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There is an urgent need for an efficient approach to obtain a large-scale and renewable source of functional human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to establish robust,patient-specific tissue model systems for studying the pathogenesis of vascular disease,and for developing novel therapeutic interventions. Here,we have derived a large quantity of highly enriched functional VSMCs from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-VSMCs). Furthermore,we have engineered 3D tissue rings from hiPSC-VSMCs using a facile one-step cellular self-assembly approach. The tissue rings are mechanically robust and can be used for vascular tissue engineering and disease modeling of supravalvular aortic stenosis syndrome. Our method may serve as a model system,extendable to study other vascular proliferative diseases for drug screening. Thus,this report describes an exciting platform technology with broad utility for manufacturing cell-based tissues and materials for various biomedical applications. View Publication

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) are major regulators of inflammation and infection at mucosal barriers. ILC3 development is thought to be programmed,but how ILC3 perceive,integrate and respond to local environmental signals remains unclear. Here we show that ILC3 in mice sense their environment and control gut defence as part of a glial"ILC3"epithelial cell unit orchestrated by neurotrophic factors. We found that enteric ILC3 express the neuroregulatory receptor RET. ILC3-autonomous Ret ablation led to decreased innate interleukin-22 (IL-22),impaired epithelial reactivity,dysbiosis and increased susceptibility to bowel inflammation and infection. Neurotrophic factors directly controlled innate Il22 downstream of the p38 MAPK/ERK-AKT cascade and STAT3 activation. Notably,ILC3 were adjacent to neurotrophic-factor-expressing glial cells that exhibited stellate-shaped projections into ILC3 aggregates. Glial cells sensed microenvironmental cues in a MYD88-dependent manner to control neurotrophic factors and innate IL-22. Accordingly,glial-intrinsic Myd88 deletion led to impaired production of ILC3-derived IL-22 and a pronounced propensity towards gut inflammation and infection. Our work sheds light on a novel multi-tissue defence unit,revealing that glial cells are central hubs of neuron and innate immune regulation by neurotrophic factor signals. View Publication

The essential functions of Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1) in development and gene silencing are thought to involve long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs),but few specific lncRNAs that guide PRC1 activity are known. We screened for lncRNAs which co-precipitate with PRC1 from chromatin and found candidates that impact Polycomb Group protein (PcG)-regulated gene expression in vivo. A novel lncRNA from this screen,CAT7,regulates expression and PcG binding at the MNX1 locus during early neuronal differentiation. CAT7 contains a unique tandem repeat domain which shares high sequence similarity to a non-syntenic zebrafish analog,cat7l. Defects caused by interference of cat7l RNA during zebrafish embryogenesis were rescued by human CAT7 RNA,enhanced by interference of a PRC1 component,and suppressed by interference of a known PRC1 target gene,demonstrating cat7l genetically interacts with a PRC1. We propose a model whereby PRC1 acts in concert with specific lncRNAs,and that CAT7/cat7l represent convergent lncRNAs that independently evolved to tune PRC1 repression at individual loci. View Publication

Reliable,scalable and time-efficient culture methods are required to fully realize the clinical and industrial applications of human pluripotent stem (hPS) cells. Here we present a completely defined,xeno-free medium that supports long-term propagation of hPS cells on uncoated tissue culture plastic. The medium consists of the Essential 8 (E8) formulation supplemented with inter-α-inhibitor (IαI),a human serum-derived protein,recently demonstrated to activate key pluripotency pathways in mouse PS cells. IαI efficiently induces attachment and long-term growth of both embryonic and induced hPS cell lines when added as a soluble protein to the medium at seeding. IαI supplementation efficiently supports adaptation of feeder-dependent hPS cells to xeno-free conditions,clonal growth as well as single-cell survival in the absence of Rho-associated kinase inhibitor (ROCKi). This time-efficient and simplified culture method paves the way for large-scale,high-throughput hPS cell culture,and will be valuable for both basic research and commercial applications. View Publication

Photoreceptor degeneration due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a primary cause of inherited retinal blindness. Photoreceptor cell-replacement may hold the potential for repair in a completely degenerate retina by reinstating light sensitive cells to form connections that relay information to downstream retinal layers. This study assessed the therapeutic potential of photoreceptor progenitors derived from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (ESCs and iPSCs) using a protocol that is suitable for future clinical trials. ESCs and iPSCs were cultured in four specific stages under defined conditions,resulting in generation of a near-homogeneous population of photoreceptor-like progenitors. Following transplantation into mice with end-stage retinal degeneration,these cells differentiated into photoreceptors and formed a cell layer connected with host retinal neurons. Visual function was partially restored in treated animals,as evidenced by two visual behavioral tests. Furthermore,the magnitude of functional improvement was positively correlated with the number of engrafted cells. Similar efficacy was observed using either ESCs or iPSCs as source material. These data validate the potential of human pluripotent stem cells for photoreceptor replacement therapies aimed at photoreceptor regeneration in retinal disease. View Publication

PURPOSE To model keratoconus (KC) using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) generated from fibroblasts of both KC and normal human corneal stroma by a viral method. METHODS Both normal and KC corneal fibroblasts from four human donors were reprogramed directly by delivering reprogramming factors in a single virus using 2A self-cleaving" peptides� View Publication

Efficient delivery of therapeutics across the neuroprotective blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains a formidable challenge for central nervous system drug development. High-fidelity in vitro models of the BBB could facilitate effective early screening of drug candidates targeting the brain. In this study,we developed a microfluidic BBB model that is capable of mimicking in vivo BBB characteristics for a prolonged period and allows for reliable in vitro drug permeability studies under recirculating perfusion. We derived brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and cocultured them with rat primary astrocytes on the two sides of a porous membrane on a pumpless microfluidic platform for up to 10 days. The microfluidic system was designed based on the blood residence time in human brain tissues,allowing for medium recirculation at physiologically relevant perfusion rates with no pumps or external tubing,meanwhile minimizing wall shear stress to test whether shear stress is required for in vivo-like barrier properties in a microfluidic BBB model. This BBB-on-a-chip model achieved significant barrier integrity as evident by continuous tight junction formation and in vivo-like values of trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER). The TEER levels peaked above 4000 $$ textperiodcentered cm(2) on day 3 on chip and were sustained above 2000 $$ textperiodcentered cm(2) up to 10 days,which are the highest sustained TEER values reported in a microfluidic model. We evaluated the capacity of our microfluidic BBB model to be used for drug permeability studies using large molecules (FITC-dextrans) and model drugs (caffeine,cimetidine,and doxorubicin). Our analyses demonstrated that the permeability coefficients measured using our model were comparable to in vivo values. Our BBB-on-a-chip model closely mimics physiological BBB barrier functions and will be a valuable tool for screening of drug candidates. The residence time-based design of a microfluidic platform will enable integration with other organ modules to simulate multi-organ interactions on drug response. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;9999: 1-11. textcopyright 2016 Wiley Periodicals,Inc. View Publication

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be derived from various types of somatic cells by transient overexpression of 4 Yamanaka factors (OCT4,SOX2,C-MYC,and KLF4). Patient-specific iPSC derivatives (e.g.,neuronal,cardiac,hepatic,muscular,and endothelial cells [ECs]) hold great promise in drug discovery and regenerative medicine. In this study,we aimed to evaluate whether the cellular origin can affect the differentiation,in vivo behavior,and single-cell gene expression signatures of human iPSC-derived ECs. We derived human iPSCs from 3 types of somatic cells of the same individuals: fibroblasts (FB-iPSCs),ECs (EC-iPSCs),and cardiac progenitor cells (CPC-iPSCs). We then differentiated them into ECs by sequential administration of Activin,BMP4,bFGF,and VEGF. EC-iPSCs at early passage (10 textless P textless 20) showed higher EC differentiation propensity and gene expression of EC-specific markers (PECAM1 and NOS3) than FB-iPSCs and CPC-iPSCs. In vivo transplanted EC-iPSC-ECs were recovered with a higher percentage of CD31(+) population and expressed higher EC-specific gene expression markers (PECAM1,KDR,and ICAM) as revealed by microfluidic single-cell quantitative PCR (qPCR). In vitro EC-iPSC-ECs maintained a higher CD31(+) population than FB-iPSC-ECs and CPC-iPSC-ECs with long-term culturing and passaging. These results indicate that cellular origin may influence lineage differentiation propensity of human iPSCs; hence,the somatic memory carried by early passage iPSCs should be carefully considered before clinical translation. View Publication

The influence of signals perceived by immature B cells during their development in bone marrow on their subsequent functions as mature cells are poorly defined. Here,we show that bone marrow cells transiently stimulated in vivo or in vitro through the Toll-like receptor 9 generate proB cells (CpG-proBs) that interrupt experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) when transferred at the onset of clinical symptoms. Protection requires differentiation of CpG-proBs into mature B cells that home to reactive lymph nodes,where they trap T cells by releasing the CCR7 ligand,CCL19,and to inflamed central nervous system,where they locally limit immunopathogenesis through interleukin-10 production,thereby cooperatively inhibiting ongoing EAE. These data demonstrate that a transient inflammation at the environment,where proB cells develop,is sufficient to confer regulatory functions onto their mature B-cell progeny. In addition,these properties of CpG-proBs open interesting perspectives for cell therapy of autoimmune diseases. View Publication

Pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) have great potential in the development of new therapies for cardiovascular disease. In particular,human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may prove especially advantageous due to their pluripotency,their self-renewal potential,and their ability to create patient-specific cell lines. Unfortunately,pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs are immature,with characteristics more closely resembling fetal CMs than adult CMs,and this immaturity has limited their use in drug screening and cell-based therapies. Extracellular matrix (ECM) influences cellular behavior and maturation,as does the geometry of the environment-two-dimensional (2D) versus three-dimensional (3D). We therefore tested the hypothesis that native cardiac ECM and 3D cultures might enhance the maturation of iPSC-derived CMs in vitro. We demonstrate that maturation of iPSC-derived CMs was enhanced when cells were seeded into a 3D cardiac ECM scaffold,compared with 2D culture. 3D cardiac ECM promoted increased expression of calcium-handling genes,Junctin,CaV1.2,NCX1,HCN4,SERCA2a,Triadin,and CASQ2. Consistent with this,we find that iPSC-derived CMs in 3D adult cardiac ECM show increased calcium signaling (amplitude) and kinetics (maximum upstroke and downstroke) compared with cells in 2D. Cells in 3D culture were also more responsive to caffeine,likely reflecting an increased availability of calcium in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Taken together,these studies provide novel strategies for maturing iPSC-derived CMs that may have applications in drug screening and transplantation therapies to treat heart disease. View Publication

Objective Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive trinucleotide repeat expansion disorder caused by epigenetic silencing of the frataxin gene (FXN). Current research suggests that damage and variation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) contribute to the molecular pathogenesis of FRDA. We sought to establish the extent of the mutation burden across the mitochondrial genome in FRDA cells and investigate the molecular mechanisms connecting FXN downregulation and the acquisition of mtDNA damage. Methods Damage and mutation load in mtDNA of a panel of FRDA and control fibroblasts were determined using qPCR and next-generation MiSeq sequencing,respectively. The capacity of FRDA and control cells to repair oxidative lesions in their mtDNA was measured using a quantitative DNA damage assay. Comprehensive RNA sequencing gene expression analyses were conducted to assess the status of DNA repair and metabolism genes in FRDA cells. Results Acute or prolonged downregulation of FXN expression resulted in a significant increase in mtDNA damage that translated to a significant elevation of mutation load in mtDNA. The predominant mutations identified throughout the mtDNA were CtextgreaterT,GtextgreaterA transitions (P = 0.007). Low FXN expression reduced capacity to repair oxidative damage in mtDNA. Downregulation of FXN expression strongly correlated (r = 0.73) with decreased levels of base excision repair (BER) DNA glycosylase NTHL1. Interpretation Downregulation of FXN expression in FRDA cells elevates mtDNA damage,increases mutation load of the mitochondrial genome,and diminishes DNA repair capacity. Progressive accumulation of mtDNA mutations in vulnerable FRDA patient cells reduces mitochondrial fitness ultimately leading to cell death. View Publication

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a postnatal neurodevelopmental disorder that primarily affects girls. Mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene account for approximately 95 % of all RTT cases. To model RTT in vitro,we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from fibroblasts of two RTT patients with different mutations (MECP2 (R306C) and MECP2 (1155$$32)) in their MECP2 gene. We found that these iPSCs were capable of differentiating into functional neurons. Compared to control neurons,the RTT iPSC-derived cells had reduced soma size and a decreased amount of synaptic input,evident both as fewer Synapsin 1-positive puncta and a lower frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents. Supplementation of the culture media with choline rescued all of these defects. Choline supplementation may act through changes in the expression of choline acetyltransferase,an important enzyme in cholinergic signaling,and also through alterations in the lipid metabolite profiles of the RTT neurons. Our study elucidates the possible mechanistic pathways for the effect of choline on human RTT cell models,thereby illustrating the potential for using choline as a nutraceutical to treat RTT. View Publication