Partial Reprogramming As An Emerging Strategy for Safe Induced Cell Generation and Rejuvenation

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 248-254
Author(s):  
Marianne Lehmann ◽  
Martina Canatelli-Mallat ◽  
Priscila Chiavellini ◽  
Gloria M. Cónsole ◽  
Maria D. Gallardo ◽  
...  

Background: Conventional cell reprogramming involves converting a somatic cell line into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which subsequently can be re-differentiated to specific somatic cell types. Alternatively, partial cell reprogramming converts somatic cells into other somatic cell types by transient expression of pluripotency genes thus generating intermediates that retain their original cell identity, but are responsive to appropriate cocktails of specific differentiation factors. Additionally, biological rejuvenation by partial cell reprogramming is an emerging avenue of research. Objective: Here, we will briefly review the emerging information pointing to partial reprogramming as a suitable strategy to achieve cell reprogramming and rejuvenation, bypassing cell dedifferentiation. Methods: In this context, regulatable pluripotency gene expression systems are the most widely used at present to implement partial cell reprogramming. For instance, we have constructed a regulatable bidirectional adenovector expressing Green Fluorescent Protein and oct4, sox2, klf4 and c-myc genes (known as the Yamanaka genes or OSKM). Results: Partial cell reprogramming has been used to reprogram fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes, neural progenitors and neural stem cells. Rejuvenation by cyclic partial reprogramming has been achieved both in vivo and in cell culture using transgenic mice and cells expressing the OSKM genes, respectively, controlled by a regulatable promoter. Conclusion: Partial reprogramming emerges as a powerful tool for the genesis of iPSC-free induced somatic cells of therapeutic value and for the implementation of in vitro and in vivo rejuvenation keeping cell type identity unchanged.

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 339-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Stewart ◽  
M. Lako ◽  
G. M. Horrocks ◽  
S. A. Przyborski

For many years, researchers have investigated the fate and potential of neuroectodermal cells during the development of the central nervous system. Although several key factors that regulate neural differentiation have been identified, much remains unknown about the molecular mechanisms that control the fate and specification of neural subtypes, especially in humans. Human embryonal carcinoma (EC) stem cells are valuable research tools for the study of neural development; however, existing in vitro experiments are limited to inducing the differentiation of EC cells into only a handful of cell types. In this study, we developed and characterized a novel EC cell line (termed TERA2.cl.SP12-GFP) that carries the reporter molecule, green fluorescent protein (GFP). We demonstrate that TERA2.cl.SP12-GFP stem cells and their differentiated neural derivatives constitutively express GFP in cells grown both in vitro and in vivo. Cellular differentiation does not appear to be affected by insertion of the transgene. We propose that TERA2.cl.SP12-GFP cells provide a valuable research tool to track the fate of cells subsequent to transplantation into alternative environments and that this approach may be particularly useful to investigate the differentiation of human neural tissues in response to local environmental signals.


2019 ◽  
Vol 208 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 148-157
Author(s):  
Tao Luo ◽  
Xueqin Yang ◽  
Yan Sun ◽  
Xinqi Huang ◽  
Ling Zou ◽  
...  

Osteogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hASCs) is a complex process that is regulated by multiple factors, including microRNAs (miRNAs). The miRNA miR-20a was shown to promote bone formation from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. However, the role of miR-20a in osteogenic differentiation of hASCs remains unclear. In this study, we systematically evaluated the function of miR-20a in regulating hASC osteogenesis in vitro. hASCs were transduced with miR-20a-overexpressing and miR-20a-sponge lentiviral vectors, with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a control. The results showed that miR-20a transcription was upregulated after hASC mineralization. Compared with the miR-20a-sponge, GFP, and hASC groups, the miR-20a-overexpressing group showed higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity on days 7 and 14. Moreover, the mRNA level of ALP increased significantly in the miR-20a-overexpressing group on day 14. Furthermore, the protein of the target gene PPARγ was decreased, and the osteogenic differentiation-associated proteins ALP, osteocalcin, and RUNX2 were upregulated. hASCs anchored to HA/β-TCP revealed a healthy polygonal morphology and developed cytoplasmic extensions. miR-20a promoted osteogenic differentiation of the cell scaffold. Taken together, these data ­confirm that miRNA-20a promotes the osteogenesis of hASCs in vitro, and its essential role in vivo needs further ­investigation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Anna Meiliana ◽  
Andi Wijaya

BACKGROUND: Less than a decade ago the prospect for reprogramming the human somatic cell looked bleak at best. It seemed that the only methods at our disposal for the generation of human isogenic pluripotent cells would have to involve somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Shinya Yamanaka in August 2006 in his publication (Cell) promised to change everything by showing that it was apparently very simple to revert the phenotype of a differentiated cell to a pluripotent one by overexpressing four transcription factors in murine fibroblasts.CONTENT: Mouse and human somatic cells can be genetically reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by the expression of a defined set of factors (Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4, as well as Nanog and LIN28). iPSCs could be generated from mouse and human fibroblasts as well as from mouse liver, stomach, pancreatic, neural stem cells, and keratinocytes. Similarity of iPSCs and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) has been demonstrated in their morphology, global expression profiles, epigenetic status, as well as in vitro and in vivo differentiation potential for both mouse and human cells. Many techniques for human iPSCs (hiPSCs) derivation have been developed in recent years, utilizing different starting cell types, vector delivery systems, and culture conditions. A refined or perfected combination of these techniques might prove to be the key to generating clinically applicable hiPSCs.SUMMARY: iPSCs are a revolutionary tool for generating in vitro models of human diseases and may help us to understand the molecular basis of epigenetic reprogramming. Progress of the last four years has been truly amazing, almost verging on science fiction, but if we can learn to produce such cells cheaply and easily, and control their differentiation, our efforts to understand and fight disease will become more accessible, controllable and tailored. Ability to safely and efficiently derive hiPSCs may be of decisive importance to the future of regenerative medicine.KEYWORDS: iPSCs, ESC, reprogramming factor, reprogramming efficiency, somatic cell


Stem Cells ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Schindehütte ◽  
Hidefumi Fukumitsu ◽  
Patrick Collombat ◽  
Gundula Griesel ◽  
Christopher Brink ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 176 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomi Oyama ◽  
Toshio Nagai ◽  
Hiroshi Wada ◽  
Atsuhiko Thomas Naito ◽  
Katsuhisa Matsuura ◽  
...  

Side population (SP) cells, which can be identified by their ability to exclude Hoechst 33342 dye, are one of the candidates for somatic stem cells. Although bone marrow SP cells are known to be long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells, there is little information about the characteristics of cardiac SP cells (CSPs). When cultured CSPs from neonatal rat hearts were treated with oxytocin or trichostatin A, some CSPs expressed cardiac-specific genes and proteins and showed spontaneous beating. When green fluorescent protein–positive CSPs were intravenously infused into adult rats, many more (∼12-fold) CSPs were migrated and homed in injured heart than in normal heart. CSPs in injured heart differentiated into cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, or smooth muscle cells (4.4%, 6.7%, and 29% of total CSP-derived cells, respectively). These results suggest that CSPs are intrinsic cardiac stem cells and involved in the regeneration of diseased hearts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 379
Author(s):  
Breanne M. Head ◽  
Christopher I. Graham ◽  
Teassa MacMartin ◽  
Yoav Keynan ◽  
Ann Karen C. Brassinga

Legionnaires’ disease incidence is on the rise, with the majority of cases attributed to the intracellular pathogen, Legionella pneumophila. Nominally a parasite of protozoa, L. pneumophila can also infect alveolar macrophages when bacteria-laden aerosols enter the lungs of immunocompromised individuals. L. pneumophila pathogenesis has been well characterized; however, little is known about the >25 different Legionella spp. that can cause disease in humans. Here, we report for the first time a study demonstrating the intracellular infection of an L. bozemanae clinical isolate using approaches previously established for L. pneumophila investigations. Specifically, we report on the modification and use of a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing plasmid as a tool to monitor the L. bozemanae presence in the Acanthamoeba castellanii protozoan infection model. As comparative controls, L. pneumophila strains were also transformed with the GFP-expressing plasmid. In vitro and in vivo growth kinetics of the Legionella parental and GFP-expressing strains were conducted followed by confocal microscopy. Results suggest that the metabolic burden imposed by GFP expression did not impact cell viability, as growth kinetics were similar between the GFP-expressing Legionella spp. and their parental strains. This study demonstrates that the use of a GFP-expressing plasmid can serve as a viable approach for investigating Legionella non-pneumophila spp. in real time.


2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng-Fei Fu ◽  
Xuan Cheng ◽  
Bing-Qian Su ◽  
Li-Fang Duan ◽  
Cong-Rong Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractPseudorabies, caused by pseudorabies virus (PRV) variants, has broken out among commercial PRV vaccine-immunized swine herds and resulted in major economic losses to the pig industry in China since late 2011. However, the mechanism of virulence enhancement of variant PRV is currently unclear. Here, a recombinant PRV (rPRV HN1201-EGFP-Luc) with stable expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and firefly luciferase as a double reporter virus was constructed on the basis of the PRV variant HN1201 through CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology coupled with two sgRNAs. The biological characteristics of the recombinant virus and its lethality to mice were similar to those of the parental strain and displayed a stable viral titre and luciferase activity through 20 passages. Moreover, bioluminescence signals were detected in mice at 12 h after rPRV HN1201-EGFP-Luc infection. Using the double reporter PRV, we also found that 25-hydroxycholesterol had a significant inhibitory effect on PRV both in vivo and in vitro. These results suggested that the double reporter PRV based on PRV variant HN1201 should be an excellent tool for basic virology studies and evaluating antiviral agents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4073
Author(s):  
Yifan Lai ◽  
Qingyuan Feng ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
Jing Shang ◽  
Hui Zhong

To investigate a possible methodology of exploiting herbal medicine and design polytherapy for the treatment of skin depigmentation disorder, we have made use of Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd., a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been proven to be effective in treating vitiligo. Here, we report that the extract of Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd. effectively enhances melanogenesis responses in B16F10. In its compound library, we found three ingredients (butin, caffeic acid and luteolin) also have the activity of promoting melanogenesis in vivo and in vitro. They can reduce the accumulation of ROS induced by hydrogen peroxide and inflammatory response induced by sublethal concentrations of copper sulfate in wild type and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled leukocytes zebrafish larvae. The overall objective of the present study aims to identify which compatibility proportions of the medicines may be more effective in promoting pigmentation. We utilized the D-optimal response surface methodology to optimize the ratio among three molecules. Combining three indicators of promoting melanogenesis, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities, we get the best effect of butin, caffeic acid and luteolin at the ratio (butin:caffeic acid:luteolin = 7.38:28.30:64.32) on zebrafish. Moreover, the effect of melanin content recovery in the best combination is stronger than that of the monomer, which suggests that the three compounds have a synergistic effect on inducing melanogenesis. After simply verifying the result, we performed in situ hybridization on whole-mount zebrafish embryos to further explore the effects of multi-drugs combination on the proliferation and differentiation of melanocytes and the expression of genes (tyr, mitfa, dct, kit) related to melanin synthesis. In conclusion, the above three compatible compounds can significantly enhance melanogenesis and improve depigmentation in vivo.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 096368972097821
Author(s):  
Andrea Tenorio-Mina ◽  
Daniel Cortés ◽  
Joel Esquivel-Estudillo ◽  
Adolfo López-Ornelas ◽  
Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman ◽  
...  

Human skin contains keratinocytes in the epidermis. Such cells share their ectodermal origin with the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies have demonstrated that terminally differentiated somatic cells can adopt a pluripotent state, or can directly convert its phenotype to neurons, after ectopic expression of transcription factors. In this article we tested the hypothesis that human keratinocytes can adopt neural fates after culturing them in suspension with a neural medium. Initially, keratinocytes expressed Keratins and Vimentin. After neural induction, transcriptional upregulation of NESTIN, SOX2, VIMENTIN, SOX1, and MUSASHI1 was observed, concomitant with significant increases in NESTIN detected by immunostaining. However, in vitro differentiation did not yield the expression of neuronal or astrocytic markers. We tested the differentiation potential of control and neural-induced keratinocytes by grafting them in the developing CNS of rats, through ultrasound-guided injection. For this purpose, keratinocytes were transduced with lentivirus that contained the coding sequence of green fluorescent protein. Cell sorting was employed to select cells with high fluorescence. Unexpectedly, 4 days after grafting these cells in the ventricles, both control and neural-induced cells expressed green fluorescent protein together with the neuronal proteins βIII-Tubulin and Microtubule-Associated Protein 2. These results support the notion that in vivo environment provides appropriate signals to evaluate the neuronal differentiation potential of keratinocytes or other non-neural cell populations.


2010 ◽  
Vol 119 (11) ◽  
pp. 805-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Ohno ◽  
Shigeru Hirano ◽  
Ichiro Tateya ◽  
Shin-Ichi Kanemaru ◽  
Hiroo Umeda ◽  
...  

Objectives: Treatment of vocal fold scarring remains a therapeutic challenge. Our group previously reported the efficacy of treating injured vocal folds by implantation of bone marrow—derived stromal cells containing mesenchymal stem cells. Appropriate scaffolding is necessary for the stem cell implant to achieve optimal results. Terudermis is an atelocollagen sponge derived from calf dermis. It has large pores that permit cellular entry and is degraded in vivo. These characteristics suggest that this material may be a good candidate for use as scaffolding for implantation of cells. The present in vitro study investigated the feasibility of using Terudermis as such a scaffold. Methods: Bone marrow—derived stromal cells were obtained from GFP (green fluorescent protein) mouse femurs. The cells were seeded into Terudermis and incubated for 5 days. Their survival, proliferation, and expression of extracellular matrix were examined. Results: Bone marrow—derived stromal cells adhered to Terudermis and underwent significant proliferation. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated that adherent cells were positive for expression of vimentin, desmin, fibronectin, and fsp1 and negative for beta III tubulin. These findings indicate that these cells were mesodermal cells and attached to the atelocollagen fibers biologically. Conclusions: The data suggest that Terudermis may have potential as stem cell implantation scaffolding for the treatment of scarred vocal folds.


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