技术资料

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have potential applications in cell replacement therapy and regenerative medicine. However,limited information is available regarding the immunologic features of iPSCs. In this study,expression of MHC and T cell co-stimulatory molecules in hiPSCs,and the effects on activation,proliferation and cytokine production in allogeneic human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were examined. We found that no-integrate hiPSCs had no MHC-II and T cell co-stimulatory molecules expressions but had moderate level of MHC-I and HLA-G expressions. In contrast to human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) which significantly induced allogeneic T cell activation and proliferation,hiPSCs failed to induce allogeneic CD45+ lymphocyte and CD8+ T cell activation and proliferation but could induce a low level of allogeneic CD4+ T cell proliferation. Unlike HSFs which induced allogeneic lymphocytes to produce high levels of IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-17,hiPSCs only induced allogeneic lymphocytes to produce IL-2 and IL-10,and promote IL-10-secreting regulatory T cell (Treg) generation. Our study suggests that the integration-free hiPSCs had low or negligible immunogenicity,which may result from their induction of IL-10-secreting Treg. View Publication

To address existing limitations in live neuron imaging,we have developed NeuO,a novel cell-permeable fluorescent probe with an unprecedented ability to label and image live neurons selectively over other cells in the brain. NeuO enables robust live neuron imaging and isolation in vivo and in vitro across species; its versatility and ease of use sets the basis for its development in a myriad of neuronal targeting applications. View Publication

Neural crest is a population of multipotent progenitor cells that form at the border of neural and non-neural ectoderm in vertebrate embryos,and undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migration. According to the traditional view,the neural crest is specified in early embryos by signaling molecules including BMP,FGF,and Wnt proteins. Here,we identify a novel signaling pathway leading to neural crest specification,which involves Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) and its downstream target nonmuscle Myosin II. We show that ROCK inhibitors promote differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into neural crest-like progenitors (NCPs) that are characterized by specific molecular markers and ability to differentiate into multiple cell types,including neurons,chondrocytes,osteocytes,and smooth muscle cells. Moreover,inhibition of Myosin II was sufficient for generating NCPs at high efficiency. Whereas Myosin II has been previously implicated in the self-renewal and survival of hESCs,we demonstrate its role in neural crest development during ESC differentiation. Inhibition of this pathway in Xenopus embryos expanded neural crest in vivo,further indicating that neural crest specification is controlled by ROCK-dependent Myosin II activity. We propose that changes in cell morphology in response to ROCK and Myosin II inhibition initiate mechanical signaling leading to neural crest fates. View Publication

The neural differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is a potential tool for elucidating the key mechanisms involved in human neurogenesis. Nestin and ??-III-tubulin,which are cytoskeleton proteins,are marker proteins of neural stem cells (NSCs) and neurons,respectively. However,the expression patterns of nestin and ??-III-tubulin in neural derivatives from human ESCs remain unclear. In this study,we found that neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from H9 cells express high levels of nestin and musashi-1. In contrast,??-III-tubulin was weakly expressed in a few NPCs. Moreover,in these cells,nestin formed filament networks,whereas ??-III-tubulin was distributed randomly as small particles. As the differentiation proceeded,the nestin filament networks and the ??-III-tubulin particles were found in both the cell soma and the cellular processes. Moreover,the colocalization of nestin and ??-III-tubulin was found mainly in the cell processes and neurite-like structures and not in the cell soma. These results may aid our understanding of the expression patterns of nestin and ??-III-tubulin during the neural differentiation of H9 cells. ?? 2013 Elsevier Inc. View Publication

Introduction Appropriate neural patterning of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is critical to generate specific neural cells/tissues and even mini-brains that are physiologically relevant to model neurological diseases. However,the capacity of signaling factors that regulate 3-D neural tissue patterning in vitro and differential responses of the resulting neural populations to various biomolecules have not yet been fully understood. Methods By tuning neural patterning of hiPSCs with small molecules targeting sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling,this study generated different 3-D neuronal cultures that were mainly comprised of either cortical glutamatergic neurons or motor neurons. Results Abundant glutamatergic neurons were observed following the treatment with an antagonist of SHH signaling,cyclopamine,while Islet-1 and HB9-expressing motor neurons were enriched by an SHH agonist,purmorphamine. In neurons derived with different neural patterning factors,whole-cell patch clamp recordings showed similar voltage-gated Na+/K+ currents,depolarization-evoked action potentials and spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents. Moreover,these different neuronal populations exhibited differential responses to three classes of biomolecules,including (1) matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors that affect extracellular matrix remodeling; (2) N-methyl-D-aspartate that induces general neurotoxicity; and (3) amyloid ?? (1???42) oligomers that cause neuronal subtype-specific neurotoxicity. Conclusions This study should advance our understanding of hiPSC self-organization and neural tissue development and provide a transformative approach to establish 3-D models for neurological disease modeling and drug discovery. Statement of Significance Appropriate neural patterning of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is critical to generate specific neural cells,tissues and even mini-brains that are physiologically relevant to model neurological diseases. However,the capability of sonic hedgehog-related small molecules to tune different neuronal subtypes in 3-D differentiation from hiPSCs and the differential cellular responses of region-specific neuronal subtypes to various biomolecules have not been fully investigated. By tuning neural patterning of hiPSCs with small molecules targeting sonic hedgehog signaling,this study provides knowledge on the differential susceptibility of region-specific neuronal subtypes derived from hiPSCs to different biomolecules in extracellular matrix remodeling and neurotoxicity. The findings are significant for understanding 3-D neural patterning of hiPSCs for the applications in brain organoid formation,neurological disease modeling,and drug discovery. View Publication

The breakthrough development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) raises the prospect of patient-specific treatment for many diseases through the replacement of affected cells. However,whether iPSC-derived functional cell lineages generate a deleterious immune response upon auto-transplantation remains unclear. In this study,we differentiated five human iPSC lines from skin fibroblasts and urine cells into neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and analyzed their immunogenicity. Through co-culture with autogenous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs),we showed that both somatic cells and iPSC-derived NPCs do not stimulate significant autogenous PBMC proliferation. However,a significant immune reaction was detected when these cells were co-cultured with allogenous PBMCs. Furthermore,no significant expression of perforin or granzyme B was detected following stimulation of autogenous immune effector cells (CD3+CD8− T cells,CD3+CD8+ T cells or CD3−CD56+ NK cells) by NPCs in both PBMC and T cell co-culture systems. These results suggest that human iPSC-derived NPCs may not initiate an immune response in autogenous transplants,and thus set a base for further preclinical evaluation of human iPSCs. View Publication