Project description:An unlimited source of functional human pancreatic β cells are in highly demand. Even with recent advances in pancreatic β-like cell differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), several hurdles obviously remain and the differentiation protocols need to be further improved. Chemical strategies are particularly useful to address these challenges. Here, through chemical screening, we unexpectedly identified that BET bromodomain inhibitor I-BET151 could robustly promote the expansion of PDX1 and NKX6.1 double-positive human pancreatic progenitors (PPs). These hPSC-derived expandable pancreatic progenitors (ePPs) can proliferate extensively in a chemically defined condition with I-BET151. Even after long-term expansion, these ePPs maintain pancreatic progenitor cell status. In addition, ePPs can efficiently differentiate into pancreatic β-like cells (ePP-β cells). These ePP-β cells are functional and demonstrate glucose-stimulation insulin-secretion (GSIS) capacity. Mechanistically, I-BET151 can activate Notch signaling and promote the expression of key pancreatic progenitor-associated genes and transcriptional network. Conclusively, our studies achieve the long-term goal of robust expansion of human pancreatic progenitors and represent a significant step towards unlimited supplies of functional human pancreatic β cells that are of great interest for biomedical research and regenerative medicine.
Project description:An unlimited source of functional human pancreatic β cells are in highly demand. Even with recent advances in pancreatic β-like cell differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), several hurdles obviously remain and the differentiation protocols need to be further improved. Chemical strategies are particularly useful to address these challenges. Here, through chemical screening, we unexpectedly identified that BET bromodomain inhibitor I-BET151 could robustly promote the expansion of PDX1 and NKX6.1 double-positive human pancreatic progenitors (PPs). These hPSC-derived expandable pancreatic progenitors (ePPs) can proliferate extensively in a chemically defined condition with I-BET151. Even after long-term expansion, these ePPs maintain pancreatic progenitor cell status. In addition, ePPs can efficiently differentiate into pancreatic β-like cells (ePP-β cells). These ePP-β cells are functional and demonstrate glucose-stimulation insulin-secretion (GSIS) capacity. Mechanistically, I-BET151 can activate Notch signaling and promote the expression of key pancreatic progenitor-associated genes and transcriptional network. Conclusively, our studies achieve the long-term goal of robust expansion of human pancreatic progenitors and represent a significant step towards unlimited supplies of functional human pancreatic β cells that are of great interest for biomedical research and regenerative medicine.
Project description:An unlimited source of functional human pancreatic β cells are in highly demand. Even with recent advances in pancreatic β-like cell differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), several hurdles obviously remain and the differentiation protocols need to be further improved. Chemical strategies are particularly useful to address these challenges. Here, through chemical screening, we unexpectedly identified that BET bromodomain inhibitor I-BET151 could robustly promote the expansion of PDX1 and NKX6.1 double-positive human pancreatic progenitors (PPs). These hPSC-derived expandable pancreatic progenitors (ePPs) can proliferate extensively in a chemically defined condition with I-BET151. Even after long-term expansion, these ePPs maintain pancreatic progenitor cell status. In addition, ePPs can efficiently differentiate into pancreatic β-like cells (ePP-β cells). These ePP-β cells are functional and demonstrate glucose-stimulation insulin-secretion (GSIS) capacity. Mechanistically, I-BET151 can activate Notch signaling and promote the expression of key pancreatic progenitor-associated genes and transcriptional network. Conclusively, our studies achieve the long-term goal of robust expansion of human pancreatic progenitors and represent a significant step towards unlimited supplies of functional human pancreatic β cells that are of great interest for biomedical research and regenerative medicine.
Project description:An unlimited source of functional human pancreatic β cells are in highly demand. Even with recent advances in pancreatic β-like cell differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), several hurdles obviously remain and the differentiation protocols need to be further improved. Chemical strategies are particularly useful to address these challenges. Here, through chemical screening, we unexpectedly identified that BET bromodomain inhibitor I-BET151 could robustly promote the expansion of PDX1 and NKX6.1 double-positive human pancreatic progenitors (PPs). These hPSC-derived expandable pancreatic progenitors (ePPs) can proliferate extensively in a chemically defined condition with I-BET151. Even after long-term expansion, these ePPs maintain pancreatic progenitor cell status. In addition, ePPs can efficiently differentiate into pancreatic β-like cells (ePP-β cells). These ePP-β cells are functional and demonstrate glucose-stimulation insulin-secretion (GSIS) capacity. Mechanistically, I-BET151 can activate Notch signaling and promote the expression of key pancreatic progenitor-associated genes and transcriptional network. Conclusively, our studies achieve the long-term goal of robust expansion of human pancreatic progenitors and represent a significant step towards unlimited supplies of functional human pancreatic β cells that are of great interest for biomedical research and regenerative medicine.
Project description:Developing a model of primate neural tube (NT) development is important to promote many NT disorder studies in model organisms. Here, we report a robust and stable system to allow for clonal expansion of single monkey neuroepithelial stem cells (NESCs) to develop into miniature NT-like structures. Single NESCs can produce functional neurons in vitro, survive and extensively regenerate neuron axons in monkey brain. NT formation and NESC maintenance depend on high metabolism activity and Wnt signaling. NESCs are regionally restricted into a telencephalic fate. Moreover, single NESCs can turn into radial glial progenitors (RGPCs). The transition is accurately regulated by Wnt signaling through regulation of Notch signaling and adhesion molecules. Finally, using the â??NESC-TO-NTsâ?? system, we model the functions of folic acid (FA) on NT closure and demonstrate FA can regulate multiple mechanisms to prevent NT defects. Together, our system is ideal for studying NT development and diseases. compare gene expression profiles in monkey neuroepithelial stem cells (NESCs), newly converted radial glial progenitor cells (RPGCs) from NESCs and differentiated neurons from NESCs