Transdifferentiation via transcription factors or microRNAs: Current status and perspective

Modelling neurocardiac physiology and diseases using human pluripotent stem cells: current progress and future prospects

Throughout our lifetime the heart executes cycles of contraction and relaxation to meet the body's ever-changing metabolic needs. This vital function is continuously regulated by the autonomic nervous system. Cardiovascular dysfunction and autonomic dysregulation are also closely associated; however, the degrees of cause and effect are not always readily discernible. Thus, to better understand cardiovascular disorders, it is crucial to develop model systems that can be used to study the neurocardiac interaction in healthy and diseased states. Human pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology offers a unique human-based modelling system that allows for studies of disease effects on the cells of the heart and autonomic neurons as well as of their interaction. In this review, we summarize current understanding of the embryonic development of the autonomic, cardiac and neurocardiac systems, their regulation, as well as recent progress of in vitro modelling systems based on hiPSCs. We further discuss the advantages and limitations of hiPSC-based models in neurocardiac research.

Cellular Transdifferentiation: A Crucial Mechanism of Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology with a highly complex pathogenesis that despite extensive investigation is not completely understood. The clinical and pathologic manifestations of the disease result from three distinct processes: 1) Severe and frequently progressive tissue fibrosis causing exaggerated and deleterious accumulation of interstitial collagens and other extracellular matrix molecules in the skin and various internal organs; 2) extensive fibroproliferative vascular lesions affecting small arteries and arterioles causing tissue ischemic alterations; and 3) cellular and humoral immunity abnormalities with the production of numerous autoantibodies, some with very high specificity for SSc. The fibrotic process in SSc is one of the main causes of disability and high mortality of the disease. Owing to its essentially universal presence and the severity of its clinical effects, the mechanisms involved in the development and progression of tissue fibrosis have been extensively investigated, however, despite intensive investigation, the precise molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Several recent studies have suggested that cellular transdifferentiation resulting in the phenotypic conversion of various cell types into activated myofibroblasts may be one important mechanism. Here, we review the potential role that cellular transdifferentiation may play in the development of severe and often progressive tissue fibrosis in SSc.

Comparison of the effectiveness of zero-profile device and plate cage construct in the treatment of one-level cervical disc degenerative disease combined with moderate to severe paraspinal muscle degeneration

Objective

Recent evidence indicates that cervical paraspinal muscle degeneration (PMD) is a prevalent and age-related condition in patients with cervical disc degenerative disease (CDDD). However, the relationship between surgery selection and post-operative outcomes in this population remains unclear. Consequently, this study aims to investigate the disparities in clinical outcomes, radiological findings, and complications between two frequently utilized anterior cervical surgical procedures. The objective is to offer guidance for the management of PMD in conjunction with CDDD.

Methods

A total of 140 patients who underwent single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at our department were included in this study. The patients were divided into three groups based on the severity of PMD: mild (n=40), moderate (n=54), and severe (n=46), as determined by Goutalier fat infiltration grade. The subjects of interest were those with moderate-severe PMD, and their clinical outcomes, radiological parameters, and complications were compared between those who received a stand-alone zero-profile anchored cage (PREVAIL) and those who received a plate-cage construct (PCC).

Results

The JOA, NDI, and VAS scores exhibited significant improvement at all postoperative intervals when compared to baseline, and there were no discernible differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups. While the PCC group demonstrated more pronounced enhancements and maintenance of several sagittal alignment parameters, such as the C2-7 angle, FSU angle, C2-7 SVA, and T1 slope, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. The incidence of dysphagia in the zero-profile group was 22.41% at one week, which subsequently decreased to 13.79% at three months and 3.45% at the final follow-up. In contrast, the plate cage group exhibited a higher incidence of dysphagia, with rates of 47.62% at one week, 33.33% at three months, and 11.90% at the final follow-up. Notably, there were significant differences in the incidence of dysphagia between the two groups within the first three months. However, the fusion rate, occurrence of implant subsidence, and adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) were comparable at the final follow-up.

Conclusion

For patients with one-level cervical disc degenerative disease combined with paraspinal muscle degeneration, both the zero-profile technique and PCC have demonstrated efficacy in ameliorating clinical symptoms and maintaining the postoperative sagittal balance. Although no significant disparities were observed between these two technologies in terms of complications such as adjacent segment degeneration and implant subsidence, the zero-profile technique exhibited superior performance over PCC in relation to dysphagia during the early stages of postoperative recovery. To validate these findings, studies with longer follow-up periods and evaluations of multilevel cervical muscles are warranted.

Isolation and Culture of Non-adherent Cells for Cell Reprogramming

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of death globally, while its current management is limited to reducing the myocardial infarction area without actually replacing dead cardiomyocytes. Direct cell reprogramming is a method of cellular cardiomyoplasty which aims for myocardial tissue regeneration, and CD34⁺ cells are one of the potential sources due to their shared embryonic origin with cardiomyocytes. However, the isolation and culture of non-adherent CD34⁺ cells is crucial to obtain adequate cells for high-efficiency genetic modification. This study aimed to investigate the optimal method for isolation and culture of CD34⁺ peripheral blood cells using certain culture media. A peripheral blood sample was obtained from a healthy subject and underwent pre-enrichment, isolation, and expansion. The culture was subsequently observed for their viability, adherence, and confluence. Day 0 observation of the culture showed a healthy CD34⁺ cell with a round cell shape, without any adherent cells present yet. Day 4 of observation showed that CD34⁺ cells within the blood plasma medium became adherent, indicated by their transformations into spindle or oval morphologies. Meanwhile, CD34⁺ cells in vitronectin and fibronectin media showed no adherent cells and many of them died. Day 7 observation revealed more adherent CD34⁺ cells in blood plasma medium, and which had 75% of confluence. In conclusion, the CD34⁺ cells that were isolated using a combination of density and magnetic methods may be viable and adequately adhere in culture using blood plasma medium, but not in cultures using fibronectin and vitronectin.

Targeting of cancer stem cells by differentiation therapy

Chemoresistance is a hallmark of cancer stem cells (CSCs). To develop novel therapeutic strategies that target CSCs, we established osteosarcoma-initiating (OSi) cells by introducing the c-Myc gene into bone marrow stromal cells derived from Ink4a/Arf KO mice. These OSi cells include bipotent committed cells (similar to osteochondral progenitor cells) with a high tumorigenic activity as well as tripotent cells (similar to mesenchymal stem cells) of low tumorigenicity. We recently showed that the tripotent OSi cells are highly resistant to chemotherapeutic agents, and that depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton in these cells induces their terminal adipocyte differentiation and suppresses their tumorigenicity. We here provide an overview of modulation of actin cytoskeleton dynamics associated with terminal adipocyte differentiation in osteosarcoma as well as discuss the prospects for new therapeutic strategies that target chemoresistant CSCs by inducing their differentiation.

Exploring the role of microRNAs in axolotl regeneration

The axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is used extensively for research in developmental biology, particularly for its ability to regenerate and restore lost organs, including in the nervous system, to full functionality. Regeneration in mammals typically depends on the healing process and scar formation with limited replacement of lost tissue. Other organisms, such as spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus), salamanders, and zebrafish, are able to regenerate some damaged body components. Blastema is a tissue that is formed after tissue injury in such organisms and is composed of progenitor cells or dedifferentiated cells that differentiate into various cell types during regeneration. Thus, identifying the molecules responsible for initiation of blastema formation is an important aspect for understanding regeneration. Introns, a major source of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), have characteristic sizes in the axolotl, particularly in genes associated with development. These ncRNAs, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), exhibit dynamic regulation during regeneration. These miRNAs play an essential role in timing and control of gene expression to order and organize processes necessary for blastema creation. Master keys or molecules that underlie the remarkable regenerative abilities of the axolotl remain to be fully explored and exploited. Further and ongoing research on regeneration promises new knowledge that may allow improved repair and renewal of human tissues.

Comparison of LncRNA Expression Profiles during Myogenic Differentiation and Adipogenic Transdifferentiation of Myoblasts

Myoblasts could transdifferentiate into adipocytes or adipocyte-like cells, which have the capability of producing and storing intracellular lipids. Long-chain non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have many important physiological functions in eukaryotes, which include regulating gene expression, chromosome silencing, and nuclear transport. However, changes in the expression of lncRNAs in muscle cells during adipogenic transdifferentiation have not been investigated to date. Here, C2C12 myoblasts were seeded and then induced to undergo myogenic and adipogenic transdifferentiation. The expression profiles of lncRNAs in various differentiated cells were analyzed and then compared by digital gene expression (DGE) RNA sequencing. A total of 114 core lncRNAs from 836 differentially expressed lncRNAs in adipogenic cells were identified. Further investigation by in silico analysis revealed that the target genes of core lncRNAs significantly enriched various signaling pathways that were related to glucose and lipid metabolism and muscle growth. The lncRNA-GM43652 gene was a potential regulator of adipogenesis in muscle cells. It showed the highest levels of expression in adipogenic cells, and the knocking down lncRNA-GM43652 negatively influenced lipid deposition in transdifferentiated myoblasts. This study has identified the novel candidate regulators that may be assessed in future molecular studies on adipogenic conversion of muscle cells.

Pink Adipocytes

Adipocytes are lipid-rich parenchymal cells contained in a very plastic organ, whose composition can undergo striking physiologic changes. In standard conditions the organ contains white and brown adipocytes which play opposite roles: lipid storage to meet metabolic requirements and lipid burning for thermogenesis, respectively. During chronic cold exposure, white adipocytes transdifferentiate to brown, to increase thermogenesis, whereas in conditions of chronic positive energy balance brown adipocytes transdifferentiate to white, to increase energy stores. During pregnancy, lactation, and post-lactation, subcutaneous white adipocytes convert to milk-producing glands formed by lipid-rich elements that can be defined as pink adipocytes. Recent fate-mapping data support the conversion of pink to brown adipocytes and the reversible conversion of brown adipocytes to myoepithelial cells of alveoli.

Hematopoietic stem cells from induced pluripotent stem cells - considering the role of microRNA as a cell differentiation regulator

Although hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapy for hematological diseases can lead to a good outcome from the clinical point of view, the limited number of ideal donors, the comorbidity of patients and the increasing number of elderly patients may limit the application of this therapy. HSCs can be generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which requires the understanding of the bone marrow and liver niches components and function in vivo iPSCs have been extensively applied in several studies involving disease models, drug screening and cellular replacement therapies. However, the somatic reprogramming by transcription factors is a low-efficiency process. Moreover, the reprogramming process is also regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs), which modulate the expression of the transcription factors OCT-4 (also known as POU5F1), SOX-2, KLF-4 and MYC, leading somatic cells to a pluripotent state. In this Review, we present an overview of the challenges of cell reprogramming protocols with regard to HSC generation from iPSCs, and highlight the potential role of miRNAs in cell reprogramming and in the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells.

Expression of the RNA-binding protein RBP10 promotes the bloodstream-form differentiation state in Trypanosoma brucei

In nearly all eukaryotes, cellular differentiation is governed by changes in transcription, and stabilized by chromatin and DNA modification. Gene expression control in the pathogen Trypanosoma brucei, in contrast, relies almost exclusively on post-transcriptional mechanisms, so RNA binding proteins must assume the burden that is usually borne by transcription factors. T. brucei multiply in the blood of mammals as bloodstream forms, and in the midgut of Tsetse flies as procyclic forms. We show here that a single RNA-binding protein, RBP10, promotes the bloodstream-form trypanosome differentiation state. Depletion of RBP10 from bloodstream-form trypanosomes gives cells that can grow only as procyclic forms; conversely, expression of RBP10 in procyclic forms converts them to bloodstream forms. RBP10 binds to procyclic-specific mRNAs containing an UAUUUUUU motif, targeting them for translation repression and destruction. Products of RBP10 target mRNAs include not only the major procyclic surface protein and enzymes of energy metabolism, but also protein kinases and stage-specific RNA-binding proteins: this suggests that alterations in RBP10 trigger a regulatory cascade.

Induction of functional dopamine neurons from human astrocytes in vitro and mouse astrocytes in a Parkinson's disease model

Cell replacement therapies for neurodegenerative disease have focused on transplantation of the cell types affected by the pathological process. Here we describe an alternative strategy for Parkinson's disease in which dopamine neurons are generated by direct conversion of astrocytes. Using three transcription factors, NEUROD1, ASCL1 and LMX1A, and the microRNA miR218, collectively designated NeAL218, we reprogram human astrocytes in vitro, and mouse astrocytes in vivo, into induced dopamine neurons (iDANs). Reprogramming efficiency in vitro is improved by small molecules that promote chromatin remodeling and activate the TGFβ, Shh and Wnt signaling pathways. The reprogramming efficiency of human astrocytes reaches up to 16%, resulting in iDANs with appropriate midbrain markers and excitability. In a mouse model of Parkinson's disease, NeAL218 alone reprograms adult striatal astrocytes into iDANs that are excitable and correct some aspects of motor behavior in vivo, including gait impairments. With further optimization, this approach may enable clinical therapies for Parkinson's disease by delivery of genes rather than cells.

Synthetic Biology in Cell and Organ Transplantation

The transplantation of cells and organs has an extensive history, with blood transfusion and skin grafts described as some of the earliest medical interventions. The speed and efficiency of the human immune system evolved to rapidly recognize and remove pathogens; the human immune system also serves as a barrier against the transplant of cells and organs from even highly related donors. Although this shows the remarkable effectiveness of the immune system, the engineering of cells and organs that will survive in a host patient over the long term remains a steep challenge. Progress in the understanding of host immune responses to donor cells and organs, combined with the rapid advancement in synthetic biology applications, allows the rational engineering of more effective solutions for transplantation.

Induced pluripotent stem cell technology: a decade of progress

Since the advent of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology a decade ago, enormous progress has been made in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Human iPSCs have been widely used for disease modelling, drug discovery and cell therapy development. Novel pathological mechanisms have been elucidated, new drugs originating from iPSC screens are in the pipeline and the first clinical trial using human iPSC-derived products has been initiated. In particular, the combination of human iPSC technology with recent developments in gene editing and 3D organoids makes iPSC-based platforms even more powerful in each area of their application, including precision medicine. In this Review, we discuss the progress in applications of iPSC technology that are particularly relevant to drug discovery and regenerative medicine, and consider the remaining challenges and the emerging opportunities in the field.