1
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Salignon J, Millan-Ariño L, Garcia MU, Riedel CG. Cactus: A user-friendly and reproducible ATAC-Seq and mRNA-Seq analysis pipeline for data preprocessing, differential analysis, and enrichment analysis. Genomics 2024; 116:110858. [PMID: 38735595 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110858] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The ever decreasing cost of Next-Generation Sequencing coupled with the emergence of efficient and reproducible analysis pipelines has rendered genomic methods more accessible. However, downstream analyses are basic or missing in most workflows, creating a significant barrier for non-bioinformaticians. To help close this gap, we developed Cactus, an end-to-end pipeline for analyzing ATAC-Seq and mRNA-Seq data, either separately or jointly. Its Nextflow-, container-, and virtual environment-based architecture ensures efficient and reproducible analyses. Cactus preprocesses raw reads, conducts differential analyses between conditions, and performs enrichment analyses in various databases, including DNA-binding motifs, ChIP-Seq binding sites, chromatin states, and ontologies. We demonstrate the utility of Cactus in a multi-modal and multi-species case study as well as by showcasing its unique capabilities as compared to other ATAC-Seq pipelines. In conclusion, Cactus can assist researchers in gaining comprehensive insights from chromatin accessibility and gene expression data in a quick, user-friendly, and reproducible manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Salignon
- Department of Bioscience and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Blickagången 16, Huddinge SE-141 83, Sweden.
| | - Lluís Millan-Ariño
- Department of Bioscience and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Blickagången 16, Huddinge SE-141 83, Sweden
| | - Maxime U Garcia
- National Genomics Infrastructure, Science for Life Laboratory, Tomtebodavägen 23A, Solna SE-171 65, Sweden; Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Visionsgatan 4, Solna SE-171 64, Sweden
| | - Christian G Riedel
- Department of Bioscience and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Blickagången 16, Huddinge SE-141 83, Sweden.
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2
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McNamara ME, Jain SS, Oza K, Muralidaran V, Kiliti AJ, McDeed AP, Patil D, Cui Y, Schmidt MO, Riegel AT, Kroemer AH, Wellstein A. Circulating, cell-free methylated DNA indicates cellular sources of allograft injury after liver transplant. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.04.588176. [PMID: 38617373 PMCID: PMC11014558 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.04.588176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Post-transplant complications reduce allograft and recipient survival. Current approaches for detecting allograft injury non-invasively are limited and do not differentiate between cellular mechanisms. Here, we monitor cellular damages after liver transplants from cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments released from dying cells into the circulation. We analyzed 130 blood samples collected from 44 patients at different time points after transplant. Sequence-based methylation of cfDNA fragments were mapped to patterns established to identify cell types in different organs. For liver cell types DNA methylation patterns and multi-omic data integration show distinct enrichment in open chromatin and regulatory regions functionally important for the respective cell types. We find that multi-tissue cellular damages post-transplant recover in patients without allograft injury during the first post-operative week. However, sustained elevation of hepatocyte and biliary epithelial cfDNA beyond the first week indicates early-onset allograft injury. Further, cfDNA composition differentiates amongst causes of allograft injury indicating the potential for non-invasive monitoring and timely intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. McNamara
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sidharth S. Jain
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kesha Oza
- MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Center for Translational Transplant Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of General Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Vinona Muralidaran
- MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Center for Translational Transplant Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Amber J. Kiliti
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - A. Patrick McDeed
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Digvijay Patil
- MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Center for Translational Transplant Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Yuki Cui
- MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Center for Translational Transplant Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Marcel O. Schmidt
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Anna T. Riegel
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alexander H.K. Kroemer
- MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Center for Translational Transplant Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Anton Wellstein
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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3
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De Los Angeles A, Hug CB, Gladyshev VN, Church GM, Velychko S. Sendai virus persistence questions the transient naive reprogramming method for iPSC generation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.07.583804. [PMID: 38559172 PMCID: PMC10979911 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.07.583804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Since the revolutionary discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by Shinya Yamanaka, the comparison between iPSCs and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) has revealed significant differences in their epigenetic states and developmental potential. A recent compelling study published in Nature by Buckberry et al.1 demonstrated that a transient-naive-treatment (TNT) could facilitate epigenetic reprogramming and improve the developmental potential of human iPSCs (hiPSCs). However, the study characterized bulk hiPSCs instead of isolating clonal lines and overlooked the persistent expression of Sendai virus carrying exogenous Yamanaka factors. Our analyses revealed that Sendai genes were expressed in most control PSC samples, including hESCs, which were not intentionally infected. The highest levels of Sendai expression were detected in samples continuously treated with naive media, where it led to overexpression of exogenous MYC, SOX2, and KLF4, altering both the expression levels and ratios of reprogramming factors. Our findings call for further research to verify the effectiveness of the TNT method in the context of delivery methods that ensure prompt elimination of exogenous factors, leading to the generation of bona fide transgene-independent iPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clemens B. Hug
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vadim N. Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - George M. Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sergiy Velychko
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
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4
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Liu X, Yang J, Yan Y, Li Q, Huang RL. Unleashing the potential of adipose organoids: A revolutionary approach to combat obesity-related metabolic diseases. Theranostics 2024; 14:2075-2098. [PMID: 38505622 PMCID: PMC10945346 DOI: 10.7150/thno.93919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity-related metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases pose a significant threat to health. However, comprehensive pathogenesis exploration and effective therapy development are impeded by the limited availability of human models. Notably, advances in organoid technology enable the generation of adipose organoids that recapitulate structures and functions of native human adipose tissues to investigate mechanisms and develop corresponding treatments for obesity-related metabolic diseases. Here, we review the general principles, sources, and three-dimensional techniques for engineering adipose organoids, along with strategies to promote maturation. We also outline the application of white adipose organoids, primarily for disease modeling and drug screening, and highlight the therapeutic potential of thermogenic beige and brown adipose organoids in promoting weight loss and glucose and lipid metabolic homeostasis. We also discuss the challenges and prospects in the establishment and bench-to-bedside of adipose organoids, as well as their potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingran Liu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxin Yan
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingfeng Li
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Ru-Lin Huang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai, China
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5
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Beltran AS. Novel Approaches to Studying SLC13A5 Disease. Metabolites 2024; 14:84. [PMID: 38392976 PMCID: PMC10890222 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14020084] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The role of the sodium citrate transporter (NaCT) SLC13A5 is multifaceted and context-dependent. While aberrant dysfunction leads to neonatal epilepsy, its therapeutic inhibition protects against metabolic disease. Notably, insights regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena are limited due to the intricacy and complexity of the latent human physiology, which is poorly captured by existing animal models. This review explores innovative technologies aimed at bridging such a knowledge gap. First, I provide an overview of SLC13A5 variants in the context of human disease and the specific cell types where the expression of the transporter has been observed. Next, I discuss current technologies for generating patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their inherent advantages and limitations, followed by a summary of the methods for differentiating iPSCs into neurons, hepatocytes, and organoids. Finally, I explore the relevance of these cellular models as platforms for delving into the intricate molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying SLC13A5-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana S Beltran
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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6
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Edwards MM, Wang N, Massey DJ, Bhatele S, Egli D, Koren A. Incomplete reprogramming of DNA replication timing in induced pluripotent stem cells. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113664. [PMID: 38194345 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113664] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are the foundation of cell therapy. Differences in gene expression, DNA methylation, and chromatin conformation, which could affect differentiation capacity, have been identified between iPSCs and embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Less is known about whether DNA replication timing, a process linked to both genome regulation and genome stability, is efficiently reprogrammed to the embryonic state. To answer this, we compare genome-wide replication timing between ESCs, iPSCs, and cells reprogrammed by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT-ESCs). While NT-ESCs replicate their DNA in a manner indistinguishable from ESCs, a subset of iPSCs exhibits delayed replication at heterochromatic regions containing genes downregulated in iPSCs with incompletely reprogrammed DNA methylation. DNA replication delays are not the result of gene expression or DNA methylation aberrations and persist after cells differentiate to neuronal precursors. Thus, DNA replication timing can be resistant to reprogramming and influence the quality of iPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M Edwards
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Pediatrics and Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Columbia University Stem Cell Initiative, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Dashiell J Massey
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sakshi Bhatele
- Department of Pediatrics and Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Columbia University Stem Cell Initiative, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Dieter Egli
- Department of Pediatrics and Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Columbia University Stem Cell Initiative, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Amnon Koren
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
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7
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MacCarthy CM, Wu G, Malik V, Menuchin-Lasowski Y, Velychko T, Keshet G, Fan R, Bedzhov I, Church GM, Jauch R, Cojocaru V, Schöler HR, Velychko S. Highly cooperative chimeric super-SOX induces naive pluripotency across species. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:127-147.e9. [PMID: 38141611 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.11.010] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of pluripotency remains limited: iPSC generation has only been established for a few model species, pluripotent stem cell lines exhibit inconsistent developmental potential, and germline transmission has only been demonstrated for mice and rats. By swapping structural elements between Sox2 and Sox17, we built a chimeric super-SOX factor, Sox2-17, that enhanced iPSC generation in five tested species: mouse, human, cynomolgus monkey, cow, and pig. A swap of alanine to valine at the interface between Sox2 and Oct4 delivered a gain of function by stabilizing Sox2/Oct4 dimerization on DNA, enabling generation of high-quality OSKM iPSCs capable of supporting the development of healthy all-iPSC mice. Sox2/Oct4 dimerization emerged as the core driver of naive pluripotency with its levels diminished upon priming. Transient overexpression of the SK cocktail (Sox+Klf4) restored the dimerization and boosted the developmental potential of pluripotent stem cells across species, providing a universal method for naive reset in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guangming Wu
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; International Bio Island, Guangzhou, China; MingCeler Biotech, Guangzhou, China
| | - Vikas Malik
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Taras Velychko
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gal Keshet
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rui Fan
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Ivan Bedzhov
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Wyss Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ralf Jauch
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Vlad Cojocaru
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; STAR-UBB Institute, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Hans R Schöler
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.
| | - Sergiy Velychko
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Wyss Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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8
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Tatwavedi D, Pellagatti A, Boultwood J. Recent advances in the application of induced pluripotent stem cell technology to the study of myeloid malignancies. Adv Biol Regul 2024; 91:100993. [PMID: 37827894 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2023.100993] [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: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Acquired myeloid malignancies are a spectrum of clonal disorders known to be caused by sequential acquisition of genetic lesions in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, leading to their aberrant self-renewal and differentiation. The increasing use of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to study myeloid malignancies has helped usher a paradigm shift in approaches to disease modeling and drug discovery, especially when combined with gene-editing technology. The process of reprogramming allows for the capture of the diversity of genetic lesions and mutational burden found in primary patient samples into individual stable iPSC lines. Patient-derived iPSC lines, owing to their self-renewal and differentiation capacity, can thus be a homogenous source of disease relevant material that allow for the study of disease pathogenesis using various functional read-outs. Furthermore, genome editing technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 enable the study of the stepwise progression from normal to malignant hematopoiesis through the introduction of specific driver mutations, individually or in combination, to create isogenic lines for comparison. In this review, we survey the current use of iPSCs to model acquired myeloid malignancies including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), acute myeloid leukemia and MDS/MPN overlap syndromes. The use of iPSCs has enabled the interrogation of the underlying mechanism of initiation and progression driving these diseases. It has also made drug testing, repurposing, and the discovery of novel therapies for these diseases possible in a high throughput setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dharamveer Tatwavedi
- Blood Cancer UK Molecular Haematology Unit, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Andrea Pellagatti
- Blood Cancer UK Molecular Haematology Unit, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jacqueline Boultwood
- Blood Cancer UK Molecular Haematology Unit, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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9
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Ndhlovu LC, Bendall ML, Dwaraka V, Pang APS, Dopkins N, Carreras N, Smith R, Nixon DF, Corley MJ. Retroelement-Age Clocks: Epigenetic Age Captured by Human Endogenous Retrovirus and LINE-1 DNA methylation states. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.06.570422. [PMID: 38106164 PMCID: PMC10723416 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.06.570422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), the remnants of ancient viral infections embedded within the human genome, and long interspersed nuclear elements 1 (LINE-1), a class of autonomous retrotransposons, are silenced by host epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation. The resurrection of particular retroelements has been linked to biological aging. Whether the DNA methylation states of locus specific HERVs and LINEs can be used as a biomarker of chronological age in humans remains unclear. We show that highly predictive epigenetic clocks of chronological age can be constructed from retroelement DNA methylation states in the immune system, across human tissues, and pan-mammalian species. We found retroelement epigenetic clocks were reversed during transient epigenetic reprogramming, accelerated in people living with HIV-1, responsive to antiretroviral therapy, and accurate in estimating long-term culture ages of human brain organoids. Our findings support the hypothesis of epigenetic dysregulation of retroelements as a potential contributor to the biological hallmarks of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Matthew L. Bendall
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | | | - Alina PS Pang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Nicholas Dopkins
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Douglas F. Nixon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Michael J. Corley
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
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10
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Puri D, Maaßen C, Varona Baranda M, Zeevaert K, Hahnfeld L, Hauser A, Fornero G, Elsafi Mabrouk MH, Wagner W. CTCF deletion alters the pluripotency and DNA methylation profile of human iPSCs. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1302448. [PMID: 38099298 PMCID: PMC10720430 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1302448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells are characterized by their differentiation potential toward endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. However, it is still largely unclear how these cell-fate decisions are mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. In this study, we explored the relevance of CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), a zinc finger-containing DNA-binding protein, which mediates long-range chromatin organization, for directed cell-fate determination. We generated human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines with deletions in the protein-coding region in exon 3 of CTCF, resulting in shorter transcripts and overall reduced protein expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed a considerable loss of CTCF binding to target sites. The CTCF deletions resulted in slower growth and modest global changes in gene expression, with downregulation of a subset of pluripotency-associated genes and neuroectodermal genes. CTCF deletion also evoked DNA methylation changes, which were moderately associated with differential gene expression. Notably, CTCF-deletions lead to upregulation of endo-mesodermal associated marker genes and epigenetic signatures, whereas ectodermal differentiation was defective. These results indicate that CTCF plays an important role in the maintenance of pluripotency and differentiation, especially towards ectodermal lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Puri
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Catharina Maaßen
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Monica Varona Baranda
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kira Zeevaert
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lena Hahnfeld
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Annika Hauser
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Giulia Fornero
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mohamed H. Elsafi Mabrouk
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wagner
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
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11
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Supakul S, Hatakeyama Y, Leventoux N, Itsuno M, Numata N, Hiramine H, Morimoto S, Iwata A, Maeda S, Okano H. Urine-derived cells from the aged donor for the 2D/3D modeling of neural cells via iPSCs. AGING BRAIN 2023; 4:100101. [PMID: 38045491 PMCID: PMC10689952 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2023.100101] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human neural cell models derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been widely accepted to model various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) in vitro. Although the most common sources of iPSCs are fibroblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the collection of these cells is invasive. To reduce the donor's burden, we propose the use of urine-derived cells (UDCs), which can be obtained non-invasively from a urine sample. However, the collection of UDCs from elderly donors suffering from age-related diseases such as AD has not been reported, and it is unknown whether these UDCs from the donor aged over 80 years old can be converted into iPSCs and differentiated into neural cells. In this study, we reported a case of using the UDCs from the urine sample of an 89-year-old AD patient, and the UDCs were successfully reprogrammed into iPSCs and differentiated into neural cells in four different ways: (i) the dual SMAD inhibition with small-molecules via the neural progenitor precursor stage, (ii) the rapid induction method using transient expression of Ngn2 and microRNAs without going through the neural progenitor stage, (iii) the cortical brain organoids for 3D culture, and (iv) the human astrocytes. The accumulation of phosphorylated Tau proteins, which is a pathological hallmark of AD, was examined in the neuronal models generated from the UDCs of the aged donor. The application of this cell source will broaden the target population for disease modeling using iPS technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sopak Supakul
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Hatakeyama
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nicolas Leventoux
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maika Itsuno
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoko Numata
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hayato Hiramine
- JSR-Keio University Medical and Chemical Innovation Center (JKiC), JSR Corporation, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Morimoto
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, 173-0015 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Iwata
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, 173-0015 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sumihiro Maeda
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
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Nair S, Ameen M, Sundaram L, Pampari A, Schreiber J, Balsubramani A, Wang YX, Burns D, Blau HM, Karakikes I, Wang KC, Kundaje A. Transcription factor stoichiometry, motif affinity and syntax regulate single-cell chromatin dynamics during fibroblast reprogramming to pluripotency. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.04.560808. [PMID: 37873116 PMCID: PMC10592962 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.04.560808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Ectopic expression of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and MYC (OSKM) transforms differentiated cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. To refine our mechanistic understanding of reprogramming, especially during the early stages, we profiled chromatin accessibility and gene expression at single-cell resolution across a densely sampled time course of human fibroblast reprogramming. Using neural networks that map DNA sequence to ATAC-seq profiles at base-resolution, we annotated cell-state-specific predictive transcription factor (TF) motif syntax in regulatory elements, inferred affinity- and concentration-dependent dynamics of Tn5-bias corrected TF footprints, linked peaks to putative target genes, and elucidated rewiring of TF-to-gene cis-regulatory networks. Our models reveal that early in reprogramming, OSK, at supraphysiological concentrations, rapidly open transient regulatory elements by occupying non-canonical low-affinity binding sites. As OSK concentration falls, the accessibility of these transient elements decays as a function of motif affinity. We find that these OSK-dependent transient elements sequester the somatic TF AP-1. This redistribution is strongly associated with the silencing of fibroblast-specific genes within individual nuclei. Together, our integrated single-cell resource and models reveal insights into the cis-regulatory code of reprogramming at unprecedented resolution, connect TF stoichiometry and motif syntax to diversification of cell fate trajectories, and provide new perspectives on the dynamics and role of transient regulatory elements in somatic silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surag Nair
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mohamed Ameen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Anusri Pampari
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jacob Schreiber
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Yu Xin Wang
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David Burns
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Helen M Blau
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ioannis Karakikes
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kevin C Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Anshul Kundaje
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Jasra IT, Cuesta-Gomez N, Verhoeff K, Marfil-Garza BA, Dadheech N, Shapiro AMJ. Mitochondrial regulation in human pluripotent stem cells during reprogramming and β cell differentiation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1236472. [PMID: 37929027 PMCID: PMC10623316 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1236472] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell and dynamically control fundamental biological processes including cell reprogramming, pluripotency, and lineage specification. Although remarkable progress in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell therapies has been made, very little is known about the role of mitochondria and the mechanisms involved in somatic cell reprogramming into iPSC and directed reprogramming of iPSCs in terminally differentiated cells. Reprogramming requires changes in cellular characteristics, genomic and epigenetic regulation, as well as major mitochondrial metabolic changes to sustain iPSC self-renewal, pluripotency, and proliferation. Differentiation of autologous iPSC into terminally differentiated β-like cells requires further metabolic adaptation. Many studies have characterized these alterations in signaling pathways required for the generation and differentiation of iPSC; however, very little is known regarding the metabolic shifts that govern pluripotency transition to tissue-specific lineage differentiation. Understanding such metabolic transitions and how to modulate them is essential for the optimization of differentiation processes to ensure safe iPSC-derived cell therapies. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of mitochondrial metabolism during somatic cell reprogramming to iPSCs and the metabolic shift that occurs during directed differentiation into pancreatic β-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ila Tewari Jasra
- Clinical Islet Transplant Program, Department of Surgery, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Nerea Cuesta-Gomez
- Clinical Islet Transplant Program, Department of Surgery, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Kevin Verhoeff
- Clinical Islet Transplant Program, Department of Surgery, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Braulio A. Marfil-Garza
- Clinical Islet Transplant Program, Department of Surgery, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, The Institute for Obesity Research, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | - Nidheesh Dadheech
- Clinical Islet Transplant Program, Department of Surgery, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - A. M. James Shapiro
- Clinical Islet Transplant Program, Department of Surgery, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Seo S, Patil SL, Ahn YO, Armetta J, Hegewisch-Solloa E, Castillo M, Guilz NC, Patel A, Corneo B, Borowiak M, Gunaratne P, Mace EM. iPSC-based modeling of helicase deficiency reveals impaired cell proliferation and increased apoptosis after NK cell lineage commitment. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.25.559149. [PMID: 37808662 PMCID: PMC10557596 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.25.559149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Cell proliferation is a ubiquitous process required for organismal development and homeostasis. However, individuals with partial loss-of-function variants in DNA replicative helicase components often present with immunodeficiency due to specific loss of natural killer (NK) cells. Such lineage-specific disease phenotypes raise questions on how the proliferation is regulated in cell type-specific manner. We aimed to understand NK cell-specific proliferative dynamics and vulnerability to impaired helicase function using iPSCs from individuals with NK cell deficiency (NKD) due to hereditary compound heterozygous GINS4 variants. We observed and characterized heterogeneous cell populations that arise during the iPSC differentiation along with NK cells. While overall cell proliferation decreased with differentiation, early NK cell precursors showed a short burst of cell proliferation. GINS4 deficiency induced replication stress in these early NK cell precursors, which are poised for apoptosis, and ultimately recapitulate the NKD phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungmae Seo
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York NY 10032
| | - Sagar L Patil
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York NY 10032
| | - Yong-Oon Ahn
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York NY 10032
| | - Jacqueline Armetta
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York NY 10032
| | - Everardo Hegewisch-Solloa
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York NY 10032
| | - Micah Castillo
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA, 77204
| | - Nicole C Guilz
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York NY 10032
| | - Achchhe Patel
- Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA, 10032
| | - Barbara Corneo
- Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA, 10032
| | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Preethi Gunaratne
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA, 77204
| | - Emily M Mace
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York NY 10032
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