1
|
Ohkura T, Burns AJ, Hotta R. Updates and Challenges in ENS Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Neurointestinal Diseases. Biomolecules 2024; 14:229. [PMID: 38397466 PMCID: PMC10887039 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurointestinal diseases represent a significant challenge in clinical management with current palliative approaches failing to overcome disease and treatment-related morbidity. The recent progress with cell therapy to restore missing or defective components of the gut neuromusculature offers new hope for potential cures. This review discusses the progress that has been made in the sourcing of putative stem cells and the studies into their biology and therapeutic potential. We also explore some of the practical challenges that must be overcome before cell-based therapies can be applied in the clinical setting. Although a number of obstacles remain, the rapid advances made in the enteric neural stem cell field suggest that such therapies are on the near horizon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Ohkura
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (T.O.); (A.J.B.)
| | - Alan J. Burns
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (T.O.); (A.J.B.)
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Ryo Hotta
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (T.O.); (A.J.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Stavely R, Hotta R, Guyer RA, Picard N, Rahman AA, Omer M, Soos A, Szocs E, Mueller J, Goldstein AM, Nagy N. A distinct transcriptome characterizes neural crest-derived cells at the migratory wavefront during enteric nervous system development. Development 2023; 150:dev201090. [PMID: 36779913 PMCID: PMC10108706 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Enteric nervous system development relies on intestinal colonization by enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCDCs). This is driven by a population of highly migratory and proliferative ENCDCs at the wavefront, but the molecular characteristics of these cells are unknown. ENCDCs from the wavefront and the trailing region were isolated and subjected to RNA-seq. Wavefront-ENCDCs were transcriptionally distinct from trailing ENCDCs, and temporal modelling confirmed their relative immaturity. This population of ENCDCs exhibited altered expression of ECM and cytoskeletal genes, consistent with a migratory phenotype. Unlike trailing ENCDCs, the wavefront lacked expression of genes related to neuronal or glial maturation. As wavefront ENCDC genes were associated with migration and developmental immaturity, the genes that remain expressed in later progenitor populations may be particularly pertinent to understanding the maintenance of ENCDC progenitor characteristics. Dusp6 expression was specifically upregulated at the wavefront. Inhibiting DUSP6 activity prevented wavefront colonization of the hindgut, and inhibited the migratory ability of post-colonized ENCDCs from midgut and postnatal neurospheres. These effects were reversed by simultaneous inhibition of ERK signaling, indicating that DUSP6-mediated ERK inhibition is required for ENCDC migration in mouse and chick.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhian Stavely
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ryo Hotta
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Richard A. Guyer
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nicole Picard
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ahmed A. Rahman
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Meredith Omer
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Adam Soos
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Emoke Szocs
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Jessica Mueller
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Allan M. Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nandor Nagy
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Enteric Neural Network Assembly Was Promoted by Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Vitamin A but Inhibited by Epidermal Growth Factor. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182841. [PMID: 36139415 PMCID: PMC9496868 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Extending well beyond the original use of propagating neural precursors from the central nervous system and dorsal root ganglia, neurosphere medium (NSM) and self-renewal medium (SRM) are two distinct formulas with widespread popularity in enteric neural stem cell (ENSC) applications. However, it remains unknown what growth factors or nutrients are crucial to ENSC development, let alone whether the discrepancy in their components may affect the outcomes of ENSC culture. Dispersed enterocytes from murine fetal gut were nurtured in NSM, SRM or their modifications by selective component elimination or addition to assess their effects on ENSC development. NSM generated neuriteless neurospheres, whereas SRM, even deprived of chicken embryo extract, might wire ganglia together to assemble neural networks. The distinct outcomes came from epidermal growth factor, which inhibited enteric neuronal wiring in NSM. In contrast, basic fibroblast growth factor promoted enteric neurogenesis, gangliogenesis, and neuronal wiring. Moreover, vitamin A derivatives might facilitate neuronal maturation evidenced by p75 downregulation during ENSC differentiation toward enteric neurons to promote gangliogenesis and network assembly. Our results might help to better manipulate ENSC propagation and differentiation in vitro, and open a new avenue for the study of enteric neuronal neuritogenesis and synaptogenesis.
Collapse
|