scholarly journals Human Organoids for Predictive Toxicology Research and Drug Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshikatsu Matsui ◽  
Tadahiro Shinozawa
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Drug Development ◽  
Disease Modeling ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Underlying Disease ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Predictive Toxicology

Organoids are three-dimensional structures fabricated in vitro from pluripotent stem cells or adult tissue stem cells via a process of self-organization that results in the formation of organ-specific cell types. Human organoids are expected to mimic complex microenvironments and many of the in vivo physiological functions of relevant tissues, thus filling the translational gap between animals and humans and increasing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying disease and developmental processes. In the last decade, organoid research has attracted increasing attention in areas such as disease modeling, drug development, regenerative medicine, toxicology research, and personalized medicine. In particular, in the field of toxicology, where there are various traditional models, human organoids are expected to blaze a new path in future research by overcoming the current limitations, such as those related to differences in drug responses among species. Here, we discuss the potential usefulness, limitations, and future prospects of human liver, heart, kidney, gut, and brain organoids from the viewpoints of predictive toxicology research and drug development, providing cutting edge information on their fabrication methods and functional characteristics.

scholarly journals The Use of Stem Cell-Derived Organoids in Disease Modeling: An Update

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7667
Author(s):  
Joseph Azar ◽  
Hisham F. Bahmad ◽  
Darine Daher ◽  
Maya M. Moubarak ◽  
Ola Hadadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Disease Modeling ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
In Vitro Drug Screening

Organoids represent one of the most important advancements in the field of stem cells during the past decade. They are three-dimensional in vitro culturing models that originate from self-organizing stem cells and can mimic the in vivo structural and functional specificities of body organs. Organoids have been established from multiple adult tissues as well as pluripotent stem cells and have recently become a powerful tool for studying development and diseases in vitro, drug screening, and host–microbe interaction. The use of stem cells—that have self-renewal capacity to proliferate and differentiate into specialized cell types—for organoids culturing represents a major advancement in biomedical research. Indeed, this new technology has a great potential to be used in a multitude of fields, including cancer research, hereditary and infectious diseases. Nevertheless, organoid culturing is still rife with many challenges, not limited to being costly and time consuming, having variable rates of efficiency in generation and maintenance, genetic stability, and clinical applications. In this review, we aim to provide a synopsis of pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids and their use for disease modeling and other clinical applications.

scholarly journals Potential Therapies by Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in CNS Diseases: Focusing on the Neurogenic Niche

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Luarte ◽  
Luis Federico Bátiz ◽  
Ursula Wyneken ◽  
Carlos Lafourcade
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Therapeutic Benefit ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Novel Approaches

Neurodegenerative disorders are one of the leading causes of death and disability and one of the biggest burdens on health care systems. Novel approaches using various types of stem cells have been proposed to treat common neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, or stroke. Moreover, as the secretome of these cells appears to be of greater benefit compared to the cells themselves, the extracellular components responsible for its therapeutic benefit have been explored. Stem cells, as well as most cells, release extracellular vesicles such as exosomes, which are nanovesicles able to target specific cell types and thus to modify their function by delivering proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Exosomes have recently been testedin vivoandin vitroas therapeutic conveyors for the treatment of diseases. As such, they could be engineered to target specific populations of cells within the CNS. Considering the fact that many degenerative brain diseases have an impact on adult neurogenesis, we discuss how the modulation of the adult neurogenic niches may be a therapeutic target of stem cell-derived exosomes. These novel approaches should be examined in cellular and animal models to provide better, more effective, and specific therapeutic tools in the future.

scholarly journals Vascular Stem Cells in Vascular Remodeling and Diseases

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Anna Meiliana ◽  
Andi Wijaya
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Tissue Expansion ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Vascular Stem Cells

BACKGROUND: Blood vessels are a source of stem and progenitor cells, which likely contribute to a variety of vascular processes and diseases. Emerging concepts in this field could influence therapeutic approaches to diseases of blood vessels such as atherosclerosis.CONTENT: Vascular Stem Cells (VSCs) field is only beginning to emerge, and thus, many issues regarding VSCs’s identity and function remain poorly understood. In fact, even after decades of intensive research, Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC), which is suggested to be VSCs, is still having many outstanding issues of its own. And, on top of this, likewise decades-long intensive pericyte research has not been able resolve the identity issue. While favors Adventitial Progenitor Cells (APCs) over pericytes as the likely VSC candidate, it should be pointed out that currently the opposite view (i.e., pericytes as VSCs) is more prevalent, and many excellent reviews, including a recent one, have discussed this issue extensively.SUMMARY: It has been postulated that, within the vasculature, APCs could differentiate into pericytes (CD34- CD31- CD140b+ SMA-), endothelial cells (CD34+ CD31+ CD140b- SMA-), and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) (CD34- CD31- CD140b- SMA+); and during tissue expansion or repair, APCs could also differentiate into tissue-specific cell types (e.g., muscle and fat) Thus, in vitro, APCs fulfill all criteria for being VSCs. Meanwhile, in vivo evidence is still limited and will require further investigation.KEYWORDS: vascular stem cells, VSC, mesenchymal stem cells, MSC, endothelial progenitor cells, EPC, adventitial progenitor cells, APC

Epithelial Organotypic Cultures: A Viable Model to Address Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis by Epitheliotropic Viruses

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 246-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Termini ◽  
Enrique Boccardo
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Organotypic Cultures ◽  
Skin Physiology

In vitro culture of primary or established cell lines is one of the leading techniques in many areas of basic biological research. The use of pure or highly enriched cultures of specific cell types obtained from different tissues and genetics backgrounds has greatly contributed to our current understanding of normal and pathological cellular processes. Cells in culture are easily propagated generating an almost endless source of material for experimentation. Besides, they can be manipulated to achieve gene silencing, gene overexpression and genome editing turning possible the dissection of specific gene functions and signaling pathways. However, monolayer and suspension cultures of cells do not reproduce the cell type diversity, cell-cell contacts, cell-matrix interactions and differentiation pathways typical of the three-dimensional environment of tissues and organs from where they were originated. Therefore, different experimental animal models have been developed and applied to address these and other complex issues in vivo. However, these systems are costly and time consuming. Most importantly the use of animals in scientific research poses moral and ethical concerns facing a steadily increasing opposition from different sectors of the society. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of alternative in vitro experimental models that accurately reproduce the events observed in vivo to reduce the use of animals. Organotypic cultures combine the flexibility of traditional culture systems with the possibility of culturing different cell types in a 3D environment that reproduces both the structure and the physiology of the parental organ. Here we present a summarized description of the use of epithelial organotypic for the study of skin physiology, human papillomavirus biology and associated tumorigenesis.

scholarly journals Adipose and Muscle Cell Co-Culture System: A Novel In Vitro Tool to Mimic the In Vivo Cellular Environment

Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Palaniselvam Kuppusamy ◽  
Dahye Kim ◽  
Ilavenil Soundharrajan ◽  
Inho Hwang ◽  
Ki Choon Choi
Keyword(s):  
Drug Development ◽  
Culture System ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Culture Cell ◽  
In Vitro Techniques ◽  
Culture Systems ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Cellular Environment

A co-culture system allows researchers to investigate the complex interactions between two cell types under various environments, such as those that promote differentiation and growth as well as those that mimic healthy and diseased states, in vitro. In this paper, we review the most common co-culture systems for myocytes and adipocytes. The in vitro techniques mimic the in vivo environment and are used to investigate the causal relationships between different cell lines. Here, we briefly discuss mono-culture and co-culture cell systems and their applicability to the study of communication between two or more cell types, including adipocytes and myocytes. Also, we provide details about the different types of co-culture systems and their applicability to the study of metabolic disease, drug development, and the role of secretory factors in cell signaling cascades. Therefore, this review provides details about the co-culture systems used to study the complex interactions between adipose and muscle cells in various environments, such as those that promote cell differentiation and growth and those used for drug development.

scholarly journals Rho GTPases as Key Molecular Players within Intestinal Mucosa and GI Diseases

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Rashmita Pradhan ◽  
Phuong A. Ngo ◽  
Luz d. C. Martínez-Sánchez ◽  
Markus F. Neurath ◽  
Rocío López-Posadas
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Mucosa ◽  
Rho Gtpases ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Rho Proteins

Rho proteins operate as key regulators of the cytoskeleton, cell morphology and trafficking. Acting as molecular switches, the function of Rho GTPases is determined by guanosine triphosphate (GTP)/guanosine diphosphate (GDP) exchange and their lipidation via prenylation, allowing their binding to cellular membranes and the interaction with downstream effector proteins in close proximity to the membrane. A plethora of in vitro studies demonstrate the indispensable function of Rho proteins for cytoskeleton dynamics within different cell types. However, only in the last decades we have got access to genetically modified mouse models to decipher the intricate regulation between members of the Rho family within specific cell types in the complex in vivo situation. Translationally, alterations of the expression and/or function of Rho GTPases have been associated with several pathological conditions, such as inflammation and cancer. In the context of the GI tract, the continuous crosstalk between the host and the intestinal microbiota requires a tight regulation of the complex interaction between cellular components within the intestinal tissue. Recent studies demonstrate that Rho GTPases play important roles for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis in the gut. We will summarize the current knowledge on Rho protein function within individual cell types in the intestinal mucosa in vivo, with special focus on intestinal epithelial cells and T cells.

Vertebrate retinal ganglion cells are selected from competent progenitors by the action of Notch

Development ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (11) ◽  
pp. 3637-3650 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.P. Austin ◽  
D.E. Feldman ◽  
J.A. Ida ◽  
C.L. Cepko
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Notch Pathway ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Projection Neurons ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Notch Activity

The first cells generated during development of the vertebrate retina are the ganglion cells, the projection neurons of the retina. Although they are one of the most intensively studied cell types within the central nervous system, little is known of the mechanisms that determine ganglion cell fate. We demonstrate that ganglion cells are selected from a large group of competent progenitors that comprise the majority of the early embryonic retina and that differentiation within this group is regulated by Notch. Notch activity in vivo was diminished using antisense oligonucleotides or augmented using a retrovirally transduced constitutively active allele of Notch. The number of ganglion cells produced was inversely related to the level of Notch activity. In addition, the Notch ligand Delta inhibited retinal progenitors from differentiating as ganglion cells to the same degree as did activated Notch in an in vitro assay. These results suggest a conserved strategy for neurogenesis in the retina and describe a versatile in vitro and in vivo system with which to examine the action of the Notch pathway in a specific cell fate decision in a vertebrate.

MicroRNAs: Crucial Players in the Differentiation of Human Pluripotent and Multipotent Stem Cells into Functional Hepatocyte-Like Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Xu ◽  
Liying Wu ◽  
Guojia Yuan ◽  
Xiaolu Liang ◽  
Xiaoguang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Disease Modeling ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
The Body

: Hepatic disease negatively impacts liver function and metabolism. Primary human hepatocytes are the gold standard for the prediction and successful treatment of liver disease. However, the sources of hepatocytes for drug toxicity testing and disease modeling are limited. To overcome this issue, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have emerged as an alternative strategy for liver disease therapy. Human PSCs, including embryonic stem cells (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can self-renew and give rise to all cells of the body. Human PSCs are attractive cell sources for regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, drug discovery, and developmental studies. Several recent studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can also differentiate (or trans-differentiate) into hepatocytes. Differentiation of human PSCs and MSCs into functional hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) opens new strategies to study genetic diseases, hepatotoxicity, infection of hepatotropic viruses, and analyze hepatic biology. Numerous in vitro and in vivo differentiation protocols have been established to obtain human PSCs/MSCs-derived HLCs and mimic their characteristics. It was recently discovered that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in controlling the ectopic expression of transcription factors and governing the hepatocyte differentiation of human PSCs and MSCs. In this review, we focused on the role of miRNAs in the differentiation of human PSCs and MSCs into hepatocytes.

scholarly journals Pancreatic Progenitors and Organoids as a Prerequisite to Model Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meike Hohwieler ◽  
Martin Müller ◽  
Pierre-Olivier Frappart ◽  
Sandra Heller
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Disease Modeling ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Hereditary Diseases ◽  
Pancreatic Diseases ◽  
Pancreatic Progenitors

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are characterized by their unique capacity to stepwise differentiate towards any particular cell type in an adult organism. Pluripotent stem cells provide a beneficial platform to model hereditary diseases and even cancer development. While the incidence of pancreatic diseases such as diabetes and pancreatitis is increasing, the understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of particular diseases remains limited. Only a few recent publications have contributed to the characterization of human pancreatic development in the fetal stage. Hence, most knowledge of pancreatic specification is based on murine embryology. Optimizing and understanding current in vitro protocols for pancreatic differentiation of ESCs and iPSCs constitutes a prerequisite to generate functional pancreatic cells for better disease modeling and drug discovery. Moreover, human pancreatic organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells, organ-restricted stem cells, and tumor samples provide a powerful technology to model carcinogenesis and hereditary diseases independent of genetically engineered mouse models. Herein, we summarize recent advances in directed differentiation of pancreatic organoids comprising endocrine cell types. Beyond that, we illustrate up-and-coming applications for organoid-based platforms.

scholarly journals Modulating the Substrate Stiffness to Manipulate Differentiation of Resident Liver Stem Cells and to Improve the Differentiation State of Hepatocytes

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Maria Cozzolino ◽  
Valeria Noce ◽  
Cecilia Battistelli ◽  
Alessandra Marchetti ◽  
Germana Grassi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Culture Method ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
Precursor Cells ◽  
Substrate Stiffness ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Liver Stem Cells

In many cell types, several cellular processes, such as differentiation of stem/precursor cells, maintenance of differentiated phenotype, motility, adhesion, growth, and survival, strictly depend on the stiffness of extracellular matrix that,in vivo, characterizes their correspondent organ and tissue. In the liver, the stromal rigidity is essential to obtain the correct organ physiology whereas any alteration causes liver cell dysfunctions. The rigidity of the substrate is an element no longer negligible for the cultivation of several cell types, so that many data so far obtained, where cells have been cultured on plastic, could be revised. Regarding liver cells, standard culture conditions lead to the dedifferentiation of primary hepatocytes, transdifferentiation of stellate cells into myofibroblasts, and loss of fenestration of sinusoidal endothelium. Furthermore, standard cultivation of liver stem/precursor cells impedes an efficient execution of the epithelial/hepatocyte differentiation program, leading to the expansion of a cell population expressing only partially liver functions and products. Overcoming these limitations is mandatory for any approach of liver tissue engineering. Here we propose cell lines asin vitromodels of liver stem cells and hepatocytes and an innovative culture method that takes into account the substrate stiffness to obtain, respectively, a rapid and efficient differentiation process and the maintenance of the fully differentiated phenotype.

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