Angiogenic cell therapy for hepatic fibrosis

Progression of liver fibrosis has been linked with injuries associated with hypoxia and neovascularization. Neovascularization consists of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, representing formation of blood vessels by differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). We investigated antifibrogenic and regenerative effects of EPC transplantation in chronic liver injury. Rat EPCs were isolated from bone marrow cells and examined in vitro for lineage markers. Recipient rats were injected intraperitoneally with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) three times weekly for 4 weeks, plus EPC transplantation once weekly for 4 weeks. Transplanted rats showed suppression of liver fibrogenesis. Expression of growth factors promoting liver regeneration such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was increased in transplanted rats, together with hepatocyte proliferation. Normal liver function parameters such as transaminase, total bilirubin, total protein, and albumin were maintained in transplanted rats. EPC transplantation is effective not only for preventing liver fibrosis but also for promoting regeneration in chronically damaged livers. Also, recently it has been reported that green fluorescent protein-positive bone marrow cells contribute to the liver tissue repair of fibrosis model rats. EPC transplantation might become an alternative if further preclinical investigation finds it to be effective in severely cirrhotic livers.     

Stem cell properties and repopulation of the rat liver by fetal liver epithelial progenitor cells

The potential of embryonal day (ED) 14 fetal liver epithelial progenitor (FLEP) cells from Fischer (F)344 rats to repopulate the normal and retrorsine-treated liver was studied throughout a 6-month period in syngeneic dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV-) mutant F344 rats. In normal liver, FLEP cells formed: 1) hepatocytic clusters ranging in size up to approximately 800 to 1000 cells; 2) bile duct structures connected to pre-existing host bile ducts; and 3) mixed clusters containing both hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells. Liver repopulation after 6 months was moderate (5 to 10%). In retrorsine-treated liver, transplanted cells formed large multilobular structures containing both parenchymal and bile duct cells and liver repopulation was extensive (60 to 80%). When the repopulating capacity of ED 14 FLEP cells transplanted into normal liver was compared to adult hepatocytes, three important differences were noted: 1) FLEP cells continued to proliferate at 6 months after transplantation, whereas adult hepatocytes ceased proliferation within the first month; 2) both the number and size of clusters derived from FLEP cells gradually increased throughout time but decreased throughout time with transplanted mature hepatocytes; and 3) FLEP cells differentiated into hepatocytes when engrafted into the liver parenchyma and into bile epithelial cells when engrafted in the vicinity of the host bile ducts, whereas adult hepatocytes did not form bile duct structures. Finally, after transplantation of ED 14 FLEP cells, new clusters of DPPIV+ cells appeared after 4 to 6 months, suggesting reseeding of the liver by transplanted cells. This study represents the first report with an isolated fetal liver epithelial cell fraction in which the cells exhibit properties of tissue-determined stem cells after their transplantation into normal adult liver; namely, bipotency and continued proliferation long after their transplantation.     

异种肝前体细胞移植治疗急性肝损伤大鼠

背景：成体肝前体细胞可在受体肝脏内定植并分化为肝细胞。不过,异种肝前体细胞移植能否促进急性肝损伤的恢复,脾脏微环境能否促进移植物的存活和向肝细胞分化,尚没有研究。 目的：评价异种肝前体细胞移植治疗急性肝损伤的作用;监测移植肝前体细胞在大鼠脾脏实质内的定植及向肝细胞的分化。 方法：体外培养雄性小鼠来源的肝前体细胞系肝上皮样前体细胞。通过CCl4腹腔注射联合2/3肝切除构建急性肝损伤大鼠模型,进行肝上皮样前体细胞脾脏移植。在肝切除后1,5,14和21 d,苏木精-伊红染色观察肝脏病理改变,全自动生化分析仪监测血清转氨酶变化,PCR反应检测脾脏组织Y染色体特异性序列Sry,脾脏CK-19和Alb免疫组织化学追踪移植肝上皮样前体细胞的植入和肝细胞分化。 结果与结论：肝上皮样前体细胞可在体外长期培养,保持增殖能力和双向分化潜能。肝上皮样前体细胞脾脏移植后,肝损伤大鼠肝细胞肿胀明显减轻,丙氨酸转氨酶和天门冬氨酸转氨酶下降更明显。移植后1,5,14和21 d,脾脏DNA中均能检测到Sry序列。在整个实验期间CK-19阳性细胞在大鼠脾脏实质内始终存在。Alb阳性细胞在移植后5 d在脾脏实质中出现,随后阳性细胞数逐渐增多。实验表明,移植肝前体细胞能在大鼠脾脏实质中植入,并分化为肝细胞,能有效促进CCl4腹腔注射联合2/3肝切除诱导的大鼠急性肝损伤的修复过程。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：肾移植;肝移植;移植;心脏移植;组织移植;皮肤移植;皮瓣移植;血管移植;器官移植;组织工程全文链接：     

同基因与异基因胚胎肝干细胞移植治疗小鼠肝硬化

背景：胚胎肝干细胞移植免疫相关研究较少,同基因与异基因胚胎肝干细胞移植对小鼠肝硬化的治疗作用,目前尚不清楚。 目的：观察同种同基因与同种异基因胚胎肝干细胞移植对小鼠肝硬化的治疗作用,以及治疗过程中免疫排斥反应发生情况。 方法：采用Ⅳ型胶原酶消化法分离纯化BALB/c与C57BL/6胚胎肝干细胞。104只健康BALB/c小鼠随机分为4 组：正常对照组不予任何处理;肝硬化组、同种同基因移植组、同种异基因移植组腹腔注射四氯化碳石蜡油溶液复制肝硬化模型,16周后分别经其尾静脉注射生理盐水,等量同种同基因胚胎肝干细胞和同种异基因胚胎肝干细胞。在移植4周后比较各组受体小鼠存活情况、肝功能恢复情况、肝纤维化程度、免疫细胞(CD4⁺T、CD8⁺T、NK、NKT)数目及比值、肝脏病理学变化。 结果与结论：同种同基因移植组和同种异基因移植组生存率均为100%,与肝硬化组小鼠存活率67%相比差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05);各组肝功能和肝纤维化指标差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。各组免疫学指标比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。肝脏组织病理学显示肝组织修复：同种异基因移植组>同种同基因移植组>肝硬化组。因此,经尾静脉移植胚胎肝干细胞能提高肝硬化小鼠的生存率、减轻肝细胞坏死程度;同种同基因与同种异基因胚胎肝干细胞移植未发现免疫排斥,对小鼠肝硬化有一定的治疗作用。     

In vitro proliferation and differentiation of hepatic oval cells and their potential capacity for intrahepatic transplantation

Hepatic oval cells (HOCs) are recognized as facultative liver progenitor cells that play a role in liver regeneration after acute liver injury. Here, we investigated the in vitro proliferation and differentiation characteristics of HOCs in order to explore their potential capacity for intrahepatic transplantation. Clusters or scattered HOCs were detected in the portal area and interlobular bile duct in the liver of rats subjected to the modified 2-acetylaminofluorene and partial hepatectomy method. Isolated HOCs were positive for c-kit and CD90 staining (99.8% and 88.8%, respectively), and negative for CD34 staining (3.6%) as shown by immunostaining and flow cytometric analysis. In addition, HOCs could be differentiated into hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells after leukemia inhibitory factor deprivation. A two-cuff technique was used for orthotopic liver transplantation, and HOCs were subsequently transplanted into recipients. Biochemical indicators of liver function were assessed 4 weeks after transplantation. HOC transplantation significantly prolonged the median survival time and improved the liver function of rats receiving HOCs compared to controls (P=0.003, Student t-test). Administration of HOCs to rats also receiving liver transplantation significantly reduced acute allograft rejection compared to control liver transplant rats 3 weeks following transplantation (rejection activity index score: control=6.3±0.9; HOC=3.5±1.5; P=0.005). These results indicate that HOCs may be useful in therapeutic liver regeneration after orthotopic liver transplantation.     

Proliferation and differentiation of fetal liver epithelial progenitor cells after transplantation into adult rat liver

To identify cells that have the ability to proliferate and differentiate into all epithelial components of the liver lobule, we isolated fetal liver epithelial cells (FLEC) from ED 14 Fischer (F) 344 rats and transplanted these cells in conjunction with two-thirds partial hepatectomy into the liver of normal and retrorsine (Rs) treated syngeneic dipeptidyl peptidase IV mutant (DPPIV(-)) F344 rats. Using dual label immunohistochemistry/in situ hybridization, three subpopulations of FLEC were identified: cells expressing both alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin, but not CK-19; cells expressing CK-19, but not AFP or albumin, and cells expressing AFP, albumin, and cytokeratins-19 (CK-19). Proliferation, differentiation, and expansion of transplanted FLEC differed significantly in the two models. In normal liver, 1 to 2 weeks after transplantation, mainly cells with a single phenotype, hepatocytic (expressing AFP and albumin) or bile ductular (expressing only CK-19), had proliferated. In Rs-treated rats, in which the proliferative capacity of endogenous hepatocytes is impaired, transplanted cells showed mainly a dual phenotype (expressing both AFP/albumin and CK-19). One month after transplantation, DPPIV(+) FLEC engrafted into the parenchyma exhibited an hepatocytic phenotype and generated new hepatic cord structures. FLEC, localized in the vicinity of bile ducts, exhibited a biliary epithelial phenotype and formed new bile duct structures or were incorporated into pre-existing bile ducts. In the absence of a proliferative stimulus, ED 14 FLEC did not proliferate or differentiate. Our results demonstrate that 14-day fetal liver contains lineage committed (unipotential) and uncommitted (bipotential) progenitor cells exerting different repopulating capacities, which are affected by the proliferative status of the recipient liver and the host site within the liver where the transplanted cells become engrafted. These findings have important implications in future studies directed toward liver repopulation and ex vivo gene therapy.     

Developmental changes in glutathione S-transferase isoforms expression and activity in intrasplenic fetal liver tissue transplants in rats

The aim of the present study was to characterise developmental changes in glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoforms expression and in glutathione conjugation capacity in intrasplenic liver tissue transplants. For this purpose, syngenic fetal liver tissue suspensions were transplanted into the spleens of adult male Fischer 344 rats. Three days, 1, 2, 4 weeks, 2, 4, 6 months and 1 year later, transplant-recipients and control animals were sacrificed and class alpha, mu and pi GST isoforms expression and GST activities using the substrates o-dinitrobenzene and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene were assessed in livers and spleens. In the hepatocytes of the adult livers no class pi, but a distinct class alpha and mu GST expression was seen. The bile duct epithelia were class pi GST positive. Fetal livers displayed almost no class alpha and mu, but a slight class pi GST expression. The same pattern was seen in 3-day-old intrasplenic liver tissue transplants. Up to 2 weeks after surgery the class alpha and mu GST expression increased in the hepatocytes of the transplants, whereas the immunostaining for class pi GST disappeared. No remarkable changes were seen thereafter. Normal conjugation capacities were observed with the livers of both groups of rats. Control spleens displayed only low GST activities. From 2 months after transplantation on activities were significantly higher in transplant-containing spleens than in respective control organs with a further increase up to one year after grafting. These results show that intrasplenically transplanted fetal liver cells proliferate and differentiate into mature cells displaying a GST expression pattern with respective enzyme activities similar to adult liver.     

KM小鼠胚胎干细胞大鼠纹状体内移植诱导分化的在体研究

目的探讨体外培养扩增的胚胎干细胞移植到纹状体内的存活、迁移和分化情况,确定胚胎干细胞脑内移植的最佳分化阶段。方法分别将未分化的胚胎干细胞和诱导分化至神经前体细胞阶段的胚胎干细胞进行纹状体内移植,移植4周后通过形态学观察、尼氏染色、TH与BrdU免疫组织化学染色,检测胚胎干细胞移植后的存活和分化情况。结果初步诱导分化后的胚胎干细胞纹状体内移植后4周,移植区内有大量BrdU免疫阳性细胞出现,而且部分BrdU免疫阳性细胞已迁移出移植区,有些细胞已分化为TH免疫阳性细胞,胞浆内可见尼氏体;而未分化的胚胎干细胞进行脑内移植后有成瘤的趋向。结论在体外对胚胎干细胞进行诱导分化至神经前体细胞阶段,然后进行脑内移植,更有利于胚胎干细胞的存活和部位特异性分化。     

少突胶质前体细胞延长神经胶质母细胞瘤大鼠高剂量放疗后的生存期

背景：胶质母细胞瘤是成人常见的恶性脑肿瘤,目前尚缺乏有效的治疗方法,临床预后不良。目的：观察单次高剂量放疗对神经胶质母细胞瘤的疗效,以及少突胶质前体细胞修复放射性脑损伤的可行性。方法：通过质粒转染构建可表达荧光素酶(Luc)的人源性U-87 MG肿瘤细胞系。15只Fisher 344大鼠制备Luc-U-87 MG神经胶质母细胞瘤模型,随机分为肿瘤模型组(n=3)、放疗组(n=6)和放疗+细胞移植组(n=6),后两组放疗方式为单次80 Gy辐射;放疗后5周,放疗+细胞移植组大鼠联合少突胶质前体细胞移植治疗。利用活体成像的方法监测肿瘤细胞的生长;MRI观察放疗引起的脑组织影像学变化;采用KaplanMeier生存分析明确细胞移植对放疗大鼠生存率的影响;对移植细胞的存活及分化情况进行组织学观察。结果与结论：(1)体外生物成像示转染后的U-87 MG细胞与Luc底物产生反应发出生物信号,信号强度与转染细胞的数量呈线性正相关;(2)动物活体成像结果显示,肿瘤模型大鼠的颅内胶质母细胞瘤信号持续上升直至接种第5周(全部死亡);放疗大鼠在治疗后2周,肿瘤信号开始衰减,4周后未见肿瘤发光信号;(3)放疗...     

Proliferation and hepatic differentiation of adult-derived progenitor cells

Hepatic progenitor cells, capable of maturing into hepatocytes and biliary cells, are hypothesized to be involved in all forms of liver regeneration and may prove clinically useful at reconstituting damaged livers. A murine hepatic progenitor cell population from young adult liver tissue has been isolated and characterized to establish a model for the development of liver cell therapies and for analysis of immune responses after transplantation. Hepatic progenitor cells were isolated from 3- to 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice using modifications of a two-stage liver perfusion technique followed by low speed centrifugation. Cellular analysis by phase contrast, fluorescent and confocal microscopy demonstrated that the hepatic progenitors (1) formed ex vivo colonies with a morphological appearance similar to committed hepatocytic progenitors isolated from embryonic mice and rats; (2) they are smaller than mature hepatocytes; (3) in culture they demonstrated peak expression of an oval cell marker at day 14, whereas albumin expression continued to increase beyond day 21 of culture, and (4) a subset of the progenitors phenotypically differentiated into mature hepatocytes or biliary cells. The unique antigenic profile of these hepatic progenitor cells and their ability to differentiate suggests that purification of the cells should allow for their potential use in transplantation.     

Separate origins of hepatitis B virus surface antigen-negative foci and hepatocellular carcinomas in transgenic HBsAg (alb/psx) mice

We have examined the development and transgene expression in liver lesions of transgenic mice bearing the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) gene of hepatitis B virus under the control of the albumin promoter (alb/psx) to study liver regeneration and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with hepatitis B virus infection. Storage of the HBsAg in the endoplasmic reticulum precedes loss of liver cells and regenerative hyperplastic nodules that do not express HBsAg. Histological analysis indicated that HBsAg-negative foci and nodules arose from liver progenitor cells in the portal zone and lacked mRNA expression. Genomic DNA from eight of nine HBsAg-negative laser capture-excised liver foci showed loss of part of the alb/psx gene, whereas no loss of the actin gene was observed. The alb/psx DNA was intact in adjacent HBsAg-positive tissue. Sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products suggested that alterations in the HBsAg transgene in HBsAg-negative foci occurred via large-scale deletions as opposed to single-site mutations. Southern blot analysis of HCC from 2-year-old transgenic HBsAg mice, however, revealed an intact alb/psx gene. Thus, HBsAg-negative progenitor cells with deletions in the transgene appear to be responsible for compensatory regeneration of the liver, whereas HCCs arise from clonal expansion of hepatocytes with intact alb/psx transgenes.     

Fetal liver as a source of autologous progenitor cells for perinatal tissue engineering

Mesenchymal progenitor cells, isolated from adult bone marrow, have been shown to have utility for autologous tissue engineering. The possibility of isolating from the fetal hematopoietic system a cell population with similar potential, which could be used for autologous reconstruction of prenatally diagnosed congenital anomalies, has not been explored to date. Liver stromal cells isolated from a portion of the right lateral hepatic lobe of midgestation fetal lambs were expanded in vitro. Passage 1 cells displayed a uniform fibroblast-like morphology but could be induced to differentiate into skeletal muscle, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and endothelial cells by selective medium supplementation. By manipulating the extracellular matrix in vitro, spontaneously contracting cardiac myocyte-like cells could be generated as well. Multilineage differentiation was confirmed by morphology, protein expression, and upregulation of lineage-specific mRNA. The potential for engineering myocardial tissue was then investigated by transplanting early-passage progenitor cells, organized on a three-dimensional matrix, into the ventricle of an immunocompromised rat utilizing a previously described model of left ventricular tissue engineering. Survival, incorporation into the host myocardium, and cardiomyocytic differentiation of the transplanted cells were confirmed. We have demonstrated that mesenchymal progenitor cells with multilineage potential can be isolated from the fetal liver and have potential utility for autologous tissue engineering.     

Combining transfusion of stem/progenitor cells into the peripheral circulation with localized transplantation in situ at the site of tissue/organ damage: a possible strategy to optimize the efficacy of stem cell transplantation therapy

Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of localized in situ transplantation of stem/progenitor cells for tissue/organ regeneration. However, the possible limitations of such an approach have largely been overlooked. This is contrary to the intrinsic physiological process of tissue/organ regeneration in vivo, which is thought to involve the mobilization of stem/progenitor cells resident within the tissue/organ itself, as well as from ectopic sites, in particular the bone marrow. Signaling pathways and other molecular processes within stem/progenitor cells transplanted in situ may not be primed to achieve optimal tissue/organ regeneration, and may even be confused by the sudden rapid transition in the cellular microenvironment encountered during transplantation. To overcome these putative limitations, a possible strategy may be to combine transfusion of stem/progenitor cells into the peripheral circulation with localized transplantation in situ at the site of tissue/organ damage. This could better replicate the natural physiological process of tissue/organ repair in vivo. Possible synergistic interactions between the transplanted stem/progenitor cells in situ with migratory transfused cells from the peripheral circulation may further enhance tissue/organ regeneration. The transfused stem/progenitor cells may be induced to home in on a damaged tissue/organ, via the controlled release of specific cytokines or chemokines (i.e., SDF-1) emanating from that particular tissue/organ. There are a number of possible ways to achieve this. For example, the transplanted cells may be delivered on tissue-engineered scaffolds that are designed for the controlled release of specific homing factors such as SDF-1. Another alternative may be to stimulate or genetically modulate the transplanted cells to copiously secrete homing factors such as SDF-1, to encourage the migration and homing of transfused cells within the peripheral circulation. At the same time, it may also be advantageous to pre-stimulate the transfused cells to strongly express surface receptors specific to homing factors such as SDF-1, in particular CXCR-4. More rigorous investigations should be carried out on the possible strategy of combining in situ transplantation of stem/progenitor cells with transfusion into the peripheral circulation, together with induced homing of the transfused cells to the site of organ/tissue damage. This may possibly result in better efficacy for some, but not all models of tissue/organ regeneration.     

Evaluation of the differentiation potential of WB-F344 rat liver epithelial stem-like cells in vivo. Differentiation to hepatocytes after transplantation into dipeptidylpeptidase-IV-deficient rat liver.

After intrahepatic transplantation into livers of adult syngeneic German-strain Fischer 344 rats that are deficient for the bile canalicular enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), cultured WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells (without exogenous marker genes) integrate into hepatic plates and differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells that are morphologically and functionally indistinguishable from mature hepatocytes. In this model system, the differentiated progeny of transplanted WB-F344 cells are identified among the DPP-IV-negative host hepatocytes by their expression of bile canalicular DPP-IV enzyme activity. DPP-IV-positive hepatocyte-like cells also expressed other markers of hepatocytic differentiation, including albumin, transferrin, and alpha-1-antitrypsin, suggesting that the progeny of transplanted WB-F344 cells express a complete hepatocyte differentiation program. These results complement our previous studies indicating WB-F344 cells can serve as stem-like precursor cells for differentiated hepatocytes and strengthen the suggestion that WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells represent the cultured counterpart of liver stem-like hepatocyte progenitor cells present in the normal adult rat liver.     

人羊膜上皮细胞移植急性肝损伤小鼠的定量效果分析

背景：目前已有较多关于人羊膜上皮细胞移植入动物体内的存活、迁徙及相关特性的初步研究,但其对移植效果的定量分析尚未见报道。 目的：对脾内移植传代的人羊膜上皮细胞小鼠血清肝生化功能及人血白蛋白的定量分析。 方法：40只裸小鼠随机分为4组,每组各10只。肝叶切除+细胞移植2周组、肝叶切除+细胞移植4周组、肝叶切除+盐水组,行半肝叶切除,肝叶切除+细胞移植组自脾下极移植密度为5×106传代的人羊膜上皮细胞约0.2 mL,分别于移植后2周和4周采血;肝叶切除+盐水组自脾下极注射生理盐水0.2 mL;单纯细胞移植组：不行肝叶切除,自脾下极移植密度为5×106传代的人羊膜上皮细胞约0.2 mL。检测其各组肝脾组织学、形态学的改变及各组血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、人血白蛋白的变化和人血白蛋白表达定量分析。 结果与结论：人羊膜上皮细胞移植急性肝损伤小鼠4周后肝脾形态未见明显改变,组织学可检测到特异性细胞,血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、人血白蛋白有明显改善,血清中能检测到人血白蛋白且移植后4周较移植后2周有明显升高。因此,人羊膜上皮细胞移植入肝受损小鼠体内能存活超过4周且仍表达肝细胞样细胞的部分特性及功能,改善小鼠的肝功能,治疗小鼠急性肝损伤。     

Hepatic potential of bone marrow stromal cells: development of in vitro co-culture and intra-portal transplantation models

Bone marrow comprises heterogeneous cell populations and is thought to contain certain progenitors with the ability to differentiate into multiple mesenchymal cell lineages. To identify any differentiation plasticity of adult bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) into hepatocyte-like phenotypes, we developed a co-culture model with damaged liver tissue and an animal model of engraftment in cirrhotic liver via intra-portal transplantation. After 10 days of co-culture with injured liver tissues, BMSC expressed specific markers for hepatocytes by RT-PCR and Western blot. The two animal models for liver injury employed used carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induction or bile duct ligation. For tracing BMSC resident in the liver after intra-portal transplantation, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive BMSCs or in situ hybridization of Y-chromosome Sry gene in male BMSC were used in a cross-sex transplantation model. Expression of hepatocyte-specific markers in recipients' liver tissues was determined by fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Our findings demonstrated that about 16% parenchyma cells were GFP-positive cells derived from infused BMSCs, and expression of albumin was detected in these cells in engrafted liver tissues. In conclusion, BMSCs exhibited hepatocyte-like phenotypes after co-cultivation with liver tissue and transplanted into the injured liver. The presented evidence indicated the trans differentiation potential of BMSC developing to the hepatocytes.     

Improved safety of hematopoietic transplantation with monkey embryonic stem cells in the allogeneic setting

Cynomolgus monkey embryonic stem cell (cyESC)-derived in vivo hematopoiesis was examined in an allogeneic transplantation model. cyESCs were induced to differentiate into the putative hematopoietic precursors in vitro, and the cells were transplanted into the fetal cynomolgus liver at approximately the end of the first trimester (n = 3). Although cyESC-derived hematopoietic colony-forming cells were detected in the newborns (4.1%-4.7%), a teratoma developed in all newborns. The risk of tumor formation was high in this allogeneic transplantation model, given that tumors were hardly observed in immunodeficient mice or fetal sheep that had been xeno-transplanted with the same cyESC derivatives. It turned out that the cyESC-derived donor cells included a residual undifferentiated fraction positive for stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-4 (38.2% +/- 10.3%) despite the rigorous differentiation culture. When an SSEA-4-negative fraction was transplanted (n = 6), the teratoma was no longer observed, whereas the cyESC-derived hematopoietic engraftment was unperturbed (2.3%-5.0%). SSEA-4 is therefore a clinically relevant pluripotency marker of primate embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Purging pluripotent cells with this surface marker would be a promising method of producing clinical progenitor cell preparations using human ESCs.     

Increased neurogenesis and astrogenesis from neural progenitor cells grafted in the hippocampus of GFAP-/- Vim-/- mice

After neurotrauma, ischemia, or neurodegenerative disease, astrocytes upregulate their expression of the intermediate filament proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin (Vim), and nestin. This response, reactive gliosis, is attenuated in GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) mice, resulting in the promotion of synaptic regeneration after neurotrauma and improved integration of retinal grafts. Here we assessed whether GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) astrocytes affect the differentiation of neural progenitor cells. In coculture with GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) astrocytes, neural progenitor cells increased neurogenesis by 65% and astrogenesis by 124%. At 35 days after transplantation of neural progenitor cells into the hippocampus, adult GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) mice had more transplant-derived neurons and astrocytes than wild-type controls, as well as increased branching of neurite-like processes on transplanted cells. Wnt3 immunoreactivity was readily detected in hippocampal astrocytes in wild-type but not in GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) mice. These findings suggest that GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) astrocytes allow more neural progenitor cell-derived neurons and astrocytes to survive weeks after transplantation. Thus, reactive gliosis may adversely affect the integration of transplanted neural progenitor cells in the brain. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.