Yohan Kim1, Kyojin Kang1, Seung Bum Lee2, Daekwan Seo3, Sangtae Yoon1, Sung Joo Kim4, Kiseok Jang5, Yun Kyung Jung6, Kyeong Geun Lee6, Valentina M Factor7, Jaemin Jeong8, Dongho Choi9. 1. Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea. 2. Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul 01812, Republic of Korea. 3. Macrogen Corporation, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. 4. Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Seoul 03063, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Pathology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea. 6. Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea. 7. Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. 8. Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jmj1103@gmail.com. 9. Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; HY Indang Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: crane87@hanyang.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Currently, much effort is directed towards the development of new cell sources for clinical therapy using cell fate conversion by small molecules. Direct lineage reprogramming to a progenitor state has been reported in terminally differentiated rodent hepatocytes, yet remains a challenge in human hepatocytes. METHODS: Human hepatocytes were isolated from healthy and diseased donor livers and reprogrammed into progenitor cells by 2 small molecules, A83-01 and CHIR99021 (AC), in the presence of EGF and HGF. The stemness properties of human chemically derived hepatic progenitors (hCdHs) were tested by standard in vitro and in vivo assays and transcriptome profiling. RESULTS: We developed a robust culture system for generating hCdHs with therapeutic potential. The use of HGF proved to be an essential determinant of the fate conversion process. Based on functional evidence, activation of the HGF/MET signal transduction system collaborated with A83-01 and CHIR99021 to allow a rapid expansion of progenitor cells through the activation of the ERK pathway. hCdHs expressed hepatic progenitor markers and could self-renew for at least 10 passages while retaining a normal karyotype and potential to differentiate into functional hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells in vitro. Gene expression profiling using RNAseq confirmed the transcriptional reprogramming of hCdHs towards a progenitor state and the suppression of mature hepatocyte transcripts. Upon intrasplenic transplantation in several models of therapeutic liver repopulation, hCdHs effectively repopulated the damaged parenchyma. CONCLUSION: Our study is the first report of successful reprogramming of human hepatocytes to a population of proliferating bipotent cells with regenerative potential. hCdHs may provide a novel tool that permits expansion and genetic manipulation of patient-specific progenitors to study regeneration and the repair of diseased livers. LAY SUMMARY: Human primary hepatocytes were reprogrammed towards hepatic progenitor cells by a combined treatment with 2 small molecules, A83-01 and CHIR99021, and HGF. Chemically derived hepatic progenitors exhibited a high proliferation potential and the ability to differentiate into hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells both in vitro and in vivo. This approach enables the generation of patient-specific hepatic progenitors and provides a platform for personal and stem cell-based regenerative medicine.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Currently, much effort is directed towards the development of new cell sources for clinical therapy using cell fate conversion by small molecules. Direct lineage reprogramming to a progenitor state has been reported in terminally differentiated rodent hepatocytes, yet remains a challenge in human hepatocytes. METHODS:Human hepatocytes were isolated from healthy and diseased donor livers and reprogrammed into progenitor cells by 2 small molecules, A83-01 and CHIR99021 (AC), in the presence of EGF and HGF. The stemness properties of human chemically derived hepatic progenitors (hCdHs) were tested by standard in vitro and in vivo assays and transcriptome profiling. RESULTS: We developed a robust culture system for generating hCdHs with therapeutic potential. The use of HGF proved to be an essential determinant of the fate conversion process. Based on functional evidence, activation of the HGF/MET signal transduction system collaborated with A83-01 and CHIR99021 to allow a rapid expansion of progenitor cells through the activation of the ERK pathway. hCdHs expressed hepatic progenitor markers and could self-renew for at least 10 passages while retaining a normal karyotype and potential to differentiate into functional hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells in vitro. Gene expression profiling using RNAseq confirmed the transcriptional reprogramming of hCdHs towards a progenitor state and the suppression of mature hepatocyte transcripts. Upon intrasplenic transplantation in several models of therapeutic liver repopulation, hCdHs effectively repopulated the damaged parenchyma. CONCLUSION: Our study is the first report of successful reprogramming of human hepatocytes to a population of proliferating bipotent cells with regenerative potential. hCdHs may provide a novel tool that permits expansion and genetic manipulation of patient-specific progenitors to study regeneration and the repair of diseased livers. LAY SUMMARY:Human primary hepatocytes were reprogrammed towards hepatic progenitor cells by a combined treatment with 2 small molecules, A83-01 and CHIR99021, and HGF. Chemically derived hepatic progenitors exhibited a high proliferation potential and the ability to differentiate into hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells both in vitro and in vivo. This approach enables the generation of patient-specific hepatic progenitors and provides a platform for personal and stem cell-based regenerative medicine.
Authors: Joe M Segal; Deniz Kent; Daniel J Wesche; Soon Seng Ng; Maria Serra; Bénédicte Oulès; Gozde Kar; Guy Emerton; Samuel J I Blackford; Spyros Darmanis; Rosa Miquel; Tu Vinh Luong; Ryo Yamamoto; Andrew Bonham; Wayel Jassem; Nigel Heaton; Alessandra Vigilante; Aileen King; Rocio Sancho; Sarah Teichmann; Stephen R Quake; Hiromitsu Nakauchi; S Tamir Rashid Journal: Nat Commun Date: 2019-07-26 Impact factor: 14.919
Authors: Srikumar Sengupta; Brian Johnson; Morten Seirup; Hamisha Ardalani; Bret Duffin; Gregory A Barrett-Wilt; Ron Stewart; James A Thomson Journal: Curr Res Toxicol Date: 2020-08-26