技术资料

Monkeypox virus (MPV) is known to inflict injuries and,in some cases,lead to fatalities in humans. However,the underlying mechanisms responsible for its pathogenicity remain poorly understood. We investigated functions of MPV core proteins,H3L,A35R,A29L,and I1L,and discovered that H3L induced transcriptional perturbations and injuries. We substantiated that H3L upregulated IL1A expression. IL1A,in consequence,caused cellular injuries,and this detrimental effect was mitigated when countered with IL1A blockage. We also observed that H3L significantly perturbed the transcriptions of genes in cardiac system. Mechanistically,H3L occupied the promoters of genes governing cellular injury,leading to alterations in the binding patterns of H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 histone marks,ultimately resulting in expression perturbations. In vivo and in vitro models confirmed that H3L induced transcriptional disturbances and cardiac dysfunction,which were ameliorated when IL1A was blocked or repressed. Our study provides valuable insights into comprehensive understanding of MPV pathogenicity,highlights the significant roles of H3L in inducing injuries,and potentially paves the way for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting IL1A. View Publication

SummaryProtein turnover is a critical component of gene expression regulation and cellular homeostasis,yet methods for measuring turnover rates that are scalable and applicable to different models are still needed. We introduce an improved D2O (heavy water) labeling strategy to investigate the landscape of protein turnover in cell culture,with accurate calibration of per-residue deuterium incorporation in multiple cell types. Applying this method,we mapped the proteome-wide turnover landscape of pluripotent and differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Our analysis highlights the role of APC/C (anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome) and SPOP (speckle-type POZ protein) degrons in the fast turnover of cell-cycle-related and DNA-binding hiPSC proteins. Upon pluripotency exit,many short-lived hiPSC proteins are depleted,while RNA-binding and -splicing proteins become hyperdynamic. The ability to identify fast-turnover proteins also facilitates secretome profiling,as exemplified in hiPSC-cardiomyocyte and primary human cardiac fibroblast analysis. This method is broadly applicable to protein turnover studies in primary,pluripotent,and transformed cells. Graphical abstract Highlights•D2O labeling measures protein turnover in primary,pluripotent,and transformed cells•D2O incorporates into multiple amino acids in vitro,including Ala,Glu,Asp,and Pro•Protein turnover analysis shows hiPSC differentiation alters fast-turnover proteins•We show application to secretome analysis in human cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts MotivationDynamic stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture coupled with mass spectrometry is commonly used to measure protein turnover in cell culture but requires altering culture medium composition and may not label some peptides. We describe a simple and convenient alternative for measuring protein turnover kinetics in cultured cells by adding low-volume D2O (heavy water) to standard tissue culture media. Addressing a critical gap,we determined the number of deuterium-accessible atoms on all 20 proteinogenic amino acids across multiple cell types. This allows accurate interpretation of D2O-labeled mass spectra to measure protein turnover kinetics and secretome flux on a proteome scale. Alamillo et al. present a D2O labeling mass spectrometry method to measure protein turnover rates that is compatible with multiple cell cultures and medium formulations. The method reveals a parsimonious protein turnover landscape in human induced pluripotent stem cells and identifies hyperdynamic proteins that are unique to self-renewal states. View Publication

To build in vitro tissues for therapeutic applications,it is essential to replicate the spatial distribution of cells that occurs during morphogenesis in vivo. However,it remains technically challenging to simultaneously regulate the geometric alignment and aggregation of cells during tissue fabrication. Here,we introduce the acoustofluidic bioassembly induced morphogenesis,which is the combination of precise arrangement of cells by the mechanical forces produced by acoustofluidic cues,and the morphological and functional changes of cells in the following in vitro and in vivo cultures. The acoustofluidic bioassembly can be used to create tissues with regulated nano-,micro-,and macro-structures. We demonstrate that the neuromuscular tissue fabricated with the acoustofluidic bioassembly exhibits enhanced contraction dynamics,electrophysiology,and therapeutic efficacy. The potential of the acoustofluidic bioassembly as an in situ application is demonstrated by fabricating artificial tissues at the defect sites of living tissues. The acoustofluidic bioassembly induced morphogenesis can provide a pioneering platform to fabricate tissues for biomedical applications. Tissue engineering is essential for drug screening and regenerative medicine. Here,authors developed an acoustofluidic method that can induce morphogenesis of therapeutic tissues at varied dimensions/scales. View Publication

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) serves as a highly intricate and dynamic interface connecting the brain and the bloodstream,playing a vital role in maintaining brain homeostasis. BBB dysfunction has been associated with multiple neurodegenerative diseases,including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); however,the role of the BBB in neurodegeneration is understudied. We developed an ALS patient-derived model of the BBB by using cells derived from 5 patient donors carrying C9ORF72 mutations. Brain microvascular endothelial-like cells (BMEC-like cells) derived from C9ORF72-ALS patients showed altered gene expression,compromised barrier integrity,and increased P-glycoprotein transporter activity. In addition,mitochondrial metabolic tests demonstrated that C9ORF72-ALS BMECs display a significant decrease in basal glycolysis accompanied by increased basal and ATP-linked respiration. Moreover,our study reveals that C9-ALS derived astrocytes can further affect BMECs function and affect the expression of the glucose transporter Glut-1. Finally,C9ORF72 patient-derived BMECs form leaky barriers through a cell-autonomous mechanism and have neurotoxic properties towards motor neurons.Graphical Abstract Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12987-024-00528-6. View Publication

The work highlights the different calcium channels involved in controlling protein synthesis in neurons,and shows the dysfunction of this process in Alzheimer’s disease neurons. Calcium signaling is integral for neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity. We demonstrate that the calcium response generated by different sources modulates neuronal activity–mediated protein synthesis,another process essential for synaptic plasticity. Stimulation of NMDARs generates a protein synthesis response involving three phases—increased translation inhibition,followed by a decrease in translation inhibition,and increased translation activation. We show that these phases are linked to NMDAR-mediated calcium response. Calcium influx through NMDARs elicits increased translation inhibition,which is necessary for the successive phases. Calcium through L-VGCCs acts as a switch from translation inhibition to the activation phase. NMDAR-mediated translation activation requires the contribution of L-VGCCs,RyRs,and SOCE. Furthermore,we show that IP3-mediated calcium release and SOCE are essential for mGluR-mediated translation up-regulation. Finally,we signify the relevance of our findings in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. Using neurons derived from human fAD iPSCs and transgenic AD mice,we demonstrate the dysregulation of NMDAR-mediated calcium and translation response. Our study highlights the complex interplay between calcium signaling and protein synthesis,and its implications in neurodegeneration. View Publication

Inflammatory cytokines,including interleukin 6 (IL6),are associated with ion channel remodeling and enhance the propensity to alterations in cardiac rhythm generation and propagation,in which the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels play a crucial role. Hence,we investigated the consequences of exposure to IL6 on HCN channels in cell models and human atrial biopsies. In murine atrial HL1 cells and in cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPS-CMs),IL6 elicited STAT3 phosphorylation,a receptor-mediated downstream signaling. Downregulation of HCN1,2,4 by IL6 was observed after 24–48 h; in hiPS-CMs,this effect was reverted by 24 h of application of tocilizumab,a human IL6 receptor antagonist. In parallel,hiPS-CM action potentials (APs) showed a reduced spontaneous frequency. Moreover,we assessed IL6 and HCN expression in dilated left atrial samples from patients with mitral valve disease,an AF-prone condition. IL6 levels were increased in dilated atria compared to controls and positively correlated with echocardiographic atrial dimensions. Interestingly,the highest IL6 transcript levels and the lowest HCN4 and HCN2 expression were in these samples. In conclusion,our data uncovered a novel link between IL6 and cardiac HCN channels,potentially contributing to atrial electrical disturbances and a higher risk of dysrhythmias in conditions with elevated IL6 levels. View Publication

BackgroundAniridia is a rare panocular disease caused by gene mutation in the PAX6,which is essential for eye development. Aniridia is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner,but its phenotype can vary significantly among individuals with the same mutation. Animal models,such as drosophila,zebrafish,and rodents,have been used to study aniridia through Pax6 deletions. Recently,patient-derived limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have been used to model the disease in vitro,providing new insights into therapeutic strategies.MethodsIn this study,corneal organoids were generated from hiPSCs derived from aniridia patients with three different PAX6 nonsense mutations,allowing for a detailed comparison between diseased and healthy control models. These organoids structurally mimicked the human cornea and were used to investigate histologic and metabolomic differences between healthy and aniridia-derived samples.ResultsUntargeted metabolomic analysis revealed significant metabolic differences between wild-type (WT) and aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) hiPSCs. Further metabolomic profiling at different time points demonstrated distinct metabolic shifts,with amino acid metabolism pathways being consistently enriched in AAK organoids.ConclusionsThis study emphasizes the profound impact of AAK mutations on metabolism,particularly in amino acid biosynthesis and energy metabolism pathways.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-024-03831-w. View Publication

The blood?brain barrier (BBB) is a critical selective interface between the central nervous system (CNS) and the blood circulation. BBB dysfunction plays an important role in the neurological damage caused by sepsis. However,the mechanisms underlying the disruption of the BBB during sepsis remain unclear. We established a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived BBB model and reported that treating with sepsis patient serum leads to structural and functional disruption of the BBB. In a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced mouse model of sepsis,we also observed disruption of the BBB,inflammation in the brain,and impairments in cognition. In both models,we found that the expression of TREM-1 was significantly increased in endothelial cells. TREM-1 knockout specifically in endothelial cells alleviated BBB dysfunction and cognitive impairments. Further study revealed that TREM-1 affects the expression of genes involved in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The protective effects of TREM-1 inhibition on the BBB and cognition were abrogated by PI3K inhibitors. Our findings suggest that endothelial TREM-1 induces sepsis-induced BBB disruption and cognitive impairments via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Targeting endothelial TREM-1 or the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may be a promising strategy to maintain BBB integrity and improve cognitive function in sepsis patients.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-025-03469-5. View Publication

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD),a multifactorial type of retinal degeneration represents the most common cause for blindness in elderly. Polymorphisms in complement factor-H increase,while absence of factor-H-related protein-1 (FHR1) decreases the AMD risk,currently explained by their opposing relationship. Here we identify a FHR1-driven pathway fostering chronic cellular inflammation. FHR1 accumulates below the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in AMD donor tissue and similarly the murine homolog,muFHR1 is abundant in three AMD-relevant mouse models. These mouse models express the muFHR1 receptor EGF-like module-containing mucin-like hormone receptor 1 (Emr1) on the RPE and on invading mononuclear phagocytes (MP),where both cells form clusters via muFHR1/Emr1. FHR1 ignited EMR2-dependent Ca2+-signals and gene expression in both human RPE cell line and in vivo where muFHR1 affects Emr1+ cells (RPE and MP) gene expression shown by RNAseq analysis. As muFHR1 deletion in mice revealed significantly reduced MP invasion and neoangiogenesis in laser-induced choroidal neovascularization,we hypothesize that FHR1 accumulates,stabilizes and activates MP in the stage of RPE degeneration.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-025-03499-z. View Publication

During the first month of pregnancy,the brain and spinal cord are formed through a process called neurulation. However,this process can be altered by low serum levels of folic acid,environmental factors,or genetic predispositions. In 2018,a surveillance study in Botswana,a country with a high incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and lacking mandatory food folate fortification programs,found that newborns whose mothers were taking dolutegravir (DTG) during the first trimester of pregnancy had an increased risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). As a result,the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have issued guidelines emphasizing the potential risks associated with the use of DTG-based antiretroviral therapies during pregnancy. To elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the DTG-induced NTDs,we sought to assess the potential neurotoxicity of DTG in stem cell-derived brain organoids. The gene expression of brain organoids developed in the presence of DTG was analyzed by RNA sequencing,Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT),Optical Coherence Elastography (OCE),and Brillouin microscopy. The sequencing data shows that DTG induces the expression of the folate receptor (FOLR1) and modifies the expression of genes required for neurogenesis. The Brillouin frequency shift observed at the surface of DTG-exposed brain organoids indicates an increase in superficial tissue stiffness. In contrast,reverberant OCE measurements indicate decreased organoid volumes and internal stiffness. View Publication

BackgroundHuman-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have attracted significant interest for use in disease modeling,drug discovery and potential therapeutic applications. However,conventional hiPSC-CM cryopreservation protocols largely use dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the cryoprotectant (CPA),which is linked with a loss of post-thaw recovery and function for various cell types and is not ideal for therapeutic protocols. Additionally,the effect of freezing parameters such as cooling rate and nucleation temperature on post-thaw recovery of hiPSC-CMs has not been explored.MethodshiPSC-CMs were generated by Wnt pathway inhibition,followed by sodium l-lactate purification. Subsequently,biophysical characterization of the cells was performed. A differential evolution (DE) algorithm was utilized to determine the optimal composition of a mixture of a sugar,sugar alcohol and amino acid to replace DMSO as the CPA. The hiPSC-CMs were subjected to controlled-rate freezing at different cooling rates and nucleation temperatures. The optimum freezing parameters were identified by post-thaw recoveries and the partitioning ratio obtained from low temperature Raman spectroscopy studies. The post-thaw osmotic behavior of hiPSC-CMs was studied by measuring diameter of cells resuspended in the isotonic culture medium over time. Immunocytochemistry and calcium transient studies were performed to evaluate post-thaw function.ResultshiPSC-CMs were found to be slightly larger than hiPSCs and exhibited a large osmotically inactive volume. The best-performing DMSO-free solutions enabled post-thaw recoveries over 90%,which was significantly greater than DMSO (69.4?±?6.4%). A rapid cooling rate of 5 °C/min and a low nucleation temperature of -8 °C was found to be optimal for hiPSC-CMs. hiPSC-CMs displayed anomalous osmotic behavior post-thaw,dropping sharply in volume after resuspension. Post-thaw function was preserved when hiPSC-CMs were frozen with the best-performing DMSO-free CPA or DMSO and the cells displayed similar cardiac markers pre-freeze and post-thaw.ConclusionsIt was shown that a CPA cocktail of naturally-occurring osmolytes could effectively replace DMSO for preserving hiPSC-CMs while preserving morphology and function. Understanding the anomalous osmotic behavior and managing the excessive dehydration of hiPSC-CMs could be crucial to improve post-thaw outcomes. Effective DMSO-free cryopreservation would accelerate the development of drug discovery and therapeutic applications of hiPSC-CMs.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-025-04384-5. View Publication

With the advent of increasingly sophisticated organoids,there is growing demand for technology to replicate the interactions between multiple tissues or organs. This is challenging to achieve,however,due to the varying culture conditions of the different cell types that make up each tissue. Current methods often require complicated microfluidic setups,but fragile tissue samples tend not to fare well with rough handling. Furthermore,the more complicated the human system to be replicated,the more difficult the model becomes to operate. Here,we present the development of a multi-tissue chip platform that takes advantage of the modularity and convenient handling ability of a CUBE device. We first developed a blood-brain barrier-in-a-CUBE by layering astrocytes,pericytes,and brain microvascular endothelial cells in the CUBE,and confirmed the expression and function of important tight junction and transporter proteins in the blood-brain barrier model. Then,we demonstrated the application of integrating Tissue-in-a-CUBE with a chip in simulating the in vitro testing of the permeability of a drug through the blood-brain barrier to the brain and its effect on treating the glioblastoma brain cancer model. We anticipate that this platform can be adapted for use with organoids to build complex human systems in vitro by the combination of multiple simple CUBE units. Development of platform to integrate multiple Tissue-in-a-CUBEs in a chip for tissue-tissue interaction,demonstrated by simulating the testing of the permeability and effect of a cancer drug in a BBB-Brain cancer model. View Publication