RESUMEN
The pathological mechanisms of cataract remain largely unknown due to the lack of appropriate in vitro cellular models. We developed a stable in vitro system, namely, a "fried egg" differentiation method to generate functional lentoid bodies (LBs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The iPSCs-derived LBs exhibited crystalline lens-like morphology and a transparent structure, and expressed lens-specific markers. TEM examination and optical analysis further demonstrated that it has the same cell arrangement structure and magnifying ability as lens.
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Diferenciación Celular , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Cristalino , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Humanos , Cristalino/citología , Cristalino/metabolismo , Técnicas de Cultivo de Célula/métodos , Células Cultivadas , Catarata/patologíaRESUMEN
Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) serve multiple roles, including among others, modeling RPE development in normal and pathological conditions, investigating mechanisms of RPE physiology, modeling retinal diseases involving the RPE, and developing strategies for regenerative therapies. We have developed a simple and efficient protocol to generate RPE tissue from human iPSCs-derived retinal organoids. The RPE tissue present in the retinal organoids is analogous to the native human RPE in differentiation timeline, histological organization, and key features of functional maturation. Building upon this system, we established a method to generate functionally mature, polarized RPE monolayers comparable to human primary RPE. This comprehensive protocol outlines the steps for isolating and culturing RPE tissue using retinal organoids. The outcome is a pure population of cells expressing mature RPE signatures and organized in a characteristic cobblestone monolayer featuring robust ultrastructural polarization. These RPE monolayers also exhibit the functional hallmarks of bona fide mature RPE cells, providing a suitable system to mimic the biology and function of the native human RPE.
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Técnicas de Cultivo de Célula , Diferenciación Celular , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Organoides , Epitelio Pigmentado de la Retina , Humanos , Epitelio Pigmentado de la Retina/citología , Epitelio Pigmentado de la Retina/metabolismo , Organoides/citología , Organoides/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Técnicas de Cultivo de Célula/métodos , Células CultivadasRESUMEN
Major advances have been made in utilizing human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) for regenerative medicine. Nevertheless, the delivery and integration of hiPSCs into target tissues remain significant challenges, particularly in the context of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) restoration. In this study, we introduce a promising avenue for providing directional guidance to regenerated cells in the retina. First, we developed a technique for construction of gradient interfaces based on functionalized conductive polymers, which could be applied with various functionalized ehthylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomers. Using a tree-shaped channel encapsulated with a thin PDMS and a specially designed electrochemical chamber, gradient flow generation could be converted into a functionalized-PEDOT gradient film by cyclic voltammetry. The characteristics of the successfully fabricated gradient flow and surface were analyzed using fluorescent labels, time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Remarkably, hiPSC-RGCs seeded on PEDOT exhibited improvements in neurite outgrowth, axon guidance and neuronal electrophysiology measurements. These results suggest that our novel gradient PEDOT may be used with hiPSC-based technologies as a potential biomedical engineering scaffold for functional restoration of RGCs in retinal degenerative diseases and optic neuropathies.
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Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Polímeros , Células Ganglionares de la Retina , Humanos , Células Ganglionares de la Retina/metabolismo , Células Ganglionares de la Retina/citología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Polímeros/química , Orientación del Axón , Compuestos Bicíclicos Heterocíclicos con Puentes/química , Compuestos Bicíclicos Heterocíclicos con Puentes/farmacología , Propiedades de Superficie , Conductividad Eléctrica , Factores de Crecimiento Nervioso/metabolismo , Axones/metabolismo , Axones/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Expansion of CAG repeats in certain genes is a known cause of several neurodegenerative diseases, but exact mechanism behind this is not yet fully understood. It is believed that the double-stranded RNA regions formed by CAG repeats could be harmful to the cell. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that these RNA regions might potentially interfere with ADAR RNA editing enzymes, leading to the reduced A-to-I editing of RNA and activation of the interferon response. We studied induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from the patients with Huntington's disease or ataxia type 17, as well as midbrain organoids developed from these cells. A targeted panel for next-generation sequencing was used to assess editing in the specific RNA regions. Differentiation of iPSCs into brain organoids led to increase in the ADAR2 gene expression and decrease in the expression of protein inhibitors of RNA editing. As a result, there was increase in the editing of specific ADAR2 substrates, which allowed identification of differential substrates of ADAR isoforms. However, comparison of the pathology and control groups did not show differences in the editing levels among the iPSCs. Additionally, brain organoids with 42-46 CAG repeats did not exhibit global changes. On the other hand, brain organoids with the highest number of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (76) showed significant decrease in the level of RNA editing of specific transcripts, potentially involving ADAR1. Notably, editing of the long non-coding RNA PWAR5 was nearly absent in this sample. It could be stated in conclusion that in most cultures with repeat expansion, the hypothesized effect on RNA editing was not confirmed.
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Adenosina Desaminasa , Encéfalo , Diferenciación Celular , Enfermedad de Huntington , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Organoides , Edición de ARN , Proteínas de Unión al ARN , Adenosina Desaminasa/metabolismo , Adenosina Desaminasa/genética , Humanos , Organoides/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/genética , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Enfermedad de Huntington/genética , Enfermedad de Huntington/metabolismo , Enfermedad de Huntington/patología , Expansión de Repetición de TrinucleótidoRESUMEN
Purpose: Metabolic defects in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) underlie many retinal degenerative diseases. This study aims to identify the nutrient requirements of healthy and diseased human RPE cells. Methods: We profiled nutrient use of various human RPE cells, including differentiated and dedifferentiated fetal RPE (fRPE), induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE (iPSC RPE), Sorsby fundus dystrophy (SFD) patient-derived iPSC RPE, CRISPR-corrected isogenic SFD (cSFD) iPSC RPE, and ARPE-19 cell lines using Biolog Phenotype MicroArray Assays. Results: Differentiated fRPE cells and healthy iPSC RPE cells can use 51 and 48 nutrients respectively, including sugars, intermediates from glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, fatty acids, ketone bodies, amino acids, and dipeptides. However, when fRPE cells lose their epithelial phenotype through dedifferentiation, nutrient use becomes restricted to 17 nutrients, primarily sugar and glutamine-related amino acids. SFD RPE cells can use 37 nutrients; however, compared to cSFD RPE and healthy iPSC RPE, they are unable to use lactate, some TCA cycle intermediates, and short-chain fatty acids. Nonetheless, they show increased use of branch-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and BCAA-containing dipeptides. Dedifferentiated ARPE-19 cells grown in traditional culture media cannot use lactate and ketone bodies. In contrast, nicotinamide supplementation promotes differentiation toward an epithelial phenotype, restoring the ability to use these nutrients. Conclusions: Epithelial phenotype confers metabolic flexibility to healthy RPE for using various nutrients. SFD RPE cells have reduced metabolic flexibility, relying on the oxidation of BCAAs. Our findings highlight the potentially important roles of nutrient availability and use in RPE differentiation and diseases.
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Diferenciación Celular , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Fenotipo , Epitelio Pigmentado de la Retina , Humanos , Epitelio Pigmentado de la Retina/metabolismo , Epitelio Pigmentado de la Retina/citología , Diferenciación Celular/fisiología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Células Cultivadas , Línea CelularRESUMEN
Mucopolysaccharidoses are inherited metabolic disorders caused by the deficiency in lysosomal enzymes required to break down glycosaminoglycans. Accumulation of glycosaminoglycans leads to progressive, systemic degenerative disease. The central nervous system is particularly affected, resulting in developmental delays, neurological regression, and early mortality. Current treatments fail to adequately address neurological defects. Here we explore the potential of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived microglia progenitors as a one-time, allogeneic off-the-shelf cell therapy for several mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS). We show that hiPSC-derived microglia progenitors, possessing normal levels of lysosomal enzymes, can deliver functional enzymes into four subtypes of MPS knockout cell lines through mannose-6-phosphate receptor-mediated endocytosis in vitro. Additionally, our findings indicate that a single administration of hiPSC-derived microglia progenitors can reduce toxic glycosaminoglycan accumulation and prevent behavioral deficits in two different animal models of MPS. Durable efficacy is observed for eight months after transplantation. These results suggest a potential avenue for treating MPS with hiPSC-derived microglia progenitors.
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Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Glicosaminoglicanos , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Microglía , Mucopolisacaridosis , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Animales , Microglía/metabolismo , Humanos , Mucopolisacaridosis/terapia , Ratones , Glicosaminoglicanos/metabolismo , Ratones Noqueados , Diferenciación Celular , Trasplante de Células Madre/métodos , Lisosomas/metabolismoRESUMEN
Aggregated α-synuclein (α-SYN) proteins, encoded by the SNCA gene, are hallmarks of Lewy body disease (LBD), affecting multiple brain regions. However, the specific mechanisms underlying α-SYN pathology in cortical neurons, crucial for LBD-associated dementia, remain unclear. Here, we recapitulated α-SYN pathologies in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived cortical organoids generated from patients with LBD with SNCA gene triplication. Single-cell RNA sequencing, combined with functional and molecular validation, identified synaptic and mitochondrial dysfunction in excitatory neurons exhibiting high expression of the SNCA gene, aligning with observations in the cortex of autopsy-confirmed LBD human brains. Furthermore, we screened 1280 Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs and identified four candidates (entacapone, tolcapone, phenazopyridine hydrochloride, and zalcitabine) that inhibited α-SYN seeding activity in real-time quaking-induced conversion assays with human brains, reduced α-SYN aggregation, and alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction in SNCA triplication organoids and excitatory neurons. Our findings establish human cortical LBD models and suggest potential therapeutic drugs targeting α-SYN aggregation for LBD.
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Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Enfermedad por Cuerpos de Lewy , Organoides , alfa-Sinucleína , Humanos , alfa-Sinucleína/metabolismo , alfa-Sinucleína/genética , Organoides/metabolismo , Organoides/efectos de los fármacos , Organoides/patología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/efectos de los fármacos , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Enfermedad por Cuerpos de Lewy/patología , Enfermedad por Cuerpos de Lewy/genética , Enfermedad por Cuerpos de Lewy/metabolismo , Enfermedad por Cuerpos de Lewy/tratamiento farmacológico , Mitocondrias/metabolismo , Mitocondrias/efectos de los fármacos , Mitocondrias/genética , Neuronas/metabolismo , Neuronas/efectos de los fármacos , Neuronas/patología , Corteza Cerebral/metabolismo , Corteza Cerebral/patología , Corteza Cerebral/efectos de los fármacos , Evaluación Preclínica de MedicamentosRESUMEN
Engineered heart tissues (EHTs) generated from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) represent powerful platforms for human cardiac research, especially in drug testing and disease modeling. Here, we report a flexible, three-dimensional electronic framework that enables real-time, spatiotemporal analysis of electrophysiologic and mechanical signals in EHTs under physiological loading conditions for dynamic, noninvasive, longer-term assessments. These electromechanically monitored EHTs support multisite measurements throughout the tissue under baseline conditions and in response to stimuli. Demonstrations include uses in tracking physiological responses to pharmacologically active agents and in capturing electrophysiological characteristics of reentrant arrhythmias. This platform facilitates precise analysis of signal location and conduction velocity in human cardiomyocyte tissues, as the basis for a broad range of advanced cardiovascular studies.
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Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Miocitos Cardíacos , Ingeniería de Tejidos , Humanos , Ingeniería de Tejidos/métodos , Miocitos Cardíacos/fisiología , Miocitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Corazón/fisiología , Fenómenos ElectrofisiológicosRESUMEN
Epigenetic modifications (methylation, acetylation, etc.) of core histones play a key role in regulation of gene expression. Thus, the epigenome changes strongly during various biological processes such as cell differentiation and dedifferentiation. Classical methods of analysis of epigenetic modifications such as mass-spectrometry and chromatin immuno-precipitation, work with fixed cells only. Here we present a genetically encoded fluorescent probe, MPP8-Green, for detecting H3K9me3, a histone modification associated with inactive chromatin. This probe, based on the chromodomain of MPP8, allows for visualization of H3K9me3 epigenetic landscapes in single living cells. We used this probe to track changes in H3K9me3 landscapes during the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into induced neurons. Our findings revealed two major waves of global H3K9me3 reorganization during 4-day differentiation, namely on the first and third days, whereas nearly no changes occurred on the second and fourth days. The proposed method LiveMIEL (Live-cell Microscopic Imaging of Epigenetic Landscapes), which combines genetically encoded epigenetic probes and machine learning approaches, enables classification of multiparametric epigenetic signatures of single cells during stem cell differentiation and potentially in other biological models.
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Diferenciación Celular , Epigénesis Genética , Colorantes Fluorescentes , Histonas , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Diferenciación Celular/genética , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Histonas/metabolismo , Histonas/genética , Humanos , Colorantes Fluorescentes/química , Colorantes Fluorescentes/metabolismo , Neuronas/metabolismo , Neuronas/citología , Animales , RatonesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation has an estimated prevalence of 1.5-2%, making it the most common cardiac arrhythmia. The processes that cause and sustain the disease are still not completely understood. An association between atrial fibrillation and systemic, as well as local, inflammatory processes has been reported. However, the exact mechanisms underlying this association have not been established. While it is understood that inflammatory macrophages can influence cardiac electrophysiology, a direct, causative relationship to atrial fibrillation has not been described. This study investigated the pro-arrhythmic effects of activated M1 macrophages on human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived atrial cardiomyocytes, to propose a mechanistic link between inflammation and atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Two hiPSC lines from healthy individuals were differentiated to atrial cardiomyocytes and M1 macrophages and integrated in an isogenic, pacing-free, atrial fibrillation-like coculture model. Electrophysiology characteristics of cocultures were analysed for beat rate irregularity, electrogram amplitude and conduction velocity using multi electrode arrays. Cocultures were additionally treated using glucocorticoids to suppress M1 inflammation. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on coculture-isolated atrial cardiomyocytes and compared to meta-analyses of atrial fibrillation patient transcriptomes. RESULTS: Multi electrode array recordings revealed M1 to cause irregular beating and reduced electrogram amplitude. Conduction analysis further showed significantly lowered conduction homogeneity in M1 cocultures. Transcriptome sequencing revealed reduced expression of key cardiac genes such as SCN5A, KCNA5, ATP1A1, and GJA5 in the atrial cardiomyocytes. Meta-analysis of atrial fibrillation patient transcriptomes showed high correlation to the in vitro model. Treatment of the coculture with glucocorticoids showed reversal of phenotypes, including reduced beat irregularity, improved conduction, and reversed RNA expression profiles. CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes a causal relationship between M1 activation and the development of subsequent atrial arrhythmia, documented as irregularity in spontaneous electrical activation in atrial cardiomyocytes cocultured with activated macrophages. Further, beat rate irregularity could be alleviated using glucocorticoids. Overall, these results point at macrophage-mediated inflammation as a potential AF induction mechanism and offer new targets for therapeutic development. The findings strongly support the relevance of the proposed hiPSC-derived coculture model and present it as a first of its kind disease model.
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Fibrilación Atrial , Técnicas de Cocultivo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Macrófagos , Miocitos Cardíacos , Humanos , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Miocitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Fibrilación Atrial/metabolismo , Fibrilación Atrial/patología , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Fenotipo , Diferenciación Celular , Atrios Cardíacos/patología , Atrios Cardíacos/metabolismo , Atrios Cardíacos/citologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Reduction of adult hippocampal neurogenesis is an early critical event in Alzheimer's disease (AD), contributing to progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Reduced levels of the nucleoporin 153 (Nup153), a key epigenetic regulator of NSC stemness, characterize the neural stem cells isolated from a mouse model of AD (3×Tg) (AD-NSCs) and determine their altered plasticity and gene expression. METHODS: Nup153-regulated mechanisms contributing to NSC function were investigated: (1) in cultured NSCs isolated from AD and wild type (WT) mice by proteomics; (2) in vivo by lentiviral-mediated delivery of Nup153 or GFP in the hippocampus of AD and control mice analyzing neurogenesis and cognitive function; (3) in human iPSC-derived brain organoids obtained from AD patients and control subjects as a model of neurodevelopment. RESULTS: Proteomic approach identified Nup153 interactors in WT- and AD-NSCs potentially implicated in neurogenesis regulation. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that Nup153-bound proteins in WT-NSCs were involved in RNA metabolism, nuclear import and epigenetic mechanisms. Nup153-bound proteins in AD-NSCs were involved in pathways of neurodegeneration, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteasomal processing and RNA degradation. Furthermore, recovery of Nup153 levels in AD-NSCs reduced the levels of oxidative stress markers and recovered proteasomal activity. Lentiviral-mediated delivery of Nup153 in the hippocampal niche of AD mice increased the proliferation of early progenitors, marked by BrdU/DCX and BrdU/PSANCAM positivity and, later, the integration of differentiating neurons in the cell granule layer (BrdU/NeuN+ cells) compared with GFP-injected AD mice. Consistently, Nup153-injected AD mice showed an improvement of cognitive performance in comparison to AD-GFP mice at 1 month after virus delivery assessed by Morris Water Maze. To validate the role of Nup153 in neurogenesis we took advantage of brain organoids derived from AD-iPSCs characterized by fewer neuroepithelial progenitor loops and reduced differentiation areas. The upregulation of Nup153 in AD organoids recovered the formation of neural-like tubes and differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the positive effect of Nup153 on neurogenesis is based on a complex regulatory network orchestrated by Nup153 and that this protein is a valuable disease target.
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Enfermedad de Alzheimer , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Células-Madre Neurales , Neurogénesis , Proteínas de Complejo Poro Nuclear , Animales , Proteínas de Complejo Poro Nuclear/metabolismo , Proteínas de Complejo Poro Nuclear/genética , Ratones , Células-Madre Neurales/metabolismo , Células-Madre Neurales/citología , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/genética , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/patología , Humanos , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , ProteómicaRESUMEN
Stem cell-derived ß-cells (SC-BCs) represent a potential source for curing diabetes. To date, in vitro generated SC-BCs display an immature phenotype and lack important features in comparison to their bona-fide counterparts. Transplantation into a living animal promotes SC-BCs maturation, indicating that components of the in vivo microenvironment trigger final SC-BCs development. Here, we investigated whether cues of the pancreas specific extracellular matrix (ECM) can improve the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) towards ß-cells in vitro. To this aim, a pancreas specific ECM (PanMa) hydrogel was generated from decellularized porcine pancreas and its effect on the differentiation of hiPSC-derived pancreatic hormone expressing cells (HECs) was tested. The hydrogel solidified upon neutralization at 37 °C with gelation kinetics similar to Matrigel. Cytocompatibility of the PanMa hydrogel was demonstrated for a culture duration of 21 days. Encapsulation and culture of HECs in the PanMa hydrogel over 7 days resulted in a stable gene and protein expression of most ß-cell markers, but did not improve ß-cell identity. In conclusion, the study describes the production of a PanMa hydrogel, which provides the basis for the development of ECM hydrogels that are more adapted to the demands of SC-BCs.
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Diferenciación Celular , Matriz Extracelular , Hidrogeles , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Células Secretoras de Insulina , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Humanos , Hidrogeles/química , Células Secretoras de Insulina/citología , Células Secretoras de Insulina/metabolismo , Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Animales , Porcinos , Páncreas/citología , Páncreas/metabolismo , Técnicas de Cultivo de Célula/métodos , Células CultivadasRESUMEN
The discovery of human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and advances in DNA editing techniques have opened opportunities for personalized cell-based therapies for a wide spectrum of diseases. It has gained importance as a valuable tool to investigate genetic and functional variations in congenital heart defects (CHDs), enabling the customization of treatment strategies. The ability to understand the disease process specific to the individual patient of interest provides this technology with a significant advantage over generic animal models. However, its utility as a disease-in-a-dish model requires identifying effective and efficient differentiation protocols that accurately reproduce disease traits. Currently, iPSC-related research relies heavily on the quality of cells and the properties of the differentiation technique In this review, we discuss the utility of iPSCs in bench CHD research, the molecular pathways involved in the differentiation of cardiomyocytes, and their applications in CHD disease modeling, therapeutics, and drug application.
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Diferenciación Celular , Cardiopatías Congénitas , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Miocitos Cardíacos , Humanos , Miocitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Miocitos Cardíacos/patología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Cardiopatías Congénitas/patología , Cardiopatías Congénitas/genética , Animales , Modelos BiológicosRESUMEN
Yak is an excellent germplasm resource on the Tibetan Plateau and is able to live in high-altitude areas with hypoxic, cold, and harsh environments. Studies on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in large ruminants commonly involve a combination strategy involving six transcription factors, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Nanog, and Lin28 (OSKMNL). This strategy tends to utilize genes from the same species to optimize pluripotency maintenance. In this study, we cloned the six pluripotency genes (OSKMNL) from yak and constructed a multi-cistronic lentiviral vector carrying these genes. This vector efficiently delivered the genes into yak fibroblasts, aiming to promote the reprogramming process. We verified that the treated cells had several pluripotency characteristics, marking the first successful construction of a lentiviral system carrying yak pluripotency genes. This achievement lays the foundation for subsequent establishment of yak iPSCs and holds significant implications for yak-breed improvement and germplasm-resource conservation.
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Vectores Genéticos , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Factor 4 Similar a Kruppel , Lentivirus , Lentivirus/genética , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Bovinos , Animales , Vectores Genéticos/genética , Factores de Transcripción/genética , Factores de Transcripción/metabolismo , Reprogramación Celular/genética , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Fibroblastos/citologíaRESUMEN
Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is a sudden, severe cardiac ischemic event that results in the death of up to one billion cardiomyocytes (CMs) and subsequent decrease in cardiac function. Engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs) are a promising approach to deliver the necessary mass of CMs to remuscularize the heart. However, the hypoxic environment of the heart post-MI presents a critical challenge for CM engraftment. Here, we present a high-throughput, systematic study targeting several physiological features of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs (hiPSC-CMs), including metabolism, Wnt signaling, substrate, heat shock, apoptosis, and mitochondrial stabilization, to assess their efficacy in promoting ischemia resistance in hiPSC-CMs. The results of 2D experiments identify hypoxia preconditioning (HPC) and metabolic conditioning as having a significant influence on hiPSC-CM function in normoxia and hypoxia. Within 3D engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs), metabolic conditioning with maturation media (MM), featuring high fatty acid and calcium concentration, results in a 1.5-fold increase in active stress generation as compared to RPMI/B27 control ECTs in normoxic conditions. Yet, this functional improvement is lost after hypoxia treatment. Interestingly, HPC can partially rescue the function of MM-treated ECTs after hypoxia. Our systematic and iterative approach provides a strong foundation for assessing and leveraging in vitro culture conditions to enhance the hypoxia resistance, and thus the successful clinical translation, of hiPSC-CMs in cardiac regenerative therapies.
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Hipoxia de la Célula , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Miocitos Cardíacos , Humanos , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Miocitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Miocitos Cardíacos/citología , Ingeniería de Tejidos/métodos , Medicina Regenerativa/métodos , Diferenciación Celular , Infarto del Miocardio/terapia , Infarto del Miocardio/metabolismo , Células CultivadasRESUMEN
Diabetes mellitus, a chronic and non-transmissible disease, triggers a wide range of micro- and macrovascular complications. The differentiation of pancreatic ß-like cells (PßLCs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offers a promising avenue for regenerative medicine aimed at treating diabetes. Current differentiation protocols strive to emulate pancreatic embryonic development by utilizing cytokines and small molecules at specific doses to activate and inhibit distinct molecular signaling pathways, directing the differentiation of iPSCs into pancreatic ß cells. Despite significant progress and improved protocols, the full spectrum of molecular signaling pathways governing pancreatic development and the physiological characteristics of the differentiated cells are not yet fully understood. Here, we report a specific combination of cofactors and small molecules that successfully differentiate iPSCs into PßLCs. Our protocol has shown to be effective, with the resulting cells exhibiting key functional properties of pancreatic ß cells, including the expression of crucial molecular markers (pdx1, nkx6.1, ngn3) and the capability to secrete insulin in response to glucose. Furthermore, the addition of vitamin C and retinoic acid in the final stages of differentiation led to the overexpression of specific ß cell genes.
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Ácido Ascórbico , Diferenciación Celular , Diabetes Mellitus , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Células Secretoras de Insulina , Tretinoina , Células Secretoras de Insulina/metabolismo , Células Secretoras de Insulina/efectos de los fármacos , Células Secretoras de Insulina/citología , Ácido Ascórbico/farmacología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/efectos de los fármacos , Tretinoina/farmacología , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Diabetes Mellitus/metabolismo , Proteínas de Homeodominio/metabolismo , Proteínas de Homeodominio/genética , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Factores de Transcripción con Motivo Hélice-Asa-Hélice Básico/metabolismo , Factores de Transcripción con Motivo Hélice-Asa-Hélice Básico/genética , Transactivadores/metabolismo , Transactivadores/genética , Insulina/metabolismo , Proteínas del Tejido NerviosoRESUMEN
Experimental models play a pivotal role in biomedical research, facilitating the understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of novel therapeutics. This is particularly true for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and motor neuron disease, which present complex challenges for research and therapy development. In this work, we review the recent literature about experimental models and motor neuron disease. We identified three main categories of models that are highly studied by scientists. In fact, experimental models for investigating these diseases encompass a variety of approaches, including modeling the patient's cell culture, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, and organoids. Each model offers unique advantages and limitations, providing researchers with a range of tools to address complex biological questions. Here, we discuss the characteristics, applications, and recent advancements in terms of each model system, highlighting their contributions to advancing biomedical knowledge and translational research.
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Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas , Organoides , Humanos , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/terapia , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/patología , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/metabolismo , Animales , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Organoides/patología , Modelos BiológicosRESUMEN
Astrocytes, the predominant glial cells in the central nervous system, play essential roles in maintaining brain function. Reprogramming induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to become astrocytes through overexpression of the transcription factors, NFIB and SOX9, is a rapid and efficient approach for studying human neurological diseases and identifying therapeutic targets. However, the precise differentiation path and molecular signatures of induced astrocytes remain incompletely understood. Accordingly, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis on 64,736 cells to establish a comprehensive atlas of NFIB/SOX9-directed astrocyte differentiation from human iPSCs. Our dataset provides detailed information about the path of astrocyte differentiation, highlighting the stepwise molecular changes that occur throughout the differentiation process. This dataset serves as a valuable reference for dissecting uncharacterized transcriptomic features of NFIB/SOX9-induced astrocytes and investigating lineage progression during astrocyte differentiation. Moreover, these findings pave the way for future studies on neurological diseases using the NFIB/SOX9-induced astrocyte model.
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Astrocitos , Diferenciación Celular , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas , Factores de Transcripción NFI , Factor de Transcripción SOX9 , Transcriptoma , Factor de Transcripción SOX9/genética , Astrocitos/metabolismo , Astrocitos/citología , Humanos , Factores de Transcripción NFI/genética , Factores de Transcripción NFI/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Análisis de la Célula IndividualRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common form of hair loss. Androgens, such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, are the main causes of AGA. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can reduce AGA. However, preparing therapeutic doses of MSCs for clinical use is challenging. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs (iMSCs) are homogenous and easily expandable, enabling scalable production of EVs. Hyaluronic acid (HA) can exert various functions including free radical scavenging, immune regulation, and cell migration. Herein, we examined whether hyaluronic acid (HA) stimulation of iMSCs could produce EVs with enhanced therapeutic outcomes for AGA. METHODS: EVs were collected from iMSCs primed with HA (HA-iMSC-EVs) or without HA (iMSC-EVs). The characteristics of EVs were examined using dynamic light scattering, cryo-transmission electron microscopy, immunoblotting, flow cytometry, and proteomic analysis. In vitro, we compared the potential of EVs in stimulating the survival of hair follicle dermal papilla cells undergoing testosterone-mediated AGA. Additionally, the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and relevant growth factors as well as key proteins of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway (ß-catenin and phosphorylated GSK3ß) was analyzed. Subsequently, AGA was induced in male C57/BL6 mice by testosterone administration, followed by repeated injections of iMSC-EVs, HA-iMSC-EVs, finasteride, or vehicle. Several parameters including hair growth, anagen phase ratio, reactivation of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, and AR expression was examined using qPCR, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS: Both types of EVs showed typical characteristics for EVs, such as size distribution, markers, and surface protein expression. In hair follicle dermal papilla cells, the mRNA levels of AR, TGF-ß, and IL-6 increased by testosterone was blocked by HA-iMSC-EVs, which also contributed to the augmented expression of trophic genes related to hair regrowth. However, no notable changes were observed in the iMSC-EVs. Re-activation of Wnt/ß-catenin was observed in HA-iMSC-EVs but not in iMSC-EVs, as shown by ß-catenin stabilization and an increase in phosphorylated GSK3ß. Restoration of hair growth was more significant in HA-iMSC-EVs than in iMSC-EVs, and was comparable to that in mice treated with finasteride. Consistently, the decreased anagen ratio induced by testosterone was reversed by HA-iMSC-EVs, but not by iMSC-EVs. An increased expression of hair follicular ß-catenin protein, as well as the reduction of AR was observed in the skin tissue of AGA mice receiving HA-iMSC-EVs, but not in those treated with iMSC-EVs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that HA-iMSC-EVs have potential to improve AGA by regulating growth factors/cytokines and stimulating AR-related Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.
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Alopecia , Vesículas Extracelulares , Folículo Piloso , Ácido Hialurónico , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Vesículas Extracelulares/metabolismo , Alopecia/terapia , Alopecia/metabolismo , Alopecia/tratamiento farmacológico , Ácido Hialurónico/farmacología , Ácido Hialurónico/metabolismo , Animales , Ratones , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/metabolismo , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/citología , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/efectos de los fármacos , Folículo Piloso/metabolismo , Folículo Piloso/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Vía de Señalización Wnt/efectos de los fármacos , Masculino , Receptores Androgénicos/metabolismo , Receptores Androgénicos/genética , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/citología , Testosterona/farmacología , Glucógeno Sintasa Quinasa 3 beta/metabolismo , Ratones Endogámicos C57BLRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Stem-cell-derived therapy is a promising option for tissue regeneration. Human iPSC-derived progenitors of smooth muscle cells (pSMCs) exhibit limited proliferation and differentiation, which minimizes the risk of tumor formation while restoring smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Up to 29% of women suffer from recurrence of vaginal prolapse after prolapse surgery. Therefore, there is a need for therapies that can restore vaginal function. SMCs contribute to vaginal tone and contractility. We sought to examine whether human pSMCs can restore vaginal function in a rat model. METHODS: Female immunocompromised RNU rats were divided into 5 groups: intact controls (n = 12), VSHAM (surgery + saline injection, n = 35), and three cell-injection groups (surgery + cell injection using pSMCs from three patients, n = 14/cell line). The surgery to induce vaginal injury was analogous to prolapse surgery. Menopause was induced by surgical ovariectomy. The vagina, urethra, bladder were harvested 10 weeks after surgery (5 weeks after cell injection). Organ bath myography was performed to evaluate the contractile function of the vagina, and smooth muscle thickness was examined by tissue immunohistochemistry. Collagen I, collagen III, and elastin mRNA and protein expressions in tissues were assessed. RESULTS: Vaginal smooth muscle contractions induced by carbachol and KCl in the cell-injection groups were significantly greater than those in the VSHAM group. Collagen I protein expression in the vagina of the cell-injections groups was significantly higher than in the VSHAM group. Vaginal elastin protein expression was similar between the cell-injection and VSHAM groups. In the urethra, gene expression levels of collagen I, III, and elastin were all significantly greater in the cell-injection groups than in the VSHAM group. Collagen I, III, and elastin protein expression of the urethra did not show a consistent trend between cell-injection groups and the VSHAM group. CONCLUSIONS: Human iPSC-derived pSMCs transplantation appears to be associated with improved contractile function of the surgically injured vagina in a rat model. This is accompanied by changes in extracellular protein expression the vagina and urethra. These observations support further efforts in the translation of pSMCs into a treatment for regenerating the surgically injured vagina in women who suffer recurrent prolapse after surgery.