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Muench MO, Fomin ME, Gutierrez AG, López-Terrada D, Gilfanova R, Nosworthy C, Beyer AI, Ostolaza G, Kats D, Matlock KL, Cairo S, Keller C. CD203c is expressed by human fetal hepatoblasts and distinguishes subsets of hepatoblastoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:927852. [PMID: 36845728 PMCID: PMC9947649 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.927852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Hepatocytic cells found during prenatal development have unique features compared to their adult counterparts, and are believed to be the precursors of pediatric hepatoblastoma. The cell-surface phenotype of hepatoblasts and hepatoblastoma cell lines was evaluated to discover new markers of these cells and gain insight into the development of hepatocytic cells and the phenotypes and origins of hepatoblastoma. Methods Human midgestation livers and four pediatric hepatoblastoma cell lines were screened using flow cytometry. Expression of over 300 antigens was evaluated on hepatoblasts defined by their expression of CD326 (EpCAM) and CD14. Also analyzed were hematopoietic cells, expressing CD45, and liver sinusoidal-endothelial cells (LSECs), expressing CD14 but lacking CD45 expression. Select antigens were further examined by fluorescence immunomicroscopy of fetal liver sections. Antigen expression was also confirmed on cultured cells by both methods. Gene expression analysis by liver cells, 6 hepatoblastoma cell lines, and hepatoblastoma cells was performed. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate CD203c, CD326, and cytokeratin-19 expression on three hepatoblastoma tumors. Results Antibody screening identified many cell surface markers commonly or divergently expressed by hematopoietic cells, LSECs, and hepatoblasts. Thirteen novel markers expressed on fetal hepatoblasts were identified including ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 3 (ENPP-3/CD203c), which was found to be expressed by hepatoblasts with widespread expression in the parenchyma of the fetal liver. In culture CD203c+CD326++ cells resembled hepatocytic cells with coexpression of albumin and cytokeratin-19 confirming a hepatoblast phenotype. CD203c expression declined rapidly in culture whereas the loss of CD326 was not as pronounced. CD203c and CD326 were co-expressed on a subset of hepatoblastoma cell lines and hepatoblastomas with an embryonal pattern. Conclusions CD203c is expressed on hepatoblasts and may play a role in purinergic signaling in the developing liver. Hepatoblastoma cell lines were found to consist of two broad phenotypes consisting of a cholangiocyte-like phenotype that expressed CD203c and CD326 and a hepatocyte-like phenotype with diminished expression of these markers. CD203c was expressed by some hepatoblastoma tumors and may represent a marker of a less differentiated embryonal component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus O. Muench
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, United States,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Marcus O. Muench,
| | - Marina E. Fomin
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Dolores López-Terrada
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | | | - Ashley I. Beyer
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Dina Kats
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | | | - Stefano Cairo
- Research and Development Unit, XenTech, Evry, France
| | - Charles Keller
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
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2
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CDCP1: A promising diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for human cancer. Life Sci 2022; 301:120600. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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3
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Guo Z, Pu S, Li Y, Wang X, Hu S, Zhao H, Yang C, Zhou Z. Functional characterization of CD49f + hepatic stem/progenitor cells in adult mice liver. J Mol Histol 2022; 53:239-256. [PMID: 35166962 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-022-10063-z] [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: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic Stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) have gained a large amount of interest for treating acute liver disease. However, the isolation and identification of HSPCs are unclear due to the lack of cell-specific surface markers. To isolate adult HSPCs, we used cell surface-marking antibodies, including CD49f and Sca-1. Two subsets of putative HSPCs, Lin-CD45-Sca-1-CD49f+ (CD49f+) and Lin-CD45-Sca-1+CD49f- (Sca-1+) cells, were isolated from adult mice liver by flow cytometry. Robust proliferative activity and clonogenic activity were found in both CD49f+ and Sca-1+ cells through colony-forming tests and cell cycle analyses. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that CD49f+ cells expressed ALB and CK-19 while Sca-1+ cells expressed only ALB, indicating that CD49f+ cells were bipotential and capable of differentiating into hepatocyte and cholangiocyte. Consequently, PAS stain showed that differentiated CD49f+ and Sca-1+ cells synthesised glycogen, indicating they could differentiate into functional hepatocytes. mRNA expression profile indicated that both CD49f+ and Sca-1+ cells showed differential expression of genes that are associated with liver progenitor function such as Sox9 and EpCam. Moreover, two subsets of putative HSPCs were activated by DDC and we found that their abundance and proliferation increased with age. In summary, we hypothesized that CD49f+ cells were a type of potential HSPCs and may be utilised for clinical stem cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqi Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Shiming Pu
- School of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Yun Li
- School of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Xiaoxia Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Suying Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Hongxia Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.,Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Cheng Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China. .,Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China. .,Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.
| | - Zuping Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China. .,Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China. .,Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China.
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4
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Zhang W, Lanzoni G, Hani H, Overi D, Cardinale V, Simpson S, Pitman W, Allen A, Yi X, Wang X, Gerber D, Prestwich G, Lozoya O, Gaudio E, Alvaro D, Tokaz D, Dominguez-Bendala J, Adin C, Piedrahita J, Mathews K, Sethupathy P, Carpino G, He Z, Wauthier E, Reid LM. Patch grafting, strategies for transplantation of organoids into solid organs such as liver. Biomaterials 2021; 277:121067. [PMID: 34517276 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial cell therapies have been at an impasse because of inefficient methods of transplantation to solid organs. Patch grafting strategies were established enabling transplantation of ≥107th organoids/patch of porcine GFP+ biliary tree stem/progenitors into livers of wild type hosts. Grafts consisted of organoids embedded in soft (~100 Pa) hyaluronan hydrogels, both prepared in serum-free Kubota's Medium; placed against target sites; covered with a silk backing impregnated with more rigid hyaluronan hydrogels (~700 Pa); and use of the backing to tether grafts with sutures or glue to target sites. Hyaluronan coatings (~200-300 Pa) onto the serosal surface of the graft served to minimize adhesions with neighboring organs. The organ's clearance of hyaluronans enabled restoration of tissue-specific paracrine and systemic signaling, resulting in return of normal hepatic histology, with donor parenchymal cells uniformly integrated amidst host cells and that had differentiated to mature hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. Grafts containing donor mature hepatocytes, partnered with endothelia, and in the same graft biomaterials as for stem/progenitor organoids, did not engraft. Engraftment occurred if porcine liver-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were co-transplanted with donor mature cells. RNA-seq analyses revealed that engraftment correlated with expression of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially secreted isoforms that were found expressed strongly by organoids, less so by MSCs, and minimally, if at all, by adult cells. Engraftment with patch grafting strategies occurred without evidence of emboli or ectopic cell distribution. It was successful with stem/progenitor organoids or with cells with a source(s) of secreted MMP isoforms and offers significant potential for enabling cell therapies for solid organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencheng Zhang
- Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology, Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1800 Yuntai Rd, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 200123, China
| | - Giacomo Lanzoni
- Diabetes Research Institute, U. Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, 1450 N.W. 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Homayoun Hani
- Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology, Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Diletta Overi
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Roma RM, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cardinale
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Roma RM, Italy
| | - Sean Simpson
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, NCSU Colleage of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA; The Comparative Medicine Institute, NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA; Department of Comparative Veterinary Anatomy, NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Wendy Pitman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, T7 006D Veterinary Research Tower, Box 17, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Amanda Allen
- Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology, Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Xianwen Yi
- Departments of Surgery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Xicheng Wang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1800 Yuntai Rd, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 200123, China
| | - David Gerber
- Departments of Surgery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Glenn Prestwich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Oswaldo Lozoya
- Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology, Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Roma RM, Italy
| | - Domenico Alvaro
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Roma RM, Italy
| | - Debra Tokaz
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Juan Dominguez-Bendala
- Diabetes Research Institute, U. Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, 1450 N.W. 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Christopher Adin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Jorge Piedrahita
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, NCSU Colleage of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA; The Comparative Medicine Institute, NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA; Department of Comparative Veterinary Anatomy, NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Kyle Mathews
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, T7 006D Veterinary Research Tower, Box 17, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Guido Carpino
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Roma, Italy
| | - Zhiying He
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1800 Yuntai Rd, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 200123, China
| | - Eliane Wauthier
- Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology, Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Lola M Reid
- Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology, Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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5
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Dong Y, Kong W, An W. Downregulation of augmenter of liver regeneration impairs the therapeutic efficacy of liver epithelial progenitor cells against acute liver injury by enhancing mitochondrial fission. STEM CELLS (DAYTON, OHIO) 2021; 39:1546-1562. [PMID: 34310799 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based therapeutic approaches have been proven to be effective strategies for the treatment of acute liver injury (ALI). However, widespread application of these procedures is limited by several key issues, including rapid loss of stemness in vitro, aberrant differentiation into undesirable cell types, and low engraftment in vivo. In this study, liver epithelial progenitor cells (LEPCs) were characterized and transfected with augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR). The results revealed that in ALI mice with CCl4 , the transplantation of ALR-bearing LEPCs into the liver markedly protected mice against ALI by decreasing the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), thus relieving hepatic tissue injury and attenuating inflammatory infiltration. Mechanistically, the knockdown of ALR in LEPCs activated the phosphorylation of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) at the S616 site and thereby enhanced mitochondrial fission. In contrast, the transfection of ALR into LEPCs significantly inhibited Drp1 phosphorylation, thereby favoring the maintenance of mitochondrial integrity and the preservation of adenosine triphosphate contents in LEPCs. Consequently, the ALR-bearing LEPCs transplanted into ALI mice exhibited substantially greater homing ability to the injured liver via the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis than that of LEPCs-lacking ALR. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the transplantation of ALR-transfected LEPCs protected mice against CCl4 -induced ALI, thus offering immense curative potential in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Dong
- Department of Cell Biology, Capital Medical University, The Municipal Key Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Weining Kong
- Department of Cell Biology, Capital Medical University, The Municipal Key Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei An
- Department of Cell Biology, Capital Medical University, The Municipal Key Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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6
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Man L, Lustgarten-Guahmich N, Kallinos E, Redhead-Laconte Z, Liu S, Schattman B, Redmond D, Hancock K, Zaninovic N, Schattman G, Rosenwaks Z, James D. Comparison of Human Antral Follicles of Xenograft versus Ovarian Origin Reveals Disparate Molecular Signatures. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108027. [PMID: 32783948 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation, growth, and maturation of oocytes to an ovulatory phase, termed folliculogenesis, is governed by the orchestrated activity of multiple specialized cell types within the ovary; yet, the mechanisms governing diversification and behavior of discrete cellular sub-populations within follicles are poorly understood. We use bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing to distinguish the transcriptional signature of prospectively isolated granulosa and theca/stroma cell subsets within human antral follicles derived from xenografts or ovaries. The analysis deconstructs phenotypic diversification within small (<4 mm) antral follicles, identifying secreted factors that are differentially enriched between mural and oophorus granulosa cells, and segregating stromal/support and steroidal activity between theca externa and interna, respectively. Multiple factors are differentially expressed in follicles of xenograft versus ovarian origin. These data capture a high-resolution transcriptional signature of granulosa and theca subpopulations and provide a systems-level portrait of cellular diversification in early antral human follicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limor Man
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Nicole Lustgarten-Guahmich
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Eleni Kallinos
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Zachary Redhead-Laconte
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sally Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Benjamin Schattman
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - David Redmond
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kolbe Hancock
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Nikica Zaninovic
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Glenn Schattman
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Zev Rosenwaks
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Daylon James
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA; Tri-Institutional Stem Cell Derivation Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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7
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Kim Y, Kim YW, Lee SB, Kang K, Yoon S, Choi D, Park SH, Jeong J. Hepatic patch by stacking patient-specific liver progenitor cell sheets formed on multiscale electrospun fibers promotes regenerative therapy for liver injury. Biomaterials 2021; 274:120899. [PMID: 34034028 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Recently, use of cell sheets with bio-applicable fabrication materials for transplantation has been an attractive approach for the treatment of patients with liver failure. However, renewable and scalable cell sources for engineered tissue patches remain limited. We previously reported a new type of proliferating bipotent human chemically derived hepatic progenitor cells (hCdHs) developed by small molecule-mediated reprogramming. Here, we developed a patient-specific hepatic cell sheet constructed from liver biopsy-derived hCdHs on a multiscale fibrous scaffold by combining electrospinning and three-dimensional printing. Analysis of biomaterial composition revealed that the high-density electrospun sheet was superior in increasing the functional properties of hCdHs. Furthermore, the hepatic patch assembled by multilayer stacking with alternate cell sheets of hCdHs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) recapitulated a liver tissue-like structure, with histological and morphological shape and size similar to those of primary human hepatocytes, and exhibited a significant increase in hepatic functions such as albumin secretion and activity of cytochrome P450 during in vitro hepatic differentiation compared with that in hCdH cells cultured in a two-dimensional monolayer. Interestingly, in the hepatic patch, the induction of functional hepatocytes was associated with both the electrospun fibrous-facilitated oncostatin M signaling and selective activation of AKT signaling by HUVECs. Notably, upon transplantation into a mouse model of therapeutic liver repopulation, the hepatic patch effectively repopulated the damaged parenchyma and induced the restoration of liver function with healthy morphology in the lobe and an improved survival rate (>70%) in mice. Overall, these results suggested that liver biopsy-derived hCdHs can be an efficient alternative source for developing hepatic cell sheets and patches with potential clinical applications in tissue engineering to advance liver regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohan Kim
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Won Kim
- Digital Manufacturing Process Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, 113-58 Seohaean-ro, Siheungsi, Gyeonggi-do, 15014, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Bum Lee
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, 01812, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyojin Kang
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangtae Yoon
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongho Choi
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
| | - Suk-Hee Park
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jaemin Jeong
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
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8
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Bizzotto S, Dou Y, Ganz J, Doan RN, Kwon M, Bohrson CL, Kim SN, Bae T, Abyzov A, Park PJ, Walsh CA. Landmarks of human embryonic development inscribed in somatic mutations. Science 2021; 371:1249-1253. [PMID: 33737485 DOI: 10.1126/science.abe1544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although cell lineage information is fundamental to understanding organismal development, very little direct information is available for humans. We performed high-depth (250×) whole-genome sequencing of multiple tissues from three individuals to identify hundreds of somatic single-nucleotide variants (sSNVs). Using these variants as "endogenous barcodes" in single cells, we reconstructed early embryonic cell divisions. Targeted sequencing of clonal sSNVs in different organs (about 25,000×) and in more than 1000 cortical single cells, as well as single-nucleus RNA sequencing and single-nucleus assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing of ~100,000 cortical single cells, demonstrated asymmetric contributions of early progenitors to extraembryonic tissues, distinct germ layers, and organs. Our data suggest onset of gastrulation at an effective progenitor pool of about 170 cells and about 50 to 100 founders for the forebrain. Thus, mosaic mutations provide a permanent record of human embryonic development at very high resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bizzotto
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Department of Pediatrics, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Yanmei Dou
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Javier Ganz
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Department of Pediatrics, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ryan N Doan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Department of Pediatrics, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Minseok Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Craig L Bohrson
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sonia N Kim
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Department of Pediatrics, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,PhD Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Taejeong Bae
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Alexej Abyzov
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Peter J Park
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. .,Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Department of Pediatrics, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. .,Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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9
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Ali M, Payne SL. Biomaterial-based cell delivery strategies to promote liver regeneration. Biomater Res 2021; 25:5. [PMID: 33632335 PMCID: PMC7905561 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-021-00206-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is a widespread and untreatable condition that leads to lifelong impairment and eventual death. The scarcity of liver transplantation options requires the development of new strategies to attenuate disease progression and reestablish liver function by promoting regeneration. Biomaterials are becoming an increasingly promising option to both culture and deliver cells to support in vivo viability and long-term function. There is a wide variety of both natural and synthetic biomaterials that are becoming established as delivery vehicles with their own unique advantages and disadvantages for liver regeneration. We review the latest developments in cell transplantation strategies to promote liver regeneration, with a focus on the use of both natural and synthetic biomaterials for cell culture and delivery. We conclude that future work will need to refine the use of these biomaterials and combine them with novel strategies that recapitulate liver organization and function in order to translate this strategy to clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maqsood Ali
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Samantha L Payne
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
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10
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Castelli V, Giordano A, Benedetti E, Giansanti F, Quintiliani M, Cimini A, d’Angelo M. The Great Escape: The Power of Cancer Stem Cells to Evade Programmed Cell Death. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:328. [PMID: 33477367 PMCID: PMC7830655 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the primary causes of death worldwide. Tumour malignancy is related to tumor heterogeneity, which has been suggested to be due to a small subpopulation of tumor cells named cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs exert a key role in metastasis development, tumor recurrence, and also epithelial-mesenchymal transition, apoptotic resistance, self-renewal, tumorigenesis, differentiation, and drug resistance. Several current therapies fail to eradicate tumors due to the ability of CSCs to escape different programmed cell deaths. Thus, developing CSC-selective and programmed death-inducing therapeutic approaches appears to be of primary importance. In this review, we discuss the main programmed cell death occurring in cancer and the promising CSC-targeting agents developed in recent years. Even if the reported studies are encouraging, further investigations are necessary to establish a combination of agents able to eradicate CSCs or inhibit their growth and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Castelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (V.C.); (E.B.); (F.G.); (M.Q.)
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Elisabetta Benedetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (V.C.); (E.B.); (F.G.); (M.Q.)
| | - Francesco Giansanti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (V.C.); (E.B.); (F.G.); (M.Q.)
| | - Massimiliano Quintiliani
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (V.C.); (E.B.); (F.G.); (M.Q.)
| | - Annamaria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (V.C.); (E.B.); (F.G.); (M.Q.)
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Michele d’Angelo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (V.C.); (E.B.); (F.G.); (M.Q.)
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11
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Liu L, Borlak J. Advances in Liver Cancer Stem Cell Isolation and their Characterization. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 17:1215-1238. [PMID: 33432485 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-10114-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade research on cancer stem cells (CSC) significantly contributed to a better understanding of tumor biology. Given their similarity to normal stem cells, i.e. self-renewal and pluripotency the need arises to develop robust protocols for the isolation and characterization of CSCs. As with other malignancies, hepatic tumors are composed of a heterogeneous population of cells including liver cancer stem cells (LCSC). Yet, a precise understanding of why stem cells become cancerous is still lacking. There is unmet need to develop robust protocols for the successful isolation of LCSCs from human tissue resection material as to assist in the development of molecular targeted therapies. Here we review the research progress made in the isolation and characterization of LCSCs by considering a wide range of cell surface markers and sorting methods, as applied to side populations, microsphere cultures and the gradient centrifugation method. We emphasize the different fluorescence activated cell sorting methods and the possibility to enrich LCSCs by immunomagnetic beads. We review the specificity of functional assays by considering ABCG transporter and ALDH1 enzyme activities and evaluate the in vivo tumorigenicity of LCSCs in highly sensitive bioassays. Finally, we evaluate different LCSC markers in association with viral and non-viral liver disease and explore the potential of novel drug delivery systems targeting CD133, EpCAM, CD13 and CD90 for the development of molecular targeted therapies. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- Centre for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jürgen Borlak
- Centre for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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12
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Abstract
Liver cancer is the second most lethal malignancy worldwide. Cell lines and murine models are the most common tools for modeling human liver carcinogenesis. Most recently, organoids with a three-dimensional structure derived from primary tissues or cells have been applied to liver cancer research. Organoids can be generated from induced pluripotent stem cells, embryonic or adult, healthy or diseased tissues. In particular, liver organoids have been widely employed in mechanistic studies aimed at delineating the molecular pathways responsible for hepatocarcinogenesis. The introduction of clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9) and microengineered miniorganoid technologies into liver organoids for cancer study has significantly accelerated these investigations. Translational advances have been made by utilizing liver tumor organoids for anticancer drug screening, biobanking, omics profiling, and biomarker discovery. This review summarizes the latest advances and the remaining challenges in the use of organoid models for the study of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haichuan Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Transplantation Division, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China,Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Diego F. Calvisi
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
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13
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Cell therapy for advanced liver diseases: Repair or rebuild. J Hepatol 2021; 74:185-199. [PMID: 32976865 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Advanced liver disease presents a significant worldwide health and economic burden and accounts for 3.5% of global mortality. When liver disease progresses to organ failure the only effective treatment is liver transplantation, which necessitates lifelong immunosuppression and carries associated risks. Furthermore, the shortage of suitable donor organs means patients may die waiting for a suitable transplant organ. Cell therapies have made their way from animal studies to a small number of early clinical trials. Herein, we review the current state of cell therapies for liver disease and the mechanisms underpinning their actions (to repair liver tissue or rebuild functional parenchyma). We also discuss cellular therapies that are on the clinical horizon and challenges that must be overcome before routine clinical use is a possibility.
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14
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Huang D, Gibeley SB, Xu C, Xiao Y, Celik O, Ginsberg HN, Leong KW. Engineering liver microtissues for disease modeling and regenerative medicine. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2020; 30:1909553. [PMID: 33390875 PMCID: PMC7774671 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201909553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The burden of liver diseases is increasing worldwide, accounting for two million deaths annually. In the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in the basic and translational research of liver tissue engineering. Liver microtissues are small, three-dimensional hepatocyte cultures that recapitulate liver physiology and have been used in biomedical research and regenerative medicine. This review summarizes recent advances, challenges, and future directions in liver microtissue research. Cellular engineering approaches are used to sustain primary hepatocytes or produce hepatocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells and other adult tissues. Three-dimensional microtissues are generated by scaffold-free assembly or scaffold-assisted methods such as macroencapsulation, droplet microfluidics, and bioprinting. Optimization of the hepatic microenvironment entails incorporating the appropriate cell composition for enhanced cell-cell interactions and niche-specific signals, and creating scaffolds with desired chemical, mechanical and physical properties. Perfusion-based culture systems such as bioreactors and microfluidic systems are used to achieve efficient exchange of nutrients and soluble factors. Taken together, systematic optimization of liver microtissues is a multidisciplinary effort focused on creating liver cultures and on-chip models with greater structural complexity and physiological relevance for use in liver disease research, therapeutic development, and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dantong Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Sarah B. Gibeley
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Cong Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Yang Xiao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Ozgenur Celik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Henry N. Ginsberg
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Kam W. Leong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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15
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Ogoke O, Maloy M, Parashurama N. The science and engineering of stem cell-derived organoids-examples from hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic tissues. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:179-204. [PMID: 33002311 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The field of organoid engineering promises to revolutionize medicine with wide-ranging applications of scientific, engineering, and clinical interest, including precision and personalized medicine, gene editing, drug development, disease modelling, cellular therapy, and human development. Organoids are a three-dimensional (3D) miniature representation of a target organ, are initiated with stem/progenitor cells, and are extremely promising tools with which to model organ function. The biological basis for organoids is that they foster stem cell self-renewal, differentiation, and self-organization, recapitulating 3D tissue structure or function better than two-dimensional (2D) systems. In this review, we first discuss the importance of epithelial organs and the general properties of epithelial cells to provide a context and rationale for organoids of the liver, pancreas, and gall bladder. Next, we develop a general framework to understand self-organization, tissue hierarchy, and organoid cultivation. For each of these areas, we provide a historical context, and review a wide range of both biological and mathematical perspectives that enhance understanding of organoids. Next, we review existing techniques and progress in hepatobiliary and pancreatic organoid engineering. To do this, we review organoids from primary tissues, cell lines, and stem cells, and introduce engineering studies when applicable. We discuss non-invasive assessment of organoids, which can reveal the underlying biological mechanisms and enable improved assays for growth, metabolism, and function. Applications of organoids in cell therapy are also discussed. Taken together, we establish a broad scientific foundation for organoids and provide an in-depth review of hepatic, biliary and pancreatic organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ogechi Ogoke
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo (State University of New York), Buffalo, NY, U.S.A
| | - Mitchell Maloy
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo (State University of New York), Buffalo, NY, U.S.A
| | - Natesh Parashurama
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo (State University of New York), Buffalo, NY, U.S.A.,Clinical and Translation Research Center (CTRC), University at Buffalo (State University of New York), Buffalo, NY, U.S.A.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo (State University of New York), Buffalo, NY, U.S.A
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16
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Yang L, Lewis K. Erythroid Lineage Cells in the Liver: Novel Immune Regulators and Beyond. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2020; 8:177-183. [PMID: 32832398 PMCID: PMC7438359 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2019.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The lineage of the erythroid cell has been revisited in recent years. Instead of being classified as simply inert oxygen carriers, emerging evidence has shown that they are a tightly regulated in immune potent population with potential developmental plasticity for lineage crossing. Erythroid cells have been reported to exert immune regulatory function through secreted cytokines, or cell-cell contact, depending on the conditions of the microenvironment and disease models. In this review, we explain the natural history of erythroid cells in the liver through a developmental lens, as it offers perspectives into newly recognized roles of this lineage in liver biology. Here, we review the known immune roles of erythroid cells and discuss the mechanisms in the context of disease models and stages. Then, we explore the capability of erythroid lineage as a cell source for regenerative medicine. We propose that the versatile lineage of erythroid cells provides an underappreciated and potentially promising area for basic and translational research in the field of liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Correspondence to: Li Yang, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue; Cincinnati, OH 45229-3030, USA. Tel: +1-513-636-3008, E-mail:
| | - Kyle Lewis
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition Developmental Biology Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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17
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Oct4 and Hnf4α-induced hepatic stem cells ameliorate chronic liver injury in liver fibrosis model. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221085. [PMID: 31404112 PMCID: PMC6690533 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct conversion from fibroblasts to generate hepatocyte like-cells (iHeps) bypassing the pluripotent state has been described in previous reports as an attractive method acquiring hepatocytes for cell-based therapy. The limited proliferation of iHeps, however, has hampered it uses in cell-based therapy. Since hepatic stem cells (HepSCs) possess self-renewal and bipotency with the capacity to differentiate into both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, they have therapeutic potential for treating liver disease. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effects of induced HepSCs (iHepSCs) on a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis model. We demonstrate that Oct4 and Hnf4a are sufficient to convert fibroblasts into expandable iHepSCs. Hepatocyte-like cells derived from iHepSCs (iHepSC-HEPs) exhibit the typical morphology of hepatocytes and hepatic functions, including glycogen storage, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake, Indocyanine green (ICG) detoxification, drug metabolism, urea production, and albumin secretion. iHepSCs-derived cholangiocyte-like cells (iHepSC-CLCs) expressed cholangiocyte-specific markers and formed cysts and tubule-like structures with apical-basal polarity and secretory function in three-dimensional culture condition. Furthermore, iHepSCs showed anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. This study demonstrates that Oct4 and Hnf4α-induced HepSCs show typical hepatic and biliary functionality in vitro. It also presents the therapeutic effect of iHepSCs in liver fibrosis. Therefore, directly converting iHepSCs from somatic cells may facilitate the development of patient-specific cell-based therapy for chronic liver damage.
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