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Doueiry C, Kappler CS, Martinez-Morant C, Duncan SA. A PNPLA3-Deficient iPSC-Derived Hepatocyte Screen Identifies Pathways to Potentially Reduce Steatosis in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7277. [PMID: 39000384 PMCID: PMC11242544 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), or metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is increasing in adults and children. Unfortunately, effective pharmacological treatments remain unavailable. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein (PNPLA3 I148M) have the most significant genetic association with the disease at all stages of its progression. A roadblock to identifying potential treatments for PNPLA3-induced NAFLD is the lack of a human cell platform that recapitulates the PNPLA3 I148M-mediated onset of lipid accumulation. Hepatocyte-like cells were generated from PNPLA3-/- and PNPLA3I148M/M-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Lipid levels were measured by staining with BODIPY 493/503 and were found to increase in PNPLA3 variant iPSC-derived hepatocytes. A small-molecule screen identified multiple compounds that target Src/PI3K/Akt signaling and could eradicate lipid accumulation in these cells. We found that drugs currently in clinical trials for cancer treatment that target the same pathways also reduced lipid accumulation in PNPLA3 variant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren Doueiry
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (C.D.); (C.M.-M.)
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Christiana S. Kappler
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (C.D.); (C.M.-M.)
| | - Carla Martinez-Morant
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (C.D.); (C.M.-M.)
| | - Stephen A. Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (C.D.); (C.M.-M.)
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2
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Takeda Y, Yoshikawa T, Dai P. Angiotensin II participates in mitochondrial thermogenic functions via the activation of glycolysis in chemically induced human brown adipocytes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10789. [PMID: 38734719 PMCID: PMC11088625 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61774-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Brown adipocytes are potential therapeutic targets for the prevention of obesity-associated metabolic diseases because they consume circulating glucose and fatty acids for heat production. Angiotensin II (Ang II) peptide is involved in the pathogenesis of obesity- and cold-induced hypertension; however, the mechanism underlying the direct effects of Ang II on human brown adipocytes remains unclear. Our transcriptome analysis of chemical compound-induced brown adipocytes (ciBAs) showed that the Ang II type 1 receptor (AGTR1), but not AGTR2 and MAS1 receptors, was expressed. The Ang II/AGTR1 axis downregulated the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). The simultaneous treatment with β-adrenergic receptor agonists and Ang II attenuated UCP1 expression, triglyceride lipolysis, and cAMP levels, although cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation was enhanced by Ang II mainly through the protein kinase C pathway. Despite reduced lipolysis, both coupled and uncoupled mitochondrial respiration was enhanced in Ang II-treated ciBAs. Instead, glycolysis and glucose uptake were robustly activated upon treatment with Ang II without a comprehensive transcriptional change in glucose metabolic genes. Elevated mitochondrial energy status induced by Ang II was likely associated with UCP1 repression. Our findings suggest that the Ang II/AGTR1 axis participates in mitochondrial thermogenic functions via glycolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukimasa Takeda
- Department of Cellular Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.
| | - Toshikazu Yoshikawa
- Louis Pasteur Center for Medical Research, 103-5 Tanaka-Monzen-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8225, Japan
- Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Ping Dai
- Department of Cellular Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.
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3
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Ansori ANM, Antonius Y, Susilo RJK, Hayaza S, Kharisma VD, Parikesit AA, Zainul R, Jakhmola V, Saklani T, Rebezov M, Ullah ME, Maksimiuk N, Derkho M, Burkov P. Application of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology in various fields: A review. NARRA J 2023; 3:e184. [PMID: 38450259 PMCID: PMC10916045 DOI: 10.52225/narra.v3i2.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a revolutionary tool that enables precise and efficient modifications of the genetic material. This review provides a comprehensive overview of CRISPR-Cas9 technology and its applications in genome editing. We begin by describing the fundamental principles of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, explaining how the system utilizes a single guide RNA (sgRNA) to direct the Cas9 nuclease to specific DNA sequences in the genome, resulting in targeted double-stranded breaks. In this review, we provide in-depth explorations of CRISPR-Cas9 technology and its applications in agriculture, medicine, environmental sciences, fisheries, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, and biotechnology. We also highlight its potential, ongoing research, and the ethical considerations and controversies surrounding its use. This review might contribute to the understanding of CRISPR-Cas9 technology and its implications in various fields, paving the way for future developments and responsible applications of this transformative technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arif NM. Ansori
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany
| | - Yulanda Antonius
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Universitas Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Raden JK. Susilo
- Nanotechology Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Suhailah Hayaza
- Nanotechology Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Viol D. Kharisma
- Doctoral Program of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Generasi Biologi Indonesia Foundation, Gresik, Indonesia
| | - Arli A. Parikesit
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences (i3L), Jakarta,Indonesia
| | - Rahadian Zainul
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, Indonesia
| | - Vikash Jakhmola
- Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Taru Saklani
- Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Maksim Rebezov
- Department of Scientific Research, V. M. Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Ural State Agrarian University, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation
| | - Md. Emdad Ullah
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, United States
| | - Nikolai Maksimiuk
- Institute of Medical Education, Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, Velikiy Novgorod, Russian Federation
| | - Marina Derkho
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, South Ural State Agrarian University, Troitsk, Russian Federation
| | - Pavel Burkov
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, South Ural State Agrarian University, Troitsk, Russian Federation
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4
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Liu JT, Doueiry C, Jiang YL, Blaszkiewicz J, Lamprecht MP, Heslop JA, Peterson YK, Carten JD, Traktman P, Yuan Y, Khetani SR, Twal WO, Duncan SA. A human iPSC-derived hepatocyte screen identifies compounds that inhibit production of Apolipoprotein B. Commun Biol 2023; 6:452. [PMID: 37095219 PMCID: PMC10125972 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04739-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients suffer from excessively high levels of Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), which can cause severe cardiovascular disease. Statins, bile acid sequestrants, PCSK9 inhibitors, and cholesterol absorption inhibitors are all inefficient at treating FH patients with homozygous LDLR gene mutations (hoFH). Drugs approved for hoFH treatment control lipoprotein production by regulating steady-state Apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels. Unfortunately, these drugs have side effects including accumulation of liver triglycerides, hepatic steatosis, and elevated liver enzyme levels. To identify safer compounds, we used an iPSC-derived hepatocyte platform to screen a structurally representative set of 10,000 small molecules from a proprietary library of 130,000 compounds. The screen revealed molecules that could reduce the secretion of apoB from cultured hepatocytes and from humanized livers in mice. These small molecules are highly effective, do not cause abnormal lipid accumulation, and share a chemical structure that is distinct from any known cholesterol lowering drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Tung Liu
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Caren Doueiry
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Yu-Lin Jiang
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Josef Blaszkiewicz
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Mary Paige Lamprecht
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - James A Heslop
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Yuri K Peterson
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Juliana Debrito Carten
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Paula Traktman
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Yang Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | | | - Stephen A Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
- Grùthan Biosciences LLC, Hollywood, SC, 29449, USA.
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5
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Abstract
Metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, are a major threat to health in the modern world, but efforts to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop rational treatments are limited by the lack of appropriate human model systems. Notably, advances in stem cell and organoid technology allow the generation of cellular models that replicate the histological, molecular and physiological properties of human organs. Combined with marked improvements in gene editing tools, human stem cells and organoids provide unprecedented systems for studying mechanisms of metabolic diseases. Here, we review progress made over the past decade in the generation and use of stem cell-derived metabolic cell types and organoids in metabolic disease research, especially obesity and liver diseases. In particular, we discuss the limitations of animal models and the advantages of stem cells and organoids, including their application to metabolic diseases. We also discuss mechanisms of drug action, understanding the efficacy and toxicity of existing therapies, screening for new treatments and pursuing personalized therapies. We highlight the potential of combining stem cell-derived organoids with gene editing and functional genomics to revolutionize the approach to finding treatments for metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiang Hu
- Department of Basic Research, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangdong, China.
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Mitchell A Lazar
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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6
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Thanaskody K, Jusop AS, Tye GJ, Wan Kamarul Zaman WS, Dass SA, Nordin F. MSCs vs. iPSCs: Potential in therapeutic applications. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1005926. [PMID: 36407112 PMCID: PMC9666898 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1005926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past 2 decades, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted a lot of interest as a unique therapeutic approach for a variety of diseases. MSCs are capable of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation capacity, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties allowing it to play a role in regenerative medicine. Furthermore, MSCs are low in tumorigenicity and immune privileged, which permits the use of allogeneic MSCs for therapies that eliminate the need to collect MSCs directly from patients. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be generated from adult cells through gene reprogramming with ectopic expression of specific pluripotency factors. Advancement in iPS technology avoids the destruction of embryos to make pluripotent cells, making it free of ethical concerns. iPSCs can self-renew and develop into a plethora of specialized cells making it a useful resource for regenerative medicine as they may be created from any human source. MSCs have also been used to treat individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. MSCs have undergone more clinical trials than iPSCs due to high tumorigenicity, which can trigger oncogenic transformation. In this review, we discussed the overview of mesenchymal stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. We briefly present therapeutic approaches and COVID-19-related diseases using MSCs and iPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalaiselvaan Thanaskody
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (CTERM), Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Amirah Syamimi Jusop
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (CTERM), Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Gee Jun Tye
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Malaysia
| | - Wan Safwani Wan Kamarul Zaman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,Centre for Innovation in Medical Engineering (CIME), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sylvia Annabel Dass
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Malaysia
| | - Fazlina Nordin
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (CTERM), Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,*Correspondence: Fazlina Nordin,
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7
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Motomura T, Faccioli LA, Diaz-Aragon R, Kocas-Kilicarslan ZN, Haep N, Florentino RM, Amirneni S, Cetin Z, Peri BS, Morita K, Ostrowska A, Takeishi K, Soto-Gutierrez A, Tafaleng EN. From a Single Cell to a Whole Human Liver: Disease Modeling and Transplantation. Semin Liver Dis 2022; 42:413-422. [PMID: 36044927 PMCID: PMC9718640 DOI: 10.1055/a-1934-5404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Although the underlying cause may vary across countries and demographic groups, liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Orthotopic liver transplantation is the only definitive treatment for liver failure but is limited by the lack of donor livers. The development of drugs that prevent the progression of liver disease and the generation of alternative liver constructs for transplantation could help alleviate the burden of liver disease. Bioengineered livers containing human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived liver cells are being utilized to study liver disease and to identify and test potential therapeutics. Moreover, bioengineered livers containing pig hepatocytes and endothelial cells have been shown to function and survive after transplantation into pig models of liver failure, providing preclinical evidence toward future clinical applications. Finally, bioengineered livers containing human iPSC-derived liver cells have been shown to function and survive after transplantation in rodents but require considerable optimization and testing prior to clinical use. In conclusion, bioengineered livers have emerged as a suitable tool for modeling liver diseases and as a promising alternative graft for clinical transplantation. The integration of novel technologies and techniques for the assembly and analysis of bioengineered livers will undoubtedly expand future applications in basic research and clinical transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Motomura
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lanuza A.P. Faccioli
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ricardo Diaz-Aragon
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Nils Haep
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Rodrigo M. Florentino
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sriram Amirneni
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Zeliha Cetin
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Bhaavna S. Peri
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kazutoyo Morita
- Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Alina Ostrowska
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kazuki Takeishi
- Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Edgar N. Tafaleng
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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8
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Chunduri V, Maddi S. Role of in vitro two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems for ADME-Tox screening in drug discovery and development: a comprehensive review. ADMET & DMPK 2022; 11:1-32. [PMID: 36778905 PMCID: PMC9909725 DOI: 10.5599/admet.1513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Drug discovery and development have become a very time-consuming and expensive process. Preclinical animal models have become the gold standard for studying drug pharmacokinetic and toxicity parameters. However, the involvement of a huge number of animal subjects and inter-species pathophysiological variations between animals and humans has provoked a lot of debate, particularly because of ethical concerns. Although many efforts are being established by biotech and pharmaceutical companies for screening new chemical entities in vitro before preclinical trials, failures during clinical trials are still involved. Currently, a large number of two- dimensional (2D) in vitro assays have been developed and are being developed by researchers for the screening of compounds. Although these assays are helpful in screening a huge library of compounds and have shown perception, there is a significant lack in predicting human Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicology (ADME-Tox). As a result, these assays cannot completely replace animal models. The recent inventions in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture-based assays like organoids and micro-physiological systems have shown great potential alternative tools for predicting the compound pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic fate in humans. In this comprehensive review, we have summarized some of the most commonly used 2D in vitro assays and emphasized the achievements in next-generation 3D cell culture-based systems for predicting the compound ADME-Tox.
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9
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Almannai M, El-Hattab AW, Azamian MS, Ali M, Scaglia F. Mitochondrial DNA maintenance defects: potential therapeutic strategies. Mol Genet Metab 2022; 137:40-48. [PMID: 35914366 PMCID: PMC10401187 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication depends on the mitochondrial import of hundreds of nuclear encoded proteins that control the mitochondrial genome maintenance and integrity. Defects in these processes result in an expanding group of disorders called mtDNA maintenance defects that are characterized by mtDNA depletion and/or multiple mtDNA deletions with variable phenotypic manifestations. As it applies for mitochondrial disorders in general, current treatment options for mtDNA maintenance defects are limited. Lately, with the development of model organisms, improved understanding of the pathophysiology of these disorders, and a better knowledge of their natural history, the number of preclinical studies and existing and planned clinical trials has been increasing. In this review, we discuss recent preclinical studies and current and future clinical trials concerning potential therapeutic options for the different mtDNA maintenance defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Almannai
- Genetics and Precision Medicine Department (GPM), King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital (KASCH), King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNG-HA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayman W El-Hattab
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mahshid S Azamian
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - May Ali
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Fernando Scaglia
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Joint BCM-CUHK Center of Medical Genetics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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10
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Abstract
Mitochondrial hepatopathies are a subset of mitochondrial diseases defined by primary dysfunction of hepatocyte mitochondria leading to a phenotype of hepatocyte cell injury, steatosis, or liver failure. Increasingly, the diagnosis is established by new sequencing approaches that combine analysis of both nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA and allow for timely diagnosis in most patients. Despite advances in diagnostics, for most affected children their disorders are relentlessly progressive, and result in substantial morbidity and mortality. Treatment remains mainly supportive; however, novel therapeutics and a more definitive role for liver transplantation hold promise for affected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ayers
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Simon P Horslen
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Anna María Gómez
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - James E Squires
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
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11
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Blaszkiewicz J, Duncan SA. Advancements in Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery Using iPSC-Derived Hepatocyte-like Cells. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:573. [PMID: 35456379 PMCID: PMC9030659 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Serving as the metabolic hub of the human body, the liver is a vital organ that performs a variety of important physiological functions. Although known for its regenerative potential, it remains vulnerable to a variety of diseases. Despite decades of research, liver disease remains a leading cause of mortality in the United States with a multibillion-dollar-per-year economic burden. Prior research with model systems, such as primary hepatocytes and murine models, has provided many important discoveries. However, progress has been impaired by numerous obstacles associated with these models. In recent years, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based systems have emerged as advantageous platforms for studying liver disease. Benefits, including preserved differentiation and physiological function, amenability to genetic manipulation via tools such as CRISPR/Cas9, and availability for high-throughput screening, make these systems increasingly attractive for both mechanistic studies of disease and the identification of novel therapeutics. Although limitations exist, recent studies have made progress in ameliorating these issues. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in iPSC-based models of liver disease, including improvements in model system construction as well as the use of high-throughput screens for genetic studies and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen A. Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
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12
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Nomiyama T, Setoyama D, Yasukawa T, Kang D. Mitochondria Metabolomics Reveals a Role of β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Metabolism in Mitochondrial DNA Replication. J Biochem 2021; 171:325-338. [PMID: 34865026 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvab136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication is tightly regulated and necessary for cellular homeostasis; however, its relationship with mitochondrial metabolism remains unclear. Advances in metabolomics integrated with the rapid isolation of mitochondria will allow for remarkable progress in analyzing mitochondrial metabolism. Here, we propose a novel methodology for mitochondria-targeted metabolomics, which employs a quick isolation procedure using a hemolytic toxin from Streptococcus pyogenes streptolysin O (SLO). SLO-isolation of mitochondria from cultured HEK293 cells is time- and labor-saving for simultaneous multi-sample processing and has been applied to various other cell lines in this study. Furthermore, our method can detect the time-dependent reduction in mitochondrial ATP in response to a glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose, indicating the suitability to prepare metabolite analysis-competent mitochondria. Using this methodology, we searched for specific mitochondrial metabolites associated with mtDNA replication activation, and nucleotides and NAD+ were identified to be prominently altered. Most notably, treatment of β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (β-NMN), a precursor of NAD+, to HEK293 cells activated and improved the rate of mtDNA replication by increasing nucleotides in mitochondria and decreasing their degradation products: nucleosides. Our results suggest that β-NMN metabolism play a role in supporting mtDNA replication by maintaining the nucleotide pool balance in the mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Nomiyama
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Daiki Setoyama
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takehiro Yasukawa
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Dongchon Kang
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Fukuoka, Japan
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13
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Abstract
The possibility of reprogramming human somatic cells to pluripotency has opened unprecedented opportunities for creating genuinely human experimental models of disease. Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) constitute a greatly heterogeneous class of diseases that appear, in principle, especially suited to be modeled by iPSC-based technology. Indeed, dozens of IEMs have already been modeled to some extent using patient-specific iPSCs. Here, we review the advantages and disadvantages of iPSC-based disease modeling in the context of IEMs, as well as particular challenges associated to this approach, together with solutions researchers have proposed to tackle them. We have structured this review around six lessons that we have learnt from those previous modeling efforts, and that we believe should be carefully considered by researchers wishing to embark in future iPSC-based models of IEMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Escribá
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Program for Clinical Translation of Regenerative Medicine in Catalonia - P-[CMRC], L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research On Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Ferrer-Lorente
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Program for Clinical Translation of Regenerative Medicine in Catalonia - P-[CMRC], L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research On Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ángel Raya
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
- Program for Clinical Translation of Regenerative Medicine in Catalonia - P-[CMRC], L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research On Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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14
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Li Y, Yang X, Plummer R, Hayashi Y, Deng XS, Nie YZ, Taniguchi H. Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocyte-Like Cells and Organoids for Liver Disease and Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910471. [PMID: 34638810 PMCID: PMC8508923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is a global health issue that has caused an economic burden worldwide. Organ transplantation is the only effective therapy for end-stage liver disease; however, it has been hampered by a shortage of donors. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have been widely used for studying liver biology and pathology as well as facilitating the development of alternative therapies. hPSCs can differentiate into multiple types of cells, which enables the generation of various models that can be applied to investigate and recapitulate a range of biological activities in vitro. Here, we summarize the recent development of hPSC-derived hepatocytes and their applications in disease modeling, cell therapy, and drug discovery. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of these applications and critical challenges for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan; (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (R.P.); (Y.H.); (X.-S.D.)
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Xia Yang
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan; (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (R.P.); (Y.H.); (X.-S.D.)
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Richie Plummer
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan; (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (R.P.); (Y.H.); (X.-S.D.)
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Yoshihito Hayashi
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan; (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (R.P.); (Y.H.); (X.-S.D.)
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Xiao-Shan Deng
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan; (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (R.P.); (Y.H.); (X.-S.D.)
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Yun-Zhong Nie
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan; (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (R.P.); (Y.H.); (X.-S.D.)
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Kanagawa, Japan
- Correspondence: (Y.-Z.N.); (H.T.); Tel.: +81-03-5449-5698 (H.T.)
| | - Hideki Taniguchi
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan; (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (R.P.); (Y.H.); (X.-S.D.)
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Kanagawa, Japan
- Correspondence: (Y.-Z.N.); (H.T.); Tel.: +81-03-5449-5698 (H.T.)
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15
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Oxygen as a Master Regulator of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Function and Metabolism. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11090905. [PMID: 34575682 PMCID: PMC8466012 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11090905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer numerous possibilities in science and medicine, particularly when combined with precise genome editing methods. hiPSCs are artificially generated equivalents of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), which possess an unlimited ability to self-renew and the potential to differentiate into any cell type of the human body. Importantly, generating patient-specific hiPSCs enables personalized drug testing or autologous cell therapy upon differentiation into a desired cell line. However, to ensure the highest standard of hiPSC-based biomedical products, their safety and reliability need to be proved. One of the key factors influencing human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) characteristics and function is oxygen concentration in their microenvironment. In recent years, emerging data have pointed toward the beneficial effect of low oxygen pressure (hypoxia) on both hiPSCs and hESCs. In this review, we examine the state-of-the-art research on the oxygen impact on hiPSC functions and activity with an emphasis on their niche, metabolic state, reprogramming efficiency, and differentiation potential. We also discuss the similarities and differences between PSCs and cancer stem cells (CSCs) with respect to the role of oxygen in both cell types.
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16
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McKnight CL, Low YC, Elliott DA, Thorburn DR, Frazier AE. Modelling Mitochondrial Disease in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: What Have We Learned? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7730. [PMID: 34299348 PMCID: PMC8306397 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial diseases disrupt cellular energy production and are among the most complex group of inherited genetic disorders. Affecting approximately 1 in 5000 live births, they are both clinically and genetically heterogeneous, and can be highly tissue specific, but most often affect cell types with high energy demands in the brain, heart, and kidneys. There are currently no clinically validated treatment options available, despite several agents showing therapeutic promise. However, modelling these disorders is challenging as many non-human models of mitochondrial disease do not completely recapitulate human phenotypes for known disease genes. Additionally, access to disease-relevant cell or tissue types from patients is often limited. To overcome these difficulties, many groups have turned to human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to model mitochondrial disease for both nuclear-DNA (nDNA) and mitochondrial-DNA (mtDNA) contexts. Leveraging the capacity of hPSCs to differentiate into clinically relevant cell types, these models permit both detailed investigation of cellular pathomechanisms and validation of promising treatment options. Here we catalogue hPSC models of mitochondrial disease that have been generated to date, summarise approaches and key outcomes of phenotypic profiling using these models, and discuss key criteria to guide future investigations using hPSC models of mitochondrial disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron L. McKnight
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.L.M.); (Y.C.L.); (D.A.E.); (D.R.T.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Yau Chung Low
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.L.M.); (Y.C.L.); (D.A.E.); (D.R.T.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - David A. Elliott
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.L.M.); (Y.C.L.); (D.A.E.); (D.R.T.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - David R. Thorburn
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.L.M.); (Y.C.L.); (D.A.E.); (D.R.T.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ann E. Frazier
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.L.M.); (Y.C.L.); (D.A.E.); (D.R.T.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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17
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Zhang L, Pu K, Liu X, Bae SDW, Nguyen R, Bai S, Li Y, Qiao L. The Application of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Against Liver Diseases: An Update and a Review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:644594. [PMID: 34277651 PMCID: PMC8280311 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.644594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases are a major health concern globally, and are associated with poor survival and prognosis of patients. This creates the need for patients to accept the main alternative treatment of liver transplantation to prevent progression to end-stage liver disease. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms underpinning complex liver diseases and their pathology is an emerging goal of stem cell scope. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived from somatic cells are a promising alternative approach to the treatment of liver disease, and a prospective model for studying complex liver diseases. Here, we review hiPSC technology of cell reprogramming and differentiation, and discuss the potential application of hiPSC-derived liver cells, such as hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, in refractory liver-disease modeling and treatment, and drug screening and toxicity testing. We also consider hiPSC safety in clinical applications, based on genomic and epigenetic alterations, tumorigenicity, and immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ke Pu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Sarah Da Won Bae
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney at Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Romario Nguyen
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney at Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Suyang Bai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Liang Qiao
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney at Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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18
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Guo J, Duan L, He X, Li S, Wu Y, Xiang G, Bao F, Yang L, Shi H, Gao M, Zheng L, Hu H, Liu X. A Combined Model of Human iPSC-Derived Liver Organoids and Hepatocytes Reveals Ferroptosis in DGUOK Mutant mtDNA Depletion Syndrome. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2004680. [PMID: 34026460 PMCID: PMC8132052 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDS) is a group of severe inherited disorders caused by mutations in genes, such as deoxyribonucleoside kinase (DGUOK). A great majority of DGUOK mutant MDS patients develop iron overload progressing to severe liver failure. However, the pathological mechanisms connecting iron overload and hepatic damage remains uncovered. Here, two patients' skin fibroblasts are reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and then corrected by CRISPR/Cas9. Patient-specific iPSCs and corrected iPSCs-derived high purity hepatocyte organoids (iHep-Orgs) and hepatocyte-like cells (iHep) are generated as cellular models for studying hepatic pathology. DGUOK mutant iHep and iHep-Orgs, but not control and corrected one, are more sensitive to iron overload-induced ferroptosis, which can be rescued by N-Acetylcysteine (NAC). Mechanically, this ferroptosis is a process mediated by nuclear receptor co-activator 4 (NCOA4)-dependent degradation of ferritin in lysosome and cellular labile iron release. This study reveals the underlying pathological mechanisms and the viable therapeutic strategies of this syndrome, and is the first pure iHep-Orgs model in hereditary liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Guo
- University of Science and Technology of ChinaBioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)Joint School of Life SciencesGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou Medical UniversityHefei230026China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Lifan Duan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Xueying He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Shengbiao Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Yi Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Ge Xiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Feixiang Bao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Liang Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Hongyan Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Mi Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Lingjun Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
| | - Huili Hu
- The Key Laboratory of Experimental TeratologyMinistry of Education and Department of GeneticsSchool of Basic Medical SciencesShandong UniversityJinan250012China
| | - Xingguo Liu
- University of Science and Technology of ChinaBioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)Joint School of Life SciencesGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou Medical UniversityHefei230026China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative BiologyGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute for Stem Cell and RegenerationGuangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530China
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19
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Transcriptome analysis reveals brown adipogenic reprogramming in chemical compound-induced brown adipocytes converted from human dermal fibroblasts. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5061. [PMID: 33658606 PMCID: PMC7930091 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84611-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Brown adipogenesis contributes to controlling systemic energy balance by enhancing glucose and lipid consumptions. We have previously reported chemical compound-induced brown adipocytes (ciBAs) directly converted from human dermal fibroblasts using a serum-free medium. In this study, genome-wide transcriptional analysis was performed in ciBAs in comparison with the control fibroblasts. A broad range of integrated gene expression was enhanced in functional groups including tricarboxylic acid cycle, electron transfer chain, triglycerides metabolism, fatty acid and glucose metabolism, and adaptive thermogenesis. The results suggested that the chemical conversion underwent metabolic and mitochondrial reprogramming closely associated with functions in brown/beige adipocytes. Moreover, we also compared the transcriptional changes to those of adipocyte browning in adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs). Transcriptome analysis indicated that the same sets of metabolic and mitochondria-related genes were similarly changed in the adipocyte browning. Interestingly, ciBAs more expressed Ucp1, while AdMSC-derived adipocytes predominantly expressed Ucp2. UCP1 protein was also more expressed in ciBAs than in AdMSC-derived adipocytes. Based on the evidence that UCP1, but not UCP2, is responsible for adrenergic thermogenesis, ciBAs could be a promising model for human beige adipocytes applicable for basic research, drug development, and clinical uses.
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20
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Vanden Avond MA, Meng H, Beatka MJ, Helbling DC, Prom MJ, Sutton JL, Slick RA, Dimmock DP, Pertusati F, Serpi M, Pileggi E, Crutcher P, Thomas S, Lawlor MW. The nucleotide prodrug CERC-913 improves mtDNA content in primary hepatocytes from DGUOK-deficient rats. J Inherit Metab Dis 2021; 44:492-501. [PMID: 33368311 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in the deoxyguanosine kinase (DGUOK) gene result in a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion syndrome. DGUOK plays an important role in converting deoxyribonucleosides to deoxyribonucleoside monophosphates via the salvage pathway for mtDNA synthesis. DGUOK deficiency manifests predominantly in the liver; the most common cause of death is liver failure within the first year of life and no therapeutic options are currently available. in vitro supplementation with deoxyguanosine or deoxyguanosine monophosphate (dGMP) were reported to rescue mtDNA depletion in DGUOK-deficient, patient-derived fibroblasts and myoblasts. CERC-913, a novel ProTide prodrug of dGMP, was designed to bypass defective DGUOK while improving permeability and stability relative to nucleoside monophosphates. To evaluate CERC-913 for its ability to rescue mtDNA depletion, we developed a primary hepatocyte culture model using liver tissue from DGUOK-deficient rats. DGUOK knockout rat hepatocyte cultures exhibit severely reduced mtDNA copy number (~10%) relative to wild type by qPCR and mtDNA content remains stable for up to 8 days in culture. CERC-913 increased mtDNA content in DGUOK-deficient hepatocytes up to 2.4-fold after 4 days of treatment in a dose-dependent fashion, which was significantly more effective than dGMP at similar concentrations. These early results suggest primary hepatocyte culture is a useful model for the study of mtDNA depletion syndromes and that CERC-913 treatment can improve mtDNA content in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Vanden Avond
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Hui Meng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Margaret J Beatka
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Daniel C Helbling
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mariah J Prom
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jessica L Sutton
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Rebecca A Slick
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David P Dimmock
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Fabrizio Pertusati
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Michaela Serpi
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Elisa Pileggi
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | | | - Michael W Lawlor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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21
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Oliveira AG, Fiorotto R. Novel approaches to liver disease diagnosis and modeling. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 6:19. [PMID: 33824923 PMCID: PMC7829068 DOI: 10.21037/tgh-20-109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lack of a prompt and accurate diagnosis remains on top of the list of challenges faced by patients with rare liver diseases. Although rare liver diseases affect a significant percentage of the population as a group, when taken singularly they represent unique diseases and the approaches used for diagnosis of common liver diseases are insufficient. However, the development of new methods for the acquisition of molecular and clinical data (i.e., genomic, proteomics, metabolomics) and computational tools for their analysis and integration, together with advances in modeling diseases using stem cell-based technology [i.e., induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and tissue organoids] represent a promising and powerful tool to improve the clinical management of these patients. This is the goal of precision medicine, a novel approach of modern medicine that aims at delivering a specific treatment based on disease-specific biological insights and individual profile. This review will discuss the application and advances of these technologies and how they represent a new opportunity in hepatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- André G. Oliveira
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Romina Fiorotto
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
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22
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Sang L, He YJ, Kang J, Ye H, Bai W, Luo XD, Sun J. Mitochondrial Deoxyguanosine Kinase Regulates NAD + Biogenesis Independent of Mitochondria Complex I Activity. Front Oncol 2020; 10:570656. [PMID: 33392072 PMCID: PMC7775518 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.570656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of DGUOK promotes mitochondria oxidative phosphorylation and lung adenocarcinoma progression. However, the role and mechanism of DGUOK in regulation of mitochondria function and lung cancer progression still poorly understood. Here we demonstrated that DGUOK regulated NAD+ biogenesis. Depletion of the DGUOK significantly decreased NAD+ level. Furthermore, knockout of the DGUOK considerably reduced expression of the NMNAT2, a key molecule controlling NAD+ synthesis, at both mRNA and protein levels. Ectopic expression of the NMNAT2 abrogated the effect of knockdown of DGUOK on NAD+. Notably, this regulation is independent of DGUOK -mediated mitochondria complex I activity. We also showed that NMNAT2 was highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma and negatively correlated with the patient overall survival. Our study suggested that DGUOK regulates NAD+ in a NMNAT2 dependent manner and DGUOK-NMNAT2-NAD+ axis could be a potential therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Sang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Ying-Jie He
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jiaxin Kang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Hongyi Ye
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Weiyu Bai
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Luo
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jianwei Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
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Parafati M, Bae SH, Kirby RJ, Fitzek M, Iyer P, Engkvist O, Smith DM, Malany S. Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocytes Phenotypic Screening Reveals Small Molecules Targeting the CDK2/4-C/EBPα/DGAT2 Pathway Preventing ER-Stress Induced Lipid Accumulation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249557. [PMID: 33334026 PMCID: PMC7765409 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a large impact on global health. At the onset of disease, NAFLD is characterized by hepatic steatosis defined by the accumulation of triglycerides stored as lipid droplets. Developing therapeutics against NAFLD and progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains a high priority in the medical and scientific community. Drug discovery programs to identify potential therapeutic compounds have supported high throughput/high-content screening of in vitro human-relevant models of NAFLD to accelerate development of efficacious anti-steatotic medicines. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology is a powerful platform for disease modeling and therapeutic assessment for cell-based therapy and personalized medicine. In this study, we applied AstraZeneca’s chemogenomic library, hiPSC technology and multiplexed high content screening to identify compounds that significantly reduced intracellular neutral lipid content. Among 13,000 compounds screened, we identified hits that protect against hiPSC-derived hepatic endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced steatosis by a mechanism of action including inhibition of the cyclin D3-cyclin-dependent kinase 2-4 (CDK2-4)/CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPα)/diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) pathway, followed by alteration of the expression of downstream genes related to NAFLD. These findings demonstrate that our phenotypic platform provides a reliable approach in drug discovery, to identify novel drugs for treatment of fatty liver disease as well as to elucidate their underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Parafati
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.P.); (S.H.B.)
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
| | - Sang Hyo Bae
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.P.); (S.H.B.)
| | - R. Jason Kirby
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
| | - Martina Fitzek
- Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK;
| | - Preeti Iyer
- Molecular AI, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, 431 83 Mölndal, Sweden; (P.I.); (O.E.)
| | - Ola Engkvist
- Molecular AI, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, 431 83 Mölndal, Sweden; (P.I.); (O.E.)
| | - David M. Smith
- Emerging Innovations Unit, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge SG8 6HB, UK;
| | - Siobhan Malany
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.P.); (S.H.B.)
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +352-273-6400
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Barcelos I, Shadiack E, Ganetzky RD, Falk MJ. Mitochondrial medicine therapies: rationale, evidence, and dosing guidelines. Curr Opin Pediatr 2020; 32:707-718. [PMID: 33105273 PMCID: PMC7774245 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000000954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Primary mitochondrial disease is a highly heterogeneous but collectively common inherited metabolic disorder, affecting at least one in 4300 individuals. Therapeutic management of mitochondrial disease typically involves empiric prescription of enzymatic cofactors, antioxidants, and amino acid and other nutrient supplements, based on biochemical reasoning, historical experience, and consensus expert opinion. As the field continues to rapidly advance, we review here the preclinical and clinical evidence, and specific dosing guidelines, for common mitochondrial medicine therapies to guide practitioners in their prescribing practices. RECENT FINDINGS Since publication of Mitochondrial Medicine Society guidelines for mitochondrial medicine therapies management in 2009, data has emerged to support consideration for using additional therapeutic agents and discontinuation of several previously used agents. Preclinical animal modeling data have indicated a lack of efficacy for vitamin C as an antioxidant for primary mitochondrial disease, but provided strong evidence for vitamin E and N-acetylcysteine. Clinical data have suggested L-carnitine may accelerate atherosclerotic disease. Long-term follow up on L-arginine use as prophylaxis against or acute treatment for metabolic strokes has provided more data supporting its clinical use in individuals with mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome and Leigh syndrome. Further, several precision therapies have been developed for specific molecular causes and/or shared clinical phenotypes of primary mitochondrial disease. SUMMARY We provide a comprehensive update on mitochondrial medicine therapies based on current evidence and our single-center clinical experience to support or refute their use, and provide detailed dosing guidelines, for the clinical management of mitochondrial disease. The overarching goal of empiric mitochondrial medicines is to utilize therapies with favorable benefit-to-risk profiles that may stabilize and enhance residual metabolic function to improve cellular resiliency and slow clinical disease progression and/or prevent acute decompensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Barcelos
- Center for Applied Genomics, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edward Shadiack
- Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rebecca D. Ganetzky
- Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Marni J. Falk
- Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Munroe M, Niero EL, Fok WC, Vessoni AT, Jeong H, Brenner KA, Batista LFZ. Telomere Dysfunction Activates p53 and Represses HNF4α Expression Leading to Impaired Human Hepatocyte Development and Function. Hepatology 2020; 72:1412-1429. [PMID: 32516515 PMCID: PMC7693115 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Telomere attrition is a major risk factor for end-stage liver disease. Due to a lack of adequate models and intrinsic difficulties in studying telomerase in physiologically relevant cells, the molecular mechanisms responsible for liver disease in patients with telomere syndromes remain elusive. To circumvent that, we used genome editing to generate isogenic human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) harboring clinically relevant mutations in telomerase and subjected them to an in vitro, stage-specific hepatocyte differentiation protocol that resembles hepatocyte development in vivo. APPROACH AND RESULTS Using this platform, we observed that while telomerase is highly expressed in hESCs, it is quickly silenced, specifically due to telomerase reverse transcriptase component (TERT) down-regulation, immediately after endoderm differentiation and completely absent in in vitro-derived hepatocytes, similar to what is observed in human primary hepatocytes. While endoderm derivation is not impacted by telomere shortening, progressive telomere dysfunction impaired hepatic endoderm formation. Consequently, hepatocyte derivation, as measured by expression of specific hepatic markers as well by albumin expression and secretion, is severely compromised in telomerase mutant cells with short telomeres. Interestingly, this phenotype was not caused by cell death induction or senescence. Rather, telomere shortening prevents the up-regulation and activation of human hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) in a p53-dependent manner. Both reactivation of telomerase and silencing of p53 rescued hepatocyte formation in telomerase mutants. Likewise, the conditional expression (doxycycline-controlled) of HNF4α, even in cells that retained short telomeres, accrued DNA damage, and exhibited p53 stabilization, successfully restored hepatocyte formation from hESCS. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that telomere dysfunction acts as a major regulator of HNF4α during hepatocyte development, pointing to a target in the treatment of liver disease in telomere-syndrome patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Munroe
- Department of MedicineWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMO
| | | | - Wilson Chun Fok
- Department of MedicineWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMO
| | | | - Ho‐Chang Jeong
- Department of MedicineWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMO
| | - Kirsten Ann Brenner
- Department of MedicineWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMO
- Present address:
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMI
| | - Luis Francisco Zirnberger Batista
- Department of MedicineWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMO
- Department of Developmental BiologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMO
- Center of Regenerative MedicineWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMO
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iPSC-Derived Liver Organoids: A Journey from Drug Screening, to Disease Modeling, Arriving to Regenerative Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176215. [PMID: 32867371 PMCID: PMC7503935 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation is the most common treatment for patients suffering from liver failure that is caused by congenital diseases, infectious agents, and environmental factors. Despite a high rate of patient survival following transplantation, organ availability remains the key limiting factor. As such, research has focused on the transplantation of different cell types that are capable of repopulating and restoring liver function. The best cellular mix capable of engrafting and proliferating over the long-term, as well as the optimal immunosuppression regimens, remain to be clearly well-defined. Hence, alternative strategies in the field of regenerative medicine have been explored. Since the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) that have the potential of differentiating into a broad spectrum of cell types, many studies have reported the achievement of iPSCs differentiation into liver cells, such as hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, endothelial cells, and Kupffer cells. In parallel, an increasing interest in the study of self-assemble or matrix-guided three-dimensional (3D) organoids have paved the way for functional bioartificial livers. In this review, we will focus on the recent breakthroughs in the development of iPSCs-based liver organoids and the major drawbacks and challenges that need to be overcome for the development of future applications.
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De Masi C, Spitalieri P, Murdocca M, Novelli G, Sangiuolo F. Application of CRISPR/Cas9 to human-induced pluripotent stem cells: from gene editing to drug discovery. Hum Genomics 2020; 14:25. [PMID: 32591003 PMCID: PMC7318728 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-020-00276-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system represent two instruments of basic and translational research, which both allow to acquire deep insight about the molecular bases of many diseases but also to develop pharmacological research.This review is focused to draw up the latest technique of gene editing applied on hiPSCs, exploiting some of the genetic manipulation directed to the discovery of innovative therapeutic strategies. There are many expediencies provided by the use of hiPSCs, which can represent a disease model clinically relevant and predictive, with a great potential if associated to CRISPR/Cas9 technology, a gene editing tool powered by ease and precision never seen before.Here, we describe the possible applications of CRISPR/Cas9 to hiPSCs: from drug development to drug screening and from gene therapy to the induction of the immunological response to specific virus infection, such as HIV and SARS-Cov-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia De Masi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Spitalieri
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Murdocca
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Sangiuolo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
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28
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Liu JT, Corbett JL, Heslop JA, Duncan SA. Enhanced genome editing in human iPSCs with CRISPR-CAS9 by co-targeting ATP1a1. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9060. [PMID: 32391204 PMCID: PMC7197401 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome editing in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provides the potential for disease modeling and cell therapy. By generating iPSCs with specific mutations, researchers can differentiate the modified cells to their lineage of interest for further investigation. However, the low efficiency of targeting in iPSCs has hampered the application of genome editing. In this study we used a CRISPR-Cas9 system that introduces a specific point substitution into the sequence of the Na+/K+-ATPase subunit ATP1A1. The introduced mutation confers resistance to cardiac glycosides, which can then be used to select successfully targeted cells. Using this system, we introduced different formats of donor DNA for homology-directed repair (HDR), including single-strand DNAs, double-strand DNAs, and plasmid donors. We achieved a 35-fold increase in HDR when using plasmid donor with a 400 bp repair template. We further co-targeted ATP1A1 and a second locus of interest to determine the enrichment of mutagenesis after cardiac glycoside selection. Through this approach, INDEL rate was increased after cardiac glycoside treatment, while HDR enrichment was only observed at certain loci. Collectively, these results suggest that a plasmid donor with a 400 bp repair template is an optimal donor DNA for targeted substitution and co-targeting ATP1A1 with the second locus enriches for mutagenesis events through cardiac glycoside selection in human iPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Tung Liu
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
| | - James L Corbett
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
| | - James A Heslop
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
| | - Stephen A Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
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29
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Cotovio JP, Fernandes TG. Production of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatic Cell Lineages and Liver Organoids: Current Status and Potential Applications. Bioengineering (Basel) 2020; 7:E36. [PMID: 32283585 PMCID: PMC7356351 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering7020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, leading to the death of approximately 2 million people per year. Current therapies include orthotopic liver transplantation, however, donor organ shortage remains a great challenge. In addition, the development of novel therapeutics has been limited due to the lack of in vitro models that mimic in vivo liver physiology. Accordingly, hepatic cell lineages derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represent a promising cell source for liver cell therapy, disease modelling, and drug discovery. Moreover, the development of new culture systems bringing together the multiple liver-specific hepatic cell types triggered the development of hPSC-derived liver organoids. Therefore, these human liver-based platforms hold great potential for clinical applications. In this review, the production of the different hepatic cell lineages from hPSCs, including hepatocytes, as well as the emerging strategies to generate hPSC-derived liver organoids will be assessed, while current biomedical applications will be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiago G. Fernandes
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal;
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30
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A developed serum-free medium and an optimized chemical cocktail for direct conversion of human dermal fibroblasts into brown adipocytes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3775. [PMID: 32111895 PMCID: PMC7048747 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60769-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Brown adipocytes coordinate systemic energy metabolism associated with the pathogenesis of obesity and related metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes. We have previously reported chemical compound-induced brown adipocytes (ciBAs) converted from human dermal fibroblasts without using transgenes. In this study, to reveal a precise molecular mechanism underlying the direct conversion and human adipocyte browning, we developed serum-free brown adipogenic medium (SFBAM) with an optimized chemical cocktail consisting of Rosiglitazone, Forskolin, and BMP7. During the direct conversion, treatment with BMP7 enhanced Ucp1 expression rather than the conversion efficiency in the absence of BMP signalling inhibitors. Moreover, treatment with a TGF-β signalling pathway inhibitor was no longer required in the serum-free medium, likely because the TGF-β pathway was already suppressed. SFBAM and the chemical cocktail efficiently converted human dermal fibroblasts into ciBAs within four weeks. The ciBAs exhibited increased mitochondrial levels, elevated oxygen consumption rate, and a response to β-adrenergic receptor agonists. Thus the ciBAs converted by the serum-free medium and the chemical cocktail provide a novel model of human brown (beige) adipocytes applicable for basic research, drug screening, and clinical applications.
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31
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Hu SY, Zhuang QQ, Qiu Y, Zhu XF, Yan QF. Cell models and drug discovery for mitochondrial diseases. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2019; 20:449-456. [PMID: 31090270 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b1900196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrion is a semi-autonomous organelle, important for cell energy metabolism, apoptosis, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and Ca2+ homeostasis. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation is one of the primary factors in mitochondrial disorders. Though much progress has been made, there remain many difficulties in constructing cell models for mitochondrial diseases. This seriously restricts studies related to targeted drug discovery and the mechanism and therapy for such diseases. Here we summarize the characteristics of patient-specific immortalized lymphoblastoid cells, fibroblastoid cells, cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) cell lines, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived differentiation cells in the study of mitochondrial disorders, as well as offering discussion of roles and advances of these cell models, particularly in the screening of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Yi Hu
- Institute of Genetics and Regenerative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qian-Qian Zhuang
- Institute of Genetics and Regenerative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yue Qiu
- Institute of Genetics and Regenerative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xu-Fen Zhu
- Institute of Genetics and Regenerative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qing-Feng Yan
- Institute of Genetics and Regenerative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.,Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310058, China
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32
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Ishihara G, Kawamoto K, Komori N, Ishibashi T. Molecular hydrogen suppresses superoxide generation in the mitochondrial complex I and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 522:965-970. [PMID: 31810604 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.11.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Molecular hydrogen (H2) is recognized as a medical gas applicable to numerous diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and rheumatoid arthritis. Although the efficacy of H2 is reportedly attributed to its scavenging capability against the hydroxyl radical, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic efficacy are not fully understood. Herein, we estimated the role of H2 in the energy converting system of the mitochondria, the source of reactive oxygen species. To investigate the effects of H2 on mitochondrial function, direction of electron flow, superoxide generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential were investigated. Forward electron transport (FET) or reverse electron transport (RET) was assessed by monitoring the decrease or increase of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrate (NADH, - or +, μM, respectively) in the presence of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and/or succinate in the isolated mitochondria. H2O2 converted from superoxide by superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured to estimate electron leakage in the mitochondria. The effects of H2 on mitochondrial membrane potential were observed by staining cells with the fluorescence probe, teramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE). Despite the absence of succinate, a distinct RET was observed (from +0.0313 ± 0.0106 μM to +1.20 ± 0.302 μM) by adding 25 μM H2. In the presence of 5 μM NADH, RET by succinate inverted to FET from +1.62 ± 0.358 μM to -1.83 ± 0.191 μM, accompanied by a suppression of superoxide generated predominantly from complex I by 51.1%. H2 solely reduced mitochondrial membrane potential of the cultured cells by 11.3% as assessed by TMRE. The direction of electron flow was altered by H2 depending on the NAD+/NADH ratio, accompanied by suppression of superoxide generation H2 could suppress superoxide generation in complex I in vitro and reduce membrane potential in vivo. H2 may also neutralize semiquinone radicals to reduce superoxide produced in complex III. H2 may function as a rectifier of the electron flow affecting the mitochondrial membrane potential to suppress oxidative damage in mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genki Ishihara
- Anicom Specialty Medical Institute, Sumitomofudosan-Nishishinnjuku-Grand-tower-39F, 8-17-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 161-0023, Japan.
| | - Kosuke Kawamoto
- Anicom Specialty Medical Institute, Sumitomofudosan-Nishishinnjuku-Grand-tower-39F, 8-17-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 161-0023, Japan.
| | - Nobuaki Komori
- Anicom Specialty Medical Institute, Sumitomofudosan-Nishishinnjuku-Grand-tower-39F, 8-17-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 161-0023, Japan.
| | - Toru Ishibashi
- Anicom Specialty Medical Institute, Sumitomofudosan-Nishishinnjuku-Grand-tower-39F, 8-17-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 161-0023, Japan.
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33
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Corbett JL, Duncan SA. iPSC-Derived Hepatocytes as a Platform for Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:265. [PMID: 31803747 PMCID: PMC6873655 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is one of the largest organs in the body and is responsible for a diverse repertoire of metabolic processes. Such processes include the secretion of serum proteins, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, bile acid and urea synthesis, detoxification of drugs and metabolic waste products, and vitamin and carbohydrate storage. Currently, liver disease is one of the most prevalent causes of mortality in the USA with congenital liver defects contributing to a significant proportion of these deaths. Historically the study of liver disease has been hampered by a shortage of organ donors, the subsequent scarcity of healthy tissue, and the failure of animal models to fully recapitulate human liver function. In vitro culture of hepatocytes has also proven difficult because primary hepatocytes rapidly de-differentiate in culture. Recent advances in stem cell technology have facilitated the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from various somatic cell types from patients. Such cells can be differentiated to a liver cell fate, essentially providing a limitless supply of cells with hepatocyte characteristics that can mimic the pathophysiology of liver disease. Furthermore, development of the CRISPR-Cas9 system, as well as advancement of miniaturized differentiation platforms has facilitated the development of high throughput models for the investigation of hepatocyte differentiation and drug discovery. In this review, we will explore the latest advances in iPSC-based disease modeling and drug screening platforms and examine how this technology is being used to identify new pharmacological interventions, and to advance our understanding of liver development and mechanisms of disease. We will cover how iPSC technology is being used to develop predictive models for rare diseases and how information gained from large in vitro screening experiments can be used to directly inform clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen A. Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
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34
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Wang Y, Tatham MH, Schmidt-Heck W, Swann C, Singh-Dolt K, Meseguer-Ripolles J, Lucendo-Villarin B, Kunath T, Rudd TR, Smith AJH, Hengstler JG, Godoy P, Hay RT, Hay DC. Multiomics Analyses of HNF4α Protein Domain Function during Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation. iScience 2019; 16:206-217. [PMID: 31185456 PMCID: PMC6556878 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
During mammalian development, liver differentiation is driven by signals that converge on multiple transcription factor networks. The hepatocyte nuclear factor signaling network is known to be essential for hepatocyte specification and maintenance. In this study, we have generated deletion and point mutants of hepatocyte nuclear factor-4alpha (HNF4α) to precisely evaluate the function of protein domains during hepatocyte specification from human pluripotent stem cells. We demonstrate that nuclear HNF4α is essential for hepatic progenitor specification, and the introduction of point mutations in HNF4α's Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) consensus motif leads to disrupted hepatocyte differentiation. Taking a multiomics approach, we identified key deficiencies in cell biology, which included dysfunctional metabolism, substrate adhesion, tricarboxylic acid cycle flux, microRNA transport, and mRNA processing. In summary, the combination of genome editing and multiomics analyses has provided valuable insight into the diverse functions of HNF4α during pluripotent stem cell entry into the hepatic lineage and during hepatocellular differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Michael H Tatham
- Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Wolfgang Schmidt-Heck
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology eV-Hans-Knoll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Carolyn Swann
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (MHRA), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Karamjit Singh-Dolt
- Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Jose Meseguer-Ripolles
- Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Baltasar Lucendo-Villarin
- Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Tilo Kunath
- Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Timothy R Rudd
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (MHRA), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Andrew J H Smith
- Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- IfADo-Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Patricio Godoy
- IfADo-Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ronald T Hay
- Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - David C Hay
- Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4UU, UK.
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