1
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Yang X, Delsante M, Daneshpajouhnejad P, Fenaroli P, Mandell KP, Wang X, Takahashi S, Halushka MK, Kopp JB, Levi M, Rosenberg AZ. Bile Acid Receptor Agonist Reverses Transforming Growth Factor-β1-Mediated Fibrogenesis in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Kidney Organoids. J Transl Med 2024; 104:100336. [PMID: 38266922 DOI: 10.1016/j.labinv.2024.100336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease progresses through the replacement of functional tissue compartments with fibrosis, a maladaptive repair process. Shifting kidney repair toward a physiologically intact architecture, rather than fibrosis, is key to blocking chronic kidney disease progression. Much research into the mechanisms of fibrosis is performed in rodent models with less attention to the human genetic context. Recently, human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived organoids have shown promise in overcoming the limitation. In this study, we developed a fibrosis model that uses human iPSC-based 3-dimensional renal organoids, in which exogenous transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induced the production of extracellular matrix. TGF-β1-treated organoids showed tubulocentric collagen 1α1 production by regulating downstream transcriptional regulators, Farnesoid X receptor, phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (p-SMAD3), and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Increased nuclear TAZ expression was confirmed in the tubular epithelium in human kidney biopsies with tubular injury and early fibrosis. A dual bile acid receptor agonist (INT-767) increased Farnesoid X receptor and reduced p-SMAD3 and TAZ, attenuating TGF-β1-induced fibrosis in kidney organoids. Finally, we show that TAZ interacted with TEA-domain transcription factors and p-SMAD3 with TAZ and TEA-domain transcription factor 4 coregulating collagen 1α1 gene transcription. In summary, we establish a novel, readily manipulable fibrogenesis model and posit a role for bile acid receptor agonism early in renal parenchymal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoping Yang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Marco Delsante
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Scuola di Specializione in Nefrologia, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Paride Fenaroli
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Scuola di Specializione in Nefrologia, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Xiaoxin Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Shogo Takahashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Marc K Halushka
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jeffrey B Kopp
- Kidney Disease Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Moshe Levi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Avi Z Rosenberg
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
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2
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Hu C, Yang S, Zhang T, Ge Y, Chen Z, Zhang J, Pu Y, Liang G. Organoids and organoids-on-a-chip as the new testing strategies for environmental toxicology-applications & advantages. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 184:108415. [PMID: 38309193 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
An increasing number of harmful environmental factors are causing serious impacts on human health, and there is an urgent need to accurately identify the toxic effects and mechanisms of these harmful environmental factors. However, traditional toxicity test methods (e.g., animal models and cell lines) often fail to provide accurate results. Fortunately, organoids differentiated from stem cells can more accurately, sensitively and specifically reflect the effects of harmful environmental factors on the human body. They are also suitable for specific studies and are frequently used in environmental toxicology nowadays. As a combination of organoids and organ-on-a-chip technology, organoids-on-a-chip has great potential in environmental toxicology. It is more controllable to the physicochemical microenvironment and is not easy to be contaminated. It has higher homogeneity in the size and shape of organoids. In addition, it can achieve vascularization and exchange the nutrients and metabolic wastes in time. Multi-organoids-chip can also simulate the interactions of different organs. These advantages can facilitate better function and maturity of organoids, which can also make up for the shortcomings of common organoids to a certain extent. This review firstly discussed the limitations of traditional toxicology testing platforms, leading to the introduction of new platforms: organoids and organoids-on-a-chip. Next, the applications of different organoids and organoids-on-a-chip in environmental toxicology were summarized and prospected. Since the advantages of the new platforms have not been sufficiently considered in previous literature, we particularly emphasized them. Finally, this review also summarized the opportunities and challenges faced by organoids and organoids-on-a-chip, with the expectation that readers will gain a deeper understanding of their value in the field of environmental toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyu Hu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China; Institute of Biomaterials and Medical Devices, Southeast University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215163, China
| | - Sheng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China; Institute of Biomaterials and Medical Devices, Southeast University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215163, China
| | - Tianyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China; Institute of Biomaterials and Medical Devices, Southeast University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215163, China
| | - Yiling Ge
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China; Institute of Biomaterials and Medical Devices, Southeast University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215163, China
| | - Zaozao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China; Institute of Biomaterials and Medical Devices, Southeast University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215163, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Yuepu Pu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Geyu Liang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
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3
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Mboni-Johnston IM, Kouidrat NMZ, Hirsch C, Weber AG, Meißner A, Adjaye J, Schupp N. Sensitivity of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Thereof Differentiated Kidney Proximal Tubular Cells towards Selected Nephrotoxins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:81. [PMID: 38203251 PMCID: PMC10779191 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010081] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) are constantly exposed to potentially toxic metabolites and xenobiotics. The regenerative potential of the kidney enables the replacement of damaged cells either via the differentiation of stem cells or the re-acquisition of proliferative properties of the PTEC. Nevertheless, it is known that renal function declines, suggesting that the deteriorated cells are not replaced by fully functional cells. To understand the possible causes of this loss of kidney cell function, it is crucial to understand the role of toxins during the regeneration process. Therefore, we investigated the sensitivity and function of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), hiPSC differentiating, and hiPSC differentiated into proximal tubular epithelial-like cells (PTELC) to known nephrotoxins. hiPSC were differentiated into PTELC, which exhibited similar morphology to PTEC, expressed prototypical PTEC markers, and were able to undergo albumin endocytosis. When treated with two nephrotoxins, hiPSC and differentiating hiPSC were more sensitive to cisplatin than differentiated PTELC, whereas all stages were equally sensitive to cyclosporin A. Both toxins also had an inhibitory effect on albumin uptake. Our results suggest a high sensitivity of differentiating cells towards toxins, which could have an unfavorable effect on regenerative processes. To study this, our model of hiPSC differentiating into PTELC appears suitable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Musong Mboni-Johnston
- Institute of Toxicology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (I.M.M.-J.); (N.M.Z.K.); (C.H.); (A.M.)
| | - Nazih Mohamed Zakari Kouidrat
- Institute of Toxicology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (I.M.M.-J.); (N.M.Z.K.); (C.H.); (A.M.)
| | - Cornelia Hirsch
- Institute of Toxicology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (I.M.M.-J.); (N.M.Z.K.); (C.H.); (A.M.)
| | - Andreas Georg Weber
- Institute of Toxicology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (I.M.M.-J.); (N.M.Z.K.); (C.H.); (A.M.)
| | - Alexander Meißner
- Institute of Toxicology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (I.M.M.-J.); (N.M.Z.K.); (C.H.); (A.M.)
| | - James Adjaye
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
- Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Diseases in Children (ZCR), EGA Institute for Women’s Health, University College London (UCL), 20 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Nicole Schupp
- Institute of Toxicology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (I.M.M.-J.); (N.M.Z.K.); (C.H.); (A.M.)
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Bejoy J, Farry JM, Qian ES, Dearing CH, Ware LB, Bastarache JA, Woodard LE. Ascorbate protects human kidney organoids from damage induced by cell-free hemoglobin. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050342. [PMID: 37942584 PMCID: PMC10695115 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050342] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury is associated with high morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Cell-free hemoglobin (CFH) is released into the circulation of patients with severe sepsis and the levels of CFH are independently associated with mortality. CFH treatment increased cytotoxicity in the human tubular epithelial cell line HK-2. To better model the intact kidney, we cultured human kidney organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. We treated human kidney organoids grown using both three-dimensional and transwell protocols with CFH for 48 h. We found evidence for increased tubular toxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial fragmentation, endothelial cell injury and injury-associated transcripts compared to those of the untreated control group. To evaluate the protective effect of clinically available small molecules, we co-treated CFH-injured organoids with ascorbate (vitamin C) or acetaminophen for 48 h. We found significantly decreased toxicity, preservation of endothelial cells and reduced mitochondrial fragmentation in the group receiving ascorbate following CFH treatment. This study provides direct evidence that ascorbate or ascorbic acid protects human kidney cells from CFH-induced damage such as that in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Bejoy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Justin M. Farry
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Eddie S. Qian
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Curtis H. Dearing
- Vanderbilt Experimental Research Training Inclusion Community Engagement Skills (VERTICES) program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Lorraine B. Ware
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Julie A. Bastarache
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Lauren E. Woodard
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
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5
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Barreto AD, Burt MA, Musah S. Advancing drug discovery for glomerulopathies using stem-cell-derived kidney models. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:204-207. [PMID: 36566132 PMCID: PMC10885854 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an epidemic that affects millions worldwide. The glomerulus, a specialized unit of the nephron, is highly susceptible to injury. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as an attractive resource for modeling kidney disease and therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda D Barreto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Morgan A Burt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Samira Musah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke MEDx Investigator, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke Regeneration Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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6
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The "3Ds" of Growing Kidney Organoids: Advances in Nephron Development, Disease Modeling, and Drug Screening. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040549. [PMID: 36831216 PMCID: PMC9954122 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
A kidney organoid is a three-dimensional (3D) cellular aggregate grown from stem cells in vitro that undergoes self-organization, recapitulating aspects of normal renal development to produce nephron structures that resemble the native kidney organ. These miniature kidney-like structures can also be derived from primary patient cells and thus provide simplified context to observe how mutations in kidney-disease-associated genes affect organogenesis and physiological function. In the past several years, advances in kidney organoid technologies have achieved the formation of renal organoids with enhanced numbers of specialized cell types, less heterogeneity, and more architectural complexity. Microfluidic bioreactor culture devices, single-cell transcriptomics, and bioinformatic analyses have accelerated the development of more sophisticated renal organoids and tailored them to become increasingly amenable to high-throughput experimentation. However, many significant challenges remain in realizing the use of kidney organoids for renal replacement therapies. This review presents an overview of the renal organoid field and selected highlights of recent cutting-edge kidney organoid research with a focus on embryonic development, modeling renal disease, and personalized drug screening.
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7
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Production of kidney organoids arranged around single ureteric bud trees, and containing endogenous blood vessels, solely from embryonic stem cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12573. [PMID: 35869233 PMCID: PMC9307805 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16768-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
There is intense worldwide effort in generating kidney organoids from pluripotent stem cells, for research, for disease modelling and, perhaps, for making transplantable organs. Organoids generated from pluripotent stem cells (PSC) possess accurate micro-anatomy, but they lack higher-organization. This is a problem, especially for transplantation, as such organoids will not be able to perform their physiological functions. In this study, we develop a method for generating murine kidney organoids with improved higher-order structure, through stages using chimaeras of ex-fetu and PSC-derived cells to a system that works entirely from embryonic stem cells. These organoids have nephrons organised around a single ureteric bud tree and also make vessels, with the endothelial network approaching podocytes.
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8
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Human Maternal-Fetal Interface Cellular Models to Assess Antiviral Drug Toxicity during Pregnancy. REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/reprodmed3040024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a period of elevated risk for viral disease severity, resulting in serious health consequences for both the mother and the fetus; yet antiviral drugs lack comprehensive safety and efficacy data for use among pregnant women. In fact, pregnant women are systematically excluded from therapeutic clinical trials to prevent potential fetal harm. Current FDA-recommended reproductive toxicity assessments are studied using small animals which often do not accurately predict the human toxicological profiles of drug candidates. Here, we review the potential of human maternal-fetal interface cellular models in reproductive toxicity assessment of antiviral drugs. We specifically focus on the 2- and 3-dimensional maternal placental models of different gestational stages and those of fetal embryogenesis and organ development. Screening of drug candidates in physiologically relevant human maternal-fetal cellular models will be beneficial to prioritize selection of safe antiviral therapeutics for clinical trials in pregnant women.
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9
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Trush O, Takasato M. Kidney organoid research: current status and applications. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 75:101944. [PMID: 35785592 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Organoids are being widely introduced as novel research models in multiple research fields. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells-derived kidney organoids became an indispensable tool to study human kidney development, model various diseases and infections leading to kidney damage, and offer a new route towards better drug development and validation, personalized drug screening, and regenerative medicine. In this review, we provide an update of the most recent developments in kidney organoid induction: their main goals, advantages, and shortcomings. We further discuss their current applications in providing modeling and treatment avenues to various kidney injuries, their use in genome-wide screening of kidney diseases, and the cell interactions occurring in these kidney structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Trush
- Laboratory for Human Organogenesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Minoru Takasato
- Laboratory for Human Organogenesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan; Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology and Development, Department of Animal Development and Physiology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Department of Development and Regeneration, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan.
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10
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Pode-Shakked N, Devarajan P. Human Stem Cell and Organoid Models to Advance Acute Kidney Injury Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137211. [PMID: 35806216 PMCID: PMC9266524 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an increasingly common problem afflicting all ages, occurring in over 20% of non-critically ill hospitalized patients and >30% of children and >50% of adults in critical care units. AKI is associated with serious short-term and long-term consequences, and current therapeutic options are unsatisfactory. Large gaps remain in our understanding of human AKI pathobiology, which have hindered the discovery of novel diagnostics and therapeutics. Although animal models of AKI have been extensively studied, these differ significantly from human AKI in terms of molecular and cellular responses. In addition, animal models suffer from interspecies differences, high costs and ethical considerations. Static two-dimensional cell culture models of AKI also have limited utility since they have focused almost exclusively on hypoxic or cytotoxic injury to proximal tubules alone. An optimal AKI model would encompass several of the diverse specific cell types in the kidney that could be targets of injury. Second, it would resemble the human physiological milieu as closely as possible. Third, it would yield sensitive and measurable readouts that are directly applicable to the human condition. In this regard, the past two decades have seen a dramatic shift towards newer personalized human-based models to study human AKI. In this review, we provide recent developments using human stem cells, organoids, and in silico approaches to advance personalized AKI diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Pode-Shakked
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel;
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Prasad Devarajan
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Correspondence:
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11
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Freedman BS. Physiology assays in human kidney organoids. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2022; 322:F625-F638. [PMID: 35379001 PMCID: PMC9076410 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00400.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Kidney organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells constitute a novel model of disease, development, and regenerative therapy. Organoids are human, experimentally accessible, high throughput, and enable reconstitution of tissue-scale biology in a petri dish. Although gene expression patterns in organoid cells have been analyzed extensively, less is known about the functionality of these structures. Here, we review assays of physiological function in human kidney organoids, including best practices for quality control, and future applications. Tubular structures in organoids accumulate specific molecules through active transport, including dextran and organic anions, and swell with fluid in response to cAMP stimulation. When engrafted into animal models in vivo, organoids form vascularized glomerulus-like structures capable of size-selective filtration. Organoids exhibit metabolic, endocrine, injury, and infection phenotypes, although their specificity is not yet fully clear. To properly interpret organoid physiology assays, it is important to incorporate appropriate negative and positive controls, statistical methods, data presentation, molecular mechanisms, and clinical data sets. Improvements in organoid perfusion, patterning, and maturation are needed to enable branching morphogenesis, urine production, and renal replacement. Reconstituting renal physiology with kidney organoids is a new field with potential to provide fresh insights into classical phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin S Freedman
- Division of Nephrology, Kidney Research Institute, and Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Physiology (adjunct), and Department of Bioengineering (adjunct), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
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12
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Gerhardt LMS, McMahon AP. Identifying Common Molecular Mechanisms in Experimental and Human Acute Kidney Injury. Semin Nephrol 2022; 42:151286. [PMID: 36402654 PMCID: PMC11017289 DOI: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2022.10.012] [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] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a highly prevalent, heterogeneous syndrome, associated with increased short- and long-term mortality. A multitude of different factors cause AKI including ischemia, sepsis, nephrotoxic drugs, and urinary tract obstruction. Upon injury, the kidney initiates an intrinsic repair program that can result in adaptive repair with regeneration of damaged nephrons and functional recovery of epithelial activity, or maladaptive repair and persistence of damaged epithelial cells with a characteristic proinflammatory, profibrotic molecular signature. Maladaptive repair is linked to disease progression from AKI to chronic kidney disease. Despite extensive efforts, no therapeutic strategies provide consistent benefit to AKI patients. Since kidney biopsies are rarely performed in the acute injury phase in humans, most of our understanding of AKI pathophysiology is derived from preclinical AKI models. This raises the question of how well experimental models of AKI reflect the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying human AKI? Here, we provide a brief overview of available AKI models, discuss their strengths and limitations, and consider important aspects of the AKI response in mice and humans, with a particular focus on the role of proximal tubule cells in adaptive and maladaptive repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisa M S Gerhardt
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
| | - Andrew P McMahon
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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13
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Kusumoto D, Yuasa S, Fukuda K. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Drug Screening by Use of Artificial Intelligence. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:562. [PMID: 35631387 PMCID: PMC9145330 DOI: 10.3390/ph15050562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are terminally differentiated somatic cells that differentiate into various cell types. iPSCs are expected to be used for disease modeling and for developing novel treatments because differentiated cells from iPSCs can recapitulate the cellular pathology of patients with genetic mutations. However, a barrier to using iPSCs for comprehensive drug screening is the difficulty of evaluating their pathophysiology. Recently, the accuracy of image analysis has dramatically improved with the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In the field of cell biology, it has become possible to estimate cell types and states by examining cellular morphology obtained from simple microscopic images. AI can evaluate disease-specific phenotypes of iPS-derived cells from label-free microscopic images; thus, AI can be utilized for disease-specific drug screening using iPSCs. In addition to image analysis, various AI-based methods can be applied to drug development, including phenotype prediction by analyzing genomic data and virtual screening by analyzing structural formulas and protein-protein interactions of compounds. In the future, combining AI methods may rapidly accelerate drug discovery using iPSCs. In this review, we explain the details of AI technology and the application of AI for iPSC-based drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai Kusumoto
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan;
- Center for Preventive Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Yuasa
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan;
| | - Keiichi Fukuda
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan;
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