Scientific Resources

Astrocytes are instrumental to major brain functions,including metabolic support,extracellular ion regulation,the shaping of excitatory signaling events and maintenance of synaptic glutamate homeostasis. Astrocyte dysfunction contributes to numerous developmental,psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. The generation of adult human fibroblast-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has provided novel opportunities to study mechanisms of astrocyte dysfunction in human-derived cells. To overcome the difficulties of cell type heterogeneity during the differentiation process from iPSCs to astroglial cells (iPS astrocytes),we generated homogenous populations of iPS astrocytes using zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) technology. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) driven by the astrocyte-specific glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter was inserted into the safe harbor adeno-associated virus integration site 1 (AAVS1) locus in disease and control-derived iPSCs. Astrocyte populations were enriched using Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) and after enrichment more than 99% of iPS astrocytes expressed mature astrocyte markers including GFAP,S100$\$,NFIA and ALDH1L1. In addition,mature pure GFP-iPS astrocytes exhibited a well-described functional astrocytic activity in vitro characterized by neuron-dependent regulation of glutamate transporters to regulate extracellular glutamate concentrations. Engraftment of GFP-iPS astrocytes into rat spinal cord grey matter confirmed in vivo cell survival and continued astrocytic maturation. In conclusion,the generation of GFAP::GFP-iPS astrocytes provides a powerful in vitro and in vivo tool for studying astrocyte biology and astrocyte-driven disease pathogenesis and therapy. View Publication

Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into organ-specific subtypes offers an exciting avenue for the study of embryonic development and disease processes,for pharmacologic studies and as a potential resource for therapeutic transplant. To date,limited in vivo models exist for human intestine,all of which are dependent upon primary epithelial cultures or digested tissue from surgical biopsies that include mesenchymal cells transplanted on biodegradable scaffolds. Here,we generated human intestinal organoids (HIOs) produced in vitro from human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can engraft in vivo. These HIOs form mature human intestinal epithelium with intestinal stem cells contributing to the crypt-villus architecture and a laminated human mesenchyme,both supported by mouse vasculature ingrowth. In vivo transplantation resulted in marked expansion and maturation of the epithelium and mesenchyme,as demonstrated by differentiated intestinal cell lineages (enterocytes,goblet cells,Paneth cells,tuft cells and enteroendocrine cells),presence of functional brush-border enzymes (lactase,sucrase-isomaltase and dipeptidyl peptidase 4) and visible subepithelial and smooth muscle layers when compared with HIOs in vitro. Transplanted intestinal tissues demonstrated digestive functions as shown by permeability and peptide uptake studies. Furthermore,transplanted HIO-derived tissue was responsive to systemic signals from the host mouse following ileocecal resection,suggesting a role for circulating factors in the intestinal adaptive response. This model of the human small intestine may pave the way for studies of intestinal physiology,disease and translational studies. View Publication

BACKGROUND Whole-lung scaffolds can be created by perfusion decellularization of cadaveric donor lungs. The resulting matrices can then be recellularized to regenerate functional organs. This study evaluated the capacity of acellular lung scaffolds to support recellularization with lung progenitors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). METHODS Whole rat and human lungs were decellularized by constant-pressure perfusion with 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate solution. Resulting lung scaffolds were cryosectioned into slices or left intact. Human iPSCs were differentiated to definitive endoderm,anteriorized to a foregut fate,and then ventralized to a population expressing NK2 homeobox 1 (Nkx2.1). Cells were seeded onto slices and whole lungs,which were maintained under constant perfusion biomimetic culture. Lineage specification was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescent staining. Regenerated left lungs were transplanted in an orthotopic position. RESULTS Activin-A treatment,followed by transforming growth factor-$\$,induced differentiation of human iPSCs to anterior foregut endoderm as confirmed by forkhead box protein A2 (FOXA2),SRY (Sex Determining Region Y)-Box 17 (SOX17),and SOX2 expression. Cells cultured on decellularized lung slices demonstrated proliferation and lineage commitment after 5 days. Cells expressing Nkx2.1 were identified at 40% to 60% efficiency. Within whole-lung scaffolds and under perfusion culture,cells further upregulated Nkx2.1 expression. After orthotopic transplantation,grafts were perfused and ventilated by host vasculature and airways. CONCLUSIONS Decellularized lung matrix supports the culture and lineage commitment of human iPSC-derived lung progenitor cells. Whole-organ scaffolds and biomimetic culture enable coseeding of iPSC-derived endothelial and epithelial progenitors and enhance early lung fate. Orthotopic transplantation may enable further in vivo graft maturation. View Publication

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be used as powerful tools for the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues. However,isolating tissue specific-derived MSCs may cause pain and increased infection rates in patients,and repetitive isolations may be required. To overcome these difficulties,we have examined alternative methods for MSC production. Here,we show that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may be differentiated into mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) following exposure to SB431542. Purified iMSCs were administered to mdx mice to study skeletal muscle regeneration in a murine model of muscular dystrophy. Purified iMSCs displayed fibroblast-like morphology,formed three-dimensional spheroid structures,and expressed characteristic mesenchymal stem cell surface markers such as CD29,CD33,CD73,CD90,and CD105. Moreover,iMSCs were capable of differentiating into adipogenic,osteogenic,and chondrogenic lineages. Transplanting iMSC cells to tibialis anterior skeletal muscle tissue in mdx mice lowered oxidative damage as evidenced by a reduction in nitrotyrosine levels,and normal dystrophin expression levels were restored. This study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of purified iMSCs in skeletal muscle regeneration in mdx mice,and suggests that iPSCs are a viable alternate source for deriving MSCs as needed. textcopyright 2014 Elsevier Inc. View Publication

Teratoma formation,the standard in vivo pluripotency assay,is also frequently used as a tumorigenicity assay. A common concern in therapeutic stem cell applications is the tumorigenicity potential of a small number of cell impurities in the final product. Estimation of this small number is hampered by the inaccurate methodology of the tumorigenicity assay. Hence,a protocol for tumorigenicity assay that can deliver a defined number of cells,without error introduced by leakage or migration of cells is needed. In this study,we tested our modified transplantation method that allows for transplant of small numbers of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) under the kidney capsule with minimal cell leakage. A glass capillary with a finely shaped tip and an attached mouth pipette was used to inject PSCs into the rodent kidney capsule. H9 embryonic and induced PSCs were tagged with Fluc and green fluorescence protein reporter genes and divided in different cell doses for transplantation. Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) on the day of surgery showed that the cell signal was confined to the kidney and signal intensity correlated with increasing transplant cell numbers. The overall cell leakage rate was 17% and the rodent survival rate was 96%. Teratoma formation was observed in rodents transplanted with cell numbers between 1 × 10(5)-2 × 10(6). We conclude that this modified procedure for transplanting PSCs under the kidney capsule allows for transplantation of a defined number of PSCs with significant reduction of error associated with cell leakage from the transplant site. View Publication

Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (Shp2),encoded by Ptpn11,is a member of the nonreceptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase family,and functions in cell survival,proliferation,migration,and differentiation in many tissues. Here we report that loss of Ptpn11 in murine hematopoietic cells leads to bone marrow aplasia and lethality. Mutant mice show rapid loss of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and immature progenitors of all hematopoietic lineages in a gene dosage-dependent and cell-autonomous manner. Ptpn11-deficient HSCs and progenitors undergo apoptosis concomitant with increased Noxa expression. Mutant HSCs/progenitors also show defective Erk and Akt activation in response to stem cell factor and diminished thrombopoietin-evoked Erk activation. Activated Kras alleviates the Ptpn11 requirement for colony formation by progenitors and cytokine/growth factor responsiveness of HSCs,indicating that Ras is functionally downstream of Shp2 in these cells. Thus,Shp2 plays a critical role in controlling the survival and maintenance of HSCs and immature progenitors in vivo. View Publication

Parthenogenetic embryonic stem (ES) cells with two oocyte-derived genomes (uniparental) have been proposed as a source of autologous tissue for transplantation. The therapeutic applicability of any uniparental cell type is uncertain due to the consequences of genomic imprinting that in mammalian uniparental tissues causes unbalanced expression of imprinted genes. We transplanted uniparental fetal liver cells into lethally irradiated adult mice to test their capacity to replace adult hematopoietic tissue. Both maternal (gynogenetic) and paternal (androgenetic) derived cells conveyed long-term,multilineage reconstitution of hematopoiesis in recipients,with no associated pathologies. We also establish that uniparental ES cells can differentiate into transplantable hematopoietic progenitors in vitro that contribute to long-term hematopoiesis in recipients. Hematopoietic tissue in recipients maintained fidelity of parent-of-origin methylation marks at the Igf2/H19 locus; however,variability occurred in the maintenance of parental-specific methylation marks at other loci. In summary,despite genomic imprinting and its consequences on development that are particularly evident in the androgenetic phenotype,uniparental cells of both parental origins can form adult-transplantable stem cells and can repopulate an adult organ. View Publication