Targeting HIF-1α in combination with PPARα activation and postnatal factors promotes the metabolic maturation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

Immature phenotypes of cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs) limit the utility of these cells in clinical application and basic research. During cardiac development, postnatal cardiomyocytes experience high oxygen tension along with a concomitant downregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), leading to increased fatty acid oxidation (FAO). We hypothesized that targeting HIF-1α alone or in combination with other metabolic regulators could promote the metabolic maturation of hiPSC-CMs. We examined the effect of HIF-1α inhibition on the maturation of hiPSC-CMs and investigated a multipronged approach to promote hiPSC-CM maturation by combining HIF-1α inhibition with molecules that target key pathways involved in the energy metabolism. Cardiac spheres of highly-enriched hiPSC-CMs were treated with a HIF-1α inhibitor alone or in combination with an agonist of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) and three postnatal factors (triiodothyronine hormone T3, insulin-like growth factor-1 and dexamethasone). HIF-1α inhibition significantly increased FAO and basal and maximal respiration of hiPSC-CMs. Combining HIF-1α inhibition with PPARα activation and the postnatal factors further increased FAO and improved mitochondrial maturation in hiPSC-CMs. Compared with mock-treated cultures, the cultures treated with the five factors had increased mitochondrial content and contained more cells with mitochondrial distribution throughout the cells, which are features of more mature cardiomyocytes. Consistent with these observations, a number of transcriptional regulators of mitochondrial metabolic processes were upregulated in hiPSC-CMs treated with the five factors. Furthermore, these cells had significantly increased Ca2+ transient kinetics and contraction and relaxation velocities, which are functional features for more mature cardiomyocytes. Therefore, targeting HIF-1α in combination with other metabolic regulators significantly improves the metabolic maturation of hiPSC-CMs.

Identification of early gene expression changes in primary cultured neurons treated with topoisomerase I poisons.

Topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) poisons like camptothecin (CPT) are currently used in cancer chemotherapy but these compounds can have damaging, off-target effects on neurons leading to cognitive, sensory and motor deficits. To understand the molecular basis for the enhanced sensitivity of neurons to CPT, we examined the effects of compounds that inhibit TOP1-CPT, actinomycin D (ActD) and ß-lapachone (ß-Lap)-on primary cultured rat motor (MN) and cortical (CN) neurons as well as fibroblasts. Neuronal cells expressed higher levels of Top1 mRNA than fibroblasts but transcript levels are reduced in all cell types after treatment with CPT. Microarray analysis was performed to identify differentially regulated transcripts in MNs in response to a brief exposure to CPT. Pathway analysis of the differentially expressed transcripts revealed activation of ERK and JNK signaling cascades in CPT-treated MNs. Immediate-early genes like Fos, Egr-1 and Gadd45b were upregulated in CPT-treated MNs. Fos mRNA levels were elevated in all cell types treated with CPT; Egr-1, Gadd45b and Dyrk3 transcript levels, however, increased in CPT-treated MNs and CNs but decreased in CPT-treated fibroblasts. These transcripts may represent new targets for the development of therapeutic agents that mitigate the off-target effects of chemotherapy on the nervous system.

The effects of C5-substituted 2,4-diaminoquinazolines on selected transcript expression in spinal muscular atrophy cells.

C5-substituted 2,4-diaminoquinazolines (2,4-DAQs) ameliorate disease severity in SMA mice. It is uncertain, however, that these compounds increase SMN protein levels in vivo even though they were identified as activators of the SMN2 promoter. These compounds also regulate the expression of other transcripts in neuroblastoma cells. In this study, we investigate the mechanism by which the 2,4-DAQs regulate the expression of SMN2 as well as other targets. D156844, D158872, D157161 and D157495 (RG3039) increased SMN2 promoter-driven reporter gene activity by at least 3-fold in NSC-34 cells. These compounds, however, did not significantly increase SMN2 mRNA levels in type II SMA fibroblasts nor in NSC-34 cells, although there was a trend for these compounds increasing SMN protein in SMA fibroblasts. The number of SMN-containing gems was increased in SMA fibroblasts in response to 2,4-DAQ treatment in a dose-dependent manner. ATOH7 mRNA levels were significantly lower in type II SMA fibroblasts. 2,4-DAQs significantly increased ATOH7, DRNT1 and DRTN2 transcript levels in type II SMA fibroblasts and restored ATOH7 levels to those observed in healthy fibroblasts. These compounds also increase Atoh7 mRNA expression in NSC-34 cells. In conclusion, 2,4-DAQs regulate SMN2 by increasing protein levels and gem localization. They also increase ATOH7, DRNT1 and DRNT2 transcript levels. This study reveals that the protective effects of 2,4-DAQs in SMA may be independent of SMN2 gene regulation. These compounds could be used in concert with a proven SMN2 inducer to develop a multi-faceted approach to treating SMA.

Downregulation of LGR5 Expression Inhibits Cardiomyocyte Differentiation and Potentiates Endothelial Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Understanding molecules involved in differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells is important in advancing hPSCs for cell therapy and drug testing. Here, we report that LGR5, a leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor, plays a critical role in hPSC differentiation into cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. LGR5 expression was transiently upregulated during the early stage of cardiomyocyte differentiation, and knockdown of LGR5 resulted in reduced expression of cardiomyocyte-associated markers and poor cardiac differentiation. In contrast, knockdown of LGR5 promoted differentiation of endothelial-like cells with increased expression of endothelial cell markers and appropriate functional characteristics, including the ability to form tube-like structures and to take up acetylated low-density lipoproteins. Furthermore, knockdown of LGR5 significantly reduced the proliferation of differentiated cells and increased the nuclear translocation of ß-catenin and expression of Wnt signaling-related genes. Therefore, regulation of LGR5 may facilitate efficient generation of cardiomyocytes or endothelial cells from hPSCs.