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Schene IF, Ardisasmita AI, Fuchs SA. Misidentification of neural cell identity in liver-derived organoid systems. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:315-316. [PMID: 38335964 PMCID: PMC10937148 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Imre F Schene
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Arif I Ardisasmita
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sabine A Fuchs
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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2
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Han L, Song B, Zhang P, Zhong Z, Zhang Y, Bo X, Wang H, Zhang Y, Cui X, Zhou W. PC3T: a signature-driven predictor of chemical compounds for cellular transition. Commun Biol 2023; 6:989. [PMID: 37758874 PMCID: PMC10533498 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05225-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular transitions hold great promise in translational medicine research. However, therapeutic applications are limited by the low efficiency and safety concerns of using transcription factors. Small molecules provide a temporal and highly tunable approach to overcome these issues. Here, we present PC3T, a computational framework to enrich molecules that induce desired cellular transitions, and PC3T was able to consistently enrich small molecules that had been experimentally validated in both bulk and single-cell datasets. We then predicted small molecule reprogramming of fibroblasts into hepatic progenitor-like cells (HPLCs). The converted cells exhibited epithelial cell-like morphology and HPLC-like gene expression pattern. Hepatic functions were also observed, such as glycogen storage and lipid accumulation. Finally, we collected and manually curated a cell state transition resource containing 224 time-course gene expression datasets and 153 cell types. Our framework, together with the data resource, is freely available at http://pc3t.idrug.net.cn/ . We believe that PC3T is a powerful tool to promote chemical-induced cell state transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Han
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 100850, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Song
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Peilin Zhang
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi Zhong
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongxiang Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 100850, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaochen Bo
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, 100850, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiuliang Cui
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wenxia Zhou
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 100850, Beijing, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing, China.
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3
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Harrison SP, Siller R, Tanaka Y, Chollet ME, de la Morena-Barrio ME, Xiang Y, Patterson B, Andersen E, Bravo-Pérez C, Kempf H, Åsrud KS, Lunov O, Dejneka A, Mowinckel MC, Stavik B, Sandset PM, Melum E, Baumgarten S, Bonanini F, Kurek D, Mathapati S, Almaas R, Sharma K, Wilson SR, Skottvoll FS, Boger IC, Bogen IL, Nyman TA, Wu JJ, Bezrouk A, Cizkova D, Corral J, Mokry J, Zweigerdt R, Park IH, Sullivan GJ. Scalable production of tissue-like vascularized liver organoids from human PSCs. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:2005-2024. [PMID: 37653039 PMCID: PMC10545717 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01074-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The lack of physiological parity between 2D cell culture and in vivo culture has led to the development of more organotypic models, such as organoids. Organoid models have been developed for a number of tissues, including the liver. Current organoid protocols are characterized by a reliance on extracellular matrices (ECMs), patterning in 2D culture, costly growth factors and a lack of cellular diversity, structure, and organization. Current hepatic organoid models are generally simplistic and composed of hepatocytes or cholangiocytes, rendering them less physiologically relevant compared to native tissue. We have developed an approach that does not require 2D patterning, is ECM independent, and employs small molecules to mimic embryonic liver development that produces large quantities of liver-like organoids. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and immunofluorescence, we demonstrate a liver-like cellular repertoire, a higher order cellular complexity, presenting with vascular luminal structures, and a population of resident macrophages: Kupffer cells. The organoids exhibit key liver functions, including drug metabolism, serum protein production, urea synthesis and coagulation factor production, with preserved post-translational modifications such as N-glycosylation and functionality. The organoids can be transplanted and maintained long term in mice producing human albumin. The organoids exhibit a complex cellular repertoire reflective of the organ and have de novo vascularization and liver-like function. These characteristics are a prerequisite for many applications from cellular therapy, tissue engineering, drug toxicity assessment, and disease modeling to basic developmental biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Harrison
- Hybrid Technology Hub-Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Pediatric Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Richard Siller
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yoshiaki Tanaka
- Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center (CRHMR), University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Maria Eugenia Chollet
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Haematology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - María Eugenia de la Morena-Barrio
- Servicio de Hematología y Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB, CIBERER, Murcia, Spain
| | - Yangfei Xiang
- Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Benjamin Patterson
- Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Elisabeth Andersen
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Haematology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Carlos Bravo-Pérez
- Servicio de Hematología y Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB, CIBERER, Murcia, Spain
| | - Henning Kempf
- Department: Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kathrine S Åsrud
- Norwegian PSC Research Center, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Oleg Lunov
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alexandr Dejneka
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marie-Christine Mowinckel
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Haematology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Benedicte Stavik
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Haematology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Per Morten Sandset
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Haematology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Espen Melum
- Hybrid Technology Hub-Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Haematology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian PSC Research Center, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section for Gastroenterology, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- European Reference Network RARE-LIVER, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Saphira Baumgarten
- Hybrid Technology Hub-Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Pediatric Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Santosh Mathapati
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Runar Almaas
- Department of Pediatric Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- European Reference Network RARE-LIVER, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kulbhushan Sharma
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Steven R Wilson
- Hybrid Technology Hub-Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, Blindern, NO-0315, Oslo, Norway
| | - Frøydis S Skottvoll
- Hybrid Technology Hub-Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, Blindern, NO-0315, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ida C Boger
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, Blindern, NO-0315, Oslo, Norway
| | - Inger Lise Bogen
- Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tuula A Nyman
- Department of Immunology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jun Jie Wu
- Department of Engineering, Faculty of Science, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Ales Bezrouk
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Cizkova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Javier Corral
- Servicio de Hematología y Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB, CIBERER, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jaroslav Mokry
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Zweigerdt
- Department: Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - In-Hyun Park
- Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Gareth J Sullivan
- Hybrid Technology Hub-Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Pediatric Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Immunology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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4
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Lo EKW, Velazquez JJ, Peng D, Kwon C, Ebrahimkhani MR, Cahan P. Platform-agnostic CellNet enables cross-study analysis of cell fate engineering protocols. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1721-1742. [PMID: 37478860 PMCID: PMC10444577 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.06.008] [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: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Optimization of cell engineering protocols requires standard, comprehensive quality metrics. We previously developed CellNet, a computational tool to quantitatively assess the transcriptional fidelity of engineered cells compared with their natural counterparts, based on bulk-derived expression profiles. However, this platform and others were limited in their ability to compare data from different sources, and no current tool makes it easy to compare new protocols with existing state-of-the-art protocols in a standardized manner. Here, we utilized our prior application of the top-scoring pair transformation to build a computational platform, platform-agnostic CellNet (PACNet), to address both shortcomings. To demonstrate the utility of PACNet, we applied it to thousands of samples from over 100 studies that describe dozens of protocols designed to produce seven distinct cell types. We performed an in-depth examination of hepatocyte and cardiomyocyte protocols to identify the best-performing methods, characterize the extent of intra-protocol and inter-lab variation, and identify common off-target signatures, including a surprising neural/neuroendocrine signature in primary liver-derived organoids. We have made PACNet available as an easy-to-use web application, allowing users to assess their protocols relative to our database of reference engineered samples, and as open-source, extensible code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K W Lo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jeremy J Velazquez
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Da Peng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Chulan Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Mo R Ebrahimkhani
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Patrick Cahan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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5
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Sun L, Wang Y, Zhang S, Yang H, Mao Y. 3D bioprinted liver tissue and disease models: Current advances and future perspectives. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 152:213499. [PMID: 37295133 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a promising technology for fabricating complex tissue constructs with biomimetic biological functions and stable mechanical properties. In this review, the characteristics of different bioprinting technologies and materials are compared, and development in strategies for bioprinting normal and diseased hepatic tissue are summarized. In particular, features of bioprinting and other bio-fabrication strategies, such as organoids and spheroids are compared to demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of 3D printing technology. Directions and suggestions, such as vascularization and primary human hepatocyte culture, are provided for the future development of 3D bioprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lejia Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, PUMC & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Dongcheng, Beijing, 100730, China; Department of General Surgery, The First affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yinhan Wang
- Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & PUMC, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Shuquan Zhang
- Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & PUMC, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Huayu Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, PUMC & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Dongcheng, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yilei Mao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, PUMC & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Dongcheng, Beijing, 100730, China.
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6
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Garcia-Llorens G, Martínez-Sena T, Pareja E, Tolosa L, Castell JV, Bort R. A robust reprogramming strategy for generating hepatocyte-like cells usable in pharmaco-toxicological studies. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:94. [PMID: 37072803 PMCID: PMC10114490 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03311-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-throughput pharmaco-toxicological testing frequently relies on the use of established liver-derived cell lines, such as HepG2 cells. However, these cells often display limited hepatic phenotype and features of neoplastic transformation that may bias the interpretation of the results. Alternate models based on primary cultures or differentiated pluripotent stem cells are costly to handle and difficult to implement in high-throughput screening platforms. Thus, cells without malignant traits, optimal differentiation pattern, producible in large and homogeneous amounts and with patient-specific phenotypes would be desirable. METHODS We have designed and implemented a novel and robust approach to obtain hepatocytes from individuals by direct reprogramming, which is based on a combination of a single doxycycline-inducible polycistronic vector system expressing HNF4A, HNF1A and FOXA3, introduced in human fibroblasts previously transduced with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). These cells can be maintained in fibroblast culture media, under standard cell culture conditions. RESULTS Clonal hTERT-transduced human fibroblast cell lines can be expanded at least to 110 population doublings without signs of transformation or senescence. They can be easily differentiated at any cell passage number to hepatocyte-like cells with the simple addition of doxycycline to culture media. Acquisition of a hepatocyte phenotype is achieved in just 10 days and requires a simple and non-expensive cell culture media and standard 2D culture conditions. Hepatocytes reprogrammed from low and high passage hTERT-transduced fibroblasts display very similar transcriptomic profiles, biotransformation activities and show analogous pattern behavior in toxicometabolomic studies. Results indicate that this cell model outperforms HepG2 in toxicological screening. The procedure also allows generation of hepatocyte-like cells from patients with given pathological phenotypes. In fact, we succeeded in generating hepatocyte-like cells from a patient with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which recapitulated accumulation of intracellular alpha-1 antitrypsin polymers and deregulation of unfolded protein response and inflammatory networks. CONCLUSION Our strategy allows the generation of an unlimited source of clonal, homogeneous, non-transformed induced hepatocyte-like cells, capable of performing typical hepatic functions and suitable for pharmaco-toxicological high-throughput testing. Moreover, as far as hepatocyte-like cells derived from fibroblasts isolated from patients suffering hepatic dysfunctions, retain the disease traits, as demonstrated for alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, this strategy can be applied to the study of other cases of anomalous hepatocyte functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillem Garcia-Llorens
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental y Trasplante Hepático, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Hospital Universitario y Politecnico La Fe, Torre A. Lab 6.08, Avda. Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Teresa Martínez-Sena
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental y Trasplante Hepático, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Hospital Universitario y Politecnico La Fe, Torre A. Lab 6.08, Avda. Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain
| | - Eugenia Pareja
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental y Trasplante Hepático, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Hospital Universitario y Politecnico La Fe, Torre A. Lab 6.08, Avda. Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Cirugía General y Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Dr. Peset, Valencia, Spain
| | - Laia Tolosa
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental y Trasplante Hepático, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Hospital Universitario y Politecnico La Fe, Torre A. Lab 6.08, Avda. Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingenieria, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-Bbn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - José V Castell
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental y Trasplante Hepático, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Hospital Universitario y Politecnico La Fe, Torre A. Lab 6.08, Avda. Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Roque Bort
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental y Trasplante Hepático, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Hospital Universitario y Politecnico La Fe, Torre A. Lab 6.08, Avda. Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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7
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Yang W, Wang Y, Du Y, Li J, Jia M, Li S, Ma R, Li C, Deng H, Hu P. Chemical reprogramming of melanocytes to skeletal muscle cells. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2023; 14:903-914. [PMID: 36726338 PMCID: PMC10067486 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Direct cell-fate conversion by chemical reprogramming is promising for regenerative cell therapies. However, this process requires the reactivation of a set of master transcription factors (TFs) of the target cell type, which has proven challenging using only small molecules. METHODS We developed a novel small-molecule cocktail permitting robust skin cell to muscle cell conversion. By single cell sequencing analysis, we identified a Pax3 (Paired box 3)-expressing melanocyte population holding a superior myogenic potential outperforming other seven types of skin cells. We further validated the single cell sequencing analysis results using immunofluorescence staining, in situ hybridization and FACS sorting and confirmed the myogenic potential of melanocytes during chemical reprogramming. We used single cell RNA-seq that detect the potential converted cell type, uncovering a unique role of Pax3 in facilitating chemical reprogramming from melanocytes to muscle cells. RESULTS In this study, we demonstrated that the Pax3-expressing melanocytes to be a skin cell type for skeletal muscle cell fate conversion in chemical reprogramming. By developing a small-molecule cocktail, we showed an efficient melanocyte reprogramming to skeletal muscle cells (40%, P < 0.001). The endogenous expression of specific TFs may circumvent the additional requirement for TF reactivation and form a shortcut for cell fate conversion, suggesting a basic principle that could ease cell fate conversion. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates the first report of melanocyte-to-muscle conversion by small molecules, suggesting a novel strategy for muscle regeneration. Furthermore, skin is one of the tissues closely located to skeletal muscle, and therefore, our results provide a promising foundation for therapeutic chemical reprogramming in vivo treating skeletal muscle degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Yang
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Guangzhou Laboratory-Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; School of life Sciences, Center for Bioinformatics, Center for Statistical Science, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqi Wang
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Guangzhou Laboratory-Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; School of life Sciences, Center for Bioinformatics, Center for Statistical Science, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Du
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Regenerative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center and the MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for LifeSciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiyong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Minzhi Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Guangzhou Laboratory-Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; School of life Sciences, Center for Bioinformatics, Center for Statistical Science, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruimiao Ma
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Guangzhou Laboratory-Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; School of life Sciences, Center for Bioinformatics, Center for Statistical Science, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Li
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Guangzhou Laboratory-Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; School of life Sciences, Center for Bioinformatics, Center for Statistical Science, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongkui Deng
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Regenerative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center and the MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for LifeSciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Hu
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Guangzhou Laboratory-Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; School of life Sciences, Center for Bioinformatics, Center for Statistical Science, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,The 10th Hospital affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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8
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A single cell-based computational platform to identify chemical compounds targeting desired sets of transcription factors for cellular conversion. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:131-144. [PMID: 36400030 PMCID: PMC9859931 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.10.013] [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: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular conversion can be induced by perturbing a handful of key transcription factors (TFs). Replacement of direct manipulation of key TFs with chemical compounds offers a less laborious and safer strategy to drive cellular conversion for regenerative medicine. Nevertheless, identifying optimal chemical compounds currently requires large-scale screening of chemical libraries, which is resource intensive. Existing computational methods aim at predicting cell conversion TFs, but there are no methods for identifying chemical compounds targeting these TFs. Here, we develop a single cell-based platform (SiPer) to systematically prioritize chemical compounds targeting desired TFs to guide cellular conversions. SiPer integrates a large compendium of chemical perturbations on non-cancer cells with a network model and predicted known and novel chemical compounds in diverse cell conversion examples. Importantly, we applied SiPer to develop a highly efficient protocol for human hepatic maturation. Overall, SiPer provides a valuable resource to efficiently identify chemical compounds for cell conversion.
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9
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Zheng S, Bian H, Li J, Shen Y, Yang Y, Hu W. Differentiation therapy: Unlocking phenotypic plasticity of hepatocellular carcinoma. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2022; 180:103854. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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10
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A comprehensive transcriptomic comparison of hepatocyte model systems improves selection of models for experimental use. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1094. [PMID: 36241695 PMCID: PMC9568534 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04046-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The myriad of available hepatocyte in vitro models provides researchers the possibility to select hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) for specific research goals. However, direct comparison of hepatocyte models is currently challenging. We systematically searched the literature and compared different HLCs, but reported functions were limited to a small subset of hepatic functions. To enable a more comprehensive comparison, we developed an algorithm to compare transcriptomic data across studies that tested HLCs derived from hepatocytes, biliary cells, fibroblasts, and pluripotent stem cells, alongside primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). This revealed that no HLC covered the complete hepatic transcriptome, highlighting the importance of HLC selection. HLCs derived from hepatocytes had the highest transcriptional resemblance to PHHs regardless of the protocol, whereas the quality of fibroblasts and PSC derived HLCs varied depending on the protocol used. Finally, we developed and validated a web application (HLCompR) enabling comparison for specific pathways and addition of new HLCs. In conclusion, our comprehensive transcriptomic comparison of HLCs allows selection of HLCs for specific research questions and can guide improvements in culturing conditions.
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11
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Di Zeo-Sánchez DE, Segovia-Zafra A, Matilla-Cabello G, Pinazo-Bandera JM, Andrade RJ, Lucena MI, Villanueva-Paz M. Modeling drug-induced liver injury: current status and future prospects. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2022; 18:555-573. [DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2022.2122810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Di Zeo-Sánchez
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Gastroenterología, Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Segovia-Zafra
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Gastroenterología, Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Matilla-Cabello
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Gastroenterología, Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - José M. Pinazo-Bandera
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Gastroenterología, Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Raúl J. Andrade
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Gastroenterología, Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - M. Isabel Lucena
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Gastroenterología, Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Plataforma ISCIII de Ensayos Clínicos. UICEC-IBIMA, 29071, Malaga, Spain
| | - Marina Villanueva-Paz
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Gastroenterología, Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
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12
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Induced Endothelial Cell-Integrated Liver Assembloids Promote Hepatic Maturation and Therapeutic Effect on Cholestatic Liver Fibrosis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142242. [PMID: 35883684 PMCID: PMC9317515 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The transplantation of pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived liver organoids has been studied to solve the current donor shortage. However, the differentiation of unintended cell populations, difficulty in generating multi-lineage organoids, and tumorigenicity of PSC-derived organoids are challenges. However, direct conversion technology has allowed for the generation lineage-restricted induced stem cells from somatic cells bypassing the pluripotent state, thereby eliminating tumorigenic risks. Here, liver assembloids (iHEAs) were generated by integrating induced endothelial cells (iECs) into the liver organoids (iHLOs) generated with induced hepatic stem cells (iHepSCs). Liver assembloids showed enhanced functional maturity compared to iHLOs in vitro and improved therapeutic effects on cholestatic liver fibrosis animals in vivo. Mechanistically, FN1 expressed from iECs led to the upregulation of Itgα5/β1 and Hnf4α in iHEAs and were correlated to the decreased expression of genes related to hepatic stellate cell activation such as Lox and Spp1 in the cholestatic liver fibrosis animals. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the possibility of generating transplantable iHEAs with directly converted cells, and our results evidence that integrating iECs allows iHEAs to have enhanced hepatic maturation compared to iHLOs.
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Tuerxun K, He J, Ibrahim I, Yusupu Z, Yasheng A, Xu Q, Tang R, Aikebaier A, Wu Y, Tuerdi M, Nijiati M, Zou X, Xu T. Bioartificial livers: a review of their design and manufacture. Biofabrication 2022; 14. [PMID: 35545058 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac6e86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rapidly progressive disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. Liver transplantation and artificial liver support systems, such as artificial livers (ALs) and bioartificial livers (BALs), are the two major therapies for ALF. Compared to ALs, BALs are composed of functional hepatocytes that provide essential liver functions, including detoxification, metabolite synthesis, and biotransformation. Furthermore, BALs can potentially provide effective support as a form of bridging therapy to liver transplantation or spontaneous recovery for patients with ALF. In this review, we systematically discussed the currently available state-of-the-art designs and manufacturing processes for BAL support systems. Specifically, we classified the cell sources and bioreactors that are applied in BALs, highlighted the advanced technologies of hepatocyte culturing and bioreactor fabrication, and discussed the current challenges and future trends in developing next generation BALs for large scale clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kahaer Tuerxun
- Department of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Jianyu He
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 30 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, Beijing, 100084, CHINA
| | - Irxat Ibrahim
- Department of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, China, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Zainuer Yusupu
- Department of Ultrasound, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, China, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Abudoukeyimu Yasheng
- Department of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Qilin Xu
- Department of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Ronghua Tang
- Department of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Aizemaiti Aikebaier
- Department of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Yuanquan Wu
- Department of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, China, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Maimaitituerxun Tuerdi
- Department of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, China, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Mayidili Nijiati
- Medical imaging center, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, China, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Xiaoguang Zou
- Hospital Organ, First People's Hospital of Kashi, 120th, Yingbin Road, Kashi, Xinjiang, 844000, CHINA
| | - Tao Xu
- Tsinghua University, 30 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100084, CHINA
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14
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Ma H, de Zwaan E, Guo YE, Cejas P, Thiru P, van de Bunt M, Jeppesen JF, Syamala S, Dall'Agnese A, Abraham BJ, Fu D, Garrett-Engele C, Lee TI, Long HW, Griffith LG, Young RA, Jaenisch R. The nuclear receptor THRB facilitates differentiation of human PSCs into more mature hepatocytes. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:795-809.e11. [PMID: 35452598 PMCID: PMC9466295 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
To understand the mechanisms regulating the in vitro maturation of hPSC-derived hepatocytes, we developed a 3D differentiation system and compared gene regulatory elements in human primary hepatocytes with those in hPSC-hepatocytes that were differentiated in 2D or 3D conditions by RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and H3K27Ac ChIP-seq. Regulome comparisons showed a reduced enrichment of thyroid receptor THRB motifs in accessible chromatin and active enhancers without a reduced transcription of THRB. The addition of thyroid hormone T3 increased the binding of THRB to the CYP3A4 proximal enhancer, restored the super-enhancer status and gene expression of NFIC, and reduced the expression of AFP. The resultant hPSC-hepatocytes showed gene expression, epigenetic status, and super-enhancer landscape closer to primary hepatocytes and activated regulatory regions including non-coding SNPs associated with liver-related diseases. Transplanting the hPSC-hepatocytes resulted in the engraftment of human hepatocytes into the mouse liver without disrupting normal liver histology. This work implicates the environmental factor-nuclear receptor axis in regulating the maturation of hPSC-hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiting Ma
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Esmée de Zwaan
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Yang Eric Guo
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Paloma Cejas
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Prathapan Thiru
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Jacob F Jeppesen
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Global Drug Discovery, Novo Nordisk, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sudeepa Syamala
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Brian J Abraham
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Computational Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Dongdong Fu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Tong Ihn Lee
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Henry W Long
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linda G Griffith
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Richard A Young
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rudolf Jaenisch
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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15
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Raggi C, M'Callum MA, Pham QT, Gaub P, Selleri S, Baratang NV, Mangahas CL, Cagnone G, Reversade B, Joyal JS, Paganelli M. Leveraging interacting signaling pathways to robustly improve the quality and yield of human pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatoblasts and hepatocytes. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:584-598. [PMID: 35120625 PMCID: PMC9039749 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) have shown great potential as an alternative to primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) for in vitro modeling. Several differentiation protocols have been described to direct PSCs toward the hepatic fate. Here, by leveraging recent knowledge of the signaling pathways involved in liver development, we describe a robust, scalable protocol that allowed us to consistently generate high-quality bipotent human hepatoblasts and HLCs from both embryonic stem cells and induced PSC (iPSCs). Although not yet fully mature, such HLCs were more similar to adult PHHs than were cells obtained with previously described protocols, showing good potential as a physiologically representative alternative to PHHs for in vitro modeling. PSC-derived hepatoblasts effectively generated with this protocol could differentiate into mature hepatocytes and cholangiocytes within syngeneic liver organoids, thus opening the way for representative human 3D in vitro modeling of liver development and pathophysiology. We generated human hepatoblasts and hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) from pluripotent stem cells Timed action on Wnt/β-catenin and TGFβ pathways improved maturity and yield of HLCs Hepatoblasts matured into hepatocytes and bile ducts within complex liver organoids The protocol is robust and showed potential for scalability and drug testing
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Raggi
- Liver Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Laboratory, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada; Morphocell Technologies Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Agnès M'Callum
- Liver Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Laboratory, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Quang Toan Pham
- Liver Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Laboratory, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Perrine Gaub
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada; Morphocell Technologies Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Silvia Selleri
- Liver Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Laboratory, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Chenicka Lyn Mangahas
- Liver Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Laboratory, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gaël Cagnone
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Bruno Reversade
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and Institute of Medical Biology, A(∗)STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jean-Sébastien Joyal
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Massimiliano Paganelli
- Liver Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Laboratory, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Morphocell Technologies Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada; Pediatric Hepatology, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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16
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Liver Regeneration and Cell Transplantation for End-Stage Liver Disease. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11121907. [PMID: 34944550 PMCID: PMC8699389 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation is the only curative option for end-stage liver disease; however, the limitations of liver transplantation require further research into other alternatives. Considering that liver regeneration is prevalent in liver injury settings, regenerative medicine is suggested as a promising therapeutic strategy for end-stage liver disease. Upon the source of regenerating hepatocytes, liver regeneration could be divided into two categories: hepatocyte-driven liver regeneration (typical regeneration) and liver progenitor cell-driven liver regeneration (alternative regeneration). Due to the massive loss of hepatocytes, the alternative regeneration plays a vital role in end-stage liver disease. Advances in knowledge of liver regeneration and tissue engineering have accelerated the progress of regenerative medicine strategies for end-stage liver disease. In this article, we generally reviewed the recent findings and current knowledge of liver regeneration, mainly regarding aspects of the histological basis of regeneration, histogenesis and mechanisms of hepatocytes' regeneration. In addition, this review provides an update on the regenerative medicine strategies for end-stage liver disease. We conclude that regenerative medicine is a promising therapeutic strategy for end-stage liver disease. However, further studies are still required.
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17
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Sun X, Xiang J, Chen R, Geng Z, Wang L, Liu Y, Ji S, Chen H, Li Y, Zhang C, Liu P, Yue T, Dong L, Fu X. Sweat Gland Organoids Originating from Reprogrammed Epidermal Keratinocytes Functionally Recapitulated Damaged Skin. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2103079. [PMID: 34569165 PMCID: PMC8596119 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Restoration of sweat glands (SwGs) represents a great issue in patients with extensive skin defects. Recent methods combining organoid technology with cell fate reprogramming hold promise for developing new regenerative methods for SwG regeneration. Here, a practical strategy for engineering functional human SwGs in vitro and in vivo is provided. First, by forced expression of the ectodysplasin-A in human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) combined with specific SwG culture medium, HEKs are efficiently converted into SwG cells (iSwGCs). The iSwGCs show typical morphology, gene expression pattern, and functions resembling human primary SwG cells. Second, by culturing the iSwGCs in a special 3D culturing system, SwG organoids (iSwGOs) that exhibit structural and biological features characteristic of native SwGs are obtained. Finally, these iSwGOs are successfully transplanted into a mouse skin damage model and they develop into fully functioning SwGs in vivo. Regeneration of functional SwG organoids from reprogrammed HEKs highlights the great translational potential for personalized SwG regeneration in patients with large skin defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Sun
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical CenterPLA General Hospital and PLA Medical CollegePLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin InjuryRepair and RegenerationResearch Unit of Trauma CareTissue Repair and RegenerationChinese Academy of Medical Sciences2019RU051Beijing100048P. R. China
| | - Jiangbing Xiang
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical CenterPLA General Hospital and PLA Medical CollegePLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin InjuryRepair and RegenerationResearch Unit of Trauma CareTissue Repair and RegenerationChinese Academy of Medical Sciences2019RU051Beijing100048P. R. China
- Bioengineering College of Chongqing UniversityChongqing400044P. R. China
| | - Runkai Chen
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical CenterPLA General Hospital and PLA Medical CollegePLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin InjuryRepair and RegenerationResearch Unit of Trauma CareTissue Repair and RegenerationChinese Academy of Medical Sciences2019RU051Beijing100048P. R. China
- Department of General SurgeryChinese PLA General Hospital28 Fu Xing RoadBeijing100853P. R. China
| | - Zhijun Geng
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical CenterPLA General Hospital and PLA Medical CollegePLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin InjuryRepair and RegenerationResearch Unit of Trauma CareTissue Repair and RegenerationChinese Academy of Medical Sciences2019RU051Beijing100048P. R. China
| | - Lintao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
| | - Yiqiong Liu
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical CenterPLA General Hospital and PLA Medical CollegePLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin InjuryRepair and RegenerationResearch Unit of Trauma CareTissue Repair and RegenerationChinese Academy of Medical Sciences2019RU051Beijing100048P. R. China
| | - Shuaifei Ji
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical CenterPLA General Hospital and PLA Medical CollegePLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin InjuryRepair and RegenerationResearch Unit of Trauma CareTissue Repair and RegenerationChinese Academy of Medical Sciences2019RU051Beijing100048P. R. China
| | - Huating Chen
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical CenterPLA General Hospital and PLA Medical CollegePLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin InjuryRepair and RegenerationResearch Unit of Trauma CareTissue Repair and RegenerationChinese Academy of Medical Sciences2019RU051Beijing100048P. R. China
| | - Yan Li
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical CenterPLA General Hospital and PLA Medical CollegePLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin InjuryRepair and RegenerationResearch Unit of Trauma CareTissue Repair and RegenerationChinese Academy of Medical Sciences2019RU051Beijing100048P. R. China
| | - Cuiping Zhang
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical CenterPLA General Hospital and PLA Medical CollegePLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin InjuryRepair and RegenerationResearch Unit of Trauma CareTissue Repair and RegenerationChinese Academy of Medical Sciences2019RU051Beijing100048P. R. China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringSchool of MedicineTsinghua UniversityHaidian DistrictBeijing100084China
| | - Tao Yue
- School of Mechatronic Engineering and AutomationShanghai UniversityShanghai200444China
- Shanghai Institute of Intelligent Science and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghai200092China
| | - Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
| | - Xiaobing Fu
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Department and 4th Medical CenterPLA General Hospital and PLA Medical CollegePLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin InjuryRepair and RegenerationResearch Unit of Trauma CareTissue Repair and RegenerationChinese Academy of Medical Sciences2019RU051Beijing100048P. R. China
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18
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Zhang L, Ge J, Zheng Y, Sun Z, Wang C, Peng Z, Wu B, Fang M, Furuya K, Ma X, Shao Y, Ohkohchi N, Oda T, Fan J, Pan G, Li D, Hui L. Survival-Assured Liver Injury Preconditioning (SALIC) Enables Robust Expansion of Human Hepatocytes in Fah -/- Rag2 -/- IL2rg -/- Rats. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2101188. [PMID: 34382351 PMCID: PMC8498896 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202101188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although liver-humanized animals are desirable tools for drug development and expansion of human hepatocytes in large quantities, their development is restricted to mice. In animals larger than mice, a precondition for efficient liver humanization remains preliminary because of different xeno-repopulation kinetics in livers of larger sizes. Since rats are ten times larger than mice and widely used in pharmacological studies, liver-humanized rats are more preferable. Here, Fah-/- Rag2-/- IL2rg-/- (FRG) rats are generated by CRISPR/Cas9, showing accelerated liver failure and lagged liver xeno-repopulation compared to FRG mice. A survival-assured liver injury preconditioning (SALIC) protocol, which consists of retrorsine pretreatment and cycling 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC) administration by defined concentrations and time intervals, is developed to reduce the mortality of FRG rats and induce a regenerative microenvironment for xeno-repopulation. Human hepatocyte repopulation is boosted to 31 ± 4% in rat livers at 7 months after transplantation, equivalent to approximately a 1200-fold expansion. Human liver features of transcriptome and zonation are reproduced in humanized rats. Remarkably, they provide sufficient samples for the pharmacokinetic profiling of human-specific metabolites. This model is thus preferred for pharmacological studies and human hepatocyte production. SALIC may also be informative to hepatocyte transplantation in other large-sized species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of ScienceShanghai200031China
| | - Jian‐Yun Ge
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaIbaraki305‐8575Japan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for BiomedicineSchool of Biotechnology and Heath SciencesWuyi UniversityJiangmenGuangdong529020China
| | - Yun‐Wen Zheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaIbaraki305‐8575Japan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for BiomedicineSchool of Biotechnology and Heath SciencesWuyi UniversityJiangmenGuangdong529020China
- Institute of Regenerative MedicineAffiliated Hospital of Jiangsu UniversityJiangsu UniversityZhenjiangJiangsu212001China
- Yokohama City University School of MedicineYokohamaKanagawa234‐0006Japan
| | - Zhen Sun
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghai201210China
| | - Chenhua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of ScienceShanghai200031China
| | - Zhaoliang Peng
- Shanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201203China
| | - Baihua Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of ScienceShanghai200031China
| | - Mei Fang
- Institute of Regenerative MedicineAffiliated Hospital of Jiangsu UniversityJiangsu UniversityZhenjiangJiangsu212001China
| | - Kinji Furuya
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaIbaraki305‐8575Japan
| | - Xiaolong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of ScienceShanghai200031China
| | - Yanjiao Shao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life SciencesEast China Normal UniversityShanghai200241China
| | - Nobuhiro Ohkohchi
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaIbaraki305‐8575Japan
| | - Tatsuya Oda
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaIbaraki305‐8575Japan
| | - Jianglin Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for BiomedicineSchool of Biotechnology and Heath SciencesWuyi UniversityJiangmenGuangdong529020China
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Faculty of MedicineInterdisciplinary Graduate School of MedicineUniversity of YamanashiShimokatoYamanashi409‐3898Japan
| | - Guoyu Pan
- Shanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201203China
| | - Dali Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life SciencesEast China Normal UniversityShanghai200241China
| | - Lijian Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of ScienceShanghai200031China
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghai201210China
- School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced StudyUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesHangzhou310024China
- Institute for Stem Cell and RegenerationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
- Bio‐Research Innovation CenterShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologySuzhouJiangsu215121China
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19
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Rombaut M, Boeckmans J, Rodrigues RM, van Grunsven LA, Vanhaecke T, De Kock J. Direct reprogramming of somatic cells into induced hepatocytes: Cracking the Enigma code. J Hepatol 2021; 75:690-705. [PMID: 33989701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.04.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
There is an unmet need for functional primary human hepatocytes to support the pharmaceutical and (bio)medical demand. The unique discovery, a decade ago, that somatic cells can be drawn out of their apparent biological lockdown to reacquire a pluripotent state has revealed a completely new avenue of possibilities for generating surrogate human hepatocytes. Since then, the number of papers reporting the direct conversion of somatic cells into induced hepatocytes (iHeps) has burgeoned. A hepatic cell fate can be established via the ectopic expression of native liver-enriched transcription factors in somatic cells, thereby bypassing the need for an intermediate (pluripotent) stem cell state. That said, understanding and eventually controlling the processes that give rise to functional iHeps remains challenging. In this review, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art reprogramming cocktails and techniques, as well as their corresponding conversion efficiencies. Special attention is paid to the role of liver-enriched transcription factors as hepatogenic reprogramming tools and small molecules as facilitators of hepatic transdifferentiation. To conclude, we formulate recommendations to optimise, standardise and enrich the in vitro production of iHeps to reach clinical standards, and propose minimal criteria for their characterisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Rombaut
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Joost Boeckmans
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robim M Rodrigues
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tamara Vanhaecke
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joery De Kock
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
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20
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Deng J, Luo K, Xu P, Jiang Q, Wang Y, Yao Y, Chen X, Cheng F, Xie D, Deng H. High-efficiency c-Myc-mediated induction of functional hepatoblasts from the human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:375. [PMID: 34215318 PMCID: PMC8254319 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02419-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Direct reprogramming of human fibroblasts to hepatocyte-like cells was proposed to generate large-scale functional hepatocytes demanded by liver tissue engineering. However, the difficulty in obtaining large quantities of human fibroblasts greatly restricted the extensive implementation of this approach. Meanwhile, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) are the preferred cell source for HLCs with the advantages of limited ethical concerns, easy accessibility, and propagation in vitro. However, no direct reprogramming protocol for converting HUMSCs to hepatoblast-like cells (HLCs) has been reported. Methods HLCs were successfully generated from HUMSCs by forced expression of FOXA3, HNF1A, and HNF4A (collectively as 3TFs) and c-Myc. In vitro and in vivo functional experiments were conducted to demonstrate the hepatic phenotype, characterization, and function of HUMSC-derived HLCs (HUMSC-iHeps). ChIP-seq and RNA-seq were integrated to reveal the potential molecular mechanisms underlying c-Myc-mediated reprogramming. Results We showed that c-Myc greatly improved the trans-differentiation efficiency for HLCs from HUMSCs, which remained highly efficient in reprogramming fibroblasts into HLCs, suggesting c-Myc could promote direct reprogramming and its potentially widespread applicability for generating large amounts of HLCs in vitro. Mice transplantation experiments further confirmed the therapeutic potential of HUMSC-iHeps by liver function restoration and survival prolongation. Besides, in vivo safety assessment demonstrated the low risk of the tumorigenic potential of HUMSC-iHeps. We found that c-Myc functioned predominantly at an early phase of reprogramming, and we further unraveled the regulatory network altered by c-Myc. Conclusions c-Myc enhanced reprogramming efficiency of HLCs from HUMSCs. A large scale of functional HLCs generated more conveniently from HUMSCs could benefit biomedical studies and applications of liver diseases. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-021-02419-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas (CCLA), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Kai Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.,National Frontier Center of Disease Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Pengchao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingyuan Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics, Sichuan Provincial Hospital for Women and Children, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunqi Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuyi Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China. .,National Frontier Center of Disease Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Hongxin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
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21
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Pan SH, Zhao N, Feng X, Jie Y, Jin ZB. Conversion of mouse embryonic fibroblasts into neural crest cells and functional corneal endothelia by defined small molecules. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/23/eabg5749. [PMID: 34088673 PMCID: PMC8177713 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg5749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Reprogramming of somatic cells into desired functional cell types by small molecules has vast potential for developing cell replacement therapy. Here, we developed a stepwise strategy to generate chemically induced neural crest cells (ciNCCs) and chemically induced corneal endothelial cells (ciCECs) from mouse fibroblasts using defined small molecules. The ciNCCs exhibited typical NCC features and could differentiate into ciCECs using another chemical combination in vitro. The resulting ciCECs showed consistent gene expression profiles and self-renewal capacity to those of primary CECs. Notably, these ciCECs could be cultured for as long as 30 passages and still retain the CEC features in defined medium. Transplantation of these ciCECs into an animal model reversed corneal opacity. Our chemical approach for direct reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into ciNCCs and ciCECs provides an alternative cell source for regeneration of corneal endothelia and other tissues derived from neural crest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Hui Pan
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Ning Zhao
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing 100730, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University and Capital Medical University, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Xiang Feng
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Ying Jie
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing 100730, China.
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University and Capital Medical University, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
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22
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Wang X, Zhang W, Yang Y, Wang J, Qiu H, Liao L, Oikawa T, Wauthier E, Sethupathy P, Reid LM, Liu Z, He Z. A MicroRNA-Based Network Provides Potential Predictive Signatures and Reveals the Crucial Role of PI3K/AKT Signaling for Hepatic Lineage Maturation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:670059. [PMID: 34141708 PMCID: PMC8204022 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.670059] [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: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Functions of miRNAs involved in tumorigenesis are well reported, yet, their roles in normal cell lineage commitment remain ambiguous. Here, we investigated a specific "transcription factor (TF)-miRNA-Target" regulatory network during the lineage maturation of biliary tree stem cells (BTSCs) into adult hepatocytes (hAHeps). Method Bioinformatic analysis was conducted based on our RNA-seq and microRNA-seq datasets with four human hepatic-lineage cell lines, including hBTSCs, hepatic stem cells (hHpSCs), hepatoblasts (hHBs), and hAHeps. Short time-series expression miner (STEM) analysis was performed to reveal the time-dependent dynamically changed miRNAs and mRNAs. GO and KEGG analyses were applied to reveal the potential function of key miRNAs and mRNAs. Then, the miRDB, miRTarBase, TargetScan, miRWalk, and DIANA-microT-CDS databases were adopted to predict the potential targets of miRNAs while the TransmiR v2.0 database was used to obtain the experimentally supported TFs that regulate miRNAs. The TCGA, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, and human protein atlas (HPA) databases and more than 10 sequencing data, including bulk RNA-seq, microRNA-seq, and scRNA-seq data related to hepatic development or lineage reprogramming, were obtained from both our or other published studies for validation. Results STEM analysis showed that during the maturation from hBTSCs to hAHeps, 52 miRNAs were downwardly expressed and 928 mRNA were upwardly expressed. Enrichment analyses revealed that those 52 miRNAs acted as pluripotency regulators for stem cells and participated in various novel signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and etc., while 928 mRNAs played important roles in liver-functional metabolism. With an extensive sorting of those key miRNAs and mRNAs based on the target prediction results, 23 genes were obtained which not only functioned as the targets of 17 miRNAs but were considered critical for the hepatic lineage commitment. A "TF-miRNA-Target" regulatory network for hepatic lineage commitment was therefore established and had been well validated by various datasets. The network revealed that the PI3K/AKT pathway was gradually suppressed during the hepatic commitment. Conclusion A total of 17 miRNAs act as suppressors during hepatic maturation mainly by regulating 23 targets and modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The regulatory network uncovers possible signatures and guidelines enabling us to identify or obtain the functional hepatocytes for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xicheng Wang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
| | - Wencheng Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jiansong Wang
- Department of Traumatology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hua Qiu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Lijun Liao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tsunekazu Oikawa
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eliane Wauthier
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Lola M Reid
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Zhongmin Liu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiying He
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
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23
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Thompson WL, Takebe T. Human liver model systems in a dish. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:47-58. [PMID: 33423319 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The human adult liver has a multi-cellular structure consisting of large lobes subdivided into lobules containing portal triads and hepatic cords lined by specialized blood vessels. Vital hepatic functions include filtering blood, metabolizing drugs, and production of bile and blood plasma proteins like albumin, among many other functions, which are generally dependent on the location or zone in which the hepatocyte resides in the liver. Due to the liver's intricate structure, there are many challenges to design differentiation protocols to generate more mature functional hepatocytes from human stem cells and maintain the long-term viability and functionality of primary hepatocytes. To this end, recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) stem cell culture have accelerated the generation of a human miniature liver system, also known as liver organoids, with polarized epithelial cells, supportive cell types and extra-cellular matrix deposition by translating knowledge gained in studies of animal organogenesis and regeneration. To facilitate the efforts to study human development and disease using in vitro hepatic models, a thorough understanding of state-of-art protocols and underlying rationales is essential. Here, we review rapidly evolving 3D liver models, mainly focusing on organoid models differentiated from human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy L Thompson
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Developmental Biology, Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Takanori Takebe
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Developmental Biology, Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.,Communication Design Center, Advanced Medical Research Center, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
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24
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Qiao S, Feng S, Wu Z, He T, Ma C, Peng Z, Tian E, Pan G. Functional Proliferating Human Hepatocytes: In Vitro Hepatocyte Model for Drug Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity. Drug Metab Dispos 2021; 49:305-313. [PMID: 33526515 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.120.000275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To develop a functional alternative hepatocyte model for primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) with proliferative property, essential drug metabolic, and transporter functions, proliferating human hepatocytes (ProliHHs) expanded from PHHs were fully characterized in vitro. Herein, ProliHHs generated from multiple PHHs donors could be expanded more than 200-fold within four passages and maintained their metabolic or transporter capacities partially. Furthermore, ProliHHs were able to regain the mature hepatic property after three-dimensional (3D) culture. Particularly, the downregulated mRNA expression and function of three major cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4) in the proliferating process (ProliHHs-P) could be recovered by 3D culture. The metabolic variabilities across different PHHs donors could be inherited to their matured ProliHHs (ProliHHs-M). The intrinsic clearances of seven major P450 enzymes in ProliHHs-M correlated well (r = 0.87) with those in PHHs. Also, bile canaliculi structures could be observed in sandwich-cultured ProliHHs (SC-ProliHHs), and the biliary excretion index of four probe compounds [cholyl-lys-fluorescein, 5-(and-6)-carboxy-2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (CDF), deuterium-labeled sodium taurocholate acid, and rosuvastatin] in SC-ProliHHs (>10%) were close to sandwich-cultured PHHs. More importantly, both ProliHHs-P and ProliHHs-M could be used to evaluate hepatotoxicity. Therefore, these findings demonstrated that the 3D and sandwich culture system could be used to recover the metabolic and transporter functions in ProliHHs for clearance prediction and cholestasis risk assessment, respectively. Together, ProliHHs could be a promising substitute for PHHs in drug metabolism, transport, and hepatotoxicity screening. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This report describes the study of drug metabolic capacities, efflux transporter functions, and toxicity assessments of proliferating human hepatocytes (ProliHHs). The metabolic variability in different primary human hepatocyte donors could be inherited by their matured ProliHHs derivatives. Also, ProliHHs could form canalicular networks in sandwich culture and display biliary excretion capacities. More importantly, both the proliferative and maturation statuses of ProliHHs could be used to evaluate hepatotoxicity. Together, ProliHHs were feasible to support drug candidate screening in hepatic metabolism, disposition, and toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shida Qiao
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); Shanghai Hexaell Biotech Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China (S.F., E.T.); Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China (Z.W.); and Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China (T.H.)
| | - Sisi Feng
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); Shanghai Hexaell Biotech Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China (S.F., E.T.); Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China (Z.W.); and Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China (T.H.)
| | - Zhitao Wu
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); Shanghai Hexaell Biotech Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China (S.F., E.T.); Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China (Z.W.); and Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China (T.H.)
| | - Ting He
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); Shanghai Hexaell Biotech Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China (S.F., E.T.); Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China (Z.W.); and Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China (T.H.)
| | - Chen Ma
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); Shanghai Hexaell Biotech Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China (S.F., E.T.); Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China (Z.W.); and Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China (T.H.)
| | - Zhaoliang Peng
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); Shanghai Hexaell Biotech Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China (S.F., E.T.); Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China (Z.W.); and Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China (T.H.)
| | - E Tian
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); Shanghai Hexaell Biotech Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China (S.F., E.T.); Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China (Z.W.); and Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China (T.H.)
| | - Guoyu Pan
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (S.Q., Z.W., C.M., Z.P., G.P.); Shanghai Hexaell Biotech Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China (S.F., E.T.); Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China (Z.W.); and Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China (T.H.)
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25
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How wide is the application of genetic big data in biomedicine. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 133:111074. [PMID: 33378973 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.111074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the era of big data, massive genetic data, as a new industry, has quickly swept almost all industries, especially the pharmaceutical industry. As countries around the world start to build their own gene banks, scientists study the data to explore the origins and migration of humans. Moreover, big data encourage the development of cancer therapy and bring good news to cancer patients. Big datum has been involved in the study of many diseases, and it has been found that analyzing diseases at the gene level can lead to more beneficial treatment options than ordinary treatments. This review will introduce the development of extensive data in medical research from the perspective of big data and tumor, neurological and psychiatric diseases, cardiovascular diseases, other applications and the development direction of big data in medicine.
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26
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Dotson GA, Ryan CW, Chen C, Muir L, Rajapakse I. Cellular reprogramming: Mathematics meets medicine. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2020; 13:e1515. [PMID: 33289324 PMCID: PMC8867497 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Generating needed cell types using cellular reprogramming is a promising strategy for restoring tissue function in injury or disease. A common method for reprogramming is addition of one or more transcription factors that confer a new function or identity. Advancements in transcription factor selection and delivery have culminated in successful grafting of autologous reprogrammed cells, an early demonstration of their clinical utility. Though cellular reprogramming has been successful in a number of settings, identification of appropriate transcription factors for a particular transformation has been challenging. Computational methods enable more sophisticated prediction of relevant transcription factors for reprogramming by leveraging gene expression data of initial and target cell types, and are built on mathematical frameworks ranging from information theory to control theory. This review highlights the utility and impact of these mathematical frameworks in the field of cellular reprogramming. This article is categorized under: Reproductive System Diseases > Reproductive System Diseases>Genetics/Genomics/Epigenetics Reproductive System Diseases > Reproductive System Diseases>Stem Cells and Development Reproductive System Diseases > Reproductive System Diseases>Computational Models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle A. Dotson
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Charles W. Ryan
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Can Chen
- Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Lindsey Muir
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Indika Rajapakse
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
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Lee SW, Jung DJ, Jeong GS. Gaining New Biological and Therapeutic Applications into the Liver with 3D In Vitro Liver Models. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2020; 17:731-745. [PMID: 32207030 PMCID: PMC7710770 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-020-00245-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures with architectural and biomechanical properties similar to those of natural tissue have been the focus for generating liver tissue. Microarchitectural organization is believed to be crucial to hepatic function, and 3D cell culture technologies have enabled the construction of tissue-like microenvironments, thereby leading to remarkable progress in vitro models of human tissue and organs. Recently, to recapitulate the 3D architecture of tissues, spheroids and organoids have become widely accepted as new practical tools for 3D organ modeling. Moreover, the combination of bioengineering approach offers the promise to more accurately model the tissue microenvironment of human organs. Indeed, the employment of sophisticated bioengineered liver models show long-term viability and functional enhancements in biochemical parameters and disease-orient outcome. RESULTS Various 3D in vitro liver models have been proposed as a new generation of liver medicine. Likewise, new biomedical engineering approaches and platforms are available to more accurately replicate the in vivo 3D microarchitectures and functions of living organs. This review aims to highlight the recent 3D in vitro liver model systems, including micropatterning, spheroids, and organoids that are either scaffold-based or scaffold-free systems. Finally, we discuss a number of challenges that will need to be addressed moving forward in the field of liver tissue engineering for biomedical applications. CONCLUSION The ongoing development of biomedical engineering holds great promise for generating a 3D biomimetic liver model that recapitulates the physiological and pathological properties of the liver and has biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Woo Lee
- Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, 88 Olympic-Ro 43 Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Da Jung Jung
- Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, 88 Olympic-Ro 43 Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi Seok Jeong
- Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, 88 Olympic-Ro 43 Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-Ro 43 Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
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Hendriks D, Artegiani B, Hu H, Chuva de Sousa Lopes S, Clevers H. Establishment of human fetal hepatocyte organoids and CRISPR-Cas9-based gene knockin and knockout in organoid cultures from human liver. Nat Protoc 2020; 16:182-217. [PMID: 33247284 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-00411-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The liver is composed of two epithelial cell types: hepatocytes and liver ductal cells. Culture conditions for expansion of human liver ductal cells in vitro as organoids were previously described in a protocol; however, primary human hepatocytes remained hard to expand, until recently. In this protocol, we provide full details of how we overcame this limitation, establishing culture conditions that facilitate long-term expansion of human fetal hepatocytes as organoids. In addition, we describe how to generate (multi) gene knockouts using CRISPR-Cas9 in both human fetal hepatocyte and adult liver ductal organoid systems. Using a CRISPR-Cas9 and homology-independent organoid transgenesis (CRISPR-HOT) approach, efficient gene knockin can be achieved in these systems. These gene knockin and knockout approaches, and their multiplexing, should be useful for a variety of applications, such as disease modeling, investigating gene functions and studying processes, such as cellular differentiation and cell division. The protocol to establish human fetal hepatocyte organoid cultures takes ~1-2 months. The protocols to genome engineer human liver ductal organoids and human fetal hepatocyte organoids take 2-3 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delilah Hendriks
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, the Netherlands. .,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Benedetta Artegiani
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, the Netherlands. .,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands. .,The Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Huili Hu
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, the Netherlands. .,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands. .,The Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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29
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Sanofi-Cell Research outstanding paper award of 2019. Cell Res 2020; 30:941. [PMID: 33051593 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-020-00425-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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30
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Kumar A, Mali P. Mapping regulators of cell fate determination: Approaches and challenges. APL Bioeng 2020; 4:031501. [PMID: 32637855 PMCID: PMC7332300 DOI: 10.1063/5.0004611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the limited regenerative capacities of most organs, strategies are needed to efficiently generate large numbers of parenchymal cells capable of integration into the diseased organ. Although it was initially thought that terminally differentiated cells lacked the ability to transdifferentiate, it has since been shown that cellular reprogramming of stromal cells to parenchymal cells through direct lineage conversion holds great potential for the replacement of post-mitotic parenchymal cells lost to disease. To this end, an assortment of genetic, chemical, and mechanical cues have been identified to reprogram cells to different lineages both in vitro and in vivo. However, some key challenges persist that limit broader applications of reprogramming technologies. These include: (1) low reprogramming efficiencies; (2) incomplete functional maturation of derived cells; and (3) difficulty in determining the typically multi-factor combinatorial recipes required for successful transdifferentiation. To improve efficiency by comprehensively identifying factors that regulate cell fate, large scale genetic and chemical screening methods have thus been utilized. Here, we provide an overview of the underlying concept of cell reprogramming as well as the rationale, considerations, and limitations of high throughput screening methods. We next follow with a summary of unique hits that have been identified by high throughput screens to induce reprogramming to various parenchymal lineages. Finally, we discuss future directions of applying this technology toward human disease biology via disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Kumar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Prashant Mali
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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31
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Hepatogenic Potential and Liver Regeneration Effect of Human Liver-derived Mesenchymal-Like Stem Cells. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061521. [PMID: 32580448 PMCID: PMC7348751 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Human liver-derived stem cells (hLD-SCs) have been proposed as a possible resource for stem cell therapy in patients with irreversible liver diseases. However, it is not known whether liver resident hLD-SCs can differentiate toward a hepatic fate better than mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from other origins. In this study, we compared the differentiation ability and regeneration potency of hLD-SCs with those of human umbilical cord matrix-derived stem cells (hUC-MSCs) by inducing hepatic differentiation. Undifferentiated hLD-SCs expressed relatively high levels of endoderm-related markers (GATA4 and FOXA1). During directed hepatic differentiation supported by two small molecules (Fasudil and 5-azacytidine), hLD-SCs presented more advanced mitochondrial respiration compared to hUC-MSCs. Moreover, hLD-SCs featured higher numbers of hepatic progenitor cell markers on day 14 of differentiation (CPM and CD133) and matured into hepatocyte-like cells by day 7 through 21 with increased hepatocyte markers (ALB, HNF4A, and AFP). During in vivo cell transplantation, hLD-SCs migrated into the liver of ischemia-reperfusion injury-induced mice within 2 h and relieved liver injury. In the thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury mouse model, transplanted hLD-SCs trafficked into the liver and spontaneously matured into hepatocyte-like cells within 14 days. These results collectively suggest that hLD-SCs hold greater hepatogenic potential, and hepatic differentiation-induced hLD-SCs may be a promising source of stem cells for liver regeneration.
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32
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Cai Y, Zhou H, Zhu Y, Sun Q, Ji Y, Xue A, Wang Y, Chen W, Yu X, Wang L, Chen H, Li C, Luo T, Deng H. Elimination of senescent cells by β-galactosidase-targeted prodrug attenuates inflammation and restores physical function in aged mice. Cell Res 2020; 30:574-589. [PMID: 32341413 PMCID: PMC7184167 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-020-0314-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular senescence, a persistent state of cell cycle arrest, accumulates in aged organisms, contributes to tissue dysfunction, and drives age-related phenotypes. The clearance of senescent cells is expected to decrease chronic, low-grade inflammation and improve tissue repair capacity, thus attenuating the decline of physical function in aged organisms. However, selective and effective clearance of senescent cells of different cell types has proven challenging. Herein, we developed a prodrug strategy to design a new compound based on the increased activity of lysosomal β-galactosidase (β-gal), a primary characteristic of senescent cells. Our prodrug SSK1 is specifically activated by β-gal and eliminates mouse and human senescent cells independently of senescence inducers and cell types. In aged mice, our compound effectively cleared senescent cells in different tissues, decreased the senescence- and age-associated gene signatures, attenuated low-grade local and systemic inflammation, and restored physical function. Our results demonstrate that lysosomal β-gal can be effectively leveraged to selectively eliminate senescent cells, providing a novel strategy to develop anti-aging interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusheng Cai
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Huanhuan Zhou
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology & Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Yinhua Zhu
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Ministry of Education and Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Qi Sun
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yin Ji
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Anqi Xue
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Wenhan Chen
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiaojie Yu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Longteng Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Joint Graduate Program of Peking-Tsinghua-NIBS, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Han Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Ministry of Education and Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Cheng Li
- School of Life Sciences, Center for Bioinformatics, Center for Statistical Science, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Tuoping Luo
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China. .,Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Ministry of Education and Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Hongkui Deng
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology & Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.
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33
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Phenotype instability of hepatocyte-like cells produced by direct reprogramming of mesenchymal stromal cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:154. [PMID: 32276654 PMCID: PMC7323614 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-01665-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocyte-like cells (iHEPs) generated by transcription factor-mediated direct reprogramming of somatic cells have been studied as potential cell sources for the development of novel therapies targeting liver diseases. The mechanisms involved in direct reprogramming, stability after long-term in vitro expansion, and safety profile of reprogrammed cells in different experimental models, however, still require further investigation. METHODS iHEPs were generated by forced expression of Foxa2/Hnf4a in mouse mesenchymal stromal cells and characterized their phenotype stability by in vitro and in vivo analyses. RESULTS The iHEPs expressed mixed hepatocyte and liver progenitor cell markers, were highly proliferative, and presented metabolic activities in functional assays. A progressive loss of hepatic phenotype, however, was observed after several passages, leading to an increase in alpha-SMA+ fibroblast-like cells, which could be distinguished and sorted from iHEPs by differential mitochondrial content. The resulting purified iHEPs proliferated, maintained liver progenitor cell markers, and, upon stimulation with lineage maturation media, increased expression of either biliary or hepatocyte markers. In vivo functionality was assessed in independent pre-clinical mouse models. Minimal engraftment was observed following transplantation in mice with acute acetaminophen-induced liver injury. In contrast, upon transplantation in a transgenic mouse model presenting host hepatocyte senescence, widespread engraftment and uncontrolled proliferation of iHEPs was observed, forming islands of epithelial-like cells, adipocyte-like cells, or cells presenting both morphologies. CONCLUSION The results have significant implications for cell reprogramming, suggesting that iHEPs generated by Foxa2/Hnf4a expression have an unstable phenotype and depend on transgene expression for maintenance of hepatocyte-like characteristics, showing a tendency to return to the mesenchymal phenotype of origin and a compromised safety profile.
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Generation of human hepatocytes from extended pluripotent stem cells. Cell Res 2020; 30:810-813. [PMID: 32152419 PMCID: PMC7608418 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-020-0293-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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35
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Cernigliaro V, Peluso R, Zedda B, Silengo L, Tolosano E, Pellicano R, Altruda F, Fagoonee S. Evolving Cell-Based and Cell-Free Clinical Strategies for Treating Severe Human Liver Diseases. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020386. [PMID: 32046114 PMCID: PMC7072646 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases represent a major global health issue, and currently, liver transplantation is the only viable alternative to reduce mortality rates in patients with end-stage liver diseases. However, scarcity of donor organs and risk of recidivism requiring a re-transplantation remain major obstacles. Hence, much hope has turned towards cell-based therapy. Hepatocyte-like cells obtained from embryonic stem cells or adult stem cells bearing multipotent or pluripotent characteristics, as well as cell-based systems, such as organoids, bio-artificial liver devices, bioscaffolds and organ printing are indeed promising. New approaches based on extracellular vesicles are also being investigated as cell substitutes. Extracellular vesicles, through the transfer of bioactive molecules, can modulate liver regeneration and restore hepatic function. This review provides an update on the current state-of-art cell-based and cell-free strategies as alternatives to liver transplantation for patients with end-stage liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Cernigliaro
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy; (V.C.); (R.P.); (B.Z.)
- Maria Pia Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Rossella Peluso
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy; (V.C.); (R.P.); (B.Z.)
- Maria Pia Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Beatrice Zedda
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy; (V.C.); (R.P.); (B.Z.)
- Maria Pia Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Silengo
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, Departmet of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy; (L.S.); (E.T.)
| | - Emanuela Tolosano
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, Departmet of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy; (L.S.); (E.T.)
| | | | - Fiorella Altruda
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, Departmet of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy; (L.S.); (E.T.)
- Correspondence: (F.A.); (S.F.)
| | - Sharmila Fagoonee
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Molecular Biotechnology Center, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.A.); (S.F.)
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Glutamine/glutamate metabolism rewiring in reprogrammed human hepatocyte-like cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17978. [PMID: 31784643 PMCID: PMC6884617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54357-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human dermal fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into hepatocyte-like (HEP-L) cells by the expression of a set of transcription factors. Yet, the metabolic rewiring suffered by reprogrammed fibroblasts remains largely unknown. Here we report, using stable isotope-resolved metabolic analysis in combination with metabolomic-lipidomic approaches that HEP-L cells mirrors glutamine/glutamate metabolism in primary cultured human hepatocytes that is very different from parental human fibroblasts. HEP-L cells diverge glutamine from multiple metabolic pathways into deamidation and glutamate secretion, just like periportal hepatocytes do. Exceptionally, glutamine contribution to lipogenic acetyl-CoA through reductive carboxylation is increased in HEP-L cells, recapitulating that of primary cultured human hepatocytes. These changes can be explained by transcriptomic rearrangements of genes involved in glutamine/glutamate metabolism. Although metabolic changes in HEP-L cells are in line with reprogramming towards the hepatocyte lineage, our conclusions are limited by the fact that HEP-L cells generated do not display a complete mature phenotype. Nevertheless, our findings are the first to characterize metabolic adaptation in HEP-L cells that could ultimately be targeted to improve fibroblasts direct reprogramming to HEP-L cells.
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