Project description:Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a result of degeneration/damage of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) while retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an inherited early-onset disease, results from premature loss of photoreceptors. A promising therapeutic approach for both is the replacement of lost/damaged cells with human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal cells. We studied the chemistry of retinal progenitor cells derived from iPSC through our patented unified differentiation protocol with the aim to take the cells for clincal benefits to needly patients. RPE expressed tight junction proteins, showed pigmentation and ciliation, and secreted polarization-related factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). PRP expressed neural retina proteins and cone and rod markers, and responded to KCl-induced polarization. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated an increase in the expression of mature retinal tissue-specific genes coupled with concomitant downregulation of genes from undesired lineages. RPE transplantation rescued visual function in RCS rats shown via optokinetic tracking and photoreceptor rescue. PRP transplantation improved light perception in NOD.SCID-rd1 mice, and positive electroretinography signals indicated functional photoreceptor activity in the host's outer nuclear layer. Graft survival and integration were confirmed using immunohistochemistry, and no animals showed teratoma formation or any kind of ectopic growth in the eye.
Project description:Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent and possess the ability to differentiate into numerous lineages during the developmental process. In similarity to embryonic stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) possess the potential to differentiate into multiple lineages making them an excellent research tool. We generated iPSCs from multiple donors and also differentiated iPSCs from these donors into human neural progenitor cells (NPCs). We used human transcriptome arrays to detail the programme of gene expression underlying NPC induction and identified distinct classes of up-regulated genes during this process. Total RNAs were extracted from human induced pluripotent stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells. Their gene expression profiles were investigated using the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Transcriptome Array 2.0 platform.
Project description:Microarray anlaysis was performed to investigate gene expression patterns of other transcription factors involved in early retinal and/or forebrain development using human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal and forebrain progenitor cells. After 20 days of differentiation, vesicular neurospheres selectively expressed multiple retinal transcription factor genes appropriate for the OV stage of retinogenesis, whereas nonvesicular neurospheres expressed transcription factors indicative of the embryonic forebrain. Many transcription factor genes associated with retinal development were present at higher levels in vesicular vs. nonvesicular neurospheres. Nonvesicular neurospheres, on the other hand, expressed higher levels of transcription factors implicated in early forebrain development. Taken together, results indicated that the vesicular and nonvesicular neurospheres harbored retinal progenitor cells and early forebrain populations, respectively. Compare the global gene expression of retinal progenitor cells and forebrain progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells
Project description:This study examines and compares the protein content in conditioned media collected from neural cell types generated from human pluripotent stem cells. Conditioned media was prepared for 48 hours at a final endpoint of differentiation day 12. Both groups are from parental line WTC11 and cultured as a monolayer on matrigel. Both groups contain a transgene cassette for doxycycline-inducible expression of sox9 and nfia. Doxycycline was only included in the iAstro groups, whereas it was omitted in the neural progenitor cell groups.
Project description:Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSCs) represent a unique opportunity for regenerative medicine since they offer the prospect of generating unlimited quantities of cells for autologous transplantation as a novel treatment for a broad range of disorders. It is now known that primary iPS cells often carry genomic aberrations and these abnormality may compromise their possibility of clinical application. We analysed primary hIPSC lines derived from monoclonal human endothelial progenitor cell lines by array-based comparative genomic hybridisation.
Project description:A single protein can be multifaceted depending on the cellular contexts and interacting molecules. LIN28A is an RNA-binding protein that governs developmental timing, cellular proliferation, differentiation, stem cell pluripotency, and metabolism. In addition to its best-known roles in microRNA biogenesis, diverse molecular roles have been recognized. In the nervous system, LIN28A is known to play critical roles in proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPC). We profiled the endogenous LIN28A-interacting proteins in NPC differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells using immunoprecipitation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We identified over 500 LIN28A-interacting proteins, including 156 RNA-independent interactors. Functions of these proteins span a wide range of gene regulatory processes. Our analysis opens multiple avenues for elaborating molecular roles and characteristics of LIN28A.
Project description:Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent and possess the ability to differentiate into numerous lineages during the developmental process. In similarity to embryonic stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) possess the potential to differentiate into multiple lineages making them an excellent research tool. We generated iPSCs from multiple donors and also differentiated iPSCs from these donors into human neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs). We used human transcriptome arrays to detail the programme of gene expression underlying NPC induction and identified distinct classes of up-regulated genes during this process. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be used to create neurons in vitro. This microarray allows researchers to check the expression of their gene of interest in iPSC-derived neurons and compare the gene expression profile of iPSC-derived neurons to other cell types or primary human tissue.
Project description:Microarray anlaysis was performed to investigate gene expression patterns of other transcription factors involved in early retinal and/or forebrain development using human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal and forebrain progenitor cells. After 20 days of differentiation, vesicular neurospheres selectively expressed multiple retinal transcription factor genes appropriate for the OV stage of retinogenesis, whereas nonvesicular neurospheres expressed transcription factors indicative of the embryonic forebrain. Many transcription factor genes associated with retinal development were present at higher levels in vesicular vs. nonvesicular neurospheres. Nonvesicular neurospheres, on the other hand, expressed higher levels of transcription factors implicated in early forebrain development. Taken together, results indicated that the vesicular and nonvesicular neurospheres harbored retinal progenitor cells and early forebrain populations, respectively.
Project description:We identified APLNR as a surface marker for in vitro cardiac progenitors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC). To gain further insight on the differentiation trajectory and its relevance with in vivo cardiac development, we performed polyA mRNA-sequencing on APLNR+ in vitro cardiac progenitors derived from 3 hiPSC lines at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours post-immunomagnetic isolation. Our study revealed APLNR+ in vitro cardiac progenitors differentiate via a transient progenitor stage before further differentiation into cardiomyocytes and cardiac mesenchyme.