Establishment of intestinal organoid cultures modeling injury-associated epithelial regeneration

Cell Res. 2021 Mar;31(3):259-271. doi: 10.1038/s41422-020-00453-x. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Abstract

The capacity of 3D organoids to mimic physiological tissue organization and functionality has provided an invaluable tool to model development and disease in vitro. However, conventional organoid cultures primarily represent the homeostasis of self-organizing stem cells and their derivatives. Here, we established a novel intestinal organoid culture system composed of 8 components, mainly including VPA, EPZ6438, LDN193189, and R-Spondin 1 conditioned medium, which mimics the gut epithelium regeneration that produces hyperplastic crypts following injury; therefore, these organoids were designated hyperplastic intestinal organoids (Hyper-organoids). Single-cell RNA sequencing identified different regenerative stem cell populations in our Hyper-organoids that shared molecular features with in vivo injury-responsive Lgr5+ stem cells or Clu+ revival stem cells. Further analysis revealed that VPA and EPZ6438 were indispensable for epigenome reprogramming and regeneration in Hyper-organoids, which functioned through epigenetically regulating YAP signaling. Furthermore, VPA and EPZ6438 synergistically promoted regenerative response in gut upon damage in vivo. In summary, our results demonstrated a new in vitro organoid model to study epithelial regeneration, highlighting the importance of epigenetic reprogramming that pioneers tissue repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzamides / administration & dosage
  • Biphenyl Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Colitis / chemically induced
  • Colitis / drug therapy
  • Colitis / metabolism
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / chemistry
  • Dextran Sulfate / adverse effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Intestinal Mucosa / drug effects
  • Intestinal Mucosa / injuries*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / radiation effects
  • Intestines / injuries
  • Intestines / radiation effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Morpholines / administration & dosage
  • Organoids / drug effects
  • Organoids / injuries*
  • Organoids / metabolism*
  • Organoids / radiation effects
  • Pyridones / administration & dosage
  • Radiation Injuries / drug therapy
  • Radiation Injuries / metabolism
  • Regeneration / drug effects*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Tissue Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Valproic Acid / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Morpholines
  • Pyridones
  • Valproic Acid
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • tazemetostat