Pluripotent Cell Lines Research Articles

Human embryonic stem cells express a unique set of microRNAs

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are pluripotent cell lines established from the explanted inner cell mass of human blastocysts. Despite their importance for human embryology and regenerative medicine, studies on hES cells, unlike those on mouse ES (mES) cells, have been hampered by difficulties in culture and by scant knowledge concerning the regulatory mechanism. Recent evidence from plants and animals indicates small RNAs of approximately 22 nucleotides (nt), collectively named microRNAs, play important roles in developmental regulation. Here we describe 36 miRNAs (from 32 stem-loops) identified by cDNA cloning in hES cells. Importantly, most of the newly cloned miRNAs are specifically expressed in hES cells and downregulated during development into embryoid bodies (EBs), while miRNAs previously reported from other human cell types are poorly expressed in hES cells. We further show that some of the ES-specific miRNA genes are highly related to each other, organized as clusters, and transcribed as polycistronic primary transcripts. These miRNA gene families have murine homologues that have similar genomic organizations and expression patterns, suggesting that they may operate key regulatory networks conserved in mammalian pluripotent stem cells. The newly identified hES-specific miRNAs may also serve as molecular markers for the early embryonic stage and for undifferentiated hES cells.

Oxysterols regulate differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells: pro-bone and anti-fat.

Pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells can undergo lineage-specific differentiation in adult organisms. However, understanding of the factors and mechanisms that drive this differentiation is limited. We show the novel ability of specific oxysterols to regulate lineage-specific differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteogenic cells while inhibiting their adipogenic differentiation. Such effects may have important implications for intervention with osteoporosis. Oxysterols are products of cholesterol oxidation and are formed in vivo by a variety of cells including osteoblasts. Novel pro-osteogenic and anti-adipogenic effects of specific oxysterols on pluripotent mesenchymal cells are demonstrated in this report. Aging and osteoporosis are associated with a decrease in the number and activity of osteoblastic cells and a parallel increase in the number of adipocytic cells. The M2-10B4 pluripotent marrow stromal cell line, as well as several other mesenchymal cell lines and primary marrow stromal cells, was used to assess the effects of oxysterols. All results were analyzed for statistical significance using ANOVA. Pro-osteogenic and anti-adipogenic effects of specific oxysterols were assessed by the increase in early and late markers of osteogenic differentiation, including alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin mRNA expression and mineralization, and the decrease in markers of adipogenic differentiation including lipoprotein lipase and adipocyte P2 mRNA expression and adipocyte formation. Complete osteogenic differentiation of M2 cells into cells expressing early and late markers of differentiation was achieved only when using combinations of specific oxysterols, whereas inhibition of adipogenesis could be achieved with individual oxysterols. Oxysterol effects were in part mediated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase and enzymes in the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, i.e., cyclo-oxygenase and phospholipase A(2). Furthermore, we show that these specific oxysterols act in synergy with bone morphogenetic protein 2 in inducing osteogenic differentiation. These findings suggest that oxysterols may play an important role in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and may have significant, previously unrecognized, importance in stem cell biology and potential therapeutic interventions.

Cartilage-derived morphogenetic proteins enhance the osteogenic protein-1-induced osteoblastic cell differentiation of C2C12 cells.

Previous studies have shown that osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1; also known as BMP-7) induces differentiation of the pluripotent mesenchymal cell line C2C12 into osteoblastic cells. OP-1 also alters the steady-state levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding for the cartilage-derived morphogenetic proteins (CDMPs) in C2C12 cells. In the present study, the effects of exogenous CDMPs on bone cell differentiation induced by OP-1 in C2C12 cells were examined. Exogenous CDMP-1, -2, and -3 synergistically and dose-dependently enhanced OP-1 action in stimulating alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and osteocalcin (OC) mRNA expression. AP staining studies revealed that the combination of OP-1 and CDMP enhanced OP-1 action by stimulating those cells that had responded to OP-1 and not by activating additional cells. The combination did not change the mRNA expression of the BMPs and their receptors. CDMP-1 enhanced the suppression of the OP-1-induced expression of the myogeneic differentiation regulator MyoD. CDMP-1 and OP-1 alone stimulated Smad5 protein expression, but the combination of OP-1 and CDMP-1 stimulated synergistically Smad5 protein expression. Thus, one mechanism of the observed synergy involved enhancement of the induced Smad5 protein expression. At the same protein concentration, CDMP-1 is most potent in enhancing OP-1 activity in inducing osteoblastic cell differentiation of C2C12 cells. CDMP-3 is about 80% as potent as CDMP-1, and CDMP-2 is the least potent (about 50% of CDMP-1).

Cyclophilin A is required for retinoic acid-induced neuronal differentiation in p19 cells.

Stable transfectants with expression of small interfering RNA for targeting cyclophilin A (CypA) in p19 cells lose their potential for retinoic acid (RA)-induced neuronal differentiation but not Me(2)SO-induced mesodermal differentiation. This difference suggests that CypA is specifically required for the RA-induced neuronal pathway. In addition to the loss of RA-induced RA receptor beta expression and retinoic acid response element (RARE)-binding activity, a dramatic reduction in RA-induced RARE-mediated luciferase activity in the CypA knockdown cell line suggests that CypA affects RARE-mediated regulation of gene expression. Silent mutation of target sequences confirms the specificity of RNA interference in p19 embryonal carcinoma cells. Collectively, our data reveal that a novel function of CypA is required in the processing of RA-induced neuronal differentiation in p19 embryonal carcinoma cells.

Poly( d, l lactic- co-glycolic acid) microspheres as biodegradable microcarriers for pluripotent stem cells

The pluripotent nature and proliferative capacity of embryonic stem cells makes them an attractive cell source for tissue engineering and regeneration. In our study we investigated the use of poly( d, l-lactic- co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres as biodegradable microcarriers of pluripotent cells and as delivery systems of bioactive factors, which influence cell differentiation. The pluripotent P19 embryonal carcinoma cell line was used as a model to study cell attachment, growth and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells on PLGA microspheres. Retinoic acid (RA) was encapsulated in the PLGA microcarriers to influence cell differentiation—more specifically, to induce P19 cell differentiation into neurons. The results revealed that P19 cells attach and grow on the surface of the RA loaded PLGA microspheres. Moreover, the RA loaded PLGA microspheres were shown to be as effective as soluble RA at inducing P19 cell differentiation into neurons. Hence, the results of these ex vivo studies clearly demonstrate the capacity of PLGA microspheres to serve a dual role as both delivery systems of bioactive factors and as scaffolds for pluripotent cells. More importantly, our study demonstrates the potential use of PLGA microspheres as transplantation matrices of pluripotent stem cells for tissue engineering and regeneration.

Establishment of human embryonic stem cell lines from frozen-thawed blastocysts using STO cell feeder layers

Recently, human embryonic stem (hES) cells have become very important resources for basic research on cell replacement therapy and other medical applications. The purpose of this study was to test whether pluripotent hES cell lines could be successfully derived from frozen-thawed embryos that were destined to be discarded after 5 years in a routine human IVF-embryo transfer programme and whether an STO cell feeder layer can be used for the culture of hES cells. Donated frozen embryos (blastocysts or pronuclear) were thawed, and recovered or in vitro developed blastocysts were immunosurgically treated. All inner cell masses were cultured continuously on an STO cell feeder layer and then presumed hES cell colonies were characterized. Seven and two cell lines were established from frozen-thawed blastocysts (7/20, 35.0%) and pronuclear stage embryos (2/20, 10.0%), respectively. The doubling time of hES cells on the immortal STO cell feeder layer was approximately 36 h, similar to that of cells grown using fresh mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder conditions. Subcultured hES cell colonies showed strong positive immunostaining for alkaline phosphatase, stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4) and tumour rejection antigen 1-60 (TRA1-60) cell surface markers. Also, the hES colonies retained normal karyotypes and Oct-4 expression in prolonged subculture. When in vitro differentiation of hES cells was induced by retinoic acid, three embryonic germ layer cells were identified by RT-PCR or indirect immunocytochemistry. This study indicates that establishment of hES cells from frozen-thawed blastocysts minimizes the ethical problem associated with the use of human embryos in research and that the STO cell feeder layer can be used for the culture of hES cells.

N6-Methyldeoxyadenosine, a nucleoside commonly found in prokaryotes, induces C2C12 myogenic differentiation

N 6-methyl-2 ′-deoxyadenosine (MedAdo) is a nucleoside naturally found in prokaryotic DNA. Interestingly, the N 6-methylation of adenine in DNA seems to have been counter-selected during the course of evolution since MedAdo has not been detected in mammalian DNA until now. We show here that treatment with MedAdo induces myogenesis in C2C12 myoblasts. The presence of MedAdo in C2C12 DNA was investigated using a method based on HPLC coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry which is several thousand fold more sensitive than assays used previously. By this procedure, MedAdo is detected in the DNA from MedAdo-treated cells but remains undetectable in the DNA from control cells. Furthermore, MedAdo regulates the expression of p21, myogenin, mTOR, and MHC. Interestingly, in the pluripotent C2C12 cell line, MedAdo drives the differentiation towards myogenesis only. Thus, the biological effect of MedAdo is suppressed in the presence of BMP-2 which transdifferentiates C2C12 from myogenic into osteogenic lineage cells. Taken together these results point to MedAdo as a novel inducer of myogenesis and further extends the differentiation potentialities of this methylated nucleoside. Furthermore, these data raise the intriguing possibility that the biological effects of MedAdo on cell differentiation may have led to its counter-selection in eukaryotes.

Paracrine and autocrine signals promoting full chondrogenic differentiation of a mesoblastic cell line.

The pluripotent mesoblastic C1 cell line was used under serum-free culture conditions to investigate how paracrine and autocrine signals cooperate to drive chondrogenesis. Sequential addition of two systemic hormones, dexamethasone and triiodothyronine, permits full chondrogenic differentiation. The cell intrinsic activation of the BMP signaling pathway and Sox9 expression occurring on mesoblastic condensation is insufficient for recruitment of the progenitors. Dexamethasone-dependent Sox9 upregulation is essential for chondrogenesis. Differentiation of lineage stem cells relies on cell autonomous regulations modulated by external signals. We used the pluripotent mesoblastic C1 cell line under serum-free culture conditions to investigate how paracrine and autocrine signals cooperate to induce differentiation of a precursor clone along the chondrogenic lineage. C1 cells, cultured as aggregates, were induced toward chondrogenesis by addition of 10(-7) M dexamethasone in serum-free medium. After 30 days, dexamethasone was replaced by 10 nM triiodothyronine to promote final hypertrophic conversion. Mature and hypertrophic phenotypes were characterized by immunocytochemistry using specific antibodies against types II and X collagens, respectively. Type II collagen, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), BMP receptors, Smads, and Sox9 expression were monitored by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Northern blot, and/or Western blot analysis. Once C1 cells have formed nodules, sequential addition of two systemic hormones is sufficient to promote full chondrogenic differentiation. In response to dexamethasone, nearly 100% of the C1 precursors engage in chondrogenesis and convert within 30 days into mature chondrocytes, which triggers a typical cartilage matrix. On day 25, a switch in type II procollagen mRNA splicing acted as a limiting step in the acquisition of the mature chondrocyte phenotype. On day 30, substitution of dexamethasone with triiodothyronine triggers the final differentiation into hypertrophic chondrocytes within a further 15 days. The chondrogenic process is supported by intrinsic expression of Sox9 and BMP family genes. Similarly to the in vivo situation, activation of Sox9 expression and the BMP signaling pathway occurred on mesoblastic condensation. After induction, BMP-activated Smad nuclear translocation persisted throughout the process until the onset of hypertrophy. After dexamethasone addition, Sox9 expression was upregulated. Dexamethasone withdrawal reversed the increase in Sox9 expression and stopped differentiation. Thus, Sox9 seems to be a downstream mediator of dexamethasone action.

Plasticity and regulation of human bone marrow stromal osteoprogenitor cells: potential implication in the treatment of age-related bone loss.

Human bone marrow stroma contains pluripotent mesenchymal progenitor cells that can give rise to many mesenchymal lineages, including chondroblasts, adipocytes or osteoblasts. The differentiation of these cells towards a specific lineage is dependent on hormonal and local factors activating specific transcription factors. Attempts have been recently made to identify osteoprogenitor cells in the human bone marrow and to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for lineage-specific differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells. Using a clonal pluripotent human bone marrow stromal cell line with tri-potential characteristics, we have provided evidence for a controlled reciprocal regulation of osteoblast/chondroblast and osteoblast/adipocyte differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells. We have also shown that administration of TGFss that regulates the expression of specific osteoblast and adipocyte transcription factors can promote osteoblast differentiation and inhibit adipocyte conversion of rat marrow stromal cells in vivo. This indicates that the reciprocal relationship between osteoblastogenesis and adipogenesis can be manipulated in vivo in order to improve bone formation. Future studies will have to identify key signals for lineage-specific differentiation of human marrow stromal cells. This may result in the development of therapeutic strategies to promote the differentiation of these cells towards the osteoblast lineage and to inhibit excessive bone marrow adipogenesis associated with aging.

L-ascorbic acid stimulates expression of smooth muscle-specific markers in smooth muscle cells both in vitro and in vivo.

The dedifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a critical role in the progression of atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. Thus, factors that stimulate smooth muscle cell differentiation should be useful for therapy for these diseases. Previously, we found that l-ascorbic acid (L-Asc) induces the expression of smooth muscle-specific genes in a pluripotent bone marrow stromal cell line, TBR-B. This finding suggests that l-Asc stimulates the differentiation of smooth muscle cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of l-Asc and its derivatives on the differentiation state of VSMCs in vitro and in vivo. l-Asc and its long-lasting derivatives stimulated the production of smooth muscle-specific myosin heavy chain-1 (SM1) and calponin 1 in a dose-dependent manner in rat cultured VSMCs, and the elevated production of SM1 and calponin 1 was maintained for at least 2 weeks. Moreover, oral administration of 3 g/kg of l-Asc to the balloon-injured rats induced a higher expression of SM1 and calponin 1 in the injured arteries compared with that from administration of the delivery vehicle alone. These data demonstrated new biologic activity, such as the stimulation of VSMC differentiation, of l-Asc and its long-lasting derivatives. In addition, these compounds may serve as useful tools for analysis of the differentiation of VSMCs and for therapy for vascular diseases.

BMP-2 controls alkaline phosphatase expression and osteoblast mineralization by a Wnt autocrine loop.

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling has recently been suggested to be involved in bone biology. The precise role of this cascade in osteoblast differentiation was examined. We show that a Wnt autocrine loop mediates the induction of alkaline phosphatase and mineralization by BMP-2 in pre-osteoblastic cells. Loss of function of LRP5 leads to osteoporosis (OPPG syndrome), and a specific point mutation in this same receptor results in high bone mass (HBM). Because LRP5 acts as a coreceptor for Wnt proteins, these findings suggest a crucial role for Wnt signaling in bone biology. We have investigated the involvement of the Wnt/LRP5 cascade in osteoblast function by using the pluripotent mesenchymal cell lines C3H10T1/2, C2C12, and ST2 and the osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1. Transfection experiments were carried out with a number of elements of the Wnt/LRP5 pathway. Measuring osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation markers addressed the effect of this cascade on osteoblast differentiation. In mesenchymal cells, only Wnt's capable of stabilizing beta-catenin induced the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Wnt3a-mediated ALP induction was inhibited by overexpression of either Xddl, dickkopf 1 (dkk1), or LRP5deltaC, indicating that canonical beta-catenin signaling is responsible for this activity. The use of Noggin, a bone morphogenic protein (BMP) inhibitor, or cyclopamine, a Hedgehog inhibitor, revealed that the induction of ALP by Wnt is independent of these morphogenetic proteins and does not require de novo protein synthesis. In contrast, blocking Wnt/LRP5 signaling or protein synthesis inhibited the ability of both BMP-2 and Shh to induce ALP in mesenchymal cells. Moreover, BMP-2 enhanced Wntl and Wnt3a expression in our cells. In MC3T3-E1 cells, where endogenous ALP levels are maximal, antagonizing the Wnt/LRP5 pathway led to a decrease of ALP activity. In addition, overexpression of dkkl reduced extracellular matrix mineralization in a BMP-2-dependent assay. Our data strongly suggest that the capacity of BMP-2 and Shh to induce ALP relies on Wnt expression and the Wnt/LRP5 signaling cascade. Moreover the effects of BMP-2 on extracellular matrix mineralization by osteoblasts are mediated, at least in part, by the induction of a Wnt autocrine/paracrine loop. These results may help to explain the phenotype of OPPG patients and HBM.

Regulatory roles of presenilin-1 and nicastrin in neuronal differentiation during in vitro neurogenesis.

Presenilin (PS) in association with nicastrin (NICA) forms a gamma-secretase complex that plays a crucial role in facilitating intramembranous processing of Notch, a signaling receptor that is essential for neuronal fate specification and differentiation. Loss of function studies have implicated a role for PS1 in regulating neuronal differentiation in association with the down-regulation of Notch signaling during neurogenesis. By using a system for stable, as well as tetracycline-inducible expression of interfering RNAs (RNAi), we studied the functions of PS1 during neuronal differentiation in the murine pluripotent p19 embryonic carcinoma cell line. After retinoic acid (RA) treatment and in the absence of doxycycline, neuronal progenitor cells in the p19 clone were found to extend their processes towards the neighboring colony to form network-like connections, as revealed by neuron-specific microtubule-associated protein 2 staining and laser scanning confocal microscopy. However, doxycycline-induced expression of PS1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) in the p19 clone resulted in a severe defect in the formation of network-like connections. Expression of the NICA and Notch down-stream effector genes Hes1 and Hes5 was unaffected in p19 cells expressing doxycycline-induced PS1 siRNA. In contrast to PS1, constitutive inactivation of NICA by siRNA in p19 cells resulted in premature and partial differentiation without RA treatment. In these NICA siRNA-expressing p19 cells the expression of the Notch1 down-stream effector Hes1 gene was substantially reduced. After RA treatment the NICA siRNA clone failed to differentiate completely into networks of neurons. These results taken together provide direct evidence that PS1 and NICA may participate in neuronal differentiation during neurogenesis in vitro.

Derivation of a pluripotent embryonic cell line from red sea bream blastulas

A pluripotent cell line, sea bream embryonic stem‐like cells (SBES1), was developed from blastula‐stage embryos of the cultured red sea bream, Chrysophrys major. The SBES1 cells were cultivated in Dulbecco's modified eagles medium (DMEM) medium supplemented with foetal bovine serum, marine fish serum, fish embryo extract, selenium, basic fibroblast growth factor and leukemia inhibitory factor. They were small and round or polygonal, and grew actively and stabely in culture. The cells exhibited a positive alkaline phosphatase activity upon histochemical staining. When the cells were treated with all‐trans retinoic acid, they differentiated into various types including neuron‐like, neuroglia‐like and muscle‐like cells, suggesting that the SBES1 cells remained pluripotent in culture. Chromosome analysis revealed that SBES1 cells had a normal diploid karyotype with 2n = 2st + 46t. At present, SBES1 cells have been cultured for >180 days with more than 60 passages. High survival rate has been obtained after cryopreservation of cell cultures. This embryonic cell line may potentially be used for the production of transgenic red sea bream.

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide interacts with bone morphogenetic protein 2 to increase osteoblastogenesis and decrease adipogenesis in pluripotent C3H10T 1/2 mesenchymal cells.

We examined the effect of PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) on modulating adipogenesis and osteoblastogenesis in the pluripotent mesenchymal cell line C3H10T(1/2). These cells express the type 1 PTH/PTHrP receptor, thereby allowing PTHrP to inhibit bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) from enhancing gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and the adipocyte-specific protein aP2 and from augmenting the accumulation of lipid. In the presence of BMP2, PTHrP or a protein kinase C (PKC) stimulator (phorbol ester) increased the expression of indexes of the osteoblast phenotype, including alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen, and osteocalcin, whereas a PKC inhibitor (chelerythrin chloride) inhibited PTHrP action. PTHrP and a phorbol ester increased gene expression of the BMP IA receptor, and both enhanced BMP2-dependent increases in promoter activity of the signaling molecule SMAD6. Overexpression of the BMP IA receptor facilitated the capacity of BMP2 to increase osteoblastogenesis in the absence of PTHrP and a dominant negative BMP IA receptor variant inhibited this effect of BMP2. These results demonstrate that PTHrP can direct osteoblastic, rather then adipogenic, commitment of mesenchymal cells, implicate PKC signaling in this activity, and show that PTHrP action involves enhanced gene expression of the BMP IA receptor, which facilitates BMP2 action in enhancing osteoblastogenesis in pluripotent mesenchymal cells.

Myofibroblasts enable invasion of endothelial cells into three-dimensional tumor cell clusters: a novel in vitro tumor model.

In an effort to study the importance of stromal involvement in angiogenesis, we developed a novel, multicellular model that utilizes three of the primary cell types involved in tumor angiogenesis. Fluorescently labeled human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs), 10T1/2 cells and myofibroblasts were incubated in the presence of a three-dimensional tumor cell cluster resuspended in collagen and embedded in Matrigel. HMVECs cultured in the presence of a human SKOV-3 ovarian carcinoma tumor cell cluster, surrounded the tumor cell cluster, while myofibroblasts invaded the cluster, localizing within the tumor cell mass. In contrast, 10T1/2 cells, a pluripotent mouse mesenchymal cell line with pericyte-like properties, did not demonstrate the same invasive phenotype. HMVECs cultured in the presence of myofibroblasts invaded the tumor cell cluster and colocalized with the myofibroblasts as demonstrated by fluorescent microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The angiogenesis inhibitors SU6668 and paclitaxel inhibited stromal invasion, while a broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor did not. This model emphasizes the critical interaction between endothelial cells and myofibroblasts and provides a more complete in vitro model for studying angiogenesis and tumor progression.

Functional Expression Cloning of Nanog, a Pluripotency Sustaining Factor in Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells undergo extended proliferation while remaining poised for multilineage differentiation. A unique network of transcription factors may characterize self-renewal and simultaneously suppress differentiation. We applied expression cloning in mouse ES cells to isolate a self-renewal determinant. Nanog is a divergent homeodomain protein that directs propagation of undifferentiated ES cells. Nanog mRNA is present in pluripotent mouse and human cell lines, and absent from differentiated cells. In preimplantation embryos, Nanog is restricted to founder cells from which ES cells can be derived. Endogenous Nanog acts in parallel with cytokine stimulation of Stat3 to drive ES cell self-renewal. Elevated Nanog expression from transgene constructs is sufficient for clonal expansion of ES cells, bypassing Stat3 and maintaining Oct4 levels. Cytokine dependence, multilineage differentiation, and embryo colonization capacity are fully restored upon transgene excision. These findings establish a central role for Nanog in the transcription factor hierarchy that defines ES cell identity.

A Wnt- and beta -catenin-dependent pathway for mammalian cardiac myogenesis.

Acquisition of a cardiac fate by embryonic mesodermal cells is a fundamental step in heart formation. Heart development in frogs and avians requires positive signals from adjacent endoderm, including bone morphogenic proteins, and is antagonized by a second secreted signal, Wnt proteins, from neural tube. By contrast, mechanisms of mesodermal commitment to create heart muscle in mammals are largely unknown. In addition, Wnt-dependent signals can involve either a canonical beta-catenin pathway or other, alternative mediators. Here, we tested the involvement of Wnts and beta-catenin in mammalian cardiac myogenesis by using a pluripotent mouse cell line (P19CL6) that recapitulates early steps for cardiac specification. In this system, early and late cardiac genes are up-regulated by 1% DMSO, and spontaneous beating occurs. Notably, Wnt3A and Wnt8A were induced days before even the earliest cardiogenic transcription factors. DMSO induced biochemical mediators of Wnt signaling (decreased phosphorylation and increased levels of beta-catenin), which were suppressed by Frizzled-8Fc, a soluble Wnt antagonist. DMSO provoked T cell factor-dependent transcriptional activity; thus, induction of Wnt proteins by DMSO was functionally coupled. Frizzled-8Fc inhibited the induction of cardiogenic transcription factors, cardiogenic growth factors, and sarcomeric myosin heavy chains. Likewise, differentiation was blocked by constitutively active glycogen synthase kinase 3beta, an intracellular inhibitor of the Wntbeta-catenin pathway. Conversely, lithium chloride, which inhibits glycogen synthase kinase 3beta, and Wnt3A-conditioned medium up-regulated early cardiac markers and the proportion of differentiated cells. Thus, Wntbeta-catenin signaling is activated at the inception of mammalian cardiac myogenesis and is indispensable for cardiac differentiation, at least in this pluripotent model system.

Adipogenesis or Myogenesis: A Rho Choice

How can different cell fates arise from the same stimulation? Rho activity might be one key, at least for adipogenesis and myogenesis. Loss of p190-B RhoGAP, a guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein that inhibits Rho activity, in mice leads to reduced cell size and animal size. Sordella et al . show that newborn mice deficient for p190-B RhoGAP have decreased lipid staining, indicative of defective adipogenesis. Using mouse embryo fibroblasts from the mutant mice, the authors demonstrated that, in culture, these MEFs did not undergo adipogenic conversion in response to treatment with agents that activate glucocorticoid receptors (dexamethasone), adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine or IBMX), and insulin or insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptors (insulin or IGF-1); instead, the cells underwent a myogenic conversion. Adipogenic differentiation was restored by pharmacological inhibition of Rho kinase (ROK); ROK phosphorylates insulin receptor substrate (IRS) inhibiting IGF-1 signaling. Expression of a constitutively active mutant of Rho (RhoV14) also blocked adipogenic conversion in wild-type MEFs and NIH 3T3-L1 cells. IGF-1 treatment of wild-type MEFs stimulated phosphorylation of p190-B RhoGAP, and in vitro, the purified insulin receptor directly phosphorylated p190-B RhoGAP. Mutation of the phosphorylated tyrosine (Y 306 ) to a nonphosphorylatable residue blocked IGF-1-stimulated redistribution of p190-B RhoGAP to lipid rafts (cholesterol and sphingolipid-enriched domains of the plasma membrane that are detergent-resistant). Mutation to a phosphorylation-mimicking residue promoted lipid raft accumulation of p190-B RhoGAP in the absence of IGF-1. Thus, phosphorylation of p190-B RhoGAP by the insulin or IGF-1 receptor causes redistribution of p190-B RhoGAP, allowing it to be localized in proximity to Rho and to inhibit Rho activity. When Rho activity was high (in the p190-B RhoGAP-deficient cells), the cells differentiated into myocytes instead of adipocytes. Application of the ROK inhibitor in the presence of IGF-1 to C2C12 cells, a pluripotent mesenchymal cell line that differentiates and forms myotubes, causes adipogenesis instead of myogenesis. In C2C12 cells, p190-B RhoGAP is expressed; however, during myogenic differentiation, phosphorylation of p190-B RhoGAP decreased. SHP-2, a protein phosphatase that can promote myocyte formation and also localizes to lipid rafts, increased during C2C12 differentiation and associated with p190-B RhoGAP. Thus, these results show how differentiation of two cell fates can be controlled through the Rho by pathways that counter-regulate p190-B RhoGAP. R. Sordella, W. Jiang, G.-C. Chen, M. Curto, J. Settleman, Modulation of Rho GTPase signaling regulates a switch between adipogenesis and myogenesis. Cell 113 , 147-158 (2003). [Online Journal]

Quantitative and sensitive in vitro assay for osteoinductive activity of demineralized bone matrix

A sensitive, rapid, reliable and quantitative method to check the bone forming potential of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) has been developed. The osteoinductivity of the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), present in DBM, can be measured in vitro using a pluripotent myoblast C2C12 cell line. Alkaline phosphatase activity induced by co-incubation of DBM with C2C12 cells was dose–responsive and corresponds to the amount of active BMPs in DBM. Bone forming potential was simultaneously tested in vivo by implanting DBM intra-muscularly in nude rats. ALP activity induced in C2C12 cells, correlated with bone formation in vivo ( r=0.88), determined by alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization density and histomorphology of the DBM explants. Results from DBM batches, originating from five established Bone Banks, showed good consistency between in vitro and in vivo assays. However, DBM activity varied widely from bank to bank as well as from batch to batch within the same bank.

Radiation-induced suppression of the Bmp2 signal transduction pathway in the pluripotent mesenchymal cell line C2C12: an in vitro model for prevention of heterotopic ossification by radiotherapy.

Heterotopic ossification is a common complication after total hip replacement. Clinical studies showed the effectiveness of radiation for prevention of heterotopic ossification. The mechanism of radiotherapy responsible for the reduction of heterotopic ossification is unclear. The purpose of this study was to study an analogue model showing a time- and dose-dependent effect of radiation. Using cells of the defined embryonic mouse cell line C2C12, the influence of ionizing radiation on the Bmp-induced signal cascade leading to osteogenic differentiation was analyzed. Binding of iodinated Bmp2 to the receptors, Smad1 activation, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were determined in cells with or without irradiation. The cytotoxic effect of radiotherapy was evaluated using viability tests. Radiotherapy reduced formation of the Bmp2/Bmp receptor complex. This effect was dependent on dose. The phosphorylation (activation) of Smad1 decreased after irradiation in a time-dependent manner, whereas the level of total Smads was not influenced by radiotherapy. The ALP activity decreased after radiotherapy. A dose of 7 Gy delivered 6 h before or after incubation with Bmp resulted in about a 30% decrease in ALP activity. No signs of cytotoxic effects were observed within the time window studied using doses of 0 to 20 Gy. The time- and dose-dependent effect of radiotherapy for prevention of heterotopic ossification known from the results of clinical studies has an analogue in the C2C12 cell model. The primary mechanism of radiotherapy seems to be an influence on cellular responsiveness to the Bmp2-induced osteoblastic differentiation. The results suggest a down-regulation of the Bmp2/receptor complex.