The derivation of mature functional cholangiocytes from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provides a model for studying the pathogenesis of cholangiopathies and for developing therapies to treat them. Current differentiation protocols are not efficient and give rise to cholangiocytes that are not fully mature, limiting their therapeutic applications. Here, we generate functional hPSC-derived cholangiocytes that display many characteristics of mature bile duct cells including high levels of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the presence of primary cilia capable of sensing flow. With this level of maturation, these cholangiocytes are amenable for testing the efficacy of cystic fibrosis drugs and for studying the role of cilia in cholangiocyte development and function. Transplantation studies show that the mature cholangiocytes generate ductal structures in the liver of immunocompromised mice indicating that it may be possible to develop cell-based therapies to restore bile duct function in patients with biliary disease.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8586142 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26764-0 | DOI Listing |
ACS Biomater Sci Eng
December 2024
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 76207-7102, United States.
Liver tissues, composed of hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, stellate cells, Kupffer cells, and sinusoidal endothelial cells, are differentiated from endodermal and mesodermal germ layers. By mimicking the developmental process of the liver, various differentiation protocols have been published to generate human liver organoids (HLOs) in vitro using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). However, HLOs derived solely from the endodermal germ layer often encounter technical hurdles such as insufficient maturity and functionality, limiting their utility for disease modeling and hepatotoxicity assays.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Vis Exp
December 2024
Section of Adult and Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Chicago;
Obtaining stable hepatic cells in culture poses a significant challenge for liver studies. Bearing this in mind, an optimized method is depicted utilizing human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate 3D cultures of human hepatic organoids (HHOs). The utilization of HHOs offers a valuable approach to understanding liver development, unraveling liver diseases, conducting high-throughput studies for drug development, and exploring the potential for liver transplantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi
January 2025
National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University, Shanghai201823, China.
The establishment of modern biliary surgery system, alongside pivotal scientific paradigm shifts, has heralded a new era featured by precision, personalization, life-cycle care, and multidisciplinary management in the treatment of both benign and malignant biliary diseases. However, two formidable challenges persist in haunting the treatment of biliary diseases: (1) The refinement of surgical techniques has reached a plateau in reducing the disability associated with benign biliary conditions and in improving survival outcomes in biliary tract cancers; (2) Traditional evidence-based clinical studies have shown limited power in addressing complex dilemmas, such as determining whether to excise or preserve pathological gallbladders or selecting the optimal biliary drainage strategy. Consequently, the authors propose the conceptual framework of "biliary ecosystem".
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJHEP Rep
January 2025
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Background & Aims: Biliary atresia is a fibrosing cholangiopathy affecting neonates that is thought to result from a prenatal environmental insult to the bile duct. Biliatresone, a plant toxin with an α-methylene ketone group, was previously implicated in biliary atresia in Australian livestock, but is found in a limited location and is unlikely to be a significant human toxin. We hypothesized that other unsaturated carbonyl compounds, some with the potential for significant human exposure, might also be biliary toxins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHum Cell
December 2024
Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a unique subtype of primary liver cancer displaying both hepatocytic and cholangiocytic differentiation. The development of effective treatments for cHCC-CCA remains challenging because of its high heterogeneity and lack of a suitable model system. Using a three-dimensional culture system, we successfully established two novel cHCC-CCA organoid lines from patients undergoing surgical resection for primary liver cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!