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Spurlock B, Liu J, Qian L. Can we stop one heart from breaking: triumphs and challenges in cardiac reprogramming. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 83:102116. [PMID: 37797568 PMCID: PMC10872832 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102116] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Ischemic cardiac injury causes irreversible muscle loss and scarring, but recent years have seen dramatic advances in cardiac reprogramming, the field focused on regenerating cardiac muscle. With SARS-CoV2 increasing the age-adjusted cardiovascular disease mortality rate, it is worth evaluating the state of this field. Here, we summarize novel innovations in reprogramming strategies, insights into their mechanisms, and technologies for factor delivery. We also propose a broad model of reprogramming to suggest directions for future research. Poet Emily Dickinson wrote, "If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain." Today, researchers studying cardiac reprogramming view this line as a call to action to translate this revolutionary approach into life-saving treatments for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Spurlock
- McAllister Heart Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- McAllister Heart Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- McAllister Heart Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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2
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Chi C, Song K. Cellular reprogramming of fibroblasts in heart regeneration. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 180:84-93. [PMID: 36965699 PMCID: PMC10347886 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction causes the loss of cardiomyocytes and the formation of cardiac fibrosis due to the activation of cardiac fibroblasts, leading to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Unfortunately, current therapeutic interventions can only slow the disease progression. Furthermore, they cannot fully restore cardiac function, likely because the adult human heart lacks sufficient capacity to regenerate cardiomyocytes. Therefore, intensive efforts have focused on developing therapeutics to regenerate the damaged heart. Several strategies have been intensively investigated, including stimulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation, transplantation of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, and conversion of fibroblasts into cardiac cells. Resident cardiac fibroblasts are critical in the maintenance of the structure and contractility of the heart. Fibroblast plasticity makes this type of cells be reprogrammed into many cell types, including but not limited to induced pluripotent stem cells, induced cardiac progenitor cells, and induced cardiomyocytes. Fibroblasts have become a therapeutic target due to their critical roles in cardiac pathogenesis. This review summarizes the reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, induced cardiac progenitor cells, and induced cardiomyocytes to repair a damaged heart, outlines recent findings in utilizing fibroblast-derived cells for heart regeneration, and discusses the limitations and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congwu Chi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kunhua Song
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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3
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Perveen S, Vanni R, Lo Iacono M, Rastaldo R, Giachino C. Direct Reprogramming of Resident Non-Myocyte Cells and Its Potential for In Vivo Cardiac Regeneration. Cells 2023; 12:1166. [PMID: 37190075 PMCID: PMC10136631 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac diseases are the foremost cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The heart has limited regenerative potential; therefore, lost cardiac tissue cannot be replenished after cardiac injury. Conventional therapies are unable to restore functional cardiac tissue. In recent decades, much attention has been paid to regenerative medicine to overcome this issue. Direct reprogramming is a promising therapeutic approach in regenerative cardiac medicine that has the potential to provide in situ cardiac regeneration. It consists of direct cell fate conversion of one cell type into another, avoiding transition through an intermediary pluripotent state. In injured cardiac tissue, this strategy directs transdifferentiation of resident non-myocyte cells (NMCs) into mature functional cardiac cells that help to restore the native tissue. Over the years, developments in reprogramming methods have suggested that regulation of several intrinsic factors in NMCs can help to achieve in situ direct cardiac reprogramming. Among NMCs, endogenous cardiac fibroblasts have been studied for their potential to be directly reprogrammed into both induced cardiomyocytes and induced cardiac progenitor cells, while pericytes can transdifferentiate towards endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. This strategy has been indicated to improve heart function and reduce fibrosis after cardiac injury in preclinical models. This review summarizes the recent updates and progress in direct cardiac reprogramming of resident NMCs for in situ cardiac regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto Vanni
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
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Haridhasapavalan KK, Borthakur A, Thummer RP. Direct Cardiac Reprogramming: Current Status and Future Prospects. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1436:1-18. [PMID: 36662416 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2022_760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Advances in cellular reprogramming articulated the path for direct cardiac lineage conversion, bypassing the pluripotent state. Direct cardiac reprogramming attracts major attention because of the low or nil regenerative ability of cardiomyocytes, resulting in permanent cell loss in various heart diseases. In the field of cardiology, balancing this loss of cardiomyocytes was highly challenging, even in the modern medical world. Soon after the discovery of cell reprogramming, direct cardiac reprogramming also became a promising alternative for heart regeneration. This review mainly focused on the various direct cardiac reprogramming approaches (integrative and non-integrative) for the derivation of induced autologous cardiomyocytes. It also explains the advancements in cardiac reprogramming over the decade with the pros and cons of each approach. Further, the review highlights the importance of clinically relevant (non-integrative) approaches and their challenges for the prospective applications for personalized medicine. Apart from direct cardiac reprogramming, it also discusses the other strategies for generating cardiomyocytes from different sources. The understanding of these strategies could pave the way for the efficient generation of integration-free functional autologous cardiomyocytes through direct cardiac reprogramming for various biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Kumar Haridhasapavalan
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Atreyee Borthakur
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Rajkumar P Thummer
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India.
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5
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Direct cardiac reprogramming: basics and future challenges. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:865-871. [PMID: 36308583 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07913-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heart failure is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is characterized by reduced cardiac function. Currently, cardiac transplantation therapy is applied for end-stage heart failure, but it is limited by the number of available donors. METHODS AND RESULTS Following an assessment of available literature, a narrative review was conducted to summarizes the current status and challenges of cardiac reprogramming for clinical application. Scientists have developed different regenerative treatment strategies for curing heart failure, including progenitor cell delivery and pluripotent cell delivery. Recently, a novel strategy has emerged that directly reprograms cardiac fibroblast into a functional cardiomyocyte. In this treatment, transcription factors are first identified to reprogram fibroblast into a cardiomyocyte. After that, microRNA and small molecules show great potential to optimize the reprogramming process. Some challenges regarding cell reprogramming in humans are conversion efficiency, virus utilization, immature and heterogenous induced cardiomyocytes, technical reproducibility issues, and physiological effects of depleted fibroblasts on myocardial tissue. CONCLUSION Several strategies have shown positive results in direct cardiac reprogramming. However, direct cardiac reprogramming still needs improvement if it is used as a mainstay therapy in humans, and challenges need to be overcome before cardiac reprogramming can be considered a viable therapeutic strategy. Further advances in cardiac reprogramming studies are needed in cardiac regenerative therapy.
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Jin Y, Kim H, Min S, Choi YS, Seo SJ, Jeong E, Kim SK, Lee HA, Jo SH, Park JH, Park BW, Sim WS, Kim JJ, Ban K, Kim YG, Park HJ, Cho SW. Three-dimensional heart extracellular matrix enhances chemically induced direct cardiac reprogramming. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn5768. [PMID: 36516259 PMCID: PMC9750148 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn5768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Direct cardiac reprogramming has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for cardiac regeneration. Full chemical reprogramming with small molecules to generate cardiomyocytes may be more amenable than genetic reprogramming for clinical applications as it avoids safety concerns associated with genetic manipulations. However, challenges remain regarding low conversion efficiency and incomplete cardiomyocyte maturation. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of chemically induced cardiomyocytes (CiCMs) has not been investigated. Here, we report that a three-dimensional microenvironment reconstituted with decellularized heart extracellular matrix can enhance chemical reprogramming and cardiac maturation of fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes. The resultant CiCMs exhibit elevated cardiac marker expression, sarcomeric organization, and improved electrophysiological features and drug responses. We investigated the therapeutic potential of CiCMs reprogrammed in three-dimensional heart extracellular matrix in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Our platform can facilitate the use of CiCMs for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonhee Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeok Kim
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungjin Min
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yi Sun Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Ju Seo
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunseon Jeong
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Kyeom Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyang-Ae Lee
- Korea Institute of Toxicology, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hyun Jo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hyun Park
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Woo Park
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Sup Sim
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Kiwon Ban
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Yun-Gon Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
| | - Hun-Jun Park
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Cell Death Disease Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Woo Cho
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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He X, Liang J, Paul C, Huang W, Dutta S, Wang Y. Advances in Cellular Reprogramming-Based Approaches for Heart Regenerative Repair. Cells 2022; 11:3914. [PMID: 36497171 PMCID: PMC9740402 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Continuous loss of cardiomyocytes (CMs) is one of the fundamental characteristics of many heart diseases, which eventually can lead to heart failure. Due to the limited proliferation ability of human adult CMs, treatment efficacy has been limited in terms of fully repairing damaged hearts. It has been shown that cell lineage conversion can be achieved by using cell reprogramming approaches, including human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), providing a promising therapeutic for regenerative heart medicine. Recent studies using advanced cellular reprogramming-based techniques have also contributed some new strategies for regenerative heart repair. In this review, hiPSC-derived cell therapeutic methods are introduced, and the clinical setting challenges (maturation, engraftment, immune response, scalability, and tumorigenicity), with potential solutions, are discussed. Inspired by the iPSC reprogramming, the approaches of direct cell lineage conversion are merging, such as induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) and induced cardiac progenitor cells (iCPCs) derived from fibroblasts, without induction of pluripotency. The studies of cellular and molecular pathways also reveal that epigenetic resetting is the essential mechanism of reprogramming and lineage conversion. Therefore, CRISPR techniques that can be repurposed for genomic or epigenetic editing become attractive approaches for cellular reprogramming. In addition, viral and non-viral delivery strategies that are utilized to achieve CM reprogramming will be introduced, and the therapeutic effects of iCMs or iCPCs on myocardial infarction will be compared. After the improvement of reprogramming efficiency by developing new techniques, reprogrammed iCPCs or iCMs will provide an alternative to hiPSC-based approaches for regenerative heart therapies, heart disease modeling, and new drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu He
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Jialiang Liang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Christian Paul
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Suchandrima Dutta
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Yigang Wang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
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Direct Cardiac Epigenetic Reprogramming through Codelivery of 5'Azacytidine and miR-133a Nanoformulation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315179. [PMID: 36499508 PMCID: PMC9739153 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts to induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) is a promising approach to cardiac regeneration. However, the low yield of reprogrammed cells and the underlying epigenetic barriers limit its potential. Epigenetic control of gene regulation is a primary factor in maintaining cellular identities. For instance, DNA methylation controls cell differentiation in adults, establishing that epigenetic factors are crucial for sustaining altered gene expression patterns with subsequent rounds of cell division. This study attempts to demonstrate that 5'AZA and miR-133a encapsulated in PLGA-PEI nanocarriers induce direct epigenetic reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts to cardiomyocyte-like cells. The results present a cardiomyocyte-like phenotype following seven days of the co-delivery of 5'AZA and miR-133a nanoformulation into human cardiac fibroblasts. Further evaluation of the global DNA methylation showed a decreased global 5-methylcytosine (5-medCyd) levels in the 5'AZA and 5'AZA/miR-133a treatment group compared to the untreated group and cells with void nanocarriers. These results suggest that the co-delivery of 5'AZA and miR-133a nanoformulation can induce the direct reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts to cardiomyocyte-like cells in-vitro, in addition to demonstrating the influence of miR-133a and 5'AZA as epigenetic regulators in dictating cell fate.
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9
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Nakamura T, Iwata M, Hamano M, Eguchi R, Takeshita JI, Yamanishi Y. Small compound-based direct cell conversion with combinatorial optimization of pathway regulations. Bioinformatics 2022; 38:ii99-ii105. [PMID: 36124791 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btac475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Direct cell conversion, direct reprogramming (DR), is an innovative technology that directly converts source cells to target cells without bypassing induced pluripotent stem cells. The use of small compounds (e.g. drugs) for DR can help avoid carcinogenic risk induced by gene transfection; however, experimentally identifying small compounds remains challenging because of combinatorial explosion. RESULTS In this article, we present a new computational method, COMPRENDRE (combinatorial optimization of pathway regulations for direct reprograming), to elucidate the mechanism of small compound-based DR and predict new combinations of small compounds for DR. We estimated the potential target proteins of DR-inducing small compounds and identified a set of target pathways involving DR. We identified multiple DR-related pathways that have not previously been reported to induce neurons or cardiomyocytes from fibroblasts. To overcome the problem of combinatorial explosion, we developed a variant of a simulated annealing algorithm to identify the best set of compounds that can regulate DR-related pathways. Consequently, the proposed method enabled to predict new DR-inducing candidate combinations with fewer compounds and to successfully reproduce experimentally verified compounds inducing the direct conversion from fibroblasts to neurons or cardiomyocytes. The proposed method is expected to be useful for practical applications in regenerative medicine. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The code supporting the current study is available at the http://labo.bio.kyutech.ac.jp/~yamani/comprendre. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toru Nakamura
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
| | - Michio Iwata
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
| | - Momoko Hamano
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
| | - Ryohei Eguchi
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Takeshita
- Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Yamanishi
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
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Kim J, Chang Y, Hwang Y, Kim S, Oh YK, Kim J. Graphene Nanosheets Mediate Efficient Direct Reprogramming into Induced Cardiomyocytes. J Biomed Nanotechnol 2022. [DOI: 10.1166/jbn.2022.3416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
In vivo cardiac reprogramming is a potential therapeutic strategy to replace cardiomyocytes in patients with myocardial infarction. However, low conversion efficiency is a limitation of In vivo cardiac reprogramming for heart failure. In this study, we showed that graphene
nanosheets mediated efficient direct reprogramming into induced cardiomyocytes In vivo. We observed that the administration of graphene nanosheets led to the accumulation of H3K4me3, which resulted in direct cardiac reprogramming. Importantly, the administration of graphene nanosheets
combined with cardiac reprogramming factors in a mouse model of myocardial infarction enhanced the effectiveness of directly reprogrammed cell-based cardiac repair. Collectively, our findings suggest that graphene nanosheets can be used as an excellent biomaterial to promote cardiac cell fate
conversion and provide a robust reprogramming platform for cardiac regeneration in ischemic heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyeop Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujung Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Yerim Hwang
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Sumin Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Kyoung Oh
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongpil Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
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Lyra-Leite DM, Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez Ó, Wang M, Zhou Y, Cyganek L, Burridge PW. A review of protocols for human iPSC culture, cardiac differentiation, subtype-specification, maturation, and direct reprogramming. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101560. [PMID: 36035804 PMCID: PMC9405110 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The methods for the culture and cardiomyocyte differentiation of human embryonic stem cells, and later human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), have moved from a complex and uncontrolled systems to simplified and relatively robust protocols, using the knowledge and cues gathered at each step. HiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes have proven to be a useful tool in human disease modelling, drug discovery, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine. In this protocol review, we will highlight the evolution of protocols associated with hPSC culture, cardiomyocyte differentiation, sub-type specification, and cardiomyocyte maturation. We also discuss protocols for somatic cell direct reprogramming to cardiomyocyte-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi M Lyra-Leite
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Óscar Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez
- Stem Cell Unit, Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Meimei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lukas Cyganek
- Stem Cell Unit, Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paul W Burridge
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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12
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Ko T, Nomura S. Manipulating Cardiomyocyte Plasticity for Heart Regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:929256. [PMID: 35898398 PMCID: PMC9309349 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.929256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological heart injuries such as myocardial infarction induce adverse ventricular remodeling and progression to heart failure owing to widespread cardiomyocyte death. The adult mammalian heart is terminally differentiated unlike those of lower vertebrates. Therefore, the proliferative capacity of adult cardiomyocytes is limited and insufficient to restore an injured heart. Although current therapeutic approaches can delay progressive remodeling and heart failure, difficulties with the direct replenishment of lost cardiomyocytes results in a poor long-term prognosis for patients with heart failure. However, it has been revealed that cardiac function can be improved by regulating the cell cycle or changing the cell state of cardiomyocytes by delivering specific genes or small molecules. Therefore, manipulation of cardiomyocyte plasticity can be an effective treatment for heart disease. This review summarizes the recent studies that control heart regeneration by manipulating cardiomyocyte plasticity with various approaches including differentiating pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes, reprogramming cardiac fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes, and reactivating the proliferation of cardiomyocytes.
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Pascale E, Caiazza C, Paladino M, Parisi S, Passaro F, Caiazzo M. MicroRNA Roles in Cell Reprogramming Mechanisms. Cells 2022; 11:cells11060940. [PMID: 35326391 PMCID: PMC8946776 DOI: 10.3390/cells11060940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell reprogramming is a groundbreaking technology that, in few decades, generated a new paradigm in biomedical science. To date we can use cell reprogramming to potentially generate every cell type by converting somatic cells and suitably modulating the expression of key transcription factors. This approach can be used to convert skin fibroblasts into pluripotent stem cells as well as into a variety of differentiated and medically relevant cell types, including cardiomyocytes and neural cells. The molecular mechanisms underlying such striking cell phenotypes are still largely unknown, but in the last decade it has been proven that cell reprogramming approaches are significantly influenced by non-coding RNAs. Specifically, this review will focus on the role of microRNAs in the reprogramming processes that lead to the generation of pluripotent stem cells, neurons, and cardiomyocytes. As highlighted here, non-coding RNA-forced expression can be sufficient to support some cell reprogramming processes, and, therefore, we will also discuss how these molecular determinants could be used in the future for biomedical purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Pascale
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Carmen Caiazza
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Martina Paladino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Silvia Parisi
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Fabiana Passaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
- Correspondence: (F.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Massimiliano Caiazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (F.P.); (M.C.)
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14
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Hsu Y, Huang K, Cheng K. Resuscitating the Field of Cardiac Regeneration: Seeking Answers from Basic Biology. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 6:e2101133. [PMID: 34939372 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes for hospital admissions worldwide. HF patients are classified based on the chronic changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) as preserved (LVEF ≥ 50%), reduced (LVEF ≤ 40%), or mid-ranged (40% < LVEF < 50%) HFs. Treatments nowadays can prevent HFrEF progress, whereas only a few of the treatments have been proven to be effective in improving the survival of HFpEF. In this review, numerous mediators involved in the pathogenesis of HF are summarized. The regional upstream signaling and their diagnostic and therapeutic potential are also discussed. Additionally, the recent challenges and development in cardiac regenerative therapy that hold opportunities for future research and clinical translation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaching Hsu
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.,Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Ke Huang
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.,Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Ke Cheng
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.,Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
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15
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Liu L, Guo Y, Li Z, Wang Z. Improving Cardiac Reprogramming for Heart Regeneration in Translational Medicine. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123297. [PMID: 34943805 PMCID: PMC8699771 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into CM-like cells has emerged as an attractive strategy to generate induced CMs (iCMs) in heart regeneration. However, low conversion rate, poor purity, and the lack of precise conversion of iCMs are still present as significant challenges. In this review, we summarize the recent development in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cardiac reprogramming with various strategies to achieve more efficient iCMs. reprogramming. Specifically, we focus on the identified critical roles of transcriptional regulation, epigenetic modification, signaling pathways from the cellular microenvironment, and cell cycling regulation in cardiac reprogramming. We also discuss the progress in delivery system optimization and cardiac reprogramming in human cells related to preclinical applications. We anticipate that this will translate cardiac reprogramming-based heart therapy into clinical applications. In addition to optimizing the cardiogenesis related transcriptional regulation and signaling pathways, an important strategy is to modulate the pathological microenvironment associated with heart injury, including inflammation, pro-fibrotic signaling pathways, and the mechanical properties of the damaged myocardium. We are optimistic that cardiac reprogramming will provide a powerful therapy in heart regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Liu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
| | - Yijing Guo
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Zhaokai Li
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
- Correspondence:
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16
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Paoletti C, Chiono V. Bioengineering Methods in MicroRNA-Mediated Direct Reprogramming of Fibroblasts Into Cardiomyocytes. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:750438. [PMID: 34760946 PMCID: PMC8573325 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.750438] [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: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic heart disease is the major cause of mortality worldwide. Despite the most recent pharmacological progresses, cardiac regeneration is yet not possible, and heart transplantation is the only therapeutic option for end-stage heart failure. Traditional cardiac regenerative medicine approaches, such as cell therapies and tissue engineering, have failed in the obtainment of human functional cardiac tissue, mainly due to unavailability of high quantities of autologous functional cardiomyocytes (CMs), low grafting efficiency, and/or arrhythmic events. Direct reprogramming (DR) of fibroblasts into induced CMs (iCMs) has emerged as a new promising approach for myocardial regeneration by in situ transdifferentiation or providing additional CM source for cell therapy. Among available DR methods, non-viral transfection with microRNAs (miRcombo: miR-1, miR-133, miR-208, and miR-499) appears promising for future clinical translation. MiRcombo transfection of fibroblasts could be significantly improved by the development of safe nanocarriers, efficiently delivering their cargo to target cells at the required stoichiometric ratio and overall dose in due times. Newly designed in vitro 3D culture microenvironments, providing biomimetic biophysical and biochemical stimuli to miRcombo-transfected cells, significantly increase the yield of fibroblast transdifferentiation into iCMs, enhancing CM gene expression. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression programs, critical to cell lineage commitment, can also be promoted by the administration of specific anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic soluble factors, helping in suppressing fibroblast signature. The aim of this mini-review is to introduce the readers to a relatively unknown field of cardiac research integrating bioengineering tools as relevant for the progress of miRNA-mediated cardiac DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Paoletti
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Valeria Chiono
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
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17
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PD-L1 Expression Fluctuates Concurrently with Cyclin D in Glioblastoma Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092366. [PMID: 34572014 PMCID: PMC8468141 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite Glioblastoma (GBM) frequently expressing programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), treatment with anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD1) has not yielded brilliant results. Intratumor variability of PD-L1 can impact determination accuracy. A previous study on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) reported a role for cyclin-D in control of PD-L1 expression. Because tumor-cell growth within a cancer is highly heterogeneous, we looked at whether PD-L1 and its cochaperone FKBP51s were influenced by cell proliferation, using U251 and SF767 GBM-cell-lines. PD-L1 was measured by Western blot, flow cytometry, confocal-microscopy, quantitative PCR (qPCR), CCND1 by qPCR, FKBP51s by Western blot and confocal-microscopy. Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation assay (xChIp) served to assess the DNA-binding of FKBP51 isoforms. In the course of cell culture, PD-L1 appeared to increase concomitantly to cyclin-D on G1/S transition, to decrease during exponential cell growth progressively. We calculated a correlation between CCND1 and PD-L1 gene expression levels. In the temporal window of PD-L1 and CCND1 peak, FKBP51s localized in ER. When cyclin-D declined, FKBP51s went nuclear. XChIp showed that FKBP51s binds CCND1 gene in a closed-chromatin configuration. Our finding suggests that the dynamism of PD-L1 expression in GBM follows cyclin-D fluctuation and raises the hypothesis that FKBP51s might participate in the events that govern cyclin-D oscillation.
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18
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Testa G, Di Benedetto G, Passaro F. Advanced Technologies to Target Cardiac Cell Fate Plasticity for Heart Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179517. [PMID: 34502423 PMCID: PMC8431232 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The adult human heart can only adapt to heart diseases by starting a myocardial remodeling process to compensate for the loss of functional cardiomyocytes, which ultimately develop into heart failure. In recent decades, the evolution of new strategies to regenerate the injured myocardium based on cellular reprogramming represents a revolutionary new paradigm for cardiac repair by targeting some key signaling molecules governing cardiac cell fate plasticity. While the indirect reprogramming routes require an in vitro engineered 3D tissue to be transplanted in vivo, the direct cardiac reprogramming would allow the administration of reprogramming factors directly in situ, thus holding great potential as in vivo treatment for clinical applications. In this framework, cellular reprogramming in partnership with nanotechnologies and bioengineering will offer new perspectives in the field of cardiovascular research for disease modeling, drug screening, and tissue engineering applications. In this review, we will summarize the recent progress in developing innovative therapeutic strategies based on manipulating cardiac cell fate plasticity in combination with bioengineering and nanotechnology-based approaches for targeting the failing heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Testa
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “V. Tiberio”, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy;
- Interdepartmental Center for Nanotechnology Research—NanoBem, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Giorgia Di Benedetto
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Fabiana Passaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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19
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Passaro F, Tocchetti CG, Spinetti G, Paudice F, Ambrosone L, Costagliola C, Cacciatore F, Abete P, Testa G. Targeting fibrosis in the failing heart with nanoparticles. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 174:461-481. [PMID: 33984409 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by typical symptoms and signs caused by a structural and/or functional cardiac abnormality, resulting in a reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intracardiac pressures at rest or during stress. Due to increasing incidence, prevalence and, most importantly mortality, HF is a healthcare burden worldwide, despite the improvement of treatment options and effectiveness. Acute and chronic cardiac injuries trigger the activation of neurohormonal, inflammatory, and mechanical pathways ultimately leading to fibrosis, which plays a key role in the development of cardiac dysfunction and HF. The use of nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery would greatly improve therapeutic options to identify, prevent and treat cardiac fibrosis. In this review we will highlight the mechanisms of cardiac fibrosis development to depict the pathophysiological features for passive and active targeting of acute and chronic cardiac fibrosis with nanoparticles. Then we will discuss how cardiomyocytes, immune and inflammatory cells, fibroblasts and extracellular matrix can be targeted with nanoparticles to prevent or restore cardiac dysfunction and to improve the molecular imaging of cardiac fibrosis.
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20
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Cesaro E, Pastore A, Polverino A, Manna L, Divisato G, Quintavalle C, Di Sanzo M, Faniello MC, Grosso M, Costanzo P. ZNF224 is a mediator of TGF-β pro-oncogenic function in melanoma. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:2100-2109. [PMID: 34181020 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The zinc finger protein ZNF224 plays a dual role in cancer, operating as both tumor suppressor and oncogenic factor depending on cellular and molecular partners. In this research we investigated the role of ZNF224 in melanoma, a highly invasive and metastatic cancer, and provided evidence for the involvement of ZNF224 in the TGF-β signaling as a mediator of the TGF-β pro-oncogenic function. Our results showed that ZNF224, whose expression increased in melanoma cell lines after TGF-β stimulation, potentiated the activation induced by TGF-β on its target genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Accordingly, overexpression of ZNF224 enhanced the tumourigenic properties of melanoma cells, promoting cell proliferation and invasiveness, while ZNF224 knockdown had the opposite effect. Moreover, ZNF224 positively modulates the expression of TGF-β itself and its type 1 and 2 receptors (TβR1 and TβR2), thus highlighting a possible mechanism by which ZNF224 could enhance the endogenous TGFβ/Smad signalling. Our findings unveil a positive regulatory loop between TGF-β and ZNF224 to promote EMT, consequently increasing the tumour metastatic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Cesaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Arianna Pastore
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessia Polverino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Manna
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Divisato
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Cristina Quintavalle
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology (IEOS) G. Salvatore, CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Maddalena Di Sanzo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Faniello
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Michela Grosso
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Costanzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
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21
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Farooqi AA, Nayyab S, Martinelli C, Berardi R, Katifelis H, Gazouli M, Cho WC. Regulation of Hippo, TGFβ/SMAD, Wnt/ β-Catenin, JAK/STAT, and NOTCH by Long Non-Coding RNAs in Pancreatic Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:657965. [PMID: 34178644 PMCID: PMC8220219 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.657965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapidly evolving and ever-increasing knowledge of the molecular pathophysiology of pancreatic cancer has leveraged our understanding altogether to a next level. Compared to the exciting ground-breaking discoveries related to underlying mechanisms of pancreatic cancer onset and progression, however, there had been relatively few advances in the therapeutic options available for the treatment. Since the discovery of the DNA structure as a helix which replicates semi-conservatively to pass the genetic material to the progeny, there has been conceptual refinement and continuous addition of missing pieces to complete the landscape of central dogma. Starting from transcription to translation, modern era has witnessed non-coding RNA discovery and central role of these versatile regulators in onset and progression of pancreatic cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to act as competitive endogenous RNAs through sequestration and competitive binding to myriad of microRNAs in different cancers. In this article, we set spotlight on emerging evidence of regulation of different signaling pathways (Hippo, TGFβ/SMAD, Wnt/β-Catenin, JAK/STAT and NOTCH) by lncRNAs. Conceptual refinements have enabled us to understand how lncRNAs play central role in post-translational modifications of various proteins and how lncRNAs work with epigenetic-associated machinery to transcriptionally regulate gene network in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sawera Nayyab
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, Pakistan
| | | | - Rossana Berardi
- Università Politecnica delle Marche-Ospedali Riuniti Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Hector Katifelis
- Laboratory of Biology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Gazouli
- Laboratory of Biology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - William C Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
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22
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YAP and TAZ Mediators at the Crossroad between Metabolic and Cellular Reprogramming. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11030154. [PMID: 33800464 PMCID: PMC7999074 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11030154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell reprogramming can either refer to a direct conversion of a specialized cell into another or to a reversal of a somatic cell into an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC). It implies a peculiar modification of the epigenetic asset and gene regulatory networks needed for a new cell, to better fit the new phenotype of the incoming cell type. Cellular reprogramming also implies a metabolic rearrangement, similar to that observed upon tumorigenesis, with a transition from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. The induction of a reprogramming process requires a nexus of signaling pathways, mixing a range of local and systemic information, and accumulating evidence points to the crucial role exerted by the Hippo pathway components Yes-Associated Protein (YAP) and Transcriptional Co-activator with PDZ-binding Motif (TAZ). In this review, we will first provide a synopsis of the Hippo pathway and its function during reprogramming and tissue regeneration, then we introduce the latest knowledge on the interplay between YAP/TAZ and metabolism and, finally, we discuss the possible role of YAP/TAZ in the orchestration of the metabolic switch upon cellular reprogramming.
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23
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Riching AS, Song K. Cardiac Regeneration: New Insights Into the Frontier of Ischemic Heart Failure Therapy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 8:637538. [PMID: 33585427 PMCID: PMC7873479 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.637538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. While pharmacological and surgical interventions developed in the late twentieth century drastically improved patient outcomes, mortality rates over the last two decades have begun to plateau. Following ischemic injury, pathological remodeling leads to cardiomyocyte loss and fibrosis leading to impaired heart function. Cardiomyocyte turnover rate in the adult heart is limited, and no clinical therapies currently exist to regenerate cardiomyocytes lost following ischemic injury. In this review, we summarize the progress of therapeutic strategies including revascularization and cell-based interventions to regenerate the heart: transiently inducing cardiomyocyte proliferation and direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes. Moreover, we highlight recent mechanistic insights governing these strategies to promote heart regeneration and identify current challenges in translating these approaches to human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Riching
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- The Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Kunhua Song
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- The Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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24
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Passaro F, De Martino I, Zambelli F, Di Benedetto G, Barbato M, D'Erchia AM, Manzari C, Pesole G, Mutarelli M, Cacchiarelli D, Antonini D, Parisi S, Russo T. YAP contributes to DNA methylation remodeling upon mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100138. [PMID: 33268382 PMCID: PMC7948423 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.015896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Yes-associated protein (YAP), one of the major effectors of the Hippo pathway together with its related protein WW-domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1; also known as TAZ), mediates a range of cellular processes from proliferation and death to morphogenesis. YAP and WW-domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1; also known as TAZ) regulate a large number of target genes, acting as coactivators of DNA-binding transcription factors or as negative regulators of transcription by interacting with the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase complexes. YAP is expressed in self-renewing embryonic stem cells (ESCs), although it is still debated whether it plays any crucial roles in the control of either stemness or differentiation. Here we show that the transient downregulation of YAP in mouse ESCs perturbs cellular homeostasis, leading to the inability to differentiate properly. Bisulfite genomic sequencing revealed that this transient knockdown caused a genome-wide alteration of the DNA methylation remodeling that takes place during the early steps of differentiation, suggesting that the phenotype we observed might be due to the dysregulation of some of the mechanisms involved in regulation of ESC exit from pluripotency. By gene expression analysis, we identified two molecules that could have a role in the altered genome-wide methylation profile: the long noncoding RNA ephemeron, whose rapid upregulation is crucial for the transition of ESCs into epiblast, and the methyltransferase-like protein Dnmt3l, which, during the embryo development, cooperates with Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b to contribute to the de novo DNA methylation that governs early steps of ESC differentiation. These data suggest a new role for YAP in the governance of the epigenetic dynamics of exit from pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Passaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy.
| | - Ilaria De Martino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
| | - Federico Zambelli
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Italy; Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, National Research Council, Italy
| | - Giorgia Di Benedetto
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
| | - Matteo Barbato
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
| | - Anna Maria D'Erchia
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, National Research Council, Italy; Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Italy
| | - Caterina Manzari
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, National Research Council, Italy
| | - Graziano Pesole
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, National Research Council, Italy; Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Italy
| | - Margherita Mutarelli
- Tigem and Department of Translational Medicine, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
| | - Davide Cacchiarelli
- Tigem and Department of Translational Medicine, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
| | - Dario Antonini
- Department of Biology, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
| | - Silvia Parisi
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
| | - Tommaso Russo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy.
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25
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Yang D, Liu HQ, Yang Z, Fan D, Tang QZ. BMI1 in the heart: Novel functions beyond tumorigenesis. EBioMedicine 2021; 63:103193. [PMID: 33421944 PMCID: PMC7804972 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The BMI1 protein, a member of the PRC1 family, is a well recognised transcriptional suppressor and has the capability of maintaining the self-renewal and proliferation of tissue-specific stem cells. Numerous studies have established that BMI1 is highly expressed in a variety of malignant cancers and serves as a key regulator in the tumorigenesis process. However, our understanding of BMI1 in terminally differentiated organs, such as the heart, is relatively nascent. Importantly, emerging data support that, beyond the tumor, BMI1 is also expressed in the heart tissue and indeed exerts profound effects in various cardiac pathological conditions. This review gives a summary of the novel functions of BMI1 in the heart, including BMI1-positive cardiac stem cells and BMI1-mediated signaling pathways, which are involved in the response to various cardiac pathological stimuli. Besides, we summarize the recent progress of BMI1 in some novel and rapidly developing cardiovascular therapies. Furtherly, we highlight the properties of BMI1, a therapeutic target proved effective in cancer treatment, as a promising target to alleviate cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Metabolic and Chronic Diseases, Wuhan 430060, PR China
| | - Han-Qing Liu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China
| | - Zheng Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Metabolic and Chronic Diseases, Wuhan 430060, PR China
| | - Di Fan
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Metabolic and Chronic Diseases, Wuhan 430060, PR China.
| | - Qi-Zhu Tang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Metabolic and Chronic Diseases, Wuhan 430060, PR China.
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