1
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Groeger M, Matsuo K, Heidary Arash E, Pereira A, Le Guillou D, Pino C, Telles-Silva KA, Maher JJ, Hsiao EC, Willenbring H. Modeling and therapeutic targeting of inflammation-induced hepatic insulin resistance using human iPSC-derived hepatocytes and macrophages. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3902. [PMID: 37400454 PMCID: PMC10318012 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39311-w] [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: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic insulin resistance is recognized as a driver of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease but specific therapies are lacking. Here we explore the potential of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for modeling hepatic insulin resistance in vitro, with a focus on resolving the controversy about the impact of inflammation in the absence of steatosis. For this, we establish the complex insulin signaling cascade and the multiple inter-dependent functions constituting hepatic glucose metabolism in iPSC-derived hepatocytes (iPSC-Heps). Co-culture of these insulin-sensitive iPSC-Heps with isogenic iPSC-derived pro-inflammatory macrophages induces glucose output by preventing insulin from inhibiting gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis and activating glycolysis. Screening identifies TNFα and IL1β as the mediators of insulin resistance in iPSC-Heps. Neutralizing these cytokines together restores insulin sensitivity in iPSC-Heps more effectively than individual inhibition, reflecting specific effects on insulin signaling and glucose metabolism mediated by NF-κB or JNK. These results show that inflammation is sufficient to induce hepatic insulin resistance and establish a human iPSC-based in vitro model to mechanistically dissect and therapeutically target this metabolic disease driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Groeger
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Koji Matsuo
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Emad Heidary Arash
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Ashley Pereira
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Dounia Le Guillou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Liver Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Cindy Pino
- Liver Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Genomics CoLab, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Kayque A Telles-Silva
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, University of Sao Paulo, 05508-090, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jacquelyn J Maher
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Liver Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Edward C Hsiao
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Holger Willenbring
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
- Liver Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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2
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Synthetic Extracellular Matrices for 3D Culture of Schwann Cells, Hepatocytes, and HUVECs. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9090453. [PMID: 36134999 PMCID: PMC9495567 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9090453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic hydrogels from polyisocyanides (PIC) are a type of novel thermoreversible biomaterials, which can covalently bind biomolecules such as adhesion peptides to provide a suitable extracellular matrix (ECM)-like microenvironment for different cells. Although we have demonstrated that PIC is suitable for three-dimensional (3D) culture of several cell types, it is unknown whether this hydrogel sustains the proliferation and passaging of cells originating from different germ layers. In the present study, we propose a 3D culture system for three representative cell sources: Schwann cells (ectoderm), hepatocytes (endoderm), and endothelial cells (mesoderm). Both Schwann cells and hepatocytes proliferated into multicellular spheroids and maintained their properties, regardless of the amount of cell-adhesive RGD motifs in long-term culture. Notably, Schwann cells grew into larger spheroids in RGD-free PIC than in PIC-RGD, while HL-7702 showed the opposite behavior. Endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells, HUVECs) spread and formed an endothelial cell (EC) network only in PIC-RGD. Moreover, in a hepatocyte/HUVEC co-culture system, the characteristics of both cells were well kept for a long period in PIC-RGD. In all, our work highlights a simple ECM mimic that supports the growth and phenotype maintenance of cells from all germ layers in the long term. Our findings might contribute to research on biological development, organoid engineering, and in vitro drug screening.
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3
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Tanataweethum N, Trang A, Lee C, Mehta J, Patel N, Cohen RN, Bhushan A. Investigation of insulin resistance through a multiorgan microfluidic organ-on-chip. Biomed Mater 2021; 17. [PMID: 34942604 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ac4611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The development of hepatic insulin resistance (IR) is a critical factor in developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), where insulin fails to inhibit hepatic glucose production but retains its capacity to promote hepatic lipogenesis. Improving insulin sensitivity can be effective in preventing and treating T2D. However, selective control of glucose and lipid synthesis has been difficult. It is known that excess white adipose tissue is detrimental to insulin sensitivity, whereas brown adipose tissue transplantation can restore it in diabetic mice. However, challenges remain in our understanding of liver-adipose communication because the confounding effects of hypothalamic regulation of metabolic function cannot be ruled out in previous studies. There is a lack of in vitro models that use primary cells to study cellular-crosstalk under insulin resistant conditions. Building upon our previous work on the microfluidic primary liver and adipose organ-on-chips, we report for the first time the development of integrated insulin resistant liver-adipose (white and brown) organ-on-chip. The design of the microfluidic device was carried out using computational fluid dynamics; the experimental studies were conducted by carrying out detailed biochemical analysis RNA-seq analysis on both cell types. Further, we tested the hypothesis that brown adipocytes regulated both hepatic insulin sensitivity and lipogenesis. Our results show effective co-modulation of hepatic glucose and lipid synthesis through a platform for identifying potential therapeutics for IR and diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nida Tanataweethum
- Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, 3255 South dearborn street, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
| | - Allyson Trang
- Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, 3255 South Dearborn Street Wishnick Hall, Suite 314, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
| | - Chaeeun Lee
- Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, 3255 South Dearborn Street Wishnick Hall, Suite 314, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
| | - Jhalak Mehta
- Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, 3255 South dearborn street, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
| | - Neha Patel
- Illinois Institute of Technology, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, 3255 South dearborn street, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
| | - Ronald N Cohen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 1027, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637-1476, UNITED STATES
| | - Abhinav Bhushan
- Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3255 S Dearborn St, Wishnick 314, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
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4
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Handin N, Mickols E, Ölander M, Rudfeldt J, Blom K, Nyberg F, Senkowski W, Urdzik J, Maturi V, Fryknäs M, Artursson P. Conditions for maintenance of hepatocyte differentiation and function in 3D cultures. iScience 2021; 24:103235. [PMID: 34746700 PMCID: PMC8551077 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spheroid cultures of primary human hepatocytes (PHH) are used in studies of hepatic drug metabolism and toxicity. The cultures are maintained under different conditions, with possible confounding results. We performed an in-depth analysis of the influence of various culture conditions to find the optimal conditions for the maintenance of an in vivo like phenotype. The formation, protein expression, and function of PHH spheroids were followed for three weeks in a high-throughput 384-well format. Medium composition affected spheroid histology, global proteome profile, drug metabolism and drug-induced toxicity. No epithelial-mesenchymal transition was observed. Media with fasting glucose and insulin levels gave spheroids with phenotypes closest to normal PHH. The most expensive medium resulted in PHH features most divergent from that of native PHH. Our results provide a protocol for culture of healthy PHH with maintained function - a prerequisite for studies of hepatocyte homeostasis and more reproducible hepatocyte research. 3D spheroid cultures were established in 384-well format Eight different media variants were used to optimize the 3D cultures Optimized William's medium was as good as expensive commercial medium The 3D cultures were used to study drug metabolism and toxicity
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Handin
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Evgeniya Mickols
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magnus Ölander
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jakob Rudfeldt
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kristin Blom
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Frida Nyberg
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Wojciech Senkowski
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC) and Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology (DanStem), University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jozef Urdzik
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Varun Maturi
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per Artursson
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
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5
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Kukla DA, Khetani SR. Bioengineered Liver Models for Investigating Disease Pathogenesis and Regenerative Medicine. Semin Liver Dis 2021; 41:368-392. [PMID: 34139785 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Owing to species-specific differences in liver pathways, in vitro human liver models are utilized for elucidating mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis, drug development, and regenerative medicine. To mitigate limitations with de-differentiated cultures, bioengineers have developed advanced techniques/platforms, including micropatterned cocultures, spheroids/organoids, bioprinting, and microfluidic devices, for perfusing cell cultures and liver slices. Such techniques improve mature functions and culture lifetime of primary and stem-cell human liver cells. Furthermore, bioengineered liver models display several features of liver diseases including infections with pathogens (e.g., malaria, hepatitis C/B viruses, Zika, dengue, yellow fever), alcoholic/nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer. Here, we discuss features of bioengineered human liver models, their uses for modeling aforementioned diseases, and how such models are being augmented/adapted for fabricating implantable human liver tissues for clinical therapy. Ultimately, continued advances in bioengineered human liver models have the potential to aid the development of novel, safe, and efficacious therapies for liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Kukla
- Deparment of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Deparment of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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6
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Kemas AM, Youhanna S, Zandi Shafagh R, Lauschke VM. Insulin-dependent glucose consumption dynamics in 3D primary human liver cultures measured by a sensitive and specific glucose sensor with nanoliter input volume. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21305. [PMID: 33566368 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202001989rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The liver plays a central role in glucose homeostasis and hepatic insulin resistance constitutes a key feature of type 2 diabetes. However, platforms that accurately mimic human hepatic glucose disposition and allow for rapid and scalable quantification of glucose consumption dynamics are lacking. Here, we developed and optimized a colorimetric glucose assay based on the glucose oxidase-peroxidase system and demonstrate that the system can monitor glucose consumption in 3D primary human liver cell cultures over multiple days. The system was highly sensitive (limit of detection of 3.5 µM) and exceptionally accurate (R2 = 0.999) while requiring only nanoliter input volumes (250 nL), enabling longitudinal profiling of individual liver microtissues. By utilizing a novel polymer, off-stoichiometric thiol-ene (OSTE), and click-chemistry based on thiol-Michael additions, we furthermore show that the assay can be covalently bound to custom-build chips, facilitating the integration of the sensor into microfluidic devices. Using this system, we find that glucose uptake of our 3D human liver cultures closely resembles human hepatic glucose uptake in vivo as measured by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. By comparing isogenic insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive liver cultures we furthermore show that insulin and extracellular glucose levels account for 55% and 45% of hepatic glucose consumption, respectively. In conclusion, the presented data show that the integration of accurate and scalable nanoliter glucose sensors with physiologically relevant organotypic human liver models enables longitudinal profiling of hepatic glucose consumption dynamics that will facilitate studies into the biology and pathobiology of glycemic control, as well as antidiabetic drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurino M Kemas
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonia Youhanna
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Reza Zandi Shafagh
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Micro and Nanosystem, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Volker M Lauschke
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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7
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Monckton CP, Brown GE, Khetani SR. Latest impact of engineered human liver platforms on drug development. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:031506. [PMID: 34286173 PMCID: PMC8286174 DOI: 10.1063/5.0051765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a leading cause of drug attrition, which is partly due to differences between preclinical animals and humans in metabolic pathways. Therefore, in vitro human liver models are utilized in biopharmaceutical practice to mitigate DILI risk and assess related mechanisms of drug transport and metabolism. However, liver cells lose phenotypic functions within 1–3 days in two-dimensional monocultures on collagen-coated polystyrene/glass, which precludes their use to model the chronic effects of drugs and disease stimuli. To mitigate such a limitation, bioengineers have adapted tools from the semiconductor industry and additive manufacturing to precisely control the microenvironment of liver cells. Such tools have led to the fabrication of advanced two-dimensional and three-dimensional human liver platforms for different throughput needs and assay endpoints (e.g., micropatterned cocultures, spheroids, organoids, bioprinted tissues, and microfluidic devices); such platforms have significantly enhanced liver functions closer to physiologic levels and improved functional lifetime to >4 weeks, which has translated to higher sensitivity for predicting drug outcomes and enabling modeling of diseased phenotypes for novel drug discovery. Here, we focus on commercialized engineered liver platforms and case studies from the biopharmaceutical industry showcasing their impact on drug development. We also discuss emerging multi-organ microfluidic devices containing a liver compartment that allow modeling of inter-tissue crosstalk following drug exposure. Finally, we end with key requirements for engineered liver platforms to become routine fixtures in the biopharmaceutical industry toward reducing animal usage and providing patients with safe and efficacious drugs with unprecedented speed and reduced cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase P Monckton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Grace E Brown
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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8
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Gough A, Soto-Gutierrez A, Vernetti L, Ebrahimkhani MR, Stern AM, Taylor DL. Human biomimetic liver microphysiology systems in drug development and precision medicine. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 18:252-268. [PMID: 33335282 PMCID: PMC9106093 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-020-00386-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Microphysiology systems (MPS), also called organs-on-chips and tissue chips, are miniaturized functional units of organs constructed with multiple cell types under a variety of physical and biochemical environmental cues that complement animal models as part of a new paradigm of drug discovery and development. Biomimetic human liver MPS have evolved from simpler 2D cell models, spheroids and organoids to address the increasing need to understand patient-specific mechanisms of complex and rare diseases, the response to therapeutic treatments, and the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity of potential therapeutics. The parallel development and application of transdisciplinary technologies, including microfluidic devices, bioprinting, engineered matrix materials, defined physiological and pathophysiological media, patient-derived primary cells, and pluripotent stem cells as well as synthetic biology to engineer cell genes and functions, have created the potential to produce patient-specific, biomimetic MPS for detailed mechanistic studies. It is projected that success in the development and maturation of patient-derived MPS with known genotypes and fully matured adult phenotypes will lead to advanced applications in precision medicine. In this Review, we examine human biomimetic liver MPS that are designed to recapitulate the liver acinus structure and functions to enhance our knowledge of the mechanisms of disease progression and of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity of therapeutic candidates and drugs as well as to evaluate their mechanisms of action and their application in precision medicine and preclinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Gough
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lawrence Vernetti
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mo R Ebrahimkhani
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Andrew M Stern
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - D Lansing Taylor
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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9
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Davidson MD, Pickrell J, Khetani SR. Physiologically inspired culture medium prolongs the lifetime and insulin sensitivity of human hepatocytes in micropatterned co-cultures. Toxicology 2020; 449:152662. [PMID: 33359713 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2020.152662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Given significant species-specific differences in liver functions, cultures of primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) are useful for assessing drug metabolism and to mitigate the risk of drug-induced hepatotoxicity in humans. While significant advances have been made to keep PHHs highly functional for 2-4 weeks in vitro, especially upon co-culture with both liver- and non-liver-derived non-parenchymal cells (NPCs), the functional lifespan of PHHs is 200-400 days in vivo. Therefore, it is desirable to determine culture conditions that can further prolong PHHs functions in vitro for modeling chronic drug exposure, disease pathogenesis, and to provide flexibility to the end-user for staggering drug incubations across multiple culture batches. Most PHH culture platforms utilize supraphysiologic levels of glucose and insulin and bovine-derived serum when including NPCs, which can alter PHH functions. Therefore, here we developed a culture medium containing physiologic levels of glucose (5 mM), insulin (500 pM), and human serum (10 % v/v) and tested its effects on micropatterned co-cultures (MPCCs) in which PHHs are organized onto collagen domains of empirically optimized dimensions and surrounded by 3T3-J2 murine fibroblasts that express liver-like molecules and induce higher PHH functions than liver-derived NPCs. Our physiologically-inspired culture medium allowed better retention of PHH morphology, polarity, and functions (albumin and urea, cytochrome-P450 activities, and sensitivity to insulin-mediated inhibition of gluconeogenesis) for up to 10 weeks relative to the traditional medium. Finally, PHHs in the physiologic medium displayed clinically-relevant responses to prototypical drugs for hepatoxicity and cytochrome-P450 induction. Ultimately, our physiologic culture medium could find broader utility for the continued development of PHH-NPC co-cultures for drug development, investigating the effects of patient-derived sera on PHH functions and disease phenotypes, and for use in cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Davidson
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Joshua Pickrell
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Salman R Khetani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
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10
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Wei J, Xia T, Chen W, Ran P, Chen M, Li X. Glucose and lipid metabolism screening models of hepatocyte spheroids after culture with injectable fiber fragments. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2020; 14:774-788. [PMID: 32285997 DOI: 10.1002/term.3042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
With the rise of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases, in vitro hepatic cell and tissue models play an essential role in the identification of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Up to now, three-dimensional (3D) culture models have rarely focused on hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. In addition, primary human liver cells suffer from limited availability and interdonor difference for establishing reproducible models. Thus, in the current study, the most available human liver cancer cell line (HepG2) and primary hepatocytes from rats (rPH) were proposed to construct 3D spheroids using injectable fiber fragments with galactose grafts (gSF) as the substrate. rPH and HepG2 spheroids show strong cell-cell and cell-fiber fragment interactions to promote the cell viability, albumin, and urea syntheses. Compared with HepG2 spheroids, rPH spheroids indicate stronger glucose metabolism abilities in terms of glucose consumption, intracellular glycogen content, gluconeogenesis rate, and sensitivity to glucose modulator hormones like insulin and glucagon. On the other hand, HepG2 spheroids display strong lipid metabolism abilities in producing significantly higher levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride. Compared with those without fiber fragments, the gSF-supported 3D culture establishes effective models for in vitro glucose (rPH spheroids) and lipid metabolisms (HepG2 spheroids). The screening models are confirmed from the respective enzyme activities and gene expressions and show significantly higher sensitivity and clinically related responses to hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering drugs. Thus, the culture configuration demonstrates a predictable in vitro platform for defining glucose and lipid metabolism profiles and screening therapeutic agents for metabolism disorders like diabetes and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojun Wei
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China.,School of Bioscience and Technology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Tian Xia
- Department of Pathology, Western Theater Command Air Force Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Weijia Chen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Pan Ran
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Maohua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
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11
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Underhill GH, Khetani SR. Emerging trends in modeling human liver disease in vitro. APL Bioeng 2019; 3:040902. [PMID: 31893256 PMCID: PMC6930139 DOI: 10.1063/1.5119090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver executes 500+ functions, such as protein synthesis, xenobiotic metabolism, bile production, and metabolism of carbohydrates/fats/proteins. Such functions can be severely degraded by drug-induced liver injury, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis B and viral infections, and hepatocellular carcinoma. These liver diseases, which represent a significant global health burden, are the subject of novel drug discovery by the pharmaceutical industry via the use of in vitro models of the human liver, given significant species-specific differences in disease profiles and drug outcomes. Isolated primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) are a physiologically relevant cell source to construct such models; however, these cells display a rapid decline in the phenotypic function within conventional 2-dimensional monocultures. To address such a limitation, several engineered platforms have been developed such as high-throughput cellular microarrays, micropatterned cocultures, self-assembled spheroids, bioprinted tissues, and perfusion devices; many of these platforms are being used to coculture PHHs with liver nonparenchymal cells to model complex cell cross talk in liver pathophysiology. In this perspective, we focus on the utility of representative platforms for mimicking key features of liver dysfunction in the context of chronic liver diseases and liver cancer. We further discuss pending issues that will need to be addressed in this field moving forward. Collectively, these in vitro liver disease models are being increasingly applied toward the development of new therapeutics that display an optimal balance of safety and efficacy, with a focus on expediting development, reducing high costs, and preventing harm to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory H. Underhill
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Salman R. Khetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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12
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Adams AG, Bulusu RKM, Mukhitov N, Mendoza-Cortes JL, Roper MG. Online Measurement of Glucose Consumption from HepG2 Cells Using an Integrated Bioreactor and Enzymatic Assay. Anal Chem 2019; 91:5184-5190. [PMID: 30884946 PMCID: PMC6472493 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b05798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
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Hepatocytes help
to maintain glucose homeostasis in response to
a variety of signals, including pancreatic hormones such as insulin.
Insulin is released from the pancreas with variable dynamics, yet
the role that these play in regulating glucose metabolism in the liver
is still unclear. In this study, a modular microfluidic system was
developed to quantitatively measure the effect of insulin dynamics
on glucose consumption by a human hepatocarcinoma cell line, HepG2.
A microfluidic bioreactor that contained 106 HepG2 cells
was cultured for up to 10 days in an incubator. For glucose consumption
experiments, the bioreactor was removed from the incubator and connected
with reagents for an enzymatic glucose assay. The mixed components
were then delivered into a droplet-based microfluidic system where
the intensity of the fluorescent product of the enzyme assay was used
to quantify the glucose concentration. By optimizing the mixing time
of the reagents, the dynamic range of the enzymatic assay was adjusted
to 0–12 mM glucose and had a time resolution of 96 ± 12
s. The system was used to observe rapid changes in insulin-induced
glucose consumption from HepG2 cells. This assay format is versatile
and can be expanded to measure a variety of hepatic metabolites, such
as lactate, pyruvate, or ketone bodies, which will enable the correlation
of pancreatic hormone dynamics to liver metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna G Adams
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Florida State University , 95 Chieftain Way , Tallahassee , Florida 32306 , United States
| | - Radha Krishna Murthy Bulusu
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering , FAMU-FSU College of Engineering , 2525 Pottsdamer Street , Tallahassee , Florida 32310 , United States
| | - Nikita Mukhitov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Florida State University , 95 Chieftain Way , Tallahassee , Florida 32306 , United States
| | - Jose L Mendoza-Cortes
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering , FAMU-FSU College of Engineering , 2525 Pottsdamer Street , Tallahassee , Florida 32310 , United States.,Department of Physics, Scientific Computing, Materials Science and Engineering, High Performance Materials Institute, and Condensed Matter Theory, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) , Florida State University , 1800 Paul Dirac Drive , Tallahassee , Florida 32310 , United States
| | - Michael G Roper
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Florida State University , 95 Chieftain Way , Tallahassee , Florida 32306 , United States
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13
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Rogal J, Zbinden A, Schenke-Layland K, Loskill P. Stem-cell based organ-on-a-chip models for diabetes research. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 140:101-128. [PMID: 30359630 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) ranks among the severest global health concerns of the 21st century. It encompasses a group of chronic disorders characterized by a dysregulated glucose metabolism, which arises as a consequence of progressive autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta-cells (type 1 DM), or as a result of beta-cell dysfunction combined with systemic insulin resistance (type 2 DM). Human cohort studies have provided evidence of genetic and environmental contributions to DM; yet, these studies are mostly restricted to investigating statistical correlations between DM and certain risk factors. Mechanistic studies, on the other hand, aimed at re-creating the clinical picture of human DM in animal models. A translation to human biology is, however, often inadequate owing to significant differences between animal and human physiology, including the species-specific glucose regulation. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of advanced human in vitro models with the potential to identify novel treatment options for DM. This review provides an overview of the technological advances in research on DM-relevant stem cells and their integration into microphysiological environments as provided by the organ-on-a-chip technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Rogal
- Department of Women's Health, Research Institute for Women's Health, Eberhard Karls University, Silcherstrasse 7/1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Nobelstrasse 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Aline Zbinden
- Department of Women's Health, Research Institute for Women's Health, Eberhard Karls University, Silcherstrasse 7/1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katja Schenke-Layland
- Department of Women's Health, Research Institute for Women's Health, Eberhard Karls University, Silcherstrasse 7/1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; The Natural and Medical Sciences Institute (NMI) at the University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstr. 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; Department of Medicine/Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 675 Charles E. Young Drive South, MRL 3645, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Peter Loskill
- Department of Women's Health, Research Institute for Women's Health, Eberhard Karls University, Silcherstrasse 7/1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Nobelstrasse 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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14
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Mosedale M, Eaddy JS, Trask OJ, Holman NS, Wolf KK, LeCluyse E, Ware BR, Khetani SR, Lu J, Brock WJ, Roth SE, Watkins PB. miR-122 Release in Exosomes Precedes Overt Tolvaptan-Induced Necrosis in a Primary Human Hepatocyte Micropatterned Coculture Model. Toxicol Sci 2019; 161:149-158. [PMID: 29029277 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfx206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI) is thought to often result from an adaptive immune attack on the liver. However, it has been proposed that the cascade of events culminating in an adaptive immune response begins with drug-induced hepatocyte stress, release of exosomal danger signals, and innate immune activation, all of which may occur in the absence of significant hepatocelluar death. A micropatterned coculture model (HepatoPac) was used to explore the possibility that changes in exosome content precede overt necrosis in response to the IDILI drug tolvaptan. Hepatocytes from 3 human donors were exposed to a range of tolvaptan concentrations bracketing plasma Cmax or DMSO control continuously for 4, 24, or 72 h. Although alanine aminotransferase release was not significantly affected at any concentration, tolvaptan exposures at approximately 30-fold median plasma Cmax resulted in increased release of exosomal microRNA-122 (miR-122) into the medium. Cellular imaging and microarray analysis revealed that the most significant increases in exosomal miR-122 were associated with programmed cell death and small increases in membrane permeability. However, early increases in exosome miR-122 were more associated with mitochondrial-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress. Taken together, these data suggest that tolvaptan treatment induces cellular stress and exosome release of miR-122 in primary human hepatocytes in the absence of overt necrosis, providing direct demonstration of this with a drug capable of causing IDILI. In susceptible individuals, these early events may occur at pharmacologic concentrations of tolvaptan and may promote an adaptive immune attack that ultimately results in clinically significant liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merrie Mosedale
- Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.,Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - J Scott Eaddy
- Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.,Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - O Joseph Trask
- Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - Natalie S Holman
- Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.,Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599.,Curriculum in Toxicology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Kristina K Wolf
- Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.,QPS DMPK Hepatic Biosciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - Edward LeCluyse
- Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.,Curriculum in Toxicology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Brenton R Ware
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607
| | - Jingtao Lu
- Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - William J Brock
- Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc, Rockville, Maryland 20850.,Brock Scientific Consulting, Montgomery Village, Maryland 20886
| | - Sharin E Roth
- Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Paul B Watkins
- Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.,Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
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15
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Underhill GH, Khetani SR. Advances in Engineered Human Liver Platforms for Drug Metabolism Studies. Drug Metab Dispos 2018; 46:1626-1637. [PMID: 30135245 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.118.083295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolism in the liver often determines the overall clearance rates of many pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, induction or inhibition of the liver drug metabolism enzymes by perpetrator drugs can influence the metabolism of victim drugs (drug-drug interactions). Therefore, determining liver-drug interactions is critical during preclinical drug development. Unfortunately, studies in animals are often of limited value because of significant differences in the metabolic pathways of the liver across different species. To mitigate such limitations, the pharmaceutical industry uses a continuum of human liver models, ranging from microsomes to transfected cell lines and cultures of primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). Of these models, PHHs provide a balance of high-throughput testing capabilities together with a physiologically relevant cell type that exhibits all the characteristic enzymes, cofactors, and transporters. However, PHH monocultures display a rapid decline in metabolic capacity. Consequently, bioengineers have developed several tools, such as cellular microarrays, micropatterned cocultures, self-assembled and bioprinted spheroids, and perfusion devices, to enhance and stabilize PHH functions for ≥2 weeks. Many of these platforms have been validated for drug studies, whereas some have been adapted to include liver nonparenchymal cells that can influence hepatic drug metabolism in health and disease. Here, we focus on the design features of such platforms and their representative drug metabolism validation datasets, while discussing emerging trends. Overall, the use of engineered human liver platforms in the pharmaceutical industry has been steadily rising over the last 10 years, and we anticipate that these platforms will become an integral part of drug development with continued commercialization and validation for routine screening use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory H Underhill
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois; and Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois; and Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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16
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Davidson MD, Kukla DA, Khetani SR. Microengineered cultures containing human hepatic stellate cells and hepatocytes for drug development. Integr Biol (Camb) 2018; 9:662-677. [PMID: 28702667 DOI: 10.1039/c7ib00027h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), hepatic stellate cells (HSC) differentiate into myofibroblast-like cells that cause fibrosis, which predisposes patients to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, modeling interactions between activated HSCs and hepatocytes in vitro can aid in the development of anti-NASH/fibrosis therapeutics and lead to a better understanding of disease progression. Species-specific differences in drug metabolism and disease pathways now necessitate the supplementation of animal studies with data acquired using human liver models; however, current models do not adequately model the negative effects of primary human activated HSCs on the phenotype of otherwise well-differentiated primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) as in vivo. Therefore, here we first determined the long-term effects of primary human activated HSCs on PHH phenotype in a micropatterned co-culture (MPCC) platform while using 3T3-J2 murine embryonic fibroblasts as the control cell type since it has been shown previously to stabilize PHH functions for 4-6 weeks. We found that HSCs were not able to stabilize the PHH phenotype to the same magnitude and longevity as the fibroblasts, which subsequently inspired the development of a micropatterned tri-culture (MPTC) platform in which (a) micropatterned PHHs were functionally stabilized using fibroblasts, and (b) the PHH phenotype was modulated by culturing HSCs within the fibroblast monolayer at physiologically-relevant ratios with PHHs. Transwell inserts containing HSCs were placed atop MPCCs containing fibroblasts to confirm the effects of paracrine signaling between PHHs and HSCs. We found that while albumin and urea secretions were relatively similar in MPTCs and MPCCs (suggesting well-differentiated PHHs), increasing HSC numbers within MPTCs downregulated hepatic cytochrome-P450 (2A6, 3A4) and transporter activities, and caused steatosis over 2 weeks. Furthermore, MPTCs secreted higher levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine and C-reactive protein (CRP) than MPCCs. Treatment of MPCCs with HSC-conditioned culture medium confirmed that HSC secretions mediate the altered phenotype of PHHs observed in MPTCs, partly via IL-6 signaling. Lastly, we found that NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibition and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activation using clinically relevant drugs alleviated hepatic dysfunctions in MPTCs. In conclusion, MPTCs recapitulate symptoms of NASH- and early fibrosis-like dysfunctions in PHHs and have utility for drug discovery in this space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Davidson
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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17
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Ware BR, Durham MJ, Monckton CP, Khetani SR. A Cell Culture Platform to Maintain Long-term Phenotype of Primary Human Hepatocytes and Endothelial Cells. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 5:187-207. [PMID: 29379855 PMCID: PMC5782488 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Modeling interactions between primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) and primary human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in vitro can help elucidate human-specific mechanisms underlying liver physiology/disease and drug responses; however, existing hepatocyte/endothelial coculture models are suboptimal because of their use of rodent cells, cancerous cell lines, and/or nonliver endothelial cells. Hence, we sought to develop a platform that could maintain the long-term phenotype of PHHs and primary human LSECs. METHODS Primary human LSECs or human umbilical vein endothelial cells as the nonliver control were cocultivated with micropatterned PHH colonies (to control homotypic interactions) followed by an assessment of PHH morphology and functions (albumin and urea secretion, and cytochrome P-450 2A6 and 3A4 enzyme activities) over 3 weeks. Endothelial phenotype was assessed via gene expression patterns and scanning electron microscopy to visualize fenestrations. Hepatic responses in PHH/endothelial cocultures were benchmarked against responses in previously developed PHH/3T3-J2 fibroblast cocultures. Finally, PHH/fibroblast/endothelial cell tricultures were created and characterized as described previously. RESULTS LSECs, but not human umbilical vein endothelial cells, induced PHH albumin secretion for ∼11 days; however, neither endothelial cell type could maintain PHH morphology and functions to the same magnitude/longevity as the fibroblasts. In contrast, both PHHs and endothelial cells displayed stable phenotype for 3 weeks in PHH/fibroblast/endothelial cell tricultures; furthermore, layered tricultures in which PHHs and endothelial cells were separated by a protein gel to mimic the space of Disse displayed similar functional levels as the coplanar tricultures. CONCLUSIONS PHH/fibroblast/endothelial tricultures constitute a robust platform to elucidate reciprocal interactions between PHHs and endothelial cells in physiology, disease, and after drug exposure.
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Key Words
- 3T3-J2 Fibroblasts
- CD31, cluster of differentiation 31
- CD54, cluster of differentiation 54
- CYP450, cytochrome P-450
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- F8, factor VIII
- GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase
- HUVECs
- HUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cells
- LSECs
- LSECs, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells
- Micropatterned Cocultures
- NPCs, nonparenchymal cells
- PHHs, primary human hepatocytes
- SEM, scanning electron microscope
- Tricultures
- cDNA, complementary DNA
- vWF, von Willebrand factor
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton R. Ware
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Mitchell J. Durham
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Chase P. Monckton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Salman R. Khetani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
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18
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Underhill GH, Khetani SR. Bioengineered Liver Models for Drug Testing and Cell Differentiation Studies. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 5:426-439.e1. [PMID: 29675458 PMCID: PMC5904032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2017.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In vitro models of the human liver are important for the following: (1) mitigating the risk of drug-induced liver injury to human beings, (2) modeling human liver diseases, (3) elucidating the role of single and combinatorial microenvironmental cues on liver cell function, and (4) enabling cell-based therapies in the clinic. Methods to isolate and culture primary human hepatocytes (PHHs), the gold standard for building human liver models, were developed several decades ago; however, PHHs show a precipitous decline in phenotypic functions in 2-dimensional extracellular matrix-coated conventional culture formats, which does not allow chronic treatment with drugs and other stimuli. The development of several engineering tools, such as cellular microarrays, protein micropatterning, microfluidics, biomaterial scaffolds, and bioprinting, now allow precise control over the cellular microenvironment for enhancing the function of both PHHs and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human hepatocyte-like cells; long-term (4+ weeks) stabilization of hepatocellular function typically requires co-cultivation with liver-derived or non-liver-derived nonparenchymal cell types. In addition, the recent development of liver organoid culture systems can provide a strategy for the enhanced expansion of therapeutically relevant cell types. Here, we discuss advances in engineering approaches for constructing in vitro human liver models that have utility in drug screening and for determining microenvironmental determinants of liver cell differentiation/function. Design features and validation data of representative models are presented to highlight major trends followed by the discussion of pending issues that need to be addressed. Overall, bioengineered liver models have significantly advanced our understanding of liver function and injury, which will prove useful for drug development and ultimately cell-based therapies.
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Key Words
- 3D, 3-dimensional
- BAL, bioartificial liver
- Bioprinting
- CRP, C-reactive protein
- CYP450, cytochrome P450
- Cellular Microarrays
- DILI, drug-induced liver injury
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- HSC, hepatic stellate cell
- Hepatocytes
- IL, interleukin
- KC, Kupffer cell
- LSEC, liver sinusoidal endothelial cell
- MPCC, micropatterned co-culture
- Microfluidics
- Micropatterned Co-Cultures
- NPC, nonparenchymal cell
- PEG, polyethylene glycol
- PHH, primary human hepatocyte
- Spheroids
- iHep, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human hepatocyte-like cell
- iPS, induced pluripotent stem
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory H. Underhill
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Salman R. Khetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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19
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Lin C, Romero R, Sorokina LV, Ballinger KR, Place LW, Kipper MJ, Khetani SR. A polyelectrolyte multilayer platform for investigating growth factor delivery modes in human liver cultures. J Biomed Mater Res A 2017; 106:971-984. [PMID: 29139224 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.36293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) of chitosan and heparin are useful for mimicking growth factor (GF) binding to extracellular matrix (ECM) as in vivo. Here, we developed a PEM platform for delivering bound/adsorbed GFs to monocultures of primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) and PHH/non-parenchymal cell (NPC) co-cultures, which are useful for drug development and regenerative medicine. The effects of ECM protein coating (collagen I, fibronectin, and Matrigel®) and terminal PEM layer on PHH attachment/functions were determined. Then, heparin-terminated/fibronectin-coated PEMs were used to deliver varying concentrations of an adsorbed model GF, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), to PHH monocultures while using soluble TGFβ delivery via culture medium as the conventional control. Soluble TGFβ delivery caused a severe, monotonic, and sustained downregulation of all PHH functions measured (albumin and urea secretions, cytochrome-P450 2A6 and 3A4 enzyme activities), whereas adsorbed TGFβ delivery caused transient upregulation of 3 out of 4 functions. Finally, functionally stable co-cultures of PHHs and 3T3-J2 murine embryonic fibroblasts were created on the heparin-terminated/fibronectin-coated PEMs modified with adsorbed TGFβ to elucidate similarities and differences in functional response relative to the monocultures. In conclusion, chitosan-heparin PEMs constitute a robust platform for investigating the effects of GF delivery modes on PHH monocultures and PHH/NPC co-cultures. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 971-984, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Lin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Raimundo Romero
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Lioudmila V Sorokina
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kimberly R Ballinger
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Laura W Place
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Matt J Kipper
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Salman R Khetani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
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20
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Functional coupling of human pancreatic islets and liver spheroids on-a-chip: Towards a novel human ex vivo type 2 diabetes model. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14620. [PMID: 29097671 PMCID: PMC5668271 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14815-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human in vitro physiological models studying disease and drug treatment effects are urgently needed as more relevant tools to identify new drug targets and therapies. We have developed a human microfluidic two-organ-chip model to study pancreatic islet–liver cross-talk based on insulin and glucose regulation. We have established a robust co-culture of human pancreatic islet microtissues and liver spheroids maintaining functional responses up to 15 days in an insulin-free medium. Functional coupling, demonstrated by insulin released from the islet microtissues in response to a glucose load applied in glucose tolerance tests on different days, promoted glucose uptake by the liver spheroids. Co-cultures maintained postprandial glucose concentrations in the circulation whereas glucose levels remained elevated in both single cultures. Thus, insulin secreted into the circulation stimulated glucose uptake by the liver spheroids, while the latter, in the absence of insulin, did not consume glucose as efficiently. As the glucose concentration fell, insulin secretion subsided, demonstrating a functional feedback loop between the liver and the insulin-secreting islet microtissues. Finally, inter-laboratory validation verified robustness and reproducibility. Further development of this model using tools inducing impaired glucose regulation should provide a unique in vitro system emulating human type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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21
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Vu LT, Orbach SM, Ray WK, Cassin ME, Rajagopalan P, Helm RF. The hepatocyte proteome in organotypic rat liver models and the influence of the local microenvironment. Proteome Sci 2017; 15:12. [PMID: 28649179 PMCID: PMC5480101 DOI: 10.1186/s12953-017-0120-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver models that closely mimic the in vivo microenvironment are useful for understanding liver functions, capabilities, and intercellular communication processes. Three-dimensional (3D) liver models assembled using hepatocytes and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) separated by a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) provide a functional system while also permitting isolation of individual cell types for proteomic analyses. METHODS To better understand the mechanisms and processes that underlie liver model function, hepatocytes were maintained as monolayers and 3D PEM-based formats in the presence or absence of primary LSECs. The resulting hepatocyte proteomes, the proteins in the PEM, and extracellular levels of urea, albumin and glucose after three days of culture were compared. RESULTS All systems were ketogenic and found to release glucose. The presence of the PEM led to increases in proteins associated with both mitochondrial and peroxisomal-based β-oxidation. The PEMs also limited production of structural and migratory proteins associated with dedifferentiation. The presence of LSECs increased levels of Phase I and Phase II biotransformation enzymes as well as several proteins associated with the endoplasmic reticulum and extracellular matrix remodeling. The proteomic analysis of the PEMs indicated that there was no significant change after three days of culture. These results are discussed in relation to liver model function. CONCLUSIONS Heterotypic cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions exert different effects on hepatocyte functions and phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas T. Vu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
| | - Sophia M. Orbach
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
| | - W. Keith Ray
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
| | - Margaret E. Cassin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
| | - Padmavathy Rajagopalan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
- ICTAS Center for Systems Biology and Engineered Tissues, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
| | - Richard F. Helm
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
- ICTAS Center for Systems Biology and Engineered Tissues, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
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22
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Lin C, Khetani SR. Micropatterned Co-Cultures of Human Hepatocytes and Stromal Cells for the Assessment of Drug Clearance and Drug-Drug Interactions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 72:14.17.1-14.17.23. [PMID: 28463419 DOI: 10.1002/cptx.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Drug clearance rates from the body can determine drug exposure that can affect efficacy or toxicity. Thus, accurate prediction of drug clearance during preclinical development can help guide dose selection in humans, but animal testing is not always predictive of human outcomes. Because hepatic drug metabolism is a rate-limiting step in the overall clearance of many drugs, primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) in suspension cultures or monolayers are used for drug clearance predictions. Yet, the precipitous decline in drug metabolism capacity can lead to significant underestimation of clearance rates, particularly for low turnover compounds that have desirable one-pill-a-day dosing regimens. In contrast, micropatterned co-cultures (MPCCs) of PHHs and fibroblasts display phenotypic stability for several weeks and can help mitigate the limitations of conventional cultures. Here, we describe protocols to create and use MPCCs for drug clearance predictions, and for modeling clinically-relevant drug-drug interactions that can affect drug clearance. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Lin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Scaffold-free 3D bio-printed human liver tissue stably maintains metabolic functions useful for drug discovery. Biochem Biophys Rep 2017; 10:186-191. [PMID: 28955746 PMCID: PMC5614670 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2017.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver plays a central role in metabolism. Although many studies have described in vitro liver models for drug discovery, to date, no model has been described that can stably maintain liver function. Here, we used a unique, scaffold-free 3D bio-printing technology to construct a small portion of liver tissue that could stably maintain drug, glucose, and lipid metabolism, in addition to bile acid secretion. This bio-printed normal human liver tissue maintained expression of several kinds of hepatic drug transporters and metabolic enzymes that functioned for several weeks. The bio-printed liver tissue displayed glucose production via cAMP/protein kinase A signaling, which could be suppressed with insulin. Bile acid secretion was also observed from the printed liver tissue, and it accumulated in the culture medium over time. We observed both bile duct and sinusoid-like structures in the bio-printed liver tissue, which suggested that bile acid secretion occurred via a sinusoid-hepatocyte-bile duct route. These results demonstrated that our bio-printed liver tissue was unique, because it exerted diverse liver metabolic functions for several weeks. In future, we expect our bio-printed liver tissue to be applied to developing new models that can be used to improve preclinical predictions of long-term toxicity in humans, generate novel targets for metabolic liver disease, and evaluate biliary excretion in drug development.
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Key Words
- 3D
- 8CPT-cAMP, 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate
- Bio-printing
- Dex, Dexamethasone
- Drug discovery
- ECM, Extracellular matrix
- HE, hematoxylin and eosin
- Liver
- MRP2, multidrug resistance-associated protein 2
- MT, Masson's trichrome
- Metabolism
- NAFLD, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- NASH, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- OAT, organic anion-transporting
- Scaffold-free
- TUNEL, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling
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Ware BR, Khetani SR. Engineered Liver Platforms for Different Phases of Drug Development. Trends Biotechnol 2016; 35:172-183. [PMID: 27592803 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) remains a leading cause of drug withdrawal from human clinical trials or the marketplace. Owing to species-specific differences in liver pathways, predicting human-relevant DILI using in vitro human liver models is crucial. Microfabrication tools allow precise control over the cellular microenvironment towards stabilizing liver functions for weeks. These tools are used to engineer human liver models with different complexities and throughput using cell lines, primary cells, and stem cell-derived hepatocytes. Including multiple human liver cell types can mimic cell-cell interactions in specific types of DILI. Finally, organ-on-a-chip models demonstrate how drug metabolism in the liver affects multi-organ toxicities. In this review we survey engineered human liver platforms within the needs of different phases of drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton R Ware
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
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25
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Davidson MD, Ballinger KR, Khetani SR. Long-term exposure to abnormal glucose levels alters drug metabolism pathways and insulin sensitivity in primary human hepatocytes. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28178. [PMID: 27312339 PMCID: PMC4911593 DOI: 10.1038/srep28178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus has been linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which can progress to inflammation, fibrosis/cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Understanding how chronic hyperglycemia affects primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) can facilitate the development of therapeutics for these diseases. Conversely, elucidating the effects of hypoglycemia on PHHs may provide insights into how the liver adapts to fasting, adverse diabetes drug reactions, and cancer. In contrast to declining PHH monocultures, micropatterned co-cultures (MPCCs) of PHHs and 3T3-J2 murine embryonic fibroblasts maintain insulin-sensitive glucose metabolism for several weeks. Here, we exposed MPCCs to hypo-, normo- and hyperglycemic culture media for ~3 weeks. While albumin and urea secretion were not affected by glucose level, hypoglycemic MPCCs upregulated CYP3A4 enzyme activity as compared to other glycemic states. In contrast, hyperglycemic MPCCs displayed significant hepatic lipid accumulation in the presence of insulin, while also showing decreased sensitivity to insulin-mediated inhibition of glucose output relative to a normoglycemic control. In conclusion, we show for the first time that PHHs exposed to hypo- and hyperglycemia can remain highly functional, but display increased CYP3A4 activity and selective insulin resistance, respectively. In the future, MPCCs under glycemic states can aid in novel drug discovery and mechanistic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Davidson
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Kimberly R Ballinger
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Salman R Khetani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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March S, Ramanan V, Trehan K, Ng S, Galstian A, Gural N, Scull MA, Shlomai A, Mota MM, Fleming HE, Khetani SR, Rice CM, Bhatia SN. Micropatterned coculture of primary human hepatocytes and supportive cells for the study of hepatotropic pathogens. Nat Protoc 2015; 10:2027-53. [PMID: 26584444 PMCID: PMC5867906 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2015.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of therapies and vaccines for human hepatropic pathogens requires robust model systems that enable the study of host-pathogen interactions. However, in vitro liver models of infection typically use either hepatoma cell lines that exhibit aberrant physiology or primary human hepatocytes in culture conditions in which they rapidly lose their hepatic phenotype. To achieve stable and robust in vitro primary human hepatocyte models, we developed micropatterned cocultures (MPCCs), which consist of primary human hepatocytes organized into 2D islands that are surrounded by supportive fibroblast cells. By using this system, which can be established over a period of days, and maintained over multiple weeks, we demonstrate how to recapitulate in vitro hepatic life cycles for the hepatitis B and C viruses and the Plasmodium pathogens P. falciparum and P. vivax. The MPCC platform can be used to uncover aspects of host-pathogen interactions, and it has the potential to be used for drug and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra March
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Vyas Ramanan
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kartik Trehan
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shengyong Ng
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ani Galstian
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nil Gural
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Margaret A Scull
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Center for the Study of Hepatitis C, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amir Shlomai
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Center for the Study of Hepatitis C, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Maria M Mota
- Unidade de Malaria, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Heather E Fleming
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Charles M Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Center for the Study of Hepatitis C, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sangeeta N Bhatia
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Willebrords J, Pereira IVA, Maes M, Crespo Yanguas S, Colle I, Van Den Bossche B, Da Silva TC, de Oliveira CPMS, Andraus W, Alves VA, Cogliati B, Vinken M. Strategies, models and biomarkers in experimental non-alcoholic fatty liver disease research. Prog Lipid Res 2015; 59:106-25. [PMID: 26073454 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease encompasses a spectrum of liver diseases, including simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is currently the most dominant chronic liver disease in Western countries due to the fact that hepatic steatosis is associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome and drug-induced injury. A variety of chemicals, mainly drugs, and diets is known to cause hepatic steatosis in humans and rodents. Experimental non-alcoholic fatty liver disease models rely on the application of a diet or the administration of drugs to laboratory animals or the exposure of hepatic cell lines to these drugs. More recently, genetically modified rodents or zebrafish have been introduced as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease models. Considerable interest now lies in the discovery and development of novel non-invasive biomarkers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with specific focus on hepatic steatosis. Experimental diagnostic biomarkers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, such as (epi)genetic parameters and '-omics'-based read-outs are still in their infancy, but show great promise. In this paper, the array of tools and models for the study of liver steatosis is discussed. Furthermore, the current state-of-art regarding experimental biomarkers such as epigenetic, genetic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabonomic biomarkers will be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Willebrords
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Isabel Veloso Alves Pereira
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Michaël Maes
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Sara Crespo Yanguas
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Isabelle Colle
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Campus Aalst, Merestraat 80, 9300 Aalst, Belgium.
| | - Bert Van Den Bossche
- Department of Abdominal Surgery and Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery, Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Campus Aalst, Merestraat 80, 9300 Aalst, Belgium.
| | - Tereza Cristina Da Silva
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | - Wellington Andraus
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Venâncio Avancini Alves
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Bruno Cogliati
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Mathieu Vinken
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
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28
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Lin C, Ballinger KR, Khetani SR. The application of engineered liver tissues for novel drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2015; 10:519-40. [PMID: 25840592 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2015.1032241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug-induced liver injury remains a major cause of drug attrition. Furthermore, novel drugs are being developed for treating liver diseases. However, differences between animals and humans in liver pathways necessitate the use of human-relevant liver models to complement live animal testing during preclinical drug development. Microfabrication tools and synthetic biomaterials now allow for the creation of tissue subunits that display more physiologically relevant and long-term liver functions than possible with declining monolayers. AREAS COVERED The authors discuss acellular enzyme platforms, two-dimensional micropatterned co-cultures, three-dimensional spheroidal cultures, microfluidic perfusion, liver slices and humanized rodent models. They also present the use of cell lines, primary liver cells and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human hepatocyte-like cells in the creation of cell-based models and discuss in silico approaches that allow integration and modeling of the datasets from these models. Finally, the authors describe the application of liver models for the discovery of novel therapeutics for liver diseases. EXPERT OPINION Engineered liver models with varying levels of in vivo-like complexities provide investigators with the opportunity to develop assays with sufficient complexity and required throughput. Control over cell-cell interactions and co-culture with stromal cells in both two dimension and three dimension are critical for enabling stable liver models. The validation of liver models with diverse sets of compounds for different applications, coupled with an analysis of cost:benefit ratio, is important for model adoption for routine screening. Ultimately, engineered liver models could significantly reduce drug development costs and enable the development of more efficacious and safer therapeutics for liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Lin
- Colorado State University, School of Biomedical Engineering , 200 W. Lake St, 1301 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1374 , USA
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