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Farber G, Dong Y, Wang Q, Rathod M, Wang H, Dixit M, Keepers B, Xie Y, Butz K, Polacheck WJ, Liu J, Qian L. Direct conversion of cardiac fibroblasts into endothelial-like cells using Sox17 and Erg. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4170. [PMID: 38755186 PMCID: PMC11098819 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48354-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells are a heterogeneous population with various organ-specific and conserved functions that are critical to organ development, function, and regeneration. Here we report a Sox17-Erg direct reprogramming approach that uses cardiac fibroblasts to create differentiated endothelial cells that demonstrate endothelial-like molecular and physiological functions in vitro and in vivo. Injection of these induced endothelial cells into myocardial infarct sites after injury results in improved vascular perfusion of the scar region. Furthermore, we use genomic analyses to illustrate that Sox17-Erg reprogramming instructs cardiac fibroblasts toward an arterial-like identity. This results in a more efficient direct conversion of fibroblasts into endothelial-like cells when compared to traditional Etv2-based reprogramming. Overall, this Sox17-Erg direct reprogramming strategy offers a robust tool to generate endothelial cells both in vitro and in vivo, and has the potential to be used in repairing injured tissue.
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Grants
- R01 HL139880 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R01HL139880 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- P30 CA016086 NCI NIH HHS
- R35HL155656 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL139976 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- AHA20EIA35320128 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- R01 HL139976 NHLBI NIH HHS
- P30 ES010126 NIEHS NIH HHS
- AHA20EIA35310348 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- F30 HL154659 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R35 HL155656 NHLBI NIH HHS
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Farber
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yanhan Dong
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Qiaozi Wang
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Mitesh Rathod
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, NC, USA
- University of North Carolina Kidney Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Haofei Wang
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Michelle Dixit
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Benjamin Keepers
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yifang Xie
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kendall Butz
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - William J Polacheck
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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2
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Mohr ME, Li S, Trouten AM, Stairley RA, Roddy PL, Liu C, Zhang M, Sucov HM, Tao G. Cardiomyocyte-fibroblast interaction regulates ferroptosis and fibrosis after myocardial injury. iScience 2024; 27:109219. [PMID: 38469561 PMCID: PMC10926204 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Neonatal mouse hearts have transient renewal capacity, which is lost in juvenile and adult stages. In neonatal mouse hearts, myocardial infarction (MI) causes an initial loss of cardiomyocytes. However, it is unclear which type of regulated cell death (RCD) occurs in stressed cardiomyocytes. In the current studies, we induced MI in neonatal and juvenile mouse hearts and showed that ischemic cardiomyocytes primarily undergo ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic and iron-dependent form of RCD. We demonstrated that cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) protect cardiomyocytes from ferroptosis through paracrine effects and direct cell-cell interaction. CFs show strong resistance to ferroptosis due to high ferritin expression. The fibrogenic activity of CFs, typically considered detrimental to heart function, is negatively regulated by paired-like homeodomain 2 (Pitx2) signaling from cardiomyocytes. In addition, Pitx2 prevents ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes by regulating ferroptotic genes. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of cardiomyocyte survival and death can identify potentially translatable therapeutic strategies for MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E. Mohr
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Allison M. Trouten
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Stairley
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Patrick L. Roddy
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Chun Liu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Min Zhang
- Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Henry M. Sucov
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Ge Tao
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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3
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Lyra-Leite DM, Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez Ó, Wang M, Zhou Y, Cyganek L, Burridge PW. A review of protocols for human iPSC culture, cardiac differentiation, subtype-specification, maturation, and direct reprogramming. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101560. [PMID: 36035804 PMCID: PMC9405110 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The methods for the culture and cardiomyocyte differentiation of human embryonic stem cells, and later human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), have moved from a complex and uncontrolled systems to simplified and relatively robust protocols, using the knowledge and cues gathered at each step. HiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes have proven to be a useful tool in human disease modelling, drug discovery, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine. In this protocol review, we will highlight the evolution of protocols associated with hPSC culture, cardiomyocyte differentiation, sub-type specification, and cardiomyocyte maturation. We also discuss protocols for somatic cell direct reprogramming to cardiomyocyte-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi M Lyra-Leite
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Óscar Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez
- Stem Cell Unit, Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Meimei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lukas Cyganek
- Stem Cell Unit, Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paul W Burridge
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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4
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Li Z, Liu L, Wang Z. In vitro Assessment of Cardiac Reprogramming by Measuring Cardiac Specific Calcium Flux with a GCaMP3 Reporter. J Vis Exp 2022:10.3791/62643. [PMID: 35285824 PMCID: PMC10167723 DOI: 10.3791/62643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac reprogramming has become a potentially promising therapy to repair a damaged heart. By introducing multiple transcription factors, including Mef2c, Gata4, Tbx5 (MGT), fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs). These iCMs, when generated in situ in an infarcted heart, integrate electrically and mechanically with the surrounding myocardium, leading to a reduction in scar size and an improvement in heart function. Because of the relatively low reprogramming efficiency, purity, and quality of the iCMs, characterization of iCMs remains a challenge. The currently used methods in this field, including flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, and qPCR, mainly focus on cardiac-specific gene and protein expression but not on the functional maturation of iCMs. Triggered by action potentials, the opening of voltage-gated calcium channels in cardiomyocytes leads to a rapid influx of calcium into the cell. Therefore, quantifying the rate of calcium influx is a promising method to evaluate cardiomyocyte function. Here, the protocol introduces a method to evaluate iCM function by calcium (Ca2+) flux. An αMHC-Cre/Rosa26A-Flox-Stop-Flox-GCaMP3 mouse strain was established by crossing Tg(Myh6-cre)1Jmk/J (referred to as Myh6-Cre below) with Gt(ROSA)26Sortm38(CAG-GCaMP3)Hze/J (referred to as Rosa26A-Flox-Stop-Flox-GCaMP3 below) mice. Neonatal cardiac fibroblasts (NCFs) from P0-P2 neonatal mice were isolated and cultured in vitro, and a polycistronic construction of MGT was introduced to NCFs, which led to their reprogramming to iCMs. Because only successfully reprogrammed iCMs will express GCaMP3 reporter, the functional maturation of iCMs can be visually assessed by Ca2+ flux with fluorescence microscopy. Compared with un-reprogrammed NCFs, NCF-iCMs showed significant calcium transient flux and spontaneous contraction, similar to CMs. This protocol describes in detail the mouse strain establishment, isolation and selection of neonatal mice hearts, NCF isolation, production of retrovirus for cardiac reprogramming, iCM induction, the evaluation of iCM Ca2+ flux using our reporter line, and related statistical analysis and data presentation. It is expected that the methods described here will provide a valuable platform to assess the functional maturation of iCMs for cardiac reprogramming studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaokai Li
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
| | - Liu Liu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor;
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5
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Van Handel B, Wang L, Ardehali R. Environmental factors influence somatic cell reprogramming to cardiomyocyte-like cells. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 122:44-49. [PMID: 34083115 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Direct cardiac reprogramming, which refers to somatic cell (i.e. fibroblast) fate conversion to cardiomyocyte-like cell without transitioning through an intermediate pluripotent state, provides a novel therapeutic strategy for heart regeneration by converting resident cardiac fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes in situ. However, several limitations need to be addressed prior to clinical translation of this technology. They include low efficiency of reprogramming, heterogeneity of starting fibroblasts, functional immaturity of induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs), virus immunogenicity and toxicity, incomplete understanding of changes in the epigenetic landscape as fibroblasts undergo reprogramming, and the environmental factors that influence fate conversion. Several studies have demonstrated that a combination of enforced expression of cardiac transcription factors along with certain cytokines and growth factors in the presence of favorable environmental cues (including extracellular matrix, topography, and mechanical properties) enhance the efficiency and quality of direct reprogramming. This paper reviews the literature on the influence of the microenvironment on direct cardiac reprogramming in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Van Handel
- Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Lingjun Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Reza Ardehali
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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6
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Zhao H, Zhang Y, Xu X, Sun Q, Yang C, Wang H, Yang J, Yang Y, Yang X, Liu Y, Zhao Y. Sall4 and Myocd Empower Direct Cardiac Reprogramming From Adult Cardiac Fibroblasts After Injury. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:608367. [PMID: 33718351 PMCID: PMC7953844 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.608367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct conversion of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) holds promising potential to generate functional cardiomyocytes for drug development and clinical applications, especially for direct in situ heart regeneration by delivery of reprogramming genes into adult cardiac fibroblasts in injured hearts. For a decade, many cocktails of transcription factors have been developed to generate iCMs from fibroblasts of different tissues in vitro and some were applied in vivo. Here, we aimed to develop genetic cocktails that induce cardiac reprogramming directly in cultured cardiac fibroblasts isolated from adult mice with myocardial infarction (MICFs), which could be more relevant to heart diseases. We found that the widely used genetic cocktail, Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) were inefficient in reprogramming cardiomyocytes from MICFs. In a whole well of a 12-well plate, less than 10 mCherry+ cells (<0.1%) were observed after 2 weeks of GMT infection with Myh6-reporter transgenic MICFs. By screening 22 candidate transcription factors predicted through analyzing the gene regulatory network of cardiac development, we found that five factors, GMTMS (GMT plus Myocd and Sall4), induced more iCMs expressing the cardiac structural proteins cTnT and cTnI at a frequency of about 22.5 ± 2.7% of the transduced MICFs at day 21 post infection. What is more, GMTMS induced abundant beating cardiomyocytes at day 28 post infection. Specifically, Myocd contributed mainly to inducing the expression of cardiac proteins, while Sall4 accounted for the induction of functional properties, such as contractility. RNA-seq analysis of the iCMs at day 28 post infection revealed that they were reprogrammed to adopt a cardiomyocyte-like gene expression profile. Overall, we show here that Sall4 and Myocd play important roles in cardiac reprogramming from MICFs, providing a cocktail of genetic factors that have potential for further applications in in vivo cardiac reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, The Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-Nanjing Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaochan Xu
- The Center for Models of Life, Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Qiushi Sun
- Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, The Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-Nanjing Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, The Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-Nanjing Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Junbo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, The Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-Nanjing Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, The Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-Nanjing Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaochun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, The Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-Nanjing Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, The Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-Nanjing Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Plastech Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd., Nanjing, China
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7
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Direct cell reprogramming: approaches, mechanisms and progress. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2021; 22:410-424. [PMID: 33619373 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00335-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The reprogramming of somatic cells with defined factors, which converts cells from one lineage into cells of another, has greatly reshaped our traditional views on cell identity and cell fate determination. Direct reprogramming (also known as transdifferentiation) refers to cell fate conversion without transitioning through an intermediary pluripotent state. Given that the number of cell types that can be generated by direct reprogramming is rapidly increasing, it has become a promising strategy to produce functional cells for therapeutic purposes. This Review discusses the evolution of direct reprogramming from a transcription factor-based method to a small-molecule-driven approach, the recent progress in enhancing reprogrammed cell maturation, and the challenges associated with in vivo direct reprogramming for translational applications. It also describes our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying direct reprogramming, including the role of transcription factors, epigenetic modifications, non-coding RNAs, and the function of metabolic reprogramming, and highlights novel insights gained from single-cell omics studies.
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8
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Riching AS, Song K. Cardiac Regeneration: New Insights Into the Frontier of Ischemic Heart Failure Therapy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 8:637538. [PMID: 33585427 PMCID: PMC7873479 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.637538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. While pharmacological and surgical interventions developed in the late twentieth century drastically improved patient outcomes, mortality rates over the last two decades have begun to plateau. Following ischemic injury, pathological remodeling leads to cardiomyocyte loss and fibrosis leading to impaired heart function. Cardiomyocyte turnover rate in the adult heart is limited, and no clinical therapies currently exist to regenerate cardiomyocytes lost following ischemic injury. In this review, we summarize the progress of therapeutic strategies including revascularization and cell-based interventions to regenerate the heart: transiently inducing cardiomyocyte proliferation and direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes. Moreover, we highlight recent mechanistic insights governing these strategies to promote heart regeneration and identify current challenges in translating these approaches to human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Riching
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- The Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Kunhua Song
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- The Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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9
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Wang L, Ma H, Huang P, Xie Y, Near D, Wang H, Xu J, Yang Y, Xu Y, Garbutt T, Zhou Y, Liu Z, Yin C, Bressan M, Taylor JM, Liu J, Qian L. Down-regulation of Beclin1 promotes direct cardiac reprogramming. Sci Transl Med 2020; 12:eaay7856. [PMID: 33087505 PMCID: PMC8188650 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay7856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts to alternative cell fates by forced expression of transcription factors offers a platform to explore fundamental molecular events governing cell fate identity. The discovery and study of induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) not only provides alternative therapeutic strategies for heart disease but also sheds lights on basic biology underlying CM fate determination. The iCM field has primarily focused on early transcriptome and epigenome repatterning, whereas little is known about how reprogramming iCMs remodel, erase, and exit the initial fibroblast lineage to acquire final cell identity. Here, we show that autophagy-related 5 (Atg5)-dependent autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved self-digestion process, was induced and required for iCM reprogramming. Unexpectedly, the autophagic factor Beclin1 (Becn1) was found to suppress iCM induction in an autophagy-independent manner. Depletion of Becn1 resulted in improved iCM induction from both murine and human fibroblasts. In a mouse genetic model, Becn1 haploinsufficiency further enhanced reprogramming factor-mediated heart function recovery and scar size reduction after myocardial infarction. Mechanistically, loss of Becn1 up-regulated Lef1 and down-regulated Wnt inhibitors, leading to activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, Becn1 physically interacts with other classical class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K III) complex components, the knockdown of which phenocopied Becn1 depletion in cardiac reprogramming. Collectively, our study revealed an inductive role of Atg5-dependent autophagy as well as a previously unrecognized autophagy-independent inhibitory function of Becn1 in iCM reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hong Ma
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Peisen Huang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yifang Xie
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - David Near
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Haofei Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yuchen Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yangxi Xu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Tiffany Garbutt
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ziqing Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chaoying Yin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michael Bressan
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Joan M Taylor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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10
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Strategies and Challenges to Improve Cellular Programming-Based Approaches for Heart Regeneration Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207662. [PMID: 33081233 PMCID: PMC7589611 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Limited adult cardiac cell proliferation after cardiovascular disease, such as heart failure, hampers regeneration, resulting in a major loss of cardiomyocytes (CMs) at the site of injury. Recent studies in cellular reprogramming approaches have provided the opportunity to improve upon previous techniques used to regenerate damaged heart. Using these approaches, new CMs can be regenerated from differentiation of iPSCs (similar to embryonic stem cells), the direct reprogramming of fibroblasts [induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs)], or induced cardiac progenitors. Although these CMs have been shown to functionally repair infarcted heart, advancements in technology are still in the early stages of development in research laboratories. In this review, reprogramming-based approaches for generating CMs are briefly introduced and reviewed, and the challenges (including low efficiency, functional maturity, and safety issues) that hinder further translation of these approaches into a clinical setting are discussed. The creative and combined optimal methods to address these challenges are also summarized, with optimism that further investigation into tissue engineering, cardiac development signaling, and epigenetic mechanisms will help to establish methods that improve cell-reprogramming approaches for heart regeneration.
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11
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Abstract
Direct cardiac reprogramming, the conversion of fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs), is an attractive approach to heal the injured heart. Here we present a new approach to human cardiac reprogramming that utilizes a polycistronic three-factor reprogramming cocktail and one microRNA. Our protocol produces cardiac Troponin T positive human iCMs (hiCMs) at an efficiency of 40%–60%, approximately double that of previous protocols, within just 2 weeks. The resulting hiCMs display cardiomyocyte-like sarcomere structure, gene expression, and calcium oscillation. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Zhou et al. (2019). An optimized and updated protocol for human direct cardiac reprogramming Human iCMs can be generated at an efficiency of 40-60% The most minimalistic approach using one polycistronic construct and a microRNA Detailed subsections of fibroblast isolation, viral prep, and cardiac reprogramming
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany A. Garbutt
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Corresponding author
| | - Benjamin Keepers
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Corresponding author
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12
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Isoform Specific Effects of Mef2C during Direct Cardiac Reprogramming. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020268. [PMID: 31979018 PMCID: PMC7072587 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct conversion of cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) by forced expression of defined factors holds great potential for regenerative medicine by offering an alternative strategy for treatment of heart disease. Successful iCM conversion can be achieved by minimally using three transcription factors, Mef2c (M), Gata4(G), and Tbx5 (T). Despite increasing interest in iCM mechanistic studies using MGT(polycistronic construct with optimal expression of M,G and T), the reprogramming efficiency varies among different laboratories. Two main Mef2c isoforms (isoform2, Mi2 and isoform4, Mi4) are present in heart and are used separately by different labs, for iCM reprogramming. It is currently unknown if differently spliced isoform of Mef2c contributes to varied reprogramming efficiency. Here, we used Mi2 and Mi4 together with Gata4 and Tbx5 in separate vectors or polycistronic vector, to convert fibroblasts to iCMs. We found that Mi2 can induce higher reprogramming efficiency than Mi4 in MEFs. Addition of Hand2 to MGT retroviral cocktail or polycistronic Mi2-GT retroviruses further enhanced the iCM conversion. Overall, this study demonstrated the isoform specific effects of Mef2c, during iCM reprogramming, clarified some discrepancy about varied efficiency among labs and might lead to future research into the role of alternative splicing and the consequent variants in cell fate determination.
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13
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Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analyses of Cell Fate Transitions during Human Cardiac Reprogramming. Cell Stem Cell 2019; 25:149-164.e9. [PMID: 31230860 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2019.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Direct cellular reprogramming provides a powerful platform to study cell plasticity and dissect mechanisms underlying cell fate determination. Here, we report a single-cell transcriptomic study of human cardiac (hiCM) reprogramming that utilizes an analysis pipeline incorporating current data normalization methods, multiple trajectory prediction algorithms, and a cell fate index calculation we developed to measure reprogramming progression. These analyses revealed hiCM reprogramming-specific features and a decision point at which cells either embark on reprogramming or regress toward their original fibroblast state. In combination with functional screening, we found that immune-response-associated DNA methylation is required for hiCM induction and validated several downstream targets of reprogramming factors as necessary for productive hiCM reprograming. Collectively, this single-cell transcriptomics study provides detailed datasets that reveal molecular features underlying hiCM determination and rigorous analytical pipelines for predicting cell fate conversion.
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14
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Sauls K, Greco TM, Wang L, Zou M, Villasmil M, Qian L, Cristea IM, Conlon FL. Initiating Events in Direct Cardiomyocyte Reprogramming. Cell Rep 2019; 22:1913-1922. [PMID: 29444441 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCM) holds great potential for heart regeneration and disease modeling and may lead to future therapeutic applications. Currently, application of this technology is limited by our lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive direct iCM reprogramming. Using a quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach, we identified the temporal global changes in protein abundance that occur during initial phases of iCM reprogramming. Collectively, our results show systematic and temporally distinct alterations in levels of specific functional classes of proteins during the initiating steps of reprogramming including extracellular matrix proteins, translation factors, and chromatin-binding proteins. We have constructed protein relational networks associated with the initial transition of a fibroblast into an iCM. These findings demonstrate the presence of an orchestrated series of temporal steps associated with dynamic changes in protein abundance in a defined group of protein pathways during the initiating events of direct reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Sauls
- University of North Carolina McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Todd M Greco
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Li Wang
- University of North Carolina McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Meng Zou
- University of North Carolina McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Michelle Villasmil
- University of North Carolina McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- University of North Carolina McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ileana M Cristea
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Frank L Conlon
- University of North Carolina McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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15
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Guo Y, Lei I, Tian S, Gao W, Hacer K, Li Y, Wang S, Liu L, Wang Z. Chemical suppression of specific C-C chemokine signaling pathways enhances cardiac reprogramming. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:9134-9146. [PMID: 31023824 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) is a potentially promising strategy for regenerating a damaged heart. However, low fibroblast-cardiomyocyte conversion rates remain a major challenge in this reprogramming. To this end, here we conducted a chemical screen and identified four agents, insulin-like growth factor-1, Mll1 inhibitor MM589, transforming growth factor-β inhibitor A83-01, and Bmi1 inhibitor PTC-209, termed IMAP, which coordinately enhanced reprogramming efficiency. Using α-muscle heavy chain-GFP-tagged mouse embryo fibroblasts as a starting cell type, we observed that the IMAP treatment increases iCM formation 6-fold. IMAP stimulated higher cardiac troponin T and α-actinin expression and increased sarcomere formation, coinciding with up-regulated expression of many cardiac genes and down-regulated fibroblast gene expression. Furthermore, IMAP promoted higher spontaneous beating and calcium transient activities of iCMs derived from neonatal cardiac fibroblasts. Intriguingly, we also observed that the IMAP treatment repressed many genes involved in immune responses, particularly those in specific C-C chemokine signaling pathways. We therefore investigated the roles of C-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3), CCL6, and CCL17 in cardiac reprogramming and observed that they inhibited iCM formation, whereas inhibitors of C-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1), CCR4, and CCR5 had the opposite effect. These results indicated that the IMAP treatment directly suppresses specific C-C chemokine signaling pathways and thereby enhances cardiac reprogramming. In conclusion, a combination of four chemicals, named here IMAP, suppresses specific C-C chemokine signaling pathways and facilitates Mef2c/Gata4/Tbx5 (MGT)-induced cardiac reprogramming, providing a potential means for iCM formation in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Guo
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Spinal Surgery Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Ienglam Lei
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Shuo Tian
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Wenbin Gao
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Karatas Hacer
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, and.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Yangbing Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, and.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Shaomeng Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, and.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Liu Liu
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109,
| | - Zhong Wang
- From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109,
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16
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Wang H, Zhao S, Barton M, Rosengart T, Cooney AJ. Reciprocity of Action of Increasing Oct4 and Repressing p53 in Transdifferentiation of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts into Cardiac Myocytes. Cell Reprogram 2019; 20:27-37. [PMID: 29412738 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2017.0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
p53 is a barrier to somatic cell reprogramming. Deletion or transient suppression of p53 increases the efficiency of reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. Whether p53 represents an obstacle to a similar process transdifferentiation of somatic cells is unknown. However, it is predicted that inhibition of p53 would promote transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes. In this study, the effect of p53 on the capacity of cardiogenic transdifferentiation is evaluated using p53 wild-type (p53+/+), p53 heterozygous mutant (p53+/-), and p53 homozygous mutant (p53-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Repression of p53 in MEFs increases the expression level of mesoderm transcription factors Brachyury (T) and MESP1. The cardiac-specific markers, Myh6 (Myosin, Heavy Chain 6), Myh7 (Myosin, Heavy Chain 7), and cTnI (cardiac muscle troponin I), show elevated expression in p53+/- and p53-/- MEFs compared with wild-type MEFs, but cardiac muscle troponin T (cTnT) showed a lower expression level when p53 was inhibited. After induction to cardiac differentiation, cTnT expression increased and markers of endoderm and ectoderm decreased in p53+/- and p53-/- MEFs. The effect of an important reprogramming factor Oct4 on cardiac transdifferentiation was also evaluated in the allelic series of p53 MEFs. We found that overexpression of Oct4 significantly enhanced Mesp1, Tbx5, and Isl1 expression in p53+/+ and p53+/- MEFs. Oct4 also enhanced cTnT expression in all three cell lines, especially in p53+/- MEFs. Thus, inhibition of p53 expression and viral expression of Oct4 both promote transdifferentiation of MEFs into cardiomyocytes, establishing reciprocity of action in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongran Wang
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School , Austin, Texas
| | - Shuying Zhao
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School , Austin, Texas
| | - Michelle Barton
- 2 Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas
| | - Todd Rosengart
- 3 Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas
| | - Austin J Cooney
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School , Austin, Texas
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17
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Zhou Y, Wang L, Liu Z, Alimohamadi S, Yin C, Liu J, Qian L. Comparative Gene Expression Analyses Reveal Distinct Molecular Signatures between Differentially Reprogrammed Cardiomyocytes. Cell Rep 2018; 20:3014-3024. [PMID: 28954220 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs) or directly reprogrammed from non-myocytes (induced cardiomyocytes [iCMs]) are promising sources for heart regeneration or disease modeling. However, the similarities and differences between iPSC-CMs and iCMs are still unknown. Here, we performed transcriptome analyses of beating iPSC-CMs and iCMs generated from cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) of the same origin. Although both iPSC-CMs and iCMs establish CM-like molecular features globally, iPSC-CMs exhibit a relatively hyperdynamic epigenetic status, whereas iCMs exhibit a maturation status that more closely resembles that of adult CMs. Based on gene expression of metabolic enzymes, iPSC-CMs primarily employ glycolysis, whereas iCMs utilize fatty acid oxidation as the main pathway. Importantly, iPSC-CMs and iCMs exhibit different cell-cycle status, alteration of which influenced their maturation. Therefore, our study provides a foundation for understanding the pros and cons of different reprogramming approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ziqing Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sahar Alimohamadi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chaoying Yin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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18
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Direct Reprograming to Regenerate Myocardium and Repair Its Pacemaker and Conduction System. MEDICINES 2018; 5:medicines5020048. [PMID: 29867004 PMCID: PMC6023490 DOI: 10.3390/medicines5020048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The regenerative medicine field has been revolutionized by the direct conversion of one cell type to another by ectopic expression of lineage-specific transcription factors. The direct reprogramming of fibroblasts to induced cardiac myocytes (iCMs) by core cardiac transcription factors (Gata4, Mef2c, Tbx5) both in vitro and in vivo has paved the way in cardiac regeneration and repair. Several independent research groups have successfully reported the direct reprogramming of fibroblasts in injured myocardium to cardiac myocytes employing a variety of approaches that rely on transcription factors, small molecules, and micro RNAs (miRNAs). Recently, this technology has been considered for local repair of the pacemaker and the cardiac conduction system. To address this, we will first discuss the direct reprograming advancements in the setting of working myocardium regeneration, and then elaborate on how this technology can be applied to repair the cardiac pacemaker and the conduction system.
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19
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A Loss of Function Screen of Epigenetic Modifiers and Splicing Factors during Early Stage of Cardiac Reprogramming. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:3814747. [PMID: 29743891 PMCID: PMC5878887 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3814747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) to induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) is a newly emerged promising approach for cardiac regeneration, disease modeling, and drug discovery. However, its potential has been drastically limited due to the low reprogramming efficiency and largely unknown underlying molecular mechanisms. We have previously screened and identified epigenetic factors related to histone modification during iCM reprogramming. Here, we used shRNAs targeting an additional battery of epigenetic factors involved in chromatin remodeling and RNA splicing factors to further identify inhibitors and facilitators of direct cardiac reprogramming. Knockdown of RNA splicing factors Sf3a1 or Sf3b1 significantly reduced the percentage and total number of cardiac marker positive iCMs accompanied with generally repressed gene expression. Removal of another RNA splicing factor Zrsr2 promoted the acquisition of CM molecular features in CFs and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) at both protein and mRNA levels. Moreover, a consistent increase of reprogramming efficiency was observed in CFs and MEFs treated with shRNAs targeting Bcor (component of BCOR complex superfamily) or Stag2 (component of cohesin complex). Our work thus reveals several additional epigenetic and splicing factors that are either inhibitory to or required for iCM reprogramming and highlights the importance of epigenetic regulation and RNA splicing process during cell fate conversion.
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20
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Liu Z, Wang L, Welch JD, Ma H, Zhou Y, Vaseghi HR, Yu S, Wall JB, Alimohamadi S, Zheng M, Yin C, Shen W, Prins JF, Liu J, Qian L. Single-cell transcriptomics reconstructs fate conversion from fibroblast to cardiomyocyte. Nature 2017; 551:100-104. [PMID: 29072293 PMCID: PMC5954984 DOI: 10.1038/nature24454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Direct lineage conversion offers a new strategy for tissue regeneration and disease modelling. Despite recent success in directly reprogramming fibroblasts into various cell types, the precise changes that occur as fibroblasts progressively convert to the target cell fates remain unclear. The inherent heterogeneity and asynchronous nature of the reprogramming process renders it difficult to study this process using bulk genomic techniques. Here we used single-cell RNA sequencing to overcome this limitation and analysed global transcriptome changes at early stages during the reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs). Using unsupervised dimensionality reduction and clustering algorithms, we identified molecularly distinct subpopulations of cells during reprogramming. We also constructed routes of iCM formation, and delineated the relationship between cell proliferation and iCM induction. Further analysis of global gene expression changes during reprogramming revealed unexpected downregulation of factors involved in mRNA processing and splicing. Detailed functional analysis of the top candidate splicing factor, Ptbp1, revealed that it is a critical barrier for the acquisition of cardiomyocyte-specific splicing patterns in fibroblasts. Concomitantly, Ptbp1 depletion promoted cardiac transcriptome acquisition and increased iCM reprogramming efficiency. Additional quantitative analysis of our dataset revealed a strong correlation between the expression of each reprogramming factor and the progress of individual cells through the reprogramming process, and led to the discovery of new surface markers for the enrichment of iCMs. In summary, our single-cell transcriptomics approaches enabled us to reconstruct the reprogramming trajectory and to uncover intermediate cell populations, gene pathways and regulators involved in iCM induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqing Liu
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Li Wang
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Joshua D. Welch
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Hong Ma
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Yang Zhou
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Haley Ruth Vaseghi
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Shuo Yu
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Joseph Blake Wall
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Sahar Alimohamadi
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Michael Zheng
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Chaoying Yin
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Weining Shen
- Department of Statistics, University of California at Irvine
| | - Jan F. Prins
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Jiandong Liu
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Li Qian
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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21
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Liu G, Liu Q, Shen Y, Kong D, Gong Y, Tao B, Chen G, Guo S, Li J, Zuo S, Yu Y, Yin H, Zhang L, Zhou B, Funk CD, Zhang J, Yu Y. Early treatment with Resolvin E1 facilitates myocardial recovery from ischaemia in mice. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 175:1205-1216. [PMID: 28925017 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE An appropriate inflammatory response is necessary for cardiac healing after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Resolvin E1 (RvE1) is an anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution lipid mediator derived from eicosapentaenoic acid. Here we have investigated the effects of RvE1 on the recovery of cardiac function after MI in mice. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Acute MI was induced by surgical ligation of the left anterior descending artery in male C57BL/6 mice. RvE1 (5 ng·g-1 ·day-1 ; i.p.) was given to mice at different times following MI. Cardiac function was monitored by transthoracic echocardiography at days 3, 7 and 14 after MI. Effects of RvE1 on the migration of subpopulations of monocytes/macrophages (Mos/Mps, Ly6Chi and Ly6Clow ) were examined by flow cytometry and transwell assay. KEY RESULTS RvE1 administration from days 1 to 7 post-MI improved cardiac function, whereas treatment from days 7 to 14 markedly inhibited recovery of cardiac function. Early treatment with RvE1 post-MI suppressed the infiltration of dominant Ly6Chi Mos/Mps and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in injured hearts, which protected cardiomyocytes against apoptosis in the peri-infarct zones. Contrastingly, treatment with RvE1 1 week after MI decreased infiltration of Ly6Clow Mos/Mps and expression of pro-angiogenic factors in cardiac tissue, consequently reducing neovascularization in the peri-infarct zones. Additionally, RvE1 inhibited Mp migration by activating ChemR23 receptors. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Treatment with RvE1 during the initial 7 days after MI facilitated cardiac healing by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, indicating that RvE1 may serve as an early therapeutic agent for acute MI. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Spotlight on Small Molecules in Cardiovascular Diseases. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.8/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guizhu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Yujun Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Deping Kong
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Yanjun Gong
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Bo Tao
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Guilin Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Shumin Guo
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Juanjuan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shengkai Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Huiyong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Colin D Funk
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L3N6, Canada
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
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22
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Abstract
Myocardial infarction afflicts close to three quarters of a million Americans annually, resulting in reduced heart function, arrhythmia, and frequently death. Cardiomyocyte death reduces the heart’s pump capacity while the deposition of a non-conductive scar incurs the risk of arrhythmia. Direct cardiac reprogramming emerged as a novel technology to simultaneously reduce scar tissue and generate new cardiomyocytes to restore cardiac function. This technology converts endogenous cardiac fibroblasts directly into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells using a variety of cocktails including transcription factors, microRNAs, and small molecules. Although promising, direct cardiac reprogramming is still in its fledging phase, and numerous barriers have to be overcome prior to its clinical application. This review discusses current findings to optimize reprogramming efficiency, including reprogramming factor cocktails and stoichiometry, epigenetic barriers to cell fate reprogramming, incomplete conversion and residual fibroblast identity, requisite growth factors, and environmental cues. Finally, we address the current challenges and future directions for the field.
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23
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Liu L, Lei I, Karatas H, Li Y, Wang L, Gnatovskiy L, Dou Y, Wang S, Qian L, Wang Z. Targeting Mll1 H3K4 methyltransferase activity to guide cardiac lineage specific reprogramming of fibroblasts. Cell Discov 2016; 2:16036. [PMID: 27924221 PMCID: PMC5113048 DOI: 10.1038/celldisc.2016.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) directly from fibroblasts offers a great opportunity for cardiac disease modeling and cardiac regeneration. A major challenge of iCM generation is the low conversion rate. To address this issue, we attempted to identify small molecules that could potentiate the reprogramming ability towards cardiac fate by removing inhibitory roadblocks. Using mouse embryonic fibroblasts as the starting cell source, we first screened 47 cardiac development related epigenetic and transcription factors, and identified an unexpected role of H3K4 methyltransferase Mll1 and related factor Men1 in inhibiting iCM reprogramming. We then applied small molecules (MM408 and MI503) of Mll1 pathway inhibitors and observed an improved efficiency in converting embryonic fibroblasts and cardiac fibroblasts into functional cardiomyocyte-like cells. We further observed that these inhibitors directly suppressed the expression of Mll1 target gene Ebf1 involved in adipocyte differentiation. Consequently, Mll1 inhibition significantly decreased the formation of adipocytes during iCM induction. Therefore, Mll1 inhibitors likely increased iCM efficiency by suppressing alternative lineage gene expression. Our studies show that targeting Mll1 dependent H3K4 methyltransferase activity provides specificity in the process of cardiac reprogramming. These findings shed new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac conversion of fibroblasts and provide novel targets and small molecules to improve iCM reprogramming for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Liu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ienglam Lei
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Hacer Karatas
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yangbing Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; McAllister Heart Institute University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Leonid Gnatovskiy
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yali Dou
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shaomeng Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; McAllister Heart Institute University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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24
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Vaseghi HR, Yin C, Zhou Y, Wang L, Liu J, Qian L. Generation of an inducible fibroblast cell line for studying direct cardiac reprogramming. Genesis 2016; 54:398-406. [PMID: 27194122 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) through forced expression of cardiac-lineage specific transcription factors holds promise as an alternative strategy for cardiac regeneration. To facilitate research in iCM reprogramming, we generated a suite of new tools. We developed a transformed cell line derived from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF). This fibroblast cell line (MEF-T) harbors an αMHC-eGFP reporter transgene for rapid detection of newly derived iCMs. The MEF-T cell line is highly proliferative and easily transfected and transduced, making it an ideal tool for transgene expression and genetic manipulation. Additionally, we generated a Tet-On inducible polycistronic iCM reprogramming construct for the temporal regulation of reprogramming factor expression. Furthermore, we introduced this construct into MEF-T and created an inducible reprogrammable fibroblast cell line. These tools will facilitate future research in cell fate reprogramming by enabling the temporal control of reprogramming factor expression as well as high-throughput screening using libraries of small molecules, noncoding RNAs, and siRNAs. genesis 54:398-406, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley Ruth Vaseghi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Chaoying Yin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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25
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
In February 2016, The Company of Biologists hosted an intimate gathering of leading international researchers at the forefront of experimental cardiovascular regeneration, with its emphasis on ‘Transdifferentiation and Tissue Plasticity in Cardiovascular Rejuvenation’. As I review here, participants at the workshop revealed how understanding cardiac growth and lineage decisions at their most fundamental level has transformed the strategies in hand that presently energize the prospects for human heart repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Schneider
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W14 8DZ, UK
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26
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Zhou Y, Wang L, Vaseghi HR, Liu Z, Lu R, Alimohamadi S, Yin C, Fu JD, Wang GG, Liu J, Qian L. Bmi1 Is a Key Epigenetic Barrier to Direct Cardiac Reprogramming. Cell Stem Cell 2016; 18:382-95. [PMID: 26942853 PMCID: PMC4779178 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Revised: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) suffers from low efficiency and requires extensive epigenetic repatterning, although the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. To address these issues, we screened for epigenetic regulators of iCM reprogramming and found that reducing levels of the polycomb complex gene Bmi1 significantly enhanced induction of beating iCMs from neonatal and adult mouse fibroblasts. The inhibitory role of Bmi1 in iCM reprogramming is mediated through direct interactions with regulatory regions of cardiogenic genes, rather than regulation of cell proliferation. Reduced Bmi1 expression corresponded with increased levels of the active histone mark H3K4me3 and reduced levels of repressive H2AK119ub at cardiogenic loci, and de-repression of cardiogenic gene expression during iCM conversion. Furthermore, Bmi1 deletion could substitute for Gata4 during iCM reprogramming. Thus, Bmi1 acts as a critical epigenetic barrier to iCM production. Bypassing this barrier simplifies iCM generation and increases yield, potentially streamlining iCM production for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Haley Ruth Vaseghi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ziqing Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rui Lu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sahar Alimohamadi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chaoying Yin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ji-Dong Fu
- Department of Medicine, Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
| | - Greg G Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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