Establishment of Functional Liver Spheroids From Human Hepatocyte-Derived Liver Progenitor-Like Cells for Cell Therapy

Inhibition of liver cancer cell growth by metabolites S-adenosylmethionine and nicotinic acid originating from liver progenitor cells

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, presents a challenging malignancy with scarce treatment options. Liver progenitor cells (LPCs) play a pivotal role in both liver regeneration and the progression of liver cancer, yet the specific functions of LPCs from different origins in liver cancer remain to be fully elucidated.

METHODS

We explored the liver progenitor-like cells derived from human hepatocytes (HepLPCs) on the proliferation of HCC both in vitro and in vivo. The mitochondrial function was assessed through electron microscopy and functional experiments. Transcriptomic sequencing and western blot unveiled the fundamental mechanisms at play, whereas metabolomic sequencing pinpointed crucial effector molecules involved in the paracrine secretion of HepLPCs.

RESULTS

By employing a co-culture system of HepLPCs and HCC cells, we found that HepLPCs markedly inhibited HCC growth by prompting mitochondrial dysfunction, which further led to the co-inhibition of the Notch1 and JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathways through paracrine actions involving S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and Nicotinic acid (NA).

CONCLUSIONS

This study has uncovered that HepLPCs have a suppressive influence on the proliferation of HCC cells. This is achieved through the impairment of mitochondrial function and the inhibition of key signaling pathways, namely, Notch1 and JAK1/STAT3, which are critical drivers of cancer progression. The secretion of the metabolites SAM and NA by HepLPCs appears to be instrumental in mediating these effects. These findings provide a solid foundation for identifying new therapeutic targets and clarifying the mechanisms through which HepLPCs can be harnessed to effectively treat HCC.

Liver regeneration after injury: Mechanisms, cellular interactions and therapeutic innovations

The liver possesses a distinctive capacity for regeneration within the human body. Under normal circumstances, liver cells replicate themselves to maintain liver function. Compensatory replication of healthy hepatocytes is sufficient for the regeneration after acute liver injuries. In the late stage of chronic liver damage, a large number of hepatocytes die and hepatocyte replication is blocked. Liver regeneration has more complex mechanisms, such as the transdifferentiation between cell types or hepatic progenitor cells mediated. Dysregulation of liver regeneration causes severe chronic liver disease. Gaining a more comprehensive understanding of liver regeneration mechanisms would facilitate the advancement of efficient therapeutic approaches. This review provides an overview of the signalling pathways linked to different aspects of liver regeneration in various liver diseases. Moreover, new knowledge on cellular interactions during the regenerative process is also presented. Finally, this paper explores the potential applications of new technologies, such as nanotechnology, stem cell transplantation and organoids, in liver regeneration after injury, offering fresh perspectives on treating liver disease.

Aggregation of human osteoblasts unlocks self-reliant differentiation and constitutes a microenvironment for 3D-co-cultivation with other bone marrow cells

Skeletal bone function relies on both cells and cellular niches, which, when combined, provide guiding cues for the control of differentiation and remodeling processes. Here, we propose an in vitro 3D model based on human fetal osteoblasts, which eases the study of osteocyte commitment in vitro and thus provides a means to examine the influences of biomaterials, substances or cells on the regulation of these processes. Aggregates were formed from human fetal osteoblasts (hFOB1.19) and cultivated under proliferative, adipo- and osteoinductive conditions. When cultivated under osteoinductive conditions, the vitality of the aggregates was compromised, the expression levels of the mineralization-related gene DMP1 and the amount of calcification and matrix deposition were lower, and the growth of the spheroids stalled. However, within spheres under growth conditions without specific supplements, self-organization processes occur, which promote extracellular calcium deposition, and osteocyte-like cells develop. Long-term cultivated hFOB aggregates were free of necrotic areas. Moreover, hFOB aggregates cultivated under standard proliferative conditions supported the co-cultivation of human monocytes, microvascular endothelial cells and stromal cells. Overall, the model presented here comprises a self-organizing and easily accessible 3D osteoblast model for studying bone marrow formation and in vitro remodeling and thus provides a means to test druggable molecular pathways with the potential to promote life-long bone formation and remodeling.

A comprehensive review of advances in hepatocyte microencapsulation: selecting materials and preserving cell viability

Liver failure represents a critical medical condition with a traditionally grim prognosis, where treatment options have been notably limited. Historically, liver transplantation has stood as the sole definitive cure, yet the stark disparity between the limited availability of liver donations and the high demand for such organs has significantly hampered its feasibility. This discrepancy has necessitated the exploration of hepatocyte transplantation as a temporary, supportive intervention. In light of this, our review delves into the burgeoning field of hepatocyte transplantation, with a focus on the latest advancements in maintaining hepatocyte function, co-microencapsulation techniques, xenogeneic hepatocyte transplantation, and the selection of materials for microencapsulation. Our examination of hepatocyte microencapsulation research highlights that, to date, most studies have been conducted in vitro or using liver failure mouse models, with a notable paucity of experiments on larger mammals. The functionality of microencapsulated hepatocytes is primarily inferred through indirect measures such as urea and albumin production and the rate of ammonia clearance. Furthermore, research on the mechanisms underlying hepatocyte co-microencapsulation remains limited, and the practicality of xenogeneic hepatocyte transplantation requires further validation. The potential of hepatocyte microencapsulation extends beyond the current scope of application, suggesting a promising horizon for liver failure treatment modalities. Innovations in encapsulation materials and techniques aim to enhance cell viability and function, indicating a need for comprehensive studies that bridge the gap between small-scale laboratory success and clinical applicability. Moreover, the integration of bioengineering and regenerative medicine offers novel pathways to refine hepatocyte transplantation, potentially overcoming the challenges of immune rejection and ensuring the long-term functionality of transplanted cells. In conclusion, while hepatocyte microencapsulation and transplantation herald a new era in liver failure therapy, significant strides must be made to translate these experimental approaches into viable clinical solutions. Future research should aim to expand the experimental models to include larger mammals, thereby providing a clearer understanding of the clinical potential of these therapies. Additionally, a deeper exploration into the mechanisms of cell survival and function within microcapsules, alongside the development of innovative encapsulation materials, will be critical in advancing the field and offering new hope to patients with liver failure.

Generation of Highly Functional Hepatocyte-like Organoids from Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cultured with Endothelial Cells

Previously, we successfully established a highly functional, three-dimensional hepatocyte-like cell (3D-HLC) model from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) via a three-step differentiation protocol. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether generating hepatocyte-like organoids (H-organoids) by adding endothelial cells further improved the liver-like functionality of 3D-HLCs and to assess H-organoids' immunogenicity properties. Genes representing liver maturation and function were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis. The expression of hepatic maturation proteins was measured using immunofluorescence staining. Cytochrome P (CYP)450 metabolism activity and ammonia metabolism tests were used to assess liver function. H-organoids were successfully established by adding human umbilical vein endothelial cells at the beginning of the definitive endoderm stage in our 3D differentiation protocol. The gene expression of alpha-1 antitrypsin, carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1, and apolipoprotein E, which represent liver maturation state and function, was higher in H-organoids than non-organoid 3D-HLCs. H-organoids possessed higher CYP3A4 metabolism activity and comparable ammonia metabolism capacity than 3D-HLCs. Moreover, although H-organoids expressed human leukocyte antigen class I, they expressed little human leukocyte antigen class II, cluster of differentiation (CD)40, CD80, CD86, and programmed cell death ligand 1, suggesting their immunogenicity properties were not significantly upregulated during differentiation from ADSCs. In conclusion, we successfully established an H-organoid model with higher liver-like functionality than previously established 3D-HLCs and comparable immunogenicity to ADSCs.

Microencapsulated Hepatocytes Differentiated from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Optimizing 3D Culture for Tissue Engineering Applications

Liver cell therapy and in vitro models require functional human hepatocytes, the sources of which are considerably limited. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) represent a promising and unlimited source of differentiated human hepatocytes. However, when obtained in two-dimensional (2D) cultures these hepatocytes are not fully mature and functional. As three-dimensional culture conditions offer advantageous strategies for differentiation, we describe here a combination of three-dimensional (3D) approaches enabling the successful differentiation of functional hepatocytes from hiPSCs by the encapsulation of hiPSC-derived hepatoblasts in alginate beads of preformed aggregates. The resulting encapsulated and differentiated hepatocytes (E-iHep-Orgs) displayed a high level of albumin synthesis associated with the disappearance of α-fetoprotein (AFP) synthesis, thus demonstrating that the E-iHep-Orgs had reached a high level of maturation, similar to that of adult hepatocytes. Gene expression analysis by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence confirmed this maturation. Further functional assessments demonstrated their enzymatic activities, including lactate and ammonia detoxification, as well as biotransformation activities of Phase I and Phase II enzymes. This study provides proof of concept regarding the benefits of combining three-dimensional techniques (guided aggregation and microencapsulation) with liver differentiation protocols as a robust approach to generate mature and functional hepatocytes that offer a permanent and unlimited source of hepatocytes. Based on these encouraging results, our combined conditions to produce mature hepatocytes from hiPSCs could be extended to liver tissue engineering and bioartificial liver (BAL) applications at the human scale for which large biomasses are mandatory.

Development of Biomimetic Hepatic Lobule-Like Constructs on Silk-Collagen Composite Scaffolds for Liver Tissue Engineering

Constructing an engineered hepatic lobule-mimetic model is challenging owing to complicated lobular architecture and crucial hepatic functionality. Our previous study has demonstrated the feasibility of using silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds as functional templates for engineering hepatic lobule-like constructs. But the unsatisfactory chemical and physical performances of the SF-only scaffold and the inherent defect in the functional activity of the carcinoma-derived seeding cells remain to be addressed to satisfy the downstream application demand. In this study, SF-collagen I (SFC) composite scaffolds with improved physical and chemical properties were fabricated, and their utilization for bioengineering a more hepatic lobule-like construct was explored using the immortalized human hepatocyte-derived liver progenitor-like cells (iHepLPCs) and endothelial cells incorporated in the dynamic culture system. The SFC scaffolds prepared through the directional lyophilization process showed radially aligned porous structures with increased swelling ratio and porosity, ameliorative mechanical stiffness that resembled the normal liver matrix more closely, and improved biocompatibility. The iHepLPCs displayed a hepatic plate-like distribution and differentiated into matured hepatocytes with improved hepatic function in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, hepatocyte–endothelial cell interphase arrangement was generated in the co-culture compartment with improved polarity, bile capillary formation, and enhanced liver functions compared with the monocultures. Thus, a more biomimetic hepatic lobule-like model was established and could provide a valuable and robust platform for various applications, including bioartificial liver and drug screening.