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Naïve T cells require B7/CD28 costimulation in order to be fully activated. Attempts to block this pathway have been effective in preventing unwanted immune reactions. As B7 blockade might also affect Treg cells and interfere with negative signaling through membrane CTLA-4 on effector T (Teff) cells,its immune-modulatory effects are potentially more complex. Here,we used the mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS),EAE,to study the effect of B7 blockade. An effective therapy for MS patients has to interfere with ongoing inflammation,and therefore we injected CTLA-4Ig at day 7 and 9 after immunization,when myelin-reactive T cells have been primed and start migrating toward the CNS. Surprisingly,B7 blockade exacerbated disease signs and resulted in more severe CNS inflammation and demyelination,and was associated with an enhanced production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IFN-γ. Importantly,CTLA-4Ig treatment resulted in a transient reduction of Ki67 and CTLA-4 expression and function of peripheral Treg cells. Taken together,B7 blockade at a particular stage of the autoimmune response can result in the suppression of Treg cells,leading to a more severe disease. View Publication

Human embryonic stem cells hold great promise for future biomedical applications such as disease modeling and regenerative medicine. However,these cells are notoriously difficult to culture and are refractory to common means of genetic manipulation,thereby limiting their range of applications. In this protocol,we present an easy and robust method of gene repression in human embryonic stem cells using lipofection of small interfering RNA (siRNA). View Publication

The mechanisms by which neutralizing antibodies inhibit Marburg virus (MARV) are not known. We isolated a panel of neutralizing antibodies from a human MARV survivor that bind to MARV glycoprotein (GP) and compete for binding to a single major antigenic site. Remarkably,several of the antibodies also bind to Ebola virus (EBOV) GP. Single-particle EM structures of antibody-GP complexes reveal that all of the neutralizing antibodies bind to MARV GP at or near the predicted region of the receptor-binding site. The presence of the glycan cap or mucin-like domain blocks binding of neutralizing antibodies to EBOV GP,but not to MARV GP. The data suggest that MARV-neutralizing antibodies inhibit virus by binding to infectious virions at the exposed MARV receptor-binding site,revealing a mechanism of filovirus inhibition. View Publication

The self-renewal and differentiation capacities of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) make them a promising source of material for cell transplantation therapy,drug development,and studies of cellular differentiation and development. However,the large numbers of cells necessary for many of these applications require extensive expansion of hPSC cultures,a process that has been associated with genetic and epigenetic alterations. We have performed a combinatorial study on both hESCs and hiPSCs to compare the effects of enzymatic vs. mechanical passaging,and feeder-free vs. mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder substrate,on the genetic and epigenetic stability and the phenotypic characteristics of hPSCs. In extensive experiments involving over 100 continuous passages,we observed that both enzymatic passaging and feeder-free culture were associated with genetic instability,higher rates of cell proliferation,and persistence of OCT4/POU5F1-positive cells in teratomas,with enzymatic passaging having the stronger effect. In all combinations of culture conditions except for mechanical passaging on feeder layers,we noted recurrent deletions in the genomic region containing the tumor suppressor gene TP53,which was associated with decreased mRNA expression of TP53,as well as alterations in the expression of several downstream genes consistent with a decrease in the activity of the TP53 pathway. Among the hESC cultures,we also observed culture-associated variations in global gene expression and DNA methylation. The effects of enzymatic passaging and feeder-free conditions were also observed in hiPSC cultures. Our results highlight the need for careful assessment of the effects of culture conditions on cells intended for clinical therapies. View Publication

The use of human pluripotent cell progeny for cardiac disease modeling,drug testing and therapeutics requires the ability to efficiently induce pluripotent cells into the cardiomyogenic lineage. Although direct activation of the Activin-A and/or Bmp pathways with growth factors yields context-dependent success,recent studies have shown that induction of Wnt signaling using low molecular weight molecules such as CHIR,which in turn induces the Activin-A and Bmp pathways,is widely effective. To further enhance the reproducibility of CHIR-induced cardiomyogenesis,and to ultimately promote myocyte maturation,we are using exogenous growth factors to optimize cardiomyogenic signaling downstream of CHIR induction. As indicated by RNA-seq,induction with CHIR during Day 1 (Days 0-1) was followed by immediate expression of Nodal ligands and receptors,followed later by Bmp ligands and receptors. Co-induction with CHIR and high levels of the Nodal mimetic Activin-A (50-100 ng/ml) during Day 0-1 efficiently induced definitive endoderm,whereas CHIR supplemented with Activin-A at low levels (10 ng/ml) consistently improved cardiomyogenic efficiency,even when CHIR alone was ineffective. Moreover,co-induction using CHIR and low levels of Activin-A apparently increased the rate of cardiomyogenesis,as indicated by the initial appearance of rhythmically beating cells by Day 6 instead of Day 8. By contrast,co-induction with CHIR plus low levels (3-10 ng/ml) of Bmp4 during Day 0-1 consistently and strongly inhibited cardiomyogenesis. These findings,which demonstrate that cardiomyogenic efficacy is improved by optimizing levels of CHIR-induced growth factors when applied in accord with their sequence of endogenous expression,are consistent with the idea that Nodal (Activin-A) levels toggle the entry of cells into the endodermal or mesodermal lineages,while Bmp levels regulate subsequent allocation into mesodermal cell types. View Publication

Endogenous molecular and cellular mediators modulate tissue repair and regeneration. We have recently described antibody mediated osseous regeneration (AMOR) as a novel strategy for bioengineering bone in rat calvarial defect. This entails application of anti-BMP-2 antibodies capable of in vivo capturing of endogenous osteogenic BMPs (BMP-2,BMP-4,and BMP-7). The present study sought to investigate the feasibility of AMOR in other animal models. To that end,we examined the efficacy of a panel of anti-BMP-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and a polyclonal Ab immobilized on absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) to mediate bone regeneration within rabbit calvarial critical size defects. After 6 weeks,de novo bone formation was demonstrated by micro-CT imaging,histology,and histomorphometric analysis. Only certain anti-BMP-2 mAb clones mediated significant in vivo bone regeneration,suggesting that the epitopes with which anti-BMP-2 mAbs react are critical to AMOR. Increased localization of BMP-2 protein and expression of osteocalcin were observed within defects,suggesting accumulation of endogenous BMP-2 and/or increased de novo expression of BMP-2 protein within sites undergoing bone repair by AMOR. Considering the ultimate objective of translation of this therapeutic strategy in humans,preclinical studies will be necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of AMOR in progressively larger animal models. View Publication

Reprogramming somatic cells into a pluripotent state involves the overexpression of transcription factors leading to a series of changes that end in the formation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These iPSCs have a wide range of potential uses from drug testing and in vitro disease modelling to personalized cell therapies for patients. While viral methods for reprogramming factor delivery have been traditionally preferred due to their high efficiency,it is now possible to generate iPSCs using nonviral methods at similar efficiencies. We developed a robust reprogramming strategy that combines episomal plasmids and the use of commercially available animal free reagents that can be easily adapted for the GMP manufacture of clinical grade cells. View Publication

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provide a platform for studying human disease in vitro,increase our understanding of human embryonic development,and provide clinically relevant cell types for transplantation,drug testing,and toxicology studies. Since their discovery,numerous advances have been made in order to eliminate issues such as vector integration into the host genome,low reprogramming efficiency,incomplete reprogramming and acquisition of genomic instabilities. One of the ways to achieve integration-free reprogramming is by using RNA-based Sendai virus. Here we describe a method to generate hiPSCs with Sendai virus in both feeder-free and feeder-dependent culture systems. Additionally,we illustrate methods by which to validate pluripotency of the resulting stem cell population. View Publication

The role of intermediate methylation states in DNA is unclear. Here,to comprehensively identify regions of intermediate methylation and their quantitative relationship with gene activity,we apply integrative and comparative epigenomics to 25 human primary cell and tissue samples. We report 18,452 intermediate methylation regions located near 36% of genes and enriched at enhancers,exons and DNase I hypersensitivity sites. Intermediate methylation regions average 57% methylation,are predominantly allele-independent and are conserved across individuals and between mouse and human,suggesting a conserved function. These regions have an intermediate level of active chromatin marks and their associated genes have intermediate transcriptional activity. Exonic intermediate methylation correlates with exon inclusion at a level between that of fully methylated and unmethylated exons,highlighting gene context-dependent functions. We conclude that intermediate DNA methylation is a conserved signature of gene regulation and exon usage. View Publication