1.Stem Cell Properties of Therapeutic Potential.
The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology 2011;58(3):125-132
Stem cell research is a innovative technology that focuses on using undifferentiated cells able to self-renew through the asymmetrical or symmetrical divisions. Three types of stem cells have been studied in laboratory including embryonic stem cell, adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass and it can give rise to any fetal or adult cell type. Adult stem cells are multipotent, have the ability to differentiate into a limited number of specialized cell types, and have been obtained from the bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, placenta and adipose tissue. Stem cell therapy is the most promising therapy for several degenerative and devastating diseases including digestive tract disease such as liver failure, inflammatory bowel disease, Celiac sprue, and pancreatitis. Further understanding of biological properties of stem cells will lead to safe and successful stem cell therapies.
Adult Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism/transplantation
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Embryonic Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism/transplantation
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Humans
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Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism/transplantation
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Stem Cells/*cytology/metabolism
2.Establishment of an internal control for directed differentiation using pluripotent stem cell lines derived from heterozygotic twins.
Yu-mei LUO ; Yong FAN ; Xin-jie CHEN ; Lei YUE ; Qing LI ; Wen-zhi HE ; Xiao-yan MA ; Yu-hong ZHENG ; Xiao-fang SUN
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2012;29(4):398-403
OBJECTIVETo reprogram amniotic fluid cells into pluripotent stem cells in order to create an optimal internal control model for directed cell differentiation.
METHODSHuman amniotic fluid-derived cells (hAFDCs) from heterozygotic twin fetuses were induced by retroviral vectors encoding Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc and Klf4. In vivo pluripotency, differentiation capacity and karyotype of hAFDCs induced pluripotent stem cells (hAFDCs-iPSCs) were determined.
RESULTShAFDC-iPSCs derived from heterozygotic twins have maintained self renewal, with expression of high pluripotency marker gene detected at both mRNA and protein levels. The cells have maintained their differentiation capacity both in vitro and vivo, and showed normal karyotypes after long-term culturing in vitro.
CONCLUSIONhAFDCs-iPSCs derived from heterozygotic twins have good consistency in terms of genetic background, and can provide a good internal control for directed differentiation of iPSCs, and may be used an ideal source for autologous cell replacement therapy in the later life of the fetus.
Amniotic Fluid ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Female ; Fetus ; metabolism ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Karyotype ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Twins
3.Very small embryonic-like stem-cell optimization of isolation protocols: an update of molecular signatures and a review of current in vivo applications.
Dong Myung SHIN ; Malwina SUSZYNSKA ; Kasia MIERZEJEWSKA ; Janina RATAJCZAK ; Mariusz Z RATAJCZAK
Experimental & Molecular Medicine 2013;45(11):e56-
As the theory of stem cell plasticity was first proposed, we have explored an alternative hypothesis for this phenomenon: namely that adult bone marrow (BM) and umbilical cord blood (UCB) contain more developmentally primitive cells than hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In support of this notion, using multiparameter sorting we were able to isolate small Sca1+Lin-CD45- cells and CD133+Lin-CD45- cells from murine BM and human UCB, respectively, which were further enriched for the detection of various early developmental markers such as the SSEA antigen on the surface and the Oct4 and Nanog transcription factors in the nucleus. Similar populations of cells have been found in various organs by our team and others, including the heart, brain and gonads. Owing to their primitive cellular features, such as the high nuclear/cytoplasm ratio and the presence of euchromatin, they are called very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs). In the appropriate in vivo models, VSELs differentiate into long-term repopulating HSCs, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), lung epithelial cells, cardiomyocytes and gametes. In this review, we discuss the most recent data from our laboratory and other groups regarding the optimal isolation procedures and describe the updated molecular characteristics of VSELs.
Animals
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Cell Lineage
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Cell Separation/*methods
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Embryonic Stem Cells/*cytology/metabolism
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Hematopoietic Stem Cells/*cytology/metabolism
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Humans
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Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/*cytology/metabolism
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Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism
4.Pluripotent stem cells secrete Activin A to improve their epiblast competency after injection into recipient embryos.
Jinzhu XIANG ; Suying CAO ; Liang ZHONG ; Hanning WANG ; Yangli PEI ; Qingqing WEI ; Bingqiang WEN ; Haiyuan MU ; Shaopeng ZHANG ; Liang YUE ; Genhua YUE ; Bing LIM ; Jianyong HAN
Protein & Cell 2018;9(8):717-728
It is not fully clear why there is a higher contribution of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) to the chimera produced by injection of PSCs into 4-cell or 8-cell stage embryos compared with blastocyst injection. Here, we show that not only embryonic stem cells (ESCs) but also induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can generate F0 nearly 100% donor cell-derived mice by 4-cell stage embryo injection, and the approach has a "dose effect". Through an analysis of the PSC-secreted proteins, Activin A was found to impede epiblast (EPI) lineage development while promoting trophectoderm (TE) differentiation, resulting in replacement of the EPI lineage of host embryos with PSCs. Interestingly, the injection of ESCs into blastocysts cultured with Activin A (cultured from 4-cell stage to early blastocyst at E3.5) could increase the contribution of ESCs to the chimera. The results indicated that PSCs secrete protein Activin A to improve their EPI competency after injection into recipient embryos through influencing the development of mouse early embryos. This result is useful for optimizing the chimera production system and for a deep understanding of PSCs effects on early embryo development.
Activins
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metabolism
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Animals
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Cells, Cultured
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Embryonic Development
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Germ Layers
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metabolism
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Mice
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Pluripotent Stem Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
5.In vitro reconstitution of germ cell development.
Protein & Cell 2011;2(12):944-945
Animals
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Cell Culture Techniques
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Proliferation
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Embryonic Stem Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Germ Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Germ Layers
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cytology
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metabolism
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Humans
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Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Mice
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Pluripotent Stem Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
6.Neural stem cells: mechanisms and modeling.
Jun YAO ; Yangling MU ; Fred H GAGE
Protein & Cell 2012;3(4):251-261
In the adult brain, neural stem cells have been found in two major niches: the dentate gyrus and the subventricular zone [corrected]. Neurons derived from these stem cells contribute to learning, memory, and the autonomous repair of the brain under pathological conditions. Hence, the physiology of adult neural stem cells has become a significant component of research on synaptic plasticity and neuronal disorders. In addition, the recently developed induced pluripotent stem cell technique provides a powerful tool for researchers engaged in the pathological and pharmacological study of neuronal disorders. In this review, we briefly summarize the research progress in neural stem cells in the adult brain and in the neuropathological application of the induced pluripotent stem cell technique.
Hippocampus
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cytology
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metabolism
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Humans
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Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Models, Biological
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Neural Stem Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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transplantation
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Neurodegenerative Diseases
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metabolism
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pathology
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prevention & control
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Neurogenesis
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Signal Transduction
7.Cocktail of chemical compounds robustly promoting cell reprogramming protects liver against acute injury.
Protein & Cell 2017;8(4):273-283
Tissue damage induces cells into reprogramming-like cellular state, which contributes to tissue regeneration. However, whether factors promoting the cell reprogramming favor tissue regeneration remains elusive. Here we identified combination of small chemical compounds including drug cocktails robustly promoting in vitro cell reprogramming. We then administrated the drug cocktails to mice with acute liver injuries induced by partial hepatectomy or toxic treatment. Our results demonstrated that the drug cocktails which promoted cell reprogramming in vitro improved liver regeneration and hepatic function in vivo after acute injuries. The underlying mechanism could be that expression of pluripotent genes activated after injury is further upregulated by drug cocktails. Thus our study offers proof-of-concept evidence that cocktail of clinical compounds improving cell reprogramming favors tissue recovery after acute damages, which is an attractive strategy for regenerative purpose.
Animals
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Cellular Reprogramming
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drug effects
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Cellular Reprogramming Techniques
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methods
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Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Mice
8.Three dimensional collagen scaffolds promote iPSC induction with higher pluripotency.
Qi GU ; He ZHU ; Lei CHEN ; Ling SHUAI ; Jinhui FANG ; Jun WU ; Lei LIU ; Wei LI ; Jianwu DAI ; Jie HAO ; Qi ZHOU
Protein & Cell 2016;7(11):844-848
9.Toward pluripotency by reprogramming: mechanisms and application.
Tao WANG ; Stephen T WARREN ; Peng JIN
Protein & Cell 2013;4(11):820-832
The somatic epigenome can be reprogrammed to a pluripotent state by a combination of transcription factors. Altering cell fate involves transcription factors cooperation, epigenetic reconfiguration, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, posttranscriptional regulation by microRNAs, and so on. Nevertheless, such reprogramming is inefficient. Evidence suggests that during the early stage of reprogramming, the process is stochastic, but by the late stage, it is deterministic. In addition to conventional reprogramming methods, dozens of small molecules have been identified that can functionally replace reprogramming factors and significantly improve induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming. Indeed, iPS cells have been created recently using chemical compounds only. iPSCs are thought to display subtle genetic and epigenetic variability; this variability is not random, but occurs at hotspots across the genome. Here we discuss the progress and current perspectives in the field. Research into the reprogramming process today will pave the way for great advances in regenerative medicine in the future.
Animals
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Cell Differentiation
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Cellular Reprogramming
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MicroRNAs
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genetics
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Models, Biological
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Pluripotent Stem Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Stochastic Processes
10.Direct lineage conversion: induced neuronal cells and induced neural stem cells.
Protein & Cell 2012;3(11):826-833
Cellular reprogramming to neural cells is an area of ongoing study in developmental neuroscience, and recent research has generated remarkable achievements. Several studies have shown that the ectopic expression of specific neural transcription factors can convert terminally differentiated cells into neural cells. Here, we review the most recent progress in the field of induced neuronal (iN) cells and induced neural stem (iNS) cells and their potential clinical applications.
Animals
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Lineage
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Humans
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Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
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cytology
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metabolism
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Neural Stem Cells
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cytology
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Neurons
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cytology
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metabolism
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Transcription Factors
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metabolism