In vivo hepatic reprogramming of myofibroblasts with AAV vectors as a therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis
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ABSTRACT: We developed in vivo reprogramming of myofibroblasts (MFs) into induced hepatocytes (MF-iHeps) using adeno-associated virus serotype 6 (AAV6) vectors expressing hepatic transcription factors in MF fate tracing (Lrat-Cre;R26R-ZsGreen) mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis. To determine whether MF-iHeps acquire full hepatocyte differentiation, we used microarrays to profile their global gene expression. We isolated MF-iHeps and primary hepatocytes (Heps) from the same mice by laser-capture microdissection (5 and 3 biological replicates, respectively) and hepatic MFs from CCl4-treated littermates isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (3 biological replicates). Total RNA was extracted, transcribed, amplified and biotin labeled. Labeled cDNA targets were hybridized to GeneChip Mouse Gene 1.0 ST arrays (Affymetrix).
Project description:We developed in vivo reprogramming of myofibroblasts (MFs) into induced hepatocytes (MF-iHeps) using adeno-associated virus serotype 6 (AAV6) vectors expressing hepatic transcription factors in MF fate tracing (Lrat-Cre;R26R-ZsGreen) mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis. To determine whether MF-iHeps acquire full hepatocyte differentiation, we used microarrays to profile their global gene expression.
Project description:Previous studies demonstrated that hepatocyte-specific transcription factors could directly convert fibroblasts into functional hepatocytes-like cells, namely induced hepatocytes (iHeps) using viral systems. However, viral integration into host genome causes insertional mutation and risk of tumorigenecity. we showed iHeps could be generated from MEFs using the integration-free system. They were expandable in vitro and showed hepatic features, similar to primary hepatocytes. iHeps_G4H1F3 transfected (Episomal vectors) and iHeps_G4H1F3 transduced (pMXs) were duplicate, respectively. MEFs and primary hepatocytes were used as negative and positive controls, respectively.
Project description:Previous studies demonstrated that hepatocyte-specific transcription factors could directly convert fibroblasts into functional hepatocytes-like cells, namely induced hepatocytes (iHeps) using viral systems. However, viral integration into host genome causes insertional mutation and risk of tumorigenecity. we showed iHeps could be generated from MEFs using the integration-free system. They were expandable in vitro and showed hepatic features, similar to primary hepatocytes.
Project description:Background: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) induced hepatocytes (iHeps) are widely used in modeling human liver diseases and as a potential source for cell replacement therapy. However, most iHeps are relatively immature and hard to maintain for long-term in-vitro. Results: The hepatic differentiation improved when EMT was inhibited at late stage of iHeps differentiation, and iHeps EMTi demonstrated the ability to be maintained in- vitro for an extended period up to Day 60. In-vitro analysis showed that iHeps EMTi exhibited significantly higher expression levels of hepatic functional markers, and enhanced hepatocyte functions, including lipid accumulation, glycogen storage, albumin secretion and urea acid metabolism. Moreover, the molecular profiles of iHeps EMTi are closer to those of primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). In addition, the in-vivo engraftment efficiency of iHeps EMTi was also improved as compared to iHeps alone. Conclusion: We established a robust protocol via EMT suppression to generate iHeps from human iPSCs with improved function, long-term in-vitro maintenance capacity, and enhanced repopulation efficiency.
Project description:Recent studies have shown that defined sets of transcription factors could directly convert fibroblasts into induced hepatocytes (iHeps). However, the underlying mechanism of direct conversion process toward a hepatic lineage is largely unknown. Here, we report that the direct conversion kinetics from fibroblasts into iHeps throughout screening multiple additional factors that potentially rescue the delayed kinetics of MET and hepatic program. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were efficiently converted into iHeps in the presence of c-Myc and Klf4 (CK), the activators for MET process, with the previously defined sets of hepatic transcription factors, resulting in remarkably improved generation of iHeps. Furthermore, in the presence of CK, Hnf4? alone could convert fibroblasts into iHeps within 5 days with a relatively higher efficiency. Cells transduced with different combinations of factors were cultured in standard Hep medium. Epithelial colonies were observed within 5 days with much higher numbers in the presence of additional factor, c-Myc and Klf4, compared to control group, indicating the number of epithelial colony was dramatically increased in the presence of additional stem cell factors
Project description:Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) could provide a powerful tool for studying the mechanisms underlying human liver development and disease, testing the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals across different patients (i.e. personalized medicine), and enabling cell-based therapies in the clinic. However, current in vitro protocols that rely upon growth factors and extracellular matrices (ECM) alone yield iHeps with low levels of liver functions relative to adult primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). Moreover, these low hepatic functions in iHeps are difficult to maintain for prolonged times (weeks to months) in culture. Here, we engineered a micropatterned co-culture (iMPCC) platform in a multi-well format that, in contrast to conventional confluent cultures, significantly enhanced the functional maturation and longevity of iHeps in culture for 4 weeks in vitro when benchmarked against multiple donors of PHHs. In particular, iHeps were micropatterned onto collagen-coated domains of empirically optimized dimensions, surrounded by 3T3-J2 murine embryonic fibroblasts, and then sandwiched with a thin layer of ECM gel (Matrigel™). We assessed iHep maturity via global gene expression profiles, hepatic polarity, secretion of albumin and urea, basal CYP450 activities, phase-II conjugation, drug-mediated CYP450 induction, and drug-induced hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: Controlling both homotypic interactions between iHeps and heterotypic interactions with stromal fibroblasts significantly matures iHep functions and maintains them for several weeks in culture. In the future, iMPCCs could prove useful for drug screening, studying molecular mechanisms underlying iHep differentiation, modeling liver diseases, and integration into human-on-a-chip systems being designed to assess multi-organ responses to compounds. We used Affymetrix microarrays to profile the global gene expression of co-culture stabilized iHeps (iMPCCs) relative to freshly isolated and co-culture stabilized primary human hepatocytes (2 donors). To assess the transcriptomic stability of iHeps in iMPCCs, RNA was extracted following 9 and 21 days of culture for hybridization to Affymetrix microarrays. The hepatic maturation state of iHeps was assessed by comparing gene expression against microarrays containing data from two primary human hepatocyte donors, both following hepatocyte isolation (day 0) and after stabilization in the micropatterened co-culture platform (day 6 and day 42 MPCCs), as previously described.
Project description:Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1 (PH1) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized by oxalate overproduction in the liver, resulting in renal damage. It is caused by mutations in the AGXT gene. Combined liver and kidney transplantation is currently the only permanent curative treatment. We combined locus-specific gene correction and hepatic direct cell reprogramming to generate autologous healthy induced hepatocytes (iHeps) from PH1 patient-derived fibroblasts. First, site-specific AGXT corrected cells were obtained by homology directed repair (HDR) assisted by CRISPR/Cas9, following two different strategies: accurate point mutation (c.853T>C) correction or knock-in of an enhanced version of AGXT cDNA. Then, iHeps were generated, by overexpression of hepatic transcription factors. Generated AGXT-corrected iHeps showed hepatic gene expression profile and exhibited in vitro reversion of oxalate accumulation compared to non-edited PH1-derived iHeps. This strategy set up a potential alternative cellular source for liver cell replacement therapy and a personalized PH1 in vitro disease model.
Project description:Recent studies have shown that defined hepatic factors could lead to the direct conversion of fibroblasts into induced hepatocytes (iHeps). However, reported conversion efficiencies are vey low and the underlying mechanism of the hepatic lineage conversion is largely unknown. Here, we report that direct conversion into iHeps is a stepwise transition involving erasure of somatic memory, mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition, and induction of hepatic cell fate in a sequential manner. Throughout screening for additional factors that could potentially enhance the kinetics of the MET and hepatic programs, we have found that c-Myc and Klf4 (CK) dramatically accelerate the conversion kinetics, resulting in remarkably improved generation of iHeps (>87 fold). Furthermore, we identified small molecules that could replace the roles of CK and thus led to the highly efficient generation of iHeps without CK. Finally, we show that a single factor (Hnf1α) supported by small molecules is sufficient to robustly induce transprogramming of fibroblasts into functional hepatocyte-like cells with high yield. This novel approach might help to fully elucidate the direct conversion process and also facilitate the translation of iHep into clinic.
Project description:The purpose of this experiment was to compare the transcriptome of FoP-Heps, with undifferentiated hiPSCs, HLCs generated by direct differentiation, and primary samples (adult and fetal). FoP-Heps where generated in vitro from hESCs by forward programming (FoP) using a combination of 4 transcription factors (HNF1A, FOXA3, HNF6, RORc). Human fetal liver samples where obtained from first trimester embryos.
Project description:Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) could provide a powerful tool for studying the mechanisms underlying human liver development and disease, testing the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals across different patients (i.e. personalized medicine), and enabling cell-based therapies in the clinic. However, current in vitro protocols that rely upon growth factors and extracellular matrices (ECM) alone yield iHeps with low levels of liver functions relative to adult primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). Moreover, these low hepatic functions in iHeps are difficult to maintain for prolonged times (weeks to months) in culture. Here, we engineered a micropatterned co-culture (iMPCC) platform in a multi-well format that, in contrast to conventional confluent cultures, significantly enhanced the functional maturation and longevity of iHeps in culture for 4 weeks in vitro when benchmarked against multiple donors of PHHs. In particular, iHeps were micropatterned onto collagen-coated domains of empirically optimized dimensions, surrounded by 3T3-J2 murine embryonic fibroblasts, and then sandwiched with a thin layer of ECM gel (Matrigel™). We assessed iHep maturity via global gene expression profiles, hepatic polarity, secretion of albumin and urea, basal CYP450 activities, phase-II conjugation, drug-mediated CYP450 induction, and drug-induced hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: Controlling both homotypic interactions between iHeps and heterotypic interactions with stromal fibroblasts significantly matures iHep functions and maintains them for several weeks in culture. In the future, iMPCCs could prove useful for drug screening, studying molecular mechanisms underlying iHep differentiation, modeling liver diseases, and integration into human-on-a-chip systems being designed to assess multi-organ responses to compounds. We used Affymetrix microarrays to profile the global gene expression of co-culture stabilized iHeps (iMPCCs) relative to freshly isolated and co-culture stabilized primary human hepatocytes (2 donors).