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Cell Stem Cell Nov 2023Most organs have tissue-resident immune cells. Human organoids lack these immune cells, which limits their utility in modeling many normal and disease processes. Here,...
Most organs have tissue-resident immune cells. Human organoids lack these immune cells, which limits their utility in modeling many normal and disease processes. Here, we describe that pluripotent stem cell-derived human colonic organoids (HCOs) co-develop a diverse population of immune cells, including hemogenic endothelium (HE)-like cells and erythromyeloid progenitors that undergo stereotypical steps in differentiation, resulting in the generation of functional macrophages. HCO macrophages acquired a transcriptional signature resembling human fetal small and large intestine tissue-resident macrophages. HCO macrophages modulate cytokine secretion in response to pro- and anti-inflammatory signals and were able to phagocytose and mount a robust response to pathogenic bacteria. When transplanted into mice, HCO macrophages were maintained within the colonic organoid tissue, established a close association with the colonic epithelium, and were not displaced by the host bone-marrow-derived macrophages. These studies suggest that HE in HCOs gives rise to multipotent hematopoietic progenitors and functional tissue-resident macrophages.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Pluripotent Stem Cells; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Colon; Organoids; Macrophages
PubMed: 37922878
DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.10.002 -
Science Advances Nov 2023The mechanical cues of the external microenvironment have been recognized as essential clues driving cell behavior. Although intracellular signals modulating cell fate...
The mechanical cues of the external microenvironment have been recognized as essential clues driving cell behavior. Although intracellular signals modulating cell fate during sensory epithelium development is well understood, the driving force of sensory epithelium formation remains elusive. Here, we manufactured a hybrid hydrogel with tunable mechanical properties for the cochlear organoids culture and revealed that the extracellular matrix (ECM) drives sensory epithelium formation through shifting stiffness in a stage-dependent pattern. As the driving force, moderate ECM stiffness activated the expansion of cochlear progenitor cell (CPC)-derived epithelial organoids by modulating the integrin α3 (ITGA3)/F-actin cytoskeleton/YAP signaling. Higher stiffness induced the transition of CPCs into sensory hair cells (HCs) through increasing the intracellular Ca signaling mediated by PIEZO2 and then activating KLF2 to accomplish the cell specification . Our results identify the molecular mechanism of sensory epithelium formation guided by ECM mechanical force and contribute to developing therapeutic approaches for HC regeneration.
Topics: Signal Transduction; Extracellular Matrix; Epithelium; Actin Cytoskeleton; Cell Differentiation
PubMed: 37922362
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf2664 -
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) Feb 2024Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly lethal malignancy originating from the biliary ducts. Current CCA diagnostic and prognostic assessments cannot satisfy the clinical...
BACKGROUND AIMS
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly lethal malignancy originating from the biliary ducts. Current CCA diagnostic and prognostic assessments cannot satisfy the clinical requirement. Bile detection is rarely performed, and herein, we aim to estimate the clinical significance of bile liquid biopsy by assessing bile exosomal concentrations and components.
APPROACH RESULTS
Exosomes in bile and sera from CCA, pancreatic cancer, and common bile duct stone were identified and quantified by transmission electronmicroscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and nanoFCM. Exosomal components were assessed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and microRNA sequencing (miRNA-seq). Bile exosomal concentration in different diseases had no significant difference, but miR-182-5p and miR-183-5p were ectopically upregulated in CCA bile exosomes. High miR-182/183-5p in both CCA tissues and bile indicates a poor prognosis. Bile exosomal miR-182/183-5p is secreted by CCA cells and can be absorbed by biliary epithelium or CCA cells. With xenografts in humanized mice, we showed that bile exosomal miR-182/183-5p promotes CCA proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by targeting hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase in CCA cells and mast cells (MCs), and increasing prostaglandin E2 generation, which stimulates PTGER1 and increases CCA stemness. In single-cell mRNA-seq, hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase is predominantly expressed in MCs. miR-182/183-5p prompts MC to release VEGF-A release from MC by increasing VEGF-A expression, which facilitates angiogenesis.
CONCLUSIONS
CCA cells secret exosomal miR-182/183-5p into bile, which targets hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase in CCA cells and MCs and increases prostaglandin E2 and VEGF-A release. Prostaglandin E2 promotes stemness by activating PTGER1. Our results reveal a type of CCA self-driven progression dependent on bile exosomal miR-182/183-5p and MCs, which is a new interplay pattern of CCA and bile.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Dinoprostone; MicroRNAs; Bile; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Cholangiocarcinoma; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases; Cell Proliferation; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
PubMed: 37140231
DOI: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000000437 -
Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology... 2024Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an emerging form of food allergy that exerts a significant clinical and financial burden worldwide. EoE is clinically characterized by... (Review)
Review
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an emerging form of food allergy that exerts a significant clinical and financial burden worldwide. EoE is clinically characterized by eosinophil-rich inflammatory infiltrates in esophageal mucosa and esophageal dysfunction. Remodeling events in esophageal epithelium and lamina propria also frequently occur in patients with EoE. Because subepithelial fibrosis is associated with esophageal stricture, the most severe consequence of EoE, there exists an urgent need for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms mediating fibrosis in EoE. Here, we review emerging evidence from experimental model systems that implicates crosstalk between esophageal epithelial cells and underlying stromal cells in EoE fibrosis. We further discuss implications for epithelial-stromal interaction with regard to EoE patient care and propose future directions that may be pursued to further the understanding of epithelial-stromal crosstalk in EoE pathobiology.
Topics: Humans; Eosinophilic Esophagitis; Esophageal Mucosa; Mucous Membrane; Fibrosis
PubMed: 38316214
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.01.020 -
Phytomedicine : International Journal... Jul 2023Subretinal fibrosis (SF) accounts for vision loss in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) even treated with adequate intravitreal injection...
BACKGROUND
Subretinal fibrosis (SF) accounts for vision loss in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) even treated with adequate intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs. Currently, there is no treatment available to prevent or treat SF caused by nAMD.
PURPOSE
This study aims to investigate the potential effects of luteolin on SF and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as well as the underlying molecular pathways both in vivo and in vitro.
METHODS
Seven-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were employed to establish laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and SF. One day after the laser induction, luteolin was administered intravitreally. SF and CNV were assessed with the immunolabeling of collagen type I (collagen I) and isolectin B4 (IB4), respectively. RPE65 and α-SMA colocalization in the lesions was used to evaluate the extent of EMT in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells by using immunofluorescence. In vitro, luteolin was administered to TGFβ1-treated primary human RPE (phRPE) cells. RT-qPCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence were employed to evaluate the change of EMT-related molecules, epithelial markers, and relevant signaling pathways. The functional changes associated with EMT were investigated using the scratch assay, Transwell migration assay, and collagen gel contraction assay. CCK-8 was used to determine the cell viability of phRPE cells.
RESULTS
On day 7 and 14 after laser induction in mice, intravitreal injection of luteolin dramatically decreased the immunolabeled sizes of both collagen I and IB4, as well as the amount of colocalized double immunostaining of α-SMA and RPE65 in laser-induced SF lesions. In vitro, TGFβ1-treated phRPE cells demonstrated increased cell migration and contraction capacity, accompanied with considerable overexpression of fibronectin, α-SMA, N-cadherin and vimentin, as well as downregulation of E-cadherin and ZO-1. The above changes were largely inhibited by luteolin co-incubation. Mechanistically, luteolin could evidently decrease the phosphorylation of Smad2/3, whereas increase the phosphorylation of YAP in TGFβ1-treated phRPE cells.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that luteolin exhibits the anti-fibrotic effect in a laser-induced mouse model by inhibiting EMT of RPE cells via deactivating Smad2/3 and YAP signaling, which provides a potential natural compound for the prevention and treatment of SF and fibrosis-related diseases.
Topics: Humans; Male; Animals; Mice; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Retinal Pigment Epithelium; Luteolin; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Fibrosis; Collagen; Collagen Type I; Lasers
PubMed: 37201365
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154865 -
Nature Cell Biology Aug 2023Definitive haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) generate erythroid, lymphoid and myeloid lineages. HSPCs are produced in the embryo via transdifferentiation...
Definitive haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) generate erythroid, lymphoid and myeloid lineages. HSPCs are produced in the embryo via transdifferentiation of haemogenic endothelial cells in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM). HSPCs in the AGM are heterogeneous in differentiation and proliferative output, but how these intrinsic differences are acquired remains unanswered. Here we discovered that loss of microRNA (miR)-128 in zebrafish leads to an expansion of HSPCs in the AGM with different cell cycle states and a skew towards erythroid and lymphoid progenitors. Manipulating miR-128 in differentiating haemogenic endothelial cells, before their transition to HSPCs, recapitulated the lineage skewing in both zebrafish and human pluripotent stem cells. miR-128 promotes Wnt and Notch signalling in the AGM via post-transcriptional repression of the Wnt inhibitor csnk1a1 and the Notch ligand jag1b. De-repression of cskn1a1 resulted in replicative and erythroid-biased HSPCs, whereas de-repression of jag1b resulted in G2/M and lymphoid-biased HSPCs with long-term consequence on the respective blood lineages. We propose that HSPC heterogeneity arises in the AGM endothelium and is programmed in part by Wnt and Notch signalling.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Zebrafish; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Cell Differentiation; Hemangioblasts; Endothelium; MicroRNAs; Hematopoiesis
PubMed: 37460694
DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01187-9 -
The Journal of Clinical Investigation Oct 2023The gastrointestinal tract relies on the production, maturation, and transit of mucin to protect against pathogens and to lubricate the epithelial lining. Although the...
The gastrointestinal tract relies on the production, maturation, and transit of mucin to protect against pathogens and to lubricate the epithelial lining. Although the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate mucin production and movement are beginning to be understood, the upstream epithelial signals that contribute to mucin regulation remain unclear. Here, we report that the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF), generated by the epithelium, contributes to mucin homeostasis by regulating both cell differentiation and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity. We used genetic mouse models and noninflamed samples from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing anti-TNF therapy to assess the effect of in vivo perturbation of TNF. We found that inhibition of epithelial TNF promotes the differentiation of secretory progenitor cells into mucus-producing goblet cells. Furthermore, TNF treatment and CFTR inhibition in intestinal organoids demonstrated that TNF promotes ion transport and luminal flow via CFTR. The absence of TNF led to slower gut transit times, which we propose results from increased mucus accumulation coupled with decreased luminal fluid pumping. These findings point to a TNF/CFTR signaling axis in the adult intestine and identify epithelial cell-derived TNF as an upstream regulator of mucin homeostasis.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Mucins; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors; Epithelial Cells; Cell Differentiation; Tumor Necrosis Factors; Homeostasis
PubMed: 37643009
DOI: 10.1172/JCI163591 -
Annales de Pathologie May 2024
Topics: Humans; Urothelium; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; Urologic Neoplasms; Urine; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Cytodiagnosis; Urologists; Cytology
PubMed: 38653657
DOI: 10.1016/j.annpat.2024.04.001