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Yamaguchi A. Evaluation of fish pituitary spheroids to study annual endocrine reproductive control. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 351:114481. [PMID: 38408711 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The pituitary gland is a small endocrine gland located below the hypothalamus. This gland releases several important hormones and controls the function of many other endocrine system glands to release hormones. Fish pituitary hormonal cells are controlled by neuroendocrine and sex steroid feedback. To study the complex pituitary function in vivo, we established an in vitro pituitary spheroid assay and evaluated its suitability for monitoring the annual reproductive physiological conditions in Takifugu rubripes, also known as torafugu, is one of the most economically important species distributed in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, in the western part of the East China Sea, and in more northern areas near Hokkaido, Japan. Fish pituitary spheroids can be easily constructed in liquid or solid plates. The culture medium (L-15) made the aggregation faster than MEM (Hank's). A Rho-kinase inhibitor (Y-27632, 10 μM) and/or fish serum (2.5 %) also promoted spheroid formation. Laser confocal microscopy analysis of spheroids cultured with annual serum of both sexes revealed that luteinizing hormone (LH) synthesis has the highest peak in the final maturation stage (3 years old, May) in accordance with the highest serum sex steroid levels; in contrast, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) synthesis has no correlation with the dose of serum or nutrients. Similarly, 3D cell propagation assays using female serum showed that total pituitary cells displayed the highest proliferation at puberty onset (2 years old, October) before half a year of the spawning season. These results indicate that pituitary spheroids are useful in vitro models for monitoring the reproductive physiological status of fish in vivo and may be applicable to the in vitro screening of environmental chemicals and bioactive compounds affecting reproductive efficiency in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Yamaguchi
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Department of Bioresource Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
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2
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Cui R, Duan H, Hu W, Li C, Zhong S, Liang L, Chen S, Hu H, He Z, Wang Z, Guo X, Chen Z, Xu C, Zhu Y, Chen Y, Sai K, Yang Q, Guo C, Mou Y, Jiang X. Establishment of Human Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumor Derived Organoid and Its Pilot Application for Drug Screening. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024:dgae228. [PMID: 38656317 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Precision medicine for pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) is limited by the lack of reliable research models. OBJECTIVE To generate patient-derived organoids (PDOs), which could serve as a platform for personalized drug screening for PitNET patients. DESIGN From July 2019 to May 2022, a total of 32 human PitNET specimens were collected for the establishment of organoids with an optimized culture protocol. SETTING This study was conducted at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center. PATIENTS PitNET patients who were pathologically confirmed were enrolled in this study. INTERVENTIONS Histological staining and whole-exome sequencing were utilized to confirm the pathologic and genomic features of PDOs. A drug response assay on PDOs was also performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES PDOs retained key genetic and morphological features of their parental tumors. RESULTS PDOs were successfully established from various types of PitNET samples with an overall success rate of 87.5%. Clinical nonfunctioning PitNETs-derived organoids (22/23, 95.7%) showed a higher likelihood of successful generation compared to those from functioning PitNETs (6/9, 66.7%). Preservation of cellular structure, subtype-specific neuroendocrine profiles, mutational features, and tumor microenvironment heterogeneity from parental tumors was observed. A distinctive response profile in drug tests was observed among the organoids from patients with different subtypes of PitNETs. With the validation of key characteristics from parental tumors in histological, genomic, and microenvironment heterogeneity consistency assays, we demonstrated the predictive value of the PDOs in testing individual drugs. CONCLUSION The established PDOs, retaining typical features of parental tumors, indicate a translational significance in innovating personalized treatment for refractory PitNETs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run Cui
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Guangdong 2nd Provincial Peoples Hospital, Guangzhou, 523058 Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Duan
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Wanming Hu
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510000 Guangdong, China
| | - Chang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Sheng Zhong
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Lun Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Hongrong Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenqiang He
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenning Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Dongguan People's Hospital, Dongguan, 523058 Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoyu Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Ji'nan University, Guangzhou, 510630 Guangdong, China
| | - Zexin Chen
- Guangdong Research Center of Organoid Engineering and Technology, Guangzhou, 510320 Guangdong, China
| | - Cong Xu
- Guangdong Research Center of Organoid Engineering and Technology, Guangzhou, 510320 Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Guangdong Research Center of Organoid Engineering and Technology, Guangzhou, 510320 Guangdong, China
| | - Yinsheng Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Ke Sai
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Qunying Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Chengcheng Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Yonggao Mou
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaobing Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, S Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060 Guangdong, China
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Minne M, Terrie L, Wüst R, Hasevoets S, Vanden Kerchove K, Nimako K, Lambrichts I, Thorrez L, Declercq H. Generating human skeletal myoblast spheroids for vascular myogenic tissue engineering. Biofabrication 2024; 16:025035. [PMID: 38437715 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad2fd5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Engineered myogenic microtissues derived from human skeletal myoblasts offer unique opportunities for varying skeletal muscle tissue engineering applications, such asin vitrodrug-testing and disease modelling. However, more complex models require the incorporation of vascular structures, which remains to be challenging. In this study, myogenic spheroids were generated using a high-throughput, non-adhesive micropatterned surface. Since monoculture spheroids containing human skeletal myoblasts were unable to remain their integrity, co-culture spheroids combining human skeletal myoblasts and human adipose-derived stem cells were created. When using the optimal ratio, uniform and viable spheroids with enhanced myogenic properties were achieved. Applying a pre-vascularization strategy, through addition of endothelial cells, resulted in the formation of spheroids containing capillary-like networks, lumina and collagen in the extracellular matrix, whilst retaining myogenicity. Moreover, sprouting of endothelial cells from the spheroids when encapsulated in fibrin was allowed. The possibility of spheroids, from different maturation stages, to assemble into a more large construct was proven by doublet fusion experiments. The relevance of using three-dimensional microtissues with tissue-specific microarchitecture and increased complexity, together with the high-throughput generation approach, makes the generated spheroids a suitable tool forin vitrodrug-testing and human disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mendy Minne
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Lisanne Terrie
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Rebecca Wüst
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Steffie Hasevoets
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Kato Vanden Kerchove
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Kakra Nimako
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Ivo Lambrichts
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Lieven Thorrez
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Heidi Declercq
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
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Pérez Millán MI, Cheung LYM, Mercogliano F, Camilletti MA, Chirino Felker GT, Moro LN, Miriuka S, Brinkmeier ML, Camper SA. Pituitary stem cells: past, present and future perspectives. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2024; 20:77-92. [PMID: 38102391 PMCID: PMC10964491 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00922-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Pituitary cells that express the transcription factor SOX2 are stem cells because they can self-renew and differentiate into multiple pituitary hormone-producing cell types as organoids. Wounding and physiological challenges can activate pituitary stem cells, but cell numbers are not fully restored, and the ability to mobilize stem cells decreases with increasing age. The basis of these limitations is still unknown. The regulation of stem cell quiescence and activation involves many different signalling pathways, including those mediated by WNT, Hippo and several cytokines; more research is needed to understand the interactions between these pathways. Pituitary organoids can be formed from human or mouse embryonic stem cells, or from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Human pituitary organoid transplantation is sufficient to induce corticosterone release in hypophysectomized mice, raising the possibility of therapeutic applications. Today, pituitary organoids have the potential to assess the role of individual genes and genetic variants on hormone production ex vivo, providing an important tool for the advancement of exciting frontiers in pituitary stem cell biology and pituitary organogenesis. In this article, we provide an overview of notable discoveries in pituitary stem cell function and highlight important areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Inés Pérez Millán
- Institute of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Translational Biology (IB3-UBA), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leonard Y M Cheung
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Florencia Mercogliano
- Institute of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Translational Biology (IB3-UBA), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Andrea Camilletti
- Institute of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Translational Biology (IB3-UBA), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo T Chirino Felker
- Laboratory of Applied Research of Neurosciences (LIAN-CONICET), FLENI Sede Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucia N Moro
- Laboratory of Applied Research of Neurosciences (LIAN-CONICET), FLENI Sede Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Miriuka
- Laboratory of Applied Research of Neurosciences (LIAN-CONICET), FLENI Sede Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Michelle L Brinkmeier
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sally A Camper
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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5
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Luca E, Zitzmann K, Bornstein S, Kugelmeier P, Beuschlein F, Nölting S, Hantel C. Three Dimensional Models of Endocrine Organs and Target Tissues Regulated by the Endocrine System. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4601. [PMID: 37760571 PMCID: PMC10526768 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184601] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Immortalized cell lines originating from tumors and cultured in monolayers in vitro display consistent behavior and response, and generate reproducible results across laboratories. However, for certain endpoints, these cell lines behave quite differently from the original solid tumors. Thereby, the homogeneity of immortalized cell lines and two-dimensionality of monolayer cultures deters from the development of new therapies and translatability of results to the more complex situation in vivo. Organoids originating from tissue biopsies and spheroids from cell lines mimic the heterogeneous and multidimensional characteristics of tumor cells in 3D structures in vitro. Thus, they have the advantage of recapitulating the more complex tissue architecture of solid tumors. In this review, we discuss recent efforts in basic and preclinical cancer research to establish methods to generate organoids/spheroids and living biobanks from endocrine tissues and target organs under endocrine control while striving to achieve solutions in personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edlira Luca
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich (USZ) and University of Zurich (UZH), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin Zitzmann
- Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 München, Germany
| | - Stefan Bornstein
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich (USZ) and University of Zurich (UZH), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Felix Beuschlein
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich (USZ) and University of Zurich (UZH), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Endocrine Research Unit, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Svenja Nölting
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich (USZ) and University of Zurich (UZH), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 München, Germany
| | - Constanze Hantel
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich (USZ) and University of Zurich (UZH), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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Laporte E, Vankelecom H. Organoid models of the pituitary gland in health and disease. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1233714. [PMID: 37614709 PMCID: PMC10442803 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1233714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The pituitary gland represents the hub of our endocrine system. Its cells produce specific hormones that direct multiple vital physiological processes such as body growth, fertility, and stress. The gland also contains a population of stem cells which are still enigmatic in phenotype and function. Appropriate research models are needed to advance our knowledge on pituitary (stem cell) biology. Over the last decade, 3D organoid models have been established, either derived from the pituitary stem cells or from pluripotent stem cells, covering both healthy and diseased conditions. Here, we summarize the state-of-the-art of pituitary-allied organoid models and discuss applications of these powerful in vitro research and translational tools to study pituitary development, biology, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Laporte
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hugo Vankelecom
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Mallick S, Chakrabarti J, Eschbacher J, Moraitis AG, Greenstein AE, Churko J, Pond KW, Livolsi A, Thorne CA, Little AS, Yuen KCJ, Zavros Y. Genetically engineered human pituitary corticotroph tumor organoids exhibit divergent responses to glucocorticoid receptor modulators. Transl Res 2023; 256:56-72. [PMID: 36640905 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Cushing's disease (CD) is a serious endocrine disorder attributed to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET) that that subsequently leads to chronic hypercortisolemia. PitNET regression has been reported following treatment with the investigational selective glucocorticoid receptor (GR) modulator relacorilant, but the mechanisms behind that effect remain unknown. Human PitNET organoid models were generated from induced human pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or fresh tissue obtained from CD patient PitNETs (hPITOs). Genetically engineered iPSC derived organoids were used to model the development of corticotroph PitNETs expressing USP48 (iPSCUSP48) or USP8 (iPSCUSP8) somatic mutations. Organoids were treated with the GR antagonist mifepristone or the GR modulator relacorilant with or without somatostatin receptor (SSTR) agonists pasireotide or octreotide. In iPSCUSP48 and iPSCUSP8 cultures, mifepristone induced a predominant expression of SSTR2 with a concomitant increase in ACTH secretion and tumor cell proliferation. Relacorilant predominantly induced SSTR5 expression and tumor cell apoptosis with minimal ACTH induction. Hedgehog signaling mediated the induction of SSTR2 and SSTR5 in response to mifepristone and relacorilant. Relacorilant sensitized PitNET organoid responsiveness to pasireotide. Therefore, our study identified the potential therapeutic use of relacorilant in combination with somatostatin analogs and demonstrated the advantages of relacorilant over mifepristone, supporting its further development for use in the treatment of Cushing's disease patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saptarshi Mallick
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Jayati Chakrabarti
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Jennifer Eschbacher
- Department of Neuropathology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | | | | | - Jared Churko
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Kelvin W Pond
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona
| | | | - Curtis A Thorne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Andrew S Little
- Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Kevin C J Yuen
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Yana Zavros
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona.
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Hermans F, Hemeryck L, Bueds C, Torres Pereiro M, Hasevoets S, Kobayashi H, Lambrechts D, Lambrichts I, Bronckaers A, Vankelecom H. Organoids from mouse molar and incisor as new tools to study tooth-specific biology and development. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1166-1181. [PMID: 37084723 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Organoid models provide powerful tools to study tissue biology and development in a dish. Presently, organoids have not yet been developed from mouse tooth. Here, we established tooth organoids (TOs) from early-postnatal mouse molar and incisor, which are long-term expandable, express dental epithelium stem cell (DESC) markers, and recapitulate key properties of the dental epithelium in a tooth-type-specific manner. TOs display in vitro differentiation capacity toward ameloblast-resembling cells, even more pronounced in assembloids in which dental mesenchymal (pulp) stem cells are combined with the organoid DESCs. Single-cell transcriptomics supports this developmental potential and reveals co-differentiation into junctional epithelium- and odontoblast-/cementoblast-like cells in the assembloids. Finally, TOs survive and show ameloblast-resembling differentiation also in vivo. The developed organoid models provide new tools to study mouse tooth-type-specific biology and development and gain deeper molecular and functional insights that may eventually help to achieve future human biological tooth repair and replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Hermans
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lara Hemeryck
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Celine Bueds
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc Torres Pereiro
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steffie Hasevoets
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Hiroto Kobayashi
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Science, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ivo Lambrichts
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Annelies Bronckaers
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
| | - Hugo Vankelecom
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Rouleau N, Murugan NJ, Kaplan DL. Functional bioengineered models of the central nervous system. NATURE REVIEWS BIOENGINEERING 2023; 1:252-270. [PMID: 37064657 PMCID: PMC9903289 DOI: 10.1038/s44222-023-00027-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
The functional complexity of the central nervous system (CNS) is unparalleled in living organisms. Its nested cells, circuits and networks encode memories, move bodies and generate experiences. Neural tissues can be engineered to assemble model systems that recapitulate essential features of the CNS and to investigate neurodevelopment, delineate pathophysiology, improve regeneration and accelerate drug discovery. In this Review, we discuss essential structure-function relationships of the CNS and examine materials and design considerations, including composition, scale, complexity and maturation, of cell biology-based and engineering-based CNS models. We highlight region-specific CNS models that can emulate functions of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, spinal cord, neural-X interfaces and other regions, and investigate a range of applications for CNS models, including fundamental and clinical research. We conclude with an outlook to future possibilities of CNS models, highlighting the engineering challenges that remain to be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Rouleau
- Department of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA USA
| | - Nirosha J. Murugan
- Department of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA USA
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA USA
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10
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Future regenerative medicine developments and their therapeutic applications. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114131. [PMID: 36538861 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the currently available pharmacological assays can cure most pathological disorders, they have limited therapeutic value in relieving certain disorders like myocardial infarct, peripheral vascular disease, amputated limbs, or organ failure (e.g. renal failure). Pilot studies to overcome such problems using regenerative medicine (RM) delivered promising data. Comprehensive investigations of RM in zebrafish or reptilians are necessary for better understanding. However, the precise mechanisms remain poorly understood despite the tremendous amount of data obtained using the zebrafish model investigating the exact mechanisms behind their regenerative capability. Indeed, understanding such mechanisms and their application to humans can save millions of lives from dying due to potentially life-threatening events. Recent studies have launched a revolution in replacing damaged human organs via different approaches in the last few decades. The newly established branch of medicine (known as Regenerative Medicine aims to enhance natural repair mechanisms. This can be done through the application of several advanced broad-spectrum technologies such as organ transplantation, tissue engineering, and application of Scaffolds technology (support vascularization using an extracellular matrix), stem cell therapy, miRNA treatment, development of 3D mini-organs (organoids), and the construction of artificial tissues using nanomedicine and 3D bio-printers. Moreover, in the next few decades, revolutionary approaches in regenerative medicine will be applied based on artificial intelligence and wireless data exchange, soft intelligence biomaterials, nanorobotics, and even living robotics capable of self-repair. The present work presents a comprehensive overview that summarizes the new and future advances in the field of RM.
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Chakrabarti J, Pandey R, Churko JM, Eschbacher J, Mallick S, Chen Y, Hermes B, Mallick P, Stansfield BN, Pond KW, Thorne CA, Yuen KCJ, Little AS, Zavros Y. Development of Human Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumor Organoids to Facilitate Effective Targeted Treatments of Cushing's Disease. Cells 2022; 11:3344. [PMID: 36359740 PMCID: PMC9659185 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Cushing's disease (CD) is a serious endocrine disorder caused by an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET) that stimulates the adrenal glands to overproduce cortisol. Chronic exposure to excess cortisol has detrimental effects on health, including increased stroke rates, diabetes, obesity, cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression, and death. The first-line treatment for CD is pituitary surgery. Current surgical remission rates reported in only 56% of patients depending on several criteria. The lack of specificity, poor tolerability, and low efficacy of the subsequent second-line medical therapies make CD a medical therapeutic challenge. One major limitation that hinders the development of specific medical therapies is the lack of relevant human model systems that recapitulate the cellular composition of PitNET microenvironment. (2) Methods: human pituitary tumor tissue was harvested during transsphenoidal surgery from CD patients to generate organoids (hPITOs). (3) Results: hPITOs generated from corticotroph, lactotroph, gonadotroph, and somatotroph tumors exhibited morphological diversity among the organoid lines between individual patients and amongst subtypes. The similarity in cell lineages between the organoid line and the patient's tumor was validated by comparing the neuropathology report to the expression pattern of PitNET specific markers, using spectral flow cytometry and exome sequencing. A high-throughput drug screen demonstrated patient-specific drug responses of hPITOs amongst each tumor subtype. Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a CD patient carrying germline mutation CDH23 exhibited dysregulated cell lineage commitment. (4) Conclusions: The human pituitary neuroendocrine tumor organoids represent a novel approach in how we model complex pathologies in CD patients, which will enable effective personalized medicine for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayati Chakrabarti
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Ritu Pandey
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Center for Biomedical Informatics and Biostatistics, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jared M. Churko
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jennifer Eschbacher
- Department of Neuropathology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Saptarshi Mallick
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Yuliang Chen
- University of Arizona Cancer Center Bioinformatics Core, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Beth Hermes
- Department of Neuropathology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Palash Mallick
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Ben N. Stansfield
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Kelvin W. Pond
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Curtis A. Thorne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Kevin C. J. Yuen
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Andrew S. Little
- Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Yana Zavros
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Fontaine R, Rahmad Royan M, Henkel C, Hodne K, Ager-Wick E, Weltzien FA. Pituitary multi-hormone cells in mammals and fish: history, origin, and roles. Front Neuroendocrinol 2022; 67:101018. [PMID: 35870647 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.101018] [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: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The vertebrate pituitary is a dynamic organ, capable of adapting its hormone secretion to different physiological demands. In this context, endocrinologists have debated for the past 40 years if endocrine cells are mono- or multi-hormonal. Since its establishment, the dominant "one cell, one hormone" model has been continuously challenged. In mammals, the use of advanced multi-staining approaches, sensitive gene expression techniques, and the analysis of tumor tissues have helped to quickly demonstrate the existence of pituitary multi-hormone cells. In fishes however, only recent advances in imaging and transcriptomics have enabled the identification of such cells. In this review, we first describe the history of the discovery of cells producing multiple hormones in mammals and fishes. We discuss the technical limitations that have led to uncertainties and debates. Then, we present the current knowledge and hypotheses regarding their origin and biological role, which provides a comprehensive review of pituitary plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Fontaine
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
| | - Muhammad Rahmad Royan
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Christiaan Henkel
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Kjetil Hodne
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Eirill Ager-Wick
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Finn-Arne Weltzien
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
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Disease Modeling of Pituitary Adenoma Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153660. [PMID: 35954322 PMCID: PMC9367606 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153660] [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: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pituitary adenoma pathophysiology has been studied mainly using murine cell lines, animal models, and pituitary tumor samples. However, the lack of human pituitary cell line is a significant limiting factor in studying the molecular mechanisms of human pituitary tumors. Recently, pituitary induction methods from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have been established. These methods can induce human pituitary hormone-producing cells that retain physiological properties. hiPSCs in which tumor-causing gene mutations are introduced using genome-editing techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9 systems, provide great opportunities to establish in vitro human pituitary adenoma disease models. The models will be a novel platform to discover novel drugs and investigate tumorigenesis and pathophysiology. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the applications of iPSCs for pituitary and neoplastic disorder research and genome-editing technologies to create strategies for developing pituitary adenoma models using iPSCs. Abstract Pituitary adenomas are characterized by abnormal growth in the pituitary gland. Surgical excision is the first-line treatment for functional (hormone-producing) pituitary adenomas, except for prolactin-producing adenomas; however, complete excision is technically challenging, and many patients require long-term medication after the treatment. In addition, the pathophysiology of pituitary adenomas, such as tumorigenesis, has not been fully understood. Pituitary adenoma pathophysiology has mainly been studied using animal models and animal tumor-derived cell lines. Nevertheless, experimental studies on human pituitary adenomas are difficult because of the significant differences among species and the lack of reliable cell lines. Recently, several methods have been established to differentiate pituitary cells from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). The induced pituitary hormone-producing cells retain the physiological properties already lost in tumor-derived cell lines. Moreover, CRISPR/Cas9 systems have expedited the introduction of causative gene mutations in various malignant tumors into hPSCs. Therefore, hPSC-derived pituitary cells have great potential as a novel platform for studying the pathophysiology of human-specific pituitary adenomas and developing novel drugs. This review presents an overview of the recent progresses in hPSC applications for pituitary research, functional pituitary adenoma pathogenesis, and genome-editing techniques for introducing causative mutations. We also discuss future applications of hPSCs for studying pituitary adenomas.
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14
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Laporte E, Hermans F, De Vriendt S, Vennekens A, Lambrechts D, Nys C, Cox B, Vankelecom H. Decoding the activated stem cell phenotype of the neonatally maturing pituitary. eLife 2022; 11:75742. [PMID: 35699412 PMCID: PMC9333987 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The pituitary represents the endocrine master regulator. In mouse, the gland undergoes active maturation immediately after birth. Here, we in detail portrayed the stem cell compartment of neonatal pituitary. Single-cell RNA-sequencing pictured an active gland, revealing proliferative stem as well as hormonal (progenitor) cell populations. The stem cell pool displayed a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype, characteristic of development-involved tissue stem cells. Organoid culturing recapitulated the stem cells’ phenotype, interestingly also reproducing their paracrine activity. The pituitary stem cell-activating interleukin-6 advanced organoid growth, although the neonatal stem cell compartment was not visibly affected in Il6−/− mice, likely due to cytokine family redundancy. Further transcriptomic analysis exposed a pronounced WNT pathway in the neonatal gland, shown to be involved in stem cell activation and to overlap with the (fetal) human pituitary transcriptome. Following local damage, the neonatal gland efficiently regenerates, despite absence of additional stem cell proliferation, or upregulated IL-6 or WNT expression, all in line with the already high stem cell activation status, thereby exposing striking differences with adult pituitary. Together, our study decodes the stem cell compartment of neonatal pituitary, exposing an activated state in the maturing gland. Understanding stem cell activation is key to potential pituitary regenerative prospects. The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure found just below the brain that produces hormones controlling everything from growth and stress to reproduction and immunity. To perform its role, the pituitary gland needs specialised hormone-producing cells, but it also contains stem cells. These stem cells can divide to produce more cells like themselves, or differentiate into cells of different types, including hormone-producing cells. In mice, the stem cells of the pituitary gland appear to be activated in the first few weeks after birth, and later become ‘quiescent’ (or lazy) in the adult pituitary gland. However, it remains unclear how the activated state found in the maturing gland is established and regulated. To answer this question, Laporte et al. used single-cell RNA sequencing, a technique that allows researchers to profile which genes are active in individual cells, which can provide vital information about the state and activity of a tissue. The researchers compared the cells of the maturing pituitary gland of newborn mice to the cells in the established gland of adult mice. This analysis revealed that the maturing pituitary gland is a dynamic tissue, with populations of cells that are actively dividing (including the stem cells), which the mature pituitary gland lacks. Additionally, Laporte et al. established the molecular basis for the activated state of the stem cells in the maturing pituitary gland, which relies on the activation of a cell signalling pathway called WNT. To confirm these findings, Laporte et al. used an organoid system that allowed them to recapitulate the stem cell compartment of the maturing pituitary gland in a dish. When Laporte et al. blocked WNT signalling in these organoids, the organoids failed to form or divide. Furthermore, blocking the pathway directly in newborn mice reduced the number of dividing stem cells in the pituitary gland. Both findings support the notion that WNT signalling is required to establish the activated state of the maturing pituitary gland in newborn mice. Laporte et al. also wanted to know whether the newborn pituitary gland responded to injury differently than the adult gland. It had already been established that the adult pituitary stem cells become activated upon injury, and that the gland has some regenerative capacity. However, when Laporte et al. injured the newborn pituitary gland, the gland was able to fully regenerate, despite the stem cells not becoming more activated. This is likely because these cells are already activated (or ‘primed’), and do not require further activation to divide and repair the gland with the help of other proliferating cells. With these results, Laporte et al. shed light on the activated state of the stem cells in the pituitary gland of newborn mice. This provides insight into the role of these stem cells, as well as unveiling possible routes towards regenerating pituitary tissue. This could eventually prove useful in medicine, in cases when the pituitary gland is damaged or removed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Laporte
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Florian Hermans
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Silke De Vriendt
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Charlotte Nys
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benoit Cox
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hugo Vankelecom
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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15
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Shintani A, Higuchi M. Protocol for isolating adult pituitary stem/progenitor cells in mice. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101420. [PMID: 35677611 PMCID: PMC9168163 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Hormone-producing cells in the anterior lobe (AL) of the pituitary gland are important for growth and reproduction, but it has been challenging to isolate their source: the pituitary stem/progenitor cells. Here, we present a protocol for isolating adult pituitary stem/progenitor cells (APSCs) in mice. We describe dissociation and culture of AL cells, followed by the assessments of stemness marker expression and the differentiation capacity. This protocol enables separation of APSCs based on their cell adhesion properties with nearly 100% purity. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Shintani and Higuchi (2021). We describe primary adult mouse pituitary stem/progenitor cell (APSC) isolation This protocol is capable of separating APSCs at almost 100% purity levels Isolated APSCs are functional for downstream applications This technique does not require difficult-to-use reagents or any special equipment
Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aran Shintani
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-minami, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
- Division of Basic Veterinary Science, Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-minami, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
| | - Masashi Higuchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-minami, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
- Division of Basic Veterinary Science, Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-minami, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
- Corresponding author
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16
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Guérineau NC, Campos P, Le Tissier PR, Hodson DJ, Mollard P. Cell Networks in Endocrine/Neuroendocrine Gland Function. Compr Physiol 2022; 12:3371-3415. [PMID: 35578964 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c210031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Reproduction, growth, stress, and metabolism are determined by endocrine/neuroendocrine systems that regulate circulating hormone concentrations. All these systems generate rhythms and changes in hormone pulsatility observed in a variety of pathophysiological states. Thus, the output of endocrine/neuroendocrine systems must be regulated within a narrow window of effective hormone concentrations but must also maintain a capacity for plasticity to respond to changing physiological demands. Remarkably most endocrinologists still have a "textbook" view of endocrine gland organization which has emanated from 20th century histological studies on thin 2D tissue sections. However, 21st -century technological advances, including in-depth 3D imaging of specific cell types have vastly changed our knowledge. We now know that various levels of multicellular organization can be found across different glands, that organizational motifs can vary between species and can be modified to enhance or decrease hormonal release. This article focuses on how the organization of cells regulates hormone output using three endocrine/neuroendocrine glands that present different levels of organization and complexity: the adrenal medulla, with a single neuroendocrine cell type; the anterior pituitary, with multiple intermingled cell types; and the pancreas with multiple intermingled cell types organized into distinct functional units. We give an overview of recent methodologies that allow the study of the different components within endocrine systems, particularly their temporal and spatial relationships. We believe the emerging findings about network organization, and its impact on hormone secretion, are crucial to understanding how homeostatic regulation of endocrine axes is carried out within endocrine organs themselves. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:3371-3415, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pauline Campos
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Paul R Le Tissier
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - David J Hodson
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK.,COMPARE University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham Midlands, UK.,Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM), NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Churchill Hospital, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Patrice Mollard
- IGF, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
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Organoids from human tooth showing epithelial stemness phenotype and differentiation potential. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:153. [PMID: 35217915 PMCID: PMC8881251 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04183-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Insight into human tooth epithelial stem cells and their biology is sparse. Tissue-derived organoid models typically replicate the tissue’s epithelial stem cell compartment. Here, we developed a first-in-time epithelial organoid model starting from human tooth. Dental follicle (DF) tissue, isolated from unerupted wisdom teeth, efficiently generated epithelial organoids that were long-term expandable. The organoids displayed a tooth epithelial stemness phenotype similar to the DF’s epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM), a compartment containing dental epithelial stem cells. Single-cell transcriptomics reinforced this organoid-ERM congruence, and uncovered novel, mouse-mirroring stem cell features. Exposure of the organoids to epidermal growth factor induced transient proliferation and eventual epithelial-mesenchymal transition, highly mimicking events taking place in the ERM in vivo. Moreover, the ERM stemness organoids were able to unfold an ameloblast differentiation process, further enhanced by transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) and abrogated by TGFβ receptor inhibition, thereby reproducing TGFβ's known key position in amelogenesis. Interestingly, by creating a mesenchymal-epithelial composite organoid (assembloid) model, we demonstrated that the presence of dental mesenchymal cells (i.e. pulp stem cells) triggered ameloblast differentiation in the epithelial stem cells, thus replicating the known importance of mesenchyme-epithelium interaction in tooth development and amelogenesis. Also here, differentiation was abrogated by TGFβ receptor inhibition. Together, we developed novel organoid models empowering the exploration of human tooth epithelial stem cell biology and function as well as their interplay with dental mesenchyme, all at present only poorly defined in humans. Moreover, the new models may pave the way to future tooth-regenerative perspectives.
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18
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Laporte E, De Vriendt S, Hoekx J, Vankelecom H. Interleukin-6 is dispensable in pituitary normal development and homeostasis but needed for pituitary stem cell activation following local injury. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1092063. [PMID: 36619565 PMCID: PMC9815540 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1092063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, we discovered that the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) acts as a pituitary stem cell-activating factor, both when administered in vivo and when added to stem cell organoid cultures in vitro. Moreover, its expression, predominantly localized in the gland's stem and mesenchymal cells, promptly increases following damage in the adult pituitary, leading to stem-cell proliferative activation. Given these findings that IL-6 is involved in pituitary stem cell regulation, we addressed the question whether the cytokine has an impact on the pituitary phenotype during active phases of the gland's remodeling, in particular embryonic development and neonatal maturation, as well as during homeostasis at adulthood and aging, all unknown today. Using the IL-6 knock-out (KO) mouse model, we show that IL-6 is dispensable for pituitary embryonic and neonatal endocrine cell development, as well as for hormonal cell homeostasis in adult and aging glands. The findings match the absence of effects on the stem cell compartment at these stages. However, using this IL-6 KO model, we found that IL-6 is needed for the acute stem-cell proliferative activation reaction upon pituitary injury. Intriguingly, regeneration still occurs which may be due to compensatory behavior by other cytokines which are upregulated in the damaged IL-6 KO pituitary, although at lower but prolonged levels, which might lead to a delayed (and less forceful) stem cell response. Taken together, our study revealed that IL-6 is dispensable for normal pituitary development and homeostasis but plays a key role in the prompt stem cell activation upon local damage, although its presence is not essentially needed for the final regenerative realization.
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Kodani Y, Kawata M, Suga H, Kasai T, Ozone C, Sakakibara M, Kuwahara A, Taga S, Arima H, Kameyama T, Saito K, Nakashima A, Nagasaki H. EpCAM Is a Surface Marker for Enriching Anterior Pituitary Cells From Human Hypothalamic-Pituitary Organoids. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:941166. [PMID: 35903276 PMCID: PMC9316845 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.941166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Human stem cell-derived organoid culture enables the in vitro analysis of the cellular function in three-dimensional aggregates mimicking native organs, and also provides a valuable source of specific cell types in the human body. We previously established organoid models of the hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) complex using human pluripotent stem cells. Although the models are suitable for investigating developmental and functional HP interactions, we consider that isolated pituitary cells are also useful for basic and translational research on the pituitary gland, such as stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. To develop a method for the purification of pituitary cells in HP organoids, we performed surface marker profiling of organoid cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Screening of 332 human cell surface markers and a subsequent immunohistochemical analysis identified epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) as a surface marker of anterior pituitary cells, as well as their ectodermal precursors. EpCAM was not expressed on hypothalamic lineages; thus, anterior pituitary cells were successfully enriched by magnetic separation of EpCAM+ cells from iPSC-derived HP organoids. The enriched pituitary population contained functional corticotrophs and their progenitors; the former responded normally to a corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulus. Our findings would extend the applicability of organoid culture as a novel source of human anterior pituitary cells, including stem/progenitor cells and their endocrine descendants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Kodani
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Miho Kawata
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Suga
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- *Correspondence: Hidetaka Suga, ; Hiroshi Nagasaki,
| | - Takatoshi Kasai
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Chikafumi Ozone
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Mayu Sakakibara
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kuwahara
- Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Kobe, Japan
| | - Shiori Taga
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Kobe, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Arima
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Toshiki Kameyama
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Kanako Saito
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Akira Nakashima
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nagasaki
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
- *Correspondence: Hidetaka Suga, ; Hiroshi Nagasaki,
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Sabatino ME, Grondona E, De Paul AL. Architects of Pituitary Tumour Growth. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:924942. [PMID: 35837315 PMCID: PMC9273718 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.924942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pituitary is a master gland responsible for the modulation of critical endocrine functions. Pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs) display a considerable prevalence of 1/1106, frequently observed as benign solid tumours. PitNETs still represent a cause of important morbidity, due to hormonal systemic deregulation, with surgical, radiological or chronic treatment required for illness management. The apparent scarceness, uncommon behaviour and molecular features of PitNETs have resulted in a relatively slow progress in depicting their pathogenesis. An appropriate interpretation of different phenotypes or cellular outcomes during tumour growth is desirable, since histopathological characterization still remains the main option for prognosis elucidation. Improved knowledge obtained in recent decades about pituitary tumorigenesis has revealed that this process involves several cellular routes in addition to proliferation and death, with its modulation depending on many signalling pathways rather than being the result of abnormalities of a unique proliferation pathway, as sometimes presented. PitNETs can display intrinsic heterogeneity and cell subpopulations with diverse biological, genetic and epigenetic particularities, including tumorigenic potential. Hence, to obtain a better understanding of PitNET growth new approaches are required and the systematization of the available data, with the role of cell death programs, autophagy, stem cells, cellular senescence, mitochondrial function, metabolic reprogramming still being emerging fields in pituitary research. We envisage that through the combination of molecular, genetic and epigenetic data, together with the improved morphological, biochemical, physiological and metabolically knowledge on pituitary neoplastic potential accumulated in recent decades, tumour classification schemes will become more accurate regarding tumour origin, behaviour and plausible clinical results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eugenia Sabatino
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba (ICYTAC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ezequiel Grondona
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ana Lucía De Paul
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA), Córdoba, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Ana Lucía De Paul,
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Vennekens A, Laporte E, Hermans F, Cox B, Modave E, Janiszewski A, Nys C, Kobayashi H, Malengier-Devlies B, Chappell J, Matthys P, Garcia MI, Pasque V, Lambrechts D, Vankelecom H. Interleukin-6 is an activator of pituitary stem cells upon local damage, a competence quenched in the aging gland. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2100052118. [PMID: 34161279 PMCID: PMC8237615 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2100052118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells in the adult pituitary are quiescent yet show acute activation upon tissue injury. The molecular mechanisms underlying this reaction are completely unknown. We applied single-cell transcriptomics to start unraveling the acute pituitary stem cell activation process as occurring upon targeted endocrine cell-ablation damage. This stem cell reaction was contrasted with the aging (middle-aged) pituitary, known to have lost damage-repair capacity. Stem cells in the aging pituitary show regressed proliferative activation upon injury and diminished in vitro organoid formation. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovered interleukin-6 (IL-6) as being up-regulated upon damage, however only in young but not aging pituitary. Administering IL-6 to young mice promptly triggered pituitary stem cell proliferation, while blocking IL-6 or associated signaling pathways inhibited such reaction to damage. By contrast, IL-6 did not generate a pituitary stem cell activation response in aging mice, coinciding with elevated basal IL-6 levels and raised inflammatory state in the aging gland (inflammaging). Intriguingly, in vitro stem cell activation by IL-6 was discerned in organoid culture not only from young but also from aging pituitary, indicating that the aging gland's stem cells retain intrinsic activatability in vivo, likely impeded by the prevailing inflammatory tissue milieu. Importantly, IL-6 supplementation strongly enhanced the growth capability of pituitary stem cell organoids, thereby expanding their potential as an experimental model. Our study identifies IL-6 as a pituitary stem cell activator upon local damage, a competence quenched at aging, concomitant with raised IL-6/inflammatory levels in the older gland. These insights may open the way to interfering with pituitary aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelies Vennekens
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emma Laporte
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Florian Hermans
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Benoit Cox
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elodie Modave
- Center for Cancer Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Intestinal Neuroimmune Interactions, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrian Janiszewski
- Laboratory for Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Nys
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hiroto Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Science, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Bert Malengier-Devlies
- Immunity and Inflammation Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joel Chappell
- Laboratory for Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Matthys
- Immunity and Inflammation Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marie-Isabelle Garcia
- Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Vincent Pasque
- Laboratory for Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Center for Cancer Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hugo Vankelecom
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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22
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Oguchi A, Higuchi M, Yamano Y. Localization of putative pituitary stem/progenitor cells in female dairy cattle. J Vet Med Sci 2021; 83:1031-1038. [PMID: 34011782 PMCID: PMC8349808 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2)-positive pituitary stem/progenitor cells, as a source of hormone-producing cells, is progressing rapidly in rodents. However, the stem/progenitor cells supplying hormone-producing cells that are essential for growth, reproduction, and lactation in bovines have not yet been identified. In this study, we characterized SOX2-positive cells in the pituitary gland of dairy cattle (Holstein heifers) after sexual maturity. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that the localization pattern of SOX2-positive cells in the dairy cattle pituitary gland was similar to that observed in the rodent pituitary gland; the marginal cell layer (MCL), dense cell clusters, and single cells scattered in the parenchyma of the anterior lobe. Furthermore, most of the SOX2-positive cells were positive for the pituitary stem/progenitor cell niche markers E-cadherin and cytokeratin 8+18, which have been reported in rodents. In addition, in the MCL of the anterior lobe, there was a subpopulation of SOX2-positive cells positive for paired-related homeobox 1 and 2, whereas negative for S100β. Moreover, in the parenchyma of the anterior lobe, co-localization of SOX2 and pituitary hormones was infrequent. In summary, this study reveals the localization of putative pituitary stem/progenitor cells positive for SOX2 in dairy cattle. These results provide valuable information to support further investigation of cell supply in the dairy cattle pituitary gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Oguchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-minami, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
| | - Masashi Higuchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-minami, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Yamano
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-minami, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
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23
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Nys C, Vankelecom H. Pituitary disease and recovery: How are stem cells involved? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 525:111176. [PMID: 33503464 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The pituitary gland embodies our endocrine hub and rigorously regulates hormone balances in the body, thereby ruling over vital developmental and physiological processes. Pituitary dysfunction and disease strongly impact the organism's biology. Physical damage, tumour development and ageing all negatively affect pituitary state and functionality. On top of its hormone-producing cells, the pituitary contains a population of stem cells. Not only their physiological role is still largely unknown, also whether or how these stem cells are involved in pituitary disease and recovery from defective functionality remains enigmatic. Here, we summarize what is known on the phenotypical and functional behaviour of pituitary stem cells in diseased or dysfunctional gland, as particularly caused by injury, tumourigenesis and ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Nys
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hugo Vankelecom
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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24
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Zhang D, Hugo W, Redublo P, Miao H, Bergsneider M, Wang MB, Kim W, Yong WH, Heaney AP. A human ACTH-secreting corticotroph tumoroid model: Novel Human ACTH-Secreting Tumor Cell in vitro Model. EBioMedicine 2021; 66:103294. [PMID: 33773184 PMCID: PMC8024915 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cushing disease (CD), although rare, is a life-threatening disorder caused by an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenoma, which leads to excess adrenal-derived cortisol. Efficacious and safe medical therapies that control both hormonal hypersecretion and pituitary corticotroph tumor growth remain an unmet need in the management of CD. Translational research in pituitary tumors has been significantly hampered by limited quantities of surgically resected tissue for ex vivo studies, and unavailability of human pituitary tumor cell models. METHODS To characterize human corticotroph tumors at the cellular level, we employed single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to study 4 surgically resected tumors. We also used microarrays to compare individualized paired consecutive culture passages to understand transcriptional shifts as in vitro cultures lost ACTH secretion. Based on these findings, we then modified our in vitro culture methods to develop sustained ACTH-secreting human corticotroph tumoroid cultures. FINDINGS scRNA-seq identified 4 major cell populations, namely corticotroph tumor (73.6%), stromal (11.2%), progenitor (8.3%), and immune cells (6.8%). Microarray analysis revealed striking changes in extracellular matrix, cell adhesion and motility-related genes concordant with loss of ACTH secretion during conventional 2D culture. Based on these findings, we subsequently defined a series of crucial culture nutrients and scaffold modifications that provided a more favorable trophic and structural environment that could maintain ACTH secretion in in vitro human corticotroph tumor cultures for up to 4 months. INTERPRETATION Our human corticotroph tumoroid model is a significant advance in the field of pituitary tumors and will further enable translational research studies to identify critically needed therapies for CD. FUNDING This work was partly funded by NCI P50-CA211015 and the Warley Trust Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyun Zhang
- Departments of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Willy Hugo
- Departments of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Peter Redublo
- Departments of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Hui Miao
- Departments of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Marvin Bergsneider
- Departments of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Marilene B Wang
- Departments of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Won Kim
- Departments of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - William H Yong
- Departments of Pathology and Lab Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Anthony P Heaney
- Departments of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States; Departments of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States.
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25
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Shintani A, Higuchi M. Isolation of PRRX1-positive adult pituitary stem/progenitor cells from the marginal cell layer of the mouse anterior lobe. Stem Cell Res 2021; 52:102223. [PMID: 33561660 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2021.102223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently suggested that paired-related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) and sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) double-positive (PRRX1/SOX2-positive) cells are pituitary stem/progenitor cells. The present study aimed to isolate PRRX1-positive cells located in the pituitary stem/progenitor cell niche. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PRRX1/SOX2-positive cells were located mainly in the marginal cell layer (MCL)-niche of the adult mouse pituitary gland, but were rarely present in the parenchymal-niche. Two-dimensional cultivation of primary cells from the anterior lobe (AL), including the MCL-niche, achieved efficient proliferation of PRRX1/SOX2-positive cells with high expression levels of pituitary stem/progenitor cell and niche markers. In contrast, primary cells from the AL, excluding the MCL-niche, showed limited growth. When isolated PRRX1/SOX2-positive cells and clusters of the parenchymal-niche were compared immunocytochemically, aquaporin 5, a marker of the MCL-niche, was detected only in isolated cells. Three-dimensional cultivation of isolated PRRX1/SOX2-positive cells promoted the formation of cystic-like spheroids and differentiation into endocrine cells. Thus, PRRX1-positive adult pituitary stem/progenitor cells were successfully isolated from the MCL-niche. The present study provides a powerful tool to analyze the cell supply system in the pituitary gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aran Shintani
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-minami, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
| | - Masashi Higuchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-minami, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan.
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26
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Laporte E, Vennekens A, Vankelecom H. Pituitary Remodeling Throughout Life: Are Resident Stem Cells Involved? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 11:604519. [PMID: 33584539 PMCID: PMC7879485 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.604519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pituitary gland has the primordial ability to dynamically adapt its cell composition to changing hormonal needs of the organism throughout life. During the first weeks after birth, an impressive growth and maturation phase is occurring in the gland during which the distinct hormonal cell populations expand. During pubertal growth and development, growth hormone (GH) levels need to peak which requires an adaptive enterprise in the GH-producing somatotrope population. At aging, pituitary function wanes which is associated with organismal decay including the somatopause in which GH levels drop. In addition to these key time points of life, the pituitary's endocrine cell landscape plastically adapts during specific (patho-)physiological conditions such as lactation (need for PRL) and stress (engagement of ACTH). Particular resilience is witnessed after physical injury in the (murine) gland, culminating in regeneration of destroyed cell populations. In many other tissues, adaptive and regenerative processes involve the local stem cells. Over the last 15 years, evidence has accumulated that the pituitary gland houses a resident stem cell compartment. Recent studies propose their involvement in at least some of the cell remodeling processes that occur in the postnatal pituitary but support is still fragmentary and not unequivocal. Many questions remain unsolved such as whether the stem cells are key players in the vivid neonatal growth phase and whether the decline in pituitary function at old age is associated with decreased stem cell fitness. Furthermore, the underlying molecular mechanisms of pituitary plasticity, in particular the stem cell-linked ones, are still largely unknown. Pituitary research heavily relies on transgenic in vivo mouse models. While having proven their value, answers to pituitary stem cell-focused questions may more diligently come from a novel powerful in vitro research model, termed organoids, which grow from pituitary stem cells and recapitulate stem cell phenotype and activation status. In this review, we describe pituitary plasticity conditions and summarize what is known on the involvement and phenotype of pituitary stem cells during these pituitary remodeling events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hugo Vankelecom
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
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27
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Russell JP, Lim X, Santambrogio A, Yianni V, Kemkem Y, Wang B, Fish M, Haston S, Grabek A, Hallang S, Lodge EJ, Patist AL, Schedl A, Mollard P, Nusse R, Andoniadou CL. Pituitary stem cells produce paracrine WNT signals to control the expansion of their descendant progenitor cells. eLife 2021; 10:59142. [PMID: 33399538 PMCID: PMC7803373 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59142] [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: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to physiological demand, the pituitary gland generates new hormone-secreting cells from committed progenitor cells throughout life. It remains unclear to what extent pituitary stem cells (PSCs), which uniquely express SOX2, contribute to pituitary growth and renewal. Moreover, neither the signals that drive proliferation nor their sources have been elucidated. We have used genetic approaches in the mouse, showing that the WNT pathway is essential for proliferation of all lineages in the gland. We reveal that SOX2+ stem cells are a key source of WNT ligands. By blocking secretion of WNTs from SOX2+ PSCs in vivo, we demonstrate that proliferation of neighbouring committed progenitor cells declines, demonstrating that progenitor multiplication depends on the paracrine WNT secretion from SOX2+ PSCs. Our results indicate that stem cells can hold additional roles in tissue expansion and homeostasis, acting as paracrine signalling centres to coordinate the proliferation of neighbouring cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Russell
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xinhong Lim
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alice Santambrogio
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Val Yianni
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yasmine Kemkem
- Institute of Functional Genomics (IGF), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Bruce Wang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States.,Department of Medicine and Liver Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Matthew Fish
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Scott Haston
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Shirleen Hallang
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emily J Lodge
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda L Patist
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Patrice Mollard
- Institute of Functional Genomics (IGF), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Roel Nusse
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Cynthia L Andoniadou
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Engineering functional organs starting from stem or progenitor cells holds promise to address the urgent need for organ transplants. However, to date, the development of complex organ structures remains an open challenge. RECENT FINDINGS Among multiple approaches to organ regeneration that are being investigated, two main directions can be identified, namely the patterned deposition of cells to impose specific structures, using bioprinting technologies, and (ii) the spontaneous development of organoids, according to principles of self-organization. In this review, we shortly describe the advantages and limitations of these paradigms and we discuss how they can synergize their positive features to better control and robustly develop organs from stem cells, toward organogenesis by design. SUMMARY The outlined possibilities to bring together tools and concepts of bioprinting and self-organization will be relevant not only to generate implantable organs, but also to dissect fundamental mechanisms of organogenesis and to test therapeutic strategies in modeled pathological settings.
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29
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Würth R, Thellung S, Corsaro A, Barbieri F, Florio T. Experimental Evidence and Clinical Implications of Pituitary Adenoma Stem Cells. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:54. [PMID: 32153500 PMCID: PMC7044184 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pituitary adenomas, accounting for 15% of diagnosed intracranial neoplasms, are usually benign and pharmacologically and surgically treatable; however, the critical location, mass effects and hormone hypersecretion sustain their significant morbidity. Approximately 35% of pituitary tumors show a less benign course since they are highly proliferative and invasive, poorly resectable, and likely recurring. The latest WHO classification of pituitary tumors includes pituitary transcription factor assessment to determine adenohypophysis cell lineages and accurate designation of adenomas, nevertheless little is known about molecular and cellular pathways which contribute to pituitary tumorigenesis. In malignant tumors the identification of cancer stem cells radically changed the concepts of both tumorigenesis and pharmacological approaches. Cancer stem cells are defined as a subset of undifferentiated transformed cells from which the bulk of cancer cells populating a tumor mass is generated. These cells are able to self-renew, promoting tumor progression and recurrence of malignant tumors, also conferring cytotoxic drug resistance. On the other hand, the existence of stem cells within benign tumors is still debated. The presence of adult stem cells in human and murine pituitaries where they sustain the high plasticity of hormone-producing cells, allowed the hypothesis that putative tumor stem cells might exist in pituitary adenomas, reinforcing the concept that the cancer stem cell model could also be applied to pituitary tumorigenesis. In the last few years, the isolation and phenotypic characterization of putative pituitary adenoma stem-like cells was performed using a wide and heterogeneous variety of experimental models and techniques, although the role of these cells in adenoma initiation and progression is still not completely definite. The assessment of possible pituitary adenoma-initiating cell population would be of extreme relevance to better understand pituitary tumor biology and to identify novel potential diagnostic markers and pharmacological targets. In this review, we summarize the most updated studies focused on the definition of pituitary adenoma stem cell phenotype and functional features, highlighting the biological processes and intracellular pathways potentially involved in driving tumor growth, relapse, and therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Würth
- Section of Pharmacology, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna and Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefano Thellung
- Section of Pharmacology, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna and Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Corsaro
- Section of Pharmacology, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna and Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Federica Barbieri
- Section of Pharmacology, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna and Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Tullio Florio
- Section of Pharmacology, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna and Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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30
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Childs GV, MacNicol AM, MacNicol MC. Molecular Mechanisms of Pituitary Cell Plasticity. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:656. [PMID: 33013715 PMCID: PMC7511515 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms that mediate plasticity in pituitary function have long been a subject of vigorous investigation. Early studies overcame technical barriers and challenged conceptual barriers to identify multipotential and multihormonal cell populations that contribute to diverse pituitary stress responses. Decades of intensive study have challenged the standard model of dedicated, cell type-specific hormone production and have revealed the malleable cellular fates that mediate pituitary responses. Ongoing studies at all levels, from animal physiology to molecular analyses, are identifying the mechanisms underlying this cellular plasticity. This review describes the findings from these studies that utilized state-of-the-art tools and techniques to identify mechanisms of plasticity throughout the pituitary and focuses on the insights brought to our understanding of pituitary function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwen V Childs
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Angus M MacNicol
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Melanie C MacNicol
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
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31
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Camilletti MA, Martinez Mayer J, Vishnopolska SA, Perez-Millan MI. From Pituitary Stem Cell Differentiation to Regenerative Medicine. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:614999. [PMID: 33542708 PMCID: PMC7851048 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.614999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The anterior pituitary gland is comprised of specialized cell-types that produce and secrete polypeptide hormones in response to hypothalamic input and feedback from target organs. These specialized cells arise during embryonic development, from stem cells that express SOX2 and the pituitary transcription factor PROP1, which is necessary to establish the stem cell pool and promote an epithelial to mesenchymal-like transition, releasing progenitors from the niche. Human and mouse embryonic stem cells can differentiate into all major hormone-producing cell types of the anterior lobe in a highly plastic and dynamic manner. More recently human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) emerged as a viable alternative due to their plasticity and high proliferative capacity. This mini-review gives an overview of the major advances that have been achieved to develop protocols to generate pituitary hormone-producing cell types from stem cells and how these mechanisms are regulated. We also discuss their application in pituitary diseases, such as pituitary hormone deficiencies.
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Mariniello K, Ruiz-Babot G, McGaugh EC, Nicholson JG, Gualtieri A, Gaston-Massuet C, Nostro MC, Guasti L. Stem Cells, Self-Renewal, and Lineage Commitment in the Endocrine System. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:772. [PMID: 31781041 PMCID: PMC6856655 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocrine system coordinates a wide array of body functions mainly through secretion of hormones and their actions on target tissues. Over the last decades, a collective effort between developmental biologists, geneticists, and stem cell biologists has generated a wealth of knowledge related to the contribution of stem/progenitor cells to both organogenesis and self-renewal of endocrine organs. This review provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the role of tissue stem cells in the development and self-renewal of endocrine organs. Pathways governing crucial steps in both development and stemness maintenance, and that are known to be frequently altered in a wide array of endocrine disorders, including cancer, are also described. Crucially, this plethora of information is being channeled into the development of potential new cell-based treatment modalities for endocrine-related illnesses, some of which have made it through clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia Mariniello
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gerard Ruiz-Babot
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Emily C. McGaugh
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James G. Nicholson
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Angelica Gualtieri
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carles Gaston-Massuet
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Cristina Nostro
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leonardo Guasti
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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