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Panchuk I, Smirnikhina S. Toolbox for creating three-dimensional liver models. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 731:150375. [PMID: 39018971 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150375] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Research within the hepato-biliary system and hepatic function is currently experiencing heightened interest, this is due to the high frequency of relapse rates observed in chronic conditions, as well as the imperative for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies to address both inherited and acquired diseases within this domain. The most commonly used sources for studying hepatocytes include primary human hepatocytes, human hepatic cancer cell lines, and hepatic-like cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. However, a significant challenge in primary hepatic cell culture is the rapid decline in their phenotypic characteristics, dedifferentiation and short cultivation time. This limitation creates various problems, including the inability to maintain long-term cell cultures, which can lead to failed experiments in drug development and the creation of relevant disease models for researchers' purposes. To address these issues, the creation of a powerful 3D cell model could play a pivotal role as a personalized disease model and help reduce the use of animal models during certain stages of research. Such a cell model could be used for disease modelling, genome editing, and drug discovery purposes. This review provides an overview of the main methods of 3D-culturing liver cells, including a discussion of their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Panchuk
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russian Federation.
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2
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Gupta S, Sharma A, Rajakannu M, Bisevac J, Rela M, Verma RS. Small Molecule-Mediated Stage-Specific Reprogramming of MSCs to Hepatocyte-Like Cells and Hepatic Tissue for Liver Injury Treatment. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024:10.1007/s12015-024-10771-x. [PMID: 39259445 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10771-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Derivation of hepatocytes from stem cells has been established through various protocols involving growth factor (GF) and small molecule (SM) agents, among others. However, mesenchymal stem cell-based derivation of hepatocytes still remains expensive due to the use of a cocktail of growth factors, and a long duration of differentiation is needed, thus limiting its potential clinical application. METHODS In this study, we developed a chemically defined differentiation strategy that is exclusively based on SM and takes 14 days, while the GF-based protocol requires 23-28 days. RESULTS We optimized a stage-specific differentiation protocol for the differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into functional hepatocyte-like cells (dHeps) that involved four stages, i.e., definitive endoderm (DE), hepatic competence (HC), hepatic specification (HS) and hepatic differentiation and growth. We further generated hepatic tissue using human decellularized liver extracellular matrix and compared it with hepatic tissue derived from the growth factor-based protocol at the transcriptional level. dHep, upon transplantation in a rat model of acute liver injury (ALI), was capable of ameliorating liver injury in rats and improving liver function and tissue damage compared to those in the ALI model. CONCLUSIONS In summary, this is the first study in which hepatocytes and hepatic tissue were derived from MSCs utilizing a stage-specific strategy by exclusively using SM as a differentiation factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Gupta
- Stem Cell and Molecular Biology, Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India.
- Centre for Eye Research and Innovative Diagnostics, Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Akriti Sharma
- Stem Cell and Molecular Biology, Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India
| | - Muthukumarassamy Rajakannu
- The Institute of Liver Disease & Transplantation, Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre, Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chromepet, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jovana Bisevac
- Centre for Eye Research and Innovative Diagnostics, Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mohamed Rela
- The Institute of Liver Disease & Transplantation, Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre, Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chromepet, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rama Shanker Verma
- Stem Cell and Molecular Biology, Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India.
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3
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Feng S, Roll GR, Rouhani FJ, Sanchez Fueyo A. The future of liver transplantation. Hepatology 2024; 80:674-697. [PMID: 38537154 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Over the last 50 years, liver transplantation has evolved into a procedure routinely performed in many countries worldwide. Those able to access this therapy frequently experience a miraculous risk-benefit ratio, particularly if they face the imminently life-threatening disease. Over the decades, the success of liver transplantation, with dramatic improvements in early posttransplant survival, has aggressively driven demand. However, despite the emergence of living donors to augment deceased donors as a source of organs, supply has lagged far behind demand. As a result, rationing has been an unfortunate focus in recent decades. Recent shifts in the epidemiology of liver disease combined with transformative innovations in liver preservation suggest that the underlying premise of organ shortage may erode in the foreseeable future. The focus will sharpen on improving equitable access while mitigating constraints related to workforce training, infrastructure for organ recovery and rehabilitation, and their associated costs. Research efforts in liver preservation will undoubtedly blossom with the aim of optimizing both the timing and conditions of transplantation. Coupled with advances in genetic engineering, regenerative biology, and cellular therapies, the portfolio of innovation, both broad and deep, offers the promise that, in the future, liver transplantation will not only be broadly available to those in need but also represent a highly durable life-saving therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Feng
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Garrett R Roll
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Foad J Rouhani
- Tissue Regeneration and Clonal Evolution Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College London, King's College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Alberto Sanchez Fueyo
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College London, King's College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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4
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Vuković T, Kuek LE, Yu B, Makris G, Häberle J. The therapeutic landscape of citrin deficiency. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024. [PMID: 39021261 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Citrin deficiency (CD) is a recessive, liver disease caused by sequence variants in the SLC25A13 gene encoding a mitochondrial aspartate-glutamate transporter. CD manifests as different age-dependent phenotypes and affects crucial hepatic metabolic pathways including malate-aspartate-shuttle, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, de novo lipogenesis and the tricarboxylic acid and urea cycles. Although the exact pathophysiology of CD remains unclear, impaired use of glucose and fatty acids as energy sources due to NADH shuttle defects and PPARα downregulation, respectively, indicates evident energy deficit in CD hepatocytes. The present review summarizes current trends on available and potential treatments for CD. Baseline recommendation for CD patients is dietary management, often already present as a self-selected food preference, that includes protein and fat-rich food, and avoidance of excess carbohydrates. At present, liver transplantation remains the sole curative option for severe CD cases. Our extensive literature review indicated medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) as the most widely used CD treatment in all age groups. MCT can effectively improve symptoms across disease phenotypes by rapidly supplying energy to the liver, restoring redox balance and inducing lipogenesis. In contrast, sodium pyruvate restored glycolysis and displayed initial preclinical promise, with however limited efficacy in adult CD patients. Ursodeoxycholic acid, nitrogen scavengers and L-arginine treatments effectively address specific pathophysiological aspects such as cholestasis and hyperammonemia and are commonly administered in combination with other drugs. Finally, future possibilities including restoring redox balance, amino acid supplementation, enhancing bioenergetics, improving ureagenesis and mRNA/DNA-based gene therapy are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Vuković
- University Children's Hospital Zurich and Children's Research Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Georgios Makris
- University Children's Hospital Zurich and Children's Research Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Häberle
- University Children's Hospital Zurich and Children's Research Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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5
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Loerch C, Szepanowski LP, Reiss J, Adjaye J, Graffmann N. Forskolin induces FXR expression and enhances maturation of iPSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1383928. [PMID: 38694820 PMCID: PMC11061433 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1383928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The generation of iPSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) is a powerful tool for studying liver diseases, their therapy as well as drug development. iPSC-derived disease models benefit from their diverse origin of patients, enabling the study of disease-associated mutations and, when considering more than one iPSC line to reflect a more diverse genetic background compared to immortalized cell lines. Unfortunately, the use of iPSC-derived HLCs is limited due to their lack of maturity and a rather fetal phenotype. Commercial kits and complicated 3D-protocols are cost- and time-intensive and hardly useable for smaller working groups. In this study, we optimized our previously published protocol by fine-tuning the initial cell number, exchanging antibiotics and basal medium composition and introducing the small molecule forskolin during the HLC maturation step. We thereby contribute to the liver research field by providing a simple, cost- and time-effective 2D differentiation protocol. We generate functional HLCs with significantly increased HLC hallmark gene (ALB, HNF4α, and CYP3A4) and protein (ALB) expression, as well as significantly elevated inducible CYP3A4 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Loerch
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Leon-Phillip Szepanowski
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julian Reiss
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - James Adjaye
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- University College London, EGA Institute for Women`s Health- Zayed Center for Research Into Rare Diseases in Children (ZGR), London, United Kingdom
| | - Nina Graffmann
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Bonanini F, Singh M, Yang H, Kurek D, Harms AC, Mardinoglu A, Hankemeier T. A comparison between different human hepatocyte models reveals profound differences in net glucose production, lipid composition and metabolism in vitro. Exp Cell Res 2024; 437:114008. [PMID: 38499143 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114008] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocytes are responsible for maintaining a stable blood glucose concentration during periods of nutrient scarcity. The breakdown of glycogen and de novo synthesis of glucose are crucial metabolic pathways deeply interlinked with lipid metabolism. Alterations in these pathways are often associated with metabolic diseases with serious clinical implications. Studying energy metabolism in human cells is challenging. Primary hepatocytes are still considered the golden standard for in vitro studies and have been instrumental in elucidating key aspects of energy metabolism found in vivo. As a result of several limitations posed by using primary cells, a multitude of alternative hepatocyte cellular models emerged as potential substitutes. Yet, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the precise applications for which these models accurately reflect the metabolic competence of primary hepatocytes. In this study, we compared primary hepatocytes, stem cell-derived hepatocytes, adult donor-derived liver organoids, immortalized Upcyte-hepatocytes and the hepatoma cell line HepG2s in their response to a glucose production challenge. We observed the highest net glucose production in primary hepatocytes, followed by organoids, stem-cell derived hepatocytes, Upcyte-hepatocytes and HepG2s. Glucogenic gene induction was observed in all tested models, as indicated by an increase in G6PC and PCK1 expression. Lipidomic analysis revealed considerable differences across the models, with organoids showing the closest similarity to primary hepatocytes in the common lipidome, comprising 347 lipid species across 19 classes. Changes in lipid profiles as a result of the glucose production challenge showed a variety of, and in some cases opposite, trends when compared to primary hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Madhulika Singh
- Metabolomics and Analytics Center, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Netherlands
| | - Hong Yang
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Amy C Harms
- Metabolomics and Analytics Center, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Netherlands
| | - Adil Mardinoglu
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Hankemeier
- Metabolomics and Analytics Center, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Netherlands.
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Gantier M, Rispal R, Fourrier A, Ménoret S, Delbos F, Anegon I, Nguyen TH. Cryopreserved cGMP-compliant human pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatic progenitors rescue mice from acute liver failure through rapid paracrine effects on liver cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:71. [PMID: 38475825 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03673-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver transplantation remains the only curative treatment for end-stage liver diseases. Unfortunately, there is a drastic organ donor shortage. Hepatocyte transplantation emerged as a viable alternative to liver transplantation. Considering their unique expansion capabilities and their potency to be driven toward a chosen cell fate, pluripotent stem cells are extensively studied as an unlimited cell source of hepatocytes for cell therapy. It has been previously shown that freshly prepared hepatocyte-like cells can cure mice from acute and chronic liver failure and restore liver function. METHODS Human PSC-derived immature hepatic progenitors (GStemHep) were generated using a new protocol with current good manufacturing practice compliant conditions from PSC amplification and hepatic differentiation to cell cryopreservation. The therapeutic potential of these cryopreserved cells was assessed in two clinically relevant models of acute liver failure, and the mode of action was studied by several analytical methods, including unbiased proteomic analyses. RESULTS GStemHep cells present an immature hepatic phenotype (alpha-fetoprotein positive, albumin negative), secrete hepatocyte growth factor and do not express major histocompatibility complex. A single dose of thawed GStemHep rescue mice from sudden death caused by acetaminophen and thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure, both in immunodeficient and immunocompetent animals in the absence of immunosuppression. Therapeutic biological effects were observed as soon as 3 h post-cell transplantation with a reduction in serum transaminases and in liver necrosis. The swiftness of the therapeutic effect suggests a paracrine mechanism of action of GStemHep leading to a rapid reduction of inflammation as well as a rapid cytoprotective effect with as a result a proteome reprograming of the host hepatocytes. The mode of action of GStemHep relie on the alleviation of inhibitory factors of liver regeneration, an increase in proliferation-promoting factors and a decrease in liver inflammation. CONCLUSIONS We generated cryopreserved and current good manufacturing practice-compliant human pluripotent stem cell-derived immature hepatic progenitors that were highly effective in treating acute liver failure through rapid paracrine effects reprogramming endogenous hepatocytes. This is also the first report highlighting that human allogeneic cells could be used as cryopreserved cells and in the absence of immunosuppression for human PSC-based regenerative medicine for acute liver failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malika Gantier
- GoLiver Therapeutics, 44007, Nantes, France.
- Nantes Université, Inserm, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, 44000, Nantes, France.
| | - Raphaël Rispal
- Nantes Université, Inserm, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, 44000, Nantes, France
| | | | - Séverine Ménoret
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, SFR Santé, Inserm UMS 016 CNRS UMS 3556, 44000, Nantes, France
| | | | - Ignacio Anegon
- Nantes Université, Inserm, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, 44000, Nantes, France
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Kømurcu KS, Wilhelmsen I, Thorne JL, Krauss S, Wilson SR, Aizenshtadt A, Røberg-Larsen H. Mass spectrometry reveals that oxysterols are secreted from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced organoids. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2023; 232:106355. [PMID: 37380087 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2023.106355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Oxysterols are potential biomarkers for liver metabolism that are altered under disease conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We here apply sterolomics to organoids used for disease modeling of NAFLD. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with on-line sample clean-up and enrichment, we establish that liver organoids produce and secrete oxysterols. We find elevated levels of 26-hydroxycholesterol, an LXR agonist and the first oxysterol in the acidic bile acid synthesis, in medium from steatotic liver organoids compared to untreated organoids. Other upregulated sterols in medium from steatotic liver organoids are dihydroxycholesterols, such as 7α,26-dihydroxycholesterol, and 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol. Through 26-hydroxycholesterol exposure to human stem cell-derived hepatic stellate cells, we observe a trend of expressional downregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine CCL2, suggesting a protective role of 26-hydroxycholesterol during early-phased NAFLD disease development. Our findings support the possibility of oxysterols serving as NAFLD indicators, demonstrating the usefulness of combining organoids and mass spectrometry for disease modeling and biomarker studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Sæterdal Kømurcu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway; Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1110 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Wilhelmsen
- Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1110 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway; Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, P.O. box 4950 Nydalen, Oslo, Norway
| | - James L Thorne
- School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Krauss
- Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1110 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway; Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, P.O. box 4950 Nydalen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Steven Ray Wilson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway; Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1110 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway
| | - Aleksandra Aizenshtadt
- Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1110 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway
| | - Hanne Røberg-Larsen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway; Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1110 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway.
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Shafritz DA, Ebrahimkhani MR, Oertel M. Therapeutic Cell Repopulation of the Liver: From Fetal Rat Cells to Synthetic Human Tissues. Cells 2023; 12:529. [PMID: 36831196 PMCID: PMC9954009 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Progenitor cells isolated from the fetal liver can provide a unique cell source to generate new healthy tissue mass. Almost 20 years ago, it was demonstrated that rat fetal liver cells repopulate the normal host liver environment via a mechanism akin to cell competition. Activin A, which is produced by hepatocytes, was identified as an important player during cell competition. Because of reduced activin receptor expression, highly proliferative fetal liver stem/progenitor cells are resistant to activin A and therefore exhibit a growth advantage compared to hepatocytes. As a result, transplanted fetal liver cells are capable of repopulating normal livers. Important for cell-based therapies, hepatic stem/progenitor cells containing repopulation potential can be separated from fetal hematopoietic cells using the cell surface marker δ-like 1 (Dlk-1). In livers with advanced fibrosis, fetal epithelial stem/progenitor cells differentiate into functional hepatic cells and out-compete injured endogenous hepatocytes, which cause anti-fibrotic effects. Although fetal liver cells efficiently repopulate the liver, they will likely not be used for human cell transplantation. Thus, utilizing the underlying mechanism of repopulation and developed methods to produce similar growth-advantaged cells in vitro, e.g., human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), this approach has great potential for developing novel cell-based therapies in patients with liver disease. The present review gives a brief overview of the classic cell transplantation models and various cell sources studied as donor cell candidates. The advantages of fetal liver-derived stem/progenitor cells are discussed, as well as the mechanism of liver repopulation. Moreover, this article reviews the potential of in vitro developed synthetic human fetal livers from iPSCs and their therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Shafritz
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Mo R. Ebrahimkhani
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center (PLRC), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Michael Oertel
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center (PLRC), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
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Weaver JR, Odanga JJ, Wolf KK, Piekos S, Biven M, Taub M, LaRocca J, Thomas C, Byer-Alcorace A, Chen J, Lee JB, LeCluyse EL. The morphology, functionality, and longevity of a novel all human hepatic cell-based tri-culture system. Toxicol In Vitro 2023; 86:105504. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2022.105504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Wang SX, Yan JS, Chan YS. Advancements in MAFLD Modeling with Human Cell and Organoid Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:11850. [PMID: 36233151 PMCID: PMC9569457 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911850] [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: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases and has no approved therapeutics. The high failure rates witnessed in late-phase MAFLD drug trials reflect the complexity of the disease, and how the disease develops and progresses remains to be fully understood. In vitro, human disease models play a pivotal role in mechanistic studies to unravel novel disease drivers and in drug testing studies to evaluate human-specific responses. This review focuses on MAFLD disease modeling using human cell and organoid models. The spectrum of patient-derived primary cells and immortalized cell lines employed to model various liver parenchymal and non-parenchymal cell types essential for MAFLD development and progression is discussed. Diverse forms of cell culture platforms utilized to recapitulate tissue-level pathophysiology in different stages of the disease are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Xiang Wang
- Guangzhou Laboratory, No. 9 Xing Dao Huan Bei Road, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Ji-Song Yan
- Guangzhou Laboratory, No. 9 Xing Dao Huan Bei Road, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510005, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yun-Shen Chan
- Guangzhou Laboratory, No. 9 Xing Dao Huan Bei Road, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510005, China
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Guo J, Wang S, Gao Q. Can next-generation humanized mice that reconstituted with both functional human immune system and hepatocytes model the progression of viral hepatitis to hepatocarcinogenesis? Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1002260. [PMID: 36213658 PMCID: PMC9537463 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1002260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infections cause liver immunopathological diseases such as hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinomas, which are difficult to treat and continue to be major health problems globally. Due to the species-specific hepato-tropism of HBV and HCV, conventional rodent models are limited in their utility for studying the infection and associated liver immunopathogenesis. Humanized mice reconstituted with both functional human immune system and hepatocytes (HIS-HuHEP mice) have been extremely instrumental for in vivo studies of HBV or HCV infection and human-specific aspects of the progression of liver immunopathogenesis. However, none of the current HIS-HuHEP mice can model the progression of viral hepatitis to hepatocarcinogenesis which may be a notorious result of HBV or HCV chronic infection in patients, suggesting that they were functionally compromised and that there is still significant space to improve and establish next-generation of HIS-HuHEP mice with more sophisticated functions. In this review, we first summarize the principal requirements to establish HIS-HuHEP mice. We then discuss the respective protocols for current HIS-HuHEP mice and their applications, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. We also raise perspectives for further improving and establishing next-generation HIS-HuHEP mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglong Guo
- Department of Cardiovascular Disease, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Siyue Wang
- Graduate Program in Immunology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Qi Gao
- Department of Cardiovascular Disease, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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