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

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 14;9(1):2072. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-37430-9.

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 iPS-HPCs 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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Communication / physiology
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Coculture Techniques / methods
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / metabolism*
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation / physiology

Substances

  • LHX2 protein, human
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Transcription Factors