Effects of feeder layer and BRL conditioned medium on mouse embryonic stem cells

In vitro growth and maintenance of embryonic stem (ES) cell lines derived from ICM cells of various blastocysts of 129 strain mice,the sustenance of their pluripotency and normal karyotype depend on the feeder layer of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF).Compared with the feeder layer of MEF cells,medium conditioned by Buffalo rat liver cells (BRL-CM) is able to maintain pluripotency and karyotypic normality of ES cells only in short term cell propagation.Besides,ES cells grown in BRL-CM are also capable of aggregation with 8-cell embryos of Swiss strain and develop into germ line chimaeras.Modification to the method of aggregating ES cells with early embryos by making a hole in agar layer on the top of MEF feeder cells was shown to be more converient and efficient than the conventional microdrop method.     

多氯联苯对鸡胚的毒性作用

The toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenlys (PCB) on embryonic chickens, especially on liver morphology, were studied. PCB (Aroclor 1 254) was injected into yolk of Hyline fertilized eggs, with doses of 0, 1, 10 and 100 μg/egg, respectively. The survival rate of chicken embryos in each PCB treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The hatching rate of 1 μg/egg group was only 40%. Subcutaneous edema and hydrocephally were found in dead embryos and newly hatched chicks of all treatment groups. Livers of newly hatched chickens were removed for examination of histological structures. After PCB treatment, severe liver injury was apparent. The hepatic structures were damaged and steatosis was observed, together with necrosis and cell vacuolation and pyknosis. There were more Kupffers cells in the hepatic sinusoid. No PAS positive staining was found in the hepatic cytoplasm, indicating that glycogen was exhausted in the hepatic cells. The higher death rate in PCB treated groups may be related to glycogen exhaustion. These findings indicate that PCBs reduced the hatching rate by causing severe subcutaneous edema and liver injury in chicken embryos.     

Effects of different states of sheep fetal fibroblasts as donor cells on the early development in vitro of reconstructed sheep embryos

To investigate the effects of different states of donor cells on the development of reconstructed sheep embryos, we designed five treatments of donor cells, including cell passage, cell size, serum starvation, colchicine treatment and gene transfection. Results are as follows: (Ⅰ) Compared with 16-18 passage cells, the morula/blastocyst rate of 5-7 passage cells as donor nuclei was significantly higher (17.3% vs. 4.9%, P<0.05), suggesting the advantage of short-time cultured cells in supporting the development of reconstructed embryos. (Ⅱ) The morula/blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos derived from medium cells (15-25μm) as donor nuclei was higher than that from large cells (25-33μm) and small cells (8-15μm)( 20.0% vs. 8.0%, 9.7%), indicating that reconstructed embryos from medium cells had a greater potentiality to develop into morula/blastocysts than those from small or large ones. (Ⅲ) The morula/blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos from donor cells of SS (serum starvation) was lower than that from donor cells of NSS (non-serum starvation), but no significant difference was detected between SS and NSS(11.8% vs. 18.6%, P>0.05). (Ⅳ) Fetal fibroblasts treated with 0.05μmol/L colchicine exhibited a higher morula/blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos than those treated with 0.10 μmol/L colchicine and untreated ones (27.5% vs. 12.1%, 17.1%), however, no significant difference among the three treatments was detected (P>0.05). (Ⅴ) The morula/blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos from fetal fibroblasts transfected with GFP gene only was 3.1%, significantly lower than that from non-transgenic cells (3.1% vs. 20.4%, P<0.05). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that fetal fibroblasts of fewer passages, medium size could ensure a higher morula/blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos. Serum starvation of donor cells might be unnecessary to the development of reconstructed embryos. Donor cells treated with 0.05μmol/L colchicine could facilitate the development of reconstructed embryos. Additionally, as cells transfected with GFP gene were used as donor nuclei, adverse effect on the development of reconstructed embryos was observed. Therefore, the developmental efficiency of reconstructed embryos could be improved if proper treatments to donor cells were used.     

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) somatic nucleus can dedifferentiate in rabbit ooplasm and support early development of the reconstructed egg

The giant panda skeletal muscle cells, uterus epithelial cells and mammary gland cells from an adult individual were cultured and used as nucleus donor for the construction of interspecies embryos by transferring them into enucleated rabbit eggs. All the three kinds of somatic cells were able to reprogram in rabbit ooplasm and support early embryo development, of which mammary gland cells were proven to be the best, followed by uterus epithelial cells and skeletal muscle cells. The experiments showed that direct injection of mammary gland cell into enucleated rabbit ooplasm, combined with in vivo development in ligated rabbit oviduct, achieved higher blastoeyst development than in vitro culture after the somatic cell was injected into the perivitelline space and fused with the enucleated egg by electrical stimulation. The chromosome analysis demonstrated that the genetic materials in reconstructed blastocyst cells were the same as that in panda somatic cells. In addition, giant panda mitochondrial DNA (     

Establishment of a novel corneal endothelial cell line from domestic rabbit, Oryctolagus curiculus

To develop a rabbit corneal endothelial (RCE) cell line, in vitro culture of RCE cells was initiated from Oryctolagus curiculus corneas and a novel RCE cell line was established in this study. To initiate the primary culture of RCE cells, corneas from rabbit eyes were sliced and attached into glutin-coated wells with endothelial cell surface down. After being cultured at a time-gradient interval from 48 to 6 h, the corneal slices were detached and reattached into new wells, respectively. Cells in the wells containing only a pure population of RCE cells were collected and cultured in 20% FBS-DMEM/F12 medium con- taining chondroitin sulfate, ocular extract, epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), carboxymethyl-chitosan, N-acetylglucosamine hydrochloride, glucosamine hydrochloride, culture medium of rabbit corneal stromal cells and oxidation-degradation products of chondroitin sul- fate at 37℃, 5% CO2. The cultured RCE cells, in quadrangle and polygonal shapes, proliferated to con- fluence 3 weeks later. During the subsequent subculture, the shape of RCE cells changed gradually from polygonal to more fibroblastic. A novel RCE cell line, growing at a steady rate, with a population doubling time of 53.8 h, has been established and subcultured to passage 67. Chromosome analysis showed that the RCE cells exhibited chromosomal aneuploidy with the modal chromosome number of 44. The results of immuno-cytochemical staining with neuron specific enolase (NSE) confirmed that the RCE cells were in neuroectodermal origin. Combined with the results of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment and endothelial cell morphology recovery, it can be concluded that the cell line established here is an RCE cell line. This RCE cell line may serve as a useful tool in theoretical re- searches of mammalian corneal endothelial cells, and may also have potential application in artificial corneal endothelium development.     

A NEW CELL CLONE DERIVED FROM TRICHOPLUSIA NI TN5B1-4 CELLS

The characteristics of a cultured cell line do not always remain stable and may change upon continuous passage. Most continuous cell lines, even after cloning, possess several genotypes that are constantly changing. There are numerous selective and adaptive culture processes, in addition to genetic instability, that may improve phenotypic change in cell growth, virus susceptibility, gene expression, and production of virus. Similar detrimental effects of long term passaging of insect cells have also been reported for continuous cell lines, for example, Tn5B 1-4 cells, which are the most widely used for the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS), provide superior production of recombinant proteins,however, this high productivity may be more evident in low passage cells. In this paper, we describe the isolation of a cell clone, Tn5B-40, from low passage Tn5B 1-4 cells. The growth characteristics,productions of virus, and high level of recombinant protein productions were determined. The results showed the susceptibility of both clone and Tn5B 1-4 cells to wild-type AcNPV was approximately the same rate with over 95% of infection; when the cloned cells were infected with recombinant baculoviruses expressing β-galactosidase and secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP), expression of the recombinant proteins from the cloned cells exceeded that from the parental Tn5B 1-4 cells.     

Establishment of customized mouse stem cell lines by sequential nuclear transfer

Therapeutic cloning, whereby embryonic stem cells （ESCs） are derived from nuclear transfer （NT） embryos, may play a major role in the new era of regenerative medicine. In this study we established forty nuclear transfer-ESC （NTESC） lines that were derived from NT embryos of different donor cell types or passages. We found that NT-ESCs were capable of forming embryoid bodies. In addition, NT-ESCs expressed pluripotency stem cell markers in vitro and could differentiate into embryonic tissues in vivo. NT embryos from early passage RI donor cells were able to form full term developed pups, whereas those from late passage RI ES donor cells lost the potential for reprogramming that is essential for live birth. We subsequently established sequential NT-RI-ESC lines that were developed from NT blastocyst of late passage R 1 ESC donors. However, these NT-R I-ESC lines, when used as nuclear transfer donors at their early passages, failed to result in live pups. This indicates that the therapeutic cloning process using sequential NT-ESCs may not rescue the developmental deficiencies that resided in previous donor generations.     

Derivation and characterization of human embryonic stem cell lines from poor quality embryos

Poor quality embryos discarded from in vitro fertilization （IVF） laboratories are good sources for deriving human embryonic stem cell （hESC） lines. In this study, 166 poor quality embryos donated from IVF centers on day 3 were cultured in a blastocyst medium for 2 days, and 32 early blastocysts were further cultured in a blastocyst optimum culture medium for additional 2 days so that the inner cell masses （ICMs） could be identified and isolated easily. The ICMs of 17 blastocysts were isolated by a mechanical method, while those of the other 15 blastocysts were isolated by immunosurgery. All isolated ICMs were inoculated onto a feeder layer for subcultivation. The rates of ICM attachment, primary ICM colony formation and the efficiency of hESC derivation were similar between the ICMs isolated by the two methods （P〉0.05）. As a result, four new hESC lines were established. Three cell lines had normal karyotypes and one had an unbalanced Robertsonian translocation. All cell lines showed normal hESC characteristics and had the differentiation ability. In conclusion, we established a stable and effective method for hESC isolation and culture, and it was confirmed that the mechanical isolation was an effective method to isolate ICMs from poor embryos. These results further indicate that hESC lines can be derived from poor quality embryos discarded by IVF laboratories.     

Promoting human embryonic stem cell renewal or differentiation by modulating Wnt signal and culture conditions

We previously showed that Wnt3a could stimulate human embryonic stem （hES） cell proliferation and affect cell fate determination. In the absence of feeder cell--derived factors, hES cells cultured under a feeder-free condition survived and proliferated poorly. Adding recombinant Wnt3a in the absence of feeder cell derived-factors stimulated hES cell proliferation but also differentiation. In the present study, we further extended our analysis to other Wnt ligands such as Wntl and Wnt5a. While Wntl displayed a similar effect on hES cells as Wnt3a, Wnt5a had little effect in this system. Wnt3a and Wntl enhanced proliferation of undifferentiated hES cells when feeder-derived self-renewal factors and bFGF are also present. To explore the possibility to promote the proliferation of undifferentiated hES cells by activating the Wnt signaling, we overexpressed Wnt3a or Wntl gene in immortalized human adult fibroblast （HAFi） cells that are superior in supporting long-term growth of undifferentiated hES cells than primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts. HAFi cells with or without a Wnt tmnsgene can be propagated indefinitely. Over-expression of the Wnt3a gene significantly enhanced the ability of HAFi feeder cells to support the undifferentiated growth of 3 different hES cell lines we tested. Co-expression of three commonly-used drug selection genes in Wnt3a-overpressing HAFi cells further enabled us to select rare hES clones after stable transfection or transduction. These immortalized engineered feeder cells （W3R） that co-express growth-promoting genes such as Wnt3a and three drug selection genes should empower us to efficiently make genetic modified hES cell lines for basic and translational research.     

影响鸡原始生殖细胞分离克隆因素的研究（简报）

具有多向分化潜能的胚胎干细胞有两种来源：一是来自于早期胚胎内细胞团的胚胎干细胞(Em．bryonic Stem Cells,ESCs),另一种是来自于胚胎生殖腺原始生殖细胞(Primordial Germ Cells,PGCs)的胚胎生殖细胞(Embryonic Germ Cells,EGCs)。     

鸭胚胎干细胞分离与鉴定

采用药勺法分离仙湖3号肉鸭鸭胚的胚盘细胞,并以鸭胚成纤维细胞作为饲养层,培养鸭胚胎干细胞。在此基础上,通过对体外培养的鸭胚胎干细胞形态观察,碱性磷酸酶染色(AKP)以及胚胎阶段表面特异性抗原(SSEA-1)免疫组化等方法,分离与鉴定鸭胚胎干细胞。结果表明传至第3代的鸭胚胎干细胞经AKP和SSEA-1鉴定均为阳性,AKP染色为深蓝色,SSEA-1染色呈绿色荧光,表明培养至第3代的鸭胚胎干细胞仍保持干细胞未分化特性,具有胚胎干细胞的特征。结果提示本试验分离、培养的鸭胚盘细胞为鸭胚胎干细胞。     

分离和克隆小鼠ES细胞集落的主要影响因素

目的　研究不同培养条件分离和克隆小鼠ES细胞集落的效率。方法　以PMEF饲养层、NIH3T3细胞饲养层或培养液中加入LIF为培养条件 ,分离和克隆昆明小鼠ES细胞集落 ,比较其效率。结果　饲养层的培养条件明显优于培养液中加入LIF的培养条件 ;有饲养层的培养条件下 ,桑椹胚的ES细胞集落出现率显著低于囊胚 ;两种饲养层培养囊胚 ,其ES细胞集落的出现率差异无显著性。结论　以PMEF或NIH3T3细胞作饲养层 ,培养昆明小鼠的囊胚 ,适时离散ICM ,是比较理想的分离ES细胞集落的方法。     

用饲养层分离胚胎干细胞集落的实验初探

目的 用饲养层分离胚胎干细胞集落。方法 用胚龄为13~14 d的小鼠胚胎分离原代成纤维细胞,制成饲养层,用于囊胚的培养。结果 小鼠原代胚胎成纤维细胞（PMEF）贴壁能力较好,增殖快,易铺层。囊胚和内细胞团（ICM）在饲养层上贴壁生长良好,当培养4~5 d时,其增殖率为16/28（57%）。在ICM离散48 h后,各种胚胎干细胞（ES）集落开始出现。此种集落经碱性磷酸酶染色成阳性。结论 用饲养层分离胚胎干细胞获得初步成功。     

以人皮肤成纤维细胞作为饲养层细胞培养人胚胎干细胞

目的：比较人皮肤成纤维细胞（humandermalfibroblasts,HDFs）与小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞（Mouseembryonicfibroblasts,MEFs）的增殖能力及研究人皮肤成纤维细胞作为饲养层支持人胚胎干细胞（humanembryonicstemcells,hESCs）未分化生长的能力。方法：利用组织贴壁法从人皮肤中分离出HDFs,通过细胞形态的观察和生长曲线的绘制比较HDFs与MEFs的体外增殖能力。将HDFs作为饲养层细胞与hESCs共培养,传代12代后,检测hESCs碱性磷酸酶（AKP）、表面特异性标志及胚胎干细胞特异性转录因子。结果：HDFs可连续传代培养15代以上,10代以下的HDFs增殖迅速,而MEFs自第4代起,增殖能力就明显下降;hESCs在HDFs饲养层上可传代培养12代以上,克隆边界清晰,细胞排列紧密,碱性磷酸酶、表面标志物检测均呈阳性,表达了hESCs特异性转录因子。结论：HDFs比MEFs具有更强的增殖能力;HDFs可作为培养hEscs的饲养层细胞。     

Pro-proliferating effect of homologous somatic cells on chicken primordial germ cells

Many studies demonstrated that chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs) could maintain undifferentiated state on mouse embryonic fibroblast feeders supplemented with growth factors and cytokines. However, the xenosupport systems may run risk of cross-transfer of animal pathogens from the other animal feeder, matrix to the PGCs, then influencing later transgenic technology. In this study, chicken PGCs were identified by alkaline phosphatase, stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 and Oct-4 immunocytochemical stainings. Three different homologous somatic cell feeder layers (chicken embryonic fibroblast feeder layer, CEF; embryonic skeletal myoblast feeder layer; follicular granulosa cell feeder layer) were used to support growth and proliferation of PGCs to find a better supporting culture system. In addition, the effects of fetal calf serum (FCS), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and the combination of insulin, transferring and selenite (ITS) on PGC proliferation were compared. Results showed that CEF was the best supporter for PGC growth and proliferation, which was verified by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation stain. FCS alone or in combination with LIF could significantly promote PGC proliferation in the presence of CEF in ITS medium. This study will contribute to providing a safer supporting system for chicken PGC amplification in vitro, and may be applied in transgenic chicken production and transplantation therapy.     

不同饲养层对鸡胚胎干细胞培养效果的影响

目的:为探索鸡胚胎干细胞培养的优化条件,比较不同饲养层对鸡胚胎干细胞离体培养的效果。方法:用传至第2代的鸡胚成纤维细胞与鸭胚成纤维细胞,经丝裂霉素处理后制作饲养层,比较这2种饲养层以及不用饲养层对鸡胚胎干细胞离体培养效果的影响。结果:在以鸡胚成纤维细胞和鸭胚成纤维细胞作为饲养层的培养体系中,鸡胚胎干细胞均可保持良好的生长状态,而且2种饲养层对鸡胚胎干细胞克隆形成的影响差异不显著(P0.05)。结论:鸡胚成纤维细胞和鸭胚成纤维细胞均可作为较好的饲养层细胞用于鸡胚胎干细胞的离体培养。     

Effects of different feeder layers on culture of bovine embryonic stem cell-like cells in vitro

To find a suitable feeder layer is important for successful culture conditions of bovine embryonic stem cell-like cells. In this study, expression of pluripotency-related genes OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG in bovine embryonic stem cell-like cells on mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers at 1–5 passages were monitored in order to identify the possible reason that bovine embryonic stem cell-like cells could not continue growth and passage. Here, we developed two novel feeder layers, mixed embryonic fibroblast feeder layers of mouse and bovine embryonic fibroblast at different ratios and sources including mouse fibroblast cell lines. The bovine embryonic stem cell-like cells generated in our study displayed typical stem cell morphology and expressed specific markers such as OCT4, stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 and 4, alkaline phosphatase, SOX2, and NANOG mRNA levels. When feeder layers and cell growth factors were removed, the bovine embryonic stem cell-like cells formed embryoid bodies in a suspension culture. Furthermore, we compared the expression of the pluripotent markers during bovine embryonic stem cell-like cell in culture on mixed embryonic fibroblast feeder layers, including mouse fibroblast cell lines feeder layers and mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results suggested that mixed embryonic fibroblast and sources including mouse fibroblast cell lines feeder layers were more suitable for long-term culture and growth of bovine embryonic stem cell-like cells than mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers. The findings may provide useful experimental data for the establishment of an appropriate culture system for bovine embryonic stem cell lines.     

A human endothelial cell feeder system that efficiently supports the undifferentiated growth of mouse embryonic stem cells

Feeder cells are commonly used to culture embryonic stem cells to maintain their undifferentiated and pluripotent status. Conventionally, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), supplemented with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), are used as feeder cells to support the growth of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in culture. To prepare for fresh MEF feeder or for MEF-conditioned medium, sacrifice of mouse fetuses repeatedly is unavoidable in these tedious culture systems. Here we report the discovery of a human endothelial cell line (ECV-304 cell line) that efficiently supports growth of mESCs LIF-free conditions. mESCs that were successfully cultured for eight to 20 passages on ECV-304 feeders showed morphological characteristics similar to cells cultured in traditional feeder cell systems. These cells expressed the stem cell markers Oct3/4, Nanog, Sox2, and SSEA-1. Furthermore, cells cultured on the ECV-304 cell line were able to differentiate into three germ layers and were able to generate chimeric mice. Compared with traditional culture systems, there is no requirement for mouse fetuses and exogenous LIF does not need to be added to the culture system. As a stable cell line, the ECV-304 cell line efficiently replaces MEFs as an effective feeder system and allows the efficient expansion of mESCs.