The stem cells of a primordial germ cell-derived teratocarcinoma have the ability to form viable mouse chimeras

A euploid testicular teratocarcinoma line, STT-3, has been established from a tumor spontaneously occurring in the testis of a 129/Sv-ter male. Developmental ability of the STT-3 stem cells was tested by injecting these cells into mouse blastocysts. The frequency and the extent of chimerism were examined in mid-gestational fetuses and in live-born mice. STT-3 stem cells form viable chimeras at a high rate and differentiate into normal tissues. This is the first reported testicular teratocarcinoma-derived stem line with a proven capacity to form viable chimeric mice upon injection into the blastocysts.     

Developmental potency of teratocarcinoma cells in chimeric embryos

The developmental potential of various teratocarcinomas of different origins was examined by making chimeras with mouse embryos. Of 7 teratocarcinoma lines examined, only 2 were found to contain stem cells having the ability to form live-born chimeras; one was experimentally induced OTTBALB-2 and the other was spontaneously occurring STT-3. The latter showed remarkable ability to colonize mid-gestational fetuses and adults. This result not only demonstrates that EC cells of male primordial germ cells have the ability to form viable chimeras but also suggest that this kind of tumor is a useful source of EC cells to make chimeras. The advantage of using pluripotent cell lines such as EC cells or embryonic stem (ES) cells as a vector for introducing foreign genes into mouse embryos was discussed in relation to the study on gene function and on gene regulation during development.     

Neoplastic differentiation: characteristics of cell lines derived from a murine teratocarcinoma

Monolayer cultures of a mouse teratocarcinoma were established in vitro. These cultures contained embryonal carcinoma, the malignant stem cell, and its differentiated progeny: parietal yolk sac, neuroepithelial, and mesenchymal cells. Tissues such as squamous epithelium, cartilage, striated muscle, neuroepithelium, and glands were produced from embryonal carcinoma that was maintained under conditions of long term culture. Frequent subcultivation with pancreatin allowed the establishment of cell lines of embryonal carcinoma which have been maintained for more than 18 months in vitro and continue to produce differentiated cells under specific culture conditions. Chromosomally these lines of embryonal carcinoma have a stem line of 39 chromosomes. Two lines of parietal yolk sac cells have been established which produce basement membrane, are not tumorigenic, and chromosomally are hypotetraploid. This system may yield information concerning neoplastic differentiation and its possible use in therapy for cancer.     

Pluripotent Embryonal Stem Cell Lines Can Be Established from Disaggregated Mouse Morulae

Mouse pluripotent embryonal stem ( ES ) cell lines hitherto have been conventionally isolated from the 'inner cell mass' of mouse blastocysts. In this report, I describe a new and simplified method for establishing pluripotent cell lines from mouse morulae of the 16- to 20-cell stage, which were disaggregated by the use of EDTA. From 17 cell lines established in such a way, 7 were characterized with respect to their differentiation potential:
(i) When injected into syngeneic mice, the cells gave rise to solid, fully differentiated teratomas representing derivatives of all three germ layers. (ii) When cultured in suspension in vitro, the cells were able to differentiate into complex organized 'embryoid bodies' analogous to mouse early postimplantation embryos. These results strongly imply that embryonal stem cell lines isolated from mouse morulae are highly homologous to conventionally isolated ES cells.
In addition, my results indicate that murine pluripotent embryonal stem ( ES ) cell lines can be derived with more ease and higher efficiency from disaggregated morulae than from the 'inner cell mass' of blastocysts.     

Stable transformation of mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells with the dominant selective marker Eco.gpt and retention of their developmental potentialities

Transformation of PCC4 mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells was obtained using a dominant selective marker, the enzyme xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (XGPRT), coded by the bacterial Eco.gpt gene placed under the control of the early SV40 genes in the vector pSV2gpt. An average of 20 colonies of transformed cells was obtained, using the calcium phosphate technique, 10 microg DNA vector, no carrier DNA and 1 x 10(6) recipient cells. Five independent Eco.gpt-transformed PCC4 cell lines were propagated in selective medium and assayed for XGPRT activity. All of them had the ability to convert [14C]xanthine to xanthine monophosphate. pSV2gpt sequences were present and associated with high mol. wt. cellular DNA. pSV2gpt sequences and XGPRT activity were both conserved in the three clones that were propagated in non-selective medium for 30 generations. The transformed PCC4 cells retained their ability to produce, in host mice, teratocarcinoma tumors composed of embryonal carcinoma and various differentiated tissues. Thus, pSV2gpt can be used as a dominant marker to select teratocarcinoma stem cells co-transformed with genes that are not selectable by themselves.     

Serological analysis of early mouse embryo with rat monoclonal antibodies produced against mouse teratocarcinoma cells

Rat-mouse hybridoma antibodies were produced against mouse teratocarcinoma F9 or PCC4 aza1 cells, and four clones were established. Both the F11 (IgM) and F20 (IgG2c) antibodies showed a similar specificity, reacting only with nullipotential teratocarcinoma cells. They were also found to agglutinate sheep red blood cells. Solid-phase enzyme-linked immunofluorescence assay showed that, among the neutral glycolipids studied, they only reacted with the Forssman antigen. P2 antibody (IgG2b) reacted with the undifferentiated-type and embryonal endodermtype teratocarcinoma cells. During the preimplantation stage, this antibody did not stain mouse embryos, but it reacted very weakly with the inner cell mass of blastocysts cultured in vitro. In the 5th-day embryo, the embryonic ectoderm as well as the visceral and parietal endoderm were positive, but the extraembryonic ectoderm was not. Mesoderm of the 7.5th-day embryo also reacted with this antibody. However, P2 antigen was not observed in the 16th-day embryo or in adult tissues. F2 antibody (IgG2a), which was reactive with all of the cultured cell lines tested, showed an immunoreaction with mouse embryos throughout the preimplantation stage. However, in the 7.5th-day embryo, the presence of F2 was limited to the cells forming the parietal endoderm. This antigen was present in some epithelial tissues of the 16th-day embryo and adult mouse. Of these antigens, P2 and F2 are probably novel differentiation antigens of the early mouse embryo. Together with the Forssman antigen, these will be important markers for analyzing cell-surface antigens of mouse teratocarcinoma cells as well as embryos.     

Protein synthetic patterns in teratocarcinoma stem cells and mouse embryos at early stages of development

The patterns of protein synthesis in teratocarcinoma stem cells (embryonal carcinoma cells) and in mouse embryos at various stages of preimplantation development were studied using SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis with autoradiography. Significant differences were observed in comparisons of embryonal carcinoma cells with isolated inner cell masses (ICMs) or with embryonic cells at earlier stages of development. However, no such differences in the overall pattern of protein synthesis were found when the embryonal carcinoma cells were compared with the embryonic ectoderm (that portion of the ICM which remains after endoderm differentiation). Both synthesize at least one prominent 55,000-dalton protein that is not detected in embryonic cells at earlier stages of development. This protein can thus be used as a biochemical marker of ectoderm formation during embryonic development. The pattern of protein synthesis common to embryonal carcinoma cells and embryonic ectoderm is not shared by other cultured cell types.     

Cell surface antigens of clonal teratocarcinoma cells at various stages of differentiation

We have studied cell surface antigen expression of teratocarcinoma cells at various stages of differentiation. These cells can be maintained in the undifferentiated state or will differentiate in vitro in a manner which parallels the early development of the mouse embryo. Three antigens were studied: a stem cell antigen (C); the major histocompatibility alloantigens (H-2); and the alloantigen Thy-1.The stem cell antigen was recognized by an anti-serum raised against a pluripotent teratocarcinoma cell line. This antiserum was shown to label embryonal carcinoma cells and early mouse embryo cells. The activity of the antiserum against embryonal carcinoma cells could be adsorbed with brain, kidney, and sperm from adult mice.The phenotype of the undifferentiated embryonal carcinoma cells is C⁺, H-2⁻, Thy-1⁻ or C⁻, H-2⁻, Thy-1⁻. The first stage in the process of differentiation is the formation of simple embryoid bodies with a layer of endodermal cells surrounding an inner core of embryonal carcinoma cells. The endodermal cells are C⁻, H-2⁻, Thy-1⁻. Further differentiation of the embryoid bodies attached to a substratum is associated with the appearance of H-2⁺ and Thy-1⁺ cells in the cultures.     

Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of different type cytostatics on mouse pluripotent stem and teratocarcinoma cells

Pluripotent stem cells are able to proliferate indefinitely and differentiate in vitro into various cell types. However, in most cases in vitro differentiation of the pluripotent stem cells is asynchronous and incomplete, and the residual undifferentiated cells can initiate teratoma development after transplantation into recipients. These features of the pluripotent stem cells are the major issue for development of safe cell therapy technologies based on pluripotent stem cells. Considering significant resemblance of growth rates of pluripotent stem and cancer cells we investigated antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of different type cytostatics (mitomycin C, etoposide, vinblastine and cycloheximide) on the undifferentiated and differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells, embryonic germ cells, blastocyst and on mouse embryonal teratocarcinoma cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The findings showed that all cytostatics used induced both antiproliferative effects and acute toxic processes in undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells and embryonal teratocarcinoma cells whereas these effects were less in differentiating embryonic stem cells and embryonic fibroblast. Moreover, the trophoblast cells of mouse blastocysts were less sensitive to damaging effects of cytostatics than inner cell mass cells. The examination of deferred effects of cytostatics revealed that the effects of mitomycin C, etoposide and vinblastine, but not cycloheximide, were irreversible because survived cells were not able to proliferate. Nevertheless, the numbers of embryonic fibroblasts exposed to etoposide or vinblastine remained unchanged while vast majority of undifferentiated pluripotent cells treated underwent apoptosis. Thus, diverse effects of etoposide and vinblastine on the undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells and differentiated embryonic cells allow us to consider these cytostatics and their analogs as drug-candidates for selective elimination of the residual undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells from population of differentiating cells. These findings demonstrate for the first time the possibility of selective elimination of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells using cytostatic drugs approved for clinic practice. However, to improve effectiveness and safety of this approach and to prevent mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects on undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated cell derivatives large-scale studies of cytostatic effects using different experimental design and active doses must be performed.     

Characteristics of the interferon system of an embryonal carcinomal cell are recessive in intraspecific somatic cell hybrids

We have obtained hybrids of PCC4-aza 1, a mouse embryonal carcinoma stem cell line, and two different thymidine kinase deficient mouse cell lines. We have examined the ability of the parental and hybrid cells to produce interferon after infection with the Newcastle Disease virus and to enter the antiviral state when treated with mouse interferon. The interferon system of PCC4-aza 1 is inactive; this characteristic is recessive in the hybrids obtained.     

Isolation and characterization of a near-diploid differentiated cell line from a murine teratocarcinoma that differentiates into muscle

Cell lines corresponding to various cell lineages of the mouse embryo have been isolated from murine teratocarcinomas. Embryonal carcinoma cell lines are developmentally equivalent to the embryonic ectoderm or inner cell mass. Most of these cell lines have a modal chromosome number equal or close to 40, the normal mouse complement. However, cell lines corresponding to more advanced cell lineages (e.g., endoderm) are tetraploid or hypotetraploid and display multiple chromosomal rearrangements. This paper describes the isolation of a near-diploid differentiated cell line (LT-D) from an LT teratocarcinoma. The modal chromosome number of LT-D is 40, and this number is stable during at least 12 mo of continuous culture. LT-D cells are morphologically distinct from embryonal carcinoma cells and no longer express the SSEA-1 cell surface antigen or high alkaline phosphatase activity characteristic of embryonal carcinoma cells. LT-D cells can be induced to fuse into structures resembling myotubes. The formation of these structures is accompanied by expression of the muscle-specific isozyme of creatine phosphokinase and desmin, a muscle-specific component of intermediate filaments. Lastly, LT-D cells do not form tumors in syngenetic mice.     

Differentiation antigens of mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells defined by monoclonal antibodies

Three differentiation antigens of mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells are defined using a panel of ten IgM-class monoclonal antibodies raised against teratocarcinoma F9 cells. TEC-01 and four other antibodies define an antigen that corresponds to SSEA-1. TEC-02 antibody defines an antigen that is expressed on teratocarcinoma stem cells, parietal yolk sac cells PYS-2, unfertilized eggs including the zona pellucida and blastocysts. It is absent from all mouse adult tissues tested. Three other antibodies exhibit binding properties similar to TEC-02. TEC-03 antibody defines an antigen that is expressed on teratocarcinoma stem cells, PYS-2 cells and mouse blastocysts. It is absent from all mouse adult tissues except for lungs.     

Expression patterns of germ line specific genes in mouse and human pluripotent stem cells are associated with regulation of ground and primed state of pluripotency

One of the main criteria of pluripotency is ability of cell lines to differentiate into the germ line. Pluripotent stem cell lines in ground state of pluripotency differ from the lines in primed state by their ability to give rise to the mature gametes. To understand molecular mechanisms involved in regulation of different states of pluripotency we investigated the expression patterns of germ line specific genes in different type pluripotent stem cells and mouse and human embryonic teratocarcinoma cells. We found that pluripotent stem cells in vitro, in blastocyst and gonocytes at stage E13.5 had similar expression patterns in contrast to the epiblast cells at stage E6.5. Quantitative real time PCR analysis showed that Vasa/Ddx4 expression in mouse and human embryonic stem cells was significantly lower than in blastocyst and gonocytes. Moreover, Vasa/Ddx4 and E-ras expression was significantly higher in mouse embryonic stem cells than in human embryonic stem cells. Our analysis of germ line specific gene expression in differentiating mouse embryonic stem and embryonic germ cells as well as in mouse embryonic teratocarcinoma cells maintained under conditions promoting cell reprogramming from primed to ground state of pluripotency (2i + LIF) revealed that only pluripotent stem cells are able to regulate the expression level of Oct4 and Vasa/Ddx4 and restore initial ground state, while in embryonic teratocarcinoma cells the expression level of these genes remained unchanged. We suggest that expression patterns of germ lines specific genes, in particular of Vasa/Ddx4, can underlie the regulation of ground and primed states of pluripotency.     

Establishment of a germ-line competent C57BL/6 embryonic stem cell line

Embryonic stem (ES) cell lines have been derived from blastocysts of the inbred mouse strain C57BL/6. The highest frequencies of ES cell colonies were observed when blastocysts were explanted directly onto growth-arrested feeder layers of 5637 human bladder carcinoma cells in the presence of conditioned medium. One of the male ES cell lines tested (BL/6-III) was shown to be karyotypically stable and germ-line competent when introduced into BALB/c host blastocysts. These results demonstrate that ES cell lines from inbred mouse strains other than 129/Sv may be used as vectors to introduce selected mutations into the germ-line of mice.     

Conditions permitting the homotopic expression of lens-specific crystallin genes

δ-Crystallin is a major soluble protein of the avian and reptilian lens, and its expression is highly tissue-specific in development. In order to understand regulatory mechanisms for tissue-specific expression of δ-crystallin gene, several experimental systems were established in a heterologous combination of the chicken gene and mouse cells. The expression was ectopic in various cell types differentiated in teratomas derived from mouse teratocarcinoma or embryonic stem cells which were transformed to carry the chicken δ-crystallin genes. Cells of the same transformed lines of embryonic stem cells expressed the chicken gene homotopically in chimeric embryos produced by injecting them into the blastocysts. The homotopic expression also occurred in experimental systems consisting of the heterologous introduction of the gene (1) into various mouse cells in primary cultures, and (2) into male pronuclei of mouse fertilized eggs.     

Use of BRL-conditioned medium in combination with feeder layers to isolate a diploid embryonal stem cell line

Summary The derivation of a karyotypically normal embryonal stem (ES) cell line, E14, from inner cell masses (ICMs) isolated by immunosurgery from 129/Ola late mouse blastocysts is described. Disaggregated ICMs were cultured on mitotically-arrested fibroblast feeder layers in droplets of medium conditioned with Buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells under oil. BRL-conditioned medium inhibits the differentiation of established embryonal carcinoma (EC) and ES cell lines which can be maintained indefinitely in the complete absence of feeder cells (Smith and Hooper 1987). At clonal densities, however, a combination of BRL-conditioned medium and a feeder layer was most effective in preventing the differentiation of E14 cells. This effect was less pronounced at higher passage suggesting it may be particularly important to use a combination in the early stages of isolation. Once established, E14 has been maintained in BRL-conditioned medium alone. In non-conditioned medium on agarose, E14 cells formed embryoid bodies which when allowed to reattach differentiated into a wide variety of tissues. An HPRT-deficient sub line of E14, E14TG2a, has been demonstrated to form germline chimaeras with high efficiency after injection into blastocysts (Hooper et al. 1987). The modifications to the ES cell isolation procedure described here may improve the efficiency with which karyotypically normal lines can be derived.     

Neural transplantation of human MSC and NT2 cells in the twitcher mouse model

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the NT2 embryonal carcinoma cell line and multipotential stem cells found in BM, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), have the ability to differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. This study was designed to explore the efficacy of these two human stem cell types as a graft source for the treatment of demyelinating disorders such as Krabbe's disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: We examined the engraftment and in vivo differentiation of adult MSC and NT2 cells after transplantation into two demyelinating environments, the neonatal and postnatal twitcher mouse brain. RESULTS: Both types of xenografts led to anatomical integration, without tumor formation, and remained viable in the normal and twitcher mouse brain, showing differentiation into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. DISCUSSION: This study represents a platform for further stem cell transplantation studies in the twitcher model and potentially has important therapeutic implications.