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Yoshimaru K, Matsuura T, Uchida Y, Sonoda S, Maeda S, Kajihara K, Kawano Y, Shirai T, Toriigahara Y, Kalim AS, Zhang XY, Takahashi Y, Kawakubo N, Nagata K, Yamaza H, Yamaza T, Taguchi T, Tajiri T. Cutting-edge regenerative therapy for Hirschsprung disease and its allied disorders. Surg Today 2024; 54:977-994. [PMID: 37668735 DOI: 10.1007/s00595-023-02741-6] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) and its associated disorders (AD-HSCR) often result in severe hypoperistalsis caused by enteric neuropathy, mesenchymopathy, and myopathy. Notably, HSCR involving the small intestine, isolated hypoganglionosis, chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome carry a poor prognosis. Ultimately, small-bowel transplantation (SBTx) is necessary for refractory cases, but it is highly invasive and outcomes are less than optimal, despite advances in surgical techniques and management. Thus, regenerative therapy has come to light as a potential form of treatment involving regeneration of the enteric nervous system, mesenchyme, and smooth muscle in affected areas. We review the cutting-edge regenerative therapeutic approaches for managing HSCR and AD-HSCR, including the use of enteric nervous system progenitor cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and mesenchymal stem cells as cell sources, the recipient intestine's microenvironment, and transplantation methods. Perspectives on the future of these treatments are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Yoshimaru
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Toshiharu Matsuura
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
| | - Yasuyuki Uchida
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Soichiro Sonoda
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Oral Anatomy, Kyushu University Graduate School of Dental Science, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Shohei Maeda
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kajihara
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yuki Kawano
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Takeshi Shirai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Miyazaki Prefectural Miyazaki Hospital, 5-30 Kitatakamatsu-cho, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 880-8510, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Toriigahara
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Alvin Santoso Kalim
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Xiu-Ying Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Takahashi
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757, Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Japan
| | - Naonori Kawakubo
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kouji Nagata
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Haruyoshi Yamaza
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Kyushu University Graduate School of Dental Science, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Yamaza
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Oral Anatomy, Kyushu University Graduate School of Dental Science, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Taguchi
- Fukuoka College of Health Sciences, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0193, Japan
| | - Tatsuro Tajiri
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
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Fujiwara N, Miyahara K, Nakazawa-Tanaka N, Oishi Y, Akazawa C, Tada N, Yamataka A. Differentiation of enteric neural crest cells transplanted from SOX10-Venus mouse embryonic stem cells into the gut of the endothelin receptor B null mouse model. Pediatr Surg Int 2022; 39:18. [PMID: 36449105 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-022-05318-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Failure of enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCCs) to correctly colonize the embryonic gut results in Hirschsprung's disease (HD). Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the potential to differentiate into all tissue-specific cells and lineages, including ENCCs. We investigated the cellular differentiation of ESCs from Sox10-Venus + mice into both control and endothelin receptor-B knockout (Ednrb KO) mouse gut to assess each region. METHODS We established ESCs from Sox10-Venus + mice. These cells were cultured for 2 days, then selected and co-cultured with either a dissociated control or Sox10-Venus - Ednrb KO mouse gut (both small intestine and colon) on embryonic day (E) 13.5. Four days later, cells were immunolabeled for Tuj1 and visualized using confocal microscopy. RESULTS Confocal microscopy revealed that transplanted Sox10-Venu + cells from ESCs migrated extensively within the host gut. Moreover, Tuj1-positive neurites were detected in the transplanted ESCs. Tuj1 expression was significantly decreased in aganglionic HD colon compared to controls (p < 0.05) and the HD small intestine (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that an appropriate host environment is crucial for normal and complete colonization of the gut. Further investigations are required to confirm whether modifying this environment can improve the results of this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naho Fujiwara
- Department of Pediatric General and Urogenital Surgery, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
| | - Katsumi Miyahara
- Department of Pediatric General and Urogenital Surgery, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Nana Nakazawa-Tanaka
- Department of Pediatric General and Urogenital Surgery, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Juntendo Nerima Hospital, Nerima-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshie Oishi
- Medical Technology Innovation Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chihiro Akazawa
- Intractable Disease Research Center, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norihiro Tada
- Atopy Research Center, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsuyuki Yamataka
- Department of Pediatric General and Urogenital Surgery, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
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3
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Mueller JL, Stavely R, Hotta R, Goldstein AM. Peripheral nervous system: A promising source of neuronal progenitors for central nervous system repair. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:970350. [PMID: 35968387 PMCID: PMC9374275 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.970350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
With a steadily aging population there is an increasing prevalence of neurological disorders. Given the lack of effective treatment strategies and a limited ability for the central nervous system (CNS) to regenerate endogenously, there is a critical need to better understand exogenous strategies for nervous system repair. Stem cell therapy offers a promising approach to promote the repair of neurologic tissue and function, however studies to date have been limited by various factors including challenges in harvesting donor cells from the CNS, ethical concerns regarding use of embryonic or fetal tissue, tumorigenic potential of induced pluripotent stem cells, and immune-mediated rejection of non-autologous cell sources. Here we review and propose two alternative sources of autologous cells derived from the peripheral nervous system (PNS) for CNS repair: enteric neuronal stem cells (ENSCs) and neural crest-derived Schwann cells found in subcutaneous adipose tissue (termed SAT-NSCs). ENSCs can be successfully isolated from the postnatal enteric nervous system, propagated in vitro, and transplanted successfully into models of CNS injury via both direct intracerebral injection and systemic tail vein injection. Similarly, SAT-NSCs can be readily isolated from both human and mouse adipose tissue and, although not yet utilized in models of CNS injury, have successfully been transplanted and restored function in models of colonic aganglionosis and gastroparesis. These unique sources of PNS-derived autologous cells offer an exciting option for stem cell therapies for the CNS as they have proven neurogenic potential and eliminate concerns around tumorigenic risk, ethical considerations, and immune-mediated rejection.
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Mueller JL, Goldstein AM. The science of Hirschsprung disease: What we know and where we are headed. Semin Pediatr Surg 2022; 31:151157. [PMID: 35690468 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2022.151157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a rich network of neurons and glial cells that comprise the gastrointestinal tract's intrinsic nervous system and are responsible for controlling numerous complex functions, including digestion, transit, secretion, barrier function, and maintenance of a healthy microbiome. Development of a functional ENS relies on the coordinated interaction between enteric neural crest-derived cells and their environment as the neural crest-derived cells migrate rostrocaudally along the embryonic gut mesenchyme. Congenital or acquired disruption of ENS development leads to various neurointestinal diseases. Hirschsprung disease is a congenital neurocristopathy, a disease of the neural crest. It is characterized by a variable length of distal colonic aganglionosis due to a failure in enteric neural crest-derived cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and/or survival. In this review, we will review the science of Hirschsprung disease, targeting an audience of pediatric surgeons. We will discuss the basic biology of normal ENS development, as well as what goes awry in ENS development in Hirschsprung disease. We will review animal models that have been integral to studying this disease, as well as current hot topics and future research, including genetic risk profiling, stem cell therapy, non-invasive diagnostic techniques, single-cell sequencing techniques, and genotype-phenotype correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Mueller
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., WRN 1151, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Allan M Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., WRN 1151, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
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5
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Schonkeren SL, Küthe TT, Idris M, Bon-Frauches AC, Boesmans W, Melotte V. The gut brain in a dish: Murine primary enteric nervous system cell cultures. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2022; 34:e14215. [PMID: 34236124 PMCID: PMC9285479 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The enteric nervous system (ENS) is an extensive neural network embedded in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract that regulates digestive function and gastrointestinal homeostasis. The ENS consists of two main cell types; enteric neurons and enteric glial cells. In vitro techniques allow simplified investigation of ENS function, and different culture methods have been developed over the years helping to understand the role of ENS cells in health and disease. PURPOSE This review focuses on summarizing and comparing available culture protocols for the generation of primary ENS cells from adult mice, including dissection of intestinal segments, enzymatic digestions, surface coatings, and culture media. In addition, the potential of human ENS cultures is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone L Schonkeren
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Tara T Küthe
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Musa Idris
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ana C Bon-Frauches
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Werend Boesmans
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Veerle Melotte
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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6
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Boesmans W, Nash A, Tasnády KR, Yang W, Stamp LA, Hao MM. Development, Diversity, and Neurogenic Capacity of Enteric Glia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:775102. [PMID: 35111752 PMCID: PMC8801887 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.775102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric glia are a fascinating population of cells. Initially identified in the gut wall as the "support" cells of the enteric nervous system, studies over the past 20 years have unveiled a vast array of functions carried out by enteric glia. They mediate enteric nervous system signalling and play a vital role in the local regulation of gut functions. Enteric glial cells interact with other gastrointestinal cell types such as those of the epithelium and immune system to preserve homeostasis, and are perceptive to luminal content. Their functional versatility and phenotypic heterogeneity are mirrored by an extensive level of plasticity, illustrated by their reactivity in conditions associated with enteric nervous system dysfunction and disease. As one of the hallmarks of their plasticity and extending their operative relationship with enteric neurons, enteric glia also display neurogenic potential. In this review, we focus on the development of enteric glial cells, and the mechanisms behind their heterogeneity in the adult gut. In addition, we discuss what is currently known about the role of enteric glia as neural precursors in the enteric nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werend Boesmans
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Amelia Nash
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kinga R. Tasnády
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Wendy Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan, Taiwan
| | - Lincon A. Stamp
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Marlene M. Hao
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Abstract
In the enteric nervous system, there exist a huge number of local intrinsic neurons, which control the gastrointestinal functions. Culture of enteric neurons provides a good model system for physiological, electrophysiological, and pharmacological studies. Here, we describe two methods to obtain sufficient enteric neurons from mouse myenteric plexuses by directly culturing primary neurons or inducing neuronal differentiation of enteric neural stem/progenitor cells.
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8
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Hu XM, Zhang Q, Zhou RX, Wu YL, Li ZX, Zhang DY, Yang YC, Yang RH, Hu YJ, Xiong K. Programmed cell death in stem cell-based therapy: Mechanisms and clinical applications. World J Stem Cells 2021; 13:386-415. [PMID: 34136072 PMCID: PMC8176847 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i5.386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell-based therapy raises hopes for a better approach to promoting tissue repair and functional recovery. However, transplanted stem cells show a high death percentage, creating challenges to successful transplantation and prognosis. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the mechanisms underlying stem cell death, such as apoptotic cascade activation, excessive autophagy, inflammatory response, reactive oxygen species, excitotoxicity, and ischemia/hypoxia. Targeting the molecular pathways involved may be an efficient strategy to enhance stem cell viability and maximize transplantation success. Notably, a more complex network of cell death receives more attention than one crucial pathway in determining stem cell fate, highlighting the challenges in exploring mechanisms and therapeutic targets. In this review, we focus on programmed cell death in transplanted stem cells. We also discuss some promising strategies and challenges in promoting survival for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Min Hu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
| | - Rui-Xin Zhou
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yan-Lin Wu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
| | - Zhi-Xin Li
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
| | - Dan-Yi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yi-Chao Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
| | - Rong-Hua Yang
- Department of Burns, Fo Shan Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Foshan 528000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yong-Jun Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hunan People's Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410005, Hunan Province, China
| | - Kun Xiong
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
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9
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Villalba-Benito L, López-López D, Torroglosa A, Casimiro-Soriguer CS, Luzón-Toro B, Fernández RM, Moya-Jiménez MJ, Antiñolo G, Dopazo J, Borrego S. Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in Hirschsprung enteric precursor cells: unraveling the epigenetic landscape of enteric nervous system development. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:51. [PMID: 33750457 PMCID: PMC7942176 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01040-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hirschsprung disease (HSCR, OMIM 142623) is a rare congenital disorder that results from a failure to fully colonize the gut by enteric precursor cells (EPCs) derived from the neural crest. Such incomplete gut colonization is due to alterations in EPCs proliferation, survival, migration and/or differentiation during enteric nervous system (ENS) development. This complex process is regulated by a network of signaling pathways that is orchestrated by genetic and epigenetic factors, and therefore alterations at these levels can lead to the onset of neurocristopathies such as HSCR. The goal of this study is to broaden our knowledge of the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the disease context, specifically in DNA methylation. Therefore, with this aim, a Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing assay has been performed using EPCs from HSCR patients and human controls.
Results This is the first study to present a whole genome DNA methylation profile in HSCR and reveal a decrease of global DNA methylation in CpG context in HSCR patients compared with controls, which correlates with a greater hypomethylation of the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) identified. These results agree with the de novo Methyltransferase 3b downregulation in EPCs from HSCR patients compared to controls, and with the decrease in the global DNA methylation level previously described by our group. Through the comparative analysis of DMRs between HSCR patients and controls, a set of new genes has been identified as potential susceptibility genes for HSCR at an epigenetic level. Moreover, previous differentially methylated genes related to HSCR have been found, which validates our approach.
Conclusions This study highlights the relevance of an adequate methylation pattern for a proper ENS development. This is a research area that provides a novel approach to deepen our understanding of the etiopathogenesis of HSCR. Graphic abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01040-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Villalba-Benito
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013, Seville, Spain.,Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Daniel López-López
- Clinical Bioinformatics Area, Fundación Progreso y Salud (FPS), CDCA, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Computational Systems Medicine, IBIS, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Ana Torroglosa
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013, Seville, Spain.,Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Carlos S Casimiro-Soriguer
- Clinical Bioinformatics Area, Fundación Progreso y Salud (FPS), CDCA, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Computational Systems Medicine, IBIS, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Berta Luzón-Toro
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013, Seville, Spain.,Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Raquel María Fernández
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013, Seville, Spain.,Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - María José Moya-Jiménez
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Guillermo Antiñolo
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013, Seville, Spain.,Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Joaquín Dopazo
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013, Seville, Spain.,Clinical Bioinformatics Area, Fundación Progreso y Salud (FPS), CDCA, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Computational Systems Medicine, IBIS, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Salud Borrego
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013, Seville, Spain. .,Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013, Seville, Spain.
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10
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Reccia MG, Volpicelli F, Benedikz E, Svenningsen ÅF, Colucci-D’Amato L. Generation of High-Yield, Functional Oligodendrocytes from a c- myc Immortalized Neural Cell Line, Endowed with Staminal Properties. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1124. [PMID: 33498778 PMCID: PMC7865411 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells represent a powerful tool to study molecules involved in pathophysiology of Nervous System and to discover new drugs. Although they can be cultured and expanded in vitro as a primary culture, their use is hampered by their heterogeneity and by the cost and time needed for their preparation. Here we report that mes-c-myc A1 cells (A1), a neural cell line, is endowed with staminal properties. Undifferentiated/proliferating and differentiated/non-proliferating A1 cells are able to generate neurospheres (Ns) in which gene expression parallels the original differentiation status. In fact, Ns derived from undifferentiated A1 cells express higher levels of Nestin, Kruppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) and glial fibrillary protein (GFAP), markers of stemness, while those obtained from differentiated A1 cells show higher levels of the neuronal marker beta III tubulin. Interestingly, Ns differentiation, by Epidermal Growth Factors (EGF) and Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (bFGF) withdrawal, generates oligodendrocytes at high-yield as shown by the expression of markers, Galactosylceramidase (Gal-C) Neuron-Glial antigen 2 (NG2), Receptor-Interacting Protein (RIP) and Myelin Basic Protein (MBP). Finally, upon co-culture, Ns-A1-derived oligodendrocytes cause a redistribution of contactin-associated protein (Caspr/paranodin) protein on neuronal cells, as primary oligodendrocytes cultures, suggesting that they are able to form compact myelin. Thus, Ns-A1-derived oligodendrocytes may represent a time-saving and low-cost tool to study the pathophysiology of oligodendrocytes and to test new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Giovanna Reccia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy;
| | - Floriana Volpicelli
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Eirkiur Benedikz
- Faculty of Health Sciences, J.B. Winsløwsvej 21, 5000 Odense, Denmark;
| | - Åsa Fex Svenningsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 21.1, 5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Luca Colucci-D’Amato
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy;
- Interuniversity Center for Research in Neuroscience (CIRN), University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80131 Naples, Italy
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11
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Villalba-Benito L, Torroglosa A, Luzón-Toro B, Fernández RM, Moya-Jiménez MJ, Antiñolo G, Borrego S. ChIP-Seq-Based Approach in Mouse Enteric Precursor Cells Reveals New Potential Genes with a Role in Enteric Nervous System Development and Hirschsprung Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239061. [PMID: 33260622 PMCID: PMC7730166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a neurocristopathy characterized by intestinal aganglionosis which is attributed to a failure in neural crest cell (NCC) development during the embryonic stage. The colonization of the intestine by NCCs is a process finely controlled by a wide and complex gene regulatory system. Several genes have been associated with HSCR, but many aspects still remain poorly understood. The present study is focused on deciphering the PAX6 interaction network during enteric nervous system (ENS) formation. A combined experimental and computational approach was performed to identify PAX6 direct targets, as well as gene networks shared among such targets as potential susceptibility factors for HSCR. As a result, genes related to PAX6 either directly (RABGGTB and BRD3) or indirectly (TGFB1, HRAS, and GRB2) were identified as putative genes associated with HSCR. Interestingly, GRB2 is involved in the RET/GDNF/GFRA1 signaling pathway, one of the main pathways implicated in the disease. Our findings represent a new contribution to advance in the knowledge of the genetic basis of HSCR. The investigation of the role of these genes could help to elucidate their implication in HSCR onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Villalba-Benito
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Ana Torroglosa
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Berta Luzón-Toro
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Raquel María Fernández
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - María José Moya-Jiménez
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain;
| | - Guillermo Antiñolo
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Salud Borrego
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
- Correspondence:
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12
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Torroglosa A, Villalba-Benito L, Fernández RM, Luzón-Toro B, Moya-Jiménez MJ, Antiñolo G, Borrego S. Identification of New Potential LncRNA Biomarkers in Hirschsprung Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155534. [PMID: 32748823 PMCID: PMC7432910 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a neurocristopathy defined by intestinal aganglionosis due to alterations during the development of the Enteric Nervous System (ENS). A wide spectrum of molecules involved in different signaling pathways and mechanisms have been described in HSCR onset. Among them, epigenetic mechanisms are gaining increasing relevance. In an effort to better understand the epigenetic basis of HSCR, we have performed an analysis for the identification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) by qRT-PCR in enteric precursor cells (EPCs) from controls and HSCR patients. We aimed to test the presence of a set lncRNAs among 84 lncRNAs in human EPCs, which were previously related with crucial cellular processes for ENS development, as well as to identify the possible differences between HSCR patients and controls. As a result, we have determined a set of lncRNAs with positive expression in human EPCs that were screened for mutations using the exome data from our cohort of HSCR patients to identify possible variants related to this pathology. Interestingly, we identified three lncRNAs with different levels of their transcripts (SOCS2-AS, MEG3 and NEAT1) between HSCR patients and controls. We propose such lncRNAs as possible regulatory elements implicated in the onset of HSCR as well as potential biomarkers of this pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Torroglosa
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.T.); (L.V.-B.); (R.M.F.); (B.L.-T.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Leticia Villalba-Benito
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.T.); (L.V.-B.); (R.M.F.); (B.L.-T.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Raquel María Fernández
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.T.); (L.V.-B.); (R.M.F.); (B.L.-T.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Berta Luzón-Toro
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.T.); (L.V.-B.); (R.M.F.); (B.L.-T.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - María José Moya-Jiménez
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain;
| | - Guillermo Antiñolo
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.T.); (L.V.-B.); (R.M.F.); (B.L.-T.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Salud Borrego
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.T.); (L.V.-B.); (R.M.F.); (B.L.-T.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
- Correspondence:
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13
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Jaroy EG, Acosta-Jimenez L, Hotta R, Goldstein AM, Emblem R, Klungland A, Ougland R. "Too much guts and not enough brains": (epi)genetic mechanisms and future therapies of Hirschsprung disease - a review. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:135. [PMID: 31519213 PMCID: PMC6743154 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0718-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease is a neurocristopathy, characterized by aganglionosis in the distal bowel. It is caused by failure of the enteric nervous system progenitors to migrate, proliferate, and differentiate in the gut. Development of an enteric nervous system is a tightly regulated process. Both the neural crest cells and the surrounding environment are regulated by different genes, signaling pathways, and morphogens. For this process to be successful, the timing of gene expression is crucial. Hence, alterations in expression of genes specific for the enteric nervous system may contribute to the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung’s disease. Several epigenetic mechanisms contribute to regulate gene expression, such as modifications of DNA and RNA, histone modifications, and microRNAs. Here, we review the current knowledge of epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulation in the development of the enteric nervous system and its potential significance for the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung’s disease. We also discuss possible future therapies and how targeting epigenetic and epitranscriptomic mechanisms may open new avenues for novel treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie G Jaroy
- Clinic for Diagnostics and Intervention and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0424, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lourdes Acosta-Jimenez
- Clinic for Diagnostics and Intervention and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0424, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ryo Hotta
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Allan M Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ragnhild Emblem
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0424, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arne Klungland
- Clinic for Diagnostics and Intervention and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rune Ougland
- Clinic for Diagnostics and Intervention and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027, Oslo, Norway. .,Department of Surgery, Baerum Hospital, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, 3004, Drammen, Norway.
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14
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Jonscher R, Belkind-Gerson J. Concise Review: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Postnatal Injury-Induced Enteric Neurogenesis. Stem Cells 2019; 37:1136-1143. [PMID: 31145813 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Although still controversial, there is increasing agreement that postnatal neurogenesis occurs in the enteric nervous system (ENS) in response to injury. Following acute colitis, there is significant cell death of enteric neurons and evidence suggests that subsequent neural regeneration follows. An enteric neural stem/progenitor cell population with neurogenic potential has been identified in culture; in vivo, compensatory neurogenesis is driven by enteric glia and may also include de-differentiated Schwann cells. Recent evidence suggests that changes in the enteric microenvironment due to injury-associated increases in glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [HT]), products from the gut microbiome, and possibly endocannabinoids may lead to the transdifferentiation of mature enteric glia and may reprogram recruited Schwann cells. Targeting neurogenic pathways presents a promising avenue toward the development of new and innovative treatments for acquired damage to the ENS. In this review, we discuss potential sources of newly generated adult enteric neurons, the involvement of GDNF, 5-HT, endocannabinoids, and lipopolysaccharide, as well as therapeutic applications of this evolving work. Stem Cells 2019;37:1136-1143.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raleigh Jonscher
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jaime Belkind-Gerson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Neurogastroenterology Program, Digestive Health Institute, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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15
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Obermayr F, Seitz G. Recent developments in cell-based ENS regeneration - a short review. Innov Surg Sci 2018; 3:93-99. [PMID: 31579772 PMCID: PMC6604576 DOI: 10.1515/iss-2018-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic options to treat neurogenic motility disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are usually limited to symptomatic treatment. The capacity of the enteric nervous system (ENS) to regenerate and the fact that progenitor cells of the enteric nervous system reside in the postnatal and adult gut led to the idea to develop cell-based strategies to treat ENS related disorders. This short review focuses on recent developments in cell-based ENS regeneration, discussing advantages and disadvantages of various cell sources, functional impact of transplanted cells and highlights the challenges of translation of small animal studies to human application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Obermayr
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Marburg, UKGM, Baldingerstrasse, 35043 Marburg, Germany, Phone: +49-6421-5864117
| | - Guido Seitz
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Marburg, UKGM, Marburg, Germany
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16
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Zhang Y, Seid K, Obermayr F, Just L, Neckel PH. Activation of Wnt Signaling Increases Numbers of Enteric Neurons Derived From Neonatal Mouse and Human Progenitor Cells. Gastroenterology 2017; 153:154-165.e9. [PMID: 28359679 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Neural stem and progenitor cells from the enteric nervous system (ENS) might serve as a source of cells for treatment of neurogastrointestinal disorders. Before we can use these cells, we must increase our understanding of the signaling mechanisms that regulate proliferation and differentiation. We systematically evaluated the effects of canonical Wnt signaling on proliferation and differentiation of cultured ENS progenitor cells from neonatal mice and humans. METHODS We isolated ENS progenitors from tunica muscularis of the small intestine of newborn (postnatal day 0) wild-type C57BL/6 mice as well as from Wnt1-Cre2 reporter mice. We also obtained intestinal tissue samples from infants (2 and 7 months old) undergoing surgery for imperforate anus or focal intestinal perforation and isolated ENS cells. ENS cells were cultured under proliferation conditions leading to formation of 3-dimensional spheres, which we activated with Wnt3a and SB216763 in order to activate the β-catenin-dependent canonical Wnt pathway. We used immunoblot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the molecular response to Wnt stimuli and immunohistochemistry, proliferation, and cell death assays to identify new neurons. RESULTS In proliferating enterospheres derived from ENS progenitor cells, we verified the expression of Wnt receptors frizzled 1-10 and the co-receptors low-density lipoprotein receptor-related proteins 5 and 6. Pharmacologic stimulation with Wnt agonists led to intracellular accumulation of Wnt-dependent β-catenin and up-regulated expression of known Wnt target genes axin2, lef1, and lgr5. Activation of the canonical Wnt pathway promoted growth of ENS cell spheres during cell expansion and increased the number of newborn neurons derived from mouse and human progenitor cells. CONCLUSIONS In studies of human and mouse ENS progenitors, we found activation of the Wnt signaling pathway to promote neurogenesis of the ENS in vitro. The neurogenic effect of Wnt agonists on ENS progenitors supports their use in generation of cell pools for autologous cell replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karin Seid
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Florian Obermayr
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lothar Just
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter H Neckel
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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17
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Cheng LS, Hotta R, Graham HK, Belkind-Gerson J, Nagy N, Goldstein AM. Postnatal human enteric neuronal progenitors can migrate, differentiate, and proliferate in embryonic and postnatal aganglionic gut environments. Pediatr Res 2017; 81:838-846. [PMID: 28060794 PMCID: PMC5769482 DOI: 10.1038/pr.2017.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enteric neural stem/progenitor cells (ENSCs) offer an innovative approach to treating Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) and other enteric neuropathies. However, postnatal-derived human ENSCs have not been thoroughly characterized and their behavior in the embryonic and postnatal intestinal environment is unknown. METHODS ENSCs were isolated from the intestines of 25 patients undergoing bowel resection, including 7 children with HSCR. Neuronal differentiation and proliferation of ENSCs from submucosal and myenteric plexuses from patients with and without HSCR were characterized. ENSC migration and differentiation were studied following transplantation into embryonic chick neural crest, embryonic chick hindgut, and postnatal mouse aganglionic colon. RESULTS The proliferative and neurogenic potential of ENSCs from HSCR intestine is equivalent to that of non-HSCR controls. Similarly, no difference was observed between myenteric- and submucosal-derived ENSCs. Postnatal ENSCs transplanted to embryonic neural crest pathways and to aneural hindgut migrate normally and differentiate into appropriate neural crest-derived cell types. ENSCs in postnatal mouse aganglionic colon differentiate into neurons and glia both ex vivo and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS ENSCs isolated from the postnatal intestine of patients with and without HSCR can behave like embryonic neural crest-derived cells. These results support the feasibility of cell-based therapy for future treatment of neurointestinal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily S. Cheng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ryo Hotta
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hannah K. Graham
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jaime Belkind-Gerson
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nandor Nagy
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Allan M. Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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18
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Stamp LA. Cell therapy for GI motility disorders: comparison of cell sources and proposed steps for treating Hirschsprung disease. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2017; 312:G348-G354. [PMID: 28209600 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00018.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Cell therapeutic approaches to treat a range of congenital and degenerative neuropathies are under intense investigation. There have been recent significant advancements in the development of cell therapy to treat disorders of the enteric nervous system (ENS), enteric neuropathies. These advances include the efficient generation of enteric neural progenitors from pluripotent stem cells and the rescue of a Hirschsprung disease model mouse following their transplantation into the bowel. Furthermore, a recent study provides evidence of functional innervation of the bowel muscle by neurons derived from transplanted ENS-derived neural progenitors. This mini-review discusses these recent findings, compares endogenous ENS-derived progenitors and pluripotent stem cell-derived progenitors as a cell source for therapy, and proposes the key steps for cell therapy to treat Hirschsprung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lincon A Stamp
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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19
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Stamp LA, Young HM. Recent advances in regenerative medicine to treat enteric neuropathies: use of human cells. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2017; 29. [PMID: 28028898 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.12993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
As current options for treating most enteric neuropathies are either non-effective or associated with significant ongoing problems, cell therapy is a potential attractive possibility to treat congenital and acquired neuropathies. Studies using animal models have shown that following transplantation of enteric neural progenitors into the bowel of recipients, the transplanted cells migrate, proliferate, and generate neurons that are electrically active and receive synaptic inputs. Recent studies have transplanted human enteric neural progenitors into the mouse colon and shown engraftment. In this article, we summarize the significance of these recent advances and discuss priorities for future research that might lead to the use of regenerative medicine to treat enteric neuropathies in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Stamp
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
| | - H M Young
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
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20
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Gao T, Chen H, Liu M, Ge W, Yin Q. Prospective identification and culture of rat enteric neural stem cells (ENSCs). Cytotechnology 2016; 68:509-14. [PMID: 25407731 PMCID: PMC4846640 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-014-9803-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hirschprung's disease (HD), a very common congenital abnormality in children, occurs mainly due to the congenital developmental defect of the enteric nervous system. The absence of enteric ganglia from the distal gut due to deletion in gut colonization by neural crest progenitor cells may lead to HD. The capacity to identify and isolate the enteric neuronal precursor cells from developing and mature tissues would enable the development of cell replacement therapies for HD. However, a mature method to culture these cells is a challenge. The present study aimed to propose a method to culture enteric neural stem cells (ENSCs) from the DsRed transgenic fetal rat gut. The culture medium used contained 15 % chicken embryo extract, basic fibroblast growth factor, and epidermal growth factor. ENSCs were cultured from embryonic day 18 in DsRed transgenic rat. Under inverted microscope and fluorescence staining, ENSCs proliferated to form small cell clusters on the second day of culture. The neurospheres-like structure were suspended in the medium, and there were some filaments between the adherent cells from day 3 to day 6 of the culture. The neurospheres were formed by ENSCs on day 8 of the culture. Network-like connections were formed between the adherent cells and differentiated cells after adding 10 % FBS. The differentiated cells were positive for neurofilament and glial fibrillary acidic protein antibodies. The present study established a method to isolate and culture ENSCs from E18 DsRed transgenic rats in the terminal stage of embryonic development. This study would offer a way to obtain plenty of cells for the future research on the transplantation of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Gao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haijiao Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Mei Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wenliang Ge
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Qiyou Yin
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
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21
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Decreased proliferative, migrative and neuro-differentiative potential of postnatal rat enteric neural crest-derived cells during culture in vitro. Exp Cell Res 2016; 343:218-222. [PMID: 27068376 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence supports the potential use of enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCCs) as a cell replacement therapy for Hirschsprung's disease. Based on previous observations of robust propagation of primary ENCCs, as opposed to their progeny, it is suggested that their therapeutic potential after in vitro expansion may be restricted. We therefore examined the growth and differentiation activities and phenotypic characteristics of continuous ENCC cultures. ENCCs were isolated from the intestines of postnatal rats and were identified using an immunocytochemical approach. During continuous ENCC culture expansion, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and differentiation potentials were monitored. The Cell Counting Kit-8 was used for assessment of ENCC vitality, Transwell inserts for cell migration, immunocytochemistry for cell counts and identification, and flow cytometry for apoptosis. Over six continuous generations, ENCC proliferation potency was reduced and with prolonged culture, the ratio of migratory ENCCs was decreased. The percentage of apoptosis showed an upward trend with prolonged intragenerational culture, but showed a downward trend with prolonged culture of combined generations. Furthermore, the percentage of peripherin(+) cells decreased whilst the percentage of GFAP(+) cells increased with age. The results demonstrated that alterations in ENCC growth characteristics occur with increased culture time, which may partially account for the poor results of proposed cell therapies.
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22
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Burns AJ, Goldstein AM, Newgreen DF, Stamp L, Schäfer KH, Metzger M, Hotta R, Young HM, Andrews PW, Thapar N, Belkind-Gerson J, Bondurand N, Bornstein JC, Chan WY, Cheah K, Gershon MD, Heuckeroth RO, Hofstra RMW, Just L, Kapur RP, King SK, McCann CJ, Nagy N, Ngan E, Obermayr F, Pachnis V, Pasricha PJ, Sham MH, Tam P, Vanden Berghe P. White paper on guidelines concerning enteric nervous system stem cell therapy for enteric neuropathies. Dev Biol 2016; 417:229-51. [PMID: 27059883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Over the last 20 years, there has been increasing focus on the development of novel stem cell based therapies for the treatment of disorders and diseases affecting the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the gastrointestinal tract (so-called enteric neuropathies). Here, the idea is that ENS progenitor/stem cells could be transplanted into the gut wall to replace the damaged or absent neurons and glia of the ENS. This White Paper sets out experts' views on the commonly used methods and approaches to identify, isolate, purify, expand and optimize ENS stem cells, transplant them into the bowel, and assess transplant success, including restoration of gut function. We also highlight obstacles that must be overcome in order to progress from successful preclinical studies in animal models to ENS stem cell therapies in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan J Burns
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Allan M Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Donald F Newgreen
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lincon Stamp
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Karl-Herbert Schäfer
- University of Applied Sciences, Kaiserlautern, Germany; Clinic of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Metzger
- Fraunhofer-Institute Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB Translational Centre - Würzburg branch and University Hospital Würzburg - Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ryo Hotta
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heather M Young
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Peter W Andrews
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Nikhil Thapar
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Jaime Belkind-Gerson
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Nadege Bondurand
- INSERM U955, 51 Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, F-94000 Créteil, France; Université Paris-Est, UPEC, F-94000 Créteil, France
| | - Joel C Bornstein
- Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Wood Yee Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kathryn Cheah
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Michael D Gershon
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York 10032, USA
| | - Robert O Heuckeroth
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Robert M W Hofstra
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lothar Just
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Raj P Kapur
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sebastian K King
- Department of Paediatric and Neonatal Surgery, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Conor J McCann
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Nandor Nagy
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Elly Ngan
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Florian Obermayr
- Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Mai Har Sham
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Paul Tam
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Pieter Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), TARGID, University of Leuven, Belgium
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In Vivo Transplantation of Enteric Neural Crest Cells into Mouse Gut; Engraftment, Functional Integration and Long-Term Safety. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147989. [PMID: 26824433 PMCID: PMC4732685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Enteric neuropathies are severe gastrointestinal disorders with unsatisfactory outcomes. We aimed to investigate the potential of enteric neural stem cell therapy approaches for such disorders by transplanting mouse enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs) into ganglionic and aganglionic mouse gut in vivo and analysing functional integration and long-term safety. Design Neurospheres generated from yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) expressing ENCCs selected from postnatal Wnt1-cre;R26R-YFP/YFP murine gut were transplanted into ganglionic hindgut of wild-type littermates or aganglionic hindgut of Ednrbtm1Ywa mice (lacking functional endothelin receptor type-B). Intestines were then assessed for ENCC integration and differentiation using immunohistochemistry, cell function using calcium imaging, and long-term safety using PCR to detect off-target YFP expression. Results YFP+ ENCCs engrafted, proliferated and differentiated into enteric neurons and glia within recipient ganglionic gut. Transplanted cells and their projections spread along the endogenous myenteric plexus to form branching networks. Electrical point stimulation of endogenous nerve fibres resulted in calcium transients (F/F0 = 1.16±0.01;43 cells, n = 6) in YFP+ transplanted ENCCs (abolished with TTX). Long-term follow-up (24 months) showed transplanted ENCCs did not give rise to tumours or spread to other organs (PCR negative in extraintestinal sites). In aganglionic gut ENCCs similarly spread and differentiated to form neuronal and glial networks with projections closely associated with endogenous neural networks of the transition zone. Conclusions Transplanted ENCCs successfully engrafted into recipient ganglionic and aganglionic gut showing appropriate spread, localisation and, importantly, functional integration without any long-term safety issues. This study provides key support for the development and use of enteric neural stem cell therapies.
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24
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Abstract
The enteric nervous system is the intrinsic innervation of the gut. Several neuromuscular disorders affect the neurons and glia of the enteric nervous system adversely, resulting in disruptions in gastrointestinal motility and function. Pharmacological interventions to remedy gastrointestinal function do not address the underlying cause of dysmotility arising from lost, absent, or damaged enteric neuroglial circuitry. Cell-based therapies have gained traction in the past decade, following the discovery of several adult stem cell niches in the human body. Adult neural stem cells can be isolated from the postnatal and adult intestine using minimally invasive biopsies. These stem cells retain the ability to differentiate into several functional classes of enteric neurons and enteric glia. Upon identification of these cells, several groups have also established that transplantation of these cells into aganglionic or dysganglionic intestine rescues gastrointestinal motility and function. This chapter highlights key studies performed in the field of stem cell transplantation therapies that are targeted towards the remedy of gastrointestinal motility and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalil N Bitar
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Richard H Dean Biomedical Engineering Building, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA,
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25
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Wilkinson DJ, Bethell GS, Shukla R, Kenny SE, Edgar DH. Isolation of Enteric Nervous System Progenitor Cells from the Aganglionic Gut of Patients with Hirschsprung's Disease. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125724. [PMID: 25992739 PMCID: PMC4436257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteric nervous system progenitor cells isolated from postnatal human gut and cultured as neurospheres can then be transplanted into aganglionic gut to restore normal patterns of contractility. These progenitor cells may be of future use to treat patients with Hirschprung’s disease, a congenital condition characterized by hindgut dysmotility due to the lack of enteric nervous system ganglia. Here we demonstrate that progenitor cells can also be isolated from aganglionic gut removed during corrective surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease. Although the enteric nervous system marker calretinin is not expressed in the aganglionic gut region, de novo expression is initiated in cultured neurosphere cells isolated from aganglionic Hirschsprung bowel. Furthermore, expression of the neural markers NOS, VIP and GFAP also increased during culture of aganglionic gut neurospheres which we show can be transplantation into cultured embryonic mouse gut explants to restore a normal frequency of contractility. To determine the origin of the progenitor cells in aganglionic region, we used fluorescence-activated cell sorting to demonstrate that only p75-positive neural crest-derived cells present in the thickened nerve trunks characteristic of the aganglionic region of Hirschsprung gut gave rise to neurons in culture. The derivation of enteric nervous system progenitors in the aganglionic gut region of Hirschprung’s patients not only means that this tissue is a potential source of cells for future autologous transplantation, but it also raises the possibility of inducing the differentiation of these endogenous cells in situ to compensate for the aganglionosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Wilkinson
- University of Liverpool Institute of Translational Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - George S. Bethell
- University of Liverpool Institute of Translational Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rajeev Shukla
- Department of Pathology, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Simon E. Kenny
- University of Liverpool Institute of Translational Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - David H. Edgar
- University of Liverpool Institute of Translational Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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26
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Coelho-Aguiar JDM, Bon-Frauches AC, Gomes ALT, Veríssimo CP, Aguiar DP, Matias D, Thomasi BBDM, Gomes AS, Brito GADC, Moura-Neto V. The enteric glia: identity and functions. Glia 2015; 63:921-35. [PMID: 25703790 DOI: 10.1002/glia.22795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Enteric glial cells were first described at the end of the 19th century, but they attracted more interest from researchers only in the last decades of the 20th. Although, they have a different embryological origin, the enteric GLIA share many characteristics with astrocytes, the main glial cell type of the central nervous system (CNS), such as in their expression of the same markers and in their functions. Here we review the construction of the enteric nervous system (ENS), with a focus on enteric glia, and also the main studies that have revealed the action of enteric glia in different aspects of gastrointestinal tract homeostasis, such as in the intestinal barrier, in communications with neurons, and in their action as progenitor cells. We also discuss recent discoveries about the roles of enteric glia in different disorders that affect the ENS, such as degenerative pathologies including Parkinson's and prion diseases, and in cases of intestinal diseases and injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana de Mattos Coelho-Aguiar
- Instituto Estadual do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer, Secretaria de Estado de Saúde do Rio de Janeiro - SES/RJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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27
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Hagl CI, Heumüller-Klug S, Wink E, Wessel L, Schäfer KH. The human gastrointestinal tract, a potential autologous neural stem cell source. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72948. [PMID: 24023797 PMCID: PMC3762931 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapies seem to be an appropriate tool for the treatment of a variety of diseases, especially when a substantial cell loss leads to a severe clinical impact. This is the case in most neuronal cell losses. Unfortunately, adequate neural stem cell sources are hard to find and current alternatives, such as induced programmed stem cells, still have incalculable risks. Evidence of neurogenesis in the adult human enteric nervous system brought up a new perspective. In humans the appendix harbors enteric neuronal tissue and is an ideal location where the presence of neural stem cells is combined with a minimal invasive accessibility. In this study appendices from adults and children were investigated concerning their neural stem cell potential. From each appendix tissue samples were collected, and processed for immunohistochemistry or enteric neural progenitor cell generation. Free-floating enteric neurospheres (EnNS's) could be generated after 6 days in vitro. EnNS's were either used for transplantation into rat brain slices or differentiation experiments. Both transplanted spheres and control cultures developed an intricate network with glia, neurons and interconnecting fibers, as seen in primary enteric cultures before. Neuronal, glial and neural stem cell markers could be identified both in vitro and in vivo by immunostaining. The study underlines the potential of the enteric nervous system as an autologous neural stem cell source. Using the appendix as a potential target opens up a new perspective that might lead to a relatively unproblematic harvest of neural stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Irene Hagl
- Clinic of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sabine Heumüller-Klug
- Clinic of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg Mannheim, Germany
| | - Elvira Wink
- Clinic of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lucas Wessel
- Clinic of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg Mannheim, Germany
| | - Karl-Herbert Schäfer
- Clinic of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg Mannheim, Germany
- Life Science Department, Faculty of Computer Sciences and Microsystems Technology, University of Applied Sciences, Zweibrücken, Germany
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28
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Krishnamohan J, Senthilnathan VS, Vaikundaraman TM, Srinivasan T, Balamurugan M, Iwasaki M, Preethy S, Abraham SJK. In vitro culture and characterization of enteric neural precursor cells from human gut biopsy specimens using polymer scaffold. Intractable Rare Dis Res 2013; 2:98-102. [PMID: 25343111 PMCID: PMC4204546 DOI: 10.5582/irdr.2013.v2.3.98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2013] [Revised: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro expansion and characterization of neural precursor cells from human gut biopsy specimens with or without Hirschsprung's disease using a novel thermoreversible gelation polymer (TGP) is reported aiming at a possible future treatment. Gut biopsy samples were obtained from five patients undergoing gut resection for Hirschsprung's disease (n = 1) or gastrointestinal disorders (n = 4). Cells isolated from the smooth muscle layer and the myenteric plexus were cultured in two groups for 18 to 28 days; Group I: conventional culture as earlier reported and Group II: using TGP scaffold. Neurosphere like bodies (NLBs) were observed in the cultures between 8th to 12th day and H & E staining was positive for neural cells in both groups including aganglionic gut portion from the Hirschsprung's disease patient. Immunohistochemistry using S-100 and neuron specific enolase (NSE) was positive in both groups but the TGP group (Group II) showed more number of cells with intense cytoplasmic granular positivity for both NSE and S-100 compared to Group I. TGP supports the in vitro expansion of human gut derived neuronal cells with seemingly better quality NLBs. Animal Studies can be tried to validate their functional outcome by transplanting the NLBs with TGP scaffolds to see whether this can enhance the outcome of cell based therapies for Hirschsprung's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janardhanam Krishnamohan
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Madras Medical College, E.V.R Periyar Salai, Park Town, Chennai, India
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, Triplicane, Chennai, India
| | - Venugopal S Senthilnathan
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Institute of Child Health & Hospital for Children, Egmore, Chennai, India
| | | | - Thangavelu Srinivasan
- The Fujio—Eiji Academic Terrain (FEAT), Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM), Nungambakkam, Chennai, India
| | | | - Masaru Iwasaki
- Yamanashi University- School of Medicine, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Senthilkumar Preethy
- The Fujio—Eiji Academic Terrain (FEAT), Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM), Nungambakkam, Chennai, India
- Hope Foundation (Trust), Choolaimedu, Chennai, India
| | - Samuel JK Abraham
- The Mary-Yoshio Translational Hexagon (MYTH), Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM), Nungambakkam, Chennai, India
- Yamanashi University- School of Medicine, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
- Address correspondence to: Dr. Samuel JK Abraham, The Mary-Yoshio Translational Hexagon (MYTH), Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM), PB 1262, Nungambakkam, Chennai — 600034, Tamil Nadu. India. E-mail: Alternate E-mail:
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Becker L, Peterson J, Kulkarni S, Pasricha PJ. Ex vivo neurogenesis within enteric ganglia occurs in a PTEN dependent manner. PLoS One 2013; 8:e59452. [PMID: 23527198 PMCID: PMC3602370 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Accepted: 02/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A population of multipotent stem cells capable of differentiating into neurons and glia has been isolated from adult intestine in humans and rodents. While these cells may provide a pool of stem cells for neurogenesis in the enteric nervous system (ENS), such a function has been difficult to demonstrate in vivo. An extensive study by Joseph et al. involving 108 rats and 51 mice submitted to various insults demonstrated neuronal uptake of thymidine analog BrdU in only 1 rat. Here we introduce a novel approach to study neurogenesis in the ENS using an ex vivo organotypic tissue culturing system. Culturing longitudinal muscle and myenteric plexus tissue, we show that the enteric nervous system has tremendous replicative capacity with the majority of neural crest cells demonstrating EdU uptake by 48 hours. EdU+ cells express both neuronal and glial markers. Proliferation appears dependent on the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway with decreased PTEN mRNA expression and increased PTEN phosphorylation (inactivation) corresponding to increased Akt activity and proliferation. Inhibition of PTEN with bpV(phen) augments proliferation while LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, blocks it. These data suggest that the ENS is capable of neurogenesis in a PTEN dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laren Becker
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Johann Peterson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Subhash Kulkarni
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Pankaj Jay Pasricha
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Theocharatos S, Wilkinson DJ, Darling S, Wilm B, Kenny SE, Edgar D. Regulation of progenitor cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation in enteric nervous system neurospheres. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54809. [PMID: 23372773 PMCID: PMC3553067 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 12/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric nervous system (ENS) progenitor cells isolated from mouse and human bowel can be cultured in vitro as neurospheres which are aggregates of the proliferating progenitor cells, together with neurons and glial cells derived from them. To investigate the factors regulating progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation, we first characterised cell proliferation in mouse ENS neurospheres by pulse chase experiments using thymidine analogs. We demonstrate rapid and continuous cell proliferation near the neurosphere periphery, after which postmitotic cells move away from the periphery to become distributed throughout the neurosphere. While many proliferating cells expressed glial markers, expression of the neuronal markers β-tubulin III (Tuj1) and nitric oxide synthase was detected in increasing numbers of post-mitotic cells after a delay of several days. Treatment of both mouse and human neurospheres with the γ-secretase inhibitor N-[N-(3,5-Difluorophenacetyl)-L-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT) reduced expression of the transcription factors Hes1 and Hes5, demonstrating inhibition of Notch signaling. DAPT treatment also inhibited progenitor cell proliferation and increased the numbers of differentiating neurons expressing Tuj1 and nitric oxide synthase. To confirm that the cellular effects of DAPT treatment were due to inhibition of Notch signaling, siRNA knockdown of RBPjκ, a key component of the canonical Notch signaling pathway, was demonstrated both to reduce proliferation and to increase neuronal differentiation in neurosphere cells. These observations indicate that Notch signaling promotes progenitor cell proliferation and inhibits neuronal differentiation in ENS neurospheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sokratis Theocharatos
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Wilkinson
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Institute of Child Health, University of Liverpool, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Darling
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Bettina Wilm
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Simon E. Kenny
- Institute of Child Health, University of Liverpool, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - David Edgar
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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31
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Abstract
In the enteric nervous system, there exist a lot of local intrinsic neurons which control the gastrointestinal functions. Culture of enteric neurons provides a good model system for physiological, electrophysiological, and pharmacological studies. Here, we describe two methods to obtain sufficient enteric neurons from mouse myenteric plexuses by directly culturing primary neurons or inducing neuronal differentiation of enteric neural stem/progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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32
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Abstract
The current management of Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is still associated with significant long-term morbidities despite on-going refinements in surgical care. Over the course of the past 20 years, significant inroads have been made in our understanding of the development of the enteric nervous system and what factors are responsible for the development of HSCR. This has prompted increased interest in the possibility of using this knowledge to develop new alternative and adjunctive therapies for HSCR. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current progress being made toward the development of future therapies to improve the outcome for children with HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Wilkinson
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
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33
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Expression of PROKR1 and PROKR2 in human enteric neural precursor cells and identification of sequence variants suggest a role in HSCR. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23475. [PMID: 21858136 PMCID: PMC3155560 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2011] [Accepted: 07/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The enteric nervous system (ENS) is entirely derived from neural crest and its normal development is regulated by specific molecular pathways. Failure in complete ENS formation results in aganglionic gut conditions such as Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR). Recently, PROKR1 expression has been demonstrated in mouse enteric neural crest derived cells and Prok-1 was shown to work coordinately with GDNF in the development of the ENS. Principal Findings In the present report, ENS progenitors were isolated and characterized from the ganglionic gut from children diagnosed with and without HSCR, and the expression of prokineticin receptors was examined. Immunocytochemical analysis of neurosphere-forming cells demonstrated that both PROKR1 and PROKR2 were present in human enteric neural crest cells. In addition, we also performed a mutational analysis of PROKR1, PROKR2, PROK1 and PROK2 genes in a cohort of HSCR patients, evaluating them for the first time as susceptibility genes for the disease. Several missense variants were detected, most of them affecting highly conserved amino acid residues of the protein and located in functional domains of both receptors, which suggests a possible deleterious effect in their biological function. Conclusions Our results suggest that not only PROKR1, but also PROKR2 might mediate a complementary signalling to the RET/GFRα1/GDNF pathway supporting proliferation/survival and differentiation of precursor cells during ENS development. These findings, together with the detection of sequence variants in PROKR1, PROK1 and PROKR2 genes associated to HSCR and, in some cases in combination with RET or GDNF mutations, provide the first evidence to consider them as susceptibility genes for HSCR.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Disordered neurobiology of the enteric nervous system (ENS) underlies a broad assortment of idiopathic, acquired, and congenital pathophysiologies up and down the digestive tract. Progress in two major areas of regenerative medicine related to enteric neuropathy is summarized: new insight into how everyday damage to the ENS might be corrected by indwelling stem cells and prospects for patient-specific replacement of damaged or diseased intestine with one reproduced from pluripotent stem cells derived from embryos or reprogrammed adult cells. RECENT FINDINGS Germinal centers with undifferentiated stem cells are in position outside ENS ganglia. Messages, which might be released after damage to the ENS or when neurons are lost, direct migration of stem cells into ENS ganglia where they differentiate into one or the other of the specialized classes of interneurons or motor neurons and become 'wired' into the synaptic circuits as neuronal replacements. Action of serotonin and the 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)4 receptor subtype is a message that initiates the neuronal replacement and circuit restoration process. A reasonable facsimile of a functional intestine can be derived from pluripotent stem cells. SUMMARY Emerging knowledge of cell and molecular biology of indwelling stem cells in the gut and strategies for application of pluripotential stem cells in patient-specific organ transplantation reflect an emergent revolution in understanding and treating disordered gut function when the underlying cause is ENS neuropathy.
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35
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Developmental determinants of the independence and complexity of the enteric nervous system. Trends Neurosci 2010; 33:446-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2010.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2010] [Revised: 06/08/2010] [Accepted: 06/14/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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