Three-dimensional culture and cAMP signaling promote the maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes.

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represent a novel source of hepatocytes for drug metabolism studies and cell-based therapy for the treatment of liver diseases. These applications are, however, dependent on the ability to generate mature metabolically functional cells from the hPSCs. Reproducible and efficient generation of such cells has been challenging to date, owing to the fact that the regulatory pathways that control hepatocyte maturation are poorly understood. Here, we show that the combination of three-dimensional cell aggregation and cAMP signaling enhance the maturation of hPSC-derived hepatoblasts to a hepatocyte-like population that displays expression profiles and metabolic enzyme levels comparable to those of primary human hepatocytes. Importantly, we also demonstrate that generation of the hepatoblast population capable of responding to cAMP is dependent on appropriate activin/nodal signaling in the definitive endoderm at early stages of differentiation. Together, these findings provide new insights into the pathways that regulate maturation of hPSC-derived hepatocytes and in doing so provide a simple and reproducible approach for generating metabolically functional cell populations.

Paracrine activation of hepatic stellate cells in platelet-derived growth factor C transgenic mice: evidence for stromal induction of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cirrhosis is the primary risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet the mechanisms by which cirrhosis predisposes to carcinogenesis are poorly understood. Using a mouse model that recapitulates many aspects of the pathophysiology of human liver disease, we explored the mechanisms by which changes in the liver microenvironment induce dysplasia and HCC. Hepatic expression of platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGF-C) induces progressive fibrosis, chronic inflammation, neoangiogenesis and sinusoidal congestion, as well as global changes in gene expression. Using reporter mice, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and liver cell isolation, we demonstrate that receptors for PDGF-CC are localized on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which proliferate, and transform into myofibroblast-like cells that deposit extracellular matrix and lead to production of growth factors and cytokines. We demonstrate induction of cytokine genes at 2 months, and stromal cell-derived hepatocyte growth factors that coincide with the onset of dysplasia at 4 months. Our results support a paracrine signaling model wherein hepatocyte-derived PDGF-C stimulates widespread HSC activation throughout the liver leading to chronic inflammation, liver injury and architectural changes. These complex changes to the liver microenvironment precede the development of HCC. Further, increased PDGF-CC levels were observed in livers of patients with nonalcoholic fatty steatohepatitis and correlate with the stage of disease, suggesting a role for this growth factor in chronic liver disease in humans. PDGF-C transgenic mice provide a unique model for the in vivo study of tumor-stromal interactions in the liver.

Regulation of endothelial barrier function by cyclic nucleotides: the role of phosphodiesterases.

The endothelium plays an important role in maintaining normal vascular function. Endothelial barrier dysfunction leading to increased permeability and vascular leakage is associated with several pathological conditions such as edema and sepsis. Thus, the development of drugs that improve endothelial barrier function is an active area of research. In this chapter, the current knowledge concerning the signaling pathways regulating endothelial barrier function is discussed with a focus on cyclic nucleotide second messengers (cAMP and cGMP) and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Both cAMP and cGMP have been shown to have differential effects on endothelial permeability in part due to the various effector molecules, crosstalk, and compartmentalization of cyclic nucleotide signaling. PDEs, by controlling the amplitude, duration, and localization of cyclic nucleotides, have been shown to play a critical role in regulating endothelial barrier function. Thus, PDEs are attractive drug targets for the treatment of disease states involving endothelial barrier dysfunction.

Differential regulation of endothelial cell permeability by cGMP via phosphodiesterases 2 and 3.

Endothelial barrier dysfunction leading to increased permeability and vascular leakage is an underlying cause of several pathological conditions, including edema and sepsis. Whereas cAMP has been shown to decrease endothelial permeability, the role of cGMP is controversial. Endothelial cells express cGMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase (PDE)3A and cGMP-stimulated PDE2A. Thus we hypothesized that the effect of cGMP on endothelial permeability is dependent on the concentration of cGMP present and on the relative expression levels of PDE2A and PDE3A. When cAMP synthesis was slightly elevated with a submaximal concentration of 7-deacetyl-7-(O-[N-methylpiperazino]-gamma-butyryl)-dihydrochloride-forskolin (MPB-forskolin), we found that low doses of either atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) or NO donors potentiated the inhibitory effects of MPB-forskolin on thrombin-induced permeability. However, this inhibitory effect of forskolin was reversed at higher doses of ANP or NO. These data suggest that cGMP at lower concentrations inhibits PDE3A and thereby increases a local pool of cAMP, whereas higher concentrations cGMP activates PDE2A, reversing the effect. Inhibitors of PDE3A mimicked the effect of low-dose ANP on thrombin-induced permeability, and inhibition of PDE2A reversed the stimulation of permeability seen with higher doses of ANP. Finally, increasing PDE2A expression with tumor necrosis factor-alpha reversed the inhibition of permeability caused by low doses of ANP. As predicted, the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on permeability was reversed by a PDE2A inhibitor. These findings suggest that the effect of increasing concentrations of cGMP on endothelial permeability is biphasic, which, in large part, is attributable to the relative amounts of PDE2A and PDE3A in endothelial cells.

Fluid shear stress inhibits TNF-mediated JNK activation via MEK5-BMK1 in endothelial cells.

Steady laminar blood flow protects vessels from atherosclerosis. We showed that flow decreased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-mediated VCAM1 expression in endothelial cells (EC) by inhibiting JNK. Here, we determined the relative roles of MEK1, MEK5 and their downstream kinases ERK1/2 and BMK1 (ERK5) in flow-mediated inhibition of JNK activation. Steady laminar flow (shear stress=12dyn/cm(2)) increased BMK1 and ERK1/2 activity in EC. Pre-exposing EC for 10min to flow inhibited TNF activation of JNK by 58%. A key role for BMK1, but not ERK1/2 was shown. (1) Incubation of EC with PD184352, at concentrations that blocked ERK1/2, but not BMK1, had no effect on flow inhibition of TNF-mediated JNK activation. (2) BIX02188, a MEK5-selective inhibitor, completely reversed the inhibitory effects of flow. These findings indicate that flow inhibits TNF-mediated signaling events in EC by a mechanism dependent on activation of MEK5-BMK1, but not MEK1-ERK1/2. These results support a key role for the MEK5-BMK1 signaling pathway in the atheroprotective effects of blood flow.

Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-[alpha]-induced SHP-2 phosphatase activity by shear stress: a mechanism to reduce endothelial inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Atherosclerosis preferentially occurs in areas of turbulent flow, whereas laminar flow is atheroprotective. Inflammatory cytokines have been shown to stimulate adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells that may promote atherosclerosis, in part, by stimulating c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB transcriptional activity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Because Src kinase family and Src homology region 2-domain phosphatase-2 (SHP-2) may regulate JNK activation, we studied the effect of shear stress on endothelial inflammation and JNK. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells preexposed to flow showed decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced c-Jun and NF-kappaB transcriptional activation. TNF-alpha-mediated JNK, c-Jun, and NF-kappaB activation required Src and SHP-2 activity. Shear stress significantly inhibited SHP-2 phosphatase activity without affecting TNF-alpha-induced Src family kinase activation. Because MEKK3 and Gab1 are critical for TNF-alpha-induced c-Jun and NF-kappaB activation, we determined the role of SHP-2 phosphatase activity in MEKK3 signaling. A catalytically inactive form of SHP-2 increased MEKK3/Gab1 interaction and inhibited MEKK3 (but not MEKK1)-mediated c-Jun and NF-kappaB activation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SHP-2 is a key mediator for the inhibitory effects of shear stress on TNF-alpha signaling in part via regulating MEKK3/Gab1 interaction, MEKK3 signaling, and subsequent adhesion molecule expression.

Atheroprotective Mechanisms Activated by Fluid Shear Stress in Endothelial Cells.

Atherosclerosis preferentially occurs in areas of turbulent flow and low fluid shear stress, while laminar flow and high shear stress are atheroprotective. Well characterized atheroprotective mechanisms include inhibition of thrombosis (increased tissue-type plasminogen activator and decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis, limitation of permeability (uptake of low-density lipoprotein), prevention of white blood cell binding and transmigration (no expression of adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1] and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1] and no release of monocyte chemotactic protein-1) and increased bioavailability of nitric oxide (because of increased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and manganese superoxide dismutase). Our lab has investigated flow-mediated inhibition of inflammatory cytokine action. In particular, we have shown that flow prevents tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mediated signal transduction. TNF regulates inflammatory gene expression (e.g., ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) in endothelial cells, in part, by stimulating mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases that phosphorylate transcription factors. We hypothesized that fluid shear stress inhibits TNF inflammatory effects on endothelial cells by inhibiting TNF mediated activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase. To test this hypothesis, we determined the effects of steady laminar flow on TNF-stimulated activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. The results show that flow inhibits c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation through multiple mechanisms, including stimulation of counter-regulatory MAP kinases (extracellular signal regulated kinases [ERK]1/2 and ERK5) and inhibition of apoptosis signal-regulated kinase. In summary, the atheroprotective effects of steady laminar flow on the endothelium involve multiple synergistic mechanisms. These multiple mechanisms offer attractive targets for new drug therapies aimed at limiting atherosclerosis development and progression. (c) 2002 Prous Science. All rights reserved.