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Wang X, Baksh SS, Pratt RE, Dzau VJ, Hodgkinson CP. Modifying miRs for effective reprogramming of fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102160. [PMID: 38495845 PMCID: PMC10943962 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Reprogramming scar fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes has been proposed to reverse the damage associated with myocardial infarction. However, the limited improvement in cardiac function calls for enhanced strategies. We reported enhanced efficacy of our miR reprogramming cocktail miR combo (miR-1, miR-133a, miR-208a, and miR-499) via RNA-sensing receptor stimulation. We hypothesized that we could combine RNA-sensing receptor activation with fibroblast reprogramming by chemically modifying miR combo. To test the hypothesis, miR combo was modified to enhance interaction with the RNA-sensing receptor Rig1 via the addition of a 5'-triphosphate (5'ppp) group. Importantly, when compared with unmodified miR combo, 5'ppp-modified miR combo markedly improved reprogramming efficacy in vitro. Enhanced reprogramming efficacy correlated with a type-I interferon immune response with strong and selective secretion of interferon β (IFNβ). Antibody blocking studies and media replacement experiments indicated that 5'ppp-miR combo utilized IFNβ to enhance fibroblast reprogramming efficacy. In conclusion, miRs can acquire powerful additional roles through chemical modification that potentially increases their clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinghua Wang
- Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis, and the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Syeda S. Baksh
- Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis, and the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Richard E. Pratt
- Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis, and the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Victor J. Dzau
- Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis, and the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Conrad P. Hodgkinson
- Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis, and the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Fu W, Liao Q, Shi Y, Liu W, Ren H, Xu C, Zeng C. Transient induction of actin cytoskeletal remodeling associated with dedifferentiation, proliferation, and redifferentiation stimulates cardiac regeneration. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:2537-2553. [PMID: 38828141 PMCID: PMC11143747 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.01.021] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The formation of new and functional cardiomyocytes requires a 3-step process: dedifferentiation, proliferation, and redifferentiation, but the critical genes required for efficient dedifferentiation, proliferation, and redifferentiation remain unknown. In our study, a circular trajectory using single-nucleus RNA sequencing of the pericentriolar material 1 positive (PCM1+) cardiomyocyte nuclei from hearts 1 and 3 days after surgery-induced myocardial infarction (MI) on postnatal Day 1 was reconstructed and demonstrated that actin remodeling contributed to the dedifferentiation, proliferation, and redifferentiation of cardiomyocytes after injury. We identified four top actin-remodeling regulators, namely Tmsb4x, Tmsb10, Dmd, and Ctnna3, which we collectively referred to as 2D2P. Transiently expressed changes of 2D2P, using a polycistronic non-integrating lentivirus driven by Tnnt2 (cardiac-specific troponin T) promoters (Tnnt2-2D2P-NIL), efficiently induced transiently proliferative activation and actin remodeling in postnatal Day 7 cardiomyocytes and adult hearts. Furthermore, the intramyocardial delivery of Tnnt2-2D2P-NIL resulted in a sustained improvement in cardiac function without ventricular dilatation, thickened septum, or fatal arrhythmia for at least 4 months. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of actin remodeling in cardiac regeneration and provides a foundation for new gene-cocktail-therapy approaches to improve cardiac repair and treat heart failure using a novel transient and cardiomyocyte-specific viral construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Fu
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400042, China
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Qiao Liao
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400042, China
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Yu Shi
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400042, China
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Wujian Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400042, China
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Hongmei Ren
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400042, China
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Chunmei Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400042, China
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Chunyu Zeng
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400042, China
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing 400042, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Chongqing College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400042, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Chongqing 400042, China
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3
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Chang D, Sun C, Tian X, Liu H, Jia Y, Guo Z. Regulation of cardiac fibroblasts reprogramming into cardiomyocyte-like cells with a cocktail of small molecule compounds. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:983-1000. [PMID: 38693086 PMCID: PMC11148126 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13811] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Myocardial infarction results in extensive cardiomyocyte apoptosis, leading to the formation of noncontractile scar tissue. Given the limited regenerative capacity of adult mammalian cardiomyocytes, direct reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into cardiomyocytes represents a promising therapeutic strategy for myocardial repair, and small molecule drugs might offer a more attractive alternative to gene editing approaches in terms of safety and clinical feasibility. This study aimed to reprogram rat CFs into cardiomyocytes using a small molecular chemical mixture comprising CHIR99021, Valproic acid, Dorsomorphin, SB431542, and Forskolin. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed a significant increase in the expression of cardiomyocyte-specific markers, including cardiac troponin T (cTnT), Connexin 43 (Cx43), α-actinin, and Tbx5. Changes in intracellular calcium ion levels and Ca2+ signal transfer between adjacent cells were monitored using a calcium ion fluorescence probe. mRNA sequencing analysis demonstrated the upregulation of genes associated with cardiac morphogenesis, myocardial differentiation, and muscle fiber contraction during CF differentiation induced by the small-molecule compounds. Conversely, the expression of fibroblast-related genes was downregulated. These findings suggest that chemical-induced cell fate conversion of rat CFs into cardiomyocyte-like cells is feasible, offering a potential therapeutic solution for myocardial injury.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Changye Sun
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue RegenerationXinxiang Medical UniversityChina
| | - Xiangqin Tian
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue RegenerationXinxiang Medical UniversityChina
| | - Hongyin Liu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue RegenerationXinxiang Medical UniversityChina
| | - Yangyang Jia
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue RegenerationXinxiang Medical UniversityChina
| | - Zhikun Guo
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue RegenerationXinxiang Medical UniversityChina
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4
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Abouleisa RRE, Tang XL, Ou Q, Salama ABM, Woolard A, Hammouri D, Abdelhafez H, Cayton S, Abdulwali SK, Arai M, Sithu ID, Conklin DJ, Bolli R, Mohamed TMA. Gene therapy encoding cell cycle factors to treat chronic ischemic heart failure in rats. Cardiovasc Res 2024; 120:152-163. [PMID: 38175760 PMCID: PMC10936750 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Gene therapies to induce cardiomyocyte (CM) cell cycle re-entry have shown a potential to treat subacute ischaemic heart failure (IHF) but have not been tested in the more relevant setting of chronic IHF. Our group recently showed that polycistronic non-integrating lentivirus encoding Cdk1/CyclinB1 and Cdk4/CyclinD1 (TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL) is effective in inducing CM cell cycle re-entry and ameliorating subacute IHF models and preventing the subsequent IHF-induced congestions in the liver, kidneys, and lungs in rats and pigs. Here, we aim to test the long-term efficacy of TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL in a rat model of chronic IHF, a setting that differs pathophysiologically from subacute IHF and has greater clinical relevance. METHODS AND RESULTS Rats were subjected to a 2-h coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion; 4 weeks later, rats were injected intramyocardially with either TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL or LacZ-NIL. Four months post-viral injection, TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL-treated rats showed a significant reduction in scar size and a significant improvement in left ventricular (LV) systolic cardiac function but not in the LV dilatation associated with chronic IHF. A mitosis reporter system developed in our lab showed significant induction of CM mitotic activity in TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL-treated rats. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates, for the first time, that TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL gene therapy induces CM cell cycle re-entry in chronic IHF and improves LV function, and that this salubrious effect is sustained for at least 4 months. Given the high prevalence of chronic IHF, these results have significant clinical implications for developing a novel treatment for this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riham R E Abouleisa
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Xian-Liang Tang
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Qinghui Ou
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Abou-Bakr M Salama
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, 872 Shaibet an Nakareyah, Zagazig, Al-Sharqia Governorate 7120001, Egypt
| | - Amie Woolard
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Dana Hammouri
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Hania Abdelhafez
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Speed School of Engineering, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Sarah Cayton
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Sameeha K Abdulwali
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Interconnection of Al Takhassousi،Al Zahrawi Street, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Momo Arai
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Interconnection of Al Takhassousi،Al Zahrawi Street, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Israel D Sithu
- Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiometabolic Science, Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, KY 40202, USA
| | - Daniel J Conklin
- Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiometabolic Science, Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Roberto Bolli
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Tamer M A Mohamed
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Speed School of Engineering, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiometabolic Science, Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, 580 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, 872 Shaibet an Nakareyah, Zagazig, Zagazig, Al-Sharqia Governorate 7120001, Egypt
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
- Surgery Department, Baylor College of Medicine, 6519 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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5
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Keshri R, Detraux D, Phal A, McCurdy C, Jhajharia S, Chan TC, Mathieu J, Ruohola-Baker H. Next-generation direct reprogramming. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1343106. [PMID: 38371924 PMCID: PMC10869521 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1343106] [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: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue repair is significantly compromised in the aging human body resulting in critical disease conditions (such as myocardial infarction or Alzheimer's disease) and imposing a tremendous burden on global health. Reprogramming approaches (partial or direct reprogramming) are considered fruitful in addressing this unmet medical need. However, the efficacy, cellular maturity and specific targeting are still major challenges of direct reprogramming. Here we describe novel approaches in direct reprogramming that address these challenges. Extracellular signaling pathways (Receptor tyrosine kinases, RTK and Receptor Serine/Theronine Kinase, RSTK) and epigenetic marks remain central in rewiring the cellular program to determine the cell fate. We propose that modern protein design technologies (AI-designed minibinders regulating RTKs/RSTK, epigenetic enzymes, or pioneer factors) have potential to solve the aforementioned challenges. An efficient transdifferentiation/direct reprogramming may in the future provide molecular strategies to collectively reduce aging, fibrosis, and degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riya Keshri
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Damien Detraux
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ashish Phal
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Clara McCurdy
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Samriddhi Jhajharia
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Tung Ching Chan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Julie Mathieu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Hannele Ruohola-Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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6
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Hamano M, Nakamura T, Ito R, Shimada Y, Iwata M, Takeshita JI, Eguchi R, Yamanishi Y. DIRECTEUR: transcriptome-based prediction of small molecules that replace transcription factors for direct cell conversion. Bioinformatics 2024; 40:btae048. [PMID: 38273708 PMCID: PMC10868337 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btae048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Direct reprogramming (DR) is a process that directly converts somatic cells to target cells. Although DR via small molecules is safer than using transcription factors (TFs) in terms of avoidance of tumorigenic risk, the determination of DR-inducing small molecules is challenging. RESULTS Here we present a novel in silico method, DIRECTEUR, to predict small molecules that replace TFs for DR. We extracted DR-characteristic genes using transcriptome profiles of cells in which DR was induced by TFs, and performed a variant of simulated annealing to explore small molecule combinations with similar gene expression patterns with DR-inducing TFs. We applied DIRECTEUR to predicting combinations of small molecules that convert fibroblasts into neurons or cardiomyocytes, and were able to reproduce experimentally verified and functionally related molecules inducing the corresponding conversions. The proposed method is expected to be useful for practical applications in regenerative medicine. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The code and data are available at the following link: https://github.com/HamanoLaboratory/DIRECTEUR.git.
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Affiliation(s)
- Momoko Hamano
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
| | - Toru Nakamura
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
| | - Ryoku Ito
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
| | - Yuki Shimada
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
| | - Michio Iwata
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
| | - Jun-ichi Takeshita
- Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan
| | - Ryohei Eguchi
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Yamanishi
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan
- Department of Complex Systems Science, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
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7
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Zhang Z, Qi J, Fan X, Pan M. XAV939 Improves the Prognosis of Myocardial Infarction by Blocking the Wnt/β-Catenin Signalling Pathway. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2024; 196:605-615. [PMID: 37166649 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-023-04485-y] [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] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) is closely related to the Wnt signalling pathway, but the role of XAV939 (a Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway blocker) in MI has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of XAV939 in mouse hearts and to provide a new and feasible treatment for improving the prognosis of MI. C57BL/6 (male, 8 weeks old, 20-25 g) mice were selected for our study. The MI model was made by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. On day 28 after the operation, cardiac function was examined by echocardiography. Infarct size, fibrosis, and angiogenesis were individually measured by TTC assays, Masson's trichrome staining, and CD31 analysis, respectively. Apoptosis was examined by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) staining. The expression of Wnt, β-catenin, caspase 3, Bax, and Bcl-2 was determined by western blotting. XAV939 successfully blocked Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway activation in cardiomyocytes after MI by promoting the degradation of β-catenin. XAV939 suppressed fibrosis and apoptosis, promoted angiogenesis, reduced myocardial infarct size and improved cardiac function after MI. XAV939 can reduce myocardial infarct size and improve cardiac function by blocking the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, which may provide a new strategy for improving the prognosis of MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Jianhu Clinical College, Jiangsu Vocational College of Medicine, 224700, Yancheng, China
| | - Jiancheng Qi
- Department of Cardiology, Jianhu Clinical College, Jiangsu Vocational College of Medicine, 224700, Yancheng, China
| | - Xiucai Fan
- Department of Cardiology, Jianhu Clinical College, Jiangsu Vocational College of Medicine, 224700, Yancheng, China
| | - Min Pan
- Department of Cardiology, West China (Sanya) Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 228 Jiefang Road, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China.
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8
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He X, Dutta S, Liang J, Paul C, Huang W, Xu M, Chang V, Ao I, Wang Y. Direct cellular reprogramming techniques for cardiovascular regenerative therapeutics. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2024; 102:1-13. [PMID: 37903419 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2023-0088] [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] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of hospitalization affecting approximately 38 million people worldwide. While pharmacological and revascularization techniques can improve the patient's survival and quality of life, they cannot help reversing myocardial infarction injury and heart failure. Direct reprogramming of somatic cells to cardiomyocyte and cardiac progenitor cells offers a new approach to cellular reprogramming and paves the way for translational regenerative medicine. Direct reprogramming can bypass the pluripotent stage with the potential advantage of non-immunogenic cell products, reduced carcinogenic risk, and no requirement for embryonic tissue. The process of directly reprogramming cardiac cells was first achieved through the overexpression of transcription factors such as GATA4, MEF2C, and TBX5. However, over the past decade, significant work has been focused on enhancing direct reprogramming using a mixture of transcription factors, microRNAs, and small molecules to achieve cardiac cell fate. This review discusses the evolution of direct reprogramming, recent progress in achieving efficient cardiac cell fate conversion, and describes the reprogramming mechanisms at a molecular level. We also explore various viral and non-viral delivery methods currently being used to aid in the delivery of reprogramming factors to improve efficiency. However, further studies will be needed to overcome molecular and epigenetic barriers to successfully achieve translational cardiac regenerative therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu He
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Suchandrima Dutta
- Department of Internal MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Jialiang Liang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Christian Paul
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Meifeng Xu
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Vivian Chang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Ian Ao
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Yigang Wang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
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9
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Wang Q, Spurlock B, Liu J, Qian L. Fibroblast Reprogramming in Cardiac Repair. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2024; 9:145-160. [PMID: 38362341 PMCID: PMC10864899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Limited proliferative capacity of adult mammalian cardiomyocytes has prompted researchers to exploit regenerative therapy after myocardial injury, such as myocardial infarction, to attenuate heart dysfunction caused by such injury. Direct cardiac reprogramming is a recently emerged promising approach to repair damaged myocardium by directly converting resident cardiac fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells. The achievement of in vivo direct reprogramming of fibroblasts has been shown, by multiple laboratories independently, to improve cardiac function and mitigate fibrosis post-myocardial infarction, which holds great potential for clinical application. There have been numerous pieces of valuable work in both basic and translational research to enhance our understanding and continued refinement of direct cardiac reprogramming in recent years. However, there remain many challenges to overcome before we can truly take advantage of this technique to treat patients with ischemic cardiac diseases. Here, we review recent progress of fibroblast reprogramming in cardiac repair, including the optimization of several reprogramming strategies, mechanistic exploration, and translational efforts, and we make recommendations for future research to further understand and translate direct cardiac reprogramming from bench to bedside. Challenges relating to these efforts will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaozi Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brian Spurlock
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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10
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Zhou H, Yang J, Srinath C, Zeng A, Wu I, Leon EC, Qureshi TN, Reid CA, Nettesheim ER, Xu E, Duclos Z, Mohamed TMA, Farshidfar F, Fejes A, Liu J, Jones S, Feathers C, Chung TW, Jing F, Prince WS, Lin J, Yu P, Srivastava D, Hoey T, Ivey KN, Lombardi LM. Improved Cardiac Function in Postischemic Rats Using an Optimized Cardiac Reprogramming Cocktail Delivered in a Single Novel Adeno-Associated Virus. Circulation 2023; 148:1099-1112. [PMID: 37602409 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.122.061542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiac reprogramming is a technique to directly convert nonmyocytes into myocardial cells using genes or small molecules. This intervention provides functional benefit to the rodent heart when delivered at the time of myocardial infarction or activated transgenically up to 4 weeks after myocardial infarction. Yet, several hurdles have prevented the advancement of cardiac reprogramming for clinical use. METHODS Through a combination of screening and rational design, we identified a cardiac reprogramming cocktail that can be encoded in a single adeno-associated virus. We also created a novel adeno-associated virus capsid that can transduce cardiac fibroblasts more efficiently than available parental serotypes by mutating posttranslationally modified capsid residues. Because a constitutive promoter was needed to drive high expression of these cell fate-altering reprogramming factors, we included binding sites to a cardiomyocyte-restricted microRNA within the 3' untranslated region of the expression cassette that limits expression to nonmyocytes. After optimizing this expression cassette to reprogram human cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells in vitro, we also tested the ability of this capsid/cassette combination to confer functional benefit in acute mouse myocardial infarction and chronic rat myocardial infarction models. RESULTS We demonstrated sustained, dose-dependent improvement in cardiac function when treating a rat model 2 weeks after myocardial infarction, showing that cardiac reprogramming, when delivered in a single, clinically relevant adeno-associated virus vector, can support functional improvement in the postremodeled heart. This benefit was not observed with GFP (green fluorescent protein) or a hepatocyte reprogramming cocktail and was achieved even in the presence of immunosuppression, supporting myocyte formation as the underlying mechanism. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these results advance the application of cardiac reprogramming gene therapy as a viable therapeutic approach to treat chronic heart failure resulting from ischemic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanyu Zhou
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Jin Yang
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Chetan Srinath
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Aliya Zeng
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Iris Wu
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Elena C Leon
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Tawny Neal Qureshi
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Christopher A Reid
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Emily R Nettesheim
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Emma Xu
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Zoe Duclos
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Tamer M A Mohamed
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Farshad Farshidfar
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Anthony Fejes
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Jun Liu
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Samantha Jones
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Charles Feathers
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Tae Won Chung
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Frank Jing
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - William S Prince
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - JianMin Lin
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Pengzhi Yu
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA (P.Y., D.S.)
| | - Deepak Srivastava
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA (P.Y., D.S.)
- Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at Gladstone, San Francisco, CA (D.S.)
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine (D.S.), University of California San Francisco
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (D.S.), University of California San Francisco
| | - Timothy Hoey
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Kathryn N Ivey
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
| | - Laura M Lombardi
- Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA (H.Z., J.Y., C.S., A.Z., I.W., E.C.L., T.N.Q., C.A.R., E.R.N., E.X., Z.D., T.M.A.M., F.F., A.F., J. Liu, S.J., C.F., T.W.C., F.J., W.S.P., J. Lin, T.H., K.N.I., L.M.L.)
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11
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Yuan X, Braun T. Amending the injured heart by in vivo reprogramming. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 82:102098. [PMID: 37595409 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Ischemic heart injury causes death of cardiomyocyte (CM), formation of a fibrotic scar, and often adverse cardiac remodeling, resulting in chronic heart failure. Therapeutic interventions have lowered myocardial damage and improved heart function, but pharmacological treatment of heart failure has only shown limited progress in recent years. Over the past two decades, different approaches have been pursued to regenerate the heart, by transplantation of newly generated CMs derived from pluripotent stem cells, generation of new CMs by reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts, or by activating proliferation of preexisting CMs. Here, we summarize recent progress in the development of strategies for in situ generation of new CMs, review recent advances in understanding the underlying mechanisms, and discuss the challenges and future directions of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejun Yuan
- Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany.
| | - Thomas Braun
- Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein-Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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12
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Han L, Song B, Zhang P, Zhong Z, Zhang Y, Bo X, Wang H, Zhang Y, Cui X, Zhou W. PC3T: a signature-driven predictor of chemical compounds for cellular transition. Commun Biol 2023; 6:989. [PMID: 37758874 PMCID: PMC10533498 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05225-y] [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: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular transitions hold great promise in translational medicine research. However, therapeutic applications are limited by the low efficiency and safety concerns of using transcription factors. Small molecules provide a temporal and highly tunable approach to overcome these issues. Here, we present PC3T, a computational framework to enrich molecules that induce desired cellular transitions, and PC3T was able to consistently enrich small molecules that had been experimentally validated in both bulk and single-cell datasets. We then predicted small molecule reprogramming of fibroblasts into hepatic progenitor-like cells (HPLCs). The converted cells exhibited epithelial cell-like morphology and HPLC-like gene expression pattern. Hepatic functions were also observed, such as glycogen storage and lipid accumulation. Finally, we collected and manually curated a cell state transition resource containing 224 time-course gene expression datasets and 153 cell types. Our framework, together with the data resource, is freely available at http://pc3t.idrug.net.cn/ . We believe that PC3T is a powerful tool to promote chemical-induced cell state transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Han
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 100850, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Song
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Peilin Zhang
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi Zhong
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongxiang Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 100850, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaochen Bo
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, 100850, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiuliang Cui
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wenxia Zhou
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 100850, Beijing, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing, China.
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13
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Romero-Tejeda M, Fonoudi H, Weddle CJ, DeKeyser JM, Lenny B, Fetterman KA, Magdy T, Sapkota Y, Epting CL, Burridge PW. A novel transcription factor combination for direct reprogramming to a spontaneously contracting human cardiomyocyte-like state. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 182:30-43. [PMID: 37421991 PMCID: PMC10495191 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
The reprogramming of somatic cells to a spontaneously contracting cardiomyocyte-like state using defined transcription factors has proven successful in mouse fibroblasts. However, this process has been less successful in human cells, thus limiting the potential clinical applicability of this technology in regenerative medicine. We hypothesized that this issue is due to a lack of cross-species concordance between the required transcription factor combinations for mouse and human cells. To address this issue, we identified novel transcription factor candidates to induce cell conversion between human fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes, using the network-based algorithm Mogrify. We developed an automated, high-throughput method for screening transcription factor, small molecule, and growth factor combinations, utilizing acoustic liquid handling and high-content kinetic imaging cytometry. Using this high-throughput platform, we screened the effect of 4960 unique transcription factor combinations on direct conversion of 24 patient-specific primary human cardiac fibroblast samples to cardiomyocytes. Our screen revealed the combination of MYOCD, SMAD6, and TBX20 (MST) as the most successful direct reprogramming combination, which consistently produced up to 40% TNNT2+ cells in just 25 days. Addition of FGF2 and XAV939 to the MST cocktail resulted in reprogrammed cells with spontaneous contraction and cardiomyocyte-like calcium transients. Gene expression profiling of the reprogrammed cells also revealed the expression of cardiomyocyte associated genes. Together, these findings indicate that cardiac direct reprogramming in human cells can be achieved at similar levels to those attained in mouse fibroblasts. This progress represents a step forward towards the clinical application of the cardiac direct reprogramming approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisol Romero-Tejeda
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Hananeh Fonoudi
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Carly J Weddle
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jean-Marc DeKeyser
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Brian Lenny
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - K Ashley Fetterman
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Tarek Magdy
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yadav Sapkota
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Conrad L Epting
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H.Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Paul W Burridge
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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Kabłak-Ziembicka A, Badacz R, Okarski M, Wawak M, Przewłocki T, Podolec J. Cardiac microRNAs: diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Arch Med Sci 2023; 19:1360-1381. [PMID: 37732050 PMCID: PMC10507763 DOI: 10.5114/aoms/169775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are small non-coding post-translational biomolecules which, when expressed, modify their target genes. It is estimated that microRNAs regulate production of approximately 60% of all human proteins and enzymes that are responsible for major physiological processes. In cardiovascular disease pathophysiology, there are several cells that produce microRNAs, including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, platelets, and cardiomyocytes. There is a constant crosstalk between microRNAs derived from various cell sources. Atherosclerosis initiation and progression are driven by many pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic microRNAs. Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is the leading cause of cardiovascular death resulting from acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and leads to cardiac remodeling and fibrosis following ACS. MicroRNAs are powerful modulators of plaque progression and transformation into a vulnerable state, which can eventually lead to plaque rupture. There is a growing body of evidence which demonstrates that following ACS, microRNAs might inhibit fibroblast proliferation and scarring, as well as harmful apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and stimulate fibroblast reprogramming into induced cardiac progenitor cells. In this review, we focus on the role of cardiomyocyte-derived and cardiac fibroblast-derived microRNAs that are involved in the regulation of genes associated with cardiomyocyte and fibroblast function and in atherosclerosis-related cardiac ischemia. Understanding their mechanisms may lead to the development of microRNA cocktails that can potentially be used in regenerative cardiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kabłak-Ziembicka
- Department of Interventional Cardiology, Institute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
- Noninvasive Cardiovascular Laboratory, the John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland
| | - Rafał Badacz
- Department of Interventional Cardiology, Institute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
- Department of Interventional Cardiology, the John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland
| | - Michał Okarski
- Student Scientific Group of Modern Cardiac Therapy at the Department of Interventional Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Wawak
- Department of Interventional Cardiology, the John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland
| | - Tadeusz Przewłocki
- Noninvasive Cardiovascular Laboratory, the John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland
- Department of Cardiac and Vascular Diseases Institute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jakub Podolec
- Department of Interventional Cardiology, Institute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
- Department of Interventional Cardiology, the John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland
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15
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Chi C, Song K. Cellular reprogramming of fibroblasts in heart regeneration. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 180:84-93. [PMID: 36965699 PMCID: PMC10347886 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction causes the loss of cardiomyocytes and the formation of cardiac fibrosis due to the activation of cardiac fibroblasts, leading to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Unfortunately, current therapeutic interventions can only slow the disease progression. Furthermore, they cannot fully restore cardiac function, likely because the adult human heart lacks sufficient capacity to regenerate cardiomyocytes. Therefore, intensive efforts have focused on developing therapeutics to regenerate the damaged heart. Several strategies have been intensively investigated, including stimulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation, transplantation of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, and conversion of fibroblasts into cardiac cells. Resident cardiac fibroblasts are critical in the maintenance of the structure and contractility of the heart. Fibroblast plasticity makes this type of cells be reprogrammed into many cell types, including but not limited to induced pluripotent stem cells, induced cardiac progenitor cells, and induced cardiomyocytes. Fibroblasts have become a therapeutic target due to their critical roles in cardiac pathogenesis. This review summarizes the reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, induced cardiac progenitor cells, and induced cardiomyocytes to repair a damaged heart, outlines recent findings in utilizing fibroblast-derived cells for heart regeneration, and discusses the limitations and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congwu Chi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kunhua Song
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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16
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Li J, Bai Y, Liu Y, Song Z, Yang Y, Zhao Y. Transcriptome-based chemical screens identify CDK8 as a common barrier in multiple cell reprogramming systems. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112566. [PMID: 37235474 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts can be chemically induced to pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs) through an extraembryonic endoderm (XEN)-like state or directly converted into other differentiated cell lineages. However, the mechanisms underlying chemically induced cell-fate reprogramming remain unclear. Here, a transcriptome-based screen of biologically active compounds uncovered that CDK8 inhibition was essential to enable chemically induced reprogramming from fibroblasts into XEN-like cells, then CiPSCs. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that CDK8 inhibition downregulated proinflammatory pathways that suppress chemical reprogramming and facilitated the induction of a multi-lineage priming state, indicating the establishment of plasticity in fibroblasts. CDK8 inhibition also resulted in a chromatin accessibility profile like that under initial chemical reprogramming. Moreover, CDK8 inhibition greatly promoted reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into hepatocyte-like cells and induction of human fibroblasts into adipocytes. These collective findings thus highlight CDK8 as a general molecular barrier in multiple cell reprogramming processes, and as a common target for inducing plasticity and cell fate conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yunfei Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Plastech Pharmaceutical Technology Ltd, Nanjing 210031, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Plastech Pharmaceutical Technology Ltd, Nanjing 210031, China
| | - Zhongya Song
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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17
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Brlecic PE, Bonham CA, Rosengart TK, Mathison M. Direct cardiac reprogramming: A new technology for cardiac repair. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 178:51-58. [PMID: 36965701 PMCID: PMC10124164 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with myocardial infarctions being amongst the deadliest manifestations. Reduced blood flow to the heart can result in the death of cardiac tissue, leaving affected patients susceptible to further complications and recurrent disease. Further, contemporary management typically involves a pharmacopeia to manage the metabolic conditions contributing to atherosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease, rather than regeneration of the damaged myocardium. With modern healthcare extending lifespan, a larger demographic will be at risk for heart disease, driving the need for novel therapeutics that surpass those currently available in efficacy. Transdifferentiation and cellular reprogramming have been looked to as potential methods for the treatment of diseases throughout the body. Specifically targeting the fibrotic cells in cardiac scar tissue as a source to be reprogrammed into induced cardiomyocytes remains an appealing option. This review aims to highlight the history of and advances in cardiac reprogramming and describe its translational potential as a treatment for cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige E Brlecic
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Clark A Bonham
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Todd K Rosengart
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Megumi Mathison
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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18
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Guo QY, Yang JQ, Feng XX, Zhou YJ. Regeneration of the heart: from molecular mechanisms to clinical therapeutics. Mil Med Res 2023; 10:18. [PMID: 37098604 PMCID: PMC10131330 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-023-00452-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart injury such as myocardial infarction leads to cardiomyocyte loss, fibrotic tissue deposition, and scar formation. These changes reduce cardiac contractility, resulting in heart failure, which causes a huge public health burden. Military personnel, compared with civilians, is exposed to more stress, a risk factor for heart diseases, making cardiovascular health management and treatment innovation an important topic for military medicine. So far, medical intervention can slow down cardiovascular disease progression, but not yet induce heart regeneration. In the past decades, studies have focused on mechanisms underlying the regenerative capability of the heart and applicable approaches to reverse heart injury. Insights have emerged from studies in animal models and early clinical trials. Clinical interventions show the potential to reduce scar formation and enhance cardiomyocyte proliferation that counteracts the pathogenesis of heart disease. In this review, we discuss the signaling events controlling the regeneration of heart tissue and summarize current therapeutic approaches to promote heart regeneration after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Yun Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine of Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Disease, Clinical Center for Coronary Heart Disease, Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jia-Qi Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine of Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Disease, Clinical Center for Coronary Heart Disease, Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xun-Xun Feng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine of Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Disease, Clinical Center for Coronary Heart Disease, Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yu-Jie Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine of Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Disease, Clinical Center for Coronary Heart Disease, Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China.
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19
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Perveen S, Vanni R, Lo Iacono M, Rastaldo R, Giachino C. Direct Reprogramming of Resident Non-Myocyte Cells and Its Potential for In Vivo Cardiac Regeneration. Cells 2023; 12:1166. [PMID: 37190075 PMCID: PMC10136631 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081166] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac diseases are the foremost cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The heart has limited regenerative potential; therefore, lost cardiac tissue cannot be replenished after cardiac injury. Conventional therapies are unable to restore functional cardiac tissue. In recent decades, much attention has been paid to regenerative medicine to overcome this issue. Direct reprogramming is a promising therapeutic approach in regenerative cardiac medicine that has the potential to provide in situ cardiac regeneration. It consists of direct cell fate conversion of one cell type into another, avoiding transition through an intermediary pluripotent state. In injured cardiac tissue, this strategy directs transdifferentiation of resident non-myocyte cells (NMCs) into mature functional cardiac cells that help to restore the native tissue. Over the years, developments in reprogramming methods have suggested that regulation of several intrinsic factors in NMCs can help to achieve in situ direct cardiac reprogramming. Among NMCs, endogenous cardiac fibroblasts have been studied for their potential to be directly reprogrammed into both induced cardiomyocytes and induced cardiac progenitor cells, while pericytes can transdifferentiate towards endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. This strategy has been indicated to improve heart function and reduce fibrosis after cardiac injury in preclinical models. This review summarizes the recent updates and progress in direct cardiac reprogramming of resident NMCs for in situ cardiac regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto Vanni
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
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20
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Garry GA, Olson EN. Reprogramming of cardiac cell fate as a therapeutic strategy for ischemic heart disease. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 179:2-6. [PMID: 36997058 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of resident cardiac fibroblasts to induced cardiomyocytes is an attractive therapeutic strategy to restore function and remuscularize the injured heart. The cardiac transcription factors Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 have been the mainstay of direct cardiac reprogramming strategies for the past decade. Yet, recent discoveries have identified alternative epigenetic factors capable of reprogramming human cells in the absence of these canonical factors. Further, single-cell genomics evaluating cellular maturation and epigenetics in the setting of injury and heart failure models following reprogramming have continued to inform the mechanistic underpinnings of this process and point toward future areas of discovery for the field. These discoveries and others covered in this review have provided complementary approaches that further enhance the effectiveness of reprogramming as a means of promoting cardiac regeneration following myocardial infarction and heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glynnis A Garry
- Department of Molecular Biology, the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, and Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Eric N Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, and Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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21
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Missinato MA, Murphy S, Lynott M, Yu MS, Kervadec A, Chang YL, Kannan S, Loreti M, Lee C, Amatya P, Tanaka H, Huang CT, Puri PL, Kwon C, Adams PD, Qian L, Sacco A, Andersen P, Colas AR. Conserved transcription factors promote cell fate stability and restrict reprogramming potential in differentiated cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1709. [PMID: 36973293 PMCID: PMC10043290 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37256-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Defining the mechanisms safeguarding cell fate identity in differentiated cells is crucial to improve 1) - our understanding of how differentiation is maintained in healthy tissues or altered in a disease state, and 2) - our ability to use cell fate reprogramming for regenerative purposes. Here, using a genome-wide transcription factor screen followed by validation steps in a variety of reprogramming assays (cardiac, neural and iPSC in fibroblasts and endothelial cells), we identified a set of four transcription factors (ATF7IP, JUNB, SP7, and ZNF207 [AJSZ]) that robustly opposes cell fate reprogramming in both lineage and cell type independent manners. Mechanistically, our integrated multi-omics approach (ChIP, ATAC and RNA-seq) revealed that AJSZ oppose cell fate reprogramming by 1) - maintaining chromatin enriched for reprogramming TF motifs in a closed state and 2) - downregulating genes required for reprogramming. Finally, KD of AJSZ in combination with MGT overexpression, significantly reduced scar size and improved heart function by 50%, as compared to MGT alone post-myocardial infarction. Collectively, our study suggests that inhibition of barrier to reprogramming mechanisms represents a promising therapeutic avenue to improve adult organ function post-injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Missinato
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Sean Murphy
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Michaela Lynott
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Michael S Yu
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Anaïs Kervadec
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Yu-Ling Chang
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Suraj Kannan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Mafalda Loreti
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Christopher Lee
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Prashila Amatya
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Hiroshi Tanaka
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Chun-Teng Huang
- Viral Vector Core Facility Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Pier Lorenzo Puri
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Chulan Kwon
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Peter D Adams
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Li Qian
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Alessandra Sacco
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Peter Andersen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Alexandre R Colas
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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22
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Romero-Tejeda M, Fonoudi H, Weddle CJ, DeKeyser JM, Lenny B, Fetterman KA, Magdy T, Sapkota Y, Epting C, Burridge PW. A Novel Transcription Factor Combination for Direct Reprogramming to a Spontaneously Contracting Human Cardiomyocyte-like State. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.14.532629. [PMID: 36993577 PMCID: PMC10055062 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.14.532629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The reprogramming of somatic cells to a spontaneously contracting cardiomyocyte-like state using defined transcription factors has proven successful in mouse fibroblasts. However, this process has been less successful in human cells, thus limiting the potential clinical applicability of this technology in regenerative medicine. We hypothesized that this issue is due to a lack of cross-species concordance between the required transcription factor combinations for mouse and human cells. To address this issue, we identified novel transcription factor candidates to induce cell conversion between human fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes, using the network-based algorithm Mogrify. We developed an automated, high-throughput method for screening transcription factor, small molecule, and growth factor combinations, utilizing acoustic liquid handling and high-content kinetic imaging cytometry. Using this high-throughput platform, we screened the effect of 4,960 unique transcription factor combinations on direct conversion of 24 patient-specific primary human cardiac fibroblast samples to cardiomyocytes. Our screen revealed the combination of MYOCD , SMAD6 , and TBX20 (MST) as the most successful direct reprogramming combination, which consistently produced up to 40% TNNT2 + cells in just 25 days. Addition of FGF2 and XAV939 to the MST cocktail resulted in reprogrammed cells with spontaneous contraction and cardiomyocyte-like calcium transients. Gene expression profiling of the reprogrammed cells also revealed the expression of cardiomyocyte associated genes. Together, these findings indicate that cardiac direct reprogramming in human cells can be achieved at similar levels to those attained in mouse fibroblasts. This progress represents a step forward towards the clinical application of the cardiac direct reprogramming approach. HIGHLIGHTS Using network-based algorithm Mogrify, acoustic liquid handling, and high-content kinetic imaging cytometry we screened the effect of 4,960 unique transcription factor combinations. Using 24 patient-specific human fibroblast samples we identified the combination of MYOCD , SMAD6 , and TBX20 (MST) as the most successful direct reprogramming combination. MST cocktail results in reprogrammed cells with spontaneous contraction, cardiomyocyte-like calcium transients, and expression of cardiomyocyte associated genes.
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23
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Yamada Y, Sadahiro T, Ieda M. Development of direct cardiac reprogramming for clinical applications. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 178:1-8. [PMID: 36918145 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of cardiovascular diseases is increasing worldwide, and cardiac regenerative therapy has great potential as a new treatment strategy, especially for ischemic heart disease. Direct cardiac reprogramming is a promising new cardiac regenerative therapy that uses defined factors to induce transdifferentiation of endogenous cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs). In vivo reprogramming is expected to restore lost cardiac function without necessitating cardiac transplantation by converting endogenous CFs that exist abundantly in cardiac tissues directly into iCMs. Indeed, we and other groups have demonstrated that in vivo cardiac reprogramming improves cardiac contractile function and reduces scar area after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Recently, we demonstrated that in vivo cardiac reprogramming is an innovative cardiac regenerative therapy that not only regenerates the myocardium, but also reverses fibrosis by inducing the quiescence of pro-fibrotic fibroblasts, thereby improving heart failure in chronic MI. In this review, we summarize the recent progresses in in vivo cardiac reprogramming, and discuss its prospects for future clinical applications and the challenges of direct human reprogramming, which has been a longstanding issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yamada
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Taketaro Sadahiro
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Masaki Ieda
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
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24
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Wang J, An M, Haubner BJ, Penninger JM. Cardiac regeneration: Options for repairing the injured heart. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 9:981982. [PMID: 36712238 PMCID: PMC9877631 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.981982] [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: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac regeneration is one of the grand challenges in repairing injured human hearts. Numerous studies of signaling pathways and metabolism on cardiac development and disease pave the way for endogenous cardiomyocyte regeneration. New drug delivery approaches, high-throughput screening, as well as novel therapeutic compounds combined with gene editing will facilitate the development of potential cell-free therapeutics. In parallel, progress has been made in the field of cell-based therapies. Transplantation of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) can partially rescue the myocardial defects caused by cardiomyocyte loss in large animals. In this review, we summarize current cell-based and cell-free regenerative therapies, discuss the importance of cardiomyocyte maturation in cardiac regenerative medicine, and envision new ways of regeneration for the injured heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Meilin An
- Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Bernhard Johannes Haubner
- Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology and Angiology), Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria,Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Josef M. Penninger
- Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, VBC – Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria,*Correspondence: Josef M. Penninger,
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25
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Haridhasapavalan KK, Borthakur A, Thummer RP. Direct Cardiac Reprogramming: Current Status and Future Prospects. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1436:1-18. [PMID: 36662416 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2022_760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Advances in cellular reprogramming articulated the path for direct cardiac lineage conversion, bypassing the pluripotent state. Direct cardiac reprogramming attracts major attention because of the low or nil regenerative ability of cardiomyocytes, resulting in permanent cell loss in various heart diseases. In the field of cardiology, balancing this loss of cardiomyocytes was highly challenging, even in the modern medical world. Soon after the discovery of cell reprogramming, direct cardiac reprogramming also became a promising alternative for heart regeneration. This review mainly focused on the various direct cardiac reprogramming approaches (integrative and non-integrative) for the derivation of induced autologous cardiomyocytes. It also explains the advancements in cardiac reprogramming over the decade with the pros and cons of each approach. Further, the review highlights the importance of clinically relevant (non-integrative) approaches and their challenges for the prospective applications for personalized medicine. Apart from direct cardiac reprogramming, it also discusses the other strategies for generating cardiomyocytes from different sources. The understanding of these strategies could pave the way for the efficient generation of integration-free functional autologous cardiomyocytes through direct cardiac reprogramming for various biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Kumar Haridhasapavalan
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Atreyee Borthakur
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Rajkumar P Thummer
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India.
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26
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Direct cardiac reprogramming: basics and future challenges. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:865-871. [PMID: 36308583 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07913-0] [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: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heart failure is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is characterized by reduced cardiac function. Currently, cardiac transplantation therapy is applied for end-stage heart failure, but it is limited by the number of available donors. METHODS AND RESULTS Following an assessment of available literature, a narrative review was conducted to summarizes the current status and challenges of cardiac reprogramming for clinical application. Scientists have developed different regenerative treatment strategies for curing heart failure, including progenitor cell delivery and pluripotent cell delivery. Recently, a novel strategy has emerged that directly reprograms cardiac fibroblast into a functional cardiomyocyte. In this treatment, transcription factors are first identified to reprogram fibroblast into a cardiomyocyte. After that, microRNA and small molecules show great potential to optimize the reprogramming process. Some challenges regarding cell reprogramming in humans are conversion efficiency, virus utilization, immature and heterogenous induced cardiomyocytes, technical reproducibility issues, and physiological effects of depleted fibroblasts on myocardial tissue. CONCLUSION Several strategies have shown positive results in direct cardiac reprogramming. However, direct cardiac reprogramming still needs improvement if it is used as a mainstay therapy in humans, and challenges need to be overcome before cardiac reprogramming can be considered a viable therapeutic strategy. Further advances in cardiac reprogramming studies are needed in cardiac regenerative therapy.
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27
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Jin Y, Kim H, Min S, Choi YS, Seo SJ, Jeong E, Kim SK, Lee HA, Jo SH, Park JH, Park BW, Sim WS, Kim JJ, Ban K, Kim YG, Park HJ, Cho SW. Three-dimensional heart extracellular matrix enhances chemically induced direct cardiac reprogramming. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn5768. [PMID: 36516259 PMCID: PMC9750148 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn5768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Direct cardiac reprogramming has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for cardiac regeneration. Full chemical reprogramming with small molecules to generate cardiomyocytes may be more amenable than genetic reprogramming for clinical applications as it avoids safety concerns associated with genetic manipulations. However, challenges remain regarding low conversion efficiency and incomplete cardiomyocyte maturation. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of chemically induced cardiomyocytes (CiCMs) has not been investigated. Here, we report that a three-dimensional microenvironment reconstituted with decellularized heart extracellular matrix can enhance chemical reprogramming and cardiac maturation of fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes. The resultant CiCMs exhibit elevated cardiac marker expression, sarcomeric organization, and improved electrophysiological features and drug responses. We investigated the therapeutic potential of CiCMs reprogrammed in three-dimensional heart extracellular matrix in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Our platform can facilitate the use of CiCMs for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonhee Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeok Kim
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungjin Min
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yi Sun Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Ju Seo
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunseon Jeong
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Kyeom Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyang-Ae Lee
- Korea Institute of Toxicology, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hyun Jo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hyun Park
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Woo Park
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Sup Sim
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Kiwon Ban
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Yun-Gon Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
| | - Hun-Jun Park
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Cell Death Disease Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Woo Cho
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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28
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Advances in Cellular Reprogramming-Based Approaches for Heart Regenerative Repair. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233914. [PMID: 36497171 PMCID: PMC9740402 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233914] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Continuous loss of cardiomyocytes (CMs) is one of the fundamental characteristics of many heart diseases, which eventually can lead to heart failure. Due to the limited proliferation ability of human adult CMs, treatment efficacy has been limited in terms of fully repairing damaged hearts. It has been shown that cell lineage conversion can be achieved by using cell reprogramming approaches, including human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), providing a promising therapeutic for regenerative heart medicine. Recent studies using advanced cellular reprogramming-based techniques have also contributed some new strategies for regenerative heart repair. In this review, hiPSC-derived cell therapeutic methods are introduced, and the clinical setting challenges (maturation, engraftment, immune response, scalability, and tumorigenicity), with potential solutions, are discussed. Inspired by the iPSC reprogramming, the approaches of direct cell lineage conversion are merging, such as induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) and induced cardiac progenitor cells (iCPCs) derived from fibroblasts, without induction of pluripotency. The studies of cellular and molecular pathways also reveal that epigenetic resetting is the essential mechanism of reprogramming and lineage conversion. Therefore, CRISPR techniques that can be repurposed for genomic or epigenetic editing become attractive approaches for cellular reprogramming. In addition, viral and non-viral delivery strategies that are utilized to achieve CM reprogramming will be introduced, and the therapeutic effects of iCMs or iCPCs on myocardial infarction will be compared. After the improvement of reprogramming efficiency by developing new techniques, reprogrammed iCPCs or iCMs will provide an alternative to hiPSC-based approaches for regenerative heart therapies, heart disease modeling, and new drug screening.
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29
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Liu M, Liu J, Zhang T, Wang L. Direct cardiac reprogramming: Toward the era of multi-omics analysis. CELL INSIGHT 2022; 1:100058. [PMID: 37193352 PMCID: PMC10120284 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2022.100058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Limited regenerative capacity of adult cardiomyocytes precludes heart repair and regeneration after cardiac injury. Direct cardiac reprograming that converts scar-forming cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into functional induced-cardiomyocytes (iCMs) offers promising potential to restore heart structure and heart function. Significant advances have been achieved in iCM reprogramming using genetic and epigenetic regulators, small molecules, and delivery strategies. Recent researches on the heterogeneity and reprogramming trajectories elucidated novel mechanisms of iCM reprogramming at single cell level. Here, we review recent progress in iCM reprogramming with a focus on multi-omics (transcriptomic, epigenomic and proteomic) researches to investigate the cellular and molecular machinery governing cell fate conversion. We also highlight the future potential using multi-omics approaches to dissect iCMs conversion for clinal applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxin Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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30
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Ricketts SN, Qian L. The heart of cardiac reprogramming: The cardiac fibroblasts. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2022; 172:90-99. [PMID: 36007393 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, outpacing pulmonary disease, infectious disease, and all forms of cancer. Myocardial infarction (MI) dominates cardiovascular disease, contributing to four out of five cardiovascular related deaths. Following MI, patients suffer adverse and irreversible myocardial remodeling associated with cardiomyocyte loss and infiltration of fibrotic scar tissue. Current therapies following MI only mitigate the cardiac physiological decline rather than restore damaged myocardium function. Direct cardiac reprogramming is one strategy that has promise in repairing injured cardiac tissue by generating new, functional cardiomyocytes from cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). With the ectopic expression of transcription factors, microRNAs, and small molecules, CFs can be reprogrammed into cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) that display molecular signatures, structures, and contraction abilities similar to endogenous cardiomyocytes. The in vivo induction of iCMs following MI leads to significant reduction in fibrotic cardiac remodeling and improved heart function, indicating reprogramming is a viable option for repairing damaged heart tissue. Recent work has illustrated different methods to understand the mechanisms driving reprogramming, in an effort to improve the efficiency of iCM generation and create an approach translational into clinic. This review will provide an overview of CFs and describe different in vivo reprogramming methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shea N Ricketts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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31
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Miller JM, Meki MH, Elnakib A, Ou Q, Abouleisa RRE, Tang XL, Salama ABM, Gebreil A, Lin C, Abdeltawab H, Khalifa F, Hill BG, Abi-Gerges N, Bolli R, El-Baz AS, Giridharan GA, Mohamed TMA. Biomimetic cardiac tissue culture model (CTCM) to emulate cardiac physiology and pathophysiology ex vivo. Commun Biol 2022; 5:934. [PMID: 36085302 PMCID: PMC9463130 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03919-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There is need for a reliable in vitro system that can accurately replicate the cardiac physiological environment for drug testing. The limited availability of human heart tissue culture systems has led to inaccurate interpretations of cardiac-related drug effects. Here, we developed a cardiac tissue culture model (CTCM) that can electro-mechanically stimulate heart slices with physiological stretches in systole and diastole during the cardiac cycle. After 12 days in culture, this approach partially improved the viability of heart slices but did not completely maintain their structural integrity. Therefore, following small molecule screening, we found that the incorporation of 100 nM tri-iodothyronine (T3) and 1 μM dexamethasone (Dex) into our culture media preserved the microscopic structure of the slices for 12 days. When combined with T3/Dex treatment, the CTCM system maintained the transcriptional profile, viability, metabolic activity, and structural integrity for 12 days at the same levels as the fresh heart tissue. Furthermore, overstretching the cardiac tissue induced cardiac hypertrophic signaling in culture, which provides a proof of concept for the ability of the CTCM to emulate cardiac stretch-induced hypertrophic conditions. In conclusion, CTCM can emulate cardiac physiology and pathophysiology in culture for an extended time, thereby enabling reliable drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Miller
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Moustafa H Meki
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Ahmed Elnakib
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Qinghui Ou
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Riham R E Abouleisa
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Xian-Liang Tang
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Abou Bakr M Salama
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
- Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Ahmad Gebreil
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Cindy Lin
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Hisham Abdeltawab
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Fahmi Khalifa
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Bradford G Hill
- Envirome Institute, Diabetes and Obesity Center, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | | | - Roberto Bolli
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Ayman S El-Baz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | | | - Tamer M A Mohamed
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA.
- Envirome Institute, Diabetes and Obesity Center, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA.
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
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32
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Wang H, Segersvärd H, Siren J, Perttunen S, Immonen K, Kosonen R, Chen YC, Tolva J, Laivuori M, Mäyränpää MI, Kovanen PT, Sinisalo J, Laine M, Tikkanen I, Lakkisto P. Tankyrase Inhibition Attenuates Cardiac Dilatation and Dysfunction in Ischemic Heart Failure. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710059. [PMID: 36077457 PMCID: PMC9456217 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710059] [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: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperactive poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP) promote ischemic heart failure (IHF) after myocardial infarction (MI). However, the role of tankyrases (TNKSs), members of the PARP family, in pathogenesis of IHF remains unknown. We investigated the expression and activation of TNKSs in myocardium of IHF patients and MI rats. We explored the cardioprotective effect of TNKS inhibition in an isoproterenol-induced zebrafish HF model. In IHF patients, we observed elevated TNKS2 and DICER and concomitant upregulation of miR-34a-5p and miR-21-5p in non-infarcted myocardium. In a rat MI model, we found augmented TNKS2 and DICER in the border and infarct areas at the early stage of post-MI. We also observed consistently increased TNKS1 in the border and infarct areas and destabilized AXIN in the infarct area from 4 weeks onward, which in turn triggered Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In an isoproterenol-induced HF zebrafish model, inhibition of TNKS activity with XAV939, a TNKSs-specific inhibitor, protected against ventricular dilatation and cardiac dysfunction and abrogated overactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and dysregulation of miR-34a-5p induced by isoproterenol. Our study unravels a potential role of TNKSs in the pathogenesis of IHF by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling and possibly modulating miRNAs and highlights the pharmacotherapeutic potential of TNKS inhibition for prevention of IHF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wang
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-504487011
| | - Heli Segersvärd
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juuso Siren
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sanni Perttunen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katariina Immonen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Kosonen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Yu-Chia Chen
- Zebrafish Unit, HiLIFE and Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Tolva
- Transplantation Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mirjami Laivuori
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Abdominal Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko I. Mäyränpää
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Petri T. Kovanen
- Atherosclerosis Research Laboratory, Wihuri Research Institute, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Sinisalo
- Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mika Laine
- Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilkka Tikkanen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
- Abdominal Center, Nephrology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Lakkisto
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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33
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Lyra-Leite DM, Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez Ó, Wang M, Zhou Y, Cyganek L, Burridge PW. A review of protocols for human iPSC culture, cardiac differentiation, subtype-specification, maturation, and direct reprogramming. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101560. [PMID: 36035804 PMCID: PMC9405110 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The methods for the culture and cardiomyocyte differentiation of human embryonic stem cells, and later human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), have moved from a complex and uncontrolled systems to simplified and relatively robust protocols, using the knowledge and cues gathered at each step. HiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes have proven to be a useful tool in human disease modelling, drug discovery, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine. In this protocol review, we will highlight the evolution of protocols associated with hPSC culture, cardiomyocyte differentiation, sub-type specification, and cardiomyocyte maturation. We also discuss protocols for somatic cell direct reprogramming to cardiomyocyte-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi M Lyra-Leite
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Óscar Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez
- Stem Cell Unit, Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Meimei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lukas Cyganek
- Stem Cell Unit, Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paul W Burridge
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, largely due to the limited regenerative capacity of the adult human heart. In contrast, teleost zebrafish hearts possess natural regeneration capacity by proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes after injury. Hearts of mice can regenerate if injured in a few days after birth, which coincides with the transient capacity for cardiomyocyte proliferation. This review tends to elaborate the roles and mechanisms of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in heart development and regeneration in mammals and non-mammalian vertebrates. RECENT FINDINGS Studies in zebrafish, mice, and human embryonic stem cells demonstrate the binary effect for Wnt/β-catenin signaling during heart development. Both Wnts and Wnt antagonists are induced in multiple cell types during cardiac development and injury repair. In this review, we summarize composites of the Wnt signaling pathway and their different action routes, followed by the discussion of their involvements in cardiac specification, proliferation, and patterning. We provide overviews about canonical and non-canonical Wnt activity during heart homeostasis, remodeling, and regeneration. Wnt/β-catenin signaling exhibits biphasic and antagonistic effects on cardiac specification and differentiation depending on the stage of embryogenesis. Inhibition of Wnt signaling is beneficial for cardiac wound healing and functional recovery after injury. Understanding of the roles and mechanisms of Wnt signaling pathway in injured animal hearts will contribute to the development of potential therapeutics for human diseased hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongliang Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jianjian Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510100, Guangdong, China
| | - Tao P Zhong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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35
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Zhang Z, Zhang W, Blakes R, Sundby LJ, Shi Z, Rockey DC, Ervasti JM, Nam YJ. Fibroblast fate determination during cardiac reprogramming by remodeling of actin filaments. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:1604-1619. [PMID: 35688153 PMCID: PMC9287671 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) by forced expression of cardiogenic transcription factors. However, it remains unknown how fibroblasts adopt a cardiomyocyte (CM) fate during their spontaneous ongoing transdifferentiation toward myofibroblasts (MFs). By tracing fibroblast lineages following cardiac reprogramming in vitro, we found that most mature iCMs are derived directly from fibroblasts without transition through the MF state. This direct conversion is attributable to mutually exclusive induction of cardiac sarcomeres and MF cytoskeletal structures in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts during reprogramming. For direct fate switch from fibroblasts to iCMs, significant remodeling of actin isoforms occurs in fibroblasts, including induction of α-cardiac actin and decrease of the actin isoforms predominant in MFs. Accordingly, genetic or pharmacological ablation of MF-enriched actin isoforms significantly enhances cardiac reprogramming. Our results demonstrate that remodeling of actin isoforms is required for fibroblast to CM fate conversion by cardiac reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Robert Blakes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lauren J Sundby
- Program in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zengdun Shi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Don C Rockey
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - James M Ervasti
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Program in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Young-Jae Nam
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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36
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Ko T, Nomura S. Manipulating Cardiomyocyte Plasticity for Heart Regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:929256. [PMID: 35898398 PMCID: PMC9309349 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.929256] [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: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological heart injuries such as myocardial infarction induce adverse ventricular remodeling and progression to heart failure owing to widespread cardiomyocyte death. The adult mammalian heart is terminally differentiated unlike those of lower vertebrates. Therefore, the proliferative capacity of adult cardiomyocytes is limited and insufficient to restore an injured heart. Although current therapeutic approaches can delay progressive remodeling and heart failure, difficulties with the direct replenishment of lost cardiomyocytes results in a poor long-term prognosis for patients with heart failure. However, it has been revealed that cardiac function can be improved by regulating the cell cycle or changing the cell state of cardiomyocytes by delivering specific genes or small molecules. Therefore, manipulation of cardiomyocyte plasticity can be an effective treatment for heart disease. This review summarizes the recent studies that control heart regeneration by manipulating cardiomyocyte plasticity with various approaches including differentiating pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes, reprogramming cardiac fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes, and reactivating the proliferation of cardiomyocytes.
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37
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Zhang X, Zhang Q, Chen L, Cai B, Zeng M, Ou S, Chen Y, Feng Z, Chen H, Cao S, Kang K. Appropriate Exogenous Expression Stoichiometry of GATA4 as an Important Factor for Cardiac Reprogramming of Human Dermal Fibroblasts. Cell Reprogram 2022; 24:283-293. [PMID: 35762944 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2022.0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) represents a promising strategy for human cardiac regeneration. Different cocktails of cardiac transcription factors can convert HDFs into iCMs, although with low efficiency and immature phenotype. Here, GATA4, MEF2C, TBX5, MESP1, and MYOCD (GMTMeMy for short) were used to reprogram HDFs by retrovirus infection. We found that the exogenous expression stoichiometry of GATA4 (GATA4 stoichiometry) significantly affected reprogramming efficiency. When 1/8 dosage of GATA4 virus (GATA4 dosage) plus MTMeMy was used, the reprogramming efficiency was obviously improved compared with average pooled virus encoding each factor, which measured, by the expression level of cardiac genes, the percentage of cardiac troponin T and alpha-cardiac myosin heavy-chain immunopositive cells and the numbers of iCMs showing calcium oscillation or beating synchronously in co-culture with mouse CMs. In addition, we prepared conditioned maintenance medium (CMM) by CM differentiation of H9 human embryonic stem cell line. We found that compared with traditional maintenance medium (TMM), CMM made iCMs show well-organized sarcomere formation and characteristic calcium oscillation wave earlier. These findings demonstrated that appropriate GATA4 stoichiometry was essential for cardiac reprogramming and some components in CMM were important for maturation of iCMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lijun Chen
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baomei Cai
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengying Zeng
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sihua Ou
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yating Chen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Ziyu Feng
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shangtao Cao
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Kang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
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38
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Young A, Bradley LA, Farrar E, Bilcheck HO, Tkachenko S, Saucerman JJ, Bekiranov S, Wolf MJ. Inhibition of DYRK1a Enhances Cardiomyocyte Cycling After Myocardial Infarction. Circ Res 2022; 130:1345-1361. [PMID: 35369706 PMCID: PMC9050942 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.121.320005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND DYRK1a (dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1a) contributes to the control of cycling cells, including cardiomyocytes. However, the effects of inhibition of DYRK1a on cardiac function and cycling cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction (MI) remain unknown. METHODS We investigated the impacts of pharmacological inhibition and conditional genetic ablation of DYRK1a on endogenous cardiomyocyte cycling and left ventricular systolic function in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) MI using αMHC-MerDreMer-Ki67p-RoxedCre::Rox-Lox-tdTomato-eGFP (RLTG) (denoted αDKRC::RLTG) and αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR::DYRK1aflox/flox mice. RESULTS We observed that harmine, an inhibitor of DYRK1a, improved left ventricular ejection fraction (39.5±1.6% and 29.1±1.6%, harmine versus placebo, respectively), 2 weeks after I/R MI. Harmine also increased cardiomyocyte cycling after I/R MI in αDKRC::RLTG mice, 10.8±1.5 versus 24.3±2.6 enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP)+ cardiomyocytes, placebo versus harmine, respectively, P=1.0×10-3. The effects of harmine on left ventricular ejection fraction were attenuated in αDKRC::DTA mice that expressed an inducible diphtheria toxin in adult cycling cardiomyocytes. The conditional cardiomyocyte-specific genetic ablation of DYRK1a in αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR::DYRK1aflox/flox (denoted DYRK1a k/o) mice caused cardiomyocyte hyperplasia at baseline (210±28 versus 126±5 cardiomyocytes per 40× field, DYRK1a k/o versus controls, respectively, P=1.7×10-2) without changes in cardiac function compared with controls, or compensatory changes in the expression of other DYRK isoforms. After I/R MI, DYRK1a k/o mice had improved left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction 41.8±2.2% and 26.4±0.8%, DYRK1a k/o versus control, respectively, P=3.7×10-2). RNAseq of cardiomyocytes isolated from αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR::DYRK1aflox/flox and αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR mice after I/R MI or Sham surgeries identified enrichment in mitotic cell cycle genes in αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR::DYRK1aflox/flox compared with αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR. CONCLUSIONS The pharmacological inhibition or cardiomyocyte-specific ablation of DYRK1a caused baseline hyperplasia and improved cardiac function after I/R MI, with an increase in cell cycle gene expression, suggesting the inhibition of DYRK1a may serve as a therapeutic target to treat MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Young
- Department of Medicine (A.Y., L.A.B., E.F., H.O.B., M.J.W.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (A.Y., L.A.B., H.O.B., M.J.W.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Leigh A Bradley
- Department of Medicine (A.Y., L.A.B., E.F., H.O.B., M.J.W.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (A.Y., L.A.B., H.O.B., M.J.W.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Elizabeth Farrar
- Department of Medicine (A.Y., L.A.B., E.F., H.O.B., M.J.W.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Helen O Bilcheck
- Department of Medicine (A.Y., L.A.B., E.F., H.O.B., M.J.W.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (A.Y., L.A.B., H.O.B., M.J.W.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Svyatoslav Tkachenko
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering (S.T., J.J.S.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Jeffrey J Saucerman
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering (S.T., J.J.S.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Stefan Bekiranov
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (S.B.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Matthew J Wolf
- Department of Medicine (A.Y., L.A.B., E.F., H.O.B., M.J.W.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (A.Y., L.A.B., H.O.B., M.J.W.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
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Auchampach J, Han L, Huang GN, Kühn B, Lough JW, O'Meara CC, Payumo AY, Rosenthal NA, Sucov HM, Yutzey KE, Patterson M. Measuring cardiomyocyte cell-cycle activity and proliferation in the age of heart regeneration. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 322:H579-H596. [PMID: 35179974 PMCID: PMC8934681 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00666.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
During the past two decades, the field of mammalian myocardial regeneration has grown dramatically, and with this expanded interest comes increasing claims of experimental manipulations that mediate bona fide proliferation of cardiomyocytes. Too often, however, insufficient evidence or improper controls are provided to support claims that cardiomyocytes have definitively proliferated, a process that should be strictly defined as the generation of two de novo functional cardiomyocytes from one original cardiomyocyte. Throughout the literature, one finds inconsistent levels of experimental rigor applied, and frequently the specific data supplied as evidence of cardiomyocyte proliferation simply indicate cell-cycle activation or DNA synthesis, which do not necessarily lead to the generation of new cardiomyocytes. In this review, we highlight potential problems and limitations faced when characterizing cardiomyocyte proliferation in the mammalian heart, and summarize tools and experimental standards, which should be used to support claims of proliferation-based remuscularization. In the end, definitive establishment of de novo cardiomyogenesis can be difficult to prove; therefore, rigorous experimental strategies should be used for such claims.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Auchampach
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Lu Han
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Herma Heart Institute, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Guo N Huang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Bernhard Kühn
- Division of Cardiology, Pediatric Institute for Heart Regeneration and Therapeutics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - John W Lough
- Department of Cell Biology Neurobiology and Anatomy and the Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Caitlin C O'Meara
- Department of Physiology and the Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Alexander Y Payumo
- Department of Biological Sciences, San José State University, San Jose, California
| | - Nadia A Rosenthal
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Henry M Sucov
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Katherine E Yutzey
- The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Michaela Patterson
- Department of Cell Biology Neurobiology and Anatomy and the Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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40
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Pascale E, Caiazza C, Paladino M, Parisi S, Passaro F, Caiazzo M. MicroRNA Roles in Cell Reprogramming Mechanisms. Cells 2022; 11:cells11060940. [PMID: 35326391 PMCID: PMC8946776 DOI: 10.3390/cells11060940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell reprogramming is a groundbreaking technology that, in few decades, generated a new paradigm in biomedical science. To date we can use cell reprogramming to potentially generate every cell type by converting somatic cells and suitably modulating the expression of key transcription factors. This approach can be used to convert skin fibroblasts into pluripotent stem cells as well as into a variety of differentiated and medically relevant cell types, including cardiomyocytes and neural cells. The molecular mechanisms underlying such striking cell phenotypes are still largely unknown, but in the last decade it has been proven that cell reprogramming approaches are significantly influenced by non-coding RNAs. Specifically, this review will focus on the role of microRNAs in the reprogramming processes that lead to the generation of pluripotent stem cells, neurons, and cardiomyocytes. As highlighted here, non-coding RNA-forced expression can be sufficient to support some cell reprogramming processes, and, therefore, we will also discuss how these molecular determinants could be used in the future for biomedical purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Pascale
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Carmen Caiazza
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Martina Paladino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Silvia Parisi
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Fabiana Passaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
- Correspondence: (F.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Massimiliano Caiazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (F.P.); (M.C.)
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41
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Zhang X, Chen L, Huang X, Chen H, Cai B, Qin Y, Chen Y, Ou S, Li X, Wu Z, Feng Z, Zeng M, Guo W, Li H, Zhou C, Yu S, Pan M, Liu J, Kang K, Cao S, Pei D. MYOCD is Required for Cardiomyocyte-like Cells Induction from Human Urine Cells and Fibroblasts Through Remodeling Chromatin. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:2414-2430. [PMID: 35246800 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10339-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite direct reprogramming of human cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCM) holds great potential for heart regeneration, the mechanisms are poorly understood. Whether other human somatic cells could be reprogrammed into cardiomyocytes is also unknown. Here, we report human urine cells (hUCs) could be converted into CM-like cells from different donors and the related chromatin accessibility dynamics (CAD) by assay for transposase accessible chromatin(ATAC)-seq. hUCs transduced by MEF2C, TBX5, MESP1 and MYOCD but without GATA4 expressed multiple cardiac specific genes, exhibited Ca2+ oscillation potential and sarcomeric structures, and contracted synchronously in coculture with mouse CM. Additionally, we found that MYOCD is required for both closing and opening critical loci, mainly by hindering the opening of loci enriched with motifs for the TEAD and AP1 family and promoting the closing of loci enriched with ETS motifs. These changes differ partially from CAD observed during iCM induction from human fibroblasts. Collectively, our study offers one practical platform for iCM generation and insights into mechanisms for iCM fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lijun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institutes for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Xingnan Huang
- Laboratory of Cell Fate Control, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Baomei Cai
- Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Yue Qin
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yating Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institutes for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Sihua Ou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institutes for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Xiaoxi Li
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Zichao Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institutes for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Ziyu Feng
- Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Mengying Zeng
- Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Wenjing Guo
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Heying Li
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Chunhua Zhou
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Shengyong Yu
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Mengjie Pan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institutes for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Joint School of Life Science, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Science, Chinese Academic and Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Kai Kang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Shangtao Cao
- Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China.
| | - Duanqing Pei
- Laboratory of Cell Fate Control, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
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42
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Li Z, Liu L, Wang Z. In vitro Assessment of Cardiac Reprogramming by Measuring Cardiac Specific Calcium Flux with a GCaMP3 Reporter. J Vis Exp 2022:10.3791/62643. [PMID: 35285824 PMCID: PMC10167723 DOI: 10.3791/62643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac reprogramming has become a potentially promising therapy to repair a damaged heart. By introducing multiple transcription factors, including Mef2c, Gata4, Tbx5 (MGT), fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs). These iCMs, when generated in situ in an infarcted heart, integrate electrically and mechanically with the surrounding myocardium, leading to a reduction in scar size and an improvement in heart function. Because of the relatively low reprogramming efficiency, purity, and quality of the iCMs, characterization of iCMs remains a challenge. The currently used methods in this field, including flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, and qPCR, mainly focus on cardiac-specific gene and protein expression but not on the functional maturation of iCMs. Triggered by action potentials, the opening of voltage-gated calcium channels in cardiomyocytes leads to a rapid influx of calcium into the cell. Therefore, quantifying the rate of calcium influx is a promising method to evaluate cardiomyocyte function. Here, the protocol introduces a method to evaluate iCM function by calcium (Ca2+) flux. An αMHC-Cre/Rosa26A-Flox-Stop-Flox-GCaMP3 mouse strain was established by crossing Tg(Myh6-cre)1Jmk/J (referred to as Myh6-Cre below) with Gt(ROSA)26Sortm38(CAG-GCaMP3)Hze/J (referred to as Rosa26A-Flox-Stop-Flox-GCaMP3 below) mice. Neonatal cardiac fibroblasts (NCFs) from P0-P2 neonatal mice were isolated and cultured in vitro, and a polycistronic construction of MGT was introduced to NCFs, which led to their reprogramming to iCMs. Because only successfully reprogrammed iCMs will express GCaMP3 reporter, the functional maturation of iCMs can be visually assessed by Ca2+ flux with fluorescence microscopy. Compared with un-reprogrammed NCFs, NCF-iCMs showed significant calcium transient flux and spontaneous contraction, similar to CMs. This protocol describes in detail the mouse strain establishment, isolation and selection of neonatal mice hearts, NCF isolation, production of retrovirus for cardiac reprogramming, iCM induction, the evaluation of iCM Ca2+ flux using our reporter line, and related statistical analysis and data presentation. It is expected that the methods described here will provide a valuable platform to assess the functional maturation of iCMs for cardiac reprogramming studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaokai Li
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
| | - Liu Liu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor;
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43
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Nam YJ. Translational perspectives on cardiac reprogramming. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 122:14-20. [PMID: 34210578 PMCID: PMC8712611 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Loss of cardiac muscle after cardiac injury is replaced by cardiac fibrosis, due to very limited regenerative capacity of the heart. Although initially beneficial, persistent cardiac fibrosis leads to pump failure and conduction abnormalities, common modes of death following cardiac injury. Thus, directly reprogramming cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs) by forced expression of cardiogenic factors (referred to as cardiac reprogramming) is particularly attractive in that it targets cardiac fibroblasts, a major source of cardiac fibrosis, to induce new cardiac muscle. Over the last decade, remarkable progresses have been made on cardiac reprogramming, particularly focusing on how to enhance conversion of fibroblasts to iCMs in vitro. However, it still remains elusive whether this new regenerative approach can be translated into clinical practice. This review discusses progresses and challenges of cardiac reprogramming in the translational context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Jae Nam
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA,Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA,To whom correspondence may be addressed: Young-Jae Nam, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville , Tennessee 37232, USA, Phone: 615-936-5436,
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44
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The role of metabolism in directed differentiation versus trans-differentiation of cardiomyocytes. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 122:56-65. [PMID: 34074592 PMCID: PMC8725317 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The advent of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and identification of transcription factors for cardiac reprogramming have raised hope to cure heart disease, the leading cause of death in the world. Our knowledge in heart development and molecular barriers of cardiac reprogramming is advancing, but many hurdles are yet to be overcome for clinical translation. Importantly, we lack a full understanding of molecular mechanisms governing cell fate conversion toward cardiomyocytes. In this review, we will discuss the role of metabolism in directed differentiation versus trans-differentiation of cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes exhibit a unique metabolic feature distinct from PSCs and cardiac fibroblasts, and there are multiple overlapping molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic reprogramming during cardiomyogenesis. We will discuss key metabolic changes occurring during cardiomyocytes differentiation from PSCs and cardiac fibroblasts, and the potential role of metabolic reprogramming in the enhancement strategies for cardiomyogenesis. Only when such details are discovered will more effective strategies to enhance the de novo production of cardiomyocytes be possible.
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45
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Xie Y, Liu J, Qian L. Direct cardiac reprogramming comes of age: Recent advance and remaining challenges. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 122:37-43. [PMID: 34304993 PMCID: PMC8782931 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The adult human heart has limited regenerative capacity. As such, the massive cardiomyocyte loss due to myocardial infarction leads to scar formation and adverse cardiac remodeling, which ultimately results in chronic heart failure. Direct cardiac reprogramming that converts cardiac fibroblast into functional cardiomyocyte-like cells (also called iCMs) holds great promise for heart regeneration. Cardiac reprogramming has been achieved both in vitro and in vivo by using a variety of cocktails that comprise transcription factors, microRNAs, or small molecules. During the past several years, great progress has been made in improving reprogramming efficiency and understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we summarize the direct cardiac reprogramming methods, review the current advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cardiac reprogramming, and highlight the novel insights gained from single-cell omics studies. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and future directions for the field.
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46
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Garry GA, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. Direct reprogramming as a route to cardiac repair. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 122:3-13. [PMID: 34246567 PMCID: PMC8738780 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure worldwide due to an inability of the heart to regenerate following injury. Thus, novel heart failure therapies aimed at promoting cardiomyocyte regeneration are desperately needed. In recent years, direct reprogramming of resident cardiac fibroblasts to induced cardiac-like myocytes (iCMs) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to repurpose the fibrotic response of the injured heart toward a functional myocardium. Direct cardiac reprogramming was initially achieved through the overexpression of the transcription factors (TFs) Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT). However, this combination of TFs and other subsequent cocktails demonstrated limited success in reprogramming adult human and mouse fibroblasts, constraining the clinical translation of this therapy. Over the past decade, significant effort has been dedicated to optimizing reprogramming cocktails comprised of cardiac TFs, epigenetic factors, microRNAs, or small molecules to yield efficient cardiac cell fate conversion. Yet, efficient reprogramming of adult human fibroblasts remains a significant challenge. Underlying mechanisms identified to accelerate this process have been centered on epigenetic remodeling at cardiac gene regulatory regions. Further studies to achieve a refined understanding and directed means of overcoming epigenetic barriers are merited to more rapidly translate these promising therapies to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glynnis A. Garry
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,The Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Rhonda Bassel-Duby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,The Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Eric N. Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,The Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Correspondence: Eric N. Olson, Ph.D. 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas, 75390-9148, Tel: 214-648-1187,
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Abouleisa RR, Salama ABM, Ou Q, Tang XL, Solanki M, Guo Y, Nong Y, McNally L, Lorkiewicz PK, Kassem KM, Ahern BM, Choudhary K, Thomas R, Huang Y, Juhardeen HR, Siddique A, Ifthikar Z, Hammad SK, El-Baz AS, Ivey KN, Conklin DJ, Satin J, Hill BG, Srivastava D, Bolli R, Mohamed TM. Transient Cell Cycle Induction in Cardiomyocytes to Treat Subacute Ischemic Heart Failure. Circulation 2022; 145:1339-1355. [PMID: 35061545 PMCID: PMC9038650 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.057641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background:
The regenerative capacity of the heart after myocardial infarction (MI) is limited. Our previous study showed that ectopic introduction of Cdk1/CyclinB1 and Cdk4/CyclinD1 complexes (4F) promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation in 15-20% of infected cardiomyocytes
in vitro
and
in vivo
and improves cardiac function after MI in mice.
Methods:
Here, using temporal single-cell RNAseq we aimed to identify the necessary reprogramming stages during the forced cardiomyocyte proliferation with 4F on a single cell basis. Also, using rat and pig models of ischemic heart failure, we aimed to start the first preclinical testing to introduce 4F gene therapy as a candidate for the treatment of ischemia-induced heart failure.
Results:
Temporal bulk and single-cell RNAseq and further biochemical validations of mature hiPS-CMs treated with either LacZ or 4F adenoviruses revealed full cell cycle reprogramming in 15% of the cardiomyocyte population at 48 h post-infection with 4F, which was mainly associated with sarcomere disassembly and metabolic reprogramming (n=3/timepoint/group). Transient overexpression of 4F, specifically in cardiomyocytes, was achieved using a polycistronic non-integrating lentivirus (NIL) encoding the 4F; each is driven by a TNNT2 promoter (TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL). TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL or control virus was injected intramyocardially one week after MI in rats (n=10/group) or pigs (n=6-7/group). Four weeks post-injection, TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL treated animals showed significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and scar size compared with the control virus treated animals. At four months after treatment, rats that received TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL still showed a sustained improvement in cardiac function and no obvious development of cardiac arrhythmias or systemic tumorigenesis (n=10/group).
Conclusions:
This study provides mechanistic insights into the process of forced cardiomyocyte proliferation and advances the clinical feasibility of this approach by minimizing the oncogenic potential of the cell cycle factors thanks to the use of a novel transient and cardiomyocyte-specific viral construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riham R.E. Abouleisa
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | - Abou Bakr M. Salama
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY; Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt
| | - Qinghui Ou
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | - Xian-Liang Tang
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | - Mitesh Solanki
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | - Yiru Guo
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | - Yibing Nong
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | - Lindsey McNally
- Envirome Institute, Diabetes and Obesity Center, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | - Pawel K. Lorkiewicz
- Envirome Institute, Diabetes and Obesity Center, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | - Kamal M. Kassem
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | | | | | | | - Yu Huang
- Gladstone Institute, San Francisco, CA
| | | | - Aisha Siddique
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zainab Ifthikar
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sally K. Hammad
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY; Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Ayman S. El-Baz
- Department of Bioengineering, Speed School of Engineering, University of Louisville, KY
| | | | - Daniel J. Conklin
- Envirome Institute, Diabetes and Obesity Center, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | | | - Bradford G. Hill
- Envirome Institute, Diabetes and Obesity Center, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | | | - Roberto Bolli
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY
| | - Tamer M.A. Mohamed
- From the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY; Envirome Institute, Diabetes and Obesity Center, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY; Department of Bioengineering, Speed School of Engineering, University of Louisville, KY; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, KY; Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, U.K
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48
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Singh VP, Pinnamaneni JP, Pugazenthi A, Sanagasetti D, Mathison M, Martin JF, Yang J, Rosengart TK. Hippo Pathway Effector Tead1 Induces Cardiac Fibroblast to Cardiomyocyte Reprogramming. J Am Heart Assoc 2021; 10:e022659. [PMID: 34889103 PMCID: PMC9075224 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.121.022659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Background The conversion of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes may regenerate myocardial tissue from cardiac scar through in situ cell transdifferentiation. The efficiency transdifferentiation is low, especially for human cells. We explored the leveraging of Hippo pathway intermediates to enhance induced cardiomyocyte generation. Methods and Results We screened Hippo effectors Yap (yes‐associated protein), Taz (transcriptional activator binding domain), and Tead1 (TEA domain transcription factor 1; Td) for their reprogramming efficacy with cardio‐differentiating factors Gata4, Mef2C, and Tbx5 (GMT). Td induced nearly 3‐fold increased expression of cardiomyocyte marker cTnT (cardiac troponin T) by mouse embryonic and adult rat fibroblasts versus GMT administration alone (P<0.0001), while Yap and Taz failed to enhance cTnT expression. Serial substitution demonstrated that Td replacement of TBX5 induced the greatest cTnT expression enhancement and sarcomere organization in rat fibroblasts treated with all GMT substitutions (GMTd versus GMT: 17±1.2% versus 5.4±0.3%, P<0.0001). Cell contractility (beating) was seen in 6% of GMTd‐treated cells by 4 weeks after treatment, whereas no beating GMT‐treated cells were observed. Human cardiac fibroblasts likewise demonstrated increased cTnT expression with GMTd versus GMT treatment (7.5±0.3% versus 3.0±0.3%, P<0.01). Mechanistically, GMTd administration increased expression of the trimethylated lysine 4 of histone 3 (H3K4me3) mark at the promoter regions of cardio‐differentiation genes and mitochondrial biogenesis regulator genes in rat and human fibroblast, compared with GMT. Conclusions These data suggest that the Hippo pathway intermediate Tead1 is an important regulator of cardiac reprogramming that increases the efficiency of maturate induced cardiomyocytes generation and may be a vital component of human cardiodifferentiation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek P Singh
- Department of Surgery Baylor College of Medicine Houston TX
| | | | | | | | | | - James F Martin
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Baylor College of Medicine Houston TX
| | - Jianchang Yang
- Department of Surgery Baylor College of Medicine Houston TX
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Liu L, Guo Y, Li Z, Wang Z. Improving Cardiac Reprogramming for Heart Regeneration in Translational Medicine. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123297. [PMID: 34943805 PMCID: PMC8699771 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into CM-like cells has emerged as an attractive strategy to generate induced CMs (iCMs) in heart regeneration. However, low conversion rate, poor purity, and the lack of precise conversion of iCMs are still present as significant challenges. In this review, we summarize the recent development in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cardiac reprogramming with various strategies to achieve more efficient iCMs. reprogramming. Specifically, we focus on the identified critical roles of transcriptional regulation, epigenetic modification, signaling pathways from the cellular microenvironment, and cell cycling regulation in cardiac reprogramming. We also discuss the progress in delivery system optimization and cardiac reprogramming in human cells related to preclinical applications. We anticipate that this will translate cardiac reprogramming-based heart therapy into clinical applications. In addition to optimizing the cardiogenesis related transcriptional regulation and signaling pathways, an important strategy is to modulate the pathological microenvironment associated with heart injury, including inflammation, pro-fibrotic signaling pathways, and the mechanical properties of the damaged myocardium. We are optimistic that cardiac reprogramming will provide a powerful therapy in heart regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Liu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
| | - Yijing Guo
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Zhaokai Li
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (L.L.); (Y.G.); (Z.L.)
- Correspondence:
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50
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Fibroblast transition to an endothelial "trans" state improves cell reprogramming efficiency. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22605. [PMID: 34799643 PMCID: PMC8604927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02056-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast reprogramming offers the potential for myocardial regeneration via in situ cell transdifferentiation. We explored a novel strategy leveraging endothelial cell plasticity to enhance reprogramming efficiency. Rat cardiac endothelial cells and fibroblasts were treated with Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) to assess the cardio-differentiation potential of these cells. The endothelial cell transdifferentiation factor ETV2 was transiently over-expressed in fibroblasts followed by GMT treatment to assess “trans-endothelial” cardio-differentiation. Endothelial cells treated with GMT generated more cTnT+ cells than did cardiac fibroblasts (13% ± 2% vs 4% ± 0.5%, p < 0.01). Cardiac fibroblasts treated with ETV2 demonstrated increased endothelial cell markers, and when then treated with GMT yielded greater prevalence of cells expressing cardiomyocyte markers including cTnT than did fibroblasts treated with GMT or ETV2 (10.3% ± 0.2% vs 1.7% ± 0.06% and 0.6 ± 0.03, p < 0.01). Rat cardiac fibroblasts treated with GMT + ETV2 demonstrated calcium transients upon electrical stimulation and contractility synchronous with surrounding neonatal cardiomyocytes, whereas cells treated with GMT or ETV2 alone failed to contract in co-culture experiments. Human cardiac fibroblasts treated with ETV2 and then GMT likewise demonstrated greater prevalence of cTnT expression than did cells treated with GMT alone (2.8-fold increase, p < 0.05). Cardiac fibroblast transitioning through a trans-endothelial state appears to enhance cardio-differentiation by enhancing fibroblast plasticity.
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