LIM homeobox 2 promotes interaction between human iPS-derived hepatic progenitors and iPS-derived hepatic stellate-like cells

LIM homeobox 2 promotes interaction between human iPS-derived hepatic progenitors and iPS-derived hepatic stellate-like cells

Abstract

Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can differentiate into hepatocyte lineages, although the phenotype of the differentiated cells is immature compared to adult hepatocytes. Improvement of cell-cell interactions between epithelium and mesenchyme is a potential approach to address this phenotype issue. In this study, we developed a model system for improving interactions between human iPS-derived hepatic progenitor cells (iPS-HPCs) and human iPS-derived hepatic stellate cell-like cells (iPS-HSCs). The phenotype of iPS-HSCs, including gene and protein expression profiles and vitamin A storage, resembled that of hepatic stellate cells. Direct co-culture of iPS-HSCs with iPSHPCs significantly improved hepatocytic maturation in iPS-HPCs, such as their capacity for albumin production. Next, we generated iPS cell lines overexpressing LIM homeobox 2 (LHX2), which suppresses myofibroblastic changes in HSCs in mice. Hepatocytic maturation in iPS-HPCs was significantly increased in direct co-culture with iPS-HSCs overexpressing LHX2, but not in co-culture with a human hepatic stellate cell line (LX-2) overexpressing LHX2. LHX2 regulated the expression of extracellular matrices, such as laminin and collagen, in iPS-HSCs. In conclusion, this study provides an evidence that LHX2 upregulation in iPS-HSCs promotes hepatocytic maturation of iPS-HPCs, and indicates that genetically modified iPS-HSCs will be of value for research into cell-cell interactions.

Journal Article

JOURNAL:
Scientific Reports

TITLE:
LIM homeobox 2 promotes interaction between human iPS-derived hepatic progenitors and iPS-derived hepatic stellate-like cells

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-37430-9

Correspondence to

Sei KAKINUMA,M.D., Ph.D.,Associate Professor
Department of Liver Disease Control,
Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,
Tokyo Medical and Dental University(TMDU)
E-mail:skakinuma.gast(at)tmd.ac.jp