技术资料

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by progressive bone marrow failure (BMF) during childhood,aside from numerous congenital abnormalities. FA mouse models have been generated; however,they do not fully mimic the hematopoietic phenotype. As there is mounting evidence that the hematopoietic impairment starts already in utero,a human pluripotent stem cell model would constitute a more appropriate system to investigate the mechanisms underlying BMF in FA and its developmental basis. Using zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology,we have created a knockout of FANCA in human embryonic stem cells (hESC). We introduced a selection cassette into exon 2 thereby disrupting the FANCA coding sequence and found that whereas mono-allelically targeted cells retain an unaltered proliferation potential,disruption of the second allele causes a severe growth disadvantage. As a result,heterogeneous cultures arise due to the presence of cells still carrying an unaffected FANCA allele,quickly outgrowing the knockout cells. When pure cultures of FANCA knockout hESC are pursued either through selection or single cell cloning,this rapidly results in growth arrest and such cultures cannot be maintained. These data highlight the importance of a functional FA pathway at the pluripotent stem cell stage. ?? 2014. View Publication

We demonstrate a highly efficient method for gene delivery into clinically relevant human cell types,such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and fibroblasts,reducing the protocol time by one full day. To preserve cell physiology during gene transfer,we designed a microfluidic strategy,which facilitates significant gene delivery in a short transfection time (textless1 min) for several human cell types. This fast,optimized and generally applicable cell transfection method can be used for rapid screening of different delivery systems and has significant potential for high-throughput cell therapy applications. View Publication

BACKGROUND: Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CMs) are a promising source of cells for regenerating myocardium. However,several issues,especially the large-scale preparation of hiPS-CMs and elimination of undifferentiated iPS cells,must be resolved before hiPS cells can be used clinically. The cell-sheet technique is one of the useful methods for transplanting large numbers of cells. We hypothesized that hiPS-CM-sheet transplantation would be feasible,safe,and therapeutically effective for the treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy.backslashnbackslashnMETHODS AND RESULTS: Human iPS cells were established by infecting human dermal fibroblasts with a retrovirus carrying Oct3/4,Sox2,Klf4,and c-Myc. Cardiomyogenic differentiation was induced by WNT signaling molecules,yielding hiPS-CMs that were almost 90% positive for α-actinin,Nkx2.5,and cardiac troponin T. hiPS-CM sheets were created using thermoresponsive dishes and transplanted over the myocardial infarcts in a porcine model of ischemic cardiomyopathy induced by ameroid constriction of the left anterior descending coronary artery (n=6 for the iPS group receiving sheet transplantation and the sham-operated group; both groups received tacrolimus daily). Transplantation significantly improved cardiac performance and attenuated left ventricular remodeling. hiPS-CMs were detectable 8 weeks after transplantation,but very few survived long term. No teratoma formation was observed in animals that received hiPS-CM sheets.backslashnbackslashnCONCLUSIONS: The culture system used yields a large number of highly pure hiPS-CMs,and hiPS-CM sheets could improve cardiac function after ischemic cardiomyopathy. This newly developed culture system and the hiPS-CM sheets may provide a basis for the clinical use of hiPS cells in cardiac regeneration therapy. View Publication

Adipose tissue is an abundantly available source of proliferative and multipotent mesenchymal stem cells with promising potential for regenerative therapeutics. We previously demonstrated that both human and mouse adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with efficiencies higher than those that have been reported for other cell types. The ASC-derived iPSCs can be generated in a feeder-independent manner,representing a unique model to study reprogramming and an important step toward establishing a safe,clinical grade of cells for therapeutic use. In this study,we provide a detailed protocol for isolation,preparation and transformation of ASCs from fat tissue into mouse iPSCs in feeder-free conditions and human iPSCs using feeder-dependent or feeder/xenobiotic-free processes. This protocol also describes how ASCs can be used as feeder cells for maintenance of other pluripotent stem cells. ASC derivation is rapid and can be completed in textless1 week,with mouse and human iPS reprogramming times averaging 1.5 and 2.5 weeks,respectively. View Publication

Ectopic expression of transcription factors can reprogram somatic cells to a pluripotent state. However,most of the studies used skin fibroblasts as the starting population for reprogramming,which usually take weeks for expansion from a single biopsy. We show here that induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be generated from adult human adipose stem cells (hASCs) freshly isolated from patients. Furthermore,iPS cells can be readily derived from adult hASCs in a feeder-free condition,thereby eliminating potential variability caused by using feeder cells. hASCs can be safely and readily isolated from adult humans in large quantities without extended time for expansion,are easy to maintain in culture,and therefore represent an ideal autologous source of cells for generating individual-specific iPS cells. View Publication

Human pluripotent stem cells (HPSCs) cultured in conditions that maintain pluripotency via FGF and TGFβ signaling have been described as being in a primed state. These cells have been shown to exhibit characteristics more closely related to mouse epiblast-derived stem cells than to so called naïve mouse PSCs said to possess a more ground state pluripotency that mimics the early mouse embryo inner cell mass. Initial attempts to create culture conditions favorable for generation of naïve HPSCs from primed HPSCs has required the use of mouse embryonic fibroblasts as a feeder layer to support this transition. A protocol for the routine derivation and maintenance of naïve HPSCs in completely defined conditions is highly desirable for stem cell researchers to enhance the study and clinical translation of naïve HPSCs. Here we describe a standard protocol for transitioning primed HPSCs to a naïve state using commercial RSet media and xeno-free recombinant vitronectin. View Publication

Feeder-independent culture of human embryonic stem cells. View Publication

The continued success of pluripotent stem cell research is ultimately dependent on access to reliable and defined reagents for the consistent culture and cryopreservation of undifferentiated,pluripotent cells. The development of defined and feeder-independent culture media has provided a platform for greater reproducibility and standardization in this field. Here we provide detailed protocols for the use of mTeSR™1 and TeSR™2 with various cell culture matrices as well as defined cryopreservation protocols for human embryonic and human induced pluripotent stem cells. View Publication

STUDY HYPOTHESIS Does a preferential X chromosome inactivation (XCI) pattern exist in female human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and does the pattern change during long-term culture or upon differentiation? STUDY FINDING We identified two independent phenomena that lead to aberrant XCI patterns in female hPSC: a rapid loss of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and long non-coding X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) expression during culture,often accompanied by erosion of XCI-specific methylation,and a frequent loss of random XCI in the cultures. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Variable XCI patterns have been reported in female hPSC,not only between different hPSC lines,but also between sub-passages of the same cell line,however the reasons for this variability remain unknown. Moreover,while non-random XCI-linked DNA methylation patterns have been previously reported,their origin and extent have not been investigated. STUDY DESIGN,SAMPLES/MATERIALS,METHODS We investigated the XCI patterns in 23 human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) lines,during long-term culture and after differentiation,by gene expression analysis,histone modification assessment and study of DNA methylation. The presence and location of H3K27me3 was studied by immunofluorescence,XIST expression by real-time PCR,and mono- or bi-allelic expression of X-linked genes was studied by sequencing of cDNA. XCI-specific DNA methylation was analysed using methylation-sensitive restriction and PCR,and more in depth by massive parallel bisulphite sequencing. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE All hPSC lines showed XCI,but we found a rapid loss of XCI marks during the early stages of in vitro culture. While this loss of XCI marks was accompanied in several cases by an extensive erosion of XCI-specific methylation,it did not result in X chromosome reactivation. Moreover,lines without strong erosion of methylation frequently displayed non-random DNA methylation,which occurred independently from the loss of XCI marks. This bias in X chromosome DNA methylation did not appear as a passenger event driven by clonal culture take-over of chromosome abnormalities and was independent of the parental origin of the X chromosome. Therefore,we suggest that a culture advantage conferred by alleles on the X chromosome or by XCI-related mechanisms may be at the basis of this phenomenon. Finally,differentiated populations inherited the aberrant XCI patterns from the undifferentiated cells they were derived from. LIMITATIONS,REASONS FOR CAUTION All hPSC lines in this study were cultured in highly similar conditions. Our results may therefore be specific for these conditions and alternative culture conditions might lead to different findings. Our findings are only a first step towards elucidating the molecular events leading to the phenomena we observed. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our results highlight the significant extent of aberrant XCI in female hPSC. The fact that these aberrations are inherited by the differentiated progeny may have a significant impact on downstream research and clinical uses of hPSC. In order to achieve the full potential of hPSC,more insight into the XCI status and its stability in hPSC and its effect on the properties of the differentiated progeny is needed. LARGE SCALE DATA Not applicable. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTERESTS Our research is supported by grants from the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen,grant 1502512N),Generalitat de Catalunya (2014SGR-005214) and the Methusalem grant of the Research Council of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel,on name of K.S. L.V.H. is funded by EMBO (ALTF 701-2013). The authors declare no potential conflict of interest. View Publication

Here,we show that as human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exit the pluripotent state,NANOG can play a key role in determining lineage outcome. It has previously been reported that BMPs induce differentiation of human ESCs into extraembryonic lineages. Here,we find that FGF2,acting through the MEK-ERK pathway,switches BMP4-induced human ESC differentiation outcome to mesendoderm,characterized by the uniform expression of T (brachyury) and other primitive streak markers. We also find that MEK-ERK signaling prolongs NANOG expression during BMP-induced differentiation,that forced NANOG expression results in FGF-independent BMP4 induction of mesendoderm,and that knockdown of NANOG greatly reduces T induction. Together,our results demonstrate that FGF2 signaling switches the outcome of BMP4-induced differentiation of human ESCs by maintaining NANOG levels through the MEK-ERK pathway. View Publication

Many neuropsychiatric disorders are thought to result from subtle changes in neural circuit formation. We used human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to model mature,post-mitotic excitatory neurons and examine effects of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). FGF2 gene expression is known to be altered in brain regions of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and FGF2 has anti-depressive effects in animal models of depression. We generated stable inducible neurons (siNeurons) conditionally expressing human neurogenin-2 (NEUROG2) to generate a homogenous population of post-mitotic excitatory neurons and study the functional as well as the transcriptional effects of FGF2. Upon induction of NEUROG2 with doxycycline,the vast majority of cells are post-mitotic,and the gene expression profile recapitulates that of excitatory neurons within 6 days. Using hES cell lines that inducibly express NEUROG2 as well as GCaMP6f,we were able to characterize spontaneous calcium activity in these neurons and show that calcium transients increase in the presence of FGF2. The FGF2-responsive genes were determined by RNA-Seq. FGF2-regulated genes previously identified in non-neuronal cell types were up-regulated (EGR1,ETV4,SPRY4,and DUSP6) as a result of chronic FGF2 treatment of siNeurons. Novel neuron-specific genes were also identified that may mediate FGF2-dependent increases in synaptic efficacy including NRXN3,SYT2,and GALR1. Since several of these genes have been implicated in MDD previously,these results will provide the basis for more mechanistic studies of the role of FGF2 in MDD. View Publication

Pluripotent or multipotent cell-based therapeutics are vital for skeletal reconstruction in non-healing critical-sized defects since the local endogenous progenitor cells are not often adequate to restore tissue continuity or function. However,currently available cell-based regenerative strategies are hindered by numerous obstacles including inadequate cell availability,painful and invasive cell-harvesting procedures,and tumorigenesis. Previously,we established a novel platform technology for inducing a quiescent stem cell-like stage using only a single extracellular proteoglycan,fibromodulin (FMOD),circumventing gene transduction. In this study,we further purified and significantly increased the reprogramming rate of the yield multipotent FMOD reprogrammed (FReP) cells. We also exposed the 'molecular blueprint' of FReP cell osteogenic differentiation by gene profiling. Radiographic analysis showed that implantation of FReP cells into a critical-sized SCID mouse calvarial defect,contributed to the robust osteogenic capability of FReP cells in a challenging clinically relevant traumatic scenario in vivo. The persistence,engraftment,and osteogenesis of transplanted FReP cells without tumorigenesis in vivo were confirmed by histological and immunohistochemical staining. Taken together,we have provided an extended potency,safety,and molecular profile of FReP cell-based bone regeneration. Therefore,FReP cells present a high potential for cellular and gene therapy products for bone regeneration. View Publication