Currently, whole liver transplantation is the primary method used to treat end stage chronic liver failure. With the marked shortage of available donor livers, there has been considerable interest in identifying stem or progenitor cells can restore liver mass and function. We have demonstrated that fetal liver epithelial cells can repopulate up to 30% of parenchymal mass in normal liver, produce new hepatocytes and bile ducts and continue to proliferate for up to one year after cell transplantation. These are all properties of stem cells and we refer to these cells as fetal liver stem/progenitor cells (FLSPC). We hypothesize that use of a normal liver based cell transplantation system, such as the one we have established, is critical in determining the stem cell potential of isolated cells and cell lines and in identifying essential factors that contribute to their proliferation and differentiation in the liver. Recently, we discovered that fetal liver cells replace host hepatocytes by cell competition, a process originally described in Drosophila. Within this context, experiments are proposed: 1. To study the hypothesis that engraftment of fetal liver stem/progenitor cells into the hepatic parenchyma represents a rate limiting step in liver repopulation. These studies will utilize mouse and rat fetal liver stem/progenitor cells that have been purified to 95% homogeneity using immunomagnetic beads (MACS). 2. To study the hypothesis that modulating cell competition and understanding the circumstances under which this occurs will lead to identifying optimal conditions for liver repopulation by transplanted FLSPC. How long does repopulation/competition continue? Does the age of the host recipient at the time of cell transplantation influence the extent of repopulation? Is competition always driven by increased apoptosis in the host liver? and Can we block liver repopulation by knocking down expression of the anti-apoptotic gene, survivin, in FLSPC prior to their transplantation? 3. To identify specific genes, signaling pathways and mechanisms that regulate cell competition during mammalian liver repopulation. Our hypothesis is that the competitive advantage of transplanted FLSPC over host hepatocytes derives from overexpression of anti-apoptotic genes in these cells, coupled with augmented apoptosis of host hepatocytes through the extrinsic cell death pathway. We will identify the specific genes and signaling pathways involved by isolating RNA from actively proliferating transplanted cell clusters and surrounding host liver by laser-capture micro dissection and studying specific gene expression by RT-PCR, qRT-PCR and high density gene expression microarrays and 4) To directly demonstrate critical stem cell properties of fetal liver epithelial progenitor cells in vivo, including their ability to grow clonally, their bipotency and their capacity for self-renewal. The overall goal of these studies is to find methods to enhance liver repopulation by transplanted hepatic derived cells that will ultimately lead to clinical application in humans. Public Health Relevance: This project is directed toward optimizing repopulation of the adult rat liver with fetal liver stem/progenitor cells and in determining the critical steps, mechanism and genes involved in cell competition, which regulates this process.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DK017609-35S1
Application #
7905579
Study Section
Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section (HBPP)
Program Officer
Serrano, Jose
Project Start
2009-09-05
Project End
2010-08-31
Budget Start
2009-09-05
Budget End
2010-08-31
Support Year
35
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$99,729
Indirect Cost
Name
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
110521739
City
Bronx
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10461
Yovchev, Mladen; Jaber, Fadi L; Lu, Zhonglei et al. (2016) Experimental Model for Successful Liver Cell Therapy by Lenti TTR-YapERT2 Transduced Hepatocytes with Tamoxifen Control of Yap Subcellular Location. Sci Rep 6:19275
Yovchev, Mladen I; Xue, Yuhua; Shafritz, David A et al. (2014) Repopulation of the fibrotic/cirrhotic rat liver by transplanted hepatic stem/progenitor cells and mature hepatocytes. Hepatology 59:284-95
Shafritz, David A; Oertel, Michael (2011) Model systems and experimental conditions that lead to effective repopulation of the liver by transplanted cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 43:198-213
Menthena, Anuradha; Koehler, Christoph I; Sandhu, Jaswinderpal S et al. (2011) Activin A, p15INK4b signaling, and cell competition promote stem/progenitor cell repopulation of livers in aging rats. Gastroenterology 140:1009-20
Oertel, Michael; Shafritz, David A (2008) Stem cells, cell transplantation and liver repopulation. Biochim Biophys Acta 1782:61-74
Oertel, Michael; Menthena, Anuradha; Chen, Yuan-Qing et al. (2008) Purification of fetal liver stem/progenitor cells containing all the repopulation potential for normal adult rat liver. Gastroenterology 134:823-32
Oertel, Michael; Menthena, Anuradha; Chen, Yuan-Qing et al. (2007) Comparison of hepatic properties and transplantation of Thy-1(+) and Thy-1(-) cells isolated from embryonic day 14 rat fetal liver. Hepatology 46:1236-45
Nierhoff, Dirk; Levoci, Lauretta; Schulte, Sigrid et al. (2007) New cell surface markers for murine fetal hepatic stem cells identified through high density complementary DNA microarrays. Hepatology 46:535-47
Shafritz, David A; Oertel, Michael; Menthena, Anuradha et al. (2006) Liver stem cells and prospects for liver reconstitution by transplanted cells. Hepatology 43:S89-98
Gouon-Evans, Valerie; Boussemart, Lise; Gadue, Paul et al. (2006) BMP-4 is required for hepatic specification of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived definitive endoderm. Nat Biotechnol 24:1402-11

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