학술논문

Next-Generation Surrogate Wnts Support Organoid Growth and Deconvolute Frizzled Pleiotropy In Vivo
Document Type
article
Source
Cell Stem Cell. 27(5)
Subject
Biotechnology
Digestive Diseases
Regenerative Medicine
Frizzled Receptors
Hepatocytes
Organoids
Stem Cells
Wnt Signaling Pathway
DARPin
Frizzled
Wnt
canonical Wnt signaling
organoids
protein engineering
regenerative medicine
stem cell
surrogate Wnt
Biological Sciences
Medical and Health Sciences
Developmental Biology
Language
Abstract
Modulation of Wnt signaling has untapped potential in regenerative medicine due to its essential functions in stem cell homeostasis. However, Wnt lipidation and Wnt-Frizzled (Fzd) cross-reactivity have hindered translational Wnt applications. Here, we designed and engineered water-soluble, Fzd subtype-specific "next-generation surrogate" (NGS) Wnts that hetero-dimerize Fzd and Lrp6. NGS Wnt supports long-term expansion of multiple different types of organoids, including kidney, colon, hepatocyte, ovarian, and breast. NGS Wnts are superior to Wnt3a conditioned media in organoid expansion and single-cell organoid outgrowth. Administration of Fzd subtype-specific NGS Wnt in vivo reveals that adult intestinal crypt proliferation can be promoted by agonism of Fzd5 and/or Fzd8 receptors, while a broad spectrum of Fzd receptors can induce liver zonation. Thus, NGS Wnts offer a unified organoid expansion protocol and a laboratory "tool kit" for dissecting the functions of Fzd subtypes in stem cell biology.