技术资料

The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) is revolutionizing many research fields including cell-replacement therapy,drug screening,physiopathology of specific diseases and more basic research such as embryonic development or diseases modeling. Despite the large number of reports on reprogramming methods,techniques in use remain globally inefficient. We present here a new optimized approach to improve this efficiency. After having tested different monocistronic vectors with poor results,we adopted a polycistronic cassette encoding Thomson's cocktail OCT4,NANOG,SOX2 and LIN28 (ONSL) separated by 2A peptides. This cassette was tested in various vector backbones,based on lentivirus or retrovirus under a LTR or EF1 alpha promoter. This allowed us to show that ONSL-carrier retrovectors reprogrammed adult fibroblast cells with a much higher efficiency (up to 0.6%) than any other tested. We then compared the reprogramming efficiencies of two different polycistronic genes,ONSL and OCT4,SOX2,KLF4 and cMYC (OSKM) placed in the same retrovector backbone. Interestingly,in this context ONSL gene reprograms more efficiently than OSKM but OSKM reprograms faster suggesting that the two cocktails may reprogram through distinct pathways. By equally mixing RV-LTR-ONSL and RV-LTR-OSKM,we indeed observed a remarkable synergy,yielding a reprogramming efficiency of textgreater2%. We present here a drastic improvement of the reprogramming efficiency,which opens doors to the development of automated and high throughput strategies of hiPSC production. Furthermore,non-integrative reprogramming protocols (i.e. mRNA) may take advantage of this synergy to boost their efficiency. View Publication

The ability of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into all adult cell types greatly facilitates the study of human development,disease pathogenesis,and the generation of screening systems to identify novel therapeutic agents. Autologous cell therapies based on patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells also hold great promise for the treatment and correction of many inherited and acquired diseases. The full potential of human pluripotent stem cells can be unleashed by genetically modifying a chosen locus with minimal impact on the remaining genome,which can be achieved by targeting genes by homologous recombination. This chapter will describe a protocol for gene modification of pluripotent stem cells by homologous recombination and several methods for the screening and identification of successfully modified clones. View Publication

Efficient approaches for the precise genetic engineering of stem cells can enhance both basic and applied stem cell research. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have demonstrated high-efficiency gene delivery and gene targeting to numerous cell types,and AAV vectors developed specifically for gene delivery to stem cells have further increased gene targeting frequency compared to plasmid construct techniques. This chapter details the production and purification techniques necessary to generate adeno-associated viral vectors for use in high-efficiency gene targeting of adult or pluripotent stem cell applications. Culture conditions used to achieve high gene targeting frequencies in rat neural stem cells and human pluripotent stem cells are also described. View Publication

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) systems have evolved as an adaptive surveillance and defense mechanism in bacteria and archaea that uses short RNAs to direct degradation of foreign genetic elements. Here,we present our protocol for utilizing the S. pyogenes type II bacterial CRISPR system to achieve sequence-specific genome alterations in human cells. In principle,any genomic sequence of the form N(19)NGG can be targeted with the generation of custom guide RNA (gRNA) which functions to direct the Cas9 protein to genomic targets and induce DNA cleavage. Here,we describe our methods for designing and generating gRNA expression constructs either singly or in a multiplexed manner,as well as optimized protocols for the delivery of Cas9-gRNA components into human cells. Genomic alterations at the target site are then introduced either through nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) or through homologous recombination (HR) in the presence of an appropriate donor sequence. This RNA-guided editing tool offers greater ease of customization and synthesis in comparison to existing sequence-specific endonucleases and promises to become a highly versatile and multiplexable human genome engineering platform. View Publication

Cardiomyocytes (CM) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are used for cardio-toxicity evaluation and tested in many preclinical trials for their potential use in regenerative therapeutics. As more efficient CM differentiation protocols are developed,reliable automated platforms for characterization and detection are needed. An automated time-resolved video analysis and management system (TVAMS) has been developed for the evaluation of hESC differentiation to CM. The system was used for monitoring the kinetics of embryoid bodies (EB) generation (numbers and size) and differentiation into beating EBs (percentage beating area and beating EB count) in two differentiation protocols. We show that the percentage beating areas of EBs (from total area of the EBs) is a more sensitive and better predictor of CM differentiation efficiency than percentage of beating EBs (from total EBs) as the percentage beating areas of EBs correlates with cardiac troponin-T and myosin heavy chain expression levels. TVAMS can also be used to evaluate the effect of drugs and inhibitors (e.g. isoproterenol and ZD7288) on CM beating frequency. TVAMS can reliably replace the commonly practiced,time consuming,manual counting of total and beating EBs during CM differentiation. TVAMS is a high-throughput non-invasive video imaging platform that can be applied for the development of new CM differentiation protocols,as well as a tool to conduct CM toxicology assays. View Publication

Emerging studies suggested that murine podoplanin-positive monocytes (PPMs) are involved in lymphangiogenesis. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the therapeutic lymphangiogenesis of human PPMs by the interaction with platelets. Aggregation culture of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) resulted in cellular aggregates termed hematospheres. During 5-day culture,PPMs expanded exponentially and expressed several lymphatic endothelial cell-specific markers including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3 and well-established lymphangiogenic transcription factors. Next,we investigated the potential interaction of PPMs with platelets that had C-type lectin-like receptor-2 (CLEC-2),a receptor of podoplanin. In vitro coculture of PPMs and platelets stimulated PPMs to strongly express lymphatic endothelial markers and upregulate lymphangiogenic cytokines. Recombinant human CLEC-2 also stimulated PPMs through Akt and Erk signaling. Likewise,platelets in coculture with PPMs augmented secretion of a lymphangiogenic cytokine,interleukin (IL)-1-β,via podoplanin/CLEC-2 axis. The supernatant obtained from coculture was able to enhance the migration,viability,and proliferation of lymphatic endothelial cell. Local injection of hematospheres with platelets significantly increased lymphatic neovascularization and facilitated wound healing in the full-thickness skin wounds of nude mice. Cotreatment with PPMs and platelets augments lymphangiogenesis through podoplanin/CLEC-2 axis,which thus would be a promising novel strategy of cell therapy to treat human lymphatic vessel disease. View Publication

Stem cells,especially human embryonic stem cells (hESCs),are useful models to study molecular mechanisms of human disorders that originate during gestation. Alcohol (ethanol,EtOH) consumption during pregnancy causes a variety of prenatal and postnatal disorders collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). To better understand the molecular events leading to FASDs,we performed a genome-wide analysis of EtOH's effects on the maintenance and differentiation of hESCs in culture. Gene Co-expression Network Analysis showed significant alterations in gene profiles of EtOH-treated differentiated or undifferentiated hESCs,particularly those associated with molecular pathways for metabolic processes,oxidative stress,and neuronal properties of stem cells. A genome-wide DNA methylome analysis revealed widespread EtOH-induced alterations with significant hypermethylation of many regions of chromosomes. Undifferentiated hESCs were more vulnerable to EtOH's effect than their differentiated counterparts,with methylation on the promoter regions of chromosomes 2,16 and 18 in undifferentiated hESCs most affected by EtOH exposure. Combined transcriptomic and DNA methylomic analysis produced a list of differentiation-related genes dysregulated by EtOH-induced DNA methylation changes,which likely play a role in EtOH-induced decreases in hESC pluripotency. DNA sequence motif analysis of genes epigenetically altered by EtOH identified major motifs representing potential binding sites for transcription factors. These findings should help in deciphering the precise mechanisms of alcohol-induced teratogenesis. ?? 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V. View Publication

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived endothelial lineage cells constitutes a promising source for therapeutic revascularization,but progress in this arena has been hampered by a lack of clinically-scalable differentiation protocols and inefficient formation of a functional vessel network integrating with the host circulation upon transplantation. Using a human embryonic stem cell reporter cell line,where green fluorescent protein expression is driven by an endothelial cell-specific VE-cadherin (VEC) promoter,we screened for textgreater 60 bioactive small molecules that would promote endothelial differentiation,and found that administration of BMP4 and a GSK-3β inhibitor in an early phase and treatment with VEGF-A and inhibition of the Notch signaling pathway in a later phase led to efficient differentiation of hPSCs to the endothelial lineage within six days. This sequential approach generated textgreater 50% conversion of hPSCs to endothelial cells (ECs),specifically VEC(+)CD31(+)CD34(+)CD14(-)KDR(high) endothelial progenitors (EPs) that exhibited higher angiogenic and clonogenic proliferation potential among endothelial lineage cells. Pharmaceutical inhibition or genetical knockdown of Notch signaling,in combination with VEGF-A treatment,resulted in efficient formation of EPs via KDR(+) mesodermal precursors and blockade of the conversion of EPs to mature ECs. The generated EPs successfully formed functional capillary vessels in vivo with anastomosis to the host vessels when transplanted into immunocompromised mice. Manipulation of this VEGF-A-Notch signaling circuit in our protocol leads to rapid large-scale production of the hPSC-derived EPs by 12- to 20-fold vs current methods,which may serve as an attractive cell population for regenerative vascularization with superior vessel forming capability compared to mature ECs. View Publication

Recently,induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were established as promising cell sources for revolutionary regenerative therapies. The initial culture system used for iPSC generation needed fetal calf serum in the culture medium and mouse embryonic fibroblast as a feeder layer,both of which could possibly transfer unknown exogenous antigens and pathogens into the iPSC population. Therefore,the development of culture systems designed to minimize such potential risks has become increasingly vital for future applications of iPSCs for clinical use. On another front,although donor cell types for generating iPSCs are wide-ranging,T cells have attracted attention as unique cell sources for iPSCs generation because T cell-derived iPSCs (TiPSCs) have a unique monoclonal T cell receptor genomic rearrangement that enables their differentiation into antigen-specific T cells,which can be applied to novel immunotherapies. In the present study,we generated transgene-free human TiPSCs using a combination of activated human T cells and Sendai virus under defined culture conditions. These TiPSCs expressed pluripotent markers by quantitative PCR and immunostaining,had a normal karyotype,and were capable of differentiating into cells from all three germ layers. This method of TiPSCs generation is more suitable for the therapeutic application of iPSC technology because it lowers the risks associated with the presence of undefined,animal-derived feeder cells and serum. Therefore this work will lead to establishment of safer iPSCs and extended clinical application. View Publication

Human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cell lines with tissue-specific or ubiquitous reporter genes are extremely useful for optimizing in vitro differentiation conditions as well as for monitoring transplanted cells in vivo. The adeno-associated virus integration site 1 (AAVS1) locus has been used as a safe harbor" locus for inserting transgenes because of its open chromatin structure� View Publication

Nuclear factor,erythroid 2-like 2 (Nrf2) is a master transcription factor for cellular defense against endogenous and exogenous stresses by regulating expression of many antioxidant and detoxification genes. Here,we show that Nrf2 acts as a key pluripotency gene and a regulator of proteasome activity in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Nrf2 expression is highly enriched in hESCs and dramatically decreases upon differentiation. Nrf2 inhibition impairs both the self-renewal ability of hESCs and re-establishment of pluripotency during cellular reprogramming. Nrf2 activation can delay differentiation. During early hESC differentiation,Nrf2 closely colocalizes with OCT4 and NANOG. As an underlying mechanism,our data show that Nrf2 regulates proteasome activity in hESCs partially through proteasome maturation protein (POMP),a proteasome chaperone,which in turn controls the proliferation of self-renewing hESCs,three germ layer differentiation and cellular reprogramming. Even modest proteasome inhibition skews the balance of early differentiation toward mesendoderm at the expense of an ectodermal fate by decreasing the protein level of cyclin D1 and delaying the degradation of OCT4 and NANOG proteins. Taken together,our findings suggest a new potential link between environmental stress and stemness with Nrf2 and the proteasome coordinately positioned as key mediators. View Publication

Gaucher disease is caused by an inherited deficiency of glucocerebrosidase that manifests with storage of glycolipids in lysosomes,particularly in macrophages. Available cell lines modeling Gaucher disease do not demonstrate lysosomal storage of glycolipids; therefore,we set out to develop two macrophage models of Gaucher disease that exhibit appropriate substrate accumulation. We used these cellular models both to investigate altered macrophage biology in Gaucher disease and to evaluate candidate drugs for its treatment. We generated and characterized monocyte-derived macrophages from 20 patients carrying different Gaucher disease mutations. In addition,we created induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived macrophages from five fibroblast lines taken from patients with type 1 or type 2 Gaucher disease. Macrophages derived from patient monocytes or iPSCs showed reduced glucocerebrosidase activity and increased storage of glucocerebroside and glucosylsphingosine in lysosomes. These macrophages showed efficient phagocytosis of bacteria but reduced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and impaired chemotaxis. The disease phenotype was reversed with a noninhibitory small-molecule chaperone drug that enhanced glucocerebrosidase activity in the macrophages,reduced glycolipid storage,and normalized chemotaxis and production of reactive oxygen species. Macrophages differentiated from patient monocytes or patient-derived iPSCs provide cellular models that can be used to investigate disease pathogenesis and facilitate drug development. View Publication