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Shlush E, Maghen L, Swanson S, Kenigsberg S, Moskovtsev S, Barretto T, Gauthier-Fisher A, Librach CL. In vitro generation of Sertoli-like and haploid spermatid-like cells from human umbilical cord perivascular cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2017; 8:37. [PMID: 28202061 PMCID: PMC5312448 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-017-0491-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND First trimester (FTM) and term human umbilical cord-derived perivascular cells (HUCPVCs), which are rich sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), can give rise to Sertoli cell (SC)-like as well as haploid germ cell (GC)-like cells in vitro using culture conditions that recapitulate the testicular niche. Gamete-like cells have been produced ex vivo using pluripotent stem cells as well as MSCs. However, the production of functional gametes from human stem cells has yet to be achieved. METHODS Three independent lines of FTM and term HUCPVCs were cultured using a novel 5-week step-wise in vitro differentiation protocol recapitulating key physiological signals involved in testicular development. SC- and GC-associated phenotypical properties were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative PCR immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, and fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). Functional spermatogonial stem cell-like properties were assessed using a xenotranplantation assay. RESULTS Within 3 weeks of differentiation, two morphologically distinct cell types emerged including large adherent cells and semi-attached round cells. Both early GC-associated markers (VASA, DAZL, GPR125, GFR1α) and SC-associated markers (FSHR, SOX9, AMH) were upregulated, and 5.7 ± 1.2% of these cells engrafted near the inner basal membrane in a xenograft assay. After 5 weeks in culture, 10-30% of the cells were haploid, had adopted a spermatid-like morphology, and expressed PRM1, Acrosin, and ODF2. Undifferentiated HUCPVCs secreted key factors known to regulate spermatogenesis (LIF, GDNF, BMP4, bFGF) and 10-20% of HUCPVCs co-expressed SSEA4, CD9, CD90, and CD49f. We hypothesize that the paracrine properties and cellular heterogeneity of HUCPVCs may explain their dual capacity to differentiate to both SC- and GC-like cells. CONCLUSIONS HUCPVCs recapitulate elements of the testicular niche including their ability to differentiate into cells with Sertoli-like and haploid spermatid-like properties in vitro. Our study supports the importance of generating a niche-like environment under ex vivo conditions aiming at creating mature GC, and highlights the plasticity of HUCPVCs. This could have future applications for the treatment of some cases of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Shlush
- CReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1G8, Canada.
| | - Leila Maghen
- CReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1G8, Canada
| | - Sonja Swanson
- CReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1G8, Canada
| | - Shlomit Kenigsberg
- CReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1G8, Canada
| | - Sergey Moskovtsev
- CReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1G8, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tanya Barretto
- CReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1G8, Canada
| | | | - Clifford L Librach
- CReATe Fertility Centre, 790 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1G8, Canada. .,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Gynecology, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Irie N, Weinberger L, Tang WWC, Kobayashi T, Viukov S, Manor YS, Dietmann S, Hanna JH, Surani MA. SOX17 is a critical specifier of human primordial germ cell fate. Cell 2014; 160:253-68. [PMID: 25543152 PMCID: PMC4310934 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 570] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) marks the beginning of the totipotent state. However, without a tractable experimental model, the mechanism of human PGC (hPGC) specification remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate specification of hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) from germline competent pluripotent stem cells. The characteristics of hPGCLCs are consistent with the embryonic hPGCs and a germline seminoma that share a CD38 cell-surface marker, which collectively defines likely progression of the early human germline. Remarkably, SOX17 is the key regulator of hPGC-like fate, whereas BLIMP1 represses endodermal and other somatic genes during specification of hPGCLCs. Notable mechanistic differences between mouse and human PGC specification could be attributed to their divergent embryonic development and pluripotent states, which might affect other early cell-fate decisions. We have established a foundation for future studies on resetting of the epigenome in hPGCLCs and hPGCs for totipotency and the transmission of genetic and epigenetic information. A defined model for hPGCLC specification from germline-competent hESCs Expression profiles of hPGCLCs match with authentic hPGCs SOX17 is the key regulator of hPGCLC CD38 glycoprotein is a cell-surface marker of the human germline
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Irie
- Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Leehee Weinberger
- The Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Walfred W C Tang
- Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Toshihiro Kobayashi
- Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Sergey Viukov
- The Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Yair S Manor
- The Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Sabine Dietmann
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Jacob H Hanna
- The Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| | - M Azim Surani
- Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.
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