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Liu L, Lei I, Tian S, Gao W, Guo Y, Li Z, Sabry Z, Tang P, Chen YE, Wang Z. 14-3-3 binding motif phosphorylation disrupts Hdac4-organized condensates to stimulate cardiac reprogramming. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114054. [PMID: 38578832 PMCID: PMC11081035 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell fate conversion is associated with extensive post-translational modifications (PTMs) and architectural changes of sub-organelles, yet how these events are interconnected remains unknown. We report here the identification of a phosphorylation code in 14-3-3 binding motifs (PC14-3-3) that greatly stimulates induced cardiomyocyte (iCM) formation from fibroblasts. PC14-3-3 is identified in pivotal functional proteins for iCM reprogramming, including transcription factors and chromatin modifiers. Akt1 kinase and protein phosphatase 2A are the key writer and key eraser of the PC14-3-3 code, respectively. PC14-3-3 activation induces iCM formation with the presence of only Tbx5. In contrast, PC14-3-3 inhibition by mutagenesis or inhibitor-mediated code removal abolishes reprogramming. We discover that key PC14-3-3-embedded factors, such as histone deacetylase 4 (Hdac4), Mef2c, and Foxo1, form Hdac4-organized inhibitory nuclear condensates. PC14-3-3 activation disrupts Hdac4 condensates to promote cardiac gene expression. Our study suggests that sub-organelle dynamics regulated by a PTM code could be a general mechanism for stimulating cell reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Liu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ienglam Lei
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Shuo Tian
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Wenbin Gao
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yijing Guo
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Zhaokai Li
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ziad Sabry
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Paul Tang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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2
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Rui Y, Zhou J, Zhen X, Zhang J, Liu S, Gao Y. TBX5 genetic variants and SCD-CAD susceptibility: insights from Chinese Han cohorts. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17139. [PMID: 38525280 PMCID: PMC10959103 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The prevention and prediction of sudden cardiac death (SCD) present persistent challenges, prompting exploration into common genetic variations for potential insights. T-box 5 (TBX5), a critical cardiac transcription factor, plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular development and function. This study systematically examined variants within the 500-bp region downstream of the TBX5 gene, focusing on their potential impact on susceptibility to SCD associated with coronary artery disease (SCD-CAD) in four different Chinese Han populations. Methods In a comprehensive case-control analysis, we explored the association between rs11278315 and SCD-CAD susceptibility using a cohort of 553 controls and 201 SCD-CAD cases. Dual luciferase reporter assays and genotype-phenotype correlation studies using human cardiac tissue samples as well as integrated in silicon analysis were applied to explore the underlining mechanism. Result Binary logistic regression results underscored a significantly reduced risk of SCD-CAD in individuals harboring the deletion allele (odds ratio = 0.70, 95% CI [0.55-0.88], p = 0.0019). Consistent with the lower transcriptional activity of the deletion allele observed in dual luciferase reporter assays, genotype-phenotype correlation studies on human cardiac tissue samples affirmed lower expression levels associated with the deletion allele at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, our investigation revealed intriguing insights into the role of rs11278315 in TBX5 alternative splicing, which may contribute to alterations in its ultimate functional effects, as suggested by sQTL analysis. Gene ontology analysis and functional annotation further underscored the potential involvement of TBX5 in alternative splicing and cardiac-related transcriptional regulation. Conclusions In summary, our current dataset points to a plausible correlation between rs11278315 and susceptibility to SCD-CAD, emphasizing the potential of rs11278315 as a genetic risk marker for aiding in molecular diagnosis and risk stratification of SCD-CAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Rui
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ju Zhou
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Zhen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiquan Liu
- Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China
| | - Yuzhen Gao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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3
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Fang J, Yang Q, Maas RGC, Buono M, Meijlink B, Lotgerink Bruinenberg D, Benavente ED, Mokry M, van Mil A, Qian L, Goumans MJ, Schiffelers R, Lei Z, Sluijter JPG. Vitamin C facilitates direct cardiac reprogramming by inhibiting reactive oxygen species. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:19. [PMID: 38229180 PMCID: PMC10792814 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03615-x] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After myocardial infarction, the lost myocardium is replaced by fibrotic tissue, eventually progressively leading to myocardial dysfunction. Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes via the forced overexpression of cardiac transcription factors Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) offers a promising strategy for cardiac repair. The limited reprogramming efficiency of this approach, however, remains a significant challenge. METHODS We screened seven factors capable of improving direct cardiac reprogramming of both mice and human fibroblasts by evaluating small molecules known to be involved in cardiomyocyte differentiation or promoting human-induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming. RESULTS We found that vitamin C (VitC) significantly increased cardiac reprogramming efficiency when added to GMT-overexpressing fibroblasts from human and mice in 2D and 3D model. We observed a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in human and mice fibroblasts upon Doxy induction, and ROS generation was subsequently reduced upon VitC treatment, associated with increased reprogramming efficiency. However, upon treatment with dehydroascorbic acid, a structural analog of VitC but lacking antioxidant properties, no difference in reprogramming efficiency was observed, suggesting that the effect of VitC in enhancing cardiac reprogramming is partly dependent of its antioxidant properties. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that VitC supplementation significantly enhances the efficiency of cardiac reprogramming, partially by suppressing ROS production in the presence of GMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Fang
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Circulatory Health Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Qiangbing Yang
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Renée G C Maas
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Circulatory Health Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michele Buono
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Meijlink
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dyonne Lotgerink Bruinenberg
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michal Mokry
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alain van Mil
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Circulatory Health Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Li Qian
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Marie-José Goumans
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Zhiyong Lei
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Circulatory Health Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Joost P G Sluijter
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Circulatory Health Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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4
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Spatola Rossi T, Fricker M, Kriechbaumer V. Gene Stacking and Stoichiometric Expression of ER-Targeted Constructs Using "2A" Self-Cleaving Peptides. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2772:337-351. [PMID: 38411827 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3710-4_26] [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] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Simultaneous stoichiometric expression of multiple genes plays a major part in modern research and biotechnology. Traditional methods for incorporating multiple transgenes (or "gene stacking") have drawbacks such as long time frames, uneven gene expression, gene silencing, and segregation derived from the use of multiple promoters. 2A self-cleaving peptides have emerged over the last two decades as a functional gene stacking method and have been used in plants for the co-expression of multiple genes under a single promoter. Here we describe design features of multicistronic polyproteins using 2A peptides for co-expression in plant cells and targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We designed up to quad-cistronic vectors that could target proteins in tandem to the ER. We also exemplify the incorporation of self-excising intein domains within 2A polypeptides, to remove residue additions. These features could aid in the design of stoichiometric protein co-expression strategies in plants in combination with targeting to different subcellular compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Spatola Rossi
- Endomembrane Structure and Function Research Group, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Mark Fricker
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Verena Kriechbaumer
- Endomembrane Structure and Function Research Group, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
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5
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Wang Q, Spurlock B, Liu J, Qian L. Fibroblast Reprogramming in Cardiac Repair. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2024; 9:145-160. [PMID: 38362341 PMCID: PMC10864899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Limited proliferative capacity of adult mammalian cardiomyocytes has prompted researchers to exploit regenerative therapy after myocardial injury, such as myocardial infarction, to attenuate heart dysfunction caused by such injury. Direct cardiac reprogramming is a recently emerged promising approach to repair damaged myocardium by directly converting resident cardiac fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells. The achievement of in vivo direct reprogramming of fibroblasts has been shown, by multiple laboratories independently, to improve cardiac function and mitigate fibrosis post-myocardial infarction, which holds great potential for clinical application. There have been numerous pieces of valuable work in both basic and translational research to enhance our understanding and continued refinement of direct cardiac reprogramming in recent years. However, there remain many challenges to overcome before we can truly take advantage of this technique to treat patients with ischemic cardiac diseases. Here, we review recent progress of fibroblast reprogramming in cardiac repair, including the optimization of several reprogramming strategies, mechanistic exploration, and translational efforts, and we make recommendations for future research to further understand and translate direct cardiac reprogramming from bench to bedside. Challenges relating to these efforts will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaozi Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brian Spurlock
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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6
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Horisawa K, Suzuki A. The role of pioneer transcription factors in the induction of direct cellular reprogramming. Regen Ther 2023; 24:112-116. [PMID: 37397229 PMCID: PMC10314230 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Regenerative medicine is a highly advanced medical field that aims to restore tissues and organs lost due to diseases and injury using a person's own cells or those of others. Direct cellular reprogramming is a promising technology that can directly induce cell-fate conversion from terminally differentiated cells to other cell types and is expected to play a pivotal role in applications in regenerative medicine. The induction of direct cellular reprogramming requires one or more master transcription factors with the potential to reconstitute cell type-specific transcription factor networks. The set of master transcription factors may contain unique transcription factors called pioneer factors that can open compacted chromatin structures and drive the transcriptional activation of target genes. Therefore, pioneer factors may play a central role in direct cellular reprogramming. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which pioneer factors induce cell-fate conversion is still limited. This review briefly summarizes the outcomes of recent findings and discusses future perspectives, focusing on the role of pioneer factors in direct cellular reprogramming.
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7
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Wang NB, Lende-Dorn BA, Adewumi HO, Beitz AM, Han P, O'Shea TM, Galloway KE. Proliferation history and transcription factor levels drive direct conversion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.26.568736. [PMID: 38077004 PMCID: PMC10705288 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.26.568736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The sparse and stochastic nature of reprogramming has obscured our understanding of how transcription factors drive cells to new identities. To overcome this limit, we developed a compact, portable reprogramming system that increases direct conversion of fibroblasts to motor neurons by two orders of magnitude. We show that subpopulations with different reprogramming potentials are distinguishable by proliferation history. By controlling for proliferation history and titrating each transcription factor, we find that conversion correlates with levels of the pioneer transcription factor Ngn2, whereas conversion shows a biphasic response to Lhx3. Increasing the proliferation rate of adult human fibroblasts generates morphologically mature, induced motor neurons at high rates. Using compact, optimized, polycistronic cassettes, we generate motor neurons that graft with the murine central nervous system, demonstrating the potential for in vivo therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan B Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Honour O Adewumi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Adam M Beitz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Patrick Han
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Timothy M O'Shea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kate E Galloway
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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8
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Liu L, Lei I, Tian S, Gao W, Guo Y, Li Z, Sabry Z, Tang P, Chen YE, Wang Z. 14-3-3 binding motif phosphorylation disrupts Hdac4 organized condensates to stimulate cardiac reprogramming. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.20.567913. [PMID: 38045244 PMCID: PMC10690191 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.20.567913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Cell fate conversion is associated with extensive epigenetic and post translational modifications (PTMs) and architectural changes of sub-organelles and organelles, yet how these events are interconnected remains unknown. We report here the identification of a phosphorylation code in 14-3-3 binding motifs (PC14-3-3) that greatly stimulates induced cardiomyocyte (iCM) formation from fibroblasts. PC14-3-3 was identified in pivotal functional proteins for iCM reprogramming, including transcription factors and epigenetic factors. Akt1 kinase and PP2A phosphatase were a key writer and eraser of the PC14-3-3 code, respectively. PC14-3-3 activation induces iCM formation with the presence of only Tbx5. In contrast, PC14-3-3 inhibition by mutagenesis or inhibitor-mediated code removal abolished reprogramming. We discovered that key PC14-3-3 embedded factors, such as Hdac4, Mef2c, Nrip1, and Foxo1, formed Hdac4 organized inhibitory nuclear condensates. Notably, PC14-3-3 activation disrupted Hdac4 condensates to promote cardiac gene expression. Our study suggests that sub-organelle dynamics regulated by a post-translational modification code could be a general mechanism for stimulating cell reprogramming and organ regeneration. Highlights A PC14-3-3 (phosphorylation code in 14-3-3 binding motifs) is identified in pivotal functional proteins, such as HDAC4 and Mef2c, that stimulates iCM formation.Akt1 kinase and PP2A phosphatase are a key writer and a key eraser of the PC14-3-3 code, respectively, and PC14-3-3 code activation can replace Mef2c and Gata4 in cardiac reprogramming.PC14-3-3 activation disrupts Hdac4 organized condensates which results in releasing multiple 14-3-3 motif embedded proteins from the condensates to stimulate cardiac reprogramming.Sub-organelle dynamics and function regulated by a post-translational modification code could be a general mechanism in stimulating cell reprogramming and organ regeneration. Graphic abstract
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9
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Xie Y, Wang Q, Yang Y, Near D, Wang H, Colon M, Nguyen C, Slattery C, Keepers B, Farber G, Wang TW, Lee SH, Shih YYI, Liu J, Qian L. Translational landscape of direct cardiac reprogramming reveals a role of Ybx1 in repressing cardiac fate acquisition. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2023; 2:1060-1077. [PMID: 38524149 PMCID: PMC10959502 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-023-00344-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes holds great promise for heart regeneration. Although considerable progress has been made in understanding the transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms of iCM reprogramming, its translational regulation remains largely unexplored. Here, we characterized the translational landscape of iCM reprogramming through integrative ribosome and transcriptomic profiling, and found extensive translatome repatterning during this process. Loss of function screening for translational regulators uncovered Ybx1 as a critical barrier to iCM induction. In a mouse model of myocardial infarction, removing Ybx1 enhanced in vivo reprogramming, resulting in improved heart function and reduced scar size. Mechanistically, Ybx1 depletion de-repressed the translation of its direct targets SRF and Baf60c, both of which mediated the effect of Ybx1 depletion on iCM generation. Furthermore, removal of Ybx1 allowed single factor Tbx5-mediated iCM conversion. In summary, this study revealed a new layer of regulatory mechanism that controls cardiac reprogramming at the translational level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifang Xie
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Qiaozi Wang
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Yuchen Yang
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - David Near
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Haofei Wang
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Marazzano Colon
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Christopher Nguyen
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Conor Slattery
- EIRNA Bio Ltd, BioInnovation Centre, Food Science and Technology Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland, T12 DP07
| | - Benjamin Keepers
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Gregory Farber
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Tzu-Wen Wang
- Departments of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Sung-Ho Lee
- Departments of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Yen-Yu Ian Shih
- Departments of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Jiandong Liu
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Li Qian
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
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10
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Romero-Tejeda M, Fonoudi H, Weddle CJ, DeKeyser JM, Lenny B, Fetterman KA, Magdy T, Sapkota Y, Epting CL, Burridge PW. A novel transcription factor combination for direct reprogramming to a spontaneously contracting human cardiomyocyte-like state. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 182:30-43. [PMID: 37421991 PMCID: PMC10495191 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
The reprogramming of somatic cells to a spontaneously contracting cardiomyocyte-like state using defined transcription factors has proven successful in mouse fibroblasts. However, this process has been less successful in human cells, thus limiting the potential clinical applicability of this technology in regenerative medicine. We hypothesized that this issue is due to a lack of cross-species concordance between the required transcription factor combinations for mouse and human cells. To address this issue, we identified novel transcription factor candidates to induce cell conversion between human fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes, using the network-based algorithm Mogrify. We developed an automated, high-throughput method for screening transcription factor, small molecule, and growth factor combinations, utilizing acoustic liquid handling and high-content kinetic imaging cytometry. Using this high-throughput platform, we screened the effect of 4960 unique transcription factor combinations on direct conversion of 24 patient-specific primary human cardiac fibroblast samples to cardiomyocytes. Our screen revealed the combination of MYOCD, SMAD6, and TBX20 (MST) as the most successful direct reprogramming combination, which consistently produced up to 40% TNNT2+ cells in just 25 days. Addition of FGF2 and XAV939 to the MST cocktail resulted in reprogrammed cells with spontaneous contraction and cardiomyocyte-like calcium transients. Gene expression profiling of the reprogrammed cells also revealed the expression of cardiomyocyte associated genes. Together, these findings indicate that cardiac direct reprogramming in human cells can be achieved at similar levels to those attained in mouse fibroblasts. This progress represents a step forward towards the clinical application of the cardiac direct reprogramming approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisol Romero-Tejeda
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Hananeh Fonoudi
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Carly J Weddle
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jean-Marc DeKeyser
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Brian Lenny
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - K Ashley Fetterman
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Tarek Magdy
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yadav Sapkota
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Conrad L Epting
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H.Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Paul W Burridge
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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11
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Luan Y, Guo G, Luan Y, Yang Y, Yuan R. Single-cell transcriptional profiling of hearts during cardiac hypertrophy reveals the role of MAMs in cardiomyocyte subtype switching. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8339. [PMID: 37221368 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35464-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is the main predecessor of heart failure. Its pathology is sophisticated, and its progression is associated with multiple cellular processes. To explore new therapeutic approaches, more precise examination of cardiomyocyte subtypes and involved biological processes is required in response to hypertrophic stimuli. Mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are two crucial organelles associated with the progression of cardiac hypertrophy and are connected through junctions known as mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs). Although MAM genes are altered in cardiac hypertrophy, the importance of MAMs in cardiac hypertrophy and the expression pattern of MAMs in certain cardiac cell types require a comprehensive analysis. In this study, we analyzed the temporal expression of MAM proteins in the process of cardiac hypertrophy and observed that MAM-related proteins preferentially accumulated in cardiomyocytes at the initial stage of cardiac hypertrophy and underwent a gradual decline, which was synchronized with the proportion of two cardiomyocyte subtypes (CM2 and CM3). Meanwhile, these subtypes went through a functional switch during cardiac hypertrophy. Trajectory analysis suggested that there was a differentiation trajectory of cardiomyocyte subtypes from high to low MAM protein expression. Distinct regulon modules across different cardiomyocyte cell types were revealed by transcriptional regulatory network analysis. Furthermore, scWGCNA revealed that MAM-related genes were clustered into a module that correlated with diabetic cardiomyopathy. Altogether, we identified cardiomyocyte subtype transformation and the potential critical transcription factors involved, which may serve as therapeutic targets in combating cardiac hypertrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Luan
- Clinical Systems Biology Research Laboratories, Translational Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangyu Guo
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Luan
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Yang
- Clinical Systems Biology Research Laboratories, Translational Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ruixia Yuan
- Clinical Big Data Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, People's Republic of China.
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12
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Perveen S, Vanni R, Lo Iacono M, Rastaldo R, Giachino C. Direct Reprogramming of Resident Non-Myocyte Cells and Its Potential for In Vivo Cardiac Regeneration. Cells 2023; 12:1166. [PMID: 37190075 PMCID: PMC10136631 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac diseases are the foremost cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The heart has limited regenerative potential; therefore, lost cardiac tissue cannot be replenished after cardiac injury. Conventional therapies are unable to restore functional cardiac tissue. In recent decades, much attention has been paid to regenerative medicine to overcome this issue. Direct reprogramming is a promising therapeutic approach in regenerative cardiac medicine that has the potential to provide in situ cardiac regeneration. It consists of direct cell fate conversion of one cell type into another, avoiding transition through an intermediary pluripotent state. In injured cardiac tissue, this strategy directs transdifferentiation of resident non-myocyte cells (NMCs) into mature functional cardiac cells that help to restore the native tissue. Over the years, developments in reprogramming methods have suggested that regulation of several intrinsic factors in NMCs can help to achieve in situ direct cardiac reprogramming. Among NMCs, endogenous cardiac fibroblasts have been studied for their potential to be directly reprogrammed into both induced cardiomyocytes and induced cardiac progenitor cells, while pericytes can transdifferentiate towards endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. This strategy has been indicated to improve heart function and reduce fibrosis after cardiac injury in preclinical models. This review summarizes the recent updates and progress in direct cardiac reprogramming of resident NMCs for in situ cardiac regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto Vanni
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
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13
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Wang H, Keepers B, Liu J, Qian L. Optimized protocol for direct cardiac reprogramming in mice using Ascl1 and Mef2c. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102204. [PMID: 36989109 PMCID: PMC10074248 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102204] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct cardiac reprogramming refers to the conversion of fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) without going through an intermediate progenitor stage. Here, we present a protocol for direct cardiac reprogramming in mice using Ascl1 and Mef2c. We describe steps for isolating primary neonatal mouse cardiac fibroblast, preparing retrovirus encoding reprogramming factors, and efficient cardiac reprogramming with Ascl1 and Mef2c. The resulting iCMs display cardiomyocyte-like sarcomere structure, gene expression, and calcium flux. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Wang et al. (2022).1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haofei Wang
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Benjamin Keepers
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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14
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Missinato MA, Murphy S, Lynott M, Yu MS, Kervadec A, Chang YL, Kannan S, Loreti M, Lee C, Amatya P, Tanaka H, Huang CT, Puri PL, Kwon C, Adams PD, Qian L, Sacco A, Andersen P, Colas AR. Conserved transcription factors promote cell fate stability and restrict reprogramming potential in differentiated cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1709. [PMID: 36973293 PMCID: PMC10043290 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37256-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Defining the mechanisms safeguarding cell fate identity in differentiated cells is crucial to improve 1) - our understanding of how differentiation is maintained in healthy tissues or altered in a disease state, and 2) - our ability to use cell fate reprogramming for regenerative purposes. Here, using a genome-wide transcription factor screen followed by validation steps in a variety of reprogramming assays (cardiac, neural and iPSC in fibroblasts and endothelial cells), we identified a set of four transcription factors (ATF7IP, JUNB, SP7, and ZNF207 [AJSZ]) that robustly opposes cell fate reprogramming in both lineage and cell type independent manners. Mechanistically, our integrated multi-omics approach (ChIP, ATAC and RNA-seq) revealed that AJSZ oppose cell fate reprogramming by 1) - maintaining chromatin enriched for reprogramming TF motifs in a closed state and 2) - downregulating genes required for reprogramming. Finally, KD of AJSZ in combination with MGT overexpression, significantly reduced scar size and improved heart function by 50%, as compared to MGT alone post-myocardial infarction. Collectively, our study suggests that inhibition of barrier to reprogramming mechanisms represents a promising therapeutic avenue to improve adult organ function post-injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Missinato
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Sean Murphy
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Michaela Lynott
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Michael S Yu
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Anaïs Kervadec
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Yu-Ling Chang
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Suraj Kannan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Mafalda Loreti
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Christopher Lee
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Prashila Amatya
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Hiroshi Tanaka
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Chun-Teng Huang
- Viral Vector Core Facility Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Pier Lorenzo Puri
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Chulan Kwon
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Peter D Adams
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Li Qian
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Alessandra Sacco
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Peter Andersen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Alexandre R Colas
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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15
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Romero-Tejeda M, Fonoudi H, Weddle CJ, DeKeyser JM, Lenny B, Fetterman KA, Magdy T, Sapkota Y, Epting C, Burridge PW. A Novel Transcription Factor Combination for Direct Reprogramming to a Spontaneously Contracting Human Cardiomyocyte-like State. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.14.532629. [PMID: 36993577 PMCID: PMC10055062 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.14.532629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The reprogramming of somatic cells to a spontaneously contracting cardiomyocyte-like state using defined transcription factors has proven successful in mouse fibroblasts. However, this process has been less successful in human cells, thus limiting the potential clinical applicability of this technology in regenerative medicine. We hypothesized that this issue is due to a lack of cross-species concordance between the required transcription factor combinations for mouse and human cells. To address this issue, we identified novel transcription factor candidates to induce cell conversion between human fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes, using the network-based algorithm Mogrify. We developed an automated, high-throughput method for screening transcription factor, small molecule, and growth factor combinations, utilizing acoustic liquid handling and high-content kinetic imaging cytometry. Using this high-throughput platform, we screened the effect of 4,960 unique transcription factor combinations on direct conversion of 24 patient-specific primary human cardiac fibroblast samples to cardiomyocytes. Our screen revealed the combination of MYOCD , SMAD6 , and TBX20 (MST) as the most successful direct reprogramming combination, which consistently produced up to 40% TNNT2 + cells in just 25 days. Addition of FGF2 and XAV939 to the MST cocktail resulted in reprogrammed cells with spontaneous contraction and cardiomyocyte-like calcium transients. Gene expression profiling of the reprogrammed cells also revealed the expression of cardiomyocyte associated genes. Together, these findings indicate that cardiac direct reprogramming in human cells can be achieved at similar levels to those attained in mouse fibroblasts. This progress represents a step forward towards the clinical application of the cardiac direct reprogramming approach. HIGHLIGHTS Using network-based algorithm Mogrify, acoustic liquid handling, and high-content kinetic imaging cytometry we screened the effect of 4,960 unique transcription factor combinations. Using 24 patient-specific human fibroblast samples we identified the combination of MYOCD , SMAD6 , and TBX20 (MST) as the most successful direct reprogramming combination. MST cocktail results in reprogrammed cells with spontaneous contraction, cardiomyocyte-like calcium transients, and expression of cardiomyocyte associated genes.
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16
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Yamada Y, Sadahiro T, Ieda M. Development of direct cardiac reprogramming for clinical applications. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 178:1-8. [PMID: 36918145 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of cardiovascular diseases is increasing worldwide, and cardiac regenerative therapy has great potential as a new treatment strategy, especially for ischemic heart disease. Direct cardiac reprogramming is a promising new cardiac regenerative therapy that uses defined factors to induce transdifferentiation of endogenous cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs). In vivo reprogramming is expected to restore lost cardiac function without necessitating cardiac transplantation by converting endogenous CFs that exist abundantly in cardiac tissues directly into iCMs. Indeed, we and other groups have demonstrated that in vivo cardiac reprogramming improves cardiac contractile function and reduces scar area after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Recently, we demonstrated that in vivo cardiac reprogramming is an innovative cardiac regenerative therapy that not only regenerates the myocardium, but also reverses fibrosis by inducing the quiescence of pro-fibrotic fibroblasts, thereby improving heart failure in chronic MI. In this review, we summarize the recent progresses in in vivo cardiac reprogramming, and discuss its prospects for future clinical applications and the challenges of direct human reprogramming, which has been a longstanding issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yamada
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Taketaro Sadahiro
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Masaki Ieda
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
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17
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Tani H, Sadahiro T, Yamada Y, Isomi M, Yamakawa H, Fujita R, Abe Y, Akiyama T, Nakano K, Kuze Y, Seki M, Suzuki Y, Fujisawa M, Sakata-Yanagimoto M, Chiba S, Fukuda K, Ieda M. Direct Reprogramming Improves Cardiac Function and Reverses Fibrosis in Chronic Myocardial Infarction. Circulation 2023; 147:223-238. [PMID: 36503256 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.058655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because adult cardiomyocytes have little regenerative capacity, resident cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) synthesize extracellular matrix after myocardial infarction (MI) to form fibrosis, leading to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Therapies that can regenerate the myocardium and reverse fibrosis in chronic MI are lacking. The overexpression of cardiac transcription factors, including Mef2c/Gata4/Tbx5/Hand2 (MGTH), can directly reprogram CFs into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) and improve cardiac function under acute MI. However, the ability of in vivo cardiac reprogramming to repair chronic MI with established scars is undetermined. METHODS We generated a novel Tcf21iCre/reporter/MGTH2A transgenic mouse system in which tamoxifen treatment could induce both MGTH and reporter expression in the resident CFs for cardiac reprogramming and fibroblast lineage tracing. We first tested the efficacy of this transgenic system in vitro and in vivo for acute MI. Next, we analyzed in vivo cardiac reprogramming and fusion events under chronic MI using Tcf21iCre/Tomato/MGTH2A and Tcf21iCre/mTmG/MGTH2A mice, respectively. Microarray and single-cell RNA sequencing were performed to determine the mechanism of cardiac repair by in vivo reprogramming. RESULTS We confirmed the efficacy of transgenic in vitro and in vivo cardiac reprogramming for acute MI. In chronic MI, in vivo cardiac reprogramming converted ≈2% of resident CFs into iCMs, in which a majority of iCMs were generated by means of bona fide cardiac reprogramming rather than by fusion with cardiomyocytes. Cardiac reprogramming significantly improved myocardial contraction and reduced fibrosis in chronic MI. Microarray analyses revealed that the overexpression of MGTH activated cardiac program and concomitantly suppressed fibroblast and inflammatory signatures in chronic MI. Single-cell RNA sequencing demonstrated that resident CFs consisted of 7 subclusters, in which the profibrotic CF population increased under chronic MI. Cardiac reprogramming suppressed fibroblastic gene expression in chronic MI by means of conversion of profibrotic CFs to a quiescent antifibrotic state. MGTH overexpression induced antifibrotic effects partly by suppression of Meox1, a central regulator of fibroblast activation. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that cardiac reprogramming could repair chronic MI by means of myocardial regeneration and reduction of fibrosis. These findings present opportunities for the development of new therapies for chronic MI and heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Tani
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan (H.T., H.Y., K.F.)
| | - Taketaro Sadahiro
- Departments of Cardiology (T.S., Y.Y., M. Isomi, R.F., Y.A., T.A., K.N., M. Ieda), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yu Yamada
- Departments of Cardiology (T.S., Y.Y., M. Isomi, R.F., Y.A., T.A., K.N., M. Ieda), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Mari Isomi
- Departments of Cardiology (T.S., Y.Y., M. Isomi, R.F., Y.A., T.A., K.N., M. Ieda), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Yamakawa
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan (H.T., H.Y., K.F.)
| | - Ryo Fujita
- Departments of Cardiology (T.S., Y.Y., M. Isomi, R.F., Y.A., T.A., K.N., M. Ieda), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan.,Faculty of Medicine, and Division of Regenerative Medicine, Transborder Medical Research Center (R.F.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yuto Abe
- Departments of Cardiology (T.S., Y.Y., M. Isomi, R.F., Y.A., T.A., K.N., M. Ieda), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Akiyama
- Departments of Cardiology (T.S., Y.Y., M. Isomi, R.F., Y.A., T.A., K.N., M. Ieda), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan.,Respiratory Medicine (T.A.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Koji Nakano
- Departments of Cardiology (T.S., Y.Y., M. Isomi, R.F., Y.A., T.A., K.N., M. Ieda), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yuta Kuze
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa City, Chiba, Japan (Y.K., M.S., Y.S.)
| | - Masahide Seki
- Departments of Cardiology (T.S., Y.Y., M. Isomi, R.F., Y.A., T.A., K.N., M. Ieda), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan.,Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa City, Chiba, Japan (Y.K., M.S., Y.S.)
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa City, Chiba, Japan (Y.K., M.S., Y.S.)
| | - Manabu Fujisawa
- Hematology (M.F., M.S.-Y., S.C.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | - Shigeru Chiba
- Hematology (M.F., M.S.-Y., S.C.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Keiichi Fukuda
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan (H.T., H.Y., K.F.)
| | - Masaki Ieda
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan (H.T., H.Y., K.F.)
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18
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Haridhasapavalan KK, Borthakur A, Thummer RP. Direct Cardiac Reprogramming: Current Status and Future Prospects. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1436:1-18. [PMID: 36662416 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2022_760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Advances in cellular reprogramming articulated the path for direct cardiac lineage conversion, bypassing the pluripotent state. Direct cardiac reprogramming attracts major attention because of the low or nil regenerative ability of cardiomyocytes, resulting in permanent cell loss in various heart diseases. In the field of cardiology, balancing this loss of cardiomyocytes was highly challenging, even in the modern medical world. Soon after the discovery of cell reprogramming, direct cardiac reprogramming also became a promising alternative for heart regeneration. This review mainly focused on the various direct cardiac reprogramming approaches (integrative and non-integrative) for the derivation of induced autologous cardiomyocytes. It also explains the advancements in cardiac reprogramming over the decade with the pros and cons of each approach. Further, the review highlights the importance of clinically relevant (non-integrative) approaches and their challenges for the prospective applications for personalized medicine. Apart from direct cardiac reprogramming, it also discusses the other strategies for generating cardiomyocytes from different sources. The understanding of these strategies could pave the way for the efficient generation of integration-free functional autologous cardiomyocytes through direct cardiac reprogramming for various biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Kumar Haridhasapavalan
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Atreyee Borthakur
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Rajkumar P Thummer
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India.
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19
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Liu M, Liu J, Zhang T, Wang L. Direct cardiac reprogramming: Toward the era of multi-omics analysis. CELL INSIGHT 2022; 1:100058. [PMID: 37193352 PMCID: PMC10120284 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2022.100058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Limited regenerative capacity of adult cardiomyocytes precludes heart repair and regeneration after cardiac injury. Direct cardiac reprograming that converts scar-forming cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into functional induced-cardiomyocytes (iCMs) offers promising potential to restore heart structure and heart function. Significant advances have been achieved in iCM reprogramming using genetic and epigenetic regulators, small molecules, and delivery strategies. Recent researches on the heterogeneity and reprogramming trajectories elucidated novel mechanisms of iCM reprogramming at single cell level. Here, we review recent progress in iCM reprogramming with a focus on multi-omics (transcriptomic, epigenomic and proteomic) researches to investigate the cellular and molecular machinery governing cell fate conversion. We also highlight the future potential using multi-omics approaches to dissect iCMs conversion for clinal applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxin Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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20
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Ricketts SN, Qian L. The heart of cardiac reprogramming: The cardiac fibroblasts. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2022; 172:90-99. [PMID: 36007393 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, outpacing pulmonary disease, infectious disease, and all forms of cancer. Myocardial infarction (MI) dominates cardiovascular disease, contributing to four out of five cardiovascular related deaths. Following MI, patients suffer adverse and irreversible myocardial remodeling associated with cardiomyocyte loss and infiltration of fibrotic scar tissue. Current therapies following MI only mitigate the cardiac physiological decline rather than restore damaged myocardium function. Direct cardiac reprogramming is one strategy that has promise in repairing injured cardiac tissue by generating new, functional cardiomyocytes from cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). With the ectopic expression of transcription factors, microRNAs, and small molecules, CFs can be reprogrammed into cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) that display molecular signatures, structures, and contraction abilities similar to endogenous cardiomyocytes. The in vivo induction of iCMs following MI leads to significant reduction in fibrotic cardiac remodeling and improved heart function, indicating reprogramming is a viable option for repairing damaged heart tissue. Recent work has illustrated different methods to understand the mechanisms driving reprogramming, in an effort to improve the efficiency of iCM generation and create an approach translational into clinic. This review will provide an overview of CFs and describe different in vivo reprogramming methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shea N Ricketts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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21
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Lyra-Leite DM, Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez Ó, Wang M, Zhou Y, Cyganek L, Burridge PW. A review of protocols for human iPSC culture, cardiac differentiation, subtype-specification, maturation, and direct reprogramming. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101560. [PMID: 36035804 PMCID: PMC9405110 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The methods for the culture and cardiomyocyte differentiation of human embryonic stem cells, and later human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), have moved from a complex and uncontrolled systems to simplified and relatively robust protocols, using the knowledge and cues gathered at each step. HiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes have proven to be a useful tool in human disease modelling, drug discovery, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine. In this protocol review, we will highlight the evolution of protocols associated with hPSC culture, cardiomyocyte differentiation, sub-type specification, and cardiomyocyte maturation. We also discuss protocols for somatic cell direct reprogramming to cardiomyocyte-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi M Lyra-Leite
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Óscar Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez
- Stem Cell Unit, Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Meimei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lukas Cyganek
- Stem Cell Unit, Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paul W Burridge
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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22
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Zhang X, Zhang Q, Chen L, Cai B, Zeng M, Ou S, Chen Y, Feng Z, Chen H, Cao S, Kang K. Appropriate Exogenous Expression Stoichiometry of GATA4 as an Important Factor for Cardiac Reprogramming of Human Dermal Fibroblasts. Cell Reprogram 2022; 24:283-293. [PMID: 35762944 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2022.0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) represents a promising strategy for human cardiac regeneration. Different cocktails of cardiac transcription factors can convert HDFs into iCMs, although with low efficiency and immature phenotype. Here, GATA4, MEF2C, TBX5, MESP1, and MYOCD (GMTMeMy for short) were used to reprogram HDFs by retrovirus infection. We found that the exogenous expression stoichiometry of GATA4 (GATA4 stoichiometry) significantly affected reprogramming efficiency. When 1/8 dosage of GATA4 virus (GATA4 dosage) plus MTMeMy was used, the reprogramming efficiency was obviously improved compared with average pooled virus encoding each factor, which measured, by the expression level of cardiac genes, the percentage of cardiac troponin T and alpha-cardiac myosin heavy-chain immunopositive cells and the numbers of iCMs showing calcium oscillation or beating synchronously in co-culture with mouse CMs. In addition, we prepared conditioned maintenance medium (CMM) by CM differentiation of H9 human embryonic stem cell line. We found that compared with traditional maintenance medium (TMM), CMM made iCMs show well-organized sarcomere formation and characteristic calcium oscillation wave earlier. These findings demonstrated that appropriate GATA4 stoichiometry was essential for cardiac reprogramming and some components in CMM were important for maturation of iCMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lijun Chen
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baomei Cai
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengying Zeng
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sihua Ou
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yating Chen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Ziyu Feng
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shangtao Cao
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Kang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
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23
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Narita S, Unno K, Kato K, Okuno Y, Sato Y, Tsumura Y, Fujikawa Y, Shimizu Y, Hayashida R, Kondo K, Shibata R, Murohara T. Direct reprogramming of adult adipose-derived regenerative cells toward cardiomyocytes using six transcriptional factors. iScience 2022; 25:104651. [PMID: 35811849 PMCID: PMC9263527 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
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24
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Metabolic Determinants in Cardiomyocyte Function and Heart Regenerative Strategies. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12060500. [PMID: 35736435 PMCID: PMC9227827 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12060500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in developed countries. The associated pathology is characterized by a loss of cardiomyocytes that leads, eventually, to heart failure. In this context, several cardiac regenerative strategies have been developed, but they still lack clinical effectiveness. The mammalian neonatal heart is capable of substantial regeneration following injury, but this capacity is lost at postnatal stages when cardiomyocytes become terminally differentiated and transit to the fetal metabolic switch. Cardiomyocytes are metabolically versatile cells capable of using an array of fuel sources, and the metabolism of cardiomyocytes suffers extended reprogramming after injury. Apart from energetic sources, metabolites are emerging regulators of epigenetic programs driving cell pluripotency and differentiation. Thus, understanding the metabolic determinants that regulate cardiomyocyte maturation and function is key for unlocking future metabolic interventions for cardiac regeneration. In this review, we will discuss the emerging role of metabolism and nutrient signaling in cardiomyocyte function and repair, as well as whether exploiting this axis could potentiate current cellular regenerative strategies for the mammalian heart.
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25
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Afouda BA. Towards Understanding the Gene-Specific Roles of GATA Factors in Heart Development: Does GATA4 Lead the Way? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23095255. [PMID: 35563646 PMCID: PMC9099915 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors play crucial roles in the regulation of heart induction, formation, growth and morphogenesis. Zinc finger GATA transcription factors are among the critical regulators of these processes. GATA4, 5 and 6 genes are expressed in a partially overlapping manner in developing hearts, and GATA4 and 6 continue their expression in adult cardiac myocytes. Using different experimental models, GATA4, 5 and 6 were shown to work together not only to ensure specification of cardiac cells but also during subsequent heart development. The complex involvement of these related gene family members in those processes is demonstrated through the redundancy among them and crossregulation of each other. Our recent identification at the genome-wide level of genes specifically regulated by each of the three family members and our earlier discovery that gata4 and gata6 function upstream, while gata5 functions downstream of noncanonical Wnt signalling during cardiac differentiation, clearly demonstrate the functional differences among the cardiogenic GATA factors. Such suspected functional differences are worth exploring more widely. It appears that in the past few years, significant advances have indeed been made in providing a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which each of these molecules function during heart development. In this review, I will therefore discuss current evidence of the role of individual cardiogenic GATA factors in the process of heart development and emphasize the emerging central role of GATA4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boni A Afouda
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill Health Campus, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
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26
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Kong W, Fu YC, Holloway EM, Garipler G, Yang X, Mazzoni EO, Morris SA. Capybara: A computational tool to measure cell identity and fate transitions. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:635-649.e11. [PMID: 35354062 PMCID: PMC9040453 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Measuring cell identity in development, disease, and reprogramming is challenging as cell types and states are in continual transition. Here, we present Capybara, a computational tool to classify discrete cell identity and intermediate "hybrid" cell states, supporting a metric to quantify cell fate transition dynamics. We validate hybrid cells using experimental lineage tracing data to demonstrate the multi-lineage potential of these intermediate cell states. We apply Capybara to diagnose shortcomings in several cell engineering protocols, identifying hybrid states in cardiac reprogramming and off-target identities in motor neuron programming, which we alleviate by adding exogenous signaling factors. Further, we establish a putative in vivo correlate for induced endoderm progenitors. Together, these results showcase the utility of Capybara to dissect cell identity and fate transitions, prioritizing interventions to enhance the efficiency and fidelity of stem cell engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Kong
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yuheng C Fu
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Emily M Holloway
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Görkem Garipler
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Xue Yang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | | | - Samantha A Morris
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8103, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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27
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Hu Z, Chen P, Wang L, Zhu Y, Chen G, Chen Y, Hu Z, Mei L, You W, Cong W, Jin L, Wang X, Wang Y, Guan X. FGF6 promotes cardiac repair after myocardial infarction by inhibiting the Hippo pathway. Cell Prolif 2022; 55:e13221. [PMID: 35355356 PMCID: PMC9136516 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Myocardial infarction (MI) commonly occurs in patients with coronary artery disease and have high mortality. Current clinical strategies for MI still limited to reducing the death of myocardial cells but failed to replace these cells. This study aimed to investigate the role of fibroblast growth factor 6 (FGF6) in enhancing the proliferative potential of cardiomyocytes (CMs) after ischemic injury via the Hippo pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS Expression of FGF6 protein was analysed in mice with MI induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Activation of the Hippo pathway and the proliferation potential were examined in ischemic CMs, treated with FGF6 protein or transfected with an adeno-virus carrying FGF6 sh-RNA. Immunofluorescence staining and western blotting were performed to assess the relationship between FGF6 and the Hippo pathway. RESULTS We found that FGF6 expression was significantly increased in the MI mouse model. Knockdown of FGF6 synthesis resulted in poorer heart function after MI. By contrast, treatment with recombinant human FGF6 protein improved heart function, reduced infarct size, and promoted cardiac repair. Additionally, FGF6 restrains the activation of the Hippo pathway and subsequently promotes nuclear accumulation of YAP. This was largely counteracted by treatment with extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) inhibitor U0126. CONCLUSION FGF6 inhibits the Hippo pathway via ERK1/2, and facilitates nuclear translocation of YAP, and thereby promotes cardiac repair after MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Hu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China.,School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Linlin Wang
- Children's Heart Center, Institute of Cardiovascular Development and Translational Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Neuroscience, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Gen Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China.,College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Yunjie Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Ningbo first Hospital, Ningbo, PR China
| | - Zhenyu Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Lin Mei
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Weijing You
- School of Medical Technology, Ningbo College of Health Sciences, Ningbo, PR China
| | - Weitao Cong
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Litai Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xu Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Neuroscience, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xueqiang Guan
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, P.R. China
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28
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Zhang X, Chen L, Huang X, Chen H, Cai B, Qin Y, Chen Y, Ou S, Li X, Wu Z, Feng Z, Zeng M, Guo W, Li H, Zhou C, Yu S, Pan M, Liu J, Kang K, Cao S, Pei D. MYOCD is Required for Cardiomyocyte-like Cells Induction from Human Urine Cells and Fibroblasts Through Remodeling Chromatin. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:2414-2430. [PMID: 35246800 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10339-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite direct reprogramming of human cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCM) holds great potential for heart regeneration, the mechanisms are poorly understood. Whether other human somatic cells could be reprogrammed into cardiomyocytes is also unknown. Here, we report human urine cells (hUCs) could be converted into CM-like cells from different donors and the related chromatin accessibility dynamics (CAD) by assay for transposase accessible chromatin(ATAC)-seq. hUCs transduced by MEF2C, TBX5, MESP1 and MYOCD but without GATA4 expressed multiple cardiac specific genes, exhibited Ca2+ oscillation potential and sarcomeric structures, and contracted synchronously in coculture with mouse CM. Additionally, we found that MYOCD is required for both closing and opening critical loci, mainly by hindering the opening of loci enriched with motifs for the TEAD and AP1 family and promoting the closing of loci enriched with ETS motifs. These changes differ partially from CAD observed during iCM induction from human fibroblasts. Collectively, our study offers one practical platform for iCM generation and insights into mechanisms for iCM fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lijun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institutes for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Xingnan Huang
- Laboratory of Cell Fate Control, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Baomei Cai
- Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Yue Qin
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yating Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institutes for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Sihua Ou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institutes for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Xiaoxi Li
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Zichao Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institutes for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Ziyu Feng
- Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Mengying Zeng
- Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Wenjing Guo
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Heying Li
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Chunhua Zhou
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Shengyong Yu
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Mengjie Pan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institutes for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Kai Kang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Shangtao Cao
- Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China.
| | - Duanqing Pei
- Laboratory of Cell Fate Control, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
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Nam YJ. Translational perspectives on cardiac reprogramming. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 122:14-20. [PMID: 34210578 PMCID: PMC8712611 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Loss of cardiac muscle after cardiac injury is replaced by cardiac fibrosis, due to very limited regenerative capacity of the heart. Although initially beneficial, persistent cardiac fibrosis leads to pump failure and conduction abnormalities, common modes of death following cardiac injury. Thus, directly reprogramming cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) by forced expression of cardiogenic factors (referred to as cardiac reprogramming) is particularly attractive in that it targets cardiac fibroblasts, a major source of cardiac fibrosis, to induce new cardiac muscle. Over the last decade, remarkable progresses have been made on cardiac reprogramming, particularly focusing on how to enhance conversion of fibroblasts to iCMs in vitro. However, it still remains elusive whether this new regenerative approach can be translated into clinical practice. This review discusses progresses and challenges of cardiac reprogramming in the translational context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Jae Nam
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA,Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA,To whom correspondence may be addressed: Young-Jae Nam, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville , Tennessee 37232, USA, Phone: 615-936-5436,
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30
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Xie Y, Liu J, Qian L. Direct cardiac reprogramming comes of age: Recent advance and remaining challenges. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 122:37-43. [PMID: 34304993 PMCID: PMC8782931 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The adult human heart has limited regenerative capacity. As such, the massive cardiomyocyte loss due to myocardial infarction leads to scar formation and adverse cardiac remodeling, which ultimately results in chronic heart failure. Direct cardiac reprogramming that converts cardiac fibroblast into functional cardiomyocyte-like cells (also called iCMs) holds great promise for heart regeneration. Cardiac reprogramming has been achieved both in vitro and in vivo by using a variety of cocktails that comprise transcription factors, microRNAs, or small molecules. During the past several years, great progress has been made in improving reprogramming efficiency and understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we summarize the direct cardiac reprogramming methods, review the current advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cardiac reprogramming, and highlight the novel insights gained from single-cell omics studies. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and future directions for the field.
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31
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Garry GA, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. Direct reprogramming as a route to cardiac repair. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 122:3-13. [PMID: 34246567 PMCID: PMC8738780 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure worldwide due to an inability of the heart to regenerate following injury. Thus, novel heart failure therapies aimed at promoting cardiomyocyte regeneration are desperately needed. In recent years, direct reprogramming of resident cardiac fibroblasts to induced cardiac-like myocytes (iCMs) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to repurpose the fibrotic response of the injured heart toward a functional myocardium. Direct cardiac reprogramming was initially achieved through the overexpression of the transcription factors (TFs) Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT). However, this combination of TFs and other subsequent cocktails demonstrated limited success in reprogramming adult human and mouse fibroblasts, constraining the clinical translation of this therapy. Over the past decade, significant effort has been dedicated to optimizing reprogramming cocktails comprised of cardiac TFs, epigenetic factors, microRNAs, or small molecules to yield efficient cardiac cell fate conversion. Yet, efficient reprogramming of adult human fibroblasts remains a significant challenge. Underlying mechanisms identified to accelerate this process have been centered on epigenetic remodeling at cardiac gene regulatory regions. Further studies to achieve a refined understanding and directed means of overcoming epigenetic barriers are merited to more rapidly translate these promising therapies to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glynnis A. Garry
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,The Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Rhonda Bassel-Duby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,The Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Eric N. Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,The Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Correspondence: Eric N. Olson, Ph.D. 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas, 75390-9148, Tel: 214-648-1187,
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Hansen JL, Loell KJ, Cohen BA. A test of the pioneer factor hypothesis using ectopic liver gene activation. eLife 2022; 11:73358. [PMID: 34984978 PMCID: PMC8849321 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The pioneer factor hypothesis (PFH) states that pioneer factors (PFs) are a subclass of transcription factors (TFs) that bind to and open inaccessible sites and then recruit non-pioneer factors (non-PFs) that activate batteries of silent genes. The PFH predicts that ectopic gene activation requires the sequential activity of qualitatively different TFs. We tested the PFH by expressing the endodermal PF FOXA1 and non-PF HNF4A in K562 lymphoblast cells. While co-expression of FOXA1 and HNF4A activated a burst of endoderm-specific gene expression, we found no evidence for a functional distinction between these two TFs. When expressed independently, both TFs bound and opened inaccessible sites, activated endodermal genes, and ‘pioneered’ for each other, although FOXA1 required fewer copies of its motif for binding. A subset of targets required both TFs, but the predominant mode of action at these targets did not conform to the sequential activity predicted by the PFH. From these results, we hypothesize an alternative to the PFH where ‘pioneer activity’ depends not on categorically different TFs but rather on the affinity of interaction between TF and DNA. Cells only use a fraction of their genetic information to make the proteins they need. The rest is carefully packaged away and tightly bundled in structures called nucleosomes. This physically shields the DNA from being accessed by transcription factors – the molecular actors that can read genes and kickstart the protein production process. Effectively, the genetic sequences inside nucleosomes are being silenced. However, during development, transcription factors must overcome this nucleosome barrier and activate silent genes to program cells. The pioneer factor hypothesis describes how this may be possible: first, ‘pioneer’ transcription factors can bind to and ‘open up’ nucleosomes to make target genes accessible. Then, non-pioneer factors can access the genetic sequence and recruit cofactors that begin copying the now-exposed genetic information. The widely accepted theory is based on studies of two proteins – FOXA1, an archetypal pioneer factor, and HNF4A, a non-pioneer factor – but the predictions of the pioneer factor hypothesis have yet to be explicitly tested. To do so, Hansen et al. expressed FOXA1 and HNF4A, separately and together, in cells which do not usually make these proteins. They then assessed how the proteins could bind to DNA and impact gene accessibility and transcription. The experiments demonstrate that FOXA1 and HNF4A do not necessarily follow the two-step activation predicted by the pioneer factor hypothesis. When expressed independently, both transcription factors bound and opened inaccessible sites, activated target genes, and ‘pioneered’ for each other. Similar patterns were observed across the genome. The only notable distinction between the two factors was that FOXA1, the archetypal pioneering factor, required fewer copies of its target sequence to bind DNA than HNF4A. These findings led Hansen et al. to propose an alternative theory to the pioneer factor hypothesis which eliminates the categorical distinction between pioneer and non-pioneer factors. Overall, this work has implications for how biologists understand the way that transcription factors activate silent genes during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey L Hansen
- Edison Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States.,Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States
| | - Kaiser J Loell
- Edison Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States.,Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States
| | - Barak A Cohen
- Edison Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States.,Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States
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Wang H, Yang Y, Qian Y, Liu J, Qian L. Delineating chromatin accessibility re-patterning at single cell level during early stage of direct cardiac reprogramming. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2022; 162:62-71. [PMID: 34509499 PMCID: PMC8766888 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Direct conversion of cardiac fibroblast into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) by forced expression of cardiac transcription factors, such as Mef2c, Gata4, and Tbx5 (MGT), holds great promise for regenerative medicine. The process of cardiac reprogramming consists of waves of transcriptome remodelling events. However, how this transcriptome remodelling is driven by the upstream chromatin landscape alteration is still unclear. In this study, we performed single-cell ATAC-seq (Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing) on early reprogramming iCMs given the known epigenetic changes as early as day 3. This approach unveiled networks of transcription factors (TFs) involved in the early shift of chromatin accessibility during cardiac reprogramming. Combining our analysis with functional assays, we identified Smad3 to be a bimodal TF in cardiac reprogramming, a barrier in the initiation of reprogramming and a facilitator during the intermediate stage of reprogramming. Moreover, integrative analysis of scATAC-seq with scRNA-seq data led to the identification of active TFs important for iCM conversion. Finally, we discovered a global rewiring of cis-regulatory interactions of cardiac genes along the reprogramming trajectory. Collectively, our scATAC-seq study and the integrative analysis with scRNA-seq data provided valuable resources to understand the epigenomic heterogeneity and its alteration in relation to transcription changes during early stage of cardiac reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haofei Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America,McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America
| | - Yuchen Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America,McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America
| | - Yunzhe Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America,McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America,McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America,McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America,Corresponding author Dr. Li Qian, 111 Mason Farm Rd, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599, Phone: 919-962-0340, Fax: 919-966-6012,
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Hsu Y, Huang K, Cheng K. Resuscitating the Field of Cardiac Regeneration: Seeking Answers from Basic Biology. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 6:e2101133. [PMID: 34939372 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes for hospital admissions worldwide. HF patients are classified based on the chronic changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) as preserved (LVEF ≥ 50%), reduced (LVEF ≤ 40%), or mid-ranged (40% < LVEF < 50%) HFs. Treatments nowadays can prevent HFrEF progress, whereas only a few of the treatments have been proven to be effective in improving the survival of HFpEF. In this review, numerous mediators involved in the pathogenesis of HF are summarized. The regional upstream signaling and their diagnostic and therapeutic potential are also discussed. Additionally, the recent challenges and development in cardiac regenerative therapy that hold opportunities for future research and clinical translation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaching Hsu
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.,Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Ke Huang
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.,Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Ke Cheng
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.,Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
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35
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Singh VP, Pinnamaneni JP, Pugazenthi A, Sanagasetti D, Mathison M, Martin JF, Yang J, Rosengart TK. Hippo Pathway Effector Tead1 Induces Cardiac Fibroblast to Cardiomyocyte Reprogramming. J Am Heart Assoc 2021; 10:e022659. [PMID: 34889103 PMCID: PMC9075224 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.121.022659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Background The conversion of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes may regenerate myocardial tissue from cardiac scar through in situ cell transdifferentiation. The efficiency transdifferentiation is low, especially for human cells. We explored the leveraging of Hippo pathway intermediates to enhance induced cardiomyocyte generation. Methods and Results We screened Hippo effectors Yap (yes‐associated protein), Taz (transcriptional activator binding domain), and Tead1 (TEA domain transcription factor 1; Td) for their reprogramming efficacy with cardio‐differentiating factors Gata4, Mef2C, and Tbx5 (GMT). Td induced nearly 3‐fold increased expression of cardiomyocyte marker cTnT (cardiac troponin T) by mouse embryonic and adult rat fibroblasts versus GMT administration alone (P<0.0001), while Yap and Taz failed to enhance cTnT expression. Serial substitution demonstrated that Td replacement of TBX5 induced the greatest cTnT expression enhancement and sarcomere organization in rat fibroblasts treated with all GMT substitutions (GMTd versus GMT: 17±1.2% versus 5.4±0.3%, P<0.0001). Cell contractility (beating) was seen in 6% of GMTd‐treated cells by 4 weeks after treatment, whereas no beating GMT‐treated cells were observed. Human cardiac fibroblasts likewise demonstrated increased cTnT expression with GMTd versus GMT treatment (7.5±0.3% versus 3.0±0.3%, P<0.01). Mechanistically, GMTd administration increased expression of the trimethylated lysine 4 of histone 3 (H3K4me3) mark at the promoter regions of cardio‐differentiation genes and mitochondrial biogenesis regulator genes in rat and human fibroblast, compared with GMT. Conclusions These data suggest that the Hippo pathway intermediate Tead1 is an important regulator of cardiac reprogramming that increases the efficiency of maturate induced cardiomyocytes generation and may be a vital component of human cardiodifferentiation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek P Singh
- Department of Surgery Baylor College of Medicine Houston TX
| | | | | | | | | | - James F Martin
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Baylor College of Medicine Houston TX
| | - Jianchang Yang
- Department of Surgery Baylor College of Medicine Houston TX
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36
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Liu L, Guo Y, Li Z, Wang Z. Improving Cardiac Reprogramming for Heart Regeneration in Translational Medicine. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123297. [PMID: 34943805 PMCID: PMC8699771 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into CM-like cells has emerged as an attractive strategy to generate induced CMs (iCMs) in heart regeneration. However, low conversion rate, poor purity, and the lack of precise conversion of iCMs are still present as significant challenges. In this review, we summarize the recent development in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cardiac reprogramming with various strategies to achieve more efficient iCMs. reprogramming. Specifically, we focus on the identified critical roles of transcriptional regulation, epigenetic modification, signaling pathways from the cellular microenvironment, and cell cycling regulation in cardiac reprogramming. We also discuss the progress in delivery system optimization and cardiac reprogramming in human cells related to preclinical applications. We anticipate that this will translate cardiac reprogramming-based heart therapy into clinical applications. In addition to optimizing the cardiogenesis related transcriptional regulation and signaling pathways, an important strategy is to modulate the pathological microenvironment associated with heart injury, including inflammation, pro-fibrotic signaling pathways, and the mechanical properties of the damaged myocardium. We are optimistic that cardiac reprogramming will provide a powerful therapy in heart regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Liu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
| | - Yijing Guo
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Zhaokai Li
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
- Correspondence:
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37
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Li B, Hon GC. Single-Cell Genomics: Catalyst for Cell Fate Engineering. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:748942. [PMID: 34733831 PMCID: PMC8558416 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.748942] [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: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
As we near a complete catalog of mammalian cell types, the capability to engineer specific cell types on demand would transform biomedical research and regenerative medicine. However, the current pace of discovering new cell types far outstrips our ability to engineer them. One attractive strategy for cellular engineering is direct reprogramming, where induction of specific transcription factor (TF) cocktails orchestrates cell state transitions. Here, we review the foundational studies of TF-mediated reprogramming in the context of a general framework for cell fate engineering, which consists of: discovering new reprogramming cocktails, assessing engineered cells, and revealing molecular mechanisms. Traditional bulk reprogramming methods established a strong foundation for TF-mediated reprogramming, but were limited by their small scale and difficulty resolving cellular heterogeneity. Recently, single-cell technologies have overcome these challenges to rapidly accelerate progress in cell fate engineering. In the next decade, we anticipate that these tools will enable unprecedented control of cell state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boxun Li
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Gary C. Hon
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Division of Basic Reproductive Biology Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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38
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Mellis IA, Edelstein HI, Truitt R, Goyal Y, Beck LE, Symmons O, Dunagin MC, Linares Saldana RA, Shah PP, Pérez-Bermejo JA, Padmanabhan A, Yang W, Jain R, Raj A. Responsiveness to perturbations is a hallmark of transcription factors that maintain cell identity in vitro. Cell Syst 2021; 12:885-899.e8. [PMID: 34352221 PMCID: PMC8522198 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the particular transcription factors that maintain cell type in vitro is important for manipulating cell type. Identifying such transcription factors by their cell-type-specific expression or their involvement in developmental regulation has had limited success. We hypothesized that because cell type is often resilient to perturbations, the transcriptional response to perturbations would reveal identity-maintaining transcription factors. We developed perturbation panel profiling (P3) as a framework for perturbing cells across many conditions and measuring gene expression responsiveness transcriptome-wide. In human iPSC-derived cardiac myocytes, P3 showed that transcription factors important for cardiac myocyte differentiation and maintenance were among the most frequently upregulated (most responsive). We reasoned that one function of responsive genes may be to maintain cellular identity. We identified responsive transcription factors in fibroblasts using P3 and found that suppressing their expression led to enhanced reprogramming. We propose that responsiveness to perturbations is a property of transcription factors that help maintain cellular identity in vitro. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Mellis
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Genomics and Computational Biology Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hailey I Edelstein
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rachel Truitt
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yogesh Goyal
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lauren E Beck
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Orsolya Symmons
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Margaret C Dunagin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ricardo A Linares Saldana
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Parisha P Shah
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Arun Padmanabhan
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wenli Yang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rajan Jain
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Arjun Raj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Non-Viral Gene Delivery Systems for Treatment of Myocardial Infarction: Targeting Strategies and Cardiac Cell Modulation. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13091520. [PMID: 34575595 PMCID: PMC8465433 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Conventional therapies involving surgery or pharmacological strategies have shown limited therapeutic effects due to a lack of cardiac tissue repair. Gene therapy has opened an avenue for the treatment of cardiac diseases through manipulating the underlying gene mechanics. Several gene therapies for cardiac diseases have been assessed in clinical trials, while the clinical translation greatly depends on the delivery technologies. Non-viral vectors are attracting much attention due to their safety and facile production compared to viral vectors. In this review, we discuss the recent progress of non-viral gene therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, with a particular focus on myocardial infarction (MI). Through a summary of delivery strategies with which to target cardiac tissue and different cardiac cells for MI treatment, this review aims to inspire new insights into the design/exploitation of non-viral delivery systems for gene cargos to promote cardiac repair/regeneration.
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40
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Testa G, Di Benedetto G, Passaro F. Advanced Technologies to Target Cardiac Cell Fate Plasticity for Heart Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179517. [PMID: 34502423 PMCID: PMC8431232 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The adult human heart can only adapt to heart diseases by starting a myocardial remodeling process to compensate for the loss of functional cardiomyocytes, which ultimately develop into heart failure. In recent decades, the evolution of new strategies to regenerate the injured myocardium based on cellular reprogramming represents a revolutionary new paradigm for cardiac repair by targeting some key signaling molecules governing cardiac cell fate plasticity. While the indirect reprogramming routes require an in vitro engineered 3D tissue to be transplanted in vivo, the direct cardiac reprogramming would allow the administration of reprogramming factors directly in situ, thus holding great potential as in vivo treatment for clinical applications. In this framework, cellular reprogramming in partnership with nanotechnologies and bioengineering will offer new perspectives in the field of cardiovascular research for disease modeling, drug screening, and tissue engineering applications. In this review, we will summarize the recent progress in developing innovative therapeutic strategies based on manipulating cardiac cell fate plasticity in combination with bioengineering and nanotechnology-based approaches for targeting the failing heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Testa
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “V. Tiberio”, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy;
- Interdepartmental Center for Nanotechnology Research—NanoBem, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Giorgia Di Benedetto
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Fabiana Passaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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41
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Beitz AM, Oakes CG, Galloway KE. Synthetic gene circuits as tools for drug discovery. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:210-225. [PMID: 34364685 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Within mammalian systems, there exists enormous opportunity to use synthetic gene circuits to enhance phenotype-based drug discovery, to map the molecular origins of disease, and to validate therapeutics in complex cellular systems. While drug discovery has relied on marker staining and high-content imaging in cell-based assays, synthetic gene circuits expand the potential for precision and speed. Here we present a vision of how circuits can improve the speed and accuracy of drug discovery by enhancing the efficiency of hit triage, capturing disease-relevant dynamics in cell-based assays, and simplifying validation and readouts from organoids and microphysiological systems (MPS). By tracking events and cellular states across multiple length and time scales, circuits will transform how we decipher the causal link between molecular events and phenotypes to improve the selectivity and sensitivity of cell-based assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M Beitz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Conrad G Oakes
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Kate E Galloway
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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Basu A, Tiwari VK. Epigenetic reprogramming of cell identity: lessons from development for regenerative medicine. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:144. [PMID: 34301318 PMCID: PMC8305869 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01131-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms are known to define cell-type identity and function. Hence, reprogramming of one cell type into another essentially requires a rewiring of the underlying epigenome. Cellular reprogramming can convert somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can be directed to differentiate to specific cell types. Trans-differentiation or direct reprogramming, on the other hand, involves the direct conversion of one cell type into another. In this review, we highlight how gene regulatory mechanisms identified to be critical for developmental processes were successfully used for cellular reprogramming of various cell types. We also discuss how the therapeutic use of the reprogrammed cells is beginning to revolutionize the field of regenerative medicine particularly in the repair and regeneration of damaged tissue and organs arising from pathological conditions or accidents. Lastly, we highlight some key challenges hindering the application of cellular reprogramming for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitava Basu
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Vijay K Tiwari
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
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Yamakawa H, Ieda M. Cardiac regeneration by direct reprogramming in this decade and beyond. Inflamm Regen 2021; 41:20. [PMID: 34193320 PMCID: PMC8247073 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-021-00168-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Japan faces an increasing incidence of heart disease, owing to a shift towards a westernized lifestyle and an aging demographic. In cases where conventional interventions are not appropriate, regenerative medicine offers a promising therapeutic option. However, the use of stem cells has limitations, and therefore, “direct cardiac reprogramming” is emerging as an alternative treatment. Myocardial regeneration transdifferentiates cardiac fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes in situ. Three cardiogenic transcription factors: Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) can induce direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs), in mice. However, in humans, additional factors, such as Mesp1 and Myocd, are required. Inflammation and immune responses hinder the reprogramming process in mice, and epigenetic modifiers such as TET1 are involved in direct cardiac reprogramming in humans. The three main approaches to improving reprogramming efficiency are (1) improving direct cardiac reprogramming factors, (2) improving cell culture conditions, and (3) regulating epigenetic factors. miR-133 is a potential candidate for the first approach. For the second approach, inhibitors of TGF-β and Wnt signals, Akt1 overexpression, Notch signaling pathway inhibitors, such as DAPT ((S)-tert-butyl 2-((S)-2-(2-(3,5-difluorophenyl) acetamido) propanamido)-2-phenylacetate), fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, FGF-10, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF: FFV) can influence reprogramming. Reducing the expression of Bmi1, which regulates the mono-ubiquitination of histone H2A, alters histone modification, and subsequently the reprogramming efficiency, in the third approach. In addition, diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and high level of Mef2c overexpression could improve direct cardiac reprogramming. Direct cardiac reprogramming needs improvement if it is to be used in humans, and the molecular mechanisms involved remain largely elusive. Further advances in cardiac reprogramming research are needed to bring us closer to cardiac regenerative therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Yamakawa
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjiku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan. .,Center for Preventive Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Masaki Ieda
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan.
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Adams E, McCloy R, Jordan A, Falconer K, Dykes IM. Direct Reprogramming of Cardiac Fibroblasts to Repair the Injured Heart. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:72. [PMID: 34206355 PMCID: PMC8306371 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8070072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Those that survive acute myocardial infarction are at significant risk of subsequent heart failure due to fibrotic remodelling of the infarcted myocardium. By applying knowledge from the study of embryonic cardiovascular development, modern medicine offers hope for treatment of this condition through regeneration of the myocardium by direct reprogramming of fibrotic scar tissue. Here, we will review mechanisms of cell fate specification leading to the generation of cardiovascular cell types in the embryo and use this as a framework in which to understand direct reprogramming. Driving expression of a network of transcription factors, micro RNA or small molecule epigenetic modifiers can reverse epigenetic silencing, reverting differentiated cells to a state of induced pluripotency. The pluripotent state can be bypassed by direct reprogramming in which one differentiated cell type can be transdifferentiated into another. Transdifferentiating cardiac fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes requires a network of transcription factors similar to that observed in embryonic multipotent cardiac progenitors. There is some flexibility in the composition of this network. These studies raise the possibility that the failing heart could one day be regenerated by directly reprogramming cardiac fibroblasts within post-infarct scar tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Adams
- Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (E.A.); (R.M.); (A.J.); (K.F.)
| | - Rachel McCloy
- Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (E.A.); (R.M.); (A.J.); (K.F.)
| | - Ashley Jordan
- Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (E.A.); (R.M.); (A.J.); (K.F.)
| | - Kaitlin Falconer
- Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (E.A.); (R.M.); (A.J.); (K.F.)
| | - Iain M. Dykes
- Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (E.A.); (R.M.); (A.J.); (K.F.)
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
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Bektik E, Sun Y, Dennis AT, Sakon P, Yang D, Deschênes I, Fu JD. Inhibition of CREB-CBP Signaling Improves Fibroblast Plasticity for Direct Cardiac Reprogramming. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071572. [PMID: 34206684 PMCID: PMC8307124 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct cardiac reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) is a promising approach but remains a challenge in heart regeneration. Efforts have focused on improving the efficiency by understanding fundamental mechanisms. One major challenge is that the plasticity of cultured fibroblast varies batch to batch with unknown mechanisms. Here, we noticed a portion of in vitro cultured fibroblasts have been activated to differentiate into myofibroblasts, marked by the expression of αSMA, even in primary cell cultures. Both forskolin, which increases cAMP levels, and TGFβ inhibitor SB431542 can efficiently suppress myofibroblast differentiation of cultured fibroblasts. However, SB431542 improved but forskolin blocked iCM reprogramming of fibroblasts that were infected with retroviruses of Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT). Moreover, inhibitors of cAMP downstream signaling pathways, PKA or CREB-CBP, significantly improved the efficiency of reprogramming. Consistently, inhibition of p38/MAPK, another upstream regulator of CREB-CBP, also improved reprogramming efficiency. We then investigated if inhibition of these signaling pathways in primary cultured fibroblasts could improve their plasticity for reprogramming and found that preconditioning of cultured fibroblasts with CREB-CBP inhibitor significantly improved the cellular plasticity of fibroblasts to be reprogrammed, yielding ~2-fold more iCMs than untreated control cells. In conclusion, suppression of CREB-CBP signaling improves fibroblast plasticity for direct cardiac reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Bektik
- Department of Physiology, Cell Biology College of Medicine, Ohio State University, 333 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.B.); (D.Y.); (I.D.)
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Yu Sun
- Heart and Vascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA; (Y.S.); (A.T.D.)
| | - Adrienne T. Dennis
- Heart and Vascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA; (Y.S.); (A.T.D.)
| | - Phraew Sakon
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Dandan Yang
- Department of Physiology, Cell Biology College of Medicine, Ohio State University, 333 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.B.); (D.Y.); (I.D.)
| | - Isabelle Deschênes
- Department of Physiology, Cell Biology College of Medicine, Ohio State University, 333 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.B.); (D.Y.); (I.D.)
- Heart and Vascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA; (Y.S.); (A.T.D.)
| | - Ji-Dong Fu
- Department of Physiology, Cell Biology College of Medicine, Ohio State University, 333 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.B.); (D.Y.); (I.D.)
- Heart and Vascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA; (Y.S.); (A.T.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(614)-685-0657
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Chingale M, Zhu D, Cheng K, Huang K. Bioengineering Technologies for Cardiac Regenerative Medicine. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:681705. [PMID: 34150737 PMCID: PMC8209515 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.681705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac regenerative medicine faces big challenges such as a lack of adult cardiac stem cells, low turnover of mature cardiomyocytes, and difficulty in therapeutic delivery to the injured heart. The interaction of bioengineering and cardiac regenerative medicine offers innovative solutions to this field. For example, cell reprogramming technology has been applied by both direct and indirect routes to generate patient-specific cardiomyocytes. Various viral and non-viral vectors have been utilized for gene editing to intervene gene expression patterns during the cardiac remodeling process. Cell-derived protein factors, exosomes, and miRNAs have been isolated and delivered through engineered particles to overcome many innate limitations of live cell therapy. Protein decoration, antibody modification, and platelet membranes have been used for targeting and precision medicine. Cardiac patches have been used for transferring therapeutics with better retention and integration. Other technologies such as 3D printing and 3D culture have been used to create replaceable cardiac tissue. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in bioengineering and biotechnologies for cardiac regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira Chingale
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Dashuai Zhu
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.,Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Ke Cheng
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.,Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Ke Huang
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.,Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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Liu M, López de Juan Abad B, Cheng K. Cardiac fibrosis: Myofibroblast-mediated pathological regulation and drug delivery strategies. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 173:504-519. [PMID: 33831476 PMCID: PMC8299409 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis remains an unresolved problem in heart diseases. After initial injury, cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are activated and subsequently differentiate into myofibroblasts (myoFbs) that are major mediator cells in the pathological remodeling. MyoFbs exhibit proliferative and secretive characteristics, and contribute to extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover, collagen deposition. The persistent functions of myoFbs lead to fibrotic scars and cardiac dysfunction. The anti-fibrotic treatment is hindered by the elusive mechanism of fibrosis and lack of specific targets on myoFbs. In this review, we will outline the progress of cardiac fibrosis and its contributions to the heart failure. We will also shed light on the role of myoFbs in the regulation of adverse remodeling. The communication between myoFbs and other cells that are involved in the heart injury and repair respectively will be reviewed in detail. Then, recently developed therapeutic strategies to treat fibrosis will be summarized such as i) chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy with an optimal target on myoFbs, ii) direct reprogramming from stem cells to quiescent CFs, iii) "off-target" small molecular drugs. The application of nano/micro technology will be discussed as well, which is involved in the construction of cell-based biomimic platforms and "pleiotropic" drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengrui Liu
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, NC, USA; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, USA
| | - Blanca López de Juan Abad
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, NC, USA; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, USA
| | - Ke Cheng
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, NC, USA; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, USA.
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Van Handel B, Wang L, Ardehali R. Environmental factors influence somatic cell reprogramming to cardiomyocyte-like cells. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 122:44-49. [PMID: 34083115 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Direct cardiac reprogramming, which refers to somatic cell (i.e. fibroblast) fate conversion to cardiomyocyte-like cell without transitioning through an intermediate pluripotent state, provides a novel therapeutic strategy for heart regeneration by converting resident cardiac fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes in situ. However, several limitations need to be addressed prior to clinical translation of this technology. They include low efficiency of reprogramming, heterogeneity of starting fibroblasts, functional immaturity of induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs), virus immunogenicity and toxicity, incomplete understanding of changes in the epigenetic landscape as fibroblasts undergo reprogramming, and the environmental factors that influence fate conversion. Several studies have demonstrated that a combination of enforced expression of cardiac transcription factors along with certain cytokines and growth factors in the presence of favorable environmental cues (including extracellular matrix, topography, and mechanical properties) enhance the efficiency and quality of direct reprogramming. This paper reviews the literature on the influence of the microenvironment on direct cardiac reprogramming in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Van Handel
- Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Lingjun Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Reza Ardehali
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Tang Y, Zhao L, Yu X, Zhang J, Qian L, Jin J, Lu R, Zhou Y. Inhibition of EZH2 primes the cardiac gene activation via removal of epigenetic repression during human direct cardiac reprogramming. Stem Cell Res 2021; 53:102365. [PMID: 34087994 PMCID: PMC8238038 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2021.102365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease, until now, is still the leading cause of death in the United States. Due to the limited regenerative capacity of adult hearts, the damage caused by heart injury cannot be reversed and eventually progress into heart failure. In need of cardiovascular disease treatment, many therapies aimed at either cell transplantation or cell regeneration have been proposed. Direct reprogramming of somatic cells into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) is considered to be a promising strategy for regenerative medicine. The induction of cardiomyocytes from non-myocytes can be achieved efficiently via ectopic expression of reprogramming factors both in vitro and in vivo in the mouse model, however, the generation of human induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (hiCMs) remains challenging. The inefficiency of hiCMs production called for the identification of the additional epigenetic memories in non-myocytes which might be damping the hiCM reprogramming. Here, we conducted an unbiased loss-of-function screening focusing on epigenetic regulators and identified enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) as an important epigenetic barrier during hiCM reprogramming. We found that the removal of EZH2 via genetic knockdown or treatment of EZH2 selective degrader significantly increased the hiCM reprogramming efficiency and led to profound activation of cardiac genes and repression of collagen and extracellular matrix genes. Furthermore, EZH2 inhibitors targeting its catalytic activity also promotes hiCM reprogramming, suggesting that EZH2 may restrain cardiac conversion through H3K27me3-mediated gene repression. Indeed, genomic profiling of H3K27me3 revealed a subset of cardiac genes that remain repressed with high levels of H3K27me3 despite of the delivery of the reprogramming factors. Inhibition of EZH2, however, leads to reduced H3K27me3 occupancy and robust activation of these cardiac genes. Taken together, our data suggested that EZH2 inhibition facilitates the activation of cardiac genes in fibroblasts and eases the production of hiCMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Lianzhong Zhao
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Xufen Yu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jianyi Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Rui Lu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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Transcription factor stoichiometry in cell fate determination. J Genet 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12041-021-01278-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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