Project description:Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with potential for therapeutic applications can be derived from somatic cells via ectopic expression of a set of limited and defined transcription factors. However, due to risks of random integration of the reprogramming transgenes into the host genome, the low efficiency of the process, and the potential risk of virally induced tumorigenicity, alternative methods have been developed to generate pluripotent cells using nonintegrating systems, albeit with limited success. Here, we show that c-KIT+ human first-trimester amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) can be fully reprogrammed to pluripotency without ectopic factors, by culture on Matrigel in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) medium supplemented with the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) valproic acid (VPA). The cells share 82% transcriptome identity with hESCs and are capable of forming embryoid bodies (EBs) in vitro and teratomas in vivo. After long-term expansion, they maintain genetic stability, protein level expression of key pluripotency factors, high cell-division kinetics, telomerase activity, repression of X-inactivation, and capacity to differentiate into lineages of the three germ layers, such as definitive endoderm, hepatocytes, bone, fat, cartilage, neurons, and oligodendrocytes. We conclude that AFSC can be utilized for cell banking of patient-specific pluripotent cells for potential applications in allogeneic cellular replacement therapies, pharmaceutical screening, and disease modeling. Total RNA obtained from mid gestation human amniotic fluid cells (AFSCs/2nd trimester AFSCs), early gestation human amniotic fluid cells (eAFSCs/1st trimester AFSCs) and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) as described in the corresponding Materials and Methods sections.
Project description:The objective of this study was to identify the tissue expression patterns and biological pathways enriched in term amniotic fluid cell-free fetal RNA by comparing functional genomic analyses of term and second-trimester amniotic fluid supernatants. There were 2,871 significantly differentially regulated genes. In term amniotic fluid, tissue expression analysis showed enrichment of salivary gland, tracheal, and renal transcripts as compared with brain and embryonic neural cells in the second trimester. Functional analysis of genes upregulated at term revealed pathways that were highly specific for postnatal adaptation such as immune function, digestion, respiration, carbohydrate metabolism, and adipogenesis. Inflammation and prostaglandin synthesis, two key processes involved in normal labor, were also activated in term amniotic fluid. This was a prospective whole genome microarray study comparing eight amniotic fluid samples collected from eight women at term who underwent prelabor cesarean delivery and eight second-trimester amniotic fluid samples from routine amniocenteses. A functional annotation tool was used to compare tissue expression patterns in term and second-trimester samples. Pathways analysis software identified physiologic systems, molecular and cellular functions, and upstream regulators that were significantly overrepresented in term amniotic fluid.
Project description:The objective of this study was to identify the tissue expression patterns and biological pathways enriched in term amniotic fluid cell-free fetal RNA by comparing functional genomic analyses of term and second-trimester amniotic fluid supernatants. There were 2,871 significantly differentially regulated genes. In term amniotic fluid, tissue expression analysis showed enrichment of salivary gland, tracheal, and renal transcripts as compared with brain and embryonic neural cells in the second trimester. Functional analysis of genes upregulated at term revealed pathways that were highly specific for postnatal adaptation such as immune function, digestion, respiration, carbohydrate metabolism, and adipogenesis. Inflammation and prostaglandin synthesis, two key processes involved in normal labor, were also activated in term amniotic fluid.
Project description:Human amniotic fluid cells (hAFSCs) are a fascinating foetal cell-type that have important stem cell characteristics, since described as broadly multipotent immature cells with high self-renewal and no tumorigenic properties. However, amniotic fluid contains a heterogeneous population of amniocytes, from totally differentiated or progenitor cells to highly multipotent stem cells. There is no single approach to isolating the stem cell component, but the selection of a subpopulation of hAFSCs expressing c-Kit (or CD117) is widely employed, while a deep characterization of the two populations is still lacking. Here we performed single-cell and bulk RNAseq analysis to compare the gene expression profiles of adherent amniotic fluid cells and their subpopulation c-Kit+. Information deriving from this high throughput technology on the transcriptome was then confirmed for specific targets with protein expression experiments and functional analysis.
Project description:Human amniotic fluid cells (hAFSCs) are a fascinating foetal cell-type that have important stem cell characteristics, since described as broadly multipotent immature cells with high self-renewal and no tumorigenic properties. However, amniotic fluid contains a heterogeneous population of amniocytes, from totally differentiated or progenitor cells to highly multipotent stem cells. There is no single approach to isolating the stem cell component, but the selection of a subpopulation of hAFSCs expressing c-Kit (or CD117) is widely employed, while a deep characterization of the two populations is still lacking. Here we performed single-cell and bulk RNAseq analysis to compare the gene expression profiles of adherent amniotic fluid cells and their subpopulation c-Kit+. Information deriving from this high throughput technology on the transcriptome was then confirmed for specific targets with protein expression experiments and functional analysis.
Project description:Intra-amniotic infection, the invasion of microbes into the amniotic cavity resulting in an inflammatory process, is a clinical condition that can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes for the mother and fetus as well as severe long-term neonatal morbidities. Despite much research focused on the consequences of intra-amniotic infection, there is still little knowledge about the functional roles of innate immune cells that respond to invading microbes. In the current study, we performed RNA sequencing of sorted neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages from amniotic fluid from women with intra-amniotic infection to determine the transcriptomic differences between these innate immune cells. Further, we sought to identify specific transcriptomic pathways that were significantly altered by the maternal or fetal origin of amniotic fluid neutrophils and monocytes, the presence of a severe fetal inflammatory response, and pregnancy outcome (i.e. preterm or term delivery). We showed that significant transcriptomic differences exist between amniotic fluid neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages from women with intra-amniotic infection that are indicative of the distinct roles these cells play. We also found that amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages of fetal origin display impaired ability to clear out microbes invading the amniotic cavity compared to those of maternal origin. Notably, we demonstrate that the transcriptomic changes in amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages are heavily associated with the severity of the fetal inflammatory response, suggesting that the trafficking of fetal neutrophils throughout the umbilical cord is partially modulated by monocytes/macrophages in the amniotic cavity. Finally, we show that amniotic fluid neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages from preterm deliveries display enhanced transcriptomic activity compared to those from term deliveries, highlighting the protective role of these innate immune cells in this vulnerable period. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the underlying complexity of local innate immune responses in women with intra-amniotic infection, and provide new insights into the functions of amniotic fluid neutrophils and monocytes in the amniotic cavity.
Project description:The goal of the experiment was to uncover novel TTTS biomarkers using microarray gene expression analysis of cell free fetal RNA from the amniotic fluid of TTTS-affected and non-affected pregnant women.
Project description:The second trimester fetal transcriptome can be assessed based on cell-free RNA found within the amniotic fluid supernatant. The objective of this study was to compare the suitability of two technologies for profiling the human fetal transcriptome: RNA-Seq and expression microarray. Comparisons were based on total numbers of gene detected, rank-order gene expression, and functional genomic analysis. Fewer gene transcripts were observed using RNA-Seq than microarray (4,158 vs 8,842). Correlation of total expression within each sample ranged from R=0.43 to R=0.57. On average, there was 59% concordance in gene identity among the top 10% of genes ranked by expression. The RNA-Seq data yielded more significant pathways enrichment within the ?Physiological Systems Development and Function? categories of IPA. Alternative splicing of many well-known genes, including those previously studied in fetal development, such as H19 and IGF2 is detected by RNA-Seq. Also included in this paper is discussion of the technical challenges inherent to working with cell-free fetal RNA and possible solutions. Cell-free fetal RNA from the amniotic fluid supernatant of five second trimester fetuses was divided and prepared in tandem for analysis using either the Illumina HiSeq 2000 or Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0 GeneChip microarray.
Project description:The second trimester fetal transcriptome can be assessed based on cell-free RNA found within the amniotic fluid supernatant. The objective of this study was to compare the suitability of two technologies for profiling the human fetal transcriptome: RNA-Seq and expression microarray. Comparisons were based on total numbers of gene detected, rank-order gene expression, and functional genomic analysis. Fewer gene transcripts were observed using RNA-Seq than microarray (4,158 vs 8,842). Correlation of total expression within each sample ranged from R=0.43 to R=0.57. On average, there was 59% concordance in gene identity among the top 10% of genes ranked by expression. The RNA-Seq data yielded more significant pathways enrichment within the ?Physiological Systems Development and Function? categories of IPA. Alternative splicing of many well-known genes, including those previously studied in fetal development, such as H19 and IGF2 is detected by RNA-Seq. Also included in this paper is discussion of the technical challenges inherent to working with cell-free fetal RNA and possible solutions. Cell-free fetal RNA from the amniotic fluid supernatant of five second trimester fetuses was divided and prepared in tandem for analysis using either the Illumina HiSeq 2000 or Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0 GeneChip microarray.
Project description:Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with potential for therapeutic applications can be derived from somatic cells via ectopic expression of a set of limited and defined transcription factors. However, due to risks of random integration of the reprogramming transgenes into the host genome, the low efficiency of the process, and the potential risk of virally induced tumorigenicity, alternative methods have been developed to generate pluripotent cells using nonintegrating systems, albeit with limited success. Here, we show that c-KIT+ human first-trimester amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) can be fully reprogrammed to pluripotency without ectopic factors, by culture on Matrigel in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) medium supplemented with the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) valproic acid (VPA). The cells share 82% transcriptome identity with hESCs and are capable of forming embryoid bodies (EBs) in vitro and teratomas in vivo. After long-term expansion, they maintain genetic stability, protein level expression of key pluripotency factors, high cell-division kinetics, telomerase activity, repression of X-inactivation, and capacity to differentiate into lineages of the three germ layers, such as definitive endoderm, hepatocytes, bone, fat, cartilage, neurons, and oligodendrocytes. We conclude that AFSC can be utilized for cell banking of patient-specific pluripotent cells for potential applications in allogeneic cellular replacement therapies, pharmaceutical screening, and disease modeling.