Heat shock induces apoptosis in human embryonic stem cells but a premature senescence phenotype in their differentiated progeny

Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are able to self-renew and to differentiate into any cell type. To escape error transmission to future cell progeny, ESC require robust mechanisms to ensure genomic stability. It was stated that stress defense of mouse and human ESC against oxidative stress and irradiation is superior compared with differentiated cells. Here, we investigated heat shock response of human ESC (hESC) and their differentiated progeny. Fibroblast-like cells were generated by spontaneous hESC differentiation via embryoid bodies. Like normal human diploid fibroblasts, these cells have a finite lifespan in culture, undergo replicative senescence and die. We found that sublethal heat shock affected survival of both cell types, but in hESC it induced apoptosis, whereas in differentiated cells it produced cell cycle arrest and premature senescence phenotype. Heat shock survived hESC and differentiated cells restored the properties of initial cells. Heated hESC progeny exhibited pluripotent markers and the capacity to differentiate into the cells of three germ layers. Fibroblast-like cells resisted heat shock, proliferated for a limited number of passages and entered replicative senescence as unheated parental cells. Taken together, these results show for the first time that both hESC and their differentiated derivatives are sensitive to heat shock, but the mechanisms of their stress response are different: hESC undergo apoptosis, whereas differentiated cells under the same conditions exhibit stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) phenotype. Both cell types that survived sublethal heat shock sustain parental cell properties.     

Sublethal heat shock induces premature senescence rather than apoptosis in human mesenchymal stem cells

Stem cells in adult organism are responsible for cell turnover and tissue regeneration. The study of stem cell stress response contributes to our knowledge on the mechanisms of damaged tissue repair. Previously, we demonstrated that sublethal heat shock (HS) induced apoptosis in human embryonic stem cells. This study aimed to investigate HS response of human adult stem cells. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) cultivated in vitro were challenged with sublethal HS. It was found that sublethal HS did not affect the cell viability assessed by annexin V/propidium staining. However, MSCs subjected to severe HS exhibited features of stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS): irreversible cell cycle arrest, altered morphology, increased expression of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, and induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 protein. High level of Hsp70 accumulation induced by sublethal HS did not return to the basal level, at least, after 72 h of the cell recovery when most cells exhibited SIPS hallmarks. MSCs survived sublethal HS, and resumed proliferation sustained the properties of parental MSCs: diploid karyotype, replicative senescence, expression of the cell surface markers, and capacity for multilineage differentiation. Our results showed for the first time that in human MSCs, sublethal HS induced premature senescence rather than apoptosis or necrosis. MSC progeny that survived sublethal HS manifested stem cell properties of the parental cells: limited replicative life span and multilineage capacity.     

IFN-gamma induces apoptosis in mouse embryonic stem cells, a putative mechanism of its embryotoxicity

It has been reported that interferon (IFN)-gamma should inhibit in vitro mouse embryo growth by direct cell toxicity. However, the mechanism involved has not been clearly established. In the present study, this question was addressed using the embryonic stem (ES) cell model. It was found that IFN-gamma, induces a dose-dependent apoptosis in ES cells, as assessed by trypan-blue staining, by Annexin-V labeling and DNA analysis, Moreover, IFN-gamma treatment cooperates with Fas-mediated apoptosis, a phenomenon that has been recently reported. As Bcl-2 oncoprotein functions as a death repressor molecule in an evolutionarily conserved cell death pathway, its expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. It was demonstrated that Bcl-2 is expressed in ES cells. When compared to untreated ES cells, IFN-gamma-treated, apoptotic cells expressed a lower Bcl-2 level and a normal level of Fas, whereas surviving cells expressed a normal level of Bcl-2 but a lower Fas expression. Altogether, these data suggest that IFN-gamma may influence early mouse embryo development by promoting apoptosis, which may constitute a novel mechanism of IFN-gamma embryotoxicity.     

Use of lectins for probing differentiated human embryonic stem cells for carbohydrates

The carbohydrates present on the surface of differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are not yet well established. Here, we have employed a panel of lectins and several anti-carbohydrate antibodies to determine the carbohydrates that are present at day 12 of hESC differentiation as embryoid bodies (EBs). On the basis of staining with fluorescein-labeled lectins, we have determined the presence of both terminal and internally linked alpha-d-mannopyranosyl groups, poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl chains, both alpha2,3- and alpha2,6-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), alpha1,6-linked l-fucosyl, and beta-D-galactosyl groups, and more specifically, the T, Tn, and sialyl-Tn antigens. However, no alpha1,2-linked l-fucosyl, terminal nonreducing alpha-D-galactosyl, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl, nor N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminyl groups were found by this approach. We also established the presence of Neu5Acalpha2,3/2,6-Galbeta1,4 GlcNAc-terminated chains on the surfaces of 12-day-old EBs, as indicated by the great enhancement of staining by Erythrina cristagalli agglutinin (ECA) after treatment with neuraminidase. In each case, inhibition of binding by a haptenic sugar or treatment with neuraminidase was used to eliminate the possibility of nonspecific binding of the lectins. A comparison with undifferentiated cell staining revealed an increase in alpha2,3-linked Neu5Ac as well as a change to exclusively alpha1,6-linked l-fucose upon differentiation.     

Murine embryonic stem cells as a model for human embryonic stem-cell research

Over the last several decades, murine embryonic stem cells (mESCs) have been used as a model for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research. The relevance of this approach has not yet been proven. There is a great deal of evidence that is indicative of substantial differences between these two cell types. An analysis of the literature shows that the differences concern ESC proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation. Consequently, mESC may be considered as a model object for hESC studies only for some aspects of their biology. The alternative model objects, such as primate ESC, are also discussed briefly in this review.     

人胚胎干细胞的研究

来自着床前的囊胚和早期人胚胎的人胚胎干细胞是未分化的多能干细胞,具有无限增殖和分化的潜力,这种特性使之在基础研究和移植治疗中具有广泛的应用。尤其是胚胎干细胞可以产生任何类型的可供临床使用的细胞、组织和器官的潜力,将会带来一场医学革命。     

Inonotus obliquus protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and premature senescence

In this study, we investigated the cytoprotective effects of Inonotus obliquus against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and premature senescence. Pretreatment with I. obliquus scavenged intracellular ROS and prevented lipid peroxidation in hydrogen peroxide-treated human fibroblasts. As a result, I. obliquus exerted protective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis and premature senescence in human fibroblasts. In addition, I. obliquus suppressed UV-induced morphologic skin changes, such as skin thickening and wrinkle formation, in hairless mice in vivo and increased collagen synthesis through inhibition of MMP-1 and MMP-9 activities in hydrogen peroxide-treated human fibroblasts. Taken together, these results demonstrate that I. obliquus can prevent the aging process by attenuating oxidative stress in a model of stress-induced premature senescence.     

Diploid,but not haploid,human embryonic stem cells can be derived from microsurgically repaired tripronuclear human zygotes

Human embryonic stem cells have shown tremendous potential in regenerative medicine, and the recent progress in haploid embryonic stem cells provides new insights for future applications of embryonic stem cells. Disruption of normal fertilized embryos remains controversial; thus, the development of a new source for human embryonic stem cells is important for their usefulness. Here, we investigated the feasibility of haploid and diploid embryo reconstruction and embryonic stem cell derivation using microsurgically repaired tripronuclear human zygotes. Diploid and haploid zygotes were successfully reconstructed, but a large proportion of them still had a tripolar spindle assembly. The reconstructed embryos developed to the blastocyst stage, although the loss of chromosomes was observed in these zygotes. Finally, triploid and diploid human embryonic stem cells were derived from tripronuclear and reconstructed zygotes (from which only one pronucleus was removed), but haploid human embryonic stem cells were not successfully derived from the reconstructed zygotes when two pronuclei were removed. Both triploid and diploid human embryonic stem cells showed the general characteristics of human embryonic stem cells. These results indicate that the lower embryo quality resulting from abnormal spindle assembly contributed to the failure of the haploid embryonic stem cell derivation. However, the successful derivation of diploid embryonic stem cells demonstrated that microsurgical tripronuclear zygotes are an alternative source of human embryonic stem cells. In the future, improving spindle assembly will facilitate the application of triploid zygotes to the field of haploid embryonic stem cells.     

Cortical network from human embryonic stem cells

The connection of embryonic stem cell technology and developmental biology provides valuable tools to decipher the mechanisms underlying human brain development and diseases, especially among neuronal populations, that are not readily available in primary cultures. It is obviously the case of neurons forming the human cerebral cortex. In the images that are presented, the neurons were generated in vitro from human embryonic stem cells via forebrain-like progenitors. Maintained in culture for prolonged time, they acquired a mainly glutamatergic phenotype and morphological characteristics of cortical pyramidal neurons, including dendritic spines, and formed spectacular networks.     

Scalable culture and cryopreservation of human embryonic stem cells on microcarriers

As a result of their pluripotency and potential for unlimited self‐renewal, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold tremendous promise in regenerative medicine. An essential prerequisite for the widespread application of hESCs is the establishment of effective and efficient protocols for large‐scale cell culture, storage, and distribution. At laboratory scales hESCs are cultured adherent to tissue culture plates; these culture techniques are labor‐intensive and do not scale to high cell numbers. In an effort to facilitate larger scale hESC cultivation, we investigated the feasibility of culturing hESCs adherent to microcarriers. We modified the surface of Cytodex 3 microcarriers with either Matrigel or mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). hESC colonies were effectively expanded in a pluripotent, undifferentiated state on both Matrigel‐coated microcarriers and microcarriers seeded with a MEF monolayer. While the hESC expansion rate on MEF‐microcarriers was less than that on MEF‐plates, the doubling time of hESCs on Matrigel‐microcarriers was indistinguishable from that of hESCs expanded on Matrigel‐coated tissue culture plates. Standard hESC cryopreservation methodologies are plagued by poor viability and high differentiation rates upon thawing. Here, we demonstrate that cryopreservation of hESCs adherent to microcarriers in cryovials provides a higher recovery of undifferentiated cells than cryopreservation of cells in suspension. Together, these results suggest that microcarrier‐based stabilization and culture may facilitate hESC expansion and storage for research and therapeutic applications. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009     

Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells induces condensation of chromosome territories and formation of heterochromatin protein 1 foci

Abstract Human embryonic stem cells (hES) are unique in their pluripotency and capacity for self-renewal. Therefore, we have studied the differences in the level of chromatin condensation in pluripotent and all-trans retinoic acid-differentiated hES cells. Nuclear patterns of the Oct4 (6p21.33) gene, responsible for hES cell pluripotency, the C-myc (8q24.21) gene, which controls cell cycle progression, and HP1 protein (heterochromatin protein 1) were investigated in these cells. Unlike differentiated hES cells, pluripotent hES cell populations were characterized by a high level of decondensation for the territories of both chromosomes 6 (HSA6) and 8 (HSA8). The Oct4 genes were located on greatly extended chromatin loops in pluripotent hES cell nuclei, outside their respective chromosome territories. However, this phenomenon was not observed for the Oct4 gene in differentiated hES cells, for the C-myc gene in the cell types studied. The high level of chromatin decondensation in hES cells also influenced the nuclear distribution of all the variants of HP1 protein, particularly HP1α, which did not form distinct foci, as usually observed in most other cell types. Our experiments showed that unlike C-myc , the Oct4 gene and HP1 proteins undergo a high level of decondensation in hES cells. Therefore, these structures seem to be primarily responsible for hES cell pluripotency due to their accessibility to regulatory molecules. Differentiated hES cells were characterized by a significantly different nuclear arrangement of the structures studied.     

bFGF promotes adipocyte differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells derived from embryonic stem cells

In this work we describe the establishment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and the role of bFGF in adipocyte differentiation. The totipotency of ESCs and MSCs was assessed by immunofluorescence staining and RT-PCR of totipotency factors. MSCs were successfully used to induce osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes. MSCs that differentiated into adipocytes were stimulated with and without bFGF. The OD/DNA (optical density/content of total DNA) and expression levels of the specific adipocyte genes PPARγ2 (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ2) and C/EBPs were higher in bFGF cells. Embryonic bodies had a higher adipocyte level compared with cells cultured in plates. These findings indicate that bFGF promotes adipocyte differentiation. MSCs may be useful cells for seeding in tissue engineering and have enormous therapeutic potential for adipose tissue engineering.     

Location and clonal analysis of stem cells and their differentiated progeny in the human ocular surface.

We have analyzed the proliferative and differentiation potential of human ocular keratinocytes. Holoclones, meroclones, and paraclones, previously identified in skin, constitute also the proliferative compartment of the ocular epithelium. Ocular holoclones have the expected properties of stem cells, while transient amplifying cells have variable proliferative potential. Corneal stem cells are segregated in the limbus, while conjunctival stem cells are uniformly distributed in bulbar and forniceal conjunctiva. Conjunctival keratinocytes and goblet cells derive from a common bipotent progenitor. Goblet cells were found in cultures of transient amplifying cells, suggesting that commitment for goblet cell differentiation can occur late in the life of a single conjunctival clone. We found that conjunctival keratinocytes with high proliferative capacity give rise to goblet cells at least twice in their life and, more importantly, at rather precise times of their life history, namely at 45-50 cell doublings and at approximately 15 cell doublings before senescence. Thus, the decision of conjunctival keratinocytes to differentiate into goblet cells appears to be dependent upon an intrinsic "cell doubling clock. " These data open new perspectives in the surgical treatment of severe defects of the anterior ocular surface with autologous cultured conjunctival epithelium.     

Enhancement of cardiomyocyte differentiation from human embryonic stem cells

Several approaches have been used to encourage the differentiation of cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cells.However,the differentiation efficiency is low,and appropriate culture protocols are needed to produce adequate numbers of cardiomyocytes for therapeutic cell transplantation.This study investigated the effects of serum on cardiomyocyte differentiation in suspension culture medium during embryoid body(EB) formation by human embryonic stem cells.The addition of ascorbic acid,dimethylsulfoxide and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine during days 5-7 at the EB-forming stage resulted in an increase in the numbers of rhythmically contracting clusters of derived cardiomyocytes.Treatment with 0.1 mmol L-1 ascorbic acid alone,or more notably in combination with 10 μmol L-1 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine,induced the formation of beating cells within EBs.Most of the beating clusters had spontaneous contraction rates similar to those found in human adults,and their contractile ac-tivity lasted for up to 194 days.     

A versatile tool for tracking the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells

The ability of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)to undergo indefinite self-renewal in vitro and to produce lineages derived from all three embryonic germ layers both in vitro and in vivo makes such cells extremely valuable in both clinical and research settings.However,the generation of specialized cell lineages from a mixture of differentiated hESCs remains technically difficult.Tissue specific promoter-driven reporter genes are powerful tools for tracking cell types of interest in differentiated cell populations.Here,we describc the construction of modular lentivectors containing different tissue-specific promoters(Tαl of α-tubulin:αP2 of adipocyte Protein 2;and AFP of alpha fetoprotein)driving expression of humanized Renilla green fluorescent protein(hrGFP).To this end,we used MultiSite gateway technology and employed the novel vectors to successfully monitor hESC differentiation.We present a versatile method permitting target cells to bc traced.Our system will facilitate research in developmental biology,transplantation,and in vivo stem cell tracking.     

Human neural progenitor cells derived from embryonic stem cells in feeder-free cultures

Derivation of human neural progenitors (hNP) from human embryonic stem (hES) cells in culture has been reported with the use of feeder cells or conditioned media. This introduces undefined components into the system, limiting the ability to precisely investigate the requirement for factors that control the process. Also, the use of feeder cells of non-human origin introduces the potential for zoonotic transmission, limiting its clinical usefulness. Here we report a feeder-free system to produce hNP from hES cells and test the effects of various media components involved in the process. Five protocols using defined media components were compared for efficiency of hNP generation. Based on this analysis, we discuss the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), N2 supplement, non-essential amino acids (NEAA), and knock-out serum replacement (KSR) on the process of hNP generation. All protocols led to down-regulation of Oct4/POU5F1 expression (from 90.5% to <3%), and up-regulation of neural progenitor markers to varying degrees. Media with N2 but not KSR and NEAA produced cultures with significantly higher (p<0.05) expression of the neural progenitor marker Musashi 1 (MSI1). Approximately 89% of these cells were Nestin (NES)+ after 3 weeks, but they did not proliferate. In contrast, differentiation media supplemented with KSR and NEAA produced fewer NES+ (75%) cells, but these cells were proliferative, and by five passages the culture consisted of >97% NES+ cells. This suggests that KSR and NEAA supplements did not enhance early differentiation but did promote proliferating of hNP cell cultures. This resulted in an efficient, robust, repeatable differentiation system suitable for generating large populations of hNP cells. This will facilitate further study of molecular and biochemical mechanisms in early human neural differentiation and potentially produce uniform neuronal cells for therapeutic uses without concern of zoonotic transmission from feeder layers.     

Identification of microRNAs regulated by activin A in human embryonic stem cells

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells have the capacities to propagate for extended periods and to differentiate into cell types from all three germ layers both in vitro and in vivo. These characteristics of self‐renewal and pluripotency enable hES cells having the potential to provide an unlimited supply of different cell types for tissue replacement, drug screening, and functional genomics studies. The hES‐T3 cells with normal female karyotype cultured on either mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) in hES medium (containing 4 ng/ml bFGF) (T3MF) or feeder‐free Matrigel in MEF‐conditioned medium (supplemented with additional 4 ng/ml bFGF) (T3CM) were found to express very similar profiles of mRNAs and microRNAs, indicating that the unlimited self‐renewal and pluripotency of hES cells can be maintained by continuing culture on these two conditions. However, the expression profiles, especially microRNAs, of the hES‐T3 cells cultured on Matrigel in hES medium supplemented with 4 ng/ml bFGF and 5 ng/ml activin A (T3BA) were found to be different from those of T3MF and T3CM cells. In T3BA cells, four hES cell‐specific microRNAs miR‐372, miR‐302d, miR‐367, and miR‐200c, as well as three other microRNAs miR‐199a, miR‐19a, and miR‐217, were found to be up‐regulated, whereas five miRNAs miR‐19b, miR‐221, miR‐222, let‐7b, and let‐7c were down‐regulated by activin A. Thirteen abundantly differentially expressed mRNAs, including NR4A2, ERBB4, CXCR4, PCDH9, TMEFF2, CD24, and COX6A1 genes, targeted by seven over‐expressed miRNAs were identified by inverse expression levels of these seven microRNAs to their target mRNAs in T3BA and T3CM cells. The NR4A2, ERBB4, and CXCR4 target genes were further found to be regulated by EGF and/or TNF. The 50 abundantly differentially expressed genes targeted by five under‐expressed miRNAs were also identified. The abundantly expressed mRNAs in T3BA and T3CM cells were also analyzed for the network and signaling pathways, and roles of activin A in cell proliferation and differentiation were found. These findings will help elucidate the complex signaling network which maintains the self‐renewal and pluripotency of hES cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 93–102, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Population estimation of human embryonic stem cell cultures

Traditionally, the population of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) culture is estimated through haemacytometer counts, which include harvesting the cells and manually analyzing a fraction of an entire population. Obviously, through this highly invasive method, it is not possible to preserve any spatial information on the cell population. The goal of this study is to identify a fast and consistent method for in situ automated hESC population estimation to quantitatively estimate the cell growth. Therefore, cell cultures were fixed, stained, and their nuclei imaged through high‐resolution microscopy, and the images were processed with different image analysis techniques. The proposed method first identifies signal and background by computing an image specific threshold for image segmentation. By applying a morphological operator (watershed), we split most physically overlapping nuclei, leading to a pixel area distribution of isolated signal areas on the image. On the basis of this distribution, we derive a nucleus area model, describing the distribution of the area of cell debris, single nuclei, and small groups of connected nuclei. Through the model, we can give a quantitative estimation of the population. The focus of this study is on low‐density human embryonic stem cell populations; hence cultures were measured at days 2–3 after seeding. Compared with manual cell counts, the automatic method achieved higher accuracy with <6% error. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010