技术资料

Human high-grade gliomas (hHGG) remain a therapeutic challenge in neuro-oncology despite current multimodality treatments. We recently demonstrated that murine embryonic stem cell (mESC)-derived astrocytes conditionally expressing proapoptotic genes can successfully be used to induce apoptosis and tumor shrinkage of hHGG tumor in vitro and in an in vivo mouse model. The first step in the translation of these results to the clinical settings,however,requires availability of human embryonic stem cells (hESC)- and/or induced pluripotent cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocytes engineered to express proapoptotic genes. The potential for directed differentiation of hESCs and hiPSCs to functional postmitotic astrocytes is not fully characterized. In this study,we show that once specified to neuro-epithelial lineage,hiPSC could be differentiated to astrocytes with a similar efficiency as hESC. However,our analyses of 2 hESC and 2 hiPSC cell lines showed some variability in differentiation potential into astrocytic lineages. Both the hESC- and hiPSC-derived astrocytes appeared to follow the functional properties of mESC-derived astrocytes,namely,migration and tropism for hHGG. This work provides evidence that hESC- and hiPSC-derived cells are able to generate functionally active astrocytes. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using iPSC-derived astrocytes,a new potential source for therapeutic use for brain tumors and other neurological diseases. View Publication

Induced pluripotent stem cells hold great potential in regenerative medicine as it enables to generate pluripotent stem cells from any available cell types. Ectopic expression of four transcription factors (Oct4,Sox2,Klf4,and c-Myc) can reprogram fibroblasts directly to pluripotency as shown in multiple species. Here,we describe detailed protocols for generation of iPSCs from adult canine fibroblasts. Robust canine iPSCs will provide powerful tools not only to study human diseases,but also for the development of therapeutic approaches. View Publication

textlessptextgreaterStem cell phenotypes are reflected by post-translational histone modifications,and this chromatin-related memory must be mitotically inherited to maintain cell identity through proliferative expansion. In human embryonic stem cells (hESCs),bivalent genes with both activating (H3K4me3) and repressive (H3K27me3) histone modifications are essential to sustain pluripotency. Yet the molecular mechanisms by which this epigenetic landscape is transferred to progeny cells remains to be established. By mapping genomic enrichment of H3K4me3/H3K27me3 in pure populations of hESCs in G2,mitotic,and G1 phases of the cell cycle,we found striking variations in the levels of H3K4me3 through the G2-M-G1 transition. Analysis of a representative set of bivalent genes revealed that chromatin modifiers involved in H3K4 methylation/demethylation are recruited to bivalent gene promoters in a cell cycle–dependent fashion. Interestingly,bivalent genes enriched with H3K4me3 exclusively during mitosis undergo the strongest upregulation after induction of differentiation. Furthermore,the histone-modification signature of genes that remain bivalent in differentiated cells resolves into a cell cycle–independent pattern after lineage commitment. These results establish a new dimension of chromatin regulation important in maintenance of pluripotency.textless/ptextgreater View Publication

We present a novel and efficient non-integrating gene expression system in human embryonic stem cells (hESc) utilizing human artificial chromosomes (HAC),which behave as autonomous endogenous host chromosomes and segregate correctly during cell division. HAC are important vectors for investigating the organization and structure of the kinetochore,and gene complementation. HAC have so far been obtained in immortalized or tumour-derived cell lines,but never in stem cells,thus limiting their potential therapeutic application. In this work,we modified the herpes simplex virus type 1 amplicon system for efficient transfer of HAC DNA into two hESc. The deriving stable clones generated green fluorescent protein gene-expressing HAC at high frequency,which were stably maintained without selection for 3 months. Importantly,no integration of the HAC DNA was observed in the hESc lines,compared with the fibrosarcoma-derived control cells,where the exogenous DNA frequently integrated in the host genome. The hESc retained pluripotency,differentiation and teratoma formation capabilities. This is the first report of successfully generating gene expressing de novo HAC in hESc,and is a significant step towards the genetic manipulation of stem cells and potential therapeutic applications. View Publication

We demonstrate that dissociated human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are intrinsically programmed to form lumens. PSCs form two-cell cysts with a shared apical domain within 20 hr of plating; these cysts collapse to form monolayers after 5 days. Expression of pluripotency markers is maintained throughout this time. In two-cell cysts,an apical domain,marked by EZRIN and atypical PKC$\$,is surrounded by apically targeted organelles (early endosomes and Golgi). Molecularly,actin polymerization,regulated by ARP2/3 and mammalian diaphanous-related formin 1 (MDIA),promotes lumen formation,whereas actin contraction,mediated by MYOSIN-II,inhibits this process. Finally,we show that lumenal shape can be manipulated in bioengineered micro-wells. Since lumen formation is an indispensable step in early mammalian development,this system can provide a powerful model for investigation of this process in a controlled environment. Overall,our data establish that lumenogenesis is a fundamental cell biological property of human PSCs. View Publication

Expression of genes associated with inflammation was analyzed during differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) to hepatic cells. Messenger RNA transcript profiles of differentiated endoderm (day 5),hepatoblast (day 15) and hepatocyte-like cells (day 21) were obtained by RNA sequencing analysis. When compared to endoderm cells an immature cell type,the hepatic cells (days 15 and 21) had significantly higher expression of acute phase protein genes including complement factors,coagulation factors,serum amyloid A and serpins. Furthermore,hepatic phase of cells expressed proinflammatory cytokines IL18 and IL32 as well as cytokine receptors IL18R1,IL1R1,IL1RAP,IL2RG,IL6R,IL6ST and IL10RB. These cells also produced CCL14,CCL15,and CXCL- 1,2,3,16 and 17 chemokines. Endoderm cells had higher levels of chemokine receptors,CXCR4 and CXCR7,than that of hepatic cells. Sirtuin family of genes involved in aging,inflammation and metabolism were differentially regulated in endoderm and hepatic phase cells. Ligands and receptors of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family as well as downstream signaling factors TRAF2,TRAF4,FADD,NFKB1 and NFKBIB were differentially expressed during hepatic differentiation. View Publication

BACKGROUND Alcohol abuse produces an enormous impact on health,society,and the economy. Currently,there are very limited therapies available,largely due to the poor understanding of mechanisms underlying alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in humans. Oxidative damage of mitochondria and cellular proteins aggravates the progression of neuroinflammation and neurological disorders initiated by alcohol abuse. RESULTS Here we show that ethanol exposure causes neuroinflammation in both human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and human neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Ethanol exposure for 24 hours or 7 days does not affect the proliferation of iPS cells and NPCs,but primes an innate immune-like response by activating the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway. This leads to an increase of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3(+) (LC3B(+)) autophagic puncta and impairment of the mitochondrial and lysosomal distribution. In addition,a decrease of mature neurons derived from differentiating NPCs is evident in ethanol pre-exposed compared to control NPCs. Moreover,a second insult of a pro-inflammatory factor in addition to ethanol preexposure enhances innate cellular inflammation in human iPS cells. CONCLUSIONS This study provides strong evidence that neuronal inflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of AUDs through the activation of the inflammasome pathway in human cellular models. View Publication

Abstract Purpose: The application of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigmented epithelium (iPSC-RPE) in patients with retinal degenerative disease is making headway toward the clinic,with clinical trials already underway. Multiple groups have developed methods for RPE differentiation from pluripotent cells,but previous studies have shown variability in iPSC propensity to differentiate into RPE. Methods: This study provides a comparison between 2 different methods for RPE differentiation: (1) a commonly used spontaneous continuously adherent culture (SCAC) protocol and (2) a more rapid,directed differentiation using growth factors. Integration-free iPSC lines were differentiated to RPE,which were characterized with respect to global gene expression,expression of RPE markers,and cellular function. Results: We found that all 5 iPSC lines (iPSC-1,iPSC-2,iPSC-3,iPSC-4,and iPSC-12) generated RPE using the directed differentiation protocol; however,2 of the 5 iPSC lines (iPSC-4 and iPSC-... View Publication

Genome editing on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) together with the development of protocols for organ decellularization opens the door to the generation of autologous bioartificial hearts. Here we sought to generate for the first time a fluorescent reporter human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line by means of Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) to efficiently produce cardiomyocyte-like cells (CLCs) from hPSCs and repopulate decellularized human heart ventricles for heart engineering. In our hands,targeting myosin heavy chain locus (MYH6) with mCherry fluorescent reporter by TALEN technology in hESCs did not alter major pluripotent-related features,and allowed for the definition of a robust protocol for CLCs production also from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in 14 days. hPSCs-derived CLCs (hPSCs-CLCs) were next used to recellularize acellular cardiac scaffolds. Electrophysiological responses encountered when hPSCs-CLCs were cultured on ventricular decellularized extracellular matrix (vdECM) correlated with significant increases in the levels of expression of different ion channels determinant for calcium homeostasis and heart contractile function. Overall,the approach described here allows for the rapid generation of human cardiac grafts from hPSCs,in a total of 24 days,providing a suitable platform for cardiac engineering and disease modeling in the human setting. View Publication

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common human cancers. Spheroid colony formation is an effective model for characterization of cancer stem cells. However,gene expression profiles of spheroid colonies obtained from GC cells have not been examined. We performed microarray analyses by Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array in spheroid body-forming and parental cells from MKN-45 and MKN-74 GC cell lines. Kinesin family member C1 (KIFC1) was expressed textgreater2-fold higher in spheroid body-forming cells than in parental cells in both GC lines. Both the number and size of spheres from MKN-45 cells were significantly reduced upon KIFC1 siRNA-transfection compared with negative control siRNA-transfection. Immunohistochemical analysis of 114 GC tissue samples revealed that 42 (37%) of GC cases were positive for KIFC1 expression. GC cases positive for KIFC1 were found more frequently in stage III/IV cases than in stage I/II cases. GC cases positive for KIFC1 were found more frequently in intestinal type GC cases than in diffuse type GC cases. Furthermore,KIFC1-positive GC cases showed high Ki-67 labeling index. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that KIFC1 expression was not associated with survival. We found positive expression of KIFC1 in CD44‑positive GC and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1)-positive GC cells. Our results showed that KIFC1 is overexpressed in GC. Since knockdown of KIFC1 inhibited sphere formation,KIFC1 likely plays an important role in cancer stem cells. View Publication

On the basis of our previous report verifying that CXCR2 ligands in human placenta-conditioned medium (hPCCM) support human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) propagation without exogenous bFGF,this study was designed to identify the effect of CXCR2 manipulation on the fate of hPSCs and the underlying mechanism,which had not been previously determined. We observed that CXCR2 inhibition in hPSCs induces predominant differentiation to mesoderm and endoderm with concomitant loss of hPSC characteristics and accompanying decreased expression of mTOR,beta-catenin,and hTERT. These phenomena are recapitulated in hPSCs propagated in conventional culture conditions including bFGF as well as those in hPCCM without exogenous bFGF,suggesting that the action of CXCR2 on hPSCs might not be associated with a bFGF-related mechanism. In addition,the specific CXCR2 ligand GROalpha markedly increased the expression of ectodermal markers in differentiation-committed embryoid bodies derived from hPSCs. This finding suggests that CXCR2 inhibition in hPSCs prohibits the propagation of hPSCs and leads to predominant differentiation to mesoderm and endoderm owing to the blockage of ectodermal differentiation. Taken together,our results indicate that CXCR2 preferentially supports the maintenance of hPSC characteristics as well as facilitates ectodermal differentiation after the commitment to differentiation,and that the mechanism might be associated with mTOR,beta-catenin,and hTERT activities. View Publication

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have reported many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with psychiatric disorders,but knowledge is lacking regarding molecular mechanisms. Here we show that risk alleles spanning multiple genes across the 10q24.32 schizophrenia-related locus are associated in the human brain selectively with an increase in the expression of both BLOC-1 related complex subunit 7 (BORCS7) and a previously uncharacterized,human-specific arsenite methyltransferase (AS3MT) isoform (AS3MT(d2d3)),which lacks arsenite methyltransferase activity and is more abundant in individuals with schizophrenia than in controls. Conditional-expression analysis suggests that BORCS7 and AS3MT(d2d3) signals are largely independent. GWAS risk SNPs across this region are linked with a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the first exon of AS3MT that is associated with the expression of AS3MT(d2d3) in samples from both Caucasians and African Americans. The VNTR genotype predicts promoter activity in luciferase assays,as well as DNA methylation within the AS3MT gene. Both AS3MT(d2d3) and BORCS7 are expressed in adult human neurons and astrocytes,and they are upregulated during human stem cell differentiation toward neuronal fates. Our results provide a molecular explanation for the prominent 10q24.32 locus association,including a novel and evolutionarily recent protein that is involved in early brain development and confers risk for psychiatric illness. View Publication