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Spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked neuromuscular disease caused by polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. SBMA belongs to the family of polyQ diseases,which are fatal neurodegenerative disorders mainly caused by protein-mediated toxic gain-of-function mechanisms and characterized by deposition of misfolded proteins in the form of aggregates. The neurotoxicity of the polyQ proteins can be modified by phosphorylation at specific sites,thereby providing the rationale for the development of disease-specific treatments. We sought to identify signaling pathways that modulate polyQ-AR phosphorylation for therapy development. We report that cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) phosphorylates polyQ-AR specifically at Ser(96) Phosphorylation of polyQ-AR by CDK2 increased protein stabilization and toxicity and is negatively regulated by the adenylyl cyclase (AC)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway. To translate these findings into therapy,we developed an analog of pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP),a potent activator of the AC/PKA pathway. Chronic intranasal administration of the PACAP analog to knock-in SBMA mice reduced Ser(96) phosphorylation,promoted polyQ-AR degradation,and ameliorated disease outcome. These results provide proof of principle that noninvasive therapy based on the use of PACAP analogs is a therapeutic option for SBMA. View Publication

Mesoderm is the developmental precursor to myriad human tissues including bone,heart,and skeletal muscle. Unravelling the molecular events through which these lineages become diversified from one another is integral to developmental biology and understanding changes in cellular fate. To this end,we developed an in vitro system to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells through primitive streak intermediates into paraxial mesoderm and its derivatives (somites,sclerotome,dermomyotome) and separately,into lateral mesoderm and its derivatives (cardiac mesoderm). Whole-population and single-cell analyses of these purified populations of human mesoderm lineages through RNA-seq,ATAC-seq,and high-throughput surface marker screens illustrated how transcriptional changes co-occur with changes in open chromatin and surface marker landscapes throughout human mesoderm development. This molecular atlas will facilitate study of human mesoderm development (which cannot be interrogated in vivo due to restrictions on human embryo studies) and provides a broad resource for the study of gene regulation in development at the single-cell level,knowledge that might one day be exploited for regenerative medicine. View Publication

Structural cardiac remodeling,accompanying cytoskeletal reorganization of cardiac cells,is a major clinical outcome of diastolic heart failure. A highly local Ca(2+) influx across the plasma membrane has been suggested to code signals to induce Rho GTPase-mediated fibrosis,but it is obscure how the heart specifically decodes the local Ca(2+) influx as a cytoskeletal reorganizing signal under the conditions of the rhythmic Ca(2+) handling required for pump function. We found that an inhibition of transient receptor potential canonical 3 (TRPC3) channel activity exhibited resistance to Rho-mediated maladaptive fibrosis in pressure-overloaded mouse hearts. Proteomic analysis revealed that microtubule-associated Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor,GEF-H1,participates in TRPC3-mediated RhoA activation induced by mechanical stress in cardiomyocytes and transforming growth factor (TGF) β stimulation in cardiac fibroblasts. We previously revealed that TRPC3 functionally interacts with microtubule-associated NADPH oxidase (Nox) 2,and inhibition of Nox2 attenuated mechanical stretch-induced GEF-H1 activation in cardiomyocytes. Finally,pharmacological TRPC3 inhibition significantly suppressed fibrotic responses in human cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. These results strongly suggest that microtubule-localized TRPC3-GEF-H1 axis mediates fibrotic responses commonly in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts induced by physico-chemical stimulation. View Publication

Sex chromosome dosage compensation is essential in most metazoans,but the developmental timing and underlying mechanisms vary significantly,even among placental mammals. Here we identify human-specific mechanisms regulating X chromosome activity in early embryonic development. Single-cell RNA sequencing and imaging revealed co-activation and accumulation of the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) XACT and XIST on active X chromosomes in both early human pre-implantation embryos and naive human embryonic stem cells. In these contexts,the XIST RNA adopts an unusual,highly dispersed organization,which may explain why it does not trigger X chromosome inactivation at this stage. Functional studies in transgenic mouse cells show that XACT influences XIST accumulation in cis. Our findings therefore suggest a mechanism involving antagonistic activity of XIST and XACT in controlling X chromosome activity in early human embryos,and they highlight the contribution of rapidly evolving lncRNAs to species-specific developmental mechanisms. View Publication

Mutation of highly conserved residues in transcription factors may affect protein-protein or protein-DNA interactions,leading to gene network dysregulation and human disease. Human mutations in GATA4,a cardiogenic transcription factor,cause cardiac septal defects and cardiomyopathy. Here,iPS-derived cardiomyocytes from subjects with a heterozygous GATA4-G296S missense mutation showed impaired contractility,calcium handling,and metabolic activity. In human cardiomyocytes,GATA4 broadly co-occupied cardiac enhancers with TBX5,another transcription factor that causes septal defects when mutated. The GATA4-G296S mutation disrupted TBX5 recruitment,particularly to cardiac super-enhancers,concomitant with dysregulation of genes related to the phenotypic abnormalities,including cardiac septation. Conversely,the GATA4-G296S mutation led to failure of GATA4 and TBX5-mediated repression at non-cardiac genes and enhanced open chromatin states at endothelial/endocardial promoters. These results reveal how disease-causing missense mutations can disrupt transcriptional cooperativity,leading to aberrant chromatin states and cellular dysfunction,including those related to morphogenetic defects. View Publication

Importance Human motor neurons may be reliably derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In vivo transplant studies of human iPSCs and their cellular derivatives are essential to gauging their clinical utility. Objective To determine whether human iPSC-derived motor neurons can engraft in an immunodeficient mouse model of sciatic nerve injury. Design,Setting,and Subjects This nonblinded interventional study with negative controls was performed at a biomedical research institute using an immunodeficient,transgenic mouse model. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons were cultured and differentiated. Cells were transplanted into 32 immunodeficient mice with sciatic nerve injury aged 6 to 15 weeks. Tissue analysis was performed at predetermined points after the mice were killed humanely. Animal experiments were performed from February 24,2015,to May 2,2016,and data were analyzed from April 7,2015,to May 27,2016. Interventions Human iPSCs were used to derive motor neurons in vitro before transplant. Main Outcomes and Measures Evidence of engraftment based on immunohistochemical analysis (primary outcome measure); evidence of neurite outgrowth and neuromuscular junction formation (secondary outcome measure); therapeutic effect based on wet muscle mass preservation and/or electrophysiological evidence of nerve and muscle function (exploratory end point). Results In 13 of the 32 mice undergoing the experiment,human iPSC-derived motor neurons successfully engrafted and extended neurites to target denervated muscle. Human iPSC-derived motor neurons reduced denervation-induced muscular atrophy (mean [SD] muscle mass preservation,54.2% [4.0%]) compared with negative controls (mean [SD] muscle mass preservation,33.4% [2.3%]) (P = .04). No electrophysiological evidence of muscle recovery was found. Conclusions and Relevance Human iPSC-derived motor neurons may have future use in the treatment of peripheral motor nerve injury,including facial paralysis. Level of Evidence NA. View Publication

The human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) provides a breakthrough approach that helps overcoming ethical and allergenic challenges posed in application of neural stem cells (NSCs) in targeted cancer gene therapy. However,the tumor-tropic capacity of hiPSC-derived NSCs (hiPS-NSCs) still has much room to improve. Here we attempted to promote the tumor tropism of hiPS-NSCs by manipulating the activity of endogenous miR-199a/214 cluster that is involved in regulation of hypoxia-stimulated cell migration. We first developed a baculovirus-delivered CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system that sterically blocked the E-box element in the promoter of the miR-199a/214 cluster with an RNA-guided catalytically dead Cas9 (dCas9). We then applied this CRISPRi system to hiPS-NSCs and successfully suppressed the expression of miR-199a-5p,miR-199a-3p,and miR-214 in the microRNA gene cluster. Meanwhile,the expression levels of their targets related to regulation of hypoxia-stimulated cell migration,such as HIF1A,MET,and MAPK1,were upregulated. Further migration assays demonstrated that the targeted inhibition of the miR-199a/214 cluster significantly enhanced the tumor tropism of hiPS-NSCs both in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest a novel application of CRISPRi in NSC-based tumor-targeted gene therapy. View Publication

Previous studies in the mouse indicated that ARID3A plays a critical role in the first cell fate decision required for generation of trophectoderm (TE). Here,we demonstrate that ARID3A is widely expressed during mouse and human placentation and essential for early embryonic viability. ARID3A localizes to trophoblast giant cells and other trophoblast-derived cell subtypes in the junctional and labyrinth zones of the placenta. Conventional Arid3a knockout embryos suffer restricted intrauterine growth with severe defects in placental structural organization. Arid3a null placentas show aberrant expression of subtype-specific markers as well as significant alteration in cytokines,chemokines and inflammatory response-related genes,including previously established markers of human placentation disorders. BMP4-mediated induction of trophoblast stem (TS)-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells results in ARID3A up-regulation and cytoplasmic to nuclear translocation. Overexpression of ARID3A in BMP4-mediated TS-like cells up-regulates TE markers,whereas pluripotency markers are down-regulated. Our results reveal an essential,conserved function for ARID3A in mammalian placental development through regulation of both intrinsic and extrinsic developmental programs. View Publication

Success in the differentiating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into insulin-secreting β cells raises new hopes for diabetes treatment. In this work,we demonstrated the feasibility of developing islet organoids from hESCs within biomimetic 3D scaffolds. We showed that such a 3D microenvironment is critical to the generation of pancreatic endoderm and endocrine from hESCs. The organoids formed consisted of pancreatic α,β,δ,and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells. A high-level co-expression of PDX1,NKX6.1,and NGN3 in these cells suggests the characteristics of pancreatic β cells. More importantly,most insulin-secreting cells generated did not express glucagon,somatostatin,or PP. The expression of mature β cell marker genes such as Pdx1,Ngn3,Insulin,MafA,and Glut2 was detected in these 3D-induced cell clusters. A high-level expression of C-peptide confirmed the de novo endogenous insulin production in these 3D induced cells. Insulin-secretory granules,an indication of β cell maturity,were detected in these cells as well. Glucose challenging experiments suggested that these cells are sensitive to glucose levels due to their elevated maturity. Exposing the cells to a high concentration of glucose induced a sharp increase in insulin secretion. View Publication

Reliance on volunteer blood donors can lead to transfusion product shortages,and current liquid storage of red blood cells (RBCs) is associated with biochemical changes over time,known as 'the storage lesion'. Thus,there is a need for alternative sources of transfusable RBCs to supplement conventional blood donations. Extracorporeal production of stem cell-derived RBCs (stemRBCs) is a potential and yet untapped source of fresh,transfusable RBCs. A number of groups have attempted RBC differentiation from CD34+ cells. However,it is still unclear whether these stemRBCs could eventually be effective substitutes for traditional RBCs due to potential differences in oxygen carrying capacity,viability,deformability,and other critical parameters. We have generated ex vivo stemRBCs from primary human cord blood CD34+ cells and compared them to donor-derived RBCs based on a number of in vitro parameters. In vivo,we assessed stemRBC circulation kinetics in an animal model of transfusion and oxygen delivery in a mouse model of exercise performance. Our novel,chronically anemic,SCID mouse model can evaluate the potential of stemRBCs to deliver oxygen to tissues (muscle) under resting and exercise-induced hypoxic conditions. Based on our data,stem cell-derived RBCs have a similar biochemical profile compared to donor-derived RBCs. While certain key differences remain between donor-derived RBCs and stemRBCs,the ability of stemRBCs to deliver oxygen in a living organism provides support for further development as a transfusion product. View Publication

Pentraxin-2 (PTX-2),also known as serum amyloid P component (SAP/APCS),is a constitutive,antiinflammatory,innate immune plasma protein whose circulating level is decreased in chronic human fibrotic diseases. Here we show that recombinant human PTX-2 (rhPTX-2) retards progression of chronic kidney disease in Col4a3 mutant mice with Alport syndrome,reducing blood markers of kidney failure,enhancing lifespan by 20%,and improving histological signs of disease. Exogenously delivered rhPTX-2 was detected in macrophages but also in tubular epithelial cells,where it counteracted macrophage activation and was cytoprotective for the epithelium. Computational analysis of genes regulated by rhPTX-2 identified the transcriptional regulator c-Jun along with its activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding partners as a central target for the function of rhPTX-2. Accordingly,PTX-2 attenuates c-Jun and AP-1 activity,and reduces expression of AP-1-dependent inflammatory genes in both monocytes and epithelium. Our studies therefore identify rhPTX-2 as a potential therapy for chronic fibrotic disease of the kidney and an important inhibitor of pathological c-Jun signaling in this setting. View Publication

Amniogenesis-the development of amnion-is a critical developmental milestone for early human embryogenesis and successful pregnancy. However,human amniogenesis is poorly understood due to limited accessibility to peri-implantation embryos and a lack of in vitro models. Here we report an efficient biomaterial system to generate human amnion-like tissue in vitro through self-organized development of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in a bioengineered niche mimicking the in vivo implantation environment. We show that biophysical niche factors act as a switch to toggle hPSC self-renewal versus amniogenesis under self-renewal-permissive biochemical conditions. We identify a unique molecular signature of hPSC-derived amnion-like cells and show that endogenously activated BMP-SMAD signalling is required for the amnion-like tissue development by hPSCs. This study unveils the self-organizing and mechanosensitive nature of human amniogenesis and establishes the first hPSC-based model for investigating peri-implantation human amnion development,thereby helping advance human embryology and reproductive medicine. View Publication