Embryonal Cell Hybrids: New Opportunities for Studying Pluripotency and Reprogramming of the Differentiated Cell Chromosomes

Here we study the properties of cell hybrids produced by the fusion of embryonal stem cells and differentiated ones. During in vitrocultivation, such hybrids predominantly lose the somatic partner chromosomes, although the loss of the embryonic partner autosomes is also common in the clones; i.e., this is a bidirectional process. The use of a selective media allows the isolation of the clones, with the embryonal X chromosome replaced by the somatic genome homolog. The cell hybrids with a near-diploid chromosome set preserve the high-level pluripotency properties of the embryonal partner including the capacity to form chimeras after their introduction in the blastocoel. An investigation of the chimeric animals demonstrated a reprogramming of the somatic X chromosome in the course of development. The prospective identification of the chromosomes involved in the maintenance of pluripotency and studies of its cis-and trans-regulation in the cell hybrid genome are discussed.     

Pluripotency and Epigenetic Factors in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Fate Regulation

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are characterized by their ability to self-renew and to differentiate into all cell types of a given organism. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern the ESC state is of great interest not only for basic research—for instance, ESCs represent a perfect system to study cellular differentiation in vitro—but also for their potential implications in human health, as these mechanisms are likewise involved in cancer progression and could be exploited in regenerative medicine. In this minireview, we focus on the latest insights into the molecular mechanisms mediated by the pluripotency factors as well as their roles during differentiation. We also discuss recent advances in understanding the function of the epigenetic regulators, Polycomb and MLL complexes, in ESC biology.     

Nodal Signaling Regulates the Bone Morphogenic Protein Pluripotency Pathway in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily play essential roles in both the pluripotency and differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Although bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) maintain pluripotency of undifferentiated mouse ES cells, the role of autocrine Nodal signaling is less clear. Pharmacological, molecular, and genetic methods were used to further understand the roles and potential interactions of these pathways. Treatment of undifferentiated ES cells with SB431542, a pharmacological inhibitor of Smad2 signaling, resulted in a rapid reduction of phosphorylated Smad2 and altered the expression of several putative downstream targets. Unexpectedly, inhibition of the Nodal signaling pathway resulted in enhanced BMP signaling, as assessed by Smad1/5 phosphorylation. SB431542-treated cells also demonstrated significant induction of the Id genes, which are known direct targets of BMP signaling and important factors in ES cell pluripotency. Inhibition of BMP signaling decreased the SB431542-mediated phosphorylation of Smad1/5 and induction of Id genes, suggesting that BMP signaling is necessary for some Smad2-mediated activity. Because Smad7, a known inhibitory factor to both Nodal and BMP signaling, was down-regulated following inhibition of Nodal-Smad2 signaling, the contribution of Smad7 to the cross-talk between the transforming growth factor-β pathways in ES cells was examined. Biochemical manipulation of Smad7 expression, through shRNA knockdown or inducible gene expression, significantly reduced the SB431542-mediated phosphorylation of Smad1/5 and induction of the Id genes. We conclude that autocrine Nodal signaling in undifferentiated mouse ES cells modulates the vital pluripotency pathway of BMP signaling.     

潮霉素抗性3T3细胞的建立和鉴定

目的　建立具有潮霉素 (hygromycin)抗性的 3T3细胞系 ,用于转染目的基因 (pTRE Ins human)的ES阳性细胞克隆筛选的饲养层。方法　通过脂质体转染的方法 ,将含有潮霉素B磷酸转移酶基因的质粒pHyg导入 3T3细胞中 ,利用潮霉素的药物选择特性 ,对转染细胞进行压力筛选 ,并对其进行PCR鉴定。结果　经 5 0 0 μg ml的潮霉素压力筛选后 ,获得了抗性细胞克隆。抗性 3T3细胞的形态和生长速度与正常 3T3细胞没有差异 ,特异性核苷酸引物检测抗性细胞基因组DNA ,可以扩增出对应的核苷酸片段。结论　成功地培育了潮霉素抗性的 3T3细胞 ,为进行目的基因 (pTRE Ins human)转染ES细胞的阳性细胞克隆筛选奠定了基础。     

Pluripotency: Toward a gold standard for human ES and iPS cells

With the advent of technologies for the derivation of embryonic stem cells and reprogrammed stem cells, use of the term “pluripotent” has become widespread. Despite its increased scientific and political importance, there are ambiguities with this designation and a common standard for experimental approaches that precisely define this state in human cells remains elusive. Recent studies have revealed that reprogramming may occur via many pathways which do not always lead to pluripotency. In addition, the pluripotent state itself appears to be highly dynamic, leading to significant variability in the results of molecular studies. Establishment of a stringent set of criteria for defining pluripotency will be vital for biological studies and potential clinical applications in this rapidly evolving field. In this review, we explore the various definitions of pluripotency, examine the current status of pluripotency testing in the field and provide an analysis of how these assays have been used to establish pluripotency in the scientific literature. J. Cell. Physiol. 220: 21–29, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

INO80 Facilitates Pluripotency Gene Activation in Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal,Reprogramming, and Blastocyst Development

1. Download : Download high-res image (263KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

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。     

EphB4 Forward‐Signaling Regulates Cardiac Progenitor Development in Mouse ES Cells

Eph receptor (Eph)‐ephrin signaling plays an important role in organ development and tissue regeneration. Bidirectional signaling of EphB4–ephrinB2 regulates cardiovascular development. To assess the role of EphB4–ephrinB2 signaling in cardiac lineage development, we utilized two GFP reporter systems in embryonic stem (ES) cells, in which the GFP transgenes were expressed in Nkx2.5⁺ cardiac progenitor cells and in α‐MHC⁺ cardiomyocytes, respectively. We found that both EphB4 and ephrinB2 were expressed in Nkx2.5‐GFP⁺ cardiac progenitor cells, but not in α‐MHC‐GFP⁺ cardiomyocytes during cardiac lineage differentiation of ES cells. An antagonist of EphB4, TNYL‐RAW peptides, that block the binding of EphB4 and ephrinB2, impaired cardiac lineage development in ES cells. Inhibition of EphB4–ephrinB2 signaling at different time points during ES cell differentiation demonstrated that the interaction of EphB4 and ephrinB2 was required for the early stage of cardiac lineage development. Forced expression of human full‐length EphB4 or intracellular domain‐truncated EphB4 in EphB4‐null ES cells was established to investigate the role of EphB4‐forward signaling in ES cells. Interestingly, while full‐length EphB4 was able to restore the cardiac lineage development in EphB4‐null ES cells, the truncated EphB4 that lacks the intracellular domain of tyrosine kinase and PDZ motif failed to rescue the defect of cardiomyocyte development, suggesting that EphB4 intracellular domain is essential for the development of cardiomyocytes. Our study provides evidence that receptor‐kinase‐dependent EphB4‐forward signaling plays a crucial role in the development of cardiac progenitor cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 467–475, 2015. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

小鼠胚胎干细胞中RNA干涉现象

报道了不同品系小鼠胚胎干细胞 (ES细胞 )系MESPU13、B3和R1中存在的RNA干涉 (RNAi)现象。应用脂质体法 ,将转录绿色荧光蛋白 (GFP)基因双链RNA(dsRNA)的载体 (pdsGFP)转染GFP标记的ES细胞 ,dsRNA的瞬时表达可引起ES细胞中的RNAi效应 ,即质粒转录的GFP基因的dsRNA能够显著降低ES细胞内相应的外源GFP基因的表达 ;同时 ,用电穿孔转染法将线性化的pdsGFP puro导入ES细胞中 ,筛选后 ,在 3 0 %左右的抗性克隆中GFP表达量明显降低 ,少数细胞内的干涉效率达到RT PCR检测不到的程度。在此基础上 ,构建了可转录ES细胞特异标记基因OCT 4基因片断dsRNA的载体 ,经基因打靶和抗性筛选得到了稳定整合的ES细胞克隆 ,随机扩增了 5 1个克隆 ,并对其中的 48个阳性克隆进行了PCR半定量检测 ,结果显示 :在 11个ES细胞克隆中具有显著的RNAi效应 ,干涉效率达到RT PCR检测不到的程度。这一结果表明 ,应用RNAi在不同品系ES细胞中研究哺乳动物及人的基因功能是可行的     

Dietary Melibiose Regulates Th Cell Response and Enhances the Induction of Oral Tolerance

We examined how dietary melibiose affected the T-helper (Th) cell responses induced by an orally fed antigen in ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T cell receptor transgenic mice (OVA 23-3). Dietary melibiose markedly decreased the Th2 type responses as shown by a significant decrease in the interleukin (IL)-4 production and T cell proliferative response induced by sensitization from the 7-d oral administration of OVA. It was additionally observed that the Th1 type responses tended to decrease. We therefore examined the effect of melibiose feeding on the induction of immunological tolerance induced by the oral administration of an antigen (oral tolerance). The Th cell responses induced in BALB/c mice by subcutaneous immunization with OVA were suppressed by the prior oral administration of OVA. Such responses in the OVA-fed and immunized mice were further diminished by dietary melibiose. These results suggest that dietary melibiose strongly affected the Th cell responses to an ingested antigen, and further demonstrate the potential of melibiose to enhance the induction of oral tolerance.     

Generation of Rejuvenated Antigen-Specific T Cells by Reprogramming to Pluripotency and Redifferentiation

1. Download : Download high-res image (318KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

Highlights? Reprogramming of antigen-specific T cells to generate iPSCs (T-iPSCs) ? Redifferentiation of CD8⁺ T cells, with original antigen specificity, from T-iPSCs ? Newly differentiated T cells show high proliferation and elongated telomeres ? T cell antigen-specific cytotoxicity is maintained     

DEPTOR Is a Stemness Factor That Regulates Pluripotency of Embryonic Stem Cells

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates stem cell regeneration and differentiation in response to growth factors, nutrients, cellular energetics, and various extrinsic stressors. Inhibition of mTOR activity has been shown to enhance the regenerative potential of pluripotent stem cells. DEPTOR is the only known endogenous inhibitor of all known cellular mTOR functions. We show that DEPTOR plays a key role in maintaining stem cell pluripotency by limiting mTOR activity in undifferentiated embryonic stem cells (ESCs). DEPTOR levels dramatically decrease with differentiation of mouse ESCs, and knockdown of DEPTOR is sufficient to promote ESC differentiation. A strong decrease in DEPTOR expression is also observed during human ESCs differentiation. Furthermore, reduction in DEPTOR level during differentiation is accompanied by a corresponding increase in mTOR complex 1 activity in mouse ESCs. Our data provide evidence that DEPTOR is a novel stemness factor that promotes pluripotency and self-renewal in ESCs by inhibiting mTOR signaling.