P.I. Racz, R.R.M. Ottenheijm, R. Derr, G. Hendriks · Control Control 25 µ M 25 µ M 50 µ M 50 µ...

1
Control Control 25 µM 25µM 50µM 50µM 100µM 100µM 0 1000 2000 3000 *** *** *** ** ** ** Thalidomide Relative expression Summary Testing for developmental and reproductive toxicology (DART) is a crucial part of the toxicological risk assessment of novel compounds. Embryonic stem cells based assays (like EST test) have a clear potential to fulfil the 3R’s requirements and commonly used for in vitro developmental toxicity tests. Based on toxicogenomic studies in mammalian stem cells we identified six biomarkers (Bmp4, CK18, FoxA2, Oct4, Sox17 and Vegfr1), to visualise and quantify developmental alterations upon teratogen exposure in the pluripotent stage, in early embryonic lineages and differentiated tissues: heart and liver. Using these biomarker genes, we are generating fluorescently labelled reporter cell lines. Using mouse embryonic stem cells, we optimised differentiation protocols towards to cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes and confirmed the expression of the selected biomarkers by qPCR. We generated GFP-CK18 reporter cell lines (liver-specific) and differentiated them towards hepatocytes using a refined 2D and 3D hepatocyte differentiation protocol. We exposed cells during pluripotent stage with two strong (5-fluorouracil and retinoic acid) and two weak teratogens (thalidomide and diphenylhydantoin) followed by differentiation induction into cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes. Expression of the selected biomarkers shows alterations upon the teratogenic compound treatment. These data were in line with the observed reduction in the number of beating bodies in the developing cardiomyocytes and the reduced GFP expression level of the liver-specific CK18 transgenic line. Development of a stem cell-based reporter assay for in vitro DART assessment. Undifferentiated ES cells Definitive endoderm Hepatic progenitor cells Meso-endoderm d3 d21 d16 d6 Activin A, Chir99021, HGF ß-Mercaptoethanol DMSO ß-Mercaptoethanol DMSO hIPSC Hepatocyte differentiation A. B. 2D Hepatocyte differentiation Undifferentiated mES cells Matured hepatocytes differentiated from mES cells labeled with Ck18 and Alb d3 d0 d21 d16 d5 Undifferentiated mES cells LIF ActA. FGF. DEX., Oncostatin DEX, Oncostatin Meso-endoderm Definitive endoderm Hepatic progenitor cells Hepatocytes 3D Cardiomyocyte differentiation Differentiated mES cells stained with TNNT2 Undifferentiated ES cells Cardiac mesoderm Meso-endoderm Cardiomyocytes d3 d0 d14 d5 d7 LIF ActA, Chir99021, BMP4 XAV939 Cardiac progenitor cells Performance criteria WEC Micromass EST Predictivity non-embryotoxic 70% 57% 72% Predictivity weak embryotoxic 76% 71% 70% Predictivity strong embryotoxic 100% 100% 100% Precision non-embryotoxic 80% 80% 70% Precision weak embryotoxic 65% 60% 83% Precision strong embryotoxic 100% 69% 81% Accuracy 80% 70% 78% Overall performance Sufficient Insufficient Sufficient Early embryonic development Reporter cell line generation d4 d7 d10 d14 d17 d21 DMSO control Low exposure Medium exposure High exposure 5’ Fluoracil Retinoic acid Control Thalidomide Diphenylhydantoin Effect of teratogens on hepatocyte differentiation 5’Fluoracil Retinoic acid 0.0 5n M Diphenylhydantoin Thalidomide DMSO control Low exposure Medium exposure High exposure Selected Biomarkers Biomarker gene Phase in differentiation process Oct4 Undifferentiated stem cell state Sox17 Endoderm state Foxa2 Endoderm state Bmp4 Mesoderm state Vegfr1 Mature cardiomyocyte Ck18 Mature hepatocyte Overview of the mouse embryonic stem cell line (mES) cardiomyocytes differentiation protocol. mES cells were differentiated within 14 days into matured cardiomyocytes. Functional cardiomyocytes were identified based on morphological assessment of contracting cardiomyocytes. High expression of the heart specific structural protein Troponin T2 (TNNT2 - red) confirms the successful differentiation towards cardiomyocytes at day 14. The cells were counterstained with nucleic specific marker DAPI (blue) after completing cardiomyocyte differentiation protocol. Transgenic line generation (A.) Biomarker genes that are selectively expressed at different stages of stem cell differention into mature cardiomyocytes or hepatocytes were selected. The biomarker genes were applied to generate GFP-based reporters using BAC recombination. The liver-specific CK-18 biomarker gene was modified with an N- terminal GFP green fluorescent marker. Successful integration of the GFP reporter into mES cells was confirmed by sequencing. Differentiation of the transgenic lines CK18-GFP towards hepatocytes in 2D cell culture (B). Increased level of GFP signal over time demonstrates the differentiation/maturation process of the hepatocytes. GFP-intensity calculated with Fiji image processing package. Overview of the mouse embryonic stem cell line (mES) hepatocyte differentiation protocol. mES cells were differentiated within 21 days into matured hepatocytes. Expression of the liver-specific cytokeratin-18 (green) was visualised in pluripotent mES cells and differentiated hepatocytes. Successful differentiation of mES cells into functional hepatocytes was confirmed by Albumin (ALB) immunostaining (red) confirmed the presence of matured hepatocytes. The cells were counterstained with nucleic specific marker DAPI (blue) after completing hepatocyte differentiation protocol. Overview of the hIPSC hepatocyte differentiation protocols (A). hiPSC were differentiated within 21 days into mature hepatocytes. Changes in cell phorphology during stem cell differentiation into hepatocytes are shown t at day 0, 3, 10 and 21 during the differentiation process. Biomarker expression at day 0, 21 of differentiation (B). RNA was collected and expression levels of the biomarker genes was determined by qPCR. The pluripotency marker OCT4 was, significantly decreased after 21 days while the expression of the hepatocyte specific markers ALB and AFP were increased. Student t-test was used for determination of significance. *p<0.05; **p<0.01, *** p<0.001. d0 Undifferentiated mES cells Adopted from http://madmnemonics.blogspot.nl/2015/06/the-three-primary-germ-layers.html hIPSC Hepatocyte differentiation upon compound exposure Teratogenic effect of 5’Fluorouracil and Thalidomide on hIPSC during directed hepatocyte differentiation. hiPSC were exposed to two well-known teratogens, 5-Fluorouracil and Thalidomide for 21 days, in three different concentration. At day 21 the expression level of the two liver specific biomarkers, α-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin (ALB) were measured by qPCR. Both compounds showed decreased expression of the biomarkers in a concentration dependent manner. Student t-test was used for determination of significance. *p<0.05; **p<0.01, *** p<0.001. Hepatocyte Defective hepatocyte differentiation upon teratogenic compound exposure. Cells were exposed to different teratogenic compounds during mES cell differentiation towards hepatocytes. After 21 days, fluorescence intensity of the hepatocyte specific CK-18-GFP reporter was measured. Presented values are expressed as percentages of control. Student t-test was used for determination of significance. *p<0.05; **p<0.01, *** p<0.001. Defective cardiomyocyte differentiation upon teratogenic compound exposure. Cells were exposed to teratogenic compounds during mES cell differentiation towards cardiomyocytes. The percentage of beating 3D embryoid bodies, representing functional cardiomyocytes, was determined. Presented values are expressed as percentages of control. Students t-test was used to determine significance. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001. A. B. Effect of teratogens on cardiomyocyte differentiation hIPSC cardiomyocyte differentiation ActA, Chir99021 B27, BMP4 B27, BMP4 Undifferentiated hIPSC cells Differentiated hIPSC cells towards to cardiomyocytes Differentiated hIPSC cells co-stained with cardiac specific marker TNNT2. d3 d0 d14 d5 d7 Overview of hIPSC cardiomyocytes differentiation protocols. hiPSC were differentiated within 14 days into mature cardiomyocytes. Effective cardiomyocyte differentiation was confirmed by Troponin-T (TNNT2) immunostaining. Biomarker expression at day 0, 21 of differentiation (B). RNA was collected at day 3, 7, 10 and 14 and expression levels of the biomarker genes was determined by qPCR. The pluripotency marker OCT4 was significantly decreased after 14 days, while the expression of the mesodermal state specific marker BMP4 was increased at day 7 and decreased after. Cardiomyocyte specific marker MYH6 showed increase expression significantly increased expression from day 7. Student t-test was used for determination of significance. *p<0.05; **p<0.01, *** p<0.001. Oct4 Day3 Day 7 Day 10 Day 14 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 Relative expression ** ** * Bmp4 Day3 Day 7 Day 10 Day 14 0 2 4 6 8 10 Relative expression * * MYH6 Day3 Day 7 Day 10 Day 14 0 50 100 150 200 *** *** Relative expression d0 d3 d10 d21 Toxys, Leiden, The Netherlands P.I. Racz, R.R.M. Ottenheijm, R. Derr, G. Hendriks Undifferentiated ES cells Cardiac mesoderm Meso-endoderm Cardiomyocytes Cardiac progenitor cells A. B. 5'Fluorouracil Control 0.125mM 0.25mM 0.5mM 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 *** *** GFP/DAPI Retinoic acid Control 0.05nM 0.1nM 0.2nM 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 * *** GFP/DAPI Diphenylhydantoin Control 25µM 50µM 100µM 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 GFP/DAPI Thalidomide Control 25µM 50µM 100µM 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 GFP/DAPI 5'Fluorouracil Control 0.0625µM 0.125µM 0.25µM 0 50 100 150 ** Beating body Retinoic acid Control 0.05nM 0.1nM 0.2nM 0 50 100 150 Beating body Diphenylhidantoin Control 25µM 50µM 100µM 0 50 100 150 *** *** Beating body Thalidomide Control 0.25mM 0.5 mM 1 mM 0 50 100 150 Beating body Control D21 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 *** Pluripotent stage specific biomarker expression (OCT4) Relative expression Control Control 0,125 µM 0,125 µM 0,25 µM 0,25 µM 0,5 µM 0,5 µM 0 2000 4000 6000 *** *** *** ** *** ** 5'Fluorouracil Relative expression AFP ALB AFP ALB Day 0 Day 21 Day 21 0 1000 2000 3000 Hepatocyte specific biomarker expression *** ** Relative expression AFP ALB pgk-Neo FP sa sd G ATG STOP Artificial Chromosome (BAC) biomarker gene exon1 exon2 intron

Transcript of P.I. Racz, R.R.M. Ottenheijm, R. Derr, G. Hendriks · Control Control 25 µ M 25 µ M 50 µ M 50 µ...

Page 1: P.I. Racz, R.R.M. Ottenheijm, R. Derr, G. Hendriks · Control Control 25 µ M 25 µ M 50 µ M 50 µ M 100 µ 100 µ M 0 1000 2000 3000 *** *** *** ** ** ** Thalidomide Relative expression

Contro

l

Contro

l

25 µM

25µM

50µM

50µM

100µ

M

100µ

M

0

1000

2000

3000

*** ******

** ** **

Thalidomide

Rel

ativ

e ex

pres

sion

Summary

Testing for developmental and reproductive toxicology (DART) is a crucial part of the toxicological risk assessment of novel compounds. Embryonic stem cells based assays (like EST test) have a clear potential to fulfil the 3R’s requirements and commonly used for in vitro developmental toxicity tests.

Based on toxicogenomic studies in mammalian stem cells we identified six biomarkers (Bmp4, CK18, FoxA2, Oct4, Sox17 and Vegfr1), to visualise and quantify developmental alterations upon teratogen exposure in the pluripotent stage, in early embryonic lineages and differentiated tissues: heart and liver. Using these biomarker genes, we are generating fluorescently labelled reporter cell lines.

Using mouse embryonic stem cells, we optimised differentiation protocols towards to cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes and confirmed the expression of the selected biomarkers by qPCR. We generated

GFP-CK18 reporter cell lines (liver-specific) and differentiated them towards hepatocytes using a refined 2D and 3D hepatocyte differentiation protocol. We exposed cells during pluripotent stage with two

strong (5-fluorouracil and retinoic acid) and two weak teratogens (thalidomide and diphenylhydantoin) followed by differentiation induction into cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes. Expression of the selected

biomarkers shows alterations upon the teratogenic compound treatment. These data were in line with the observed reduction in the number of beating bodies in the developing cardiomyocytes and the

reduced GFP expression level of the liver-specific CK18 transgenic line.

Development of a stem cell-based reporter assay for in vitro

DART assessment.

Undifferentiated ES cells

Definitive endoderm

Hepatic progenitor cells Meso-endoderm

d3 d21d16d6

Activin A, Chir99021, HGF

ß-Mercaptoethanol DMSO

ß-Mercaptoethanol DMSO

hIPSC Hepatocyte differentiation

A.

B.

2D Hepatocyte differentiation

Undifferentiated mES cells Matured hepatocytes differentiated from mES cells labeled with Ck18 and Alb

d3d0 d21d16d5

Undifferentiated mES cells

LIF ActA. FGF. DEX., Oncostatin

DEX, Oncostatin

Meso-endoderm Definitive endoderm Hepatic progenitor cells

Hepatocytes

3D Cardiomyocyte differentiation

Differentiated mES cells stained with TNNT2

Undifferentiated ES cells

Cardiac mesodermMeso-endoderm Cardiomyocytes

d3d0 d14d5 d7

LIF ActA, Chir99021,

BMP4XAV939

Cardiac progenitor cells

Performance criteria WEC Micromass EST

Predictivity non-embryotoxic 70% 57% 72%

Predictivity weak embryotoxic 76% 71% 70%

Predictivity strong embryotoxic 100% 100% 100%

Precision non-embryotoxic 80% 80% 70%

Precision weak embryotoxic 65% 60% 83%

Precision strong embryotoxic 100% 69% 81%

Accuracy 80% 70% 78%

Overall performance Sufficient Insufficient Sufficient

Early embryonic development

Reporter cell line generation

d4 d7 d10

d14 d17 d21

DMSO control Low exposure Medium exposure High exposure

5’ F

luora

cil

Retin

oic

aci

d

ControlThalid

om

ide

Dip

henyl

hyd

anto

in

Effect of teratogens on hepatocyte differentiation

5’Fl

uora

cil

Retin

oic

aci

d

0.05nMD

iphenyl

hyd

anto

inThalid

om

ide

DMSO control Low exposure Medium exposure High exposureSelected Biomarkers

Biomarker gene

Phase in differentiation process

Oct4 Undifferentiated stem cell state

Sox17 Endoderm state

Foxa2 Endoderm state

Bmp4 Mesoderm state

Vegfr1 Mature cardiomyocyte

Ck18 Mature hepatocyte

Overview of the mouse embryonic stem cell line (mES) cardiomyocytes differentiation protocol. mES cells were

differentiated within 14 days into matured cardiomyocytes. Functional cardiomyocytes were identified based on

morphological assessment of contracting cardiomyocytes. High expression of the heart specific structural protein

Troponin T2 (TNNT2 - red) confirms the successful differentiation towards cardiomyocytes at day 14. The cells were

counterstained with nucleic specific marker DAPI (blue) after completing cardiomyocyte differentiation protocol.

Transgenic line generation (A.) Biomarker genes that are selectively expressed at different stages of stem cell differention into mature cardiomyocytes or hepatocytes were selected. The biomarker genes were applied to generate GFP-based reporters using BAC recombination. The liver-specific CK-18 biomarker gene was modified with an N-terminal GFP green fluorescent marker. Successful integration of the GFP reporter into mES cells was confirmed by sequencing. Differentiation of the transgenic lines CK18-GFP towards hepatocytes in 2D cell culture (B). Increased level of GFP signal over time demonstrates the differentiation/maturation process of the hepatocytes. GFP-intensity calculated with Fiji image processing package.

Overview of the mouse embryonic stem cell line (mES) hepatocyte differentiation protocol. mES cells were

differentiated within 21 days into matured hepatocytes. Expression of the liver-specific cytokeratin-18 (green) was

visualised in pluripotent mES cells and differentiated hepatocytes. Successful differentiation of mES cells into functional

hepatocytes was confirmed by Albumin (ALB) immunostaining (red) confirmed the presence of matured hepatocytes.

The cells were counterstained with nucleic specific marker DAPI (blue) after completing hepatocyte differentiation

protocol.

Overview of the hIPSC hepatocyte differentiation protocols (A). hiPSC were differentiated within 21 days into mature hepatocytes. Changes in cell phorphology during stem cell differentiation into hepatocytes are shown t at day 0, 3, 10 and 21 during the differentiation process. Biomarker expression at day 0, 21 of differentiation (B). RNA was collected and expression levels of the biomarker genes was determined by qPCR. The pluripotency marker OCT4 was, significantly decreased after 21 days while the expression of the hepatocyte specific markers ALB and AFP were increased. Student t-test was used for determination of significance. *p<0.05; **p<0.01, *** p<0.001.

d0

Undifferentiated mES cells Adopted from http://madmnemonics.blogspot.nl/2015/06/the-three-primary-germ-layers.html

hIPSC Hepatocyte differentiation upon compound exposure

Teratogenic effect of 5’Fluorouracil and Thalidomide on hIPSC during directed hepatocyte differentiation. hiPSC were exposed to two well-known teratogens, 5-Fluorouracil and Thalidomide for 21 days, in three different concentration.

At day 21 the expression level of the two liver specific biomarkers, α-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin (ALB) were measured by qPCR. Both compounds showed decreased expression of the biomarkers in a concentration dependent manner. Student t-test was used for determination of significance. *p<0.05; **p<0.01, *** p<0.001.

Hepatocyte

Defective hepatocyte differentiation upon teratogenic compound exposure. Cells were exposed to different teratogenic compounds during mES cell differentiation towards hepatocytes. After 21 days, fluorescence intensity of the hepatocyte specific CK-18-GFP reporter was measured. Presented values are expressed as percentages of control. Student t-test was used for determination of significance. *p<0.05; **p<0.01, *** p<0.001.

Defective cardiomyocyte differentiation upon teratogenic compound exposure. Cells were exposed to teratogenic compounds during mES cell differentiation towards cardiomyocytes. The percentage of beating 3D embryoid bodies, representing functional cardiomyocytes, was determined. Presented values are expressed as percentages of control. Students t-test was used to determine significance. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.

A.

B.

Effect of teratogens on cardiomyocyte differentiation

hIPSC cardiomyocyte differentiation

ActA, Chir99021 B27, BMP4 B27, BMP4

Undifferentiated hIPSC cells

Differentiated hIPSC cells towards to cardiomyocytes

Differentiated hIPSC cells co-stained with cardiac specific marker TNNT2.

d3d0 d14d5 d7

Overview of hIPSC cardiomyocytes differentiation protocols. hiPSC were differentiated within 14 days into mature cardiomyocytes. Effective cardiomyocyte differentiation was confirmed by Troponin-T (TNNT2) immunostaining. Biomarker expression at day 0, 21 of differentiation (B). RNA was collected at day 3, 7, 10 and 14 and expression levels of the biomarker genes was determined by qPCR. The pluripotency marker OCT4 was significantly decreased after 14 days, while the expression of the mesodermal state specific marker BMP4 was increased at day 7 and decreased after. Cardiomyocyte specific marker MYH6 showed increase expression significantly increased expression from day 7. Student t-test was used for determination of significance. *p<0.05; **p<0.01, *** p<0.001.

Oct4

Day3

Day 7

Day 10

Day 14

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

Rel

ativ

e ex

pres

sion

**

***

Bmp4

Day3

Day 7

Day 10

Day 14

0

2

4

6

8

10

Rel

ativ

e ex

pres

sion

*

*

MYH6

Day3

Day 7

Day 10

Day 14

0

50

100

150

200

***

***

Rel

ativ

e ex

pres

sion

d0 d3 d10 d21

Toxys, Leiden, The Netherlands

P.I. Racz, R.R.M. Ottenheijm, R. Derr, G. Hendriks

Undifferentiated ES cells

Cardiac mesodermMeso-endoderm Cardiomyocytes

Cardiac progenitor cells

A.

B.

5'Fluorouracil

Contro

l

0.125

mM

0.25m

M0.5

mM0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

***

***

GFP

/DA

PI

Retinoic acid

Contro

l

0.05n

M0.1

nM0.2

nM0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

*

***GFP

/DA

PI

Diphenylhydantoin

Contro

l 25µM

50µM

100µ

M0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

GFP

/DA

PI

Thalidomide

Contro

l 25µM

50µM

100µ

M0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

GFP

/DA

PI

5'Fluorouracil

Contro

l

0.062

5µM

0.125µM

0.25µ

M0

50

100

150

**Bea

ting

body

Retinoic acid

Contro

l

0.05n

M0.1

nM0.2

nM0

50

100

150

Bea

ting

body

Diphenylhidantoin

Contro

l

25µM

50µM

100µ

M0

50

100

150

*** ***Bea

ting

body

Thalidomide

Con

trol

0.25m

M

0.5 m

M1 m

M0

50

100

150

Bea

ting

body

Contro

lD21

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

***

Pluripotent stage specific biomarker expression(OCT4)

Rel

ativ

e ex

pres

sion

Contro

l

Contro

l

0,125

µM

0,125

µM

0,25 µ

M

0,25 µ

M

0,5 µM

0,5 µ

M 0

2000

4000

6000 ***

***

*****

*** **

5'Fluorouracil

Rel

ativ

e ex

pres

sion

AFPALB

AFPALB

Day 0

Day 21

Day 21

0

1000

2000

3000

Hepatocyte specific biomarker expression

***

**

Rel

ativ

e ex

pres

sion

AFPALB

pgk-Neo

FP

sasd

G

ATG STOP

Artificial Chromosome (BAC)

biomarker gene

exon1 exon2intron