1
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Kim HK, Kim TJ. Current Status and Future Prospects of Stem Cell Therapy for Infertile Patients with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. Biomolecules 2024; 14:242. [PMID: 38397479 PMCID: PMC10887045 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), also known as premature menopause or premature ovarian failure, signifies the partial or complete loss of ovarian endocrine function and fertility before 40 years of age. This condition affects approximately 1% of women of childbearing age. Although 5-10% of patients may conceive naturally, conventional infertility treatments, including assisted reproductive technology, often prove ineffective for the majority. For infertile patients with POI, oocyte donation or adoption exist, although a prevalent desire persists among them to have biological children. Stem cells, which are characterized by their undifferentiated nature, self-renewal capability, and potential to differentiate into various cell types, have emerged as promising avenues for treating POI. Stem cell therapy can potentially reverse the diminished ovarian endocrine function and restore fertility. Beyond direct POI therapy, stem cells show promise in supplementary applications such as ovarian tissue cryopreservation and tissue engineering. However, technological and ethical challenges hinder the widespread clinical application of stem cells. This review examines the current landscape of stem cell therapy for POI, underscoring the importance of comprehensive assessments that acknowledge the diversity of cell types and functions. Additionally, this review scrutinizes the limitations and prospects associated with the clinical implementation of stem cell treatments for POI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Kyeong Kim
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Infertility Center, CHA University Ilsan Medical Center, Goyang 10414, Republic of Korea;
| | - Tae Jin Kim
- Department of Urology, CHA University Ilsan Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Goyang 10414, Republic of Korea
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2
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Esfahani SN, Zheng Y, Arabpour A, Irizarry AMR, Kobayashi N, Xue X, Shao Y, Zhao C, Agranonik NL, Sparrow M, Hunt TJ, Faith J, Lara MJ, Wu QY, Silber S, Petropoulos S, Yang R, Chien KR, Clark AT, Fu J. Derivation of human primordial germ cell-like cells in an embryonic-like culture. Nat Commun 2024; 15:167. [PMID: 38167821 PMCID: PMC10762101 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43871-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the embryonic precursors of sperm and eggs. They transmit genetic and epigenetic information across generations. Given the prominent role of germline defects in diseases such as infertility, detailed understanding of human PGC (hPGC) development has important implications in reproductive medicine and studying human evolution. Yet, hPGC specification remains an elusive process. Here, we report the induction of hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) in a bioengineered human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) culture that mimics peri-implantation human development. In this culture, amniotic ectoderm-like cells (AMLCs), derived from hPSCs, induce hPGCLC specification from hPSCs through paracrine signaling downstream of ISL1. Our data further show functional roles of NODAL, WNT, and BMP signaling in hPGCLC induction. hPGCLCs are successfully derived from eight non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) participant-derived hPSC lines using this biomimetic platform, demonstrating its promise for screening applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajedeh Nasr Esfahani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA
| | - Auriana Arabpour
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | | | - Norio Kobayashi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Xufeng Xue
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Yue Shao
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Zhao
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Instituet, 14186, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicole L Agranonik
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Megan Sparrow
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Timothy J Hunt
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jared Faith
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Mary Jasmine Lara
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Qiu Ya Wu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sherman Silber
- Infertility Center of St. Louis, St. Luke's Hospital, St. Louis, MO, 63017, USA
| | - Sophie Petropoulos
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Instituet, 14186, Stockholm, Sweden
- Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Axe Immunopathologie, Montreal, QC, H2X 19A, Canada
- Département de Médecine, Molecular Biology Programme, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ran Yang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kenneth R Chien
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Amander T Clark
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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3
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Telfer EE, Grosbois J, Odey YL, Rosario R, Anderson RA. Making a good egg: human oocyte health, aging, and in vitro development. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:2623-2677. [PMID: 37171807 PMCID: PMC10625843 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00032.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian eggs (oocytes) are formed during fetal life and establish associations with somatic cells to form primordial follicles that create a store of germ cells (the primordial pool). The size of this pool is influenced by key events during the formation of germ cells and by factors that influence the subsequent activation of follicle growth. These regulatory pathways must ensure that the reserve of oocytes within primordial follicles in humans lasts for up to 50 years, yet only approximately 0.1% will ever be ovulated with the rest undergoing degeneration. This review outlines the mechanisms and regulatory pathways that govern the processes of oocyte and follicle formation and later growth, within the ovarian stroma, through to ovulation with particular reference to human oocytes/follicles. In addition, the effects of aging on female reproductive capacity through changes in oocyte number and quality are emphasized, with both the cellular mechanisms and clinical implications discussed. Finally, the details of current developments in culture systems that support all stages of follicle growth to generate mature oocytes in vitro and emerging prospects for making new oocytes from stem cells are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn E Telfer
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Johanne Grosbois
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Yvonne L Odey
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Roseanne Rosario
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A Anderson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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4
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Li D, Yang J, Ma F, Malik V, Zang R, Shi X, Huang X, Zhou H, Wang J. The pluripotency factor Tex10 finetunes Wnt signaling for PGC and male germline development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.23.529824. [PMID: 36865339 PMCID: PMC9980098 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.23.529824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Testis-specific transcript 10 (Tex10) is a critical factor for pluripotent stem cell maintenance and preimplantation development. Here, we dissect its late developmental roles in primordial germ cell (PGC) specification and spermatogenesis using cellular and animal models. We discover that Tex10 binds the Wnt negative regulator genes, marked by H3K4me3, at the PGC-like cell (PGCLC) stage in restraining Wnt signaling. Depletion and overexpression of Tex10 hyperactivate and attenuate the Wnt signaling, resulting in compromised and enhanced PGCLC specification efficiency, respectively. Using the Tex10 conditional knockout mouse models combined with single-cell RNA sequencing, we further uncover critical roles of Tex10 in spermatogenesis with Tex10 loss causing reduced sperm number and motility associated with compromised round spermatid formation. Notably, defective spermatogenesis in Tex10 knockout mice correlates with aberrant Wnt signaling upregulation. Therefore, our study establishes Tex10 as a previously unappreciated player in PGC specification and male germline development by fine-tuning Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development and Stem Cell Therapies, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Jihong Yang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development and Stem Cell Therapies, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Fanglin Ma
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Vikas Malik
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development and Stem Cell Therapies, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Ruge Zang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development and Stem Cell Therapies, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Xianle Shi
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development and Stem Cell Therapies, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development and Stem Cell Therapies, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Hongwei Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development and Stem Cell Therapies, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Jianlong Wang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development and Stem Cell Therapies, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
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5
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Babaei K, Aziminezhad M, Norollahi SE, Vahidi S, Samadani AA. Cell therapy for the treatment of reproductive diseases and infertility: an overview from the mechanism to the clinic alongside diagnostic methods. Front Med 2022; 16:827-858. [PMID: 36562947 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-022-0948-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Infertility is experienced by 8%-12% of adults in their reproductive period globally and has become a prevalent concern. Besides routine therapeutic methods, stem cells are rapidly being examined as viable alternative therapies in regenerative medicine and translational investigation. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the biology and purpose of stem cells. The affected pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are further studied for their possible use in reproductive medicine, particularly for infertility induced by premature ovarian insufficiency and azoospermia. Accordingly, this study discusses current developments in the use of some kinds of MSCs such as adipose-derived stem cells, bone marrow stromal cells, umbilical cord MSCs, and menstrual blood MSCs. These methods have been used to manage ovarian and uterine disorders, and each technique presents a novel method for the therapy of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosar Babaei
- Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Mohsen Aziminezhad
- Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.,UMR INSERM U 1122, IGE-PCV, Interactions Gène-Environment En Physiopathologie Cardiovascular Université De Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - Seyedeh Elham Norollahi
- Cancer Research Center and Department of Immunology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Sogand Vahidi
- Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Samadani
- Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
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6
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Jo K, Teague S, Chen B, Khan HA, Freeburne E, Li H, Li B, Ran R, Spence JR, Heemskerk I. Efficient differentiation of human primordial germ cells through geometric control reveals a key role for Nodal signaling. eLife 2022; 11:72811. [PMID: 35394424 PMCID: PMC9106331 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Human primordial germ cells (hPGCs) form around the time of implantation and are the precursors of eggs and sperm. Many aspects of hPGC specification remain poorly understood because of the inaccessibility of the early postimplantation human embryo for study. Here, we show that micropatterned human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) treated with BMP4 give rise to hPGC-like cells (hPGCLC) and use these as a quantitatively reproducible and simple in vitro model to interrogate this important developmental event. We characterize micropatterned hPSCs up to 96 hr and show that hPGCLC populations are stable and continue to mature. By perturbing signaling during hPGCLC differentiation, we identify a previously unappreciated role for Nodal signaling and find that the relative timing and duration of BMP and Nodal signaling are critical parameters controlling the number of hPGCLCs. We formulate a mathematical model for a network of cross-repressive fates driven by Nodal and BMP signaling, which predicts the measured fate patterns after signaling perturbations. Finally, we show that hPSC colony size dictates the efficiency of hPGCLC specification, which led us to dramatically improve the efficiency of hPGCLC differentiation. In humans and other animals, eggs and sperm are unique cells that pass on genetic material to the next generation. They originate from a small group of cells called primordial germ cells that form early in life in the developing embryo. Several different signal molecules including ones known as BMP4, Wnt, and Nodal, instruct certain cells in the embryo to become primordial germ cells. The process by which primordial germ cells are made in humans is very different to how primordial germ cells are made in mice and other so-called model animals that are commonly used in research. This has made it more challenging to uncover the details of the process in humans. Fortunately, new methods have recently been created that mimic aspects of how human embryos develop using human stem cells in a laboratory dish, providing an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how human germ cells form. Jo et al. used a technique called micropatterning to control the shape and size of groups of human stem cells growing in a laboratory dish. Treating these cells with a signal known as BMP4 gave rise to cells that resembled primordial germ cells. The team then used this system as a model to study how primordial germ cells form in humans. The experiments found that reducing Wnt signals in stem cells stopped primordial germ cells from forming in response to BMP4, confirming that Wnt signals made by the cells in response to BMP4 are essential. However, this block was overcome by providing the stem cells with another signal called Nodal. This suggests that the role of Wnt signaling in primordial germ cell formation is in part indirect by switching on Nodal in stem cells. Defects in eggs and sperm may lead to infertility, therefore, the findings of Jo et al. have the potential to help researchers develop new fertility treatments that use eggs or sperm grown in a laboratory from the patients’ own stem cells. Such research would benefit from first developing a better understanding of how to make primordial germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung Jo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Seth Teague
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Bohan Chen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Hina Aftab Khan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Emily Freeburne
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Hunter Li
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Bolin Li
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Ran Ran
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Jason R Spence
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
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7
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Kobayashi M, Kobayashi M, Odajima J, Shioda K, Hwang YS, Sasaki K, Chatterjee P, Kramme C, Kohman RE, Church GM, Loehr AR, Weiss RS, Jüppner H, Gell JJ, Lau CC, Shioda T. Expanding homogeneous culture of human primordial germ cell-like cells maintaining germline features without serum or feeder layers. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:507-521. [PMID: 35148847 PMCID: PMC9039862 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro expansion of human primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs), a pluripotent stem cell-derived PGC model, has proved challenging due to rapid loss of primordial germ cell (PGC)-like identity and limited cell survival/proliferation. Here, we describe long-term culture hPGCLCs (LTC-hPGCLCs), which actively proliferate in a serum-free, feeder-free condition without apparent limit as highly homogeneous diploid cell populations maintaining transcriptomic and epigenomic characteristics of hPGCLCs. Histone proteomics confirmed reduced H3K9me2 and increased H3K27me3 marks in LTC-hPGCLCs compared with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). LTC-hPGCLCs established from multiple human iPSC clones of both sexes were telomerase positive, senescence-free cells readily passaged with minimal cell death or deviation from the PGC-like identity. LTC-hPGCLCs are capable of differentiating to DAZL-positive M-spermatogonia-like cells in the xenogeneic reconstituted testis (xrTestis) organ culture milieu as well as efficiently producing fully pluripotent embryonic germ cell-like cells in the presence of stem cell factor and fibroblast growth factor 2. Thus, LTC-hPGCLCs provide convenient access to unlimited amounts of high-quality and homogeneous hPGCLCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutsumi Kobayashi
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
| | - Misato Kobayashi
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Junko Odajima
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Keiko Shioda
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Young Sun Hwang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kotaro Sasaki
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Pranam Chatterjee
- MIT Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christian Kramme
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Richie E Kohman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Amanda R Loehr
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Robert S Weiss
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Harald Jüppner
- Endocrine Unit and Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Joanna J Gell
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA; Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT 06106, USA; University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Ching C Lau
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA; Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT 06106, USA; University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Toshi Shioda
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT 06106, USA.
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8
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Mishra S, Taelman J, Chang YW, Boel A, De Sutter P, Heindryckx B, Chuva De Sousa Lopes SM. Sex-Specific Isolation and Propagation of Human Premeiotic Fetal Germ Cells and Germ Cell-Like Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051214. [PMID: 34065661 PMCID: PMC8156680 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The second trimester of human development is marked by asynchronous gonadal development hampering the isolation of homogenous populations of early and late fetal germ cells (FGCs). We evaluated the feasibility of using surface markers TNAP, PDPN, EPCAM and ITGA6 to isolate FGCs as well as human primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs) derived from embryonic stem cells (hESCs) from both sexes by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Our results suggest that a combination of TNAP and PDPN was sufficient to separate populations of premeiotic FGCs and hPGCLCs in both sexes. This combination of antibodies also proved efficient in separating 'mitotic' from 'retinoic-acid responsive' female FGCs. Furthermore, we report that the differentiation efficiency of TNAP+PDPN+ hPGCLCs from hESCs was sex-independent, but the ability to propagate differed considerably between the sexes. In contrast to male, female hPGCLCs retained their characteristics and exhibited robust colony-forming ability when cultured for five days in medium containing LIF, forskolin and FGF2. We conclude that marked sex differences exist in the isolation and propagation of human FGCs and hPGCLCs. Our study provides novel insights relevant for the optimization of in vitro gametogenesis in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Mishra
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST), Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (S.M.); (J.T.); (A.B.); (P.D.S.)
| | - Jasin Taelman
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST), Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (S.M.); (J.T.); (A.B.); (P.D.S.)
| | - Yolanda W. Chang
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Annekatrien Boel
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST), Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (S.M.); (J.T.); (A.B.); (P.D.S.)
| | - Petra De Sutter
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST), Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (S.M.); (J.T.); (A.B.); (P.D.S.)
| | - Björn Heindryckx
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST), Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (S.M.); (J.T.); (A.B.); (P.D.S.)
- Correspondence: (B.H.); (S.M.C.D.S.L.); Tel.: +32-9332-4748 (B.H.); +31-71-526-9350 (S.M.C.D.S.L.)
| | - Susana M. Chuva De Sousa Lopes
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST), Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (S.M.); (J.T.); (A.B.); (P.D.S.)
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence: (B.H.); (S.M.C.D.S.L.); Tel.: +32-9332-4748 (B.H.); +31-71-526-9350 (S.M.C.D.S.L.)
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9
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Advances in Female Germ Cell Induction from Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:8849230. [PMID: 33510796 PMCID: PMC7822693 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8849230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ cells are capable of maintaining species continuity through passing genetic and epigenetic information across generations. Female germ cells mainly develop during the embryonic stage and pass through subsequent developmental stages including primordial germ cells, oogonia, and oocyte. However, due to the limitation of using early human embryos as in vivo research model, in vitro research models are needed to reveal the early developmental process and related mechanisms of female germ cells. After birth, the number of follicles gradually decreases with age. Various conditions which damage ovarian functions would cause premature ovarian failure. Alternative treatments to solve these problems need to be investigated. Germ cell differentiation from pluripotent stem cells in vitro can simulate early embryonic development of female germ cells and clarify unresolved issues during the development process. In addition, pluripotent stem cells could potentially provide promising applications for female fertility preservation after proper in vitro differentiation. Mouse female germ cells have been successfully reconstructed in vitro and delivered to live offspring. However, the derivation of functional human female germ cells has not been fully achieved due to technical limitations and ethical issues. To provide an updated and comprehensive information, this review centers on the major studies on the differentiation of mouse and human female germ cells from pluripotent stem cells and provides references to further studies of developmental mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications of female germ cells.
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10
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de Araujo M. Human Rights and Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART): A Contractarian Approach. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS 2020. [DOI: 10.7202/1073798ar] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
What are human rights? Do they exist? I propose to answer these questions by advancing a contractarian account of human rights. I focus on the human right to found a family and have children. I also show how the contractarian approach to human rights can explain the current relevance of reproductive rights in the human rights discourse, and how the emergence of ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies) has contributed to this shift. The contractarian account of human rights asks, firstly, the following question: which basic needs and desires can be ascribed to any human being regardless of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity etc.? Having an interest, for instance, in preserving one’s own bodily integrity, freedom, and private property qualifies as a basic human need or basic desire. But a basic human need or desire does not constitute in itself a human right. Secondly, the contractarian account of human rights asks, then, which basic human needs or basic desires individuals and states representatives would consider so important that they would agree to create institutional frameworks, both at the domestic and international level, in such a way as to enable individuals to pursue the fulfilment of their basic needs or desires without state interference. Human rights exist and can only be claimed in the context of these normative frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo de Araujo
- Faculty of Law, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Philosophy, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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11
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Mall EM, Rotte N, Yoon J, Sandhowe-Klaverkamp R, Röpke A, Wistuba J, Hübner K, Schöler HR, Schlatt S. A novel xeno-organoid approach: exploring the crosstalk between human iPSC-derived PGC-like and rat testicular cells. Mol Hum Reprod 2020; 26:879-893. [PMID: 33049038 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Specification of germ cell-like cells from induced pluripotent stem cells has become a clinically relevant tool for research. Research on initial embryonic processes is often limited by the access to foetal tissue, and in humans, the molecular events resulting in primordial germ cell (PGC) specification and sex determination remain to be elucidated. A deeper understanding of the underlying processes is crucial to describe pathomechanisms leading to impaired reproductive function. Several protocols have been established for the specification of human pluripotent stem cell towards early PGC-like cells (PGCLC), currently representing the best model to mimic early human germline developmental processes in vitro. Further sex determination towards the male lineage depends on somatic gonadal cells providing the necessary molecular cues. By establishing a culture system characterized by the re-organization of somatic cells from postnatal rat testes into cord-like structures and optimizing efficient PGCLC specification protocols, we facilitated the co-culture of human germ cell-like cells within a surrogate testicular microenvironment. Specified conditions allowed the survival of rat somatic testicular and human PGCLCs for 14 days. Human cells maintained the characteristic expression of octamer-binding transcription factor 4, SRY-box transcription factor 17, and transcription factor AP-2 gamma and were recovered from the xeno-organoids by cell sorting. This novel xeno-organoid approach will allow the in vitro exploration of early sex determination of human PGCLCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Mall
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - N Rotte
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - J Yoon
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - R Sandhowe-Klaverkamp
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - A Röpke
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - J Wistuba
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - K Hübner
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - H R Schöler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.,Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - S Schlatt
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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12
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Abstract
Recent research with human embryos, in different parts of the world, has sparked a new debate on the ethics of genetic human enhancement. This debate, however, has mainly focused on gene-editing technologies, especially CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats). Less attention has been given to the prospect of pursuing genetic human enhancement by means of IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) in conjunction with in vitro gametogenesis, genome-wide association studies, and embryo selection. This article examines the different ethical implications of the quest for cognitive enhancement by means of gene-editing on the one hand, and embryo selection on the other. The article focuses on the ethics of cognitive enhancement by means of embryo selection, as this technology is more likely to become commercially available before cognitive enhancement by means of gene-editing. This article argues that the philosophical debate on the ethics of enhancement should take into consideration public attitudes to research on human genomics and human enhancement technologies. The article discusses, then, some of the recent findings of the SIENNA Project, which in 2019 conducted a survey on public attitudes to human genomics and human enhancement technologies in 11 countries (France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, and United States).
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13
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Sharma S, Wistuba J, Neuhaus N, Schlatt S. Reply: Pluripotent very small embryonic-like stem cells co-exist along with spermatogonial stem cells in adult mammalian testis. Hum Reprod Update 2019; 26:138. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmz031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Swati Sharma
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Joachim Wistuba
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Nina Neuhaus
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Stefan Schlatt
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
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14
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Wang J, Liu C, Fujino M, Tong G, Zhang Q, Li XK, Yan H. Stem Cells as a Resource for Treatment of Infertility-related Diseases. Curr Mol Med 2019; 19:539-546. [PMID: 31288721 PMCID: PMC6806537 DOI: 10.2174/1566524019666190709172636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Worldwide, infertility affects 8-12% of couples of reproductive age and has become a common problem. There are many ways to treat infertility, including medication, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization. In recent years, stem-cell therapy has raised new hope in the field of reproductive disability management. Stem cells are self-renewing, self-replicating undifferentiated cells that are capable of producing specialized cells under appropriate conditions. They exist throughout a human’s embryo, fetal, and adult stages and can proliferate into different cells. While many issues remain to be addressed concerning stem cells, stem cells have undeniably opened up new ways to treat infertility. In this review, we describe past, present, and future strategies for the use of stem cells in reproductive medicine
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Reproductive Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Division of Transplantation Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chi Liu
- Division of Transplantation Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Masayuki Fujino
- Division of Transplantation Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.,AIDS Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Guoqing Tong
- Reproductive Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinxiu Zhang
- Department of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao-Kang Li
- Division of Transplantation Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hua Yan
- Reproductive Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Roles of MicroRNAs in Establishing and Modulating Stem Cell Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20153643. [PMID: 31349654 PMCID: PMC6696000 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Early embryonic development in mammals, from fertilization to implantation, can be viewed as a process in which stem cells alternate between self-renewal and differentiation. During this process, the fates of stem cells in embryos are gradually specified, from the totipotent state, through the segregation of embryonic and extraembryonic lineages, to the molecular and cellular defined progenitors. Most of those stem cells with different potencies in vivo can be propagated in vitro and recapitulate their differentiation abilities. Complex and coordinated regulations, such as epigenetic reprogramming, maternal RNA clearance, transcriptional and translational landscape changes, as well as the signal transduction, are required for the proper development of early embryos. Accumulated studies suggest that Dicer-dependent noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and endogenous small-interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs), are involved in those regulations and therefore modulate biological properties of stem cells in vitro and in vivo. Elucidating roles of these noncoding RNAs will give us a more comprehensive picture of mammalian embryonic development and enable us to modulate stem cell potencies. In this review, we will discuss roles of miRNAs in regulating the maintenance and cell fate potential of stem cells in/from mouse and human early embryos.
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Abdyyev VK, Dashinimayev EB, Neklyudova IV, Vorotelyak EA, Vasiliev AV. Modern Technologies Deriving Human Primordial Germ Cells in vitro. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2019; 84:220-231. [PMID: 31221060 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297919030040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are a unique type of stem cells capable of giving rise to totipotent stem cells and ensuring the fertility of an organism and the transfer of its genome to the next generation. PGC research is an important perspective research field of developmental biology that handles many questions of embryogenesis and holds promise for treatments of infertility in the future. Considering ethical concerns related to human embryos, the main research approach in understanding the biology of human PGCs is in vitro studies. In this review, we consider the historical perspective of human PGC studies in vitro, the main existing models, and further outlooks and applications in medicine and science.
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Affiliation(s)
- V K Abdyyev
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
| | - E B Dashinimayev
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia.,Pirogov Russian Research Medical University, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - I V Neklyudova
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - E A Vorotelyak
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119991, Russia. .,Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia.,Pirogov Russian Research Medical University, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - A V Vasiliev
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119991, Russia.,Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
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17
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Current approaches for the treatment of premature ovarian failure with stem cell therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 102:254-262. [PMID: 29567538 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.03.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the common disorders found in women is premature ovarian failure (POF). Recently some studies have explained premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). The causes of it are unknown although various types of study have been done. The most common causes such as genetic and autoimmune conditions can have a role in POF and can lead to infertility. Some characterization of POF are hypo-oestrogenism (estrogen deficiency), increased gonadotropin level and most importantly amenorrhea. The main purpose of this review is to describe the cause and treatment of POF, especially stem cell therapy proposed in previous studies. Stem cells have self-renewal and regeneration potential, hence they can be very effective in the treatment of ovarian failure and consequently infertility. There are several kinds of stem cells such as, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), stem cells from extra-embryonic tissues, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and ovarian stem cells that are used in POF stem cell therapy as observed in previous studies. This article reviews the latest studies on POF to summarize current understanding and future directions.
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Long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 promotes proliferation and survival of female germline stem cells in vitro. Gene 2018; 653:14-21. [PMID: 29428796 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Revised: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Female germline stem cells (FGSCs) are proposed to be a key factor for ameliorating female infertility. Previously we have shown that neonatal and adult FGSCs could be isolated and purified from mouse ovarian tissues. The long noncoding (lnc) RNA growth arrest-specific 5 sequence (GAS5) transcribed from mammalian genomes plays important regulatory roles in various developmental processes. However, there is no study on the relationship between GAS5 and FGSC development in vitro. In this study, we showed that GAS5 was highly expressed in the neonatal mouse ovary and was located in both FGSCs and oocytes. GAS5 facilitated FGSC proliferation and promoted their survival in vitro. Moreover, GAS5 also inhibited apoptosis of cultured FGSCs. These findings indicate that GAS5 is a crucial regulator of FGSC development. This might serve as a foundation for a strategy of lncRNA-directed diagnosis or treatment of female infertility.
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PRDM14 is expressed in germ cell tumors with constitutive overexpression altering human germline differentiation and proliferation. Stem Cell Res 2018; 27:46-56. [PMID: 29324254 PMCID: PMC5858915 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2017.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors occurring in gonadal and extragonadal locations. GCTs are hypothesized to arise from primordial germ cells (PGCs), which fail to differentiate. One recently identified susceptibility loci for human GCT is PR (PRDI-BF1 and RIZ) domain proteins 14 (PRDM14). PRDM14 is expressed in early primate PGCs and is repressed as PGCs differentiate. To examine PRDM14 in human GCTs we profiled human GCT cell lines and patient samples and discovered that PRDM14 is expressed in embryonal carcinoma cell lines, embryonal carcinomas, seminomas, intracranial germinomas and yolk sac tumors, but is not expressed in teratomas. To model constitutive overexpression in human PGCs, we generated PGC-like cells (PGCLCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and discovered that elevated expression of PRDM14 does not block early PGC formation. Instead, we show that elevated PRDM14 in PGCLCs causes proliferation and differentiation defects in the germline.
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