Project description:The self-renewal and differentiation capacities of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) make them good sources of cells for cell transplantation therapy, drug development, and studies of cellular differentiation and development. However, the large numbers of cells necessary for many of these applications require extensive expansion of hPSC cultures, a process that has been associated with applications require extensive expansion of hPSC cultures, a process that has been associated with genetic and epigenetic alterations. We have performed a systematic study over more than 100continuous passages to identify characteristics of culture conditions (including passage method, substrate, and media type) that influence the genetic and epigenetic stability and the phenotypic characteristics of hPSCs. The predominant effects we observed were increased genetic instability with enzymatic passage, higher cell proliferation with feeder-free substrate, and variations among cultures in global gene expression and DNA methylation with time in culture. We observed recurrent duplications in two genomic regions that have been noted in earlier studies to be hotspots for duplication in hPSCs, as well as a previously unreported recurrent deletion of the tumor suppressor gene TP53 in all but one of the long-term culture conditions; the exception was the condition using mechanical passaging on feeder layers. The deletion of TP53 is associated with decreased mRNA expression of TP53, as well as alterations in the expression of several other genes in the TP53 pathway, which taken together indicate a decrease in the function of the TP53 pathway. Our results highlight the need for careful assessment of effects of culture conditions on cells intended for clinical therapies. Total RNA extracted at different passages from Human Embryonic Stem Cells in different culture conditions. Total DNA extracted at different passages from Human Embryonic Stem Cells in different culture conditions.
Project description:The self-renewal and differentiation capacities of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) make them good sources of cells for cell transplantation therapy, drug development, and studies of cellular differentiation and development. However, the large numbers of cells necessary for many of these applications require extensive expansion of hPSC cultures, a process that has been associated with genetic and epigenetic alterations. We have performed a combinatorial study on both hESCs and hiPSCs to compare the effects of enzymatic vs. mechanical passaging, and feeder-free vs. mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder substrate, to on the genetic and epigenetic stability and the phenotypic characteristics of hPSCs. In extensive experiments in hEScs involving over 100 continuous passages, , we observed that both enzymatic passaging and feeder-free culture were associated with genetic instability, higher cell proliferation, and persistence of OCT4-positive cells in teratomas, with enzymatic passaging having the stronger effect. In all combinations of culture conditions except for mechanical passaging on feeder layers, we noted recurrent deletions in the genomic region containing the tumor suppressor gene TP53, which was associated with decreased mRNA expression of TP53, as well as alterations in the expression of several downstream genes consistent with a decrease in the activity of the TP53 pathway. Among the hESC cultures, we also observedculture-dependent variations in global gene expression and DNA methylation. Verification of the negative effects of enzymatic passaging and feeder-free conditions was performed in hiPSC cultures. Our results highlight the need for careful assessment of effects of culture conditions on cells intended for clinical therapies. Three independent hiPSC clones reprogrammed from human fetal dermal fibroblasts: HDF51iPS1, HDF51iPS7, and HDF51iPS11.
Project description:Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) show great promise for clinical and research applications, but genomic instability hampers the development of their full potential. Here we demonstrate that increased culture density causes medium acidification due to lactic acid accumulation. hESC are able to cope with this, but acquire increased DNA damage associated to DNA replication stress. Also, single-cell genomics analysis reveals a strong correlation of the occurrence of de novo CNVs and culture density after only five days of culture. However, by an improved control over the accumulation of metabolites through more frequent medium changes, we were able to counter the effect of culture density on DNA damage and CNVs. These data underline the importance of optimal culture conditions, even at short-term, in the light of bringing hESC to their full potential.
Project description:ZNF462 haploinsufficiency is linked to Weiss-Kruszka Syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by neurodevelopmental defects including Autism. Though conserved in vertebrates and essential for embryonic development the molecular functions of ZNF462 remain unclear. We identified its murine homolog ZFP462 in a screen for mediators of epigenetic gene silencing. Here, we show that ZFP462 safeguards neural lineage specification of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) by targeting the H3K9-specific histone methyltransferase complex G9A/GLP to silence mesoendodermal genes. ZFP462 binds to transposable elements (TEs) that are potential enhancers harboring ESC-specific transcription factor (TF) binding sites. Recruiting G9A/GLP, ZFP462 seeds heterochromatin, restricting TF binding. Loss of ZFP462 in ESCs results in increased chromatin accessibility at target sites and ectopic expression of mesoendodermal genes. Taken together, ZFP462 confers lineage- and locus-specificity to the broadly expressed epigenetic regulator G9A/GLP. Our results suggest that aberrant activation of lineage non-specific genes in the neuronal lineage underlies ZNF462-associated neurodevelopmental pathology.
Project description:The self-renewal and differentiation capacities of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) make them good sources of cells for cell transplantation therapy, drug development, and studies of cellular differentiation and development. However, the large numbers of cells necessary for many of these applications require extensive expansion of hPSC cultures, a process that has been associated with applications require extensive expansion of hPSC cultures, a process that has been associated with genetic and epigenetic alterations. We have performed a systematic study over more than 100continuous passages to identify characteristics of culture conditions (including passage method, substrate, and media type) that influence the genetic and epigenetic stability and the phenotypic characteristics of hPSCs. The predominant effects we observed were increased genetic instability with enzymatic passage, higher cell proliferation with feeder-free substrate, and variations among cultures in global gene expression and DNA methylation with time in culture. We observed recurrent duplications in two genomic regions that have been noted in earlier studies to be hotspots for duplication in hPSCs, as well as a previously unreported recurrent deletion of the tumor suppressor gene TP53 in all but one of the long-term culture conditions; the exception was the condition using mechanical passaging on feeder layers. The deletion of TP53 is associated with decreased mRNA expression of TP53, as well as alterations in the expression of several other genes in the TP53 pathway, which taken together indicate a decrease in the function of the TP53 pathway. Our results highlight the need for careful assessment of effects of culture conditions on cells intended for clinical therapies.
Project description:The self-renewal and differentiation capacities of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) make them good sources of cells for cell transplantation therapy, drug development, and studies of cellular differentiation and development. However, the large numbers of cells necessary for many of these applications require extensive expansion of hPSC cultures, a process that has been associated with genetic and epigenetic alterations. We have performed a combinatorial study on both hESCs and hiPSCs to compare the effects of enzymatic vs. mechanical passaging, and feeder-free vs. mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder substrate, to on the genetic and epigenetic stability and the phenotypic characteristics of hPSCs. In extensive experiments in hEScs involving over 100 continuous passages, , we observed that both enzymatic passaging and feeder-free culture were associated with genetic instability, higher cell proliferation, and persistence of OCT4-positive cells in teratomas, with enzymatic passaging having the stronger effect. In all combinations of culture conditions except for mechanical passaging on feeder layers, we noted recurrent deletions in the genomic region containing the tumor suppressor gene TP53, which was associated with decreased mRNA expression of TP53, as well as alterations in the expression of several downstream genes consistent with a decrease in the activity of the TP53 pathway. Among the hESC cultures, we also observedculture-dependent variations in global gene expression and DNA methylation. Verification of the negative effects of enzymatic passaging and feeder-free conditions was performed in hiPSC cultures. Our results highlight the need for careful assessment of effects of culture conditions on cells intended for clinical therapies.
Project description:Clinically evident oral lesions, oral epithelial dysplasia, precede development of oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and are considered to transform to cancer by acquisition of genetic or epigenetic alterations. Here, we show that, +3q24-qter, -8pter-p23.1, +8q12-q24.2 and +20 are early events identifying two pathways to oral cancers that differ in clinical behavior. One or more of these copy number aberrations is present in the major subgroup (3q8pq20 subtype, 75-80% of lesions) that develops with chromosomal instability and risk for metastasis, while they are absent from the smaller and chromosomally stable non-3q8pq20 subgroup (20-25% of lesions) associated with low risk for metastasis. Thus, +3q, -8p, +8q and +20 is a biomarker for oral SCC metastasis. On the other hand, while increased numbers of genomic alterations can be harbingers of progression to cancer, dysplastic lesions lacking copy number changes cannot be considered benign as they are potential precursors to non-3q8pq20 oral SCC. 63 oral SCCs and adjacent regions of normal tissue, 44 oral dysplasias
Project description:Most BRCA1-associated breast tumors are basal-like yet originate from luminal progenitor cells. BRCA1 is best known for its functions in DNA repair and resolution of DNA replication stress. However, it is unclear whether loss of these ubiquitously important functions of BRCA1 fully explains the cell lineage-specific increase in breast tumor development. Cell culture-based studies implicate BRCA1 in elimination of R-loops, DNA-RNA hybrid structures involved in transcriptional regulation and genetic instability. We found that BRCA1 mutation-associated R-loop accumulates preferentially in luminal epithelial cells of cancer-free human breast tissue, and at the 5' end of those genes that experience promoter-proximal RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pausing. Genetic ablation of mouse NELF-B/COBRA1, a Pol II-pausing factor and BRCA1-binding protein, in Brca1 knockout mouse mammary epithelium ameliorates R-loop accumulation and reduces mammary tumorigenesis. Our studies show that Pol II pausing is a previously unappreciated contributor to BRCA1-associated R-loop accumulation and breast cancer development.