Establishment of novel embryonic stem cell lines derived from the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

The successful establishment of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines has inaugurated a new era in regenerative medicine by facilitating the transplantation of differentiated ESCs to specific organs. However, problems with the safety and efficacy of hESC therapy in vivo remain to be resolved. Preclinical studies using animal model systems, including nonhuman primates, are essential to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hESC therapies. Previously, we demonstrated that common marmosets are suitable laboratory animal models for preclinical studies of hematopoietic stem cell therapies. As this animal model is also applicable to preclinical trials of ESC therapies, we have established novel common marmoset ESC (CMESC) lines. To obtain marmoset embryos, we developed a new embryo collection system, in which blastocysts can be obtained every 3 weeks from each marmoset pair. The inner cell mass was isolated by immunosurgery and plated on a mouse embryonic feeder layer. Some of the CMESC lines were cultured continuously for more than 1 year. These CMESC lines showed alkaline phosphatase activity and expressed stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, and TRA-1-81. On the other hand, SSEA-1 was not detected. Furthermore, our novel CMESCs are pluripotent, as evidenced by in vivo teratoma formation in immunodeficient mice and in vitro differentiation experiments. Our established CMESC lines and the common marmoset provide an excellent experimental model system for understanding differentiation mechanisms, as well as the development of regenerative therapies using hESCs.     

Novel monoclonal antibodies recognizing different subsets of lymphocytes from the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Callithrix jacchus, the common marmoset, is a small new world primate that is considered effective as an experimental animal model for various human diseases. In this study, we generated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against common marmoset lymphocytes for immunological studies on the common marmoset. We established five hybridoma clones, 6C9, 10D7, 6F10, 7A4 and 5A1, producing anti-marmoset mAbs against cell surface antigens on marmoset T and/or B lymphocytes. We confirmed that 6C9 and 10D7 antibodies recognized CD45 antigen, and 6F10 antibody recognized CD8 antigen by flow cytometry using marmoset cDNA transfectants. We also tested them for application of immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. We found that immunohistochemistry using marmoset spleen sections could be applied with all established mAbs but immunoprecipitation and the Western blot analysis could be applied with 6F10 and 10D7 antibodies but not with the other three mAbs. These results show that these monoclonal antibodies are useful for advancing immunological research on the common marmoset.     

Preparation of acute living hippocampal slice from common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) for synaptic function analysis

We described the preparation of acute living slices from the hippocampus of the neonatal common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Slices from a temporal lobe section were prepared quickly using a rotary slicer. By this method, we successfully recorded field potentials, namely, pre-synaptic fiber volley and field excitatory post-synaptic potentials, from the hippocampal CA1 region with conventional electrophysiological techniques, and analyzed the indicators of synaptic function such as input-output curve. This study thus presents an efficient preparation method for acute living hippocampal slice from which synaptic function of the hippocampus in non-human primate can be analyzed.     

Differential renal glomerular changes induced by 5/6 nephrectomization between common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) and rats

We have been investigating the relevance and availability of 5/6 nephrectomized (Nx) common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) as a chronic renal failure model. As a part of this investigation, renal glomerular changes in the Nx marmosets were histopathologically and immunohistochemically evaluated, and then compared with those in 5/6 Nx SD rats. In the Nx marmosets, the blood and urine parameters were elevated, excluding urine protein; histopathologically, enlargement of Bowman's capsule and atrophy of the glomeruli were observed in all animals, and other slight changes were also observed in 1 or 2 marmosets. There were no significant changes in the mesangial matrix injury score, vimentin and desmin positivity or the number of WT1 positive cells between the control and Nx marmoset groups. On the other hand, in the Nx rats, the blood and urine parameters were elevated; histopathologically, various changes were observed in the glomeruli, and the mesangial matrix injury score, vimentin and desmin positivity were increased, while the number of WT1 positive cells was decreased; these histopathological impacts on the renal glomerulus at 13 weeks after Nx in rats were more severe than that in the Nx marmosets. Because the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) was much thicker in the marmosets than in the rats in electron microscopy, the weaker pathological changes in the Nx marmosets might be due to the GBM thickness. This study showed for the first time glomerular lesions developed in the Nx marmosets, and the possible pathogenesis of the glomerular lesions was discussed.     

Myeloid neoplasm-related gene abnormalities differentially affect dendritic cell differentiation from murine hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) play important roles in tumor immunology. Leukemic cells in patients with myeloid neoplasms can differentiate into DCs in vivo (referred to as in vivo leukemic DCs), which are postulated to affect anti-leukemia immune responses. We established a reproducible culture system of in vitro FLT3 ligand-mediated DC (FL-DC) differentiation from murine lineage(-) Sca-1(+) c-Kit(high) cells (LSKs), which made it possible to analyse the effects of target genes on steady-state DC differentiation from hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Using this system, we analysed the effects of various myeloid neoplasm-related gene abnormalities, termed class I and class II mutations, on FL-DC differentiation from LSKs. All class II mutations uniformly impaired FL-DC differentiation maintaining a plasmacytoid DC (pDC)/conventional DC (cDC) ratio comparable to the control cells. In contrast, class I mutations differentially affected FL-DC differentiation from LSKs. FLT3-ITD and a constitutively active form of Ras (CA-N-Ras) yielded more FL-DCs than the control, whereas the other class I mutations tested yielded less FL-DCs. Both FLT3-ITD and FLT3-tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutation showed a comparable pDC/cDC ratio as the control. CA-N-Ras, c-Kit-TKD, TEL/PDGFRβ, and FIP1L1/PDGFRα showed a severe decrease in the pDC/cDC ratio. CA-STAT5 and CA-MEK1 severely inhibited pDC differentiation. FLT3-ITD, CA-N-Ras, and TEL/PDGFRβ aberrantly induced programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)-expressing DCs. In conclusion, we have established a simple, efficient, and reproducible in vitro FL-DC differentiation system from LSKs. This system could uncover novel findings on how myeloid neoplasm-related gene abnormalities differentially affect FL-DC differentiation from murine hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in a gene-specific manner.     

The effect of dopamine depletion from the caudate nucleus of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) on tests of prefrontal cognitive function

This study examined the effects of depletion of dopamine from the caudate nucleus of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), on tasks sensitive to prefrontal damage (attentional set-shifting and spatial delayed response). There was a marked impairment in performance on the spatial delayed response task, but performance on the attentional set-shifting task was relatively preserved except for an impairment in re-engagement of a previously relevant perceptual dimension. This pattern of impairment is distinct from that seen after excitotoxic lesions of the prefrontal cortex and in patients with Parkinson's disease. Though it is not possible to identify specific cognitive functions that are independent of dopaminergic modulation of the caudate nucleus, due to the partial nature of the lesion, the results do provide insight into those cognitive processes that appear most dependent on caudate dopamine.     

Efficiency of the elongation factor-1alpha promoter in mammalian embryonic stem cells using lentiviral gene delivery systems

The establishment of new technology for genetic modification in human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines has raised great hopes for achieving new ground in basic and clinical research. Recently, lentiviral vector technology has been shown to be highly effective and therefore could emerge as a popular tool for human ES cell genetic modification. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficiency of promoters in lentiviral gene delivery systems in mammalian ES cells, including mouse, monkey, and human, and to construct efficient and optimized conditions for lentivirus-mediated transfection systems. Mammalian ES cells were transfected with self-inactivating (SIN) human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)-based lentiviral vectors containing the human polypeptide chain elongation factor-1alpha (EF-1alpha) promoter or cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis for the expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) reporter gene. The efficiency of the EF-1alpha promoter was higher than that of the CMV promoter in all ES cells tested. The EF-1alpha promoter efficiently drove gene expression (14.74%) compared with CMV promoter (3.69%) in human ES cells. We generated a stable eGFP+ human ES cell line (CHA3-EGFP human ES cells) that continuously expressed high levels of EGFP ( approximately 95%) from the EF-1alpha promoter and was maintained for up to 60 weeks with undifferentiated proliferation. The established CHA3-EGFP human ES cell lines were characterized as being negative for nondifferentiation markers and teratoma formation. These results imply that genetic modification by lentiviral vectors with specific promoters in ES cells constitute a powerful tool for guided differentiation as well as gene therapy.     

促进胚胎干细胞来源造血干/祖细胞移植后细胞免疫功能恢复

目的:体外诱导胚胎干细胞分化为造血干/祖细胞过程中, 增加成熟T淋巴细胞的含量, 以促进其重建致死量照射小鼠的造血功能后免疫功能的早期重建。方法:胚胎干细胞在含甲基纤维素的培养基中自由分化形成胚胎体, 分化第6d添加造血生长因子, 同时添加胸腺肽, 流式细胞仪检测分化细胞中CD₃₄⁺的造血干/祖细胞和CD⁺₃的成熟T淋巴细胞含量, 最后将分化细胞注射入致死量照射小鼠体内, 观察60d, 以移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)发病率作为T淋巴细胞免疫功能的指标, 用PCR检测Sry反映移植细胞在宿主体内的存活。结果:分化第13d, 未加胸腺肽, CD⁺₃的成熟T淋巴细胞含量仅10.52%, 重建造血后无GVHD发生;添加胸腺肽, CD⁺₃的成熟T淋巴细胞含量升高达22.93%, 重建造血后GVHD发病率100%。结论:胚胎干细胞体外分化为造血干/祖细胞过程中, 添加胸腺肽, 能增加CD⁺₃的成熟T淋巴细胞含量, 体内重建造血后细胞免疫功能恢复较快。     

Analysis of Rex1 (zfp42) function in embryonic stem cell differentiation

Rex1 (zfp42) is a zinc finger protein expressed primarily in undifferentiated stem cells, both in the embryo and the adult. Upon all‐trans retinoic acid induced differentiation of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells, Rex1 mRNA levels decrease several fold. To characterize the function(s) of Rex1 more extensively, we generated Rex1 double knockout ES cell lines. The disruption of the Rex1 gene enhanced the expression of ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm markers as compared to wild‐type (Wt) cells. We propose that Rex1 acts to reduce retinoic acid induced differentiation in ES cells. We performed microarray analyses on Wt and Rex1^?/? cells cultured in the presence or absence of LIF to identify potential Rex1 targets. We also evaluated gene expression in a Wt line that overexpresses Rex1 and in a Rex1^?/? line in which Rex1 expression was restored. These data, taken together, suggest that Rex1 influences differentiation, cell cycle regulation, and cancer progression. Developmental Dynamics 238:1863–1877, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

小鼠Islet-1基因慢病毒表达载体的构建及其诱导C_3H_(10)T1/2细胞向心肌样细胞特异性分化

目的研究Islet-1对干细胞分化的影响。方法用PCR钓取目的基因,将目的基因与pLenO-WPI载体连接,选取阳性质粒,与辅助质粒共同感染293T细胞生产出慢病毒载体。感染C3H10T1/2细胞,实时荧光定量PCR及Western blot检测Islet-1和心肌、肝脏、骨骼及神经各系统相关标志物的表达,免疫荧光检测心肌肌钙蛋白T(cTnT)表达部位。结果 PCR及测序显示目的片段正确插入,实验组有Islet-1表达;心肌早期发育相关基因GATA-4、MEF2C、NKx2.5在检测到荧光蛋白1周后升高,2周到达高峰,3周后可检测到心肌特异性蛋白cTnT(0.582±0.0576),其时序性表达呈随时间增强趋势;cTnT表达于胞质;肝脏系统特异性标志AFP及ALB、骨骼系统特异性标志BGP及BALP、神经系统特异性标志Nestin及GFAP均未表达。结论 Islet-1具有特异性促进干细胞向心肌样细胞分化的作用。     

Precipitous stem cell (SC) differentiation and 1/f noise.

After a brief digression on certain types of noise of generic interest, it is concluded that 1/f noise offers interesting interpretations for unusual modes of SC differentiation such as the precipitous maturation of a subset of the macrophage lineage. Functionally equivalent to weak, spurious sources these specialized cells support the proliferation and maturation of erythroid cells extending thus the stimulatory influence of true, strong sources although in a rather indirect fashion.     

Multiple mesoderm subsets give rise to endothelial cells, whereas hematopoietic cells are differentiated only from a restricted subset in embryonic stem cell differentiation culture

In the developing mouse, vascular endothelial cell (EC) and hematopoietic cell (HPC) lineages are two initial cell lineages that diverge from mesodermal cells, which have been roughly subdivided into three subtypes according to their geographical location: the organizer, embryonic mesoderm in the primitive streak, and extraembryonic mesoderm during gastrulation. Although the initial progenitors that become the two lineages appear in both vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2(+) (VEGFR2(+)) lateral and extraembryonic mesoderm, little is known about the underlying molecular events that regulate the derivation of ECs and HPCs. Here, we describe an experimental system consisting of two types of embryonic stem cell lines capable of distinguishing between organizer and the middle section of the primitive streak region. Using this system, we were able to establish a defined culture condition that can separately induce distinct types of mesoderm. Although we were able to differentiate ECs from all mesoderm subsets, however, the potential of HPCs was restricted to the VEGFR2(+) cells derived from primitive streak-type mesodermal cells. We also show that the culture condition for the progenitors of primitive erythrocytes is separated from that for the progenitors of definitive erythrocytes. These results suggest the dominant role of extrinsic regulation during diversification of mesoderm.     

Endogenous transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 promotes differentiation of smooth muscle cells from embryonic stem cells: stable plasmid-based siRNA silencing of TGF beta1 gene expression

Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 has been shown to promote differentiation of smooth muscle cells (SMC) from some precursor cells. Whether endogenous TGF beta1 also contributes to SMC differentiation during embryogenesis, however, remains unclear. In this study, a plasmid-based TGF beta1 RNA interference embryonic stem (ES) cell line was constructed. Morphological observation showed that TGF beta1 knockdown significantly prevented differentiated cells from outgrowing from ES cells-derived embryoid bodies (EBs). Immunofluorescence staining indicated that SM alpha-actin-positive cells were confluent and dense in the control group but dispersed in the TGF beta1 knockdown group. RT-PCR and western blot suggested that TGF beta1 knockdown resulted in a decrease in the expression of early SMC markers SM alpha-actin and myocardin in EBs. Both the retarded extension of cell outgrowth and the decrease in SM alpha-actin and myocardin expression could not be rescued by addition of exogenous TGF beta1. These data suggest that endogenous TGF beta1 promotes differentiation of SMC from ES cells.     

Recombinant growth/differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) stimulates osteogenic differentiation of marrow mesenchymal stem cells in porous hydroxyapatite ceramic

To evaluate the growth/differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) in the in vivo osteogenic potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), we subcutaneously implanted five different kinds of hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramic implants: HA alone, GDF-5/HA composites (GDF/HA), MSCs/HA composites, the MSCs/HA composites supplemented with GDF-5 (GDF/MSCs/HA), and recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP/MSCs/HA). Neither the HA alone nor the GDF/HA composites exhibited any bone formation at any time after implantation. At 4 weeks, the MSCs/HA composites exhibited a certain amount of bone formation in some pore areas. In contrast, at 2 weeks, the GDF/MSCs/HA composites exhibited histologically obvious de novo bone formation together with active osteoblasts in many pore areas and additional bone formation at 4 weeks. In the de novo formed bone, neither chondrocytes nor endochondral bone was detected. The GDF/MSCs/HA composites also showed high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin expression determined at both the protein and gene levels and the high level of expression was well maintained even at 4 weeks. Compared with GDF/MSCs/HA, the BMP/MSCs/HA composites exhibited excellent osteogenesis with relatively early osteoblastic phenotype expression. The results indicate that GDF-5 synergistically enhances de novo bone formation capability of MSCs/HA composite and suggest that tissue-engineered GDF/MSCs/HA composites could be used as bone graft substitutes.