Culture Of Progenitor Cells Research Articles

Jak kinase 3 signaling in microgliogenesis from the spinal nestin+ progenitors in both development and response to injury.

During spinal cord development, endogenous progenitors expressing nestin can migrate into the target and differentiate into neurons and other glial cells. Microglial cells can also be derived from nestin+ progenitor cells, even in the adult brain. Knockdown of Jak kinase 3 (Jak3) signaling can increase neurogenesis with longer neurite outgrowth in cortical progenitor cells. This study investigated the effect of Jak3 signaling on differentiation from nestin+ progenitor cells using E13.5 spinal progenitor cell cultures. In growth factors-enriched culture, developing neurons could not survive after several days and also a significant proportion of nestin-expressing cells transformed into ameboid Iba1+ microglial cells, which increased exponentially after 5 days. This microgliogenesis was predominantly regulated by Jak3 signaling, which was confirmed by transcription factors responsible for microgliogenesis, and microglial migration and phagocytosis, such as Pu.1, Irf8, and Runx1. Jak3 inhibition also significantly increased the Tuj1+ growing neurites with little microglial activation. These results indicated that neuronal and microglial cell differentiation was regulated primarily by Jak3 signaling and the developing neurons and neurite outgrowth might also be regulated by Jak3-dependent microglial activity.

Isolation, Propagation, and Differentiation of Radial Glia-Like Neural Progenitor Cells in Adherent Cultures.

This protocol describes the isolation of radial glia-like neural progenitors (RGLs) from embryonic and adult mouse brain. Their propagation as an adherent monolayer is greatly supported by use of the AK-cyclo(RGDfC) adhesive peptide-conjugate that allows the application of fully defined culture conditions in which epidermal growth factor (EGF) represents the only growth factor supplement. RGL cells maintained that way can be efficiently differentiated into the three major CNS cell types: neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.

A simple rocker-induced mechanical stimulus upregulates mineralization by human osteoprogenitor cells in fibrous scaffolds.

Biodegradable electrospun polycaprolactone scaffolds can be used to support bone‐forming cells and could fill a thin bony defect, such as in cleft palate. Oscillatory fluid flow has been shown to stimulate bone production in human progenitor cells in monolayer culture. The aim of this study was to examine whether bone matrix production by primary human mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow or jaw periosteal tissue could be stimulated using oscillatory fluid flow supplied by a standard see‐saw rocker. This was investigated for cells in two‐dimensional culture and within electrospun polycaprolactone scaffolds. From day 4 of culture onwards, samples were rocked at 45 cycles/min for 1 h/day, 5 days/week (rocking group). Cell viability, calcium deposition, collagen production, alkaline phosphatase activity and vascular endothelial growth factor secretion were evaluated to assess the ability of the cells to undergo bone differentiation and induce vascularisation. Both cell types produced more mineralized tissue when subjected to rocking and supplemented with dexamethasone. Mesenchymal progenitors and primary human mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow in three‐dimensional scaffolds upregulated mineral deposition after rocking culture as assessed by micro‐computed tomography and alizarin red staining. Interestingly, vascular endothelial growth factor secretion, which has previously been shown to be mechanically sensitive, was not altered by rocking in this system and was inhibited by dexamethasone. Rocker culture may be a cost effective, simple pretreatment for bone tissue engineering for small defects such as cleft palate.

Comparative Analysis of Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells from Dental Pulp and Cord Tissue and their Potentiality Towards Trans-Differentiation

Objective: The objective of our study was to successfully isolate progenitor cells from dental pulp and umbilical tissue and perform a comparative investigation of their potential transdifferentiation into osteo- and neuronal-like cells. Methods: Progenitor cells were harvested from dental pulp tissue as well as cord tissue and cultured through explant culture method over the span of 4 weeks. Image-based cytometric analysis was done to determine the cell viability along with phenotypic analysis to validate the occurrence of stem cell surface markers such as CD13, CD29, CD31, CD34, CD45, CD73, CD90, CD105, HLA-DR, and HLA-ABC. After culturing mesenchymal progenitor cells, osteogenic and neurogenic differentiation potential of both tissue sources was studied. The cells were seeded in two different surfaces tissue culture treated dishes and titanium sheets and cultured along with osteogenic differentiation medium (for 28 days) and neurogenic differentiation medium (for 5 days). The osteogenic potential of the progenitor cells were checked with the detection of calcium deposits by Vonn Kossa staining and PCR studies were done to confirm the presence of osteogenic genes like BMP2, HDAC1, HNF1A. The neurogenic potential of the progenitors were phenotypically determined by the observation of neuronal cells in the culture medium. Post differentiation PCR studies were done to confirm the presence of neuronal genes like NESTIN, AGRIN, MAG, DAPDH, NF-M. Findings: Progenitor cells extracted from cord tissue and dental pulp were positive for markers such as CD13, CD29, CD73, CD90, and CD105 and were found negative for markers such CD31, CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR. Progenitors obtained from dental pulp tissue showed a higher expression of cell surface markers indicating a stronger mesenchymal lineage. After culturing progenitor cells in osteogenic differentiation specific medium, these cells were successfully differentiated into cells of osteogenic lineage. Within 28 days of culture calcium deposits were detected by Von kossa staining. The differentiated cells were also found positive for osteogenic markers such as BMP2, HDAC1, HNF1A.In neural differentiation, post day 5 of culture neurospheres of varying sizes were observed floating in the culture medium. The fraction of the cells differentiated into osteogenic and neurogenic lineages were higher in progenitor cells derived from dental pulp in comparison with umbilical cord tissue. The higher potentialityof progenitor cells derived from dental pulp for neurogenic trans-differentiation could be explained by the fact that human adult dental pulp stem cells residing within the perivascular niche are thought to originate from the migrating cranial neural crest cells. There was no difference observed in the osteogenic and neurogenic differentiation capabilities of mesenchymal cells when plated in a plastic dish or titanium surface. Improvement: In-depth studies needs to be carried out on progenitor cells from dental pulp tissues in order to enhance the clinical efficacy of stem cells based therapies.

Inhibition of TGF-\u03b2 signaling supports high proliferative potential of diverse p63+ mouse epithelial progenitor cells in vitro

Mouse models have been used to provide primary cells to study physiology and pathogenesis of epithelia. However, highly efficient simple approaches to propagate mouse primary epithelial cells remain challenging. Here, we show that pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β signaling enables long-term expansion of p63+ epithelial progenitor cells in low Ca2+ media without the need of progenitor cell-purification steps or support by a feeder cell layer. We find that TGF-β signaling is operative in mouse primary keratinocytes in conventional cultures as determined by the nuclear Smad2/3 localization. Accordingly, TGF-β signaling inhibition in crude preparations of mouse epidermis robustly increases proliferative capacity of p63+ epidermal progenitor cells, while preserving their ability of differentiation in response to Ca2+ stimulation. Notably, inhibition of TGF-β signaling also enriches and expands other p63+ epithelial progenitor cells in primary crude cultures of multiple epithelia, including the cornea, oral and lingual epithelia, salivary gland, esophagus, thymus, and bladder. We anticipate that this simple and efficient approach will facilitate the use of mouse models for studying a wide range of epithelia by providing highly enriched populations of diverse p63+ epithelial progenitor cells in quantity.

Bioenergetic Failure in Rat Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells Treated with Cerebrospinal Fluid Derived from Multiple Sclerosis Patients

In relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) subtype, the patient’s brain itself is capable of repairing the damage, remyelinating the axon and recovering the neurological function. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is in close proximity with brain parenchyma and contains a host of proteins and other molecules, which influence the cellular physiology, that may balance damage and repair of neurons and glial cells. The purpose of this study was to determine the pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning myelin repair in distinct clinical forms of MS and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients by studying the effect of diseased CSF on glucose metabolism and ATP synthesis. A cellular model with primary cultures of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) from rat cerebrum was employed, and cells were treated with CSF from distinct clinical forms of MS, NMO patients and neurological controls. Prior to comprehending mechanisms underlying myelin repair, we determine the best stably expressed reference genes in our experimental condition to accurately normalize our target mRNA transcripts. The GeNorm and NormFinder algorithms showed that mitochondrial ribosomal protein (Mrpl19), hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (Hprt), microglobulin β2 (B2m), and transferrin receptor (Tfrc) were identified as the best reference genes in OPCs treated with MS subjects and were used for normalizing gene transcripts. The main findings on microarray gene expression profiling analysis on CSF treated OPCs cells revealed a disturbed carbohydrate metabolism and ATP synthesis in MS and NMO derived CSF treated OPCs. In addition, using STRING program, we investigate whether gene–gene interaction affected the whole network in our experimental conditions. Our findings revealed downregulated expression of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, and that glucose metabolism impairment and reduced ATP availability for cellular damage repair clearly differentiate more benign forms from the most aggressive forms and worst prognosis in MS patients.

Mechanically Robust Electrospun Hydrogel Scaffolds Crosslinked via Supramolecular Interactions.

One of the major challenges in the processing of hydrogels based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is to create mechanically robust electrospun hydrogel scaffolds without chemical crosslinking postprocessing. In this study, this is achieved by the introduction of physical crosslinks in the form of supramolecular hydrogen bonding ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy) moieties, resulting in chain-extended UPy-PEG polymers (CE-UPy-PEG) that can be electrospun from organic solvent. The resultant fibrous meshes are swollen in contact with water and form mechanically stable, elastic hydrogels, while the fibrous morphology remains intact. Mixing up to 30 wt% gelatin with these CE-UPy-PEG polymers introduce bioactivity into these scaffolds, without affecting the mechanical properties. Manipulating the electrospinning parameters results in meshes with either small or large fiber diameters, i.e., 0.63 ± 0.36 and 2.14 ± 0.63 µm, respectively. In that order, these meshes provide support for renal epithelial monolayer formation or a niche for the culture of cardiac progenitor cells.

Proneurogenic Effects of Trazodone in Murine and Human Neural Progenitor Cells.

Several antidepressants increase adult hippocampal neurogenesis (ahNG) in rodents, primates, and, potentially, humans. This effect may at least partially account for their therapeutic activity. The availability of antidepressants whose mechanism of action involves different neurotransmitter receptors represents an opportunity for increasing our knowledge on their distinctive peculiarities and for dissecting the contribution of receptor subtypes in ahNG modulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the effects of the antidepressant trazodone (TZD) on ahNG by using primary cultures of murine adult hippocampal neural progenitor cells (ahNPCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived NPCs. We demonstrated that TZD enhances neuronal differentiation of murine as well as human NPCs. TZD is a multimodal antidepressant, which binds with high affinity to 5-HT2a, α1, and 5-HT1a and with lower affinity to 5-HT2c, α2and 5-HTT. We demonstrated that TZD proneurogenic effects were mediated by 5-HT2a antagonism both in murine and in human NPCs and by 5-HT2c antagonism in murine cells. Moreover NF-κB p50 nuclear translocation appeared to be required for TZD-mediated proneurogenic effects. Interestingly, TZD had no proneurogenic effects in 5-HT depleted ahNPCs. The TDZ bell-shaped dose-response curve suggested additional effects. However, in our model 5-HT1a and α1/α2 receptors had no role in neurogenesis. Overall, our data also demonstrated that serotoninergic neurotransmission may exert both positive and negative effects on neuronal differentiation of ahNPCs in vitro.

Derivation of therapeutic lung spheroid cells from minimally invasive transbronchial pulmonary biopsies

BackgroundResident stem and progenitor cells have been identified in the lung over the last decade, but isolation and culture of these cells remains a challenge. Thus, although these lung stem and progenitor cells provide an ideal source for stem-cell based therapy, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) remain the most popular cell therapy product for the treatment of lung diseases. Surgical lung biopsies can be the tissue source but such procedures carry a high risk of mortality.MethodsIn this study we demonstrate that therapeutic lung cells, termed “lung spheroid cells” (LSCs) can be generated from minimally invasive transbronchial lung biopsies using a three-dimensional culture technique. The cells were then characterized by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Angiogenic potential was tested by in-vitro HUVEC tube formation assay. In-vivo bio- distribution of LSCs was examined in athymic nude mice after intravenous delivery.ResultsFrom one lung biopsy, we are able to derive >50 million LSC cells at Passage 2. These cells were characterized by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry and were shown to represent a mixture of lung stem cells and supporting cells. When introduced systemically into nude mice, LSCs were retained primarily in the lungs for up to 21 days.ConclusionHere, for the first time, we demonstrated that direct culture and expansion of human lung progenitor cells from pulmonary tissues, acquired through a minimally invasive biopsy, is possible and straightforward with a three-dimensional culture technique. These cells could be utilized in long-term expansion of lung progenitor cells and as part of the development of cell-based therapies for the treatment of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Long-Term Culture of Self-Renewing Pancreatic Progenitor Cells Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Long-Term Culture of Self-Renewing Pancreatic Progenitor Cells Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Characterization of single cell derived cultures of periosteal progenitor cells to ensure the cell quality for clinical application.

For clinical applications of cells and tissue engineering products it is of importance to characterize the quality of the used cells in detail. Progenitor cells from the periosteum are already routinely applied in the clinics for the regeneration of the maxillary bone. Periosteal cells have, in addition to their potential to differentiate into bone, the ability to develop into cartilage and fat. However, the question arises whether all cells isolated from periosteal biopsies are able to differentiate into all three tissue types, or whether there are subpopulations. For an efficient and approved application in bone or cartilage regeneration the clarification of this question is of interest. Therefore, 83 different clonal cultures of freshly isolated human periosteal cells derived from mastoid periosteum biopsies of 4 donors were generated and growth rates calculated. Differentiation capacities of 51 clonal cultures towards the osteogenic, the chondrogenic, and the adipogenic lineage were investigated. Histological and immunochemical stainings showed that 100% of the clonal cultures differentiated towards the osteogenic lineage, while 94.1% demonstrated chondrogenesis, and 52.9% could be stimulated to adipogenesis. For osteogenesis real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of BGLAP and RUNX2 and for adipogenesis of FABP4 and PPARG confirmed the results. Overall, 49% of the cells exhibited a tripotent potential, 45.1% showed a bipotent potential (without adipogenic differentiation), 3.9% bipotent (without chondrogenic differentiation), and 2% possessed a unipotent osteogenic potential. In FACS analyses, no differences in the marker profile of undifferentiated clonal cultures with bi- and tripotent differentiation capacity were found. Genome-wide microarray analysis revealed 52 differentially expressed genes for clonal subpopulations with or without chondrogenic differentiation capacity, among them DCN, NEDD9, TGFBR3, and TSLP. For clinical applications of periosteal cells in bone regeneration all cells were inducible. For a chondrogenic application a fraction of 6% of the mixed population could not be induced.

Topological defects control collective dynamics in neural progenitor cell cultures.

Cultured stem cells have become a standard platform not only for regenerative medicine and developmental biology but also for biophysical studies. Yet, the characterization of cultured stem cells at the level of morphology and of the macroscopic patterns resulting from cell-to-cell interactions remains largely qualitative. Here we report on the collective dynamics of cultured murine neural progenitor cells (NPCs), which are multipotent stem cells that give rise to cells in the central nervous system. At low densities, NPCs moved randomly in an amoeba-like fashion. However, NPCs at high density elongated and aligned their shapes with one another, gliding at relatively high velocities. Although the direction of motion of individual cells reversed stochastically along the axes of alignment, the cells were capable of forming an aligned pattern up to length scales similar to that of the migratory stream observed in the adult brain. The two-dimensional order of alignment within the culture showed a liquid-crystalline pattern containing interspersed topological defects with winding numbers of +1/2 and -1/2 (half-integer due to the nematic feature that arises from the head-tail symmetry of cell-to-cell interaction). We identified rapid cell accumulation at +1/2 defects and the formation of three-dimensional mounds. Imaging at the single-cell level around the defects allowed us to quantify the velocity field and the evolving cell density; cells not only concentrate at +1/2 defects, but also escape from -1/2 defects. We propose a generic mechanism for the instability in cell density around the defects that arises from the interplay between the anisotropic friction and the active force field.

Neuroserpin polymers cause oxidative stress in a neuronal model of the dementia FENIB

The serpinopathies are human pathologies caused by mutations that promote polymerisation and intracellular deposition of proteins of the serpin superfamily, leading to a poorly understood cell toxicity. The dementia FENIB is caused by polymerisation of the neuronal serpin neuroserpin (NS) within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of neurons. With the aim of understanding the toxicity due to intracellular accumulation of neuroserpin polymers, we have generated transgenic neural progenitor cell (NPC) cultures from mouse foetal cerebral cortex, stably expressing the control protein GFP (green fluorescent protein), or human wild type, G392E or delta NS. We have characterised these cell lines in the proliferative state and after differentiation to neurons. Our results show that G392E NS formed polymers that were mostly retained within the ER, while wild type NS was correctly secreted as a monomeric protein into the culture medium. Delta NS was absent at steady state due to its rapid degradation, but it was easily detected upon proteasomal block. Looking at their intracellular distribution, wild type NS was found in partial co-localisation with ER and Golgi markers, while G392E NS was localised within the ER only. Furthermore, polymers of NS were detected by ELISA and immunofluorescence in neurons expressing the mutant but not the wild type protein. We used control GFP and G392E NPCs differentiated to neurons to investigate which cellular pathways were modulated by intracellular polymers by performing RNA sequencing. We identified 747 genes with a significant upregulation (623) or downregulation (124) in G392E NS-expressing cells, and we focused our attention on several genes involved in the defence against oxidative stress that were up-regulated in cells expressing G392E NS (Aldh1b1, Apoe, Gpx1, Gstm1, Prdx6, Scara3, Sod2). Inhibition of intracellular anti-oxidants by specific pharmacological reagents uncovered the damaging effects of NS polymers. Our results support a role for oxidative stress in the cellular toxicity underlying the neurodegenerative dementia FENIB.

Production of pancreatic progenitor cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells using a three-dimensional suspension bioreactor system.

Islet replacement is a promising strategy for the treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes and patients who have undergone total pancreatectomy. Recent progress in cellular reprogramming technology may allow the transplantation of a patient's own pancreatic cells. Although many studies have reported the differentiation of pancreatic progenitor cells from mouse and human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), obtaining sufficient cell numbers for clinical applications remains problematic. Here, we describe the mass production of human pancreatic progenitor cells from human induced (i)PSCs using a three-dimensional suspension bioreactor system. Bioreactor culture of cells with stage-specific provision of growth factors and small compounds for 17 days produced approximately 1.6 × 108 cells/100 ml vessel in a single batch. About 95% of cells expressed pancreatic and duodenal homeobox factor 1, and 22% co-expressed the transcription factor NKX6.1. Furthermore, culture of pancreatic progenitor cells for an additional 2 weeks yielded mature pancreatic cells, including C-peptide-, glucagon- and trypsin-expressing cell populations. Moreover, differentiated β-cells secreted insulin in response to increased glucose in vitro. These findings suggest that a three-dimensional suspension culture system can generate human pancreatic progenitor cells from human iPSCs. Further optimization of culture conditions should provide sufficient functional islet cells for transplantation therapy. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Development of Advanced Dressings for the Delivery of Progenitor Cells.

Culture surfaces that substantially reduce the degree of cell manipulation in the delivery of cell sheets to patients are described. These surfaces support the attachment, culture, and delivery of multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPC). It was essential that the processes of attachment/detachment to the surface did not affect cell phenotype nor the function of the cultured cells. Both acid-based and amine-based surface coatings were generated from acrylic acid, propanoic acid, diaminopropane, and heptylamine precursors, respectively. While both functional groups supported cell attachment/detachment, amine coated surfaces gave optimal performance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that at a primary amine to carbon surface ratio of between 0.01 and 0.02, greater than 90% of attached cells were effectively transferred to a model wound bed. A dependence on primary amine concentration has not previously been reported. After 48 h of culture on the optimized amine surface, PCR, functional, and viability assays showed that MAPC retained their stem cell phenotype, full metabolic activity, and biological function. Consequently, in a proof of concept experiment, it was shown that this amine surface when coated onto a surgical dressing provides an effective and simple technology for the delivery of MAPC to murine dorsal excisional wounds, with MAPC delivery verified histologically. By optimizing for cell delivery using a combination of in vitro and in vivo techniques, we developed an effective surface for the delivery of MAPC in a clinically relevant format.

Poly(HDDA)-Based Polymers for Microfabrication and Mechanobiology

ABSTRACTMaterials processing and additive manufacturing afford exciting opportunities in biomedical research, including the study of cell-material interactions. However, some of the most efficient materials for microfabrication are not wholly suitable for biological applications, require extensive post-processing or exhibit high mechanical stiffness that limits the range of applications. Conversely, materials exhibiting high cytocompatibility and low stiffness require long processing times with typically decreased spatial resolution of features. Here, we investigated the use of hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA), a classic and efficient polymer for stereolithography, for oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) culture. We developed composite HDDA-polyethylene glycol acrylate hydrogels that exhibited high biocompatibility, mechanical stiffness in the range of muscle tissue, and high printing efficiency at ∼5 μm resolution.

Differentiation of Mouse Enteric Nervous System Progenitor Cells Is Controlled by Endothelin 3 and Requires Regulation of Ednrb by SOX10 and ZEB2

Maintenance and differentiation of progenitor cells in the developing enteric nervous system are controlled by molecules such as the signaling protein endothelin 3 (EDN3), its receptor (the endothelin receptor type B [EDNRB]), and the transcription factors SRY-box 10 (SOX10) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2). We used enteric progenitor cell (EPC) cultures and mice to study the roles of these proteins in enteric neurogenesis and their cross regulation. We performed studies in mice with a Zeb2 loss-of-function mutation (Zeb2Δ) and mice carrying a spontaneous recessive mutation that prevents conversion of EDN3 to its active form (Edn3ls). EPC cultures issued from embryos that expressed only wild-type Zeb2 (Zeb2+/+ EPCs) or were heterozygous for the mutation (Zeb2Δ/+ EPCs) were exposed to EDN3; we analyzed the effects on cell differentiation using immunocytochemistry. In parallel, Edn3ls mice were crossed with Zeb2Δ/+mice; intestinal tissues were collected from embryos for immunohistochemical analyses. We investigated regulation of the EDNRB gene in transactivation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays; results were validated in functional rescue experiments using transgenes expression in EPCs from retroviral vectors. Zeb2Δ/+ EPCs had increased neuronal differentiation compared to Zeb2+/+ cells. When exposed to EDN3, Zeb2+/+ EPCs continued expression of ZEB2 but did not undergo any neuronal differentiation. Incubation of Zeb2Δ/+ EPCs with EDN3, on the other hand, resulted in only partial inhibition of neuronal differentiation. This indicated that 2 copies of Zeb2 are required for EDN3 to prevent neuronal differentiation. Mice with combined mutations in Zeb2 and Edn3 (double mutants) had more severe enteric anomalies and increased neuronal differentiation compared to mice with mutations in either gene alone. The transcription factors SOX10 and ZEB2 directly activated the EDNRB promoter. Overexpression of EDNRB in Zeb2Δ/+ EPCsrestored inhibition of neuronal differentiation, similar to incubation of Zeb2+/+ EPCs with EDN3. In studies of cultured EPCs and mice, we found that control of differentiation of mouse enteric nervous system progenitor cells by EDN3 requires regulation of Ednrb expression by SOX10 and ZEB2.

In Vitro and Ex Ovo Culture of Reptilian and Avian Neural Progenitor Cells.

Reptiles and birds have been highlighted as excellent experimental models for the study of developmental biology; however, due to technical limitations in cellular analysis, dynamics of neural stem/progenitor cells of these animals remain unclear. In this chapter, we introduce the protocols for neurosphere culture and ex ovo embryonic culture of developing reptilian and avian embryos, which are modified from the method originally established for rodent embryos. Applications of these techniques provide powerful strategies for the study of comparative neural development of amniotes.

Metabolic Burden of Erythropoietin Stimulated Erythropoiesis in Mice

Erythropoietin (EPO) promotes erythroid differentiation and increases glucose uptake in erythroid progenitor cells in culture. The metabolic burden associated with EPO treatment in adult mice is suggested by a decrease in body weight concomitant with increased hematocrit. Wild type male mice (C57Bl/6, age 8 months) treated with EPO showed the expected increase in hematocrit accompanied by a fall in blood glucose level and a decrease in body weight and fat mass. However, the decrease in body weight is even more evident in obese mice on a high fat diet and has also been linked to non-hematopoietic response, particularly with EPO receptor (EpoR) expression in white adipose tissue. We examined the metabolic burden of EPO treatment (3000U/kg for 3 weeks) in young, lean male mice (3 months) placed on high fat diet at the time of EPO administration. The increase in hematocrit was accompanied by decreased blood glucose level and improved glucose tolerance. However, no difference in body weight was observed between mice treated with EPO and the saline treated group, suggesting that the EPO stimulated decrease in body weight is evident primarily in older animals with greater fat mass. To determine the contribution of EpoR expression in non-hematopoietic tissue to the metabolic EPO response, young male mice with EpoR restricted to erythroid tissue (TgEpoR) were placed on high fat diet and treated with EPO. The expected increased hematocrit was also accompanied by decreased blood glucose level and improved glucose tolerance, and no change in body weight between EPO and saline treatment. The similar responses observed in young wild type and TgEpoR mice suggest that the EPO stimulated increase in glucose metabolism is associated with increased erythropoiesis rather than a direct EPO response in non-hematopoietic tissue. TgEpoR mice exhibit an age dependent increase in fat mass even greater than that observed in wild type mice, and by 8 months TgEpoR mice are obese, glucose intolerant and insulin resistant compared with wild type mice. At 8 months, TgEpoR mice treated with EPO show the increase in hematocrit and, despite the increase in fat mass, there is only a minimal decrease in body weight compared with wild type mice. These data provide evidence that in addition to the age dependent association of EPO stimulated decrease in body weight and fat mass, this decrease in body weight is due largely to EPO response related to EpoR expression in non-hematopoietic tissue. Interestingly, young male mice with targeted deletion of EpoR in adipose tissue placed on a high fat diet and treated with EPO show the increase in hematocrit and improvement in glucose tolerance, and at 8 months, the increase in hematocrit with EPO treatment is accompanied by minimal change in body weight. The similar metabolic response of these mice with targeted deletion of EpoR in adipose tissue to TgEpoR mice indicate the contribution of EpoR expression in adipose tissue to the loss of body weight and fat mass. Therefore, the metabolic burden associated with EPO stimulated erythropoiesis appears to be reflected in improved glucose metabolism and glucose tolerance with minimal or no effect on body weight, is evident in young, lean mice, and is independent of EpoR expression in non-hematopoietic tissue. In older mice, non-hematopoietic metabolic EPO response is more readily apparent as reflected in loss of body weight/fat mass, which overshadows the erythropoietic metabolic response. In combination, the metabolic response to EPO treatment results from EPO stimulated increased erythropoiesis, improved glucose metabolism and glucose tolerance, and an age dependent decrease in body weight and fat mass associated with EpoR expression in non-hematopoietic tissue, particularly in white adipose tissue. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Incremental Innovation of Ex Vivo Hematopoietic Stem Cell Engineering to Expand Clinical Gene Therapy Applications

Transplantation of genetically engineered, autologous hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) is becoming a promising alternative to allogeneic stem cell transplantation for curing genetic diseases, avoiding the risks of graft versus host disease and prolonged immunosuppression. Most clinical gene therapy protocols are based on CD34+ HSPC engineered during >2 days of ex vivo culture. By xenotransplanting mobilized peripheral blood (mPB) CD34+ HSPC, which were lentivirally (LV) marked with different fluorescent proteins according to CD38/CD90 expression levels allowing quantitative assessment of the contribution of CD38/CD90 subpopulations to hematopoietic reconstitution (n=48 NSG mice, 3 experiments), we identified 2 distinct waves of reconstitution: (1) short term repopulation (up to 2 months) mostly driven by CD34+CD38intCD90+/- cells and (2) long-term repopulation driven by CD34+CD38-CD90+ (70%) and CD34+CD38-CD90- cells (30%). Notably, an intermediate wave extending from 2 to 4 months driven by CD34+CD38low cells was selectively eliminated by prolonged ex vivo culture and could be rescued when culture time was reduced to 1 day. We therefore developed a novel LV transduction protocol able to provide curative levels of gene transfer during a single day of ex vivo culture. Stimulating CD34+ cells or CD34+CD38- cells with Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increased gene transfer with VSVg-pseudotyped LVs by 1.5-2 fold acting on early steps of transduction, an effect that was further potentiated by the late-acting compound Cyclosporin A. Using large-scale vector preparations for gene therapy of mucopolysaccharidosis type 1, chronic granulomatous disease or beta-thalassemia, we show by in vitro and xenotransplantation assays that a 1-day PGE2 protocol achieved similar transduction efficiencies into BM or MPB HSPC from healthy donors and patients as our 62h benchmark protocol. PGE2 treatment did not result in toxicity or skewed multi-lineage differentiation. However, shortening ex vivo culture increased engraftment levels in the NSG mouse model. To entirely avoid culturing progenitor cells, we explored the feasibility to limit ex vivo manipulation to HSC-enriched CD34+CD38- cells that may be co-transplanted with unmanipulated CD34+ progenitor cells devoid of long-term engraftment potential. This could further improve hematopoietic reconstitution, increase safety by reducing the LV integration load infused into the patient and downscale ex vivo manipulation making the process more efficient and economically sustainable. To this end, we optimized a sequential bead-based, GMP-compatible selection procedure to separate mPB into a CD34+CD38- stem and CD38+ progenitor cell fraction. We reached high purity (87+/-6.6% CD34+) and recovery of CD34+CD38- cells (37.3+/-8.7%), making their isolation clinically viable. Bead-selected CD34+CD38- cells showed higher engraftment potential than equivalent numbers of FACS-sorted cells. Co-infusion of unmanipulated (culture-sensitive) CD38+ supporter cells with genetically-engineered CD34+CD38- cells into NSG mice resulted in rapid engraftment followed by near-complete replacement of untransduced short-term repopulating progenitors by gene-marked HSPC deriving from CD34+CD38- cells after the 3rd month post-transplant. Finally, we explored ex vivo expansion of mPB CD34+CD38- cells with arylhydrocarbon receptor antagonists and/or pyrimido-indole-derivatives. These cells expanded 3-10 fold in a 7-14 d time-window, far less than seen for total CD34+ cells, thereby facilitating culture handling and reducing cost. Unlike CD34+ cells, expanded mPB CD34+CD38- cells largely maintained their SCID-repopulating potential providing proof-of-concept for the expansion of gene-modified HSC. This clinically applicable platform will improve the efficacy, safety and sustainability of ex vivo gene addition and open up new opportunities in the field of gene editing. DisclosuresCiceri:MolMed SpA: Consultancy.