Human hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) promise a valuable source of cells with human genetic background, physiologically relevant liver functions, and unlimited supply. Wi...Human hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) promise a valuable source of cells with human genetic background, physiologically relevant liver functions, and unlimited supply. With over 10 years’ efforts in this field, great achievements have been made. HLCs have been successfully derived and applied in disease modeling, toxicity testing and drug discovery. Large cohorts of induced pluripotent stem cells-derived HLCs have been recently applied in studying population genetics and functional outputs of common genetic variants in vitro. This has offered a new paradigm for genomewide association studies and possibly in vitro pharmacogenomics in the nearly future. However, HLCs have not yet been successfully applied in bioartificial liver devices and have only displayed limited success in cell transplantation. HLCs still have an immature hepatocyte phenotype and exist as a population with great heterogeneity, and HLCs derived from different hPSC lines display variable differentiation efficiency. Therefore, continuous improvement to the quality of HLCs, deeper investigation of relevant biological processes, and proper adaptation of recent advances in cell culture platforms, genome editing technology, and bioengineering systems are required before HLCs can fulfill the needs in basic and translational research. In this review, we summarize the discoveries, achievements, and challenges in the derivation and applications of HLCs.展开更多
Background:Acute liver injury(ALI)requires rapid hepatic regeneration to avert fatal liver failure.As key mechanisms,systemic metabolic remodeling and inter-organ crosstalk are critical for this regenerative process.S...Background:Acute liver injury(ALI)requires rapid hepatic regeneration to avert fatal liver failure.As key mechanisms,systemic metabolic remodeling and inter-organ crosstalk are critical for this regenerative process.Skeletal muscle,as a major metabolic organ system,undergoes significant remodeling during ALI.However,its specific regulatory contributions remain largely uncharacterized.Methods:Partial(2/3)hepatectomy and acetaminophen were used to induce ALI in male mice.RNA-sequencing(RNA-seq),assay for transposase-accessible chromatin by sequencing(ATAC-seq),chromatin immunoprecipitation,luciferase assay,Western blotting,TUNEL assay,immunohistochemistry,and phase separation assays were performed to reveal the transcriptional axis involved.Serum fibroblast growth factor binding protein 1(FGFBP1)protein levels in ALI patients were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Integrated analysis of RNA-seq and ATAC-seq following ALI identifies glucocorticoid(GC)signaling-mediated regulation of fibroblast growth factor 6(FGF6)in skeletal muscle metabolism.Muscle-specific knockdown of GC receptor(GR)exacerbates ALI and suppresses liver regeneration.Fgf6-knockout mice exhibited improved ALI and enhanced liver regeneration,with intramuscular injection of FGF6-neutralizing antibody rescuing the detrimental effects induced by GR knockdown.Further analysis of the FGF6 downstream target revealed that FGF6 regulates FGFBP1 expression through extracellular signal regulated kinase-activating transcription factor 3 signaling.Moreover,FGF6 regulates the heparin-dependent release kinetics of FGFBP1 by perturbing its liquid-liquid phase separation(LLPS)-driven condensate dynamics at the plasma membrane.Circulating FGFBP1 subsequently interacts with hepatic FGF5 through LLPS mechanisms to regulate liver regeneration.Conclusion:Our results demonstrate a molecular mechanism by which muscle-liver crosstalk can initiate and sustain liver regeneration via the FGF6-FGFBP1/FGF5 axis,providing a potential therapeutic target and treatment strategy for ALI.展开更多
基金Supported by National Key RD Program of China,No.017YFA0102800,and No.2017YFA0103700the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31670829
文摘Human hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) promise a valuable source of cells with human genetic background, physiologically relevant liver functions, and unlimited supply. With over 10 years’ efforts in this field, great achievements have been made. HLCs have been successfully derived and applied in disease modeling, toxicity testing and drug discovery. Large cohorts of induced pluripotent stem cells-derived HLCs have been recently applied in studying population genetics and functional outputs of common genetic variants in vitro. This has offered a new paradigm for genomewide association studies and possibly in vitro pharmacogenomics in the nearly future. However, HLCs have not yet been successfully applied in bioartificial liver devices and have only displayed limited success in cell transplantation. HLCs still have an immature hepatocyte phenotype and exist as a population with great heterogeneity, and HLCs derived from different hPSC lines display variable differentiation efficiency. Therefore, continuous improvement to the quality of HLCs, deeper investigation of relevant biological processes, and proper adaptation of recent advances in cell culture platforms, genome editing technology, and bioengineering systems are required before HLCs can fulfill the needs in basic and translational research. In this review, we summarize the discoveries, achievements, and challenges in the derivation and applications of HLCs.
基金supported by the NSFC Distinguished Young Scholars Fund(82325010)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82370874)+4 种基金the Innovative Research Team of High-Level Local Universities in Shanghai(SHSMU-ZDCX20212700)the Major Natural Science Project of the Scientific Research and Innovation Plan of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Education(2023ZKZD17)the Shanghai Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases(2022ZZ01002)the Shanghai Key Discipline of Public Health Grants Award(GWVI-11.1-20)the Basic Scientific Research Project(General Cultivation Program)of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital(ynms202203).
文摘Background:Acute liver injury(ALI)requires rapid hepatic regeneration to avert fatal liver failure.As key mechanisms,systemic metabolic remodeling and inter-organ crosstalk are critical for this regenerative process.Skeletal muscle,as a major metabolic organ system,undergoes significant remodeling during ALI.However,its specific regulatory contributions remain largely uncharacterized.Methods:Partial(2/3)hepatectomy and acetaminophen were used to induce ALI in male mice.RNA-sequencing(RNA-seq),assay for transposase-accessible chromatin by sequencing(ATAC-seq),chromatin immunoprecipitation,luciferase assay,Western blotting,TUNEL assay,immunohistochemistry,and phase separation assays were performed to reveal the transcriptional axis involved.Serum fibroblast growth factor binding protein 1(FGFBP1)protein levels in ALI patients were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Integrated analysis of RNA-seq and ATAC-seq following ALI identifies glucocorticoid(GC)signaling-mediated regulation of fibroblast growth factor 6(FGF6)in skeletal muscle metabolism.Muscle-specific knockdown of GC receptor(GR)exacerbates ALI and suppresses liver regeneration.Fgf6-knockout mice exhibited improved ALI and enhanced liver regeneration,with intramuscular injection of FGF6-neutralizing antibody rescuing the detrimental effects induced by GR knockdown.Further analysis of the FGF6 downstream target revealed that FGF6 regulates FGFBP1 expression through extracellular signal regulated kinase-activating transcription factor 3 signaling.Moreover,FGF6 regulates the heparin-dependent release kinetics of FGFBP1 by perturbing its liquid-liquid phase separation(LLPS)-driven condensate dynamics at the plasma membrane.Circulating FGFBP1 subsequently interacts with hepatic FGF5 through LLPS mechanisms to regulate liver regeneration.Conclusion:Our results demonstrate a molecular mechanism by which muscle-liver crosstalk can initiate and sustain liver regeneration via the FGF6-FGFBP1/FGF5 axis,providing a potential therapeutic target and treatment strategy for ALI.
