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Inverse genetics tracing the differentiation pathway of human chondrocytes

ABSTRACT: Objective: Mammalian somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) via the forced expression of Yamanaka reprogramming factors. However, only a limited population of the cells that pass through a particular pathway can metamorphose into iPSCs, while the others do not. This study aimed to clarify the pathways that chondrocytes follow during the reprogramming process. Design: The fate of human articular chondrocytes under reprogramming was investigated through a time-coursed single-cell transcriptomic analysis, which we termed an inverse genetic approach. The iPS interference technique was also employed to verify that chondrocytes inversely return to pluripotency following the proper differentiation pathway . Results: We confirmed that human chondrocytes could be converted into cells with an iPSC phenotype. Moreover, it was clarified that a limited population that underwent the silencing of SOX9, a master gene for chondrogenesis, at a specific point during the proper transcriptome transition pathway, could eventually become iPS cells. Interestingly, the other cells, which failed to be reprogrammed, followed a distinct pathway toward cells with a surface zone chondrocyte phenotype. The critical involvement of cellular communication network factors (CCNs) in this process was indicated. The idea that chondrocytes, when reprogrammed into iPSCs, follow the differentiation pathway backward was supported by the successful iPS interference using SOX9. Conclusions: This inverse genetic strategy is expected to be utilized to identify the master genes for the differentiation of various somatic cells. The utility of CCNs in articular cartilage regeneration is also supported.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE261806 | GEO | 2024/06/27

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background: Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) give rise to chondrogenic activity in culture. Such activity was found in mesodermal and neural crest like progeny of hPSCs, and readily expanded as SOX9+ msenchymal cells in a medium containing FGF2. However, once expanded, the type of chondrocytes they perfer to form is growth plate-ike transient chondrocytes that are destined to form bone. However, we have recently developed a method to generate GDF5+ mesenchymal cells from such SOX9+ cells which ehibit activity to preferentially form articular-like permanent chondrocytes. The aim of the present prospective follow-up study was to reveal the cell-type and developmental origin of the GDF5+ cells as well as the SOX9+ cells. Methods: Paraxial mesoderm was generated from human PSCs, purified by FACS, and expanded to generate SOX9+ chondroprogenitors. Then, the SOX9+ cells were further differentiated into joint progenitor-like GDF5+ chondroprogenitors. These two chondroprogenitors were subjcted to bulk RNA-seq. Results: Based on the transcriptomic data, we examined differentially expressed genes, cell-type deconvolution analysis, and cell-type correlation analysis. The results suggested that GDF5+ cells might contain a teno/ligamento-genic potential (e.g., SCX+ cells), while SOX9+ cells were related to (neural crest-derived) ectomesenchymal chondroprogenitors. The followup biological analyses indicated as follows. The fast-growing SOX9+ cells formed cartilage that expressed chondrocyte hypertrophy markers and was readily mineralized after ectopic transplantation. In contrast, the slowly-growing GDF5+ cells were derived from SOX9+ cells. They formed cartilage that tended to express low to no chondrocyte hypertrophy markers, while expressing PRG4, a marker of embryonic articular chondrocytes, and to remain largely unmineralized in vivo. Conclusions: Our results imply that GDF5+ cells specified to generate permanent-like cartilage are likely to emerge in association with the commitment of SOX9+ cells to the tendon/ligament lineage.

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Inverse genetics tracing the differentiation pathway of human chondrocytes

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