Langeveld, G. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2025

Bioengineered 3D hPSC-cholangiocyte ducts with physiological signals for biliary disease modelling

The progression of intrahepatic biliary diseases remains poorly understood, underscoring the urgent need to develop physiologically relevant human intrahepatic cholangiocyte disease models. Current approaches lack the complexity and throughput to capture how diverse biliary microenvironmental signals shape cholangiocyte behavior. To address this gap, we created a fully epithelialized and perfusible 3D bile duct from human pluripotent stem cell-derived cholangiocytes characterized by robust primary ciliation, apical-basal polarity and CFTR-mediated chloride conductance. Our results revealed physiologically relevant fluid flow and biliary stroma cells as essential components for sustaining cholangiocyte epithelial barrier integrity and ciliation. From here, we interrogated a broad spectrum of biliary signals to study bile acid toxicity and cytokine-driven injury, offering an unprecedented view into intrahepatic cholangiocyte stress responses and potential pathological mechanisms. By integrating physiologically relevant signals, fidelity and functional resolution, this platform provides the foundation needed to precisely decode pathogenic drivers and accelerate therapeutic development for devastating cholangiopathies. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=198 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/686855v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (59K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@11c1255org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1f78d11org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@14e9398org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1bc08d5_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Comparison of a novel potentiator of CFTR channel activity to ivacaftor in ameliorating mucostasis caused by cigarette smoke in primary human bronchial airway epithelial cells

BackgroundCystic Fibrosis causing mutations in the gene CFTR, reduce the activity of the CFTR channel protein, and leads to mucus aggregation, airway obstruction and poor lung function. A role for CFTR in the pathogenesis of other muco-obstructive airway diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has been well established. The CFTR modulatory compound, Ivacaftor (VX-770), potentiates channel activity of CFTR and certain CF-causing mutations and has been shown to ameliorate mucus obstruction and improve lung function in people harbouring these CF-causing mutations. A pilot trial of Ivacaftor supported its potential efficacy for the treatment of mucus obstruction in COPD. These findings prompted the search for CFTR potentiators that are more effective in ameliorating cigarette-smoke (CS) induced mucostasis. MethodsA novel small molecule potentiator (SK-POT1), previously identified in CFTR binding studies, was tested for its activity in augmenting CFTR channel activity using patch clamp electrophysiology in HEK-293 cells, a fluorescence-based assay of membrane potential in Calu-3 cells and in Ussing chamber studies of primary bronchial epithelial cultures. Addition of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) to the solutions bathing the apical surface of Calu-3 cells and primary bronchial airway cultures was used to model COPD. Confocal studies of the velocity of fluorescent microsphere movement on the apical surface of CSE exposed airway epithelial cultures, were used to assess the effect of potentiators on CFTR-mediated mucociliary movement. ResultsWe showed that SK-POT1, like VX-770, was effective in augmenting the cyclic AMP-dependent channel activity of CFTR. SK-POT-1 enhanced CFTR channel activity in airway epithelial cells previously exposed to CSE and ameliorated mucostasis on the surface of primary airway cultures. ConclusionTogether, this evidence supports the further development of SK-POT1 as an intervention in the treatment of COPD.

physiology↗