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Nieto-Romero V, García-Torralba A, Molinos-Vicente A, Moya FJ, Rodríguez-Perales S, García-Escudero R, Salido E, Segovia JC, García-Bravo M. Restored glyoxylate metabolism after AGXT gene correction and direct reprogramming of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 fibroblasts. iScience 2024; 27:109530. [PMID: 38577102 PMCID: PMC10993186 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized by oxalate overproduction in the liver, resulting in renal damage. It is caused by mutations in the AGXT gene. Combined liver and kidney transplantation is currently the only permanent curative treatment. We combined locus-specific gene correction and hepatic direct cell reprogramming to generate autologous healthy induced hepatocytes (iHeps) from PH1 patient-derived fibroblasts. First, site-specific AGXT corrected cells were obtained by homology directed repair (HDR) assisted by CRISPR-Cas9, following two different strategies: accurate point mutation (c.731T>C) correction or knockin of an enhanced version of AGXT cDNA. Then, iHeps were generated, by overexpression of hepatic transcription factors. Generated AGXT-corrected iHeps showed hepatic gene expression profile and exhibited in vitro reversion of oxalate accumulation compared to non-edited PH1-derived iHeps. This strategy set up a potential alternative cellular source for liver cell replacement therapy and a personalized PH1 in vitro disease model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Nieto-Romero
- Cell Technology Division, Biomedical Innovation Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aida García-Torralba
- Cell Technology Division, Biomedical Innovation Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Molinos-Vicente
- Cell Technology Division, Biomedical Innovation Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco José Moya
- Molecular Cytogenetics and Genome Editing Unit, Human Cancer Genetics Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Rodríguez-Perales
- Molecular Cytogenetics and Genome Editing Unit, Human Cancer Genetics Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramón García-Escudero
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC)-ISCIII, Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12)-University Hospital 12 de Octubre, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Salido
- Pathology Department, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad La Laguna, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 38320 Tenerife, Spain
| | - José-Carlos Segovia
- Cell Technology Division, Biomedical Innovation Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María García-Bravo
- Cell Technology Division, Biomedical Innovation Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Zhong Z, Du J, Zhu X, Guan L, Hu Y, Zhang P, Wang H. Highly efficient conversion of mouse fibroblasts into functional hepatic cells under chemical induction. J Mol Cell Biol 2024; 15:mjad071. [PMID: 37996395 PMCID: PMC11121195 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjad071] [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: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that hepatocyte-like cells can be generated from fibroblasts using either lineage-specific transcription factors or chemical induction methods. However, these methods have their own deficiencies that restrict the therapeutic applications of such induced hepatocytes. In this study, we present a transgene-free, highly efficient chemical-induced direct reprogramming approach to generate hepatocyte-like cells from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Using a small molecule cocktail (SMC) as an inducer, MEFs can be directly reprogrammed into hepatocyte-like cells, bypassing the intermediate stages of pluripotent and immature hepatoblasts. These chemical-induced hepatocyte-like cells (ciHeps) closely resemble mature primary hepatocytes in terms of morphology, biological behavior, gene expression patterns, marker expression levels, and hepatic functions. Furthermore, transplanted ciHeps can integrate into the liver, promote liver regeneration, and improve survival rates in mice with acute liver damage. ciHeps can also ameliorate liver fibrosis caused by chronic injuries and enhance liver function. Notably, ciHeps exhibit no tumorigenic potential either in vitro or in vivo. Mechanistically, SMC-induced mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and suppression of SNAI1 contribute to the fate conversion of fibroblasts into ciHeps. These results indicate that this transgene-free, chemical-induced direct reprogramming technique has the potential to serve as a valuable means of producing alternative hepatocytes for both research and therapeutic purposes. Additionally, this method also sheds light on the direct reprogramming of other cell types under chemical induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhong
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
| | - Jiangchuan Du
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
| | - Xiangjie Zhu
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Lingting Guan
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
| | - Yanyu Hu
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
| | - Peilin Zhang
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
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3
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Li Z, Napolitano A, Fedele M, Gao X, Napolitano F. AI identifies potent inducers of breast cancer stem cell differentiation based on adversarial learning from gene expression data. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae207. [PMID: 38701411 PMCID: PMC11066897 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae207] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells within tumors that exhibit stem-like properties and represent a potentially effective therapeutic target toward long-term remission by means of differentiation induction. By leveraging an artificial intelligence approach solely based on transcriptomics data, this study scored a large library of small molecules based on their predicted ability to induce differentiation in stem-like cells. In particular, a deep neural network model was trained using publicly available single-cell RNA-Seq data obtained from untreated human-induced pluripotent stem cells at various differentiation stages and subsequently utilized to screen drug-induced gene expression profiles from the Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) database. The challenge of adapting such different data domains was tackled by devising an adversarial learning approach that was able to effectively identify and remove domain-specific bias during the training phase. Experimental validation in MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cells demonstrated the efficacy of five out of six tested molecules among those scored highest by the model. In particular, the efficacy of triptolide, OTS-167, quinacrine, granisetron and A-443654 offer a potential avenue for targeted therapies against breast CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongxiao Li
- Computer Science Program, Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Antonella Napolitano
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology “G. Salvatore” (IEOS), National Research Council (CNR), Via De Amicis, 95 - 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Monica Fedele
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology “G. Salvatore” (IEOS), National Research Council (CNR), Via De Amicis, 95 - 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Xin Gao
- Computer Science Program, Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Francesco Napolitano
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, Via dei Mulini 74, 82100 Benevento, Italy
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Jin ZL, Xu K, Kim J, Guo H, Yao X, Xu YN, Li YH, Ryu D, Kim KP, Hong K, Kim YJ, Wang L, Cao Q, Kim KH, Kim NH, Han DW. 3D hepatic organoid production from human pluripotent stem cells. Differentiation 2024; 135:100742. [PMID: 38104501 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2023.100742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic organoids might provide a golden opportunity for realizing precision medicine in various hepatic diseases. Previously described hepatic organoid protocols from pluripotent stem cells rely on complicated multiple differentiation steps consisting of both 2D and 3D differentiation procedures. Therefore, the spontaneous formation of hepatic organoids from 2D monolayer culture is associated with a low-throughput production, which might hinder the standardization of hepatic organoid production and hamper the translation of this technology to the clinical or industrial setting. Here we describe the stepwise and fully 3D production of hepatic organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. We optimized every differentiation step by screening for optimal concentrations and timing of differentiation signals in each differentiation step. Hepatic organoids are stably expandable without losing their hepatic functionality. Moreover, upon treatment of drugs with known hepatotoxicity, we found hepatic organoids are more sensitive to drug-induced hepatotoxicity compared with 2D hepatocytes differentiated from PSCs, making them highly suitable for in vitro toxicity screening of drug candidates. The standardized fully 3D protocol described in the current study for producing functional hepatic organoids might serve as a novel platform for the industrial and clinical translation of hepatic organoid technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe-Long Jin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jianghai, Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, China; Research and Development Department, Qingdao Haier Biotech Co. Ltd, Qingdao, China
| | - KangHe Xu
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28864, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghun Kim
- Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Hao Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jianghai, Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, China; Research and Development Department, Qingdao Haier Biotech Co. Ltd, Qingdao, China
| | - Xuerui Yao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jianghai, Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, China; Research and Development Department, Qingdao Haier Biotech Co. Ltd, Qingdao, China
| | - Yong-Nan Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
| | - Ying-Hua Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
| | - DongHee Ryu
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28864, Republic of Korea; Department of Surgery, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, 28864, Republic of Korea
| | - Kee-Pyo Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwonho Hong
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology and Humanized Pig Center (SRC), Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-June Kim
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28864, Republic of Korea; Department of Urology, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, 28864, Republic of Korea
| | - Lin Wang
- Research and Development Department, Qingdao Haier Biotech Co. Ltd, Qingdao, China
| | - Qilong Cao
- Research and Development Department, Qingdao Haier Biotech Co. Ltd, Qingdao, China
| | - Kyun-Hwan Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Hyung Kim
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China; Research and Development Department, Qingdao Haier Biotech Co. Ltd, Qingdao, China; Laboratory of Stem Cells and Organoids, OrganFactory Co., Ltd., Cheongju, 28864, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong Wook Han
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China; Research and Development Department, Qingdao Haier Biotech Co. Ltd, Qingdao, China; Laboratory of Stem Cells and Organoids, OrganFactory Co., Ltd., Cheongju, 28864, Republic of Korea.
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Ock SA, Kim SY, Ju WS, Kim YI, Wi HY, Lee P. Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Extend the Lifespan and Enhance Liver Function in Hepatocyte Organoids. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15429. [PMID: 37895114 PMCID: PMC10607770 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015429] [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: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we generated hepatocyte organoids (HOs) using frozen-thawed primary hepatocytes (PHs) within a three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel dome culture in a porcine model. Previously studied hepatocyte organoid analogs, spheroids, or hepatocyte aggregates created using PHs in 3D culture systems have limitations in their in vitro lifespans. By co-culturing adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (A-MSCs) with HOs within a 3D Matrigel dome culture, we achieved a 3.5-fold increase in the in vitro lifespan and enhanced liver function compared to a conventional two-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture, i.e., more than twice that of the HO group cultured alone, reaching up to 126 d. Although PHs were used to generate HOs, we identified markers associated with cholangiocyte organoids such as cytokeratin 19 and epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EPCAM). Co-culturing A-MSCs with HOs increased the secretion of albumin and urea and glucose consumption compared to HOs cultured alone. After more than 100 d, we observed the upregulation of tumor protein P53 (TP53)-P21 and downregulation of EPCAM, albumin (ALB), and cytochrome P450 family 3 subfamily A member 29 (CYP3A29). Therefore, HOs with function and longevity improved through co-culturing with A-MSCs can be used to create large-scale human hepatotoxicity testing models and precise livestock nutrition assessment tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun A Ock
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500 Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju-gun 55365, Republic of Korea
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Kim HJ, Kim G, Chi KY, Kim H, Jang YJ, Jo S, Lee J, Lee Y, Woo DH, Han C, Kim SK, Park HJ, Kim JH. Generation of multilineage liver organoids with luminal vasculature and bile ducts from human pluripotent stem cells via modulation of Notch signaling. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:19. [PMID: 36737811 PMCID: PMC9898924 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03235-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The generation of liver organoids recapitulating parenchymal and non-parenchymal cell interplay is essential for the precise in vitro modeling of liver diseases. Although different types of multilineage liver organoids (mLOs) have been generated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), the assembly and concurrent differentiation of multiple cell types in individual mLOs remain a major challenge. Particularly, most studies focused on the vascularization of mLOs in host tissue after transplantation in vivo. However, relatively little information is available on the in vitro formation of luminal vasculature in mLOs themselves. METHODS The mLOs with luminal blood vessels and bile ducts were generated by assembling hepatic endoderm, hepatic stellate cell-like cells (HscLCs), and endothelial cells derived entirely from hPSCs using 96-well ultra-low attachment plates. We analyzed the effect of HscLC incorporation and Notch signaling modulation on the formation of both bile ducts and vasculature in mLOs using immunofluorescence staining, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and live-perfusion imaging. The potential use of the mLOs in fibrosis modeling was evaluated by histological and gene expression analyses after treatment with pro-fibrotic cytokines. RESULTS We found that hPSC-derived HscLCs are crucial for generating functional microvasculature in mLOs. HscLC incorporation and subsequent vascularization substantially reduced apoptotic cell death and promoted the survival and growth of mLOs with microvessels. In particular, precise modulation of Notch signaling during a specific time window in organoid differentiation was critical for generating both bile ducts and vasculature. Live-cell imaging, a series of confocal scans, and electron microscopy demonstrated that blood vessels were well distributed inside mLOs and had perfusable lumens in vitro. In addition, exposure of mLOs to pro-fibrotic cytokines induced early fibrosis-associated events, including upregulation of genes associated with fibrotic induction and endothelial cell activation (i.e., collagen I, α-SMA, and ICAM) together with destruction of tissue architecture and organoid shrinkage. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that mLOs can reproduce parenchymal and non-parenchymal cell interactions and suggest that their application can advance the precise modeling of liver diseases in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo Jin Kim
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anam-Ro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841 South Korea
| | - Gyeongmin Kim
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anam-Ro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841 South Korea
| | - Kyun Yoo Chi
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anam-Ro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841 South Korea
| | - Hyemin Kim
- grid.418982.e0000 0004 5345 5340Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, 34114 South Korea
| | - Yu Jin Jang
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Seongyea Jo
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anam-Ro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841 South Korea ,grid.418982.e0000 0004 5345 5340Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, 34114 South Korea
| | - Jihun Lee
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anam-Ro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841 South Korea
| | - Youngseok Lee
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anam-Ro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841 South Korea
| | - Dong-Hun Woo
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, NEXEL Co., Ltd, Seoul, 07802 South Korea
| | - Choongseong Han
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, NEXEL Co., Ltd, Seoul, 07802 South Korea
| | - Sang Kyum Kim
- grid.254230.20000 0001 0722 6377College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134 South Korea
| | - Han-Jin Park
- grid.418982.e0000 0004 5345 5340Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, 34114 South Korea
| | - Jong-Hoon Kim
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anam-Ro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea.
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Liu C, Wang L, Xu M, Sun Y, Xing Z, Zhang J, Wang C, Dong L. Reprogramming the spleen into a functioning 'liver' in vivo. Gut 2022; 71:2325-2336. [PMID: 34996824 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Liver regeneration remains one of the biggest clinical challenges. Here, we aim to transform the spleen into a liver-like organ via directly reprogramming the splenic fibroblasts into hepatocytes in vivo. DESIGN In the mouse spleen, the number of fibroblasts was through silica particles (SiO2) stimulation, the expanded fibroblasts were converted to hepatocytes (iHeps) by lentiviral transfection of three key transcriptional factors (Foxa3, Gata4 and Hnf1a), and the iHeps were further expanded with tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and lentivirus-mediated expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). RESULTS SiO2 stimulation tripled the number of activated fibroblasts. Foxa3, Gata4 and Hnf1a converted SiO2-remodelled spleen fibroblasts into 2×106 functional iHeps in one spleen. TNF-α protein and lentivirus-mediated expression of EGF and HGF further enabled the total hepatocytes to expand to 8×106 per spleen. iHeps possessed hepatic functions-such as glycogen storage, lipid accumulation and drug metabolism-and performed fundamental liver functions to improve the survival rate of mice with 90% hepatectomy. CONCLUSION Direct conversion of the spleen into a liver-like organ, without cell or tissue transplantation, establishes fundamental hepatic functions in mice, suggesting its potential value for the treatment of end-stage liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lintao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Mengzhen Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yajie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhen Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunming Wang
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China .,Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovative Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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8
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Hersbach BA, Fischer DS, Masserdotti G, Deeksha, Mojžišová K, Waltzhöni T, Rodriguez‐Terrones D, Heinig M, Theis FJ, Götz M, Stricker SH. Probing cell identity hierarchies by fate titration and collision during direct reprogramming. Mol Syst Biol 2022; 18:e11129. [PMID: 36106915 PMCID: PMC9476893 DOI: 10.15252/msb.202211129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the therapeutic promise of direct reprogramming, basic principles concerning fate erasure and the mechanisms to resolve cell identity conflicts remain unclear. To tackle these fundamental questions, we established a single-cell protocol for the simultaneous analysis of multiple cell fate conversion events based on combinatorial and traceable reprogramming factor expression: Collide-seq. Collide-seq revealed the lack of a common mechanism through which fibroblast-specific gene expression loss is initiated. Moreover, we found that the transcriptome of converting cells abruptly changes when a critical level of each reprogramming factor is attained, with higher or lower levels not contributing to major changes. By simultaneously inducing multiple competing reprogramming factors, we also found a deterministic system, in which titration of fates against each other yields dominant or colliding fates. By investigating one collision in detail, we show that reprogramming factors can disturb cell identity programs independent of their ability to bind their target genes. Taken together, Collide-seq has shed light on several fundamental principles of fate conversion that may aid in improving current reprogramming paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bob A Hersbach
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center MunichLudwig‐Maximilians UniversityMunichGermany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, BiocenterLudwig‐Maximilians UniversityMunichGermany
| | - David S Fischer
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
- TUM School of Life Sciences WeihenstephanTechnical University of MunichFreisingGermany
- Department of InformaticsTechnical University of MunichMunichGermany
| | - Giacomo Masserdotti
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center MunichLudwig‐Maximilians UniversityMunichGermany
| | - Deeksha
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center MunichLudwig‐Maximilians UniversityMunichGermany
| | - Karolina Mojžišová
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
| | - Thomas Waltzhöni
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
- Core Facility GenomicsHelmholtz Zentrum MünchenOberschleißheimGermany
| | - Diego Rodriguez‐Terrones
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
- Present address:
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)ViennaAustria
| | - Matthias Heinig
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
- Department of InformaticsTechnical University of MunichMunichGermany
| | - Fabian J Theis
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
- TUM School of Life Sciences WeihenstephanTechnical University of MunichFreisingGermany
- Department of InformaticsTechnical University of MunichMunichGermany
- German Excellence Cluster of Systems NeurologyBiomedical Center MunichMunichGermany
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center MunichLudwig‐Maximilians UniversityMunichGermany
- German Excellence Cluster of Systems NeurologyBiomedical Center MunichMunichGermany
| | - Stefan H Stricker
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental HealthOberschleißheimGermany
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center MunichLudwig‐Maximilians UniversityMunichGermany
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9
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Bai Y, Yang Z, Xu X, Ding W, Qi J, Liu F, Wang X, Zhou B, Zhang W, Zhuang X, Li G, Zhao Y. Direct chemical induction of hepatocyte-like cells with capacity for liver repopulation. Hepatology 2022; 77:1550-1565. [PMID: 35881538 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Cell fate can be directly reprogrammed from accessible cell types (e.g., fibroblasts) into functional cell types by exposure to small molecule stimuli. However, no chemical reprogramming method has been reported to date that successfully generates functional hepatocyte-like cells that can repopulate liver tissue, casting doubt over the feasibility of chemical reprogramming approaches to obtain desirable cell types for therapeutic applications. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here, through chemical induction of phenotypic plasticity, we provide a proof-of-concept demonstration of the direct chemical reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into functional hepatocyte-like cells using exposure to small molecule cocktails in culture medium to successively stimulate endogenous expression of master transcription factors associated with hepatocyte development, such as hepatocyte nuclear factor 4a, nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group I, member 2, and nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group H, member 4. RNA sequencing analysis, metabolic assays, and in vivo physiological experiments show that chemically induced hepatocytes (CiHeps) exhibit comparable activity and function to primary hepatocytes, especially in liver repopulation to rescue liver failure in fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase-/- recombination activating gene 2-/- interleukin 2 receptor, gamma chain-/- mice in vivo. Single-cell RNA-seq further revealed that gastrointestinal-like and keratinocyte-like cells were induced along with CiHeps, resembling the activation of an intestinal program within hepatic reprogramming as described in transgenic approaches. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that direct chemical reprogramming can generate hepatocyte-like cells with high-quality physiological properties, providing a paradigm for establishing hepatocyte identity in fibroblasts and demonstrating the potential for chemical reprogramming in organ/tissue repair and regeneration therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfei Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Center for Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenghao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Center for Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Wanqiu Ding
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Juntian Qi
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenpeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomei Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Guanglu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Center for Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
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10
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Overexpression of LT, an Oncoprotein Derived from the Polyomavirus SV40, Promotes Somatic Embryogenesis in Cotton. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13050853. [PMID: 35627238 PMCID: PMC9140353 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050853] [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: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Although genetic transformation has opened up a new era for cotton molecular breeding, it still suffers from the limitation problem of long transformation periods, which slows down the generation of new cotton germplasms. In this study, LT gene (SV40 large T antigen), which promotes the transformation efficiency of animal cells, was codon-optimized. Its overexpression vector was transformed into cotton. It was observed that EC (embryogenic callus) formation period was 33% shorter and transformation efficiency was slightly higher in the LT T0 generation than that of control. RNA-seq data of NEC (non-embryonic callus) and EC from LT and control revealed that more DEGs (differential expression genes) in NEC were identified than that of EC, indicating LT mainly functioned in NEC. Further KEGG, GO, and transcription factor analyses showed that DEGs were significantly enriched in brassinosteroid biosynthesis pathways and that bHLH, MYB, and AP2/ERF were the top three gene families, which are involved in EC formation. In addition, the key genes related to the auxin pathway were differentially expressed only in LT overexpression NEC, which caused early response, biosynthesis, and transportation of the hormone, resulting in EC earlier formation. In summary, the results demonstrated that LT can promote somatic embryogenesis in cotton, which provides a new strategy for improving cotton transformation and shortening EC formation time.
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11
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Ji SF, Zhou LX, Sun ZF, Xiang JB, Cui SY, Li Y, Chen HT, Liu YQ, Gao HH, Fu XB, Sun XY. Small molecules facilitate single factor-mediated sweat gland cell reprogramming. Mil Med Res 2022; 9:13. [PMID: 35351192 PMCID: PMC8962256 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-022-00372-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Large skin defects severely disrupt the overall skin structure and can irreversibly damage sweat glands (SG), thus impairing the skin's physiological function. This study aims to develop a stepwise reprogramming strategy to convert fibroblasts into SG lineages, which may provide a promising method to obtain desirable cell types for the functional repair and regeneration of damaged skin. METHODS The expression of the SG markers cytokeratin 5 (CK5), cytokeratin 10 (CK10), cytokeratin 18 (CK18), carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), aquaporin 5 (AQP5) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was assessed with quantitative PCR (qPCR), immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Calcium activity analysis was conducted to test the function of induced SG-like cells (iSGCs). Mouse xenograft models were also used to evaluate the in vivo regeneration of iSGCs. BALB/c nude mice were randomly divided into a normal group, SGM treatment group and iSGC transplantation group. Immunocytochemical analyses and starch-iodine sweat tests were used to confirm the in vivo regeneration of iSGCs. RESULTS EDA overexpression drove HDF conversion into iSGCs in SG culture medium (SGM). qPCR indicated significantly increased mRNA levels of the SG markers CK5, CK18 and CEA in iSGCs, and flow cytometry data demonstrated (4.18 ± 0.04)% of iSGCs were CK5 positive and (4.36 ± 0.25)% of iSGCs were CK18 positive. The addition of chemical cocktails greatly accelerated the SG fate program. qPCR results revealed significantly increased mRNA expression of CK5, CK18 and CEA in iSGCs, as well as activation of the duct marker CK10 and luminal functional marker AQP5. Flow cytometry indicated, after the treatment of chemical cocktails, (23.05 ± 2.49)% of iSGCs expressed CK5+ and (55.79 ± 3.18)% of iSGCs expressed CK18+, respectively. Calcium activity analysis indicated that the reactivity of iSGCs to acetylcholine was close to that of primary SG cells [(60.79 ± 7.71)% vs. (70.59 ± 0.34)%, ns]. In vivo transplantation experiments showed approximately (5.2 ± 1.1)% of the mice were sweat test positive, and the histological analysis results indicated that regenerated SG structures were present in iSGCs-treated mice. CONCLUSION We developed a SG reprogramming strategy to generate functional iSGCs from HDFs by using the single factor EDA in combination with SGM and small molecules. The generation of iSGCs has important implications for future in situ skin regeneration with SG restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai-Fei Ji
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated To Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.,Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Lai-Xian Zhou
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated To Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.,Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Zhi-Feng Sun
- Department of Respiratory, The Second Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100036, China
| | - Jiang-Bing Xiang
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated To Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.,Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, China.,Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Shao-Yuan Cui
- Department of Nephrology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Yan Li
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated To Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.,Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Hua-Ting Chen
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated To Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.,Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Yi-Qiong Liu
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated To Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.,Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Huan-Huan Gao
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated To Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.,Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Fu
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated To Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing, 100853, China. .,Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, China.
| | - Xiao-Yan Sun
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated To Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College; PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing, 100853, China. .,Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, Beijing, 100048, China.
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12
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Son JS, Park CY, Lee G, Park JY, Kim HJ, Kim G, Chi KY, Woo DH, Han C, Kim SK, Park HJ, Kim DW, Kim JH. Therapeutic correction of hemophilia A using 2D endothelial cells and multicellular 3D organoids derived from CRISPR/Cas9-engineered patient iPSCs. Biomaterials 2022; 283:121429. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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13
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Rombaut M, Boeckmans J, Rodrigues RM, van Grunsven LA, Vanhaecke T, De Kock J. Direct reprogramming of somatic cells into induced hepatocytes: Cracking the Enigma code. J Hepatol 2021; 75:690-705. [PMID: 33989701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.04.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
There is an unmet need for functional primary human hepatocytes to support the pharmaceutical and (bio)medical demand. The unique discovery, a decade ago, that somatic cells can be drawn out of their apparent biological lockdown to reacquire a pluripotent state has revealed a completely new avenue of possibilities for generating surrogate human hepatocytes. Since then, the number of papers reporting the direct conversion of somatic cells into induced hepatocytes (iHeps) has burgeoned. A hepatic cell fate can be established via the ectopic expression of native liver-enriched transcription factors in somatic cells, thereby bypassing the need for an intermediate (pluripotent) stem cell state. That said, understanding and eventually controlling the processes that give rise to functional iHeps remains challenging. In this review, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art reprogramming cocktails and techniques, as well as their corresponding conversion efficiencies. Special attention is paid to the role of liver-enriched transcription factors as hepatogenic reprogramming tools and small molecules as facilitators of hepatic transdifferentiation. To conclude, we formulate recommendations to optimise, standardise and enrich the in vitro production of iHeps to reach clinical standards, and propose minimal criteria for their characterisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Rombaut
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Joost Boeckmans
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robim M Rodrigues
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tamara Vanhaecke
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joery De Kock
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
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14
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Deng J, Luo K, Xu P, Jiang Q, Wang Y, Yao Y, Chen X, Cheng F, Xie D, Deng H. High-efficiency c-Myc-mediated induction of functional hepatoblasts from the human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:375. [PMID: 34215318 PMCID: PMC8254319 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02419-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Direct reprogramming of human fibroblasts to hepatocyte-like cells was proposed to generate large-scale functional hepatocytes demanded by liver tissue engineering. However, the difficulty in obtaining large quantities of human fibroblasts greatly restricted the extensive implementation of this approach. Meanwhile, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) are the preferred cell source for HLCs with the advantages of limited ethical concerns, easy accessibility, and propagation in vitro. However, no direct reprogramming protocol for converting HUMSCs to hepatoblast-like cells (HLCs) has been reported. Methods HLCs were successfully generated from HUMSCs by forced expression of FOXA3, HNF1A, and HNF4A (collectively as 3TFs) and c-Myc. In vitro and in vivo functional experiments were conducted to demonstrate the hepatic phenotype, characterization, and function of HUMSC-derived HLCs (HUMSC-iHeps). ChIP-seq and RNA-seq were integrated to reveal the potential molecular mechanisms underlying c-Myc-mediated reprogramming. Results We showed that c-Myc greatly improved the trans-differentiation efficiency for HLCs from HUMSCs, which remained highly efficient in reprogramming fibroblasts into HLCs, suggesting c-Myc could promote direct reprogramming and its potentially widespread applicability for generating large amounts of HLCs in vitro. Mice transplantation experiments further confirmed the therapeutic potential of HUMSC-iHeps by liver function restoration and survival prolongation. Besides, in vivo safety assessment demonstrated the low risk of the tumorigenic potential of HUMSC-iHeps. We found that c-Myc functioned predominantly at an early phase of reprogramming, and we further unraveled the regulatory network altered by c-Myc. Conclusions c-Myc enhanced reprogramming efficiency of HLCs from HUMSCs. A large scale of functional HLCs generated more conveniently from HUMSCs could benefit biomedical studies and applications of liver diseases. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-021-02419-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas (CCLA), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Kai Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.,National Frontier Center of Disease Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Pengchao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingyuan Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics, Sichuan Provincial Hospital for Women and Children, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunqi Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuyi Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China. .,National Frontier Center of Disease Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Hongxin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Chen G, Guo Y, Li C, Li S, Wan X. Small Molecules that Promote Self-Renewal of Stem Cells and Somatic Cell Reprogramming. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 16:511-523. [PMID: 32185667 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-09965-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The ground state of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is closely related to the development of regenerative medicine. Particularly, long-term culture of ESCs in vitro, maintenance of their undifferentiated state, self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation ability is the premise of ESCs mechanism and application research. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) reprogrammed from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) cells into cells with most of the ESC characteristics show promise towards solving ethical problems currently facing stem cell research. However, integration into chromosomal DNA through viral-mediated genes may activate proto oncogenes and lead to risk of cancer of iPSC. At the same time, iPS induction efficiency needs to be further improved to reduce the use of transcription factors. In this review, we discuss small molecules that promote self-renewal and reprogramming, including growth factor receptor inhibitors, GSK-3β and histone deacetylase inhibitors, metabolic regulators, pathway modulators as well as EMT/MET regulation inhibitors to enhance maintenance of ESCs and enable reprogramming. Additionally, we summarize the mechanism of action of small molecules on ESC self-renewal and iPSC reprogramming. Finally, we will report on the progress in identification of novel and potentially effective agents as well as selected strategies that show promise in regenerative medicine. On this basis, development of more small molecule combinations and efficient induction of chemically induced pluripotent stem cell (CiPSC) is vital for stem cell therapy. This will significantly improve research in pathogenesis, individualized drug screening, stem cell transplantation, tissue engineering and many other aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guofang Chen
- Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu'e Guo
- Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Li
- Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuangdi Li
- Departments of Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoping Wan
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Napolitano F, Rapakoulia T, Annunziata P, Hasegawa A, Cardon M, Napolitano S, Vaccaro L, Iuliano A, Wanderlingh LG, Kasukawa T, Medina DL, Cacchiarelli D, Gao X, di Bernardo D, Arner E. Automatic identification of small molecules that promote cell conversion and reprogramming. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:1381-1390. [PMID: 33891873 PMCID: PMC8185468 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Controlling cell fate has great potential for regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and basic research. Although transcription factors are able to promote cell reprogramming and transdifferentiation, methods based on their upregulation often show low efficiency. Small molecules that can facilitate conversion between cell types can ameliorate this problem working through safe, rapid, and reversible mechanisms. Here, we present DECCODE, an unbiased computational method for identification of such molecules based on transcriptional data. DECCODE matches a large collection of drug-induced profiles for drug treatments against a large dataset of primary cell transcriptional profiles to identify drugs that either alone or in combination enhance cell reprogramming and cell conversion. Extensive validation in the context of human induced pluripotent stem cells shows that DECCODE is able to prioritize drugs and drug combinations enhancing cell reprogramming. We also provide predictions for cell conversion with single drugs and drug combinations for 145 different cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Napolitano
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy; Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Trisevgeni Rapakoulia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Ihnestrasse 63-73, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrizia Annunziata
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy
| | - Akira Hasegawa
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Melissa Cardon
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Sara Napolitano
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Vaccaro
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy
| | - Antonella Iuliano
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy
| | | | - Takeya Kasukawa
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Diego L Medina
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy; Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Davide Cacchiarelli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy; Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Xin Gao
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Diego di Bernardo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy; Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy.
| | - Erik Arner
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan; Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8528 Japan.
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17
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Baquerre C, Montillet G, Pain B. Liver organoids in domestic animals: an expected promise for metabolic studies. Vet Res 2021; 52:47. [PMID: 33736676 PMCID: PMC7977275 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-021-00916-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is one of the most important organs, both in terms of the different metabolic processes (energy, lipid, ferric, uric, etc.) and of its central role in the processes of detoxification of substances of food origin or noxious substances (alcohol, drugs, antibiotics, etc.). The development of a relevant model that reproduces some of the functions of this tissue has become a challenge, in particular for human medicine. Thus, in recent years, most studies aimed at producing hepatocytes in vitro with the goal of developing hepatic 3D structures have been carried out in the human model. However, the tools and protocols developed using this unique model can also be considered to address physiological questions specific to this tissue in other species, such as the pig, chicken, and duck. Different strategies are presently being considered to carry out in vitro studies of the hepatic metabolism of these agronomic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Baquerre
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, INSERM, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Guillaume Montillet
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, INSERM, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Bertrand Pain
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, INSERM, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, 69500, Bron, France.
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18
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Ullah I, Shin Y, Kim Y, Oh KB, Hwang S, Kim YI, Lee JW, Hur TY, Lee S, Ock SA. Effect of sex-specific differences on function of induced hepatocyte-like cells generated from male and female mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:79. [PMID: 33494802 PMCID: PMC7831237 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-02100-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The liver is one of the vital organs involved in detoxification and metabolism. The sex-based differences between the functionality of male and female liver have been previously reported, i.e., male's liver are good in alcohol clearance and lipid metabolism, while female's liver are better in cholesterol metabolism. To date, studies on novel drug toxicity have not considered the sex-specific dimorphic nature of the liver. However, the use of hepatocyte-like cells to treat liver diseases has increased recently. METHODS Mouse embryos were isolated from a pregnant female C57BL/6J mouse where mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were isolated from back skin tissue of each embryo. MEFs were transduced with human transcription factors hHnf1α, hHnf4α, and hFoxa3 using the lentiviral system. The transduced MEFs were further treated with hepatocyte-conditioned media followed by its analysis through RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, functional assays, and finally whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing analysis. For in vivo investigation, the mouse hepatocyte-like cells (miHep) were transplanted into CCl4-induced acute liver mouse model. RESULTS In this study, we evaluated the sex-specific effect of miHep induced from male- and female-specific mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). We observed miHeps with a polygonal cytoplasm and bipolar nucleus and found that male miHeps showed higher mHnf4a, albumin secretion, and polyploidization than female miHeps. Transcriptomes from miHeps were similar to those from the liver, especially for Hnf4a of male miHeps. Male Cyps were normalized to those from females, which revealed Cyp expression differences between liver and miHeps. In both liver and miHeps, Cyp 4a12a and Cyp 4b13a/2b9 predominated in males and females, respectively. After grafting of miHeps, AST/ALT decreased, regardless of mouse sex. CONCLUSION In conclusion, activation of endogenic Hnf4a is important for generation of successful sex-specific miHeps; furthermore, the male-derived miHep exhibits comparatively enhanced hepatic features than those of female miHep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran Ullah
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500 Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Isero-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 565-851, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Yurianna Shin
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500 Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Isero-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 565-851, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongji Kim
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500 Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Isero-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 565-851, Republic of Korea
| | - Keon Bong Oh
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500 Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Isero-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 565-851, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongsoo Hwang
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500 Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Isero-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 565-851, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Im Kim
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500 Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Isero-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 565-851, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Woong Lee
- Biotherapeutics Translational Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125, Gwakhak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Tai-Young Hur
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500 Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Isero-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 565-851, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghoon Lee
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500 Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Isero-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 565-851, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun A Ock
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500 Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Isero-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 565-851, Republic of Korea.
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19
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Lu Z, Priya Rajan SA, Song Q, Zhao Y, Wan M, Aleman J, Skardal A, Bishop C, Atala A, Lu B. 3D scaffold-free microlivers with drug metabolic function generated by lineage-reprogrammed hepatocytes from human fibroblasts. Biomaterials 2021; 269:120668. [PMID: 33461059 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Generating microliver tissues to recapitulate hepatic function is of increasing importance in tissue engineering and drug screening. But the limited availability of primary hepatocytes and the marked loss of phenotype hinders their application. Human induced hepatocytes (hiHeps) generated by direct reprogramming can address the shortage of primary hepatocytes to make personalized drug prediction possible. Here, we simplify preparation of reprogramming reagents by expressing six transcriptional factors (HNF4A, FOXA2, FOXA3, ATF5, PROX1, and HNF1) from two lentiviral vectors, each expressing three factors. Transducing human fetal and adult fibroblasts with low vector dosage generated human induced hepatocyte-like cells (hiHeps) displaying characteristics of mature hepatocytes and capable of drug metabolism. To mimic the physiologic liver microenvironment and improve hepatocyte function, we prepared 3D scaffold-free microliver spheroids using hiHeps and human liver nonparenchymal cells through self-assembly without exogenous scaffolds. We then introduced the microliver spheroids into a two-organ microfluidic system to examine interactions between hepatocytes and tumor cells. The hiHeps-derived spheroids metabolized the prodrug capecitabine into the active metabolite 5-fluorouracil and induced toxicity in downstream tumor spheroids. Our results demonstrate that hiHeps can be used to make microliver spheroids and combined with a microfluidic system for drug evaluation. Our work could make it possible to use patient-specific hepatocyte-like cells to predict drug efficacy and side effects in various organs from the same patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuyan Lu
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Shiny Amala Priya Rajan
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Qianqian Song
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Yu Zhao
- Jiangsu Healthy Life Innovation Medical Technology Co, Ltd., Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Meimei Wan
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Julio Aleman
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Aleksander Skardal
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Colin Bishop
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| | - Baisong Lu
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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20
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Ullah I, Seo K, Wi H, Kim Y, Lee S, Ock SA. Induction of the differentiation of porcine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into premature hepatocyte-like cells in an indirect coculture system with primary hepatocytes. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2020; 24:289-298. [PMID: 33209203 PMCID: PMC7646558 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2020.1823473] [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] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation is currently the only option for patients with end-stage liver disease. Thus, other alternate therapeutic strategies are needed. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are nonhematopoietic cells present in the bone marrow stroma that serve as precursors cells for various other cells. In this study, we evaluated the differentiation of porcine BM-MSCs into hepatocyte-like cells using three types of culture systems: hepatic induction medium (HIM), HIM/primary hepatocyte culture supernatant (HCS; 1:1 ratio), and a hepatocyte coculture system (HCCS; primary hepatocytes in the upper chamber, and BM-MSCs in the lower chamber). Primary hepatocytes were isolated from anesthetized healthy 1-month-old pigs by enzymatic digestion. Hepatic-specific marker expression (albumin [ALB], transferrin [TF], α-fetoprotein [AFP]), glycogen storage, low-density lipoprotein, and indocyanine green uptake were evaluated. Upregulation of hepatic-specific markers (ALB, TF, and AFP) was observed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in the HCCS group. Periodic acid-Schiff staining revealed enhanced glycogen storage in hepatocyte-like cells from the HCCS group compared with that from the HIM/HCS group. Furthermore, hepatocyte like-cells in the HCCS group showed improved LDL and ICG uptake than those in the other groups. Overall, our current study revealed that indirect coculture of primary hepatocytes and BM-MSCs enhanced the differentiation efficacy of BM-MSCs into hepatocyte-like cells by unknown useful soluble factors, including paracrine factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran Ullah
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biochemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Kangmin Seo
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun, Republic of Korea
| | - Hayeon Wi
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngim Kim
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghoon Lee
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun A Ock
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun, Republic of Korea
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21
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Kumar A, Mali P. Mapping regulators of cell fate determination: Approaches and challenges. APL Bioeng 2020; 4:031501. [PMID: 32637855 PMCID: PMC7332300 DOI: 10.1063/5.0004611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the limited regenerative capacities of most organs, strategies are needed to efficiently generate large numbers of parenchymal cells capable of integration into the diseased organ. Although it was initially thought that terminally differentiated cells lacked the ability to transdifferentiate, it has since been shown that cellular reprogramming of stromal cells to parenchymal cells through direct lineage conversion holds great potential for the replacement of post-mitotic parenchymal cells lost to disease. To this end, an assortment of genetic, chemical, and mechanical cues have been identified to reprogram cells to different lineages both in vitro and in vivo. However, some key challenges persist that limit broader applications of reprogramming technologies. These include: (1) low reprogramming efficiencies; (2) incomplete functional maturation of derived cells; and (3) difficulty in determining the typically multi-factor combinatorial recipes required for successful transdifferentiation. To improve efficiency by comprehensively identifying factors that regulate cell fate, large scale genetic and chemical screening methods have thus been utilized. Here, we provide an overview of the underlying concept of cell reprogramming as well as the rationale, considerations, and limitations of high throughput screening methods. We next follow with a summary of unique hits that have been identified by high throughput screens to induce reprogramming to various parenchymal lineages. Finally, we discuss future directions of applying this technology toward human disease biology via disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Kumar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Prashant Mali
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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22
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Yu B, Li H, Chen J, He Z, Sun H, Yang G, Shang C, Wang X, Li C, Chen Y, Hu Y. Extensively expanded murine-induced hepatic stem cells maintain high-efficient hepatic differentiation potential for repopulation of injured livers. Liver Int 2020; 40:2293-2304. [PMID: 32394491 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIM Shortage of donor hepatocytes limits hepatocyte transplantation for clinical application. Induced hepatic stem cells (iHepSCs) have capacities of self-renewal and bipotential differentiations. Here, we investigated whether iHepSCs could be extensively expanded, and whether they could differentiate into sufficient functional hepatocytes as donors for transplantation therapy after their extensive expansions. METHODS Murine extensively expanded iHepSCs (50-55 passages) were induced to differentiate into iHepSC-Heps under a chemically defined condition. iHepSC-Heps were proved for carrying morphological hepatocyte characters and hepatocytic functions including low-density lipoprotein uptake, glycogen storage, CLF secretion, ICG uptake and release, Alb secretion, urea synthesis and metabolism-relative gene expressions respectively. Next, both iHepSCs and iHepSC-Heps were transplanted into Fah-/- mice respectively. Both liver repopulation and alleviation of liver function were compared between two transplantation groups. RESULTS Murine iHepSCs still maintained the capacities of self-renewal and bipotential differentiations after extensive expansion. The efficiency for the functional hepatocyte differentiation from extensively expanded iHepSCs reached to 72.64%. Transplantations of both extensively expanded iHepSCs and iHepSC-Heps resulted in liver engraftment in Fah-/- mice. Survival rate of Fah-/- mice recipients and level of liver repopulation were 50% and 20.32 ± 4.58% respectively in iHepSC-Heps group, while 33% and 10.4 ± 4.3% in iHepSCs group. CONCLUSIONS Extensively expanded iHepSCs can efficiently differentiate into hepatocytes in chemical defined medium. Transplantation of iHepSC-Heps was more effective and more efficient than transplantation of iHepSCs in Fah-/- mice. Our results suggested an innovative system to obtain sufficient hepatocytes through hepatic differentiation of iHepSCs generated by lineage reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Yu
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Stem Cell and Medicine, Navy Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, P. R. China.,Department of Hepatic Surgery V, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Hengyu Li
- Department of General Surgery IV, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Zhiying He
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Haixiang Sun
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangshun Yang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery V, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Changzhen Shang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xin Wang
- Research Center for Laboratory Animal Science, Inner Mongolia University, Huhhot, P.R. China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Hepatoscience Section, Cell Lab Tech Incorporation, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
| | - Chuanjiang Li
- Division of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yajin Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yiping Hu
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Stem Cell and Medicine, Navy Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, P. R. China
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23
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Zeng J, Li Y, Ma Z, Hu M. Advances in Small Molecules in Cellular Reprogramming: Effects, Structures, and Mechanisms. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 16:115-132. [PMID: 32564763 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x15666200621172042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The method of cellular reprogramming using small molecules involves the manipulation of somatic cells to generate desired cell types under chemically limited conditions, thus avoiding the ethical controversy of embryonic stem cells and the potential hazards of gene manipulation. The combinations of small molecules and their effects on mouse and human somatic cells are similar. Several small molecules, including CHIR99021, 616452, A83-01, SB431542, forskolin, tranylcypromine and valproic acid [VPA], have been frequently used in reprogramming of mouse and human somatic cells. This indicated that the reprogramming approaches related to these compounds were essential. These approaches were mainly divided into four classes: epigenetic modification, signal modulation, metabolic modulation and senescent suppression. The structures and functions of small molecules involved in these reprogramming approaches have been studied extensively. Molecular docking gave insights into the mechanisms and structural specificities of various small molecules in the epigenetic modification. The binding modes of RG108, Bix01294, tranylcypromine and VPA with their corresponding proteins clearly illustrated the interactions between these compounds and the active sites of the proteins. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β [CHIR99021], transforming growth factor β [616452, A83-01 and SB431542] and protein kinase A [forskolin] signaling pathway play important roles in signal modulation during reprogramming, however, the mechanisms and structural specificities of these inhibitors are still unknown. Further, the numbers of small molecules in the approaches of metabolic modulation and senescent suppression were too few to compare. This review aims to serve as a reference for reprogramming through small molecules in order to benefit future regenerative medicine and clinical drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zeng
- Yunnan Key laboratory for Basic Research on Bone and Joint Diseases & Yunnan Stem Cell Translational Research Center, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China
| | - Yanjiao Li
- Yunnan Key laboratory for Basic Research on Bone and Joint Diseases & Yunnan Stem Cell Translational Research Center, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China
| | - Zhaoxia Ma
- Yunnan Key laboratory for Basic Research on Bone and Joint Diseases & Yunnan Stem Cell Translational Research Center, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China
| | - Min Hu
- Yunnan Key laboratory for Basic Research on Bone and Joint Diseases & Yunnan Stem Cell Translational Research Center, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China
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24
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He X, Chi G, Li M, Xu J, Zhang L, Song Y, Wang L, Li Y. Characterisation of extraembryonic endoderm-like cells from mouse embryonic fibroblasts induced using chemicals alone. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:157. [PMID: 32299508 PMCID: PMC7164364 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-01664-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The development of somatic reprogramming, especially purely chemical reprogramming, has significantly advanced biological research. And chemical-induced extraembryonic endoderm-like (ciXEN) cells have been confirmed to be an indispensable intermediate stage of chemical reprogramming. They resemble extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) cells in terms of transcriptome, reprogramming potential, and developmental ability in vivo. However, the other characteristics of ciXEN cells and the effects of chemicals and bFGF on the in vitro culture of ciXEN cells have not been systematically reported. Methods Chemicals and bFGF in combination with Matrigel were used to induce the generation of ciXEN cells derived from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). RNA sequencing was utilised to examine the transcriptome of ciXEN cells, and PCR/qPCR assays were performed to evaluate the mRNA levels of the genes involved in this study. Hepatic functions were investigated by periodic acid-Schiff staining and indocyanine green assay. Lactate production, ATP detection, and extracellular metabolic flux analysis were used to analyse the energy metabolism of ciXEN cells. Results ciXEN cells expressed XEN-related genes, exhibited high proliferative capacity, had the ability to differentiate into visceral endoderm in vitro, and possessed the plasticity allowing for their differentiation into induced hepatocytes (iHeps). Additionally, the upregulated biological processes of ciXEN cells compared to those in MEFs focused on metabolism, but their energy production was independent of glycolysis. Furthermore, without the cocktail of chemicals and bFGF, which are indispensable for the generation of ciXEN cells, induced XEN (iXEN) cells remained the expression of XEN markers, the high proliferative capacity, and the plasticity to differentiate into iHeps in vitro. Conclusions ciXEN cells had high plasticity, and energy metabolism was reconstructed during chemical reprogramming, but it did not change from aerobic oxidation to glycolysis. And the cocktail of chemicals and bFGF were non-essential for the in vitro culture of ciXEN cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia He
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangfan Chi
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Meiying Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinying Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Lihong Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaolin Song
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Lina Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, People's Republic of China.,Department of Paediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yulin Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, People's Republic of China.
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25
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Orge ID, Gadd VL, Barouh JL, Rossi EA, Carvalho RH, Smith I, Allahdadi KJ, Paredes BD, Silva DN, Damasceno PKF, Sampaio GL, Forbes SJ, Soares MBP, Souza BSDF. Phenotype instability of hepatocyte-like cells produced by direct reprogramming of mesenchymal stromal cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:154. [PMID: 32276654 PMCID: PMC7323614 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-01665-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocyte-like cells (iHEPs) generated by transcription factor-mediated direct reprogramming of somatic cells have been studied as potential cell sources for the development of novel therapies targeting liver diseases. The mechanisms involved in direct reprogramming, stability after long-term in vitro expansion, and safety profile of reprogrammed cells in different experimental models, however, still require further investigation. METHODS iHEPs were generated by forced expression of Foxa2/Hnf4a in mouse mesenchymal stromal cells and characterized their phenotype stability by in vitro and in vivo analyses. RESULTS The iHEPs expressed mixed hepatocyte and liver progenitor cell markers, were highly proliferative, and presented metabolic activities in functional assays. A progressive loss of hepatic phenotype, however, was observed after several passages, leading to an increase in alpha-SMA+ fibroblast-like cells, which could be distinguished and sorted from iHEPs by differential mitochondrial content. The resulting purified iHEPs proliferated, maintained liver progenitor cell markers, and, upon stimulation with lineage maturation media, increased expression of either biliary or hepatocyte markers. In vivo functionality was assessed in independent pre-clinical mouse models. Minimal engraftment was observed following transplantation in mice with acute acetaminophen-induced liver injury. In contrast, upon transplantation in a transgenic mouse model presenting host hepatocyte senescence, widespread engraftment and uncontrolled proliferation of iHEPs was observed, forming islands of epithelial-like cells, adipocyte-like cells, or cells presenting both morphologies. CONCLUSION The results have significant implications for cell reprogramming, suggesting that iHEPs generated by Foxa2/Hnf4a expression have an unstable phenotype and depend on transgene expression for maintenance of hepatocyte-like characteristics, showing a tendency to return to the mesenchymal phenotype of origin and a compromised safety profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iasmim Diniz Orge
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- Center for Biotechnology and Cell Therapy, São Rafael Hospital, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | | | - Judah Leão Barouh
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- Center for Biotechnology and Cell Therapy, São Rafael Hospital, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Erik Aranha Rossi
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- Center for Biotechnology and Cell Therapy, São Rafael Hospital, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Ian Smith
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kyan James Allahdadi
- Center for Biotechnology and Cell Therapy, São Rafael Hospital, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bruno Diaz Paredes
- Center for Biotechnology and Cell Therapy, São Rafael Hospital, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daniela Nascimento Silva
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriela Louise Sampaio
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- Center for Biotechnology and Cell Therapy, São Rafael Hospital, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | | | - Milena Botelho Pereira Soares
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bruno Solano de Freitas Souza
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
- Center for Biotechnology and Cell Therapy, São Rafael Hospital, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Waldemar Falcão, 121, Candeal, Salvador, Bahia, CEP: 40296-710, Brazil.
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Kwak TH, Hali S, Kim S, Kim J, La H, Kim KP, Hong KH, Shin CY, Kim NH, Han DW. Robust and Reproducible Generation of Induced Neural Stem Cells from Human Somatic Cells by Defined Factors. Int J Stem Cells 2020; 13:80-92. [PMID: 32114739 PMCID: PMC7119206 DOI: 10.15283/ijsc19097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Recent studies have described direct reprogramming of mouse and human somatic cells into induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) using various combinations of transcription factors. Although iNSC technology holds a great potential for clinical applications, the low conversion efficiency and limited reproducibility of iNSC generation hinder its further translation into the clinic, strongly suggesting the necessity of highly reproducible method for human iNSCs (hiNSCs). Thus, in orderto develop a highly efficient and reproducible protocol for hiNSC generation, we revisited the reprogramming potentials of previously reported hiNSC reprogramming cocktails by comparing the reprogramming efficiency of distinct factor combinations including ours. METHODS We introduced distinct factor combinations, OSKM (OCT4+SOX2+KLF4+C-MYC), OCT4 alone, SOX2 alone, SOX2+HMGA2, BRN4+SKM+SV40LT (BSKMLT), SKLT, SMLT, and SKMLT and performed comparative analysis of reprogramming potentials of distinct factor combinations in hiNSC generation. RESULTS Here we show that ectopic expression of five reprogramming factors, BSKMLT leads the robust hiNSC generation (>80 folds enhanced efficiency) from human somatic cells compared with previously described factor combinations. With our combination, we were able to observe hiNSC conversion within 7 days of transduction. Throughout further optimization steps, we found that both BRN4 and KLF4 are not essential for hiNSC conversion. CONCLUSIONS Our factor combination could robustly and reproducibly generate hiNSCs from human somatic cells with distinct origins. Therefore, our novel reprogramming strategy might serve as a useful tool for hiNSC-based clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Hwan Kwak
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sai Hali
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sungmin Kim
- School of Cell and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jonghun Kim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyeonwoo La
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kee-Pyo Kim
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Kwon Ho Hong
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chan Young Shin
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Nam-Hyung Kim
- Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Dong Wook Han
- School of Biotechnology and Healthcare, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
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Begum S. Hepatic Nuclear Factor 1 Alpha (HNF-1α) In Human Physiology and Molecular Medicine. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2019; 13:50-56. [PMID: 31566143 DOI: 10.2174/1874467212666190930144349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial role in the modulation of specific gene transcription networks. One of the hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNFs) family's member, hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α (HNF-1α) has continuously become a principal TF to control the expression of genes. It is involved in the regulation of a variety of functions in various human organs including liver, pancreas, intestine, and kidney. It regulates the expression of enzymes involved in endocrine and xenobiotic activity through various metabolite transporters located in the above organs. Its expression is also required for organ-specific cell fate determination. Despite two decades of its first identification in hepatocytes, a review of its significance was not comprehended. Here, the role of HNF-1α in the above organs at the molecular level to intimate molecular mechanisms for regulating certain gene expression whose malfunctions are attributed to the disease conditions has been specifically encouraged. Moreover, the epigenetic effects of HNF-1α have been discussed here, which could help in advanced technologies for molecular pharmacological intervention and potential clinical implications for targeted therapies. HNF-1α plays an indispensable role in several physiological mechanisms in the liver, pancreas, intestine, and kidney. Loss of its operations leads to the non-functional or abnormal functional state of each organ. Specific molecular agents or epigenetic modifying drugs that reactivate HNF-1α are the current requirements for the medications of the diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumreen Begum
- Stem Cells Research Laboratory (SCRL), Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Karachi, Pakistan
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28
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Furuya K, Zheng YW, Sako D, Iwasaki K, Zheng DX, Ge JY, Liu LP, Furuta T, Akimoto K, Yagi H, Hamada H, Isoda H, Oda T, Ohkohchi N. Enhanced hepatic differentiation in the subpopulation of human amniotic stem cells under 3D multicellular microenvironment. World J Stem Cells 2019; 11:705-721. [PMID: 31616545 PMCID: PMC6789189 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v11.i9.705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To solve the problem of liver transplantation donor insufficiency, an alternative cell transplantation therapy was investigated. We focused on amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) as a cell source because, unlike induced pluripotent stem cells, they are cost-effective and non-tumorigenic. The utilization of AECs in regenerative medicine, however, is in its infancy. A general profile for AECs has not been comprehensively analyzed. Moreover, no hepatic differentiation protocol for AECs has yet been established. To this end, we independently compiled human AEC libraries, purified amniotic stem cells (ASCs), and co-cultured them with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) in a 3D system which induces functional hepatic organoids.
AIM To characterize AECs and generate functional hepatic organoids from ASCs and other somatic stem cells
METHODS AECs, MSCs, and HUVECs were isolated from the placentae and umbilical cords of cesarean section patients. Amnion and primary AEC stemness characteristics and heterogeneity were analyzed by immunocytochemistry, Alkaline phosphatase (AP) staining, and flow cytometry. An adherent AEC subpopulation was selected and evaluated for ASC purification quality by a colony formation assay. AEC transcriptomes were compared with those for other hepatocytes cell sources by bioinformatics. The 2D and 3D culture were compared by relative gene expression using several differentiation protocols. ASCs, MSCs, and HUVECs were combined in a 3D co-culture system to generate hepatic organoids whose structure was compared with a 3D AEC sphere and whose function was elucidated by immunofluorescence imaging, periodic acid Schiff, and an indocyanine green (ICG) test.
RESULTS AECs have certain stemness markers such as EPCAM, SSEA4, and E-cadherin. One AEC subpopulation was also either positive for AP staining or expressed the TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81 stemness markers. Moreover, it could form colonies and its frequency was enhanced ten-fold in the adherent subpopulation after selective primary passage. Bioinformatics analysis of ribose nucleic acid sequencing revealed that the total AEC gene expression was distant from those of pluripotent stem cells and hepatocytes but some gene expression overlapped among these cells. TJP1, associated with epidermal growth factor receptor, and MET, associated with hepatocyte growth factor receptor, were upregulated and may be important for hepatic differentiation. In conventional flat culture, the cells turned unviable and did not readily differentiate into hepatocytes. In 3D culture, however, hepatic gene expression of the AEC sphere was elevated even under a two-step differentiation protocol. Furthermore, the organoids derived from the MSC and HUVEC co-culture showed 3D structure with polarity, hepatic-like glycogen storage, and ICG absorption/elimination.
CONCLUSION Human amniotic epithelial cells are heterogeneous and certain subpopulations have high stemness. Under a 3D co-culture system, functional hepatic organoids were generated in a multicellular microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinji Furuya
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Yun-Wen Zheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Affiliated Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sako
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Department of Medicinal and Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-8510, Japan
| | - Kenichi Iwasaki
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Dong-Xu Zheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Jian-Yun Ge
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Li-Ping Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Affiliated Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tomoaki Furuta
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Kazunori Akimoto
- Department of Medicinal and Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroya Yagi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
| | - Hiromi Hamada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
| | - Hiroko Isoda
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Oda
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Ohkohchi
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
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Ge JY, Zheng YW, Liu LP, Isoda H, Oda T. Impelling force and current challenges by chemicals in somatic cell reprogramming and expansion beyond hepatocytes. World J Stem Cells 2019; 11:650-665. [PMID: 31616541 PMCID: PMC6789182 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v11.i9.650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the field of regenerative medicine, generating numerous transplantable functional cells in the laboratory setting on a large scale is a major challenge. However, the in vitro maintenance and expansion of terminally differentiated cells are challenging because of the lack of specific environmental and intercellular signal stimulations, markedly hindering their therapeutic application. Remarkably, the generation of stem/progenitor cells or functional cells with effective proliferative potential is markedly in demand for disease modeling, cell-based transplantation, and drug discovery. Despite the potent genetic manipulation of transcription factors, integration-free chemically defined approaches for the conversion of somatic cell fate have garnered considerable attention in recent years. This review aims to summarize the progress thus far and discuss the advantages, limitations, and challenges of the impact of full chemicals on the stepwise reprogramming of pluripotency, direct lineage conversion, and direct lineage expansion on somatic cells. Owing to the current chemical-mediated induction, reprogrammed pluripotent stem cells with reproducibility difficulties, and direct lineage converted cells with marked functional deficiency, it is imperative to generate the desired cell types directly by chemically inducing their potent proliferation ability through a lineage-committed progenitor state, while upholding the maturation and engraftment capacity posttransplantation in vivo. Together with the comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of chemical drives, as well as the elucidation of specificity and commonalities, the precise manipulation of the expansion for diverse functional cell types could broaden the available cell sources and enhance the cellular function for clinical application in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Yun Ge
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Yun-Wen Zheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Affiliated Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Li-Ping Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Affiliated Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hiroko Isoda
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Oda
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
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30
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Oct4 and Hnf4α-induced hepatic stem cells ameliorate chronic liver injury in liver fibrosis model. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221085. [PMID: 31404112 PMCID: PMC6690533 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct conversion from fibroblasts to generate hepatocyte like-cells (iHeps) bypassing the pluripotent state has been described in previous reports as an attractive method acquiring hepatocytes for cell-based therapy. The limited proliferation of iHeps, however, has hampered it uses in cell-based therapy. Since hepatic stem cells (HepSCs) possess self-renewal and bipotency with the capacity to differentiate into both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, they have therapeutic potential for treating liver disease. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effects of induced HepSCs (iHepSCs) on a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis model. We demonstrate that Oct4 and Hnf4a are sufficient to convert fibroblasts into expandable iHepSCs. Hepatocyte-like cells derived from iHepSCs (iHepSC-HEPs) exhibit the typical morphology of hepatocytes and hepatic functions, including glycogen storage, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake, Indocyanine green (ICG) detoxification, drug metabolism, urea production, and albumin secretion. iHepSCs-derived cholangiocyte-like cells (iHepSC-CLCs) expressed cholangiocyte-specific markers and formed cysts and tubule-like structures with apical-basal polarity and secretory function in three-dimensional culture condition. Furthermore, iHepSCs showed anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. This study demonstrates that Oct4 and Hnf4α-induced HepSCs show typical hepatic and biliary functionality in vitro. It also presents the therapeutic effect of iHepSCs in liver fibrosis. Therefore, directly converting iHepSCs from somatic cells may facilitate the development of patient-specific cell-based therapy for chronic liver damage.
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31
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Zhou J, Sun J. A Revolution in Reprogramming: Small Molecules. Curr Mol Med 2019; 19:77-90. [DOI: 10.2174/1566524019666190325113945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Transplantation of reprogrammed cells from accessible sources and in vivo
reprogramming are potential therapies for regenerative medicine. During the last
decade, genetic approaches, which mostly involved transcription factors and
microRNAs, have been shown to affect cell fates. However, their potential
carcinogenicity and other unexpected effects limit their translation into clinical
applications. Recently, with the power of modern biology-oriented design and synthetic
chemistry, as well as high-throughput screening technology, small molecules have been
shown to enhance reprogramming efficiency, replace genetic factors, and help elucidate
the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular plasticity and degenerative diseases. As a
non-viral and non-integrating approach, small molecules not only show revolutionary
capacities in generating desired exogenous cell types but also have potential as drugs
that can restore tissues through repairing or reprogramming endogenous cells. Here, we
focus on the recent progress made to use small molecules in cell reprogramming along
with some related mechanisms to elucidate these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhou
- Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Sun
- Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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32
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Tang W, Guo R, Shen SJ, Zheng Y, Lu YT, Jiang MM, Cui X, Jiang CZ, Xie X. Chemical cocktails enable hepatic reprogramming of human urine-derived cells with a single transcription factor. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2019; 40:620-629. [PMID: 30315254 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-018-0170-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human liver or hepatocyte transplantation is limited by a severe shortage of donor organs. Direct reprogramming of other adult cells into hepatic cells may offer a solution to this problem. In a previous study, we have generated hepatocyte-like cells from mouse fibroblasts using only one transcription factor (TF) plus a chemical cocktail. Here, we show that human urine-derived epithelial-like cells (hUCs) can also be transdifferentiated into human hepatocyte-like cells (hiHeps) using one TF (Foxa3, Hnf1α, or Hnf4α) plus the same chemical cocktail CRVPTD (C, CHIR99021; R, RepSox; V, VPA; P, Parnate; T, TTNPB; and D, Dznep). These hiHeps express multiple hepatocyte-specific genes and display functions characteristic of mature hepatocytes. With the introduction of the large T antigen, these hiHeps can be expanded in vitro and can restore liver function in mice with concanavalin-A-induced acute liver failure. Our study provides a strategy to generate functional hepatocyte-like cells from hUCs by using a single TF plus a chemical cocktail.
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Watanabe K, Liu Y, Noguchi S, Murray M, Chang JC, Kishima M, Nishimura H, Hashimoto K, Minoda A, Suzuki H. OVOL2 induces mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition in fibroblasts and enhances cell-state reprogramming towards epithelial lineages. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6490. [PMID: 31019211 PMCID: PMC6482152 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43021-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) is an important step in cell reprogramming from fibroblasts (a cell type frequently used for this purpose) to various epithelial cell types. However, the mechanism underlying MET induction in fibroblasts remains to be understood. The present study aimed to identify the transcription factors (TFs) that efficiently induce MET in dermal fibroblasts. OVOL2 was identified as a potent inducer of key epithelial genes, and OVOL2 cooperatively enhanced MET induced by HNF1A, TP63, and KLF4, which are known reprogramming TFs to epithelial lineages. In TP63/KLF4-induced keratinocyte-like cell-state reprogramming, OVOL2 greatly facilitated the activation of epithelial and keratinocyte-specific genes. This was accompanied by enhanced changes in chromatin accessibility across the genome. Mechanistically, motif enrichment analysis revealed that the target loci of KLF4 and TP63 become accessible upon induction of TFs, whereas the OVOL2 target loci become inaccessible. This indicates that KLF4 and TP63 positively regulate keratinocyte-associated genes whereas OVOL2 suppresses fibroblast-associated genes. The exogenous expression of OVOL2 therefore disrupts fibroblast lineage identity and facilitates fibroblast cell reprogramming into epithelial lineages cooperatively with tissue-specific reprogramming factors. Identification of OVOL2 as an MET inducer and an epithelial reprogramming enhancer in fibroblasts provides new insights into cellular reprogramming improvement for future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhide Watanabe
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
| | - Ye Liu
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Shuhei Noguchi
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Madeleine Murray
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Jen-Chien Chang
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Mami Kishima
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Hajime Nishimura
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kosuke Hashimoto
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Aki Minoda
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Harukazu Suzuki
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
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Hwang SI, Kwak TH, Kang JH, Kim J, Lee H, Kim KP, Ko K, Schöler HR, Han DW. Metastable Reprogramming State of Single Transcription Factor-Derived Induced Hepatocyte-Like Cells. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:6937257. [PMID: 31089332 PMCID: PMC6476006 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6937257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously described the generation of induced hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) using the hepatic transcription factor Hnf1a together with small molecules. These iHeps represent a hepatic state that is more mature compared with iHeps generated with multiple hepatic factors. However, the underlying mechanism of hepatic conversion involving transgene dependence of the established iHeps is largely unknown. Here, we describe the generation of transgene-independent iHeps by inducing the ectopic expression of Hnf1a using both an episomal vector and a doxycycline-inducible lentivirus. In contrast to iHeps with sustained expression of Hnf1a, transgene-independent Hnf1a iHeps lose their typical morphology and in vitro functionality with rapid downregulation of hepatic markers upon withdrawal of small molecules. Taken together, our data indicates that the reprogramming state of single factor Hnf1a-derived iHeps is metastable and that the hepatic identity of these cells could be maintained only by the continuous supply of either small molecules or the master hepatic factor Hnf1a. Our findings emphasize the importance of a factor screening strategy for inducing specific cellular identities with a stable reprogramming state in order to eventually translate direct conversion technology to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seon In Hwang
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hwan Kwak
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyun Kang
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghun Kim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunseong Lee
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Kee-Pyo Kim
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Kinarm Ko
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Hans R. Schöler
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Dong Wook Han
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
- KU Open-Innovation Center, Institute of Biomedical Science & Technology, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
- Department of Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
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35
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Bandi S, Tchaikovskaya T, Gupta S. Hepatic differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells by developmental stage-related metabolomics products. Differentiation 2019; 105:54-70. [PMID: 30776728 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Endogenous cell signals regulate tissue homeostasis and are significant for directing the fate of stem cells. During liver development, cytokines released from various cell types are critical for stem/progenitor cell differentiation and lineage expansions. To determine mechanisms in these stage-specific lineage interactions, we modeled potential effects of soluble signals derived from immortalized human fetal liver parenchymal cells on stem cells, including embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. For identifying lineage conversion and maturation, we utilized conventional assays of cell morphology, gene expression analysis and lineage markers. Molecular pathway analysis used functional genomics approaches. Metabolic properties were analyzed to determine the extent of hepatic differentiation. Cell transplantation studies were performed in mice with drug-induced acute liver failure to elicit benefits in hepatic support and tissue regeneration. These studies showed signals emanating from fetal liver cells induced hepatic differentiation in stem cells. Gene expression profiling and comparison of regulatory networks in immature and mature hepatocytes revealed stem cell-derived hepatocytes represented early fetal-like stage. Unexpectedly, differentiation-inducing soluble signals constituted metabolomics products and not proteins. In stem cells exposed to signals from fetal cells, mechanistic gene networks of upstream regulators decreased pluripotency, while simultaneously inducing mesenchymal and epithelial properties. The extent of metabolic and synthetic functions in stem cell-derived hepatocytes was sufficient for providing hepatic support along with promotion of tissue repair to rescue mice in acute liver failure. During this rescue, paracrine factors from transplanted cells contributed in stimulating liver regeneration. We concluded that hepatic differentiation of pluripotent stem cells with metabolomics products will be significant for developing therapies. The differentiation mechanisms involving metabolomics products could have an impact on advancing recruitment of stem/progenitor cells during tissue homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Bandi
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Tatyana Tchaikovskaya
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Sanjeev Gupta
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Diabetes Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Irwin S. and Sylvia Chanin Institute for Cancer Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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Park S, In Hwang S, Kim J, Hwang S, Kang S, Yang S, Kim J, Kang W, Kim KH, Han DW, Paik YH. The therapeutic potential of induced hepatocyte-like cells generated by direct reprogramming on hepatic fibrosis. Stem Cell Res Ther 2019; 10:21. [PMID: 30635054 PMCID: PMC6330392 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-1127-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Until now, there is no effective anti-fibrotic therapy available for liver cirrhosis. Stem cell therapies have been studied for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis. However, the use of embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) has limitations such as ethical concern or malignancy potential. Induced hepatocyte-like cells (iHEPs) generated by direct reprogramming technology may overcome these limitations. METHODS In this study, we generated iHEPs by direct reprogramming from mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) either using specific transcription factors such as c-Myc and Klf-4 (type A), or adding small molecules to HNF1α (type B). RESULTS We investigated the effect of iHEPs on acute liver injury and chronic hepatic fibrosis animal models induced by CCl4 intra-peritoneal injection in BALB/C nude mice. In acute liver injury model, serum AST/ALT levels peaked at 24 h after CCl4 injection. Intra-splenic transplantation of iHEPs significantly attenuated CCl4-induced acute liver injury. GFP-labeled iHEPs (type A) migrated to the liver after intra-splenic transplantation that was confirmed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. We found that GFP and albumin were co-localized in migrated iHEPs in the liver suggesting migrated iHEPs were functional. In chronic hepatic fibrosis mice experiment, transplantation of either type A or type B iHEPs significantly attenuated liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 injection for 10 weeks. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that iHEPs may be used as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhyun Park
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea.,Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seon In Hwang
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.,Konkuk University Open Innovation Center, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jonghun Kim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.,Konkuk University Open Innovation Center, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seoyeon Hwang
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Sohee Kang
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Sera Yang
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Jonghwa Kim
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Wonseok Kang
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Kyun-Hwan Kim
- Konkuk University Open Innovation Center, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research and Diagnostic Medicine, IBST, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Wook Han
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.,Konkuk University Open Innovation Center, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yong-Han Paik
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea. .,Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea.
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Pei D, Shu X, Gassama-Diagne A, Thiery JP. Mesenchymal–epithelial transition in development and reprogramming. Nat Cell Biol 2019; 21:44-53. [DOI: 10.1038/s41556-018-0195-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Kim Y, Kang K, Lee SB, Seo D, Yoon S, Kim SJ, Jang K, Jung YK, Lee KG, Factor VM, Jeong J, Choi D. Small molecule-mediated reprogramming of human hepatocytes into bipotent progenitor cells. J Hepatol 2019; 70:97-107. [PMID: 30240598 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Currently, much effort is directed towards the development of new cell sources for clinical therapy using cell fate conversion by small molecules. Direct lineage reprogramming to a progenitor state has been reported in terminally differentiated rodent hepatocytes, yet remains a challenge in human hepatocytes. METHODS Human hepatocytes were isolated from healthy and diseased donor livers and reprogrammed into progenitor cells by 2 small molecules, A83-01 and CHIR99021 (AC), in the presence of EGF and HGF. The stemness properties of human chemically derived hepatic progenitors (hCdHs) were tested by standard in vitro and in vivo assays and transcriptome profiling. RESULTS We developed a robust culture system for generating hCdHs with therapeutic potential. The use of HGF proved to be an essential determinant of the fate conversion process. Based on functional evidence, activation of the HGF/MET signal transduction system collaborated with A83-01 and CHIR99021 to allow a rapid expansion of progenitor cells through the activation of the ERK pathway. hCdHs expressed hepatic progenitor markers and could self-renew for at least 10 passages while retaining a normal karyotype and potential to differentiate into functional hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells in vitro. Gene expression profiling using RNAseq confirmed the transcriptional reprogramming of hCdHs towards a progenitor state and the suppression of mature hepatocyte transcripts. Upon intrasplenic transplantation in several models of therapeutic liver repopulation, hCdHs effectively repopulated the damaged parenchyma. CONCLUSION Our study is the first report of successful reprogramming of human hepatocytes to a population of proliferating bipotent cells with regenerative potential. hCdHs may provide a novel tool that permits expansion and genetic manipulation of patient-specific progenitors to study regeneration and the repair of diseased livers. LAY SUMMARY Human primary hepatocytes were reprogrammed towards hepatic progenitor cells by a combined treatment with 2 small molecules, A83-01 and CHIR99021, and HGF. Chemically derived hepatic progenitors exhibited a high proliferation potential and the ability to differentiate into hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells both in vitro and in vivo. This approach enables the generation of patient-specific hepatic progenitors and provides a platform for personal and stem cell-based regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohan Kim
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyojin Kang
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Bum Lee
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul 01812, Republic of Korea
| | - Daekwan Seo
- Macrogen Corporation, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Sangtae Yoon
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Joo Kim
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Seoul 03063, Republic of Korea
| | - Kiseok Jang
- Department of Pathology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Kyung Jung
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Geun Lee
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Valentina M Factor
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jaemin Jeong
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dongho Choi
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
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Lim KT, Kim J, Hwang SI, Zhang L, Han H, Bae D, Kim KP, Hu YP, Schöler HR, Lee I, Hui L, Han DW. Direct Conversion of Mouse Fibroblasts into Cholangiocyte Progenitor Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 10:1522-1536. [PMID: 29606616 PMCID: PMC5995161 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Disorders of the biliary epithelium, known as cholangiopathies, cause severe and irreversible liver diseases. The limited accessibility of bile duct precludes modeling of several cholangiocyte-mediated diseases. Therefore, novel approaches for obtaining functional cholangiocytes with high purity are needed. Previous work has shown that the combination of Hnf1β and Foxa3 could directly convert mouse fibroblasts into bipotential hepatic stem cell-like cells, termed iHepSCs. However, the efficiency of converting fibroblasts into iHepSCs is low, and these iHepSCs exhibit extremely low differentiation potential into cholangiocytes, thus hindering the translation of iHepSCs to the clinic. Here, we describe that the expression of Hnf1α and Foxa3 dramatically facilitates the robust generation of iHepSCs. Notably, prolonged in vitro culture of Hnf1α- and Foxa3-derived iHepSCs induces a Notch signaling-mediated secondary conversion into cholangiocyte progenitor-like cells that display dramatically enhanced differentiation capacity into mature cholangiocytes. Our study provides a robust two-step approach for obtaining cholangiocyte progenitor-like cells using defined factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Tae Lim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghun Kim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon In Hwang
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Ludi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Heonjong Han
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 04056, Republic of Korea
| | - Dasom Bae
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 04056, Republic of Korea
| | - Kee-Pyo Kim
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Yi-Ping Hu
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hans R Schöler
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Insuk Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 04056, Republic of Korea
| | - Lijian Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dong Wook Han
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; KU Open-Innovation Center, Institute of Biomedical Science & Technology, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; Department of Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
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Chemical compound-based direct reprogramming for future clinical applications. Biosci Rep 2018; 38:BSR20171650. [PMID: 29739872 PMCID: PMC5938430 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20171650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed that a combination of chemical compounds enables direct reprogramming from one somatic cell type into another without the use of transgenes by regulating cellular signaling pathways and epigenetic modifications. The generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells generally requires virus vector-mediated expression of multiple transcription factors, which might disrupt genomic integrity and proper cell functions. The direct reprogramming is a promising alternative to rapidly prepare different cell types by bypassing the pluripotent state. Because the strategy also depends on forced expression of exogenous lineage-specific transcription factors, the direct reprogramming in a chemical compound-based manner is an ideal approach to further reduce the risk for tumorigenesis. So far, a number of reported research efforts have revealed that combinations of chemical compounds and cell-type specific medium transdifferentiate somatic cells into desired cell types including neuronal cells, glial cells, neural stem cells, brown adipocytes, cardiomyocytes, somatic progenitor cells, and pluripotent stem cells. These desired cells rapidly converted from patient-derived autologous fibroblasts can be applied for their own transplantation therapy to avoid immune rejection. However, complete chemical compound-induced conversions remain challenging particularly in adult human-derived fibroblasts compared with mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). This review summarizes up-to-date progress in each specific cell type and discusses prospects for future clinical application toward cell transplantation therapy.
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Alwahsh SM, Rashidi H, Hay DC. Liver cell therapy: is this the end of the beginning? Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:1307-1324. [PMID: 29181772 PMCID: PMC5852182 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2713-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of liver diseases is increasing globally. Orthotopic liver transplantation is widely used to treat liver disease upon organ failure. The complexity of this procedure and finite numbers of healthy organ donors have prompted research into alternative therapeutic options to treat liver disease. This includes the transplantation of liver cells to promote regeneration. While successful, the routine supply of good quality human liver cells is limited. Therefore, renewable and scalable sources of these cells are sought. Liver progenitor and pluripotent stem cells offer potential cell sources that could be used clinically. This review discusses recent approaches in liver cell transplantation and requirements to improve the process, with the ultimate goal being efficient organ regeneration. We also discuss the potential off-target effects of cell-based therapies, and the advantages and drawbacks of current pre-clinical animal models used to study organ senescence, repopulation and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salamah M Alwahsh
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.
| | - Hassan Rashidi
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - David C Hay
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.
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Kang K, Kim Y, Jeon H, Lee SB, Kim JS, Park SA, Kim WD, Yang HM, Kim SJ, Jeong J, Choi D. Three-Dimensional Bioprinting of Hepatic Structures with Directly Converted Hepatocyte-Like Cells. Tissue Eng Part A 2018; 24:576-583. [PMID: 28726547 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2017.0161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology is a promising new technology in the field of bioartificial organ generation with regard to overcoming the limitations of organ supply. The cell source for bioprinting is very important. Here, we generated 3D hepatic scaffold with mouse-induced hepatocyte-like cells (miHeps), and investigated whether their function was improved after transplantation in vivo. To generate miHeps, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were transformed with pMX retroviruses individually expressing hepatic transcription factors Hnf4a and Foxa3. After 8-10 days, MEFs formed rapidly growing hepatocyte-like colonies. For 3D bioprinting, miHeps were mixed with a 3% alginate hydrogel and extruded by nozzle pressure. After 7 days, they were transplanted into the omentum of Jo2-treated NOD Scid gamma (NSG) mice as a liver damage model. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence analyses were conducted to evaluate hepatic function. The 3D bioprinted hepatic scaffold (25 × 25 mm) expressed Albumin, and ASGR1 and HNF4a expression gradually increased for 28 days in vitro. When transplanted in vivo, the cells in the hepatic scaffold grew more and exhibited higher Albumin expression than in vitro scaffold. Therefore, combining 3D bioprinting with direct conversion technology appears to be an effective option for liver therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyojin Kang
- 1 Department of Translational Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering , Seongdong-gu, Korea.,2 Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.,3 HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University , Seoul, Korea
| | - Yohan Kim
- 1 Department of Translational Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering , Seongdong-gu, Korea.,2 Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.,3 HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University , Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyeryeon Jeon
- 2 Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.,3 HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University , Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung Bum Lee
- 4 Laboratory of Radiation Exposure and Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Science (KIRAMS) , Seoul, Korea
| | - Ji Sook Kim
- 5 Department of Pathology, Hanyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea
| | - Su A Park
- 6 Department of Nature-Inspired Nanoconvergence Systems, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials , Daejeon, Korea
| | - Wan Doo Kim
- 6 Department of Nature-Inspired Nanoconvergence Systems, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials , Daejeon, Korea
| | - Heung Mo Yang
- 7 Department of Surgery, Sungkunkwan University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung Joo Kim
- 7 Department of Surgery, Sungkunkwan University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaemin Jeong
- 2 Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.,3 HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University , Seoul, Korea
| | - Dongho Choi
- 1 Department of Translational Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering , Seongdong-gu, Korea.,2 Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.,3 HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University , Seoul, Korea
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Nakamori D, Akamine H, Takayama K, Sakurai F, Mizuguchi H. Direct conversion of human fibroblasts into hepatocyte-like cells by ATF5, PROX1, FOXA2, FOXA3, and HNF4A transduction. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16675. [PMID: 29192290 PMCID: PMC5709502 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16856-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, it has been reported that human hepatocyte-like cells can be generated from fibroblasts by direct reprogramming technology. However, the conversion efficiency of human induced hepatocyte-like cells (hiHeps) is not high enough. In addition, comparative analysis with the existing models of hepatocytes, such as human iPS cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells and primary human hepatocytes, has not been sufficiently carried out. In this study, we screened hepatic transcription factors for efficient direct hepatic reprogramming and compared hepatic functions between hiHeps and other existing hepatocyte models. We found that human fibroblasts were efficiently converted into hiHeps by using a combination of ATF5, PROX1, FOXA2, FOXA3, and HNF4A (albumin+/alpha-1 antitrypsin+ cells = 27%, asialoglycoprotein receptor 1+ cells = 22%). The CYP expression levels and CYP activities in hiHeps were higher than those in human iPS cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells, but lower than those in short-term (4 hr) cultured primary human hepatocytes and primary human hepatocytes collected immediately after thawing. These results suggested that functional hiHeps could be efficiently generated by ATF5, PROX1, FOXA2, FOXA3, and HNF4A transduction. We believe that hiHeps generated by our method will be useful for the drug-discovery activities such as hepatotoxicity screening and drug metabolism tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Nakamori
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroki Akamine
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kazuo Takayama
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.,Laboratory of Hepatocyte Regulation, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
| | - Fuminori Sakurai
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Laboratory of Regulatory Sciences for Oligonucleotide Therapeutics, Clinical Drug Development Project, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mizuguchi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. .,Laboratory of Hepatocyte Regulation, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan. .,Global Center for Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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Gao Y, Zhang X, Zhang L, Cen J, Ni X, Liao X, Yang C, Li Y, Chen X, Zhang Z, Shu Y, Cheng X, Hay DC, Lai D, Pan G, Wei G, Hui L. Distinct Gene Expression and Epigenetic Signatures in Hepatocyte-like Cells Produced by Different Strategies from the Same Donor. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 9:1813-1824. [PMID: 29173899 PMCID: PMC5785700 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) can be generated through directed differentiation or transdifferentiation. Employing two strategies, we generated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-HLCs and hiHeps from the same donor cell line. Both types of HLCs clustered distinctly from each other during gene expression profiling. In particular, differences existed in gene expression for phase II drug metabolism and lipid accumulation, underpinned by H3K27 acetylation status in iPSC-HLCs and hiHeps. While distinct phenotypes were achieved in vitro, both types of HLCs demonstrated similar phenotypes following transplantation into Fah-deficient mice. In conclusion, functional HLCs can be obtained from the same donor using two strategies. Global gene expression defined the differences between those populations in vitro. Importantly, both HLCs displayed partial but markedly improved hepatic function following transplantation in vivo, demonstrating plasticity and the potential for cell-based modeling in the dish and cell-based therapy in the future. hiHeps and iPSC-HLCs from the same donor are compared hiHeps and iPSC-HLCs show distinct expression patterns and hepatic functions Different expressions in hiHeps and iPSC-HLCs are partially attributed to H3K27ac Both HLCs are further matured in the in vivo microenvironment of livers
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimeng Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaoran Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ludi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jin Cen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xuan Ni
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiaoying Liao
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Chenxi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Bioengineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Ying Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaotao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yajing Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xin Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - David C Hay
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Dongmei Lai
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Guoyu Pan
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Gang Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Lijian Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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45
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Qin H, Zhao A, Fu X. Small molecules for reprogramming and transdifferentiation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:3553-3575. [PMID: 28698932 PMCID: PMC11107793 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2586-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Pluripotency reprogramming and transdifferentiation induced by transcription factors can generate induced pluripotent stem cells, adult stem cells or specialized cells. However, the induction efficiency and the reintroduction of exogenous genes limit their translation into clinical applications. Small molecules that target signaling pathways, epigenetic modifications, or metabolic processes can regulate cell development, cell fate, and function. In the recent decade, small molecules have been widely used in reprogramming and transdifferentiation fields, which can promote the induction efficiency, replace exogenous genes, or even induce cell fate conversion alone. Small molecules are expected as novel approaches to generate new cells from somatic cells in vitro and in vivo. Here, we will discuss the recent progress, new insights, and future challenges about the use of small molecules in cell fate conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Qin
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Andong Zhao
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Xiaobing Fu
- Key Laboratory of Wound Repair and Regeneration of PLA, The First Hospital Affiliated to the PLA General Hospital, 51 Fu Cheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100048, China.
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46
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Li CY, Lee S, Cade S, Kuo LJ, Schultz IR, Bhatt DK, Prasad B, Bammler TK, Cui JY. Novel Interactions between Gut Microbiome and Host Drug-Processing Genes Modify the Hepatic Metabolism of the Environmental Chemicals Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers. Drug Metab Dispos 2017; 45:1197-1214. [PMID: 28864748 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.117.077024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome is a novel frontier in xenobiotic metabolism. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), especially BDE-47 (2, 2', 4, 4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) and BDE-99 (2, 2', 4, 4',5-pentabromodiphenyl ether), are among the most abundant and persistent environmental contaminants that produce a variety of toxicities. Little is known about how the gut microbiome affects the hepatic metabolism of PBDEs and the PBDE-mediated regulation of drug-processing genes (DPGs) in vivo. The goal of this study was to determine the role of gut microbiome in modulating the hepatic biotransformation of PBDEs. Nine-week-old male C57BL/6J conventional (CV) or germ-free (GF) mice were treated with vehicle, BDE-47 or BDE-99 (100 μmol/kg) for 4 days. Following BDE-47 treatment, GF mice had higher levels of 5-OH-BDE-47 but lower levels of four other metabolites in liver than CV mice; whereas following BDE-99 treatment GF mice had lower levels of four minor metabolites in liver than CV mice. RNA sequencing demonstrated that the hepatic expression of DPGs was regulated by both PBDEs and enterotypes. Under basal conditions, the lack of gut microbiome upregulated the Cyp2c subfamily but downregulated the Cyp3a subfamily. Following PBDE exposure, certain DPGs were differentially regulated by PBDEs in a gut microbiome-dependent manner. Interestingly, the lack of gut microbiome augmented PBDE-mediated upregulation of many DPGs, such as Cyp1a2 and Cyp3a11 in mouse liver, which was further confirmed by targeted metabolomics. The lack of gut microbiome also augmented the Cyp3a enzyme activity in liver. In conclusion, our study has unveiled a novel interaction between gut microbiome and the hepatic biotransformation of PBDEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Yanfei Li
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (C.Y.L., S.L., T.K.B., J.Y.C.), and Department of Pharmaceutics (D.K.B., B.P.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington (S.C., L.-J.K., I.R.S.)
| | - Soowan Lee
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (C.Y.L., S.L., T.K.B., J.Y.C.), and Department of Pharmaceutics (D.K.B., B.P.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington (S.C., L.-J.K., I.R.S.)
| | - Sara Cade
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (C.Y.L., S.L., T.K.B., J.Y.C.), and Department of Pharmaceutics (D.K.B., B.P.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington (S.C., L.-J.K., I.R.S.)
| | - Li-Jung Kuo
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (C.Y.L., S.L., T.K.B., J.Y.C.), and Department of Pharmaceutics (D.K.B., B.P.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington (S.C., L.-J.K., I.R.S.)
| | - Irvin R Schultz
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (C.Y.L., S.L., T.K.B., J.Y.C.), and Department of Pharmaceutics (D.K.B., B.P.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington (S.C., L.-J.K., I.R.S.)
| | - Deepak K Bhatt
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (C.Y.L., S.L., T.K.B., J.Y.C.), and Department of Pharmaceutics (D.K.B., B.P.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington (S.C., L.-J.K., I.R.S.)
| | - Bhagwat Prasad
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (C.Y.L., S.L., T.K.B., J.Y.C.), and Department of Pharmaceutics (D.K.B., B.P.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington (S.C., L.-J.K., I.R.S.)
| | - Theo K Bammler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (C.Y.L., S.L., T.K.B., J.Y.C.), and Department of Pharmaceutics (D.K.B., B.P.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington (S.C., L.-J.K., I.R.S.)
| | - Julia Yue Cui
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (C.Y.L., S.L., T.K.B., J.Y.C.), and Department of Pharmaceutics (D.K.B., B.P.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington (S.C., L.-J.K., I.R.S.)
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47
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Guo R, Tang W, Yuan Q, Hui L, Wang X, Xie X. Chemical Cocktails Enable Hepatic Reprogramming of Mouse Fibroblasts with a Single Transcription Factor. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 9:499-512. [PMID: 28757167 PMCID: PMC5550014 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 06/25/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver or hepatocytes transplantation is limited by the availability of donor organs. Functional hepatocytes independent of the donor sources may have wide applications in regenerative medicine and the drug industry. Recent studies have demonstrated that chemical cocktails may induce reprogramming of fibroblasts into a range of functional somatic cells. Here, we show that mouse fibroblasts can be transdifferentiated into the hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) using only one transcription factor (TF) (Foxa1, Foxa2, or Foxa3) plus a chemical cocktail. These iHeps show typical epithelial morphology, express multiple hepatocyte-specific genes, and acquire hepatocyte functions. Genetic lineage tracing confirms the fibroblast origin of these iHeps. More interestingly, these iHeps are expandable in vitro and can reconstitute the damaged hepatic tissues of the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase-deficient (Fah−/−) mice. Our study provides a strategy to generate functional hepatocyte-like cells by using a single TF plus a chemical cocktail and is one step closer to generate the full-chemical iHeps. Fibroblasts are converted to iHeps using only one TF plus a chemical cocktail Genetic lineage tracing confirms the fibroblast origin of these iHeps The iHeps are expendable and functional both in vitro and in vivo
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren Guo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 189 Guo Shou Jing Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Tang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Laboratory of Receptor-based Bio-medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Qianting Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 189 Guo Shou Jing Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lijian Hui
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy for Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, 200031 Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of National Education, Ministry for Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Biotechnology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Xin Xie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 189 Guo Shou Jing Road, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Laboratory of Receptor-based Bio-medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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48
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Kawamata M, Suzuki A. Cell fate modification toward the hepatic lineage by extrinsic factors. J Biochem 2017; 162:11-16. [DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvx028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
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49
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Abstract
Reprogramming cell fates towards pluripotent stem cells and other cell types has revolutionized our understanding of cellular plasticity. During the last decade, transcription factors and microRNAs have become powerful reprogramming factors for modulating cell fates. Recently, many efforts are focused on reprogramming cell fates by non-viral and non-integrating chemical approaches. Small molecules not only are useful in generating desired cell types in vitro for various applications, such as disease modeling and cell-based transplantation, but also hold great promise to be further developed as drugs to stimulate patients’ endogenous cells to repair and regenerate in vivo. Here we will focus on chemical approaches for generating induced pluripotent stem cells, neurons, cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes and pancreatic β cells. Significantly, the rapid and exciting advances in cellular reprogramming by small molecules will help us to achieve the long-term goal of curing devastating diseases, injuries, cancers and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Ma
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Linghao Kong
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Saiyong Zhu
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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50
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Gérard C, Tys J, Lemaigre FP. Gene regulatory networks in differentiation and direct reprogramming of hepatic cells. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 66:43-50. [PMID: 27979774 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liver development proceeds by sequential steps during which gene regulatory networks (GRNs) determine differentiation and maturation of hepatic cells. Characterizing the architecture and dynamics of these networks is essential for understanding how cell fate decisions are made during development, and for recapitulating these processes during in vitro production of liver cells for toxicology studies, disease modelling and regenerative therapy. Here we review the GRNs that control key steps of liver development and lead to differentiation of hepatocytes and cholangiocytes in mammals. We focus on GRNs determining cell fate decisions and analyse subcircuitry motifs that may confer specific dynamic properties to the networks. Finally, we put our analysis in the perspective of recent attempts to directly reprogram cells to hepatocytes by forced expression of transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Gérard
- Université catholique de Louvain, de Duve Institute, Avenue Hippocrate 75, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Janne Tys
- Université catholique de Louvain, de Duve Institute, Avenue Hippocrate 75, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Frédéric P Lemaigre
- Université catholique de Louvain, de Duve Institute, Avenue Hippocrate 75, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
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