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Diagnostic Odyssey in an Adult Patient with Ophthalmologic Abnormalities and Hearing Loss: Contribution of RNA-Seq to the Diagnosis of a PEX1 Deficiency. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012367. [PMID: 36293220 PMCID: PMC9604267 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (PBDs) are a heterogeneous group of genetic diseases. Multiple peroxisomal pathways are impaired, and very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) are the first line biomarkers for the diagnosis. The clinical presentation of PBDs may range from severe, lethal multisystemic disorders to milder, late-onset disease. The vast majority of PBDs belong to Zellweger Spectrum Disordes (ZSDs) and represents a continuum of overlapping clinical symptoms, with Zellweger syndrome being the most severe and Heimler syndrome the less severe disease. Mild clinical conditions frequently present normal or slight biochemical alterations, making the diagnosis of these patients challenging. In the present study we used a combined WES and RNA-seq strategy to diagnose a patient presenting with retinal dystrophy as the main clinical symptom. Results showed the patient was compound heterozygous for mutations in PEX1. VLCFA were normal, but retrospective analysis of lysosphosphatidylcholines (LPC) containing C22:0–C26:0 species was altered. This simple test could avoid the diagnostic odyssey of patients with mild phenotype, such as the individual described here, who was diagnosed very late in adult life. We provide functional data in cell line models that may explain the mild phenotype of the patient by demonstrating the hypomorphic nature of a deep intronic variant altering PEX1 mRNA processing.
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Blaszkiewicz J, Duncan SA. Advancements in Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery Using iPSC-Derived Hepatocyte-like Cells. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:573. [PMID: 35456379 PMCID: PMC9030659 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Serving as the metabolic hub of the human body, the liver is a vital organ that performs a variety of important physiological functions. Although known for its regenerative potential, it remains vulnerable to a variety of diseases. Despite decades of research, liver disease remains a leading cause of mortality in the United States with a multibillion-dollar-per-year economic burden. Prior research with model systems, such as primary hepatocytes and murine models, has provided many important discoveries. However, progress has been impaired by numerous obstacles associated with these models. In recent years, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based systems have emerged as advantageous platforms for studying liver disease. Benefits, including preserved differentiation and physiological function, amenability to genetic manipulation via tools such as CRISPR/Cas9, and availability for high-throughput screening, make these systems increasingly attractive for both mechanistic studies of disease and the identification of novel therapeutics. Although limitations exist, recent studies have made progress in ameliorating these issues. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in iPSC-based models of liver disease, including improvements in model system construction as well as the use of high-throughput screens for genetic studies and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen A. Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
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3
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Xu Y, Zhang J, Hu Y, Li X, Sun L, Peng Y, Sun Y, Liu B, Bian Z, Rong Z. Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals the dynamics of human immune cells during early fetal skin development. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109524. [PMID: 34380039 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system of skin develops in stages in mice. However, the developmental dynamics of immune cells in human skin remains elusive. Here, we perform transcriptome profiling of CD45+ hematopoietic cells in human fetal skin at an estimated gestational age of 10-17 weeks by single-cell RNA sequencing. A total of 13 immune cell types are identified. Skin macrophages show dynamic heterogeneity over the course of skin development. A major shift in lymphoid cell developmental states occurs from the first to the second trimester that implies an in situ differentiation process. Gene expression analysis reveals a typical developmental program in immune cells in accordance with their functional maturation, possibly involving metabolic reprogramming. Finally, we identify transcription factors (TFs) that potentially regulate cellular transitions by comparing TFs and TF target gene networks. These findings provide detailed insight into how the immune system of the human skin is established during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingping Xu
- Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Yongfei Hu
- Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Xuefei Li
- Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Lihua Sun
- Development of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Nanhai Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 528200, China
| | - Yu Peng
- Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Yuzhe Sun
- Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Bing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Zhilei Bian
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
| | - Zhili Rong
- Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China; Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research (Ministry of Education), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510005, China.
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4
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Schmidt M, Maié T, Dahl E, Costa IG, Wagner W. Deconvolution of cellular subsets in human tissue based on targeted DNA methylation analysis at individual CpG sites. BMC Biol 2020; 18:178. [PMID: 33234153 PMCID: PMC7687708 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00910-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The complex composition of different cell types within a tissue can be estimated by deconvolution of bulk gene expression profiles or with various single-cell sequencing approaches. Alternatively, DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles have been used to establish an atlas for multiple human tissues and cell types. DNAm is particularly suitable for deconvolution of cell types because each CG dinucleotide (CpG site) has only two states per DNA strand—methylated or non-methylated—and these epigenetic modifications are very consistent during cellular differentiation. So far, deconvolution of DNAm profiles implies complex signatures of many CpGs that are often measured by genome-wide analysis with Illumina BeadChip microarrays. In this study, we investigated if the characterization of cell types in tissue is also feasible with individual cell type-specific CpG sites, which can be addressed by targeted analysis, such as pyrosequencing. Results We compiled and curated 579 Illumina 450k BeadChip DNAm profiles of 14 different non-malignant human cell types. A training and validation strategy was applied to identify and test for cell type-specific CpGs. We initially focused on estimating the relative amount of fibroblasts using two CpGs that were either hypermethylated or hypomethylated in fibroblasts. The combination of these two DNAm levels into a “FibroScore” correlated with the state of fibrosis and was associated with overall survival in various types of cancer. Furthermore, we identified hypomethylated CpGs for leukocytes, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, hepatocytes, glia, neurons, fibroblasts, and induced pluripotent stem cells. The accuracy of this eight CpG signature was tested in additional BeadChip datasets of defined cell mixtures and the results were comparable to previously published signatures based on several thousand CpGs. Finally, we established and validated pyrosequencing assays for the relevant CpGs that can be utilized for classification and deconvolution of cell types. Conclusion This proof of concept study demonstrates that DNAm analysis at individual CpGs reflects the cellular composition of cellular mixtures and different tissues. Targeted analysis of these genomic regions facilitates robust methods for application in basic research and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Schmidt
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Institute for Biomedical Engineering - Cell Biology, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tiago Maié
- Institute for Computational Genomics, Joint Research Center for Computational Biomedicine, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Edgar Dahl
- RWTH centralized Biomaterial Bank (RWTH cBMB), Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ivan G Costa
- Institute for Computational Genomics, Joint Research Center for Computational Biomedicine, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wagner
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074, Aachen, Germany. .,Institute for Biomedical Engineering - Cell Biology, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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Van Driest SL, van der Graaf PH. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: From the Bedside to the Bench, and Hopefully Back Again. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2020; 108:173-175. [PMID: 32663332 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.1924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara L Van Driest
- Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Uzor NE, McCullough LD, Tsvetkov AS. Peroxisomal Dysfunction in Neurological Diseases and Brain Aging. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:44. [PMID: 32210766 PMCID: PMC7075811 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Peroxisomes exist in most cells, where they participate in lipid metabolism, as well as scavenging the reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are produced as by-products of their metabolic functions. In certain tissues such as the liver and kidneys, peroxisomes have more specific roles, such as bile acid synthesis in the liver and steroidogenesis in the adrenal glands. In the brain, peroxisomes are critically involved in creating and maintaining the lipid content of cell membranes and the myelin sheath, highlighting their importance in the central nervous system (CNS). This review summarizes the peroxisomal lifecycle, then examines the literature that establishes a link between peroxisomal dysfunction, cellular aging, and age-related disorders that affect the CNS. This review also discusses the gap of knowledge in research on peroxisomes in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ndidi-Ese Uzor
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Louise D. McCullough
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
- UTHealth Consortium on Aging, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Andrey S. Tsvetkov
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
- UTHealth Consortium on Aging, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
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Corbett JL, Duncan SA. iPSC-Derived Hepatocytes as a Platform for Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:265. [PMID: 31803747 PMCID: PMC6873655 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is one of the largest organs in the body and is responsible for a diverse repertoire of metabolic processes. Such processes include the secretion of serum proteins, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, bile acid and urea synthesis, detoxification of drugs and metabolic waste products, and vitamin and carbohydrate storage. Currently, liver disease is one of the most prevalent causes of mortality in the USA with congenital liver defects contributing to a significant proportion of these deaths. Historically the study of liver disease has been hampered by a shortage of organ donors, the subsequent scarcity of healthy tissue, and the failure of animal models to fully recapitulate human liver function. In vitro culture of hepatocytes has also proven difficult because primary hepatocytes rapidly de-differentiate in culture. Recent advances in stem cell technology have facilitated the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from various somatic cell types from patients. Such cells can be differentiated to a liver cell fate, essentially providing a limitless supply of cells with hepatocyte characteristics that can mimic the pathophysiology of liver disease. Furthermore, development of the CRISPR-Cas9 system, as well as advancement of miniaturized differentiation platforms has facilitated the development of high throughput models for the investigation of hepatocyte differentiation and drug discovery. In this review, we will explore the latest advances in iPSC-based disease modeling and drug screening platforms and examine how this technology is being used to identify new pharmacological interventions, and to advance our understanding of liver development and mechanisms of disease. We will cover how iPSC technology is being used to develop predictive models for rare diseases and how information gained from large in vitro screening experiments can be used to directly inform clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L Corbett
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Stephen A Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
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8
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MacLean GE, Argyriou C, Di Pietro E, Sun X, Birjandian S, Saberian P, Hacia JG, Braverman NE. Zellweger spectrum disorder patient-derived fibroblasts with the PEX1-Gly843Asp allele recover peroxisome functions in response to flavonoids. J Cell Biochem 2018; 120:3243-3258. [PMID: 30362618 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Zellweger spectrum disorder (ZSD) results from biallelic mutations in PEX genes required for peroxisome biogenesis. PEX1-G843D is a common hypomorphic allele in the patient population that is associated with milder disease. In prior work using a PEX1-G843D/null patient fibroblast line expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter with a peroxisome-targeting signal (GFP-PTS1), we demonstrated that treatments with the chemical chaperone betaine and flavonoid acacetin diacetate recovered peroxisome functions. To identify more effective compounds for preclinical investigation, we evaluated 54 flavonoids using this cell-based phenotype assay. Diosmetin showed the most promising combination of potency and efficacy (EC50 2.5 µM). All active 5',7'-dihydroxyflavones showed greater average efficacy than their corresponding flavonols, whereas the corresponding flavanones, isoflavones, and chalcones tested were inactive. Additional treatment with the proteostasis regulator bortezomib increased the percentage of import-rescued cells over treatment with flavonoids alone. Cotreatments of diosmetin and betaine showed the most robust additive effects, as confirmed by three independent functional assays in primary PEX1-G843D patient cells, but neither agent was active alone or in combination in patient cells homozygous for the PEX1 c.2097_2098insT null allele. Moreover, diosmetin treatment increased PEX1, PEX6, and PEX5 protein levels in PEX1-G843D patient cells, but none of these proteins increased in PEX1 null cells. We propose that diosmetin acts as a pharmacological chaperone that improves the stability, conformation, and functions of PEX1/PEX6 exportomer complexes required for peroxisome assembly. We suggest that diosmetin, in clinical use for chronic venous disease, and related flavonoids warrant further preclinical investigation for the treatment of PEX1-G843D-associated ZSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian E MacLean
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Catherine Argyriou
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Erminia Di Pietro
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Xuting Sun
- Department of Biotechnology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sara Birjandian
- Department of Biotechnology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Panteha Saberian
- Department of Biotechnology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Joseph G Hacia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Nancy E Braverman
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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9
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Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocytes and Precision Medicine in Human Liver Disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2018; 66:716-719. [PMID: 29509632 DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000001948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Liver-like human cells can be generated from human skin by converting fibroblasts to "induced pluripotent stem cells" (iPSCs), then differentiating the iPSCs into "induced hepatocytes". Although still primarily used as a research tool, emerging applications involving iPSC-derived induced hepatocytes have exciting and provocative clinical and translational potential. This review provides a brief summary of the current status of this field and obstacles that must be overcome before this novel tool will enable precision medicine-based approaches to human liver disease.
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Braverman NE, Raymond GV, Rizzo WB, Moser AB, Wilkinson ME, Stone EM, Steinberg SJ, Wangler MF, Rush ET, Hacia JG, Bose M. Peroxisome biogenesis disorders in the Zellweger spectrum: An overview of current diagnosis, clinical manifestations, and treatment guidelines. Mol Genet Metab 2016; 117:313-21. [PMID: 26750748 PMCID: PMC5214431 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2015.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Revised: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Peroxisome biogenesis disorders in the Zellweger spectrum (PBD-ZSD) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders caused by mutations in PEX genes responsible for normal peroxisome assembly and functions. As a result of impaired peroxisomal activities, individuals with PBD-ZSD can manifest a complex spectrum of clinical phenotypes that typically result in shortened life spans. The extreme variability in disease manifestation ranging from onset of profound neurologic symptoms in newborns to progressive degenerative disease in adults presents practical challenges in disease diagnosis and medical management. Recent advances in biochemical methods for newborn screening and genetic testing have provided unprecedented opportunities for identifying patients at the earliest possible time and defining the molecular bases for their diseases. Here, we provide an overview of current clinical approaches for the diagnosis of PBD-ZSD and provide broad guidelines for the treatment of disease in its wide variety of forms. Although we anticipate future progress in the development of more effective targeted interventions, the current guidelines are meant to provide a starting point for the management of these complex conditions in the context of personalized health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy E Braverman
- McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Décarie Blvd Block E, EM02230, Montreal, QC H4A3J1, Canada.
| | - Gerald V Raymond
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, 516 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA,.
| | - William B Rizzo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985456 Nebraska Medical Center - MMI 3062, Omaha, NE 68198-5456, USA.
| | - Ann B Moser
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Mark E Wilkinson
- Carver College of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Edwin M Stone
- Carver College of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Steven J Steinberg
- Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, CMSC1004B, 600 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
| | - Michael F Wangler
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Duncan Neurological Research Institute, DNRI-1050, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Eric T Rush
- Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985440 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
| | - Joseph G Hacia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, 1975 Zonal Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| | - Mousumi Bose
- Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders, 5147 S. Harvard Avenue, Suite 181, Tulsa, OK 74135, USA.
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Ramaswamy K, Yik WY, Wang XM, Oliphant EN, Lu W, Shibata D, Ryder OA, Hacia JG. Derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells from orangutan skin fibroblasts. BMC Res Notes 2015; 8:577. [PMID: 26475477 PMCID: PMC4609060 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1567-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Orangutans are an endangered species whose natural habitats are restricted to the Southeast Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Along with the African great apes, orangutans are among the closest living relatives to humans. For potential species conservation and functional genomics studies, we derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from cryopreserved somatic cells obtained from captive orangutans. Results Primary skin fibroblasts from two Sumatran orangutans were transduced with retroviral vectors expressing the human OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC factors. Candidate orangutan iPSCs were characterized by global gene expression and DNA copy number analysis. All were consistent with pluripotency and provided no evidence of large genomic insertions or deletions. In addition, orangutan iPSCs were capable of producing cells derived from all three germ layers in vitro through embryoid body differentiation assays and in vivo through teratoma formation in immune-compromised mice. Conclusions We demonstrate that orangutan skin fibroblasts are capable of being reprogrammed into iPSCs with hallmark molecular signatures and differentiation potential. We suggest that reprogramming orangutan somatic cells in genome resource banks could provide new opportunities for advancing assisted reproductive technologies relevant for species conservation efforts. Furthermore, orangutan iPSCs could have applications for investigating the phenotypic relevance of genomic changes that occurred in the human, African great ape, and/or orangutan lineages. This provides opportunities for orangutan cell culture models that would otherwise be impossible to develop from living donors due to the invasive nature of the procedures required for obtaining primary cells. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-015-1567-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Ramaswamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Wing Yan Yik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Xiao-Ming Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Erin N Oliphant
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Wange Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Darryl Shibata
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research , San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Joseph G Hacia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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