Transplanted Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Support Liver Regeneration in Gunn Rats.

Gunn rats bear a mutation within the uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase-1a1 (Ugt1a1) gene resulting in high serum bilirubin levels as seen in Crigler-Najjar syndrome. In this study, the Gunn rat was used as an animal model for heritable liver dysfunction. Induced mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) derived from embryonic stem cells (H1) and induced pluripotent stem cells were transplanted into Gunn rats after partial hepatectomy. The iMSCs engrafted and survived in the liver for up to 2 months. The transplanted iMSCs differentiated into functional hepatocytes as evidenced by partially suppressed hyperbilirubinemia and expression of multiple human-specific hepatocyte markers such as albumin, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α, UGT1A1, cytokeratin 18, bile salt export pump, multidrug resistance protein 2, Na/taurocholate-cotransporting polypeptide, and α-fetoprotein. These findings imply that transplanted human iMSCs can contribute to liver regeneration in vivo and thus represent a promising tool for the treatment of inherited liver diseases.

Footprint-free human fetal foreskin derived iPSCs: A tool for modeling hepatogenesis associated gene regulatory networks.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are similar to embryonic stem cells and can be generated from somatic cells. We have generated episomal plasmid-based and integration-free iPSCs (E-iPSCs) from human fetal foreskin fibroblast cells (HFF1). We used an E-iPSC-line to model hepatogenesis in vitro. The HLCs were characterized biochemically, i.e. glycogen storage, ICG uptake and release, UREA and bile acid production, as well as CYP3A4 activity. Ultra-structure analysis by electron microscopy revealed the presence of lipid and glycogen storage, tight junctions and bile canaliculi- all typical features of hepatocytes. Furthermore, the transcriptome of undifferentiated E-iPSC, DE, HE and HLCs were compared to that of fetal liver and primary human hepatocytes (PHH). K-means clustering identified 100 clusters which include developmental stage-specific groups of genes, e.g. OCT4 expression at the undifferentiated stage, SOX17 marking the DE stage, DLK and HNF6 the HE stage, HNF4α and Albumin is specific to HLCs, fetal liver and adult liver (PHH) stage. We use E-iPSCs for modeling gene regulatory networks associated with human hepatogenesis and gastrulation in general.

Generation and characterization of two iPSC lines from human epicardium-derived cells.

Human epicardium-derived cells (EPDC) were reprogrammed to generate two iPSC lines, MCDU1i-EPDC and MCDU2i-EPDC, by nucleofection of episomal-based plasmids expressing the reprogramming factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, c-MYC, NANOG and LIN28. Pluripotency was confirmed in vitro by immunofluorescence analysis and embryoid body formation. The iPSC lines and the human embryonic stem cell line H1 show a Pearson correlation co-efficient of 0.951 (MCDU1i-EPDC) and 0.937 (MCDU2i-EPDC) as assessed by comparative transcriptome profiling.

Episomal-based generation of an iPS cell line from human fetal foreskin fibroblasts.

Human fetal foreskin fibroblasts (HFF1) were used to generate the iPSC line epiHFF1-B1 employing a combination of three episomal-based plasmids expressing OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, LIN28, c-MYC, and KLF4. Pluripotency was confirmed both in vivo and in vitro. The transcriptome profile of epiHFF1-B1 and the human embryonic stem cell line-H1 have a pearson correlation of 0.936.

Generation of iPSC line epiHUVEC from human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to generate the iPSC line epiHUVEC employing a combination of three episomal-based plasmids expressing OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, LIN28, c-MYC and KLF4. Pluripotency was confirmed both in vivo and in vitro. The transcriptome profile of epiHUVEC and the human embryonic stem cell line - H1 have a Pearson correlation of 0.899.

Generation of iPSC lines from primary human chorionic villi cells.

Primary human chorionic villi (CV) cells were used to generate the iPSC line by retroviral transduction of the four Yamanaka-factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC. Pluripotency was confirmed both in vivo and in vitro. The transcriptomes of the CV-derived iPSC lines and the human embryonic stem cell lines-H1 and H9 have a Pearson correlation of 0.929 and 0.943 respectively.

Generation of iPSC lines from primary human amniotic fluid cells.

By means of retroviral transduction using the four Yamanaka-factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC primary human amniotic fluid cells (AFCs) were reprogrammed into several iPSC lines. Pluripotency was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. A comparative transcriptome analysis of the AF-derived iPSC line 41 and the human embryonic stem cell lines (H1 and H9) revealed a Pearson correlation of 0.953 and 0.941 respectively.

Comparative molecular portraits of human unfertilized oocytes and primordial germ cells at 10 weeks of gestation.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are precursors of gametes and share several features in common with pluripotent stem cells, such as alkaline phosphatase activity and the expression of pluripotency-associated genes such as OCT4 and NANOG. PGCs are able to differentiate into oocytes and spermatogonia and establish totipotency after fertilization. However, our knowledge of human germ cell development is still fragmentary. In this study, we have carried out genome-wide comparisons of the transcriptomes and molecular portraits of human male PGCs (mPGCs), female PGCs (fPGCs) and unfertilized oocytes. We detected 9210 genes showing elevated expression in fPGCs, 9184 in mPGCs and 9207 in oocytes, with 6342 of these expressed in common. As well as known germ cell-related genes such as BLIMP1/PRDM1, PIWIL2, VASA/DDX4, DAZL, STELLA/DPPA3 and LIN28, we also identified 465 novel non-annotated genes with orthologs in the mouse. A plethora of olfactory receptor-encoding genes were detected in all samples, which would suggest their involvement not only in sperm chemotaxis, but also in the development of female germ cells and oocytes. We anticipate that our data might increase our meagre knowledge of the genes and associated signaling pathways operative during germ cell development. This in turn might aid in the development of strategies enabling better differentiation and molecular characterisation of germ cells derived from either embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells. Ultimately, this would have a profound relevance for reproductive as well as regenerative medicine.