Project description:Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) represent the earliest stages of organismal development, and have the potential to differentiate into cell types from all three primary germ layers. To date, however, chimeric competency of human EPS cells has not been determined in other animal hosts. Leveraging on a recently developed in vitro culture system that enabled the development of monkey embryos up to 20 days in vitro, in this study, we injected human PSCs (hPSCs) cells into cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) morula embryos and examined their contribution to different lineages at different timepoints during in vitro culture.
Project description:Because of their similarity to humans, non-human primates are important models for studying human disease and developing therapeutic strategies. Establishment of chimeric animals using embryonic stem cells (ESCs) could help with these investigations, but has not so far been achieved. Here, we show that cynomolgus monkey ESCs (cESCs) grown in adjusted culture conditions are able to incorporate into host embryos and develop into chimeras with contribution in all three germ layers and in germ cell progenitors. Under the optimized culture conditions, which are based on an approach developed previously for naive human ESCs, the cESCs displayed altered growth properties, gene expression profiles and self-renewal signaling pathways, suggestive of an altered naive-like cell state. Thus our findings show that it is feasible to generate chimeric monkeys using ESCs and open up new avenues for the use of non-human primate models to study both pluripotency and human disease.
Project description:In this study, we explored x-inactivation in monkey embryos (ICM and TE separately) and pluripotent stem cells (IVF derived ES, SCNT-derived ES and monkey iPS) To elucidate x-inactivation in experimentally reprogrammed pluripotent cells, we derived pluripotent stem cells by both SCNT and iPS approaches from same parental skin fibroblasts. We also compared gene patterns of those cells to IVF-derived counterpart. The transcriptomes of rhesus monkey embryonic stem cell lines derived by both SCNT (CRES) and iPS (RiPS) from same monkey skin fibroblasts were compared each other. Both experimentally reprogrammed cells were also compared with IVF-derived counterpart (ORMES23). Finally, the adult somatic skin fibroblasts were analyzed. Three biological replicates of each cell line (A, B, C) were analyzed.
Project description:Among all known cultured stem cell types, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) sit atop the landscape of developmental potency and are characterized by their unrestricted developmental potential, able to generate all cell types of an adult organism. However, PSCs show limited contribution to the extraembryonic (ExEm) tissues, in particular, those giving rise to the placenta in vivo. To date, it remains unknown whether stem cells with both embryonic and extraembryonic developmental potency can be captured and maintained in vitro. Here, we identify a new chemical cocktail that allows for the generation of stem cells with extended developmental potency from mouse and human, designated as extended pluripotent stem (EPS) cells, which is capable of chimerizing both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. Importantly, a single mouse EPS (mEPS) cell shows widespread contribution to both embryonic and extraembryonic lineages in chimeric mouse conceptuses at late-gestation stages, and permits generation of high-grade germline competent chimeras as well as single EPS-derived viable mice by tetraploid complementation. Furthermore, human EPS (hEPS) cells contribute to embryonic and extraembryonic tissues in interspecies chimeric mouse conceptuses. Compared to known PSCs, EPS cells show unique gene modules that upregulate in embryonic cells from early preimplantation development. Further analysis shows that PARP1 inhibition is required for maintaining EPS potency. Our findings constitute a first step towards capturing pluripotent stem cells with extraembryonic developmental potentials in culture, and open new avenues for generating mammalian PSCs with robust chimeric competency for basic and translational research.
Project description:In this study, we explored x-inactivation in monkey embryos (ICM and TE separately) and pluripotent stem cells (IVF derived ES, SCNT-derived ES and monkey iPS) To elucidate x-inactivation in experimentally reprogrammed pluripotent cells, we derived pluripotent stem cells by both SCNT and iPS approaches from same parental skin fibroblasts. We also compared gene patterns of those cells to IVF-derived counterpart.
Project description:Extended pluripotent stem cells (EPSCs) derived from mice and humans showed an enhanced potential for chimeric formation. By exploiting transcriptomic techniques, we assessed the differences in gene expression profile between extended EPSCs derived from mice and humans, and those newly derived from the common marmoset (marmoset; Callithrix jacchus). Although the marmoset EPSC-like cells displayed a unique colony morphology distinct from murine and human EPSCs, they displayed a pluripotent state akin to embryonic stem cells (ESCs), as confirmed by gene expression and immunocytochemical analyses of pluripotency markers and three-germ-layer differentiation assay. Importantly, the marmoset EPSC-like cells showed interspecies chimeric contribution to mouse embryos, such as E6.5 blastocysts in vitro and E8.5 epiblasts in vivo in mouse development. Also, we discovered that the perturbation of gene expression of the marmoset EPSC-like cells from the original ESCs resembled that of human EPSCs. Thus, we established the efficacy of the method for the derivation of marmoset EPSCs
Project description:Conventional embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from primates resemble mouse epiblast stem cells, raising an intriguing question regarding whether the naïve pluripotent state resembling mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) exists in primates and how to capture it in vitro. Here we identified several specific signaling modulators that are sufficient to generate rhesus monkey fibroblast-derived iPSCs with the features of naïve pluripotency in terms of growth properties, gene expression profiles, self-renewal signaling, X-reactivation and the potential to generate cross-species chimeric embryos. Interestingly, together with recent reports of naïve human pluripotent stem cells, our findings suggest several conserved signaling pathways shared with rodents and specific to primates, providing significant insights for acquiring naïve pluripotency from other mammal species. In addition, the derivation of rhesus monkey naïve iPSCs also provides a valuable cell source for use in preclinical research and disease modeling. mRNA expression analysis of 4 rhesus monkey naive iPSC lines and 2 primed iPSC lines were examed.
Project description:Conventional embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from primates resemble mouse epiblast stem cells, raising an intriguing question regarding whether the naïve pluripotent state resembling mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) exists in primates and how to capture it in vitro. Here we identified several specific signaling modulators that are sufficient to generate rhesus monkey fibroblast-derived iPSCs with the features of naïve pluripotency in terms of growth properties, gene expression profiles, self-renewal signaling, X-reactivation and the potential to generate cross-species chimeric embryos. Interestingly, together with recent reports of naïve human pluripotent stem cells, our findings suggest several conserved signaling pathways shared with rodents and specific to primates, providing significant insights for acquiring naïve pluripotency from other mammal species. In addition, the derivation of rhesus monkey naïve iPSCs also provides a valuable cell source for use in preclinical research and disease modeling.
Project description:Totipotent cells with bidirectional chimeric ability attracts more attention from developmental biology and regenerative medicine. Human extended pluripotent stem cells can be obtained and maintained by converting conventional embryonic stem cells using the combo of chemicals, however, the transition and culture system is based on feeder and the mechanism during the acquisition of extended pluripotency is largely unknown. Here we first showed an adapted Matrigel-based feeder-free conversion and maintenance system to generate extended pluripotent stem cells from human embryonic stem cells. We demonstrated the extended pluripotency by molecular markers, chimeric ability and transcriptome. Our data provided an epigenetic and metabolic insight into the maintenance and transition of extended pluripotency.
Project description:Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be generated from somatic cells by transduction with several transcription factors in both mouse and human. However, direct reprogramming in other species has not been reported. Here, we established an efficient method to generate monkey iPS cells from fibroblasts by retrovirus-mediated introduction of the four monkey transcription factors OCT4 (POU5F1), SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC. The monkey iPS cells displayed ES-like morphology, expressed ES cell-marker genes, shared similar global gene profiles and methylation status in the OCT4 promoter to those of monkey ES cells, and possessed the ability to differentiate into three germ layers in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that the mechanism of direct reprogramming is conserved among species. The efficient generation of monkey iPS cells will allow investigation of the feasibility of therapeutic cloning in primate model with various diseases. Keywords: Induced pluripotent stem, iPS, Rhesus monkey We analysed each sample (Rhesus monkey fibroblast, embryonic stem cell (ES) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS)) for three replications and sought to see high similarty between iPS and ES.