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Tristan CA, Hong H, Jethmalani Y, Chen Y, Weber C, Chu PH, Ryu S, Jovanovic VM, Hur I, Voss TC, Simeonov A, Singeç I. Efficient and safe single-cell cloning of human pluripotent stem cells using the CEPT cocktail. Nat Protoc 2023; 18:58-80. [PMID: 36261632 PMCID: PMC11009857 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00753-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are inherently sensitive cells. Single-cell dissociation and the establishment of clonal cell lines have been long-standing challenges. This inefficiency of cell cloning represents a major obstacle for the standardization and streamlining of gene editing in induced pluripotent stem cells for basic and translational research. Here we describe a chemically defined protocol for robust single-cell cloning using microfluidics-based cell sorting in combination with the CEPT small-molecule cocktail. This advanced strategy promotes the viability and cell fitness of self-renewing stem cells. The use of low-pressure microfluidic cell dispensing ensures gentle and rapid dispensing of single cells into 96- and 384-well plates, while the fast-acting CEPT cocktail minimizes cellular stress and maintains cell structure and function immediately after cell dissociation. The protocol also facilitates clone picking and produces genetically stable clonal cell lines from hPSCs in a safe and cost-efficient fashion. Depending on the proliferation rate of the clone derived from a single cell, this protocol can be completed in 7-14 d and requires experience with aseptic cell culture techniques. Altogether, the relative ease, scalability and robustness of this workflow should boost gene editing in hPSCs and leverage a wide range of applications, including cell line development (e.g., reporter and isogenic cell lines), disease modeling and applications in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Tristan
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA.
| | - Hyenjong Hong
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Yogita Jethmalani
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Claire Weber
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Pei-Hsuan Chu
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Seungmi Ryu
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Vukasin M Jovanovic
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Inae Hur
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ty C Voss
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Anton Simeonov
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ilyas Singeç
- Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL), Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, USA.
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Lee DY, Lee SE, Kwon DH, Nithiyanandam S, Lee MH, Hwang JS, Basith S, Ahn JH, Shin TH, Lee G. Strategies to Improve the Quality and Freshness of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Neurological Diseases. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:8444599. [PMID: 34539792 PMCID: PMC8445711 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8444599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) have been studied for their application to manage various neurological diseases, owing to their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, paracrine, and antiapoptotic ability, as well as their homing capacity to specific regions of brain injury. Among mesenchymal stem cells, such as BM-MSCs, adipose-derived MSCs, and umbilical cord MSCs, BM-MSCs have many merits as cell therapeutic agents based on their widespread availability and relatively easy attainability and in vitro handling. For stem cell-based therapy with BM-MSCs, it is essential to perform ex vivo expansion as low numbers of MSCs are obtained in bone marrow aspirates. Depending on timing, before hBM-MSC transplantation into patients, after detaching them from the culture dish, cell viability, deformability, cell size, and membrane fluidity are decreased, whereas reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation, and cytosolic vacuoles are increased. Thus, the quality and freshness of hBM-MSCs decrease over time after detachment from the culture dish. Especially, for neurological disease cell therapy, the deformability of BM-MSCs is particularly important in the brain for the development of microvessels. As studies on the traditional characteristics of hBM-MSCs before transplantation into the brain are very limited, omics and machine learning approaches are needed to evaluate cell conditions with indepth and comprehensive analyses. Here, we provide an overview of hBM-MSCs, the application of these cells to various neurological diseases, and improvements in their quality and freshness based on integrated omics after detachment from the culture dish for successful cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Yeon Lee
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Eun Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Do Hyeon Kwon
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Mi Ha Lee
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Su Hwang
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Shaherin Basith
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hwan Ahn
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hwan Shin
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang Lee
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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Hunt CJ. Technical Considerations in the Freezing, Low-Temperature Storage and Thawing of Stem Cells for Cellular Therapies. Transfus Med Hemother 2019; 46:134-150. [PMID: 31244583 DOI: 10.1159/000497289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The commercial and clinical development of cellular therapy products will invariably require cryopreservation and frozen storage of cellular starting materials, intermediates and/or final product. Optimising cryopreservation is as important as optimisation of the cell culture process in obtaining maximum yield and a consistent end-product. Suboptimal cryopreservation can lead not only to batch-to-batch variation, lowered cellular functionality and reduced cell yield, but also to the potential selection of subpopulations with genetic or epigenetic characteristics divergent from the original cell line. Regulatory requirements also impact on cryopreservation as these will require a robust and reproducible approach to the freezing, storage and thawing of the product. This requires attention to all aspects of the application of low temperatures: from the choice of freezing container and cryoprotectant, the cooling rate employed and its mode of de-livery, the correct handling of the frozen material during storage and transportation, to the eventual thawing of the product by the end-user. Each of these influences all of the others to a greater or lesser extent and none should be ignored. This paper seeks to provide practical insights and alternative solutions to the technical challenges faced during cryopreservation of cells for use in cellular therapies.
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Abstract
Cryopreservation is the application of low temperatures to preserve the structural and functional integrity of cells and tissues. Conventional cooling protocols allow ice to form and solute concentrations to rise during the cryopreservation process. The damage caused by the rise in solute concentration can be mitigated by the use of compounds known as cryoprotectants. Such compounds protect cells from the consequences of slow cooling injury, allowing them to be cooled at cooling rates which avoid the lethal effects of intracellular ice. An alternative to conventional cooling is vitrification. Vitrification methods incorporate cryoprotectants at sufficiently high concentrations to prevent ice crystallization so that the system forms an amorphous glass thus avoiding the damaging effects caused by conventional slow cooling. However, vitrification too can impose damaging consequences on cells as the cryoprotectant concentrations required to vitrify cells at lower cooling rates are potentially, and often, harmful. While these concentrations can be lowered to nontoxic levels, if the cells are ultra-rapidly cooled, the resulting metastable system can lead to damage through devitrification and growth of ice during subsequent storage and rewarming if not appropriately handled.The commercial and clinical application of stem cells requires robust and reproducible cryopreservation protocols and appropriate long-term, low-temperature storage conditions to provide reliable master and working cell banks. Though current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) compliant methods for the derivation and banking of clinical grade pluripotent stem cells exist and stem cell lines suitable for clinical applications are available, current cryopreservation protocols, whether for vitrification or conventional slow freezing, remain suboptimal. Apart from the resultant loss of valuable product that suboptimal cryopreservation engenders, there is a danger that such processes will impose a selective pressure on the cells selecting out a nonrepresentative, freeze-resistant subpopulation. Optimizing this process requires knowledge of the fundamental processes that occur during the freezing of cellular systems, the mechanisms of damage and methods for avoiding them. This chapter draws together the knowledge of cryopreservation gained in other systems with the current state-of-the-art for embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell preservation in an attempt to provide the background for future attempts to optimize cryopreservation protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles J Hunt
- UK Stem Cell Bank, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK.
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Zhang L, Xu Y, Xu J, Wei Y, Xu X. Protein kinase A inhibitor, H89, significantly enhances survival rate of dissociated human embryonic stem cells following cryopreservation. Cell Prolif 2016; 49:589-98. [PMID: 27484641 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have huge potential for establishment of disease models and for treating degenerative diseases. However, the extremely low survival level of dissociated hESCs following cryopreservation is been a tremendous problem to allow for their rapid expansion, genetic manipulation and future medical applications. In this study, we have aimed to develop an efficient strategy to improve survival of dissociated hESCs after cryopreservation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human embryonic stem cells (H9 line), dissociated into single cells, were cryopreserved using the slow-freezing method. Viable cells and their colony numbers in culture after cryopreservation were evaluated when treated with protein kinase A inhibitor H89. Western blotting was carried out to investigate mechanisms of low survival levels of dissociated hESCs following cryopreservation. Immunofluorescence, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in vitro and in vivo differentiation were performed to testify to pluripotency and differentiation ability of hte cryopreserved cells treated with H89. RESULTS H89 significantly improved survival level of dissociated hESCs after cryopreservation through ROCK inhibition. H89-treated cells still maintained their pluripotency and differentiation capacity. CONCLUSIONS This new approach for cryopreservation of single hESCs, using H89, can promote potential use of hESCs in regenerative medicine in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yanqing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jiandong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yuping Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xia Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
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Bissoyi A, Nayak B, Pramanik K, Sarangi SK. Targeting cryopreservation-induced cell death: a review. Biopreserv Biobank 2014; 12:23-34. [PMID: 24620767 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2013.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite marked developments in the field of cryopreservation of cells and tissues for research and therapeutic applications, post-thaw cell death remains a significant drawback faced by cryobiologists. Post cryopreservation apoptosis and necrosis are normally observed within 6 to 24 h after post-thaw culture. As a result, massive loss of cell viability and cellular function occur due to cryopreservation. However, in this new generation of cryopreservation science, scientists in this field are focusing on incorporation of apoptosis and necrosis inhibitors (zVAD-fmk, p38 MAPK inhibitor, ROCK inhibitor, etc.) to cryopreservation and post-thaw culture media. These inhibitors target and inhibit various proteins such as caspases, proteases, and kinases, involved in the cell death cascade, resulting in reduced intensity of apoptosis and necrosis in the cryopreserved cells and tissues, increased cell viability, and maintenance of cellular function; thus improved overall cryopreservation efficiency is achieved. The present article provides an overview of various cell death pathways, molecules mediating cryopreservation-induced apoptosis and the potential of certain molecules in targeting cryopreservation-induced delayed-onset cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bissoyi
- 1 Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology , Rourkela, India
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Choi EM, Jung WW, Suh KS. Pinacidil protects osteoblastic cells against antimycin A-induced oxidative damage. Mol Med Rep 2014; 11:746-52. [PMID: 25334089 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2014.2721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of a non-selective mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channel (mito-KATP) opener, pinacidil, on antimycin A-induced oxidative damage in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Antimycin A inhibits mitochondrial electron transport by binding to complex III. Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with antimycin A in the presence or absence of pinacidil and markers of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress were subsequently examined. The effects of pinacidil on the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt and cyclic adenosine monophosphate‑responsive element-binding protein (CREB) were also examined. In osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to antimycin A, pinacidil inhibited antimycin A-induced cell death. The protective effects of pinacidil on cell survival were prevented by the addition of LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor), an Akt inhibitor or auranofin [a thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibitor], but not by KATP channel inhibitor glibenclamide. Pinacidil inhibited antimycin A-induced inactivation of PI3K and Akt as well as phosphorylation of CREB and TrxR. Furthermore, pinacidil prevented antimycin A-induced mitochondrial superoxide release, mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation, reduced ATP synthesis and intracellular [Ca2+] elevation. In conclusion, these results suggested that pinacidil may rescue osteoblastic cells from antimycin A-induced cellular damage, potentially via antioxidant activity and restoration of mitochondrial function, which are mediated in part by the PI3K/Akt/CREB signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Mi Choi
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130‑701, Republic of Korea
| | - Woon Won Jung
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Cheongju University, Cheongju, Chungcheong 360-764, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang Sik Suh
- Research Institute of Endocrinology, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul 130-702, Republic of Korea
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8
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Atkinson SP, Lako M, Armstrong L. Potential for pharmacological manipulation of human embryonic stem cells. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 169:269-89. [PMID: 22515554 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.01978.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is vast, allowing disease modelling, drug discovery and testing and perhaps most importantly regenerative therapies. However, problems abound; techniques for cultivating self-renewing hESCs tend to give a heterogeneous population of self-renewing and partially differentiated cells and general include animal-derived products that can be cost-prohibitive for large-scale production, and effective lineage-specific differentiation protocols also still remain relatively undefined and are inefficient at producing large amounts of cells for therapeutic use. Furthermore, the mechanisms and signalling pathways that mediate pluripotency and differentiation are still to be fully appreciated. However, over the recent years, the development/discovery of a range of effective small molecule inhibitors/activators has had a huge impact in hESC biology. Large-scale screening techniques, coupled with greater knowledge of the pathways involved, have generated pharmacological agents that can boost hESC pluripotency/self-renewal and survival and has greatly increased the efficiency of various differentiation protocols, while also aiding the delineation of several important signalling pathways. Within this review, we hope to describe the current uses of small molecule inhibitors/activators in hESC biology and their potential uses in the future.
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Cohen RI, Thompson ML, Schryver B, Ehrhardt RO. Standardized cryopreservation of pluripotent stem cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 28:1C.14.1-1C.14.10. [PMID: 24510767 DOI: 10.1002/9780470151808.sc01c14s28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The successful exploitation of human cells for research, translational, therapeutic, and commercial purposes requires that effective and simple cryopreservation methods be applied for storage in local and master cell banks. Of all the cell types utilized in modern research, human embryonic stem cells and their more recent relatives, induced pluripotent stem cells, are two of the most sensitive to cryopreservation. It is frequently observed that the lack of quality control and proper processing techniques yield poor recovery of pluripotent stem cells. The procedures in this unit have been optimized for handling some of the most recalcitrant stem cell lines, and provide a method for controlled-rate freezing, using minimal equipment that affords levels of cell viability comparable to expensive controlled-rate freezers. The protocol also eliminates the requirement for isopropanol, avoiding the hazards, on-going cost, and inconsistencies associated with its use and disposal. It provides a clinically relevant, inexpensive, reliable, and user-friendly method that successfully prepares cells for long-term cold storage and ensures maximum levels of cell viability post thaw.
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Li Y, Ma T. Bioprocessing of cryopreservation for large-scale banking of human pluripotent stem cells. Biores Open Access 2013; 1:205-14. [PMID: 23515461 PMCID: PMC3559214 DOI: 10.1089/biores.2012.0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cell therapy requires production of therapeutic cells in large quantity, which starts from thawing the cryopreserved cells from a working cell bank or a master cell bank. An optimal cryopreservation and thaw process determines the efficiency of hPSC expansion and plays a significant role in the subsequent lineage-specific differentiation. However, cryopreservation in hPSC bioprocessing has been a challenge due to the unique growth requirements of hPSC, the sensitivity to cryoinjury, and the unscalable cryopreservation procedures commonly used in the laboratory. Tremendous progress has been made to identify the regulatory pathways regulating hPSC responses during cryopreservation and the development of small molecule interventions that effectively improves the efficiency of cryopreservation. The adaption of these methods in current good manufacturing practices (cGMP)-compliant cryopreservation processes not only improves cell survival, but also their therapeutic potency. This review summarizes the advances in these areas and discusses the technical requirements in the development of cGMP-compliant hPSC cryopreservation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida State University , Tallahassee, Florida
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11
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Suh KS, Lee YS, Choi EM. Pinacidil stimulates osteoblast function in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2013; 35:359-64. [DOI: 10.3109/08923973.2013.773447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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12
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Sherman SP, Pyle AD. Small molecule screening with laser cytometry can be used to identify pro-survival molecules in human embryonic stem cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54948. [PMID: 23383009 PMCID: PMC3558484 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 12/19/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiated cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) provide an unlimited source of cells for use in regenerative medicine. The recent derivation of human induced pluripotent cells (hiPSCs) provides a potential supply of pluripotent cells that avoid immune rejection and could provide patient-tailored therapy. In addition, the use of pluripotent cells for drug screening could enable routine toxicity testing and evaluation of underlying disease mechanisms. However, prior to establishment of patient specific cells for cell therapy it is important to understand the basic regulation of cell fate decisions in hESCs. One critical issue that hinders the use of these cells is the fact that hESCs survive poorly upon dissociation, which limits genetic manipulation because of poor cloning efficiency of individual hESCs, and hampers production of large-scale culture of hESCs. To address the problems associated with poor growth in culture and our lack of understanding of what regulates hESC signaling, we successfully developed a screening platform that allows for large scale screening for small molecules that regulate survival. In this work we developed the first large scale platform for hESC screening using laser scanning cytometry and were able to validate this platform by identifying the pro-survival molecule HA-1077. These small molecules provide targets for both improving our basic understanding of hESC survival as well as a tool to improve our ability to expand and genetically manipulate hESCs for use in regenerative applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P. Sherman
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - April D. Pyle
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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13
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Mikkola M, Toivonen S, Tamminen K, Alfthan K, Tuuri T, Satomaa T, Natunen J, Saarinen J, Tiittanen M, Lampinen M, Valmu L, Partanen J, Otonkoski T. Lectin from Erythrina cristagalli supports undifferentiated growth and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cells Dev 2012; 22:707-16. [PMID: 23106381 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2012.0365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins, which occur ubiquitously in nature and are abundant in all living organisms from bacteria to mammals. They have several biological functions among which cell adhesion is well known and characterized. Based on the characterization of the glycome of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), we have investigated the properties of glycan-binding lectins as a novel class of culture support matrices supporting hESC culture. We report that an Erythrina cristagalli lectin (agglutinin) (ECA) matrix supported the undifferentiated growth and significantly increased the plating efficiency of both hESC and human induced pluripotent stem cells when used in conjunction with pinacidil, an antihypertensive drug with ROCK inhibition activity. As a matrix, ECA maintained pluripotency, robust proliferation with a normal karyotype, and the ability to differentiate both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, our findings indicate that lectins are potential candidates for design of culture and differentiation methods, and that ECA is a potent simple defined matrix for human pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milla Mikkola
- Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology and Biomedicum Stem Cell Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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14
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Human embryonic stem cell responses to ionizing radiation exposures: current state of knowledge and future challenges. Stem Cells Int 2012; 2012:579104. [PMID: 22966236 PMCID: PMC3431129 DOI: 10.1155/2012/579104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Accepted: 07/22/2012] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells, which are derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, have become an object of intense study over the last decade. They possess two unique properties that distinguish them from many other cell types: (i) the ability to self-renew indefinitely in culture under permissive conditions, and (ii) the pluripotency, defined as the capability of giving rise to all cell types of embryonic lineage under the guidance of the appropriate developmental cues. The focus of many recent efforts has been on the elucidating the signaling pathways and molecular networks operating in human embryonic stem cells. These cells hold great promise in cell-based regenerative therapies, disease modeling, drug screening and testing, assessing genotoxic and mutagenic risks associated with exposures to a variety of environmental factors, and so forth. Ionizing radiation is ubiquitous in nature, and it is widely used in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in medicine. In this paper, our goal is to summarize the recent progress in understanding how human embryonic stem cells respond to ionizing radiation exposures, using novel methodologies based on “omics” approaches, and to provide a critical discussion of what remains unknown; thus proposing a roadmap for the future research in this area.
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15
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Jenkins EC, Ye L, Silverman WP. Does the cryogenic freezing process cause shorter telomeres? Cryobiology 2012; 65:72-3. [PMID: 22465657 PMCID: PMC3367061 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2012.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2011] [Revised: 02/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We have observed evidence of increased telomere shortening in short-term T-lymphocyte cultures following freezing and thawing of the original inoculum obtained by ficoll-paque gradient centrifugation, compared to T-lymphocytes that were cultured immediately without freezing and thawing from the same blood sample from 3 female and 3 male adults. Because freezing may have similar effects on other cell types, and because telomere shortening may only manifest its effects after many years or decades, we suggest there is a pressing need for evaluation of the effects of freezing on any cells envisioned for clinical applications, including embryo implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund C. Jenkins
- The Department of Human Genetics, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR), 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, United States
| | - Lingling Ye
- The Department of Human Genetics, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR), 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, United States
| | - Wayne P. Silverman
- The Kennedy Krieger Institute and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Suite 222s, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
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Schulz TC, Young HY, Agulnick AD, Babin MJ, Baetge EE, Bang AG, Bhoumik A, Cepa I, Cesario RM, Haakmeester C, Kadoya K, Kelly JR, Kerr J, Martinson LA, McLean AB, Moorman MA, Payne JK, Richardson M, Ross KG, Sherrer ES, Song X, Wilson AZ, Brandon EP, Green CE, Kroon EJ, Kelly OG, D'Amour KA, Robins AJ. A scalable system for production of functional pancreatic progenitors from human embryonic stem cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e37004. [PMID: 22623968 PMCID: PMC3356395 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 284] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of a human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based therapy for type 1 diabetes will require the translation of proof-of-principle concepts into a scalable, controlled, and regulated cell manufacturing process. We have previously demonstrated that hESC can be directed to differentiate into pancreatic progenitors that mature into functional glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting cells in vivo. In this study we describe hESC expansion and banking methods and a suspension-based differentiation system, which together underpin an integrated scalable manufacturing process for producing pancreatic progenitors. This system has been optimized for the CyT49 cell line. Accordingly, qualified large-scale single-cell master and working cGMP cell banks of CyT49 have been generated to provide a virtually unlimited starting resource for manufacturing. Upon thaw from these banks, we expanded CyT49 for two weeks in an adherent culture format that achieves 50–100 fold expansion per week. Undifferentiated CyT49 were then aggregated into clusters in dynamic rotational suspension culture, followed by differentiation en masse for two weeks with a four-stage protocol. Numerous scaled differentiation runs generated reproducible and defined population compositions highly enriched for pancreatic cell lineages, as shown by examining mRNA expression at each stage of differentiation and flow cytometry of the final population. Islet-like tissue containing glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting cells was generated upon implantation into mice. By four- to five-months post-engraftment, mature neo-pancreatic tissue was sufficient to protect against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia. In summary, we have developed a tractable manufacturing process for the generation of functional pancreatic progenitors from hESC on a scale amenable to clinical entry.
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