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Muturi HT, Ghadieh HE, Asalla S, Lester SG, Verhulst S, Stankus HL, Zaidi S, Abdolahipour R, Belew GD, van Grunsven LA, Friedman SL, Schwabe RF, Hinds TD, Najjar SM. Conditional deletion of CEACAM1 causes hepatic stellate cell activation. bioRxiv 2024:2024.04.02.586238. [PMID: 38617330 PMCID: PMC11014538 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.02.586238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Objectives Hepatic CEACAM1 expression declines with advanced hepatic fibrosis stage in patients with MASH. Global and hepatocyte-specific deletions of Ceacam1 impair insulin clearance to cause hepatic insulin resistance and steatosis. They also cause hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, a condition characterized by excessive collagen production from activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Given the positive effect of PPARγ on CEACAM1 transcriptoin and on HSCs quiescence, the current studies investigated whether CEACAM1 loss from HSCs causes their activation. Methods We examined whether lentiviral shRNA-mediated CEACAM1 donwregulation (KD-LX2) activates cultured human LX2 stellate cells. We also generated LratCre+Cc1 fl/fl mutants with conditional Ceacam1 deletion in HSCs and characterized their MASH phenotype. Media transfer experiments were employed to examine whether media from mutant human and murine HSCs activate their wild-type counterparts. Results LratCre+Cc1 fl/fl mutants displayed hepatic inflammation and fibrosis but without insulin resistance or hepatic steatosis. Their HSCs, like KD-LX2 cells, underwent myofibroblastic transformation and their media activated wild-type HDCs. This was inhibited by nicotinic acid treatment which stemmed the release of IL-6 and fatty acids, both of which activate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase. Gefitinib inhibition of EGFR and its downstream NF-κB/IL-6/STAT3 inflammatory and MAPK-proliferation pathways also blunted HSCs activation in the absence of CEACAM1. Conclusions Loss of CEACAM1 in HSCs provoked their myofibroblastic transformation in the absence of insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. This response is mediated by autocrine HSCs activation of the EGFR pathway that amplifies inflammation and proliferation.
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2
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Jouret N, Van der Poel N, Verhulst S, Lammers MJW, Van Rompaey V, Jacquemin L, Van Hoorenbeeck K. Aminoglycoside-induced sensorineural hearing loss in pediatric cystic fibrosis patients: A retrospective cohort study. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25190. [PMID: 38333844 PMCID: PMC10850907 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Pulmonary infections by gram-negative organisms are important in cystic fibrosis (CF). Aminoglycosides (AG) are often part of the treatment regimen. However, they are a well-known cause of ototoxicity. Even minimal hearing impairment in children could have a future impact on functional well-being.We aimed to investigate the progression of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) over several years in pediatric CF patients, and to identify risk factors, such as the use of AG, including both intravenous (IV) and inhaled AG. Methods Retrospective analyses of patient records from children and adolescents followed up at the CF clinic of the Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium, were performed. We collected data on age, sex, pure-tone audiometry, and the use of AG. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses, and if indicated generalized estimating equations (GEE) analyses were performed. Results Forty pediatric patients were enrolled in the study taking part from 2013 to 2020. Pure-tone audiometry revealed an important rate of SNHL over several years, with a prevalence of 29 % for high-frequency SNHL (i.e. 8 kHz). Increasing age was identified as a significant risk factor for the development of SNHL at 8 kHz if 5 or more IV AG courses (p = 0.01) were reported or when IV AG were combined with inhaled AG (p = 0.002). Conclusions Age combined with the use of IV AG (≥5 courses or in combination with inhaled AG) are predictive for developing high-frequency SNHL (i.e. 8 kHz). We suggest routine annual hearing screening (incl. high-frequency thresholds) in CF patients, starting from childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Jouret
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - N Van der Poel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - S Verhulst
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - MJW Lammers
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - V Van Rompaey
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - L Jacquemin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - K Van Hoorenbeeck
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Chai YC, To SK, Simorgh S, Zaunz S, Zhu Y, Ahuja K, Lemaitre A, Ramezankhani R, van der Veer BK, Wierda K, Verhulst S, van Grunsven LA, Pasque V, Verfaillie C. Spatially Self-Organized Three-Dimensional Neural Concentroid as a Novel Reductionist Humanized Model to Study Neurovascular Development. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2304421. [PMID: 38037510 PMCID: PMC10837345 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Although human pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived brain organoids have enabled researchers to gain insight into human brain development and disease, these organoids contain solely ectodermal cells and are not vascularized as occurs during brain development. Here it is created less complex and more homogenous large neural constructs starting from PSC-derived neuroprogenitor cells (NPC), by fusing small NPC spheroids into so-called concentroids. Such concentroids consisted of a pro-angiogenic core, containing neuronal and outer radial glia cells, surrounded by an astroglia-dense outer layer. Incorporating PSC-derived endothelial cells (EC) around and/or in the concentroids promoted vascularization, accompanied by differential outgrowth and differentiation of neuronal and astroglia cells, as well as the development of ectodermal-derived pericyte-like mural cells co-localizing with EC networks. Single nucleus transcriptomic analysis revealed an enhanced neural cell subtype maturation and diversity in EC-containing concentroids, which better resemble the fetal human brain compared to classical organoids or NPC-only concentroids. This PSC-derived "vascularized" concentroid brain model will facilitate the study of neurovascular/blood-brain barrier development, neural cell migration, and the development of effective in vitro vascularization strategies of brain mimics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoke Chin Chai
- Stem Cell Institute LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationKU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - San Kit To
- Stem Cell Institute LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationLeuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO)KU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Susan Simorgh
- Stem Cell Institute LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationKU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Samantha Zaunz
- Stem Cell Institute LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationKU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - YingLi Zhu
- Stem Cell Institute LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationKU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Karan Ahuja
- Stem Cell Institute LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationKU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Alix Lemaitre
- Stem Cell Institute LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationKU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Roya Ramezankhani
- Stem Cell Institute LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationKU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Bernard K. van der Veer
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental EpigeneticsDepartment of Development and RegenerationKU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Keimpe Wierda
- Electrophysiology Expert UnitVIB‐KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease ResearchLeuven3000Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research GroupVrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)Brussels1090Belgium
| | - Leo A. van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Research GroupVrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)Brussels1090Belgium
| | - Vincent Pasque
- Stem Cell Institute LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationLeuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO)KU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Catherine Verfaillie
- Stem Cell Institute LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationKU Leuven, O&N4, Herestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
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4
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Muturi HT, Ghadieh HE, Abdolahipour R, Stankus HL, Belew GD, Liu JK, Jahromi MS, Lee AD, Singer BB, Angeli-Pahim I, Sehrawat TS, Malhi H, Verhulst S, van Grunsven LA, Zarrinpar A, Duarte S, Najjar SM. Loss of CEACAM1 in endothelial cells causes hepatic fibrosis. Metabolism 2023; 144:155562. [PMID: 37088122 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2023.155562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hepatocytic CEACAM1 plays a critical role in NASH pathogenesis, as bolstered by the development of insulin resistance, visceral obesity, steatohepatitis and fibrosis in mice with global Ceacam1 (Cc1) deletion. In contrast, VECadCre+Cc1fl/fl mice with endothelial loss of Cc1 manifested insulin sensitivity with no visceral obesity despite elevated NF-κB signaling and increased systemic inflammation. We herein investigated whether VECadCre+Cc1fl/fl male mice develop hepatic fibrosis and whether this is mediated by increased production of endothelin1 (ET1), a transcriptional NF-κB target. METHODS VECadCre+Et1.Cc1fl/fl mice with combined endothelial loss of Cc1/Et1 genes were generated. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were conducted on their livers and on liver tissue biopsies from adult patients undergoing bariatric surgery or from patients with NASH diagnosis receiving liver transplant. RESULTS Hepatic fibrosis and inflammatory infiltration developed in VECadCre+Cc1fl/fl liver parenchyma. This was preceded by increased ET1 production and reversed with combined endothelial loss of Et1. Conditioned media from VECadCre+Cc1fl/fl, but not VECadCre+Et1.Cc1fl/fl primary liver endothelial cells activated wild-type hepatic stellate cells; a process inhibited by bosentan, an ETAR/ETBR dual antagonist. Consistently, immunohistochemical analysis of liver biopsies from patients with NASH showed a decline in endothelial CEACAM1 in parallel with increased plasma endothelin1 levels and progression of hepatic fibrosis stage. CONCLUSIONS The data demonstrated that endothelial CEACAM1 plays a key role in preventing hepatic fibrogenesis by reducing autocrine endothelin1 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Muturi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Hilda E Ghadieh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Al-Koura, Lebanon
| | - Raziyeh Abdolahipour
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Hannah L Stankus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Getachew Debas Belew
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - James K Liu
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Marziyeh Salehi Jahromi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Abraham D Lee
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA; Department of Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Bernhard B Singer
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, Essen 45147, Germany
| | - Isabella Angeli-Pahim
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tejasav S Sehrawat
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Harmeet Malhi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ali Zarrinpar
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sergio Duarte
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sonia M Najjar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA; Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA; Diabetes Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA.
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5
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van Hasselt S, Rusche M, Vyssotski A, Verhulst S, Rattenborg N, Meerlo P. An EEG study on sleep homeostasis in a songbird species, the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris): REM sleep, why bother? Sleep Med 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.05.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Kowalczyk W, Romanelli L, Atkins M, Hillen H, Bravo González-Blas C, Jacobs J, Xie J, Soheily S, Verboven E, Moya IM, Verhulst S, de Waegeneer M, Sansores-Garcia L, van Huffel L, Johnson RL, van Grunsven LA, Aerts S, Halder G. Hippo signaling instructs ectopic but not normal organ growth. Science 2022; 378:eabg3679. [DOI: 10.1126/science.abg3679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Hippo signaling pathway is widely considered a master regulator of organ growth because of the prominent overgrowth phenotypes caused by experimental manipulation of its activity. Contrary to this model, we show here that removing Hippo transcriptional output did not impair the ability of the mouse liver and
Drosophila
eyes to grow to their normal size. Moreover, the transcriptional activity of the Hippo pathway effectors Yap/Taz/Yki did not correlate with cell proliferation, and hyperactivation of these effectors induced gene expression programs that did not recapitulate normal development. Concordantly, a functional screen in
Drosophila
identified several Hippo pathway target genes that were required for ectopic overgrowth but not normal growth. Thus, Hippo signaling does not instruct normal growth, and the Hippo-induced overgrowth phenotypes are caused by the activation of abnormal genetic programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. Kowalczyk
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - L. Romanelli
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M. Atkins
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA
| | - H. Hillen
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - C. Bravo González-Blas
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research and KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - J. Jacobs
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research and KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - J. Xie
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S. Soheily
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - E. Verboven
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - I. M. Moya
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - S. Verhulst
- Department for Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel-Jette, Belgium
| | - M. de Waegeneer
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research and KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - L. Sansores-Garcia
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - L. van Huffel
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - R. L. Johnson
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - L. A. van Grunsven
- Department for Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel-Jette, Belgium
| | - S. Aerts
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research and KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - G. Halder
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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7
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Verhulst S, Young A. Identifying and addressing data asymmetries so as to enable (better) science. Front Big Data 2022; 5:888384. [PMID: 35923558 PMCID: PMC9339620 DOI: 10.3389/fdata.2022.888384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
As a society, we need to become more sophisticated in assessing and addressing data asymmetries—and their resulting political and economic power inequalities—particularly in the realm of open science, research, and development. This article seeks to start filling the analytical gap regarding data asymmetries globally, with a specific focus on the asymmetrical availability of privately-held data for open science, and a look at current efforts to address these data asymmetries. It provides a taxonomy of asymmetries, as well as both their societal and institutional impacts. Moreover, this contribution outlines a set of solutions that could provide a toolbox for open science practitioners and data demand-side actors that stand to benefit from increased access to data. The concept of data liquidity (and portability) is explored at length in connection with efforts to generate an ecosystem of responsible data exchanges. We also examine how data holders and demand-side actors are experimenting with new and emerging operational models and governance frameworks for purpose-driven, cross-sector data collaboratives that connect previously siloed datasets. Key solutions discussed include professionalizing and re-imagining data steward roles and functions (i.e., individuals or groups who are tasked with managing data and their ethical and responsible reuse within organizations). We present these solutions through case studies on notable efforts to address science data asymmetries. We examine these cases using a repurposable analytical framework that could inform future research. We conclude with recommended actions that could support the creation of an evidence base on work to address data asymmetries and unlock the public value of greater science data liquidity and responsible reuse.
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Vlummens P, Verhulst S, De Veirman K, Maes A, Menu E, Moreaux J, De Boussac H, Robert N, De Bruyne E, Hose D, Offner F, Vanderkerken K, Maes K. Inhibition of the Protein Arginine Methyltransferase PRMT5 in High-Risk Multiple Myeloma as a Novel Treatment Approach. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:879057. [PMID: 35757005 PMCID: PMC9213887 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.879057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable clonal plasma cell malignancy. Subsets of patients have high-risk features linked with dismal outcome. Therefore, the need for effective therapeutic options remains high. Here, we used bio-informatic tools to identify novel targets involved in DNA repair and epigenetics and which are associated with high-risk myeloma. The prognostic significance of the target genes was analyzed using publicly available gene expression data of MM patients (TT2/3 and HM cohorts). Hence, protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) was identified as a promising target. Druggability was assessed in OPM2, JJN3, AMO1 and XG7 human myeloma cell lines using the PRMT5-inhibitor EPZ015938. EPZ015938 strongly reduced the total symmetric-dimethyl arginine levels in all cell lines and lead to decreased cellular growth, supported by cell line dependent changes in cell cycle distribution. At later time points, apoptosis occurred, as evidenced by increased AnnexinV-positivity and cleavage of PARP and caspases. Transcriptome analysis revealed a role for PRMT5 in regulating alternative splicing, nonsense-mediated decay, DNA repair and PI3K/mTOR-signaling, irrespective of the cell line type. PRMT5 inhibition reduced the expression of upstream DNA repair kinases ATM and ATR, which may in part explain our observation that EPZ015938 and the DNA-alkylating agent, melphalan, have combinatory effects. Of interest, using a low-dose of mTOR-inhibitor, we observed that cell viability was partially rescued from the effects of EPZ015938, indicating a role for mTOR-related pathways in the anti-myeloma activity of EPZ015938. Moreover, PRMT5 was shown to be involved in splicing regulation of MMSET and SLAMF7, known genes of importance in MM disease. As such, we broaden the understanding of the exact role of PRMT5 in MM disease and further underline its use as a possible therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Vlummens
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Clinical Hematology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kim De Veirman
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anke Maes
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eline Menu
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jérome Moreaux
- CHU Montpellier, Laboratory for Monitoring Innovative Therapies, Department of Biological Hematology, Montpellier, France.,Department of Biological Hematology, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Institut Universitaire de France, IUF, Paris, France
| | - Hugues De Boussac
- CHU Montpellier, Laboratory for Monitoring Innovative Therapies, Department of Biological Hematology, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Robert
- CHU Montpellier, Laboratory for Monitoring Innovative Therapies, Department of Biological Hematology, Montpellier, France
| | - Elke De Bruyne
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dirk Hose
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fritz Offner
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karin Vanderkerken
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ken Maes
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Medical Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ), Brussels, Belgium
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9
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Obermeier M, Vadolas J, Verhulst S, Goossens E, Baert Y. Lipofection of Non-integrative CRISPR/Cas9 Ribonucleoproteins in Male Germline Stem Cells: A Simple and Effective Knockout Tool for Germline Genome Engineering. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:891173. [PMID: 35774227 PMCID: PMC9237505 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.891173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene editing in male germline stem (GS) cells is a potent tool to study spermatogenesis and to create transgenic mice. Various engineered nucleases already demonstrated the ability to modify the genome of GS cells. However, current systems are limited by technical complexity diminishing application options. To establish an easier method to mediate gene editing, we tested the lipofection of site-specific Cas9:gRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes to knockout the enhanced green fluorescent protein (Egfp) in mouse EGFP-GS cells via non-homologous end joining. To monitor whether gene conversion through homology-directed repair events occurred, single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides were co-lipofected to deliver a Bfp donor sequence. Results showed Egfp knockout in up to 22% of GS cells, which retained their undifferentiated status following transfection, while only less than 0.7% EGFP to BFP conversion was detected in gated GS cells. These data show that CRISPR/Cas9 RNP-based lipofection is a promising system to simply and effectively knock out genes in mouse GS cells. Understanding the genes involved in spermatogenesis could expand therapeutic opportunities for men suffering from infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariella Obermeier
- Biology of the Testis Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jim Vadolas
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ellen Goossens
- Biology of the Testis Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yoni Baert
- Biology of the Testis Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Yoni Baert,
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De Beck L, Awad RM, Basso V, Casares N, De Ridder K, De Vlaeminck Y, Gnata A, Goyvaerts C, Lecocq Q, San José-Enériz E, Verhulst S, Maes K, Vanderkerken K, Agirre X, Prosper F, Lasarte JJ, Mondino A, Breckpot K. Inhibiting Histone and DNA Methylation Improves Cancer Vaccination in an Experimental Model of Melanoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:799636. [PMID: 35634329 PMCID: PMC9134079 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.799636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has improved the treatment of malignant skin cancer of the melanoma type, yet overall clinical response rates remain low. Combination therapies could be key to meet this cogent medical need. Because epigenetic hallmarks represent promising combination therapy targets, we studied the immunogenic potential of a dual inhibitor of histone methyltransferase G9a and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in the preclinical B16-OVA melanoma model. Making use of tumor transcriptomic and functional analyses, methylation-targeted epigenetic reprogramming was shown to induce tumor cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro coinciding with transient tumor growth delay and an IFN-I response in immune-competent mice. In consideration of a potential impact on immune cells, the drug was shown not to interfere with dendritic cell maturation or T-cell activation in vitro. Notably, the drug promoted dendritic cell and, to a lesser extent, T-cell infiltration in vivo, yet failed to sensitize tumor cells to programmed cell death-1 inhibition. Instead, it increased therapeutic efficacy of TCR-redirected T cell and dendritic cell vaccination, jointly increasing overall survival of B16-OVA tumor-bearing mice. The reported data confirm the prospect of methylation-targeted epigenetic reprogramming in melanoma and sustain dual G9a and DNMT inhibition as a strategy to tip the cancer-immune set-point towards responsiveness to active and adoptive vaccination against melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien De Beck
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratory of Hematology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robin Maximilian Awad
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Veronica Basso
- Lymphocyte Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Noelia Casares
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Kirsten De Ridder
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yannick De Vlaeminck
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alessandra Gnata
- Lymphocyte Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Cleo Goyvaerts
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Quentin Lecocq
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Edurne San José-Enériz
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ken Maes
- Laboratory of Hematology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karin Vanderkerken
- Laboratory of Hematology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Xabier Agirre
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Felipe Prosper
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Juan José Lasarte
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Anna Mondino
- Lymphocyte Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Karine Breckpot
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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11
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Dewyse L, De Smet V, Verhulst S, Eysackers N, Kunda R, Messaoudi N, Reynaert H, van Grunsven LA. Improved Precision-Cut Liver Slice Cultures for Testing Drug-Induced Liver Fibrosis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:862185. [PMID: 35433753 PMCID: PMC9007724 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.862185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro models of human liver disease often fail to mimic the complex 3D structures and cellular organizations found in vivo. Precision cut liver slices (PCLS) retain the complex physiological architecture of the native liver and therefore could be an exceptional in vitro liver model. However, the production of PCLS induces a spontaneous culture-induced fibrogenic reaction, limiting the application of PCLS to anti-fibrotic compounds. Our aim was to improve PCLS cultures to allow compound-induced fibrosis induction. Hepatotoxicity in PCLS cultures was analyzed by lactate dehydrogenase leakage and albumin secretion, while fibrogenesis was analyzed by qRT-PCR and western blot for hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation markers and collagen 6 secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). We demonstrate that supplementation of 3 mm mouse PCLS cultures with valproate strongly reduces fibrosis and improves cell viability in our PCLS cultures for up to 5 days. Fibrogenesis can still be induced both directly and indirectly through exposure to TGFβ and the hepatotoxin acetaminophen, respectively. Finally, human PCLS cultures showed similar but less robust results. In conclusion, we optimized PCLS cultures to allow for drug-induced liver fibrosis modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza Dewyse
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vincent De Smet
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Internal Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Eysackers
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rastislav Kunda
- Department of Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nouredin Messaoudi
- Department of Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Reynaert
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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12
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De Ridder K, Locy H, Piccioni E, Zuazo MI, Awad RM, Verhulst S, Van Bulck M, De Vlaeminck Y, Lecocq Q, Reijmen E, De Mey W, De Beck L, Ertveldt T, Pintelon I, Timmermans JP, Escors D, Keyaerts M, Breckpot K, Goyvaerts C. TNF-α-Secreting Lung Tumor-Infiltrated Monocytes Play a Pivotal Role During Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:811867. [PMID: 35493461 PMCID: PMC9046849 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.811867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) of the PD-1 pathway revolutionized the survival forecast for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Yet, the majority of PD-L1+ NSCLC patients are refractory to anti-PD-L1 therapy. Recent observations indicate a pivotal role for the PD-L1+ tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells in therapy failure. As the latter comprise a heterogenous population in the lung tumor microenvironment, we applied an orthotopic Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) model to evaluate 11 different tumor-residing myeloid subsets in response to anti-PD-L1 therapy. While we observed significantly reduced fractions of tumor-infiltrating MHC-IIlow macrophages and monocytes, serological levels of TNF-α restored in lung tumor-bearing mice. Notably, we demonstrated in vivo and in vitro that anti-PD-L1 therapy mediated a monocyte-specific production of, and response to TNF-α, further accompanied by their significant upregulation of CD80, VISTA, LAG-3, SIRP-α and TIM-3. Nevertheless, co-blockade of PD-L1 and TNF-α did not reduce LLC tumor growth. A phenomenon that was partly explained by the observation that monocytes and TNF-α play a Janus-faced role in anti-PD-L1 therapy-mediated CTL stimulation. This was endorsed by the observation that monocytes appeared crucial to effectively boost T cell-mediated LLC killing in vitro upon combined PD-L1 with LAG-3 or SIRP-α blockade. Hence, this study enlightens the biomarker potential of lung tumor-infiltrated monocytes to define more effective ICB combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten De Ridder
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hanne Locy
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elisa Piccioni
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Miren Ibarra Zuazo
- Immunomodulation Group, Navarrabiomed, Navarrabiomed-UPNA-IdISNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Robin Maximilian Awad
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mathias Van Bulck
- Laboratory of Molecular and Medical Oncology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yannick De Vlaeminck
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Quentin Lecocq
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eva Reijmen
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wout De Mey
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lien De Beck
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thomas Ertveldt
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Isabel Pintelon
- Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology, Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy (ACAM), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Timmermans
- Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology, Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy (ACAM), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - David Escors
- Immunomodulation Group, Navarrabiomed, Navarrabiomed-UPNA-IdISNA, Pamplona, Spain
- Rayne Institute, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marleen Keyaerts
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karine Breckpot
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cleo Goyvaerts
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Cleo Goyvaerts,
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13
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Locy H, Verhulst S, Cools W, Waelput W, Brock S, Cras L, Schiettecatte A, Jonckheere J, van Grunsven LA, Vanhoeij M, Thielemans K, Breckpot K. Assessing Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Breast Cancer: A Proposal for Combining Immunohistochemistry and Gene Expression Analysis to Refine Scoring. Front Immunol 2022; 13:794175. [PMID: 35222378 PMCID: PMC8876933 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.794175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Scoring of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer specimens has gained increasing attention, as TILs have prognostic and predictive value in HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancer. We evaluated the intra- and interrater variability when scoring TILs by visual inspection of hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections. We further addressed whether immunohistochemical staining of these sections for immune cell surface markers CD45, CD3, CD4, and CD8 and combination with nanoString nCounter® gene expression analysis could refine TIL scoring. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and fresh-frozen core needle biopsies of 12 female and treatment-naive breast cancer patients were included. Scoring of TILs was performed twice by three independent pathologists with a washout period of 3 days. Increasing intra- and interrater variability was observed with higher TIL numbers. The highest reproducibility was observed on tissue sections stained for CD3 and CD8. The latter TIL scores correlated well with the TIL scores obtained through nanoString nCounter® gene expression analysis. Gene expression analysis also revealed 104 and 62 genes that are positively and negatively related to both TIL scores. In conclusion, integration of immunohistochemistry and gene expression analysis is a valuable strategy to refine TIL scoring in breast tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Locy
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMWE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Hanne Locy, ; Karine Breckpot,
| | | | - Wilfried Cools
- Interfaculty Center Data processing and Statistics, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wim Waelput
- Department of Anatomo-Pathology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefanie Brock
- Department of Anatomo-Pathology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Louise Cras
- Department of Anatomo-Pathology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | - Kris Thielemans
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMWE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karine Breckpot
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMWE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Hanne Locy, ; Karine Breckpot,
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14
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De Smet V, Eysackers N, Merens V, Kazemzadeh Dastjerd M, Halder G, Verhulst S, Mannaerts I, van Grunsven LA. Initiation of hepatic stellate cell activation extends into chronic liver disease. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:1110. [PMID: 34839349 PMCID: PMC8627507 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04377-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSC) are the main source of extra cellular matrix in liver fibrosis. Activation is classically divided in two phases: initiation and perpetuation. Currently, HSC-based therapeutic candidates largely focus on targeting the aHSCs in the perpetuation phase. However, the importance of HSC initiation during chronic liver disease (CLD) remains unclear. Here, we identified transcriptional programs of initiating and activated HSCs by RNA sequencing, using in vitro and in vivo mouse models of fibrosis. Importantly, we show that both programs are active in HSCs during murine and human CLD. In human cirrhotic livers, scar associated mesenchymal cells employ both transcriptional programs at the single cell level. Our results indicate that the transcriptional programs that drive the initiation of HSCs are still active in humans suffering from CLD. We conclude that molecules involved in the initiation of HSC activation, or in the maintenance of aHSCs can be considered equally important in the search for druggable targets of chronic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent De Smet
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Jette, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Eysackers
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Jette, Belgium
| | - Vincent Merens
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Jette, Belgium
| | | | - Georg Halder
- KU Leuven, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Jette, Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Jette, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Jette, Belgium.
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15
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Verhulst S, van Os EA, De Smet V, Eysackers N, Mannaerts I, van Grunsven LA. Gene Signatures Detect Damaged Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells in Chronic Liver Diseases. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:750044. [PMID: 34746184 PMCID: PMC8564042 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.750044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells have a gatekeeper function in liver homeostasis by permitting substrates from the bloodstream into the space of Disse and regulating hepatic stellate cell activation status. Maintenance of LSEC's highly specialized phenotype is crucial for liver homeostasis. During liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, LSEC phenotype and functions are lost by processes known as capillarization and LSEC dysfunction. LSEC capillarization can be demonstrated by the loss of fenestrae (cytoplasmic pores) and the manifestation of a basement membrane. Currently, no protein or genetic markers can clearly distinguish healthy from damaged LSECs in acute or chronic liver disease. Single cell (sc)RNA sequencing efforts have identified several LSEC populations in mouse models for liver disease and in human cirrhotic livers. Still, there are no clearly defined genesets that can identify LSECs or dysfunctional LSEC populations in transcriptome data. Here, we developed genesets that are enriched in healthy and damaged LSECs which correlated very strongly with healthy and early stage- vs. advanced human liver diseases. A damaged LSEC signature comprised of Fabp4/5 and Vwf/a1 was established which could efficiently identify damaged endothelial cells in single cell RNAseq data sets. In LSECs from an acute CCl4 liver injury mouse model, Fabp4/5 and Vwf/a1 expression is induced within 1-3 days while in cirrhotic human livers these 4 genes are highly enriched in damaged LSECs. In conclusion, our newly developed gene signature of damaged LSECs can be applicable to a wide range of liver disease etiologies, implicating a common transcriptional alteration mechanism in LSEC damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Elise Anne van Os
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Vincent De Smet
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Eysackers
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
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16
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Thienpont A, Verhulst S, van Grunsven L, Rogiers V, Vanhaecke T, Mertens B. A novel prediction model to evaluate genotoxicity based on a gene signature in metabolically competent human HepaRG? cells. Toxicol Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s0378-4274(21)00402-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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17
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de Haan W, Dheedene W, Apelt K, Décombas-Deschamps S, Vinckier S, Verhulst S, Conidi A, Deffieux T, Staring MW, Vandervoort P, Caluwé E, Lox M, Mannaerts I, Takagi T, Jaekers J, Berx G, Haigh J, Topal B, Zwijsen A, Higashi Y, van Grunsven LA, van IJcken WFJ, Mulugeta E, Tanter M, Lebrin FPG, Huylebroeck D, Luttun A. Endothelial Zeb2 preserves the hepatic angioarchitecture and protects against liver fibrosis. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 118:1262-1275. [PMID: 33909875 PMCID: PMC8953454 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims Hepatic capillaries are lined with specialized liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) which support macromolecule passage to hepatocytes and prevent fibrosis by keeping hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) quiescent. LSEC specialization is co-determined by transcription factors. The zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox (Zeb)2 transcription factor is enriched in LSECs. Here, we aimed to elucidate the endothelium-specific role of Zeb2 during maintenance of the liver and in liver fibrosis. Methods and results To study the role of Zeb2 in liver endothelium we generated EC-specific Zeb2 knock-out (ECKO) mice. Sequencing of liver EC RNA revealed that deficiency of Zeb2 results in prominent expression changes in angiogenesis-related genes. Accordingly, the vascular area was expanded and the presence of pillars inside ECKO liver vessels indicated that this was likely due to increased intussusceptive angiogenesis. LSEC marker expression was not profoundly affected and fenestrations were preserved upon Zeb2 deficiency. However, an increase in continuous EC markers suggested that Zeb2-deficient LSECs are more prone to dedifferentiation, a process called ‘capillarization’. Changes in the endothelial expression of ligands that may be involved in HSC quiescence together with significant changes in the expression profile of HSCs showed that Zeb2 regulates LSEC–HSC communication and HSC activation. Accordingly, upon exposure to the hepatotoxin carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), livers of ECKO mice showed increased capillarization, HSC activation, and fibrosis compared to livers from wild-type littermates. The vascular maintenance and anti-fibrotic role of endothelial Zeb2 was confirmed in mice with EC-specific overexpression of Zeb2, as the latter resulted in reduced vascularity and attenuated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Conclusion Endothelial Zeb2 preserves liver angioarchitecture and protects against liver fibrosis. Zeb2 and Zeb2-dependent genes in liver ECs may be exploited to design novel therapeutic strategies to attenuate hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willeke de Haan
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wouter Dheedene
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katerina Apelt
- Department of Internal Medicine (Nephrology), Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine. Leiden University Medical Center, . Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sofiane Décombas-Deschamps
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University, Paris, France
| | - Stefan Vinckier
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Andrea Conidi
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Deffieux
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University, Paris, France
| | - Michael W Staring
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Petra Vandervoort
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen Caluwé
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marleen Lox
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tsuyoshi Takagi
- Department of Disease Model, Institute of Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, Aichi, Japan
| | | | - Geert Berx
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jody Haigh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Care Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Baki Topal
- Abdominal Surgery, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Zwijsen
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yujiro Higashi
- Department of Disease Model, Institute of Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, Aichi, Japan
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wilfred F J van IJcken
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Center for Biomics-Genomics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eskeatnaf Mulugeta
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mickael Tanter
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University, Paris, France
| | - Franck P G Lebrin
- Department of Internal Medicine (Nephrology), Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine. Leiden University Medical Center, . Leiden, The Netherlands.,Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University, Paris, France
| | - Danny Huylebroeck
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aernout Luttun
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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18
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Verboven E, Moya IM, Sansores-Garcia L, Xie J, Hillen H, Kowalczyk W, Vella G, Verhulst S, Castaldo SA, Algueró-Nadal A, Romanelli L, Mercader-Celma C, Souza NA, Soheily S, Van Huffel L, Van Brussel T, Lambrechts D, Roskams T, Lemaigre FP, Bergers G, van Grunsven LA, Halder G. Regeneration Defects in Yap and Taz Mutant Mouse Livers Are Caused by Bile Duct Disruption and Cholestasis. Gastroenterology 2021; 160:847-862. [PMID: 33127392 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The Hippo pathway and its downstream effectors YAP and TAZ (YAP/TAZ) are heralded as important regulators of organ growth and regeneration. However, different studies provided contradictory conclusions about their role during regeneration of different organs, ranging from promoting proliferation to inhibiting it. Here we resolve the function of YAP/TAZ during regeneration of the liver, where Hippo's role in growth control has been studied most intensely. METHODS We evaluated liver regeneration after carbon tetrachloride toxic liver injury in mice with conditional deletion of Yap/Taz in hepatocytes and/or biliary epithelial cells, and measured the behavior of different cell types during regeneration by histology, RNA sequencing, and flow cytometry. RESULTS We found that YAP/TAZ were activated in hepatocytes in response to carbon tetrachloride toxic injury. However, their targeted deletion in adult hepatocytes did not noticeably impair liver regeneration. In contrast, Yap/Taz deletion in adult bile ducts caused severe defects and delay in liver regeneration. Mechanistically, we showed that Yap/Taz mutant bile ducts degenerated, causing cholestasis, which stalled the recruitment of phagocytic macrophages and the removal of cellular corpses from injury sites. Elevated bile acids activated pregnane X receptor, which was sufficient to recapitulate the phenotype observed in mutant mice. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that YAP/TAZ are practically dispensable in hepatocytes for liver development and regeneration. Rather, YAP/TAZ play an indirect role in liver regeneration by preserving bile duct integrity and securing immune cell recruitment and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Verboven
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Iván M Moya
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Leticia Sansores-Garcia
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jun Xie
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hanne Hillen
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Weronika Kowalczyk
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gerlanda Vella
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Stéphanie A Castaldo
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ana Algueró-Nadal
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lucia Romanelli
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cristina Mercader-Celma
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Natália A Souza
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Soheil Soheily
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leen Van Huffel
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Van Brussel
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tania Roskams
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational Cell and Tissue Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frédéric P Lemaigre
- Liver and Pancreas Development Unit, de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gabrielle Bergers
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Georg Halder
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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19
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De Smedt J, van Os EA, Talon I, Ghosh S, Toprakhisar B, Furtado Madeiro Da Costa R, Zaunz S, Vazquez MA, Boon R, Baatsen P, Smout A, Verhulst S, van Grunsven LA, Verfaillie CM. PU.1 drives specification of pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells to LSEC-like cells. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:84. [PMID: 33446637 PMCID: PMC7809369 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03356-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
To date, there is no representative in vitro model for liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), as primary LSECs dedifferentiate very fast in culture and no combination of cytokines or growth factors can induce an LSEC fate in (pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived) endothelial cells (ECs). Furthermore, the transcriptional programmes driving an LSEC fate have not yet been described. Here, we first present a computational workflow (CenTFinder) that can identify transcription factors (TFs) that are crucial for modulating pathways involved in cell lineage specification. Using CenTFinder, we identified several novel LSEC-specific protein markers, such as FCN2 and FCN3, which were validated by analysis of previously published single-cell RNAseq data. We also identified PU.1 (encoded by the SPI1 gene) as a major regulator of LSEC-specific immune functions. We show that SPI1 overexpression (combined with the general EC TF ETV2) in human PSCs induces ECs with an LSEC-like phenotype. The ETV2-SPI1-ECs display increased expression of LSEC markers, such as CD32B and MRC1, as well as several of the proposed novel markers. More importantly, ETV2-SPI1-ECs acquire LSEC functions, including uptake of FSA-FITC, as well as labelled IgG. In conclusion, we present the CenTFinder computational tool to identify key regulatory TFs within specific pathways, in this work pathways of lineage specification, and we demonstrate its use by the identification and validation of PU.1 as a master regulator for LSEC fating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan De Smedt
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Elise Anne van Os
- Liver Cell Biology research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Irene Talon
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sreya Ghosh
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Burak Toprakhisar
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Samantha Zaunz
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marta Aguirre Vazquez
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ruben Boon
- The Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Pieter Baatsen
- Electron Microscopy Platform of VIB Bio Imaging Core at KU Leuven and VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ayla Smout
- Liver Cell Biology research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Catherine M Verfaillie
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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20
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De Smet V, Verhulst S, van Grunsven LA. Single cell RNA sequencing analysis did not predict hepatocyte infection by SARS-CoV-2. J Hepatol 2020; 73:993-995. [PMID: 32473193 PMCID: PMC7253986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leo A. van Grunsven
- Corresponding author. Address: Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Laarbeeklaan 103, D022, 1090 Jette, Belgium. Tel.: +32 2 02 477 4407
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21
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Vanhaverbeke K, Van Eyck A, Van Hoorenbeeck K, De Winter B, Snoeckx A, Mulder T, Verhulst S. Lung imaging in bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a systematic review. Respir Med 2020; 171:106101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2020.106101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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22
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Lauwers E, Belmans D, Mignot B, Ides K, Van Hoorenbeeck K, Van Holsbeke C, Leemans G, De Backer J, Verhulst S. WS19.1 The short-term effects of Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) on regional and distal lung structures using Functional Respiratory Imaging. J Cyst Fibros 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(20)30264-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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23
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Oliver N, Lepri B, Sterly H, Lambiotte R, Deletaille S, De Nadai M, Letouzé E, Salah AA, Benjamins R, Cattuto C, Colizza V, de Cordes N, Fraiberger SP, Koebe T, Lehmann S, Murillo J, Pentland A, Pham PN, Pivetta F, Saramäki J, Scarpino SV, Tizzoni M, Verhulst S, Vinck P. Mobile phone data for informing public health actions across the COVID-19 pandemic life cycle. Sci Adv 2020; 6:eabc0764. [PMID: 32548274 PMCID: PMC7274807 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc0764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 268] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Oliver
- ELLIS, the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems, Alicante, Spain
- DataPop Alliance, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bruno Lepri
- DataPop Alliance, New York, NY, USA
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Renaud Lambiotte
- University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
| | | | | | - Emmanuel Letouzé
- DataPop Alliance, New York, NY, USA
- Open Algorithms (OPAL) collaborative project, New York, NY, USA
| | - Albert Ali Salah
- DataPop Alliance, New York, NY, USA
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Ciro Cattuto
- University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Orange Group, Paris, France
| | - Vittoria Colizza
- INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Till Koebe
- DataPop Alliance, New York, NY, USA
- Freie University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sune Lehmann
- Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Alex Pentland
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Phuong N Pham
- DataPop Alliance, New York, NY, USA
- Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Patrick Vinck
- DataPop Alliance, New York, NY, USA
- Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Corresponding author.
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24
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Moya IM, Castaldo SA, Van den Mooter L, Soheily S, Sansores-Garcia L, Jacobs J, Mannaerts I, Xie J, Verboven E, Hillen H, Algueró-Nadal A, Karaman R, Van Haele M, Kowalczyk W, De Waegeneer M, Verhulst S, Karras P, van Huffel L, Zender L, Marine JC, Roskams T, Johnson R, Aerts S, van Grunsven LA, Halder G. Peritumoral activation of the Hippo pathway effectors YAP and TAZ suppresses liver cancer in mice. Science 2020; 366:1029-1034. [PMID: 31754005 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw9886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The Hippo signaling pathway and its two downstream effectors, the YAP and TAZ transcriptional coactivators, are drivers of tumor growth in experimental models. Studying mouse models, we show that YAP and TAZ can also exert a tumor-suppressive function. We found that normal hepatocytes surrounding liver tumors displayed activation of YAP and TAZ and that deletion of Yap and Taz in these peritumoral hepatocytes accelerated tumor growth. Conversely, experimental hyperactivation of YAP in peritumoral hepatocytes triggered regression of primary liver tumors and melanoma-derived liver metastases. Furthermore, whereas tumor cells growing in wild-type livers required YAP and TAZ for their survival, those surrounded by Yap- and Taz-deficient hepatocytes were not dependent on YAP and TAZ. Tumor cell survival thus depends on the relative activity of YAP and TAZ in tumor cells and their surrounding tissue, suggesting that YAP and TAZ act through a mechanism of cell competition to eliminate tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván M Moya
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Stéphanie A Castaldo
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Van den Mooter
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Soheil Soheily
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leticia Sansores-Garcia
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jelle Jacobs
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research and KU Leuven Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jun Xie
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elisabeth Verboven
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hanne Hillen
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ana Algueró-Nadal
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ruchan Karaman
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthias Van Haele
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Weronika Kowalczyk
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maxime De Waegeneer
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research and KU Leuven Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Panagiotis Karras
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology and Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leen van Huffel
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lars Zender
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,iFIT Cluster of Excellence EXC 2180 "Image Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumour Therapies," University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology and Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tania Roskams
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Randy Johnson
- Department of Cancer Biology, Program in Cancer Biology, Graduate School for Biological Sciences GSBS, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stein Aerts
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research and KU Leuven Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Georg Halder
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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25
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Lambrecht J, Verhulst S, Reynaert H, van Grunsven LA. The miRFIB-Score: A Serological miRNA-Based Scoring Algorithm for the Diagnosis of Significant Liver Fibrosis. Cells 2019; 8:cells8091003. [PMID: 31470644 PMCID: PMC6770498 DOI: 10.3390/cells8091003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The current diagnosis of early-stage liver fibrosis often relies on a serological or imaging-based evaluation of the stage of fibrosis, sometimes followed by an invasive liver biopsy procedure. Novel non-invasive experimental diagnostic tools are often based on markers of hepatocyte damage, or changes in liver stiffness and architecture, which are late-stage characteristics of fibrosis progression, making them unsuitable for the diagnosis of early-stage liver fibrosis. miRNAs control hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and are proposed as relevant diagnostic markers. Methods: We investigated the possibility of circulating miRNAs, which we found to be dysregulated upon HSC activation, to mark the presence of significant liver fibrosis (F ≥ 2) in patients with chronic alcohol abuse, chronic viral infection (HBV/HCV), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Results: miRNA-profiling identified miRNA-451a, miRNA-142-5p, Let-7f-5p, and miRNA-378a-3p to be significantly dysregulated upon in vitro HSC activation, and to be highly enriched in their extracellular vesicles, suggesting their potential use as biomarkers. Analysis of the plasma of patients with significant liver fibrosis (F ≥ 2) and no or mild fibrosis (F = 0–1), using miRNA-122-5p and miRNA-29a-3p as positive control, found miRNA-451a, miRNA-142-5p, and Let-7f-5p, but not miRNA-378a-3p, able to distinguish between the two patient populations. Using logistic regression analysis, combining all five dysregulated circulating miRNAs, we created the miRFIB-score with a predictive value superior to the clinical scores Fibrosis-4 (Fib-4), aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio, and AST to platelet ratio index (APRI). The combination of the miRFIB-score with circulating PDGFRβ-levels further increased the predictive capacity for the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis. Conclusions: The miRFIB- and miRFIBp-scores are accurate tools for the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis in a heterogeneous patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joeri Lambrecht
- Department of Basic (Bio-)Medical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Department of Basic (Bio-)Medical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Reynaert
- Department of Basic (Bio-)Medical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Brussels (UZ Brussel), B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Department of Basic (Bio-)Medical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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26
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Manco R, Clerbaux LA, Verhulst S, Bou Nader M, Sempoux C, Ambroise J, Bearzatto B, Gala JL, Horsmans Y, van Grunsven L, Desdouets C, Leclercq I. Reactive cholangiocytes differentiate into proliferative hepatocytes with efficient DNA repair in mice with chronic liver injury. J Hepatol 2019; 70:1180-1191. [PMID: 30794890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIM Chronic liver diseases are characterized by expansion of the small immature cholangiocytes - a mechanism named ductular reaction (DR) - which have the capacity to differentiate into hepatocytes. We investigated the kinetics of this differentiation, as well as analyzing several important features of the newly formed hepatocytes, such as functional maturity, clonal expansion and resistance to stress in mice with long-term liver damage. METHODS We tracked cholangiocytes using osteopontin-iCreERT2 and hepatocytes with AAV8-TBG-Cre. Mice received carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for >24 weeks to induce chronic liver injury. Livers were collected for the analysis of reporter proteins, cell proliferation and death, DNA damage, and nuclear ploidy; hepatocytes were also isolated for RNA sequencing. RESULTS During liver injury we observed a transient DR and the differentiation of DR cells into hepatocytes as clones that expanded to occupy 12% of the liver parenchyma by week 8. By lineage tracing, we confirmed that these new hepatocytes derived from cholangiocytes but not from native hepatocytes. They had all the features of mature functional hepatocytes. In contrast to the exhausted native hepatocytes, these newly formed hepatocytes had higher proliferative capability, less apoptosis, a lower proportion of highly polyploid nuclei and were better at eliminating DNA damage. CONCLUSIONS In chronic liver injury, DR cells differentiate into stress-resistant hepatocytes that repopulate the liver. The process might account for the observed parenchymal reconstitution in livers of patients with advanced-stage hepatitis and could be a target for regenerative purposes. LAY SUMMARY During chronic liver disease, while native hepatocytes are exhausted and genetically unstable, a subset of cholangiocytes clonally expand to differentiate into young, functional and robust hepatocytes. This cholangiocyte cell population is a promising target for regenerative therapies in patients with chronic liver insufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Manco
- Laboratory of Hepato-gastroenterology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laure-Alix Clerbaux
- Laboratory of Hepato-gastroenterology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Myriam Bou Nader
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France; CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Christine Sempoux
- Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jerome Ambroise
- Centre de Technologies Moléculaires Appliquées, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bertrand Bearzatto
- Centre de Technologies Moléculaires Appliquées, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean Luc Gala
- Centre de Technologies Moléculaires Appliquées, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yves Horsmans
- Laboratory of Hepato-gastroenterology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; Hepato-gastroenterology Unit, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Chantal Desdouets
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France; CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Leclercq
- Laboratory of Hepato-gastroenterology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
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Lambrecht J, Verhulst S, Mannaerts I, Sowa JP, Best J, Canbay A, Reynaert H, van Grunsven LA. A PDGFRβ-based score predicts significant liver fibrosis in patients with chronic alcohol abuse, NAFLD and viral liver disease. EBioMedicine 2019; 43:501-512. [PMID: 31036530 PMCID: PMC6558023 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor beta (PDGFRβ) has been associated to hepatic stellate cell activation and has been the target of multiple therapeutic studies. However, little is known concerning its use as a diagnostic agent. Methods Circulating PDGFRβ levels were analysed in a cohort of patients with liver fibrosis/cirrhosis due to chronic alcohol abuse, viral hepatitis, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The diagnostic performance of PDGFRβ as individual blood parameter, or in combination with other metabolic factors was evaluated. Findings sPDGFRβ levels are progressively increased with increasing fibrosis stage and the largest difference was observed in patients with significant fibrosis, compared to no or mild fibrosis. The accuracy of sPDGFRβ-levels predicting fibrosis could be increased by combining it with albumin levels and platelet counts into a novel diagnostic algorithm, the PRTA-score, generating a predictive value superior to Fib-4, APRI, and AST/ALT. The sPDGFRβ levels and the PRTA-score are independent of liver disease aetiology, thus overcoming one of the major weaknesses of current non-invasive clinical and experimental scores. Finally, we confirmed the diagnostic value of sPDGFRβ levels and the PRTA-score in an independent patient cohort with NAFLD which was staged for fibrosis by liver biopsy. Interpretation The PRTA-score is an accurate tool for detecting significant liver fibrosis in a broad range of liver disease aetiologies. Fund Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Flanders) (HILIM-3D; SBO140045), and the Fund of Scientific Research Flanders (FWO).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joeri Lambrecht
- Department of Basic (Bio-)medical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Department of Basic (Bio-)medical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Department of Basic (Bio-)medical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jan-Peter Sowa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jan Best
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ali Canbay
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik Reynaert
- Department of Basic (Bio-)medical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Brussels (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Department of Basic (Bio-)medical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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Adler N, Cattuto C, Kalimeri K, Paolotti D, Tizzoni M, Verhulst S, Yom-Tov E, Young A. How Search Engine Data Enhance the Understanding of Determinants of Suicide in India and Inform Prevention: Observational Study. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e10179. [PMID: 30609976 PMCID: PMC6682304 DOI: 10.2196/10179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background India is home to 20% of the world’s suicide deaths. Although statistics regarding suicide in India are distressingly high, data and cultural issues likely contribute to a widespread underreporting of the problem. Social stigma and only recent decriminalization of suicide are among the factors hampering official agencies’ collection and reporting of suicide rates. Objective As the product of a data collaborative, this paper leverages private-sector search engine data toward gaining a fuller, more accurate picture of the suicide issue among young people in India. By combining official statistics on suicide with data generated through search queries, this paper seeks to: add an additional layer of information to more accurately represent the magnitude of the problem, determine whether search query data can serve as an effective proxy for factors contributing to suicide that are not represented in traditional datasets, and consider how data collaboratives built on search query data could inform future suicide prevention efforts in India and beyond. Methods We combined official statistics on demographic information with data generated through search queries from Bing to gain insight into suicide rates per state in India as reported by the National Crimes Record Bureau of India. We extracted English language queries on “suicide,” “depression,” “hanging,” “pesticide,” and “poison”. We also collected data on demographic information at the state level in India, including urbanization, growth rate, sex ratio, internet penetration, and population. We modeled the suicide rate per state as a function of the queries on each of the 5 topics considered as linear independent variables. A second model was built by integrating the demographic information as additional linear independent variables. Results Results of the first model fit (R2) when modeling the suicide rates from the fraction of queries in each of the 5 topics, as well as the fraction of all suicide methods, show a correlation of about 0.5. This increases significantly with the removal of 3 outliers and improves slightly when 5 outliers are removed. Results for the second model fit using both query and demographic data show that for all categories, if no outliers are removed, demographic data can model suicide rates better than query data. However, when 3 outliers are removed, query data about pesticides or poisons improves the model over using demographic data. Conclusions In this work, we used search data and demographics to model suicide rates. In this way, search data serve as a proxy for unmeasured (hidden) factors corresponding to suicide rates. Moreover, our procedure for outlier rejection serves to single out states where the suicide rates have substantially different correlations with demographic factors and query rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Adler
- United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), New York, NY, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Stefaan Verhulst
- The Governance Lab, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Andrew Young
- The Governance Lab, New York University, New York, NY, United States
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Najar M, Dollé L, Crompot E, Verhulst S, van Grunsven LA, Busser H, Lagneaux L. Isolation and Characterization of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Subsets in Culture Based on Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2018; 24:89-98. [PMID: 29241418 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2017.0312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have particular properties that allow their use as therapeutic strategies for several cell-based applications. Historically, bone marrow (BM)-MSCs are isolated by culture adherence since specific cell surface markers are yet to be developed. This original work aimed to identify and characterize isolating expanded BM-MSCs based on their aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity known to be a hallmark of stem cells and relevant for their isolation. We thus isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting technology two functionally different populations of BM-MSCs depending on their ALDH activity (ALDH+ and ALDH-). Transcriptome analysis and profiling clearly demonstrated that both populations of BM-MSCs present distinct pattern of genes related to the main properties of MSCs (proliferation, response to hypoxia, angiogenesis, phenotype, stemness, multilineage, hematopoiesis, immunomodulation) in an ALDH activity dependent manner. Both BM-MSC populations look to significantly differ in terms of biological responses and functionalities. More functional analyses are needed to understand and characterize the properties of these ALDH populations. Collectively, our results highlight ALDH activity as a potential feature for isolating and segregating functional and/or competent subset of BM-MSC populations, which may account for better and more efficient therapeutic issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Najar
- 1 Department of Haematology, Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy (LTCC), Jules Bordet Institute , Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Erasme, Bâtiment de Transfusion (Level +1), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurent Dollé
- 2 Department of Cell Biology (CYTO-VUB), Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emerence Crompot
- 1 Department of Haematology, Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy (LTCC), Jules Bordet Institute , Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Erasme, Bâtiment de Transfusion (Level +1), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- 2 Department of Cell Biology (CYTO-VUB), Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- 2 Department of Cell Biology (CYTO-VUB), Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hélène Busser
- 1 Department of Haematology, Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy (LTCC), Jules Bordet Institute , Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Erasme, Bâtiment de Transfusion (Level +1), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Lagneaux
- 1 Department of Haematology, Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy (LTCC), Jules Bordet Institute , Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Erasme, Bâtiment de Transfusion (Level +1), Brussels, Belgium
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De Smedt E, Maes K, Verhulst S, Lui H, Kassambara A, Maes A, Robert N, Heirman C, Cakana A, Hose D, Breckpot K, van Grunsven LA, De Veirman K, Menu E, Vanderkerken K, Moreaux J, De Bruyne E. Loss of RASSF4 Expression in Multiple Myeloma Promotes RAS-Driven Malignant Progression. Cancer Res 2017; 78:1155-1168. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Stradiot L, Verhulst S, Roosens T, Øie C, Moya I, Halder G, Mannaerts I, van Grunsven L. Functionality based method for simultaneous isolation of rodent hepatic sinusoidal cells. Biomaterials 2017; 139:91-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.05.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Vedder O, Verhulst S, Bauch C, Bouwhuis S. Telomere attrition and growth: a life-history framework and case study in common terns. J Evol Biol 2017; 30:1409-1419. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- O. Vedder
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
- Institute of Avian Research; Wilhelmshaven Germany
| | - S. Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
| | - C. Bauch
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
| | - S. Bouwhuis
- Institute of Avian Research; Wilhelmshaven Germany
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Lambrecht J, Jan Poortmans P, Verhulst S, Reynaert H, Mannaerts I, van Grunsven LA. Circulating ECV-Associated miRNAs as Potential Clinical Biomarkers in Early Stage HBV and HCV Induced Liver Fibrosis. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:56. [PMID: 28232800 PMCID: PMC5298975 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infection is associated with the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) toward a myofibroblastic phenotype, resulting in excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, the development of liver fibrosis, and its progression toward cirrhosis. The gold standard for the detection and staging of liver fibrosis remains the liver biopsy, which is, however, associated with some mild and severe drawbacks. Other non-invasive techniques evade these drawbacks, but lack inter-stage specificity and are unable to detect early stages of fibrosis. We investigated whether circulating vesicle-associated miRNAs can be used in the diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis in HBV and HCV patients. Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from 14 healthy individuals and 39 early stage fibrotic patients (F0–F2) with chronic HBV or HCV infection who underwent transient elastography (Fibroscan). Extracellular vesicles were extracted from the plasma and the level of miRNA-122, -150, -192, -21, -200b, and -92a was analyzed by qRT-PCR in total plasma and circulating vesicles. Finally, these same miRNAs were also quantified in vesicles extracted from in vitro activating primary HSCs. Results: In total plasma samples, only miRNA-200b (HBV: p = 0.0384; HCV: p = 0.0069) and miRNA-122 (HBV: p < 0.0001; HCV: p = 0.0007) were significantly up-regulated during early fibrosis. In circulating vesicles, miRNA-192 (HBV: p < 0.0001; HCV: p < 0.0001), -200b (HBV: p < 0.0001; HCV: p < 0.0001), -92a (HBV: p < 0.0001; HCV: p < 0.0001), and -150 (HBV: p = 0.0016; HCV: p = 0.004) displayed a significant down-regulation in both HBV and HCV patients. MiRNA expression profiles in vesicles isolated from in vitro activating primary mouse HSCs resembled the miRNA expression profile in circulating vesicles. Conclusion: Our analysis revealed a distinct miRNA expression pattern in total plasma and its circulating vesicles. The expression profile of miRNAs in circulating vesicles of fibrotic patients suggests the potential use of these vesicle-associated miRNAs as markers for early stages of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joeri Lambrecht
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pieter Jan Poortmans
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Reynaert
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit BrusselBrussels, Belgium; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universitair Ziekenhuis BrusselBrussels, Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels, Belgium
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Boens S, Verbinnen I, Verhulst S, Szekér K, Ferreira M, Gevaert T, Baes M, Roskams T, van Grunsven LA, Van Eynde A, Bollen M. Brief Report: The Deletion of the Phosphatase Regulator NIPP1 Causes Progenitor Cell Expansion in the Adult Liver. Stem Cells 2016; 34:2256-62. [PMID: 27068806 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The Ppp1r8 gene encodes NIPP1, a nuclear interactor of protein phosphatase PP1. The deletion of NIPP1 is embryonic lethal at the gastrulation stage, which has hampered its functional characterization in adult tissues. Here, we describe the effects of a conditional deletion of NIPP1 in mouse liver epithelial cells. Ppp1r8(-/-) livers developed a ductular reaction, that is, bile-duct hyperplasia with associated fibrosis. The increased proliferation of biliary epithelial cells was at least partially due to an expansion of the progenitor cell compartment that was independent of liver injury. Gene-expression analysis confirmed an upregulation of progenitor cell markers in the liver knockout livers but showed no effect on the expression of liver-injury associated regulators of cholangiocyte differentiation markers. Consistent with an inhibitory effect of NIPP1 on progenitor cell proliferation, Ppp1r8(-/-) livers displayed an increased sensitivity to diet-supplemented 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine, which also causes bile-duct hyperplasia through progenitor cell expansion. In contrast, the liver knockouts responded normally to injuries (partial hepatectomy, single CCl4 administration) that are restored through proliferation of differentiated parenchymal cells. Our data indicate that NIPP1 does not regulate the proliferation of hepatocytes but is a suppressor of biliary epithelial cell proliferation, including progenitor cells, in the adult liver. Stem Cells 2016;34:2256-2262.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannah Boens
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Biosignaling & Therapeutics, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Iris Verbinnen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Biosignaling & Therapeutics, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Kathelijne Szekér
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Biosignaling & Therapeutics, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Monica Ferreira
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Biosignaling & Therapeutics, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Gevaert
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ Systems, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Myriam Baes
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, Laboratory for Cell Metabolism, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tania Roskams
- Department of Imaging & Pathology, Laboratory of Translational Cell & Tissue Research, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Aleyde Van Eynde
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Biosignaling & Therapeutics, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Bollen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Biosignaling & Therapeutics, KU Leuven, Belgium
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Simons MJP, Briga M, Verhulst S. Stabilizing survival selection on presenescent expression of a sexual ornament followed by a terminal decline. J Evol Biol 2016; 29:1368-78. [PMID: 27061923 PMCID: PMC4957616 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Senescence is a decrease in functional capacity, increasing mortality rate with age. Sexual signals indicate functional capacity, because costs of ornamentation ensure signal honesty, and are therefore expected to senesce, tracking physiological deterioration and mortality. For sexual traits, mixed associations with age and positive associations with life expectancy have been reported. However, whether these associations are caused by selective disappearance and/or within-individual senescence of sexual signals, respectively, is not known. We previously reported that zebra finches with redder bills had greater life expectancy, based on a single bill colour measurement per individual. We here extend this analysis using longitudinal data and show that this finding is attributable to terminal declines in bill redness in the year before death, with no detectable change in presenescent redness. Additionally, there was a quadratic relationship between presenescent bill colouration and survival: individuals with intermediate bill redness have maximum survival prospects. This may reflect that redder individuals overinvest in colouration and/or associated physiological changes, while below-average bill redness probably reflects poorer phenotypic quality. Together, this pattern suggests that bill colouration is defended against physiological deterioration, because of mate attraction benefits, or that physiological deterioration is not a gradual process, but accelerates sharply prior to death. We discuss these possibilities in the context of the reliability theory of ageing and sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J P Simons
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - M Briga
- Behavioural Biology, Centre for Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - S Verhulst
- Behavioural Biology, Centre for Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Govaere O, Wouters J, Petz M, Vandewynckel YP, Van den Eynde K, Van den Broeck A, Verhulst S, Dollé L, Gremeaux L, Ceulemans A, Nevens F, van Grunsven LA, Topal B, Vankelecom H, Giannelli G, Van Vlierberghe H, Mikulits W, Komuta M, Roskams T. Laminin-332 sustains chemoresistance and quiescence as part of the human hepatic cancer stem cell niche. J Hepatol 2016; 64:609-17. [PMID: 26592953 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be persistent in tumours due to their chemoresistance and to cause relapse and metastasis. Hepatic carcinomas displaying hepatic progenitor cell (HPC) features have been associated with a poor prognosis, though it remains unclear how CSCs relate to these different histological subtypes. METHODS Candidate CSCs were isolated using the side population (SP) technique from primary tissue samples diagnosed as keratin(K)19-negative or -positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or as combined hepatocellular/cholangiocarcinoma and analysed for gene and protein expression. The effect of laminin-332 was analysed in vitro by using HCC cell lines and in vivo using a xenograft mouse model. RESULTS The size of the SP correlated with the degree of HPC features found in human hepatic cancer, and also showed an elevated mRNA expression of biliary/HPC markers and the extracellular matrix marker LAMC2, the gene encoding the laminin γ2-chain. Immunopositivity for the γ2-chain of laminin-332 was seen in the extracellular matrix surrounding small HPC-like tumour cells with a low proliferation rate. In vitro, laminin-332 increased K19 expression, phosphorylated mTOR and decreased phospho-histone H3 expression, indicating reduced cell mitosis. The effect of laminin-332 was enhanced upon mTORC1 inhibition and diminished when inhibiting mTORC1+C2. Resistance to doxorubicin and sorafenib treatment, and the SP fraction increased in the coated condition. In vivo, laminin-332 reduced tumour growth and sustained K19 expression. CONCLUSIONS In this study we identified a prominent role for laminin-332 as part of the specialised CSC niche in maintaining and supporting cell 'stemness', which leads to chemoresistance and quiescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Govaere
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Jasper Wouters
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michaela Petz
- Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Kathleen Van den Eynde
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anke Van den Broeck
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurent Dollé
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lies Gremeaux
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Ceulemans
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederik Nevens
- Department of Hepatology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Baki Topal
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hugo Vankelecom
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- Department of Medical Biosciences and Human Oncology, Padiglione Semeiotica Medica, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Wolfgang Mikulits
- Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mina Komuta
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tania Roskams
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Mannaerts I, Leite SB, Verhulst S, Claerhout S, Eysackers N, Thoen LFR, Hoorens A, Reynaert H, Halder G, van Grunsven LA. The Hippo pathway effector YAP controls mouse hepatic stellate cell activation. J Hepatol 2015; 63:679-88. [PMID: 25908270 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Revised: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatic stellate cell activation is a wound-healing response to liver injury. However, continued activation of stellate cells during chronic liver damage causes excessive matrix deposition and the formation of pathological scar tissue leading to fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis. The importance of sustained stellate cell activation for this pathological process is well recognized, and several signalling pathways that can promote stellate cell activation have been identified, such as the TGFβ-, PDGF-, and LPS-dependent pathways. However, the mechanisms that trigger and drive the early steps in activation are not well understood. METHODS AND RESULTS We identified the Hippo pathway and its effector YAP as a key pathway that controls stellate cell activation. YAP is a transcriptional co-activator and we found that it drives the earliest changes in gene expression during stellate cell activation. Activation of stellate cells in vivo by CCl4 administration to mice or activation in vitro caused rapid activation of YAP as revealed by its nuclear translocation and by the induction of YAP target genes. YAP was also activated in stellate cells of human fibrotic livers as evidenced by its nuclear localization. Importantly, knockdown of YAP expression or pharmacological inhibition of YAP prevented hepatic stellate cell activation in vitro and pharmacological inhibition of YAP impeded fibrogenesis in mice. CONCLUSIONS YAP activation is a critical driver of hepatic stellate cell activation and inhibition of YAP presents a novel approach for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussel, Belgium
| | | | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussel, Belgium
| | - Sofie Claerhout
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, and KU Leuven Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Eysackers
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussel, Belgium
| | - Lien F R Thoen
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussel, Belgium
| | - Anne Hoorens
- Department of Pathology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Reynaert
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussel, Belgium
| | - Georg Halder
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, and KU Leuven Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussel, Belgium.
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Verhulst S, Dalgård C, Labat C, Kark J, Kimura M, Christensen K, Toupance S, Aviv A, Kyvik K, Benetos A. P-049: A short leukocyte telomere length predicts insulin resistance. Eur Geriatr Med 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/s1878-7649(15)30152-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Bitencourt S, Stradiot L, Verhulst S, Thoen L, Mannaerts I, van Grunsven LA. Inhibitory effect of dietary capsaicin on liver fibrosis in mice. Mol Nutr Food Res 2015; 59:1107-16. [DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201400649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Revised: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shanna Bitencourt
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory; Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Brussels Belgium
| | - Leslie Stradiot
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory; Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Brussels Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory; Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Brussels Belgium
| | - Lien Thoen
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory; Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Brussels Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory; Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Brussels Belgium
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Verhulst S, Best J, van Grunsven LA, Dollé L. Advances in hepatic stem/progenitor cell biology. EXCLI J 2015; 14:33-47. [PMID: 26600740 PMCID: PMC4650945 DOI: 10.17179/excli2014-576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The liver is famous for its strong regenerative capacity, employing different modes of regeneration according to type and extent of injury. Mature liver cells are able to proliferate in order to replace the damaged tissue allowing the recovery of the parenchymal function. In more severe scenarios hepatocytes are believed to arise also from a facultative liver progenitor cell compartment. In human, severe acute liver failure and liver cirrhosis are also both important clinical targets in which regeneration is impaired, where the role of this stem cell compartment seems more convincing. In animal models, the current state of ambiguity regarding the identity and role of liver progenitor cells in liver physiology dampens the enthusiasm for the potential use of these cells in regenerative medicine. The aim of this review is to give the basics of liver progenitor cell biology and discuss recent results vis-à-vis their identity and contribution to liver regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jan Best
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A. van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurent Dollé
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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Boudewyns A, Verhulst S, Maris M, Saldien V, Van de Heyning P. Drug-induced sedation endoscopy in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep Med 2014; 15:1526-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2014.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/21/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Mannaerts I, Schroyen B, Verhulst S, Van Lommel L, Schuit F, Nyssen M, van Grunsven LA. Gene expression profiling of early hepatic stellate cell activation reveals a role for Igfbp3 in cell migration. PLoS One 2013; 8:e84071. [PMID: 24358328 PMCID: PMC3866247 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/11/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Scarring of the liver is the result of prolonged exposure to exogenous or endogenous stimuli. At the onset of fibrosis, quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activate and transdifferentiate into matrix producing, myofibroblast-like cells. Aim and methods To identify key players during early HSC activation, gene expression profiling was performed on primary mouse HSCs cultured for 4, 16 and 64 hours. Since valproic acid (VPA) can partly inhibit HSC activation, we included VPA-treated cells in the profiling experiments to facilitate this search. Results Gene expression profiling confirmed early changes for known genes related to HSC activation such as alphasmoothmuscleactin (Acta2), lysyloxidase (Lox) and collagen, type I, alpha 1 (Col1a1). In addition we noticed that, although genes which are related to fibrosis change between 4 and 16 hours in culture, most gene expression changes occur between 16 and 64 hours. Insulin-likegrowthfactorbinding protein 3 (Igfbp3) was identified as a gene strongly affected by VPA treatment. During normal HSC activation Igfbp3 is up regulated and this can thus be prevented by VPA treatment invitro and invivo. siRNA-mediated silencing of Igfbp3 in primary mouse HSCs induced matrix metalloproteinase (Mmp) 9 mRNA expression and strongly reduced cell migration. The reduced cell migration after Igfbp3 knock-down could be overcome by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1 treatment. Conclusion Igfbp3 is a marker for culture-activated HSCs and plays a role in HSC migration. VPA treatment prevents Igfbp3 transcription during activation of HSCs invitro and invivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Ben Schroyen
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | | | - Frans Schuit
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc Nyssen
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Leo A. van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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Prasun M, Verhulst S, Weller-Summers M, Baur K, Nallamothu N. 30-Day Readmission Predictors of Patients Presenting to a Nurse-Led Heart Failure (HF) Disease Management Program. Heart Lung 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2013.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Boudewyns A, Antunes J, Bernheim N, Claes J, De Dooy J, De Leenheer E, De Roeck K, Hellings P, de Varebeke SJ, Jorissen M, Ketelslagers K, Lemkens N, Lemkens P, Leupe P, Malfroot A, Maris M, Michiels E, Van Crombrugge L, Vandenplas Y, Verhulst S, Eloy P, Watelet JB. Specific medical and surgical treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases in children. B-ENT 2012; 8 Suppl 19:135-166. [PMID: 23431617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment for chronic inflammatory conditions in children should take into account the specific pathophysiological and clinical processes underlying these disorders. These guidelines provide a framework for both the medical and surgical treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as otitis media, allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis, chronic inflammation of tonsils and adenoids, and laryngitis. In addition, the role of vaccinations and immunomodulatory therapies is discussed. Whenever possible, the evidence levels for specific treatments comply with the Oxford Levels of Evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Boudewyns
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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De Backer L, Vos W, Dieriks B, Daems D, Verhulst S, Vinchurkar S, Ides K, De Backer J, Germonpre P, De Backer W. The effects of long-term noninvasive ventilation in hypercapnic COPD patients: a randomized controlled pilot study. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2011; 6:615-24. [PMID: 22135493 PMCID: PMC3224655 DOI: 10.2147/copd.s22823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a well-established treatment for acute-on- chronic respiratory failure in hypercapnic COPD patients. Less is known about the effects of a long-term treatment with NIV in hypercapnic COPD patients and about the factors that may predict response in terms of improved oxygenation and lowered CO2 retention. Methods In this study, we randomized 15 patients to a routine pharmacological treatment (n = 5, age 66 [standard deviation ± 6] years, FEV1 30.5 [±5.1] %pred, PaO2 65 [±6] mmHg, PaCO2 52.4 [±6.0] mmHg) or to a routine treatment and NIV (using the Synchrony BiPAP device [Respironics, Inc, Murrsville, PA]) (n = 10, age 65 [±7] years, FEV1 29.5 [±9.0] %pred, PaO2 59 [±13] mmHg, PaCO2 55.4 [±7.7] mmHg) for 6 months. We looked at arterial blood gasses, lung function parameters and performed a low-dose computed tomography of the thorax, which was later used for segmentation (providing lobe and airway volumes, iVlobe and iVaw) and post-processing with computer methods (providing airway resistance, iRaw) giving overall a functional image of the separate airways and lobes. Results In both groups there was a nonsignificant change in FEV1 (NIV group 29.5 [9.0] to 38.5 [14.6] %pred, control group 30.5 [5.1] to 36.8 [8.7] mmHg). PaCO2 dropped significantly only in the NIV group (NIV: 55.4 [7.7] → 44.5 [4.70], P = 0.0076; control: 52.4 [6.0] → 47.6 [8.2], NS). Patients actively treated with NIV developed a more inhomogeneous redistribution of mass flow than control patients. Subsequent analysis indicated that in NIV-treated patients that improve their blood gases, mass flow was also redistributed towards areas with higher vessel density and less emphysema, indicating that flow was redistributed towards areas with better perfusion. There was a highly significant correlation between the % increase in mass flow towards lobes with a blood vessel density of >9% and the increase in PaO2. Improved ventilation–perfusion match and recruitment of previously occluded small airways can explain the improvement in blood gases. Conclusion We can conclude that in hypercapnic COPD patients treated with long-term NIV over 6 months, a mass flow redistribution occurs, providing a better ventilation–perfusion match and hence better blood gases and lung function. Control patients improve homogeneously in iVaw and iRaw, without improvement in gas exchange since there is no improved ventilation/perfusion ratio or increased alveolar ventilation. These differences in response can be detected through functional imaging, which gives a more detailed report on regional lung volumes and resistances than classical lung function tests do. Possibly only patients with localized small airway disease are good candidates for long-term NIV treatment. To confirm this and to see if better arterial blood gases also lead to better health related quality of life and longer survival, we have to study a larger population.
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Affiliation(s)
- L De Backer
- Antwerp University Hospital, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Grasman J, Salomons H, Verhulst S. Stochastic modeling of length-dependent telomere shortening in Corvus monedula. J Theor Biol 2011; 282:1-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2010] [Revised: 02/27/2011] [Accepted: 04/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Dierckx E, van Hoorenbeeck K, Valdivia Tamayo J, Verbeeck P, Ceulemans B, De Backer W, Desager K, Ramet J, Verhulst S. Witnessed apnoeas in a 6-yr-old boy: a brain teaser. Breathe (Sheff) 2011. [DOI: 10.1183/20734735.003511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Haussmann MF, Salomons HM, Verhulst S. Telomere measurement tools: Telometric produces biased estimates of telomere length. Heredity (Edinb) 2011; 107:371. [PMID: 21427752 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2011.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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Verhulst S. The metabolic consequences of obstructive sleep apnoea in children. Breathe (Sheff) 2009. [DOI: 10.1183/18106838.0602.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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