Project description:Induced-pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (IPSC-CM) models can improve understanding of pathophysiology through disease modelling and can be used for cardiotoxicity screening of drugs, ultimately reducing reliance on animal models; however these models have not been extensively functionally characterised, which was the aim of this study. A contracting IPSC-CM model was generated and characterised for atrial and ventricle-specific cardiac gene expression with RNAsequencing. These data are to be correlated with functional assays.
Project description:We apply short-read RNA sequencing technology to identify transcripts expressed during four time points of a human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocyte differentiation protocol, corresponding to pluripotent, mesoderm, early cardiomyocyte, and cardiomyocyte cell stages. The RNA-seq reads are used to generate custom protein sequence database for proteogenomic applications and downstream mass spectrometry analysis. We demonstrate that this custom RNA-seq-guided proteomics approach can be used to identify protein isoforms that are differentially regulated during cardiac differentiation.
Project description:The IMBA stem cell bank, iPSC Biobank, is a collection of induced pluripotent stem cell lines (iPSC lines) produced from skin and blood cells. The iPSC Biobank is integrated into the IMBA Stem Cell Core Facility. It stores and provides high-quality reference control panels of iPSC clones as a tool to the research community. The resource is available to all scientists and commercial institutions. The ethical guidelines of the iPSC Biobank are always based on prevailing laws and internal regulations.
Project description:The integration of cell metabolism with signalling pathways, transcription factor networks and epigenetic mediators is critical in coordinating molecular and cellular events during embryogenesis. Induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) are an established model for embryogenesis, germ layer specification and cell lineage differentiation, advancing the study of human embryonic development and the translation of innovations in drug discovery, disease modelling and cell-based therapies. The metabolic regulation of IPSC pluripotency is mediated by balancing glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, but there is a paucity of data regarding the influence of individual metabolite changes during cell lineage differentiation. We used <sup>1</sup>H NMR metabolite fingerprinting and footprinting to monitor metabolite levels as IPSCs are directed in a three-stage protocol through primitive streak/mesendoderm, mesoderm and chondrogenic populations. Metabolite changes were associated with central metabolism, with aerobic glycolysis predominant in IPSC, elevated oxidative phosphorylation during differentiation and fatty acid oxidation and ketone body use in chondrogenic cells. Metabolites were also implicated in the epigenetic regulation of pluripotency, cell signalling and biosynthetic pathways. Our results show that <sup>1</sup>H NMR metabolomics is an effective tool for monitoring metabolite changes during the differentiation of pluripotent cells with implications on optimising media and environmental parameters for the study of embryogenesis and translational applications.
Project description:Chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNA) are potent cholinesterase inhibitors that may also have non-cholinesterase effects. Several in vivo studies have shown that exposure to CWNA compounds induces damage in the brain and heart. Underlying mechanisms of this damage are a critical area of research for the development of medical countermeasures. This study utilized microRNA (miRNA) analysis to evaluate potential direct cellular effects of the nerve agent VX (o-ethyl-s-[2 (diisopropylamino) ethyl] methylphosphonothiolate) on human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons iPSC-derived neurons were treated with VX at concentrations of 0µM (saline control), 0.1µM or 100µM for either 1 hour or 6 hours. Total RNA was then isolated and processed for miRNA microarray analysis using Affymetrix miRNA 2.0 GeneChips
Project description:Chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNA) are potent cholinesterase inhibitors that may also have non-cholinesterase effects. Several in vivo studies have shown that exposure to CWNA compounds induces damage in the brain and heart. Underlying mechanisms of this damage are a critical area of research for the development of medical countermeasures. This study utilized microRNA (miRNA) analysis to evaluate potential direct cellular effects of the nerve agent GD/soman (O-Pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate) on human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons iPSC-derived neurons were treated with GD at concentrations of 0µM (saline control), 0.1µM or 100µM for either 1 hour or 6 hours. Total RNA was then isolated and processed for miRNA microarray analysis using Affymetrix miRNA 2.0 GeneChips
Project description:Extracellular vesicles derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC EVs) have immunoregulatory potential with the ability to alter monocyte-derived macrophages. Macrophages function in the propagation and resolution of inflammation which is mediated by their phenotype. Macrophages are an ideal therapeutic target as modulating their phenotype towards an anti-inflammatory pro-resolving state may be beneficial in chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. Macrophages are naturally phagocytotic cells and readily take up iPSC EVs however the contents of iPSC EVs and their effects on macrophages are poorly understood. Here iPSC EVs were characterized and analysed by mass-spectrometry based proteomics and a targeted microRNA (miR) panel. Their immunomodulatory effects on macrophages were assessed and a monocyte transmigration assay was used to assess the chemotactic potency of the secretome from iPSC EV treated macrophages. Proteomic analysis on iPSC EVs identified Podocalyxin-like protein 1 (PODXL1), Insulin (INS) and Solute Carrier Family 2 (Facilitated Glucose Transporter), Member 3 (SLC2A3) as the most abundant proteins unique to the iPSC EVs when compared to control NT-2 EVs. Notably, thioredoxin and peroxiredoxin related proteins were detected. miR-302d-3p was the most abundant miR in these iPSC EVs. miR-25-3p, previously reported to alter the macrophage phenotype, was significantly increased in comparison to the control NT-2 EVs. iPSC EVs increased expression of the anti-inflammatory associated MRC1 and miR-21 in human primary macrophages and decreased monocyte chemoattractant protein1 (MCP-1). Mass spectrometry based proteomics revealed that treated macrophages had decreased levels of secretory proteins, some of which have chemotactic properties, these included Azurocidin 1 (AZU1), Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15), and Ribosomal Protein S19 (RPS19). There was a decrease in monocyte transmigration towards conditioned media from macrophages treated with iPSC EVs. Collectively this study provides insights into the protein content and miR cargo of iPSC EVs and highlights their capacity to inhibit chemotactic proteins in macrophages and upregulate MRC1.
Project description:Pompe disease is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the GAA gene, which encodes acid alpha-glucosidase. Although enzyme replacement therapy has recently improved patient survival greatly, the results in skeletal muscles and for advanced disease are still not satisfactory. Here, we report the derivation of Pompe disease induced pluripotent stem cells (PomD-iPSCs) and their potential for pathogenesis modeling, drug testing and disease marker identification. PomD-iPSCs maintained pluripotent features, and had low GAA activity and high glycogen content. Cardiomyocyte-like cells (CMLCs) differentiated from PomD-iPSCs recapitulated the hallmark Pompe disease pathophysiological phenotypes, including high levels of glycogen, abundant intracellular LAMP-1- or LC3-positive granules, and multiple ultrastructural aberrances. Drug rescue assessment showed that exposure of PomD-iPSC-derived CMLCs to rhGAA reversed the major pathologic phenotypes. Further, L-carnitine and 3- methyladenine treatment reduced defective cellular respiration and buildup of phagolysosomes, respectively, in the diseased cells. By comparative transcriptome analysis, we identified glycogen metabolism, lysosome and mitochondria related marker genes whose expression robustly correlated with the therapeutic effect of drug treatment in PomD-iPSC-derived CMLCs. Collectively, these results demonstrate that PomD-iPSCs are a promising in vitro disease model for development of novel therapeutic strategies for Pompe disease. Total RNA were isolated from HESC, HF(Pompe disease), PomD-iPSC, HES-CMLC, and PomD-iPS-CMLC. The series included two HESC lines, two HF(Pompe disease) cell lines, four PomD-iPS cell lines, and HES-CMLC were differentiated from one HESC line(HESC2), PomD-iPS-CMLC were differentiated from 3 PomD-iPS cell lines(PomD-iPSC A10, PomD-iPSC A17, PomD-iPSC B03). Each condition was repeated twice and used HESC as control.