The use of leukemia inhibitory factor immobilized on virus-derived polyhedra to support the proliferation of mouse embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells

Human leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was immobilized into insect virus-derived microcrystals (polyhedra) to generate LIF polyhedra (LIF-PH) that can slowly release LIF into embryonic stem (ES) cell culture media and thus maintain ES cells in an undifferentiated state. Assays of the biological activities of LIF-PH indicated that a single addition of LIF-PH to the ES cell culture medium can support the proliferation of mouse ES and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells continuously for 14 days, and suggest that LIF-PH can be successfully used in the place of a periodic addition of recombinant LIF to the media every 2-3 days. The release of LIF protein from LIF-PH was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Maintenance of undifferentiated state of mouse ES and iPS cells cultured with LIF-PH was determined by the detection of pluripotency-related biomarkers Oct3/4 and stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) through immunostaining and measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity. In this paper, we propose a closed culture system for mass production of ES and iPS cells that utilize a slow-releasing agent of LIF.     

小鼠胚胎干细胞的体外培养及诱导分化成酪氨酸羟化酶阳性神经元

探索小鼠胚胎干细胞 (ES)在体外培养及向酪氨酸羟化酶阳性神经元诱导分化的可能性。将小鼠胚胎干细胞在含有白血病抑制因子 (LIF)的ES培养基中扩增 ,并通过以下几个步骤 :胚胎体的形成、巢蛋白 (Nestin)阳性细胞的筛选、Nestin阳性细胞的体外扩增及撤除碱性成纤维细胞生长因子等后观察向酪氨酸羟化酶阳性神经元的分化。结果表明小鼠胚胎干细胞在含有LIF的特定培养基中能够稳定传代并保持不分化状态 ,经过无血清培养基的筛选和培养 ,在SonicHedgehog(SHH)及成纤维细胞生长因子 (fibroblastgrowthfactor 8,FGF8)等细胞因子的作用下能定向分化成酪氨酸羟化酶阳性神经元。这种方法有望为帕金森病等神经变性病的细胞移植治疗提供充足的细胞来源。     

Self-renewal of embryonic stem cells through culture on nanopattern polydimethylsiloxane substrate

Embryonic stem (ES) cells can undergo continual proliferation and differentiation into cells of all somatic cell lineages in vitro; they are an unlimited cell source for regenerative medicine. However, techniques for maintaining undifferentiated ES cells are often inefficient and result in heterogeneous cell populations. Here, we determined effects of nanopattern polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a culture substrate in promoting the self-renewal of mouse ES (mES) cells, compared to commercial plastic culture dishes. After many passages, mES cells efficiently maintained their undifferentiated state on nanopattern PDMS, but randomly differentiated on commercial plastic culture dishes, as indicated by partially altered morphologies and decreases in alkaline phosphatase activity and stage-specific expression of embryonic antigen-1. Under nanopattern PDMS conditions, we found increased activities of STAT3 and Akt, important proteins involved in maintaining the self-renewal of mES cells. The substrate-cell interactions also enhanced leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-downstream signaling and inhibited spontaneous differentiation, concomitant with reduced focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling. This reduction in FAK signaling was shown to be important for promoting mES cell self-renewal. Thus, our data demonstrates that nanopattern PDMS contributes to maintaining the self-renewal of mES cells and may be applicable in the large-scale production of homogeneously undifferentiated mES cells.     

Murine embryonic stem cells secrete cytokines/growth modulators that enhance cell survival/anti-apoptosis and stimulate colony formation of murine hematopoietic progenitor cells

Stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1/CXCL12, released by murine embryonic stem (ES) cells, enhances survival, chemotaxis, and hematopoietic differentiation of murine ES cells. Conditioned medium (CM) from murine ES cells growing in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was generated while the ES cells were in an undifferentiated Oct-4 expressing state. ES cell-CM enhanced survival of normal murine bone marrow myeloid progenitors (CFU-GM) subjected to delayed growth factor addition in vitro and decreased apoptosis of murine bone marrow c-kit(+)lin- cells. ES CM contained interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-10, IL-11, macrophage-colony stimulating factor (CSF), oncostatin M, stem cell factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, as well as a number of chemokines and other proteins, some of which are known to enhance survival/anti-apoptosis of progenitors. Irradiation of ES cells enhanced release of some proteins and decreased release of others. IL-6, FGF-9, and TNF-alpha, not detected prior to irradiation was found after ES cells were irradiated. ES cell CM also stimulated CFU-GM colony formation. Thus, undifferentiated murine ES cells growing in the presence of LIF produce/release a number of biologically active interleukins, CSFs, chemokines, and other growth modulatory proteins, results which may be of physiological and/or practical significance.     

Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells to Lympho-Hematopoietic Lineagesin Vitro

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate in culture to late stages of many cell lineages. have found culture conditions that are favorable for development in vitro of ES cells into hematopoietic cells at a stage equivalent to day 11-14 of fetal liver development. describe here: (1) the growth conditions necessary for maintenance of ES cells in an undifferentiated state, and the conditions that allow differentiation of cystic embryoid bodies that contain precursors of most hematopoietic cell lineages, including lymphoid cells; (2) the development of lymphoid vessels from ES fetusesin vivo; (3) the characterization of lymphoid, erythroid, megakaryoid, and myeloid cells from ES fetuses; and (4) the cloning of cell lines representing lymphoid, myeloid lineage cells from differentiated ES cells.     

Secreted proteoglycans directly mediate human embryonic stem cell-basic fibroblast growth factor 2 interactions critical for proliferation

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells can be maintained in an undifferentiated state if the culture medium is first conditioned on a layer of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder cells. Here we show that human ES cell proliferation is coordinated by MEF-secreted heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) in conditioned medium (CM). These HSPG and other heparinoids can stabilize basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) in unconditioned medium at levels comparable to those observed in CM. They also directly mediate binding of FGF2 to the human ES cell surface, and their removal from CM impairs proliferation. Finally, we have developed a purification scheme for MEF-secreted HSPG in CM. Using column chromatography, immunoblotting, and mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis, we have identified multiple HSPG species in CM. The results demonstrate that HSPG are key signaling cofactors in CM-based human ES cell culture.     

Cytokine signalling in embryonic stem cells

Cytokines play a central role in maintaining self-renewal in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells through a member of the interleukin-6 type cytokine family termed leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). LIF activates the JAK-STAT3 pathway through the class I cytokine receptor gp130, which forms a trimeric complex with LIF and the class I cytokine receptor LIF receptor beta. STAT3 has been shown to play a crucial role in self-renewal in mouse ES cells probably by induction of c-myc expression. Thus, ablation of STAT3 activation leads to differentiation. However, important connections between STAT3 and other signalling pathways have been documented. In addition, gp130 activation leads to both PI3K and Src activation. The canonical Wnt pathway is sufficient to maintain self-renewal of both human ES cells and mouse ES cells. It seems quite possible that the main pathway maintaining self-renewal in ES cells is the Wnt pathway, while the LIF-JAK-STAT3 pathway is present in mouse cells as an adaptation for sustaining self-renewal during embryonic diapause, a condition of delayed implantation in mammals. In keeping with this scenario, the Wnt pathway has been shown to elevate the level of c-myc. Thus, the two pathways seem to converge on c-myc as a common target to promote self-renewal. Whereas LIF does not seem to stimulate self-renewal in human embryonic stem cells it cannot be excluded that other cytokines are involved. The pleiotropic actions of the increasing number of cytokines and receptors signalling via JAKs, STATs and SOCS exhibit considerable redundancy, compensation and plasticity in stem cells in accordance with the view that stem cells are governed by quantitative variations in strength and duration of signalling events known from other cell types rather than qualitatively different stem cell-specific factors.     

心脏特异的转录因子在胚胎干细胞分化为心肌细胞中的作用

胚胎干细胞在没有白血病抑制因子(leukemia inhibitory factor,LIF)的条件下培养时可以分化成心肌细胞,这些细胞表达一些收缩蛋白,如肌浆球蛋白重链(myosin heavy chain,MHC)和肌球蛋白轻链-2V(ventricular myosin light chain,MLC2V)。很多研究者进一步从转录因子的角度研究了控制心脏发育的转录因子在胚胎干细胞向心肌细胞分化过程中的表达,结果表明心脏转录因子GATA4、肌细胞增强因子2C(myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2C,MEF2C)和NKx2.5控制着心脏相关基因的表达,它们在心脏发生进程中发挥重要的转录调控作用。研究同时发现多条信号通路参与了心肌细胞分化的调节。此外,纯化胚胎干细胞源性心肌细胞用于治疗心肌梗塞亦是一个关键问题。然而,胚胎细胞向心肌细胞分化的分子机理还有待进一步研究。     

转录因子Oct-4、Nanog与胚胎干细胞的自我更新

胚胎干细胞自我更新分子机制是胚胎干细胞研究的前沿及热点课题。除外源性信号如LIF、BMP、Wnt能维持胚胎干细胞的未分化状态外,转录因子Oct-4和Nanog特异性表达于全能胚胎干细胞,并与其它转录因子如Sox2一起构成调控网络,共同调控与胚胎干细胞多能性相关的一系列重要分子,是保持胚胎干细胞自我更新和多潜能性的关键分子。     

In Vitro Studies of Human Prostatic Epithelial Cells: Attempts to Identify Distinguishing Features of Malignant Cells

Abstract

Recent advances in culture techniques have enabled routine establishment and propagation of epithelial cells derived from normal and malignant tissues of the human prostate. Comparative studies of the responses of normal and cancer-derived cell populations to various growth and differentiation factors in vitro were undertaken to examine the possibility that cancer cells might respond differentially. Clonal growth assays in serum-free medium demonstrated that optimal proliferation of normal as well as cancer cell strains was generally dependent on the presence of cholera toxin, epidermal growth factor, pituitary extract, hydrocortisone, insulin, and high levels of calcium in the culture medium, and on the use of collagen-coated dishes. Only one cancer strain responded aberrantly to epidermal growth factor and hydrocortisone. Putative differentiation factors (transforming growth factor-β and vitamin A) inhibited the growth of all normal and cancer strains. The origin of a cancer-derived cell strain that responded similarly to normal strains was verified by positive labeling with a prostate cancer-specific antibody, validating the conclusion from these studies that normal and cancer prostatic epithelial cells are not distinguishable on the basis of responses to the tested factors.     

人胚胎成纤维细胞对人胚胎生殖细胞生长的作用

目的：研究人胚胎成纤维细胞对人胚胎生殖细胞（EG细胞）生长的作用。方法：采用组织块体外培养法体外培养人EG细胞,不添加任何细胞因子,利用源于胚胎组织自身的成纤维细胞作为饲养层,收集培养3d和9d的上清液,用抗体夹心ABC-ELISA法定量检测其白血病抑制因子（LIF）、干细胞生长因子（SCF）和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）的含量。培养的细胞用免疫细胞化学法进行SSEA-3、OCT-4的检测。结果：培养9d的上清液中3种因子均含量为LIF55．25pg／ml、SCF90．39pg／ml、bFGF26．06pg／ml．均高于培养3d相应的平均含量。培养的细胞SSEA-3、OC-4呈强阳性表达。结论：上清液中LIF、SCF和bFGF的含量与胚胎成纤维细胞的生长呈正比,胚胎成纤维细胞能分泌这些细胞因子,以维持EG细胞体外增殖并抑制其分化。     

Pluripotent Conversion of Muscle Stem Cells Without Reprogramming Factors or Small Molecules

Muscle derived stem cells (MDSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into several lineages including skeletal muscle precursor cells. Here, we show that MDSCs from myostatin null mice (Mstn ^?/? ) can be readily induced into pluripotent stem cells without using reprogramming factors. Microarray studies revealed a strong upregulation of markers like Leukemia Inhibitory factor (LIF) and Leukemia Inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) in Mstn ^?/? MDSCs as compared to wild type MDSCs (WT-MDSCs). Furthermore when cultured in mouse embryonic stem cell media with LIF for 95 days, Mstn ^?/? MDSCs formed embryonic stem cell (ES) like colonies. We termed such ES like cells as the culture-induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPSC). CiPSCs from Mstn ^?/? MDSCs were phenotypically similar to ESCs, expressed high levels of Oct4, Nanog, Sox2 and SSEA-1, maintained a normal karyotype. Furthermore, CiPSCs formed embryoid bodies and teratomas when injected into immunocompromised mice. In addition, CiPSCs differentiated into somatic cells of all three lineages. We further show that culturing in ES cell media, resulted in hypermethylation and downregulation of BMP2 in Mstn^?/? MDSCs. Western blot further confirmed a down regulation of BMP2 signaling in Mstn ^?/? MDSCs in supportive of pluripotent reprogramming. Given that down regulation of BMP2 has been shown to induce pluripotency in cells, we propose that lack of myostatin epigenetically reprograms the MDSCs to become pluripotent stem cells. Thus, here we report the successful establishment of ES-like cells from adult stem cells of the non-germline origin under culture-induced conditions without introducing reprogramming genes.     

白血病抑制因子(LIF)与bFGF协同促进小鼠外胚间充质干细胞(EMSCs)体外自我维持

白血病抑制因子（leukemia inhibitor factor，LIF）可以抑制小鼠胚胎干细胞分化，维持其自我更新，因而用于该干细胞的体外扩增。由于不同的胚胎或成体干细胞分化特性相差很大，因此，LIF可能对不同的干细胞有不同的作用。对新鲜分离的小鼠外胚间充质细胞（ectomesenchymal cells，EMCs）在有或无LIF的培养条件下，观察了细胞生长的特性，表型变化等，并通过检测其中外胚间充质干细胞（ectomesenchymal stem cells，EMSCs）的水平，探讨UF与EMSCs的关系。结果表明：（1）LIF的受体gp130表达于未分化与早期分化的EMSCs表面，提示LIF对于EMSCs具有潜在的调节作用；（2）LIF促进小鼠EMSCs的自我维持，bFGF则对此具有协同作用。因此，UF与bFGF联合对体外培养和扩增小鼠外胚间充质干细胞，以及对其深入研究和应用具有重要意义。     

LIF-immobilized nonwoven polyester fabrics for cultivation of murine embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have a great interest for tissue engineering because of their pluripotent nature and proliferative capacity. The objective of this study is to constitute a synthetic microenvironment to support the in vitro propagation of murine ES cells in an undifferentiated state. That is why we used a three-dimensional matrix, nonwoven polyester fabric (NWPF), which was formed from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers. NWPF discs were partially hydrolyzed, and then the carboxyl groups were coupled with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in the presence of water-soluble carbodiimide. The effectiveness of immobilization process was checked with ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, fluorimetry, and cell culture studies. ES cell colony morphology, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) immunoreactivity, and SEM analysis following a 72 - 96-h culture period upon hydrolyzed and LIF-immobilized surfaces were assessed to determine the pluripotent status of ES cells. Results revealed that LIF was active in immobilized form; undifferentiated colonies had not only a significant AP and SSEA-1 immunoreactivity, but also a higher undifferentiated colony ratio on LIF-immobilized surfaces than that of hydrolyzed surfaces. The immobilized LIF protein might be a good model to provide a feeder-free system, but the physical properties of the scaffold is more convenient for differentiation studies.     

以转染白血病抑制因子基因的人胚肺成纤维细胞为饲养层培养人胚胎生殖细胞

目的 以转染白血病抑制因子(LIF)基因的人胚肺成纤维细胞为饲养层培养人胚胎生殖细胞,为建立无动物成分污染的人胚胎生殖细胞培养体系奠定基础.方法 将LIF真核表达载体pcDNA3.1( )-LIF转染到人胚肺成纤维细胞中,通过筛选和鉴定获得表达LIF的阳性细胞.将原始生殖细胞(PGCs)种植到转染后细胞制备而成的饲养层上,在不添加外源性LIF的条件下培养,并对PGCs来源的细胞集落进行鉴定.结果 经RT-PCR及Western blotting 鉴定证实,转染pcDNA3.1( )-LIF的人胚肺成纤维细胞表达LIF基因.在转染后人胚肺成纤维细胞上生长的PGCs可形成典型的鸟巢状集落,经检测集落碱性磷酸酶活性呈强阳性,表达胚胎阶段特异性抗原SSEA-1、SSEA-4、TRA-1-60、TRA-1-81,及未分化标志Oct-4.结论 用转染LIF基因后的人胚肺成纤维细胞作为饲养层能支持PGCs来源人胚胎生殖细胞的生长,维持自我更新.     

Localization of the Murine Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Gene Near the Centromere on Chromosome 11

Abstract

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a glycoprotein with divergent activities: It induces the differentiation of certain myeloid leukemic cells, inhibits the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, and promotes bone remodelling in vivo and in vitro. The murine LIF gene has been assigned to the proximal region of chromosome 11 at sub-bands A1-A2, by analysis of a panel of mouse x Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids and by in situ hybridization. Interestingly, the proximal portion of chromosome 11 has been shown, by virtue of its parental origin effects, to contain gene(s) involved in fetal growth. It is also interesting that there is a preponderance of chromosome 11 abnormalities in embryonal carcinoma cells. The localization of the murine LIF gene confirms the homology of a portion of murine chromosome 11 with human chromosome 22q, the site of the human LIF gene.