| 1. |
- Godoy, Patricio, et al.
(författare)
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Gene networks and transcription factor motifs defining the differentiation of stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Hepatology. - : Elsevier. - 0168-8278 .- 1600-0641. ; 63:4, s. 934-942
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND & AIMS: The differentiation of stem cells to hepatocyte-like cells (HLC) offers the perspective of unlimited supply of human hepatocytes. However, the degree of differentiation of HLC remains controversial. To obtain an unbiased characterization, we performed a transcriptomic study with HLC derived from human embryonic and induced stem cells (ESC, hiPSC) from three different laboratories.METHODS: Genome-wide gene expression profiles of ESC and HLC were compared to freshly isolated and up to 14days cultivated primary human hepatocytes. Gene networks representing successful and failed hepatocyte differentiation, and the transcription factors involved in their regulation were identified.RESULTS: Gene regulatory network analysis demonstrated that HLC represent a mixed cell type with features of liver, intestine, fibroblast and stem cells. The "unwanted" intestinal features were associated with KLF5 and CDX2 transcriptional networks. Cluster analysis identified highly correlated groups of genes associated with mature liver functions (n=1057) and downregulated proliferation associated genes (n=1562) that approach levels of primary hepatocytes. However, three further clusters containing 447, 101, and 505 genes failed to reach levels of hepatocytes. Key TF of two of these clusters include SOX11, FOXQ1, and YBX3. The third unsuccessful cluster, controlled by HNF1, CAR, FXR, and PXR, strongly overlaps with genes repressed in cultivated hepatocytes compared to freshly isolated hepatocytes, suggesting that current in vitro conditions lack stimuli required to maintain gene expression in hepatocytes, which consequently also explains a corresponding deficiency of HLC.CONCLUSIONS: The present gene regulatory network approach identifies key transcription factors which require modulation to improve HLC differentiation.
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| 2. |
- Godoy, Patricio, et al.
(författare)
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Recent advances in 2D and 3D in vitro systems using primary hepatocytes, alternative hepatocyte sources and non-parenchymal liver cells and their use in investigating mechanisms of hepatotoxicity, cell signaling and ADME
- 2013
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Ingår i: Archives of Toxicology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-5761 .- 1432-0738. ; 87:8, s. 1315-1530
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- This review encompasses the most important advances in liver functions and hepatotoxicity and analyzes which mechanisms can be studied in vitro. In a complex architecture of nested, zonated lobules, the liver consists of approximately 80 % hepatocytes and 20 % non-parenchymal cells, the latter being involved in a secondary phase that may dramatically aggravate the initial damage. Hepatotoxicity, as well as hepatic metabolism, is controlled by a set of nuclear receptors (including PXR, CAR, HNF-4 alpha, FXR, LXR, SHP, VDR and PPAR) and signaling pathways. When isolating liver cells, some pathways are activated, e.g., the RAS/MEK/ERK pathway, whereas others are silenced (e.g. HNF-4 alpha), resulting in up- and downregulation of hundreds of genes. An understanding of these changes is crucial for a correct interpretation of in vitro data. The possibilities and limitations of the most useful liver in vitro systems are summarized, including three-dimensional culture techniques, co-cultures with non-parenchymal cells, hepatospheres, precision cut liver slices and the isolated perfused liver. Also discussed is how closely hepatoma, stem cell and iPS cell-derived hepatocyte-like-cells resemble real hepatocytes. Finally, a summary is given of the state of the art of liver in vitro and mathematical modeling systems that are currently used in the pharmaceutical industry with an emphasis on drug metabolism, prediction of clearance, drug interaction, transporter studies and hepatotoxicity. One key message is that despite our enthusiasm for in vitro systems, we must never lose sight of the in vivo situation. Although hepatocytes have been isolated for decades, the hunt for relevant alternative systems has only just begun.
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| 3. |
- Lohr, Miriam, et al.
(författare)
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The prognostic relevance of tumour-infiltrating plasma cells and immunoglobulin kappa C indicates an important role of the humoral immune response in non-small cell lung cancer
- 2013
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Ingår i: Cancer Letters. - : Elsevier BV. - 0304-3835 .- 1872-7980. ; 333:2, s. 222-228
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A prognostic impact of immunoglobulin kappa C (IGKC) expression has been described in cancer. We analysed the influence of B-cell and plasma cell markers, as well as IGKC expression, in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) using immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray. IGKC protein expression was independently associated with longer survival, with particular impact in the adenocarcinoma subgroup. Moreover, a correlation was seen with CD138+ cells, but not with CD20. CD138 expression revealed a comparable association with survival. In conclusion, IGKC expression in stroma–infiltrating plasma cells is a prognostic marker in NSCLC, supporting emerging treatment concepts that exploit the humoral immune response.
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| 4. |
- Reif, Raymond, et al.
(författare)
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Bile canalicular dynamics in hepatocyte sandwich cultures
- 2015
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Ingår i: Archives of Toxicology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-0738 .- 0340-5761. ; 89:10, s. 1861-1870
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many substances are hepatotoxic due to their ability to cause intrahepatic cholestasis. Therefore, there is a high demand for in vitro systems for the identification of cholestatic properties of new compounds. Primary hepatocytes cultivated in collagen sandwich cultures are known to establish bile canaliculi which enclose secreted biliary components. Cholestatic compounds are mainly known to inhibit bile excretion dynamics, but may also alter canalicular volume, or hepatocellular morphology. So far, techniques to assess time-resolved morphological changes of bile canaliculi in sandwich cultures are not available. In this study, we developed an automated system that quantifies dynamics of bile canaliculi recorded in conventional time-lapse image sequences. We validated the hepatocyte sandwich culture system as an appropriate model to study bile canaliculi in vitro by showing structural similarity measured as bile canaliculi length per hepatocyte to that observed in vivo. Moreover, bile canalicular excretion kinetics of CMFDA (5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate) in sandwich cultures resembled closely the kinetics observed in vivo. The developed quantification technique enabled the quantification of dynamic changes in individual bile canaliculi. With this technique, we were able to clearly distinguish between sandwich cultures supplemented with dexamethasone and insulin from control cultures. In conclusion, the automated quantification system offers the possibility to systematically study the causal relationship between disturbed bile canalicular dynamics and cholestasis.
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| 5. |
- Schmidt, Marcus, et al.
(författare)
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A comprehensive analysis of human gene expression profiles identifies stromal immunoglobulin kappa C as a compatible prognostic marker in human solid tumors
- 2012
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Ingår i: Clinical Cancer Research. - 1078-0432 .- 1557-3265. ; 18:9, s. 2695-2703
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE:Although the central role of the immune system for tumor prognosis is generally accepted a single robust marker is not yet available.EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:Based on ROC (receiver operating characteristic) analyses robust markers were identified from a 60 gene B-cell derived metagene and analyzed in gene expression profiles of 1810 breast cancer, 1056 non-small cell lung cancer, 513 colorectal and 426 ovarian cancer patients. Protein and RNA levels were examined in paraffin embedded tissue of 330 breast cancer patients. The cell types were identified using immunohistochemical co-staining and confocal fluorescence microscopy.RESULTS:We identified immunoglobulin kappa C (IGKC) which as a single marker is similarly predictive and prognostic as the entire B-cell metagene. IGKC was consistently associated with metastasis free survival across different molecular subtypes in node-negative breast cancer (n=965) and predicted response to anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n=845) [P less than 0.001]. In addition, IGKC gene expression was prognostic in non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer. No association was observed in ovarian cancer. IGKC protein expression was significantly associated with survival in paraffin embedded tissues of 330 breast cancer patients. Tumor infiltrating plasma cells were identified as the source of IGKC expressionCONCLUSION:Our findings provide IGKC as a novel diagnostic marker for risk stratification in human cancer and support concepts to exploit the humoral immune response for anti-cancer therapy. It could be validated in several independent cohorts and performed similarly well in RNA from fresh frozen as well as from paraffin tissue and on protein level by immunostaining.
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