AW551984: a novel regulator of cardiomyogenesis in pluripotent embryonic cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 437 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Yasuda ◽  
Tetsuya Hasegawa ◽  
Tetsuji Hosono ◽  
Mitsutoshi Satoh ◽  
Kei Watanabe ◽  
...  

An understanding of the mechanism that regulates the cardiac differentiation of pluripotent stem cells is necessary for the effective generation and expansion of cardiomyocytes as cell therapy products. In the present study, we have identified genes that modulate the cardiac differentiation of pluripotent embryonic cells. We isolated P19CL6 cell sublines that possess distinct properties in cardiomyogenesis and extracted 24 CMR (cardiomyogenesis-related candidate) genes correlated with cardiomyogenesis using a transcriptome analysis. Knockdown of the CMR genes by RNAi (RNA interference) revealed that 18 genes influence spontaneous contraction or transcript levels of cardiac marker genes in EC (embryonal carcinoma) cells. We also performed knockdown of the CMR genes in mouse ES (embryonic stem) cells and induced in vitro cardiac differentiation. Three CMR genes, AW551984, 2810405K02Rik (RIKEN cDNA 2810405K02 gene) and Cd302 (CD302 antigen), modulated the cardiac differentiation of both EC cells and ES cells. Depletion of AW551984 attenuated the expression of the early cardiac transcription factor Nkx2.5 (NK2 transcription factor related locus 5) without affecting transcript levels of pluripotency and early mesoderm marker genes during ES cell differentiation. Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling enhanced the expression of both AW551984 and Nkx2.5 in ES cells during embryoid body formation. Our findings indicate that AW551984 is a novel regulator of cardiomyogenesis from pluripotent embryonic cells, which links Wnt/β-catenin signalling to Nkx2.5 expression.

Author(s):  
Virginia Papaioannou ◽  
Randall Johnson

The ability of mammalian embryos to incorporate foreign cells and develop as chimeras has been exploited for a variety of purposes including the elucidation of cell lineages, the investigation of cell potential, the perpetuation of mutations produced in embryonic stem (ES) cells by gene targeting, and the subsequent analysis of these mutations. The extent of contribution of the foreign cells depends on their developmental synchrony with the host embryo and their mitotic and developmental potential, which may be severely restricted if the cells bear mutations. If the goal in making chimeras is the transmission of a mutation produced by gene targeting to the next generation, the mutant ES cells must have the capacity to undergo meiosis and gametogenesis. Cells from two different mammalian embryos were first combined experimentally to produce a composite animal, dubbed a chimera, nearly four decades ago. Pairs of cleaving, pre-implantation embryos were mechanically associated in vitro until they aggregated together to make single large morulae; these in turn resulted in chimeric offspring (1). Genetic markers were used to distinguish the contributions of the two embryos in these animals. Since then, various methods for making chimeras have been explored to address different types of questions (2). In 1972 it was reported that highly asynchronous embryonic cells, which had been cultured in vitro, could contribute to chimeras upon re-introduction into pre-implantation embryos (3). Not long afterward, several groups working with teratocarcinomas, tumours derived from germ cells of the gonad, discovered that stem cells from these tumours, known as embryonal carcinoma cells, could contribute to an embryo if introduced into pre-implantation stages (4-6). It appeared that the undifferentiated stem cells of the tumour had enough features in common with early embryonic cells that they could respond to the embryonic environment, differentiating in a normal manner, even after long periods in vitro. Their embryonic potential was limited, however, and many teratocarcinoma cell lines made only meagre contributions to the developing fetus or even produced tumours in chimeras (7). Either their derivation from tumours or their extended sojourn in vitro rendered these cells so dissimilar from early embryonic cells that they rarely, if ever, had full embryonic potential.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 4264-4264
Author(s):  
Jin-Young Baek ◽  
Yun-Hee Rhee ◽  
Kwang-Yul Cha ◽  
Hyung-Min Chung

Abstract Prolonged propagation of human embryonic stem (ES) cells is currently achieved by co-culture with primary or immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. In order to replace the heterologous with homologous co-culture systems, an attempt was made using mononuclear cells derived from human fetal liver. Human fetal liver-derived mesenchymal-like stem cells (FL-MLSC) can be maintained for the prolonged period of time. They showed the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells in various aspects. They retained a normal diploid karyotype and growth characteristics over the successive culture. Human ES cells cultured on human FL-MLSC cells up to 8 passages displayed the unique morphology and molecular markers characteristic for undifferentiated human ES cells as cultured on MEF cells. Alkaline phosphatase activity was detected in human ES cells co-cultured on human FL-MLSC. Immunocytochemical analyses showed that expressions of stage-specific embryonic antigen-3, -4 and Oct-4 were not altered on human ES cells cultured on human FLDSC. Reverse-transcriptase PCR analyses showed that similar expressions of Oct-4 and Nanog genes, markers for undifferentiated ES cells, were also observed in human ES cells cultured on both human FL-MLSC and MEF cells. Furthermore, human ES cells cultured on human FL-MLSC retained unique differentiation potentials in culture when allowed to form embryoid body. Results of this study suggest that human FL-MLSC can support the maintenance of human ES cell in vitro.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Zhang ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
Qisheng Zuo ◽  
Changhua Sun ◽  
Jing Jin ◽  
...  

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) may apply to gene therapy, regenerative medicine in place of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, the application of SSCs was severely limited by the low induction efficiency and the lack of thorough analysis of the regulatory mechanisms of SSCs formation. Current evidences have demonstrated multiple marker genes of germ cells, while genes that specifically regulate the formation of SSCs have not been explored. In our study, cadherin-like and PC-esterase domain containing 1 (Cped1) expressed specifically in SSCs based on RNA-seq data analysis. To study the function of Cped1 in the formation of SSCs, we successfully established a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout system. The gene disruption frequency is 37% in DF1 and 25% in ESCs without off-target effects. Knockout of Cped1 could significantly inhibit the formation of SSCs in vivo and in vitro. The fragment of −1050 to −1 bp had the activity as Cped1 gene promoter. Histone acetylation could regulate the expression of Cped1. We added 5-azaeytidi (DNA methylation inhibitors) and TSA (histone deacetylase inhibitors) respectively during the cultivation of SSCs. TSA was validated to promote the transcription of Cped1. Dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that active control area of the chicken Cped1 gene is −296 to −1 bp. There are Cebpb, Sp1, and Sox2 transcription factor binding sites in this region. Point-mutation experiment results showed that Sox2 negatively regulates the transcription of Cped1. Above results demonstrated that Cped1 is a key gene that regulates the formation of SSCs. Histone acetylation and transcription factor Sox2 participate in the regulation of Cped1.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1330
Author(s):  
María Julia Barisón ◽  
Isabela Tiemy Pereira ◽  
Anny Waloski Robert ◽  
Bruno Dallagiovanna

Understanding the cell differentiation process involves the characterization of signaling and regulatory pathways. The coordinated action involved in multilevel regulation determines the commitment of stem cells and their differentiation into a specific cell lineage. Cellular metabolism plays a relevant role in modulating the expression of genes, which act as sensors of the extra-and intracellular environment. In this work, we analyzed mRNAs associated with polysomes by focusing on the expression profile of metabolism-related genes during the cardiac differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We compared different time points during cardiac differentiation (pluripotency, embryoid body aggregation, cardiac mesoderm, cardiac progenitor and cardiomyocyte) and showed the immature cell profile of energy metabolism. Highly regulated canonical pathways are thoroughly discussed, such as those involved in metabolic signaling and lipid homeostasis. We reveal the critical relevance of retinoic X receptor (RXR) heterodimers in upstream retinoic acid metabolism and their relationship with thyroid hormone signaling. Additionally, we highlight the importance of lipid homeostasis and extracellular matrix component biosynthesis during cardiomyogenesis, providing new insights into how hESCs reorganize their metabolism during in vitro cardiac differentiation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Duelen ◽  
Guillaume Gilbert ◽  
Abdulsamie Patel ◽  
Nathalie de Schaetzen ◽  
Liesbeth De Waele ◽  
...  

The use of human pluripotent stem cells in basic and translational cardiac research requires efficient differentiation protocols towards cardiomyocytes. In vitro differentiation yields heterogeneous populations of ventricular-, atrial-, and nodal-like cells hindering their potential applications in regenerative therapies. We described the effect of the growth factor Activin A during early human embryonic stem cell fate determination in cardiac differentiation. Addition of high levels of Activin A during embryoid body cardiac differentiation augmented the generation of endoderm derivatives, which in turn promoted cardiomyocyte differentiation. Moreover, a dose-dependent increase in the coreceptor expression of the TGF-β superfamily member CRIPTO-1 was observed in response to Activin A. We hypothesized that interactions between cells derived from meso- and endodermal lineages in embryoid bodies contributed to improved cell maturation in early stages of cardiac differentiation, improving the beating frequency and the percentage of contracting embryoid bodies. Activin A did not seem to affect the properties of cardiomyocytes at later stages of differentiation, measuring action potentials, and intracellular Ca2+ dynamics. These findings are relevant for improving our understanding on human heart development, and the proposed protocol could be further explored to obtain cardiomyocytes with functional phenotypes, similar to those observed in adult cardiac myocytes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 342-343 ◽  
pp. 25-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hong ◽  
J.K. Kang ◽  
C.J. Bae ◽  
E.S. Ryu ◽  
S.H. Lee ◽  
...  

To obtain an enhanced population of cardiomyocytes from differentiating mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, we confirmed the role of noggin treatment during the cardiac differentiation of mouse ES cells. ES cells were cultured in ES medium containing both noggin and LIF for 3 days on the mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layer, followed by dissociated and suspension culture without LIF to form the embryoid body (EB). The next day, noggin was eliminated and EBs were cultured continuously. Noggin treated ES cells showed a relatively rapid increase of cardiac marker genes, while the vehicle (PBS) treated group showed no significant cardiac marker expression at 4 days after the EB formation. Furthermore, Noggin treated ES cells showed 68.00±9.16% spontaneous beating EBs at 12 days after the EB formation. To develop a more efficient cardiomyocyte differentiation method, we tested several known cardiogenic reagents (ascorbic acid, 5’-Azacytidine, LiCl, oxytocin, FGF2 and PDGF-BB) after noggin induction or we cultured noggin treated ES cells on various extracellular matrixes (collagen, fibronectin and Matrigel). Quantitative RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry results showed a significantly increased cardiac differentiation rate in the FGF2 treated group. Differentiation on the collagen extracellular matrix (ECM) could slightly increase the cardiac differentiation efficiency. These results show the possibilities for the establishment of selective differentiation conditions for the cardiac differentiation of mouse ES cells.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 254
Author(s):  
Y.-M. Yoo ◽  
E.-B. Jeung

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells constitute a versatile biological system that can facilitate major advances in the fields of cell and developmental biology. Several studies have been performed to determine whether melatonin can affect ex vivo and in vitro proliferation and differentiation of stem cells (mesenchymal and neural stem cells derived human, rats, and mice), but its effect on ES cells is largely unknown. Thus, we further examined in this study the effects of melatonin at biological or pharmacological concentrations (100 or 200 μM) on the proliferation and differentiation of ES cells (ES-E14TG2a cells) using an in vitro culture system (n = 3) by Western blot analysis and real-time PCR. We found that melatonin at 100 and 200 μM resulted in cellular proliferation and phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, respectively. Melatonin treatment also increased Bcl-2 expression and suppressed Bax gene expression and increased phosphorylation of GSK α/β. The transcription factor Oct-4, which contains the POU (N-terminal to homeobox) domain, and the transcription factor Sox2, the zinc finger transcription factor Zfp206, and the zinc finger gene REX-1 (Znf42), which contain the high mobility group domain, are all important for cellular pluripotency and preimplantation development. In this study, melatonin (100 μM) treatment induced Oct-4 and REX-1 expression at day 1 but not at days 2 and 3. In addition, Sox2 and Zfp206 expressions were not altered following melatonin treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that melatonin may affect Akt phosphorylation and stem cell proliferation at biological or pharmacological concentrations.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 1642-1651 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Weiss ◽  
C Yu ◽  
S H Orkin

The zinc finger transcription factor GATA-1 is essential for erythropoiesis. In its absence, committed erythroid precursors arrest at the proerythroblast stage of development and undergo apoptosis. To study the function of GATA-1 in an erythroid cell environment, we generated an erythroid cell line from in vitro-differentiated GATA-1- murine embryonic stem (ES) cells. These cells, termed G1E for GATA-1- erythroid, proliferate as immature erythroblasts yet complete differentiation upon restoration of GATA-1 function. We used rescue of terminal erythroid maturation in G1E cells as a stringent cellular assay system in which to evaluate the functional relevance of domains of GATA-1 previously characterized in nonhematopoietic cells. At least two major differences were established between domains required in G1E cells and those required in nonhematopoietic cells. First, an obligatory transactivation domain defined in conventional nonhematopoietic cell transfection assays is dispensable for terminal erythroid maturation. Second, the amino (N) zinc finger, which is nonessential for binding to the vast majority of GATA DNA motifs, is strictly required for GATA-1-mediated erythroid differentiation. Our data lead us to propose a model in which a nuclear cofactor(s) interacting with the N-finger facilitates transcriptional action by GATA-1 in erythroid cells. More generally, our experimental approach highlights critical differences in the action of cell-specific transcription proteins in different cellular environments and the power of cell lines derived from genetically modified ES cells to elucidate gene function.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 1265-1275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abby L. Olsen ◽  
David L. Stachura ◽  
Mitchell J. Weiss

Embryonic stem (ES) cells exhibit the remarkable capacity to become virtually any differentiated tissue upon appropriate manipulation in culture, a property that has been beneficial for studies of hematopoiesis. Until recently, the majority of this work used murine ES cells for basic research to elucidate fundamental properties of blood-cell development and establish methods to derive specific mature lineages. Now, the advent of human ES cells sets the stage for more applied pursuits to generate transplantable cells for treating blood disorders. Current efforts are directed toward adapting in vitro hematopoietic differentiation methods developed for murine ES cells to human lines, identifying the key interspecies differences in biologic properties of ES cells, and generating ES cell-derived hematopoietic stem cells that are competent to repopulate adult hosts. The ultimate medical goal is to create patient-specific and generic ES cell lines that can be expanded in vitro, genetically altered, and differentiated into cell types that can be used to treat hematopoietic diseases.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Schmitteckert ◽  
Cornelia Ziegler ◽  
Liane Kartes ◽  
Alexandra Rolletschek

Transcription factor Lbx1 is known to play a role in the migration of muscle progenitor cells in limb buds and also in neuronal determination processes. In addition, involvement of Lbx1 in cardiac neural crest-related cardiogenesis was postulated. Here, we used mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells which have the capacity to develop into cells of all three primary germ layers. Duringin vitrodifferentiation, ES cells recapitulate cellular developmental processes and gene expression patterns of early embryogenesis. Transcript analysis revealed a significant upregulation ofLbx1at the progenitor cell stage. Immunofluorescence staining confirmed the expression of Lbx1 in skeletal muscle cell progenitors and GABAergic neurons. To verify the presence of Lbx1 in cardiac cells, triple immunocytochemistry of ES cell-derived cardiomyocytes and a quantification assay were performed at different developmental stages. Colabeling of Lbx1 and cardiac specific markers troponin T, α-actinin, GATA4, and Nkx2.5 suggested a potential role in early myocardial development.


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