1
|
Ran R, Muñoz Briones J, Jena S, Anderson NL, Olson MR, Green LN, Brubaker DK. Detailed survey of an in vitro intestinal epithelium model by single-cell transcriptomics. iScience 2024; 27:109383. [PMID: 38523788 PMCID: PMC10959667 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The co-culture of two adult human colorectal cancer cell lines, Caco-2 and HT29, on Transwell is commonly used as an in vitro gut mimic, yet the translatability of insights from such a system to adult human physiological contexts is not fully characterized. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing on the co-culture to obtain a detailed survey of cell type heterogeneity in the system and conducted a holistic comparison with human physiology. We identified the intestinal stem cell-, transit amplifying-, enterocyte-, goblet cell-, and enteroendocrine-like cells in the system. In general, the co-culture was fetal intestine-like, with less variety of gene expression compared to the adult human gut. Transporters for major types of nutrients were found in the majority of the enterocytes-like cells in the system. TLR 4 was not expressed in the sample, indicating that the co-culture model is incapable of mimicking the innate immune aspect of the human epithelium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ran Ran
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Javier Muñoz Briones
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Purdue Interdisciplinary Life Science Program, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Smrutiti Jena
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Nicole L. Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Matthew R. Olson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Leopold N. Green
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Douglas K. Brubaker
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- The Blood, Heart, Lung, and Immunology Research Center, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shin JH, Park J, Lim J, Jeong J, Dinesh RK, Maher SE, Hong JY, Wysolmerski J, Choi J, Bothwell ALM. Metastasis of colon cancer requires Dickkopf-2 to generate cancer cells with Paneth cell properties. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.12.589235. [PMID: 38659853 PMCID: PMC11042192 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.12.589235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Paneth cells provide stem cell niche factors in homeostatic conditions, but the underlying mechanisms of cancer stem cell niche development are unclear. Here we report that Dickkopf-2 (DKK2) is essential for the generation of cancer cells with Paneth cell properties during colon cancer metastasis. Splenic injection of Dkk2-knockout (KO) cancer organoids into C57BL/6 mice resulted in a significant reduction of liver metastases. Transcriptome analysis showed reduction of Paneth cell markers such as lysozymes in KO organoids. Single cell RNA sequencing analyses of murine metastasized colon cancer cells and patient samples identified the presence of lysozyme positive cells with Paneth cell properties including enhanced glycolysis. Further analyses of transcriptome and chromatin accessibility suggested Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha (HNF4A) as a downstream target of DKK2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing analysis revealed that HNF4A binds to the promoter region of Sox9, a well-known transcription factor for Paneth cell differentiation. In the liver metastatic foci, DKK2 knockout rescued HNF4A protein levels followed by reduction of lysozyme positive cancer cells. Taken together, DKK2-mediated reduction of HNF4A protein promotes the generation of lysozyme positive cancer cells with Paneth cell properties in the metastasized colon cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hun Shin
- Integrative Science and Engineering Division, Underwood International College, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Korea
| | - Jooyoung Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Jaechul Lim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jaekwang Jeong
- Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, U.S
| | - Ravi K. Dinesh
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, U.S
| | - Stephen E. Maher
- Department of Urology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, U.S
| | - Jun Young Hong
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - John Wysolmerski
- Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, U.S
| | - Jungmin Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Alfred L. M. Bothwell
- Dept. of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 505 S. 45 Street., Omaha, NE 68198, U.S
- Dept. of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, U.S
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Burclaff J. Transcriptional regulation of metabolism in the intestinal epithelium. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2023; 325:G501-G507. [PMID: 37786942 PMCID: PMC10894668 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00147.2023] [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] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial metabolism in the intestine is increasingly known to be important for stem cell maintenance and activity while also affecting weight gain and diseases. This review compiles studies from recent years which describe major transcription factors controlling metabolic activity across the intestinal epithelium as well as transcriptional and epigenetic networks controlling the factors themselves. Recent studies show that transcriptional regulators serve as the link between signals from the microbiota and diet and epithelial metabolism. Studies have advanced this paradigm to identify druggable targets to block weight gain or disease progression in mice. As such, there is great potential that a better understanding of these regulatory networks will improve our knowledge of intestinal physiology and promote discoveries to benefit human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Burclaff
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kelly C, Jawahar J, Davey L, Everitt JI, Galanko JA, Anderson C, Avendano JE, McCann JR, Sartor RB, Valdivia RH, Rawls JF. Spontaneous episodic inflammation in the intestines of mice lacking HNF4A is driven by microbiota and associated with early life microbiota alterations. mBio 2023; 14:e0150423. [PMID: 37526424 PMCID: PMC10470520 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01504-23] [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: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) occur in genetically susceptible individuals who mount inappropriate immune responses to their microbiota leading to chronic intestinal inflammation. Whereas IBD clinical presentation is well described, how interactions between microbiota and host genotype impact early subclinical stages of the disease remains unclear. The transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4A) has been associated with human IBD, and deletion of Hnf4a in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in mice (Hnf4aΔIEC) leads to spontaneous colonic inflammation by 6-12 mo of age. Here, we tested if pathology in Hnf4aΔIEC mice begins earlier in life and if microbiota contribute to that process. Longitudinal analysis revealed that Hnf4aΔIEC mice reared in specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions develop episodic elevated fecal lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) and loose stools beginning by 4-5 wk of age. Lifetime cumulative Lcn2 levels correlated with histopathological features of colitis at 12 mo. Antibiotic and gnotobiotic tests showed that these phenotypes in Hnf4aΔIEC mice were dependent on microbiota. Fecal 16S rRNA gene sequencing in SPF Hnf4aΔIEC and control mice disclosed that genotype significantly contributed to differences in microbiota composition by 12 mo, and longitudinal analysis of the Hnf4aΔIEC mice with the highest lifetime cumulative Lcn2 revealed that microbial community differences emerged early in life when elevated fecal Lcn2 was first detected. These microbiota differences included enrichment of a novel phylogroup of Akkermansia muciniphila in Hnf4aΔIEC mice. We conclude that HNF4A functions in IEC to shape composition of the gut microbiota and protect against episodic inflammation induced by microbiota throughout the lifespan. IMPORTANCE The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestine, affect millions of people around the world. Although significant advances have been made in the clinical management of IBD, the early subclinical stages of IBD are not well defined and are difficult to study in humans. This work explores the subclinical stages of disease in mice lacking the IBD-associated transcription factor HNF4A in the intestinal epithelium. Whereas these mice do not develop overt disease until late in adulthood, we find that they display episodic intestinal inflammation, loose stools, and microbiota changes beginning in very early life stages. Using germ-free and antibiotic-treatment experiments, we reveal that intestinal inflammation in these mice was dependent on the presence of microbiota. These results suggest that interactions between host genotype and microbiota can drive early subclinical pathologies that precede the overt onset of IBD and describe a mouse model to explore those important processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecelia Kelly
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke Microbiome Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jayanth Jawahar
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke Microbiome Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren Davey
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke Microbiome Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jeffrey I. Everitt
- Department of Pathology, Research Animal Pathology Core, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joseph A. Galanko
- Department of Medicine, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chelsea Anderson
- Department of Medicine, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jonathan E. Avendano
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke Microbiome Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jessica R. McCann
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke Microbiome Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - R. Balfour Sartor
- Department of Medicine, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Raphael H. Valdivia
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke Microbiome Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - John F. Rawls
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke Microbiome Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Vemuri K, Radi SH, Sladek FM, Verzi MP. Multiple roles and regulatory mechanisms of the transcription factor HNF4 in the intestine. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1232569. [PMID: 37635981 PMCID: PMC10450339 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1232569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha (HNF4α) drives a complex array of transcriptional programs across multiple organs. Beyond its previously documented function in the liver, HNF4α has crucial roles in the kidney, intestine, and pancreas. In the intestine, a multitude of functions have been attributed to HNF4 and its accessory transcription factors, including but not limited to, intestinal maturation, differentiation, regeneration, and stem cell renewal. Functional redundancy between HNF4α and its intestine-restricted paralog HNF4γ, and co-regulation with other transcription factors drive these functions. Dysregulated expression of HNF4 results in a wide range of disease manifestations, including the development of a chronic inflammatory state in the intestine. In this review, we focus on the multiple molecular mechanisms of HNF4 in the intestine and explore translational opportunities. We aim to introduce new perspectives in understanding intestinal genetics and the complexity of gastrointestinal disorders through the lens of HNF4 transcription factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiranmayi Vemuri
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Sarah H. Radi
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Frances M. Sladek
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Michael P. Verzi
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ansari I, Solé-Boldo L, Ridnik M, Gutekunst J, Gilliam O, Korshko M, Liwinski T, Jickeli B, Weinberg-Corem N, Shoshkes-Carmel M, Pikarsky E, Elinav E, Lyko F, Bergman Y. TET2 and TET3 loss disrupts small intestine differentiation and homeostasis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4005. [PMID: 37414790 PMCID: PMC10326054 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39512-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
TET2/3 play a well-known role in epigenetic regulation and mouse development. However, their function in cellular differentiation and tissue homeostasis remains poorly understood. Here we show that ablation of TET2/3 in intestinal epithelial cells results in a murine phenotype characterized by a severe homeostasis imbalance in the small intestine. Tet2/3-deleted mice show a pronounced loss of mature Paneth cells as well as fewer Tuft and more Enteroendocrine cells. Further results show major changes in DNA methylation at putative enhancers, which are associated with cell fate-determining transcription factors and functional effector genes. Notably, pharmacological inhibition of DNA methylation partially rescues the methylation and cellular defects. TET2/3 loss also alters the microbiome, predisposing the intestine to inflammation under homeostatic conditions and acute inflammation-induced death. Together, our results uncover previously unrecognized critical roles for DNA demethylation, possibly occurring subsequently to chromatin opening during intestinal development, culminating in the establishment of normal intestinal crypts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ihab Ansari
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Llorenç Solé-Boldo
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Meshi Ridnik
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Julian Gutekunst
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Gilliam
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Korshko
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Timur Liwinski
- Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Birgit Jickeli
- Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noa Weinberg-Corem
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michal Shoshkes-Carmel
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eli Pikarsky
- The Lautenberg Center for Immunology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eran Elinav
- Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Division of Microbiome and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yehudit Bergman
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Complexification of In Vitro Models of Intestinal Barriers, A True Challenge for a More Accurate Alternative Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043595. [PMID: 36835003 PMCID: PMC9958734 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of cell models is common to mimic cellular and molecular events in interaction with their environment. In the case of the gut, the existing models are of particular interest to evaluate food, toxicants, or drug effects on the mucosa. To have the most accurate model, cell diversity and the complexity of the interactions must be considered. Existing models range from single-cell cultures of absorptive cells to more complex combinations of two or more cell types. This work describes the existing solutions and the challenges that remain to be solved.
Collapse
|