scholarly journals Chondrogenic Differentiation from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Non-Viral Minicircle Vectors

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeri Alice Rim ◽  
Yoojun Nam ◽  
Narae Park ◽  
Hyerin Jung ◽  
Kijun Lee ◽  
...  

Human degenerative cartilage has low regenerative potential. Chondrocyte transplantation offers a promising strategy for cartilage treatment and regeneration. Currently, chondrogenesis using human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is accomplished using human recombinant growth factors. Here, we differentiate hiPSCs into chondrogenic pellets using minicircle vectors. Minicircles are a non-viral gene delivery system that can produce growth factors without integration into the host genome. We generated minicircle vectors containing bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFβ3) and delivered them to mesenchymal stem cell-like, hiPSC-derived outgrowth (OG) cells. Cell pellets generated using minicircle-transfected OG cells successfully differentiated into the chondrogenic lineage. The implanted minicircle-based chondrogenic pellets recovered the osteochondral defects in rat models. This work is a proof-of-concept study that describes the potential application of minicircle vectors in cartilage regeneration using hiPSCs.

Author(s):  
Yeri Alice Rim ◽  
Yoojun Nam ◽  
Ji Hyeon Ju

The human degenerative cartilage has low regenerative potential. Chondrocyte transplantation offers a promising strategy for cartilage treatment and regeneration. Currently chondrogenesis using human pluripotent stem cells are accomplished using human recombinant growth factors. Here, we differentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into chondrocytes and cartilage pellet using minicircle vectors. Minicircles are used as a non-viral gene delivery system for gene therapy in various diseases. Non-viral gene delivery can produce growth factors without integrating into the host genome. Minicircle vectors containing bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and transforming growth factor, beta 3 (TGFβ3) were successfully generated and delivered to hiPSC-derived outgrowth (OG) cells. Cell pellets generated using minicircle-transfected OG cells successfully differentiated into chondrogenic lineage. Chondrogenic pellets transfected with growth factor-encoding minicircles effectively recovered osteochondral defect in rat models. Taken together, this work shows the potential application of minicircles in cartilage regeneration using hiPSCs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Sung Ryu ◽  
Sang Young Seo ◽  
Eun-Jeong Jeong ◽  
Jong-Yeup Kim ◽  
Yong-Gon Koh ◽  
...  

Mesenchymal stem cells, also known as multipotent stromal progenitor cells, can differentiate into cells of mesodermal lineage. Gangliosides are sialic acid-conjugated glycosphingolipids that are believed to regulate cell differentiation and several signaling molecules. These molecules are localized in glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains on the cell surface and are regulated by glycosphingolipid composition. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling plays a critical role in chondrogenic differentiation. However, the role of gangliosides in chondrogenesis is not understood. In this study, the relationship between the ganglioside GM3 and TGF-β activation, during chondrogenic differentiation, was investigated using an aggregate culture of human synovial membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells. We showed that the gangliosides GM3 and GD3 were expressed after the chondrogenic differentiation of hSMSC aggregates. To test whether GM3 affected the chondrogenic differentiation of hSMSC aggregates, we used GM3 treatment during chondrogenic differentiation. The results showed that the group treated with 5 μM GM3 had higher expression of chondrogenic specific markers, increased toluidine blue, and safranin O staining, and increased accumulation of glycosaminoglycans compared with the untreated group. Furthermore, GM3 treatment enhanced TGF-β signaling via SMAD 2/3 during the chondrogenic differentiation of hSMSC aggregates. Taken together, our results suggested that GM3 may be useful in developing therapeutic agents for cell-based articular cartilage regeneration in articular cartilage disease.


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