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The differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells toward the hepatocyte lineage can potentially provide an unlimited source of functional hepatocytes for transplantation and extracorporeal bioartificial liver applications. It is anticipated that the quantities of cells needed for these applications will be in the order of 10(9)-10(10) cells,because of the size of the liver. An ideal differentiation protocol would be to enable directed differentiation to the hepatocyte lineage with simultaneous cell expansion. We introduced a cell expansion stage after the commitment of human embryonic stem cells to the endodermal lineage,to allow for at least an eightfold increase in cell number,with continuation of cell maturation toward the hepatocyte lineage. The progressive changes in the transcriptome were measured by expression array,and the expression dynamics of certain lineage markers was measured by mass cytometry during the differentiation and expansion process. The findings revealed that while cells were expanding they were also capable of progressing in their differentiation toward the hepatocyte lineage. In addition,our transcriptome,protein and functional studies,including albumin secretion,drug-induced CYP450 expression and urea production,all indicated that the hepatocyte-like cells obtained with or without cell expansion are very similar. This method of simultaneous cell expansion and hepatocyte differentiation should facilitate obtaining large quantities of cells for liver cell applications. View Publication

The airways are lined by secretory and multiciliated cells which function together to remove particles and debris from the respiratory tract. The transcriptome of multiciliated cells has been extensively studied,but the function of many of the genes identified is unknown. We have established an assay to test the ability of over-expressed transcripts to promote multiciliated cell differentiation in mouse embryonic tracheal explants. Overexpression data indicated that Fibronectin type 3 and ankyrin repeat domains 1 (Fank1) and JAZF zinc finger 1 (Jazf1) promoted multiciliated cell differentiation alone,and cooperatively with the canonical multiciliated cell transcription factor Foxj1. Moreover,knock-down of Fank1 or Jazf1 in adult mouse airway epithelial cultures demonstrated that these factors are both required for ciliated cell differentiation in vitro This analysis identifies Fank1 and Jazf1 as novel regulators of multiciliated cell differentiation. Moreover,we show that they are likely to function downstream of IL6 signalling and upstream of Foxj1 activity in the process of ciliated cell differentiation. In addition,our in vitro explant assay provides a convenient method for preliminary investigation of over-expression phenotypes in the developing mouse airways.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. View Publication

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the projection neurons of the retina and transmit visual information to postsynaptic targets in the brain. While this function is shared among nearly all RGCs,this class of cell is remarkably diverse,comprised of multiple subtypes. Previous efforts have identified numerous RGC subtypes in animal models,but less attention has been paid to human RGCs. Thus,efforts of this study examined the diversity of RGCs differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and characterized defined subtypes through the expression of subtype-specific markers. Further investigation of these subtypes was achieved using single-cell transcriptomics,confirming the combinatorial expression of molecular markers associated with these subtypes,and also provided insight into more subtype-specific markers. Thus,the results of this study describe the derivation of RGC subtypes from hPSCs and will support the future exploration of phenotypic and functional diversity within human RGCs. View Publication

The study of induced pluripotency is complicated by the need for infection with high-titer retroviral vectors,which results in genetically heterogeneous cell populations. We generated genetically homogeneous 'secondary' somatic cells that carry the reprogramming factors as defined doxycycline (dox)-inducible transgenes. These cells were produced by infecting fibroblasts with dox-inducible lentiviruses,reprogramming by dox addition,selecting induced pluripotent stem cells and producing chimeric mice. Cells derived from these chimeras reprogram upon dox exposure without the need for viral infection with efficiencies 25- to 50-fold greater than those observed using direct infection and drug selection for pluripotency marker reactivation. We demonstrate that (i) various induction levels of the reprogramming factors can induce pluripotency,(ii) the duration of transgene activity directly correlates with reprogramming efficiency,(iii) cells from many somatic tissues can be reprogrammed and (iv) different cell types require different induction levels. This system facilitates the characterization of reprogramming and provides a tool for genetic or chemical screens to enhance reprogramming. View Publication

Wnt signalling is involved in numerous events in animal development,including the proliferation of stem cells and the specification of the neural crest. Wnt proteins are potentially important reagents in expanding specific cell types,but in contrast to other developmental signalling molecules such as hedgehog proteins and the bone morphogenetic proteins,Wnt proteins have never been isolated in an active form. Although Wnt proteins are secreted from cells,secretion is usually inefficient and previous attempts to characterize Wnt proteins have been hampered by their high degree of insolubility. Here we have isolated active Wnt molecules,including the product of the mouse Wnt3a gene. By mass spectrometry,we found the proteins to be palmitoylated on a conserved cysteine. Enzymatic removal of the palmitate or site-directed and natural mutations of the modified cysteine result in loss of activity,and indicate that the lipid is important for signalling. The purified Wnt3a protein induces self-renewal of haematopoietic stem cells,signifying its potential use in tissue engineering. View Publication

Recent studies have shown that NK-dendritic cell (DC) interaction plays an important role in the induction of immune response against tumors and certain viruses. Although the effect of this interaction is bidirectional,the mechanism or molecules involved in this cross-talk have not been identified. In this study,we report that coculture with NK cells causes several fold increase in IL-12 production by Toxoplasma gondii lysate Ag-pulsed DC. This interaction also leads to stronger priming of Ag-specific CD8+ T cell response by these cells. In vitro blockade of NKG2D,a molecule present on human and murine NK cells,neutralizes the NK cell-induced up-regulation of DC response. Moreover,treatment of infected animals with Ab to NKG2D receptor compromises the development of Ag-specific CD8+ T cell immunity and reduces their ability to clear parasites. These studies emphasize the critical role played by NKG2D in the NK-DC interaction,which apparently is important for the generation of robust CD8+ T cell immunity against intracellular pathogens. To the best of our knowledge,this is the first work that describes in vivo importance of NKG2D during natural infection. View Publication

Human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are critical in vitro tools forbackslashnunderstanding mechanisms that regulate lineage differentiation inbackslashnthe human embryo as well as a potentially unlimited supply of stembackslashncells for regenerative medicine. Pluripotent human and mouse embryonicbackslashnstem cells (ESCs) derived from the inner cell mass of blastocystsbackslashnshare a similar transcription factor network to maintain pluripotencybackslashnand self-renewal,yet there are considerable molecular differencesbackslashnreflecting the diverse environments in which mouse and human ESCsbackslashnare derived. In the current study we evaluated the role of Proteinbackslashnarginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) in human ESC (hESC) self-renewalbackslashnand pluripotency given its critical role in safeguarding mouse ESCbackslashnpluripotency. Unlike the mouse,we discovered that PRMT5 has no rolebackslashnin hESC pluripotency. Using microarray analysis we discovered thatbackslashna significant depletion in PRMT5 RNA and protein from hESCs changedbackslashnthe expression of only 78 genes,with the majority being repressed.backslashnFunctionally,we discovered that depletion of PRMT5 had no effectbackslashnon expression of OCT4,NANOG or SOX2,and did not prevent teratomabackslashnformation. Instead,we show that PRMT5 functions in hESCs to regulatebackslashnproliferation in the self-renewing state by regulating the fractionbackslashnof cells in Gap 1 (G1) of the cell cycle and increasing expressionbackslashnof the G1 cell cycle inhibitor P57. Taken together our data unveilsbackslashna distinct role for PRMT5 in hESCs and identifies P57 as new target. View Publication

Post-translational modification of histones is fundamental to the regulation of basic nuclear processes and subsequent cellular events,including differentiation. In this study,we analyzed acetylated forms of histones H2A,H2B,and H4 during induced differentiation in mouse (mESCs) and human (hESCs) embryonic stem cells and during induced enterocytic differentiation of colon cancer cells in vitro. Endoderm-like differentiation of mESCs induced by retinoic acid and enterocytic differentiation induced by histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate were accompanied by increased mono-,di-,and tri-acetylation of histone H2B and a pronounced increase in di- and tri-acetylation of histone H4. In enterocytes,mono-acetylation of histone H2A also increased and tetra-acetylation of histone H4 appeared only after induction of this differentiation pathway. During differentiation of hESCs,we observed increased mono-acetylation and decreased tri-acetylation of H2B. Mono-,di-,and tri-acetylation of H4 were reduced,manifested by a significant increase in nonacetylated H4 histones. Levels of acetylated histones increased during induced differentiation in mESCs and during histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor-induced enterocytic differentiation,whereas differentiation of human ESCs was associated with reduced acetylation of histones H2B and H4. View Publication

A limited number of accessible and representative models of human trophoblast cells currently exist for the study of placentation. Current stem cell models involve either a transition through a naïve stem cell state or precise dynamic control of multiple growth factors and small-molecule cues. Here,we demonstrated that a simple five-day treatment of human induced pluripotent stem cells with two small molecules,retinoic acid (RA) and Wnt agonist CHIR 99021 (CHIR),resulted in rapid,synergistic upregulation of CDX2. Transcriptomic analysis of RA + CHIR-treated cells showed high similarity to primary trophectoderm cells. Multipotency was verified via further differentiation towards cells with syncytiotrophoblast or extravillous trophoblast features. RA + CHIR-treated cells were also assessed for the established criteria defining a trophoblast cell model,and they possess all the features necessary to be considered valid. Collectively,our data demonstrate a facile,scalable method for generating functional trophoblast-like cells in vitro to better understand the placenta. View Publication