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Tam PKH, Wells RG, Tang CSM, Lui VCH, Hukkinen M, Luque CD, De Coppi P, Mack CL, Pakarinen M, Davenport M. Biliary atresia. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2024; 10:47. [PMID: 38992031 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-024-00533-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive inflammatory fibrosclerosing disease of the biliary system and a major cause of neonatal cholestasis. It affects 1:5,000-20,000 live births, with the highest incidence in Asia. The pathogenesis is still unknown, but emerging research suggests a role for ciliary dysfunction, redox stress and hypoxia. The study of the underlying mechanisms can be conceptualized along the likely prenatal timing of an initial insult and the distinction between the injury and prenatal and postnatal responses to injury. Although still speculative, these emerging concepts, new diagnostic tools and early diagnosis might enable neoadjuvant therapy (possibly aimed at oxidative stress) before a Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE). This is particularly important, as timely KPE restores bile flow in only 50-75% of patients of whom many subsequently develop cholangitis, portal hypertension and progressive fibrosis; 60-75% of patients require liver transplantation by the age of 18 years. Early diagnosis, multidisciplinary management, centralization of surgery and optimized interventions for complications after KPE lead to better survival. Postoperative corticosteroid use has shown benefits, whereas the role of other adjuvant therapies remains to be evaluated. Continued research to better understand disease mechanisms is necessary to develop innovative treatments, including adjuvant therapies targeting the immune response, regenerative medicine approaches and new clinical tests to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul K H Tam
- Medical Sciences Division, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China.
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Rebecca G Wells
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Clara S M Tang
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Vincent C H Lui
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Maria Hukkinen
- Section of Paediatric Surgery, Paediatric Liver and Gut Research Group, New Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Carlos D Luque
- Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paolo De Coppi
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust and Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Cara L Mack
- Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Mikko Pakarinen
- Section of Paediatric Surgery, Paediatric Liver and Gut Research Group, New Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mark Davenport
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, King's College Hospital, London, UK
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de Jong IEM, Wells RG. In Utero Extrahepatic Bile Duct Damage and Repair: Implications for Biliary Atresia. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2024; 27:291-310. [PMID: 38762769 PMCID: PMC11340255 DOI: 10.1177/10935266241247479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Biliary atresia (BA) is a cholangiopathy affecting the extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) of newborns. The etiology and pathophysiology of BA are not fully understood; however, multiple causes of damage and obstruction of the neonatal EHBD have been identified. Initial damage to the EHBD likely occurs before birth. We discuss how different developmental stages in utero and birth itself could influence the susceptibility of the fetal EHBD to damage and a damaging wound-healing response. We propose that a damage-repair response of the fetal and neonatal EHBD involving redox stress and a program of fetal wound healing could-regardless of the cause of the initial damage-lead to either obstruction and BA or repair of the duct and recovery. This overarching concept should guide future research targeted toward identification of factors that contribute to recovery as opposed to progression of injury and fibrosis. Viewing BA through the lens of an in utero damage-repair response could open up new avenues for research and suggests exciting new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris E. M. de Jong
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca G. Wells
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Okumura A, Aoshima K, Tanimizu N. Generation of in vivo-like multicellular liver organoids by mimicking developmental processes: A review. Regen Ther 2024; 26:219-234. [PMID: 38903867 PMCID: PMC11186971 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2024.05.020] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver is involved in metabolic reactions, ammonia detoxification, and immunity. Multicellular liver tissue cultures are more desirable for drug screening, disease modeling, and researching transplantation therapy, than hepatocytes monocultures. Hepatocytes monocultures are not stable for long. Further, hepatocyte-like cells induced from pluripotent stem cells and in vivo hepatocytes are functionally dissimilar. Organoid technology circumvents these issues by generating functional ex vivo liver tissue from intrinsic liver progenitor cells and extrinsic stem cells, including pluripotent stem cells. To function as in vivo liver tissue, the liver organoid cells must be arranged precisely in the 3-dimensional space, closely mimicking in vivo liver tissue. Moreover, for long term functioning, liver organoids must be appropriately vascularized and in contact with neighboring epithelial tissues (e.g., bile canaliculi and intrahepatic bile duct, or intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts). Recent discoveries in liver developmental biology allows one to successfully induce liver component cells and generate organoids. Thus, here, in this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on liver development with a focus on its application in generating different liver organoids. We also cover the future prospects in creating (functionally and structurally) in vivo-like liver organoids using the current knowledge on liver development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumu Okumura
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0071, Japan
| | - Kenji Aoshima
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0071, Japan
| | - Naoki Tanimizu
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0071, Japan
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Singh S, Budiman T, Redmond D, Gupta V. Modulation of canonical Wnt signaling regulates peribiliary mesenchymal identity during homeostasis and injury. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0368. [PMID: 38251878 PMCID: PMC10805418 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The matrix and associated mesenchyme of the extrahepatic bile ducts are distinct, which could drive diseases with a predilection for these ducts, such as primary sclerosing cholangitis. We aimed to understand the molecular drivers of peribiliary mesenchymal cell (PMC) identity in the extrahepatic bile ducts and dissect how this changed in the context of injury using an entirely in vivo approach with transcriptomic analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS Single-cell sequencing with a receptor-ligand analysis showed that PMCs had the most interactions with surrounding cells. Wnt4, Wnt5a, and Wnt7b were identified as the major ligands secreted from PMCs and cholangiocytes that interacted in both paracrine and autocrine fashion. Bile duct ligation caused an increase in all 3 Wingless/Integrated ligands and Axin2 with an associated increase in the transcription factors T-box transcription factor (Tbx)2 and Tbx3. Conversely, Indian hedgehog secretion decreased without an associated decrease in hedgehog signaling effectors. Loss of smoothened within PMCs did not impact hedgehog signaling effectors or cellular identity, whereas smoothened gain of function led to myofibroblast transdifferentiation with upregulation of Tbx2 and Tbx3 without injury. Loss of β-catenin caused a decrease in expression of all 3 Gli transcription factors and associated mesenchymal gene expression, which was phenocopied with compound Gli2 and Gli3 loss in uninjured PMCs. With injury, loss of β-catenin resulted in decreased myofibroblast transdifferentiation with reduced Tbx2 and Tbx3 expression. CONCLUSIONS Our results show how modulation of canonical Wingless/Integrated signaling in PMCs is important for regulating basal mesenchymal gene expression and initiating a myogenic gene transcriptional program during injury. They also highlight reciprocating interactions between the hedgehog and Wingless/Integrated signaling pathways within PMCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serrena Singh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Tifanny Budiman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - David Redmond
- Department of Medicine, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vikas Gupta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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