BMPs functionally replace Klf4 and support efficient reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts by Oct4 alone

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells by defined factors has become a useful model to investigate the mechanism of reprogramming and cell fate determination. However, the precise mechanism of factor-based reprogramming remains unclear. Here, we show that Klf4 mainly acts at the initial phase of reprogramming to initiate mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and can be functionally replaced by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). BMPs boosted the efficiency of Oct4/Sox2-mediated reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to ～1%. BMPs also promoted single-factor Oct4-based reprogramming of MEFs and tail tibial fibroblasts. Our studies clarify the contribution of Klf4 in reprogramming and establish Oct4 as a singular setter of pluripotency in differentiated cells.     

Induction of pluripotent stem cells from primary human fibroblasts with only Oct4 and Sox2

Ectopic expression of defined sets of genetic factors can reprogram somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells that closely resemble embryonic stem (ES) cells. The low efficiency with which iPS cells are derived hinders studies on the molecular mechanism of reprogramming, and integration of viral transgenes, in particular the oncogenes c-Myc and Klf4, may handicap this method for human therapeutic applications. Here we report that valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, enables reprogramming of primary human fibroblasts with only two factors, Oct4 and Sox2, without the need for the oncogenes c-Myc or Klf4. The two factor-induced human iPS cells resemble human ES cells in pluripotency, global gene expression profiles and epigenetic states. These results support the possibility of reprogramming through purely chemical means, which would make therapeutic use of reprogrammed cells safer and more practical.     

Reprogramming factor stoichiometry influences the epigenetic state and biological properties of induced pluripotent stem cells

We compared two genetically highly defined transgenic systems to identify parameters affecting reprogramming of somatic cells to a pluripotent state. Our results demonstrate that the level and stoichiometry of reprogramming factors during the reprogramming process strongly influence the resulting pluripotency of iPS cells. High expression of Oct4 and Klf4 combined with lower expression of c-Myc and Sox2 produced iPS cells that efficiently generated "all-iPSC mice" by tetraploid (4n) complementation, maintained normal imprinting at the Dlk1-Dio3 locus, and did not create mice with tumors. Loss of imprinting (LOI) at the Dlk1-Dio3 locus did not strictly correlate with reduced pluripotency though the efficiency of generating "all-iPSC mice" was diminished. Our data indicate that stoichiometry of reprogramming factors can influence epigenetic and biological properties of iPS cells. This concept complicates efforts to define a "generic" epigenetic state of iPSCs and ESCs and should be considered when comparing different iPS and ES cell lines.     

Regulation of Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cell Induction by Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

Wnt signaling has been implicated in promoting somatic cell reprogramming. However, its molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here we report that Wnt/β-catenin enhances iPSCs induction at the early stage of reprogramming. The augmented reprogramming induced by β-catenin is not due to increased total cell population or activation of c-Myc. In addition, β-catenin interacts with reprogramming factors Klf4, Oct4, and Sox2, further enhancing expression of pluripotency circuitry genes. These studies reveal novel mechanisms underlying the regulation of reprogramming somatic cells to pluripotency by Wnt/β-catenin signaling.     

Physical Interactions and Functional Coordination between the Core Subunits of Set1/Mll Complexes and the Reprogramming Factors

Differentiated cells can be reprogrammed to the pluripotent state by overexpression of defined factors, and this process is profoundly influenced by epigenetic mechanisms including dynamic histone modifications. Changes in H3K4 methylation have been shown to be the predominant activating response in the early stage of cellular reprogramming. Mechanisms underlying such epigenetic priming, however, are not well understood. Here we show that the expression of the reprogramming factors (Yamanaka factors, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and Myc), especially Myc, directly promotes the expression of certain core subunits of the Set1/Mll family of H3K4 methyltransferase complexes. A dynamic recruitment of the Set1/Mll complexes largely, though not sufficiently in its own, explains the dynamics of the H3K4 methylation during cellular reprogramming. We then demonstrate that the core subunits of the Set1/Mll complexes physically interact with mainly Sox2 and Myc among the Yamanaka factors. We further show that Sox2 directly binds the Ash2l subunit in the Set1/Mll complexes and this binding is mediated by the HMG domain of Sox2. Functionally, we show that the Set1/Mll complex core subunits are required for efficient cellular reprogramming. We also show that Dpy30, one of the core subunits in the complexes, is required for the efficient target binding of the reprogramming factors. Interestingly, such requirement is not necessarily dependent on locus-specific H3K4 methylation. Our work provides a better understanding of how the reprogramming factors physically interact and functionally coordinate with a key group of epigenetic modulators to mediate transitions of the chromatin state involved in cellular reprogramming.