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Wang MY, Yi MX, Mo XY, Wei SJ, Qiao Y, Zhang Z, Su ZL, Lu HY. Over-activation of iNKT cells aggravate lung injury in bronchopulmonary dysplasia mice. Redox Biol 2024; 77:103370. [PMID: 39342744 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2024] [Revised: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a severe lung disease in preterm infants, the abnormal proliferate and differentiate ability of type II epithelial cells (AEC II) is the key to the pathological basis of BPD. Mechanisms regarding abnormal AEC II in BPD remain unclear. The present work investigated the role and mechanisms of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in lung disorder in BPD using public datasets, clinical samples, a hyperoxia-induced BPD mouse model and AEC II-iNKT cells transwell co-culture system. Firstly, we found that the NKT cells development factor IL-15 increased over time in patients with BPD in public databases, and clinically collected peripheral blood NKT cells in patients with BPD were increased. Subsequently, the percentage of iNKT cells increased in hyperoxia group compared with normoxia group, with the highest at P7, accompanied by increased activation with abnormal lung development. The administration of anti-CD1d neutralizing antibody to inhibit iNKT cells could alleviate the abnormal lung development of hyperoxia group mice, while α-GalCer administration could aggravate lung injury in hyperoxia group mice, and adoptive transfer of iNKT cells could aggravate the abnormal lung development in hyperoxia group mice. In addition, to further verify the role of iNKT cells on AEC II, AEC II-iNKT cells co-culture system was established. The presence of iNKT cells could aggravate the abnormal expression of SP-C and T1α under hyperoxia. Meanwhile, RNA-seq analysis showed that ferroptosis-related genes were highly expressed in AEC II co-cultured with iNKT cells under hyperoxia. We further validated the effect of the presence of iNKT cells under hyperoxia environment on AEC II ferroptosis levels, suggested that iNKT cells promote AEC II ferroptosis under hyperoxia, accompanied by decreased expression of SP-C and T1α. Our study found that the recruitment of iNKT cells in the lung may be an important cause of alveolarization disorder in BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Yan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Meng-Xu Yi
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Xing-Yu Mo
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Shan-Jie Wei
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Yu Qiao
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- International Genome Center, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Zhao-Liang Su
- International Genome Center, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, China; Institute for Medical Immunology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212001, China.
| | - Hong-Yan Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212001, China.
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2
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McCray TN, Nguyen V, Heins JS, Nguyen E, Stewart K, Ford CT, Neace C, Gupta P, Ortiz DJ. Bronchioalveolar organoids: A preclinical tool to screen toxicity associated with antibody-drug conjugates. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2024; 485:116886. [PMID: 38452946 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2024.116886] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Despite extensive preclinical testing, cancer therapeutics can result in unanticipated toxicity to non-tumor tissue in patients. These toxicities may pass undetected in preclinical experiments due to modeling limitations involving poor biomimicry of 2-dimensional in vitro cell cultures and due to lack of interspecies translatability in in vivo studies. Instead, primary cells can be grown into miniature 3-dimensional structures that recapitulate morphological and functional aspects of native tissue, termed "organoids." Here, human bronchioalveolar organoids grown from primary alveolar epithelial cells were employed to model lung epithelium and investigate off-target toxicities associated with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). ADCs with three different linker-payload combinations (mafodotin, vedotin, and deruxtecan) were tested in bronchioalveolar organoids generated from human, rat, and nonhuman primate lung cells. Organoids demonstrated antibody uptake and changes in viability in response to ADC exposure that model in vivo drug sensitivity. RNA sequencing identified inflammatory activation in bronchioalveolar cells in response to deruxtecan. Future studies will explore specific cell populations involved in interstitial lung disease and incorporate immune cells to the culture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vy Nguyen
- Seagen Inc., Bothell, Washington, USA
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3
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Tanabe I, Ishimori K, Ishikawa S. Development of an in vitro human alveolar epithelial air-liquid interface model using a small molecule inhibitor cocktail. BMC Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:9. [PMID: 38500038 PMCID: PMC10946194 DOI: 10.1186/s12860-024-00507-7] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The alveolar epithelium is exposed to numerous stimuli, such as chemicals, viruses, and bacteria that cause a variety of pulmonary diseases through inhalation. Alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) cultured in vitro are a valuable tool for studying the impacts of these stimuli and developing therapies for associated diseases. However, maintaining the proliferative capacity of AECs in vitro is challenging. In this study, we used a cocktail of three small molecule inhibitors to cultivate AECs: Y-27632, A-83-01, and CHIR99021 (YAC). These inhibitors reportedly maintain the proliferative capacity of several types of stem/progenitor cells. RESULTS Primary human AECs cultured in medium containing YAC proliferated for more than 50 days (over nine passages) under submerged conditions. YAC-treated AECs were subsequently cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI) to promote differentiation. YAC-treated AECs on ALI day 7 formed a monolayer of epithelial tissue with strong expression of the surfactant protein-encoding genes SFTPA1, SFTPB, SFTPC, and SFTPD, which are markers for type II AECs (AECIIs). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that paraffin sections of YAC-treated AECs on ALI day 7 were mainly composed of cells expressing surfactant protein B and prosurfactant protein C. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that YAC-containing medium could be useful for expansion of AECIIs, which are recognized as local stem/progenitor cells, in the alveoli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikuya Tanabe
- Scientific Product Assessment Center, R&D Group, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan
| | - Kanae Ishimori
- Scientific Product Assessment Center, R&D Group, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan
| | - Shinkichi Ishikawa
- Scientific Product Assessment Center, R&D Group, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan.
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4
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Yang M, Shen H, Flodby P, Koss MD, Bassiouni R, Liu Y, Jashashvili T, Neely A, Ogbolu E, Castillo J, Stueve TR, Mullen DJ, Ryan AL, Carpten J, Castaldi A, Wallace WD, Zhou B, Borok Z, Marconett CN. Alveolar type I cells can give rise to KRAS-induced lung adenocarcinoma. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113286. [PMID: 37995179 PMCID: PMC10842735 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113286] [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: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent subtype of lung cancer and presents clinically with a high degree of biological heterogeneity and distinct clinical outcomes. The current paradigm of LUAD etiology posits alveolar epithelial type II (AT2) cells as the primary cell of origin, while the role of AT1 cells in LUAD oncogenesis remains unknown. Here, we examine oncogenic transformation in mouse Gram-domain containing 2 (Gramd2)+ AT1 cells via oncogenic KRASG12D. Activation of KRASG12D in AT1 cells induces multifocal LUAD, primarily of papillary histology. Furthermore, KRT8+ intermediate cell states were observed in both AT2- and AT1-derived LUAD, but SCGB3A2+, another intermediate cell marker, was primarily associated with AT1 cells, suggesting different mechanisms of tumor evolution. Collectively, our study reveals that Gramd2+ AT1 cells can serve as a cell of origin for LUAD and suggests that distinct subtypes of LUAD based on cell of origin be considered in the development of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minxiao Yang
- Department of Translational Genomics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Hua Shen
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Per Flodby
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Michael D Koss
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Rania Bassiouni
- Department of Translational Genomics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Yixin Liu
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Tea Jashashvili
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aaron Neely
- Department of Translational Genomics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Ezuka Ogbolu
- Department of Translational Genomics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Jonathan Castillo
- Department of Translational Genomics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Theresa Ryan Stueve
- Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Daniel J Mullen
- Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Amy L Ryan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA 52242, USA
| | - John Carpten
- Department of Translational Genomics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Alessandra Castaldi
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - W Dean Wallace
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Beiyun Zhou
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Zea Borok
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Crystal N Marconett
- Department of Translational Genomics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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Chang H, Du A, Jiang J, Ren L, Liu N, Zhou X, Liang J, Gao G, Wang D. Non-canonical amino acid incorporation into AAV5 capsid enhances lung transduction in mice. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 31:101129. [PMID: 37886602 PMCID: PMC10597788 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.101129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) relies on safe, efficient, and precise in vivo gene delivery that is largely dependent on the AAV capsid. The proteinaceous capsid is highly amenable to engineering using a variety of approaches, and most resulting capsids carry substitutions or insertions comprised of natural amino acids. Here, we incorporated a non-canonical amino acid (ncAA), Nε-2-azideoethyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine (also known as NAEK), into the AAV5 capsid using genetic code expansion, and serendipitously found that several NAEK-AAV5 vectors transduced various cell lines more efficiently than the parental rAAV5. Furthermore, one NAEK-AAV5 vector showed lung-specific transduction enhancement following systemic or intranasal delivery in mice. Structural modeling suggests that the long side chain of NAEK may impact on the 3-fold protrusion on the capsid surface that plays a key role in tropism, thereby modulating vector transduction. Recent advances in genetic code expansion have generated synthetic proteins carrying an increasing number of ncAAs that possess diverse biological properties. Our study suggests that ncAA incorporation into the AAV capsid may confer novel vector properties, opening a new and complementary avenue to gene therapy vector discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ailing Du
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jun Jiang
- GeneLeap Bio, Luye Life Sciences, Woburn, MA 01801, USA
| | - Lingzhi Ren
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Nan Liu
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Xuntao Zhou
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jialing Liang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Dan Wang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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6
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Shen H, Chen W, Liu Y, Castaldi A, Castillo J, Horie M, Flodby P, Sundar S, Li C, Ji Y, Minoo P, Marconett CN, Zhou B, Borok Z. GRAMD2 + alveolar type I cell plasticity facilitates cell state transitions in organoid culture. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.17.560801. [PMID: 37905051 PMCID: PMC10614891 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.17.560801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Alveolar epithelial regeneration is critical for normal lung function and becomes dysregulated in disease. While alveolar type 2 (AT2) and club cells are known distal lung epithelial progenitors, determining if alveolar epithelial type 1 (AT1) cells also contribute to alveolar regeneration has been hampered by lack of highly specific mouse models labeling AT1 cells. To address this, the Gramd2 CreERT2 transgenic strain was generated and crossed to Rosa mTmG mice. Extensive cellular characterization, including distal lung immunofluorescence and cytospin staining, confirmed that GRAMD2 + AT1 cells are highly enriched for green fluorescent protein (GFP). Interestingly, Gramd2 CreERT2 GFP + cells were able to form organoids in organoid co-culture with Mlg fibroblasts. Temporal scRNAseq revealed that Gramd2 + AT1 cells transition through numerous intermediate lung epithelial cell states including basal, secretory and AT2 cell in organoids while acquiring proliferative capacity. Our results indicate that Gramd2 + AT1 cells are highly plastic suggesting they may contribute to alveolar regeneration.
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7
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Liu H, Yang X, Liu G. Regulation of cell proliferation and transdifferentiation compensates for ventilator-induced lung injury mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Immun Inflamm Dis 2023; 11:e1062. [PMID: 37904713 PMCID: PMC10599283 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1062] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mechanical ventilation is an important means of respiratory support and treatment for various diseases. However, its use can lead to serious complications, especially ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The mechanisms underlying this disease are complex, but activation of inflammatory signalling pathways results in activation of cytokines and inflammatory mediators, which play key roles in VILI. Recent studies have demonstrated that nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation mediates VILI and also accompanied by cell proliferation and transdifferentiation to compensate for alveolar membrane damage. Type I alveolar epithelial cells (AECs I), which are involved in the formation of the blood-air barrier, are vulnerable to damage but cannot proliferate by themselves; thus, replacing AECs I relies on type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECs II). OBJECTIVE The review aims to introduce the mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and its inhibitors, as well as the mechanisms that regulate cell proliferation and transdifferentiation. METHODS A large number of relevant literature was searched, then the key content was summarized and figures were also made. RESULTS The mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome activation has been further explored, including but not limited to pathogenic and aseptic inflammatory signals, such as, pathogenic molecular patterns and host-derived danger-associated molecular patterns activate toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappaB pathway or reactive oxygen species, cyclic stretch, adenosine triphosphate induce K+ efflux through P2X7, Ca2+ inflow, mitochondrial damage, etc, eventually induce NIMA-related kinase 7/NLRP3 binding and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Not only that, the review also described in detail the inhibitors of NLRP3 inflammasome. And the mechanisms regulating cell proliferation and transdifferentiation are complex and unclear, including the Wnt/β-catenin, Yap/Taz, BMP/Smad and Notch signalling pathways. CONCLUSIONS NLRP3 inflammasome activation mediated VILI, and VILI is alleviated after interfering with its activation, and inflammation and repair exist simultaneously in VILI. Clarifying these mechanisms is expected to provide theoretical guidance for alleviating VILI by inhibiting the inflammatory response and accelerating alveolar epithelial cell regeneration in the early stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- Department of AnesthesiologyQilu Hospital of Shandong UniversityJi'nanChina
| | - Xuepeng Yang
- Department of OphtalmologyJinan Second People's HospitalJi'nanChina
| | - Ge Liu
- Department of OphtalmologyQilu Hospital of Shandong UniversityJi'nanChina
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8
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Yang Y, Li G, Zhong Y, Xu Q, Chen BJ, Lin YT, Chapkin R, Cai JJ. Gene knockout inference with variational graph autoencoder learning single-cell gene regulatory networks. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:6578-6592. [PMID: 37246643 PMCID: PMC10359630 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we introduce Gene Knockout Inference (GenKI), a virtual knockout (KO) tool for gene function prediction using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data in the absence of KO samples when only wild-type (WT) samples are available. Without using any information from real KO samples, GenKI is designed to capture shifting patterns in gene regulation caused by the KO perturbation in an unsupervised manner and provide a robust and scalable framework for gene function studies. To achieve this goal, GenKI adapts a variational graph autoencoder (VGAE) model to learn latent representations of genes and interactions between genes from the input WT scRNA-seq data and a derived single-cell gene regulatory network (scGRN). The virtual KO data is then generated by computationally removing all edges of the KO gene-the gene to be knocked out for functional study-from the scGRN. The differences between WT and virtual KO data are discerned by using their corresponding latent parameters derived from the trained VGAE model. Our simulations show that GenKI accurately approximates the perturbation profiles upon gene KO and outperforms the state-of-the-art under a series of evaluation conditions. Using publicly available scRNA-seq data sets, we demonstrate that GenKI recapitulates discoveries of real-animal KO experiments and accurately predicts cell type-specific functions of KO genes. Thus, GenKI provides an in-silico alternative to KO experiments that may partially replace the need for genetically modified animals or other genetically perturbed systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjian Yang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Guanxun Li
- Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Yan Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Theory and Application in Statistics and Data Science-MOE, School of Statistics, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Bo-Jia Chen
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Te Lin
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Robert S Chapkin
- Program in Integrative & Complex Diseases, Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - James J Cai
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Interdisciplinary Program of Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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9
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Rosmark O, Kadefors M, Dellgren G, Karlsson C, Ericsson A, Lindstedt S, Malmström J, Hallgren O, Larsson-Callerfelt AK, Westergren-Thorsson G. Alveolar epithelial cells are competent producers of interstitial extracellular matrix with disease relevant plasticity in a human in vitro 3D model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8801. [PMID: 37258541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35011-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) have been implicated in pathological remodelling. We examined the capacity of AEC to produce extracellular matrix (ECM) and thereby directly contribute towards remodelling in chronic lung diseases. Cryopreserved type 2 AEC (AEC2) from healthy lungs and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) afflicted lungs were cultured in decellularized healthy human lung slices for 13 days. Healthy-derived AEC2 were treated with transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-β1) to evaluate the plasticity of their ECM production. Evaluation of phenotypic markers and expression of matrisome genes and proteins were evaluated by RNA-sequencing, mass spectrometry and immunohistochemistry. The AEC2 displayed an AEC marker profile similar to freshly isolated AEC2 throughout the 13-day culture period. COPD-derived AECs proliferated as healthy AECs with few differences in gene and protein expression while retaining increased expression of disease marker HLA-A. The AEC2 expressed basement membrane components and a complex set of interstitial ECM proteins. TGF-β1 stimuli induced a significant change in interstitial ECM production from AEC2 without loss of specific AEC marker expression. This study reveals a previously unexplored potential of AEC to directly contribute to ECM turnover by producing interstitial ECM proteins, motivating a re-evaluation of the role of AEC2 in pathological lung remodelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oskar Rosmark
- Lung Biology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC C12, 22184, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Måns Kadefors
- Lung Biology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC C12, 22184, Lund, Sweden
| | - Göran Dellgren
- Transplant Institute and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christofer Karlsson
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | - Johan Malmström
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oskar Hallgren
- Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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TRIB3 promotes pulmonary fibrosis through inhibiting SLUG degradation by physically interacting with MDM2. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:1631-1647. [PMID: 37139431 PMCID: PMC10150180 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is the pathological structure of incurable fibroproliferative lung diseases that are attributed to the repeated lung injury-caused failure of lung alveolar regeneration (LAR). Here, we report that repetitive lung damage results in a progressive accumulation of the transcriptional repressor SLUG in alveolar epithelial type II cells (AEC2s). The abnormal increased SLUG inhibits AEC2s from self-renewal and differentiation into alveolar epithelial type I cells (AEC1s). We found that the elevated SLUG represses the expression of the phosphate transporter SLC34A2 in AEC2s, which reduces intracellular phosphate and represses the phosphorylation of JNK and P38 MAPK, two critical kinases supporting LAR, leading to LAR failure. TRIB3, a stress sensor, interacts with the E3 ligase MDM2 to suppress SLUG degradation in AEC2s by impeding MDM2-catalyzed SLUG ubiquitination. Targeting SLUG degradation by disturbing the TRIB3/MDM2 interaction using a new synthetic staple peptide restores LAR capacity and exhibits potent therapeutic efficacy against experimental PF. Our study reveals a mechanism of the TRIB3-MDM2-SLUG-SLC34A2 axis causing the LAR failure in PF, which confers a potential strategy for treating patients with fibroproliferative lung diseases.
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11
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Lin Y, Wang D, Zeng Y. A Maverick Review of Common Stem/Progenitor Markers in Lung Development. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:2629-2645. [DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10422-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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12
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Sengupta A, Roldan N, Kiener M, Froment L, Raggi G, Imler T, de Maddalena L, Rapet A, May T, Carius P, Schneider-Daum N, Lehr CM, Kruithof-de Julio M, Geiser T, Marti TM, Stucki JD, Hobi N, Guenat OT. A New Immortalized Human Alveolar Epithelial Cell Model to Study Lung Injury and Toxicity on a Breathing Lung-On-Chip System. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:840606. [PMID: 35832493 PMCID: PMC9272139 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.840606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The evaluation of inhalation toxicity, drug safety and efficacy assessment, as well as the investigation of complex disease pathomechanisms, are increasingly relying on in vitro lung models. This is due to the progressive shift towards human-based systems for more predictive and translational research. While several cellular models are currently available for the upper airways, modelling the distal alveolar region poses several constraints that make the standardization of reliable alveolar in vitro models relatively difficult. In this work, we present a new and reproducible alveolar in vitro model, that combines a human derived immortalized alveolar epithelial cell line (AXiAEC) and organ-on-chip technology mimicking the lung alveolar biophysical environment (AXlung-on-chip). The latter mimics key features of the in vivo alveolar milieu: breathing-like 3D cyclic stretch (10% linear strain, 0.2 Hz frequency) and an ultrathin, porous and elastic membrane. AXiAECs cultured on-chip were characterized for their alveolar epithelial cell markers by gene and protein expression. Cell barrier properties were examined by TER (Transbarrier Electrical Resistance) measurement and tight junction formation. To establish a physiological model for the distal lung, AXiAECs were cultured for long-term at air-liquid interface (ALI) on-chip. To this end, different stages of alveolar damage including inflammation (via exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide) and the response to a profibrotic mediator (via exposure to Transforming growth factor β1) were analyzed. In addition, the expression of relevant host cell factors involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection was investigated to evaluate its potential application for COVID-19 studies. This study shows that AXiAECs cultured on the AXlung-on-chip exhibit an enhanced in vivo-like alveolar character which is reflected into: 1) Alveolar type 1 (AT1) and 2 (AT2) cell specific phenotypes, 2) tight barrier formation (with TER above 1,000 Ω cm2) and 3) reproducible long-term preservation of alveolar characteristics in nearly physiological conditions (co-culture, breathing, ALI). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a primary derived alveolar epithelial cell line on-chip representing both AT1 and AT2 characteristics is reported. This distal lung model thereby represents a valuable in vitro tool to study inhalation toxicity, test safety and efficacy of drug compounds and characterization of xenobiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arunima Sengupta
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nuria Roldan
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mirjam Kiener
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.,Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, Urology Research Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Laurène Froment
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Raggi
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Theo Imler
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Aude Rapet
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Patrick Carius
- Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Nicole Schneider-Daum
- Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Claus-Michael Lehr
- Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Marianna Kruithof-de Julio
- Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, Urology Research Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Geiser
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Michael Marti
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Janick D Stucki
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nina Hobi
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olivier T Guenat
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
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13
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Tran E, Shi T, Li X, Chowdhury AY, Jiang D, Liu Y, Wang H, Yan C, Wallace WD, Lu R, Ryan AL, Marconett CN, Zhou B, Borok Z, Offringa IA. Development of human alveolar epithelial cell models to study distal lung biology and disease. iScience 2022; 25:103780. [PMID: 35169685 PMCID: PMC8829779 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Many acute and chronic diseases affect the distal lung alveoli. Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) lines are needed to better model these diseases. We used de-identified human remnant transplant lungs to develop a method to establish AEC lines. The lines grow well in 2-dimensional (2D) culture as epithelial monolayers expressing lung progenitor markers. In 3-dimensional (3D) culture with fibroblasts, Matrigel, and specific media conditions, the cells form alveolar-like organoids expressing mature AEC markers including aquaporin 5 (AQP5), G-protein-coupled receptor class C group 5 member A (GPRC5A), and surface marker HTII280. Single-cell RNA sequencing of an AEC line in 2D versus 3D culture revealed increased cellular heterogeneity and induction of cytokine and lipoprotein signaling in 3D organoids. Our approach yields lung progenitor lines that retain the ability to differentiate along the alveolar cell lineage despite long-term expansion and provides a valuable system to model and study the distal lung in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Tran
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Tuo Shi
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Xiuwen Li
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Adnan Y. Chowdhury
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Du Jiang
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Yixin Liu
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Hongjun Wang
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Chunli Yan
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - William D. Wallace
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Rong Lu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Amy L. Ryan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Crystal N. Marconett
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Beiyun Zhou
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Zea Borok
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ite A. Offringa
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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14
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Ng WH, Johnston EK, Tan JJ, Bliley JM, Feinberg AW, Stolz DB, Sun M, Wijesekara P, Hawkins F, Kotton DN, Ren X. Recapitulating human cardio-pulmonary co-development using simultaneous multilineage differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. eLife 2022; 11:67872. [PMID: 35018887 PMCID: PMC8846595 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The extensive crosstalk between the developing heart and lung is critical to their proper morphogenesis and maturation. However, there remains a lack of models that investigate the critical cardio-pulmonary mutual interaction during human embryogenesis. Here, we reported a novel stepwise strategy for directing the simultaneous induction of both mesoderm-derived cardiac and endoderm-derived lung epithelial lineages within a single differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) via temporal specific tuning of WNT and nodal signaling in the absence of exogenous growth factors. Using 3D suspension culture, we established concentric cardio-pulmonary micro-Tissues (μTs), and expedited alveolar maturation in the presence of cardiac accompaniment. Upon withdrawal of WNT agonist, the cardiac and pulmonary components within each dual-lineage μT effectively segregated from each other with concurrent initiation of cardiac contraction. We expect that our multilineage differentiation model will offer an experimentally tractable system for investigating human cardio-pulmonary interaction and tissue boundary formation during embryogenesis. Organs begin developing during the first few months of pregnancy, while the baby is still an embryo. These early stages of development are known as embryogenesis – a tightly organized process, during which the embryo forms different layers of stem cells. These cells can be activated to turn into a particular type of cell, such as a heart or a lung cell. The heart and lungs develop from different layers within the embryo, which must communicate with each other for the organs to form correctly. For example, chemical signals can be released from and travel between layers of the embryo, activating processes inside cells located in the different areas. In mouse models, chemical signals and cells travel between developing heart and lung, which helps both organs to form into the correct structure. But it is unclear how well the observations from mouse models translate to heart and lung development in humans. To find out more, Ng et al. developed a human model of heart and lung co-development during embryogenesis using human pluripotent stem cells. The laboratory-grown stem cells were treated with chemical signals, causing them to form different layers that developed into early forms of heart and lung cells. The cells were then transferred into a specific growing condition, where they arranged into three-dimensional structures termed microtissues. Ng et al. found that lung cells developed faster when grown in microtissues with accompanying developing heart cells compared to microtissues containing only developing lung cells. In addition, Ng et al. revealed that the co-developing heart and lung tissues automatically separate from each other during later stage, without the need for chemical signals. This human cell-based model of early forms of co-developing heart and lung cells may help provide researchers with new strategies to probe the underlying mechanisms of human heart and lung interaction during embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai Hoe Ng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Elizabeth K Johnston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Jun Jie Tan
- Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Jacqueline M Bliley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Adam W Feinberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Donna B Stolz
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Ming Sun
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Piyumi Wijesekara
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Finn Hawkins
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University, Boston, United States
| | - Darrell N Kotton
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Xi Ren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
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15
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Zhou B, Stueve TR, Mihalakakos EA, Miao L, Mullen D, Wang Y, Liu Y, Luo J, Tran E, Siegmund KD, Lynch SK, Ryan AL, Offringa IA, Borok Z, Marconett CN. Comprehensive epigenomic profiling of human alveolar epithelial differentiation identifies key epigenetic states and transcription factor co-regulatory networks for maintenance of distal lung identity. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:906. [PMID: 34922464 PMCID: PMC8684104 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08152-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disruption of alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) differentiation is implicated in distal lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and lung adenocarcinoma that impact morbidity and mortality worldwide. Elucidating underlying disease pathogenesis requires a mechanistic molecular understanding of AEC differentiation. Previous studies have focused on changes of individual transcription factors, and to date no study has comprehensively characterized the dynamic, global epigenomic alterations that facilitate this critical differentiation process in humans. RESULTS We comprehensively profiled the epigenomic states of human AECs during type 2 to type 1-like cell differentiation, including the methylome and chromatin functional domains, and integrated this with transcriptome-wide RNA expression data. Enhancer regions were drastically altered during AEC differentiation. Transcription factor binding analysis within enhancer regions revealed diverse interactive networks with enrichment for many transcription factors, including NKX2-1 and FOXA family members, as well as transcription factors with less well characterized roles in AEC differentiation, such as members of the MEF2, TEAD, and AP1 families. Additionally, associations among transcription factors changed during differentiation, implicating a complex network of heterotrimeric complex switching in driving differentiation. Integration of AEC enhancer states with the catalog of enhancer elements in the Roadmap Epigenomics Mapping Consortium and Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) revealed that AECs have similar epigenomic structures to other profiled epithelial cell types, including human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs), with NKX2-1 serving as a distinguishing feature of distal lung differentiation. CONCLUSIONS Enhancer regions are hotspots of epigenomic alteration that regulate AEC differentiation. Furthermore, the differentiation process is regulated by dynamic networks of transcription factors acting in concert, rather than individually. These findings provide a roadmap for understanding the relationship between disruption of the epigenetic state during AEC differentiation and development of lung diseases that may be therapeutically amenable.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Zhou
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - T R Stueve
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - E A Mihalakakos
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - L Miao
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - D Mullen
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Y Wang
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Y Liu
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - J Luo
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - E Tran
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - K D Siegmund
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - S K Lynch
- Department of Engineering, Test Manufacturing Group, MAXIM Integrated Products, Sunnyvale, CA, 95134, USA
| | - A L Ryan
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - I A Offringa
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Z Borok
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - C N Marconett
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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16
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Liberti DC, Morrisey EE. Organoid models: assessing lung cell fate decisions and disease responses. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:1159-1174. [PMID: 34674972 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Organoids can be derived from various cell types in the lung, and they provide a reproducible and tractable model for understanding the complex signals driving cell fate decisions in a regenerative context. In this review, we provide a retrospective account of organoid methodologies and outline new opportunities for optimizing these methods to further explore emerging concepts in lung biology. Moreover, we examine the benefits of integrating organoid assays with in vivo modeling to explore how the various niches and compartments in the respiratory system respond to both acute and chronic lung disease. The strategic implementation and improvement of organoid techniques will provide exciting new opportunities to understand and identify new therapeutic approaches to ameliorate lung disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek C Liberti
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn-CHOP Lung Biology Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edward E Morrisey
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn-CHOP Lung Biology Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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17
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Ptasinski V, Stegmayr J, Belvisi MG, Wagner DE, Murray LA. Targeting Alveolar Repair in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2021; 65:347-365. [PMID: 34129811 PMCID: PMC8525210 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2020-0476tr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal interstitial lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Current evidence suggests that IPF may be initiated by repeated epithelial injury in the distal lung followed by abnormal wound healing responses which occur due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Mechanisms contributing to chronic damage of the alveolar epithelium in IPF include dysregulated cellular processes such as apoptosis, senescence, abnormal activation of developmental pathways, aging, as well as genetic mutations. Therefore, targeting the regenerative capacity of the lung epithelium is an attractive approach in the development of novel therapies for IPF. Endogenous lung regeneration is a complex process involving coordinated cross-talk between multiple cell types and re-establishment of a normal extracellular matrix environment. This review will describe the current knowledge of reparative epithelial progenitor cells in the alveolar region of the lung and discuss potential novel therapeutic approaches for IPF focusing on endogenous alveolar repair. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Ptasinski
- Lund University Faculty of Medicine, 59568, Lund, Sweden.,AstraZeneca R&D Gothenburg, 128698, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - John Stegmayr
- Lunds University Faculty of Medicine, 59568, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria G Belvisi
- Imperial College London, 4615, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Darcy E Wagner
- Lunds Universitet, 5193, Experimental Medical Sciences, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lynne A Murray
- AstraZeneca PLC, 4625, Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
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18
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Lebovitz C, Wretham N, Osooly M, Milne K, Dash T, Thornton S, Tessier-Cloutier B, Sathiyaseelan P, Bortnik S, Go NE, Halvorsen E, Cederberg RA, Chow N, Dos Santos N, Bennewith KL, Nelson BH, Bally MB, Lam WL, Gorski SM. Loss of Parkinson's susceptibility gene LRRK2 promotes carcinogen-induced lung tumorigenesis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2097. [PMID: 33483550 PMCID: PMC7822882 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81639-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathological links between neurodegenerative disease and cancer are emerging. LRRK2 overactivity contributes to Parkinson’s disease, whereas our previous analyses of public cancer patient data revealed that decreased LRRK2 expression is associated with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The clinical and functional relevance of LRRK2 repression in LUAD is unknown. Here, we investigated associations between LRRK2 expression and clinicopathological variables in LUAD patient data and asked whether LRRK2 knockout promotes murine lung tumorigenesis. In patients, reduced LRRK2 was significantly associated with ongoing smoking and worse survival, as well as signatures of less differentiated LUAD, altered surfactant metabolism and immunosuppression. We identified shared transcriptional signals between LRRK2-low LUAD and postnatal alveolarization in mice, suggesting aberrant activation of a developmental program of alveolar growth and differentiation in these tumors. In a carcinogen-induced murine lung cancer model, multiplex IHC confirmed that LRRK2 was expressed in alveolar type II (AT2) cells, a main LUAD cell-of-origin, while its loss perturbed AT2 cell morphology. LRRK2 knockout in this model significantly increased tumor initiation and size, demonstrating that loss of LRRK2, a key Parkinson’s gene, promotes lung tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Lebovitz
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Nicole Wretham
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Maryam Osooly
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Katy Milne
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC, V8R 6V5, Canada
| | - Tia Dash
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC, V8R 6V5, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Shelby Thornton
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC, V8R 6V5, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Basile Tessier-Cloutier
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Paalini Sathiyaseelan
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Svetlana Bortnik
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Nancy Erro Go
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Halvorsen
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Rachel A Cederberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.,Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Norman Chow
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Nancy Dos Santos
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Kevin L Bennewith
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.,Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Brad H Nelson
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC, V8R 6V5, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Marcel B Bally
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Wan L Lam
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.,Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Sharon M Gorski
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
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19
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Horie M, Castaldi A, Sunohara M, Wang H, Ji Y, Liu Y, Li F, Wilkinson TA, Hung L, Shen H, Kage H, Offringa IA, Marconett CN, Flodby P, Zhou B, Borok Z. Integrated Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Analysis of Aquaporin 5-Expressing Mouse Lung Epithelial Cells Identifies GPRC5A as a Novel Validated Type I Cell Surface Marker. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112460. [PMID: 33187367 PMCID: PMC7697677 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular and functional characterization of alveolar epithelial type I (AT1) cells has been challenging due to difficulty in isolating sufficient numbers of viable cells. Here we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of tdTomato+ cells from lungs of AT1 cell-specific Aqp5-Cre-IRES-DsRed (ACID);R26tdTomato reporter mice. Following enzymatic digestion, CD31-CD45-E-cadherin+tdTomato+ cells were subjected to fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) followed by scRNA-seq. Cell identity was confirmed by immunofluorescence using cell type-specific antibodies. After quality control, 92 cells were analyzed. Most cells expressed ‘conventional’ AT1 cell markers (Aqp5, Pdpn, Hopx, Ager), with heterogeneous expression within this population. The remaining cells expressed AT2, club, basal or ciliated cell markers. Integration with public datasets identified three robust AT1 cell- and lung-enriched genes, Ager, Rtkn2 and Gprc5a, that were conserved across species. GPRC5A co-localized with HOPX and was not expressed in AT2 or airway cells in mouse, rat and human lung. GPRC5A co-localized with AQP5 but not pro-SPC or CC10 in mouse lung epithelial cell cytospins. We enriched mouse AT1 cells to perform molecular phenotyping using scRNA-seq. Further characterization of putative AT1 cell-enriched genes revealed GPRC5A as a conserved AT1 cell surface marker that may be useful for AT1 cell isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Horie
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (M.H.); (A.C.); (M.S.); (H.W.); (Y.J.); (Y.L.); (H.S.); (P.F.); (B.Z.)
| | - Alessandra Castaldi
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (M.H.); (A.C.); (M.S.); (H.W.); (Y.J.); (Y.L.); (H.S.); (P.F.); (B.Z.)
| | - Mitsuhiro Sunohara
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (M.H.); (A.C.); (M.S.); (H.W.); (Y.J.); (Y.L.); (H.S.); (P.F.); (B.Z.)
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan;
- Division for Health Service Promotion, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hongjun Wang
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (M.H.); (A.C.); (M.S.); (H.W.); (Y.J.); (Y.L.); (H.S.); (P.F.); (B.Z.)
| | - Yanbin Ji
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (M.H.); (A.C.); (M.S.); (H.W.); (Y.J.); (Y.L.); (H.S.); (P.F.); (B.Z.)
| | - Yixin Liu
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (M.H.); (A.C.); (M.S.); (H.W.); (Y.J.); (Y.L.); (H.S.); (P.F.); (B.Z.)
| | - Fan Li
- Single-Cell, Sequencing, and CyTOF Core (SC2), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA; (F.L.); (T.A.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Thomas A. Wilkinson
- Single-Cell, Sequencing, and CyTOF Core (SC2), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA; (F.L.); (T.A.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Long Hung
- Single-Cell, Sequencing, and CyTOF Core (SC2), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA; (F.L.); (T.A.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Hua Shen
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (M.H.); (A.C.); (M.S.); (H.W.); (Y.J.); (Y.L.); (H.S.); (P.F.); (B.Z.)
| | - Hidenori Kage
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan;
| | - Ite A. Offringa
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (I.A.O.); (C.N.M.)
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Crystal N. Marconett
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (I.A.O.); (C.N.M.)
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Per Flodby
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (M.H.); (A.C.); (M.S.); (H.W.); (Y.J.); (Y.L.); (H.S.); (P.F.); (B.Z.)
| | - Beiyun Zhou
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (M.H.); (A.C.); (M.S.); (H.W.); (Y.J.); (Y.L.); (H.S.); (P.F.); (B.Z.)
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Zea Borok
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (M.H.); (A.C.); (M.S.); (H.W.); (Y.J.); (Y.L.); (H.S.); (P.F.); (B.Z.)
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +323-409-7184; Fax: +323-226-2738
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20
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Baptista D, Teixeira LM, Birgani ZT, van Riet S, Pasman T, Poot A, Stamatialis D, Rottier RJ, Hiemstra PS, Habibović P, van Blitterswijk C, Giselbrecht S, Truckenmüller R. 3D alveolar in vitro model based on epithelialized biomimetically curved culture membranes. Biomaterials 2020; 266:120436. [PMID: 33120199 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that surface curvature at a near-cell-scale influences cell behaviour. Epithelial or endothelial cells lining small acinar or tubular body lumens, as those of the alveoli or blood vessels, experience such highly curved surfaces. In contrast, the most commonly used culture substrates for in vitro modelling of these human tissue barriers, ion track-etched membranes, offer only flat surfaces. Here, we propose a more realistic culture environment for alveolar cells based on biomimetically curved track-etched membranes, preserving the mainly spherical geometry of the cells' native microenvironment. The curved membranes were created by a combination of three-dimensional (3D) micro film (thermo)forming and ion track technology. We could successfully demonstrate the formation, the growth and a first characterization of confluent layers of lung epithelial cell lines and primary alveolar epithelial cells on membranes shaped into an array of hemispherical microwells. Besides their application in submerged culture, we could also demonstrate the compatibility of the bioinspired membranes for air-exposed culture. We observed a distinct cellular response to membrane curvature. Cells (or cell layers) on the curved membranes reveal significant differences compared to cells on flat membranes concerning membrane epithelialization, areal cell density of the formed epithelial layers, their cross-sectional morphology, and proliferation and apoptosis rates, and the same tight barrier function as on the flat membranes. The presented 3D membrane technology might pave the way for more predictive barrier in vitro models in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Baptista
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - L Moreira Teixeira
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Developmental BioEngineering, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Z Tahmasebi Birgani
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - S van Riet
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - T Pasman
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - A Poot
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - D Stamatialis
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - R J Rottier
- Department of Pediatric Surgery/Cell Biology, Erasmus (University) Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P S Hiemstra
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - P Habibović
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - C van Blitterswijk
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - S Giselbrecht
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - R Truckenmüller
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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21
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Qidonghuoxue Decoction Ameliorates Pulmonary Edema in Acute Lung Injury Mice through the Upregulation of Epithelial Sodium Channel and Aquaporin-1. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:2492304. [PMID: 33062004 PMCID: PMC7537689 DOI: 10.1155/2020/2492304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
QDHX decoction is an effective traditional Chinese medicine that has been used to treat ALI, a disease characterized by pulmonary edema and inflammation. In this study, the aim is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of QDHX decoction on improving the alveolar-capillary membrane permeability and alleviating inflammatory response. The BALB/c mice were divided into five groups including the control group, ALI group, ALI + low-dose QDHX decoction, ALI + high-dose QDHX decoction, and ALI + dexamethasone. When the animals were sacrificed, the pathology and wet/dry of lung tissue were tested and confirmed Ali model, the LDH and nucleated cells in BALF, and TNF-α and IL-1β in serum; α-ENaC and AQP-1 in lung tissue were examined. In the results, QDHX decoction downregulated the cytokine such as TNF-α and IL-1β, reduced the nucleated cells, and some biochemical parameters of the BALF. It also ameliorated the ENaC-α and AQP-1 expression induced by LPS in primary epithelial cells. These findings may provide new insights into the application of QDHX decoction for the prevention and treatment of LPS-related ALI.
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22
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Castaldi A, Horie M, Rieger ME, Dubourd M, Sunohara M, Pandit K, Zhou B, Offringa IA, Marconett CN, Borok Z. Genome-wide integration of microRNA and transcriptomic profiles of differentiating human alveolar epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 319:L173-L184. [PMID: 32432919 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00519.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The alveolar epithelium is comprised of two cell types, alveolar epithelial type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) cells, the latter being capable of self-renewal and transdifferentiation into AT1 cells for normal maintenance and restoration of epithelial integrity following injury. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of several biological processes, including cell differentiation; however, their role in establishment/maintenance of cellular identity in adult alveolar epithelium is not well understood. To investigate this question, we performed genome-wide analysis of sequential changes in miRNA and gene expression profiles using a well-established model in which human AT2 (hAT2) cells transdifferentiate into AT1-like cells over time in culture that recapitulates many aspects of transdifferentiation in vivo. We defined three phases of miRNA expression during the transdifferentiation process as "early," "late," and "consistently" changed, which were further subclassified as up- or downregulated. miRNAs with altered expression at all time points during transdifferentiation were the largest subgroup, suggesting the need for consistent regulation of signaling pathways to mediate this process. Target prediction analysis and integration with previously published gene expression data identified glucocorticoid signaling as the top pathway regulated by miRNAs. Serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) emerged as a central regulatory factor, whose downregulation correlated temporally with gain of hsa-miR-424 and hsa-miR-503 expression. Functional validation demonstrated specific targeting of these miRNAs to the 3'-untranslated region of SGK1. These data demonstrate the time-related contribution of miRNAs to the alveolar transdifferentiation process and suggest that inhibition of glucocorticoid signaling is necessary to achieve the AT1-like cell phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Castaldi
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Masafumi Horie
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Megan E Rieger
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Mickael Dubourd
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Mitsuhiro Sunohara
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kusum Pandit
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Beiyun Zhou
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ite A Offringa
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Crystal N Marconett
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Zea Borok
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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23
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Cores J, Dinh PUC, Hensley T, Adler KB, Lobo LJ, Cheng K. A pre-investigational new drug study of lung spheroid cell therapy for treating pulmonary fibrosis. Stem Cells Transl Med 2020; 9:786-798. [PMID: 32304182 PMCID: PMC7308638 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.19-0167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a lethal interstitial lung disease with unknown etiology, no cure, and few treatment options. Herein, a therapy option is presented that makes use of a heterogeneous population of lung cells, including progenitor cells and supporting cells lines, cultured in adherent and suspension conditions, the latter of which induces spontaneous spheroid formation. Within these spheroids, progenitor marker expression is augmented. The cells, called lung spheroid cells, are isolated from fibrotic lungs, expanded, and delivered in single cell suspensions into rat models of pulmonary fibrosis via tail-vein injections. Two bleomycin-induced fibrotic rat models are used; a syngeneic Wistar-Kyoto rat model, treated with syngeneic cells, and a xenogeneic nude rat model, treated with human cells. The first objective was to study the differences in fibrotic progression in the two rat models after bleomycin injury. Nude rat fibrosis formed quickly and extended for 30 days with no self-resolution. Wistar-Kyoto rat fibrosis was more gradual and began to decrease in severity between days 14 and 30. The second goal was to find the minimum effective dose of cells that demonstrated safe and effective therapeutic value. The resultant minimum effective therapeutic dose, acquired from the nude rat model, was 3 × 106 human cells. Histological analysis revealed no evidence of tumorigenicity, increased local immunological activity in the lungs, or an increase in liver enzyme production. These data demonstrate the safety and efficacy of lung spheroid cells in their application as therapeutic agents for pulmonary fibrosis, as well as their potential for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhon Cores
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Phuong-Uyen C Dinh
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Taylor Hensley
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kenneth B Adler
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Leonard J Lobo
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ke Cheng
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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24
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Transcriptional control of lung alveolar type 1 cell development and maintenance by NK homeobox 2-1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:20545-20555. [PMID: 31548395 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906663116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The extraordinarily thin alveolar type 1 (AT1) cell constitutes nearly the entire gas exchange surface and allows passive diffusion of oxygen into the blood stream. Despite such an essential role, the transcriptional network controlling AT1 cells remains unclear. Using cell-specific knockout mouse models, genomic profiling, and 3D imaging, we found that NK homeobox 2-1 (Nkx2-1) is expressed in AT1 cells and is required for the development and maintenance of AT1 cells. Without Nkx2-1, developing AT1 cells lose 3 defining features-molecular markers, expansive morphology, and cellular quiescence-leading to alveolar simplification and lethality. NKX2-1 is also cell-autonomously required for the same 3 defining features in mature AT1 cells. Intriguingly, Nkx2-1 mutant AT1 cells activate gastrointestinal (GI) genes and form dense microvilli-like structures apically. Single-cell RNA-seq supports a linear transformation of Nkx2-1 mutant AT1 cells toward a GI fate. Whole lung ChIP-seq shows NKX2-1 binding to 68% of genes that are down-regulated upon Nkx2-1 deletion, including 93% of known AT1 genes, but near-background binding to up-regulated genes. Our results place NKX2-1 at the top of the AT1 cell transcriptional hierarchy and demonstrate remarkable plasticity of an otherwise terminally differentiated cell type.
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25
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Reversal of Surfactant Protein B Deficiency in Patient Specific Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Lung Organoids by Gene Therapy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13450. [PMID: 31530844 PMCID: PMC6748939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49696-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Surfactant protein B (SFTPB) deficiency is a fatal disease affecting newborn infants. Surfactant is produced by alveolar type II cells which can be differentiated in vitro from patient specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived lung organoids. Here we show the differentiation of patient specific iPSCs derived from a patient with SFTPB deficiency into lung organoids with mesenchymal and epithelial cell populations from both the proximal and distal portions of the human lung. We alter the deficiency by infecting the SFTPB deficient iPSCs with a lentivirus carrying the wild type SFTPB gene. After differentiating the mutant and corrected cells into lung organoids, we show expression of SFTPB mRNA during endodermal and organoid differentiation but the protein product only after organoid differentiation. We also show the presence of normal lamellar bodies and the secretion of surfactant into the cell culture medium in the organoids of lentiviral infected cells. These findings suggest that a lethal lung disease can be targeted and corrected in a human lung organoid model in vitro.
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26
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Abdelwahab EMM, Rapp J, Feller D, Csongei V, Pal S, Bartis D, Thickett DR, Pongracz JE. Wnt signaling regulates trans-differentiation of stem cell like type 2 alveolar epithelial cells to type 1 epithelial cells. Respir Res 2019; 20:204. [PMID: 31492143 PMCID: PMC6731587 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-019-1176-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AT2s) behave as stem cells and show clonal proliferation upon alveolar injury followed by trans-differentiation (TD) into Type 1 alveolar epithelial cells (AT1s). In the present study we identified signaling pathways involved in the physiological AT2-to-AT1 TD process. Methods AT2 cells can be isolated from human lungs and cultured in vitro where they undergo TD into AT1s. In the present study we identified signaling pathways involved in the physiological AT2-to-AT1 TD process using Affymetrix microarray, qRT-PCR, fluorescence microscopy, and an in vitro lung aggregate culture. Results Affymetrix microarray revealed Wnt signaling to play a crucial role in the TD process. Wnt7a was identified as a ligand regulating the AT1 marker, Aquaporin 5 (AQP5). Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis of the Affymetrix data exposed ITGAV: Integrin alpha V (ITGAV), thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) and epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) as Wnt signaling targets. Conclusions Wnt signaling targets that can serve as potential alveolar epithelial repair targets in future therapies of the gas exchange surface after injury. As ITGAV is significantly increases during TD and is regulated by Wnt signaling, ITGAV might be a potential target to speed up the alveolar healing process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elhusseiny Mohamed Mahmud Abdelwahab
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, University of Pecs, 2 Rokus Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary.,Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, 20 Ifjusag Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Judit Rapp
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, University of Pecs, 2 Rokus Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary.,Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, 20 Ifjusag Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Diana Feller
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, University of Pecs, 2 Rokus Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary.,Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, 20 Ifjusag Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Veronika Csongei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, University of Pecs, 2 Rokus Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary.,Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, 20 Ifjusag Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Szilard Pal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Pecs, 2 Rokus Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Domokos Bartis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, University of Pecs, 2 Rokus Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary.,Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, 20 Ifjusag Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary.,Respiratory Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Aging, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - David R Thickett
- Respiratory Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Aging, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Judit Erzsebet Pongracz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, University of Pecs, 2 Rokus Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary. .,Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, 20 Ifjusag Str, Pecs, H-7624, Hungary.
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27
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Sivakumar P, Thompson JR, Ammar R, Porteous M, McCoubrey C, Cantu E, Ravi K, Zhang Y, Luo Y, Streltsov D, Beers MF, Jarai G, Christie JD. RNA sequencing of transplant-stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lung reveals unique pathway regulation. ERJ Open Res 2019; 5:00117-2019. [PMID: 31423451 PMCID: PMC6689672 DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00117-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the scarring of lung parenchyma resulting in the loss of lung function, remains a fatal disease with a significant unmet medical need. Patients with severe IPF often develop acute exacerbations resulting in the rapid deterioration of lung function, requiring transplantation. Understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to IPF is key to develop novel therapeutic approaches for end-stage disease. We report here RNA-sequencing analyses of lung tissues from a cohort of patients with transplant-stage IPF (n=36), compared with acute lung injury (ALI) (n=11) and nondisease controls (n=19), that reveal a robust gene expression signature unique to end-stage IPF. In addition to extracellular matrix remodelling pathways, we identified pathways associated with T-cell infiltration/activation, tumour development, and cholesterol homeostasis, as well as novel alternatively spliced transcripts that are differentially regulated in the advanced IPF lung versus ALI or nondisease controls. Additionally, we show a subset of genes that are correlated with percent predicted forced vital capacity and could reflect disease severity. Our results establish a robust transcriptomic fingerprint of an advanced IPF lung that is distinct from previously reported microarray signatures of moderate, stable or progressive IPF and identifies hitherto unknown candidate targets and pathways for therapeutic intervention in late-stage IPF as well as biomarkers to characterise disease progression and enable patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pitchumani Sivakumar
- Fibrosis Translational Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton NJ, USA
| | - John Ryan Thompson
- Translational Bioinformatics, Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton NJ, USA
| | - Ron Ammar
- Translational Bioinformatics, Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton NJ, USA
| | - Mary Porteous
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA
| | - Carly McCoubrey
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA
| | - Edward Cantu
- Surgery Dept, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA
| | - Kandasamy Ravi
- Integrated Genomics, Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton NJ, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Integrated Genomics, Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton NJ, USA
| | - Yi Luo
- Clinical Biomarkers, Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton NJ, USA
| | - Denis Streltsov
- Fibrosis Translational Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton NJ, USA
| | - Michael F Beers
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA.,PENN Center for Pulmonary Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA
| | - Gabor Jarai
- Fibrosis Translational Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton NJ, USA
| | - Jason D Christie
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA.,PENN Center for Pulmonary Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA
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28
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Early lineage specification defines alveolar epithelial ontogeny in the murine lung. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:4362-4371. [PMID: 30782824 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1813952116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During the stepwise specification and differentiation of tissue-specific multipotent progenitors, lineage-specific transcriptional networks are activated or repressed to orchestrate cell specification. The gas-exchange niche in the lung contains two major epithelial cell types, alveolar type 1 (AT1) and AT2 cells, and the timing of lineage specification of these cells is critical for the correct formation of this niche and postnatal survival. Integrating cell-specific lineage tracing studies, spatially specific mRNA transcript and protein expression, and single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis, we demonstrate that specification of alveolar epithelial cell fate begins concomitantly with the proximal-distal specification of epithelial progenitors and branching morphogenesis earlier than previously appreciated. By using a newly developed dual-lineage tracing system, we show that bipotent alveolar cells that give rise to AT1 and AT2 cells are a minor contributor to the alveolar epithelial population. Furthermore, single-cell assessment of the transcriptome identifies specified AT1 and AT2 progenitors rather than bipotent cells during sacculation. These data reveal a paradigm of organ formation whereby lineage specification occurs during the nascent stages of development coincident with broad tissue-patterning processes, including axial patterning of the endoderm and branching morphogenesis.
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29
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Zhang X, Wang T, Yuan ZC, Dai LQ, Zeng N, Wang H, Liu L, Wen FQ. Mitochondrial peptides cause proinflammatory responses in the alveolar epithelium via FPR-1, MAPKs, and AKT: a potential mechanism involved in acute lung injury. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2018; 315:L775-L786. [PMID: 30188748 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00466.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by alveolar epithelial damage and uncontrolled pulmonary inflammation. Mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), including mitochondrial peptides [ N-formyl peptides (NFPs)], are released during cell injury and death and induce inflammation by unclear mechanisms. In this study, we have investigated the role of mitochondrial DAMPs (MTDs), especially NFPs, in alveolar epithelial injury and lung inflammation. In murine models of ALI, high levels of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were associated with lung injury scores and increased formyl peptide receptor (FPR)-1 expression in the alveolar epithelium. Cyclosporin H (CsH), a specific inhibitor of FPR1, inhibited lung inflammation in the ALI models. Both MTDs and NFPs upon intratracheal challenge caused accumulation of neutrophils into the alveolar space with elevated BALF levels of mouse chemokine KC, interleukin-1β, and nitric oxide and increased pulmonary FPR-1 levels. CsH significantly attenuated MTDs or NFP-induced inflammatory lung injury and activation of MAPK and AKT pathways. FPR1 expression was present in rat primary alveolar epithelial type II cells (AECIIs) and was increased by MTDs. CsH inhibited MTDs or NFP-induced CINC-1/IL-8 release and phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and AKT in rat AECII and human cell line A549. Inhibitors of MAPKs and AKT also suppressed MTD-induced IL-8 release and NF-κB activation. Collectively, our data indicate an important role of the alveolar epithelium in initiating immune responses to MTDs released during ALI. The potential mechanism may involve increase of IL-8 production in MTD-activated AECII through FPR-1 and its downstream MAPKs, AKT, and NF-κB pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhang
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of China and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University , Chengdu , China.,Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province , Luoyang , China
| | - Tao Wang
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of China and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University , Chengdu , China
| | - Zhi-Cheng Yuan
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of China and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University , Chengdu , China
| | - Lu-Qi Dai
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of China and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University , Chengdu , China
| | - Ni Zeng
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of China and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University , Chengdu , China
| | - Hao Wang
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of China and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University , Chengdu , China
| | - Lian Liu
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of China and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University , Chengdu , China
| | - Fu-Qiang Wen
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of China and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University , Chengdu , China
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30
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Guo L, Karoubi G, Duchesneau P, Aoki FG, Shutova MV, Rogers I, Nagy A, Waddell TK. Interrupted reprogramming of alveolar type II cells induces progenitor-like cells that ameliorate pulmonary fibrosis. NPJ Regen Med 2018; 3:14. [PMID: 30210809 PMCID: PMC6123410 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-018-0052-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe here an interrupted reprogramming strategy to generate “induced progenitor-like (iPL) cells” from alveolar epithelial type II (AEC-II) cells. A carefully defined period of transient expression of reprogramming factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM)) is able to rescue the limited in vitro clonogenic capacity of AEC-II cells, potentially by activation of a bipotential progenitor-like state. Importantly, our results demonstrate that interrupted reprogramming results in controlled expansion of cell numbers yet preservation of the differentiation pathway to the alveolar epithelial lineage. When transplanted to the injured lungs, AEC-II-iPL cells are retained in the lung and ameliorate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Interrupted reprogramming can be used as an alternative approach to produce highly specified functional therapeutic cell populations and may lead to significant advances in regenerative medicine. A modified reprogramming strategy helps expand populations of surfactant-producing lung cells in a dish without altering their cellular function. A team led by Thomas Waddell and Andras Nagy from the University of Toronto, Canada isolated alveolar type II cells from the lungs of mice. They transiently induced expression of four reprogramming factors in these cells for a defined period of time. Before this “interrupted” reprogramming, the lung cells had limited ability to continue replicating themselves. Afterwards, the cells could expand their numbers dramatically without entering a pluripotent state. Rather, the cells maintained their original function while also expressing genes associated with lung precursor cells, which could explain their proliferative ability. The cells, when transplanted into the injured lungs, helped ameliorate pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model, suggesting that a similar cell-based therapy may be useful in people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Guo
- 1Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Golnaz Karoubi
- 1Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Pascal Duchesneau
- 1Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Fabio Gava Aoki
- 1Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Maria V Shutova
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Ian Rogers
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON Canada.,3Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada.,4Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Andras Nagy
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON Canada.,4Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada.,5Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada.,6Monash University, Melbourne, VIC Australia
| | - Thomas K Waddell
- 1Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada.,5Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
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31
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Dynamic expression of HOPX in alveolar epithelial cells reflects injury and repair during the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12983. [PMID: 30154568 PMCID: PMC6113210 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31214-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms of injury and repair in alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) are critically involved in the progression of various lung diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Homeobox only protein x (HOPX) contributes to the formation of distal lung during development. In adult lung, alveolar epithelial type (AT) I cells express HOPX and lineage-labeled Hopx+ cells give rise to both ATI and ATII cells after pneumonectomy. However, the cell function of HOPX-expressing cells in adult fibrotic lung diseases has not been investigated. In this study, we have established a flow cytometry-based method to evaluate HOPX-expressing cells in the lung. HOPX expression in cultured ATII cells increased over culture time, which was accompanied by a decrease of proSP-C, an ATII marker. Moreover, HOPX expression was increased in AECs from bleomycin-instilled mouse lungs in vivo. Small interfering RNA-based knockdown of Hopx resulted in suppressing ATII-ATI trans-differentiation and activating cellular proliferation in vitro. In IPF lungs, HOPX expression was decreased in whole lungs and significantly correlated to a decline in lung function and progression of IPF. In conclusion, HOPX is upregulated during early alveolar injury and repair process in the lung. Decreased HOPX expression might contribute to failed regenerative processes in end-stage IPF lungs.
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32
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Tannenberg P, Chang YT, Muhl L, Laviña B, Gladh H, Genové G, Betsholtz C, Folestad E, Tran-Lundmark K. Extracellular retention of PDGF-B directs vascular remodeling in mouse hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2018; 314:L593-L605. [PMID: 29212800 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00054.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a lethal condition, and current vasodilator therapy has limited effect. Antiproliferative strategies targeting platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors, such as imatinib, have generated promising results in animal studies. Imatinib is, however, a nonspecific tyrosine kinase inhibitor and has in clinical studies caused unacceptable adverse events. Further studies are needed on the role of PDGF signaling in PH. Here, mice expressing a variant of PDGF-B with no retention motif ( Pdgfbret/ret), resulting in defective binding to extracellular matrix, were studied. Following 4 wk of hypoxia, right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, and vascular remodeling were examined. Pdgfbret/ret mice did not develop PH, as assessed by hemodynamic parameters. Hypoxia did, however, induce vascular remodeling in Pdgfbret/ret mice; but unlike the situation in controls where the remodeling led to an increased concentric muscularization of arteries, the vascular remodeling in Pdgfbret/ret mice was characterized by a diffuse muscularization, in which cells expressing smooth muscle cell markers were found in the interalveolar septa detached from the normally muscularized intra-acinar vessels. Additionally, fewer NG2-positive perivascular cells were found in Pdgfbret/ret lungs, and mRNA analyses showed significantly increased levels of Il6 following hypoxia, a known promigratory factor for pericytes. No differences in proliferation were detected at 4 wk. This study emphasizes the importance of extracellular matrix-growth factor interactions and adds to previous knowledge of PDGF-B in PH pathobiology. In summary, Pdgfbret/ret mice have unaltered hemodynamic parameters following chronic hypoxia, possibly secondary to a disorganized vascular muscularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Tannenberg
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Ya-Ting Chang
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Lars Muhl
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Bàrbara Laviña
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Hanna Gladh
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Guillem Genové
- Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Christer Betsholtz
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.,Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Erika Folestad
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Karin Tran-Lundmark
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University , Lund , Sweden
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33
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Hou A, Fu J, Shi Y, Qiao L, Li J, Xing Y, Xue X. Decreased ZONAB expression promotes excessive transdifferentiation of alveolar epithelial cells in hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Int J Mol Med 2018; 41:2339-2349. [PMID: 29393348 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies by our group have confirmed excessive transdifferentiation of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) in a hyperoxia‑induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) model, but the underlying mechanism have remained elusive. The transcription factor zonula occludens 1‑associated nucleic acid binding protein (ZONAB) has the biological functions of inhibition of epithelial cell differentiation and promotion of epithelial cell proliferation. The aim of the present study was to explore the regulatory effect of ZONAB on the transdifferentiation and proliferation of AECs in a model of hyperoxia‑induced lung injury. Newborn Wistar rats were randomly allocated to a model group (inhalation of 85% O2) or a control group (inhalation of normal air), and ZONAB expression in lung tissues was detected at different time‑points. Type II AECs (AEC II) isolated from normal newborn rats were primarily cultured under an atmosphere of 85 or 21% O2, and ZONAB expression in the cells was examined. The primary cells were further transfected with ZONAB plasmid or small interfering (si)RNA and then exposed to hyperoxia, and the indicators for transdifferentiation and proliferation were measured. The present study indicated that ZONAB expression in AEC II of the BPD rats was significantly decreased from 7 days of exposure to hyperoxia onwards. In the AEC II isolated from normal neonatal rats, ZONAB expression in the model group was also reduced compared with that in the control group. After transfection with the plasmid pCMV6‑ZONAB, the expression of aquaporin 5 (type I alveolar epithelial cell marker) decreased and the expression of surfactant protein C (AEC II marker), proliferating‑cell nuclear antigen and cyclin D1 increased, which was opposite to the effects of ZONAB siRNA. Transfection with pCMV6‑ZONAB also alleviated excessive transdifferentiation and inhibited proliferation of AEC II induced by hyperoxia treatment. These results suggest that ZONAB expression in AEC II decreases under hyperoxia conditions, which promotes transdifferentiation and inhibits proliferation of AECs. This may, at least in part, be the underlying mechanism of lung epithelial injury in the hyperoxia-induced BPD model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Hou
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Jianhua Fu
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Yongyan Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Lin Qiao
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Yujiao Xing
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Xindong Xue
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
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34
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Potential contribution of alveolar epithelial type I cells to pulmonary fibrosis. Biosci Rep 2017; 37:BSR20171301. [PMID: 29026006 PMCID: PMC5696455 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20171301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the interstitium and destruction of alveolar histoarchitecture ultimately leading to a fatal impairment of lung function. Different concepts describe either a dominant role of inflammatory pathways or a disturbed remodeling of resident cells of the lung parenchyma during fibrogenesis. Further, a combination of both the mechanisms has been postulated. The present review emphasizes the particular involvement of alveolar epithelial type I cells in all these processes, their contribution to innate immune/inflammatory functions and maintenance of proper alveolar barrier functions. Amongst the different inflammatory and repair events the purinergic receptor P2X7, an ATP-gated cationic channel that regulates not only apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, and NLPR3 inflammosome activation, but also the turnover of diverse tight junction (TJ) and water channel proteins, seems to be essential for the stability of alveolar barrier integrity and for the interaction with protective factors during lung injury.
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35
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Meyerholz DK, Sieren JC, Beck AP, Flaherty HA. Approaches to Evaluate Lung Inflammation in Translational Research. Vet Pathol 2017; 55:42-52. [PMID: 28812529 DOI: 10.1177/0300985817726117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation is a common feature in several types of lung disease and is a frequent end point to validate lung disease models, evaluate genetic or environmental impact on disease severity, or test the efficacy of new therapies. Questions relevant to a study should be defined during experimental design and techniques selected to specifically address these scientific queries. In this review, the authors focus primarily on the breadth of techniques to evaluate lung inflammation that have both clinical and preclinical applications. Stratification of approaches to assess lung inflammation can diminish weaknesses inherent to each technique, provide data validation, and increase the reproducibility of a study. Specialized techniques (eg, imaging, pathology) often require experienced personnel to collect, evaluate, and interpret the data; these experts should be active contributors to the research team through reporting of the data. Scoring of tissue lesions is a useful method to transform observational pathologic data into semiquantitative or quantitative data for statistical analysis and enhanced rigor. Each technique to evaluate lung inflammation has advantages and limitations; understanding these parameters can help identify approaches that best complement one another to increase the rigor and translational significance of data.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Meyerholz
- 1 Department of Pathology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jessica C Sieren
- 2 Department of Radiology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,3 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Amanda P Beck
- 4 Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Heather A Flaherty
- 5 Department of Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
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36
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Nikolić MZ, Caritg O, Jeng Q, Johnson JA, Sun D, Howell KJ, Brady JL, Laresgoiti U, Allen G, Butler R, Zilbauer M, Giangreco A, Rawlins EL. Human embryonic lung epithelial tips are multipotent progenitors that can be expanded in vitro as long-term self-renewing organoids. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28665271 PMCID: PMC5555721 DOI: 10.7554/elife.26575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The embryonic mouse lung is a widely used substitute for human lung development. For example, attempts to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells to lung epithelium rely on passing through progenitor states that have only been described in mouse. The tip epithelium of the branching mouse lung is a multipotent progenitor pool that self-renews and produces differentiating descendants. We hypothesized that the human distal tip epithelium is an analogous progenitor population and tested this by examining morphology, gene expression and in vitro self-renewal and differentiation capacity of human tips. These experiments confirm that human and mouse tips are analogous and identify signalling pathways that are sufficient for long-term self-renewal of human tips as differentiation-competent organoids. Moreover, we identify mouse-human differences, including markers that define progenitor states and signalling requirements for long-term self-renewal. Our organoid system provides a genetically-tractable tool that will allow these human-specific features of lung development to be investigated. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.26575.001 Degenerative lung disease occurs when the structure of the lungs breaks down, which makes it harder to get enough oxygen into the bloodstream. Most, but not all, cases occur in smokers and ex-smokers or people who have been exposed to a lot of air pollution. Currently, there is no way to reverse the damage, and even slowing the progress of the disease is extremely difficult. Some researchers are looking for ways to treat patients with degenerative lung diseases by regenerating the surface of their lungs. However, it is still not clear what the most effective route towards this long-term goal will be. One approach to lung regeneration is to use findings from developmental biology to understand how embryos normally build the gas exchange surfaces in the lungs. This knowledge may allow scientists to trigger a similar process in an adult lung to renew or replace any diseased tissue. Alternatively, cells could be collected from patients, reprogrammed and then coaxed into becoming a gas exchange surface in the laboratory. Such a “lung-in-a-dish” could be used to understand how degenerative diseases develop, to discover and test new drugs, or even to treat the patient directly via a transplant. To date, the embryonic development of lungs has mostly been studied using mouse lungs as a model system. However, it was not clear if human lungs actually develop in similar ways to mouse lungs, and whether using mice is a valid research strategy. Nikolić et al. compared embryonic lungs from humans and mice and showed that they are indeed very similar in terms of the cell types that they contain and how they mature. However, some key differences were identified that can only be explored in human cells and tissue. Nikolić et al. went on to identify conditions that allowed them to grow cells from human embryonic lungs indefinitely in a dish. These cells can now be used to investigate the aspects of lung development that are specific to humans. Together these findings provide a useful guide to allow scientists to coax human cells growing in a laboratory to become lung cells. Further improvements to this process will make the lungs-in-a-dish more true to the real organs, meaning that they could be used to better understand lung disease and identify new medicines. In the longer term, Nikolić et al. hope to gain enough insight from the human lung-in-a-dish model to eventually be able to regenerate the lungs of patients with degenerative lung disease. However, this possibility is still many years away. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.26575.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Z Nikolić
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Oriol Caritg
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Quitz Jeng
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jo-Anne Johnson
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Dawei Sun
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kate J Howell
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jane L Brady
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Usua Laresgoiti
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - George Allen
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Butler
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Matthias Zilbauer
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, University of Cambridge and Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Giangreco
- Lungs for Living Research Centre, UCL Respiratory, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emma L Rawlins
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Wellcome Trust/MRC Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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37
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Marconett CN, Zhou B, Sunohara M, Pouldar TM, Wang H, Liu Y, Rieger ME, Tran E, Flodby P, Siegmund KD, Crandall ED, Laird-Offringa IA, Borok Z. Cross-Species Transcriptome Profiling Identifies New Alveolar Epithelial Type I Cell-Specific Genes. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2017; 56:310-321. [PMID: 27749084 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2016-0071oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases involving the distal lung alveolar epithelium include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and lung adenocarcinoma. Accurate labeling of specific cell types is critical for determining the contribution of each to the pathogenesis of these diseases. The distal lung alveolar epithelium is composed of two cell types, alveolar epithelial type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) cells. Although cell type-specific markers, most prominently surfactant protein C, have allowed detailed lineage tracing studies of AT2 cell differentiation and the cells' roles in disease, studies of AT1 cells have been hampered by a lack of genes with expression unique to AT1 cells. In this study, we performed genome-wide expression profiling of multiple rat organs together with purified rat AT2, AT1, and in vitro differentiated AT1-like cells, resulting in the identification of 54 candidate AT1 cell markers. Cross-referencing with genes up-regulated in human in vitro differentiated AT1-like cells narrowed the potential list to 18 candidate genes. Testing the top four candidate genes at RNA and protein levels revealed GRAM domain 2 (GRAMD2), a protein of unknown function, as highly specific to AT1 cells. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) confirmed that GRAMD2 is transcriptionally silent in human AT2 cells. Immunofluorescence verified that GRAMD2 expression is restricted to the plasma membrane of AT1 cells and is not expressed in bronchial epithelial cells, whereas reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction confirmed that it is not expressed in endothelial cells. Using GRAMD2 as a new AT1 cell-specific gene will enhance AT1 cell isolation, the investigation of alveolar epithelial cell differentiation potential, and the contribution of AT1 cells to distal lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal N Marconett
- Departments of 1 Surgery and.,2 Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine.,3 Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Beiyun Zhou
- 3 Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.,4 Department of Medicine, Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and
| | - Mitsuhiro Sunohara
- 4 Department of Medicine, Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and
| | | | - Hongjun Wang
- 4 Department of Medicine, Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and
| | - Yixin Liu
- 4 Department of Medicine, Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and
| | - Megan E Rieger
- 4 Department of Medicine, Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and
| | - Evelyn Tran
- Departments of 1 Surgery and.,2 Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine.,3 Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Per Flodby
- 4 Department of Medicine, Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and
| | - Kimberly D Siegmund
- 5 Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Edward D Crandall
- 4 Department of Medicine, Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and
| | - Ite A Laird-Offringa
- Departments of 1 Surgery and.,2 Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine.,3 Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Zea Borok
- 2 Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine.,3 Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.,4 Department of Medicine, Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and
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