Phthalazinone Pyrazole Enhances the Hepatic Functions of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocyte-Like Cells via Suppression of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

During liver development, nonpolarized hepatic progenitor cells differentiate into mature hepatocytes with distinct polarity. This polarity is essential for maintaining the intrinsic properties of hepatocytes. The balance between the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) plays a decisive role in differentiation of polarized hepatocytes. In this study, we found that phthalazinone pyrazole (PP), a selective inhibitor of Aurora-A kinase (Aurora-A), suppressed the EMT during the differentiation of hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) from human embryonic stem cells. The differentiated HLCs treated with PP at the hepatoblast stage showed enhanced hepatic morphology and functions, particularly with regard to the expression of drug metabolizing enzymes. Moreover, we found that these effects were mediated though suppression of the AKT pathway, which is involved in induction of the EMT, and upregulation of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α expression rather than Aurora-A inhibition. In conclusion, these findings provided insights into the regulatory role of the EMT on in vitro hepatic maturation, suggesting that inhibition of the EMT may drive transformation of hepatoblast cells into mature and polarized HLCs.     

Efficient differentiation of hepatocytes from human embryonic stem cells exhibiting markers recapitulating liver development in vivo

The potential to differentiate human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in vitro to provide an unlimited source of human hepatocytes for use in biomedical research, drug discovery, and the treatment of liver diseases holds great promise. Here we describe a three-stage process for the efficient and reproducible differentiation of hESCs to hepatocytes by priming hESCs towards definitive endoderm with activin A and sodium butyrate prior to further differentiation to hepatocytes with dimethyl sulfoxide, followed by maturation with hepatocyte growth factor and oncostatin M. We have demonstrated that differentiation of hESCs in this process recapitulates liver development in vivo: following initial differentiation, hESCs transiently express characteristic markers of the primitive streak mesendoderm before turning to the markers of the definitive endoderm; with further differentiation, expression of hepatocyte progenitor cell markers and mature hepatocyte markers emerged sequentially. Furthermore, we have provided evidence that the hESC-derived hepatocytes are able to carry out a range of hepatocyte functions: storage of glycogen, and generation and secretion of plasma proteins. More importantly, the hESC-derived hepatocytes express several members of cytochrome P450 isozymes, and these P450 isozymes are capable of converting the substrates to metabolites and respond to the chemical stimulation. Our results have provided evidence that hESCs can be differentiated efficiently in vitro to functional hepatocytes, which may be useful as an in vitro system for toxicity screening in drug discovery.     

Efficient differentiation of functional hepatocytes from human embryonic stem cells

Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to specific functional cell types can be achieved using methods that mimic in vivo embryonic developmental programs. Current protocols for generating hepatocytes from hESCs are hampered by inefficient differentiation procedures that lead to low yields and large cellular heterogeneity. We report here a robust and highly efficient process for the generation of high-purity (70%) hepatocyte cultures from hESCs that parallels sequential hepatic development in vivo. Highly enriched populations of definitive endoderm were generated from hESCs and then induced to differentiate along the hepatic lineage by the sequential addition of inducing factors implicated in physiological hepatogenesis. The differentiation process was largely uniform, with cell cultures progressively expressing increasing numbers of hepatic lineage markers, including GATA4, HNF4alpha, alpha-fetoprotein, CD26, albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, Cyp7A1, and Cyp3A4. The hepatocytes exhibited functional hepatic characteristics, such as glycogen storage, indocyanine green uptake and release, and albumin secretion. In a mouse model of acute liver injury, the hESC-derived definitive endoderm differentiated into hepatocytes and repopulated the damaged liver. The methodology described here represents a significant step toward the efficient generation of hepatocytes for use in regenerative medicine and drug discovery.     

小鼠诱导型多潜能干细胞定向分化为功能性肝细胞

目的:探讨在体外诱导型多潜能干细胞(IPS)能否遵循正常肝脏发育途径定向分化为具备良好生理功能的肝细胞。方法:根据正常肝脏体内发育的规律,序贯应用肝脏发育所需的生长因子,设计特色培养基,诱导IPS细胞遵循正常发育途径定向高效分化为肝细胞:首先将IPS细胞定向分化为前层确定性内胚层细胞(ADE),再进一步分化为肝细胞。结果:在本研究中IPS细胞在体外可循正常发育通路定向诱导为肝细胞:先分化为前层内胚层细胞,再继续分化为肝细胞。分化的各时段实时定量RT-PCR检测显示:在mRNA表达的水平,IPS细胞经历了肝细胞在体内从胚胎干细胞的发育过程,内胚层细胞特异性RNA如CXCR4、Sox17和FOXA2在分化的早期明显升高,而早期肝细胞特异性RNA如HNF4和AFP在分化的中期开始升高,肝细胞成熟特异性RNA如白蛋白在分化的晚期才达高峰,同时IPS细胞的未分化标记RNA如OCT4在早期就明显下调。同mRNA表达一致,在分化的第20d,大部分的肝脏细胞表达甲胎蛋白和白蛋白(阳性率80%)。更为重要的是IPS来源肝细胞在体外具有典型成熟肝细胞的功能,能够摄取和释放靛青绿(ICG)并具有药物代谢酶细胞色素P450酶的活性。结论:IPS细胞在体外能够遵循正常肝脏发育通路,序贯表达肝脏发育各阶段的特色基因和蛋白,能够高效分化为有功能的肝细胞,本研究可能为临床终末期肝病进行细胞治疗提供肝细胞。     

Differentiation of Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Hepatocyte-like Cells on Nanofibers and Their Transplantation into a Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis Model

There are limited data available on the effect of a physicochemical microenvironment on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation and repopulation of the liver. Therefore, in this study nanofibers have been used to better differentiate and maintain the function and engraftment of differentiating MSCs both in vitro and in vivo. Mouse MSCs were differentiated into early (day 18) and late (day 36) hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) in the presence or absence of ultraweb nanofibers (nano⁺ and nano⁻) and their transplantation for recovery in mice with CCl₄ induced hepatic fibrosis was investigated. In the nano⁺ group, hepatocyte markers-ALB and HNF4α- were elevated in a time-dependent manner; however, those were similar levels or slightly decreased in the nano⁻ group from day 18 to 36. Ultrastructural studies of the differentiated cells revealed some similarities to hepatocytes. Urea production, secretion of albumin and α-fetoprotein, and metabolic activity of the CYP450 enzymes were significantly increased within in vitro differentiated HLCs on nanofibers at day 36. MSCs, early and late HLCs in both nano⁻ and nano⁺ culture conditions that were transplanted by an intravenous route caused a decrease in liver fibrosis when engrafted in the recipient liver and were able to differentiate into functional hepatocytes (ALB⁺), except for late HLCs in the nano⁻ group. Late HLCs transplanted in the nano⁺ group were more effective in rescuing liver failure, enhancing serum ALB, homing transplanted cells and undergoing functional engraftment than the other groups. These results showed that topographic properties of nanofibers enhance differentiation of HLCs from MSCs and maintain their function in long-term culture, which has implications for cell therapies.     

Hepatic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells is promoted by three-dimensional dynamic perfusion culture conditions

The developmental potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) holds great promise to provide a source of human hepatocytes for use in drug discovery, toxicology, hepatitis research, and extracorporeal bioartificial liver support. There are, however, limitations to induce fully functional hepatocytes on conventional two-dimensional (2D) static culture. It had been shown that dynamic three-dimensional (3D) perfusion culture is superior to induce maturation in fetal hepatocytes and prolong hepatic functions of primary adult hepatocytes. We investigated the potential of using a four-compartment 3D perfusion culture to induce hepatic differentiation in hESC. Undifferentiated hESC were inoculated into hollow fiber-based 3D perfusion bioreactors with integral oxygenation. Hepatic differentiation was induced with a multistep growth factor cocktail protocol. Parallel controls were operated under equal perfusion conditions without the growth factor supplementations to allow for spontaneous differentiation, as well as in conventional 2D static conditions using growth factors. Metabolism, hepatocyte-specific gene expression, protein expression, and hepatic function were evaluated after 20 days. Significantly upregulated hepatic gene expression was observed in the hepatic differentiation 3D culture group. Ammonia metabolism activity and albumin production was observed in the 3D directed differentiation culture. Drug-induced cytochrome P450 gene expression was increased with rifampicin induction. Using flow cytometry analysis the mature hepatocyte marker asialoglycoprotein receptor was found on up to 30% of the cells in the 3D system with directed hepatic differentiation. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed structural formation of hepatic and biliary marker-positive cells. In contrast to 2D culture, the 3D perfusion culture induced more functional maturation in hESC-derived hepatic cells. 3D perfusion bioreactor technologies may be useful for further studies on generating hESC-derived hepatic cells.     

Differentiation and Transplantation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatocyte-like Cells

The generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with a high differentiation potential provided a new source for hepatocyte generation not only for drug discovery and in vitro disease models, but also for cell replacement therapy. However, the reported hiPSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) were not well characterized and their transplantation, as the most promising clue of cell function was not reported. Here, we performed a growth factor-mediated differentiation of functional HLCs from hiPSCs and evaluated their potential for recovery of a carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-injured mouse liver following transplantation. The hiPSC-derived hepatic lineage cells expressed hepatocyte-specific markers, showed glycogen and lipid storage activity, secretion of albumin (ALB), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), urea, and CYP450 metabolic activity in addition to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and indocyanin green (ICG) uptake. Similar results were observed with human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived HLCs. The transplantation of hiPSC-HLCs into a CCl₄-injured liver showed incorporation of the hiPSC-HLCs into the mouse liver which resulted in a significant enhancement in total serum ALB after 1 week. A reduction of total serum LDH and bilirubin was seen when compared with the control and sham groups 1 and 5 weeks post-transplantation. Additionally, we detected human serum ALB and ALB-positive transplanted cells in both the host serum and livers, respectively, which showed functional integration of transplanted cells within the mouse livers. Therefore, our results have opened up a proof of concept that functional HLCs can be generated from hiPSCs, thus improving the general condition of a CCl₄-injured mouse liver after their transplantation. These results may bring new insights in the clinical applications of hiPSCs once safety issues are overcome.     

Differentiation processes of oval cells into hepatocytes: proposals based on morphological and phenotypical traits in carcinogen-treated hamster liver

Hepatic stem cells participate in the recovery process of liver with severe injury or impaired hepatocyte regeneration. Oval cells (an oval-shaped liver cell population newly emerging from the portal or periportal zones following severe hepatic cellular damage) are believed to be the progeny of liver stem cells and precursor cells of both hepatocytes and bile duct cells. An attempt was made to define the differentiation processes of hepatic oval cells into mature hepatocytes in hamsters fed a choline-deficient diet and treated with diethylnitrosamine and 2-acetyl aminofluorene, on the basis of histopathological, electron microscopical, histochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of hepatic cell components. Two putative differentiation pathways of oval cells toward mature hepatocytes are proposed, namely (1) the differentiation of ductular-like oval cells via ductular/acinar-type hepatocytes, and (2) the differentiation of individual oval cells via small hepatocytes. Those proposals were strongly supported by consistent immunoreactivity of the cells for OV-6, an oval cell marker, and differential expression patterns for CK19 and PAS-positive cytoplasmic glycogen granules.     

Label-free separation of human embryonic stem cells and their differentiating progenies by phasor fluorescence lifetime microscopy

We develop a label-free optical technique to image and discriminate undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) from their differentiating progenies in vitro. Using intrinsic cellular fluorophores, we perform fluorescence lifetime microscopy (FLIM) and phasor analysis to obtain hESC metabolic signatures. We identify two optical biomarkers to define the differentiation status of hESCs: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and lipid droplet-associated granules (LDAGs). These granules have a unique lifetime signature and could be formed by the interaction of reactive oxygen species and unsaturated metabolic precursor that are known to be abundant in hESC. Changes in the relative concentrations of these two intrinsic biomarkers allow for the discrimination of undifferentiated hESCs from differentiating hESCs. During early hESC differentiation we show that NADH concentrations increase, while the concentration of LDAGs decrease. These results are in agreement with a decrease in oxidative phosphorylation rate. Single-cell phasor FLIM signatures reveal an increased heterogeneity in the metabolic states of differentiating H9 and H1 hESC colonies. This technique is a promising noninvasive tool to monitor hESC metabolism during differentiation, which can have applications in high throughput analysis, drug screening, functional metabolomics and induced pluripotent stem cell generation.     

Cost-effective differentiation of hepatocyte-like cells from human pluripotent stem cells using small molecules

Significant efforts have been invested into the differentiation of stem cells into functional hepatocyte-like cells that can be used for cell therapy, disease modeling and drug screening. Most of these efforts have been concentrated on the use of growth factors to recapitulate developmental signals under in vitro conditions. Using small molecules instead of growth factors would provide an attractive alternative since small molecules are cell-permeable and cheaper than growth factors. We have developed a protocol for the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells using a predominantly small molecule–based approach (SM-Hep). This 3 step differentiation strategy involves the use of optimized concentrations of LY294002 and bromo-indirubin-3’-oxime (BIO) for the generation of definitive endoderm; sodium butyrate and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for the generation of hepatoblasts and SB431542 for differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells. Activin A is the only growth factor required in this protocol. Our results showed that SM-Hep were morphologically and functionally similar or better compared to the hepatocytes derived from the growth-factor induced differentiation (GF-Hep) in terms of expression of hepatic markers, urea and albumin production and cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2 and CYP3A4) activities. Cell viability assays following treatment with paradigm hepatotoxicants Acetaminophen, Chlorpromazine, Diclofenac, Digoxin, Quinidine and Troglitazone showed that their sensitivity to these drugs was similar to human primary hepatocytes (PHHs). Using SM-Hep would result in 67% and 81% cost reduction compared to GF-Hep and PHHs respectively. Therefore, SM-Hep can serve as a robust and cost effective replacement for PHHs for drug screening and development.     

Hepatocyte transplantation and advancements in alternative cell sources for liver-based regenerative medicine

Human hepatocyte transplantation has been actively perused as an alternative to liver replacement for acute liver failure and liver-based metabolic defects. Current challenges in this field include a limited cell source, reduced cell viability following cryopreservation and poor engraftment of cells into the recipient liver with consequent limited life span. As a result, alternative stem cell sources such as pluripotent stem cells, fibroblasts, hepatic progenitor cells, amniotic epithelial cells and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) can be used to generate induced hepatocyte like cells (HLC) with each technique exhibiting advantages and disadvantages. HLCs may have comparable function to primary human hepatocytes and could offer patient-specific treatment. However, long-term functionality of transplanted HLCs and the potential oncogenic risks of using stem cells have yet to be established. The immunomodulatory effects of MSCs are promising, and multiple clinical trials are investigating their effect in cirrhosis and acute liver failure. Here, we review the current status of hepatocyte transplantation, alternative cell sources to primary human hepatocytes and their potential in liver regeneration. We also describe recent clinical trials using hepatocytes derived from stem cells and their role in improving the phenotype of several liver diseases.     

Spectroscopic signature of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived hepatocytes using synchrotron Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy

Stem cell-based therapy for liver regeneration has been proposed to overcome the persistent shortage in the supply of suitable donor organs. A requirement for this to succeed is to find a rapid method to detect functional hepatocytes, differentiated from embryonic stem cells. We propose Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy as a versatile method to identify the early and last stages of the differentiation process leading to the formation of hepatocytes. Using synchrotron-FTIR microspectroscopy, the means of identifying hepatocytes at the single-cell level is possible and explored. Principal component analysis and subsequent partial least-squares (PLS) discriminant analysis is applied to distinguish endoderm induction from hepatic progenitor cells and matured hepatocyte-like cells. The data are well modeled by PLS with endoderm induction, hepatic progenitor cells, and mature hepatocyte-like cells able to be discriminated with very high sensitivity and specificity. This method provides a practical tool to monitor endoderm induction and has the potential to be applied for quality control of cell differentiation leading to hepatocyte formation.     

The promotion of hepatic maturation of human pluripotent stem cells in 3D co-culture using type I collagen and Swiss 3T3 cell sheets

Hepatocyte-like cells differentiated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are known to be a useful cell source for drug screening. We recently developed an efficient hepatic differentiation method from hESCs and hiPSCs by sequential transduction of FOXA2 and HNF1α. It is known that the combination of three-dimensional (3D) culture and co-culture, namely 3D co-culture, can maintain the functions of primary hepatocytes. However, hepatic maturation of hESC- or hiPSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells (hEHs or hiPHs, respectively) by 3D co-culture systems has not been examined. Therefore, we utilized a cell sheet engineering technology to promote hepatic maturation. The gene expression levels of hepatocyte-related markers (such as cytochrome P450 enzymes and conjugating enzymes) and the amount of albumin secretion in the hEHs or hiPHs, which were 3D co-cultured with the Swiss 3T3 cell sheet, were significantly up-regulated in comparison with those in the hEHs or hiPHs cultured in a monolayer. Furthermore, we found that type I collagen synthesized in Swiss 3T3 cells plays an important role in hepatic maturation. The hEHs or hiPHs that were 3D co-cultured with the Swiss 3T3 cell sheet would be powerful tools for medical applications, such as drug screening.     

The effect of recombinant E-cadherin substratum on the differentiation of endoderm-derived hepatocyte-like cells from embryonic stem cells

Generation of specific lineages of cells from embryonic stem (ES) cells is pre-requisite to use these cells in pre-clinical applications. Here, we developed a recombinant E-cadherin substratum for generation of hepatic progenitor populations at single cell level. This artificial acellular feeder layer supports the stepwise differentiation of ES cells to cells with characteristics of definitive endoderm, hepatic progenitor cells, and finally cells with phenotypic and functional characteristics of hepatocytes. The efficient differentiation of hepatic endoderm cells (approximately 55%) together with the absence of neuroectoderm and mesoderm markers suggests the selective induction of endoderm differentiation. The co-expression of E-cahderin and alpha-fetoprotein (approximately 98%) suggests the important role of E-cadherin as a surface marker for the enrichment of hepatic progenitor cells. With extensive expansion, approximately 92% albumin expressing cells can be achieved without any enzymatic stress and cell sorting. Furthermore, these mouse ES cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells showed higher morphological similarities to primary hepatocytes. In conclusion, we demonstrated that E-cadherin substratum can guide differentiation of ES cells into endoderm-derived hepatocyte-like cells. This recombinant extracellular matrix could be effectively used as an in vitro model for studying the mechanisms of early stages of liver development even at single cell level.     

干细胞扩增及肝向分化过程中相关指标及其检测方法

文题释义：干细胞肝向分化：是指来自于胚胎、胎儿或成体内具有在一定条件下无限制自我更新与增殖分化能力的一类细胞,通过形态、功能的特殊变化,建立起肝细胞特征的过程。这一过程与细胞分裂共同发生,并伴随干细胞多能性的减弱与肝功能表达的增强。 生物人工肝：是以培养肝(样)细胞为基础的生物或混合生物人工肝支持系统。它的基本要素包括高活性和功能的肝(样)细胞、适合的生物反应器与外部控制系统、有效的体外循环系统,可通过暂时或部分替代肝脏功能,实现对肝脏功能不全或相关疾病的治疗。  摘要背景：干细胞在组织工程学、再生医学、细胞治疗以及药物研究方面具有巨大的应用前景。近年来,以生物人工肝为例的应用研究需要大规模扩增出高质量的干细胞并最终定向分化为肝(样)细胞。如何通过此途径高效获得一致性、功能性完好并且标志物均匀表达的分化细胞,是需要解决的关键问题。目的：对干细胞扩增及肝向分化过程相关检测指标与检测方法进行综述,总结已应用于在线检测的指标与方法,讨论部分指标与方法应用于在线检测的局限性,并对未来有望应用于在线检测的指标和检测技术进行展望。 方法：由第一作者检索1990至2019年PubMed数据库、Web of Science核心合集、Elsevier数据库、中国知网等收录的与干细胞扩增及肝向分化过程相关的文献。英文检索词为“stem cells,expansion,hepatic differentiation,monitoring,real-time online”,中文检索词为“干细胞,扩增,肝向分化,监测,实时在线”,共计检索93篇文章,最终筛选了符合标准的53篇进行综述。结果与结论：干细胞扩增及肝向分化过程的相关检测指标与检测方法众多,其中扩增过程的检测指标主要涉及干细胞多能性的保持、代谢活性、存活率以及转癌趋势。肝向分化过程因细胞种类而异,其中多能干细胞和中胚层谱系成体多能干细胞要先向内胚层定向分化,再分化为成熟肝(样)细胞,而以肝干/祖细胞为主的内胚层谱系成体多能干细胞可直接分化为成熟肝(样)细胞。分化过程不同阶段细胞的特异性标志物、存活率以及代谢活性是检测的重点。目前,基于大型生化检测分析设备的检测方法虽然可靠性高,但面临实时性差、成本高、难以集成小型化等问题。未来,干细胞扩增及肝向分化过程中关键检测指标的筛选、检测标准的量化以及自动化在线检测的实现,需要重点研究。ORCID: 0000-0002-3881-5577(吴昌哲);0000-0002-6052-8400(杨嘉屹)中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程     

Modeling human germ cell development with embryonic stem cells

There has previously been no robust cell-based model for examining the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of human germ cell formation. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) could potentially fill this need, as all cell types analyzed to date (including mature germ cells) can be identified by marker analysis during hESC differentiation. Furthermore, hESCs could also be used to differentiate mature female germ cells (oocytes) in culture as an alternate reprogramming cell for somatic cell nuclear transfer. However, to differentiate and isolate a functional germ cell from hESCs, the mechanisms that regulate germ cell formation need to be understood. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current understanding of the earliest events in human germ cell formation and to describe some of the known genetic pathways that regulate germ cell specification and development in the mouse. Finally, the current literature on the formation of germ cells from ESCs will be described.     

In vitro mesenchymal stem cells differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells in the presence and absence of 3D microenvironment

Our study was aimed to select the best growth factor cocktail for differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into hepatocytes-like cells (HLCs) in absence and presence of three dimensional (3D) microenvironment. Ninety milliliters of bone marrow was aspirated from the iliac bone for separation of MSCs. This study was conducted on 20 patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. They were divided into two groups. Group I; MSCs were plated onto 96-well plates without microenvironment (control group). Group II; MSCs were plated onto 96-well plates with 3D microenvironment. Surface expression of CD271, CD29, and CD34 were analyzed using flow cytometry. MSCs were differentiated in vitro into HLCs by adding four growth factor cocktails in presence and absence of 3D microenvironment. Hepatogenesis was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis of OV6, α-fetoprotein, albumin, and cytokeratin 18 expressions. There was statistically significant increase in the expression of CD271 and CD29 after MSCs culture (P?<?0.001). Heterogeneous cell population composed of MSCs and differentiated HLCs were encountered (40 % hepatocytes and 60 % MSCs). Furthermore, our results showed that growth factor cocktails 1 and 2 gave the best result for differentiation of MSCs into HLCs. MSCs could be feasible, readily available, and novel source for differentiation of MSCs into HLCs for future therapeutic implication.