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Tian SP, Ge JY, Song YM, Yu XQ, Chen WH, Chen YY, Ye D, Zheng YW. A novel efficient strategy to generate liver sinusoidal endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13831. [PMID: 38879647 PMCID: PMC11180100 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64195-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are highly specialized endothelial cells (ECs) that play an important role in liver development and regeneration. Additionally, it is involved in various pathological processes, including steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the rapid dedifferentiation of LSECs after culture greatly limits their use in vitro modeling for biomedical applications. In this study, we developed a highly efficient protocol to induce LSEC-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in only 8 days. Using single-cell transcriptomic analysis, we identified several novel LSEC-specific markers, such as EPAS1, LIFR, and NID1, as well as several previously revealed markers, such as CLEC4M, CLEC1B, CRHBP and FCN3. These LSEC markers are specifically expressed in our LSEC-like cells. Furthermore, hiPSC-derived cells expressed LSEC-specific proteins and exhibited LSEC-related functions, such as the uptake of acetylated low density lipoprotein (ac-LDL) and immune complex endocytosis. Overall, this study confirmed that our novel protocol allowed hiPSCs to rapidly acquire an LSEC-like phenotype and function in vitro. The ability to generate LSECs efficiently and rapidly may help to more precisely mimic liver development and disease progression in a liver-specific multicellular microenvironment, offering new insights into the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Ping Tian
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, and South China Institute of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian-Yun Ge
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, and South China Institute of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu-Mu Song
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, and South China Institute of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Qing Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, and South China Institute of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen-Hao Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, and South China Institute of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu-Ying Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, and South China Institute of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, and South China Institute of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yun-Wen Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, and South China Institute of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China.
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, and Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Medical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan.
- Institute of Medical Science, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Yap KK, Schröder J, Gerrand YW, Dobric A, Kong AM, Fox AM, Knowles B, Banting SW, Elefanty AG, Stanley EG, Yeoh GC, Lockwood GP, Cogger VC, Morrison WA, Polo JM, Mitchell GM. Liver specification of human iPSC-derived endothelial cells transplanted into mouse liver. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101023. [PMID: 38681862 PMCID: PMC11046210 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are important in liver development, regeneration, and pathophysiology, but the differentiation process underlying their tissue-specific phenotype is poorly understood and difficult to study because primary human cells are scarce. The aim of this study was to use human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived LSEC-like cells to investigate the differentiation process of LSECs. Methods hiPSC-derived endothelial cells (iECs) were transplanted into the livers of Fah-/-/Rag2-/-/Il2rg-/- mice and assessed over a 12-week period. Lineage tracing, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, plasma human factor VIII measurement, and bulk and single cell transcriptomic analysis were used to assess the molecular and functional changes that occurred following transplantation. Results Progressive and long-term repopulation of the liver vasculature occurred as iECs expanded along the sinusoids between hepatocytes and increasingly produced human factor VIII, indicating differentiation into LSEC-like cells. To chart the developmental profile associated with LSEC specification, the bulk transcriptomes of transplanted cells between 1 and 12 weeks after transplantation were compared against primary human adult LSECs. This demonstrated a chronological increase in LSEC markers, LSEC differentiation pathways, and zonation. Bulk transcriptome analysis suggested that the transcription factors NOTCH1, GATA4, and FOS have a central role in LSEC specification, interacting with a network of 27 transcription factors. Novel markers associated with this process included EMCN and CLEC14A. Additionally, single cell transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that transplanted iECs at 4 weeks contained zonal subpopulations with a region-specific phenotype. Conclusions Collectively, this study confirms that hiPSCs can adopt LSEC-like features and provides insight into LSEC specification. This humanised xenograft system can be applied to further interrogate LSEC developmental biology and pathophysiology, bypassing current logistical obstacles associated with primary human LSECs. Impact and implications Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are important cells for liver biology, but better model systems are required to study them. We present a pluripotent stem cell xenografting model that produces human LSEC-like cells. A detailed and longitudinal transcriptomic analysis of the development of LSEC-like cells is included, which will guide future studies to interrogate LSEC biology and produce LSEC-like cells that could be used for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiryu K. Yap
- O’Brien Department of St Vincent’s Institute, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Jan Schröder
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Doherty Institute & University of Melbourne Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Yi-Wen Gerrand
- O’Brien Department of St Vincent’s Institute, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Aleksandar Dobric
- O’Brien Department of St Vincent’s Institute, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Anne M. Kong
- O’Brien Department of St Vincent’s Institute, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Adrian M. Fox
- University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Brett Knowles
- University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Simon W. Banting
- University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew G. Elefanty
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Eduoard G. Stanley
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - George C. Yeoh
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Glen P. Lockwood
- ANZAC Research Institute and University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia
| | - Victoria C. Cogger
- ANZAC Research Institute and University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia
| | - Wayne A. Morrison
- O’Brien Department of St Vincent’s Institute, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Jose M. Polo
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics, South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Geraldine M. Mitchell
- O’Brien Department of St Vincent’s Institute, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
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Mitani S, Onodera Y, Hosoda C, Takabayashi Y, Sakata A, Shima M, Tatsumi K. Generation of functional liver sinusoidal endothelial-like cells from human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Regen Ther 2023; 24:274-281. [PMID: 37575681 PMCID: PMC10412721 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2023.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are specialized vascular endothelial cells that play an important role in the maintenance of biological homeostasis. However, the lack of versatile human LSECs has hindered research on LSECs and development of medical technologies for liver diseases including hemophilia A. In this study, we developed a technique to induce LSEC differentiation from human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Methods To induce LSECs from human BM-MSCs, cytokines and chemical compounds associated with signaling implicated in LSEC differentiation and liver development were screened. Then LSEC-related genes and proteins expression in the differentiated cells were analyzed by qPCR and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. LSEC-related functions of the differentiated cells were also examined. Results We found that the gene expression of LSEC markers, such as LYVE1, was considerably increased by culturing human BM-MSCs with bone morphogenetic protein 4, fibroblast growth factor 8b, transforming growth factor-β signal inhibitor, and cyclic AMP. Furthermore, the differentiated cells expressed LSEC marker proteins and clearly demonstrated LSEC-specific functions, such as the uptake of hyaluronic acid. Conclusions Our result indicate that the functional LSEC-like cells were successfully generated from human BM-MSCs using our established protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiji Mitani
- Advanced Medical Science of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Yu Onodera
- Advanced Medical Science of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Chihiro Hosoda
- Advanced Medical Science of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Yoko Takabayashi
- Advanced Medical Science of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Asuka Sakata
- Medicinal Biology of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Midori Shima
- Medicinal Biology of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Kohei Tatsumi
- Advanced Medical Science of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
- Medicinal Biology of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
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Hu F, Zhou X, Peng Q, Ma L. Suppressed Histone H3 Lysine 18 Acetylation Is Involved in Arsenic-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats by Triggering the Dedifferentiation of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells. TOXICS 2023; 11:928. [PMID: 37999580 PMCID: PMC10675694 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11110928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic pollution is a global environmental concern. Arsenic-induced chronic liver injury and its irreversible outcomes, including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, threaten the health of residents in arsenic-contaminated areas. Liver fibrosis is a reversible pathological stage in the progression of arsenic-induced chronic liver injury to cirrhosis and liver cancer. The aim of this study is to identify the epigenetic mechanism of arsenic-induced liver fibrosis based on the dedifferentiation of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). Rats were treated with 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 mg/kg sodium arsenite for 36 weeks. Marked fibrotic phenotypes were observed in the rat livers, manifested by hepatic stellate cell activation and an increased extracellular matrix, as well as the deposition of collagen fibers. The reduced fenestrations on the cells' surface and the increased expression of the dedifferentiation marker CD31 corroborated the LSECs' dedifferentiation in the liver tissue, which was also found to be significantly associated with fibrotic phenotypes. We further revealed that arsenic exposure could inhibit the enrichment of histone H3 lysine 18 acetylation (H3K18ac) in the promoters of Fcgr2b and Lyve1, two key genes responsible for maintaining the differentiation phenotype of LSECs. This inhibition subsequently suppressed the genes' expression, promoting LSEC dedifferentiation and subsequent liver fibrosis. In conclusion, arsenic can trigger liver fibrosis by inhibiting H3K18ac-dependent maintenance of LSEC differentiation. These findings uncover a novel mechanism of arsenic-induced liver fibrosis based on a new insight into epigenetically dependent LSEC dedifferentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Hu
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (F.H.); (X.Z.); (Q.P.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-Constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xingcheng Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (F.H.); (X.Z.); (Q.P.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-Constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Qianqian Peng
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (F.H.); (X.Z.); (Q.P.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-Constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Lu Ma
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (F.H.); (X.Z.); (Q.P.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-Constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
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Gage BK, Merlin S, Olgasi C, Follenzi A, Keller GM. Therapeutic correction of hemophilia A by transplantation of hPSC-derived liver sinusoidal endothelial cell progenitors. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110621. [PMID: 35385743 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) form the predominant microvasculature in the liver where they carry out many functions including the secretion of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). To investigate the early origins of this lineage, we develop an efficient and scalable protocol to produce human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived LSEC progenitors characterized as venous endothelial cells (VECs) from different mesoderm subpopulations. Using a sensitive and quantitative vascular competitive transplantation assay, we demonstrate that VECs generated from BMP4 and activin A-induced KDR+CD235a/b+ mesoderm are 50-fold more efficient at LSEC engraftment than venous cells from BMP4 and WNT-induced KDR+CD235a/b- mesoderm. When transplanted into immunocompromised hemophilia A mice (NSG-HA), these VECs engraft the liver, proliferate, and mature to functional LSECs that secrete bioactive FVIII capable of correcting the bleeding phenotype. Together, these findings highlight the importance of appropriate mesoderm induction for generating hPSC-derived LSECs capable of functioning in a preclinical model of hemophilia A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair K Gage
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G1L7, Canada.
| | - Simone Merlin
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Cristina Olgasi
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Antonia Follenzi
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Gordon M Keller
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G1L7, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G1L7, Canada.
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Gifre-Renom L, Daems M, Luttun A, Jones EAV. Organ-Specific Endothelial Cell Differentiation and Impact of Microenvironmental Cues on Endothelial Heterogeneity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031477. [PMID: 35163400 PMCID: PMC8836165 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells throughout the body are heterogeneous, and this is tightly linked to the specific functions of organs and tissues. Heterogeneity is already determined from development onwards and ranges from arterial/venous specification to microvascular fate determination in organ-specific differentiation. Acknowledging the different phenotypes of endothelial cells and the implications of this diversity is key for the development of more specialized tissue engineering and vascular repair approaches. However, although novel technologies in transcriptomics and proteomics are facilitating the unraveling of vascular bed-specific endothelial cell signatures, still much research is based on the use of insufficiently specialized endothelial cells. Endothelial cells are not only heterogeneous, but their specialized phenotypes are also dynamic and adapt to changes in their microenvironment. During the last decades, strong collaborations between molecular biology, mechanobiology, and computational disciplines have led to a better understanding of how endothelial cells are modulated by their mechanical and biochemical contexts. Yet, because of the use of insufficiently specialized endothelial cells, there is still a huge lack of knowledge in how tissue-specific biomechanical factors determine organ-specific phenotypes. With this review, we want to put the focus on how organ-specific endothelial cell signatures are determined from development onwards and conditioned by their microenvironments during adulthood. We discuss the latest research performed on endothelial cells, pointing out the important implications of mimicking tissue-specific biomechanical cues in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Gifre-Renom
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Margo Daems
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Aernout Luttun
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Elizabeth A. V. Jones
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
- Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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Current Status and Challenges of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Liver Models in Drug Discovery. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030442. [PMID: 35159250 PMCID: PMC8834601 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The pharmaceutical industry is in high need of efficient and relevant in vitro liver models, which can be incorporated in their drug discovery pipelines to identify potential drugs and their toxicity profiles. Current liver models often rely on cancer cell lines or primary cells, which both have major limitations. However, the development of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) has created a new opportunity for liver disease modeling, drug discovery and liver toxicity research. hiPSCs can be differentiated to any cell of interest, which makes them good candidates for disease modeling and drug discovery. Moreover, hiPSCs, unlike primary cells, can be easily genome-edited, allowing the creation of reporter lines or isogenic controls for patient-derived hiPSCs. Unfortunately, even though liver progeny from hiPSCs has characteristics similar to their in vivo counterparts, the differentiation of iPSCs to fully mature progeny remains highly challenging and is a major obstacle for the full exploitation of these models by pharmaceutical industries. In this review, we discuss current liver-cell differentiation protocols and in vitro iPSC-based liver models that could be used for disease modeling and drug discovery. Furthermore, we will discuss the challenges that still need to be overcome to allow for the successful implementation of these models into pharmaceutical drug discovery platforms.
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Yamauchi A, Tone T, Toledo AD, Igarashi K, Sugimoto K, Miyai H, Deng D, Nakamura J, Lim HS, Kaku T, Hirano E, Shindo T. Placental extract ameliorates liver fibrosis in a methionine- and choline-deficient diet-induced mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Biomed Res 2021; 41:1-12. [PMID: 32092735 DOI: 10.2220/biomedres.41.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of fatty liver disease that is defined by the presence of inflammation and fibrosis, which ultimately leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We previously showed that human placental extract (hPE) was intramuscularly injected to ameliorates liver injury in a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced NASH model. In the present study, we investigated the effects of hPE using dB/dB mice which exhibit obesity and insulin resistance and are thought to reproduce the pathological background of NASH. The MCD-diet induced liver atrophy accompanied by fibrosis around the liver sinusoids. hPE dose-dependently reduced the perivascular fibrosis. Moreover, αSMA-positive activated hepatic stellate cells increased in number in mice on the MCD diet, with this effect reversed by hPE treatment. hPE significantly decreased expression of Acta2, Col1a1, and Tgfb1 genes in hepatic stellate cells, and inhibited Smad phosphorylation. Moreover, hPE treatment increased the expression of the anti-oxidative genes Hmox1, Nqo1, Cat, and Sod1, and significantly enhanced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 activity. Furthermore, hPE decreased the expression of Nox4 and attenuated the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species. These results, along with our previous study, suggest that hPE effectively ameliorates liver fibrosis in NASH. This beneficial effect may, in part, be due to suppression of hepatic stellate cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Dawei Deng
- Research Institute, Japan Bio Products Co., Ltd
| | | | | | | | | | - Takayuki Shindo
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Shinshu University School of Medicine
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Angiodiversity and organotypic functions of sinusoidal endothelial cells. Angiogenesis 2021; 24:289-310. [PMID: 33745018 PMCID: PMC7982081 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-021-09780-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
‘Angiodiversity’ refers to the structural and functional heterogeneity of endothelial cells (EC) along the segments of the vascular tree and especially within the microvascular beds of different organs. Organotypically differentiated EC ranging from continuous, barrier-forming endothelium to discontinuous, fenestrated endothelium perform organ-specific functions such as the maintenance of the tightly sealed blood–brain barrier or the clearance of macromolecular waste products from the peripheral blood by liver EC-expressed scavenger receptors. The microvascular bed of the liver, composed of discontinuous, fenestrated liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC), is a prime example of organ-specific angiodiversity. Anatomy and development of LSEC have been extensively studied by electron microscopy as well as linage-tracing experiments. Recent advances in cell isolation and bulk transcriptomics or single-cell RNA sequencing techniques allowed the identification of distinct LSEC molecular programs and have led to the identification of LSEC subpopulations. LSEC execute homeostatic functions such as fine tuning the vascular tone, clearing noxious substances from the circulation, and modulating immunoregulatory mechanisms. In recent years, the identification and functional analysis of LSEC-derived angiocrine signals, which control liver homeostasis and disease pathogenesis in an instructive manner, marks a major change of paradigm in the understanding of liver function in health and disease. This review summarizes recent advances in the understanding of liver vascular angiodiversity and the functional consequences resulting thereof.
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Gage BK, Liu JC, Innes BT, MacParland SA, McGilvray ID, Bader GD, Keller GM. Generation of Functional Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem-Cell-Derived Venous Angioblasts. Cell Stem Cell 2020; 27:254-269.e9. [PMID: 32640183 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2020.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) form a highly specialized microvasculature that plays a critical role in liver function and disease. To better understand this role, we developed a strategy to generate LSECs from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) by first optimizing the specification of arterial and venous angioblasts and derivative endothelial populations. Induction of a LSEC-like fate by hypoxia, cyclic AMP (cAMP) agonism, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) inhibition revealed that venous endothelial cells responded more rapidly and robustly than the arterial cells to upregulate LSEC markers and functions in vitro. Upon intrahepatic transplantation in neonates, venous angioblasts engrafted the liver and generated mature, fenestrated LSECs with scavenger functions and molecular profiles of primary human LSECs. When transplanted into the liver of adult mice, angioblasts efficiently gave rise to mature LSECs with robust factor VIII (FVIII) production. Humanization of the murine liver with hPSC-derived LSECs provides a tractable system for studying the biology of this key liver cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair K Gage
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G1L7, Canada.
| | - Jeff C Liu
- The Donnelly Center, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada
| | - Brendan T Innes
- The Donnelly Center, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G1A8, Canada
| | - Sonya A MacParland
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G2C4, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S1A8, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G1L7, Canada
| | - Ian D McGilvray
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G2C4, Canada
| | - Gary D Bader
- The Donnelly Center, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G1A8, Canada
| | - Gordon M Keller
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G1L7, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G1L7, Canada.
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11
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Harding JS, Herbath M, Chen Y, Rayasam A, Ritter A, Csoka B, Hasko G, Michael IP, Fabry Z, Nagy A, Sandor M. VEGF-A from Granuloma Macrophages Regulates Granulomatous Inflammation by a Non-angiogenic Pathway during Mycobacterial Infection. Cell Rep 2020; 27:2119-2131.e6. [PMID: 31091450 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.04.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Many autoimmune and infectious diseases are characterized by the formation of granulomas which are inflammatory lesions that consist of spatially organized immune cells. These sites protect the host and control pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), but are highly inflammatory and cause pathology. Using bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and Mtb infection in mice that induce sarcoid or caseating granulomas, we show that a subpopulation of granuloma macrophages produces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), which recruits immune cells to the granuloma by a non-angiogenic pathway. Selective blockade of VEGF-A in myeloid cells, combined with granuloma transplantation, shows that granuloma VEGF-A regulates granulomatous inflammation. The severity of granuloma-related inflammation can be ameliorated by pharmaceutical or genetic inhibition of VEGF-A, which improves survival of mice infected with virulent Mtb without altering host protection. These data show that VEGF-A inhibitors could be used as a host-directed therapy against granulomatous diseases like tuberculosis and sarcoidosis, thereby expanding the value of already existing and approved anti-VEGF-A drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S Harding
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Cellular and Molecular Pathology Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Melinda Herbath
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Yuli Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Aditya Rayasam
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Anna Ritter
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Balazs Csoka
- Department of Anesthesiology, Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - George Hasko
- Department of Anesthesiology, Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Iacovos P Michael
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Zsuzsanna Fabry
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Cellular and Molecular Pathology Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Andras Nagy
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Matyas Sandor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Cellular and Molecular Pathology Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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12
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Cotovio JP, Fernandes TG. Production of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatic Cell Lineages and Liver Organoids: Current Status and Potential Applications. Bioengineering (Basel) 2020; 7:E36. [PMID: 32283585 PMCID: PMC7356351 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering7020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, leading to the death of approximately 2 million people per year. Current therapies include orthotopic liver transplantation, however, donor organ shortage remains a great challenge. In addition, the development of novel therapeutics has been limited due to the lack of in vitro models that mimic in vivo liver physiology. Accordingly, hepatic cell lineages derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represent a promising cell source for liver cell therapy, disease modelling, and drug discovery. Moreover, the development of new culture systems bringing together the multiple liver-specific hepatic cell types triggered the development of hPSC-derived liver organoids. Therefore, these human liver-based platforms hold great potential for clinical applications. In this review, the production of the different hepatic cell lineages from hPSCs, including hepatocytes, as well as the emerging strategies to generate hPSC-derived liver organoids will be assessed, while current biomedical applications will be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiago G. Fernandes
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal;
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13
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de Haan W, Øie C, Benkheil M, Dheedene W, Vinckier S, Coppiello G, Aranguren XL, Beerens M, Jaekers J, Topal B, Verfaillie C, Smedsrød B, Luttun A. Unraveling the transcriptional determinants of liver sinusoidal endothelial cell specialization. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2020; 318:G803-G815. [PMID: 32116021 PMCID: PMC7191457 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00215.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are the first liver cells to encounter waste macromolecules, pathogens, and toxins in blood. LSECs are highly specialized to mediate the clearance of these substances via endocytic scavenger receptors and are equipped with fenestrae that mediate the passage of macromolecules toward hepatocytes. Although some transcription factors (TFs) are known to play a role in LSEC specialization, information about the specialized LSEC signature and its transcriptional determinants remains incomplete.Based on a comparison of liver, heart, and brain endothelial cells (ECs), we established a 30-gene LSEC signature comprising both established and newly identified markers, including 7 genes encoding TFs. To evaluate the LSEC TF regulatory network, we artificially increased the expression of the 7 LSEC-specific TFs in human umbilical vein ECs. Although Zinc finger E-box-binding protein 2, homeobox B5, Cut-like homolog 2, and transcription factor EC (TCFEC) had limited contributions, musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma (C-MAF), GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4), and MEIS homeobox 2 (MEIS2) emerged as stronger inducers of LSEC marker expression. Furthermore, a combination of C-MAF, GATA4, and MEIS2 showed a synergistic effect on the increase of LSEC signature genes, including liver/lymph node-specific ICAM-3 grabbing non-integrin (L-SIGN) (or C-type lectin domain family member M (CLEC4M)), mannose receptor C-Type 1 (MRC1), legumain (LGMN), G protein-coupled receptor 182 (GPR182), Plexin C1 (PLXNC1), and solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 2A1 (SLCO2A1). Accordingly, L-SIGN, MRC1, pro-LGMN, GPR182, PLXNC1, and SLCO2A1 protein levels were elevated by this combined overexpression. Although receptor-mediated endocytosis was not significantly induced by the triple TF combination, it enhanced binding to E2, the hepatitis C virus host-binding protein. We conclude that C-MAF, GATA4, and MEIS2 are important transcriptional regulators of the unique LSEC fingerprint and LSEC interaction with viruses. Additional factors are however required to fully recapitulate the molecular, morphological, and functional LSEC fingerprint.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are the first liver cells to encounter waste macromolecules, pathogens, and toxins in the blood and are highly specialized. Although some transcription factors are known to play a role in LSEC specialization, information about the specialized LSEC signature and its transcriptional determinants remains incomplete. Here, we show that Musculoaponeurotic Fibrosarcoma (C-MAF), GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4), and Meis homeobox 2 (MEIS2) are important transcriptional regulators of the unique LSEC signature and that they affect the interaction of LSECs with viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willeke de Haan
- 1Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cristina Øie
- 2Vascular Biology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Wouter Dheedene
- 1Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefan Vinckier
- 4Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium,5Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Giulia Coppiello
- 1Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Xabier López Aranguren
- 1Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manu Beerens
- 1Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joris Jaekers
- 6Abdominal Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Leuven, Belgiuincreased the expression of the 7 LSEC-specificm
| | - Baki Topal
- 6Abdominal Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Leuven, Belgiuincreased the expression of the 7 LSEC-specificm
| | - Catherine Verfaillie
- 7Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bård Smedsrød
- 2Vascular Biology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Aernout Luttun
- 1Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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14
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Yamauchi A, Kamiyoshi A, Koyama T, Iinuma N, Yamaguchi S, Miyazaki H, Hirano E, Kaku T, Shindo T. Placental extract ameliorates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by exerting protective effects on endothelial cells. Heliyon 2017; 3:e00416. [PMID: 29022011 PMCID: PMC5629350 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of fatty liver disease that is defined by the presence of inflammation and fibrosis, ultimately leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment with human placental extract (HPE) reportedly ameliorates the hepatic injury. We evaluated the effect of HPE treatment in a mouse model of NASH. In the methione- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced liver injury model, fibrosis started from regions adjacent to the sinusoids. We administered the MCD diet with high-salt loading (8% NaCl in the drinking water) to mice deficient in the vasoprotective molecule RAMP2 for 5 weeks, with or without HPE. In both the HPE and control groups, fibrosis was seen in regions adjacent to the sinusoids, but the fibrosis was less pronounced in the HPE-treated mice. Levels of TNF-α and MMP9 expression were also significantly reduced in HPE-treated mice, and oxidative stress was suppressed in the perivascular region. In addition, HPE dose-dependently increased survival of cultured endothelial cells exposed to 100 μM H2O2, and it upregulated expression of eNOS and the anti-apoptotic factors bcl-2 and bcl-xL. From these observations, we conclude that HPE ameliorates NASH-associated pathologies by suppressing inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis. These beneficially effects of HPE are in part attributable to its protective effects on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. HPE could thus be an attractive therapeutic candidate with which to suppress progression from simple fatty liver to NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Yamauchi
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.,Japan Bio Products Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiko Kamiyoshi
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Teruhide Koyama
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Nobuyoshi Iinuma
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Takayuki Shindo
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
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15
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El Taghdouini A, Sørensen AL, Reiner AH, Coll M, Verhulst S, Mannaerts I, Øie CI, Smedsrød B, Najimi M, Sokal E, Luttun A, Sancho-Bru P, Collas P, van Grunsven LA. Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression patterns in purified, uncultured human liver cells and activated hepatic stellate cells. Oncotarget 2015; 6:26729-45. [PMID: 26353929 PMCID: PMC4694948 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Liver fibrogenesis - scarring of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer - is characterized by hepatocyte impairment, capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. To date, the molecular determinants of a healthy human liver cell phenotype remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we assess the transcriptome and the genome-wide promoter methylome specific for purified, non-cultured human hepatocytes, LSECs and HSCs, and investigate the nature of epigenetic changes accompanying transcriptional changes associated with activation of HSCs. MATERIAL AND METHODS Gene expression profile and promoter methylome of purified, uncultured human liver cells and culture-activated HSCs were respectively determined using Affymetrix HG-U219 genechips and by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation coupled to promoter array hybridization. Histone modification patterns were assessed at the single-gene level by chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative PCR. RESULTS We unveil a DNA-methylation-based epigenetic relationship between hepatocytes, LSECs and HSCs despite their distinct ontogeny. We show that liver cell type-specific DNA methylation targets early developmental and differentiation-associated functions. Integrative analysis of promoter methylome and transcriptome reveals partial concordance between DNA methylation and transcriptional changes associated with human HSC activation. Further, we identify concordant histone methylation and acetylation changes in the promoter and putative novel enhancer elements of genes involved in liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides the first epigenetic blueprint of three distinct freshly isolated, human hepatic cell types and of epigenetic changes elicited upon HSC activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adil El Taghdouini
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anita L. Sørensen
- Department of Molecular medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Andrew H. Reiner
- Department of Molecular medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mar Coll
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cristina I. Øie
- Department of Medical Biology, Vascular Biology Research Group, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Bård Smedsrød
- Department of Medical Biology, Vascular Biology Research Group, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mustapha Najimi
- Université Catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Etienne Sokal
- Université Catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Aernout Luttun
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pau Sancho-Bru
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Philippe Collas
- Department of Molecular medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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16
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Peng Y, Li SM, Li GY, Ma J, Zhao TJ. Overview on isolation, cultivation and identification of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2015; 23:728-734. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v23.i5.728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) play an important role in the hepatic physiological and pathological processes, and they have become a hot research topic in recent years. This paper will focus on the isolation, cultivation and identification of LSECs by summarizing and reviewing the latest technologies and methods, with an aim to make a great contribution to the research of LSECs and their roles in the hepatic physiological and pathological processes.
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17
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Larrayoz IM, Ochoa-Callejero L, García-Sanmartín J, Vicario-Abejón C, Martínez A. Role of adrenomedullin in the growth and differentiation of stem and progenitor cells. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 297:175-234. [PMID: 22608560 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394308-8.00005-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Stem cells have captured the imagination of the general public by their potential as new therapeutic tools in the fight against degenerative diseases. This potential is based on their capability for self-renewal and at the same time for producing progenitor cells that will eventually provide the building blocks for tissue and organ regeneration. These processes are carefully orchestrated in the organism by means of a series of molecular cues. An emerging molecule which is responsible for some of these physiological responses is adrenomedullin, a 52-amino acid regulatory peptide which increases proliferation and regulates cell fate of stem cells of different origins. Adrenomedullin binds to specific membrane receptors in stem cells and induces several intracellular pathways such as those involving cAMP, Akt, or MAPK. Regulation of adrenomedullin levels may help in directing the growth and differentiation of stem cells for applications (e.g., cell therapy) both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio M Larrayoz
- Oncology Area, Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, Spain
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