Project description:Pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived electrically excitable cells provide a unique window into human disease and development, but they remain electrically immature compared to their in vivo counterparts, partially due to the lack of chronic stimulation. New classes of on-demand, electrically active biomaterials are being employed to enhance cell functions, and here, we fabricated biocompatible, electrospun polymer nanofibers containing light-reactive reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Fiber size, stiffness, and electrical conductivity scaled with rGO concentration which in turn produced conduction-dependent effects in PSC-derived cardiomyocytes and neurons; with acute light stimulation on scaffolds containing rGO, cardiomyocytes exhibited more calcium handling activity and were more synchronous, and neurons showed more peaks with higher frequency. Chronic repetitive, daily light stimulation of nanofibers integrated into mature brain organoids caused organoids to become increasingly more electrically responsive to stimulation over time, mature synapses of excitable neurons, and activate photoreceptor lineage pathways. This work outlines a tunable method where the electrical function of electrically excitable, PSC-derived cells can be titrated with rGO fibers and light stimulation, and it suggests that repetitive light stimulation may provide a novel method for retinal cell differentiation in organoids.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes Sequence library of miRNAs from a single sample of human foetal mesenchymal stem cells. Results tested and confirmed by northern blotting. Please note that only raw data files are available for the embryonic and neual samples and thus, directly submitted to SRA (SRX547311, SRX548700, respectively under SRP042115/PRJNA247767)
Project description:RNA seq of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes cultured in lipid-enriched maturation medium (MM), in MM on nanopattern-surfaces (NP) and under the influence of MM, NP and electrical Stimulation (ES, 2Hz, 14 days). 9 Samples from 3 Independent batches/differentiations of cardiomyocytes from 2 different iPSC-lines (iWTD2.1 and isWT7.22).
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
Project description:Analysis of the effect of electrical field stimulation frequency at the gene expression level. Electrical stimulation has been shown to mature nascent cardiomyocytes and alter their beating properties. The purpose of the array was to identify potential mediators of these effects. Total RNA was isolated from cardiomyocytes subjected to 0.5 Hz, 1 Hz, or 2 Hz continuous electrical stimulation for 7 days, compared to an unstimulated control. Three samples from each group were analyzed