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Chen L, Liang B, Xia S, Wang F, Li Z, Shao J, Zhang Z, Chen A, Zheng S, Zhang F. Emodin promotes hepatic stellate cell senescence and alleviates liver fibrosis via a nuclear receptor (Nur77)-mediated epigenetic regulation of glutaminase 1. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:2577-2598. [PMID: 37263753 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Senescence in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) limits liver fibrosis. Glutaminolysis promotes HSC activation. Here, we investigated how emodin affected HSC senescence involving glutaminolysis. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Senescence, glutaminolysis metabolites, Nur77 nuclear translocation, glutaminase 1 (GLS1) promoter methylation and related signalling pathways were examined in human HSC-LX2 cells using multiple cellular and molecular approaches. Fibrotic mice with shRNA-mediated knockdown of Nur77 were treated with emodin-vitamin A liposome for investigating the mechanisms in vivo. Human fibrotic liver samples were examined to verify the clinical relevance. KEY RESULTS Emodin upregulated several key markers of senescence and inhibited glutaminolysis cascade in HSCs. Emodin promoted Nur77 nuclear translocation, and knockdown of Nur77 abolished emodin blockade of glutaminolysis and induction of HSC senescence. Mechanistically, emodin facilitated Nur77/DNMT3b interaction and increased GLS1 promoter methylation, leading to inhibited GLS1 expression and blockade of glutaminolysis. Moreover, the glutaminolysis intermediate α-ketoglutarate promoted extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, which in turn phosphorylated Nur77 and reduced its interaction with DNMT3b. This led to decreased GLS1 promoter methylation and increased GLS1 expression, forming an ERK/Nur77/glutaminolysis positive feedback loop. However, emodin repressed ERK phosphorylation and interrupted the feedback cascade, stimulating senescence in HSCs. Studies in mice showed that emodin-vitamin A liposome inhibited glutaminolysis and induced senescence in HSCs, and consequently alleviated liver fibrosis; but knockdown of Nur77 abrogated these beneficial effects. Similar alterations were validated in human fibrotic liver tissues. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Emodin stimulated HSC senescence through interruption of glutaminolysis. HSC-targeted delivery of emodin represented a therapeutic option for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Baoyu Liang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Siwei Xia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Feixia Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhanghao Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiangjuan Shao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zili Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Anping Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Shizhong Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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Nazeer SS, Saraswathy A, Nimi N, Santhakumar H, Radhakrishnapillai Suma P, Shenoy SJ, Jayasree RS. Near infrared-emitting multimodal nanosystem for in vitro magnetic hyperthermia of hepatocellular carcinoma and dual imaging of in vivo liver fibrosis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12947. [PMID: 37558889 PMCID: PMC10412632 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40143-3] [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: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged usage of traditional nanomaterials in the biological field has posed several short- and long-term toxicity issues. Over the past few years, smart nanomaterials (SNs) with controlled physical, chemical, and biological features have been synthesized in an effort to allay these challenges. The current study seeks to develop theranostic SNs based on iron oxide to enable simultaneous magnetic hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for chronic liver damage like liver fibrosis which is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. To accomplish this, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were prepared, coated with a biocompatible and naturally occurring polysaccharide, alginate. The resultant material, ASPIONs were evaluated in terms of physicochemical, magnetic and biological properties. A hydrodynamic diameter of 40 nm and a transverse proton relaxation rate of 117.84 mM-1 s-1 pronounces the use of ASPIONs as an efficient MRI contrast agent. In the presence of alternating current of 300 A, ASPIONs could elevate the temperature to 45 °C or more, with the possibility of hyperthermia based therapeutic approach. Magnetic therapeutic and imaging potential of ASPIONs were further evaluated respectively in vitro and in vivo in HepG2 carcinoma cells and animal models of liver fibrosis, respectively. Finally, to introduce dual imaging capability along with magnetic properties, ASPIONs were conjugated with near infrared (NIR) dye Atto 700 and evaluated its optical imaging efficiency in animal model of liver fibrosis. Histological analysis further confirmed the liver targeting efficacy of the developed SNs for Magnetic theranostics and optical imaging as well as proved its short-term safety, in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaiju S Nazeer
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Space Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, 695547, Kerala, India
- Division of Biophotonics and Imaging, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - Ariya Saraswathy
- Division of Biophotonics and Imaging, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 012, Kerala, India
- Department of Physics, HHMSPBNSS College, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 040, Kerala, India
| | - Nirmala Nimi
- Division of Biophotonics and Imaging, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - Hema Santhakumar
- Division of Biophotonics and Imaging, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - Parvathy Radhakrishnapillai Suma
- Division of Biophotonics and Imaging, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - Sachin J Shenoy
- Division of In Vivo Models and Testing, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - Ramapurath S Jayasree
- Division of Biophotonics and Imaging, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 012, Kerala, India.
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3
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Liu Y, Lyu Y, Zhu L, Wang H. Role of TRP Channels in Liver-Related Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12509. [PMID: 37569884 PMCID: PMC10420300 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver plays a crucial role in preserving the homeostasis of an entire organism by metabolizing both endogenous and exogenous substances, a process that relies on the harmonious interactions of hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), Kupffer cells (KCs), and vascular endothelial cells (ECs). The disruption of the liver's normal structure and function by diverse pathogenic factors imposes a significant healthcare burden. At present, most of the treatments for liver disease are palliative in nature, rather than curative or restorative. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which are extensively expressed in the liver, play a crucial role in regulating intracellular cation concentration and serve as the origin or intermediary stage of certain signaling pathways that contribute to liver diseases. This review provides an overview of recent developments in liver disease research, as well as an examination of the expression and function of TRP channels in various liver cell types. Furthermore, we elucidate the molecular mechanism by which TRP channels mediate liver injury, liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ultimately, the present discourse delves into the current state of research and extant issues pertaining to the targeting of TRP channels in the treatment of liver diseases and other ailments. Despite the numerous obstacles encountered, TRP channels persist as an extremely important target for forthcoming clinical interventions aimed at treating liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusheng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yihan Lyu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Lijuan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China;
| | - Hongmei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
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4
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Chen K, Li Y, Wang B, Yan X, Tao Y, Song W, Xi Z, He K, Xia Q. Patient-derived models facilitate precision medicine in liver cancer by remodeling cell-matrix interaction. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1101324. [PMID: 37215109 PMCID: PMC10192760 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1101324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is an aggressive tumor originating in the liver with a dismal prognosis. Current evidence suggests that liver cancer is the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide and the second most deadly type of malignancy. Tumor heterogeneity accounts for the differences in drug responses among patients, emphasizing the importance of precision medicine. Patient-derived models of cancer are widely used preclinical models to study precision medicine since they preserve tumor heterogeneity ex vivo in the study of many cancers. Patient-derived models preserving cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions better recapitulate in vivo conditions, including patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), precision-cut liver slices (PCLSs), patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and patient-derived tumor spheroids (PDTSs). In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the different modalities used to establish preclinical models for precision medicine in liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiwen Chen
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanran Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingran Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuehan Yan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiying Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weizhou Song
- Ottawa-Shanghai Joint School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhifeng Xi
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang He
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
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5
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Ramos MJ, Bandiera L, Menolascina F, Fallowfield JA. In vitro models for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Emerging platforms and their applications. iScience 2022; 25:103549. [PMID: 34977507 PMCID: PMC8689151 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a global healthcare challenge, affecting 1 in 4 adults, and death rates are predicted to rise inexorably. The progressive form of NAFLD, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, no medical treatments are licensed for NAFLD-NASH. Identifying efficacious therapies has been hindered by the complexity of disease pathogenesis, a paucity of predictive preclinical models and inadequate validation of pharmacological targets in humans. The development of clinically relevant in vitro models of the disease will pave the way to overcome these challenges. Currently, the combined application of emerging technologies (e.g., organ-on-a-chip/microphysiological systems) and control engineering approaches promises to unravel NAFLD biology and deliver tractable treatment candidates. In this review, we will describe advances in preclinical models for NAFLD-NASH, the recent introduction of novel technologies in this space, and their importance for drug discovery endeavors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jimenez Ramos
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Lucia Bandiera
- Institute for Bioengineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.,Synthsys - Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Filippo Menolascina
- Institute for Bioengineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.,Synthsys - Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Jonathan Andrew Fallowfield
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
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6
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Ramos MJ, Bandiera L, Menolascina F, Fallowfield JA. In vitro models for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Emerging platforms and their applications. iScience 2022; 25:103549. [PMID: 34977507 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a global healthcare challenge, affecting 1 in 4 adults, and death rates are predicted to rise inexorably. The progressive form of NAFLD, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, no medical treatments are licensed for NAFLD-NASH. Identifying efficacious therapies has been hindered by the complexity of disease pathogenesis, a paucity of predictive preclinical models and inadequate validation of pharmacological targets in humans. The development of clinically relevant in vitro models of the disease will pave the way to overcome these challenges. Currently, the combined application of emerging technologies (e.g., organ-on-a-chip/microphysiological systems) and control engineering approaches promises to unravel NAFLD biology and deliver tractable treatment candidates. In this review, we will describe advances in preclinical models for NAFLD-NASH, the recent introduction of novel technologies in this space, and their importance for drug discovery endeavors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jimenez Ramos
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Lucia Bandiera
- Institute for Bioengineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
- Synthsys - Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Filippo Menolascina
- Institute for Bioengineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
- Synthsys - Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Jonathan Andrew Fallowfield
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
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7
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de Hoyos-Vega JM, Hong HJ, Stybayeva G, Revzin A. Hepatocyte cultures: From collagen gel sandwiches to microfluidic devices with integrated biosensors. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:041504. [PMID: 34703968 PMCID: PMC8519630 DOI: 10.1063/5.0058798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocytes are parenchymal cells of the liver responsible for drug detoxification, urea and bile production, serum protein synthesis, and glucose homeostasis. Hepatocytes are widely used for drug toxicity studies in bioartificial liver devices and for cell-based liver therapies. Because hepatocytes are highly differentiated cells residing in a complex microenvironment in vivo, they tend to lose hepatic phenotype and function in vitro. This paper first reviews traditional culture approaches used to rescue hepatic function in vitro and then discusses the benefits of emerging microfluidic-based culture approaches. We conclude by reviewing integration of hepatocyte cultures with bioanalytical or sensing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M. de Hoyos-Vega
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA
| | - Hye Jin Hong
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA
| | - Gulnaz Stybayeva
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA
| | - Alexander Revzin
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA
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Asialoglycoprotein receptor targeted optical and magnetic resonance imaging and therapy of liver fibrosis using pullulan stabilized multi-functional iron oxide nanoprobe. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18324. [PMID: 34526590 PMCID: PMC8443657 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97808-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Early diagnosis and therapy of liver fibrosis is of utmost importance, especially considering the increased incidence of alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver syndromes. In this work, a systematic study is reported to develop a dual function and biocompatible nanoprobe for liver specific diagnostic and therapeutic applications. A polysaccharide polymer, pullulan stabilized iron oxide nanoparticle (P-SPIONs) enabled high liver specificity via asialogycoprotein receptor mediation. Longitudinal and transverse magnetic relaxation rates of 2.15 and 146.91 mM−1 s−1 respectively and a size of 12 nm, confirmed the T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) efficacy of P-SPIONs. A current of 400A on 5 mg/ml of P-SPIONs raised the temperature above 50 °C, to facilitate effective hyperthermia. Finally, a NIR dye conjugation facilitated targeted dual imaging in liver fibrosis models, in vivo, with favourable histopathological results and recommends its use in early stage diagnosis using MRI and optical imaging, and subsequent therapy using hyperthermia.
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Cacopardo L, Ahluwalia A. Engineering and Monitoring 3D Cell Constructs with Time-Evolving Viscoelasticity for the Study of Liver Fibrosis In Vitro. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:106. [PMID: 34436109 PMCID: PMC8389340 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8080106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is generally associated with an over-production and crosslinking of extracellular matrix proteins, causing a progressive increase in both the elastic and viscous properties of the hepatic tissue. We describe a strategy for mimicking and monitoring the mechano-dynamics of the 3D microenvironment associated with liver fibrosis. Cell-laden gelatin hydrogels were crosslinked with microbial transglutaminase using a purpose-designed cytocompatible two-step protocol, which allows for the exposure of cells to a mechanically changing environment during culturing. A bioreactor was re-engineered to monitor the mechanical properties of cell constructs over time. The results showed a shift towards a more elastic (i.e., solid-like) behaviour, which is likely related to an increase in cell stress. The method effectively mimics the time-evolving mechanical microenvironment associated with liver fibrosis and could provide novel insights into pathophysiological processes in which both elastic and viscous properties of tissues change over time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arti Ahluwalia
- Research Center ‘E. Piaggio’, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy;
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro 3R), Italy
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10
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Zhang L, Pu K, Liu X, Bae SDW, Nguyen R, Bai S, Li Y, Qiao L. The Application of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Against Liver Diseases: An Update and a Review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:644594. [PMID: 34277651 PMCID: PMC8280311 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.644594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases are a major health concern globally, and are associated with poor survival and prognosis of patients. This creates the need for patients to accept the main alternative treatment of liver transplantation to prevent progression to end-stage liver disease. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms underpinning complex liver diseases and their pathology is an emerging goal of stem cell scope. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived from somatic cells are a promising alternative approach to the treatment of liver disease, and a prospective model for studying complex liver diseases. Here, we review hiPSC technology of cell reprogramming and differentiation, and discuss the potential application of hiPSC-derived liver cells, such as hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, in refractory liver-disease modeling and treatment, and drug screening and toxicity testing. We also consider hiPSC safety in clinical applications, based on genomic and epigenetic alterations, tumorigenicity, and immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ke Pu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Sarah Da Won Bae
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney at Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Romario Nguyen
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney at Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Suyang Bai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Liang Qiao
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney at Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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11
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Wang HH, Huang JH, Sue MH, Ho WC, Hsu YH, Chang KC, Chang MS. Interleukin-24 protects against liver injury in mouse models. EBioMedicine 2021; 64:103213. [PMID: 33508745 PMCID: PMC7841303 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Interleukin-24 (IL-24) binds to two kinds of receptor complexes, namely IL-20R1/IL-20R2 and IL-20R2/IL-22R1, which are also bound by IL-20. IL-20 plays a detrimental role in liver fibrosis. Due to the sharing of receptor complexes, we aimed to determine whether IL-24 also participates in liver fibrosis. Methods Clinical biopsy specimens from various stages of liver fibrosis were used to analyze IL-24 expression. IL-24 protein was administered to mice with thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury. The direct effects of IL-24 on mouse primary hepatocytes or hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were analyzed. Wild-type, IL-20R1-, and IL20R2-deficient mice were used to establish a model of acute TAA-induced liver injury. Findings Among patients with more severe liver fibrosis, there was a reduced IL-24/IL-20 ratio. Administration of IL-24 protein protected mice from TAA-induced liver injury and reduction of liver inflammation by antioxidant effects. IL-24 protected hepatocytes from TAA-induced apoptosis and prevented liver fibrosis through the inhibition of the HSCs activation. The protective role of IL-24 acted on liver cells were mainly IL-20R1-independent. IL-20R2-deficient mice exhibited more severe liver injury upon TAA treatment, thus confirming the protective role of IL-24. Interpretation IL-24 plays a key protective role in the progression of liver injury and has therapeutic potential for treating liver injuries. Funding This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan (MOST 106–2320-B-006–024) and Taiwan Liver Disease Prevention & Treatment Research Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Hsuan Wang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jian-Hao Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Min-Hao Sue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chih Ho
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hsiang Hsu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Research Center of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kung-Chao Chang
- Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Shi Chang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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12
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Differentiation of Heterogeneous Mouse Liver from HCC by Hyperpolarized 13C Magnetic Resonance. SCI 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/sci3010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical characterization of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions in the liver and differentiation from heterogeneous inflammatory or fibrotic background is important for early detection and treatment. Metabolic monitoring of hyperpolarized 13C-labeled substrates has been suggested as a new avenue for diagnostic magnetic resonance. The metabolism of hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate was monitored in mouse precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) of aged MDR2-KO mice, which served as a model for heterogeneous liver and HCC that develops similarly to the human disease. The relative in-cell activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to alanine transaminase (ALT) were found to be 0.40 ± 0.06 (n = 3) in healthy livers (from healthy mice), 0.90 ± 0.27 (n = 3) in heterogeneously inflamed liver, and 1.84 ± 0.46 (n = 3) in HCC. Thus, the in-cell LDH/ALT activities ratio was found to correlate with the progression of the disease. The results suggest that the LDH/ALT activities ratio may be useful in the assessment of liver disease. Because the technology used here is translational to both small liver samples that may be obtained from image-guided biopsy (i.e., ex vivo investigation) and to the intact liver (i.e., in a noninvasive MRI scan), these results may provide a path for differentiating heterogeneous liver from HCC in human subjects.
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Soret PA, Magusto J, Housset C, Gautheron J. In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Critical Appraisal. J Clin Med 2020; 10:jcm10010036. [PMID: 33374435 PMCID: PMC7794936 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), represents the hepatic manifestation of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Due to the spread of the obesity epidemic, NAFLD is becoming the most common chronic liver disease and one of the principal indications for liver transplantation. However, no pharmacological treatment is currently approved to prevent the outbreak of NASH, which leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Preclinical research is required to improve our knowledge of NAFLD physiopathology and to identify new therapeutic targets. In the present review, we summarize advances in NAFLD preclinical models from cellular models, including new bioengineered platforms, to in vivo models, with a particular focus on genetic and dietary mouse models. We aim to discuss the advantages and limits of these different models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Antoine Soret
- Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, 75012 Paris, France; (P.-A.S.); (J.M.); (C.H.)
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hepatology Department, Reference Center for Inflammatory Biliary Diseases and Autoimmune Hepatitis, Saint-Antoine Hospital, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Julie Magusto
- Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, 75012 Paris, France; (P.-A.S.); (J.M.); (C.H.)
- Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, AP-HP, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Chantal Housset
- Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, 75012 Paris, France; (P.-A.S.); (J.M.); (C.H.)
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hepatology Department, Reference Center for Inflammatory Biliary Diseases and Autoimmune Hepatitis, Saint-Antoine Hospital, 75012 Paris, France
- Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, AP-HP, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Jérémie Gautheron
- Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, 75012 Paris, France; (P.-A.S.); (J.M.); (C.H.)
- Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, AP-HP, 75013 Paris, France
- Correspondence:
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14
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Differentiation of Heterogeneous Mouse Liver from HCC by Hyperpolarized 13C Magnetic Resonance. SCI 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/sci2020043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical characterization of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions in the liver and differentiation from heterogeneous inflammatory or fibrotic background is important for early detection and treatment. Metabolic monitoring of hyperpolarized 13C-labeled substrates has been suggested as a new avenue for diagnostic magnetic resonance. The metabolism of hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate was monitored in mouse precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) of aged MDR2-KO mice, which served as a model for heterogeneous liver and HCC that develops similarly to the human disease. The relative in-cell activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to alanine transaminase (ALT) were found to be 0.40 ± 0.06 (n = 3) in healthy livers (from healthy mice), 0.90 ± 0.27 (n = 3) in heterogeneously inflamed liver, and 1.84 ± 0.46 (n = 3) in HCC. Thus, the in-cell LDH/ALT activities ratio was found to correlate with the progression of the disease. The results suggest that the LDH/ALT activities ratio may be useful in the assessment of liver disease. Because the technology used here is translational to both small liver samples that may be obtained from image-guided biopsy (i.e., ex vivo investigation) and to the intact liver (i.e., in a non-invasive MRI scan), these results may provide a path for differentiating heterogeneous liver from HCC in human subjects.
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15
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Roehlen N, Crouchet E, Baumert TF. Liver Fibrosis: Mechanistic Concepts and Therapeutic Perspectives. Cells 2020; 9:cells9040875. [PMID: 32260126 PMCID: PMC7226751 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 519] [Impact Index Per Article: 129.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis due to viral or metabolic chronic liver diseases is a major challenge of global health. Correlating with liver disease progression, fibrosis is a key factor for liver disease outcome and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite different mechanism of primary liver injury and disease-specific cell responses, the progression of fibrotic liver disease follows shared patterns across the main liver disease etiologies. Scientific discoveries within the last decade have transformed the understanding of the mechanisms of liver fibrosis. Removal or elimination of the causative agent such as control or cure of viral infection has shown that liver fibrosis is reversible. However, reversal often occurs too slowly or too infrequent to avoid life-threatening complications particularly in advanced fibrosis. Thus, there is a huge unmet medical need for anti-fibrotic therapies to prevent liver disease progression and HCC development. However, while many anti-fibrotic candidate agents have shown robust effects in experimental animal models, their anti-fibrotic effects in clinical trials have been limited or absent. Thus, no approved therapy exists for liver fibrosis. In this review we summarize cellular drivers and molecular mechanisms of fibrogenesis in chronic liver diseases and discuss their impact for the development of urgently needed anti-fibrotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Roehlen
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (N.R.); (E.C.)
- Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques U1110, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Emilie Crouchet
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (N.R.); (E.C.)
- Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques U1110, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas F. Baumert
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (N.R.); (E.C.)
- Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques U1110, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Pôle Hepato-digestif, Institut Hopitalo-Universitaire, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-366853703
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16
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Lee H, Kim J, Choi Y, Cho DW. Application of Gelatin Bioinks and Cell-Printing Technology to Enhance Cell Delivery Capability for 3D Liver Fibrosis-on-a-Chip Development. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:2469-2477. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b01735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hyungseok Lee
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Kangwon National University (KNU), 1 Gangwondaehak-gil, Seoksa-dong, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, 24341, South Korea
| | - Jongmin Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-ro, Hyogok-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, 37673, South Korea
| | - Yeongjin Choi
- Materials Processing Innovation Research Division, Department of Advanced Biomaterials Research, Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), 797 Changwon-daero, Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 51508, South Korea
| | - Dong-Woo Cho
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-ro, Hyogok-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, 37673, South Korea
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17
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Differentiation of Heterogeneous Mouse Liver from HCC by Hyperpolarized 13C Magnetic Resonance. SCI 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/sci2010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical characterization of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions in the liver and differentiation from heterogeneous inflammatory or fibrotic background is important for early detection and treatment. Metabolic monitoring of hyperpolarized 13C-labeled substrates has been suggested as a new avenue for diagnostic magnetic resonance. The metabolism of hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate was monitored in mouse precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) of aged MDR2-KO mice, which served as a model for heterogeneous liver and HCC that develops similarly to the human disease. The relative in-cell activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to alanine transaminase (ALT) were found to be 0.40 ± 0.06 (n = 3) in healthy livers (from healthy mice), 0.90 ± 0.27 (n = 3) in heterogeneously inflamed liver, and 1.84 ± 0.46 (n = 3) in HCC. Thus, the in-cell LDH/ALT activities ratio was found to correlate with the progression of the disease. The results suggest that the LDH/ALT activities ratio may be useful in the assessment of liver disease. Because the technology used here is translational to both small liver samples that may be obtained from image-guided biopsy (i.e., ex vivo investigation) and to the intact liver (i.e., in a non-invasive MRI scan), these results may provide a path for differentiating heterogeneous liver from HCC in human subjects.
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18
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Miranda JF, Scarinci LD, Ramos LF, Silva CM, Gonçalves LR, de Morais PF, Malaspina O, Moraes KCM. The modulatory effect of triclosan on the reversion of the activated phenotype of LX-2 hepatic stellate cells. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2019; 34:e22413. [PMID: 31714634 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.22413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic diseases leading to fibrosis affect millions of individuals worldwide and are a major public health challenge. Although, there have been many advances in understanding hepatic fibrogenesis, an effective therapy remains elusive. Studies focus primarily on activation of the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the principal fibrogenic cells in the liver; however, fewer numbers of studies have examined molecular mechanisms that deactivate HSC, controlling the profibrogenic phenotype. In the present study, we evaluated cellular and molecular actions of the chemical triclosan (TCS) in reverting activated HSCs to a quiesced phenotype. We demonstrated that the inhibition of the enzyme fatty acid synthase by TCS in activated HSCs promotes survival of the cells and triggers cellular and molecular changes that promote cellular phenotypic reversion, offering potentially new therapeutic directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana F Miranda
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Letícia D Scarinci
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Letícia F Ramos
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caio M Silva
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Letícia R Gonçalves
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Priscila F de Morais
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Osmar Malaspina
- Instituto de Biociências, Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karen C M Moraes
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
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Pingitore P, Sasidharan K, Ekstrand M, Prill S, Lindén D, Romeo S. Human Multilineage 3D Spheroids as a Model of Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20071629. [PMID: 30986904 PMCID: PMC6480107 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20071629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disorder in western countries. Despite the high prevalence of NAFLD, the underlying biology of the disease progression is not clear, and there are no approved drugs to treat non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the most advanced form of the disease. Thus, there is an urgent need for developing advanced in vitro human cellular systems to study disease mechanisms and drug responses. We attempted to create an organoid system genetically predisposed to NAFLD and to induce steatosis and fibrosis in it by adding free fatty acids. We used multilineage 3D spheroids composed by hepatocytes (HepG2) and hepatic stellate cells (LX-2) with a physiological ratio (24:1). HepG2 and LX-2 cells are homozygotes for the PNPLA3 I148M sequence variant, the strongest genetic determinant of NAFLD. We demonstrate that hepatic stellate cells facilitate the compactness of 3D spheroids. Then, we show that the spheroids develop accumulations of fat and collagen upon exposure to free fatty acids. Finally, this accumulation was rescued by incubating spheroids with liraglutide or elafibranor, drugs that are in clinical trials for the treatment of NASH. In conclusion, we have established a simple, easy to handle, in vitro model of genetically induced NAFLD consisting of multilineage 3D spheroids. This tool may be used to understand molecular mechanisms involved in the early stages of fibrogenesis induced by lipid accumulation. Moreover, it may be used to identify new compounds to treat NASH using high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piero Pingitore
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Kavitha Sasidharan
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Matias Ekstrand
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Sebastian Prill
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Daniel Lindén
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Stefano Romeo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
- Cardiology Department, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
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20
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Elufioye TO, Habtemariam S. Hepatoprotective effects of rosmarinic acid: Insight into its mechanisms of action. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 112:108600. [PMID: 30780110 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases such as hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma are one of the major health challenges in the world and many conditions such as inadequate nutrition, viral infection, ethanol and drug abuse, xenobiotic exposure, and metabolic diseases have been implicated in the development and progression of liver diseases. Several factors including lipid peroxidation, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), peroxynitrite formation, complement factors and proinflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and chemokines, are involved in hepatic diseases. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural phenolic compound found mainly in the family Lamiaceae consisting of several medicinal plants, herbs and spices. Several biological activities have been reported for RA and these include antioxidant properties as a ROS scavenger and lipid peroxidation inhibitor, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and antiangiogenic among others. This review is aimed at discussing the effects of RA on the liver, highlighting its hepatoprotective potential and the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiwo O Elufioye
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
| | - Solomon Habtemariam
- Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories & Herbal Analysis Services, University of Greenwich, Chatham, Maritime Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
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21
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Stefanovic B, Manojlovic Z, Vied C, Badger CD, Stefanovic L. Discovery and evaluation of inhibitor of LARP6 as specific antifibrotic compound. Sci Rep 2019; 9:326. [PMID: 30674965 PMCID: PMC6344531 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36841-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is characterized by excessive production of type I collagen. Biosynthesis of type I collagen in fibrosis is augmented by binding of protein LARP6 to the 5' stem-loop structure (5'SL), which is found exclusively in type I collagen mRNAs. A high throughput screen was performed to discover inhibitors of LARP6 binding to 5'SL, as potential antifibrotic drugs. The screen yielded one compound (C9) which was able to dissociate LARP6 from 5' SL RNA in vitro and to inactivate the binding of endogenous LARP6 in cells. Treatment of hepatic stellate cells (liver cells responsible for fibrosis) with nM concentrations of C9 reduced secretion of type I collagen. In precision cut liver slices, as an ex vivo model of hepatic fibrosis, C9 attenuated the profibrotic response at 1 μM. In prophylactic and therapeutic animal models of hepatic fibrosis C9 prevented development of fibrosis or hindered the progression of ongoing fibrosis when administered at 1 mg/kg. Toxicogenetics analysis revealed that only 42 liver genes changed expression after administration of C9 for 4 weeks, suggesting minimal off target effects. Based on these results, C9 represents the first LARP6 inhibitor with significant antifibrotic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branko Stefanovic
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
| | - Zarko Manojlovic
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, 1450 Biggy Street, NRT 4510, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Cynthia Vied
- Translational Science Laboratory, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Crystal-Dawn Badger
- Translational Science Laboratory, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Colorado State University, 401 West Pitkin Street, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
| | - Lela Stefanovic
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
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Sivakumar P, Kitson C, Jarai G. Modeling and measuring extracellular matrix alterations in fibrosis: challenges and perspectives for antifibrotic drug discovery. Connect Tissue Res 2019; 60:62-70. [PMID: 30071759 DOI: 10.1080/03008207.2018.1500557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
An imbalance of extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and turnover is a hallmark of fibrotic pathologies as opposed to normal repair response to injury across several organs. Antifibrotic approaches to date have targeted multiple mechanisms and pathways involved in inflammation, angiogenesis, injury, wound repair, ECM biosynthesis, assembly, crosslinking and degradation. Many of these approaches have been unsuccessful which may in part be due to suboptimal models and the lack of validated functional ECM end points relevant to fibrosis. In addition, drug discovery and development for fibrotic diseases has been challenging due to the lack of translatability from in vivo models to the clinic. Targeting growth factor signaling pathways such as transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) are possible in simple recombinant cell models and the approval of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, nintedanib (Ofev) is testament to the approach. However, drug targets directly impacting ECM synthesis, assembly or degradation have proven clinically intractable to date. The reasons for a lack of progress are many and include; non-traditional drug targets, lack of suitable high throughput screening assays and translational models, incomplete understanding of the role of the target. Here, we review the role of ECM in fibrosis, the challenges of ECM-targeted antifibrotic approaches, progress in the development of functional and biomarker-related ECM assays and where new translational models of fibrotic ECM remodeling could support drug discovery for fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pitchumani Sivakumar
- a Fibrosis Translational Research and Development , Bristol-Myers Squibb , Pennington , NJ , USA
| | - Christopher Kitson
- b Fibrosis Discovery Biology , Bristol-Myers Squibb , Pennington , NJ , USA
| | - Gabor Jarai
- a Fibrosis Translational Research and Development , Bristol-Myers Squibb , Pennington , NJ , USA
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Multi-cellular transitional organotypic models to investigate liver fibrosis. Acta Biomater 2018; 82:79-92. [PMID: 30316024 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is the result of wound healing and inflammation resulting in organ dysfunction. Hepatocytes, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), Kupffer cells (KCs), and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play critical roles in fibrogenesis. As the liver undergoes fibrosis, there are populations of cells that are healthy, fibrotic as well as those undergoing fibrosis. We investigated how a varying mechanical environment could induce changes in hepatic cells. In this study, a gradient in the mechanical properties of the microenvironment resulted in transitioning phenotypes in hepatic cells. We have designed detachable polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) whose elastic moduli ranged from 21 to 43 kPa to serve as Space of Disse mimics. We assembled novel 3D organotypic liver models comprised of hepatocytes, LSECs, HSCs, KCs, and the Space of Disse mimic. We demonstrate how cells in contact with a mechanical gradient exhibit different properties compared to cells cultured using non-gradient PEMs. Significant differences were observed in HSC and KC proliferation between 3D cultures assembled with gradient and non-gradient PEMs. While HSCs on the stiffer regions of the gradient PEMs expressed both GFAP and α-SMA, cells in cultures assembled with homogeneous 43 kPa multilayers primarily expressed α-SMA. Over an 8-day culture, the elastic modulus in the 21 and 43 kPa regions of the gradient PEMs increased by 1.6 and 3.7-fold, respectively. This was accompanied by a 4-fold increase in hydroxyproline. Such in vitro tissues can be used to investigate the effects of liver fibrosis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We have assembled a liver model assembled with four major primary hepatic cell types to investigate how a varying mechanical environment induces changes in hepatic cells. In this study, a gradient in the mechanical properties of the microenvironment results in transitioning phenotypes in hepatic cells. Our goal was to investigate the interplay between mechanical properties and a multi-cellular engineered liver tissue. In these models, Kupffer cell proliferation and hepatic stellate cell activation occurred due to mechanical cues and inter-cellular signaling across a distance of 2000 μm. These models are unique, in that, fibrosis was initiated purely through changes to the microenvironment. These models were not exposed to fibrogenic factors nor were the models assembled with cells from fibrotic rats. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first liver models that capture how a gradient microenvironment can result in transitioning cellular phenotypes.
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Boeckmans J, Natale A, Buyl K, Rogiers V, De Kock J, Vanhaecke T, Rodrigues RM. Human-based systems: Mechanistic NASH modelling just around the corner? Pharmacol Res 2018; 134:257-267. [PMID: 29964161 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease characterized by excessive triglyceride accumulation in the liver accompanied by inflammation, cell stress and apoptosis. It is the tipping point to the life-threatening stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Despite the high prevalence of NASH, up to five percent of the global population, there are currently no approved drugs to treat this disease. Animal models, mostly based on specific diets and genetic modifications, are often employed in anti-NASH drug development. However, due to interspecies differences and artificial pathogenic conditions, they do not represent the human situation accurately and are inadequate for testing the efficacy and safety of potential new drugs. Human-based in vitro models provide a more legitimate representation of the human NASH pathophysiology and can be used to investigate the dysregulation of cellular functions associated with the disease. Also in silico methodologies and pathway-based approaches using human datasets, may contribute to a more accurate representation of NASH, thereby facilitating the quest for new anti-NASH drugs. In this review, we describe the molecular components of NASH and how human-based tools can contribute to unraveling the pathogenesis of this disease and be used in anti-NASH drug development. We also propose a roadmap for the development and application of human-based approaches for future investigation of NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Boeckmans
- Department of In VitroToxicology & Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD) Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Alessandra Natale
- Department of In VitroToxicology & Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD) Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Karolien Buyl
- Department of In VitroToxicology & Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD) Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Vera Rogiers
- Department of In VitroToxicology & Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD) Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Joery De Kock
- Department of In VitroToxicology & Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD) Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Tamara Vanhaecke
- Department of In VitroToxicology & Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD) Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Robim M Rodrigues
- Department of In VitroToxicology & Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD) Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
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Catani L, Sollazzo D, Bianchi E, Ciciarello M, Antoniani C, Foscoli L, Caraceni P, Giannone FA, Baldassarre M, Giordano R, Montemurro T, Montelatici E, D'Errico A, Andreone P, Giudice V, Curti A, Manfredini R, Lemoli RM. Molecular and functional characterization of CD133 + stem/progenitor cells infused in patients with end-stage liver disease reveals their interplay with stromal liver cells. Cytotherapy 2017; 19:1447-1461. [PMID: 28917627 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Growing evidence supports the therapeutic potential of bone marrow (BM)-derived stem/progenitor cells for end-stage liver disease (ESLD). We recently demonstrated that CD133+ stem/progenitor cell (SPC) reinfusion in patients with ESLD is feasible and safe and improve, albeit transiently, liver function. However, the mechanism(s) through which BM-derived SPCs may improve liver function are not fully elucidated. METHODS Here, we characterized the circulating SPCs compartment of patients with ESLD undergoing CD133+ cell therapy. Next, we set up an in vitro model mimicking SPCs/liver microenvironment interaction by culturing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized CD133+and LX-2 hepatic stellate cells. RESULTS We found that patients with ESLD show normal basal levels of circulating hematopoietic and endothelial progenitors with impaired clonogenic ability. After G-CSF treatment, patients with ESLD were capable to mobilize significant numbers of functional multipotent SPCs, and interestingly, this was associated with increased levels of selected cytokines potentially facilitating SPC function. Co-culture experiments showed, at the molecular and functional levels, the bi-directional cross-talk between CD133+ SPCs and human hepatic stellate cells LX-2. Human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 showed reduced activation and fibrotic potential. In turn, hepatic stellate cells enhanced the proliferation and survival of CD133+ SPCs as well as their endothelial and hematopoietic function while promoting an anti-inflammatory profile. DISCUSSION We demonstrated that the interaction between CD133+ SPCs from patients with ESLD and hepatic stellate cells induces significant functional changes in both cellular types that may be instrumental for the improvement of liver function in cirrhotic patients undergoing cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Catani
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology "L. e A. Seràgnoli," University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Daria Sollazzo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology "L. e A. Seràgnoli," University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Bianchi
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine "Stefano Ferrari," Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marilena Ciciarello
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology "L. e A. Seràgnoli," University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Antoniani
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology "L. e A. Seràgnoli," University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Licia Foscoli
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology "L. e A. Seràgnoli," University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Caraceni
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Center for Applied Biomedical Research (C.R.B.A.), Azienda Ospedaliero/Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Baldassarre
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research (C.R.B.A.), Azienda Ospedaliero/Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rosaria Giordano
- Cell Factory, Unit of Cellular Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Tiziana Montemurro
- Cell Factory, Unit of Cellular Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa Montelatici
- Cell Factory, Unit of Cellular Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Antonia D'Errico
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pietro Andreone
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valeria Giudice
- Immunohematology Service and Blood Bank-Azienda Ospedaliero/Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Curti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology "L. e A. Seràgnoli," University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rossella Manfredini
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine "Stefano Ferrari," Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Roberto Massimo Lemoli
- Clinic of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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26
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Lee J, Choi B, No DY, Lee G, Lee SR, Oh H, Lee SH. A 3D alcoholic liver disease model on a chip. Integr Biol (Camb) 2016; 8:302-8. [PMID: 26857817 DOI: 10.1039/c5ib00298b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol is one of the main causes of liver diseases, and the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) treatment methods has been one of the hottest issues. For this purpose, development of in vitro models mimicking the in vivo physiology is one of the critical requirements, and they help to determine the disease mechanisms and to discover the treatment method. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) ALD model was developed and its superior features in mimicking the in vivo condition were demonstrated. A spheroid-based microfluidic chip was employed for the development of the 3D in vitro model of ALD progression. We co-cultured rat primary hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in a fluidic chip to investigate the role of HSCs in the recovery of liver with ALD. An interstitial level of flow derived by an osmotic pump was applied to the chip to provide in vivo mimicking of fluid activity. Using this in vitro tool, we were able to observe structural changes and decreased hepatic functions with the increase in ethanol concentration. The recovery process of liver injured by alcohol was observed by providing fresh culture medium to the damaged 3D liver tissue for few days. A reversibly- and irreversibly-injured ALD model was established. The proposed model can not only be used for the research of alcoholic disease mechanism, but also has the potential for use in studies of hepatotoxicity and drug screening applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- JaeSeo Lee
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea
| | - BongHwan Choi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea
| | - Da Yoon No
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Medicine, Stanford University, 318 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - GeonHui Lee
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ri Lee
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences College of Pharmacy University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
| | - HyunJik Oh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea. and MicroFIT R&BD Institute, Dunchon-daero 457beon-gil, Jungwon-gu, Gyeonggi-do 462-806, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hoon Lee
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea and Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
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27
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Advances in Engineered Liver Models for Investigating Drug-Induced Liver Injury. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:1829148. [PMID: 27725933 PMCID: PMC5048025 DOI: 10.1155/2016/1829148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a major cause of drug attrition. Testing drugs on human liver models is essential to mitigate the risk of clinical DILI since animal studies do not always suffice due to species-specific differences in liver pathways. While primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) can be cultured on extracellular matrix proteins, a rapid decline in functions leads to low sensitivity (<50%) in DILI prediction. Semiconductor-driven engineering tools now allow precise control over the hepatocyte microenvironment to enhance and stabilize phenotypic functions. The latest platforms coculture PHHs with stromal cells to achieve hepatic stability and enable crosstalk between the various liver cell types towards capturing complex cellular mechanisms in DILI. The recent introduction of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human hepatocyte-like cells can potentially allow a better understanding of interindividual differences in idiosyncratic DILI. Liver models are also being coupled to other tissue models via microfluidic perfusion to study the intertissue crosstalk upon drug exposure as in a live organism. Here, we review the major advances being made in the engineering of liver models and readouts as they pertain to DILI investigations. We anticipate that engineered human liver models will reduce drug attrition, animal usage, and cases of DILI in humans.
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28
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Norona LM, Nguyen DG, Gerber DA, Presnell SC, LeCluyse EL. Editor's Highlight: Modeling Compound-Induced Fibrogenesis In Vitro Using Three-Dimensional Bioprinted Human Liver Tissues. Toxicol Sci 2016; 154:354-367. [PMID: 27605418 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfw169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Compound-induced liver injury leading to fibrosis remains a challenge for the development of an Adverse Outcome Pathway useful for human risk assessment. Latency to detection and lack of early, systematically detectable biomarkers make it difficult to characterize the dynamic and complex intercellular interactions that occur during progressive liver injury. Here, we demonstrate the utility of bioprinted tissue constructs comprising primary hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and endothelial cells to model methotrexate- and thioacetamide-induced liver injury leading to fibrosis. Repeated, low-concentration exposure to these compounds enabled the detection and differentiation of multiple modes of liver injury, including hepatocellular damage, and progressive fibrogenesis characterized by the deposition and accumulation of fibrillar collagens in patterns analogous to those described in clinical samples obtained from patients with fibrotic liver injury. Transient cytokine production and upregulation of fibrosis-associated genes ACTA2 and COL1A1 mimics hallmark features of a classic wound-healing response. A surge in proinflammatory cytokines (eg, IL-8, IL-1β) during the early culture time period is followed by concentration- and treatment-dependent alterations in immunomodulatory and chemotactic cytokines such as IL-13, IL-6, and MCP-1. These combined data provide strong proof-of-concept that 3D bioprinted liver tissues can recapitulate drug-, chemical-, and TGF-β1-induced fibrogenesis at the cellular, molecular, and histological levels and underscore the value of the model for further exploration of compound-specific fibrogenic responses. This novel system will enable a more comprehensive characterization of key attributes unique to fibrogenic agents during the onset and progression of liver injury as well as mechanistic insights, thus improving compound risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah M Norona
- Curriculum in Toxicology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 .,Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599.,The Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - Deborah G Nguyen
- Research and Development, Organovo, Inc, San Diego, California 92121
| | - David A Gerber
- Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Sharon C Presnell
- Research and Development, Organovo, Inc, San Diego, California 92121
| | - Edward L LeCluyse
- Curriculum in Toxicology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599.,The Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
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29
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Horvat T, Landesmann B, Lostia A, Vinken M, Munn S, Whelan M. Adverse outcome pathway development from protein alkylation to liver fibrosis. Arch Toxicol 2016; 91:1523-1543. [PMID: 27542122 PMCID: PMC5364266 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-016-1814-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In modern toxicology, substantial efforts are undertaken to develop alternative solutions for in vivo toxicity testing. The adverse outcome pathway (AOP) concept could facilitate knowledge-based safety assessment of chemicals that does not rely exclusively on in vivo toxicity testing. The construction of an AOP is based on understanding toxicological processes at different levels of biological organisation. Here, we present the developed AOP for liver fibrosis and demonstrate a linkage between hepatic injury caused by chemical protein alkylation and the formation of liver fibrosis, supported by coherent and consistent scientific data. This long-term process, in which inflammation, tissue destruction, and repair occur simultaneously, results from the complex interplay between various hepatic cell types, receptors, and signalling pathways. Due to the complexity of the process, an adequate liver fibrosis cell model for in vitro evaluation of a chemical's fibrogenic potential is not yet available. Liver fibrosis poses an important human health issue that is also relevant for regulatory purposes. An AOP described with enough mechanistic detail might support chemical risk assessment by indicating early markers for downstream events and thus facilitating the development of an in vitro testing strategy. With this work, we demonstrate how the AOP framework can support the assembly and coherent display of distributed mechanistic information from the literature to support the use of alternative approaches for prediction of toxicity. This AOP was developed according to the guidance document on developing and assessing AOPs and its supplement, the users' handbook, issued by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomislav Horvat
- Chemicals Safety and Alternative Methods Unit (F.3), Directorate F - Health, Consumers and Reference Materials, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Brigitte Landesmann
- Chemicals Safety and Alternative Methods Unit (F.3), Directorate F - Health, Consumers and Reference Materials, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy.
| | - Alfonso Lostia
- Chemicals Safety and Alternative Methods Unit (F.3), Directorate F - Health, Consumers and Reference Materials, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Mathieu Vinken
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Center for Pharmaceutical Research, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sharon Munn
- Chemicals Safety and Alternative Methods Unit (F.3), Directorate F - Health, Consumers and Reference Materials, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Maurice Whelan
- Chemicals Safety and Alternative Methods Unit (F.3), Directorate F - Health, Consumers and Reference Materials, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
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30
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Wu L, Mao C, Ming X. Modulation of Bcl-x Alternative Splicing Induces Apoptosis of Human Hepatic Stellate Cells. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:7478650. [PMID: 27579319 PMCID: PMC4992517 DOI: 10.1155/2016/7478650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide due to chronic viral hepatitis and, more recently, from fatty liver diseases. Activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) represent a key aspect of fibrogenesis and are associated with progressive reduction of HSC apoptosis. Bcl-x, an antiapoptotic member of Bcl-2 gene family, plays a role in apoptosis regulation in mammalian cells. Through alternative splicing, the Bcl-x gene yields two major protein isoforms with opposing functions, antiapoptotic Bcl-xL and proapoptotic Bcl-xS. This study aimed to investigate the role of Bcl-x and its alternate splicing in HSC apoptosis. The results indicated that the expression of Bcl-xL was dramatically higher than Bcl-2 in activated human HSCs. The relative expression of Bcl-xL over Bcl-xS increased gradually when HSCs were activated in cell culture, which was consistent with the increase in apoptosis resistance of activated HSCs. Redirection of Bcl-x splicing by an antisense oligonucleotide from the antiapoptotic isoform to the proapoptotic isoform induced death of HSCs without other apoptosis stimuli. We conclude that Bcl-x plays a role in regulation of HSC apoptosis and modulation of Bcl-x alternative splicing may become a novel molecular therapy for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wu
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chengqiong Mao
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xin Ming
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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31
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Bizarro C, Eide M, Hitchcock DJ, Goksøyr A, Ortiz-Zarragoitia M. Single and mixture effects of aquatic micropollutants studied in precision-cut liver slices of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2016; 177:395-404. [PMID: 27388235 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The low concentrations of most contaminants in the aquatic environment individually may not affect the normal function of the organisms on their own. However, when combined, complex mixtures may provoke unexpected effects even at low amounts. Selected aquatic micropollutants such as chlorpyrifos, bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) were tested singly and in mixtures at nM to μM concentrations using precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Fish liver is a target organ for contaminants due to its crucial role in detoxification processes. In order to understand the effects on distinct key liver metabolic pathways, transcription levels of various genes were measured, including cyp1a1 and cyp3a, involved in the metabolism of organic compounds, including toxic ones, and the catabolism of bile acids and steroid hormones; cyp7a1, fabp and hmg-CoA, involved in lipid and cholesterol homeostasis; cyp24a1, involved in vitamin D metabolism; and vtg, a key gene in xenoestrogenic response. Only EE2 had significant effects on gene expression in cod liver slices when exposed singly at the concentrations tested. However, when exposed in combinations, effects not detected in single exposure conditions arose, suggesting complex interactions between studied pollutants that could not be predicted from the results of individual exposure scenarios. Thus, the present work highlights the importance of assessing mixtures when describing the toxic effects of micropollutants to fish liver metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Bizarro
- Dept. Zoology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology and Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Basque Country Spain
| | - Marta Eide
- Dept. of Biology, University of Bergen, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Daniel J Hitchcock
- Dept. of Biology, University of Bergen, N-5020 Bergen, Norway; Dept.of Biosciences, University of Oslo, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders Goksøyr
- Dept. of Biology, University of Bergen, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Maren Ortiz-Zarragoitia
- Dept. Zoology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology and Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Basque Country Spain.
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Seif El-Din SH, El-Lakkany NM, Salem MB, Hammam OA, Saleh S, Botros SS. Resveratrol mitigates hepatic injury in rats by regulating oxidative stress, nuclear factor-kappa B, and apoptosis. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2016; 7:99-104. [PMID: 27429929 PMCID: PMC4932813 DOI: 10.4103/2231-4040.184594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol, possesses several pharmacological activities including anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antinociceptive, and antiasthmatic activity. Little is known about its hepatoprotective action mechanisms. This study was conceived to explore the possible protective mechanisms of resveratrol compared with the hepatoprotective silymarin in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic injury in rats. Thirty-two rats were equally divided into four groups; normal control (i), TAA (100 mg/kg) (ii), TAA + silymarin (50 mg/kg) (iii), and TAA + resveratrol (10 mg/kg) (iv). Liver function and histopathology, pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and apoptotic markers were examined. Data were analyzed using ANOVA test followed by Tukey post hoc test. Compared to TAA-intoxicated group, resveratrol mitigated liver damage, and inflammation as noted by less inflammatory infiltration, hydropic degeneration with decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interferon-gamma by 78.83, 18.12, and 64.49%, respectively. Furthermore, it reduced (P < 0.05) alanine and aspartate aminotransferases by 36.64 and 48.09%, respectively, restored hepatic glutathione content and normalized superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels. While it inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B, cytochrome 2E1, and enhanced apoptosis of necrotic hepatocytes via increasing caspase-3 activity. Our findings indicated that the potential hepatoprotective mechanisms of resveratrol are associated with inhibition of inflammation, enhancing the apoptosis of necrotic hepatocytes, and suppression of oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayed Hassan Seif El-Din
- Department of Pharmacology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Warak El-Hadar, Imbaba, Giza 12411, Egypt
| | - Naglaa Mohamed El-Lakkany
- Department of Pharmacology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Warak El-Hadar, Imbaba, Giza 12411, Egypt
| | - Maha Badr Salem
- Department of Pharmacology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Warak El-Hadar, Imbaba, Giza 12411, Egypt
| | - Olfat Ali Hammam
- Department of Pathology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Warak El-Hadar, Imbaba, Giza 12411, Egypt
| | - Samira Saleh
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Sanaa Sabet Botros
- Department of Pharmacology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Warak El-Hadar, Imbaba, Giza 12411, Egypt
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33
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Li M, de Graaf IAM, Groothuis GMM. Precision-cut intestinal slices: alternative model for drug transport, metabolism, and toxicology research. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2016; 12:175-90. [DOI: 10.1517/17425255.2016.1125882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology & Targeting, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Inge A. M. de Graaf
- Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology & Targeting, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Geny M. M. Groothuis
- Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology & Targeting, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Characterization and sub-cellular localization of GalNAc-binding proteins isolated from human hepatic stellate cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 468:906-12. [PMID: 26616059 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.11.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Although the expression levels of total GalNAc-binding proteins (GNBPs) were up-regulated significantly in human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activated with transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1), yet little is known about the precise types, distribution and sub-cellular localization of the GNBPs in HSCs. Here, 264 GNBPs from the activated HSCs and 257 GNBPs from the quiescent HSCs were identified and annotated. A total of 46 GNBPs were estimated to be significantly up-regulated and 40 GNBPs were estimated to be significantly down-regulated in the activated HSCs. For example, the GNBPs (i.e. BTF3, COX17, and ATP5A1) responsible for the regulation of protein binding were up-regulated, and those (i.e. FAM114A1, ENO3, and TKT) responsible for the regulation of protein binding were down-regulated in the activated HSCs. The motifs of the isolated GNBPs showed that Proline residue had the maximum preference in consensus sequences. The western blotting showed the expression levels of COX17, and PRMT1 were significantly up-regulated, while, the expression level of CLIC1(B5) was down-regulated in the activated HSCs and liver cirrhosis tissues. Moreover, the GNBPs were sub-localized in the Golgi apparatus of HSCs. In conclusion, the precision alteration of the GNBPs referred to pathological changes in liver fibrosis/cirrhosis may provide useful information to find new molecular mechanism of HSC activation and discover the biomarkers for diagnosis of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis as well as development of new anti-fibrotic strategies.
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35
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Delgado-Montemayor C, Cordero-Pérez P, Salazar-Aranda R, Waksman-Minsky N. Models of hepatoprotective activity assessment. MEDICINA UNIVERSITARIA 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rmu.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
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36
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Zhong Y, Qin Y, Dang L, Jia L, Zhang Z, Wu H, Cui J, Bian H, Li Z. Alteration and localization of glycan-binding proteins in human hepatic stellate cells during liver fibrosis. Proteomics 2015; 15:3283-95. [PMID: 26058380 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201500030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Glycan-binding proteins (GBPs) play an important role in cell adhesion, bacterial/viral infection, and cellular signaling pathways. However, little is known about the precision alteration of GBPs referred to pathological changes in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) during liver fibrosis. Here, the carbohydrate microarrays were used to probe the alteration of GBPs in the activated HSCs and quiescent HSCs. As a result, 12 carbohydrates (e.g. Gal, GalNAc, and Man-9Glycan) showed increased signal, while seven carbohydrates (e.g. NeuAc, Lac, and GlcNAc-O-Ser) showed decreased signal in activated HSCs. Three carbohydrates (Gal, GalNAc, and NeuAc) were selected and subsequently used to validate the results of the carbohydrate microarrays as well as assess the distribution and localization of their binding proteins in HSCs and liver tissues by cy/histochemistry; the results showed that GBPs mainly distributed in the cytoplasma membrane and perinuclear region of cytoplasm. The immunocytochemistry was further used to verify some GBPs really exist in Golgi apparatus of the cells. The precision alteration and localization of GBPs referred to pathological changes in HSCs may provide pivotal information to help understand the biological functions of glycans how to exert through their recognition by a wide variety of GBPs. This study could lead to the development of new anti-fibrotic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaogang Zhong
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Yannan Qin
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Liuyi Dang
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Liyuan Jia
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Zhiwei Zhang
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Haoxiang Wu
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Jihong Cui
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Huijie Bian
- Cell Engineering Research Centre and Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Zheng Li
- Laboratory for Functional Glycomics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, P. R. China
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Barbero-Becerra VJ, Giraudi PJ, Chávez-Tapia NC, Uribe M, Tiribelli C, Rosso N. The interplay between hepatic stellate cells and hepatocytes in an in vitro model of NASH. Toxicol In Vitro 2015; 29:1753-8. [PMID: 26187275 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2015.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIM A complex interplay exists between hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in hepatic fibrogenesis. The activation of HSCs after liver injury leads to production of extracellular matrix (ECM). Co-culture models could be useful to mimic the liver microenvironment. This study evaluates the effect of free fatty acids (FFA) on HSC cells and the interplay with hepatocytes via both soluble-mediator and cell-cell contact. METHODS The human hepatocyte cell line (HuH7) and HSC cells (LX2) were exposed to FFA for 24 h in 3 different experimental set-ups: (A) monoculture of HSC; (B) Transwell® system (effect of soluble mediators); and (C) Simultaneous Co-Culture (SCC) (cell-to-cell connections). Intracellular FFA accumulation was assessed qualitatively (microscopy) and quantitatively (flow cytometry); the activation of HSC (alpha smooth muscle actin, α-SMA) expression of ECM components were quantified by RT-PCR. RESULTS FFA exposure induces intracellular fat accumulation in all the experimental set-up but the expression of α-SMA was significantly increased only in SCC. On the contrary, the expression of ECM was substantially decreased in the transwell® system. CONCLUSIONS The HSC activation is independent of FFA accumulation but requires cell-to-cell interaction with hepatocyte. On the contrary, the gene regulation of ECM components seems to occur through paracrine mediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varenka J Barbero-Becerra
- Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Mexico City, Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, Tlalpan, C.P. 14050 Mexico City, Mexico; Centro Studi Fegato (CSF) - Liver Research Center, Fondazione Italiana Fegato, Bldg Q AREA Science Park, Basovizza Campus SS 14 km 163.5, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Pablo J Giraudi
- Centro Studi Fegato (CSF) - Liver Research Center, Fondazione Italiana Fegato, Bldg Q AREA Science Park, Basovizza Campus SS 14 km 163.5, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Norberto C Chávez-Tapia
- Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Mexico City, Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, Tlalpan, C.P. 14050 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Misael Uribe
- Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Mexico City, Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, Tlalpan, C.P. 14050 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Claudio Tiribelli
- Centro Studi Fegato (CSF) - Liver Research Center, Fondazione Italiana Fegato, Bldg Q AREA Science Park, Basovizza Campus SS 14 km 163.5, 34149 Trieste, Italy; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Natalia Rosso
- Centro Studi Fegato (CSF) - Liver Research Center, Fondazione Italiana Fegato, Bldg Q AREA Science Park, Basovizza Campus SS 14 km 163.5, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
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Sampaziotis F, Segeritz CP, Vallier L. Potential of human induced pluripotent stem cells in studies of liver disease. Hepatology 2015; 62:303-11. [PMID: 25502113 DOI: 10.1002/hep.27651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Liver disease is a leading cause of death in the Western world. However, our insight into the underlying disease mechanisms and the development of novel therapeutic agents has been hindered by limited availability of primary tissue, intraspecies variability associated with the use of animal models, and reduced long-term viability of isolated and diseased liver cells. The emergence of human induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiation protocols to generate hepatocyte-like cells has opened the possibility of addressing these issues. Here, we discuss the recent progress and potential in the production of various cell types constituting the liver and their applications to model liver diseases and test drug toxicity in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fotios Sampaziotis
- Wellcome Trust Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Charis-Patricia Segeritz
- Wellcome Trust Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome Trust Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom.,Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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39
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Mattei G, Cristiani I, Magliaro C, Ahluwalia A. Profile analysis of hepatic porcine and murine brain tissue slices obtained with a vibratome. PeerJ 2015; 3:e932. [PMID: 25945319 PMCID: PMC4419543 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This study is aimed at characterizing soft tissue slices using a vibratome. In particular, the effect of two sectioning parameters (i.e., step size and sectioning speed) on resultant slice thickness was investigated for fresh porcine liver as well as for paraformaldehyde-fixed (PFA-fixed) and fresh murine brain. A simple framework for embedding, sectioning and imaging the slices was established to derive their thickness, which was evaluated through a purposely developed graphical user interface. Sectioning speed and step size had little effect on the thickness of fresh liver slices. Conversely, the thickness of PFA-fixed murine brain slices was found to be dependent on the step size, but not on the sectioning speed. In view of these results, fresh brain tissue was sliced varying the step size only, which was found to have a significant effect on resultant slice thickness. Although precision-cut slices (i.e., with regular thickness) were obtained for all the tissues, slice accuracy (defined as the match between the nominal step size chosen and the actual slice thickness obtained) was found to increase with tissue stiffness from fresh liver to PFA-fixed brain. This quantitative investigation can be very helpful for establishing the most suitable slicing setup for a given tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Mattei
- Research Center "E. Piaggio," University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - I Cristiani
- Research Center "E. Piaggio," University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - C Magliaro
- Research Center "E. Piaggio," University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - A Ahluwalia
- Research Center "E. Piaggio," University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy ; Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council , Pisa , Italy
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Lin C, Ballinger KR, Khetani SR. The application of engineered liver tissues for novel drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2015; 10:519-40. [PMID: 25840592 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2015.1032241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug-induced liver injury remains a major cause of drug attrition. Furthermore, novel drugs are being developed for treating liver diseases. However, differences between animals and humans in liver pathways necessitate the use of human-relevant liver models to complement live animal testing during preclinical drug development. Microfabrication tools and synthetic biomaterials now allow for the creation of tissue subunits that display more physiologically relevant and long-term liver functions than possible with declining monolayers. AREAS COVERED The authors discuss acellular enzyme platforms, two-dimensional micropatterned co-cultures, three-dimensional spheroidal cultures, microfluidic perfusion, liver slices and humanized rodent models. They also present the use of cell lines, primary liver cells and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human hepatocyte-like cells in the creation of cell-based models and discuss in silico approaches that allow integration and modeling of the datasets from these models. Finally, the authors describe the application of liver models for the discovery of novel therapeutics for liver diseases. EXPERT OPINION Engineered liver models with varying levels of in vivo-like complexities provide investigators with the opportunity to develop assays with sufficient complexity and required throughput. Control over cell-cell interactions and co-culture with stromal cells in both two dimension and three dimension are critical for enabling stable liver models. The validation of liver models with diverse sets of compounds for different applications, coupled with an analysis of cost:benefit ratio, is important for model adoption for routine screening. Ultimately, engineered liver models could significantly reduce drug development costs and enable the development of more efficacious and safer therapeutics for liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Lin
- Colorado State University, School of Biomedical Engineering , 200 W. Lake St, 1301 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1374 , USA
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41
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The importance of extracellular matrix for cell function and in vivo likeness. Exp Mol Pathol 2015; 98:286-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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42
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Sadasivan SK, Siddaraju N, Khan KM, Vasamsetti B, Kumar NR, Haridas V, Reddy MB, Baggavalli S, Oommen AM, Pralhada Rao R. Developing an in vitro screening assay platform for evaluation of antifibrotic drugs using precision-cut liver slices. FIBROGENESIS & TISSUE REPAIR 2014; 8:1. [PMID: 25598841 PMCID: PMC4296550 DOI: 10.1186/s13069-014-0017-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Precision-cut liver slices present different cell types of liver in a physiological context, and they have been explored as effective in vitro model systems to study liver fibrosis. Inducing fibrosis in the liver slices using toxicants like carbon tetrachloride is of less relevance to human disease conditions. Our aim for this study was to establish physiologically relevant conditions in vitro to induce fibrotic phenotypes in the liver slices. Results Precision-cut liver slices of 150 μm thickness were obtained from female C57BL/6 J mice. The slices were cultured for 24 hours in media containing a cocktail of 10 nM each of TGF-β, PDGF, 5 μM each of lysophosphatidic acid and sphingosine 1 phosphate and 0.2 μg/ml of lipopolysaccharide along with 500 μM of palmitate and were analyzed for triglyceride accumulation, stress and inflammation, myofibroblast activation and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Incubation with the cocktail resulted in increased triglyceride accumulation, a hallmark of steatosis. The levels of Acta2, a hallmark of myofibroblast activation and the levels of inflammatory genes (IL-6, TNF-α and C-reactive protein) were significantly elevated. In addition, this treatment resulted in increased levels of ECM markers - collagen, lumican and fibronectin. Conclusions This study reports the experimental conditions required to induce fibrosis associated with steatohepatitis using physiologically relevant inducers. The system presented here captures various aspects of the fibrosis process like steatosis, inflammation, stellate cell activation and ECM accumulation and serves as a platform to study the liver fibrosis in vitro and to screen small molecules for their antifibrotic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satish Kumar Sadasivan
- Connexios life sciences private limited, No-49, Shilpa vidya, 1st Main, 3rd phase, J P nagara, Bangalore, 560078 India
| | - Nethra Siddaraju
- Connexios life sciences private limited, No-49, Shilpa vidya, 1st Main, 3rd phase, J P nagara, Bangalore, 560078 India
| | - Khaiser Mehdi Khan
- Connexios life sciences private limited, No-49, Shilpa vidya, 1st Main, 3rd phase, J P nagara, Bangalore, 560078 India
| | - Balamuralikrishna Vasamsetti
- Connexios life sciences private limited, No-49, Shilpa vidya, 1st Main, 3rd phase, J P nagara, Bangalore, 560078 India
| | - Nimisha R Kumar
- Connexios life sciences private limited, No-49, Shilpa vidya, 1st Main, 3rd phase, J P nagara, Bangalore, 560078 India
| | - Vibha Haridas
- Connexios life sciences private limited, No-49, Shilpa vidya, 1st Main, 3rd phase, J P nagara, Bangalore, 560078 India
| | - Madhusudhan B Reddy
- Connexios life sciences private limited, No-49, Shilpa vidya, 1st Main, 3rd phase, J P nagara, Bangalore, 560078 India
| | - Somesh Baggavalli
- Connexios life sciences private limited, No-49, Shilpa vidya, 1st Main, 3rd phase, J P nagara, Bangalore, 560078 India
| | - Anup M Oommen
- Connexios life sciences private limited, No-49, Shilpa vidya, 1st Main, 3rd phase, J P nagara, Bangalore, 560078 India
| | - Raghavendra Pralhada Rao
- Connexios life sciences private limited, No-49, Shilpa vidya, 1st Main, 3rd phase, J P nagara, Bangalore, 560078 India
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Saraswathy A, Nazeer SS, Jeevan M, Nimi N, Arumugam S, Harikrishnan VS, Varma PH, Jayasree RS. Citrate coated iron oxide nanoparticles with enhanced relaxivity for in vivo magnetic resonance imaging of liver fibrosis. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2014; 117:216-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2014.02.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 02/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Everolimus is a potent inhibitor of activated hepatic stellate cell functions in vitro and in vivo, while demonstrating anti-angiogenic activities. Clin Sci (Lond) 2014; 126:775-84. [DOI: 10.1042/cs20130081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The present study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of everolimus for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas in the fibrotic liver by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation and angiogenesis.
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Saraswathy A, Nazeer SS, Nimi N, Arumugam S, Shenoy SJ, Jayasree RS. Synthesis and characterization of dextran stabilized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for in vivo MR imaging of liver fibrosis. Carbohydr Polym 2013; 101:760-8. [PMID: 24299836 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Revised: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The field of medical imaging has recently seen rapid advances in the development of novel agents for enhancing image contrast. In particular, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with a variety of surface properties have been tried as effective contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, but with major side effects. In this study, the surface chemistry of SPIONs of size 12 nm was modified with high molecular weight dextran to yield particles of size 50 nm, without compromising the magnetic properties. A systematic characterization of the material for its size, coating efficiency, magnetic properties and biocompatibility has been carried out. The magnetic relaxivity as evaluated on a 1.5 T clinical magnet showed r2/r1 ratio of 56.28 which is higher than that reported for any other dextran stabilized ironoxide nanoparticles. Liver uptake and magnetic resonance imaging potential of dextran stabilized SPIONs (D-SPIONs) has been evaluated on liver fibrosis induced animal model, which is further supported by histopathology results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariya Saraswathy
- Biophotonics and Imaging Lab, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram 695 012, Kerala, India
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van Swelm RPL, Hadi M, Laarakkers CMM, Masereeuw R, Groothuis GMM, Russel FGM. Proteomic profiling in incubation medium of mouse, rat and human precision-cut liver slices for biomarker detection regarding acute drug-induced liver injury. J Appl Toxicol 2013; 34:993-1001. [PMID: 24038040 DOI: 10.1002/jat.2917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Revised: 06/21/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Drug-induced liver injury is one of the leading causes of drug withdrawal from the market. In this study, we investigated the applicability of protein profiling of the incubation medium of human, mouse and rat precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) exposed to liver injury-inducing drugs for biomarker identification, using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. PCLS were incubated with acetaminophen (APAP), 3-acetamidophenol, diclofenac and lipopolysaccharide for 24-48 h. PCLS medium from all species treated with APAP demonstrated similar changes in protein profiles, as previously found in mouse urine after APAP-induced liver injury, including the same key proteins: superoxide dismutase 1, carbonic anhydrase 3 and calmodulin. Further analysis showed that the concentration of hepcidin, a hepatic iron-regulating hormone peptide, was reduced in PCLS medium after APAP treatment, resembling the decreased mouse plasma concentrations of hepcidin observed after APAP treatment. Interestingly, comparable results were obtained after 3-acetamidophenol incubation in rat and human, but not mouse PCLS. Incubation with diclofenac, but not with lipopolysaccharide, resulted in the same toxicity parameters as observed for APAP, albeit to a lesser extent. In conclusion, proteomics can be applied to identify potential translational biomarkers using the PCLS system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel P L van Swelm
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Netherlands
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Ferrarini M, Steimberg N, Ponzoni M, Belloni D, Berenzi A, Girlanda S, Caligaris-Cappio F, Mazzoleni G, Ferrero E. Ex-vivo dynamic 3-D culture of human tissues in the RCCS™ bioreactor allows the study of Multiple Myeloma biology and response to therapy. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71613. [PMID: 23990965 PMCID: PMC3753321 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3-D) culture models are emerging as invaluable tools in tumor biology, since they reproduce tissue-specific structural features and cell-cell interactions more accurately than conventional 2-D cultures. Multiple Myeloma, which depends on myeloma cell-Bone Marrow microenvironment interactions for development and response to drugs, may particularly benefit from such an approach. An innovative 3-D dynamic culture model based on the use of the RCCS™ Bioreactor was developed to allow long-term culture of myeloma tissue explants. This model was first validated with normal and pathological explants, then applied to tissues from myeloma patients. In all cases, histological examination demonstrated maintenance of viable myeloma cells inside their native microenvironment, with an overall well preserved histo-architecture including bone lamellae and vessels. This system was then successfully applied to evaluate the cytotoxic effects exerted by the proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib not only on myeloma cells but also on angiogenic vessels. Moreover, as surrogate markers of specialized functions expressed by myeloma cells and microenvironment, β2 microglobulin, VEGF and Angiopoietin-2 levels, as well as Matrix Metalloproteases activity, were evaluated in supernatants from 3D cultures and their levels reflected the effects of Bortezomib treatment. Notably, determination of β2 microglobulin levels in supernatants from Bortezomib-treated samples and in patients'sera following Bortezomib-based therapies disclosed an overall concordance in the response to the drug ex vivo and in vivo. Our findings indicate, as a proof of principle, that 3-D, RCCS™ bioreactor-based culture of tissue explants can be exploited for studying myeloma biology and for a pre-clinical approach to patient-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Ferrarini
- Department of Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Clotworthy M, Archibald K. Advances in the development and use of human tissue-based techniques for drug toxicity testing. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2013; 9:1155-69. [PMID: 23687950 DOI: 10.1517/17425255.2013.802770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Unacceptable failure rates in clinical trials are largely responsible for the high costs of bringing successful drugs to market - costs that are passed on to patients, insurers or healthcare providers. Furthermore, failures in clinical trials deny patients much-needed new drugs and potentially expose them to unnecessary risk. With so many medicines reaching their patent expiry date, pressure is on the pharmaceutical industry to not only increase its output of effective medicines but also improve its ability to minimise safety issues. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on the availability and use of human tissues and their derivatives to explore potential toxicity problems of new drugs. The growth in the number and quality of human material-based assays and enabling technologies is reviewed, followed by a discussion of the application of such assays to identify specific toxicities, using specific examples. EXPERT OPINION Although human tissues are now beginning to be seen as playing an important role in evaluating the potential for toxicity of new drugs in the clinic, their importance deserves to be more widely recognised and their use in the identification of toxicity issues as early as possible in the drug development life cycle should be significantly increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Clotworthy
- Human Focused Testing, 50 the Barns, Littleport, Cambs CB6 1GG, England, UK.
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Gunness P, Mueller D, Shevchenko V, Heinzle E, Ingelman-Sundberg M, Noor F. 3D organotypic cultures of human HepaRG cells: a tool for in vitro toxicity studies. Toxicol Sci 2013; 133:67-78. [PMID: 23377618 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kft021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced human hepatotoxicity is difficult to predict using the current in vitro systems. In this study, long-term 3D organotypic cultures of the human hepatoma HepaRG cell line were prepared using a high-throughput hanging drop method. The organotypic cultures were maintained for 3 weeks and assessed for (1) liver specific functions, including phase I enzyme and transporter activities, (2) expression of liver-specific proteins, and (3) responses to three drugs (acetaminophen, troglitazone, and rosiglitazone). Our results show that the organotypic cultures maintain high liver-specific functionality during 3 weeks of culture. The immunohistochemistry analyses illustrate that the organotypic cultures express liver-specific markers such as albumin, CYP3A4, CYP2E1, and MRP-2 throughout the cultivation period. Accordingly, the production rates of albumin and glucose, as well as CYP2E1 activity, were significantly higher in the 3D versus the 2D cultures. Toxicity studies show that the organotypic cultures are more sensitive to acetaminophen- and rosiglitazone-induced toxicity but less sensitive to troglitazone-induced toxicity than the 2D cultures. Furthermore, the EC50 value (2.7mM) for acetaminophen on the 3D cultures was similar to in vivo toxicity. In summary, the results from our study suggest that the 3D organotypic HepaRG culture is a promising in vitro tool for more accurate assessment of acute and also possibly for chronic drug-induced hepatotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrina Gunness
- Section of Pharmacogenetics, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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50
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Sewald K, Braun A. Assessment of immunotoxicity using precision-cut tissue slices. Xenobiotica 2013; 43:84-97. [PMID: 23199366 PMCID: PMC3518294 DOI: 10.3109/00498254.2012.731543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2012] [Revised: 09/12/2012] [Accepted: 09/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
1.When the immune system encounters incoming infectious agents, this generally leads to immunity. The evoked immune response is usually robust, but can be severely perturbed by potentially harmful environmental agents such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals and allergens. 2.Immunosuppression, hypersensitivity and autoimmunity may occur due to changed immune activity. Evaluation of the immunotoxic potency of agents as part of risk assessment is currently established in vivo with animal models and in vitro with cell lines or primary cells. 3.Although in vivo testing is usually the most relevant situation for many agents, more and more in vitro models are being developed for assessment of immunotoxicity. In this context, hypersensitivity and immunosuppression are considered to be a primary focus for developing in vitro methods. Three-dimensional organotypic tissue models are also part of current research in immunotoxicology. 4.In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in organotypic tissue models. In the context of immunotoxicity testing, precision-cut lung slices in particular have been intensively studied. Therefore, this review is very much focused on pulmonary immunotoxicology. Respiratory hypersensitivity and inflammation are further highlighted aspects of this review. Immunotoxicity assessment currently is of limited use in other tissue models, which are therefore described only briefly within this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherina Sewald
- Department of Airway Immunology , Fraunhofer ITEM, Hannover, Germany.
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