技术资料

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy characterized by desmoplastic stroma,immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME),and resistance to standard therapies. Natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapies have shown limited efficacy due to impaired persistence,infiltration,and function in PDAC. Methods: We established a direct reprogramming strategy to generate cytotoxic NK cells (1 F-NKs) by targeting BCL11B,a transcription factor essential for T cell lineage commitment,using shRNA or CRISPR/Cas9 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). A genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen identified tumor-intrinsic modulators of NK resistance. Functional and in vivo studies assesses the efficacy of 1 F-NKs alone and in combination with mesothelin (MSLN)-CAR engineering and PKMYT1 inhibition. Results: BCL11B depletion enabled the generation of CD56brightCD16bright 1 F-NKs with potent cytotoxicity and elevated NKG2D and CX3CR1 expression. Site-specific integration of a mesothelin (MSLN)-CAR into BCL11B locus generated MSLN-1 F-NKs with stable antigen specific activity. A genome-wide screen identified PKMYT1 as a modulator of tumor resistance to NK cell-mediated killing; its inhibition by RP6306 upregulated NKG2D ligands (MICA/B) and CX3CL1,sensitizing PDACs to 1 F-NK cytotoxicity. In PDAC xenograft models,1 F-NKs alone or combined with CAR engineering and RP6306 significantly reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival. Notably,this triple combination elicited a synergistic antitumor effect,outperforming each monotherapy or dual combination. Conclusions: This study presents a synergistic immunotherapy platform that integrates NK reprogramming,CAR engineering,and tumor sensitization. The combinatorial approach significantly enhances antitumor efficacy in PDAC and offers a promising strategy for overcoming immune resistance in solid tumors. View Publication

Cancer stem cells were prominent responsible for cancer initiation,metastasis,and invasion as well as therapeutic resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). The extracellular axon guidance factor netrin-1 has been found to be overexpressed in several malignant cancers such as glioma,lung cancers,and colorectal cancer. However,the role of netrin-1 on cancer stemness in CRC remains unveiled. Our study revealed high expression of netrin-1 in colorectal cancer tissues and its ability to promote cancer stemness by interacting with receptors UNC5B and neogenin on murine colorectal cancer cell. Mechanistically,the netrin-1-UNC5B/neogenin axis activates the downstream NF-κB and ERK1/2 signaling pathways,reinforcing the stemness properties of tumor cells,and further exacerbating tumor progression. Clinically,netrin-1 expression associated with poor survival and high CD133 expression in patients with CRC. Taken together,these results suggest that netrin-1 blockade could be a compelling therapeutic strategy to improve the poor outcomes and trigger cancer stemness inhibition in CRC treatment. View Publication

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affects up to two-thirds of cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy. Here,we used human iPSC-derived sensory neurons (iPSC-DSN) to model CIPN in vitro. Administration of various chemotherapeutic agents (i.e.,paclitaxel,vincristine,bortezomib and cisplatin) at clinically applicable concentrations resulted in reduced cell viability,axonal degeneration,electrophysiological dysfunction and increased levels of phosphorylated c-Jun in iPSC-DSN. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that the upregulation of c-Jun strongly correlated with the expression of genes of neuronal injury,apoptosis and inflammatory signatures. To test whether c-Jun plays a central role in the development of CIPN,we applied the small molecule inhibitor of the Jun N-terminal kinase,SP600125,to iPSC-DSN treated with neurotoxic chemotherapy. c-Jun inhibition prevented chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity by preserving cell viability,axonal integrity and electrophysiological function of iPSC-DSN. These findings identify c-Jun as a key mediator of CIPN pathophysiology across multiple drug types and present preclinical evidence that c-Jun inhibition is an attractive therapeutic target to prevent CIPN. View Publication

Neuronal differentiation requires extensive metabolic remodeling to support increased energetic and biosynthetic demands. Here,we present an integrated multi-omics and functional characterization of metabolic transitions during early differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into excitatory cortical neurons using doxycycline-inducible overexpression of neurogenin-2 (NGN2). We analyzed parental iPSCs and induced neurons (iNs) at days 7 and 14 of differentiation,integrating gene expression profiling,label-free quantitative proteomics,high-resolution respirometry,fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM),and 13C₆-glucose metabolic flux analysis. Our data reveal progressive metabolic remodeling associated with neuronal maturation,including enhanced oxidative phosphorylation,increased mitochondrial content,and respiratory capacity. Proteomic analyses showed upregulation of mitochondrial and antioxidant pathways,while FLIM indicated a progressive increase in enzyme-bound NAD(P)H,consistent with a shift toward oxidative metabolism. Notably,13C₆-glucose tracing revealed delayed labeling of the intracellular pool of fully labeled glucose and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites,together with enhanced labeling of pentose phosphate pathway intermediates and glutathione in iNs,indicating a shift toward biosynthetic and antioxidant glucose utilization during differentiation. Despite this enhancement in mitochondrial function,differentiated neurons maintained glycolytic activity,suggesting metabolic flexibility. Our results define the first week of differentiation as a critical window of metabolic specialization and establish NGN2-iPSC-derived cortical neurons as a versatile and well-characterized model system for investigating bioenergetic remodeling during early human neurodevelopment. It provides a robust foundation for mechanistic insights and high-throughput evaluation of metabolic pathways relevant to human disease. View Publication

Three-dimensional (3D) human brain tissue models derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have transformed the study of neural development and disease in vitro. While cerebral organoids offer high structural complexity,their large size often leads to necrotic core formation,limiting reproducibility and challenging the integration of microglia. Here,we present a detailed,reproducible protocol for generating multi-cell type 3D neurospheres that incorporate neurons,astrocytes,and optionally microglia,all derived from the same iPSCs. While neurons and astrocytes differentiate spontaneously from neural precursor cells,generated by dual SMAD-inhibition (blocking BMP and TGF-b signaling),microglia are generated in parallel and can infiltrate the mature neurosphere tissue after plating neurospheres into 48-well plates. The system supports a range of downstream applications,including functional confocal live imaging of GCaMP6f after adeno-associated virus (AAV) transduction of neurospheres or immunofluorescence staining after fixation. Our approach has been successfully implemented across multiple laboratories,demonstrating its robustness and translational potential for studying neuron–glia interactions and modeling neurodegenerative processes. View Publication

The differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into neurons is an essential area of biomedical research,with significant implications for understanding neural development and treating neurological diseases. This study compares neural cultures derived from a common induced pluripotent stem cell line (KYOU-DXR0109B) generated by two widely adopted methods: DUAL SMAD inhibition and exogenous NGN2 overexpression. The DUAL SMAD inhibition method,which differentiates through the neural stem cell stage,produces heterogeneous cultures containing a mix of neurons,neural precursors,and glial cells. Conversely,NGN2 overexpression generates more homogeneous cultures composed predominantly of mature neurons. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant differences in neural gene markers expression profiles,with cultures from the DUAL SMAD inhibition method enriched in neural stem cell and glial markers,while NGN2 overexpression cultures showed elevated markers for cholinergic and peripheral sensory neurons. This study underscores the importance of choosing appropriate differentiation protocols based on the desired cell types,as each method yields neural cultures with distinct cellular compositions. Understanding these differences can help optimize protocols for specific research and therapeutic applications. View Publication

Proteomics of dystrophic muscle samples is limited by the amount of protein that can be extracted from patient biopsies. Cells and tissues derived from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be an expandable alternative source. We have patterned iPSCs from three Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patient lines into skeletal muscle cells using a two-dimensional as well as our three-dimensional organoid differentiation system. Probes with sufficient protein amounts could be extracted and prepared for mass spectrometry. In total,3007 proteins in 2D and 2709 proteins in 3D were detected in DMD patient probes. A total of 83 proteins in 2D and 338 proteins in 3D can be described as differentially expressed between DMD and control patient probes in a post hoc test. We have identified and we propose Myosin-9,Collagen 18A,Tropomyosin 1,BASP1,RUVBL1,and NCAM1 as proteins specifically altered in their expression in DMD for further investigation. Proteomics of skeletal muscle organoids resulted in greater consistency of results between cell lines in comparison to the two-dimensional myogenic differentiation protocol. View Publication

Human microglia are central regulators and actors in brain infections and neuro-inflammatory pathologies. However,access to such cells is limited,and studies systematically mapping the spectrum of their inflammatory states are scarce. Here,we generated microglia-like cells (MGLCs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells and characterized them as a robust,accessible model system for studying inflammatory activation. We validated lineage identity through transcriptome profiling,revealing selective upregulation of microglial signature genes and enrichment of microglia/macrophage-related gene sets. MGLCs displayed distinct morphologies and produced stimulus- and time-dependent cytokine secretion profiles upon exposure to diverse inflammatory stimuli,including pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα,interferon-γ) and agonists of the Toll-like receptors TLR2 (FSL-1),TLR3 (Poly(I:C)),TLR4 (lipopolysaccharide,LPS),and TLR7 (imiquimod). Transcriptome profiling and bioinformatics analysis revealed distinct activation signatures. Functional assays demonstrated stimulus-specific engagement of NFκB and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. The shared NFκB nuclear translocation response of TLR ligands and TNFα was reflected in overlapping transcriptome profiles: they shared modules (e.g.,oxidative stress response and TNFα-related signaling) identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Finally,the potential consequences of microglia activation for neighboring cells were studied on the example of microglia-astrocyte crosstalk. The capacity of MGLC supernatants to stimulate astrocytes was measured by quantifying astrocytic NFκB translocation. MGLCs stimulated with FSL-1,LPS,or Poly(I:C) indirectly activated astrocytes via a strictly TNFα-dependent mechanism,highlighting the role of soluble mediators in the signal propagation. Altogether,this platform enables a dissection of microglia activation states and multi-parametric characterization of subsequent neuroinflammation. View Publication

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary malignancy of the liver. Characterized by rapid progression and poor overall survival rates,HCC requires effective and streamlined treatment regimens. It predominantly occurs in East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa,where it has historically been managed with herbal formulas. We previously observed that the herbal formula HO-1089 exerts potent anti-HCC effects both in vitro and in vivo. In this study,we investigated the anticancer efficacy and mechanisms of HO-1197,a reconstituted herbal formulation derived from HO-1089. HO-1197 selectively inhibited the viability of HCC cell lines without hepatotoxicity and demonstrated superior anticancer activity compared with both HO-1089 and sorafenib. Mechanistically,HO-1197 induced apoptosis and G2/M arrest through reactive oxygen species-mediated DNA damage,independent of p53 status. Transcriptomic analysis revealed downregulation of mitosis-related genes,particularly those regulated by FOXM1,a key driver of HCC proliferation and metastasis. HO-1197 suppressed FOXM1 expression and nuclear translocation,reducing its downstream targets and diminishing angiogenic and metastatic potential. Furthermore,HO-1197 modulated the tumor immune microenvironment by promoting pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization and enhancing natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. HO-1197 exhibited potent antitumor efficacy,and combination therapy with HO-1197 and sorafenib exhibited synergistic effects in both two-dimensional and immune-activated multicellular spheroid models. These findings suggest that HO-1197 is a promising multifunctional therapeutic candidate with antitumor,antiangiogenic,antimetastatic,and immunomodulatory properties. Its combination with sorafenib may offer effective treatment for HCC. HO-1197,which demonstrated strong efficacy,is a novel herbal medicine developed by H&O Biosis and is referred to as an Integrated Natural Medicine. View Publication

Osteoporosis (OP) could lead to the alteration of bone marrow microenvironment and non-homeostasis of hematopoiesis,which could increase the incidence of hematologic malignancies. However,whether myeloid-biased hematopoiesis occurred and contributed to the leukemogenesis under the condition of OP remains unclear. Results: This study successfully induced a mouse model for OP by hindlimb unloading,which shows increased myeloid cells and decreased B cells in the peripheral blood (PB). Furthermore,our study demonstrates that the myeloid-biased subset of HSPCs (hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells) with reduced differentiation and apoptosis,including multipotent progenitor 3 (MPP3) and granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs),were expanded in the OP mice. The expansion of myeloid-biased HSPCs contributes to the accumulation of HSPCs in the bone marrow and increased myeloid cells in the PB of OP mice. In the expanded pool of HSPCs,OP mice specifically enriched subsets were identified and profiled by single cell RNA-seq,including subHSCs from primitive HSCs,MPP3-1 from MPP3,GMP5 from GMPs,MkP2 from megakaryocyte progenitors and EryP1 from erythrocyte progenitors. Meanwhile,those OP-HU mice enriched subsets shared significantly up- and down-regulated genes enriched in chromatin modification and cell differentiation and apoptosis such as Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (Brd4),encoding an important chromatin remodeling protein,and Proteinase 3 (Prtn3). Moreover,the specific transcription factors corresponding to the expansion of subHSCs,MPP3-1,GMP5 and EryP1 in OP-HU mice were identified as Zfp951,Nfic,Maz and Ezh2. Finally,inhibition of BRD4 in vivo could partially restore the phenotype of OP-HU mice and the expression of genes regulating HSPC expansion,differentiation and apoptosis. Conclusions: First of all,our study shows that OP could induce the unbalanced hematopoiesis and enhances the myeloid-biased hematopoiesis. Secondly,OP mice enriched subsets of HSPCs were identified and characterized with enhanced chromatin remodeling,reduced differentiation and resistance to apoptosis. Finally,this study demonstrate that Brd4 regulated gene programs endow the myeloid-biased subsets of HSPCs with tumor cell-like characters in OP mice,which may increase the incidence of the leukemic evolution. This study sheds light on the importance for the prevention of myeloid leukemogenesis in human with OP. View Publication