1
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Wu RY, Wu CQ, Xie F, Xing X, Xu L. Building RNA-Mediated Artificial Signaling Pathways between Endogenous Genes. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:1777-1789. [PMID: 38872074 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusSophisticated genetic networks play a pivotal role in orchestrating cellular responses through intricate signaling pathways across diverse environmental conditions. Beyond the inherent complexity of natural cellular signaling networks, the construction of artificial signaling pathways (ASPs) introduces a vast array of possibilities for reshaping cellular responses, enabling programmable control of living organisms. ASPs can be integrated with existing cellular networks and redirect output responses as desired, allowing seamless communication and coordination with other cellular processes, thereby achieving designable transduction within cells. Among diversified ASPs, establishing connections between originally independent endogenous genes is of particular significance in modifying the genetic networks, so that cells can be endowed with new capabilities to sense and deal with abnormal factors related to differentiated gene expression (i.e., solve the issues of the aberrant gene expression induced by either external or internal stimuli). In a typical scenario, the two genes X and Y in the cell are originally expressed independently. After the introduction of an ASP, changes in the expression of gene X may exert a designed impact on gene Y, subsequently inducing the cellular response related to gene Y. If X represents a disease signal and Y serves as a therapeutic module, the introduction of the ASP empowers cells with a new spontaneous defense system to handle potential risks, which holds great potential for both fundamental and translational studies.In this Account, we primarily review our endeavors in the construction of RNA-mediated ASPs between endogenous genes that can respond to differentiated RNA expression. In contrast to other molecules that may be restricted to specific pathways, synthetic RNA circuits can be easily utilized and expanded as a general platform for constructing ASPs with a high degree of programmability and tunability for diversified functionalities through predictable Watson-Crick base pairing. We first provide an overview of recent advancements in RNA-based genetic circuits, encompassing but not limited to utilization of RNA toehold switches, siRNA and CRISPR systems. Despite notable progress, most reported RNA circuits have to contain at least one exogenous RNA X as input or one engineered RNA Y as a target, which is not suitable for establishing endogenous gene connections. While exogenous RNAs can be engineered and controlled as desired, constructing a general and efficient platform for manipulation of naturally occurring RNAs poses a formidable challenge, especially for the mammalian system. With a focus on this goal, we are devoted to developing efficient strategies to manipulate cell responses by establishing RNA-mediated ASPs between endogenous genes, particularly in mammalian cells. Our step-by-step progress in engineering customized cell signaling circuits, from bacterial cells to mammalian cells, from gene expression regulation to phenotype control, and from small RNA to long mRNA of low abundance and more complex secondary structures, is systematically described. Finally, future perspectives and potential applications of these RNA-mediated ASPs between endogenous genes are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo-Yue Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chao-Qun Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Fan Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiwen Xing
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Liang Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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2
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Hui KK, Yamanaka S. iPS cell therapy 2.0: Preparing for next-generation regenerative medicine. Bioessays 2024:e2400072. [PMID: 38922935 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the world's first transplantation of tissue generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). There is now a growing number of clinical trials worldwide examining the efficacy and safety of autologous and allogeneic iPSC-derived products for treating various pathologic conditions. As we patiently wait for the results from these and future clinical trials, it is imperative to strategize for the next generation of iPSC-based therapies. This review examines the lessons learned from the development of another advanced cell therapy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and the possibility of incorporating various new bioengineering technologies in development, from RNA engineering to tissue fabrication, to apply iPSCs not only as a means to achieve personalized medicine but also as designer medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin K Hui
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinya Yamanaka
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- CiRA Foundation, Kyoto, Japan
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, California, USA
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3
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Liang Z, Hu Y, Li CY, Yau WL, Tan K, Kuang Y. VPg-based bidirectional synthetic mRNA circuits enable orthogonal protein regulation for high-resolution cell separation. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:5427-5430. [PMID: 38685869 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc01725k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic mRNA circuits commonly sense input to produce binary output signals for cell separation. Based on virus-origin cap-independent translation initiation machinery and RBP-aptamer interaction, we designed smart synthetic mRNA-based circuits that sense single input molecules to bidirectionally tune output signals in an orthogonal manner, enabling high-resolution separation of cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghua Liang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Bldg, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Yaxin Hu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Bldg, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Cheuk Yin Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Bldg, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Wai Laam Yau
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Bldg, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Kaixin Tan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Bldg, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Yi Kuang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Bldg, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
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4
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Chen SJ, Hashimoto K, Fujio K, Hayashi K, Paul SK, Yuzuriha A, Qiu WY, Nakamura E, Kanashiro MA, Kabata M, Nakamura S, Sugimoto N, Kaneda A, Yamamoto T, Saito H, Takayama N, Eto K. A let-7 microRNA-RALB axis links the immune properties of iPSC-derived megakaryocytes with platelet producibility. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2588. [PMID: 38519457 PMCID: PMC10960040 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46605-0] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We recently achieved the first-in-human transfusion of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived platelets (iPSC-PLTs) as an alternative to standard transfusions, which are dependent on donors and therefore variable in supply. However, heterogeneity characterized by thrombopoiesis-biased or immune-biased megakaryocytes (MKs) continues to pose a bottleneck against the standardization of iPSC-PLT manufacturing. To address this problem, here we employ microRNA (miRNA) switch biotechnology to distinguish subpopulations of imMKCLs, the MK cell lines producing iPSC-PLTs. Upon miRNA switch-based screening, we find imMKCLs with lower let-7 activity exhibit an immune-skewed transcriptional signature. Notably, the low activity of let-7a-5p results in the upregulation of RAS like proto-oncogene B (RALB) expression, which is crucial for the lineage determination of immune-biased imMKCL subpopulations and leads to the activation of interferon-dependent signaling. The dysregulation of immune properties/subpopulations, along with the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, contributes to a decline in the quality of the whole imMKCL population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Jing Chen
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kazuya Hashimoto
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kosuke Fujio
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Karin Hayashi
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sudip Kumar Paul
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Akinori Yuzuriha
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Wei-Yin Qiu
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Emiri Nakamura
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Mio Kabata
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sou Nakamura
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naoshi Sugimoto
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kaneda
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takuya Yamamoto
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Medical-risk Avoidance Based on iPS Cells Team, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hirohide Saito
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Naoya Takayama
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Koji Eto
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
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5
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Liang Z, Tan K, Yin Li C, Kuang Y. Self-feedback loop-containing synthetic mRNA switches for controlled microRNA sensing. Bioorg Chem 2024; 144:107081. [PMID: 38232686 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.107081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic mRNA switches are powerful cell fate manipulation tools that sense cellular input molecules to directly control protein expression at the translational level. The lack of available switch designs that can mimic the natural sophisticated protein regulation is a fundamental issue that limits the application of synthetic mRNA switches. Here we report a new set of synthetic mRNA switches by incorporating self-feedback loop machineries to dynamically control protein expression levels upon sensing cellular microRNAs. We redesigned the coding region of the switch to express output protein along with mRNA regulatory proteins. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and RBP-binding RNA motifs (aptamers) guide the regulatory proteins to act on their own mRNAs, enhancing or flattening the effect of microRNA sensing. Importantly, we demonstrated that the switches with the positive feedback feature can enlarge a high-or-low microRNA effect into a nearly all-or-none pattern, substantially boosting the use of synthetic mRNA switches as high-performance microRNA sensors or binary cell regulation tools. We believe these novel mRNA switch designs provide new strategies to construct complex mRNA-based genetic circuits for future molecular sensing and cell engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghua Liang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Kaixin Tan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Cheuk Yin Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Yi Kuang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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6
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Chen Y, Chen X, Zhang B, Zhang Y, Li S, Liu Z, Gao Y, Zhao Y, Yan L, Li Y, Tian T, Lin Y. DNA framework signal amplification platform-based high-throughput systemic immune monitoring. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:28. [PMID: 38320992 PMCID: PMC10847453 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01736-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic immune monitoring is a crucial clinical tool for disease early diagnosis, prognosis and treatment planning by quantitative analysis of immune cells. However, conventional immune monitoring using flow cytometry faces huge challenges in large-scale sample testing, especially in mass health screenings, because of time-consuming, technical-sensitive and high-cost features. However, the lack of high-performance detection platforms hinders the development of high-throughput immune monitoring technology. To address this bottleneck, we constructed a generally applicable DNA framework signal amplification platform (DSAP) based on post-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment and DNA tetrahedral framework-structured probe design to achieve high-sensitive detection for diverse immune cells, including CD4+, CD8+ T-lymphocytes, and monocytes (down to 1/100 μl). Based on this advanced detection platform, we present a novel high-throughput immune-cell phenotyping system, DSAP, achieving 30-min one-step immune-cell phenotyping without cell washing and subset analysis and showing comparable accuracy with flow cytometry while significantly reducing detection time and cost. As a proof-of-concept, DSAP demonstrates excellent diagnostic accuracy in immunodeficiency staging for 107 HIV patients (AUC > 0.97) within 30 min, which can be applied in HIV infection monitoring and screening. Therefore, we initially introduced promising DSAP to achieve high-throughput immune monitoring and open robust routes for point-of-care device development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Xingyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Bowen Zhang
- Department of Prosthodontics, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300041, PR China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Songhang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yuxuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Lin Yan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
| | - Taoran Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
| | - Yunfeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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7
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Abstract
Cell therapy holds great promise for regenerative treatment of disease. Despite recent breakthroughs in clinical research, applications of cell therapies to the injured brain have not yielded the desired results. We pinpoint current limitations and suggest five principles to advance stem cell therapies for brain regeneration. While we focus on cell therapy for stroke, all principles also apply for other brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan Rust
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Tackenberg
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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8
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Hu Y, Li CY, Lu Q, Kuang Y. Multiplex miRNA reporting platform for real-time profiling of living cells. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:150-162.e7. [PMID: 38035883 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.11.002] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Accurately characterizing cell types within complex cell structures provides invaluable information for comprehending the cellular status during biological processes. In this study, we have developed an miRNA-switch cocktail platform capable of reporting and tracking the activities of multiple miRNAs (microRNAs) at the single-cell level, while minimizing disruption to the cell culture. Drawing on the principles of traditional miRNA-sensing mRNA switches, our platform incorporates subcellular tags and employs intelligent engineering to segment three subcellular regions using two fluorescent proteins. These designs enable the quantification of multiple miRNAs within the same cell. Through our experiments, we have demonstrated the platform's ability to track marker miRNA levels during cell differentiation and provide spatial information of heterogeneity on outlier cells exhibiting extreme miRNA levels. Importantly, this platform offers real-time and in situ miRNA reporting, allowing for multidimensional evaluation of cell profile and paving the way for a comprehensive understanding of cellular events during biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxin Hu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cheuk Yin Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qiuyu Lu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yi Kuang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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9
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Inagaki M. Cell Reprogramming and Differentiation Utilizing Messenger RNA for Regenerative Medicine. J Dev Biol 2023; 12:1. [PMID: 38535481 PMCID: PMC10971469 DOI: 10.3390/jdb12010001] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic generated interest in the medicinal applications of messenger RNA (mRNA). It is expected that mRNA will be applied, not only to vaccines, but also to regenerative medicine. The purity of mRNA is important for its medicinal applications. However, the current mRNA synthesis techniques exhibit problems, including the contamination of undesired 5'-uncapped mRNA and double-stranded RNA. Recently, our group developed a completely capped mRNA synthesis technology that contributes to the progress of mRNA research. The introduction of chemically modified nucleosides, such as N1-methylpseudouridine and 5-methylcytidine, has been reported by Karikó and Weissman, opening a path for the practical application of mRNA for vaccines and regenerative medicine. Yamanaka reported the production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by introducing four types of genes using a retrovirus vector. iPSCs are widely used for research on regenerative medicine and the preparation of disease models to screen new drug candidates. Among the Yamanaka factors, Klf4 and c-Myc are oncogenes, and there is a risk of tumor development if these are integrated into genomic DNA. Therefore, regenerative medicine using mRNA, which poses no risk of genome insertion, has attracted attention. In this review, the author summarizes techniques for synthesizing mRNA and its application in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Inagaki
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
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10
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Yang N, Shi Q, Wei M, Xiao Y, Xia M, Cai X, Zhang X, Wang W, Pan X, Mao H, Zou X, Guo M, Zhang X. Deep-Learning Terahertz Single-Cell Metabolic Viability Study. ACS NANO 2023; 17:21383-21393. [PMID: 37767788 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Cell viability assessment is critical, yet existing assessments are not accurate enough. We report a cell viability evaluation method based on the metabolic ability of a single cell. Without culture medium, we measured the absorption of cells to terahertz laser beams, which could target a single cell. The cell viability was assessed with a convolution neural classification network based on cell morphology. We established a cell viability assessment model based on the THz-AS (terahertz-absorption spectrum) results as y = a = (x - b)c, where x is the terahertz absorbance and y is the cell viability, and a, b, and c are the fitting parameters of the model. Under water stress the changes in terahertz absorbance of cells corresponded one-to-one with the apoptosis process, and we propose a cell 0 viability definition as terahertz absorbance remains unchanged based on the cell metabolic mechanism. Compared with typical methods, our method is accurate, label-free, contact-free, and almost interference-free and could help visualize the cell apoptosis process for broad applications including drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Yang
- School of Electrical Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Qian Shi
- School of Electrical Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Mingji Wei
- School of Electrical Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Yi Xiao
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Muming Xia
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Xiaolu Cai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Wencong Wang
- School of Electrical Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Xiaoqing Pan
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Research Institute, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China
| | - Hanping Mao
- School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Xiaobo Zou
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Ming Guo
- School of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Xingcai Zhang
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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11
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Ning H, Liu G, Li L, Liu Q, Huang H, Xie Z. Rational design of microRNA-responsive switch for programmable translational control in mammalian cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7193. [PMID: 37938567 PMCID: PMC10632459 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43065-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial RNA translation modulation usually relies on multiple components, such as RNA binding proteins (RBPs) or microRNAs (miRNAs) for off-switches and double-inverter cascades for on-switches. Recently, translational circular RNAs (circRNAs) were developed as promising alternatives for linear messenger RNAs (mRNAs). However, circRNAs still lack straightforward and programmable translation control strategies. Here, we rationally design a programmable miRNA-responsive internal ribosome entry site (IRES) translation activation and repression (PROMITAR) platform capable of implementing miRNA-based translation upregulation and downregulation in a single RNA construct. Based on the PROMITAR platform, we construct logic gates and cell-type classifier circRNAs and successfully identify desired mammalian cell types. We also demonstrate the potential therapeutic application of our platform for targeted cancer cell killing by encoding a cytotoxic protein in our engineered circRNAs. We expect our platform to expand the toolbox for RNA synthetic biology and provide an approach for potential biomedical applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ning
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Division, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Department of Automation, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Gan Liu
- Syngentech Inc., Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Changping District, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Lei Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Division, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Department of Automation, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Syngentech Inc., Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Changping District, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Huiya Huang
- Syngentech Inc., Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Changping District, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Zhen Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Division, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Department of Automation, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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12
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Tan K, Hu Y, Liang Z, Li CY, Yau WL, Kuang Y. Dual Input-Controlled Synthetic mRNA Circuit for Bidirectional Protein Expression Regulation. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:2516-2523. [PMID: 37652441 PMCID: PMC10510700 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00144] [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: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic mRNA circuits manipulate cell fate by controlling output protein expression via cell-specific input molecule detection. Most current circuits either repress or enhance output production upon input binding. Such binary input-output mechanisms restrict the fine-tuning of protein expression to control complex cellular events. Here we designed mRNA circuits using enhancer/repressor modules that were independently controlled by different input molecules, resulting in bidirectional output regulation; the maximal enhancement over maximal repression was 57 fold. The circuit either enhances or represses protein production in different cells based on the difference in the expression of two microRNAs. This study examined novel bidirectional circuit designs capable of fine-tuning protein production by sensing multiple input molecules. It also broadened the scope of cell manipulation by synthetic mRNA circuits, facilitating the development of mRNA circuits for precise cell manipulation and providing cell-based solutions to biomedical problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixin Tan
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Building, Clear
Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Yaxin Hu
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Building, Clear
Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Zhenghua Liang
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Building, Clear
Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Cheuk Yin Li
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Building, Clear
Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Wai Laam Yau
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Building, Clear
Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Yi Kuang
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Room 5578, Academic Building, Clear
Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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13
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Li CY, Liang Z, Liu L, Kuang Y. Intracellular Molecules Induced Extracellular Peptide Self-Assembly for Efficient and Effective In Situ Cell Purification. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202306533. [PMID: 37483172 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202306533] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) switches are powerful tools for in situ cell purification, especially for cells derived from stem cells. However, the retention effectiveness of the target cells is limited by the leaky expression of toxic protein. The elimination efficiency of non-target cells is also constrained due to the lack of signal amplification. In this study, we designed a novel approach that uses synthetic mRNA switch to convey intracellular marker molecule information into spatially controlled extracellular toxic assembly formation. The approach bypasses the use of toxic protein to ensure high target cell recovery effectiveness. Meanwhile, the marker molecule information is amplified at multiple levels to ensure high non-target cell elimination effectiveness. Our approach can be tailored to meet various in situ cell purification needs, promising high-quality in situ cell purification for a wide range of biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk Yin Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Zhenghua Liang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lejian Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yi Kuang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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14
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Vatanashevanopakorn C, Sartyoungkul T. iPSC-based approach for human hair follicle regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1149050. [PMID: 37325563 PMCID: PMC10266356 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1149050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hair follicles (HFs) are a multifunctional structure involved in physical protection, thermoregulation, sensational detection, and wound healing. Formation and cycling of HFs require dynamic interaction between different cell types of the follicles. Although the processes have been well studied, the generation of human functional HFs with a normal cycling pattern for clinical utilization has yet to be achieved. Recently, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) serve as an unlimited cell source for generating various types of cells including cells of the HFs. In this review, HF morphogenesis and cycling, different cell sources used for HF regeneration, and potential strategies for HF bioengineering using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are depicted. Challenges and perspectives toward the therapeutic use of bioengineered HFs for hair loss disorder are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinnavuth Vatanashevanopakorn
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanutchaporn Sartyoungkul
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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15
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Kameda S, Ohno H, Saito H. Synthetic circular RNA switches and circuits that control protein expression in mammalian cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:e24. [PMID: 36642090 PMCID: PMC9976894 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) has been focused on as an emerging application for mRNA-based therapies and vaccinations. Recently, synthetic circular RNAs (circRNAs) have shown promise as a new class of synthetic mRNA that enables superior stability and persistent gene expression in cells. However, translational control of circRNA remained challenging. Here, we develop 'circRNA switches' capable of controlling protein expression from circRNA by sensing intracellular RNA or proteins. We designed microRNA (miRNA) and protein-responsive circRNA switches by inserting miRNA-binding or protein-binding sequences into untranslated regions (UTRs), or Coxsackievirus B3 Internal Ribosome Entry Site (CVB3 IRES), respectively. Engineered circRNAs efficiently expressed reporter proteins without inducing severe cell cytotoxicity and immunogenicity, and responded to target miRNAs or proteins, controlling translation levels from circRNA in a cell type-specific manner. Moreover, we constructed circRNA-based gene circuits that selectively activated translation by detecting endogenous miRNA, by connecting miRNA and protein-responsive circRNAs. The designed circRNA circuits performed better than the linear mRNA-based circuits in terms of persistent expression levels. Synthetic circRNA devices provide new insights into RNA engineering and have a potential for RNA synthetic biology and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigetoshi Kameda
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University,Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Ohno
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hirohide Saito
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
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16
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Free K, Nakanishi H, Itaka K. Development of Synthetic mRNAs Encoding Split Cytotoxic Proteins for Selective Cell Elimination Based on Specific Protein Detection. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15010213. [PMID: 36678842 PMCID: PMC9867180 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010213] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
For the selective elimination of deleterious cells (e.g., cancer cells and virus-infected cells), the use of a cytotoxic gene is a promising approach. DNA-based systems have achieved selective cell elimination but risk insertional mutagenesis. Here, we developed a synthetic mRNA-based system to selectively eliminate cells expressing a specific target protein. The synthetic mRNAs used in the system are designed to express an engineered protein pair that are based on a cytotoxic protein, Barnase. Each engineered protein is composed of an N- or C-terminal fragment of Barnase, a target protein binding domain, and an intein that aids in reconstituting full-length Barnase from the two fragments. When the mRNAs are transfected to cells expressing the target protein, both N- and C-terminal Barnase fragments bind to the target protein, causing the intein to excise itself and reconstitute cytotoxic full-length Barnase. In contrast, when the target protein is not present, the reconstitution of full-length Barnase is not induced. Four candidate constructs containing split Barnase were evaluated for the ability to selectively eliminate target protein-expressing cells. One of the candidate sets demonstrated highly selective cell death. This system will be a useful therapeutic tool to selectively eliminate deleterious cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hideyuki Nakanishi
- Correspondence: (H.N.); (K.I.); Tel.: +81-3-5280-8087 (H.N. & K.I.); Fax: +81-3-5280-8088 (H.N. & K.I.)
| | - Keiji Itaka
- Correspondence: (H.N.); (K.I.); Tel.: +81-3-5280-8087 (H.N. & K.I.); Fax: +81-3-5280-8088 (H.N. & K.I.)
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17
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Ono H, Saito H. Sensing intracellular signatures with synthetic mRNAs. RNA Biol 2023; 20:588-602. [PMID: 37582192 PMCID: PMC10431736 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2244791] [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] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The bottom-up assembly of biological components in synthetic biology has contributed to a better understanding of natural phenomena and the development of new technologies for practical applications. Over the past few decades, basic RNA research has unveiled the regulatory roles of RNAs underlying gene regulatory networks; while advances in RNA biology, in turn, have highlighted the potential of a wide variety of RNA elements as building blocks to construct artificial systems. In particular, synthetic mRNA-based translational regulators, which respond to signals in cells and regulate the production of encoded output proteins, are gaining attention with the recent rise of mRNA therapeutics. In this Review, we discuss recent progress in RNA synthetic biology, mainly focusing on emerging technologies for sensing intracellular protein and RNA molecules and controlling translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Ono
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Sakyo-Ku, Japan
| | - Hirohide Saito
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Sakyo-Ku, Japan
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18
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Prochazka L, Michaels YS, Lau C, Jones RD, Siu M, Yin T, Wu D, Jang E, Vázquez‐Cantú M, Gilbert PM, Kaul H, Benenson Y, Zandstra PW. Synthetic gene circuits for cell state detection and protein tuning in human pluripotent stem cells. Mol Syst Biol 2022; 18:e10886. [PMID: 36366891 PMCID: PMC9650275 DOI: 10.15252/msb.202110886] [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: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, cell state transitions are coordinated through changes in the identity of molecular regulators in a cell type‐ and dose‐specific manner. The ability to rationally engineer such transitions in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) will enable numerous applications in regenerative medicine. Herein, we report the generation of synthetic gene circuits that can detect a desired cell state using AND‐like logic integration of endogenous miRNAs (classifiers) and, upon detection, produce fine‐tuned levels of output proteins using an miRNA‐mediated output fine‐tuning technology (miSFITs). Specifically, we created an “hPSC ON” circuit using a model‐guided miRNA selection and circuit optimization approach. The circuit demonstrates robust PSC‐specific detection and graded output protein production. Next, we used an empirical approach to create an “hPSC‐Off” circuit. This circuit was applied to regulate the secretion of endogenous BMP4 in a state‐specific and fine‐tuned manner to control the composition of differentiating hPSCs. Our work provides a platform for customized cell state‐specific control of desired physiological factors in hPSC, laying the foundation for programming cell compositions in hPSC‐derived tissues and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Prochazka
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
| | - Yale S Michaels
- Michael Smith Laboratories University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Charles Lau
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Ross D Jones
- Michael Smith Laboratories University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Mona Siu
- Michael Smith Laboratories University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Ting Yin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
| | - Diana Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
| | - Esther Jang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
| | - Mercedes Vázquez‐Cantú
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D‐BSSE) Basel Switzerland
| | - Penney M Gilbert
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
| | - Himanshu Kaul
- School of Engineering University of Leicester Leicester UK
- Department of Respiratory Sciences University of Leicester Leicester UK
| | - Yaakov Benenson
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D‐BSSE) Basel Switzerland
| | - Peter W Zandstra
- Michael Smith Laboratories University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
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19
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Rust R, Weber RZ, Generali M, Kehl D, Bodenmann C, Uhr D, Wanner D, Zürcher KJ, Saito H, Hoerstrup SP, Nitsch RM, Tackenberg C. Xeno-free induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells for in vivo applications. J Transl Med 2022; 20:421. [PMID: 36114512 PMCID: PMC9482172 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03610-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, there is no regenerative therapy for patients with neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. Cell-therapies have emerged as a potential treatment for numerous brain diseases. Despite recent advances in stem cell technology, major concerns have been raised regarding the feasibility and safety of cell therapies for clinical applications. METHODS We generated good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compatible neural progenitor cells (NPCs) from transgene- and xeno-free induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can be smoothly adapted for clinical applications. NPCs were characterized in vitro for their differentiation potential and in vivo after transplantation into wild type as well as genetically immunosuppressed mice. RESULTS Generated NPCs had a stable gene-expression over at least 15 passages and could be scaled for up to 1018 cells per initially seeded 106 cells. After withdrawal of growth factors in vitro, cells adapted a neural fate and mainly differentiated into active neurons. To ensure a pure NPC population for in vivo applications, we reduced the risk of iPSC contamination by applying micro RNA-switch technology as a safety checkpoint. Using lentiviral transduction with a fluorescent and bioluminescent dual-reporter construct, combined with non-invasive in vivo bioluminescent imaging, we longitudinally tracked the grafted cells in healthy wild-type and genetically immunosuppressed mice as well as in a mouse model of ischemic stroke. Long term in-depth characterization revealed that transplanted NPCs have the capability to survive and spontaneously differentiate into functional and mature neurons throughout a time course of a month, while no residual pluripotent cells were detectable. CONCLUSION We describe the generation of transgene- and xeno-free NPCs. This simple differentiation protocol combined with the ability of in vivo cell tracking presents a valuable tool to develop safe and effective cell therapies for various brain injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan Rust
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland.
| | - Rebecca Z Weber
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Generali
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Debora Kehl
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Chantal Bodenmann
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Uhr
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Debora Wanner
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin J Zürcher
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Hirohide Saito
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Simon P Hoerstrup
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Wyss Translational Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger M Nitsch
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Tackenberg
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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20
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Boyd-Gibbins N, Karagiannis P, Hwang DW, Kim SI. iPSCs in NK Cell Manufacturing and NKEV Development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:890894. [PMID: 35874677 PMCID: PMC9305199 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.890894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapies for cancer can complement existing T cell therapies while benefiting from advancements already made in the immunotherapy field. For NK cell manufacturing, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer advantages including eliminating donor variation and providing an ideal platform for genome engineering. At the same time, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have become a major research interest, and purified NK cell extracellular vesicles (NKEVs) have been shown to reproduce the key functions of their parent NK cells. NKEVs have the potential to be developed into a standalone therapeutic with reduced complexity and immunogenicity compared to cell therapies. This review explores the role iPSC technology can play in both NK cell manufacturing and NKEV development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Karagiannis
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Do Won Hwang
- Research and Development Center, THERABEST Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Shin-Il Kim
- THERABEST Japan, Inc., Kobe, Japan
- Research and Development Center, THERABEST Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Shin-Il Kim,
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21
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Tsujisaka Y, Hatani T, Okubo C, Ito R, Kimura A, Narita M, Chonabayashi K, Funakoshi S, Lucena-Cacace A, Toyoda T, Osafune K, Kimura T, Saito H, Yoshida Y. Purification of human iPSC-derived cells at large scale using microRNA switch and magnetic-activated cell sorting. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:1772-1785. [PMID: 35688152 PMCID: PMC9287667 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
For regenerative cell therapies using pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived cells, large quantities of purified cells are required. Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) is a powerful approach to collect target antigen-positive cells; however, it remains a challenge to purify various cell types efficiently at large scale without using antibodies specific to the desired cell type. Here we develop a technology that combines microRNA (miRNA)-responsive mRNA switch (miR-switch) with MACS (miR-switch-MACS) to purify large amounts of PSC-derived cells rapidly and effectively. We designed miR-switches that detect specific miRNAs expressed in target cells and controlled the translation of a CD4-coding transgene as a selection marker for MACS. For the large-scale purification of induced PSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), we transferred miR-208a-CD4 switch-MACS and obtained purified iPSC-CMs efficiently. Moreover, miR-375-CD4 switch-MACS highly purified pancreatic insulin-producing cells and their progenitors expressing Chromogranin A. Overall, the miR-switch-MACS method can efficiently purify target PSC-derived cells for cell replacement therapy. MiR-208a-CD4 switch-MACS can purify a large amount of iPSC-CMs in a short time MiR-208a switch can purify iPSC-CMs in each subtype-specific protocol MiR-375-CD4 switch-MACS can be applied to pancreatic endocrine precursor cells MiR-switch-MACS method can be efficient for large-scale target cell purification
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Tsujisaka
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Takeshi Hatani
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Chikako Okubo
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Ryo Ito
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Azuma Kimura
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Megumi Narita
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Chonabayashi
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Funakoshi
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Takeda-CiRA Joint Program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa 251-0012, Japan
| | - Antonio Lucena-Cacace
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Taro Toyoda
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kenji Osafune
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kimura
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hirohide Saito
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Yoshinori Yoshida
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Takeda-CiRA Joint Program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa 251-0012, Japan.
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