Project description:Here we perfomed the Teratoma assay for a normal human embryonic stem cell line (H9(+Dox)), a human embryonic stem cell line with a mesendodermal differentiation bias (H9Hyb), a normal human induced pluripotent stem cell line (LU07), a human induced pluripotent stem cell line with reactivated transgenes (LU07+Dox) and a human embryonal carcinoma cell line (EC) and anayzed their gene expression. The ability to form teratomas in vivo containing multiple somatic cell types is regarded as functional evidence of pluripotency for human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Since the Teratoma assay is animal-dependent, laborious and only qualitative, the PluriTest and the hPSC ScoreCard assay have been developed as in vitro alternatives. Here we compared normal hPSCs, induced hPSCs (hiPSCs) with reactivated reprogramming transgenes and human embryonal carcinoma (hEC) cells in these assays. While normal hPSCs gave rise to typical teratomas, the xenografts of the hEC cells and the hiPSCs with reactivated reprogramming transgenes were largely undifferentiated and malignant. The hPSC ScoreCard assay confirmed the line-specific differentiation propensities in vitro. However, when undifferentiated cells were analysed with PluriTest only hEC cells were identified as abnormal whereas all other cell lines were indistinguishable and resembled normal hPSCs. Our results indicate that pluripotency assays are best selected on the basis of intended downstream applications.
Project description:Here we analyzed undifferentiated cells and perfomed the Teratoma assay for a normal human embryonic stem cell line (H9(+Dox)), a human embryonic stem cell line with a mesendodermal differentiation bias (H9Hyb), a normal human induced pluripotent stem cell line (LU07), a human induced pluripotent stem cell line with reactivated transgenes (LU07+Dox) and a human embryonal carcinoma cell line (EC). The ability to form teratomas in vivo containing multiple somatic cell types is regarded as functional evidence of pluripotency for human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Since the Teratoma assay is animal-dependent, laborious and only qualitative, the PluriTest and the hPSC ScoreCard assay have been developed as in vitro alternatives. Here we compared normal hPSCs, induced hPSCs (hiPSCs) with reactivated reprogramming transgenes and human embryonal carcinoma (hEC) cells in these assays. While normal hPSCs gave rise to typical teratomas, the xenografts of the hEC cells and the hiPSCs with reactivated reprogramming transgenes were largely undifferentiated and malignant. The hPSC ScoreCard assay confirmed the line-specific differentiation propensities in vitro. However, when undifferentiated cells were analysed with PluriTest only hEC cells were identified as abnormal whereas all other cell lines were indistinguishable and resembled normal hPSCs. Our results indicate that pluripotency assays are best selected on the basis of intended downstream applications.
Project description:Human pluripotent stem cell derived muscle models show great potential for translational research. Here, we describe novel developmentally inspired methods for the derivation of skeletal muscle cells and their utility in three-dimensional skeletal muscle organoid formation as well as skeletal muscle tissue engineering. Three-dimensional organoid and tissue engineered models exhibit organotypic maturation and function and regenerative responses, recapitulating canonical properties of bona fide skeletal muscle in vivo. Key steps include the directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells to embryonic muscle progenitors of hypaxial origin followed by primary and secondary fetal myogenesis with development of a satellite cell pool and evidence for innervation in vitro. Regenerative competency was demonstrated in a cardiotoxin injury model with evidence for satellite cell activation as underlying mechanism.
Project description:Three parthenogenetic induced pluripotent stem cell (PgHiPSCs) lines were generated from each of the ovarian teratoma cell lines (two distinct individuals). Two normal iPS cell lines were generated from normal fibroblasts. Three biological replicates of normal embryonic stem cells (H9, HESCs) were perfomed. We used microarrays to study the gene expression profiles of the PgHiPSCs, and compared the expression of genes to both embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell, to identify paternally expressed genes that are down-regulated in the PgHiPSC lines. All parthenogenetic and normal iPS cell lines, were tested for pluripotency assays (inclusing, morphology, immuno stanings and qRT-PCR for known pluripotency markers, differentiation capacity in vivo and in vitro)
Project description:Self-organisation of human pluripotent stem cells into three-dimensional model of post-implantation development, termed as embryonic organoids (hEO), recapitulates crucial features of human gastrulation and early neurulation. Transcriptional characterisation of hEO at different stages of development to study origin and specification of human primordial germ cells (PGCs), emergence of neuromesodermal progenitors (NMP), establishment of primary germ layers and their derivatives and appearance of neuronal precursors.
Project description:Human embryos undergo pivotal morphogenetic remodeling shortly after implantation into the uterus. However, our understanding of this crucial stage is severely impeded by the scarcity of embryonic samples and ethical constraints. Pluripotent stem cells with the competence for somatic and germline differentiation serve as in vitro simulants of epiblast pluripotency continuum. Here, we establish human formative pluripotent stem cells (hfPSCs) from naïve human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), conventional hESCs of different backgrounds, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) as well as human blastocysts in three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel. Similar to pre-gastrula stage epiblast, hfPSCs self-organize into renewal clones with apical lumen and exhibit unique features of formative pluripotency. Functionally, hfPSCs correspond to pre-amnion epiblast cells and exhibit the enhanced tri-lineage differentiation capacity and superior germline competence. Mechanistically, Matrigel-based three-dimensional culture conditions ensure the formative pluripotency through dual ways: biomechanical support and biochemical priming. Thus, hfPSCs open new avenues for creating faithful stem cell-based embryo models and developing the relevant differentiation protocols for regenerative medicine.
Project description:Human embryos undergo pivotal morphogenetic remodeling shortly after implantation into the uterus. However, our understanding of this crucial stage is severely impeded by the scarcity of embryonic samples and ethical constraints. Pluripotent stem cells with the competence for somatic and germline differentiation serve as in vitro simulants of epiblast pluripotency continuum. Here, we establish human formative pluripotent stem cells (hfPSCs) from naïve human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), conventional hESCs of different backgrounds, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) as well as human blastocysts in three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel. Similar to pre-gastrula stage epiblast, hfPSCs self-organize into renewal clones with apical lumen and exhibit unique features of formative pluripotency. Functionally, hfPSCs correspond to pre-amnion epiblast cells and exhibit the enhanced tri-lineage differentiation capacity and superior germline competence. Mechanistically, Matrigel-based three-dimensional culture conditions ensure the formative pluripotency through dual ways: biomechanical support and biochemical priming. Thus, hfPSCs open new avenues for creating faithful stem cell-based embryo models and developing the relevant differentiation protocols for regenerative medicine.
Project description:Human embryos undergo pivotal morphogenetic remodeling shortly after implantation into the uterus. However, our understanding of this crucial stage is severely impeded by the scarcity of embryonic samples and ethical constraints. Pluripotent stem cells with the competence for somatic and germline differentiation serve as in vitro simulants of epiblast pluripotency continuum. Here, we establish human formative pluripotent stem cells (hfPSCs) from naïve human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), conventional hESCs of different backgrounds, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) as well as human blastocysts in three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel. Similar to pre-gastrula stage epiblast, hfPSCs self-organize into renewal clones with apical lumen and exhibit unique features of formative pluripotency. Functionally, hfPSCs correspond to pre-amnion epiblast cells and exhibit the enhanced tri-lineage differentiation capacity and superior germline competence. Mechanistically, Matrigel-based three-dimensional culture conditions ensure the formative pluripotency through dual ways: biomechanical support and biochemical priming. Thus, hfPSCs open new avenues for creating faithful stem cell-based embryo models and developing the relevant differentiation protocols for regenerative medicine.
Project description:Human embryos undergo pivotal morphogenetic remodeling shortly after implantation into the uterus. However, our understanding of this crucial stage is severely impeded by the scarcity of embryonic samples and ethical constraints. Pluripotent stem cells with the competence for somatic and germline differentiation serve as in vitro simulants of epiblast pluripotency continuum. Here, we establish human formative pluripotent stem cells (hfPSCs) from naïve human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), conventional hESCs of different backgrounds, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) as well as human blastocysts in three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel. Similar to pre-gastrula stage epiblast, hfPSCs self-organize into renewal clones with apical lumen and exhibit unique features of formative pluripotency. Functionally, hfPSCs correspond to pre-amnion epiblast cells and exhibit the enhanced tri-lineage differentiation capacity and superior germline competence. Mechanistically, Matrigel-based three-dimensional culture conditions ensure the formative pluripotency through dual ways: biomechanical support and biochemical priming. Thus, hfPSCs open new avenues for creating faithful stem cell-based embryo models and developing the relevant differentiation protocols for regenerative medicine.