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Ghionescu AV, Sorop A, Linioudaki E, Coman C, Savu L, Fogarasi M, Lixandru D, Dima SO. A predicted epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-associated mRNA/miRNA axis contributes to the progression of diabetic liver disease. Sci Rep 2024; 14:27678. [PMID: 39532948 PMCID: PMC11557572 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77416-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 10/22/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite public health measures, type 2 diabetes (T2D) is still a significant concern worldwide, given its associated complications, including hepatic alterations. The role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in liver fibrosis is well established. However, its effects on the progression of diabetic liver diseases are not well understood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the mRNA/miRNA axes involved in this process. Bioinformatic analysis revealed new EMT-associated genes (CDH2, ITGB1, COL4A1, COL1A1, TNC, CCN2, and JUN), which showed higher expression in obese T2D and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. In addition, six miRNAs (miR-21-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-106a-5p, miR-320a-3p and miR-424-5p) have been found as potential targets. Among them, miR-26a-5p and miR-424-5p were significantly downregulated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and HCC (p < 0.05), being considered potential negative regulators of the EMT process. In our hepatic mesenchymal culture model, miR-26a-5p negatively regulated cadherin 2 (also known as N-cadherin, CDH2) and promoted the cadherin 1 (also known as E-cadherin, CDH1) expression. Our results reveal potential molecules involved in liver tumor development. Moreover, we observe that miR-26a-5p impairs EMT in the initial stages of diabetic liver disease by inhibiting CDH2 and could be a valuable target in this pathology.
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Grants
- 629PED/2022 CCCDI-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3180, within PNCDI III
- 629PED/2022 CCCDI-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3180, within PNCDI III
- 629PED/2022 CCCDI-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3180, within PNCDI III
- 629PED/2022 CCCDI-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3180, within PNCDI III
- 629PED/2022 CCCDI-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3180, within PNCDI III
- 629PED/2022 CCCDI-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3180, within PNCDI III
- 629PED/2022 CCCDI-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3180, within PNCDI III
- 28571/02.10.2023 UMFCD
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina-Veronica Ghionescu
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andrei Sorop
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ekaterini Linioudaki
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristin Coman
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- "Cantacuzino" National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Lorand Savu
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marton Fogarasi
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Daniela Lixandru
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Simona Olimpia Dima
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", Bucharest, Romania
- Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
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Har-Zahav A, Lixandru D, Cheishvili D, Matei IV, Florea IR, Aspritoiu VM, Blus-Kadosh I, Meivar-Levy I, Serban AM, Popescu I, Szyf M, Ferber S, Dima SO. The role of DNA demethylation in liver to pancreas transdifferentiation. STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY 2022; 13:476. [PMID: 36114514 PMCID: PMC9482206 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03159-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Background Insulin producing cells generated by liver cell transdifferentiation, could serve as an attractive source for regenerative medicine. The present study assesses the relationship between DNA methylation pTFs induced liver to pancreas transdifferentiation. Results The transdifferentiation process is associated with DNA demethylation, mainly at gene regulatory sites, and with increased expression of these genes. Active inhibition of DNA methylation promotes the pancreatic transcription factor-induced transdifferentiation process, supporting a causal role for DNA demethylation in this process. Conclusions Transdifferentiation is associated with global DNA hypomethylation, and with increased expression of specific demethylated genes. A combination of epigenetic modulators may be used to increase chromatin accessibility of the pancreatic transcription factors, thus promoting the efficiency of the developmental process. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-03159-6.
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Matei IV, Meivar-Levy I, Lixandru D, Dima S, Florea IR, Ilie VM, Albulescu R, Popescu I, Ferber S. The effect of liver donors' age, gender and metabolic state on pancreatic lineage activation. Regen Med 2021; 16:19-31. [PMID: 33527839 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2020-0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autologous cells replacement therapy by liver to pancreas transdifferentiation (TD) allows diabetic patients to be also the donors of their own therapeutic tissue. Aim: To analyze whether the efficiency of the process is affected by liver donors' heterogeneity with regard to age, gender and the metabolic state. Materials & methods: TD of liver cells derived from nondiabetic and diabetic donors at different ages was characterized at molecular and cellular levels, in vitro. Results: Neither liver cells proliferation nor the propagated cells TD efficiency directly correlate with the age (3-60 years), gender or the metabolic state of the donors. Conclusion: Human liver cells derived from a wide array of ages and metabolic states can be used for autologous cells therapies for diabetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioan V Matei
- Dia-Cure, Acad. Nicolae Cajal Institute of Medical Scientific Research, Titu Maiorescu University Bucharest, 040441, Romania
| | - Irit Meivar-Levy
- Dia-Cure, Acad. Nicolae Cajal Institute of Medical Scientific Research, Titu Maiorescu University Bucharest, 040441, Romania
- The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell & Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, 5262100, Israel
- Orgenesis Ltd, Ness Ziona, 7414002, Israel
| | - Daniela Lixandru
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, 022328, Romania
- University of Medicine & Pharmacy 'Carol Davila', Bucharest, 050474, Romania
| | - Simona Dima
- Dia-Cure, Acad. Nicolae Cajal Institute of Medical Scientific Research, Titu Maiorescu University Bucharest, 040441, Romania
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, 022328, Romania
| | - Ioana R Florea
- Dia-Cure, Acad. Nicolae Cajal Institute of Medical Scientific Research, Titu Maiorescu University Bucharest, 040441, Romania
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, 022328, Romania
- University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Bucharest, 050663, Romania
| | - Veronica M Ilie
- Dia-Cure, Acad. Nicolae Cajal Institute of Medical Scientific Research, Titu Maiorescu University Bucharest, 040441, Romania
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, 022328, Romania
- University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Bucharest, 050663, Romania
| | - Radu Albulescu
- Dia-Cure, Acad. Nicolae Cajal Institute of Medical Scientific Research, Titu Maiorescu University Bucharest, 040441, Romania
- National Institute for Chemical Pharmaceutical R&D, Bucharest,031299, Romania
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, 050096, Romania
| | - Irinel Popescu
- Dia-Cure, Acad. Nicolae Cajal Institute of Medical Scientific Research, Titu Maiorescu University Bucharest, 040441, Romania
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, 022328, Romania
| | - Sarah Ferber
- Dia-Cure, Acad. Nicolae Cajal Institute of Medical Scientific Research, Titu Maiorescu University Bucharest, 040441, Romania
- The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell & Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, 5262100, Israel
- Orgenesis Ltd, Ness Ziona, 7414002, Israel
- ,Department of Human Genetics, Tel Aviv University, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
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