技术资料

Understanding the mechanisms that sustain pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is an active area of research that may prove useful in regenerative medicine and will provide fundamental information relevant to development and cancer. hESCs and cancer cells share the unique ability to proliferate indefinitely and rapidly. Because the protein survivin is uniquely overexpressed in virtually all human cancers and in hESCs,we sought to investigate its role in supporting the distinctive capabilities of these cell types. Results presented here suggest that survivin contributes to the maintenance of pluripotency and that post-transcriptional control of survivin isoform expression is selectively regulated by microRNAs. miR-203 has been extensively studied in human tumors,but has not been characterized in hESCs. We show that miR-203 expression and activity is consistent with the expression and subcellular localization of survivin isoforms that in turn modulate expression of the Oct4 and Nanog transcription factors to sustain pluripotency. This study contributes to understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms that govern whether hESCs proliferate or commit to lineages. textcopyright 2014 Wiley Periodicals,Inc. View Publication

Nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) is a key pathway for efficient repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and V(D)J recombination. NHEJ defects in humans cause immunodeficiency and increased cellular sensitivity to ionizing irradiation (IR) and are variably associated with growth retardation,microcephaly,and neurodevelopmental delay. Repair of DNA DSBs is important for reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). To compare the specific contribution of DNA ligase 4 (LIG4),Artemis,and DNA-protein kinase catalytic subunit (PKcs) in this process and to gain insights into phenotypic variability associated with these disorders,we reprogrammed patient-derived fibroblast cell lines with NHEJ defects. Deficiencies of LIG4 and of DNA-PK catalytic activity,but not Artemis deficiency,were associated with markedly reduced reprogramming efficiency,which could be partially rescued by genetic complementation. Moreover,we identified increased genomic instability in LIG4-deficient iPSCs. Cell cycle synchronization revealed a severe defect of DNA repair and a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest,particularly in LIG4- and DNA-PK catalytically deficient iPSCs. Impaired myeloid differentiation was observed in LIG4-,but not Artemis- or DNA-PK-mutated iPSCs. These results indicate a critical importance of the NHEJ pathway for somatic cell reprogramming,with a major role for LIG4 and DNA-PKcs and a minor,if any,for Artemis. View Publication

Background: Human induced pluripotent stem cells,which can be differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells,could provide a source for liver regeneration and bio-artificial liver devices. However,the functionality of hepatocyte-like cells is significantly lower than that of primary hepatocytes. Aims: To investigate whether serum from patients undergoing hepatectomy might promote differentiation from human induced pluripotent stem cells to hepatocyte-like cells. Methods: Serum from patients undergoing hepatectomy (acquired pre-hepatectomy and 3. hours,1 day and 3 days post-hepatectomy) was used to replace foetal bovine serum when differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells. Properties of hepatocyte-like cells were assessed and compared with cells cultured in foetal bovine serum. Results: The differentiation efficiency and functionality of hepatocyte-like cells cultured in human serum 3. hours and 1 day post-hepatectomy were superior to those cultured in foetal bovine serum and human serum pre-hepatectomy. Human serum 3 days post-hepatectomy had an equal effect to that of human serum pre-hepatectomy. Some cytochrome P450 isozyme transcript levels of hepatocyte-like cells cultured in human serum were higher than those cultured in foetal bovine serum. Conclusion: Human serum,particularly that acquired relatively soon after hepatectomy,can enhance the differentiation efficiency and functionality of hepatocyte-like cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. textcopyright 2014 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. View Publication

The pluripotent property of hESCs makes them attractive for treatment of degenerative diseases such as diabetes. We have developed a stage-wise directed differentiation protocol to produce alginate-encapsulated islet-like cells derived from hESCs,which can be directly implanted for diabetes therapy. The advantage of alginate encapsulation lies in its capability to immunoisolate,along with the added possibility of scalable culture. We have evaluated the possibility of encapsulating hESCs at different stages of differentiation. Encapsulation of predifferentiated cells resulted in insufficient cellular yield and differentiation. On the other hand,encapsulation of undifferentiated hESCs followed by differentiation induction upon encapsulation,resulted in the highest viability and differentiation. More striking was that alginate encapsulation resulted in a much stronger differentiation compared to parallel 2D cultures,resulting in 20-fold increase in c-peptide protein synthesis. To elucidate the mechanism contributing to encapsulation-mediated enhancement in hESC maturation,investigation of the signaling pathways revealed interesting insight. While the phospho-protein levels of all the tested signaling molecules were lower under encapsulation,the ratio of pSMAD/pAKT was significantly higher,indicating a more efficient signal transduction under encapsulation. These results clearly demonstrate that alginate encapsulation of hESCs and differentiation to islet-cells types provides a potentially translatable treatment option for type1 diabetes. View Publication

BACKGROUND: Airway remodeling might explain lung function decline among asthmatic children. Extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition by human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) is implicated in airway remodeling. Airway epithelial cell (AEC) signaling might regulate HLF ECM expression. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether AECs from asthmatic children differentially regulate HLF expression of ECM constituents. METHODS: Primary AECs were obtained from well-characterized atopic asthmatic (n = 10) and healthy (n = 10) children intubated during anesthesia for an elective surgical procedure. AECs were differentiated at an air-liquid interface for 3 weeks and then cocultured with HLFs from a healthy child for 96 hours. Collagen I (COL1A1),collagen III (COL3A1),hyaluronan synthase (HAS) 2,and fibronectin expression by HLFs and prostaglandin E2 synthase (PGE2S) expression by AECs were assessed by using RT-PCR. TGF-$$1 and TGF-$$2 concentrations in media were measured by using ELISA. RESULTS: COL1A1 and COL3A1 expression by HLFs cocultured with AECs from asthmatic patients was greater than that by HLFs cocultured with AECs from healthy subjects (2.2-fold,P textless .02; 10.8-fold,P textless .02). HAS2 expression by HLFs cocultured with AECs from asthmatic patients was 2.5-fold higher than that by HLFs cocultured with AECs from healthy subjects (P textless .002). Fibronectin expression by HLFs cocultured with AECs from asthmatic patients was significantly greater than that by HLFs alone. TGF-$$2 activity was increased in cocultures of HLFs with AECs from asthmatic patients (P textless .05),whereas PGES2 was downregulated in AEC-HLF cocultures (2.2-fold,P textless .006). CONCLUSIONS: HLFs cocultured with AECs from asthmatic patients showed differential expression of the ECM constituents COL1A1 and COL3A1 and HAS2 compared with HLFs cocultured with AECs from healthy subjects. These findings support a role for altered ECM production in asthmatic airway remodeling,possibly regulated by unbalanced AEC signaling. View Publication

Human endothelial cells (ECs) and pericytes are of great interest for research on vascular development and disease,as well as for future therapy. This protocol describes the efficient generation of ECs and pericytes from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) under defined conditions. Essential steps for hPSC culture,differentiation,isolation and functional characterization of ECs and pericytes are described. Substantial numbers of both cell types can be derived in only 2-3 weeks: this involves differentiation (10 d),isolation (1 d) and 4 or 10 d of expansion of ECs and pericytes,respectively. We also describe two assays for functional evaluation of hPSC-derived ECs: (i) primary vascular plexus formation upon coculture with hPSC-derived pericytes and (ii) incorporation in the vasculature of zebrafish xenografts in vivo. These assays can be used to test the quality and drug sensitivity of hPSC-derived ECs and model vascular diseases with patient-derived hPSCs. View Publication

Recent methodological advances have improved the ease and efficiency of generating human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs),but this now typically results in a greater number of hiPSC clones being derived than can be wholly characterized. It is therefore imperative that methods are developed which facilitate rapid selection of hiPSC clones most suited for the downstream research aims. Here we describe a combination of procedures enabling the simultaneous screening of multiple clones to determine their genomic integrity as well as their cardiac differentiation potential within two weeks of the putative reprogrammed colonies initially appearing. By coupling splinkerette-PCR with Ion Torrent sequencing,we could ascertain the number and map the proviral integration sites in lentiviral-reprogrammed hiPSCs. In parallel,we developed an effective cardiac differentiation protocol that generated functional cardiomyocytes within 10 days without requiring line-specific optimization for any of the six independent human pluripotent stem cell lines tested. Finally,to demonstrate the scalable potential of these procedures,we picked 20 nascent iPSC clones and performed these independent assays concurrently. Before the clones required passaging,we were able to identify clones with a single integrated copy of the reprogramming vector and robust cardiac differentiation potential for further analysis. 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

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

Nanofibrous gelatin substrates are suited for long-term expansion of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) under feeder- and serum-free culture conditions. A combinatorial library with different sets of processing parameters was established to assess the culture performance of hPSCs on nanofibrous substrates in terms of cell adhesion and growth rate,using Matrigel as control. Then,the optimal conditions were applied to long-term expansion of hPSCs with several cell lines,showing a maintained pluripotency over more than 20 passages without introducing any abnormal chromosome. In addition,this approach allowed us to avoid enzymatic disassociation and mechanic cutting during passages,thereby promoting a better hPSC culture and long-term expansion. ?? 2014 Elsevier Ltd. 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

Oxidative stress serves as an important regulator of both apoptosis and metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells. Chaetocin,a histone methyltransferase inhibitor,is known to induce ROS generation. As elevating basal ROS level sensitizes glioma cells to apoptosis,the ability of Chaetocin in regulating apoptotic and metabolic adaptive responses in glioma was investigated. Chaetocin induced glioma cell apoptosis in a ROS-dependent manner. Increased intracellular ROS induced (i) Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) expression independent of the canonical Hippo pathway as well as (ii) ATM and JNK activation. Increased interaction of YAP1 with p73 and p300 induced apoptosis in an ATM-dependent manner. Chaetocin induced JNK modulated several metabolic parameters like glucose uptake,lactate production,ATP generation,and activity of glycolytic enzymes hexokinase and pyruvate kinase. However,JNK had no effect on ATM or YAP1 expression. Coherent with the in vitro findings,Chaetocin reduced tumor burden in heterotypic xenograft glioma mouse model. Chaetocin-treated tumors exhibited heightened ROS,pATM,YAP1 and pJNK levels. Our study highlights the coordinated control of glioma cell proliferation and metabolism by ROS through (i) ATM-YAP1-driven apoptotic pathway and (ii) JNK-regulated metabolic adaptation. The elucidation of these newfound connections and the roles played by ROS to simultaneously shift metabolic program and induce apoptosis could provide insights toward the development of new anti-glioma strategies. View Publication