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Zawada D, Kornherr J, Meier AB, Santamaria G, Dorn T, Nowak-Imialek M, Ortmann D, Zhang F, Lachmann M, Dreßen M, Ortiz M, Mascetti VL, Harmer SC, Nobles M, Tinker A, De Angelis MT, Pedersen RA, Grote P, Laugwitz KL, Moretti A, Goedel A. Retinoic acid signaling modulation guides in vitro specification of human heart field-specific progenitor pools. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1722. [PMID: 37012244 PMCID: PMC10070453 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36764-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiogenesis relies on the precise spatiotemporal coordination of multiple progenitor populations. Understanding the specification and differentiation of these distinct progenitor pools during human embryonic development is crucial for advancing our knowledge of congenital cardiac malformations and designing new regenerative therapies. By combining genetic labelling, single-cell transcriptomics, and ex vivo human-mouse embryonic chimeras we uncovered that modulation of retinoic acid signaling instructs human pluripotent stem cells to form heart field-specific progenitors with distinct fate potentials. In addition to the classical first and second heart fields, we observed the appearance of juxta-cardiac field progenitors giving rise to both myocardial and epicardial cells. Applying these findings to stem-cell based disease modelling we identified specific transcriptional dysregulation in first and second heart field progenitors derived from stem cells of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. This highlights the suitability of our in vitro differentiation platform for studying human cardiac development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Zawada
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Jessica Kornherr
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna B Meier
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Gianluca Santamaria
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Tatjana Dorn
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Monika Nowak-Imialek
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Ortmann
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fangfang Zhang
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Mark Lachmann
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Martina Dreßen
- German Heart Center Munich, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute Insure - Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Victoria L Mascetti
- Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Medical School, Translational Health Sciences, Bristol, UK
| | - Stephen C Harmer
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Muriel Nobles
- Clinical Pharmacology & Precision Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Tinker
- Clinical Pharmacology & Precision Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Maria Teresa De Angelis
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Phillip Grote
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Karl-Ludwig Laugwitz
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany.
| | - Alessandra Moretti
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany.
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA.
| | - Alexander Goedel
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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2
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Feng Y, Cai L, Hong W, Zhang C, Tan N, Wang M, Wang C, Liu F, Wang X, Ma J, Gao C, Kumar M, Mo Y, Geng Q, Luo C, Lin Y, Chen H, Wang SY, Watson MJ, Jegga AG, Pedersen RA, Fu JD, Wang ZV, Fan GC, Sadayappan S, Wang Y, Pauklin S, Huang F, Huang W, Jiang L. Rewiring of 3D Chromatin Topology Orchestrates Transcriptional Reprogramming and the Development of Human Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Circulation 2022; 145:1663-1683. [PMID: 35400201 PMCID: PMC9251830 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.055781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcriptional reconfiguration is central to heart failure, the most common cause of which is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The effect of 3-dimensional chromatin topology on transcriptional dysregulation and pathogenesis in human DCM remains elusive. METHODS We generated a compendium of 3-dimensional epigenome and transcriptome maps from 101 biobanked human DCM and nonfailing heart tissues through highly integrative chromatin immunoprecipitation (H3K27ac [acetylation of lysine 27 on histone H3]), in situ high-throughput chromosome conformation capture, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing, and RNA sequencing. We used human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and mouse models to interrogate the key transcription factor implicated in 3-dimensional chromatin organization and transcriptional regulation in DCM pathogenesis. RESULTS We discovered that the active regulatory elements (H3K27ac peaks) and their connectome (H3K27ac loops) were extensively reprogrammed in DCM hearts and contributed to transcriptional dysregulation implicated in DCM development. For example, we identified that nontranscribing NPPA-AS1 (natriuretic peptide A antisense RNA 1) promoter functions as an enhancer and physically interacts with the NPPA (natriuretic peptide A) and NPPB (natriuretic peptide B) promoters, leading to the cotranscription of NPPA and NPPB in DCM hearts. We revealed that DCM-enriched H3K27ac loops largely resided in conserved high-order chromatin architectures (compartments, topologically associating domains) and their anchors unexpectedly had equivalent chromatin accessibility. We discovered that the DCM-enriched H3K27ac loop anchors exhibited a strong enrichment for HAND1 (heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 1), a key transcription factor involved in early cardiogenesis. In line with this, its protein expression was upregulated in human DCM and mouse failing hearts. To further validate whether HAND1 is a causal driver for the reprogramming of enhancer-promoter connectome in DCM hearts, we performed comprehensive 3-dimensional epigenome mappings in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. We found that forced overexpression of HAND1 in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes induced a distinct gain of enhancer-promoter connectivity and correspondingly increased the expression of their connected genes implicated in DCM pathogenesis, thus recapitulating the transcriptional signature in human DCM hearts. Electrophysiology analysis demonstrated that forced overexpression of HAND1 in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes induced abnormal calcium handling. Furthermore, cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of Hand1 in the mouse hearts resulted in dilated cardiac remodeling with impaired contractility/Ca2+ handling in cardiomyocytes, increased ratio of heart weight/body weight, and compromised cardiac function, which were ascribed to recapitulation of transcriptional reprogramming in DCM. CONCLUSIONS This study provided novel chromatin topology insights into DCM pathogenesis and illustrated a model whereby a single transcription factor (HAND1) reprograms the genome-wide enhancer-promoter connectome to drive DCM pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliang Feng
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford Old Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UK
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Liuyang Cai
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR 999077, China
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Wanzi Hong
- Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Chunxiang Zhang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Ning Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Mingyang Wang
- College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Cheng Wang
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland D02 VF25
| | - Feng Liu
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford Old Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UK
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Jianyong Ma
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Chen Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Mohit Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45236, USA
| | - Yuanxi Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Qingshan Geng
- Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Changjun Luo
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Haiyang Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuang-Yin Wang
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot WR35+R8, Israel
| | - Michael J. Watson
- Department of Surgery, Cardiovascular & Thoracic, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Anil G. Jegga
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of Cincinnati College of Engineering, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Roger A. Pedersen
- Department of OB-GYN/Reproductive, Perinatal and Stem Cell Biology Research, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ji-dong Fu
- Departments of Physiology and Cell Biology, the Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Zhao V. Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA, 75390-8573
| | - Guo-Chang Fan
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Sakthivel Sadayappan
- Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45236, USA
| | - Yigang Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Siim Pauklin
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford Old Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UK
| | - Feng Huang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Lei Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
- Lead contact
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3
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Hyun I, Clayton EW, Cong Y, Fujita M, Goldman SA, Hill LR, Monserrat N, Nakauchi H, Pedersen RA, Rooke HM, Takahashi J, Knoblich JA. ISSCR guidelines for the transfer of human pluripotent stem cells and their direct derivatives into animal hosts. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:1409-1415. [PMID: 34048695 PMCID: PMC8190667 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The newly revised 2021 ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation includes scientific and ethical guidance for the transfer of human pluripotent stem cells and their direct derivatives into animal models. In this white paper, the ISSCR subcommittee that drafted these guidelines for research involving the use of nonhuman embryos and postnatal animals explains and summarizes their recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Insoo Hyun
- Department of Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Ellen Wright Clayton
- Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, Departments of Pediatrics and Health Policy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; School of Law, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Yali Cong
- Department of Medical Ethics and Law, Peking University School of Health Humanities, Beijing, China
| | - Misao Fujita
- Uehiro Research Division for iPS Cell Ethics, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Steven A Goldman
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA; University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lori R Hill
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nuria Monserrat
- Pluripotency for Organ Regeneration. Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hiromitsu Nakauchi
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Institute of Medical Science University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Jun Takahashi
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jürgen A Knoblich
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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4
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Mascetti VL, Pedersen RA. Human-monkey chimeras: Monkey see, monkey do. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:787-789. [PMID: 33961759 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Recently in Cell, Tan et al. (2021) report the successful generation of human-monkey chimeras in vitro, providing an opportunity for new insights into the biology of human stem cells and early human development in an embryonic environment that is evolutionary closer to human than previously studied rodent and domestic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Mascetti
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
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5
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Dirks RAM, van Mierlo G, Kerstens HHD, Bernardo AS, Kobolák J, Bock I, Maruotti J, Pedersen RA, Dinnyés A, Huynen MA, Jouneau A, Marks H. Allele-specific RNA-seq expression profiling of imprinted genes in mouse isogenic pluripotent states. Epigenetics Chromatin 2019; 12:14. [PMID: 30767785 PMCID: PMC6376749 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-019-0259-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genomic imprinting, resulting in parent-of-origin specific gene expression, plays a critical role in mammalian development. Here, we apply allele-specific RNA-seq on isogenic B6D2F1 mice to assay imprinted genes in tissues from early embryonic tissues between E3.5 and E7.25 and in pluripotent cell lines to evaluate maintenance of imprinted gene expression. For the cell lines, we include embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) derived from fertilized embryos and from embryos obtained after nuclear transfer (NT) or parthenogenetic activation (PGA). RESULTS As homozygous genomic regions of PGA-derived cells are not compatible with allele-specific RNA-seq, we developed an RNA-seq-based genotyping strategy allowing identification of informative heterozygous regions. Global analysis shows that proper imprinted gene expression as observed in embryonic tissues is largely lost in the ESC lines included in this study, which mainly consisted of female ESCs. Differentiation of ESC lines to embryoid bodies or NPCs does not restore monoallelic expression of imprinted genes, neither did reprogramming of the serum-cultured ESCs to the pluripotent ground state by the use of 2 kinase inhibitors. Fertilized EpiSC and EpiSC-NT lines largely maintain imprinted gene expression, as did EpiSC-PGA lines that show known paternally expressed genes being silent and known maternally expressed genes consistently showing doubled expression. Notably, two EpiSC-NT lines show aberrant silencing of Rian and Meg3, two critically imprinted genes in mouse iPSCs. With respect to female EpiSC, most of the lines displayed completely skewed X inactivation suggesting a (near) clonal origin. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our analysis provides a comprehensive overview of imprinted gene expression in pluripotency and provides a benchmark to allow identification of cell lines that faithfully maintain imprinted gene expression and therefore retain full developmental potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- René A M Dirks
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Guido van Mierlo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Oncode Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hindrik H D Kerstens
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Andreia S Bernardo
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust- Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK.,Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW7 1AA, UK
| | | | | | - Julien Maruotti
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France.,Phenocell SAS, Evry, France
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust- Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - András Dinnyés
- BioTalentum Ltd., Gödöllő, Hungary.,Molecular Animal Biotechnology Laboratory, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Martijn A Huynen
- Centre for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics (CMBI), Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alice Jouneau
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Hendrik Marks
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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6
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Bernardo AS, Jouneau A, Marks H, Kensche P, Kobolak J, Freude K, Hall V, Feher A, Polgar Z, Sartori C, Bock I, Louet C, Faial T, Kerstens HHD, Bouissou C, Parsonage G, Mashayekhi K, Smith JC, Lazzari G, Hyttel P, Stunnenberg HG, Huynen M, Pedersen RA, Dinnyes A. Mammalian embryo comparison identifies novel pluripotency genes associated with the naïve or primed state. Biol Open 2018; 7:bio.033282. [PMID: 30026265 PMCID: PMC6124576 DOI: 10.1242/bio.033282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During early mammalian development, transient pools of pluripotent cells emerge that can be immortalised upon stem cell derivation. The pluripotent state, ‘naïve’ or ‘primed’, depends on the embryonic stage and derivation conditions used. Here we analyse the temporal gene expression patterns of mouse, cattle and porcine embryos at stages that harbour different types of pluripotent cells. We document conserved and divergent traits in gene expression, and identify predictor genes shared across the species that are associated with pluripotent states in vivo and in vitro. Amongst these are the pluripotency-linked genes Klf4 and Lin28b. The novel genes discovered include naïve- (Spic, Scpep1 and Gjb5) and primed-associated (Sema6a and Jakmip2) genes as well as naïve to primed transition genes (Dusp6 and Trip6). Both Gjb5 and Dusp6 play a role in pluripotency since their knockdown results in differentiation and downregulation of key pluripotency genes. Our interspecies comparison revealed new insights of pluripotency, pluripotent stem cell identity and a new molecular criterion for distinguishing between pluripotent states in various species, including human. Summary: Interspecies comparison of mouse, bovine and pig embryos revealed conserved genes which distinguish between naïve and primed pluripotency states, including in human. Some of these genes interfere with the pluripotency network and lead to differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia S Bernardo
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK .,Developmental Biology Department, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, Kings Cross, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Alice Jouneau
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Hendrik Marks
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Kensche
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kristine Freude
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Vanessa Hall
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Anita Feher
- BioTalentum Ltd, Gödöllő, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
| | | | - Chiara Sartori
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, 26100 Cremona, Italy.,Department of Physiology, University of Lausanne, CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Istvan Bock
- BioTalentum Ltd, Gödöllő, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
| | - Claire Louet
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Tiago Faial
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Hindrik H D Kerstens
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Camille Bouissou
- Developmental Biology Department, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, Kings Cross, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Gregory Parsonage
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK.,Developmental Biology Department, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, Kings Cross, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Kaveh Mashayekhi
- BioTalentum Ltd, Gödöllő, 2100 Godollo, Hungary.,Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - James C Smith
- Developmental Biology Department, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, Kings Cross, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - Poul Hyttel
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Hendrik G Stunnenberg
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn Huynen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Andras Dinnyes
- BioTalentum Ltd, Gödöllő, 2100 Godollo, Hungary .,Molecular Animal Biotechnology Laboratory, Szent István University, H-2100 Godollo, Gödöllő, Hungary.,Departments of Equine Sciences and Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
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7
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Juan AH, Wang S, Ko KD, Zare H, Tsai PF, Feng X, Vivanco KO, Ascoli AM, Gutierrez-Cruz G, Krebs J, Sidoli S, Knight AL, Pedersen RA, Garcia BA, Casellas R, Zou J, Sartorelli V. Roles of H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 Examined during Fate Specification of Embryonic Stem Cells. Cell Rep 2017; 17:1369-1382. [PMID: 27783950 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.09.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [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: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) methylates lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27) through its catalytic subunit Ezh2. PRC2-mediated di- and tri-methylation (H3K27me2/H3K27me3) have been interchangeably associated with gene repression. However, it remains unclear whether these two degrees of H3K27 methylation have different functions. In this study, we have generated isogenic mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) with a modified H3K27me2/H3K27me3 ratio. Our findings document dynamic developmental control in the genomic distribution of H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 at regulatory regions in ESCs. They also reveal that modifying the ratio of H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 is sufficient for the acquisition and repression of defined cell lineage transcriptional programs and phenotypes and influences induction of the ESC ground state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aster H Juan
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Stan Wang
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Kyung Dae Ko
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hossein Zare
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Pei-Fang Tsai
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Xuesong Feng
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Karinna O Vivanco
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anthony M Ascoli
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gustavo Gutierrez-Cruz
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jordan Krebs
- Genomics and Immunity, NIAMS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Simone Sidoli
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perlman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104 PA, USA
| | - Adam L Knight
- Synaptic Function Section, The Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perlman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104 PA, USA
| | - Rafael Casellas
- Genomics and Immunity, NIAMS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jizhong Zou
- iPSC Core Facility, Center for Molecular Medicine, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Vittorio Sartorelli
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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8
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Moreau T, Evans AL, Vasquez L, Tijssen MR, Yan Y, Trotter MW, Howard D, Colzani M, Arumugam M, Wu WH, Dalby A, Lampela R, Bouet G, Hobbs CM, Pask DC, Payne H, Ponomaryov T, Brill A, Soranzo N, Ouwehand WH, Pedersen RA, Ghevaert C. Corrigendum: Large-scale production of megakaryocytes from human pluripotent stem cells by chemically defined forward programming. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15076. [PMID: 28752836 PMCID: PMC5537628 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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9
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Abstract
Chimeras are widely acknowledged as the gold standard for assessing stem cell pluripotency, based on their capacity to test donor cell lineage potential in the context of an organized, normally developing tissue. Experimental chimeras provide key insights into mammalian developmental mechanisms and offer a resource for interrogating the fate potential of various pluripotent stem cell states. We highlight the applications and current limitations presented by intra- and inter-species chimeras and consider their future contribution to the stem cell field. Despite the technical and ethical demands of experimental chimeras, including human-interspecies chimeras, they are a provocative resource for achieving regenerative medicine goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Mascetti
- British Heart Foundation Oxbridge Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK; Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK.
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK; Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK.
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10
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Juan AH, Wang S, Ko KD, Zare H, Tsai PF, Feng X, Vivanco KO, Ascoli AM, Gutierrez-Cruz G, Krebs J, Sidoli S, Knight AL, Pedersen RA, Garcia BA, Casellas R, Zou J, Sartorelli V. Roles of H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 Examined during Fate Specification of Embryonic Stem Cells. Cell Rep 2017; 18:297. [PMID: 28052258 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.12.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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11
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Iyer D, Gambardella L, Bernard WG, Serrano F, Mascetti VL, Pedersen RA, Sinha S, Talasila A. Robust derivation of epicardium and its differentiated smooth muscle cell progeny from human pluripotent stem cells. Development 2016; 143:904. [PMID: 26932673 PMCID: PMC4813345 DOI: 10.1242/dev.136143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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12
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Moreau T, Evans AL, Vasquez L, Tijssen MR, Yan Y, Trotter MW, Howard D, Colzani M, Arumugam M, Wu WH, Dalby A, Lampela R, Bouet G, Hobbs CM, Pask DC, Payne H, Ponomaryov T, Brill A, Soranzo N, Ouwehand WH, Pedersen RA, Ghevaert C. Large-scale production of megakaryocytes from human pluripotent stem cells by chemically defined forward programming. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11208. [PMID: 27052461 PMCID: PMC4829662 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [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: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The production of megakaryocytes (MKs)--the precursors of blood platelets--from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offers exciting clinical opportunities for transfusion medicine. Here we describe an original approach for the large-scale generation of MKs in chemically defined conditions using a forward programming strategy relying on the concurrent exogenous expression of three transcription factors: GATA1, FLI1 and TAL1. The forward programmed MKs proliferate and differentiate in culture for several months with MK purity over 90% reaching up to 2 × 10(5) mature MKs per input hPSC. Functional platelets are generated throughout the culture allowing the prospective collection of several transfusion units from as few as 1 million starting hPSCs. The high cell purity and yield achieved by MK forward programming, combined with efficient cryopreservation and good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compatible culture, make this approach eminently suitable to both in vitro production of platelets for transfusion and basic research in MK and platelet biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Moreau
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,The Anne McLaren Laboratory, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Amanda L. Evans
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Louella Vasquez
- Human Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1RQ, UK
| | - Marloes R. Tijssen
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK
| | - Ying Yan
- Human Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1RQ, UK
| | - Matthew W. Trotter
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Daniel Howard
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Maria Colzani
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Meera Arumugam
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Wing Han Wu
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Amanda Dalby
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Riina Lampela
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Guenaelle Bouet
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Catherine M. Hobbs
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Dean C. Pask
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Holly Payne
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Tatyana Ponomaryov
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Alexander Brill
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Nicole Soranzo
- Human Genetics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1RQ, UK
| | - Willem H. Ouwehand
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK
| | - Roger A. Pedersen
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK,
| | - Cedric Ghevaert
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge and NHS Blood and Transplant, Long Road, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK,Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK,
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13
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Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells are defined by their capacity to differentiate into all three tissue layers that comprise the body. Chimera formation, generated by stem cell transplantation to the embryo, is a stringent assessment of stem cell pluripotency. However, the ability of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to form embryonic chimeras remains in question. Here we show using a stage-matching approach that human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the capacity to participate in normal mouse development when transplanted into gastrula-stage embryos, providing in vivo functional validation of hPSC pluripotency. hiPSCs and hESCs form interspecies chimeras with high efficiency, colonize the embryo in a manner predicted from classical developmental fate mapping, and differentiate into each of the three primary tissue layers. This faithful recapitulation of tissue-specific fate post-transplantation underscores the functional potential of hPSCs and provides evidence that human-mouse interspecies developmental competency can occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Mascetti
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery and British Heart Foundation Centre of Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK.
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Department of Surgery and British Heart Foundation Centre of Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK
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14
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Abstract
This protocol describes the efficient isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from circulating blood via density gradient centrifugation and subsequent generation of integration-free human induced pluripotent stem cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells are cultured for 9 days to allow expansion of the erythroblast population. The erythroblasts are then used to derive human induced pluripotent stem cells using Sendai viral vectors, each expressing one of the four reprogramming factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa A C Soares
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Building, Robison Way, CB2 0SZ, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Building, Robison Way, CB2 0SZ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Building, Robison Way, CB2 0SZ, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
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15
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Bertacchi M, Lupo G, Pandolfini L, Casarosa S, D'Onofrio M, Pedersen RA, Harris WA, Cremisi F. Activin/Nodal Signaling Supports Retinal Progenitor Specification in a Narrow Time Window during Pluripotent Stem Cell Neuralization. Stem Cell Reports 2015; 5:532-45. [PMID: 26388287 PMCID: PMC4624997 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal progenitors are initially found in the anterior neural plate region known as the eye field, whereas neighboring areas undertake telencephalic or hypothalamic development. Eye field cells become specified by switching on a network of eye field transcription factors, but the extracellular cues activating this network remain unclear. In this study, we used chemically defined media to induce in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) toward eye field fates. Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling was sufficient to drive ESCs to telencephalic, but not retinal, fates. Instead, retinal progenitors could be generated from competent differentiating mouse ESCs by activation of Activin/Nodal signaling within a narrow temporal window corresponding to the emergence of primitive anterior neural progenitors. Activin also promoted eye field gene expression in differentiating human ESCs. Our results reveal insights into the mechanisms of eye field specification and open new avenues toward the generation of retinal progenitors for translational medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Bertacchi
- Laboratorio di Biologia, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lupo
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Luca Pandolfini
- Laboratorio di Biologia, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Simona Casarosa
- Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Via delle Regole 101, 38123 Mattarello (Trento), Italy
| | - Mara D'Onofrio
- Genomics Facility, European Brain Research Institute "Rita Levi-Montalcini," Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; Istituto di Farmacologia Traslazionale, CNR, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Department of Surgery and The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, West Forvie Building, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - William A Harris
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Federico Cremisi
- Laboratorio di Biologia, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56124 Pisa, Italy; Institute of Biomedical Technologies (ITB), National Research Council (CNR) of Pisa, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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16
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Faial T, Bernardo AS, Mendjan S, Diamanti E, Ortmann D, Gentsch GE, Mascetti VL, Trotter MWB, Smith JC, Pedersen RA. Brachyury and SMAD signalling collaboratively orchestrate distinct mesoderm and endoderm gene regulatory networks in differentiating human embryonic stem cells. Development 2015; 142:2121-35. [PMID: 26015544 PMCID: PMC4483767 DOI: 10.1242/dev.117838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [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: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor brachyury (T, BRA) is one of the first markers of gastrulation and lineage specification in vertebrates. Despite its wide use and importance in stem cell and developmental biology, its functional genomic targets in human cells are largely unknown. Here, we use differentiating human embryonic stem cells to study the role of BRA in activin A-induced endoderm and BMP4-induced mesoderm progenitors. We show that BRA has distinct genome-wide binding landscapes in these two cell populations, and that BRA interacts and collaborates with SMAD1 or SMAD2/3 signalling to regulate the expression of its target genes in a cell-specific manner. Importantly, by manipulating the levels of BRA in cells exposed to different signalling environments, we demonstrate that BRA is essential for mesoderm but not for endoderm formation. Together, our data illuminate the function of BRA in the context of human embryonic development and show that the regulatory role of BRA is context dependent. Our study reinforces the importance of analysing the functions of a transcription factor in different cellular and signalling environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Faial
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, UK Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Andreia S Bernardo
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, UK Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Sasha Mendjan
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Evangelia Diamanti
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Daniel Ortmann
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - George E Gentsch
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, UK Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Victoria L Mascetti
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Matthew W B Trotter
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - James C Smith
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, UK Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
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17
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Iyer D, Gambardella L, Bernard WG, Serrano F, Mascetti VL, Pedersen RA, Talasila A, Sinha S. Robust derivation of epicardium and its differentiated smooth muscle cell progeny from human pluripotent stem cells. Development 2015; 142:1528-41. [PMID: 25813541 PMCID: PMC4392600 DOI: 10.1242/dev.119271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [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: 11/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The epicardium has emerged as a multipotent cardiovascular progenitor source with therapeutic potential for coronary smooth muscle cell, cardiac fibroblast (CF) and cardiomyocyte regeneration, owing to its fundamental role in heart development and its potential ability to initiate myocardial repair in injured adult tissues. Here, we describe a chemically defined method for generating epicardium and epicardium-derived smooth muscle cells (EPI-SMCs) and CFs from human pluripotent stem cells (HPSCs) through an intermediate lateral plate mesoderm (LM) stage. HPSCs were initially differentiated to LM in the presence of FGF2 and high levels of BMP4. The LM was robustly differentiated to an epicardial lineage by activation of WNT, BMP and retinoic acid signalling pathways. HPSC-derived epicardium displayed enhanced expression of epithelial- and epicardium-specific markers, exhibited morphological features comparable with human foetal epicardial explants and engrafted in the subepicardial space in vivo. The in vitro-derived epicardial cells underwent an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition when treated with PDGF-BB and TGFβ1, resulting in vascular SMCs that displayed contractile ability in response to vasoconstrictors. Furthermore, the EPI-SMCs displayed low density lipoprotein uptake and effective lowering of lipoprotein levels upon treatment with statins, similar to primary human coronary artery SMCs. Cumulatively, these findings suggest that HPSC-derived epicardium and EPI-SMCs could serve as important tools for studying human cardiogenesis, and as a platform for vascular disease modelling and drug screening.
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MESH Headings
- Blotting, Western
- Cell Differentiation/genetics
- Cell Differentiation/physiology
- Cells, Cultured
- Flow Cytometry
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/physiology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/cytology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/physiology
- Pericardium/cytology
- Pericardium/metabolism
- Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology
- Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism
- Pluripotent Stem Cells/physiology
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Affiliation(s)
- Dharini Iyer
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Laure Gambardella
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - William G Bernard
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Felipe Serrano
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Victoria L Mascetti
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Amarnath Talasila
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Sanjay Sinha
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
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18
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Bertero A, Madrigal P, Galli A, Hubner NC, Moreno I, Burks D, Brown S, Pedersen RA, Gaffney D, Mendjan S, Pauklin S, Vallier L. Activin/nodal signaling and NANOG orchestrate human embryonic stem cell fate decisions by controlling the H3K4me3 chromatin mark. Genes Dev 2015; 29:702-17. [PMID: 25805847 PMCID: PMC4387713 DOI: 10.1101/gad.255984.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [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: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells can self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types. These characteristics are maintained by the combination of specific signaling pathways and transcription factors that cooperate to establish a unique epigenetic state. Despite the broad interest of these mechanisms, the precise molecular controls by which extracellular signals organize epigenetic marks to confer multipotency remain to be uncovered. Here, we use human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to show that the Activin-SMAD2/3 signaling pathway cooperates with the core pluripotency factor NANOG to recruit the DPY30-COMPASS histone modifiers onto key developmental genes. Functional studies demonstrate the importance of these interactions for correct histone 3 Lys4 trimethylation and also self-renewal and differentiation. Finally, genetic studies in mice show that Dpy30 is also necessary to maintain pluripotency in the pregastrulation embryo, thereby confirming the existence of similar regulations in vivo during early embryonic development. Our results reveal the mechanisms by which extracellular factors coordinate chromatin status and cell fate decisions in hESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Bertero
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro Madrigal
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Antonella Galli
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Nina C Hubner
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Inmaculada Moreno
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Deborah Burks
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Stephanie Brown
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Gaffney
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Sasha Mendjan
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Siim Pauklin
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom;
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19
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Morioka T, Sakabe M, Ioka T, Iguchi T, Mizuta K, Hattammaru M, Sakai C, Itoh M, Sato GE, Hashimoto A, Fujita M, Okumura K, Araki M, Xin M, Pedersen RA, Utset MF, Kimura H, Nakagawa O. An important role of endothelial hairy-related transcription factors in mouse vascular development. Genesis 2014; 52:897-906. [PMID: 25264302 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The Hairy-related transcription factor family of Notch- and ALK1-downstream transcriptional repressors, called Hrt/Hey/Hesr/Chf/Herp/Gridlock, has complementary and indispensable functions for vascular development. While mouse embryos null for either Hrt1/Hey1 or Hrt2/Hey2 did not show early vascular phenotypes, Hrt1/Hey1; Hrt2/Hey2 double null mice (H1(ko) /H2(ko) ) showed embryonic lethality with severe impairment of vascular morphogenesis. It remained unclear, however, whether Hrt/Hey functions are required in endothelial cells or vascular smooth muscle cells. In this study, we demonstrate that mice with endothelial-specific deletion of Hrt2/Hey2 combined with global Hrt1/Hey1 deletion (H1(ko) /H2(eko) ) show abnormal vascular morphogenesis and embryonic lethality. Their defects were characterized by the failure of vascular network formation in the yolk sac, abnormalities of embryonic vascular structures and impaired smooth muscle cell recruitment, and were virtually identical to the H1(ko) /H2(ko) phenotypes. Among signaling molecules implicated in vascular development, Robo4 expression was significantly increased and activation of Src family kinases was suppressed in endothelial cells of H1(ko) /H2(eko) embryos. The present study indicates an important role of Hrt1/Hey1 and Hrt2/Hey2 in endothelial cells during early vascular development, and further suggests involvement of Robo4 and Src family kinases in the mechanisms of embryonic vascular defects caused by the Hrt/Hey deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Morioka
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular System Research, Nara Medical University Advanced Medical Research Center, Kashihara, Nara, Japan; The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
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20
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Roberts RM, Loh KM, Amita M, Bernardo AS, Adachi K, Alexenko AP, Schust DJ, Schulz LC, Telugu BPVL, Ezashi T, Pedersen RA. Differentiation of trophoblast cells from human embryonic stem cells: to be or not to be? Reproduction 2014; 147:D1-12. [PMID: 24518070 DOI: 10.1530/rep-14-0080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
It is imperative to unveil the full range of differentiated cell types into which human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can develop. The need is twofold: it will delimit the therapeutic utility of these stem cells and is necessary to place their position accurately in the developmental hierarchy of lineage potential. Accumulated evidence suggested that hPSC could develop in vitro into an extraembryonic lineage (trophoblast (TB)) that is typically inaccessible to pluripotent embryonic cells during embryogenesis. However, whether these differentiated cells are truly authentic TB has been challenged. In this debate, we present a case for and a case against TB differentiation from hPSCs. By analogy to other differentiation systems, our debate is broadly applicable, as it articulates higher and more challenging standards for judging whether a given cell type has been genuinely produced from hPSC differentiation.
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21
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Cheung C, Bernardo AS, Pedersen RA, Sinha S. Directed differentiation of embryonic origin-specific vascular smooth muscle subtypes from human pluripotent stem cells. Nat Protoc 2014; 9:929-38. [PMID: 24675733 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2014.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) arise from diverse developmental origins. Regional distribution of vascular diseases may, in part, be attributed to this inherent heterogeneity in SMC lineage. Therefore, systems for generating human SMC subtypes of distinct embryonic origins would represent useful platforms for studying the influence of SMC lineage on the spatial specificity of vascular disease. Here we describe how human pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into distinct populations of SMC subtypes under chemically defined conditions. The initial stage (days 0-5 or 0-7) begins with the induction of three intermediate lineages: neuroectoderm, lateral plate mesoderm and paraxial mesoderm. Subsequently, these precursor lineages are differentiated into contractile SMCs (days 5-19+). At key stages, the emergence of lineage-specific markers confirms recapitulation of embryonic developmental pathways and generation of functionally distinct SMC subtypes. The ability to derive an unlimited supply of human SMCs will accelerate applications in regenerative medicine and disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Cheung
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Andreia S Bernardo
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sanjay Sinha
- 1] The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. [2] Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
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22
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Soares FAC, Chandra A, Thomas RJ, Pedersen RA, Vallier L, Williams DJ. Investigating the feasibility of scale up and automation of human induced pluripotent stem cells cultured in aggregates in feeder free conditions. J Biotechnol 2014; 173:53-8. [PMID: 24440272 PMCID: PMC3969287 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2013.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Revised: 11/23/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
First published protocol for scalable automation of hiPSC in feeder-free conditions. Successful transfer of hiPSC between sites representative of research and manufacture. Comparability between manual and automated expansion protocols for hiPSC.
The transfer of a laboratory process into a manufacturing facility is one of the most critical steps required for the large scale production of cell-based therapy products. This study describes the first published protocol for scalable automated expansion of human induced pluripotent stem cell lines growing in aggregates in feeder-free and chemically defined medium. Cells were successfully transferred between different sites representative of research and manufacturing settings; and passaged manually and using the CompacT SelecT automation platform. Modified protocols were developed for the automated system and the management of cells aggregates (clumps) was identified as the critical step. Cellular morphology, pluripotency gene expression and differentiation into the three germ layers have been used compare the outcomes of manual and automated processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa A C Soares
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, UK; Centre for Biological Engineering, Loughborough University, UK.
| | - Amit Chandra
- Centre for Biological Engineering, Loughborough University, UK
| | - Robert J Thomas
- Centre for Biological Engineering, Loughborough University, UK
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, UK; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
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23
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Lupo G, Novorol C, Smith JR, Vallier L, Miranda E, Alexander M, Biagioni S, Pedersen RA, Harris WA. Multiple roles of Activin/Nodal, bone morphogenetic protein, fibroblast growth factor and Wnt/β-catenin signalling in the anterior neural patterning of adherent human embryonic stem cell cultures. Open Biol 2013; 3:120167. [PMID: 23576785 PMCID: PMC3718331 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.120167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have successfully produced a variety of neural cell types from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), but there has been limited systematic analysis of how different regional identities are established using well-defined differentiation conditions. We have used adherent, chemically defined cultures to analyse the roles of Activin/Nodal, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and Wnt/β-catenin signalling in neural induction, anteroposterior patterning and eye field specification in hESCs. We show that either BMP inhibition or activation of FGF signalling is required for effective neural induction, but these two pathways have distinct outcomes on rostrocaudal patterning. While BMP inhibition leads to specification of forebrain/midbrain positional identities, FGF-dependent neural induction is associated with strong posteriorization towards hindbrain/spinal cord fates. We also demonstrate that Wnt/β-catenin signalling is activated during neural induction and promotes acquisition of neural fates posterior to forebrain. Therefore, inhibition of this pathway is needed for efficient forebrain specification. Finally, we provide evidence that the levels of Activin/Nodal and BMP signalling have a marked influence on further forebrain patterning and that constitutive inhibition of these pathways represses expression of eye field genes. These results show that the key mechanisms controlling neural patterning in model vertebrate species are preserved in adherent, chemically defined hESC cultures and reveal new insights into the signals regulating eye field specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lupo
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
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24
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Abstract
Differentiating tissue stem cells can self-assemble into structures that strikingly resemble functional organ subunits. Translating this insight to regenerative medicine presents several challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger A Pedersen
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK; Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
| | - Victoria Mascetti
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK; Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Sasha Mendjan
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK
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25
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Cho LTY, Wamaitha SE, Tsai IJ, Artus J, Sherwood RI, Pedersen RA, Hadjantonakis AK, Niakan KK. Conversion from mouse embryonic to extra-embryonic endoderm stem cells reveals distinct differentiation capacities of pluripotent stem cell states. Development 2012; 139:2866-77. [PMID: 22791892 DOI: 10.1242/dev.078519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The inner cell mass of the mouse pre-implantation blastocyst comprises epiblast progenitor and primitive endoderm cells of which cognate embryonic (mESCs) or extra-embryonic (XEN) stem cell lines can be derived. Importantly, each stem cell type retains the defining properties and lineage restriction of their in vivo tissue of origin. Recently, we demonstrated that XEN-like cells arise within mESC cultures. This raises the possibility that mESCs can generate self-renewing XEN cells without the requirement for gene manipulation. We have developed a novel approach to convert mESCs to XEN cells (cXEN) using growth factors. We confirm that the downregulation of the pluripotency transcription factor Nanog and the expression of primitive endoderm-associated genes Gata6, Gata4, Sox17 and Pdgfra are necessary for cXEN cell derivation. This approach highlights an important function for Fgf4 in cXEN cell derivation. Paracrine FGF signalling compensates for the loss of endogenous Fgf4, which is necessary to exit mESC self-renewal, but not for XEN cell maintenance. Our cXEN protocol also reveals that distinct pluripotent stem cells respond uniquely to differentiation promoting signals. cXEN cells can be derived from mESCs cultured with Erk and Gsk3 inhibitors (2i), and LIF, similar to conventional mESCs. However, we find that epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) derived from the post-implantation embryo are refractory to cXEN cell establishment, consistent with the hypothesis that EpiSCs represent a pluripotent state distinct from mESCs. In all, these findings suggest that the potential of mESCs includes the capacity to give rise to both extra-embryonic and embryonic lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily T Y Cho
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
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26
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Sun B, Ito M, Mendjan S, Ito Y, Brons IGM, Murrell A, Vallier L, Ferguson-Smith AC, Pedersen RA. Status of genomic imprinting in epigenetically distinct pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cells 2012; 30:161-8. [PMID: 22109880 DOI: 10.1002/stem.793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mouse epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) derived from postimplantation embryos are developmentally and functionally different from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) generated from blastocysts. EpiSCs require Activin A and FGF2 signaling for self-renewal, similar to human ESCs (hESCs), while mouse ESCs require LIF and BMP4. Unlike ESCs, EpiSCs have undergone X-inactivation, similar to the tendency of hESCs. The shared self-renewal and X-inactivation properties of EpiSCs and hESCs suggest that they have an epigenetic state distinct from ESCs. This hypothesis predicts that EpiSCs would have monoallelic expression of most imprinted genes, like that observed in hESCs. Here, we confirm this prediction. By contrast, we find that mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) tend to lose imprinting similar to mouse ESCs. These findings reveal that iPSCs have an epigenetic status associated with their pluripotent state rather than their developmental origin. Our results also reinforce the view that hESCs and EpiSCs are in vitro counterparts, sharing an epigenetic status distinct from ESCs and iPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Sun
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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27
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Abstract
Understanding human pre-implantation development has important implications for assisted reproductive technology (ART) and for human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based therapies. Owing to limited resources, the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing this early stage of human development are poorly understood. Nonetheless, recent advances in non-invasive imaging techniques and molecular and genomic technologies have helped to increase our understanding of this fascinating stage of human development. Here, we summarize what is currently known about human pre-implantation embryo development and highlight how further studies of human pre-implantation embryos can be used to improve ART and to fully harness the potential of hESCs for therapeutic goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathy K Niakan
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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28
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Evans AL, Faial T, Gilchrist MJ, Down T, Vallier L, Pedersen RA, Wardle FC, Smith JC. Genomic targets of Brachyury (T) in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33346. [PMID: 22479388 PMCID: PMC3316570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2010] [Accepted: 02/13/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The T-box transcription factor Brachyury (T) is essential for formation of the posterior mesoderm and the notochord in vertebrate embryos. Work in the frog and the zebrafish has identified some direct genomic targets of Brachyury, but little is known about Brachyury targets in the mouse. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we use chromatin immunoprecipitation and mouse promoter microarrays to identify targets of Brachyury in embryoid bodies formed from differentiating mouse ES cells. The targets we identify are enriched for sequence-specific DNA binding proteins and include components of signal transduction pathways that direct cell fate in the primitive streak and tailbud of the early embryo. Expression of some of these targets, such as Axin2, Fgf8 and Wnt3a, is down regulated in Brachyury mutant embryos and we demonstrate that they are also Brachyury targets in the human. Surprisingly, we do not observe enrichment of the canonical T-domain DNA binding sequence 5′-TCACACCT-3′ in the vicinity of most Brachyury target genes. Rather, we have identified an (AC)n repeat sequence, which is conserved in the rat but not in human, zebrafish or Xenopus. We do not understand the significance of this sequence, but speculate that it enhances transcription factor binding in the regulatory regions of Brachyury target genes in rodents. Conclusions/Significance Our work identifies the genomic targets of a key regulator of mesoderm formation in the early mouse embryo, thereby providing insights into the Brachyury-driven genetic regulatory network and allowing us to compare the function of Brachyury in different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L. Evans
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Medical Research Council, National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdome
| | - Tiago Faial
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Medical Research Council, National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdome
| | - Michael J. Gilchrist
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Medical Research Council, National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdome
| | - Thomas Down
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Roger A. Pedersen
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona C. Wardle
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James C. Smith
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Medical Research Council, National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdome
- * E-mail:
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29
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Bernardo AS, Faial T, Gardner L, Niakan KK, Ortmann D, Senner CE, Callery EM, Trotter MW, Hemberger M, Smith JC, Bardwell L, Moffett A, Pedersen RA. BRACHYURY and CDX2 mediate BMP-induced differentiation of human and mouse pluripotent stem cells into embryonic and extraembryonic lineages. Cell Stem Cell 2012; 9:144-55. [PMID: 21816365 PMCID: PMC3567433 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2011.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2010] [Revised: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 06/30/2011] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BMP is thought to induce hESC differentiation toward multiple lineages including mesoderm and trophoblast. The BMP-induced trophoblast phenotype is a long-standing paradox in stem cell biology. Here we readdressed BMP function in hESCs and mouse epiblast-derived cells. We found that BMP4 cooperates with FGF2 (via ERK) to induce mesoderm and to inhibit endoderm differentiation. These conditions induced cells with high levels of BRACHYURY (BRA) that coexpressed CDX2. BRA was necessary for and preceded CDX2 expression; both genes were essential for expression not only of mesodermal genes but also of trophoblast-associated genes. Maximal expression of the latter was seen in the absence of FGF but these cells coexpressed mesodermal genes and moreover they differed in cell surface and epigenetic properties from placental trophoblast. We conclude that BMP induces human and mouse pluripotent stem cells primarily to form mesoderm, rather than trophoblast, acting through BRA and CDX2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia S Bernardo
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK.
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30
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Yang VS, Carter SA, Ng Y, Hyland SJ, Tachibana-Konwalski K, Fisher RA, Sebire NJ, Seckl MJ, Pedersen RA, Laskey RA, Gonzalez MA. Distinct activities of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) in mouse embryonic cells. Cell Cycle 2012; 11:846-55. [PMID: 22333576 DOI: 10.4161/cc.11.5.19251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The first differentiation event in mammalian development gives rise to the blastocyst, consisting of two cell lineages that have also segregated in how the cell cycle is structured. Pluripotent cells of the inner cell mass divide mitotically to retain a diploid DNA content, but the outer trophoblast cells can amplify their genomes more than 500-fold by undergoing multiple rounds of DNA replication, completely bypassing mitosis. Central to this striking divergence in cell cycle control is the E3 ubiquitin-ligase activity of the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C). Extended suppression of APC/C activity during interphase of mouse pluripotent cells promotes rapid cell cycle progression by allowing stabilization of cyclins, whereas unopposed APC/C activity during S phase of mouse trophoblast cells triggers proteasomal-mediated degradation of geminin and giant cell formation. While differential APC/C activity might govern the atypical cell cycles observed in pre-implantation mouse embryos, geminin is a critical APC/C substrate that: (1) escapes degradation in pluripotent cells to maintain expression of Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog; and (2) mediates specification and endoreduplication when targeted for ectopic destruction in trophoblast. Thus, in contrast to trophoblast giant cells that lack geminin, geminin is preserved in both mouse pluripotent cells and non-endoreduplicating human cytotrophoblast cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie S Yang
- MRC Cancer Cell Unit, Hutchison-MRC Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
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31
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Cheung C, Bernardo AS, Trotter MWB, Pedersen RA, Sinha S. Generation of human vascular smooth muscle subtypes provides insight into embryological origin-dependent disease susceptibility. Nat Biotechnol 2012; 30:165-73. [PMID: 22252507 PMCID: PMC3272383 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 267] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [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: 09/13/2011] [Accepted: 12/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Heterogeneity of embryological origins is a hallmark of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), which may influence vascular disease development. Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into developmental origin-specific SMC subtypes remains elusive. In this study, we have established a chemically defined protocol where hPSCs were initially induced to form neuroectoderm, lateral plate mesoderm or paraxial mesoderm. These intermediate populations were further differentiated towards SMCs (>80% MYH11+ and ACTA2+) which displayed contractile ability in response to vasoconstrictors and invested perivascular regions in vivo. Derived SMC subtypes recapitulated the unique proliferative and secretory responses to cytokines previously documented in studies using aortic SMCs of distinct origins. Importantly, this system predicted increased extracellular matrix degradation by SMCs derived from lateral plate mesoderm, which was confirmed using rat aortic SMCs from corresponding origins. Collectively, this work will have broad applications in modeling origin-dependent disease susceptibility and in bio-engineered vascular grafts for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Cheung
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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32
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Affiliation(s)
- Siim Pauklin
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, West Forvie Building, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Roger A. Pedersen
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, West Forvie Building, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, West Forvie Building, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
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Chng Z, Teo A, Pedersen RA, Vallier L. SIP1 mediates cell-fate decisions between neuroectoderm and mesendoderm in human pluripotent stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 2010; 6:59-70. [PMID: 20074535 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2009.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2009] [Revised: 10/11/2009] [Accepted: 11/30/2009] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) rely on fibroblast growth factor and Activin-Nodal signaling to maintain their pluripotency. However, Activin-Nodal signaling is also known to induce mesendoderm differentiation. The mechanisms by which Activin-Nodal signaling can achieve these contradictory functions remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Smad-interacting protein 1 (SIP1) limits the mesendoderm-inducing effects of Activin-Nodal signaling without inhibiting the pluripotency-maintaining effects exerted by SMAD2/3. In turn, Activin-Nodal signaling cooperates with NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2 to control the expression of SIP1 in hESCs, thereby limiting the neuroectoderm-promoting effects of SIP1. Similar results were obtained with mouse epiblast stem cells, implying that these mechanisms are evolutionarily conserved and may operate in vivo during mammalian development. Overall, our results reveal the mechanisms by which Activin-Nodal signaling acts through SIP1 to regulate the cell-fate decision between neuroectoderm and mesendoderm in the progression from pluripotency to primary germ layer differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhi Chng
- Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, West Forvie Building, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK
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Vallier L, Touboul T, Brown S, Cho C, Bilican B, Alexander M, Cedervall J, Chandran S, Ahrlund-Richter L, Weber A, Pedersen RA. Signaling pathways controlling pluripotency and early cell fate decisions of human induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cells 2010; 27:2655-66. [PMID: 19688839 DOI: 10.1002/stem.199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells from embryonic origins and those generated from reprogrammed somatic cells share many characteristics, including indefinite proliferation and a sustained capacity to differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. However, it remains to be demonstrated whether both cell types rely on similar mechanisms to maintain their pluripotent status and to control their differentiation. Any differences in such mechanisms would suggest that reprogramming of fibroblasts to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) results in novel states of pluripotency. In that event, current methods for expanding and differentiating human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) might not be directly applicable to human iPSCs. However, we show here that human iPSCs rely on activin/nodal signaling to control Nanog expression and thereby maintain pluripotency, thus revealing their mechanistic similarity to human ESCs. We also show that growth factors necessary and sufficient for achieving specification of human ESCs into extraembryonic tissues, neuroectoderm, and mesendoderm also drive differentiation of human iPSCs into the same tissues. Importantly, these experiments were performed in fully chemically defined medium devoid of factors that could obscure analysis of developmental mechanisms or render the resulting tissues incompatible with future clinical applications. Together these data reveal that human iPSCs rely on mechanisms similar to human ESCs to maintain their pluripotency and to control their differentiation, showing that these pluripotent cell types are functionally equivalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Vallier
- Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom.
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Bernardo AS, Cho CHH, Mason S, Docherty HM, Pedersen RA, Vallier L, Docherty K. Biphasic induction of Pdx1 in mouse and human embryonic stem cells can mimic development of pancreatic beta-cells. Stem Cells 2009; 27:341-51. [PMID: 19056911 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2008-0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Embryonic stem (ES) cells represent a possible source of islet tissue for the treatment of diabetes. Achieving this goal will require a detailed understanding of how the transcription factor cascade initiated by the homeodomain transcription factor Pdx1 culminates in pancreatic beta-cell development. Here we describe a genetic approach that enables fine control of Pdx1 transcriptional activity during endoderm differentiation of mouse and human ES cell. By activating an exogenous Pdx1VP16 protein in populations of cells enriched in definitive endoderm we show a distinct lineage-dependent requirement for this transcription factor's activity. Mimicking the natural biphasic pattern of Pdx1 expression was necessary to induce an endocrine pancreas-like cell phenotype, in which 30% of the cells were beta-cell-like. Cell markers consistent with the different beta-cell differentiation stages appeared in a sequential order following the natural pattern of pancreatic development. Furthermore, in mouse ES-derived cultures the differentiated beta-like cells secreted C-peptide (insulin) in response to KCl and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, suggesting that following a natural path of development in vitro represents the best approach to generate functional pancreatic cells. Together these results reveal for the first time a significant effect of the timed expression of Pdx1 on the non-beta-cells in the developing endocrine pancreas. Collectively, we show that this method of in vitro differentiation provides a template for inducing and studying ES cell differentiation into insulin-secreting cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia S Bernardo
- School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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36
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Vallier L, Touboul T, Chng Z, Brimpari M, Hannan N, Millan E, Smithers LE, Trotter M, Rugg-Gunn P, Weber A, Pedersen RA. Early cell fate decisions of human embryonic stem cells and mouse epiblast stem cells are controlled by the same signalling pathways. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6082. [PMID: 19564924 PMCID: PMC2700259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2009] [Accepted: 05/13/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells have unique value for regenerative medicine, as they are capable of differentiating into a broad variety of cell types. Therefore, defining the signalling pathways that control early cell fate decisions of pluripotent stem cells represents a major task. Moreover, modelling the early steps of embryonic development in vitro may provide the best approach to produce cell types with native properties. Here, we analysed the function of key developmental growth factors such as Activin, FGF and BMP in the control of early cell fate decisions of human pluripotent stem cells. This analysis resulted in the development and validation of chemically defined culture conditions for achieving specification of human embryonic stem cells into neuroectoderm, mesendoderm and into extra-embryonic tissues. Importantly, these defined culture conditions are devoid of factors that could obscure analysis of developmental mechanisms or render the resulting tissues incompatible with future clinical applications. Importantly, the growth factor roles defined using these culture conditions similarly drove differentiation of mouse epiblast stem cells derived from post implantation embryos, thereby reinforcing the hypothesis that epiblast stem cells share a common embryonic identity with human pluripotent stem cells. Therefore the defined growth factor conditions described here represent an essential step toward the production of mature cell types from pluripotent stem cells in conditions fully compatible with clinical use ant also provide a general approach for modelling the early steps of mammalian embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Vallier
- Department of Surgery and Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Vallier L, Mendjan S, Brown S, Chng Z, Teo A, Smithers LE, Trotter MWB, Cho CHH, Martinez A, Rugg-Gunn P, Brons G, Pedersen RA. Activin/Nodal signalling maintains pluripotency by controlling Nanog expression. Development 2009; 136:1339-49. [PMID: 19279133 DOI: 10.1242/dev.033951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The pluripotent status of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) confers upon them the capacity to differentiate into the three primary germ layers, ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm, from which all the cells of the adult body are derived. An understanding of the mechanisms controlling pluripotency is thus essential for driving the differentiation of human pluripotent cells into cell types useful for clinical applications. The Activin/Nodal signalling pathway is necessary to maintain pluripotency in human ESCs and in mouse epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs), but the molecular mechanisms by which it achieves this effect remain obscure. Here, we demonstrate that Activin/Nodal signalling controls expression of the key pluripotency factor Nanog in human ESCs and in mouse EpiSCs. Nanog in turn prevents neuroectoderm differentiation induced by FGF signalling and limits the transcriptional activity of the Smad2/3 cascade, blocking progression along the endoderm lineage. This negative-feedback loop imposes stasis in neuroectoderm and mesendoderm differentiation, thereby maintaining the pluripotent status of human ESCs and mouse EpiSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Vallier
- Department of Surgery and Laboratory For Regenerative Medicine, West Forvie Building, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK.
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Rugg-Gunn PJ, Ferguson-Smith AC, Pedersen RA. Status of genomic imprinting in human embryonic stem cells as revealed by a large cohort of independently derived and maintained lines. Hum Mol Genet 2007; 16 Spec No. 2:R243-51. [PMID: 17911167 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddm245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigation of the epigenetic stability of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is a crucial step for their use in cell-replacement therapies, as well as for assessing whether hESCs model epigenetic regulation in human pre-implantation cell types. To address these issues, we have examined the expression of imprinted genes in a previous study and more recently in 46 individual hESC lines as part of the International Stem Cell Initiative. Our results show that nearly all hESC lines examined possessed a substantial degree of epigenetic stability, despite differences in genetic background and in their derivation and initial propagation conditions. However, some hESCs did show loss of allele-specific expression, which could have implications for hESC differentiation and epigenetic stability (both in vitro and after clinical transplantation). A benefit of our and other recent studies of genomic imprinting in hESCs was the identification of imprinted genes that provide a useful indication of epigenetic stability. SNRPN, IPW and KCNQ1OT1 were highly stable and thus appeared insensitive to perturbation; in contrast, H19, IGF2 and MEG3 were more variable and thus could potentially provide a sensitive indication of epigenetic status. In this review, we examine the differences between imprinted genes in their susceptibility to perturbation and discuss the potential molecular basis for these differences. This examination provides insight into the regulation of genomic imprinting in hESCs and the corresponding peri-implantation stages of human development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Rugg-Gunn
- Department of Surgery and Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 OXY, UK.
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Smith JR, Maguire S, Davis LA, Alexander M, Yang F, Chandran S, ffrench-Constant C, Pedersen RA. Robust, persistent transgene expression in human embryonic stem cells is achieved with AAVS1-targeted integration. Stem Cells 2007; 26:496-504. [PMID: 18024421 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2007-0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Silencing and variegated transgene expression are poorly understood problems that can interfere with gene function studies in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We show that transgene expression (enhanced green fluorescent protein [EGFP]) from random integration sites in hESCs is affected by variegation and silencing, with only half of hESCs expressing the transgene, which is gradually lost after withdrawal of selection and differentiation. We tested the hypothesis that a transgene integrated into the adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) target region on chromosome 19, known as the AAVS1 locus, would maintain transgene expression in hESCs. When we used AAV2 technology to target the AAVS1 locus, 4.16% of hESC clones achieved AAVS1-targeted integration. Targeted clones expressed Oct-4, stage-specific embryonic antigen-3 (SSEA3), and Tra-1-60 and differentiated into all three primary germ layers. EGFP expression from the AAVS1 locus showed significantly reduced variegated expression when in selection, with 90% +/- 4% of cells expressing EGFP compared with 57% +/- 32% for randomly integrated controls, and reduced tendency to undergo silencing, with 86% +/- 7% hESCs expressing EGFP 25 days after withdrawal of selection compared with 39% +/- 31% for randomly integrated clones. In addition, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of hESCs also indicated significantly higher levels of EGFP mRNA in AAVS1-targeted clones as compared with randomly integrated clones. Transgene expression from the AAVS1 locus was shown to be stable during hESC differentiation, with more than 90% of cells expressing EGFP after 15 days of differentiation, as compared with approximately 30% for randomly integrated clones. These results demonstrate the utility of transgene integration at the AAVS1 locus in hESCs and its potential clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Smith
- Department of Surgery, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 OXY, United Kingdom.
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Smith JR, Vallier L, Lupo G, Alexander M, Harris WA, Pedersen RA. Inhibition of Activin/Nodal signaling promotes specification of human embryonic stem cells into neuroectoderm. Dev Biol 2007; 313:107-17. [PMID: 18022151 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2006] [Revised: 09/11/2007] [Accepted: 10/02/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Nodal, a member of the TGF-beta family of signaling molecules, has been implicated in pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) [Vallier, L., Reynolds, D., Pedersen, R.A., 2004a. Nodal inhibits differentiation of human embryonic stem cells along the neuroectodermal default pathway. Dev. Biol. 275, 403-421], a finding that seems paradoxical given Nodal's central role in mesoderm/endoderm specification during gastrulation. In this study, we sought to clarify the role of Nodal signaling during hESC differentiation by constitutive overexpression of the endogenous Nodal inhibitors Lefty2 (Lefty) and truncated Cerberus (Cerb-S) and by pharmacological interference using the Nodal receptor antagonist SB431542. Compared to wildtype (WT) controls, embryoid bodies (EBs) derived from either Lefty or Cerb-S overexpressing hESCs showed increased expression of neuroectoderm markers Sox1, Sox3, and Nestin. Conversely, they were negative for a definitive endoderm marker (Sox17) and did not generate beating cardiomyocyte structures in conditions that allowed mesendoderm differentiation from WT hESCs. EBs derived from either Lefty or Cerb-S expressing hESCs also contained a greater abundance of neural rosette structures as compared to controls. Differentiating EBs derived from Lefty expressing hESCs generated a dense network of beta-tubulin III positive neurites, and when Lefty expressing hESCs were grown as a monolayer and allowed to differentiate, they generated significantly higher numbers of beta-tubulin positive neurons as compared to wildtype hESCs. SB431542 treatments reproduced the neuralising effects of Lefty overexpression in hESCs. These results show that inhibition of Nodal signaling promotes neuronal specification, indicating a role for this pathway in controlling early neural development of pluripotent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Smith
- Department of Surgery and Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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41
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Abstract
The foundation of the germ layers and the extraembryonic mesoderm from the epiblast between 6.5 and 7.5 days post coitum (p.c.) is accompanied by substantial cell proliferation. It is followed during the next 24 hours by the organization of major systems of the embryo such as the central nervous system, somites, heart and vascular system. Injection in situ of a short-term lineage label (horse radish peroxidase) into single epiblast cells at 6.7 days p.c. and analysis of the descendant clones in cultured embryos have been used to trace these processes and led to the following conclusions: (1) There is extensive but not indiscriminate cell mixing at the onset of gastrulation; epiblast cells spread towards the primitive streak and descendants are there progressively incorporated into mesoderm. (2) The fate map of the mouse epiblast at the early primitive streak stage is topologically similar to those of other vertebrates. (3) Germ layers and the extraembryonic mesoderm are not clonally distinct before gastrulation, the region of overlapping boundaries in the fate map being occupied by cells that will have descendants in more than one layer. (4) Cranial neurectoderm is mainly derived from axial epiblast immediately anterior to the primitive streak of the early streak stage embryo, clonal descendants being spread rostrocaudally in the developing neural tube. Contribution to the putative floor plate is made by progenitors some of which also contribute to notochord and mesoderm.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Lawson
- Hubrecht Laboratory, Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, Utrecht
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42
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Soh BS, Song CM, Vallier L, Li P, Choong C, Yeo BH, Lim EH, Pedersen RA, Yang HH, Rao M, Lim B. Pleiotrophin enhances clonal growth and long-term expansion of human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2007; 25:3029-37. [PMID: 17823238 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2007-0372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To identify additional growth factors for optimizing propagation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), we mined publicly available data sets for the transcriptomes of murine and human ESCs and feeder cells, thereby generating a list of growth factors and complementary receptors. We identified the major pathways previously reported to be important, as well as several new ones. One pathway is the Pleiotrophin (PTN)-Pleiotrophin receptor (PTPRZ1) axis. Murine fibroblasts secrete Ptn, whereas hESCs expressed PTPRZ1, which is downregulated upon differentiation. Depletion of PTPRZ1 resulted in decreased colony formation and lower recovery of hESCs. Supplementation of chemically defined medium for feeder-free propagation of hESCs with PTN allowed higher recovery of hESCs without loss of pluripotency. PTN-PTPRZ1 functions here predominantly via an antiapoptotic effect mediated in part by the activation of Akt. These findings reveal the underlying importance of PTN in hESC survival and its usefulness in the clonal manipulation and large-scale propagation of hESCs. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boon Seng Soh
- Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore
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43
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Kim K, Ng K, Rugg-Gunn PJ, Shieh JH, Kirak O, Jaenisch R, Wakayama T, Moore MA, Pedersen RA, Daley GQ. Recombination signatures distinguish embryonic stem cells derived by parthenogenesis and somatic cell nuclear transfer. Cell Stem Cell 2007; 1:346-52. [PMID: 18371368 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2007.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2007] [Revised: 07/01/2007] [Accepted: 07/03/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Parthenogenesis and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) are two methods for deriving embryonic stem (ES) cells that are genetically matched to the oocyte donor or somatic cell donor, respectively. Using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, we demonstrate distinct signatures of genetic recombination that distinguish parthenogenetic ES cells from those generated by SCNT. We applied SNP analysis to the human ES cell line SCNT-hES-1, previously claimed to have been derived by SCNT, and present evidence that it represents a human parthenogenetic ES cell line. Genome-wide SNP analysis represents a means to validate the genetic provenance of an ES cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitai Kim
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Boston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Brons IGM, Smithers LE, Trotter MWB, Rugg-Gunn P, Sun B, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM, Howlett SK, Clarkson A, Ahrlund-Richter L, Pedersen RA, Vallier L. Derivation of pluripotent epiblast stem cells from mammalian embryos. Nature 2007; 448:191-5. [PMID: 17597762 DOI: 10.1038/nature05950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1472] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2007] [Accepted: 05/24/2007] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although the first mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell lines were derived 25 years ago using feeder-layer-based blastocyst cultures, subsequent efforts to extend the approach to other mammals, including both laboratory and domestic species, have been relatively unsuccessful. The most notable exceptions were the derivation of non-human primate ES cell lines followed shortly thereafter by their derivation of human ES cells. Despite the apparent common origin and the similar pluripotency of mouse and human embryonic stem cells, recent studies have revealed that they use different signalling pathways to maintain their pluripotent status. Mouse ES cells depend on leukaemia inhibitory factor and bone morphogenetic protein, whereas their human counterparts rely on activin (INHBA)/nodal (NODAL) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Here we show that pluripotent stem cells can be derived from the late epiblast layer of post-implantation mouse and rat embryos using chemically defined, activin-containing culture medium that is sufficient for long-term maintenance of human embryonic stem cells. Our results demonstrate that activin/Nodal signalling has an evolutionarily conserved role in the derivation and the maintenance of pluripotency in these novel stem cells. Epiblast stem cells provide a valuable experimental system for determining whether distinctions between mouse and human embryonic stem cells reflect species differences or diverse temporal origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Gabrielle M Brons
- Department of Surgery and Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
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45
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Vallier L, Pedersen RA. Human embryonic stem cells: an in vitro model to study mechanisms controlling pluripotency in early mammalian development. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 1:119-30. [PMID: 17142846 DOI: 10.1385/scr:1:2:119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The property of pluripotency confers the capacity for differentiation into a large number of cell types including extra-embryonic, somatic and germinal cells. During normal development, pluripotency is acquired by the cells of the early embryo, which shortly thereafter undergo differentiation, whereas embryonic stem cells (ESCs) uniquely maintain pluripotency while undergoing extensive in vitro proliferation. Studies using ESCs have begun to unravel the network of cytokines and transcription factors responsible for their maintenance of pluripotency. Surprisingly, mouse and human ESCs display significant differences in such mechanisms despite their similar embryonic origins. In this review, we compare the properties of pluripotent embryonic cells with those of ESCs to establish a general model for the mechanisms maintaining pluripotency. We first consider whether mouse and human ESCs represent comparable stages of early embryonic development. We then describe how human embryoid body (EB) differentiation could be used as a model of embryonic development. Finally, to concretely illustrate the discussion, we discuss our recent results concerning Nodal function in controlling cell fate at early stages of human EB development. With the new perspective of these findings, we suggest a previously unrecognized role of TGF-beta pathway signaling in maintaining pluripotency at early stages of mammalian embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Vallier
- Department of Surgery and Cambride Institute for Medical Research Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 2XY, UK.
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46
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Weier JF, Ferlatte C, Baumgartner A, Jung CJ, Nguyen HN, Chu LW, Pedersen RA, Fisher SJ, Weier HUG. Molecular cytogenetic studies towards the full karyotype analysis of human blastocysts and cytotrophoblasts. Cytogenet Genome Res 2006; 114:302-11. [PMID: 16954671 DOI: 10.1159/000094218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2005] [Accepted: 03/06/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerical chromosome aberrations in gametes typically lead to failed fertilization, spontaneous abortion or a chromosomally abnormal fetus. By means of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), we now can screen human embryos in vitro for aneuploidy before transferring the embryos to the uterus. PGD allows us to select unaffected embryos for transfer and increases the implantation rate in in vitro fertilization programs. Molecular cytogenetic analyses using multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of blastomeres have become the major tool for preimplantation genetic screening of aneuploidy. However, current FISH technology can test for only a small number of chromosome abnormalities and hitherto failed to increase the pregnancy rates as expected. We are in the process of developing multi-color FISH-based technologies to score all 24 chromosomes in single cells within a three-day time limit, which we believe is vital to the clinical setting. Also, human placental cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) at the fetal-maternal interface acquire aneuploidies as they differentiate to an invasive phenotype. About 20-50% of invasive CTB cells from uncomplicated pregnancies were found to be aneuploid, suggesting that the acquisition of aneuploidy is an important component of normal placentation, perhaps limiting the proliferative and invasive potential of CTBs. Since most invasive CTBs are interphase cells and possess extreme heterogeneity, we applied multi-color FISH and repeated hybridizations to investigate the feasibility of a full karyotype analysis of individual CTBs. In summary, this study demonstrates the strength of Spectral Imaging analysis and repeated hybridizations, which provides a basis for full karyotype analysis of single interphase cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Weier
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0720, USA.
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47
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Abstract
Maintenance of pluripotency is crucial to the mammalian embryo's ability to generate the extra-embryonic and embryonic tissues that are needed for intrauterine survival and foetal development. The recent establishment of embryonic stem cells from human blastocysts (hESCs) provides an opportunity to identify the factors supporting pluripotency at early stages of human development. Using this in vitro model, we have recently shown that Nodal can block neuronal differentiation, suggesting that TGFbeta family members are involved in cell fate decisions of hESCs, including preservation of their pluripotency. Here, we report that Activin/Nodal signalling through Smad2/3 activation is necessary to maintain the pluripotent status of hESCs. Inhibition of Activin/Nodal signalling by follistatin and by overexpression of Lefty or Cerberus-Short, or by the Activin receptor inhibitor SB431542, precipitates hESC differentiation. Nevertheless, neither Nodal nor Activin is sufficient to sustain long-term hESC growth in a chemically defined medium without serum. Recent studies have shown that FGF2 can also maintain long-term expression of pluripotency markers, and we find that inhibition of the FGF signalling pathway by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU5402 causes hESC differentiation. However, this effect of FGF on hESC pluripotency depends on Activin/Nodal signalling, because it is blocked by SB431542. Finally, long-term maintenance of in-vitro pluripotency can be achieved with a combination of Activin or Nodal plus FGF2 in the absence of feeder-cell layers, conditioned medium or Serum Replacer. These findings suggest that the Activin/Nodal pathway maintains pluripotency through mechanism(s) in which FGF acts as a competence factor and therefore provide further evidence of distinct mechanisms for preservation of pluripotency in mouse and human ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Vallier
- Department of Surgery and Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2XY, UK.
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48
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Bowles KM, Vallier L, Smith JR, Alexander MRJ, Pedersen RA. HOXB4 overexpression promotes hematopoietic development by human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2006; 24:1359-69. [PMID: 16410392 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2005-0210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are a potential source of hematopoietic cells for therapeutic transplantation and can provide a model for human hematopoiesis. Culture of hESCs on murine stromal layers or in stromal-free conditions as embryoid bodies results in low levels of hematopoietic cells. Here we demonstrate that overexpression of the transcription factor HOXB4 considerably augments hematopoietic development of hESCs. Stable HOXB4-expressing hESC clones were generated by lipofection and could be maintained in the undifferentiated state for prolonged passages. Moreover, differentiation of hESCs as embryoid bodies in serum-containing medium without the use of additional cytokines led to sequential expansion of first erythroid and then myeloid and monocytic progenitors from day 10 of culture. These cells retained the capacity to develop into formed blood elements during in vitro culture. Consistent with the development of committed hematopoietic cells, we observed the expression of transcription factors known to be critical for hematopoietic development. We thus demonstrate successful use of enforced gene expression to promote the differentiation of hESCs into a terminally differentiated tissue, thereby revealing an important role for HOXB4 in supporting their in vitro development along the hematopoietic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian M Bowles
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge CB2 2XY, UK.
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