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Agostinho de Sousa J, Wong CW, Dunkel I, Owens T, Voigt P, Hodgson A, Baker D, Schulz EG, Reik W, Smith A, Rostovskaya M, von Meyenn F. Epigenetic dynamics during capacitation of naïve human pluripotent stem cells. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadg1936. [PMID: 37774033 PMCID: PMC10541016 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are of fundamental relevance in regenerative medicine. Naïve hPSCs hold promise to overcome some of the limitations of conventional (primed) hPSCs, including recurrent epigenetic anomalies. Naïve-to-primed transition (capacitation) follows transcriptional dynamics of human embryonic epiblast and is necessary for somatic differentiation from naïve hPSCs. We found that capacitated hPSCs are transcriptionally closer to postimplantation epiblast than conventional hPSCs. This prompted us to comprehensively study epigenetic and related transcriptional changes during capacitation. Our results show that CpG islands, gene regulatory elements, and retrotransposons are hotspots of epigenetic dynamics during capacitation and indicate possible distinct roles of specific epigenetic modifications in gene expression control between naïve and primed hPSCs. Unexpectedly, PRC2 activity appeared to be dispensable for the capacitation. We find that capacitated hPSCs acquire an epigenetic state similar to conventional hPSCs. Significantly, however, the X chromosome erosion frequently observed in conventional female hPSCs is reversed by resetting and subsequent capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Agostinho de Sousa
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Chee-Wai Wong
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Owens
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Philipp Voigt
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Adam Hodgson
- School of Biosciences, The Julia Garnham Centre, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK
| | - Duncan Baker
- Sheffield Diagnostic Genetics Services, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, S5 7AU Sheffield, UK
| | - Edda G. Schulz
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolf Reik
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1QR, UK
- Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science, Cambridge CB21 6GP, UK
| | - Austin Smith
- Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, EX4 4QD Exeter, UK
| | - Maria Rostovskaya
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Ferdinand von Meyenn
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, SE1 9RT London, UK
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Maskalenka K, Alagöz G, Krueger F, Wright J, Rostovskaya M, Nakhuda A, Bendall A, Krueger C, Walker S, Scally A, Rugg-Gunn PJ. NANOGP1, a tandem duplicate of NANOG, exhibits partial functional conservation in human naïve pluripotent stem cells. Development 2023; 150:286291. [PMID: 36621005 PMCID: PMC10110494 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Gene duplication events can drive evolution by providing genetic material for new gene functions, and they create opportunities for diverse developmental strategies to emerge between species. To study the contribution of duplicated genes to human early development, we examined the evolution and function of NANOGP1, a tandem duplicate of the transcription factor NANOG. We found that NANOGP1 and NANOG have overlapping but distinct expression profiles, with high NANOGP1 expression restricted to early epiblast cells and naïve-state pluripotent stem cells. Sequence analysis and epitope-tagging revealed that NANOGP1 is protein coding with an intact homeobox domain. The duplication that created NANOGP1 occurred earlier in primate evolution than previously thought and has been retained only in great apes, whereas Old World monkeys have disabled the gene in different ways, including homeodomain point mutations. NANOGP1 is a strong inducer of naïve pluripotency; however, unlike NANOG, it is not required to maintain the undifferentiated status of human naïve pluripotent cells. By retaining expression, sequence and partial functional conservation with its ancestral copy, NANOGP1 exemplifies how gene duplication and subfunctionalisation can contribute to transcription factor activity in human pluripotency and development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gökberk Alagöz
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Felix Krueger
- Bioinformatics Group, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Joshua Wright
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | | | - Asif Nakhuda
- Gene Targeting Facility, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Adam Bendall
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Christel Krueger
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Simon Walker
- Imaging Facility, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Aylwyn Scally
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Peter J Rugg-Gunn
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
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Rostovskaya M, Andrews S, Reik W, Rugg-Gunn PJ. Amniogenesis occurs in two independent waves in primates. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:744-759.e6. [PMID: 35439430 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In primates, the amnion emerges through cavitation of the epiblast during implantation, whereas in other species it does so later at gastrulation by the folding of the ectoderm. How the mechanisms of amniogenesis diversified during evolution remains unknown. Unexpectedly, single-cell analysis of primate embryos uncovered two transcriptionally and temporally distinct amniogenesis waves. To study this, we employed the naive-to-primed transition of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to model peri-implantation epiblast development. Partially primed hPSCs transiently gained the ability to differentiate into cavitating epithelium that transcriptionally and morphologically matched the early amnion, whereas fully primed hPSCs produced cells resembling the late amnion instead, thus recapitulating the two independent differentiation waves. The early wave follows a trophectoderm-like pathway and encompasses cavitation, whereas the late wave resembles an ectoderm-like route during gastrulation. The discovery of two independent waves explains how amniogenesis through cavitation could emerge during evolution via duplication of the pre-existing trophectoderm program.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Andrews
- Bioinformatics Group, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Wolf Reik
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; Altoslabs Cambridge Institute, Cambridge CB21 6GP, UK; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1QR, UK; Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Wellcome-MRC Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK.
| | - Peter J Rugg-Gunn
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Wellcome-MRC Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK.
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Taubenschmid-Stowers J, Rostovskaya M, Santos F, Ljung S, Argelaguet R, Krueger F, Nichols J, Reik W. 8C-like cells capture the human zygotic genome activation program in vitro. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:449-459.e6. [PMID: 35216671 PMCID: PMC8901440 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The activation of the embryonic genome marks the first major wave of transcription in the developing organism. Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) in mouse 2-cell embryos and 8-cell embryos in humans is crucial for development. Here, we report the discovery of human 8-cell-like cells (8CLCs) among naive embryonic stem cells, which transcriptionally resemble the 8-cell human embryo. They express ZGA markers, including ZSCAN4 and LEUTX, and transposable elements, such as HERVL and MLT2A1. 8CLCs show reduced SOX2 levels and can be identified using TPRX1 and H3.Y marker proteins in vitro. Overexpression of the transcription factor DUX4 and spliceosome inhibition increase human ZGA-like transcription. Excitingly, the 8CLC markers TPRX1 and H3.Y are also expressed in ZGA-stage 8-cell human embryos and may thus be relevant in vivo. 8CLCs provide a unique opportunity to characterize human ZGA-like transcription and might provide critical insights into early events in embryogenesis in humans. ZGA genes and transposable elements are expressed in 8CLCs but not in naive stem cells DUX4 overexpression and spliceosome inhibition induce ZGA-like transcription 8CLC marker proteins TPRX1 and H3.Y are expressed in 8-cell human embryos 8CLCs can be used to study human ZGA-like programs in vitro
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fátima Santos
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Sebastian Ljung
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | | | - Felix Krueger
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Jennifer Nichols
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EL, UK
| | - Wolf Reik
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.
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Rostovskaya M. Capacitation of Human Naïve Pluripotent Stem Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2416:117-131. [PMID: 34870834 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1908-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Naïve and primed pluripotent stem cells resemble epiblast cells of the pre-implantation and post-implantation embryo, respectively. This chapter describes a simple experimental system for the efficient and consistent transition of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) from the naïve to the primed state, which is a process called capacitation. Naïve hPSCs after capacitation can be differentiated further to somatic lineages, thus reproducing the order of developmental events in the embryo. Protocols for the induction of neuroectoderm, definitive endoderm, and paraxial mesoderm from hPSCs after capacitation and also from conventionally derived primed hPSCs are included in the chapter. Importantly, hPSC capacitation closely recapitulates transcriptional, metabolic, signaling, and cell polarity changes in the epiblast of primate embryos, and therefore offers a unique in vitro model of human peri-implantation development.
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Dodsworth BT, Hatje K, Rostovskaya M, Flynn R, Meyer CA, Cowley SA. Profiling of naïve and primed human pluripotent stem cells reveals state-associated miRNAs. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10542. [PMID: 32601281 PMCID: PMC7324611 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67376-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Naïve human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) resemble the embryonic epiblast at an earlier time-point in development than conventional, 'primed' hPSC. We present a comprehensive miRNA profiling of naïve-to-primed transition in hPSC, a process recapitulating aspects of early in vivo embryogenesis. We identify miR-143-3p and miR-22-3p as markers of the naïve state and miR-363-5p, several members of the miR-17 family, miR-302 family as primed markers. We uncover that miR-371-373 are highly expressed in naïve hPSC. MiR-371-373 are the human homologs of the mouse miR-290 family, which are the most highly expressed miRNAs in naïve mouse PSC. This aligns with the consensus that naïve hPSC resemble mouse naive PSC, showing that the absence of miR-371-373 in conventional hPSC is due to cell state rather than a species difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin T Dodsworth
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Klas Hatje
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Rowan Flynn
- Censo Biotechnologies, Roslin Innovation Centre Charnock Bradley Building, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Claas A Meyer
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sally A Cowley
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK.
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Bredenkamp N, Yang J, Clarke J, Stirparo GG, von Meyenn F, Dietmann S, Baker D, Drummond R, Ren Y, Li D, Wu C, Rostovskaya M, Eminli-Meissner S, Smith A, Guo G. Wnt Inhibition Facilitates RNA-Mediated Reprogramming of Human Somatic Cells to Naive Pluripotency. Stem Cell Reports 2019; 13:1083-1098. [PMID: 31708477 PMCID: PMC6915845 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In contrast to conventional human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) that are related to post-implantation embryo stages, naive hPSCs exhibit features of pre-implantation epiblast. Naive hPSCs are established by resetting conventional hPSCs, or are derived from dissociated embryo inner cell masses. Here we investigate conditions for transgene-free reprogramming of human somatic cells to naive pluripotency. We find that Wnt inhibition promotes RNA-mediated induction of naive pluripotency. We demonstrate application to independent human fibroblast cultures and endothelial progenitor cells. We show that induced naive hPSCs can be clonally expanded with a diploid karyotype and undergo somatic lineage differentiation following formative transition. Induced naive hPSC lines exhibit distinctive surface marker, transcriptome, and methylome properties of naive epiblast identity. This system for efficient, facile, and reliable induction of transgene-free naive hPSCs offers a robust platform, both for delineation of human reprogramming trajectories and for evaluating the attributes of isogenic naive versus conventional hPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Bredenkamp
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Jian Yang
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China; Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - James Clarke
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | | | - Ferdinand von Meyenn
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK; Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Dietmann
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Duncan Baker
- Sheffield Diagnostic Genetic Service, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield S10 2TH, UK
| | - Rosalind Drummond
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Yongming Ren
- REPROCELL USA, 9000 Virginia Manor Road #207, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Dongwei Li
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Chuman Wu
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Maria Rostovskaya
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | | | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK.
| | - Ge Guo
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK.
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Rostovskaya M, Stirparo GG, Smith A. Capacitation of human naïve pluripotent stem cells for multi-lineage differentiation. Development 2019; 146:dev172916. [PMID: 30944104 PMCID: PMC6467473 DOI: 10.1242/dev.172916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human naïve pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) share features with the pre-implantation epiblast. They therefore provide an unmatched opportunity for characterising the developmental programme of pluripotency in Homo sapiens Here, we confirm that naïve PSCs do not respond directly to germ layer induction, but must first acquire competence. Capacitation for multi-lineage differentiation occurs without exogenous growth factor stimulation and is facilitated by inhibition of Wnt signalling. Whole-transcriptome profiling during this formative transition highlights dynamic changes in gene expression, which affect many cellular properties including metabolism and epithelial features. Notably, naïve pluripotency factors are exchanged for postimplantation factors, but competent cells remain devoid of lineage-specific transcription. The gradual pace of transition for human naïve PSCs is consistent with the timespan of primate development from blastocyst to gastrulation. Transcriptome trajectory during in vitro capacitation of human naïve cells tracks the progression of the epiblast during embryogenesis in Macaca fascicularis, but shows greater divergence from mouse development. Thus, the formative transition of naïve PSCs in a simple culture system may recapitulate essential and specific features of pluripotency dynamics during an inaccessible period of human embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rostovskaya
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 1QR, United Kingdom
| | - Giuliano G Stirparo
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 1QR, United Kingdom
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 1QR, United Kingdom
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Guo G, von Meyenn F, Rostovskaya M, Clarke J, Dietmann S, Baker D, Sahakyan A, Myers S, Bertone P, Reik W, Plath K, Smith A. Correction: Epigenetic resetting of human pluripotency (doi:10.1242/dev.146811). Development 2018; 145:dev166397. [PMID: 29669738 PMCID: PMC5964655 DOI: 10.1242/dev.166397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Guo G, von Meyenn F, Rostovskaya M, Clarke J, Dietmann S, Baker D, Sahakyan A, Myers S, Bertone P, Reik W, Plath K, Smith A. Epigenetic resetting of human pluripotency. Development 2017; 144:2748-2763. [PMID: 28765214 PMCID: PMC5560041 DOI: 10.1242/dev.146811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Much attention has focussed on the conversion of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) to a more naïve developmental status. Here we provide a method for resetting via transient histone deacetylase inhibition. The protocol is effective across multiple PSC lines and can proceed without karyotype change. Reset cells can be expanded without feeders with a doubling time of around 24 h. WNT inhibition stabilises the resetting process. The transcriptome of reset cells diverges markedly from that of primed PSCs and shares features with human inner cell mass (ICM). Reset cells activate expression of primate-specific transposable elements. DNA methylation is globally reduced to a level equivalent to that in the ICM and is non-random, with gain of methylation at specific loci. Methylation imprints are mostly lost, however. Reset cells can be re-primed to undergo tri-lineage differentiation and germline specification. In female reset cells, appearance of biallelic X-linked gene transcription indicates reactivation of the silenced X chromosome. On reconversion to primed status, XIST-induced silencing restores monoallelic gene expression. The facile and robust conversion routine with accompanying data resources will enable widespread utilisation, interrogation, and refinement of candidate naïve cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Guo
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | | | - Maria Rostovskaya
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - James Clarke
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Sabine Dietmann
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Duncan Baker
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Anna Sahakyan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Samuel Myers
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Paul Bertone
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Wolf Reik
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Kathrin Plath
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
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Völkner M, Zschätzsch M, Rostovskaya M, Overall RW, Busskamp V, Anastassiadis K, Karl MO. Retinal Organoids from Pluripotent Stem Cells Efficiently Recapitulate Retinogenesis. Stem Cell Reports 2016; 6:525-538. [PMID: 27050948 PMCID: PMC4834051 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The plasticity of pluripotent stem cells provides new possibilities for studying development, degeneration, and regeneration. Protocols for the differentiation of retinal organoids from embryonic stem cells have been developed, which either recapitulate complete eyecup morphogenesis or maximize photoreceptor genesis. Here, we have developed a protocol for the efficient generation of large, 3D-stratified retinal organoids that does not require evagination of optic-vesicle-like structures, which so far limited the organoid yield. Analysis of gene expression in individual organoids, cell birthdating, and interorganoid variation indicate efficient, reproducible, and temporally regulated retinogenesis. Comparative analysis of a transgenic reporter for PAX6, a master regulator of retinogenesis, shows expression in similar cell types in mouse in vivo, and in mouse and human retinal organoids. Early or late Notch signaling inhibition forces cell differentiation, generating organoids enriched with cone or rod photoreceptors, respectively, demonstrating the power of our improved organoid system for future research in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Efficient protocol for pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoidogenesis Temporal gene-expression profile analysis of individual organoids Comparative hPAX6GFP expression in murine retinal organoids and mouse retina Timed Notch inhibition results in cone- or rod-photoreceptor-enriched organoids
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Völkner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marlen Zschätzsch
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria Rostovskaya
- Stem Cell Engineering, Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Rupert W Overall
- CRTD - Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Volker Busskamp
- CRTD - Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Mike O Karl
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; CRTD - Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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12
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Rostovskaya M, Bredenkamp N, Smith A. Towards consistent generation of pancreatic lineage progenitors from human pluripotent stem cells. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:20140365. [PMID: 26416676 PMCID: PMC4633994 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells can in principle be used as a source of any differentiated cell type for disease modelling, drug screening, toxicology testing or cell replacement therapy. Type I diabetes is considered a major target for stem cell applications due to the shortage of primary human beta cells. Several protocols have been reported for generating pancreatic progenitors by in vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. Here we first assessed one of these protocols on a panel of pluripotent stem cell lines for capacity to engender glucose sensitive insulin-producing cells after engraftment in immunocompromised mice. We observed variable outcomes with only one cell line showing a low level of glucose response. We, therefore, undertook a systematic comparison of different methods for inducing definitive endoderm and subsequently pancreatic differentiation. Of several protocols tested, we identified a combined approach that robustly generated pancreatic progenitors in vitro from both embryo-derived and induced pluripotent stem cells. These findings suggest that, although there are intrinsic differences in lineage specification propensity between pluripotent stem cell lines, optimal differentiation procedures may consistently direct a substantial fraction of cells into pancreatic specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rostovskaya
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Nicholas Bredenkamp
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
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Rostovskaya M, Naumann R, Fu J, Obst M, Mueller D, Stewart AF, Anastassiadis K. Transposon mediated BAC transgenesis via pronuclear injection of mouse zygotes. Genesis 2013; 51:135-41. [PMID: 23225373 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Pronuclear microinjection of bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) is the preferred way to generate transgenic mice because the transgene accurately recapitulates expression of the endogenous gene. However, the method is demanding and the integrity and copy number of the BAC transgene is difficult to control. Here, we describe a simpler pronuclear injection method that relies on transposition to introduce full-length BACs into the mouse genome. The bacterial backbone of a hPAX6-GFP reporter BAC was retrofitted with PiggyBac transposon inverted terminal repeats and co-injected with PiggyBac transposase mRNA. Both the frequency of transgenic founders as well as intact, full-length, single copy integrations were increased. Transposition was determined by a rapid PCR screen for a transpositional signature and confirmation by splinkerette sequencing to show that the BACs were integrated as a single copy either in one or two different genomic sites. BAC transposons displayed improved functional accuracy over random integrants as evaluated by expression of the hPAX6-GFP reporter in embryonic neural tube and absence of ectopic expression. This method involves less work to achieve increased frequencies of both transgenesis and single copy, full-length integrations. These advantages are not only relevant to rodents but also for transgenesis in all systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rostovskaya
- Stem Cell Engineering, Biotechnology Center, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Rostovskaya M, Anastassiadis K. Differential expression of surface markers in mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell subpopulations with distinct lineage commitment. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51221. [PMID: 23236457 PMCID: PMC3517475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM MSCs) represent a heterogeneous population of progenitors with potential for generation of skeletal tissues. However the identity of BM MSC subpopulations is poorly defined mainly due to the absence of specific markers allowing in situ localization of those cells and isolation of pure cell types. Here, we aimed at characterization of surface markers in mouse BM MSCs and in their subsets with distinct differentiation potential. Using conditionally immortalized BM MSCs we performed a screening with 176 antibodies and high-throughput flow cytometry, and found 33 markers expressed in MSCs, and among them 3 were novel for MSCs and 13 have not been reported for MSCs from mice. Furthermore, we obtained clonally derived MSC subpopulations and identified bipotential progenitors capable for osteo- and adipogenic differentiation, as well as monopotential osteogenic and adipogenic clones, and thus confirmed heterogeneity of MSCs. We found that expression of CD200 was characteristic for the clones with osteogenic potential, whereas SSEA4 marked adipogenic progenitors lacking osteogenic capacity, and CD140a was expressed in adipogenic cells independently of their efficiency for osteogenesis. We confirmed our observations in cell sorting experiments and further investigated the expression of those markers during the course of differentiation. Thus, our findings provide to our knowledge the most comprehensive characterization of surface antigens expression in mouse BM MSCs to date, and suggest CD200, SSEA4 and CD140a as markers differentially expressed in distinct types of MSC progenitors.
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Rostovskaya M, Fu J, Obst M, Baer I, Weidlich S, Wang H, Smith AJH, Anastassiadis K, Stewart AF. Transposon-mediated BAC transgenesis in human ES cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 40:e150. [PMID: 22753106 PMCID: PMC3479164 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgenesis is a cornerstone of molecular biology. The ability to integrate a specifically engineered piece of DNA into the genome of a living system is fundamental to our efforts to understand life and exploit its implications for medicine, nanotechnology and bioprospecting. However, transgenesis has been hampered by position effects and multi-copy integration problems, which are mainly due to the use of small, plasmid-based transgenes. Large transgenes based on native genomic regions cloned into bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) circumvent these problems but are prone to fragmentation. Herein, we report that contrary to widely held notions, large BAC-sized constructs do not prohibit transposition. We also report the first reliable method for BAC transgenesis in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The PiggyBac or Sleeping Beauty transposon inverted repeats were integrated into BAC vectors by recombineering, followed by co-lipofection with the corresponding transposase in hESCs to generate robust fluorescent protein reporter lines for OCT4, NANOG, GATA4 and PAX6. BAC transposition delivers several advantages, including increased frequencies of single-copy, full-length integration, which will be useful in all transgenic systems but especially in difficult venues like hESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rostovskaya
- Stem Cell Engineering, BioInnovationsZentrum, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
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Nedelkova M, Maresca M, Fu J, Rostovskaya M, Chenna R, Thiede C, Anastassiadis K, Sarov M, Stewart AF. Targeted isolation of cloned genomic regions by recombineering for haplotype phasing and isogenic targeting. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:e137. [PMID: 21852329 PMCID: PMC3203589 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying genetic variations in the human genome is important for understanding phenotypes and complex traits, including rare personal variations and their associations with disease. The interpretation of polymorphisms requires reliable methods to isolate natural genetic variations, including combinations of variations, in a format suitable for downstream analysis. Here, we describe a strategy for targeted isolation of large regions (∼35 kb) from human genomes that is also applicable to any genome of interest. The method relies on recombineering to fish out target fosmid clones from pools and thereby circumvents the laborious need to plate and screen thousands of individual clones. To optimize the method, a new highly recombineering-efficient bacterial host, including inducible TrfA for fosmid copy number amplification, was developed. Various regions were isolated from human embryonic stem cell lines and a personal genome, including highly repetitive and duplicated ones. The maternal and paternal alleles at the MECP2/IRAK 1 loci were distinguished based on identification of novel allele-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms in regulatory regions. Additionally, we applied further recombineering to construct isogenic targeting vectors for patient-specific applications. These methods will facilitate work to understand the linkage between personal variations and disease propensity, as well as possibilities for personal genome surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Nedelkova
- Technische Universitaet Dresden, Genomics, BioInnovationsZentrum, Dresden, Germany
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Anastassiadis K, Rostovskaya M, Lubitz S, Weidlich S, Stewart AF. Precise conditional immortalization of mouse cells using tetracycline-regulated SV40 large T-antigen. Genesis 2010; 48:220-32. [PMID: 20146354 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.20605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Cellular immortalization provides a way for expansion and subsequent molecular characterization of rare cell types. Ideally, immortalization can be achieved by the reversible expression of immortalizing proteins. Here, we describe the use of conditional immortalization based on a modified tetracycline-regulated system for the expression of SV40 large T-antigen in embryonic stem (ES) cells and mice. The modified system relies on a codon improved reverse tetracycline transactivator (irtTA) fused to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the androgen receptor (irtTA-ABD) or of a mutated glucocorticoid receptor (irtTA-GBD*). Induction of T-antigen is conferred only after addition of two ligands, one to activate the LBD (mibolerone for irtTA-ABD or dexamethasone for irtTA-GBD*) and one to activate the tetracycline transactivator (doxycycline). In ES cells, changes in gene expression upon large T induction were limited and reversible upon deinduction. Similarly, expression of T-antigen was very tightly regulated in mice. We have isolated and expanded bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells that could be genetically manipulated and maintained their differentiation properties after several passages of expansion under conditions that induce the expression of large T-antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Anastassiadis
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, BioInnovationsZentrum, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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