Project description:Ectopic expression of the reprogramming factors OCT4, SOX2, or NANOG into human astrocytes in specific cytokine/culture conditions activated the neural stem gene program and induced generation of cells expressing neural stem/precursor markers. Here we compare the whole gene expression profile of primary human astrocytes (Astro) with neural stem cells (HNSC) derived from astrocytes reprogramming
Project description:We have showed that cancer cells (or tumorigenic cells) resemble neural stem/progenitor cells in regulatory network, tumorigenicity and differentiation potential. We have shown PRMT1 is a protein that is upreguated in and promotes vaious cancers. The expression of its gene is localized to embryonic neural cells during vertebrate embryogenesis. The project is to identify the interaction partners of PRMT1, by which PRMT1 regulates neural stemness in both cancer cells and neural stem cells.
Project description:Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells give rise to neural stem cells, which are applicable for therapeutic transplantation in treatment of neural diseases. However, generation of neural stem cells from iPS cells requires a careful selection of safe iPS clones. We sought to determine whether direct induction of neural stem cells from partially reprogrammed somatic cells is able to generate safer cells rapidly. We have successfully established direct induction system from fibroblast to neural stem cells. To characterize these directly induced neural stem cells, Gene expression profiles were compared with iPS cell or ES cell-derived neurosphere. We used affymetrix microarrays to compare the global gene expression of neurospheres prepared several method. RNA extracted from neurospheres was hybridized to Affymetrix microarrays. The mouse strain used in this study except ES/iPS cells was C57BL/6.
Project description:Setdb1 is an epigenetic factors catalyzing modification of H3K9me3. Expression of its gene is localized to embryonic neural cells during vertebrate embryogenesis, suggesting its role in regulating neural stemness. The project is to identify the interaction partners of Setdb1, by which Setdb1 regulates neural stemness in neural stem cells.