Scientific Resources

The developmental outcomes of preimplantation mammalian embryos are regulated directly by the surrounding microenvironment,and inappropriate concentrations of amino acids,or the loss of amino acid-sensing mechanisms,can be detrimental and impact further development. A specific role for l-proline in the differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells,a cell population derived from the blastocyst,has been shown in culture. l-proline acts as a signalling molecule,exerting its effects through cell uptake and subsequent metabolism. Uptake in ES cells occurs predominantly through the sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2,Slc38a2 (SNAT2). Dynamic expression of amino acid transporters has been shown in the early mammalian embryo,reflecting functional roles for amino acids in embryogenesis. The expression of SNAT2 and family member Slc38a1 (SNAT1) was determined in mouse embryos from the 2-cell stage through to the early post-implantation pre-gastrulation embryo. Key changes in expression were validated in cell culture models of development. Both transporters showed temporal dynamic expression patterns and changes in intracellular localisation as differentiation progressed. Changes in transporter expression likely reflect different amino acid requirements during development. Findings include the differential expression of SNAT1 in the inner and outer cells of the compacted morula and nuclear localisation of SNAT2 in the trophectoderm and placental lineages. Furthermore,SNAT2 expression was up-regulated in the epiblast prior to primitive ectoderm formation,an expression pattern consistent with a role for the transporter in later developmental decisions within the pluripotent lineage. We propose that the differential expression of SNAT2 in the epiblast provides evidence for an l-proline-mediated mechanism contributing to the regulation of embryonic development. View Publication

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have gained a solid foothold in basic research and drug industry as they can be used in??vitro to study human development and have potential to offer limitless supply of various somatic cell types needed in drug development. Although the hepatic differentiation of hPSCs has been extensively studied,only a little attention has been paid to the role of the extracellular matrix. In this study we used laminin-511,laminin-521,and fibronectin,found in human liver progenitor cells,as culture matrices for hPSC-derived definitive endoderm cells. We observed that laminin-511 and laminin-521 either alone or in combination support the hepatic specification and that fibronectin is not a vital matrix protein for the hPSC-derived definitive endoderm cells. The expression of the laminin-511/521-specific integrins increased during the definitive endoderm induction and hepatic specification. The hepatic cells differentiated on laminin matrices showed the upregulation of liver-specific markers both at mRNA and protein levels,secreted human albumin,stored glycogen,and exhibited cytochrome P450 enzyme activity and inducibility. Altogether,we found that laminin-511 and laminin-521 can be used as stage-specific matrices to guide the hepatic specification of hPSC-derived definitive endoderm cells. View Publication

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have the ability to differentiate in any specialized somatic cell type,which makes them an attractive tool for a wide variety of scientific approaches,including regenerative medicine. However,their pluripotent state and their growth in compact colonies render them difficult to access and,therefore,restrict delivery of specific agents for cell manipulation. Thus,our investigation focus was set on the evaluation of the capability of Layer-by-Layer (LbL) designed microcarriers to serve as a potential drug delivery system to iPSCs,as they offer several appealing advantages. Most notably,these carriers allow for the transport of active agents in a protected environment and for a rather specific delivery through surface modifications. As we could show,charge and mode of LbL carrier application as well as the size of the iPSC colonies determine the interaction with and the uptake rate by iPSCs. None of the examined conditions had an influence on iPSC colony properties such as colony morphology and size or maintenance of pluripotent properties. An overall interaction rate of LbL carriers with iPSCs of up to 20 % was achieved. Those data emphasize the applicability of LbL carriers for stem cell research. Additionally,the potential use of LbL carriers as a promising delivery tool for iPSCs was contrasted to viral particles and liposomes. The identified differences among those delivery tools have substantiated our major conclusion that LbL carrier uptake rate is influenced by characteristic features of the iPSC colonies (most notably colony size) in addition to their surface charges. View Publication

p40,a Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)-derived protein,transactivates epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in intestinal epithelial cells,leading to amelioration of intestinal injury and inflammation. To elucidate mechanisms by which p40 regulates mucosal immunity to prevent inflammation,this study aimed to determine the effects and mechanisms of p40 on regulation of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) expression in intestinal epithelial cells for promoting immunoglobulin A (IgA) production. p40 upregulated April gene expression and protein production in mouse small intestine epithelial (MSIE) cells,which were inhibited by blocking EGFR expression and kinase activity. Enteroids from Egfr(fl/fl),but not Egfr(fl/fl)-Vil-Cre mice with EGFR specifically deleted in intestinal epithelial cells,exhibited increased April gene expression by p40 treatment. p40-conditioned media from MSIE cells increased B-cell class switching to IgA(+) cells and IgA production,which was suppressed by APRIL receptor-neutralizing antibodies. Treatment of B cells with p40 did not show any effects on IgA production. p40 treatment increased April gene expression and protein production in small intestinal epithelial cells,fecal IgA levels,IgA(+)B220(+),IgA(+)CD19(+),and IgA(+) plasma cells in lamina propria of Egfr(fl/fl),but not of Egfr(fl/fl)-Vil-Cre,mice. Thus p40 upregulates EGFR-dependent APRIL production in intestinal epithelial cells,which may contribute to promoting IgA production. View Publication

PI3K activity determines positive and negative selection of B cells,a key process for immune tolerance and B cell maturation. Activation of PI3K is balanced by phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten),the PI3K's main antagonistic phosphatase. Yet,the extent of feedback regulation between PI3K activity and Pten expression during B cell development is unclear. Here,we show that PI3K control of this process is achieved post-transcriptionally by an axis composed of a transcription factor (c-Myc),a microRNA (miR17-92),and Pten. Enhancing activation of this axis through overexpression of miR17-92 reconstitutes the impaired PI3K activity for positive selection in CD19-deficient B cells and restores most of the B cell developmental impairments that are evident in CD19-deficient mice. Using a genetic approach of deletion and complementation,we show that the c-Myc/miR17-92/Pten axis critically controls PI3K activity and the sensitivity of immature B cells to negative selection imposed by activation-induced cell death. View Publication

Human iPSC line L749.1 was generated from fibroblasts of a patient with Leigh syndrome associated with a heteroplasmic mutation in the MT-ATP6 gene. Reprogramming factors OCT4,SOX2,CMYC and KLF4 were delivered using retroviruses. View Publication

Human iPSC line Oex2054SV.4 was generated from fibroblasts of a patient with an optic atrophy 'plus' phenotype associated with a heterozygous mutation in the OPA1 gene. Reprogramming factors OCT3/4,SOX2,CMYC and KLF4 were delivered using a non-integrative methodology that involves the use of Sendai virus. View Publication

Human embryonic stem cell line BJNhem20-pCAG-tdTomato was generated using non-viral method. The construct pCAG-tdTomato was transfected using microporation procedure. This fluorescent hESC line can help to study heterogeneity within individual cells in hESC colonies by enabling live tracking of their growth,migration and differentiation properties. This cell line also serves as a resource for additional transgene introduction/knock-out/knock-in generation in a fluorescent background and allows ease of analysis in studies involving cell mixing. View Publication

Human embryonic stem cell line BJNhem20-OCIAD1-Tet-On was generated using non-viral method. The constructs pCAG-Tet-On and pTRE-Tight vector driving OCIAD1 expression were transfected using microporation procedure. pCAG-Tet-On cells can be used for inducible expression of any coding sequence cloned into pTRE-Tight vector. For example,in human embryonic stem cells,Tet-On system has been used to generate SOX2 overexpression cell line (Adachi et al.,2010). 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

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are defined as pluripotent in view of their self-renewal ability and potential to differentiate to cells of all three germ layers. Recent studies have indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the maintenance of pluripotency and cell cycle regulation. We used a microarray based approach to identify miRNAs that were enriched in hESCs when compared to differentiated cells and at the same time showed significant expression changes between different phases of cell cycle. We identified 34 candidate miRNAs and performed functional studies on one of these,miR-1305,which showed the highest expression change during cell cycle transition. Overexpression of miR-1305 induced differentiation of pluripotent stem cells,increased cell apoptosis and sped up G1/S transition,while its downregulation facilitated the maintenance of pluripotency and increased cell survival. Using target prediction software and luciferase based reporter assays we identified POLR3G as a downstream target by which miR-1305 regulates the fine balance between maintenance of pluripotency and onset of differentiation. Overexpression of POLR3G rescued pluripotent stem cell differentiation induced by miR-1305 overexpression. In contrast,knock-down of POLR3G expression abolished the miR-1305-knockdown mediated enhancement of pluripotency,thus validating its role as miR-1305 target in human pluripotent stem cells. Together our data point to an important role for miR-1305 as a novel regulator of pluripotency,cell survival and cell cycle and uncovers new mechanisms and networks by which these processes are intertwined in human pluripotent stem cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View Publication

Derivation of functional vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate tissue-engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) holds great potential in treating patients with vascular diseases. Herein,hiPSCs were differentiated into alpha-smooth muscle actin ($$-SMA) and calponin-positive VSMCs,which were seeded onto polymer scaffolds in bioreactors for vascular tissue growth. A functional TEBV with abundant collagenous matrix and sound mechanics resulted,which contained cells largely positive for $$-SMA and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC). Moreover,when hiPSC-derived TEBV segments were implanted into nude rats as abdominal aorta interposition grafts,they remained unruptured and patent with active vascular remodeling,and showed no evidence of teratoma formation during a 2-week proof-of-principle study. Our studies represent the development of the first implantable TEBVs based on hiPSCs,and pave the way for developing autologous or allogeneic grafts for clinical use in patients with vascular disease. View Publication