Dataset Information

The therapeutic potential of induced hepatocyte-like cells generated by direct reprogramming on hepatic fibrosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Until now, there is no effective anti-fibrotic therapy available for liver cirrhosis. Stem cell therapies have been studied for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis. However, the use of embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) has limitations such as ethical concern or malignancy potential. Induced hepatocyte-like cells (iHEPs) generated by direct reprogramming technology may overcome these limitations.

Methods

In this study, we generated iHEPs by direct reprogramming from mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) either using specific transcription factors such as c-Myc and Klf-4 (type A), or adding small molecules to HNF1? (type B).

Results

We investigated the effect of iHEPs on acute liver injury and chronic hepatic fibrosis animal models induced by CCl₄ intra-peritoneal injection in BALB/C nude mice. In acute liver injury model, serum AST/ALT levels peaked at 24?h after CCl₄ injection. Intra-splenic transplantation of iHEPs significantly attenuated CCl₄-induced acute liver injury. GFP-labeled iHEPs (type A) migrated to the liver after intra-splenic transplantation that was confirmed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. We found that GFP and albumin were co-localized in migrated iHEPs in the liver suggesting migrated iHEPs were functional. In chronic hepatic fibrosis mice experiment, transplantation of either type A or type B iHEPs significantly attenuated liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄ injection for 10?weeks.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that iHEPs may be used as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.

SUBMITTER: Park S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6330392 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The therapeutic potential of induced hepatocyte-like cells generated by direct reprogramming on hepatic fibrosis.

Park Suhyun S In Hwang Seon S Kim Jonghun J Hwang Seoyeon S Kang Sohee S Yang Sera S Kim Jonghwa J Kang Wonseok W Kim Kyun-Hwan KH Han Dong Wook DW Paik Yong-Han YH

Stem cell research & therapy 20190111 1

<h4>Background</h4>Until now, there is no effective anti-fibrotic therapy available for liver cirrhosis. Stem cell therapies have been studied for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis. However, the use of embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) has limitations such as ethical concern or malignancy potential. Induced hepatocyte-like cells (iHEPs) generated by direct reprogramming technology may overcome these limitations.<h4>Methods</h4>In this study, we generated iHEPs by dire ...[more]

PMID: 30635054

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Hepatocyte-like cells (iHEPs) generated by transcription factor-mediated direct reprogramming of somatic cells have been studied as potential cell sources for the development of novel therapies targeting liver diseases. The mechanisms involved in direct reprogramming, stability after long-term in vitro expansion, and safety profile of reprogrammed cells in different experimental models, however, still require further investigation. METHODS:iHEPs were generated by forced expression of Foxa2/Hnf4a in mouse mesenchymal stromal cells and characterized their phenotype stability by in vitro and in vivo analyses. RESULTS:The iHEPs expressed mixed hepatocyte and liver progenitor cell markers, were highly proliferative, and presented metabolic activities in functional assays. A progressive loss of hepatic phenotype, however, was observed after several passages, leading to an increase in alpha-SMA+ fibroblast-like cells, which could be distinguished and sorted from iHEPs by differential mitochondrial content. The resulting purified iHEPs proliferated, maintained liver progenitor cell markers, and, upon stimulation with lineage maturation media, increased expression of either biliary or hepatocyte markers. In vivo functionality was assessed in independent pre-clinical mouse models. Minimal engraftment was observed following transplantation in mice with acute acetaminophen-induced liver injury. In contrast, upon transplantation in a transgenic mouse model presenting host hepatocyte senescence, widespread engraftment and uncontrolled proliferation of iHEPs was observed, forming islands of epithelial-like cells, adipocyte-like cells, or cells presenting both morphologies. CONCLUSION:The results have significant implications for cell reprogramming, suggesting that iHEPs generated by Foxa2/Hnf4a expression have an unstable phenotype and depend on transgene expression for maintenance of hepatocyte-like characteristics, showing a tendency to return to the mesenchymal phenotype of origin and a compromised safety profile.

Project description:Direct induction of induced hepatocytes (iHeps) from fibroblasts holds potential as a strategy for regenerative medicine, but until now has only been shown in culture settings. Here, we describe in vivo iHep formation using transcription factor induction and genetic fate tracing in mouse models of chronic liver disease. We show that ectopic expression of the transcription factors FOXA3, GATA4, HNF1A and HNF4A from a polycistronic lentiviral vector converts mouse myofibroblasts into cells with a hepatocyte phenotype. In vivo expression of the same set of transcription factors from a p75 neurotrophin receptor peptide (p75NTRp)-tagged adenovirus enabled the generation of hepatocyte-like cells from myofibroblasts in fibrotic mouse livers and reduced liver fibrosis. We have therefore been able to convert profibrogenic myofibroblasts in the liver into hepatocyte-like cells with positive functional benefits. This direct in vivo reprogramming approach may open new avenues for the treatment of chronic liver disease. Whole Mouse Genome Oligo Microarray v2 (4x44K) (Agilent Technologies) was used to characterize global gene expression profiles of iHeps compared to myofibroblasts and primary mouse hepatocytes. All microarrays were performed at the Research Core Unit Transcriptomics of the Hanover Medical School. Briefly, total RNA was used to prepare the aminoallyl-UTPmodified (aaUTP) cRNAs (Amino Allyl MessageAmpâ¢ II Kit; #AM1753; Life Technologies) as directed by the company. The aaUTP-cRNAs were labelled with Alexa Fluor 555 Reactive Dye (#A32756; LifeTechnologies). Prior to the reverse transcription reaction, 1Î¼l of a 1:5000 dilution of Agilentâs One-Color spike-in Kit stock solution (#5188-5282, Agilent Technologies) was added to 100ng of total RNA of each analyzed sample. The cRNA fragmentation, hybridization, and washing steps were carried out according to Agilentâs One-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis Protocol V5.7 except that 500ng of each labelled cRNA sample were used for hybridization. Slides were scanned on the Agilent Micro Array Scanner G2565 CA (pixel resolution 5 Î¼m, bit depth 20). Data extraction was performed with the Feature Extraction Software V10.7.3.1. 12 samples were analyzed: Pr-mHSC: Primary myofibroblasts derived from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), 2 replicates; In-vivo iHep: In-vivo myofibroblasts-derived from induced hepatocytes (iHep), 3 replicates; In-vivo eHep: In-vivo endogenous hepatocytes (eHep), 3 replicates; In-vitro iHep: In-vitro myofibroblasts-derived from induced hepatocytes (iHep), 3 replicates; PH24h: Primary hepatocytes (PH) cultured for 24 hours, 1 replicate.

Dataset Information

The therapeutic potential of induced hepatocyte-like cells generated by direct reprogramming on hepatic fibrosis.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The therapeutic potential of induced hepatocyte-like cells generated by direct reprogramming on hepatic fibrosis.

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