NRF2 Orchestrates the Metabolic Shift during Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Reprogramming (original) (raw)

Hypoxia-Inducible Factors Have Distinct and Stage-Specific Roles during Reprogramming of Human Cells to Pluripotency

Cell Stem Cell, 2014

Pluripotent stem cells have distinct metabolic requirements, and reprogramming cells to pluripotency requires a shift from oxidative to glycolytic metabolism. Here, we show that this shift occurs early during reprogramming of human cells and requires hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) in a stagespecific manner. HIF1a and HIF2a are both necessary to initiate this metabolic switch and for the acquisition of pluripotency, and the stabilization of either protein during early phases of reprogramming is sufficient to induce the switch to glycolytic metabolism. In contrast, stabilization of HIF2a during later stages represses reprogramming, partly because of the upregulation of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). TRAIL inhibits induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation by repressing apoptotic caspase 3 activity specifically in cells undergoing reprogramming but not human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and inhibiting TRAIL activity enhances human iPSC generation. These results shed light on the mechanisms underlying the metabolic shifts associated with the acquisition of a pluripotent identity during reprogramming. Cell Stem Cell HIF1 and HIF2 in Reprogramming

Metabolomic and transcriptional analyses reveal atmospheric oxygen during human induced pluripotent stem cell generation impairs metabolic reprogramming

STEM CELLS

The transition to pluripotency invokes profound metabolic restructuring, however reprogramming is accompanied by the retention of somatic cell metabolic and epigenetic memory. Modulation of metabolism during reprogramming has been shown to improve reprogramming efficiency, yet it is not known how metabolite availability during reprogramming affects the physiology of resultant induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Metabolic analyses of iPSC generated under either physiological (5%; P-iPSC) or atmospheric (20%; A-iPSC) oxygen conditions revealed they retained aspects of somatic cell metabolic memory and failed to regulate carbohydrate metabolism, with A-iPSC acquiring different metabolic characteristics. A-iPSC exhibited a higher mitochondrial membrane potential and were unable to modulate oxidative metabolism in response to oxygen challenge, contrasting with P-iPSC. RNA-seq analysis highlighted that A-iPSC displayed transcriptomic instability, and a reduction in telomere length. Consequently, inappropriate modulation of metabolism by atmospheric oxygen during reprogramming significantly impacts the resultant A-iPSC metabolic and transcriptional landscape. Further, retention of partial somatic metabolic memory in P-iPSC derived under physiological oxygen suggests that metabolic reprogramming remains incomplete. As the metabolome is a regulator of the epigenome, these observed perturbations of iPSC metabolism will plausibly have downstream effects on cellular function and physiology, both during and following differentiation, and highlight the need to optimise nutrient availability during the reprogramming process. STEM CELLS ;9999:00-00

H2O2-preconditioned human adipose-derived stem cells (HC016) increase their resistance to oxidative stress by overexpressing Nrf2 and bioenergetic adaptation

Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Background Mesenchymal stem cells, including those derived from human adipose tissue (hASCs), are currently being widely investigated for cell therapy. However, when transplanted at the site of injury, the survival and engraftment rates of hASCs are low, mainly due to the harsh microenvironment they encounter, characterized by inflammation and oxidative stress. To overcome these therapeutic limitations, cell preconditioning with low-concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been proposed as a plausible strategy to increase their survival and adaptation to oxidative stress. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanisms of this approach are not yet fully understood. In this study, we analyzed molecular and bioenergetic changes that take place in H2O2 preconditioned hASCs. Methods Long-term exposure to a low concentration of H2O2 was applied to obtain preconditioned hASCs (named HC016), and then, their response to oxidative stress was analyzed. The effect of preconditioning on the express...

Reprogramming to a pluripotent state modifies mesenchymal stem cell resistance to oxidative stress

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 2014

Properties of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) have been extensively studied since their first derivation in 2006. However, the modification in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and detoxification caused by reprogramming still needs to be further elucidated. The objective of this study was to compare the response of iPSC generated from menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mb-iPSC), embryonic stem cells (H9) and adult menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mbMSC) to ROS exposure and investigate the effects of reprogramming on cellular oxidative stress (OS). mbMSC were extremely resistant to ROS exposure, however, mb-iPSC were 10-fold less resistant to H 2 O 2 , which was very similar to embryonic stem cell sensitivity. Extracellular production of ROS was also similar in mb-iPSC and H9 and almost threefold lower than in mbMSC. Furthermore, intracellular amounts of ROS were higher in mb-iPSC and H9 when compared with mbMSC. As the ability to metabolize ROS is related to antioxidant enzymes, we analysed enzyme activities in these cell types. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were reduced in mb-iPSC and H9 when compared with mbMSC. Finally, cell adhesion under OS conditions was impaired in mb-iPSC when compared with mbMSC, albeit similar to H9. Thus, reprogramming leads to profound modifications in extracellular ROS production accompanied by loss of the ability to handle OS.

Metabolism Is a Key Regulator of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Reprogramming

Stem Cells International

Reprogramming to pluripotency involves drastic restructuring of both metabolism and the epigenome. However, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) retain transcriptional memory, epigenetic memory, and metabolic memory from their somatic cells of origin and acquire aberrant characteristics distinct from either other pluripotent cells or parental cells, reflecting incomplete reprogramming. As a critical link between the microenvironment and regulation of the epigenome, nutrient availability likely plays a significant role in the retention of somatic cell memory by iPSC. Significantly, relative nutrient availability impacts iPSC reprogramming efficiency, epigenetic regulation and cell fate, and differentially alters their ability to respond to physiological stimuli. The significance of metabolites during the reprogramming process is central to further elucidating how iPSC retain somatic cell characteristics and optimising culture conditions to generate iPSC with physiological phenotypes...

Physiological oxygen culture reveals retention of metabolic memory in human induced pluripotent stem cells

PloS one, 2018

Reprogramming somatic cells to a pluripotent cell state (induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells) requires reprogramming of metabolism to support cell proliferation and pluripotency, most notably changes in carbohydrate turnover that reflect a shift from oxidative to glycolytic metabolism. Some aspects of iPS cell metabolism differ from embryonic stem (ES) cells, which may reflect a parental cell memory, or be a consequence of the reprogramming process. In this study, we compared the metabolism of 3 human iPS cell lines to assess the fidelity of metabolic reprogramming. When challenged with reduced oxygen concentration, ES cells have been shown to modulate carbohydrate use in a predictably way. In the same model, 2 of 3 iPS cell lines failed to regulate carbohydrate metabolism. Oxygen is a well-characterized regulator of cell function and embryo viability, and an inability of iPS cells to modulate metabolism in response to oxygen may indicate poor metabolic fidelity. As metabolism is l...

HIF1α Modulates Cell Fate Reprogramming Through Early Glycolytic Shift and Upregulation of PDK1-3 and PKM2

STEM CELLS, 2014

Reprogramming somatic cells to a pluripotent state drastically reconfigures the cellular anabolic requirements, thus potentially inducing cancer-like metabolic transformation. Accordingly, we and others previously showed that somatic mitochondria and bioenergetics are extensively remodeled upon derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), as the cells transit from oxidative to glycolytic metabolism. In the attempt to identify possible regulatory mechanisms underlying this metabolic restructuring, we investigated the contributing role of hypoxia-inducible factor one alpha (HIF1a), a master regulator of energy metabolism, in the induction and maintenance of pluripotency. We discovered that the ablation of HIF1a function in dermal fibroblasts dramatically hampers reprogramming efficiency, while small molecule-based activation of HIF1a significantly improves cell fate conversion. Transcriptional and bioenergetic analysis during reprogramming initiation indicated that the transduction of the four factors is sufficient to upregulate the HIF1a target pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) one and set in motion the glycolytic shift. However, additional HIF1a activation appears critical in the early upregulation of other HIF1a-associated metabolic regulators, including PDK3 and pyruvate kinase (PK) isoform M2 (PKM2), resulting in increased glycolysis and enhanced reprogramming. Accordingly, elevated levels of PDK1, PDK3, and PKM2 and reduced PK activity could be observed in iPSCs and human embryonic stem cells in the undifferentiated state. Overall, the findings suggest that the early induction of HIF1a targets may be instrumental in iPSC derivation via the activation of a glycolytic program. These findings implicate the HIF1a pathway as an enabling regulator of cellular reprogramming.

A Role for KLF4 in Promoting the Metabolic Shift via TCL1 during Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Generation

Stem cell reports, 2017

Reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is accompanied by morphological, functional, and metabolic alterations before acquisition of full pluripotency. Although the genome-wide effects of the reprogramming factors on gene expression are well documented, precise mechanisms by which gene expression changes evoke phenotypic responses remain to be determined. We used a Sendai virus-based system that permits reprogramming to progress in a strictly KLF4-dependent manner to screen for KLF4 target genes that are critical for the progression of reprogramming. The screening identified Tcl1 as a critical target gene that directs the metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. KLF4-induced TCL1 employs a two-pronged mechanism, whereby TCL1 activates AKT to enhance glycolysis and counteracts PnPase to diminish oxidative phosphorylation. These regulatory mechanisms described here highlight a central role for a reprogramming factor in orchestrat...

Excessive Cellular Proliferation Negatively Impacts Reprogramming Efficiency of Human Fibroblasts

Stem cells translational medicine, 2015

The impact of somatic cell proliferation rate on induction of pluripotent stem cells remains controversial. Herein, we report that rapid proliferation of human somatic fibroblasts is detrimental to reprogramming efficiency when reprogrammed using a lentiviral vector expressing OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and cMYC in insulin-rich defined medium. Human fibroblasts grown in this medium showed higher proliferation, enhanced expression of insulin signaling and cell cycle genes, and a switch from glycolytic to oxidative phosphorylation metabolism, but they displayed poor reprogramming efficiency compared with cells grown in normal medium. Thus, in contrast to previous studies, our work reveals an inverse correlation between the proliferation rate of somatic cells and reprogramming efficiency, and also suggests that upregulation of proteins in the growth factor signaling pathway limits the ability to induce pluripotency in human somatic fibroblasts.

HIF1α Regulates Early Metabolic Changes due to Activation of Innate Immunity in Nuclear Reprogramming

Stem Cell Reports

Innate immune signaling has recently been shown to play an important role in nuclear reprogramming, by altering the epigenetic landscape and thereby facilitating transcription. However, the mechanisms that link innate immune activation and metabolic regulation in pluripotent stem cells remain poorly defined, particularly with regard to key molecular components. In this study, we show that hypoxiainducible factor 1a (HIF1a), a central regulator of adaptation to limiting oxygen tension, is an unexpected but crucial regulator of innate immune-mediated nuclear reprogramming. HIF1a is dramatically upregulated as a consequence of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) signaling and is necessary for efficient induction of pluripotency and transdifferentiation. Bioenergetics studies reveal that HIF1a regulates the reconfiguration of innate immune-mediated reprogramming through its well-established role in throwing a glycolytic switch. We believe that results from these studies can help us better understand the influence of immune signaling in tissue regeneration and lead to new therapeutic strategies.