ABSTRACT: Comparison of transcriptional profiles between naive, primed and ground state pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells of the same genetic background
Project description:Derivation of naive state of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in LIF+serum (LS) culture condition is strain dependent, whereas derivation of ground state mESCs is readily possible from all strains tested so far in “2i” culture condition. ESCs can be derived from the post-implantation stage mouse embryos (EpiSCs), showing primed characteristics. In the present study, we characterized and compared the transcriptional profile of naïve, primed and ground state mESCs. Considering the importance of genetic background of mouse model for ESCs derivation in conventional culture conditions, all ESCs lines used in the study were derived from the same strain of mice. We found distinct transcriptional profiles between naive, primed and ground state mESCs. Primed state mESCs exhibit lower expression of pluripotency markers along with higher expression of lineage specific markers compared to naive and ground state mESCs. We also demonstrate that the differentiation propensity of ESCs to specific germ layer varies depending on the pluripotency state of ESCs.
Project description:Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are in naive pluripotency that represents the ground state of development, from which all cells in the mouse embryo are derived. In contrast, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are in a primed state of pluripotency with many different properties. Despite intense efforts to generate naive human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), it has not been possible to derive naive hPSCs without relying on transgene overexpression or chemicals. Here, we show that a transient treatment with Torin1, a selective inhibitor of mTOR, converted hPSCs from primed to naive pluripotency. The naive hPSCs were maintained in the same condition as mESCs in defined media with 2iLI (MEK inhibitor, GSK3b inhibitor, LIF and Insulin). Like mESCs, they exhibited high clonal efficiency, rapid cell proliferation, active mitochondrial respiration, X chromosome activation, DNA hypomethylation, and transcriptomes similar to those of human blastocysts than primed hESCs. Most importantly, the naive hPSCs significantly contributed to mouse embryos when transferred to mouse blastocysts. mTor inhibition induced nuclear translocation of TFE3, a critical transcription factor at the interplay of autophagy and pluripotency. TFE3 with mutated nuclear localization signal blocked the conversion from primed to naive pluripotency. It appears that by mimicking diapause at the cellular level, naive pluripotency in human can be readily attained from primed hPSCs, thus establishing the unified ground state of pluripotency in mammals.
Project description:Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are in naive pluripotency that represents the ground state of development, from which all cells in the mouse embryo are derived. In contrast, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are in a primed state of pluripotency with many different properties. Despite intense efforts to generate naive human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), it has not been possible to derive naive hPSCs without relying on transgene overexpression or chemicals. Here, we show that a transient treatment with Torin1, a selective inhibitor of mTOR, converted hPSCs from primed to naive pluripotency. The naive hPSCs were maintained in the same condition as mESCs in defined media with 2iLI (MEK inhibitor, GSK3b inhibitor, LIF and Insulin). Like mESCs, they exhibited high clonal efficiency, rapid cell proliferation, active mitochondrial respiration, X chromosome activation, DNA hypomethylation, and transcriptomes similar to those of human blastocysts than primed hESCs. Most importantly, the naive hPSCs significantly contributed to mouse embryos when transferred to mouse blastocysts. mTor inhibition induced nuclear translocation of TFE3, a critical transcription factor at the interplay of autophagy and pluripotency. TFE3 with mutated nuclear localization signal blocked the conversion from primed to naive pluripotency. It appears that by mimicking diapause at the cellular level, naive pluripotency in human can be readily attained from primed hPSCs, thus establishing the unified ground state of pluripotency in mammals.
Project description:Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) of mice and humans have distinct molecular and biological characteristics, raising the question whether an earlier ‘naive’ state of pluripotency may exist in humans. Here we took a systematic approach to identify small molecules that support autonomous self-renewal of naive human ESCs based on maintenance of endogenous OCT4 distal enhancer activity, a molecular signature of ground state pluripotency. Iterative chemical screening identified a combination of five kinase inhibitors that induces and maintains OCT4 distal enhancer activity when applied directly to conventional human ESCs. These inhibitors generate a homogeneous population of human pluripotent stem cells in which transcription factors associated with the ground state of pluripotency are highly upregulated. Comparison with previously reported naive human ESCs indicates that our kinase inhibitor cocktail captures a novel pluripotent state in humans that closely resembles mouse ESCs. ChIP-seq data from human embryonic stem cells in naive and primed conditions were generated by deep sequencing using Illumina Hi-Seq 2000.
Project description:Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) of mice and humans have distinct molecular and biological characteristics, raising the question whether an earlier ‘naive’ state of pluripotency may exist in humans. Here we took a systematic approach to identify small molecules that support autonomous self-renewal of naive human ESCs based on maintenance of endogenous OCT4 distal enhancer activity, a molecular signature of ground state pluripotency. Iterative chemical screening identified a combination of five kinase inhibitors that induces and maintains OCT4 distal enhancer activity when applied directly to conventional human ESCs. These inhibitors generate a homogeneous population of human pluripotent stem cells in which transcription factors associated with the ground state of pluripotency are highly upregulated. Comparison with previously reported naive human ESCs indicates that our kinase inhibitor cocktail captures a novel pluripotent state in humans that closely resembles mouse ESCs. Expression analysis was performed on two groups of human ESC samples: WIBR2 (P12 and P14), WIBR3 (P9) and WIN1 (P10) human ESCs derived in our optimized naive medium (5i/L/A or 6i/L/A, as indicated), and parental WIBR2 and WIBR3 human ESCs in primed human ESC medium.
Project description:During development, human primordial germ cells (hPGCs) transition through a transcriptional and epigenetic state similar to pre-implantation epiblast cells called naive ground-state pluripotency. Diagnostic transcription factors that define this state include TFAP2C, KLF4, and TFCP2L1, with TFAP2C necessary for both establishment of the naive-like state in hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) as well as establishment and self-renewal of naive human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Here, we show that KLF4 and TFCP2L1 are not required for hPGC specification or establishment of the naive-like state in hPGCLCs. Instead, KLF4 and TFCP2L1 are each required for reversion of primed hESCs to the self-renewing naive ground state. Additionally, TFCP2L1 but not KLF4 function after hPGC specification in the proliferation of the hPGCLC population.
Project description:Only rodent embryonic stem (ES) cells can self-renew in the pristine state of pluripotency called the naive or ground state. Human ES (hES) cells self-renew in the so-called primed state of pluripotency, which is an obstacle to research, hindering cost-effective cultivation in media devoid of animal-derived products, genetic stability, and genome engineering. Here we show that forced expression of a hormone-dependent STAT3-ERT2, in combination with LIF and inhibitors of MEK and GSK3beta, allows hES cells to escape from the primed state, and enter a new state designated as TL2i, characterized by the activation of STAT3 target genes, regular passaging by single cell dissociation, and the expression of naive state-specific transcription factors. We used microarrays to analyse the gene expression changes occuring during the adaptation to the naive culture conditions. We then compared our dataset to previously published dataset of mouse ESc and EpiSc, human primed and naive ESc, and human embryos.
Project description:Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) of mice and humans have distinct molecular and biological characteristics, raising the question whether an earlier ‘naive’ state of pluripotency may exist in humans. Here we took a systematic approach to identify small molecules that support autonomous self-renewal of naive human ESCs based on maintenance of endogenous OCT4 distal enhancer activity, a molecular signature of ground state pluripotency. Iterative chemical screening identified a combination of five kinase inhibitors that induces and maintains OCT4 distal enhancer activity when applied directly to conventional human ESCs. These inhibitors generate a homogeneous population of human pluripotent stem cells in which transcription factors associated with the ground state of pluripotency are highly upregulated. Comparison with previously reported naive human ESCs indicates that our kinase inhibitor cocktail captures a novel pluripotent state in humans that closely resembles mouse ESCs.
Project description:Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) of mice and humans have distinct molecular and biological characteristics, raising the question whether an earlier ‘naive’ state of pluripotency may exist in humans. Here we took a systematic approach to identify small molecules that support autonomous self-renewal of naive human ESCs based on maintenance of endogenous OCT4 distal enhancer activity, a molecular signature of ground state pluripotency. Iterative chemical screening identified a combination of five kinase inhibitors that induces and maintains OCT4 distal enhancer activity when applied directly to conventional human ESCs. These inhibitors generate a homogeneous population of human pluripotent stem cells in which transcription factors associated with the ground state of pluripotency are highly upregulated. Comparison with previously reported naive human ESCs indicates that our kinase inhibitor cocktail captures a novel pluripotent state in humans that closely resembles mouse ESCs.
Project description:The control of cell identity is orchestrated by transcriptional and chromatin regulators in the context of specific chromosome structures. With the recent isolation of human naive embryonic stem cells (ESCs) representative of the ground state of pluripotency, it is possible to deduce this regulatory landscape in one of the earliest stages of human development. Here we generate cohesin ChIA-PET chromatin interaction data in naive and primed human ESCs and use it to reconstruct and compare the 3D regulatory landscapes of these two stages of early human development. The results reveal shared and stage-specific regulatory landscapes of topological domains and their subdomains, which consist of CTCF-CTCF/cohesin loops and enhancer-promoter/cohesin loops. The enhancer-promoter loop data reveal that genes with key roles in pluripotency are nearly always regulated by one or more super-enhancers, and show that these genes tend to occur in insulated neighborhoods. Our results reveal the key features of the 3D regulatory landscape of early human cells that form the foundation for embryonic development. ChIP-seq data from naive and primed human embroynic stem cells.