Project description:Induction of pluripotency in somatic cells needs the full activation of the pluripotency gene regulatory network (PGRN). The core transcription factors of the PGRN establish a crosstalk with specific micro RNA (miRNA) families to sustain the pluripotent program and govern cell fate decisions. Very recently, circular RNA (circRNA) have been proposed as novel players in the regulation of this molecular circuitry. Herein, we successfully generated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) by zero-footprint reprogramming of cord blood mesenchymal stem cells. The hiPSC were extensively characterized for stemness and tri-lineage differentiation potential compared to human embryonic stem cells and parental unreprogrammed cells to assess complete acquisition of the pluripotent identity. High-throughput array-based molecular analyses of messenger RNA (mRNA) (631 genes), miRNA (754 miRNA) and, for the first time, circRNA (13,617 circRNA) were performed to address the role of circRNA in the PGRN. As a result, a circRNA-guided map of miRNA and mRNA associated to naïve and primed pluripotent identity is provided.
Project description:To gain insight into the molecular regulation of human heart development, a detailed comparison of the mRNA and miRNA transcriptomes across differentiating human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)–derived cardiomyocytes and biopsies from fetal, adult, and hypertensive human hearts was performed. Gene ontology analysis of the mRNA expression levels of the hiPSCs differentiating into cardiomyocytes revealed 3 distinct groups of genes: pluripotent specific, transitional cardiac specification, and mature cardiomyocyte specific. Hierarchical clustering of the mRNA data revealed that the transcriptome of hiPSC cardiomyocytes largely stabilizes 20 days after initiation of differentiation. Nevertheless, analysis of cells continuously cultured for 120 days indicated that the cardiomyocytes continued to mature toward a more adult-like gene expression pattern. Analysis of cardiomyocyte-specific miRNAs (miR-1, miR-133a/b, and miR-208a/b) revealed a miRNA pattern indicative of stem cell to cardiomyocyte specification. A biostatistitical approach integrated the miRNA and mRNA expression profiles revealing a cardiomyocyte differentiation miRNA network and identified putative mRNAs targeted by multiple miRNAs. Together, these data reveal the miRNA network in human heart development and support the notion that overlapping miRNA networks re-enforce transcriptional control during developmental specification. Comparison of mRNA expression profiling of differentiating human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)–derived cardiomyocytes, biopsies from fetal, adult and hypertensive human hearts and primary cardiomyocytes
Project description:Human primordial germ cells and mouse neonatal and adult germline stem cells are pluripotent and derive embryonic stem cell properties. Here we report the successful establishment of stable pluripotent human adult germline stem cells (haGSCs) derived from spermatogonial cells of adult human testis. Cellular and molecular characterization of haGSCs revealed many similarities to human embryonic stem (hES) cells and haGSCs produced teratomas after subcutaneous transplantation into immunodeficient mice. The haGSCs differentiated into various types of somatic cells of all three germ layers when grown under conditions used to induce the differentiation of hES cells. We conclude that the generation of haGSCs from testicular biopsies may provide simple and non-controversial access to individual cell-based therapy without the ethical and immunological problems associated with hES cells. Keywords: pluripotent stem cells characterisation
Project description:In the current study, we attempted to establish an in vitro model for assessing population variability in hepatotoxicity testing using a panel of hepatocytes derived from nine human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines belonging to three different ethnic groups, Black or African American (BAA), Latino or Hispanic (LOH), and Non-Hispanic White (NHW). The panel of iPSC-derived hepatocytes were exposed to diglycolic acid (DGA) and usnic acid (UA), and transcriptomic changes were characterized and compared.
Project description:Induction of pluripotency in somatic cells needs the full activation of the pluripotency gene regulatory network (PGRN). The core transcription factors of the PGRN establish a crosstalk with specific micro RNA (miRNA) families to sustain the pluripotent program and govern cell fate decisions. Very recently, circular RNA (circRNA) have been proposed as novel players in the regulation of this molecular circuitry. Herein, we successfully generated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) by zero-footprint reprogramming of cord blood mesenchymal stem cells. The hiPSC were extensively characterized for stemness and tri-lineage differentiation potential compared to human embryonic stem cells and parental unreprogrammed cells to assess complete acquisition of the pluripotent identity. High-throughput array-based molecular analyses of messenger RNA (mRNA) (631 genes), miRNA (754 miRNA) and, for the first time, circRNA (13,617 circRNA) were performed to address the role of circRNA in the PGRN. As a result, a circRNA-guided map of miRNA and mRNA associated to naïve and primed pluripotent identity is provided.
Project description:The concept of dedifferentiation of somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells has opened a new era in regenerative medicine. Viral transduction of defined factors has successfully achieved pluripotency derived from somatic cells. However, during the generation process of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, genetic integration of certain factors may cause mutagenesis or tumorigenicity, which limits further application. Therefore, there is currently ongoing an extensive search for new methods such as transient gene delivery and oocyte-free and non-viral inducers like small molecules. Here we show that the transient delivery of embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived soluble proteins enables dedifferentiation of mouse adult somatic cells converting them into pluripotent stem cells without the introduction of certain transcription factors or genetic manipulation. During the dedifferentiation, global gene expression patterns and epigenetic status were converted from the somatic to the ES-equivalent status. Dedifferentiated somatic cells were morphologically, biologically and functionally indistinguishable from ES cells. Furthermore, the dedifferentiated cells possessed in vivo differentiation and development potential. Our results provide an alternative and safe strategy for dedifferentiation of somatic cells that can be used to facilitate pluripotent stem cell-based cell therapy. Total RNA from mES cell (triplicate), adult fibroblast (triplicate), or dedifferentiated adult fibroblast was isolated. Samples were hybridized to a Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST Array according to the manufacturer's protocol. After hybridization, the chips were stained and washed in a Genechip Fluidics Station 450(Affymetrix) and scanned by using a Genechip Array scanner 3000 7G (Affymetrix).
Project description:To gain insight into the molecular regulation of human heart development, a detailed comparison of the mRNA and miRNA transcriptomes across differentiating human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)–derived cardiomyocytes and biopsies from fetal, adult, and hypertensive human hearts was performed. Gene ontology analysis of the mRNA expression levels of the hiPSCs differentiating into cardiomyocytes revealed 3 distinct groups of genes: pluripotent specific, transitional cardiac specification, and mature cardiomyocyte specific. Hierarchical clustering of the mRNA data revealed that the transcriptome of hiPSC cardiomyocytes largely stabilizes 20 days after initiation of differentiation. Nevertheless, analysis of cells continuously cultured for 120 days indicated that the cardiomyocytes continued to mature toward a more adult-like gene expression pattern. Analysis of cardiomyocyte-specific miRNAs (miR-1, miR-133a/b, and miR-208a/b) revealed a miRNA pattern indicative of stem cell to cardiomyocyte specification. A biostatistitical approach integrated the miRNA and mRNA expression profiles revealing a cardiomyocyte differentiation miRNA network and identified putative mRNAs targeted by multiple miRNAs. Together, these data reveal the miRNA network in human heart development and support the notion that overlapping miRNA networks re-enforce transcriptional control during developmental specification.