体外诱导小鼠胚胎干细胞分化为T淋巴细胞

目的 体外诱导小鼠胚胎干细胞(ESC)分化为T淋巴细胞. 方法 借助小鼠胚胎干细胞体外自然分化形成的类胚体(EB)中含有=三胚层细胞的独特细胞环境,加入多种细胞因子和胸腺肽α1,体外诱导小鼠ESC向T淋巴细胞分化.利用流式细胞仪在不同时间点检测诱导细胞表面T淋巴细胞发育相关的表面标志CD25、CD44、CD3、CD4、CD8以及T细胞受体(TCR)αβ和TCRγδ分子的表达水平. 结果 诱导3 d后,出现CD44+细胞;第6天出现CD44+、CD44+CD25+和CD25+细胞群;第15天开始表达CD3分子;1周后开始出现CD4+CD8+双阳性细胞.随着诱导时间的延长,CD3+细胞和CD4+CD8+细胞的百分比不断升高.培养1个月后,出现少量的CD4+和CD8+的单阳性细胞.诱导细胞早期表达TCRαβ和TCRγδ.随着诱导时间的延长,T细胞进一步成熟,诱导细胞以TCRαβT细胞为主. 结论 细胞因子和胸腺肽α1的共同作用可以在体外诱导小鼠胚胎干细胞分化成具有T淋巴细胞表型的细胞,且细胞的表型变化与T细胞体内正常的胸腺发育过程中的表型变化一致.     

从胚胎干细胞诱导发育为浆细胞的体外实验研究

目的：建立胚胎干细胞体外定向诱导分化为浆细胞的体系,为研究造血发生的基因调控及Ｂ淋巴细胞发育过程奠定基础。方法：分阶段培养,第一、二阶段使用半固体培养,分组加入细胞因子、２－巯基乙醇和胚胎细胞条件培养液,用流式细胞仪、免疫组化及Ｗｒｉｇｈｔ’ｓ染色鉴定细胞,第三阶段移入骨髓基质细胞滋养层。结果：第一阶段：加入ＳＣＦ、ＴＰＯ、ＩＬ－６、ＩＬ－３、Ｅｐｏ和Ｇ－ＣＳＦ,４ｄ后细胞大片坏死,仅加入２－巯基     

Midbrain dopaminergic development in vivo and in vitro from embryonic stem cells

The midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons play a key role in the function of a variety of brain systems, including motor control and reward pathways. This has led to much interest in these neurons as targets for intervention in human disorders such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. A major area of interest is to direct embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate into mDA neurons in vitro, which can then be used for cell therapy or drug screening. At present, our understanding of mDA development in vivo is limited. However, recent studies have identified a number of regulatory factors that influence the development of mDA neurons in vivo. Such studies will not only increase our understanding of mDA development in vivo, they may also promote new paradigms for regulating mDA production from ES cells in vitro. Here we review the current knowledge on mDA development in vivo and mDA differentiation.     

Induction of T cell development from hematopoietic progenitor cells by delta-like-1 in vitro

The molecular interactions provided by the thymic microenvironment that predicate T cell development remain obscure. Here, we show that a bone marrow stromal cell line ectopically expressing the Notch ligand Delta-like-1 loses its ability to support B cell lymphopoiesis, but acquires the capacity to induce the differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors into CD4 CD8 double- and single-positive T cells. Both gammadelta-TCR(+) and alphabeta-TCR(+) T cells are generated, and CD8(+) TCR(hi) cells produce gamma-interferon following CD3/TCR stimulation. These results establish that expression of Delta-like-1 on stromal cells provides key signals for the induction of T cell lineage commitment, stage-specific progenitor expansion, TCR gene rearrangement, and T cell differentiation in the absence of a thymus. Thus, it is likely that Delta-like-1/Notch interactions by the thymus underpin its unique ability to promote lineage commitment and differentiation of T cells.     

Global epiproteomic signatures distinguish embryonic stem cells from differentiated cells

Complex organisms contain a variety of distinct cell types but only a single genome. Therefore, cellular identity must be specified by the developmentally regulated expression of a subset of genes from an otherwise static genome. In mammals, genomic DNA is modified by cytosine methylation, resulting in a pattern that is distinctive for each cell type (the epigenome). Because nucleosomal histones are subject to a wide variety of post-translational modifications (PTMs), we reasoned that an analogous "epiproteome" might exist that could also be correlated with cellular identity. Here, we show that the quantitative evaluation of nucleosome PTMs yields epiproteomic signatures that are useful for the investigation of stem cell differentiation, chromatin function, cellular identity, and epigenetic responses to pharmacologic agents. We have developed a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based method for the quantitative evaluation of the steady-state levels of PTMs and histone variants in preparations of native intact nucleosomes. We show that epiproteomic responses to the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A trigger changes in histone methylation as well as acetylation, and that the epiproteomic responses differ between mouse embryonic stem cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). ESCs subjected to retinoic acid-induced differentiation contain reconfigured nucleosomes that include increased content of the histone variant macroH2A and other changes. Furthermore, ESCs can be distinguished from embryonal carcinoma cells and MEFs based purely on their epiproteomic signatures. These results indicate that epiproteomic nucleosomal signatures are useful for the investigation of stem cell identity and differentiation, nuclear reprogramming, epigenetic regulation, chromatin dynamics, and assays for compounds with epigenetic activities. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.     

胚胎体外培养及胚胎干细胞系的建立

背景：人类胚胎干细胞体外建系成功,对人类胚胎发育机制和发育生物学研究、细胞和组织移植治疗某些疾病等领域都有重大意义。目的：综述近年来关于胚胎体外培养及建立胚胎干细胞系的研究进展,重点探讨胚胎体外培养影响因素、人废弃胚胎培养分离内细胞团建立胚胎干细胞系的方法及建立胚胎干细胞系的条件。方法：以“胚胎(embryo),胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cell),共培养(co culture),序贯培养(sequential culture)”为检索词,由第一作者检索2000至2014年CNKI数据库和SCI数据库,获取有关胚胎体外培养、移植及胚胎干细胞建系的相关文献,并进行系统评价,最终保留58篇文献进行分析。结果与结论：胚胎体外培养条件是影响胚胎移植结局的重要因素,其中包括培养液的成分和培养体系。在过去的研究过程中,培养液的构成及应用已经发生了很大的变化,培养体系也从单一培养发展到共培养、序贯培养。伦理问题及胚胎来源的限制束缚着人胚胎干细胞系的建立,利用临床废弃的低质量的胚胎可作为建立人胚胎干细胞系的材料来源之一,有效的缓解了建立人胚胎干细胞系过程中胚胎缺乏的问题,并减少其中的伦理学纷争。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

Human haploid cells differentiated from meiotic competent clonal germ cell lines that originated from embryonic stem cells

Early germ-like cells (GLCs) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have presented new opportunities to study germ cell differentiation in vitro. However, differentiation conditions that facilitate the formation of haploid cells from the derived GLCs have eluded the field. The inability to propagate GLCs in culture is a further limitation, resulting in inconsistent rederivations of GLCs from hESCs with relatively few GLCs in these heterogeneous populations. Here we found in vitro conditions that enrich for DDX4/POU5F1+ GLCs (～60%) and that has enabled continual propagation for >50 passages without loss of phenotype. Clonal isolation of single GLCs from these mixed cultures generated 3 GLC (>90% DDX4/POU5F1+) and 2 hESC (<0.1% DDX4+) lines that could be continually expanded without loss of phenotype. Differentiation of clonal GLC lines in serum resulted in expression of postmeiotic markers and >11% were haploid, ～5-fold higher than previous studies. The robust clonal meiotic competent and incompetent GLC lines will be used to understand the factors controlling human germ cell meiosis and postmeiotic maturation.     

体外定向诱导小鼠胚胎干细胞发育为造血干/祖细胞方法的初步研究

目的:探讨体外定向诱导胚胎干细胞(ESC)发育为造血干细胞(HSC)的方法。方法:将小鼠E14胚胎干细胞在含干细胞生长因子(SCF)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的甲基纤维素培养基中首先诱导发育为胚胎体(EB),再将EB置于均含SCF、VEGF、IL-3、IL-6及促红细胞生成素(EPO)的3种不同培养体系中定向分化为HSC,并观察HSC表面标志性抗原、造血集落形成及瑞氏-姬姆萨染色的结果。结果:经两阶段诱导ESC分化为HSC,发现在甲基纤维素半固体培养体系中HSC发育缓慢,分化14d后CD34+/Sca-1+细胞数最高为(31.5±4.7)%;而在骨髓基质细胞饲养层上HSC发育较快,细胞数量较多,分化第10dCD34+/Sca-1+细胞数即达到峰值,为(47.8±6.3)%;骨髓基质细胞饲养层+胎肝基质细胞上清培养体系中HSC发育同样迅速,所产生的CD34+/Sca-1+细胞数量在3个体系中最高,为(53.6±7.2)%。经瑞氏-姬姆萨染色证实上述细胞为早期造血细胞,均有形成各系造血细胞集落的能力。结论:使用骨髓基质细胞饲养层+胎肝基质细胞上清培养体系及SCF、VEGF、IL-3、IL-6及EPO等细胞因子,通过两阶段诱导分化,可从小鼠ESC获得较高比例的HSC。     

Sequestration and synthesis: the source of insulin in cell clusters differentiated from murine embryonic stem cells

The source of insulin released from insulin-releasing cell clusters (IRCCs) differentiated from embryonic stem cells remains unclear. Rajagopal et al. have suggested that IRCCs do not synthesize but secrete insulin that had been absorbed from media during the multistep protocol. We report here further data relevant to this controversy. No radioisotopic labeling of insulin was observed when IRCCs were incubated in a medium containing 35S-cysteine. Less than 1% of the extra-cellular stoichiometric C-peptide equivalent to insulin was secreted during glucose stimulation. However, intracellular immunostaining and immunogold labeling were both positive for C-peptide. Finally, a mass balance calculation showed that simple equilibration of IRCCs by Fickian diffusion from media accounted for at most 4% of secreted insulin. These findings and further analysis of the results of others suggest that the mechanism of insulin secretion by IRCCs is a combination of sequestration and de novo synthesis.     

持续Wnt信号通路激活促进胚胎干细胞源造血干细胞的增殖

背景：如何提高胚胎干细胞诱导效率、促进胚胎干细胞源造血干细胞体外增殖成为目前急需解决的课题。目的：以外源性Wnt3a作为诱导剂,激活培养中的小鼠胚胎干细胞Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,观察该通路的激活是否促进胚胎干细胞向造血祖细胞的定向分化。方法：用外源性wnt3a(100 µg/L)持续作用ES-E14TG2a小鼠胚胎干细胞21 d,通过细胞免疫荧光及蛋白免疫印迹检测细胞内β-catenin蛋白含量,QRT-PCR检测Wnt下游靶标基因的表达量来确定经典Wnt/β-catenin信号通路是否被激活,然后采用单层贴壁培养法诱导其向造血干细胞分化,流式细胞仪检测造血发育相关表面标志CD34⁺/Sca-1⁺,同时以QRT-PCR法检测造血相关基因的表达情况。结果与结论：ES-E14TG2a小鼠胚胎干细胞经wnt3a(100 µg/L)连续培养21 d后发现β-catenin蛋白在细胞内积累;Wnt信号通路的下游靶标基因Pitx2、Frizzled、Sox17、Oct4的表达量均出现不同程度的增加,可见经典Wnt/β-catenin信号通路有被激活;单层贴壁培养法诱导其向造血干细胞分化的过程中检测到CD34⁺/Sca-1⁺细胞含量在14 d时占总细胞量高达20.2%,而对照组的仅占11.9%。造血相关基因骨形态发生蛋白4、FLK2及CD34的表达量均增加,而Smad5的表达则明显受到抑制。说明Wnt3a持续作用可激活Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,并促进ES-E14TG2a小鼠胚胎干细胞向造血干细胞的定向分化。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

胚胎干细胞来源的巢蛋白阳性细胞向胰岛素分泌细胞分化的实验研究

目的探讨胚胎干细胞向胰岛素分泌细胞分化的诱导，为糖尿病患者实施细胞移植治疗建立基础。方法将胚胎干细胞（ESC）在成纤维细胞（MEF）饲养层上扩增后脱离饲养层，让ESC自发分化成拟胚体（EB），再将EB诱导为巢蛋白（nestin）阳性的神经前体细胞（NPC），最后将NPC诱导成胰岛素分泌细胞（IPC）。结果ESC在MEF饲养层上扩增4d后，在悬浮培养状态下自发分化为EB。将EB在NPC选择性培养基中做贴壁培养后，ESC先分化为上皮样细胞，再分化为神经细胞样细胞。经过nestin免疫组化检测，在经过NPC培养基诱导4d的细胞，nestin阳性细胞占86．5％。nestin阳性细胞在IPC选择性培养基中诱导5～6d后，可分化成胰岛素分泌细胞。结论ESC来源的nestin阳性细胞既可以分化为NPC，也可以分化为IPC。     

In vitro formation of enteric neural network structure in a gut-like organ differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells

Using an embryoid body (EB) culture system, we developed a functional organ-like cluster--a "gut"--from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells (ES gut). Each ES gut exhibited spontaneous contractions but did not exhibit distinct peristalsis-like movements. In these spontaneously contracting ES guts, dense distributions of interstitial cells of Cajal (c-kit [a transmembrane receptor that has tyrosine kinase activity]-positive cells; gut pacemaker cells) and smooth muscle cells were discernibly identified; however, enteric neural ganglia were absent in the spontaneously differentiated ES gut. By adding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) only during EB formation, we for the first time succeeded in in vitro formation of enteric neural ganglia with connecting nerve fiber tracts (enteric nervous system [ENS]) in the ES gut. The ES gut with ENS exhibited strong peristalsis-like movements. During EB culture in BDNF(+) medium, we detected each immunoreactivity associated with the trk proto-oncogenes (trkB; BDNF receptors) and neural crest marker, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase receptor ret precursor (c-ret), p75, or sox9. These results indicated that the present ENS is differentiated from enteric neural crest-derived cells. Moreover, focal stimulation of ES guts with ENS elicited propagated increases in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) at single or multiple sites that were attenuated by atropine or abolished by tetrodotoxin. These results suggest in vitro formation of physiologically functioning enteric cholinergic excitatory neurons. We for the first time succeeded in the differentiation of functional neurons in ENS by exogenously adding BDNF in the ES gut, resulting in generation of distinct peristalsis-like movements.     

Potential use of embryonic stem cells for the treatment of mouse parkinsonian models: improved behavior by transplantation of in vitro differentiated dopaminergic neurons from embryonic stem cells

BACKGROUND: and Aims. The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy of transplantation of mouse embryonic-stem-(ES)-cell-derived tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH(+)) cells into Parkinsonian mice using behavioral tests and immunohistochemical evaluation. METHODS: Undifferentiated ES cells carrying the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene were differentiated into a cell population containing TH(+) neurons using a five-step in vitro differentiation method. These ES-cell-derived cells were used as allografts in Parkinsonian mice, made by administering injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Fifteen hemiparkinsonian mice were divided into three groups. Four weeks after 6-OHDA injection, mice in groups 1, 2, and 3 received phosphate-buffered saline, 1 x 10(4) graft cells, and 1 x 10(5) graft cells, respectively, into their dopamine-denervated striata. RESULTS: Improved rotational behavior was observed in the graft-transplanted groups (groups 2 and 3) 2 weeks after transplantation. Mice in group 2 displayed a continuous maintenance of reduced rotational behavior, while those in group 3 showed ipsilateral rotation toward the lesioned side at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after transplantation. Tumor formation was observed in one mouse in group 3. TH(+) cells were found at the grafted sites 8 weeks after transplantation in mice in groups 2 and 3, some of which were immunopositive to GFP, demonstrating the presence of dopaminergic neurons derived from the ES cells. CONCLUSION: Transplantation of in vitro differentiated ES cells changed rotational behavior in Parkinsonian mice. Our results suggest the potential availability of ES cells for Parkinson's disease.     

体外分化胚胎干细胞为造血干细胞重建造血功能的研究

目的：探讨体外定向分化胚胎干细胞（ESCs）为造血干细胞（HSCs）对体内造血功能的重建作用。方法：将小鼠E14.1胚胎干细胞采用“三步诱导法”在体外分化发育为HSCs，造血克隆形成(CFU)实验观察其体外造血集落形成情况，免疫磁珠分选纯化HSCs移植给经亚致死剂量γ射线照射的雌性SCID小鼠，观察其植入及小鼠造血功能恢复情况。结果: 经过分阶段诱导，多种造血刺激因子联合应用能有效促进ESCs定向分化发育为HSCs,流式细胞仪检测HSCs特异性表面标志物CD34+/Sca-1+表达最高为（58.64±4.20）%，CFU培养能形成较多的红系、粒系/巨噬细胞系及混合细胞集落, Wright-Giemsa 染色显示为原始的造血细胞。此阶段的HSCs经分选纯化后移植给经γ射线照射后的小鼠，移植组小鼠+10 d造血功能开始恢复，观察40 d后除血小板恢复较慢外，白细胞、红细胞、血红蛋白等指标已接近正常，植入率为71.4%，存活率为43.0%，染色体检测证实已由受体鼠的XX转为供体鼠的XY。结论: 采用分阶段诱导的方法，可在体外定向诱导小鼠ESCs分化发育为HSCs，此来源的HSCs可以有效重建体内造血功能。     

Modeling human germ cell development with embryonic stem cells

There has previously been no robust cell-based model for examining the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of human germ cell formation. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) could potentially fill this need, as all cell types analyzed to date (including mature germ cells) can be identified by marker analysis during hESC differentiation. Furthermore, hESCs could also be used to differentiate mature female germ cells (oocytes) in culture as an alternate reprogramming cell for somatic cell nuclear transfer. However, to differentiate and isolate a functional germ cell from hESCs, the mechanisms that regulate germ cell formation need to be understood. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current understanding of the earliest events in human germ cell formation and to describe some of the known genetic pathways that regulate germ cell specification and development in the mouse. Finally, the current literature on the formation of germ cells from ESCs will be described.     

Induction of dopamine-releasing cells from primate embryonic stem cells enclosed in agarose microcapsules

Dopamine-releasing cells derived from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are potentially valuable in cell transplantation therapy for Parkinson's disease. There have been many recent investigations of the induction of dopamine-releasing cells from mouse and primate ESCs. However, there are major obstacles to application of dopamine-releasing ESC progeny to cell transplantation therapy, including host immune responses to transplanted cells and the difficulty of collecting dopamine-releasing cells from culture dishes undamaged. To overcome these obstacles, in the present study, cynomolgus monkey ES cell (cESC) aggregates enclosed in agarose microcapsules were cultured in 3 kinds of media: Glasgow minimum essential medium-based medium (GBM); GBM-containing conditioned medium of PA6 cells; and GBM supplemented with fibroblast growth factor (FGF)8, sonic hedgehog, and ascorbic acid (GBM(+)) under free-floating culture conditions. Of these 3 culture media, GBM(+) most efficiently induced dopamine-releasing cells. Addition of FGF8, sonic hedgehog, and ascorbic acid to the culture medium during culture days 10 to 15, days 12 to 15, and days 16 to 20, respectively, facilitated the generation of dopamine-releasing cells. Because various characteristics of cESCs are reported to be similar to those of human ESCs, we expect that the study using cESCs will provide useful information for cell transplantation therapy of Parkinson's disease.     

Effective isolation and culture of endothelial cells in embryoid body differentiated from human embryonic stem cells

We describe the isolation of endothelial cells from the center region of the attached embryoid body (EB) by a two-step enzyme treatment. The isolated cells from the center and outgrowth region of the EB were characterized separately. As human embryonic stem (hES) cells differentiated in EB, they lost expression of the undifferentiated marker Oct-4, whereas expression levels of endothelial-specific markers were increased. Using RT-PCR, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, and immunofluorescence, we have shown that various endothelial cell markers, including platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM), von Willebrand factor (vWF), Flk-1, and Tie2, were expressed on the attached EB. Compared with the outgrowth region of EB, the center region had a higher population of cells with these endothelial cell markers. Once isolated by the twostep enzyme treatment, cells from the center region continued to differentiate into endothelial cell lineage while expression level of endothelial cell markers in cells from the outgrowth region decreased in subcultures. This study has demonstrated that the isolation of EB by a two-step enzyme treatment is a useful technique to obtain endothelial cell marker-positive cells with high yield. Furthermore, a similar approach can be taken to identify the location and distribution of specific cell types in EB and thereby allow us to isolate and expand specific cell types.     

Stage-dependent Olig2 expression in motor neurons and oligodendrocytes differentiated from embryonic stem cells

Although embryonic stem (ES) cells are capable of forming any cell type in the body, the mechanisms that control cell type-specific differentiation are largely unknown. In the present study, we examined the process of differentiation to motor neurons and oligodendrocytes from mouse (Olig2GFP) ES cells. Mouse ES cells undergo a sequential process of differentiation over a 3-week period to generate motor neurons and oligodendrocytes. At day 7 of differentiation, Olig2-expressing cells are biased to a neuronal lineage. However, further differentiation (day 32) resulted in the majority of Olig2-expressing cells exhibiting an oligodendrocyte phenotype as well as a reduced ability to make motor neurons. Exposure of human ES cells to Sonic hedgehog (Shh) likewise resulted in enhanced motor neuron differentiation. Our results establish the requirements for directing ES cells to become motor neurons and oligodendrocytes and show that ES cell-derived Olig2 + cells can give rise to both motor neurons and oligodendrocytes, depending on the time at which differentiation is initiated.