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Hu R, Chen X, Su Q, Wang Z, Wang X, Gong M, Xu M, Le R, Gao Y, Dai P, Zhang ZN, Shao L, Li W. ISR inhibition reverses pancreatic β-cell failure in Wolfram syndrome models. Cell Death Differ 2024; 31:322-334. [PMID: 38321214 PMCID: PMC10923889 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-024-01258-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic β-cell failure by WFS1 deficiency is manifested in individuals with wolfram syndrome (WS). The lack of a suitable human model in WS has impeded progress in the development of new treatments. Here, human pluripotent stem cell derived pancreatic islets (SC-islets) harboring WFS1 deficiency and mouse model of β cell specific Wfs1 knockout were applied to model β-cell failure in WS. We charted a high-resolution roadmap with single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) to investigate pathogenesis for WS β-cell failure, revealing two distinct cellular fates along pseudotime trajectory: maturation and stress branches. WFS1 deficiency disrupted β-cell fate trajectory toward maturation and directed it towards stress trajectory, ultimately leading to β-cell failure. Notably, further investigation of the stress trajectory identified activated integrated stress response (ISR) as a crucial mechanism underlying WS β-cell failure, characterized by aberrant eIF2 signaling in WFS1-deficient SC-islets, along with elevated expression of genes in regulating stress granule formation. Significantly, we demonstrated that ISRIB, an ISR inhibitor, efficiently reversed β-cell failure in WFS1-deficient SC-islets. We further validated therapeutic efficacy in vivo with β-cell specific Wfs1 knockout mice. Altogether, our study provides novel insights into WS pathogenesis and offers a strategy targeting ISR to treat WS diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Hu
- Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiangyi Chen
- Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Qiang Su
- Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zhaoyue Wang
- Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xushu Wang
- Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Mengting Gong
- Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Minglu Xu
- Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Rongrong Le
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yawei Gao
- Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Peng Dai
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zhen-Ning Zhang
- Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Li Shao
- Department of VIP Clinic, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 1800 Yuntai Road, Pudong District, Shanghai, 200123, China.
| | - Weida Li
- Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Reg-Verse Therapeutics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Shanghai, 200120, China.
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ZnT8 loss-of-function accelerates functional maturation of hESC-derived β cells and resists metabolic stress in diabetes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4142. [PMID: 35842441 PMCID: PMC9288460 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31829-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cell-derived β cells (SC-β cells) hold great promise for treatment of diabetes, yet how to achieve functional maturation and protect them against metabolic stresses such as glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity remains elusive. Our single-cell RNA-seq analysis reveals that ZnT8 loss of function (LOF) accelerates the functional maturation of SC-β cells. As a result, ZnT8 LOF improves glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) by releasing the negative feedback of zinc inhibition on insulin secretion. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ZnT8 LOF mutations endow SC-β cells with resistance to lipotoxicity/glucotoxicity-triggered cell death by alleviating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress through modulation of zinc levels. Importantly, transplantation of SC-β cells with ZnT8 LOF into mice with preexisting diabetes significantly improves glycemia restoration and glucose tolerance. These findings highlight the beneficial effect of ZnT8 LOF on the functional maturation and survival of SC-β cells that are useful as a potential source for cell replacement therapies. Immature function and fragility hinder application of hESC-derived β cells (SC-β cell) for diabetes cell therapy. Here, the authors identify ZnT8 as a gene editing target to enhance the insulin secretion and cell survival under metabolic stress by abolishing zinc transport in SC-β cells.
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Chmielowiec J, Szlachcic WJ, Yang D, Scavuzzo MA, Wamble K, Sarrion-Perdigones A, Sabek OM, Venken KJT, Borowiak M. Human pancreatic microenvironment promotes β-cell differentiation via non-canonical WNT5A/JNK and BMP signaling. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1952. [PMID: 35414140 PMCID: PMC9005503 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29646-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro derivation of pancreatic β-cells from human pluripotent stem cells holds promise as diabetes treatment. Despite recent progress, efforts to generate physiologically competent β-cells are still hindered by incomplete understanding of the microenvironment's role in β-cell development and maturation. Here, we analyze the human mesenchymal and endothelial primary cells from weeks 9-20 fetal pancreas and identify a time point-specific microenvironment that permits β-cell differentiation. Further, we uncover unique factors that guide in vitro development of endocrine progenitors, with WNT5A markedly improving human β-cell differentiation. WNT5A initially acts through the non-canonical (JNK/c-JUN) WNT signaling and cooperates with Gremlin1 to inhibit the BMP pathway during β-cell maturation. Interestingly, we also identify the endothelial-derived Endocan as a SST+ cell promoting factor. Overall, our study shows that the pancreatic microenvironment-derived factors can mimic in vivo conditions in an in vitro system to generate bona fide β-cells for translational applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta Chmielowiec
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wojciech J Szlachcic
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 6, 61-614, Poznan, Poland
| | - Diane Yang
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Marissa A Scavuzzo
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Katrina Wamble
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Alejandro Sarrion-Perdigones
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Omaima M Sabek
- Department of Surgery, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Koen J T Venken
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 6, 61-614, Poznan, Poland. .,Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Oakie A, Nostro MC. Harnessing Proliferation for the Expansion of Stem Cell-Derived Pancreatic Cells: Advantages and Limitations. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:636182. [PMID: 33716986 PMCID: PMC7947602 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.636182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Restoring the number of glucose-responsive β-cells in patients living with diabetes is critical for achieving normoglycemia since functional β-cells are lost during the progression of both type 1 and 2 diabetes. Stem cell-derived β-cell replacement therapies offer an unprecedented opportunity to replace the lost β-cell mass, yet differentiation efficiencies and the final yield of insulin-expressing β-like cells are low when using established protocols. Driving cellular proliferation at targeted points during stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitor to β-like cell differentiation can serve as unique means to expand the final cell therapeutic product needed to restore insulin levels. Numerous studies have examined the effects of β-cell replication upon functionality, using primary islets in vitro and mouse models in vivo, yet studies that focus on proliferation in stem cell-derived pancreatic models are only just emerging in the field. This mini review will discuss the current literature on cell proliferation in pancreatic cells, with a focus on the proliferative state of stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitors and β-like cells during their differentiation and maturation. The benefits of inducing proliferation to increase the final number of β-like cells will be compared against limitations associated with driving replication, such as the blunted capacity of proliferating β-like cells to maintain optimal β-cell function. Potential strategies that may bypass the challenges induced by the up-regulation of cell cycle-associated factors during β-cell differentiation will be proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Oakie
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maria Cristina Nostro
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Insulin/Glucose-Responsive Cells Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Disease Modeling and Treatment of Diabetes. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112465. [PMID: 33198288 PMCID: PMC7696367 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by dysfunction of pancreatic β-cells and insulin resistance in peripheral organs, accounts for more than 90% of all diabetes. Despite current developments of new drugs and strategies to prevent/treat diabetes, there is no ideal therapy targeting all aspects of the disease. Restoration, however, of insulin-producing β-cells, as well as insulin-responsive cells, would be a logical strategy for the treatment of diabetes. In recent years, generation of transplantable cells derived from stem cells in vitro has emerged as an important research area. Pluripotent stem cells, either embryonic or induced, are alternative and feasible sources of insulin-secreting and glucose-responsive cells. This notwithstanding, consistent generation of robust glucose/insulin-responsive cells remains challenging. In this review, we describe basic concepts of the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells and subsequent differentiation of these into pancreatic β-like cells, myotubes, as well as adipocyte- and hepatocyte-like cells. Use of these for modeling of human disease is now feasible, while development of replacement therapies requires continued efforts.
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