scholarly journals Clonal culturing of human embryonic stem cells on laminin-521/E-cadherin matrix in defined and xeno-free environment

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Rodin ◽  
Liselotte Antonsson ◽  
Colin Niaudet ◽  
Oscar E. Simonson ◽  
Elina Salmela ◽  
...  

Abstract Lack of robust methods for establishment and expansion of pluripotent human embryonic stem (hES) cells still hampers development of cell therapy. Laminins (LN) are a family of highly cell-type specific basement membrane proteins important for cell adhesion, differentiation, migration and phenotype stability. Here we produce and isolate a human recombinant LN-521 isoform and develop a cell culture matrix containing LN-521 and E-cadherin, which both localize to stem cell niches in vivo. This matrix allows clonal derivation, clonal survival and long-term self-renewal of hES cells under completely chemically defined and xeno-free conditions without ROCK inhibitors. Neither LN-521 nor E-cadherin alone enable clonal survival of hES cells. The LN-521/E-cadherin matrix allows hES cell line derivation from blastocyst inner cell mass and single blastomere cells without a need to destroy the embryo. This method can facilitate the generation of hES cell lines for development of different cell types for regenerative medicine purposes.

Reproduction ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miodrag Stojkovic ◽  
Majlinda Lako ◽  
Tom Strachan ◽  
Alison Murdoch

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass cells of blastocysts with the potential to maintain an undifferentiated state indefinitely. Fully characterised hES cell lines express typical stem cell markers, possess high levels of telomerase activity, show normal karyotype and have the potential to differentiate into numerous cell types under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Therefore, hES cells are potentially valuable for the development of cell transplantation therapies for the treatment of various human diseases. However, there are a number of factors which may limit the medical application of hES cells: (a) continuous culture of hES cells in an undifferentiated state requires the presence of feeder layers and animal-based ingredients which incurs a risk of cross-transfer of pathogens; (b) hES cells demonstrate high genomic instability and non-predictable differentiation after long-term growth; and (c) differentiated hES cells express molecules which could cause immune rejection. In this review we summarise recent progress in the derivation and growth of undifferentiated hES cells and their differentiated progeny, and the problems associated with these techniques. We also examine the potential use of the therapeutic cloning technique to derive isogenic hES cells.


Development ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (7) ◽  
pp. 2069-2077
Author(s):  
E.D. Newman-Smith ◽  
Z. Werb

Mouse embryos containing only maternal chromosomes (parthenotes) develop abnormally in vivo, usually failing at the peri-implantation stage. We have analyzed the development of parthenote embryos by using an inner cell mass (ICM) outgrowth assay that mimics peri-implantation development. ICMs from normal embryos maintained undifferentiated stem cells positive for stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 and Rex-1 while differentiating into a variety of cell types, including visceral endoderm-like cells and parietal endoderm cells. In contrast, ICMs from parthenotes failed to maintain undifferentiated stem cells and differentiated almost exclusively into parietal endoderm. This suggests that parthenote ICMs have a defect that leads to differentiation, rather than maintenance, of the stem cells, and a defect that leads to a parietal endoderm fate for the stem cells. To test the hypothesis that the ICM population is not maintained owing to a lack of proliferation of the stem cells, we investigated whether mitogenic agents were able to maintain the ICM population in parthenotes. When parthenote blastocysts were supplied with the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (Igf-1r) and insulin-like growth factor-2 (Igf-2), two genes not detectable in parthenote blastocysts by in situ hybridization, the ICM population was maintained. Similarly, culture of parthenote blastocysts in medium conditioned by embryonic fibroblasts and supplemented with the maternal factor leukemia inhibitory factor maintained the ICM population. However, once this growth factor-rich medium was removed, the parthenote ICM cells still differentiated predominantly into parietal endoderm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Outi Hovatta

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells offer an excellent source of cells for transplantation in the treatment of severe diseases. To be clinically safe, the lines have to be derived using strict quality criteria and good manufacturing practice. Animal proteins are immunogenic and may contain microbes, and they should not be used in establishing or propagating hES cells. Derivation systems have been improved towards clinical quality by establishing all 25 hES cell lines using human skin fibroblasts as feeder cells instead of mouse fibroblasts. A further 21 cell lines have been established using synthetic serum instead of fetal calf serum in the medium. In the five latest derivations, the inner cell mass was isolated mechanically instead of by immunosurgery (animal antibodies). Feeder-free derivation would be optimal, but it is not yet considered safe. Clinical-quality lines can be derived by establishing the skin fibroblast feeders in the good manufacturing practice laboratory with human serum in the medium, and by establishing the hES cells on such feeders. In this process, a serum replacement that contains only human protein can be used, the inner cell mass has to be isolated mechanically, and the colonies have to be split mechanically for passaging. Somatic cell nuclear transfer would help to overcome rejection of transplanted cells.


2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 479-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoliang Meng ◽  
Shiying Liu ◽  
Xiangyun Li ◽  
Roman Krawetz ◽  
Derrick E. Rancourt

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the blastocyst. Because of their ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) provide an unlimited source of cells for clinical medicine and have begun to be used in clinical trials. Presently, although several hundred hESC lines are available in the word, only few have been widely used in basic and applied research. More and more hESC lines with differing genetic backgrounds are required for establishing a bank of hESCs. Here, we report the first Canadian hESC lines to be generated from cryopreserved embryos and we discuss how we navigated through the Canadian regulatory process. The cryopreserved human zygotes used in this study were cultured to the blastocyst stage, and used to isolate ICM via microsurgery. Unlike previous microsurgery methods, which use specialized glass or steel needles, our method conveniently uses syringe needles for the isolation of ICM and subsequent hESC lines. ICM were cultured on MEF feeders in medium containing FBS or serum replacer (SR). Resulting outgrowths were isolated, cut into several cell clumps, and transferred onto fresh feeders. After more than 30 passages, the two hESC lines established using this method exhibited normal morphology, karyotype, and growth rate. Moreover, they stained positively for a variety of pluripotency markers and could be differentiated both in vitro and in vivo. Both cell lines could be maintained under a variety of culture conditions, including xeno-free conditions we have previously described. We suggest that this microsurgical approach may be conducive to deriving xeno-free hESC lines when outgrown on xeno-free human foreskin fibroblast feeders.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
V. J. Hall ◽  
J. Christensen ◽  
P. Maddox-Hyttel

Pluripotency in mice and human embryonic stem cells is regulated by a number of transcription factors, notably including Oct-4, Sox-2, and Nanog. However, in the pig, previous research indicates that Oct-4 protein and mRNA is not specifically localized to the inner cell mass (ICM) of the zona-intact (ZI) blastocyst. Levels of expression of Nanog mRNA, on the other hand, appear to be low in the ZI blastocyst, and protein has not been detected. Similarly, Sox-2 expression in the ZI blastocyst is relatively low and not specific to the ICM. In this study, we investigated the mRNA expression of Oct-4, Sox-2, and Nanog in D6/D7-derived ZI porcine in vivo-derived blastocysts compared with epiblasts mechanically isolated from hatched D10/D11 in vivo-derived blastocysts. We then investigated components involved in pathways important for regulating pluripotency, including JAK/STAT (i.e. gp130, LIFr), FGF (i.e. bFGF, FGFr1, FGFr2), and BMP (bmp4, smad4) signaling pathways and their downstream targets, stat3, c-myc, c-fos, by using RT-PCR. Sows were artificially inseminated, and embryos were flushed from uteri following slaughter. Single D6/D7 blastocysts (n = 3), single mechanically isolated D10/D11 epiblasts (n = 3), endometrium, and oviduct total RNA was isolated using the RNeasy Micro Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA). Total RNA from the blastocysts and epiblasts was then amplified to form cDNA using the QuantiTect Whole Transcriptome kit (Qiagen). Positive control tissues (oviduct and endometrium) were reverse transcribed using the RevertAid First Strand cDNA synthesis kit (Fermentas, Burlington, Ontario, Canada). Primers were designed to span introns in highly homologous sequences to human mRNA. Primers were tested in both oviduct and endometrium tissue, and products were sequenced to confirm specificity. PCR was performed at 55°C for 35 cycles. Results indicate that D6/D7 blastocysts only expressed Oct-4 and not Nanog and Sox-2. In contrast, all 3 transcripts were expressed in D10/D11 epiblasts. The D10/D11 epiblasts also expressed LIFr, bFGF, FGFr1, FGFr2, bmp4, smad4, stat3, c-myc, and c-fos. The cytokine receptor gp130 was only weakly expressed in a single epiblast. In contrast, the earlier stage D6/D7 blastocysts failed to express these messengers with the exception of weak expression of gp130 in all 3 blastocysts, and only a single blastocyst expressed LIFr, smad4, c-myc, and c-fos. In conclusion, this study indicates that the ICM of the porcine D6/D7 ZI blastocyst has not developed pluripotency signaling as observed in mice and humans at this developmental stage. Furthermore, without expression of gp130, the JAK/STAT pathway is unlikely to play a role in regulating pluripotency in the epiblast. It is likely that the later stage epiblast may be more amenable for the derivation of porcine embryonic stem cells.


Reproduction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 159 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Cui ◽  
Agnes Cheong ◽  
Yongsheng Wang ◽  
Yuran Tsuchida ◽  
Yong Liu ◽  
...  

Microspherule protein 1 (MCRS1, also known as MSP58) is an evolutionarily conserved protein that has been implicated in various biological processes. Although a variety of functions have been attributed to MCRS1 in vitro, mammalian MCRS1 has not been studied in vivo. Here we report that MCRS1 is essential during early murine development. Mcrs1 mutant embryos exhibit normal morphology at the blastocyst stage but cannot be recovered at gastrulation, suggesting an implantation failure. Outgrowth (OG) assays reveal that mutant blastocysts do not form a typical inner cell mass (ICM) colony, the source of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Surprisingly, cell death and histone H4 acetylation analysis reveal that apoptosis and global H4 acetylation are normal in mutant blastocysts. However, analysis of lineage specification reveals that while the trophoblast and primitive endoderm are properly specified, the epiblast lineage is compromised and exhibits a severe reduction in cell number. In summary, our study demonstrates the indispensable role of MCRS1 in epiblast development during early mammalian embryogenesis.


1998 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 535 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Pelton ◽  
M. D. Bettess ◽  
J. Lake ◽  
J. Rathjen ◽  
P. D. Rathjen

Early mammalian embryogenesis is characterised by the coordinated proliferation, differentiation, migration and apoptosis of a pluripotent cell pool that is able to give rise to extraembryonic lineages and all the cell types of the embryo proper. These cells retain pluripotent differentiation capability, defined in this paper as the ability to form all cell types of the embryo and adult, until differentiation into the three embryonic germ layers at gastrulation. Our understanding of pluripotent cell biology and molecular regulation has been hampered by the difficulties associated with experimental manipulation of these cells in vivo. However, a more detailed understanding of pluripotent cell behaviour is emerging from the application of molecular technologies to early mouse embryogenesis. The construction of mouse mutants by gene targeting, mapping of gene expression in vivo, and modelling of cell decisions in vitro are providing insight into the cellular origin, identity and action of key developmental regulators, and the nature of pluripotent cells themselves. In this review we discuss the properties of early embryonic pluripotent cells in vitro and in vivo, focusing on progression from inner cell mass (ICM) cells in the blastocyst to the onset of gastrulation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
L. Ganeshan ◽  
C. O'Neill

The developmental viability of the early embryo requires the formation of the inner cell mass (ICM) at the blastocyst stage. The ICM contributes to all cell lineages within the developing embryo in vivo and the embryonic stem cell (ESC) lineage in vitro. Commitment of cells to the ICM lineage and its pluripotency requires the expression of core transcription factors, including Nanog and Pou5f1 (Oct4). Embryos subjected to culture in vitro commonly display a reduced developmental potential. Much of this loss of viability is due to the up-regulation of TRP53 in affected embryos. This study investigated whether increased TRP53 disrupts the expression of the pluripotency proteins and the normal formation of the ICM lineage. Mouse C57BL6 morulae and blastocysts cultured from zygotes (modHTF media) possessed fewer (p < 0.001) NANOG-positive cells than equivalent stage embryos collected fresh from the uterus. Blocking TRP53 actions by either genetic deletion (Trp53–/–) or pharmacological inhibition (Pifithrin-α) reversed this loss of NANOG expression during culture. Zygote culture also resulted in a TRP53-dependent loss of POU5F1-positive cells from resulting blastocysts. Drug-induced expression of TRP53 (by Nutlin-3) also caused a reduction in formation of pluripotent ICM. The loss of NANOG- and POU5F1-positive cells caused a marked reduction in the capacity of blastocysts to form proliferating ICM after outgrowth, and a consequent reduced ability to form ESC lines. These poor outcomes were ameliorated by the absence of TRP53, resulting in transmission distortion in favour of Trp53–/– zygotes (p < 0.001). This study shows that stresses induced by culture caused TRP53-dependent loss of pluripotent cells from the early embryo. This is a cause of the relative loss of viability and developmental potential of cultured embryos. The preferential survival of Trp53–/– embryos after culture due to their improved formation of pluripotent cells creates a genetic danger associated with these technologies.


2010 ◽  
Vol 191 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Mesnard ◽  
Daniel B. Constam

Axis formation and allocation of pluripotent progenitor cells to the germ layers are governed by the TGF-β–related Nodal precursor and its secreted proprotein convertases (PCs) Furin and Pace4. However, when and where Furin and Pace4 first become active have not been determined. To study the distribution of PCs, we developed a novel cell surface–targeted fluorescent biosensor (cell surface–linked indicator of proteolysis [CLIP]). Live imaging of CLIP in wild-type and Furin- and Pace4-deficient embryonic stem cells and embryos revealed that Furin and Pace4 are already active at the blastocyst stage in the inner cell mass and can cleave membrane-bound substrate both cell autonomously and nonautonomously. CLIP was also cleaved in the epiblast of implanted embryos, in part by a novel activity in the uterus that is independent of zygotic Furin and Pace4, suggesting a role for maternal PCs during embryonic development. The unprecedented sensitivity and spatial resolution of CLIP opens exciting new possibilities to elucidate PC functions in vivo.


2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 674-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie J. Welham ◽  
Emmajayne Kingham ◽  
Yolanda Sanchez-Ripoll ◽  
Benjamin Kumpfmueller ◽  
Michael Storm ◽  
...  

ESCs (embryonic stem cells) are derived from the inner cell mass of pre-implantation embryos and are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into all of the cells that make up the adult organism. This property of pluripotency makes ESCs attractive as a model system for studying early development and for the generation of specific cell types for use in regenerative medicine and drug screening. In order to harness their potential, the molecular mechanisms regulating ESC pluripotency, proliferation and differentiation (i.e. cell fate) need to be understood so that pluripotency can be maintained during expansion, while differentiation to specific lineages can be induced accurately when required. The present review focuses on the potential roles that PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) and GSK-3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3)-dependent signalling play in the co-ordination and integration of mouse ESC pluripotency and proliferation and contrast this with our understanding of their functions in human ESCs.


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