1
|
Vilà-González M, Pinte L, Fradique R, Causa E, Kool H, Rodrat M, Morell CM, Al-Thani M, Porter L, Guo W, Maeshima R, Hart SL, McCaughan F, Granata A, Sheppard DN, Floto RA, Rawlins EL, Cicuta P, Vallier L. In vitro platform to model the function of ionocytes in the human airway epithelium. Respir Res 2024; 25:180. [PMID: 38664797 PMCID: PMC11045446 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-024-02800-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary ionocytes have been identified in the airway epithelium as a small population of ion transporting cells expressing high levels of CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator), the gene mutated in cystic fibrosis. By providing an infinite source of airway epithelial cells (AECs), the use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) could overcome some challenges of studying ionocytes. However, the production of AEC epithelia containing ionocytes from hiPSCs has proven difficult. Here, we present a platform to produce hiPSC-derived AECs (hiPSC-AECs) including ionocytes and investigate their role in the airway epithelium. METHODS hiPSCs were differentiated into lung progenitors, which were expanded as 3D organoids and matured by air-liquid interface culture as polarised hiPSC-AEC epithelia. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we generated a hiPSCs knockout (KO) for FOXI1, a transcription factor that is essential for ionocyte specification. Differences between FOXI1 KO hiPSC-AECs and their wild-type (WT) isogenic controls were investigated by assessing gene and protein expression, epithelial composition, cilia coverage and motility, pH and transepithelial barrier properties. RESULTS Mature hiPSC-AEC epithelia contained basal cells, secretory cells, ciliated cells with motile cilia, pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) and ionocytes. There was no difference between FOXI1 WT and KO hiPSCs in terms of their capacity to differentiate into airway progenitors. However, FOXI1 KO led to mature hiPSC-AEC epithelia without ionocytes with reduced capacity to produce ciliated cells. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that ionocytes could have role beyond transepithelial ion transport by regulating epithelial properties and homeostasis in the airway epithelium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Vilà-González
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK.
- Cell Therapy and Tissue Engineering Group, Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of Balearic Islands, Palma, 07122, Spain.
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, 07120, Spain.
| | - Laetitia Pinte
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Ricardo Fradique
- Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Erika Causa
- Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Heleen Kool
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Mayuree Rodrat
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
- Center of Research and Development for Biomedical Instrumentation, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
| | - Carola Maria Morell
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, Milan, 20089, Italy
| | - Maha Al-Thani
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge, CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Linsey Porter
- Department of Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge, CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Wenrui Guo
- Department of Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge, CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Ruhina Maeshima
- Genetics and Genome Medicine Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Stephen L Hart
- Genetics and Genome Medicine Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Frank McCaughan
- Department of Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge, CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Alessandra Granata
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge, CB2 0BB, UK
| | - David N Sheppard
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - R Andres Floto
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
- Cambridge Centre for Lung Infection, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB2 0AY, UK
| | - Emma L Rawlins
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Pietro Cicuta
- Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK.
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, DE, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Ihnestraße 63-73, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nakanoh S, Kadiwala J, Pinte L, Morell CM, Lenaerts AS, Vallier L. Simultaneous depletion of RB, RBL1 and RBL2 affects endoderm differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269122. [PMID: 36413521 PMCID: PMC9681086 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
RB is a well-known cell cycle regulator controlling the G1 checkpoint. Previous reports have suggested that it can influence cell fate decisions not only by regulating cell proliferation and survival but also by interacting with transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers. However, the functional redundancy of RB family proteins (RB, RBL1 and RBL2) renders it difficult to investigate their roles during early development, especially in human. Here, we address this problem by generating human embryonic stem cells lacking RB family proteins. To achieve this goal, we first introduced frameshift mutations in RBL1 and RBL2 genes using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and then integrated the shRNA-expression cassette to knockdown RB upon tetracycline treatment. The resulting RBL1/2_dKO+RB_iKD cells remain pluripotent and efficiently differentiate into the primary germ layers in vitro even in the absence of the RB family proteins. In contrast, we observed that subsequent differentiation into foregut endoderm was impaired without the expression of RB, RBL1 and RBL2. Thus, it is suggested that RB proteins are dispensable for the maintenance and acquisition of cell identities during early development, but they are essential to generate advanced derivatives after the formation of primary germ layers. These results also indicate that our RBL1/2_dKO+RB_iKD cell lines are useful to depict the detailed molecular roles of RB family proteins in the maintenance and generation of various cell types accessible from human pluripotent stem cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shota Nakanoh
- Division of Embryology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Wellcome Trust–MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (SN); (LV)
| | - Juned Kadiwala
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Core Facility, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Laetitia Pinte
- Wellcome Trust–MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Carola Maria Morell
- Wellcome Trust–MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - An-Sofie Lenaerts
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Core Facility, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome Trust–MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (SN); (LV)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Segeritz CP, Rashid ST, de Brito MC, Serra MP, Ordonez A, Morell CM, Kaserman JE, Madrigal P, Hannan NRF, Gatto L, Tan L, Wilson AA, Lilley K, Marciniak SJ, Gooptu B, Lomas DA, Vallier L. hiPSC hepatocyte model demonstrates the role of unfolded protein response and inflammatory networks in α 1-antitrypsin deficiency. J Hepatol 2018; 69:851-860. [PMID: 29879455 PMCID: PMC6562205 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS α1-Antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the SERPINA1 gene. Individuals with the Z variant (Gly342Lys) retain polymerised protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of their hepatocytes, predisposing them to liver disease. The concomitant lack of circulating A1AT also causes lung emphysema. Greater insight into the mechanisms that link protein misfolding to liver injury will facilitate the design of novel therapies. METHODS Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived hepatocytes provide a novel approach to interrogate the molecular mechanisms of A1ATD because of their patient-specific genetic architecture and reflection of human physiology. To that end, we utilised patient-specific hiPSC hepatocyte-like cells (ZZ-HLCs) derived from an A1ATD (ZZ) patient, which faithfully recapitulated key aspects of the disease at the molecular and cellular level. Subsequent functional and "omics" comparisons of these cells with their genetically corrected isogenic-line (RR-HLCs) and primary hepatocytes/human tissue enabled identification of new molecular markers and disease signatures. RESULTS Our studies showed that abnormal A1AT polymer processing (immobilised ER components, reduced luminal protein mobility and disrupted ER cisternae) occurred heterogeneously within hepatocyte populations and was associated with disrupted mitochondrial structure, presence of the oncogenic protein AKR1B10 and two upregulated molecular clusters centred on members of inflammatory (IL-18 and Caspase-4) and unfolded protein response (Calnexin and Calreticulin) pathways. These results were validated in a second patient-specific hiPSC line. CONCLUSIONS Our data identified novel pathways that potentially link the expression of Z A1AT polymers to liver disease. These findings could help pave the way towards identification of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of A1ATD. LAY SUMMARY This study compared the gene expression and protein profiles of healthy liver cells and those affected by the inherited disease α1-antitrypsin deficiency. This approach identified specific factors primarily present in diseased samples which could provide new targets for drug development. This study also demonstrates the interest of using hepatic cells generated from human-induced pluripotent stem cells to model liver disease in vitro for uncovering new mechanisms with clinical relevance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charis-Patricia Segeritz
- Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, UK; Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Sheikh Tamir Rashid
- Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, UK; Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, UK; Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine & Institute for Liver Studies, King's College London, UK.
| | - Miguel Cardoso de Brito
- Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria Paola Serra
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine & Institute for Liver Studies, King's College London, UK
| | - Adriana Ordonez
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Carola Maria Morell
- Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Joseph E Kaserman
- Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM) of Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Pedro Madrigal
- Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicholas R F Hannan
- Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Laurent Gatto
- Cambridge Centre for Proteomics, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Building O, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Lu Tan
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrew A Wilson
- Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM) of Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Kathryn Lilley
- Cambridge Centre for Proteomics, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Building O, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | | | - Bibek Gooptu
- NIHR Leicester BRC-Respiratory and Leicester Institute of Structural & Chemical Biology, University of Leicester, UK; ISMB/Birkbeck & UCL, University of London, UK; Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London, UK
| | | | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, UK; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus Hinxton, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Locatelli L, Cadamuro M, Spirli C, Fiorotto R, Lecchi S, Morell CM, Popov Y, Scirpo R, De Matteis M, Amenduni M, Pietrobattista A, Torre G, Schuppan D, Fabris L, Strazzabosco M. Macrophage recruitment by fibrocystin-defective biliary epithelial cells promotes portal fibrosis in congenital hepatic fibrosis. Hepatology 2016; 63:965-82. [PMID: 26645994 PMCID: PMC4764460 DOI: 10.1002/hep.28382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is a disease of the biliary epithelium characterized by bile duct changes resembling ductal plate malformations and by progressive peribiliary fibrosis, in the absence of overt necroinflammation. Progressive liver fibrosis leads to portal hypertension and liver failure; however, the mechanisms leading to fibrosis in CHF remain elusive. CHF is caused by mutations in PKHD1, a gene encoding for fibrocystin, a ciliary protein expressed in cholangiocytes. Using a fibrocystin-defective (Pkhd1(del4/del4)) mouse, which is orthologous of CHF, we show that Pkhd1(del4/del4) cholangiocytes are characterized by a β-catenin-dependent secretion of a range of chemokines, including chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligands 1, 10, and 12, which stimulate bone marrow-derived macrophage recruitment. We also show that Pkhd1(del4/del4) cholangiocytes, in turn, respond to proinflammatory cytokines released by macrophages by up-regulating αvβ6 integrin, an activator of latent local transforming growth factor-β1. While the macrophage infiltrate is initially dominated by the M1 phenotype, the profibrogenic M2 phenotype increases with disease progression, along with the number of portal myofibroblasts. Consistent with these findings, clodronate-induced macrophage depletion results in a significant reduction of portal fibrosis and portal hypertension as well as of liver cysts. CONCLUSION Fibrosis can be initiated by an epithelial cell dysfunction, leading to low-grade inflammation, macrophage recruitment, and collagen deposition; these findings establish a new paradigm for biliary fibrosis and represent a model to understand the relationship between cell dysfunction, parainflammation, liver fibrosis, and macrophage polarization over time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Locatelli
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Cadamuro
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua School of Medicine, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Carlo Spirli
- Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Romina Fiorotto
- Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Silvia Lecchi
- Center for Liver Research (CeLiveR), Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, 24121, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Carola Maria Morell
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Yury Popov
- Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Roberto Scirpo
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria De Matteis
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua School of Medicine, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | | | | | - Giuliano Torre
- Liver Unit, Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital, IRCSS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Institute of Translational Immunology, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55122, Mainz, Germany
| | - Luca Fabris
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua School of Medicine, 35121, Padua, Italy,Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA,Correspondence. Luca Fabris M.D., Ph.D., Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova School of Medicine, Viale G. Colombo, 3; 35131 Padova, Italy, Phone: +39 049 827 6127; Fax: +39 049 807 3310, ;
| | - Mario Strazzabosco
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy,Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Notch signaling is a crucial determinant of cell fate decision during development and disease in several organs. Notch effects are strictly dependent on the cellular context in which it is activated. In the liver, Notch signaling is involved in biliary tree development and tubulogenesis. Recent advances have shed light on Notch as a critical player in liver regeneration and repair, as well as in liver metabolism and inflammation and cancer. Notch signaling is finely regulated at several levels. The complexity of the pathway provides several possible targets for development of therapeutic agents able to inhibit Notch. Recent reports have shown that persistent activation of Notch signaling is associated with liver malignancies, particularly hepatocellular with stem cell features and cholangiocarcinoma. These novel findings suggest that interfering with the aberrant activation of the Notch pathway may have therapeutic relevance. However, further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms regulating physiologic and pathologic Notch activation in the adult liver, to better understand the mechanistic role(s) of Notch in liver diseases and to develop safe and specific therapeutic agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carola Maria Morell
- Department of Surgery and Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Strazzabosco
- Department of Surgery and Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy; Liver Center & Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Morell CM, Fiorotto R, Fabris L, Strazzabosco M. Notch signalling beyond liver development: emerging concepts in liver repair and oncogenesis. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2013; 37:447-54. [PMID: 23806629 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2013.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Revised: 05/01/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Notch signalling is an evolutionarily conserved intercellular pathway involved in many aspects of development and tissue renewal in several organs. The importance of Notch signalling in liver development and morphogenesis is well established. However, the post-natal role of Notch in liver repair/regeneration is only now beginning to be unveiled. Despite the simplicity of the pathway activation, a fine spatial-temporal regulation of Notch signalling is required to avoid pathologic effects. This review highlights recent advances in the field indicating that Notch signalling is involved in the reparative morphogenesis of the biliary tree and in liver carcinogenesis. Defective Notch signalling leads to impaired ability of the liver to repair liver damage, while excessive activation may be involved in liver cancer. Even though much remains to be understood about these mechanisms, including the cross-talk between Notch signalling and other liver morphogens, current evidence suggests that the modulation of the Notch pathway may represent a therapeutic target in chronic liver disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carola Maria Morell
- Department of Surgery and Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|