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Naito C, Kosar K, Kishimoto E, Pena L, Huang Y, Hao K, Bernieh A, Kasten J, Villa C, Kishnani P, Deeksha B, Gu M, Asai A. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) modeling validates reduced GBE1 enzyme activity due to a novel variant, p.Ile694Asn, found in a patient with suspected glycogen storage disease IV. Mol Genet Metab Rep 2024; 39:101069. [PMID: 38516405 PMCID: PMC10955421 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2024.101069] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Glycogen Storage disease type 4 (GSD4), a rare disease caused by glycogen branching enzyme 1 (GBE1) deficiency, affects multiple organ systems including the muscles, liver, heart, and central nervous system. Here we report a GSD4 patient, who presented with severe hepatosplenomegaly and cardiac ventricular hypertrophy. GBE1 sequencing identified two variants: a known pathogenic missense variant, c.1544G>A (p.Arg515His), and a missense variant of unknown significance (VUS), c.2081T>A (p. Ile694Asn). As a liver transplant alone can exacerbate heart dysfunction in GSD4 patients, a precise diagnosis is essential for liver transplant indication. To characterize the disease-causing variant, we modeled patient-specific GBE1 deficiency using CRISPR/Cas9 genome-edited induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Methods iPSCs from a healthy donor (iPSC-WT) were genome-edited by CRISPR/Cas9 to induce homozygous p.Ile694Asn in GBE1 (iPSC-GBE1-I694N) and differentiated into hepatocytes (iHep) or cardiomyocytes (iCM). GBE1 enzyme activity was measured, and PAS-D staining was performed to analyze polyglucosan deposition in these cells. Results iPSCGBE1-I694N differentiated into iHep and iCM exhibited reduced GBE1 protein level and enzyme activity in both cell types compared to iPSCwt. Both iHepGBE1-I694N and iCMGBE1-I694N showed polyglucosan deposits correlating to the histologic patterns of the patient's biopsies. Conclusions iPSC-based disease modeling supported a loss of function effect of p.Ile694Asn in GBE1. The modeling of GBE1 enzyme deficiency in iHep and iCM cell lines had multi-organ findings, demonstrating iPSC-based modeling usefulness in elucidating the effects of novel VUS in ultra-rare diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chie Naito
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Karis Kosar
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Eriko Kishimoto
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Loren Pena
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Yilun Huang
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kaili Hao
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Anas Bernieh
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jennifer Kasten
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Chet Villa
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Priya Kishnani
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Bali Deeksha
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mingxia Gu
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Akihiro Asai
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Wei H, Li F, Xue T, Wang H, Ju E, Li M, Tao Y. MicroRNA-122-functionalized DNA tetrahedron stimulate hepatic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells for acute liver failure therapy. Bioact Mater 2023; 28:50-60. [PMID: 37214257 PMCID: PMC10199164 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
As the most abundant liver-specific microRNA, microRNA-122 (miR122) played a crucial role in the differentiation of stem cells into hepatocytes. However, highly efficient miR122 delivery still confronts challenges including poor cellular uptake and easy biodegradation. Herein, we for the first time demonstrated that the tetrahedral DNA (TDN) nanoplatform had great potential in inducing the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into functional hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) by transferring the liver-specific miR122 to hMSCs efficiently without any extrinsic factors. As compared with miR122, miR122-functionalized TDN (TDN-miR122) could significantly up-regulate the protein expression levels of mature hepatocyte markers and hepatocyte-specific marker genes in hMSCs, indicating that TDN-miR122 could particularly activate the hepatocyte-specific properties of hMSCs for developing cell-based therapies in vitro. The transcriptomic analysis further indicated the potential mechanism that TDN-miR122 assisted hMSCs differentiated into functional HLCs. The TDN-miR122-hMSCs exhibited hepatic cell morphology phenotype, significantly up-regulated specific hepatocyte genes and hepatic biofunctions in comparison with the undifferentiated MSCs. Preclinical in vivo transplantation appeared that TDN-miR122-hMSCs in combination with or without TDN could efficiently rescue acute liver failure injury through hepatocyte function supplement, anti-apoptosis, cellular proliferation promotion, and anti-inflammatory. Collectively, our findings may provide a new and facile approach for hepatic differentiation of hMSCs for acute liver failure therapy. Further large animal model explorations are needed to study their potential in clinical translation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Wei
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Fenfang Li
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Tiantian Xue
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Haixia Wang
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Enguo Ju
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Mingqiang Li
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yu Tao
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, 510630, China
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Gao X, Yourick JJ, Sprando RL. Toxicological applications of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells: an updated review. J Toxicol Sci 2023; 48:441-456. [PMID: 37532578 DOI: 10.2131/jts.48.441] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Variability in supply, paucity of donors and cellular instability under in vitro conditions have limited the application of primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) to hepatotoxicity testing. Therefore, alternative sources have been sought for functional liver cells. Many of the earlier in vitro hepatotoxicity studies were carried out using hepatoma-derived cell lines. These cell lines have overcome some of the limitations of PHHs with regard to phenotypic stability and availability; however, they suffer from their own inherent limitations, such as the lack of drug-metabolizing functionality, which renders them inadequate for situations where toxic metabolite formation of the parent drug occurs. In the last decade we have witnessed a burgeoning interest of the research community in using hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as in vitro hepatotoxicity models. HLCs offer the perspective of a defined and renewable supply of functional hepatocytes; more importantly, HLCs maintain their original donor genotype and afford donor diversity, thus opening new avenues to patient-specific toxicity testing. In this review, we first introduce various in vitro hepatotoxicity models, then focus on HLCs and their application in hepatotoxicity studies, and finally offer some perspectives on future developments of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiugong Gao
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Yourick
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USA
| | - Robert L Sprando
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USA
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Kumar S, Curran JE, Williams-Blangero S, Blangero J. Efficient Generation of Functional Hepatocytes from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Disease Modeling and Disease Gene Discovery. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2549:85-101. [PMID: 33772461 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2021_375] [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] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
In vitro hepatocyte cell models are being used to study the pathogenesis of liver disease and in the discovery and preclinical stages of drug development. The culture of hepatic cell lines and primary hepatocytes as in vitro cell models has been carried out for several decades. However, hepatic cell lines (hepatic carcinoma generated or immortalized) have limited accuracy when recapitulating complex physiological functions of the liver. Additionally, primary hepatocytes sourced from human cadavers or medical biopsies are difficult to obtain due to sourcing limitations, particularly for large-scale population studies or in applications requiring large number of cells. Hepatocyte cultures differentiated from human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) overcome in large part the limitations of traditional hepatocyte in vitro models. In this chapter, we described an efficient protocol routinely used in our laboratory to differentiate human iPSCs into functional hepatocyte cultures for in vitro modeling of liver function and disease. The protocol uses a three-stage differentiation strategy to generate functional hepatocytes from human iPSCs. The differentiated cells show characteristic hepatocyte morphology including flat and polygonal shape, distinct round nuclei, and presence of biliary canaliculi and they express hepatic markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), albumin (ALB), E-cadherin (CHD1), hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α), and actin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satish Kumar
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX, USA.
| | - Joanne E Curran
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | - Sarah Williams-Blangero
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX, USA
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | - John Blangero
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX, USA
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Cheng W, Zhang Y, Liu M. Identification of Subtypes of HCC Using Bioinformatics and the Hepatocyte Differentiation Model. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2544:253-258. [PMID: 36125724 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2557-6_18] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The developmental signaling is closely associated with tumor aggressiveness. Subclassification of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from the developmental aspect may help understand the cellular origins of liver cancer, and further assist clinical practice. Here, we establish an in vitro hepatocyte differentiation model to induce human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) differentiation through progressive steps from uncommitted endoderm patterning to the multipotent liver progenitors, and finally differentiate into mature hepatocytes. The gene expression patterns and dynamic changes during hepatocyte differentiation could be monitored through RNA-sequencing of cells at different developmental stages. Hierarchical clustering analysis and topological data analysis could be used to generate and distinguish different subtypes of HCCs according to the gene expression signatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cheng
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Liu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Fatima A, Malick TS, Khan I, Ishaque A, Salim A. Effect of glycyrrhizic acid and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid on the differentiation of human umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes. World J Stem Cells 2021; 13:1580-1594. [PMID: 34786159 PMCID: PMC8567450 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i10.1580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND End-stage liver disease is a global health complication with high prevalence and limited treatment options. Cell-based therapies using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) emerged as an alternative approach to support hepatic regeneration. In vitro preconditioning strategies have been employed to strengthen the regenerative and differentiation potential of MSCs towards hepatic lineage. Chemical compounds of the triterpene class; glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GT) possess diverse therapeutic properties including hepato-protection and anti-fibrosis characteristics. They are capable of modulating several signaling pathways that are crucial in hepatic regeneration. Preconditioning with hepato-protective triterpenes may stimulate MSC fate transition towards hepatocytes.
AIM To explore the effect of GA and GT on hepatic differentiation of human umbilical cord-MSCs (hUC-MSCs).
METHODS hUC-MSCs were isolated and characterized phenotypically by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry for the expression of MSC-associated surface molecules. Isolated cells were treated with GA, GT, and their combination for 24 h and then analyzed at three time points; day 7, 14, and 21. qRT-PCR was performed for the expression of hepatic genes. Expression of hepatic proteins was analyzed by immunocytochemistry at day 21. Periodic acid Schiff staining was performed to determine the functional ability of treated cells.
RESULTS The fusiform-shaped morphology of MSCs in the treatment groups in comparison with the untreated control, eventually progressed towards the polygonal morphology of hepatocytes with the passage of time. The temporal transcriptional profile of preconditioned MSCs displayed significant expression of hepatic genes with increasing time of differentiation. Preconditioned cells showed positive expression of hepatocyte-specific proteins. The results were further corroborated by positive periodic acid Schiff staining, indicating the presence of glycogen in their cytoplasm. Moreover, bi-nucleated cells, which is the typical feature of hepatocytes, were also seen in the preconditioned cells.
CONCLUSION Preconditioning with glycyrrhizic acid, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid and their combination, successfully differentiates hUC-MSCs into hepatic-like cells. These MSCs may serve as a better therapeutic option for degenerative liver diseases in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiha Fatima
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, ICCBS, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Tuba Shakil Malick
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, ICCBS, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Irfan Khan
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, ICCBS, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Aisha Ishaque
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, ICCBS, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Asmat Salim
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, ICCBS, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Sindh, Pakistan
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Luo S, Ai Y, Xiao S, Wang B, Wang Y. Functional hit 1 (FH1)-based rapid and efficient generation of functional hepatocytes from human mesenchymal stem cells: a novel strategy for hepatic differentiation. Ann Transl Med 2021; 9:1087. [PMID: 34422999 PMCID: PMC8339809 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-2829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Because the liver is central to the physiology of the body, primary hepatocytes are widely used in liver pathology and physiological research, such as liver drug screening, bioartificial liver support system, and cell therapy for liver diseases. However, the source of primary hepatocytes is limited. We describe a novel non-transgenic protocol that facilitates the rapid generation of hepatocyte-like cells from human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs), providing a new source of functional hepatocytes. Methods In this study, we used hUC-MSCs and human induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) to investigate the new induction strategy. Passage 3 MSCs were induced into hepatocyte-like cells using small-molecule compounds combined with cell factors in vitro. Functional hit 1 (FH1), a promising small molecule compound was achieved to replace HGF in the hepatocyte maturation stage to induce the hepatocyte-like cells differentiation. Results We rapidly induced hUC-MSCs and human iMSCs into hepatocyte-like cells within 10 days in vitro, and the cells were morphologically similarly to both hepatocytes derived from the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-based method and the primary hepatocytes. They expressed mature hepatocyte special genes and achieved functions such as glycogen storage, albumin expression, urea secretion, cytochrome P450 activity, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake, and indocyanine green (ICG) uptake. Conclusions We successfully established a small-molecule protocol without using HGF to differentiate MSCs into hepatocyte-like cells, which provides a rapid and cost-effective platform for in vitro studies of liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuai Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ben Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yefu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Rivas M, Aguiar T, Fernandes G, Lemes R, Caires-Júnior L, Goulart E, Telles-Silva K, Maschietto M, Cypriano M, de Toledo S, Carraro D, da Cunha I, da Costa C, Rosenberg C, Krepischi A. DNA methylation as a key epigenetic player for hepatoblastoma characterization. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2021; 45:101684. [PMID: 33852955 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2021.101684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatoblastoma (HB) is a rare embryonal liver tumor of children. Although intrinsic biological differences between tumors can affect prognosis, few groups have studied these differences. Given the recent increased attention to epigenetic mechanisms in the genesis and progression of these tumors, we aimed to classify HB samples according to the stages of liver development and DNA methylation machinery. BASIC PROCEDURES We evaluated the expression of 24 genes associated with DNA methylation and stages of hepatocyte differentiation and global DNA methylation. Using bioinformatics tools and expression data, we propose a stratification model for HB. MAIN FINDINGS Tumors clustered into three groups that presented specific gene expression profiles of the panel of DNA methylation enzymes and hepatocyte differentiation markers. In addition to reinforcing these embryonal tumors' molecular heterogeneity, we propose that a panel of 13 genes can stratify HBs (TET1, TET2, TET3, DNMT1, DNMT3A, UHRF1, ALB, CYP3A4, TDO2, UGT1A1, AFP, HNF4A, and FOXA2). DNA methylation machinery participates in the characterization of HBs, directly reflected in diverse DNA methylation content. The data suggested that a subset of HBs were similar to differentiated livers, with upregulation of mature hepatocyte markers, decreased expression of DNA methylation enzymes, and higher global methylation levels; these findings might predict worse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS HBs are heterogeneous tumors. Despite using a small cohort of 21 HB samples, our findings reinforce that DNA methylation is a robust biomarker for this tumor type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rivas
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Talita Aguiar
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Urology - NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Gustavo Fernandes
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Renan Lemes
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luiz Caires-Júnior
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ernesto Goulart
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Kayque Telles-Silva
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Monica Cypriano
- Department of Pediatrics, Adolescent and Child with Cancer Support Group (GRAACC), Federal University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvia de Toledo
- Department of Pediatrics, Adolescent and Child with Cancer Support Group (GRAACC), Federal University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Dirce Carraro
- International Center for Research, A. C. Camargo Cancer Center, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Cecilia da Costa
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, A. C. Camargo Cancer Center, SP, Brazil
| | - Carla Rosenberg
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Krepischi
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Graffmann N, Ncube A, Martins S, Fiszl AR, Reuther P, Bohndorf M, Wruck W, Beller M, Czekelius C, Adjaye J. A stem cell based in vitro model of NAFLD enables the analysis of patient specific individual metabolic adaptations in response to a high fat diet and AdipoRon interference. Biol Open 2021; 10:bio.054189. [PMID: 33372064 PMCID: PMC7860118 DOI: 10.1242/bio.054189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multifactorial disease. Its development and progression depend on genetically predisposed susceptibility of the patient towards several ‘hits’ that induce fat storage first and later inflammation and fibrosis. Here, we differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from four distinct donors with varying disease stages into hepatocyte like cells (HLCs) and determined fat storage as well as metabolic adaptations after stimulations with oleic acid. We could recapitulate the complex networks that control lipid and glucose metabolism and we identified distinct gene expression profiles related to the steatosis phenotype of the donor. In an attempt to reverse the steatotic phenotype, cells were treated with the small molecule AdipoRon, a synthetic analogue of adiponectin. Although the responses varied between cells lines, they suggest a general influence of AdipoRon on metabolism, transport, immune system, cell stress and signalling. Summary: A stem cell based in vitro model of NAFLD recapitulates regulatory networks and suggests a steatosis associated phenotype. AdipoRon treatment influences metabolism, immune system, cell stress and signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Graffmann
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical faculty, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Audrey Ncube
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical faculty, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Soraia Martins
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical faculty, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Aurelian Robert Fiszl
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical faculty, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp Reuther
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Martina Bohndorf
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical faculty, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wasco Wruck
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical faculty, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mathias Beller
- Institute for Mathematical Modeling of Biological Systems, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Systems Biology of Lipid Metabolism, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Constantin Czekelius
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - James Adjaye
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical faculty, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Gao X, Li R, Cahan P, Zhao Y, Yourick JJ, Sprando RL. Hepatocyte-like cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells using small molecules: implications of a transcriptomic study. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:393. [PMID: 32917265 PMCID: PMC7488531 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-01914-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise in toxicological applications as well as in regenerative medicine. Previous efforts on hepatocyte differentiation have mostly relied on the use of growth factors (GFs) to recapitulate developmental signals under in vitro conditions. Recently, the use of small molecules (SMs) has emerged as an attractive tool to induce cell fate transition due to its superiority in terms of both quality and cost. However, HLCs derived using SMs have not been well characterized, especially on the transcriptome level. Methods HLCs were differentiated from human iPSCs using a protocol that only involves SMs and characterized by transcriptomic analysis using whole genome microarrays. Results HLCs derived using the SM protocol (HLC_SM) displayed specific hepatic marker expression and demonstrated key hepatic functions. Transcriptomic analysis of the SM-driven differentiation defined a hepatocyte differentiation track and characterized the expression of some key marker genes in major stages of hepatocyte differentiation. In addition, HLC_SM were scored with CellNet, a bioinformatics tool quantifying how closely engineered cell populations resemble their target cell type, and compared to primary human hepatocytes (PHHs), adult liver tissue, fetal liver tissue, HLCs differentiated using GFs (HLC_GF), and commercially available HLCs. Similar to HLC_GF, HLC_SM displayed a mixed phenotype of fetal and adult hepatocytes and had relatively low expression of metabolic enzymes, transporters, and nuclear receptors compared to PHHs. Finally, the differentially expressed genes in HLC_SM compared to HLC_GF and to PHHs were analyzed to identify pathways and upstream transcription regulators which could potentially be manipulated to improve the differentiation of HLCs. Conclusions Overall, the present study demonstrated the usefulness of the SM-based hepatocyte differentiation method, offered new insights into the molecular basis of hepatogenesis and associated gene regulation, and suggested ways for further improvements in hepatocyte differentiation in order to obtain more mature HLCs that could be used in toxicological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiugong Gao
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, 20708, USA.
| | - Rong Li
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, 20708, USA
| | - Patrick Cahan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yang Zhao
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, 20708, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Yourick
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, 20708, USA
| | - Robert L Sprando
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, 20708, USA
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11
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Blackford SJ, Ng SS, Segal JM, King AJ, Austin AL, Kent D, Moore J, Sheldon M, Ilic D, Dhawan A, Mitry RR, Rashid ST. Validation of Current Good Manufacturing Practice Compliant Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocytes for Cell-Based Therapy. Stem Cells Transl Med 2019; 8:124-137. [PMID: 30456803 PMCID: PMC6344902 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.18-0084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in the production of hepatocytes from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-Heps) afford tremendous possibilities for treatment of patients with liver disease. Validated current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) lines are an essential prerequisite for such applications but have only recently been established. Whether such cGMP lines are capable of hepatic differentiation is not known. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the proficiency of three recently derived cGMP lines (two hiPSC and one hESC) to differentiate into hepatocytes and their suitability for therapy. hPSC-Heps generated using a chemically defined four-step hepatic differentiation protocol uniformly demonstrated highly reproducible phenotypes and functionality. Seeding into a 3D poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate fabricated inverted colloid crystal scaffold converted these immature progenitors into more advanced hepatic tissue structures. Hepatic constructs could also be successfully encapsulated into the immune-privileged material alginate and remained viable as well as functional upon transplantation into immune competent mice. This is the first report we are aware of demonstrating cGMP-compliant hPSCs can generate cells with advanced hepatic function potentially suitable for future therapeutic applications. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2019;8:124&14.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J.I. Blackford
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Soon Seng Ng
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Joe M. Segal
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Aileen J.F. King
- Diabetes Research GroupFaculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Amazon L. Austin
- Diabetes Research GroupFaculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Deniz Kent
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Moore
- RUCDR Infinite BiologicsRutgers UniversityNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Michael Sheldon
- RUCDR Infinite BiologicsRutgers UniversityNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Dusko Ilic
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Women and Children's HealthFaculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Anil Dhawan
- Institute for Liver StudiesKing's College Hospital, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Ragai R. Mitry
- Institute for Liver StudiesKing's College Hospital, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - S. Tamir Rashid
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Institute for Liver StudiesKing's College Hospital, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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12
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. More than 80% of HCCs arise within chronic liver disease resulting from viral hepatitis, alcohol, hemochromatosis, obesity and metabolic syndrome or genotoxins. Projections based on Western lifestyle and its metabolic consequences anticipate a further increase in incidence, despite recent breakthroughs in the management of viral hepatitis. HCCs display high heterogeneity of molecular phenotypes, which challenges clinical management. However, emerging molecular classifications of HCCs have not yet formed a unified corpus translatable to the clinical practice. Thus, patient management is currently based upon tumor number, size, vascular invasion, performance status and functional liver reserve. Nonetheless, an impressive body of molecular evidence emerged within the last 20 years and is becoming increasingly available to medical practitioners and researchers in the form of repositories. Therefore, the aim this work is to review molecular data underlying HCC classifications and to organize this corpus into the major dimensions explaining HCC phenotypic diversity. Major efforts have been recently made worldwide toward a unifying “clinically-friendly” molecular landscape. As a result, a consensus emerges on three major dimensions explaining the HCC heterogeneity. In the first dimension, tumor cell proliferation and differentiation enabled allocation of HCCs to two major classes presenting profoundly different clinical aggressiveness. In the second dimension, HCC microenvironment and tumor immunity underlie recent therapeutic breakthroughs prolonging patients’ survival. In the third dimension, metabolic reprogramming, with the recent emergence of subclass-specific metabolic profiles, may lead to adaptive and combined therapeutic approaches. Therefore, here we review recent molecular evidence, their impact on tumor histopathological features and clinical behavior and highlight the remaining challenges to translate our cognitive corpus into patient diagnosis and allocation to therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Désert
- Institut NuMeCan, Université de Rennes 1, Institut national de la recherche agronomique (INRA), Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Rennes F-35000, France
- Department of Pathology, Department of Medicine (Gastroenterology and Hepatology), University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Natalia Nieto
- Department of Pathology, Department of Medicine (Gastroenterology and Hepatology), University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Orlando Musso
- Institut NuMeCan, Université de Rennes 1, Institut national de la recherche agronomique (INRA), Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Rennes F-35000, France
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13
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van Wenum M, Adam AAA, van der Mark VA, Chang JC, Wildenberg ME, Hendriks EJ, Jongejan A, Moerland PD, van Gulik TM, Oude Elferink RP, Chamuleau RAFM, Hoekstra R. Oxygen drives hepatocyte differentiation and phenotype stability in liver cell lines. J Cell Commun Signal 2018; 12:575-588. [PMID: 29399736 PMCID: PMC6039343 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-018-0456-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The in vitro generation of terminally differentiated hepatocytes is an unmet need. We investigated the contribution of oxygen concentration to differentiation in human liver cell lines HepaRG and C3A. HepaRG cells were cultured under hypoxia (5%O2), normoxia (21%O2) or hyperoxia (40%O2). Cultures were analysed for hepatic functions, gene transcript levels, and protein expression of albumin, hepatic transcription factor CEBPα, hepatic progenitor marker SOX9, and hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)1α. C3A cells were analysed after exposure to normoxia or hyperoxia. In hyperoxic HepaRG cultures, urea cycle activity, bile acid synthesis, CytochromeP450 3A4 (CYP3A4) activity and ammonia elimination were 165-266% increased. These effects were reproduced in C3A cells. Whole transcriptome analysis of HepaRG cells revealed that 240 (of 23.223) probes were differentially expressed under hyperoxia, with an overrepresentation of genes involved in hepatic differentiation, metabolism and extracellular signalling. Under hypoxia, CYP3A4 activity and ammonia elimination were inhibited almost completely and 5/5 tested hepatic genes and 2/3 tested hepatic transcription factor genes were downregulated. Protein expression of SOX9 and HIF1α was strongly positive in hypoxic cultures, variable in normoxic cultures and predominantly negative in hyperoxic cultures. Conversely, albumin and CEBPα expression were highest in hyperoxic cultures. HepaRG cells that were serially passaged under hypoxia maintained their capacity to differentiate under normoxia, in contrast to cells passaged under normoxia. Hyperoxia increases hepatocyte differentiation in HepaRG and C3A cells. In contrast, hypoxia maintains stem cell characteristics and inhibits hepatic differentiation of HepaRG cells, possibly through the activity of HIF1α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martien van Wenum
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105BK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aziza A A Adam
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105BK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent A van der Mark
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105BK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jung-Chin Chang
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105BK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Manon E Wildenberg
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105BK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik J Hendriks
- Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aldo Jongejan
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Perry D Moerland
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas M van Gulik
- Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald P Oude Elferink
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105BK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert A F M Chamuleau
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105BK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ruurdtje Hoekstra
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105BK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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14
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Chaker D, Mouawad C, Azar A, Quilliot D, Achkar I, Fajloun Z, Makdissy N. Inhibition of the RhoGTPase Cdc42 by ML141 enhances hepatocyte differentiation from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells via the Wnt5a/PI3K/miR-122 pathway: impact of the age of the donor. Stem Cell Res Ther 2018; 9:167. [PMID: 29921325 PMCID: PMC6009972 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-0910-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) are promising cells that may promote hepatocyte differentiation (Hep-Dif) and improve liver function, but the involvement of Cdc42, a key small RhoGTPase which plays a crucial role in aging, is still not well established. We hypothesized that the inhibition of Cdc42 may rescue the hepatogenic potential of hADSCs derived from aged donors. Methods hADSCs isolated from 61 women of different ages were cultured for evaluation of the proliferation of cells, adherence, apoptosis, immunomodulation, immunophenotyping, multipotency, gene expression, and cell function during Hep-Dif. Inhibition of Cdc42 by ML141 was realized during two phases: initiation (days –2 to 14 (D–2/14)) from undifferentiated to hepatoblast-like cells, or maturation (days 14 to 28 (D14/28)) from undifferentiated to hepatocyte-like cells. Mechanistic insights of the Wnt(s)/MAPK/PI3K/miR-122 pathways were studied. Results Cdc42 activity in undifferentiated hADSCs showed an age-dependent significant increase in Cdc42-GTP correlated to a decrease in Cdc42GAP; the low potentials of cell proliferation, doubling, adherence, and immunomodulatory ability (proinflammatory over anti-inflammatory) contrary to the apoptotic index of the aged group were significantly reversed by ML141. Aged donor cells showed a decreased potential for Hep-Dif which was rescued by ML141 treatment, giving rise to mature and functional hepatocyte-like cells as assessed by hepatic gene expression, cytochrome activity, urea and albumin production, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake, and glycogen storage. ML141-induced Hep-Dif showed an improvement in mesenchymal-epithelial transition, a switch from Wtn-3a/β-catenin to Wnt5a signaling, involvement of PI3K/PKB but not the MAPK (ERK/JNK/p38) pathway, induction of miR-122 expression, reinforcing the exosomes release and the production of albumin, and epigenetic changes. Inhibition of PI3K and miR-122 abolished completely the effects of ML141 indicating that inhibition of Cdc42 promotes the Hep-Dif through a Wnt5a/PI3K/miR-122/HNF4α/albumin/E-cadherin-positive action. The ML141(D–2/14) protocol had more pronounced effects when compared with ML141(D14/28); inhibition of DNA methylation in combination with ML141(D–2/14) showed more efficacy in rescuing the Hep-Dif of aged hADSCs. In addition to Hep-Dif, the multipotency of aged hADSC-treated ML141 was observed by rescuing the adipocyte and neural differentiation by inducing PPARγ/FABP4 and NeuN/O4 but inhibiting Pref-1 and GFAP, respectively. Conclusion ML141 has the potential to reverse the age-related aberrations in aged stem cells and promotes their hepatogenic differentiation. Selective inhibition of Cdc42 could be a potential target of drug therapy for aging and may give new insights on the improvement of Hep-Dif. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-018-0910-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Chaker
- Lebanese University, Doctoral School for Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and its Applications, Tripoli, Lebanon.,Reviva Regenerative Medicine Center, Human Genetic Center, Middle East Institute of Health Hospital, Bsalim, Lebanon.,Paris Saclay University, Doctoral School, Therapeutical Innovation, Inserm UMR935, Villejuif, France
| | | | - Albert Azar
- Reviva Regenerative Medicine Center, Human Genetic Center, Middle East Institute of Health Hospital, Bsalim, Lebanon
| | - Didier Quilliot
- Diabetologia-Endocrinology & Nutrition, CHRU Nancy, INSERM 954, University Henri Poincaré de Lorraine, Faculty of Medicine, Nancy, France
| | | | - Ziad Fajloun
- Lebanese University, Doctoral School for Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and its Applications, Tripoli, Lebanon.,Lebanese University, Faculty of Sciences III, Department of Biology, Kobbe, Lebanon
| | - Nehman Makdissy
- Lebanese University, Doctoral School for Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and its Applications, Tripoli, Lebanon. .,Lebanese University, Faculty of Sciences III, Department of Biology, Kobbe, Lebanon.
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15
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Khosravi M, Azarpira N, Shamdani S, Hojjat-Assari S, Naserian S, Karimi MH. Differentiation of umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells to hepatocyte cells by transfection of miR-106a, miR-574-3p, and miR-451. Gene 2018; 667:1-9. [PMID: 29763649 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Studying the profile of micro RNAs (miRs) elucidated the highest expressed miRs in hepatic differentiation. In this study, we investigated to clarify the role of three embryonic overexpressed miRs (miR-106a, miR-574-3p and miR-451) during hepatic differentiation of human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs). We furthermore, aimed to explore whether overexpression of any of these miRs alone is sufficient to induce the differentiation of the UC-MSCs into hepatocyte-like cells. UC-MSCs were transfected either alone or together with miR-106a, miR-574-3p and miR-451 and their potential hepatic differentiation and alteration in gene expression profile, morphological changes and albumin secretion ability were investigated. We found that up-regulation of any of these three miRs alone cannot induce expression of all hepatic specific genes. Transfection of each miR alone, led to Sox17, FoxA2 expression that are related to initiation step of hepatic differentiation. However, concurrent ectopic overexpression of three miRs together can induce UC-MSCs differentiation into functionally mature hepatocytes. These results show that miRs have the capability to directly convert UC-MSCs to a hepatocyte phenotype in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Khosravi
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Institut Français de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur à l'International (IFRES-INT), Paris, France.
| | - Negar Azarpira
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Sara Shamdani
- ERL CNRS 9215, CRRET Laboratory, Créteil, France; SivanCell, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Alborz, Iran
| | - Suzzan Hojjat-Assari
- Institut Français de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur à l'International (IFRES-INT), Paris, France.
| | - Sina Naserian
- Inserm, U1197, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 94807 Villejuif, France; SivanCell, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Alborz, Iran.
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16
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Lyu C, Shen J, Wang R, Gu H, Zhang J, Xue F, Liu X, Liu W, Fu R, Zhang L, Li H, Zhang X, Cheng T, Yang R, Zhang L. Targeted genome engineering in human induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with hemophilia B using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Stem Cell Res Ther 2018; 9:92. [PMID: 29625575 PMCID: PMC5889534 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-0839-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Replacement therapy for hemophilia remains a lifelong treatment. Only gene therapy can cure hemophilia at a fundamental level. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats–CRISPR associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) system is a versatile and convenient genome editing tool which can be applied to gene therapy for hemophilia. Methods A patient’s induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated from their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) using episomal vectors. The AAVS1-Cas9-sgRNA plasmid which targets the AAVS1 locus and the AAVS1-EF1α-F9 cDNA-puromycin donor plasmid were constructed, and they were electroporated into the iPSCs. When insertion of F9 cDNA into the AAVS1 locus was confirmed, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was carried out to detect the off-target issue. The iPSCs were then differentiated into hepatocytes, and human factor IX (hFIX) antigen and activity were measured in the culture supernatant. Finally, the hepatocytes were transplanted into non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency disease (NOD/SCID) mice through splenic injection. Results The patient’s iPSCs were generated from PBMNCs. Human full-length F9 cDNA was inserted into the AAVS1 locus of iPSCs of a hemophilia B patient using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. No off-target mutations were detected by WGS. The hepatocytes differentiated from the inserted iPSCs could secrete hFIX stably and had the ability to be transplanted into the NOD/SCID mice in the short term. Conclusions PBMNCs are good somatic cell choices for generating iPSCs from hemophilia patients. The iPSC technique is a good tool for genetic therapy for human hereditary diseases. CRISPR-Cas9 is versatile, convenient, and safe to be used in iPSCs with low off-target effects. Our research offers new approaches for clinical gene therapy for hemophilia. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-018-0839-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuicui Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China.,Department of Hematology, The First Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Jun Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Haihui Gu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jianping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Feng Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Xiaofan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Rongfeng Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Liyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Huiyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Xiaobing Zhang
- Division of Regenerative Medicine MC1528B, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Tao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Renchi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy of Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 288 Nanjing Road, Tianjin, 300020, China.
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17
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Du C, Feng Y, Qiu D, Xu Y, Pang M, Cai N, Xiang AP, Zhang Q. Highly efficient and expedited hepatic differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells by pure small-molecule cocktails. Stem Cell Res Ther 2018. [PMID: 29523187 PMCID: PMC5845228 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-0794-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The advent of human-induced pluripotent stem cells holds great promise for producing ample individualized hepatocytes. Although previous efforts have succeeded in generating hepatocytes from human pluripotent stem cells in vitro by viral-based expression of transcription factors and/or addition of growth factors during the differentiation process, the safety issue of viral transduction and high cost of cytokines would hinder the downstream applications. Recently, the use of small molecules has emerged as a powerful tool to induce cell fate transition for their superior stability, safety, cell permeability, and cost-effectiveness. Methods In the present study, we established a novel efficient hepatocyte differentiation strategy of human pluripotent stem cells with pure small-molecule cocktails. This method induced hepatocyte differentiation in a stepwise manner, including definitive endoderm differentiation, hepatic specification, and hepatocyte maturation within only 13 days. Results The differentiated hepatic-like cells were morphologically similar to hepatocytes derived from growth factor-based methods and primary hepatocytes. These cells not only expressed specific hepatic markers at the transcriptional and protein levels, but also possessed main liver functions such as albumin production, glycogen storage, cytochrome P450 activity, and indocyanine green uptake and release. Conclusions Highly efficient and expedited hepatic differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells could be achieved by our present novel, pure, small-molecule cocktails strategy, which provides a cost-effective platform for in vitro studies of the molecular mechanisms of human liver development and holds significant potential for future clinical applications. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-018-0794-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Du
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China.,Cell-gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China.,Cell-gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongbo Qiu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China.,Cell-gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China.,Cell-gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China
| | - Mao Pang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China.,Cell-gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China
| | - Andy Peng Xiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China.,Cell-gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China.,Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China. .,Cell-gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China. .,Biotherapy Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China. .,Biotherapy Center & Cell-gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
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18
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Xu LJ, Wang SF, Wang DQ, Ma LJ, Chen Z, Chen QQ, Wang J, Yan L. Adipose-derived stromal cells resemble bone marrow stromal cells in hepatocyte differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23:6973-6982. [PMID: 29097870 PMCID: PMC5658315 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i38.6973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have similar hepatic differentiation potential.
METHODS Mouse ADSCs and BMSCs were isolated and cultured. Their morphological and phenotypic characteristics, as well as their multiple differentiation capacity were compared. A new culture system was established to induce ADSCs and BMSCs into functional hepatocytes. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to identify the induced hepatocyte-like cells. CM-Dil-labeled ADSCs and BMSCs were then transplanted into a mouse model of CCl4-induced acute liver failure. Fluorescence microscopy was used to track the transplanted MSCs. Liver function was tested by an automatic biochemistry analyzer, and liver tissue histology was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.
RESULTS ADSCs and BMSCs shared a similar morphology and multiple differentiation capacity, as well as a similar phenotype (with expression of CD29 and CD90 and no expression of CD11b or CD45). Morphologically, ADSCs and BMSCs became round and epithelioid following hepatic induction. These two cell types differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells with similar expression of albumin, cytokeratin 18, cytokeratin 19, alpha fetoprotein, and cytochrome P450. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that both ADSCs and BMSCs were observed in the mouse liver at different time points. Compared to the control group, both the function of the injured livers and HE staining showed significant improvement in the ADSC- and BMSC-transplanted mice. There was no significant difference between the two MSC groups.
CONCLUSION ADSCs share a similar hepatic differentiation capacity and therapeutic effect with BMSCs in an acute liver failure model. ADSCs may represent an ideal seed cell type for cell transplantation or a bio-artificial liver support system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Juan Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Shu-Fang Wang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - De-Qing Wang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Lian-Jun Ma
- Department of Endoscopics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Qian-Qian Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Li Yan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
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19
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Asai A, Aihara E, Watson C, Mourya R, Mizuochi T, Shivakumar P, Phelan K, Mayhew C, Helmrath M, Takebe T, Wells J, Bezerra JA. Paracrine signals regulate human liver organoid maturation from induced pluripotent stem cells. Development 2017; 144:1056-1064. [PMID: 28275009 DOI: 10.1242/dev.142794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A self-organizing organoid model provides a new approach to study the mechanism of human liver organogenesis. Previous animal models documented that simultaneous paracrine signaling and cell-to-cell surface contact regulate hepatocyte differentiation. To dissect the relative contributions of the paracrine effects, we first established a liver organoid using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as previously reported. Time-lapse imaging showed that hepatic-specified endoderm iPSCs (HE-iPSCs) self-assembled into three-dimensional organoids, resulting in hepatic gene induction. Progressive differentiation was demonstrated by hepatic protein production after in vivo organoid transplantation. To assess the paracrine contributions, we employed a Transwell system in which HE-iPSCs were separately co-cultured with MSCs and/or HUVECs. Although the three-dimensional structure did not form, their soluble factors induced a hepatocyte-like phenotype in HE-iPSCs, resulting in the expression of bile salt export pump. In conclusion, the mesoderm-derived paracrine signals promote hepatocyte maturation in liver organoids, but organoid self-organization requires cell-to-cell surface contact. Our in vitro model demonstrates a novel approach to identify developmental paracrine signals regulating the differentiation of human hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Asai
- Pediatric Liver Care Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Eitaro Aihara
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Carey Watson
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Reena Mourya
- Pediatric Liver Care Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Tatsuki Mizuochi
- Pediatric Liver Care Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Pranavkumar Shivakumar
- Pediatric Liver Care Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Kieran Phelan
- Pediatric Liver Care Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Christopher Mayhew
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Michael Helmrath
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Takanori Takebe
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0004, Japan
| | - James Wells
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Jorge A Bezerra
- Pediatric Liver Care Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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20
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Abstract
Liver epithelioid progenitor cells (LEPCs) have important roles in liver therapy because of their hepatic differentiation potency in vitro and in vivo. Despite many researches on humans, mice, and rats, equivalent progenitor cells derived from bovine are relatively rare. The purpose of our current study is to characterize bovine LEPCs, and research on the cure potency of this heteroplastic progenitor cells on mice liver fibrosis. We have used collagenase IV digesting and differential adhesion method to isolate slabstone shape, EpCAM, LGR5, NCAM1 and SOX9 positive progenitor cells from fetal Luxi bovine liver. When cultured in hepatic differentiation media containing 20 ng/ml Oncostatin M, LEPCs can differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro. After 4 weeks of intravenous tail vein injection into CCl4-injured mouse liver, LEPCs engrafted into liver parenchyma, differentiated into ALB positive hepatocytes, and could alleviate liver fibrosis through down regulating fibrosis genes-Tgfb1 and α-SMA as well as decreasing expression of collagen gene Col1a1, Col3a1, and Col4a1, and regain liver function by recovering ALT and AST. Our findings provided a useful tool for studying liver development in vitro, new cell resource for heterograft on mouse liver diseases, and a new platform for researches on immune rejection of heterogeneous cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunfu Wang
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, China
| | - Jinjuan Yang
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Caiyun Ma
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zebiao Zhang
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Dong Zheng
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
| | - Weijun Guan
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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21
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Nevi L, Carpino G, Costantini D, Cardinale V, Riccioni O, Di Matteo S, Melandro F, Berloco PB, Reid L, Gaudio E, Alvaro D. Hyaluronan coating improves liver engraftment of transplanted human biliary tree stem/progenitor cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2017; 8:68. [PMID: 28320463 PMCID: PMC5360089 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-017-0492-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cell therapy of liver diseases with human biliary tree stem cells (hBTSCs) is biased by low engraftment efficiency. Coating the hBTSCs with hyaluronans (HAs), the primary constituents of all stem cell niches, could facilitate cell survival, proliferation, and, specifically, liver engraftment given that HAs are cleared selectively by the liver. METHODS We developed a fast and easy method to coat hBTSCs with HA and assessed the effects of HA-coating on cell properties in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS The HA coating markedly improved the viability, colony formation, and population doubling of hBTSCs in primary cultures, and resulted in a higher expression of integrins that mediate cell attachment to matrix components. When HA-coated hBTSCs were transplanted via the spleen into the liver of immunocompromised mice, the engraftment efficiency increased to 11% with respect to 3% of uncoated cells. Notably, HA-coated hBTSC transplantation in mice resulted in a 10-fold increase of human albumin gene expression in the liver and in a 2-fold increase of human albumin serum levels with respect to uncoated cells. Studies in distant organs showed minimal ectopic cell distribution without differences between HA-coated and uncoated hBTSCs and, specifically, cell seeding in the kidney was excluded. CONCLUSIONS A ready and economical procedure of HA cell coating greatly enhanced the liver engraftment of transplanted hBTSCs and improved their differentiation toward mature hepatocytes. HA coating could improve outcomes of stem cell therapies of liver diseases and could be immediately translated into the clinic given that GMP-grade HAs are already available for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Nevi
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Carpino
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Costantini
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cardinale
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Olga Riccioni
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabina Di Matteo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Melandro
- Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Lola Reid
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. .,Division of Human Anatomy, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Domenico Alvaro
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. .,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Polo Pontino, Fondazione Eleonora Lorillard Spencer Cenci, Sapienza University of Rome, Vialedell'Università 37, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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22
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Jeong J, Kim KN, Chung MS, Kim HJ. Functional comparison of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells as sources of hepatocyte-like cells. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2016; 13:740-749. [PMID: 30603455 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-016-0094-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into many cell types including mature hepatocytes, and can be used in the development of new drugs, treatment of diseases, and in basic research. In this study, we established a protocol leading to efficient hepatic differentiation, and compared the capacity to differentiate into the hepatocyte lineage of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Optimal combinations of cytokines and growth factors were added to embryoid bodies produced by both types of cell. Differentiation of the cells was assessed with optical and electron microscopes, and hepatic-specific transcripts and proteins were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Both types of embryoid body produced polygonal hepatocyte-like cells accompanied by time-dependent up regulation of genes for α-fetoprotein, albumin (ALB), asialoglycoprotein1, CK8, CK18, CK19, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4, which are expressed in fetal and adult hepatocytes. Both types of cell displayed functions characteristic of mature hepatocytes such as accumulation of glycogen, secretion of ALB, and uptake of indocyanine green. And these cells are transplanted into mouse model. Our findings indicate that hESCs and hiPSCs have similar abilities to differentiate into hepatocyte in vitro using the protocol developed here, and these cells are transplantable into damaged liver. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s13770-016-0094-y and is accessible for authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaemin Jeong
- 1Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyu Nam Kim
- 2Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min Sung Chung
- 1Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 3Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763 Korea
| | - Han Joon Kim
- 1Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 3Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763 Korea
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23
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Asplund A, Pradip A, van Giezen M, Aspegren A, Choukair H, Rehnström M, Jacobsson S, Ghosheh N, El Hajjam D, Holmgren S, Larsson S, Benecke J, Butron M, Wigander A, Noaksson K, Sartipy P, Björquist P, Edsbagge J, Küppers-Munther B. One Standardized Differentiation Procedure Robustly Generates Homogenous Hepatocyte Cultures Displaying Metabolic Diversity from a Large Panel of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2016; 12:90-104. [PMID: 26385115 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-015-9621-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Human hepatocytes display substantial functional inter-individual variation regarding drug metabolizing functions. In order to investigate if this diversity is mirrored in hepatocytes derived from different human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) lines, we evaluated 25 hPSC lines originating from 24 different donors for hepatic differentiation and functionality. Homogenous hepatocyte cultures could be derived from all hPSC lines using one standardized differentiation procedure. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of a standardized hepatic differentiation procedure that is generally applicable across a large panel of hPSC lines without any adaptations to individual lines. Importantly, with regard to functional aspects, such as Cytochrome P450 activities, we observed that hepatocytes derived from different hPSC lines displayed inter-individual variation characteristic for primary hepatocytes obtained from different donors, while these activities were highly reproducible between repeated experiments using the same line. Taken together, these data demonstrate the emerging possibility to compile panels of hPSC-derived hepatocytes of particular phenotypes/genotypes relevant for drug metabolism and toxicity studies. Moreover, these findings are of significance for applications within the regenerative medicine field, since our stringent differentiation procedure allows the derivation of homogenous hepatocyte cultures from multiple donors which is a prerequisite for the realization of future personalized stem cell based therapies.
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24
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Najimi M, Defresne F, Sokal EM. Concise Review: Updated Advances and Current Challenges in Cell Therapy for Inborn Liver Metabolic Defects. Stem Cells Transl Med 2016; 5:1117-25. [PMID: 27245366 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2015-0260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED : The development of liver cell transplantation (LCT), considered a major biotechnological breakthrough, was intended to provide more accessible treatments for liver disease patients. By preserving the native recipient liver and decreasing hospitalization time, this innovative approach has progressively gained interest among clinicians. LCT initially targets inborn errors of liver metabolism, enabling the compensation of deficient metabolic functions for up to 18 months post-transplantation, supporting its use at least as a bridge to transplantation. The rigorous clinical development and widespread use of LCT depends strongly on controlled and consistent clinical trial data, which may help improve several critical factors, including the standardization of raw biological material and immunosuppression regimens. Substantial effort has also been made in defining and optimizing the most efficient cell population to be transplanted in the liver setting. Although isolated hepatocytes remain the best cell type, showing positive clinical results, their widespread use is hampered by their poor resistance to both cryopreservation and in vitro culture, as well as ever-more-significant donor shortages. Hence, there is considerable interest in developing more standardized and widely accessible cell medicinal products to improve engraftment permanency and post-cell transplantation metabolic effects. SIGNIFICANCE In this therapeutic approach to liver disease, new solutions are being designed and evaluated to bypass the documented limitations and move forward toward wide clinical use. Future developments also require a deep knowledge of regulatory framework to launch specific clinical trials that will allow clear assessment of cell therapy and help patients with significant unmet medical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustapha Najimi
- Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain and Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Florence Defresne
- Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain and Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Etienne M Sokal
- Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain and Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Brussels, Belgium
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25
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Hu M, Li S, Menon S, Liu B, Hu MS, Longaker MT, Lorenz HP. Expansion and Hepatic Differentiation of Adult Blood-Derived CD34+ Progenitor Cells and Promotion of Liver Regeneration After Acute Injury. Stem Cells Transl Med 2016; 5:723-32. [PMID: 27075766 PMCID: PMC4878335 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2015-0268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A new group of blood-derived CD34+ progenitor cells (BDPCs) with the ability to expand and differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells and promote liver regeneration is reported. With their ease of access, application through the peripheral blood, and the capability of rapid expansion and hepatic differentiation, BDPCs have great potential as a cell-based therapy for liver disease. The low availability of functional hepatocytes has been an unmet demand for basic scientific research, new drug development, and cell-based clinical applications for decades. Because of the inability to expand hepatocytes in vitro, alternative sources of hepatocytes are a focus of liver regenerative medicine. We report a new group of blood-derived CD34+ progenitor cells (BDPCs) that have the ability to expand and differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells and promote liver regeneration. BDPCs were obtained from the peripheral blood of an adult mouse with expression of surface markers CD34, CD45, Sca-1, c-kit, and Thy1.1. BDPCs can proliferate in vitro and differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells expressing hepatocyte markers, including CK8, CK18, CK19, α-fetoprotein, integrin-β1, and A6. The differentiated BDPCs (dBDPCs) also display liver-specific functional activities, such as glycogen storage, urea production, and albumin secretion. dBDPCs have cytochrome P450 activity and express specific hepatic transcription factors, such as hepatic nuclear factor 1α. To demonstrate liver regenerative activity, dBDPCs were injected into mice with severe acute liver damage caused by a high-dose injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). dBDPC treatment rescued the mice from severe acute liver injury, increased survival, and induced liver regeneration. Because of their ease of access and application through peripheral blood and their capability of rapid expansion and hepatic differentiation, BDPCs have great potential as a cell-based therapy for liver disease. Significance Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell expansion and tissue-specific differentiation in vitro are challenges in regenerative medicine, although stem cell therapy has raised hope for the treatment of liver diseases by overcoming the scarcity of hepatocytes. This study identified and characterized a group of blood-derived progenitor cells (BDPCs) from the peripheral blood of an adult mouse. The CD34+ progenitor-dominant BDPCs were rapidly expanded and hepatically differentiated into functional hepatocyte-like cells with our established coculture system. BDPC treatment increased animal survival and produced full regeneration in a severe liver injury mouse model caused by CCl4. BDPCs could have potential for liver cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Hu
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Shaowei Li
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Siddharth Menon
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Bo Liu
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Michael S Hu
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA Department of Surgery, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Michael T Longaker
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - H Peter Lorenz
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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26
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Cantz T, Sharma AD, Ott M. Concise review: cell therapies for hereditary metabolic liver diseases-concepts, clinical results, and future developments. Stem Cells 2016; 33:1055-62. [PMID: 25524146 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Revised: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The concept of cell-based therapies for inherited metabolic liver diseases has been introduced for now more than 40 years in animal experiments, but controlled clinical data in humans are still not available. In the era of dynamic developments in stem cell science, the "right" cell for transplantation is considered as an important key for successful treatment. Do we aim to transplant mature hepatocytes or do we consider the liver as a stem/progenitor-driven organ and replenish the diseased liver with genetically normal stem/progenitor cells? Although conflicting results from cell tracing and transplantation experiments have recently emerged about the existence and role of stem/progenitor cells in the liver, their overall contribution to parenchymal cell homeostasis and tissue repair is limited. Accordingly, engraftment and repopulation efficacies of extrahepatic and liver-derived stem/progenitor cell types are considered to be lower compared to mature hepatocytes. On the basis of these results, we will discuss the current clinical cell transplantation programs for inherited metabolic liver diseases and future developments in liver cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Cantz
- Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover, Germany; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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27
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Si-Tayeb K, Idriss S, Champon B, Caillaud A, Pichelin M, Arnaud L, Lemarchand P, Le May C, Zibara K, Cariou B. Urine-sample-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells as a model to study PCSK9-mediated autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia. Dis Model Mech 2015; 9:81-90. [PMID: 26586530 PMCID: PMC4728336 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.022277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a critical modulator of cholesterol homeostasis. Whereas PCSK9 gain-of-function (GOF) mutations are associated with autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia (ADH) and premature atherosclerosis, PCSK9 loss-of-function (LOF) mutations have a cardio-protective effect and in some cases can lead to familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL). However, limitations of the currently available cellular models preclude deciphering the consequences of PCSK9 mutation further. We aimed to validate urine-sample-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (UhiPSCs) as an appropriate tool to model PCSK9-mediated ADH and FHBL. To achieve our goal, urine-sample-derived somatic cells were reprogrammed into hiPSCs by using episomal vectors. UhiPSC were efficiently differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs). Compared to control cells, cells originally derived from an individual with ADH (HLC-S127R) secreted less PCSK9 in the media (−38.5%; P=0.038) and had a 71% decrease (P<0.001) of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake, whereas cells originally derived from an individual with FHBL (HLC-R104C/V114A) displayed a strong decrease in PCSK9 secretion (−89.7%; P<0.001) and had a 106% increase (P=0.0104) of LDL uptake. Pravastatin treatment significantly enhanced LDL receptor (LDLR) and PCSK9 mRNA gene expression, as well as PCSK9 secretion and LDL uptake in both control and S127R HLCs. Pravastatin treatment of multiple clones led to an average increase of LDL uptake of 2.19±0.77-fold in HLC-S127R compared to 1.38±0.49 fold in control HLCs (P<0.01), in line with the good response to statin treatment of individuals carrying the S127R mutation (mean LDL cholesterol reduction=60.4%, n=5). In conclusion, urine samples provide an attractive and convenient source of somatic cells for reprogramming and hepatocyte differentiation, but also a powerful tool to further decipher PCSK9 mutations and function. Summary: The authors used urine-sample-derived patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells to generate hepatocytes carrying gain- or loss-of-function mutations of PCSK9, and mimicking the pathophysiology in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Si-Tayeb
- INSERM, UMR1087, L'institut du thorax, Nantes F-44000, France CNRS, UMR 6291, Nantes F-44000, France Université de Nantes, Nantes F-44000, France
| | - Salam Idriss
- INSERM, UMR1087, L'institut du thorax, Nantes F-44000, France CNRS, UMR 6291, Nantes F-44000, France Université de Nantes, Nantes F-44000, France ER045 - Laboratory of Stem Cells, PRASE, DSST, Beirut, Lebanon Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences-I, Lebanese University, Beirut 6573/14, Lebanon
| | - Benoite Champon
- INSERM, UMR1087, L'institut du thorax, Nantes F-44000, France CNRS, UMR 6291, Nantes F-44000, France Université de Nantes, Nantes F-44000, France
| | - Amandine Caillaud
- INSERM, UMR1087, L'institut du thorax, Nantes F-44000, France CNRS, UMR 6291, Nantes F-44000, France Université de Nantes, Nantes F-44000, France
| | - Matthieu Pichelin
- INSERM, UMR1087, L'institut du thorax, Nantes F-44000, France CNRS, UMR 6291, Nantes F-44000, France Université de Nantes, Nantes F-44000, France CHU Nantes, L'institut du thorax, CIC Endocrinology-Nutrition, Nantes F-44000, France
| | - Lucie Arnaud
- INSERM, UMR1087, L'institut du thorax, Nantes F-44000, France CNRS, UMR 6291, Nantes F-44000, France Université de Nantes, Nantes F-44000, France
| | - Patricia Lemarchand
- INSERM, UMR1087, L'institut du thorax, Nantes F-44000, France CNRS, UMR 6291, Nantes F-44000, France Université de Nantes, Nantes F-44000, France
| | - Cédric Le May
- INSERM, UMR1087, L'institut du thorax, Nantes F-44000, France CNRS, UMR 6291, Nantes F-44000, France Université de Nantes, Nantes F-44000, France
| | - Kazem Zibara
- ER045 - Laboratory of Stem Cells, PRASE, DSST, Beirut, Lebanon Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences-I, Lebanese University, Beirut 6573/14, Lebanon
| | - Bertrand Cariou
- INSERM, UMR1087, L'institut du thorax, Nantes F-44000, France CNRS, UMR 6291, Nantes F-44000, France Université de Nantes, Nantes F-44000, France CHU Nantes, L'institut du thorax, CIC Endocrinology-Nutrition, Nantes F-44000, France
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Holtzinger A, Streeter PR, Sarangi F, Hillborn S, Niapour M, Ogawa S, Keller G. New markers for tracking endoderm induction and hepatocyte differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells. Development 2015; 142:4253-65. [PMID: 26493401 DOI: 10.1242/dev.121020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The efficient generation of hepatocytes from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) requires the induction of a proper endoderm population, broadly characterized by the expression of the cell surface marker CXCR4. Strategies to identify and isolate endoderm subpopulations predisposed to the liver fate do not exist. In this study, we generated mouse monoclonal antibodies against human embryonic stem cell-derived definitive endoderm with the goal of identifying cell surface markers that can be used to track the development of this germ layer and its specification to a hepatic fate. Through this approach, we identified two endoderm-specific antibodies, HDE1 and HDE2, which stain different stages of endoderm development and distinct derivative cell types. HDE1 marks a definitive endoderm population with high hepatic potential, whereas staining of HDE2 tracks with developing hepatocyte progenitors and hepatocytes. When used in combination, the staining patterns of these antibodies enable one to optimize endoderm induction and hepatic specification from any hPSC line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Holtzinger
- McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1L7
| | - Philip R Streeter
- Oregon Stem Cell Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA
| | - Farida Sarangi
- McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1L7
| | - Scott Hillborn
- McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1L7
| | - Maryam Niapour
- McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1L7
| | - Shinichiro Ogawa
- McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1L7
| | - Gordon Keller
- McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1L7 Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2M9 Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2M9
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29
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Berasain C, Avila MA. Regulation of hepatocyte identity and quiescence. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:3831-51. [DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1970-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Revised: 05/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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30
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Möbus S, Yang D, Yuan Q, Lüdtke THW, Balakrishnan A, Sgodda M, Rani B, Kispert A, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Vogel A, Manns MP, Ott M, Cantz T, Sharma AD. MicroRNA-199a-5p inhibition enhances the liver repopulation ability of human embryonic stem cell-derived hepatic cells. J Hepatol 2015; 62:101-10. [PMID: 25135862 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2014.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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: 03/03/2014] [Revised: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Current hepatic differentiation protocols for human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) require substantial improvements. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to regulate hepatocyte cell fate during liver development, but their utility to improve hepatocyte differentiation from ESCs remains to be investigated. Therefore, our aim was to identify and to analyse hepatogenic miRNAs for their potential to improve hepatocyte differentiation from ESCs. METHODS By miRNA profiling and in vitro screening, we identified miR-199a-5p among several potential hepatogenic miRNAs. Transplantation studies of miR-199a-5p-inhibited hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) in the liver of immunodeficient fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase knockout mice (Fah(-/-)/Rag2(-/-)/Il2rg(-/-)) were performed to assess their in vivo liver repopulation potential. For target determination, western blot and luciferase reporter assay were carried out. RESULTS miRNA profiling revealed 20 conserved candidate hepatogenic miRNAs. By miRNA screening, only miR-199a-5p inhibition in HLCs was found to be able to enhance the in vitro hepatic differentiation of mouse as well as human ESCs. miR-199a-5p inhibition in human ESCs-derived HLCs enhanced their engraftment and repopulation capacity in the liver of Fah(-/-)/Rag2(-/-)/Il2rg(-/-) mice. Furthermore, we identified SMARCA4 and MST1 as novel targets of miR-199a-5p that may contribute to the improved hepatocyte generation and in vivo liver repopulation. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that miR-199a-5p inhibition in ES-derived HLCs leads to improved hepatocyte differentiation. Upon transplantation, HLCs were able to engraft and repopulate the liver of Fah(-/-)/Rag2(-/-)/Il2rg(-/-) mice. Thus, our findings suggest that miRNA modulation may serve as a promising approach to generate more mature HLCs from stem cell sources for the treatment of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selina Möbus
- Junior Research Group MicroRNA in Liver Regeneration, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dakai Yang
- Junior Research Group MicroRNA in Liver Regeneration, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Qinggong Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Timo H-W Lüdtke
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Asha Balakrishnan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Malte Sgodda
- Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bhavna Rani
- Junior Research Group MicroRNA in Liver Regeneration, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Kispert
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Marcos J Araúzo-Bravo
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; Group of Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Arndt Vogel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael P Manns
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael Ott
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tobias Cantz
- Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.
| | - Amar Deep Sharma
- Junior Research Group MicroRNA in Liver Regeneration, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
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Magner NL, Jung Y, Wu J, Nolta JA, Zern MA, Zhou P. Insulin and IGFs enhance hepatocyte differentiation from human embryonic stem cells via the PI3K/AKT pathway. Stem Cells 2014; 31:2095-103. [PMID: 23836547 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2013] [Revised: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be progressively differentiated into definitive endoderm (DE), hepatic progenitors, and hepatocytes, and thus provide an excellent model system for the mechanistic study of hepatocyte differentiation, which is currently poorly understood. Here, we found that insulin enhanced hepatocyte differentiation from hESC-derived DE. Insulin activated the PI3K/AKT pathway, but not the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in the DE cells, and inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathways by inhibitors markedly inhibited hepatocyte differentiation. In addition, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and IGF2 also activated the PI3K/AKT pathway in DE cells and their expression was robustly upregulated during hepatocyte differentiation from DE. Furthermore, inhibition of IGF receptor 1 (IGF1R) by a small molecule inhibitor PPP or knockdown of the IGF1R by shRNA attenuated hepatocyte differentiation. Moreover, simultaneous knockdown of the IGF1R and the insulin receptor with shRNAs markedly reduced the activation of AKT and substantially impaired hepatocyte differentiation. The PI3K pathway specifically enhanced the expression of HNF1 and HNF4 to regulate hepatocyte differentiation from DE. Although inhibition of the PI3K pathway was previously shown to be required for the induction of DE from hESCs, our study revealed a positive role of the PI3K pathway in hepatocyte differentiation after the DE stage, and has advanced our understanding of hepatocyte cell fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly L Magner
- Stem Cell Program and University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
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32
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Eggenschwiler R, Loya K, Wu G, Sharma AD, Sgodda M, Zychlinski D, Herr C, Steinemann D, Teckman J, Bals R, Ott M, Schambach A, Schöler HR, Cantz T. Sustained knockdown of a disease-causing gene in patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells using lentiviral vector-based gene therapy. Stem Cells Transl Med 2013; 2:641-54. [PMID: 23926210 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2013-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for studies on disease-related developmental processes and may serve as an autologous cell source for future treatment of many hereditary diseases. New genetic engineering tools such as zinc finger nucleases and transcription activator-like effector nuclease allow targeted correction of monogenetic disorders but are very cumbersome to establish. Aiming at studies on the knockdown of a disease-causing gene, lentiviral vector-mediated expression of short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) is a valuable option, but it is limited by silencing of the knockdown construct upon epigenetic remodeling during differentiation. Here, we propose an approach for the expression of a therapeutic shRNA in disease-specific iPSCs using third-generation lentiviral vectors. Targeting severe α-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency, we overexpressed a human microRNA 30 (miR30)-styled shRNA directed against the PiZ variant of A1AT, which is known to cause chronic liver damage in affected patients. This knockdown cassette is traceable from clonal iPSC lines to differentiated hepatic progeny via an enhanced green fluorescence protein reporter expressed from the same RNA-polymerase II promoter. Importantly, the cytomegalovirus i/e enhancer chicken β actin (CAG) promoter-driven expression of this construct is sustained without transgene silencing during hepatic differentiation in vitro and in vivo. At low lentiviral copy numbers per genome we confirmed a functional relevant reduction (-66%) of intracellular PiZ protein in hepatic cells after differentiation of patient-specific iPSCs. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that lentiviral vector-mediated expression of shRNAs can be efficiently used to knock down and functionally evaluate disease-related genes in patient-specific iPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reto Eggenschwiler
- Research Group Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Medine CN, Lucendo-Villarin B, Storck C, Wang F, Szkolnicka D, Khan F, Pernagallo S, Black JR, Marriage HM, Ross JA, Bradley M, Iredale JP, Flint O, Hay DC. Developing high-fidelity hepatotoxicity models from pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cells Transl Med 2013; 2:505-9. [PMID: 23757504 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2012-0138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Faithfully recapitulating human physiology "in a dish" from a renewable source remains a holy grail for medicine and pharma. Many procedures have been described that, to a limited extent, exhibit human tissue-specific function in vitro. In particular, incomplete cellular differentiation and/or the loss of cell phenotype postdifferentiation play a major part in this void. We have developed an interdisciplinary approach to address this problem, using skill sets in cell biology, materials chemistry, and pharmacology. Pluripotent stem cells were differentiated to hepatocytes before being replated onto a synthetic surface. Our approach yielded metabolically active hepatocyte populations that displayed stable function for more than 2 weeks in vitro. Although metabolic activity was an important indication of cell utility, the accurate prediction of cellular toxicity in response to specific pharmacological compounds represented our goal. Therefore, detailed analysis of hepatocellular toxicity was performed in response to a custom-built and well-defined compound set and compared with primary human hepatocytes. Importantly, stem cell-derived hepatocytes displayed equivalence to primary human material. Moreover, we demonstrated that our approach was capable of modeling metabolic differences observed in the population. In conclusion, we report that pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes will model toxicity predictably and in a manner comparable to current gold standard assays, representing a major advance in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire N Medine
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Ma X, Duan Y, Tschudy-Seney B, Roll G, Behbahan IS, Ahuja TP, Tolstikov V, Wang C, McGee J, Khoobyari S, Nolta JA, Willenbring H, Zern MA. Highly efficient differentiation of functional hepatocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cells Transl Med 2013; 2:409-19. [PMID: 23681950 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2012-0160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) hold great potential for use in regenerative medicine, novel drug development, and disease progression/developmental studies. Here, we report highly efficient differentiation of hiPSCs toward a relatively homogeneous population of functional hepatocytes. hiPSC-derived hepatocytes (hiHs) not only showed a high expression of hepatocyte-specific proteins and liver-specific functions, but they also developed a functional biotransformation system including phase I and II metabolizing enzymes and phase III transporters. Nuclear receptors, which are critical for regulating the expression of metabolizing enzymes, were also expressed in hiHs. hiHs also responded to different compounds/inducers of cytochrome P450 as mature hepatocytes do. To follow up on this observation, we analyzed the drug metabolizing capacity of hiHs in real time using a novel ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We found that, like freshly isolated primary human hepatocytes, the seven major metabolic pathways of the drug bufuralol were found in hiHs. In addition, transplanted hiHs engrafted, integrated, and proliferated in livers of an immune-deficient mouse model, and secreted human albumin, indicating that hiHs also function in vivo. In conclusion, we have generated a method for the efficient generation of hepatocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells in vitro and in vivo, and it appears that the cells function similarly to primary human hepatocytes, including developing a complete metabolic function. These results represent a significant step toward using patient/disease-specific hepatocytes for cell-based therapeutics as well as for pharmacology and toxicology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocui Ma
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Sacramento, CA, USA
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Zhao W, Li JJ, Cao DY, Li X, Zhang LY, He Y, Yue SQ, Wang DS, Dou KF. Intravenous injection of mesenchymal stem cells is effective in treating liver fibrosis. World J Gastroenterol 2012; 18:1048-58. [PMID: 22416179 PMCID: PMC3296978 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i10.1048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2011] [Revised: 06/20/2011] [Accepted: 06/27/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To compare the influence of different transplant sites in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy for liver fibrosis.
METHODS: MSCs isolated from Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were induced into hepatocyte-like cells. Liver fibrosis in SD rats was induced with carbon tetrachloride. Following hepatocyte induction in vitro, 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-labeled MSCs were transplanted by intravenous, intrahepatic, and intraperitoneal injection. Histopathological staining, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical analysis were used to compare the morphological and functional liver regeneration among different MSC injection modalities. The expression differences of interleukins, growth factor, extracellular matrix, matrix metalloproteinases, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase were examined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
RESULTS: Four days after exposure to hepatocyte differentiation medium, MSCs that did not express hepatocyte markers could express α-fetoprotein, albumin, and cytokeratin 18. The results of histopathological staining, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical analysis indicated that intravenous injection is more effective at rescuing liver failure than other injection modalities. DAPI-labeled cells were found around liver lobules in all three injection site groups, but the intravenous group had the highest number of cells. PCR and ELISA analysis indicated that interleukin-10 (IL-10) was highest in the intravenous group, whereas il1β, il6, tnfα and tgfβ, which can be regulated by IL10 and are promoters of liver fibrosis, were significantly lower than in the other groups.
CONCLUSION: MSC administration is able to protect against liver fibrosis. Intravenous injection is the most favorable treatment modality through promotion of IL10 expression.
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Abstract
Stem cells from extra- or intrahepatic sources have been recently characterized and their usefulness for the generation of hepatocyte-like lineages has been demonstrated. Therefore, they are being increasingly considered for future applications in liver cell therapy. In that field, liver cell transplantation is currently regarded as a possible alternative to whole organ transplantation, while stem cells possess theoretical advantages on hepatocytes as they display higher in vitro culture performances and could be used in autologous transplant procedures. However, the current research on the hepatic fate of stem cells is still facing difficulties to demonstrate the acquisition of a full mature hepatocyte phenotype, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the lack of obvious demonstration of in vivo hepatocyte-like cell functionality remains associated to low repopulation rates obtained after current transplantation procedures. The present review focuses on the current knowledge of the stem cell potential for liver therapy. We discuss the characteristics of the principal cell candidates and the methods to demonstrate their hepatic potential in vitro and in vivo. We finally address the question of the future clinical applications of stem cells for liver tissue repair and the technical aspects that remain to be investigated.
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