51
|
Iandolo D, Ravichandran A, Liu X, Wen F, Chan JKY, Berggren M, Teoh S, Simon DT. Development and Characterization of Organic Electronic Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering. Adv Healthc Mater 2016; 5:1505-12. [PMID: 27111453 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201500874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Bones have been shown to exhibit piezoelectric properties, generating electrical potential upon mechanical deformation and responding to electrical stimulation with the generation of mechanical stress. Thus, the effects of electrical stimulation on bone tissue engineering have been extensively studied. However, in bone regeneration applications, only few studies have focused on the use of electroactive 3D biodegradable scaffolds at the interphase with stem cells. Here a method is described to combine the bone regeneration capabilities of 3D-printed macroporous medical grade polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with the electrical and electrochemical capabilities of the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). PCL scaffolds have been highly effective in vivo as bone regeneration grafts, and PEDOT is a leading material in the field of organic bioelectronics, due to its stability, conformability, and biocompatibility. A protocol is reported for scaffolds functionalization with PEDOT, using vapor-phase polymerization, resulting in a conformal conducting layer. Scaffolds' porosity and mechanical stability, important for in vivo bone regeneration applications, are retained. Human fetal mesenchymal stem cells proliferation is assessed on the functionalized scaffolds, showing the cytocompatibility of the polymeric coating. Altogether, these results show the feasibility of the proposed approach to obtain electroactive scaffolds for electrical stimulation of stem cells for regenerative medicine.
Collapse
|
52
|
Lucas ES, Dyer NP, Murakami K, Lee YH, Chan YW, Grimaldi G, Muter J, Brighton PJ, Moore JD, Patel G, Chan JKY, Takeda S, Lam EWF, Quenby S, Ott S, Brosens JJ. Loss of Endometrial Plasticity in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. Stem Cells 2015; 34:346-56. [PMID: 26418742 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Menstruation drives cyclic activation of endometrial progenitor cells, tissue regeneration, and maturation of stromal cells, which differentiate into specialized decidual cells prior to and during pregnancy. Aberrant responsiveness of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) to deciduogenic cues is strongly associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), suggesting a defect in cellular maturation. MeDIP-seq analysis of HESCs did not reveal gross perturbations in CpG methylation in RPL cultures, although quantitative differences were observed in or near genes that are frequently deregulated in vivo. However, RPL was associated with a marked reduction in methylation of defined CA-rich motifs located throughout the genome but enriched near telomeres. Non-CpG methylation is a hallmark of cellular multipotency. Congruently, we demonstrate that RPL is associated with a deficiency in endometrial clonogenic cell populations. Loss of epigenetic stemness features also correlated with intragenic CpG hypomethylation and reduced expression of HMGB2, coding high mobility group protein 2. We show that knockdown of this sequence-independent chromatin protein in HESCs promotes senescence and impairs decidualization, exemplified by blunted time-dependent secretome changes. Our findings indicate that stem cell deficiency and accelerated stromal senescence limit the differentiation capacity of the endometrium and predispose for pregnancy failure.
Collapse
|
53
|
Millard SM, Pettit AR, Ellis R, Chan JKY, Raggatt LJ, Khosrotehrani K, Fisk NM. Intrauterine Bone Marrow Transplantation in Osteogenesis Imperfecta Mice Yields Donor Osteoclasts and Osteomacs but Not Osteoblasts. Stem Cell Reports 2015; 5:682-689. [PMID: 26527386 PMCID: PMC4649292 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Revised: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) cell therapy is osteoblast replacement In utero transplantation (IUT) of bone marrow was conducted in OI mice Donor-derived osteoblasts were absent following bone marrow IUT Donor-derived hematopoietic cells included osteoclasts and osteal macrophages
Collapse
|
54
|
Hoeffel G, Chen J, Lavin Y, Low D, Almeida FF, See P, Beaudin AE, Lum J, Low I, Forsberg EC, Poidinger M, Zolezzi F, Larbi A, Ng LG, Chan JKY, Greter M, Becher B, Samokhvalov IM, Merad M, Ginhoux F. C-Myb(+) erythro-myeloid progenitor-derived fetal monocytes give rise to adult tissue-resident macrophages. Immunity 2015; 42:665-78. [PMID: 25902481 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2015.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 777] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2014] [Revised: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Although classified as hematopoietic cells, tissue-resident macrophages (MFs) arise from embryonic precursors that seed the tissues prior to birth to generate a self-renewing population, which is maintained independently of adult hematopoiesis. Here we reveal the identity of these embryonic precursors using an in utero MF-depletion strategy and fate-mapping of yolk sac (YS) and fetal liver (FL) hematopoiesis. We show that YS MFs are the main precursors of microglia, while most other MFs derive from fetal monocytes (MOs). Both YS MFs and fetal MOs arise from erythro-myeloid progenitors (EMPs) generated in the YS. In the YS, EMPs gave rise to MFs without monocytic intermediates, while EMP seeding the FL upon the establishment of blood circulation acquired c-Myb expression and gave rise to fetal MOs that then seeded embryonic tissues and differentiated into MFs. Thus, adult tissue-resident MFs established from hematopoietic stem cell-independent embryonic precursors arise from two distinct developmental programs.
Collapse
|
55
|
Mattar CN, Wong AMS, Hoefer K, Alonso-Ferrero ME, Buckley SMK, Howe SJ, Cooper JD, Waddington SN, Chan JKY, Rahim AA. Systemic gene delivery following intravenous administration of AAV9 to fetal and neonatal mice and late-gestation nonhuman primates. FASEB J 2015; 29:3876-88. [PMID: 26062602 PMCID: PMC4560173 DOI: 10.1096/fj.14-269092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Several acute monogenic diseases affect multiple body systems, causing death in childhood. The development of novel therapies for such conditions is challenging. However, improvements in gene delivery technology mean that gene therapy has the potential to treat such disorders. We evaluated the ability of the AAV9 vector to mediate systemic gene delivery after intravenous administration to perinatal mice and late-gestation nonhuman primates (NHPs). Titer-matched single-stranded (ss) and self-complementary (sc) AAV9 carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene were intravenously administered to fetal and neonatal mice, with noninjected age-matched mice used as the control. Extensive GFP expression was observed in organs throughout the body, with the epithelial and muscle cells being particularly well transduced. ssAAV9 carrying the WPRE sequence mediated significantly more gene expression than its sc counterpart, which lacked the woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatory element (WPRE) sequence. To examine a realistic scale-up to larger models or potentially patients for such an approach, AAV9 was intravenously administered to late-gestation NHPs by using a clinically relevant protocol. Widespread systemic gene expression was measured throughout the body, with cellular tropisms similar to those observed in the mouse studies and no observable adverse events. This study confirms that AAV9 can safely mediate systemic gene delivery in small and large animal models and supports its potential use in clinical systemic gene therapy protocols.—Mattar, C. N., Wong, A. M. S., Hoefer, K., Alonso-Ferrero, M. E., Buckley, S. M. K., Howe, S. J., Cooper, J. D., Waddington, S. N., Chan, J. K. Y., Rahim, A. A. Systemic gene delivery following intravenous administration of AAV9 to fetal and neonatal mice and late-gestation nonhuman primates.
Collapse
|
56
|
Chen M, Chan JKY, Nadarajah S, Tan ASC, Chan MLH, Mathew J, Saw EEL, Lim C, Wong W, Cheah FSH, Law HY, Wong PC, Chong SS. Single-tube nonaplex microsatellite PCR panel for preimplantation genetic diagnosis of Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis syndrome. Prenat Diagn 2015; 35:534-43. [DOI: 10.1002/pd.4568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2014] [Revised: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
57
|
Yulyana Y, Ho IAW, Sia KC, Newman JP, Toh XY, Endaya BB, Chan JKY, Gnecchi M, Huynh H, Chung AYF, Lim KH, Leong HS, Iyer NG, Hui KM, Lam PYP. Paracrine factors of human fetal MSCs inhibit liver cancer growth through reduced activation of IGF-1R/PI3K/Akt signaling. Mol Ther 2015; 23:746-56. [PMID: 25619723 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib only demonstrated marginal improvement in overall survival for advanced disease prompted the search for alternative treatment options. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to home to tumor cells. However, its functional roles on the tumor microenvironment remain controversial. Herein, we showed that conditioned media derived from human fetal MSC (CM-hfMSCs) expressed high level of the insulin growth factor binding proteins IGFBPs and can sequester free insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) to inhibit HCC cell proliferation. The inhibitory effect of IGFBPs on IGF signaling was further evident from the reduction of activated IGF-1R and PI3K/Akt, leading eventually to the induction of cell cycle arrest. We also demonstrated that CM-hfMSCs could enhance the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib and sunitinib. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to show that CM-hfMSCs has a tumor-specific, antiproliferative effect that is not observed with normal human hepatocyte cells and patient-derived matched normal tissues. Our results thus suggest that CM-hfMSCs can provide a useful tool to design alternative/adjuvant treatment strategies for HCC, especially in related function to potentiate the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs.
Collapse
|
58
|
Xiong L, Barrett AN, Hua R, Tan TZ, Ho SSY, Chan JKY, Zhong M, Choolani M. Non-invasive prenatal diagnostic testing for β-thalassaemia using cell-free fetal DNA and next generation sequencing. Prenat Diagn 2014; 35:258-65. [PMID: 25400264 DOI: 10.1002/pd.4536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Revised: 11/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop an accurate non-invasive prenatal test using next generation sequencing (NGS) for HbE and the four most common β-thalassaemia mutations found in South East Asia (namely -28A > G, CD17A > T, CD41/42(-TTCT) and IVS-II-654C > T). METHODS Cell-free DNA was extracted from maternal plasma from 83 families where both parents were carriers of the HbE mutation or one of four common β-thalassaemia mutations. Overlapping PCR amplicons covering each mutation were generated, pooled and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq. Fastq files were analysed to detect inheritance of the paternal mutation. RESULTS In two cases where the fathers were compound heterozygotes for HbE and -28A > G, the fetus was correctly diagnosed as having inherited one of the paternal mutations. In 35/85 cases, the paternal mutation was not detected, and in 50/85 cases, it was classified as inherited. Overall sensitivity for detection of paternal mutations was 100% (95% CI: 92.4-100%), and specificity was 92.1% (95% CI: 79.2-97.3%). CONCLUSION We demonstrated that detection of paternal mutations using NGS can be readily achieved with high sensitivity and specificity, removing the need for an invasive test in 50% of pregnancies at risk of a thalassaemia in cases where the father and mother carry a different mutation. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Collapse
|
59
|
Karda R, Buckley SMK, Mattar CN, Ng J, Massaro G, Hughes MP, Kurian MA, Baruteau J, Gissen P, Chan JKY, Bacchelli C, Waddington SN, Rahim AA. Perinatal systemic gene delivery using adeno-associated viral vectors. Front Mol Neurosci 2014; 7:89. [PMID: 25452713 PMCID: PMC4231876 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2014.00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative monogenic diseases often affect tissues and organs beyond the nervous system. An effective treatment would require a systemic approach. The intravenous administration of novel therapies is ideal but is hampered by the inability of such drugs to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and precludes efficacy in the central nervous system. A number of these early lethal intractable diseases also present devastating irreversible pathology at birth or soon after. Therefore, any therapy would ideally be administered during the perinatal period to prevent, stop, or ameliorate disease progression. The concept of perinatal gene therapy has moved a step further toward being a feasible approach to treating such disorders. This has primarily been driven by the recent discoveries that particular serotypes of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene delivery vectors have the ability to cross the BBB following intravenous administration. Furthermore, safety has been demonstrated after perinatal administration mice and non-human primates. This review focuses on the progress made in using AAV to achieve systemic transduction and what this means for developing perinatal gene therapy for early lethal neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
|
60
|
Murakami K, Lee YH, Lucas ES, Chan YW, Durairaj RP, Takeda S, Moore JD, Tan BK, Quenby S, Chan JKY, Gargett CE, Brosens JJ. Decidualization induces a secretome switch in perivascular niche cells of the human endometrium. Endocrinology 2014; 155:4542-53. [PMID: 25116707 DOI: 10.1210/en.2014-1370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The endometrial perivascular microenvironment is rich in mesenchymal stem-like cells that express type 1 integral membrane protein Sushi domain containing 2 (SUSD2) but the role of these cells in the decidual transformation of this tissue in pregnancy is unknown. We used an antibody directed against SUSD2 (W5C5) to isolate perivascular (W5C5(+)) and nonperivascular (W5C5(-)) fibroblasts from mid-luteal biopsies. We show that SUSD2 expression, and hence the ratio of W5C5(+):W5C5(-) cells, changes in culture depending on cell-cell contact and activation of the Notch signaling pathway. RNA sequencing revealed that cultures derived from W5C5(+) progenitor cells remain phenotypically distinct by the enrichment of novel and established endometrial perivascular signature genes. In an undifferentiated state, W5C5(+)-derived cells produced lower levels of various chemokines and inflammatory modulators when compared with their W5C5(-) counterparts. This divergence in secretomes was switched and became more pronounced upon decidualization, which transformed perivascular W5C5(+) cells into the dominant source of a range of chemokines and cytokines, including leukemia inhibitory factor and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7. Our findings suggest that the decidual response is spatially organized at the embryo-maternal interface with differentiating perivascular cells establishing distinct cytokine and chemokine profiles that could potentially direct trophoblast toward maternal vessels and govern local immune responses in pregnancy.
Collapse
|
61
|
McGovern N, Chan JKY, Ginhoux F. Dendritic cells in humans--from fetus to adult. Int Immunol 2014; 27:65-72. [PMID: 25323843 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxu091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The human immune system evolves continuously during development from the embryo into the adult, reflecting the ever-changing environment and demands of our body. This ability of our immune system to sense external cues and adapt as we develop is just as important in the early tolerogenic environment of the fetus, as it is in the constantly pathogen-challenged adult. Dendritic cells (DCs), the professional antigen-sensing and antigen-presenting components of the immune system, play a crucial role in this process where they act as sentinels, both initiating and regulating immune responses. Here, we provide an overview of the human immune system in the developing fetus and the adult, with a focus on DC ontogeny and function during these discrete but intimately linked life stages.
Collapse
|
62
|
Hua R, Barrett AN, Tan TZ, Huang Z, Mahyuddin AP, Ponnusamy S, Sandhu JS, Ho SSY, Chan JKY, Chong S, Quan S, Choolani M. Detection of aneuploidy from single fetal nucleated red blood cells using whole genome sequencing. Prenat Diagn 2014; 35:637-44. [PMID: 25178640 DOI: 10.1002/pd.4491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to detect aneuploidy in single fetal nucleated red blood cells (FNRBCs) from placental villi using whole genome amplification (WGA) and next generation sequencing. METHODS Three single FNRBCs per sample were manually picked from villi collected from ten women undergoing elective first-trimester termination of pregnancy, and one or two cells were picked from each of four aneuploid chorionic villus samples. Following WGA and addition of adaptor and index sequences, samples were sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq. Leading and trailing 15 bases were trimmed, and reads were aligned to the human reference genome. Z-scores were calculated to determine deviation of the mean of the test from reference samples, with a score of 3 used as the threshold for classification of a particular chromosome as trisomic. RESULTS We successfully made correct diagnoses from ten single cells isolated from villi from two cases of trisomy 21 (one case from a single cell and one from two cells), two cases of trisomy 18 (two cells each), and a case of trisomy 15 (three cells). CONCLUSION With their faithful representation of fetal genome, diagnosis using single FNRBCs provides a definitive result compared with non-invasive prenatal testing using cell-free fetal DNA, and is a safer alternative to invasive amniocentesis.
Collapse
|
63
|
Chan JKY, Götherström C. Prenatal transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells to treat osteogenesis imperfecta. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:223. [PMID: 25346689 PMCID: PMC4191163 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) can be a severe disorder that can be diagnosed before birth. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) has the potential to improve the bone structure, growth, and fracture healing. In this review, we give an introduction to OI and MSC, and the basis for pre- and postnatal transplantation in OI. We also summarize the two patients with OI who have received pre- and postnatal transplantation of MSC. The findings suggest that prenatal transplantation of allogeneic MSC in OI is safe. The cell therapy is of likely clinical benefit with improved linear growth, mobility, and reduced fracture incidence. Unfortunately, the effect is transient. For this reason, postnatal booster infusions using same-donor MSC have been performed with clinical benefit, and without any adverse events. So far there is limited experience in this specific field and proper studies are required to accurately conclude on clinical benefits of MSC transplantation to treat OI.
Collapse
|
64
|
Fan Y, Marcy G, Lee ESM, Rozen S, Mattar CNZ, Waddington SN, Goh ELK, Choolani M, Chan JKY. Regionally-specified second trimester fetal neural stem cells reveals differential neurogenic programming. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105985. [PMID: 25181041 PMCID: PMC4152177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSC) have the potential for treatment of a wide range of neurological diseases such as Parkinson Disease and multiple sclerosis. Currently, NSC have been isolated only from hippocampus and subventricular zone (SVZ) of the adult brain. It is not known whether NSC can be found in all parts of the developing mid-trimester central nervous system (CNS) when the brain undergoes massive transformation and growth. Multipotent NSC from the mid-trimester cerebra, thalamus, SVZ, hippocampus, thalamus, cerebellum, brain stem and spinal cord can be derived and propagated as clonal neurospheres with increasing frequencies with increasing gestations. These NSC can undergo multi-lineage differentiation both in vitro and in vivo, and engraft in a developmental murine model. Regionally-derived NSC are phenotypically distinct, with hippocampal NSC having a significantly higher neurogenic potential (53.6%) over other sources (range of 0%–27.5%, p<0.004). Whole genome expression analysis showed differential gene expression between these regionally-derived NSC, which involved the Notch, epidermal growth factor as well as interleukin pathways. We have shown the presence of phenotypically-distinct regionally-derived NSC from the mid-trimester CNS, which may reflect the ontological differences occurring within the CNS. Aside from informing on the role of such cells during fetal growth, they may be useful for different cellular therapy applications.
Collapse
|
65
|
Dighe N, Khoury M, Mattar C, Chong M, Choolani M, Chen J, Antoniou MN, Chan JKY. Long-term reproducible expression in human fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells with a UCOE-based lentiviral vector. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104805. [PMID: 25118036 PMCID: PMC4130605 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) targeted gene transfer is an attractive treatment option for a number of hematopoietic disorders caused by single gene defects. However, extensive methylation of promoter sequences results in silencing of therapeutic gene expression. The choice of an appropriate promoter is therefore crucial for reproducible, stable and long-term transgene expression in clinical gene therapy. Recent studies suggest efficient and stable expression of transgenes from the ubiquitous chromatin opening element (UCOE) derived from the human HNRPA2B1-CBX3 locus can be achieved in murine HSC. Here, we compared the use of HNRPA2B1-CBX3 UCOE (A2UCOE)-mediated transgene regulation to two other frequently used promoters namely EF1α and PGK in human fetal liver-derived HSC (hflHSC). Efficient transduction of hflHSC with a lentiviral vector containing an HNRPA2B1-CBX3 UCOE-eGFP (A2UCOE-eGFP) cassette was achieved at higher levels than that obtained with umbilical cord blood derived HSC (3.1x; p<0.001). While hflHSC were readily transduced with all three test vectors (A2UCOE-eGFP, PGK-eGFP and EF1α-eGFP), only the A2-UCOE construct demonstrated sustained transgene expression in vitro over 24 days (p<0.001). In contrast, within 10 days in culture a rapid decline in transgene expression in both PGK-eGFP and EF1α-eGFP transduced hflHSC was seen. Subsequently, injection of transduced cells into immunodeficient mice (NOD/SCID/Il2rg-/-) demonstrated sustained eGFP expression for the A2UCOE-eGFP group up to 10 months post transplantation whereas PGK-eGFP and EF1α-eGFP transduced hflHSC showed a 5.1 and 22.2 fold reduction respectively over the same time period. We conclude that the A2UCOE allows a more efficient and stable expression in hflHSC to be achieved than either the PGK or EF1α promoters and at lower vector copy number per cell.
Collapse
|
66
|
Tan KKB, Salgado G, Connolly JE, Chan JKY, Lane EB. Characterization of fetal keratinocytes, showing enhanced stem cell-like properties: a potential source of cells for skin reconstruction. Stem Cell Reports 2014; 3:324-38. [PMID: 25254345 PMCID: PMC4175556 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Revised: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidermal stem cells have been in clinical application as a source of culture-generated grafts. Although applications for such cells are increasing due to aging populations and the greater incidence of diabetes, current keratinocyte grafting technology is limited by immunological barriers and the time needed for culture amplification. We studied the feasibility of using human fetal skin cells for allogeneic transplantation and showed that fetal keratinocytes have faster expansion times, longer telomeres, lower immunogenicity indicators, and greater clonogenicity with more stem cell indicators than adult keratinocytes. The fetal cells did not induce proliferation of T cells in coculture and were able to suppress the proliferation of stimulated T cells. Nevertheless, fetal keratinocytes could stratify normally in vitro. Experimental transplantation of fetal keratinocytes in vivo seeded on an engineered plasma scaffold yielded a well-stratified epidermal architecture and showed stable skin regeneration. These results support the possibility of using fetal skin cells for cell-based therapeutic grafting. Properties of fetal and adult keratinocytes are compared in tissue culture and grafts Fetal skin cells can be engrafted and show stable human-to-mouse skin regeneration Fetal keratinocytes are stem cell rich and need no differentiation before grafting Fetal keratinocytes are able to suppress proliferation of stimulated T cells in vitro
Collapse
|
67
|
Chong MSK, Lim J, Goh J, Sia MW, Chan JKY, Teoh SH. Cocultures of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Endothelial Cells As Organotypic Models of Prostate Cancer Metastasis. Mol Pharm 2014; 11:2126-33. [DOI: 10.1021/mp500141b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
68
|
Jiang X, Nai MH, Lim CT, Le Visage C, Chan JKY, Chew SY. Polysaccharide nanofibers with variable compliance for directing cell fate. J Biomed Mater Res A 2014; 103:959-68. [DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2014] [Revised: 05/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
|
69
|
Pelekanos RA, Ting MJ, Sardesai VS, Ryan JM, Lim YC, Chan JKY, Fisk NM. Intracellular trafficking and endocytosis of CXCR4 in fetal mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. BMC Cell Biol 2014; 15:15. [PMID: 24885150 PMCID: PMC4065074 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2121-15-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fetal mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) represent a developmentally-advantageous cell type with translational potential. To enhance adult MSC migration, studies have focussed on the role of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand SDF-1 (CXCL12), but more recent work implicates an intricate system of CXCR4 receptor dimerization, intracellular localization, multiple ligands, splice variants and nuclear accumulation. We investigated the intracellular localization of CXCR4 in fetal bone marrow-derived MSC and role of intracellular trafficking in CXCR4 surface expression and function. Results We found that up to 4% of human fetal MSC have detectable surface-localized CXCR4. In the majority of cells, CXCR4 is located not at the cell surface, as would be required for ‘sensing’ migratory cues, but intracellularly. CXCR4 was identified in early endosomes, recycling endosomes, and lysosomes, indicating only a small percentage of CXCR4 travelling to the plasma membrane. Notably CXCR4 was also found in and around the nucleus, as detected with an anti-CXCR4 antibody directed specifically against CXCR4 isoform 2 differing only in N-terminal sequence. After demonstrating that endocytosis of CXCR4 is largely independent of endogenously-produced SDF-1, we next applied the cytoskeletal inhibitors blebbistatin and dynasore to inhibit endocytotic recycling. These increased the number of cells expressing surface CXCR4 by 10 and 5 fold respectively, and enhanced the number of cells migrating to SDF1 in vitro (up to 2.6 fold). These molecules had a transient effect on cell morphology and adhesion, which abated after the removal of the inhibitors, and did not alter functional stem cell properties. Conclusions We conclude that constitutive endocytosis is implicated in the regulation of CXCR4 membrane expression, and suggest a novel pharmacological strategy to enhance migration of systemically-transplanted cells.
Collapse
|
70
|
Tan KL, Thia EWH, Lau MSK, Teo SBL, Chan JKY, Nadarajah S, Loh SF, Viardot-Foucault V, Tan HH. Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Anomaly--A Reproductive Surgical Unit's Experience. ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE 2014; 43:282-284. [PMID: 24919495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
|
71
|
Chen Q, Khoury M, Limmon G, Choolani M, Chan JKY, Chen J. Human fetal hepatic progenitor cells are distinct from, but closely related to, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Stem Cells 2014; 31:1160-9. [PMID: 23404852 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Accepted: 01/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Much controversy surrounds the identity and origin of human hepatic stem and progenitor cells in part because of a lack of small animal models in which the developmental potential of isolated candidate cell populations can be functionally evaluated. We show here that adoptive transfer of CD34(+) cells from human fetal liver into sublethally irradiated NOD-SCID Il2rg(-/-) (NSG) mice leads to an efficient development of not only human hematopoietic cells but also human hepatocyte-like cells in the liver of the recipient mice. Using this simple in vivo assay in combination with cell fractionation, we show that CD34(+) fetal liver cells can be separated into three distinct subpopulations: CD34(hi) CD133(hi), CD34(lo) CD133(lo), and CD34(hi) CD133(neg). The CD34(hi) CD133(hi) population contains hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) as they give rise to T cells, B cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, and monocytes/macrophages in NSG mice and colony-forming unit (CFU)-GEMM cells in vitro. The CD34(lo) CD133(lo) population does not give rise to hematopoietic cells, but reproducibly generates hepatocyte-like cells in NSG mice and in vitro. The CD34(hi) CD133(neg) population only gives rise to CFU-GM and burst-forming unit-erythroid in vitro. Furthermore, we show that the CD34(lo) CD133(lo) cells express hematopoietic, hepatic, and mesenchymal markers, including CD34, CD133, CD117, epithelial cell adhesion molecule, CD73, albumin, α-fetal protein, and vimentin and transcriptionally are more closely related to HSPCs than to mature hepatocytes. These results show that CD34(lo) CD133(lo) fetal liver cells possess the hepatic progenitor cell properties and that human hepatic and hematopoietic progenitor cells are distinct, although they may originate from the same precursors in the fetal liver.
Collapse
|
72
|
Viardot-Foucault V, Tai BC, Prasath EB, Lau MSK, Chan JKY, Loh SF. Younger women with ovulation disorders and unexplained infertility predict a higher success rate in superovulation (SO) intrauterine insemination (IUI). ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE 2014; 43:225-231. [PMID: 24833075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Superovulation-intrauterine insemination (SO-IUI) is the most common assisted reproductive technique (ART) in the world, with good evidence of efficacy and cost-effectiveness. However, parameters affecting its success have not been consistently reported. So in this study, we aim at determining the parameters influencing the success rate of SO-IUI. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 797 SO-IUI cycles from 606 patients, performed between 2007 and 2009 in a single centre. These women received clomiphene citrate (CC), recombinant FSH (rFSH) or both. RESULTS There were 127 clinical pregnancies with a pregnancy rate (PR) of 15.9% (127/797) per treatment cycle. Factors associated with higher PR included maternal age <38 (P = 0.02), subfertility diagnoses of ovulatory disorders, unexplained infertility, sexual dysfunction and unilateral tubal obstruction (P = 0.02), an endometrial thickness ≥8 mm (P = 0.03), total number motile spermatozoa (TNMS) of ≥1 million (P = 0.03), and spermatozoa normal forms (NF) ≥4% (P <0.01) on bivariate analysis. When CC is used, the endometrial thickness is more likely to be suboptimal (<8 mm). All the above parameters remained significant except the subfertility diagnoses on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION Patients' selection with women <38 years old and preferably with ovulation disorders and unexplained infertility is associated with the highest PR in SO-IUI. Cycle parameters such as the use of rFSH alone, with the avoidance of CC, TNMS ≥1 million and NF ≥4% is likely to result in the best outcomes and reduce the high order multiple pregnancy risk.
Collapse
|
73
|
Ryan JM, Pettit AR, Guillot PV, Chan JKY, Fisk NM. Unravelling the pluripotency paradox in fetal and placental mesenchymal stem cells: Oct-4 expression and the case of The Emperor's New Clothes. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2014; 9:408-21. [PMID: 22161644 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-011-9336-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from fetal-placental tissues have translational advantages over their adult counterparts, and have variably been reported to express pluripotency markers. OCT-4 expression in fetal-placental MSC has been documented in some studies, paradoxically without tumourogenicity in vivo. It is possible that OCT-4 expression is insufficient to induce true "stemness", but this issue is important for the translational safety of fetal-derived MSC. To clarify this, we undertook a systematic literature review on OCT-4 in fetal or adnexal MSC to show that most studies report OCT-4 message or protein expression, but no study provides definitive evidence of true OCT-4A expression. Discrepant findings were attributable not to different culture conditions, tissue sources, or gestational ages but instead to techniques used. In assessing OCT-4 as a pluripotency marker, we highlight the challenges in detecting the correct OCT-4 isoform (OCT-4A) associated with pluripotency. Although specific detection of OCT-4A mRNA is achievable, it appears unlikely that any antibody can reliably distinguish between OCT-4A and the pseudogene OCT-4B. Finally, using five robust techniques we demonstrate that fetal derived-MSC do not express OCT-4A (or by default OCT-4B). Reports suggesting OCT-4 expression in fetal-derived MSC warrant reassessment, paying attention to gene and protein isoforms, pseudogenes, and antibody choice as well as primer design. Critical examination of the OCT-4 literature leads us to suggest that OCT-4 expression in fetal MSC may be a case of "The Emperor's New Clothes" with early reports of (false) positive expression amplified in subsequent studies without critical attention to emerging refinements in knowledge and methodology.
Collapse
|
74
|
Xue C, Kwek KYC, Chan JKY, Chen Q, Lim M. The hollow fiber bioreactor as a stroma-supported, serum-free ex vivo expansion platform for human umbilical cord blood cells. Biotechnol J 2014; 9:980-9. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201300320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Revised: 11/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
75
|
Götherström C, Westgren M, Shaw SWS, Aström E, Biswas A, Byers PH, Mattar CNZ, Graham GE, Taslimi J, Ewald U, Fisk NM, Yeoh AEJ, Lin JL, Cheng PJ, Choolani M, Le Blanc K, Chan JKY. Pre- and postnatal transplantation of fetal mesenchymal stem cells in osteogenesis imperfecta: a two-center experience. Stem Cells Transl Med 2013; 3:255-64. [PMID: 24342908 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2013-0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) can be recognized prenatally with ultrasound. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has the potential to ameliorate skeletal damage. We report the clinical course of two patients with OI who received prenatal human fetal MSC (hfMSC) transplantation and postnatal boosting with same-donor MSCs. We have previously reported on prenatal transplantation for OI type III. This patient was retransplanted with 2.8 × 10(6) same-donor MSCs per kilogram at 8 years of age, resulting in low-level engraftment in bone and improved linear growth, mobility, and fracture incidence. An infant with an identical mutation who did not receive MSC therapy succumbed at 5 months despite postnatal bisphosphonate therapy. A second fetus with OI type IV was also transplanted with 30 × 10(6) hfMSCs per kilogram at 31 weeks of gestation and did not suffer any new fractures for the remainder of the pregnancy or during infancy. The patient followed her normal growth velocity until 13 months of age, at which time longitudinal length plateaued. A postnatal infusion of 10 × 10(6) MSCs per kilogram from the same donor was performed at 19 months of age, resulting in resumption of her growth trajectory. Neither patient demonstrated alloreactivity toward the donor hfMSCs or manifested any evidence of toxicities after transplantation. Our findings suggest that prenatal transplantation of allogeneic hfMSCs in OI appears safe and is of likely clinical benefit and that retransplantation with same-donor cells is feasible. However, the limited experience to date means that it is not possible to be conclusive and that further studies are required.
Collapse
|