Scientific Resources

Cancer-targeting alkylphosphocholine (APC) analogs are being clinically developed for diagnostic imaging,intraoperative visualization,and therapeutic applications. These APC analogs derived from chemically-synthesized phospholipid ethers were identified and optimized for cancer-targeting specificity using extensive structure-activity studies. While they strongly label human brain cancers associated with disrupted blood-brain barriers (BBB),APC permeability across intact BBB remains unknown. Three of our APC analogs,CLR1404 (PET radiotracer),CLR1501 (green fluorescence),and CLR1502 (near infrared fluorescence),were tested for permeability across a BBB model composed of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain microvascular endothelial cells (iPSC-derived BMECs). This in vitro BBB system has reproducibly consistent high barrier integrity marked by high transendothelial electrical resistance (TEERtextgreater1500 Ω-cm(2)) and functional expression of drug efflux transporters. Our radioiodinated and fluorescent APC analogs demonstrated fairly low permeability across the iPSC-BMEC (35±5.7 (CLR1404),54±3.2 (CLR1501),and 26±4.9 (CLR1502) x10(-5) cm/min) compared with BBB-impermeable sucrose (13±2.5) and BBB-permeable diazepam (170±29). Only our fluorescent APC analogs (CLR1501,CLR1502) underwent BCRP and MRP polarized drug efflux transport in the brain-to-blood direction of the BBB model and this efflux can be specifically blocked with pharmacological inhibition. None of our tested APC analogs appeared to undergo substantial P-gp transport. Limited permeability of our APC analogs across an intact BBB into normal brain likely contributes to the high tumor to background ratios observed in initial human trials. Moreover,addition of fluorescent moieties to APCs resulted in greater BMEC efflux via MRP and BCRP,and may affect fluorescence-guided applications. Overall,the characterization of APC analog permeability across human BBB is significant for advancing future brain tumor-targeted applications of these agents. View Publication

Glioma tumour-initiating cells (GTICs) can originate upon the transformation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Studies on GTICs have focused on primary tumours from which GTICs could be isolated and the use of human embryonic material. Recently,the somatic genomic landscape of human gliomas has been reported. RTK (receptor tyrosine kinase) and p53 signalling were found dysregulated in ∼90% and 86% of all primary tumours analysed,respectively. Here we report on the use of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) for modelling gliomagenesis. Dysregulation of RTK and p53 signalling in hiPSC-derived NPCs (iNPCs) recapitulates GTIC properties in vitro. In vivo transplantation of transformed iNPCs leads to highly aggressive tumours containing undifferentiated stem cells and their differentiated derivatives. Metabolic modulation compromises GTIC viability. Last,screening of 101 anti-cancer compounds identifies three molecules specifically targeting transformed iNPCs and primary GTICs. Together,our results highlight the potential of hiPSCs for studying human tumourigenesis. View Publication

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant primary pediatric brain tumor and is currently divided into four subtypes based on different genomic alterations,gene expression profiles and response to treatment: WNT,Sonic Hedgehog (SHH),Group 3 and Group 4. This extensive heterogeneity has made it difficult to assess the functional relevance of genes to malignant progression. For example,expression of the transcription factor Orthodenticle homeobox2 (OTX2) is frequently dysregulated in multiple MB variants; however,its role may be subtype specific. We recently demonstrated that neural precursors derived from transformed human embryonic stem cells (trans-hENs),but not their normal counterparts (hENs),resemble Groups 3 and 4 MB in vitro and in vivo. Here,we tested the utility of this model system as a means of dissecting the role of OTX2 in MB using gain- and loss-of-function studies in hENs and trans-hENs,respectively. Parallel experiments with MB cells revealed that OTX2 exerts inhibitory effects on hEN and SHH MB cells by regulating growth,self-renewal and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. This was accompanied by decreased expression of pluripotent genes,such as SOX2,and was supported by overexpression of SOX2 in OTX2+ SHH MB and hENs that resulted in significant rescue of self-renewal and cell migration. By contrast,OTX2 is oncogenic and promotes self-renewal of trans-hENs and Groups 3 and 4 MB independent of pluripotent gene expression. Our results demonstrate a novel role for OTX2 in self-renewal and migration of hENs and MB cells and reveal a cell-context-dependent link between OTX2 and pluripotent genes. Our study underscores the value of human embryonic stem cell derivatives as alternatives to cell lines and heterogeneous patient samples for investigating the contribution of key developmental regulators to MB progression. View Publication

Mesenchymal stem or stromal cells (MSCs) have many potential therapeutic applications including therapies for cancers and tissue damages caused by cancers or radical cancer treatments. However,tissue-derived MSCs such as bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) may promote cancer progression and have considerable donor variations and limited expandability. These issues hinder the potential applications of MSCs,especially those in cancer patients. To circumvent these issues,we derived MSCs from transgene-free human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) efficiently with a modified protocol that eliminated the need of flow cytometric sorting. Our iPSC-derived MSCs were readily expandable,but still underwent senescence after prolonged culture and did not form teratomas. These iPSC-derived MSCs homed to cancers with efficiencies similar to BM-MSCs but were much less prone than BM-MSCs to promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transition,invasion,stemness,and growth of cancer cells. The observations were probably explained by the much lower expression of receptors for interleukin-1 and TGFβ,downstream protumor factors,and hyaluronan and its cofactor TSG6,which all contribute to the protumor effects of BM-MSCs. The data suggest that iPSC-derived MSCs prepared with the modified protocol are a safer and better alternative to BM-MSCs for therapeutic applications in cancer patients. The protocol is scalable and can be used to prepare the large number of cells required for off-the-shelf" therapies and bioengineering applications." View Publication

The purpose of this study is to characterize the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS-RPE). MiRNAs have been demonstrated to play critical roles in both maintaining pluripotency and facilitating differentiation. Gene expression networks accountable for maintenance and induction of pluripotency are linked and share components with those networks implicated in oncogenesis. Therefore,we hypothesize that miRNA expression profiling will distinguish iPS cells from their iPS-RPE progeny. To identify and analyze differentially expressed miRNAs,RPE was derived from iPS using a spontaneous differentiation method. MiRNA microarray analysis identified 155 probes that were statistically differentially expressed between iPS and iPS-RPE cells. Up-regulated miRNAs including miR-181c and miR-129-5p may play a role in promoting differentiation,while down-regulated miRNAs such as miR-367,miR-18b,and miR-20b are implicated in cell proliferation. Subsequent miRNA-target and network analysis revealed that these miRNAs are involved in cellular development,cell cycle progression,cell death,and survival. A systematic interrogation of temporal and spatial expression of iPS-RPE miRNAs and their associated target mRNAs will provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis,eye differentiation and development. View Publication

Gastric diseases,including peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer,affect 10% of the world's population and are largely due to chronic Helicobacter pylori infection. Species differences in embryonic development and architecture of the adult stomach make animal models suboptimal for studying human stomach organogenesis and pathogenesis,and there is no experimental model of normal human gastric mucosa. Here we report the de novo generation of three-dimensional human gastric tissue in vitro through the directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. We show that temporal manipulation of the FGF,WNT,BMP,retinoic acid and EGF signalling pathways and three-dimensional growth are sufficient to generate human gastric organoids (hGOs). Developing hGOs progressed through molecular and morphogenetic stages that were nearly identical to the developing antrum of the mouse stomach. Organoids formed primitive gastric gland- and pit-like domains,proliferative zones containing LGR5-expressing cells,surface and antral mucous cells,and a diversity of gastric endocrine cells. We used hGO cultures to identify novel signalling mechanisms that regulate early endoderm patterning and gastric endocrine cell differentiation upstream of the transcription factor NEUROG3. Using hGOs to model pathogenesis of human disease,we found that H. pylori infection resulted in rapid association of the virulence factor CagA with the c-Met receptor,activation of signalling and induction of epithelial proliferation. Together,these studies describe a new and robust in vitro system for elucidating the mechanisms underlying human stomach development and disease. View Publication

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) tend to acquire genomic aberrations in culture,the most common of which is trisomy of chromosome 12. Here we dissect the cellular and molecular implications of this trisomy in hPSCs. Global gene expression analyses reveal that trisomy 12 profoundly affects the gene expression profile of hPSCs,inducing a transcriptional programme similar to that of germ cell tumours. Comparison of proliferation,differentiation and apoptosis between diploid and aneuploid hPSCs shows that trisomy 12 significantly increases the proliferation rate of hPSCs,mainly as a consequence of increased replication. Furthermore,trisomy 12 increases the tumorigenicity of hPSCs in vivo,inducing transcriptionally distinct teratomas from which pluripotent cells can be recovered. Last,a chemical screen of 89 anticancer drugs discovers that trisomy 12 raises the sensitivity of hPSCs to several replication inhibitors. Together,these findings demonstrate the extensive effect of trisomy 12 and highlight its perils for successful hPSC applications. View Publication