-dimensional (3D) human liver buds from naïve mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), MSC-derived hepatocytes, and HSC- and LSEC-like cells. By optimizing the ratio between these different cell lineages, the cell mixture self-assembled into 3D human liver buds within 72 h in vitro, and exhibited similar characteristics with early-stage murine liver buds. In a murine model of acute liver failure, the mesenteric transplantation of self-assembled human liver buds effectively rescued animal death, and triggered hepatic ameliorative effects that were better than the ones observed after splenic transplantation of human hepatocytes or naïve MSCs. In addition, transplanted human liver buds underwent maturation during injury alleviation, after which they exhibited a gene expression profile signature similar to the one of adult human livers. Collectively, our protocol provides a promising new approach for the in vitro construction of functional 3D human liver buds from multiple human MSC-derived hepatic cell lineages; this new technique would be useful for clinical transplantation and regenerative medicine research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Tissue Transplantation and
Immunology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feiyue Xing
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Tissue Transplantation and
Immunology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feng Chen
- State Key Discipline of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People’s
Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liumin He
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes,
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Yingxia Liu
- State Key Discipline of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People’s
Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jia Xiao
- State Key Discipline of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People’s
Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
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29
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Abstract
The complete life cycle of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be recapitulated in vivo using immunodeficient mice that have had their livers extensively repopulated with human hepatocytes. These human liver chimeric mouse models have enabled the study of many aspects of the HCV life cycle, including antiviral interventions that have helped to shape the curative landscape that is available today. The first human liver chimeric mouse model capable of supporting the HCV life cycle was generated in SCID-uPA mice. Although other human liver chimeric mouse models have since been developed, the SCID-uPA mouse model remains one of the most robust in vivo systems available for HCV studies. This chapter reviews development, validation and application of the SCID-uPA mouse model, and discusses their potential application for studying other liver-centric diseases and pathogens and for the design and testing of vaccine candidates for the eradication of HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna N Douglas
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Norman M Kneteman
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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30
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Abstract
In spite of the immense progress in hepatitis C virus (HCV) research, efforts to prevent infection, such as generating a vaccine, have not yet been successful. The high price tag associated with current treatment options for chronic infection and the spike in new infections concurrent with growing opioid abuse are strong motivators for developing effective immunization and understanding neutralizing antibodies' role in preventing infection. Humanized mice-both human liver chimeras as well as genetically humanized models-are important platforms for testing both possible vaccine candidates as well as antibody-based therapies. This chapter details the variety of ways humanized mouse technology can be employed in pursuit of learning how HCV infection can be prevented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M Gaska
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Qiang Ding
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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31
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Nihira K, Nan-ya KI, Kakuni M, Ono Y, Yoshikawa Y, Ota T, Hiura M, Yoshinari K. Chimeric Mice With Humanized Livers Demonstrate Human-Specific Hepatotoxicity Caused by a Therapeutic Antibody Against TRAIL-Receptor 2/Death Receptor 5. Toxicol Sci 2018; 167:190-201. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kaito Nihira
- Translational Research Unit, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka 411-8731, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan
| | - Ken-ichiro Nan-ya
- Translational Research Unit, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka 411-8731, Japan
| | - Masakazu Kakuni
- PhoenixBio Co., Ltd., Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima 739-0046, Japan
| | - Yoko Ono
- Translational Research Unit, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka 411-8731, Japan
| | - Yukitaka Yoshikawa
- Translational Research Unit, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka 411-8731, Japan
| | - Toshio Ota
- Translational Research Unit, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka 411-8731, Japan
| | - Masanori Hiura
- Translational Research Unit, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka 411-8731, Japan
| | - Kouichi Yoshinari
- Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan
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32
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Yuan L, Liu X, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Li X, Wu K, Cao J, Hou W, Que Y, Zhang J, Zhu H, Yuan Q, Tang Q, Cheng T, Xia N. Optimized HepaRG is a suitable cell source to generate the human liver chimeric mouse model for the chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018; 7:144. [PMID: 30097574 PMCID: PMC6086841 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0143-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The human liver chimeric mouse with primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) engraftment has been demonstrated to be a useful animal model to study hepatitis B virus (HBV) pathogenesis and evaluate anti-HBV drugs. However, the disadvantages of using PHHs include the inability for cellular expansion in vitro, limited donor availability, individual differences, and ethical issues, necessitating the development of alternatives. To obtain in vitro expandable hepatocytes, we optimized the hepatic differentiation procedure of the human liver progenitor cell line, HepaRG, using four functional small molecules (4SM) and enriched the precursor hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs). HepaRG cells of different hepatic differentiation states were engrafted to immunodeficient mice (FRGS) with weekly 4SM treatment. The HepaRG-engrafted mice were challenged with HBV and/or treated with several antivirals to evaluate their effects. We demonstrated that the 4SM treatment enhanced hepatic differentiation and promoted cell proliferation capacity both in vitro and in vivo. Mice engrafted with enriched HepaRG of prehepatic differentiation and treated with 4SM displayed approximately 10% liver chimerism at week 8 after engraftment and were maintained at this level for another 16 weeks. Therefore, we developed a HepaRG-based human liver chimeric mouse model: HepaRG-FRGS. Our experimental results showed that the liver chimerism of the mice was adequate to support chronic HBV infection for 24 weeks and to evaluate antivirals. We also demonstrated that HBV infection in HepaRG cells was dependent on their hepatic differentiation state and liver chimerism in vivo. Overall, HepaRG-FRGS mice provide a novel human liver chimeric mouse model to study chronic HBV infection and evaluate anti-HBV drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lunzhi Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Xuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Liang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Yali Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Yao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Kun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Jiali Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Wangheng Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Yuqiong Que
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ, 070101, USA
| | - Quan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China.
| | - Qiyi Tang
- Department of Microbiology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, 20059, USA.
| | - Tong Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China.
| | - Ningshao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, P. R. China
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Burm R, Collignon L, Mesalam AA, Meuleman P. Animal Models to Study Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1032. [PMID: 29867998 PMCID: PMC5960670 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With more than 71 million chronically infected people, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health concern. Although new direct acting antivirals have significantly improved the rate of HCV cure, high therapy cost, potential emergence of drug-resistant viral variants, and unavailability of a protective vaccine represent challenges for complete HCV eradication. Relevant animal models are required, and additional development remains necessary, to effectively study HCV biology, virus–host interactions and for the evaluation of new antiviral approaches and prophylactic vaccines. The chimpanzee, the only non-human primate susceptible to experimental HCV infection, has been used extensively to study HCV infection, particularly to analyze the innate and adaptive immune response upon infection. However, financial, practical, and especially ethical constraints have urged the exploration of alternative small animal models. These include different types of transgenic mice, immunodeficient mice of which the liver is engrafted with human hepatocytes (humanized mice) and, more recently, immunocompetent rodents that are susceptible to infection with viruses that are closely related to HCV. In this review, we provide an overview of the currently available animal models that have proven valuable for the study of HCV, and discuss their main benefits and weaknesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Burm
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Laura Collignon
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Ahmed Atef Mesalam
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.,Therapeutic Chemistry Department, National Research Centre (NRC), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Philip Meuleman
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
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Yuan L, Liu X, Zhang L, Li X, Zhang Y, Wu K, Chen Y, Cao J, Hou W, Zhang J, Zhu H, Yuan Q, Tang Q, Cheng T, Xia N. A Chimeric Humanized Mouse Model by Engrafting the Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocyte-Like Cell for the Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:908. [PMID: 29867819 PMCID: PMC5952038 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Humanized mouse model generated by grafting primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) to immunodeficient mouse has contributed invaluably to understanding the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, the source of PHHs is limited, which necessitates the search for alternatives. Recently, hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have been used for in vitro HBV infection. Herein, we developed a robust human liver chimeric animal model to study in vivo HBV infection by engrafting the hiPSC-HLCs to Fah-/-Rag2-/-IL-2Rγc-/-SCID (FRGS) mice. After being optimized by a small molecule, XMU-MP-1, the hiPSC-HLCs engrafted FRGS (hHLC-FRGS) mice displayed approximately 40% liver chimerism at week 6 after engraftment and maintained at this level for at least 14 weeks. Viremia and HBV infection markers include antigens, RNA, DNA, and covalently closed circular DNA were detectable in HBV infected hHLC-FRGS mice. Furthermore, hiPSC-HLCs and hHLC-FRGS mice were successfully used to evaluate different antivirals. Therefore, we established a humanized mouse model for not only investigating HBV pathogenesis but also testing the effects of the anti-HBV drugs. Highlights: (1) The implanted hiPSC-HLCs established a long-term chimerism in FRGS mice liver. (2) hHLC-FRGS mice are adequate to support chronic HBV infection with a full viral life cycle. (3) hiPSC-HLCs and hHLC-FRGS mice are useful tools for evaluation of antivirals against HBV infection in vitro and in vivo. Research in Context To overcome the disadvantages of using primary human hepatocytes, we induced human pluripotent stem cells to hepatocyte-like cells (hiPSC-HLCs) that developed the capability to express important liver functional markers and critical host factors for HBV infection. The hiPSC-HLCs were permissive for the HBV infection and supported a full HBV replication. The hiPSC-HLCs were then engrafted to immunodeficient mouse to establish a chimeric liver mouse model, which was capable of supporting HBV infection in vivo and evaluating the effects of antiviral drugs. Our results shed light into improving the cellular and animal models for studying HBV and other hepatotropic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lunzhi Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiaoling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Kun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jiali Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Wangheng Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Quan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qiyi Tang
- Department of Microbiology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Tong Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ningshao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Dagur RS, Wang W, Cheng Y, Makarov E, Ganesan M, Suemizu H, Gebhart CL, Gorantla S, Osna N, Poluektova LY. Human hepatocyte depletion in the presence of HIV-1 infection in dual reconstituted humanized mice. Biol Open 2018; 7:bio029785. [PMID: 29361613 PMCID: PMC5861361 DOI: 10.1242/bio.029785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection impairs liver function, and liver diseases have become a leading cause of morbidity in infected patients. The immunopathology of liver damage caused by HIV-1 remains unclear. We used chimeric mice dually reconstituted with a human immune system and hepatocytes to address the relevance of the model to pathobiology questions related to human hepatocyte survival in the presence of systemic infection. TK-NOG males were transplanted with mismatched human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and hepatocytes, human albumin concentration and the presence of human immune cells in blood were monitored for hepatocytes and immune reconstitution, and mice were infected with HIV-1. HIV-1-infected animals showed a decline in human albumin concentration with a significant reduction in percentage of human hepatocytes compared to uninfected mice. The decrease in human albumin levels correlated with a decline in CD4+ cells in the liver and with an increase in HIV-1 viral load. HIV-1 infection elicited proinflammatory response in the immunological milieu of the liver in HIV-infected mice compared to uninfected animals, as determined by upregulation of IL23, CXCL10 and multiple toll-like receptor expression. The inflammatory reaction associated with HIV-1 infection in vivo could contribute to the depletion and dysfunction of hepatocytes. The dual reconstituted TK-NOG mouse model is a feasible platform to investigate hepatocyte-related HIV-1 immunopathogenesis.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghubendra Singh Dagur
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Weimin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Yan Cheng
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Edward Makarov
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Murali Ganesan
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Hiroshi Suemizu
- Laboratory Animal Research Department, Central Institute for Experimental Animals, 3-25-12 Tonomachi, Kawasaki, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Catherine L Gebhart
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Santhi Gorantla
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Natalia Osna
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Larisa Y Poluektova
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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Sanoh S, Ohta S. [Contribution of chimeric mice with a humanized liver to the evaluation of pharmacology, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics in drug discovery and development]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2018; 151:213-220. [PMID: 29760366 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.151.213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
To develop new drugs with high efficacy and safety, it is important to predict the pharmacological, toxicological, and pharmacokinetic profiles of drug candidates in humans. Chimeric mice with a humanized liver are mice in which human hepatocytes have been transplanted, such that mouse liver cells are replaced with human hepatocytes; these mice have been used as prediction models. Studies performed thus far indicate that chimeric mice with a humanized liver can be used for the prediction of human-specific metabolite formation and plasma concentration-time curves for several drugs. Furthermore, studies advocate the utility of chimeric mice with a humanized liver for modelling drug-induced hepatotoxicity and disease such as hepatitis virus infection in safety and pharmacological evaluations respectively. Taken together, these findings indicate that chimeric mice with a humanized liver can be used to evaluate the relationship between pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and efficacy; the contribution by active metabolites may also be assessed. In recent years, new and improved animal models have been developed to overcome the disadvantages of chimeric mice with a humanized liver. It is expected that their usefulness for optimization of drug candidates and translational research in drug discovery and development will further increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seigo Sanoh
- Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University
| | - Shigeru Ohta
- Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University
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Ganesan M, Tikhanovich I, Vangimalla SS, Dagur RS, Wang W, Poluektova LI, Sun Y, Mercer DF, Tuma D, Weinman SA, Kharbanda KK, Osna NA. Demethylase JMJD6 as a New Regulator of Interferon Signaling: Effects of HCV and Ethanol Metabolism. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 5:101-112. [PMID: 29693039 PMCID: PMC5904050 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Alcohol-induced progression of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is related to dysfunction of innate immunity in hepatocytes. Endogenously produced interferon (IFN)α induces activation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) via triggering of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) pathway. This activation requires protein methyltransferase 1-regulated arginine methylation of STAT1. Here, we aimed to study whether STAT1 methylation also depended on the levels of demethylase jumonji domain-containing 6 protein (JMJD6) and whether ethanol and HCV affect JMJD6 expression in hepatocytes. METHODS Huh7.5-CYP (RLW) cells and hepatocytes were exposed to acetaldehyde-generating system (AGS) and 50 mmol/L ethanol, respectively. JMJD6 messenger RNA and protein expression were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. IFNα-activated cells either overexpressing JMJD6 or with knocked-down JMJD6 expression were tested for STAT1 methylation, ISG activation, and HCV RNA. In vivo studies have been performed on C57Bl/6 mice (expressing HCV structural proteins or not) or chimeric mice with humanized livers fed control or ethanol diets. RESULTS AGS exposure to cells up-regulated JMJD6 expression in RLW cells. These results were corroborated by ethanol treatment of primary hepatocytes. The promethylating agent betaine reversed the effects of AGS/ethanol. Similar results were obtained in vivo, when mice were fed control/ethanol with and without betaine supplementation. Overexpression of JMJD6 suppressed STAT1 methylation, IFNα-induced ISG activation, and increased HCV-RNA levels. In contrast, JMJD6 silencing enhanced STAT1 methylation, ISG stimulation by IFNα, and attenuated HCV-RNA expression in Huh7.5 cells. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that arginine methylation of STAT1 is suppressed by JMJD6. Both HCV and acetaldehyde increase JMJD6 levels, thereby impairing STAT1 methylation and innate immunity protection in hepatocytes exposed to the virus and/or alcohol.
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Key Words
- 4-MP, 4-methylpirazole
- ADH, alcohol dehydrogenase
- AGS, acetaldehyde-generating system
- AMI-1, protein arginine N-methyltransferase inhibitor
- Ach, acetaldehyde
- Alcohol
- BHMT, betaine-homocysteine-S-methyltransferase
- CYP2E1, cytochrome P450 2E1
- HCV
- HCV, hepatitis C virus
- IFN, interferon
- ISG, interferon-stimulated gene
- JAK-STAT, Janus kinase–STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription
- JMJD6
- JMJD6, jumonji domain-containing 6 protein
- OA, okadaic acid
- OAS-1, 2’-5’-oligoadenylate synthetase-1
- OASL, 2’-5’-oligoadenylate synthetase-like protein
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- PP2A, protein phosphatase 2A
- PRMT1, protein methyl transferase 1
- RT, reverse-transcription
- SAM, S-adenosylmethionine
- STAT1
- TK-NOG, thymidine kinase transgene-NOD/Shi-scid/IL-2Rγnull mice
- cDNA, complementary DNA
- mRNA, messenger RNA
- siRNA, short interfering RNA
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Affiliation(s)
- Murali Ganesan
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska–Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Irina Tikhanovich
- Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Shiva Shankar Vangimalla
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska–Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Raghubendra Singh Dagur
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Weimin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Larisa I. Poluektova
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Yimin Sun
- Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - David F. Mercer
- Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Dean Tuma
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Steven A. Weinman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Kusum K. Kharbanda
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska–Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Natalia A. Osna
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska–Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Correspondence Address correspondence to: Natalia Osna, PhD, Veterans Affairs Medical Center/University of Nebraska Medical Center, 4101 Woolworth Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68105. fax: (402) 995-4600.
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Gural N, Mancio-Silva L, He J, Bhatia SN. Engineered Livers for Infectious Diseases. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 5:131-144. [PMID: 29322086 PMCID: PMC5756057 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Engineered liver systems come in a variety of platform models, from 2-dimensional cocultures of primary human hepatocytes and stem cell-derived progeny, to 3-dimensional organoids and humanized mice. Because of the species-specificity of many human hepatropic pathogens, these engineered systems have been essential tools for biologic discovery and therapeutic agent development in the context of liver-dependent infectious diseases. Although improvement of existing models is always beneficial, and the addition of a robust immune component is a particular need, at present, considerable progress has been made using this combination of research platforms. We highlight advances in the study of hepatitis B and C viruses and malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax parasites, and underscore the importance of pairing the most appropriate model system and readout modality with the particular experimental question at hand, without always requiring a platform that recapitulates human physiology in its entirety.
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Key Words
- 2D, 2-dimensional
- 3D
- 3D, 3-dimensional
- EBOV, Ebola virus
- Falciparum
- HBC, hepatitis C virus
- HBV
- HBV, hepatitis B virus
- HCV
- HLC, hepatocyte-like cells
- Hepatotropic
- LASV, Lassa virus
- Liver
- Liver Models
- MPCC, micropatterned coculture system
- Malaria
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- Pathogen
- SACC, self-assembling coculture
- Vivax
- iHLC, induced pluripotent stem cell–derived hepatocyte-like cells
- in vitro
- in vivo
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Affiliation(s)
- Nil Gural
- Harvard-MIT Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts,Koch Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Liliana Mancio-Silva
- Koch Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jiang He
- Koch Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Sangeeta N. Bhatia
- Koch Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts,Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland,Correspondence Address correspondence to: Sangeeta N. Bhatia, MD, PhD, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer, Research at MIT, Building 76, Room 473, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142.
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Zheng Z, Sze CW, Keng CT, Al-Haddawi M, Liu M, Tan SY, Kwek HL, Her Z, Chan XY, Barnwal B, Loh E, Chang KTE, Tan TC, Tan YJ, Chen Q. Hepatitis C virus mediated chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis in the humanised immune system and liver mouse model. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184127. [PMID: 28886065 PMCID: PMC5590885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by infection of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Many individuals infected by the virus are unable to resolve the viral infection and develop chronic hepatitis, which can lead to formation of liver cirrhosis and cancer. To understand better how initial HCV infections progress to chronic liver diseases, we characterised the long term pathogenic effects of HCV infections with the use of a humanised mouse model (HIL mice) we have previously established. Although HCV RNA could be detected in infected mice up to 9 weeks post infection, HCV infected mice developed increased incidences of liver fibrosis, granulomatous inflammation and tumour formation in the form of hepatocellular adenomas or hepatocellular carcinomas by 28 weeks post infection compared to uninfected mice. We also demonstrated that chronic liver inflammation in HCV infected mice was mediated by the human immune system, particularly by monocytes/macrophages and T cells which exhibited exhaustion phenotypes. In conclusion, HIL mice can recapitulate some of the clinical symptoms such as chronic inflammation, immune cell exhaustion and tumorigenesis seen in HCV patients. Our findings also suggest that persistence of HCV-associated liver disease appear to require initial infections of HCV and immune responses but not long term HCV viraemia.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/metabolism
- Biomarkers
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/immunology
- Cytokines/blood
- Disease Models, Animal
- Hepacivirus/immunology
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/immunology
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/metabolism
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology
- Liver Function Tests
- Liver Neoplasms/etiology
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Macrophages/immunology
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Mice
- Monocytes/immunology
- Monocytes/metabolism
- Serum Albumin/metabolism
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism
- Viremia/immunology
- Viremia/virology
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zheng
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ching Wooen Sze
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Choong Tat Keng
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Min Liu
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sue Yee Tan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hwee Ling Kwek
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhisheng Her
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xue Ying Chan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bhaskar Barnwal
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eva Loh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kenneth Tou En Chang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thiam Chye Tan
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yee-Joo Tan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail: (Y-JT); (QC)
| | - Qingfeng Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (Y-JT); (QC)
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Kremsdorf D, Strick-Marchand H. Modeling hepatitis virus infections and treatment strategies in humanized mice. Curr Opin Virol 2017; 25:119-125. [PMID: 28858692 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2017.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis viruses cause chronic liver diseases such as fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinomas that are difficult to treat and constitute a global health problem. Species-specific viral tropism has limited the usefulness of small animal models to study the impact of viral hepatitis. Immunodeficient mice grafted with human hepatocytes are susceptible to hepatitis viruses B, C, D and E (HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV), developing full viral life cycles, and delivering a means to investigate virus-host interactions and antiviral treatments. These chimeric humanized mouse models have been further grafted with humanized immune systems to decipher immune responses following hepatotropic viral infections, the ensuing pathophysiology, and to test novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Kremsdorf
- INSERM U1135, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - Helene Strick-Marchand
- Innate Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, France; INSERM U1223, 75724 Paris, France.
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41
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Tu T, Bühler S, Bartenschlager R. Chronic viral hepatitis and its association with liver cancer. Biol Chem 2017; 398:817-837. [PMID: 28455951 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2017-0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis viruses represents the major causative factor for end-stage liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). In this review, we highlight the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive the hepatocarcinogenesis associated with chronic hepatitis virus infections. While chronic inflammation (associated with a persistent, but impaired anti-viral immune response) plays a major role in HCC initiation and progression, hepatitis viruses can also directly drive liver cancer. The mechanisms by which hepatitis viruses induce HCC include: hepatitis B virus DNA integration into the host cell genome; metabolic reprogramming by virus infection; induction of the cellular stress response pathway by viral gene products; and interference with tumour suppressors. Finally, we summarise the limitations of hepatitis virus-associated HCC model systems and the development of new techniques to circumvent these shortcomings.
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Uchida T, Imamura M, Kan H, Hiraga N, Hayes CN, Tsuge M, Abe-Chayama H, Aikata H, Makokha GN, Miki D, Ochi H, Ishida Y, Tateno C, Chayama K. Usefulness of humanized cDNA-uPA/SCID mice for the study of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus virology. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:1040-1047. [DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Takuro Uchida
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Michio Imamura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiromi Kan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Hiraga
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - C. Nelson Hayes
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Masataka Tsuge
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiromi Abe-Chayama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Aikata
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Grace Naswa Makokha
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Daiki Miki
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Laboratory for Digestive Diseases, Center for Genomic Medicine, The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hidenori Ochi
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Laboratory for Digestive Diseases, Center for Genomic Medicine, The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuji Ishida
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- PhoenixBio Co., Ltd, Higashihiroshima, Japan
| | - Chise Tateno
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- PhoenixBio Co., Ltd, Higashihiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Liver Research Project Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Applied Life Science, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Laboratory for Digestive Diseases, Center for Genomic Medicine, The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Hiroshima, Japan
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Takaki H, Oshiumi H, Shingai M, Matsumoto M, Seya T. Development of mouse models for analysis of human virus infections. Microbiol Immunol 2017; 61:107-113. [PMID: 28370181 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Viruses usually exhibit strict species-specificity as a result of co-evolution with the host. Thus, in mouse models, a great barrier exists for analysis of infections with human-tropic viruses. Mouse models are unlikely to faithfully reproduce the human immune response to viruses or viral compounds and it is difficult to evaluate human therapeutic efficacy with antiviral reagents in mouse models. Humans and mice essentially have different immune systems, which makes it difficult to extrapolate mouse results to humans. In addition, apart from immunological reasons, viruses causing human diseases do not always infect mice because of species tropism. One way to determine tropism would be a virus receptor that is expressed on affected cells. The development of gene-disrupted mice and Tg mice, which express human receptor genes, enables us to analyze several viral infections in mice. Mice are, indeed, susceptible to human viruses when artificially infected in receptor-supplemented mice. Although the mouse cells less efficiently permit viral replication than do human cells, the models for analysis of human viruses have been established in vivo as well as in vitro, and explain viral pathogenesis in the mouse systems. In most systems, however, nucleic acid sensors and type I interferon suppress viral propagation to block the appearance of infectious manifestation. We herein review recent insight into in vivo antiviral responses induced in mouse infection models for typical human viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromi Takaki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo
| | - Hiroyuki Oshiumi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto
| | - Masashi Shingai
- Laboratory for Biologics Development, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, GI-CoRE Global Station for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Misako Matsumoto
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo
| | - Tsukasa Seya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo
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44
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Interferon alpha treatment stimulates interferon gamma expression in type I NKT cells and enhances their antiviral effect against hepatitis C virus. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172412. [PMID: 28253324 PMCID: PMC5333814 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon (IFN) inhibits hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication through up-regulation of intrahepatic IFN-stimulated gene expression but also through activation of host immune cells. In the present study, we analyzed the immune cell-mediated antiviral effects of IFN-α using HCV-infected mice. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)-severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice with transplanted human hepatocytes were infected with genotype 1b HCV and injected with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). IFN-α treatment following human PBMC transplantation resulted in a significant reduction in serum HCV RNA titers and a higher human CD45-positive mononuclear cell chimerism compared to mice without human PBMC transplantation. In mice with human PBMCs treated with IFN-α, serum concentrations of IFN-γ increased, and natural killer T (NKT) cells, especially type I NKT cells, produced IFN-γ. Mice in which IFN-γ signaling was blocked using antibody or in which transplanted PBMCs were depleted for type I NKT cells showed similar levels of anti-HCV effect compared with mice treated only with IFN-α. These results show that IFN-α stimulates IFN-γ expression in type 1 NKT cells and enhances the inhibition of HCV replication. We propose that type 1 NKT cells might represent a new therapeutic target for chronic hepatitis C patients.
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45
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Moreno D, Neri L, Vicente E, Vales A, Aldabe R. Use of Thymidine Kinase Recombinant Adenovirus and Ganciclovir Mediated Mouse Liver Preconditioning for Hepatocyte Xenotransplantation. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1506:179-192. [PMID: 27830553 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6506-9_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocyte transplantation is the best approach to maintain and propagate differentiated hepatocytes from different species. Host liver has to be adapted for transplanted hepatocytes productive engraftment and proliferation being required a chronic liver injury to eliminate host hepatocytes and provide a proliferative advantage to the transplanted hepatocytes. Most valuable mouse models for xenograft hepatocyte transplantation are based on genetically modified animals to cause a chronic liver damage and to limit host hepatocyte regeneration potential. We present a methodology that generates a chronic liver damage and can be applied to any host mouse strain and animal species based on the inoculation of a recombinant adenovirus to express herpes simplex thymidine kinase in host hepatocytes sensitizing them to ganciclovir treatment. This causes a prolonged liver damage that allows hepatocyte transplantation and generation of regenerative nodules in recipient mouse liver integrated by transplanted cells and host sinusoidal. Obtained chimeric animals maintain functional chimeric nodules for several weeks, ready to be used in any study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Moreno
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression Program, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Leire Neri
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression Program, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Eva Vicente
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression Program, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Africa Vales
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression Program, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rafael Aldabe
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression Program, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain.
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain.
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46
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Winer BY, Huang T, Low BE, Avery C, Pais MA, Hrebikova G, Siu E, Chiriboga L, Wiles MV, Ploss A. Recapitulation of treatment response patterns in a novel humanized mouse model for chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Virology 2016; 502:63-72. [PMID: 28006671 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
There are ~350 million chronic carriers of hepatitis B (HBV). While a prophylactic vaccine and drug regimens to suppress viremia are available, chronic HBV infection is rarely cured. HBV's limited host tropism leads to a scarcity of susceptible small animal models and is a hurdle to developing curative therapies. Mice that support engraftment with human hepatoctyes have traditionally been generated through crosses of murine liver injury models to immunodeficient backgrounds. Here, we describe the disruption of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase directly in the NOD Rag1-/- IL2RγNULL (NRG) background using zinc finger nucleases. The resultant human liver chimeric mice sustain persistent HBV viremia for >90 days. When treated with standard of care therapy, HBV DNA levels decrease below detection but rebound when drug suppression is released, mimicking treatment response observed in patients. Our study highlights the utility of directed gene targeting approaches in zygotes to create new humanized mouse models for human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Y Winer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 110 Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Tiffany Huang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 110 Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Benjamin E Low
- Department of Technology Evaluation and Development, The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609-1500 USA
| | - Cindy Avery
- Department of Technology Evaluation and Development, The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609-1500 USA
| | - Mihai-Alexandru Pais
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 110 Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Gabriela Hrebikova
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 110 Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Evelyn Siu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 110 Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Luis Chiriboga
- Department of Pathology, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Michael V Wiles
- Department of Technology Evaluation and Development, The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609-1500 USA
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 110 Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey, NJ 08544, USA.
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Billerbeck E, Mommersteeg MC, Shlomai A, Xiao JW, Andrus L, Bhatta A, Vercauteren K, Michailidis E, Dorner M, Krishnan A, Charlton MR, Chiriboga L, Rice CM, de Jong YP. Humanized mice efficiently engrafted with fetal hepatoblasts and syngeneic immune cells develop human monocytes and NK cells. J Hepatol 2016; 65:334-43. [PMID: 27151182 PMCID: PMC4955758 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2016.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Human liver chimeric mice are useful models of human hepatitis virus infection, including hepatitis B and C virus infections. Independently, immunodeficient mice reconstituted with CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) derived from fetal liver reliably develop human T and B lymphocytes. Combining these systems has long been hampered by inefficient liver reconstitution of human fetal hepatoblasts. Our study aimed to enhance hepatoblast engraftment in order to create a mouse model with syngeneic human liver and immune cells. METHODS The effects of human oncostatin-M administration on fetal hepatoblast engraftment into immunodeficient fah(-/-) mice was tested. Mice were then transplanted with syngeneic human hepatoblasts and HSC after which human leukocyte chimerism and functionality were analyzed by flow cytometry, and mice were challenged with HBV. RESULTS Addition of human oncostatin-M enhanced human hepatoblast engraftment in immunodeficient fah(-/-) mice by 5-100 fold. In contrast to mice singly engrafted with HSC, which predominantly developed human T and B lymphocytes, mice co-transplanted with syngeneic hepatoblasts also contained physiological levels of human monocytes and natural killer cells. Upon infection with HBV, these mice displayed rapid and sustained viremia. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides a new mouse model with improved human fetal hepatoblast engraftment and an expanded human immune cell repertoire. With further improvements, this model may become useful for studying human immunity against viral hepatitis. LAY SUMMARY Important human pathogens such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus only infect human cells which complicates the development of mouse models for the study of these pathogens. One way to make mice permissive for human pathogens is the transplantation of human cells into immune-compromised mice. For instance, the transplantation of human liver cells will allow the infection of these so-called "liver chimeric mice" with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. The co-transplantation of human immune cells into liver chimeric mice will further allow the study of human immune responses to hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus. However, for immunological studies it will be crucial that the transplanted human liver and immune cells are derived from the same human donor. In our study we describe the efficient engraftment of human fetal liver cells and immune cells derived from the same donor into mice. We show that liver co-engraftment resulted in an expanded human immune cell repertoire, including monocytes and natural killer cells in the liver. We further demonstrate that these mice could be infected with hepatitis B virus, which lead to an expansion of natural killer cells. In conclusion we have developed a new mouse model that could be useful to study human immune responses to human liver pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Billerbeck
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michiel C. Mommersteeg
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amir Shlomai
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing W. Xiao
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Linda Andrus
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ankit Bhatta
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Koen Vercauteren
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eleftherios Michailidis
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marcus Dorner
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anuradha Krishnan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Michael R. Charlton
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Luis Chiriboga
- Department of Pathology, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charles M. Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA,Corresponding authors. Address: The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, 1230 York Avenue, Box 64, New York, NY 10065, USA. Tel.: +1 212 327 7009; fax: +1 212 327 7048. (C.M. Rice), (Y.P. de Jong)
| | - Ype P. de Jong
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA,Corresponding authors. Address: The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, 1230 York Avenue, Box 64, New York, NY 10065, USA. Tel.: +1 212 327 7009; fax: +1 212 327 7048. (C.M. Rice), (Y.P. de Jong)
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Mouse Systems to Model Hepatitis C Virus Treatment and Associated Resistance. Viruses 2016; 8:v8060176. [PMID: 27338446 PMCID: PMC4926196 DOI: 10.3390/v8060176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
While addition of the first-approved protease inhibitors (PIs), telaprevir and boceprevir, to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy significantly increased sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, PI-based triple therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was prone to the emergence of resistant viral variants. Meanwhile, multiple direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) targeting either the HCV NS3/4A protease, NS5A or NS5B polymerase have been approved and these have varying potencies and distinct propensities to provoke resistance. The pre-clinical in vivo assessment of drug efficacy and resistant variant emergence underwent a great evolution over the last decade. This field had long been hampered by the lack of suitable small animal models that robustly support the entire HCV life cycle. In particular, chimeric mice with humanized livers (humanized mice) and chimpanzees have been instrumental for studying HCV inhibitors and the evolution of drug resistance. In this review, we present the different in vivo HCV infection models and discuss their applicability to assess HCV therapy response and emergence of resistant variants.
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49
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Ganesan M, Natarajan SK, Zhang J, Mott JL, Poluektova LI, McVicker BL, Kharbanda KK, Tuma DJ, Osna NA. Role of apoptotic hepatocytes in HCV dissemination: regulation by acetaldehyde. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2016; 310:G930-40. [PMID: 27056722 PMCID: PMC6842882 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00021.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption exacerbates hepatitis C virus (HCV) pathogenesis and promotes disease progression, although the mechanisms are not quite clear. We have previously observed that acetaldehyde (Ach) continuously produced by the acetaldehyde-generating system (AGS), temporarily enhanced HCV RNA levels, followed by a decrease to normal or lower levels, which corresponded to apoptosis induction. Here, we studied whether Ach-induced apoptosis caused depletion of HCV-infected cells and what role apoptotic bodies (AB) play in HCV-alcohol crosstalk. In liver cells exposed to AGS, we observed the induction of miR-122 and miR-34a. As miR-34a has been associated with apoptotic signaling and miR-122 with HCV replication, these findings may suggest that cells with intensive viral replication undergo apoptosis. Furthermore, when AGS-induced apoptosis was blocked by a pan-caspase inhibitor, the expression of HCV RNA was not changed. AB from HCV-infected cells contained HCV core protein and the assembled HCV particle that infect intact hepatocytes, thereby promoting the spread of infection. In addition, AB are captured by macrophages to switch their cytokine profile to the proinflammatory one. Macrophages exposed to HCV(+) AB expressed more IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and IL-10 mRNAs compared with those exposed to HCV(-) AB. The generation of AB from AGS-treated HCV-infected cells even enhanced the induction of aforementioned cytokines. We conclude that HCV and alcohol metabolites trigger the formation of AB containing HCV particles. The consequent spread of HCV to neighboring hepatocytes via infected AB, as well as the induction of liver inflammation by AB-mediated macrophage activation potentially exacerbate the HCV infection course by alcohol and worsen disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murali Ganesan
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Sathish Kumar Natarajan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Jinjin Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; and
| | - Justin L Mott
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | | | - Benita L McVicker
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Kusum K Kharbanda
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Dean J Tuma
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Natalia A Osna
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska;
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Winer BY, Ding Q, Gaska JM, Ploss A. In vivo models of hepatitis B and C virus infection. FEBS Lett 2016; 590:1987-99. [PMID: 27009462 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Globally, more than 500 million individuals are chronically infected with hepatitis B (HBV), delta (HDV), and/or C (HCV) viruses, which can result in severe liver disease. Mechanistic studies of viral persistence and pathogenesis have been hampered by the scarcity of animal models. The limited species and cellular host range of HBV, HDV, and HCV, which robustly infect only humans and chimpanzees, have posed challenges for creating such animal models. In this review, we will discuss the barriers to interspecies transmission and the progress that has been made in our understanding of the HBV, HDV, and HCV life cycles. Additionally, we will highlight a variety of approaches that overcome these barriers and thus facilitate in vivo studies of these hepatotropic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qiang Ding
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ, USA
| | - Jenna M Gaska
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ, USA
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ, USA
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