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Human amniotic membrane is a standard substratum used to culture limbal epithelial stem cells for transplantation to patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. Various methods were developed to decellularize amniotic membrane, because denuded membrane is poorly immunogenic and better supports repopulation by dissociated limbal epithelial cells. Amniotic membrane denuding usually involves treatment with EDTA and/or proteolytic enzymes; in many cases additional mechanical scraping is required. Although ensuring limbal cell proliferation, these methods are not standardized, require relatively long treatment times and can result in membrane damage. We propose to use 0.5 M NaOH to reliably remove amniotic cells from the membrane. This method was used before to lyse cells for DNA isolation and radioactivity counting. Gently rubbing a cotton swab soaked in NaOH over the epithelial side of amniotic membrane leads to nearly complete and easy removal of adherent cells in less than a minute. The denuded membrane is subsequently washed in a neutral buffer. Cell removal was more thorough and uniform than with EDTA, or EDTA plus mechanical scraping with an electric toothbrush, or n-heptanol plus EDTA treatment. NaOH-denuded amniotic membrane did not show any perforations compared with mechanical or thermolysin denuding, and showed excellent preservation of immunoreactivity for major basement membrane components including laminin α2, γ1-γ3 chains, α1/α2 and α6 type IV collagen chains, fibronectin, nidogen-2, and perlecan. Sodium hydroxide treatment was efficient with fresh or cryopreserved (10% dimethyl sulfoxide or 50% glycerol) amniotic membrane. The latter method is a common way of membrane storage for subsequent grafting in the European Union. NaOH-denuded amniotic membrane supported growth of human limbal epithelial cells, immortalized corneal epithelial cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. This simple, fast and reliable method can be used to standardize decellularized amniotic membrane preparations for expansion of limbal stem cells in vitro before transplantation to patients.

The cell line described here was established for a 50-year-old male patient with rapidly progressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma whose marrow was diffusely infiltrated with large granular lymphocytes (LGL). Immunophenotyping of marrow blasts and peripheral lymphocytes was positive for CD56, CD2 and CD7, and negative for CD3. Cytotoxicity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells at an effector: target (E:T) cell ratio of 50:1 was 79% against K562 cells and 48% against Daudi cells. To establish the line, cells from the peripheral blood were placed into enriched alpha medium containing 12.5% fetal calf serum, 12.5% horse serum, 10(-4) M beta-mercaptoethanol and 10(-6) M hydrocortisone. Growth of the line (termed NK-92) is dependent on the presence of recombinant IL-2 and a dose as low as 10 U/ml is sufficient to maintain proliferation. Conversely, cells die within 72 h when deprived of IL-2; IL-7 and IL-12 do not maintain long-term growth, although IL-7 induces short-term proliferation measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation. None of the other cytokines tested (IL-1 alpha, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma) supported growth of NK-92 cells which have the following characteristics: surface marker positive for CD2, CD7, CD11a, CD28, CD45, CD54, CD56bright; surface marker negative for CD1, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD10, CD14, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD23, CD34, HLA-DR. DNA analysis showed germline configuration for T-cell receptor beta and gamma genes. CD25 (p55 IL-2 receptor) is expressed on about 50% of all cells when tested at 100 U/ml of IL-2 and its expression correlates inversely with the IL-2 concentration. The p75 IL-2 receptor is expressed on about half of the cells at low density irrespective of the IL-2 concentration. NK-92 cells kill both K562 and Daudi cells very effectively in a 4 h51-chromium release assay (84 and 86% respectively, at an E:T cell ratio of 5:1). The cell line described here thus displays characteristics of activated NK-cells and could be a valuable tool to study their biology.

Germ line mutations in the Adenomatous polyposis coli tumor suppressor gene cause a hereditary form of intestinal tumorigenesis in both mice and man. Here we show that in Apc(Min/+) mice, which carry a heterozygous germ line mutation at codon 850 of Apc, there is progressive loss of immature and mature thymocytes from approximately 80 days of age with complete regression of the thymus by 120 days. In addition, Apc(Min/+) mice show parallel depletion of splenic natural killer (NK) cells, immature B cells, and B progenitor cells in bone marrow due to complete loss of interleukin 7 (IL-7)-dependent B-cell progenitors. Using bone marrow transplantation experiments into wild-type recipients, we have shown that the capacity of transplanted Apc(Min/+) bone marrow cells for T- and B-cell development appears normal. In contrast, although the Apc(Min/+) bone marrow microenvironment supported short-term reconstitution with wild-type bone marrow, Apc(Min/+) animals that received transplants subsequently underwent lymphodepletion. Fibroblast colony-forming unit (CFU-F) colony assays revealed a significant reduction in colony-forming mesenchymal progenitor cells in the bone marrow of Apc(Min/+) mice compared with wild-type animals prior to the onset of lymphodepletion. This suggests that an altered bone marrow microenvironment may account for the selective lymphocyte depletion observed in this model of familial adenomatous polyposis. View Publication

Introduction To complement islet transplantation for type1 diabetic patients, cell-based therapy using pluripotent stem cells such as ES cells and iPS cells is promising. Many papers have already reported the induction of pancreatic $\beta$ cells from these cell types, but a suspension culture system has not usually been employed. The aim of this study is to establish a suspension culture method for inducing functional islet-like cells from human iPS cells. Methods We used 30 ml spinner type culture vessels for human iPS cells throughout the differentiation process. Differentiated cells were analyzed by immunostaining and C-peptide secretion. Cell transplantation experiments were performed with STZ-induced diabetic NOD/SCID mice. Blood human C-peptide and glucagon levels were measured serially in mice, and grafts were analyzed histologically. Results We obtained spherical pancreatic beta-like cells from human iPS cells and detected verifiable amounts of C-peptide secretion in vitro. We demonstrated reversal of hyperglycemia in diabetic model mice after transplantation of these cells, maintaining non-fasting blood glucose levels along with the human glycemic set point. We confirmed the secretion of human insulin and glucagon dependent on the blood glucose level in vivo. Immunohistological analysis revealed that grafted cells became $\alpha$, $\beta$ and $\delta$ cells in vivo. Conclusions These results suggest that differentiated cells derived from human iPS cells grown in suspension culture mature and function like pancreatic islets in vivo.

Cell culture is one of the most common methods used to recapitulate a human disease environment in a laboratory setting. Cell culture techniques are used to grow and maintain cells of various types including those derived from primary tissues, such as stem cells and cancer tumors. However, a major confounding factor with cell culture is the use of serum and animal (xeno) products in the media. The addition of animal products introduces batch and lot variations that lead to experimental variability, confounds studies with therapeutic outcomes for cultured cells, and represents a major cost associated with cell culture. Here we report a commercially available serum-free, albumin-free, and xeno free (XF) media (Neuro-Pure(TM)) that is more cost-effective than other commercial medias. Neuro-Pure was used to maintain and differentiate various cells of neuronal lineages, fibroblasts, as well as specific cancer cell lines; without the use of contaminants such serum, albumin, and animal products. Neuro-Pure allows for a controlled and reproducible cell culture environment that is applicable to translational medicine and general tissue culture.

How metabolism is reprogrammed during neuronal differentiation is unknown. We found that the loss of hexokinase (HK2) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) expression, together with a switch in pyruvate kinase gene splicing from PKM2 to PKM1, marks the transition from aerobic glycolysis in neural progenitor cells (NPC) to neuronal oxidative phosphorylation. The protein levels of c-MYC and N-MYC, transcriptional activators of the HK2 and LDHA genes, decrease dramatically. Constitutive expression of HK2 and LDHA during differentiation leads to neuronal cell death, indicating that the shut-off aerobic glycolysis is essential for neuronal survival. The metabolic regulators PGC-1α and ERRγ increase significantly upon neuronal differentiation to sustain the transcription of metabolic and mitochondrial genes, whose levels are unchanged compared to NPCs, revealing distinct transcriptional regulation of metabolic genes in the proliferation and post-mitotic differentiation states. Mitochondrial mass increases proportionally with neuronal mass growth, indicating an unknown mechanism linking mitochondrial biogenesis to cell size.

Human endothelial cells (ECs) and pericytes are of great interest for research on vascular development and disease, as well as for future therapy. This protocol describes the efficient generation of ECs and pericytes from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) under defined conditions. Essential steps for hPSC culture, differentiation, isolation and functional characterization of ECs and pericytes are described. Substantial numbers of both cell types can be derived in only 2-3 weeks: this involves differentiation (10 d), isolation (1 d) and 4 or 10 d of expansion of ECs and pericytes, respectively. We also describe two assays for functional evaluation of hPSC-derived ECs: (i) primary vascular plexus formation upon coculture with hPSC-derived pericytes and (ii) incorporation in the vasculature of zebrafish xenografts in vivo. These assays can be used to test the quality and drug sensitivity of hPSC-derived ECs and model vascular diseases with patient-derived hPSCs. View Publication

The hemopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment encompasses cell subsets with heterogeneous proliferative and developmental potential. Numerous CD34(-) cell subsets that might reside at an earlier stage of differentiation than CD34(+) HSCs have been described and characterized within human umbilical cord blood (UCB). We identified a novel subpopulation of CD34(-)CD133(-)CD7(-)CD45(dim)lineage (lin)(-) HSCs contained within human UCB that were endowed with low but measurable extended long-term culture-initiating cell activity. Exposure of CD34(-)CD133(-)CD7(-)CD45(dim)lin(-) HSCs to stem cell factor preserved cell viability and was associated with the following: 1) concordant expression of the stem cell-associated Ags CD34 and CD133, 2) generation of CFU-granulocyte-macrophage, burst-forming unit erythroid, and megakaryocytic aggregates, 3) significant extended long-term culture-initiating cell activity, and 4) up-regulation of mRNA signals for myeloperoxidase. At variance with CD34(+)lin(-) cells, CD34(-)CD133(-)CD7(-)CD45(dim)lin(-) HSCs maintained with IL-15, but not with IL-2 or IL-7, proliferated vigorously and differentiated into a homogeneous population of CD7(+)CD45(bright)CD25(+)CD44(+) lymphoid progenitors with high expression of the T cell-associated transcription factor GATA-3. Although they harbored nonclonally rearranged TCRgamma genes, IL-15-primed CD34(-)CD133(-)CD7(-)CD45(dim)lin(-) HSCs failed to achieve full maturation, as manifested in their CD3(-)TCRalphabeta(-)gammadelta(-) phenotype. Conversely, culture on stromal cells supplemented with IL-15 was associated with the acquisition of phenotypic and functional features of NK cells. Collectively, CD34(-)CD133(-)CD7(-)CD45(dim)lin(-) HSCs from human UCB displayed an exquisite sensitivity to IL-15 and differentiated into lymphoid/NK cells. Whether the transplantation of CD34(-)lin(-) HSCs possessing T/NK cell differentiation potential may impact on immunological reconstitution and control of minimal residual disease after HSC transplantation for autoimmune or malignant diseases remains to be determined.

The monocyte population in blood is considered a possible source of endothelial precursors. Because endothelial-specific receptor tyrosine kinases act as regulators of endothelial cell function, we investigated whether expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) on monocytes is important for their endothelial-like functional capacity. Peripheral-blood monocytes expressing vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), or CD14+/VEGFR-2+, were isolated, and their phenotypic, morphologic, and functional capacities were compared with those of monocytes negative for this marker (CD14+/VEGFR-2-). CD14+/VEGFR-2+ cells constituted approximately 2% +/- 0.5% of the total population of monocytes and 0.08% +/- 0.04% of mononuclear cells in blood. CD14+/VEGFR-2+ cells exhibited the potential to differentiate in vitro into cells with endothelial characteristics. The cells were efficiently transduced by a lentiviral vector driving expression of the green fluorescence protein (GFP). Transplantation of GFP-transduced cells into balloon-injured femoral arteries of nude mice significantly contributed to efficient reendothelialization. CD14+/VEGFR-2- did not exhibit any of these characteristics. These data demonstrate that the expression of VEGFR-2 on peripheral blood monocytes is essential for their endothelial-like functional capacity and support the notion of a common precursor for monocytic and endothelial cell lineage. Our results help clarify which subpopulations may restore damaged endothelium and may participate in the maintenance of vascular homeostasis.

Surface ectoderm (SE) cells give rise to structures including the epidermis and ectodermal associated appendages such as hair, eye, and the mammary gland. In this study, we validate a protocol that utilizes BMP4 and the $$-secretase inhibitor DAPT to induce SE differentiation from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). hiPSC-differentiated SE cells expressed markers suggesting their commitment to the SE lineage. Computational analyses using integrated quantitative transcriptomic and proteomic profiling reveal that TGF$$ superfamily signaling pathways are preferentially activated in SE cells compared with hiPSCs. SE differentiation can be enhanced by selectively blocking TGF$$-RI signaling. We also show that SE cells and neural ectoderm cells possess distinct gene expression patterns and signaling networks as indicated by functional Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Our findings advance current understanding of early human SE cell development and pave the way for modeling of SE-derived tissue development, studying disease pathogenesis, and development of regenerative medicine approaches.

Autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) is clinically used to induce repair of different tissues through the release of bioactive molecules. In some patients, the production of an efficient autologous PRP is unfeasible due to their compromised health. We developed an allogeneic PRP mismatched for AB0 and Rh antigens. To broadcast its clinical applications avoiding side effects the outcome of allogeneic PRP on immune response should be defined. Thus, we investigated whether PRP affected the differentiation of peripheral blood monocytes to dendritic cells upon stimulation with granulocyte monocyte colony stimulating factor and interleukin-4. Indeed, these cells are the main players of immune response and tissue repair. PRP inhibited the differentiation of monocytes to CD1a(+) dendritic cells and favored the expansion of phagocytic CD163(+) CD206(+) fibrocyte-like cells. These cells produced inteleukin-10 and prostaglandin-E2, but not interferon-γ, upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharides. Moreover, they promoted the expansion of regulatory CD4(+) CD25(+) FoxP3(+) T cells upon allostimulation or antigen specific priming. Finally, the conditioned medium harvested from monocytes differentiated with PRP triggered a strong chemotactic effect on mesenchymal cells in both scratch and transwell migration assays. These results strongly suggest that allogeneic PRP can foster the differentiation of monocytes to a regulatory anti-inflammatory population possibly favoring wound healing.

The development of dengue antivirals and vaccine has been hampered by the incomplete understanding of molecular mechanisms of dengue virus (DENV) infection and pathology, partly due to the limited suitable cell culture or animal models that can capture the comprehensive cellular changes induced by DENV. In this study, we differentiated human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into hepatocytes, one of the target cells of DENV, to investigate various aspects of DENV-hepatocyte interaction. hPSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) supported persistent and productive DENV infection. The activation of interferon pathways by DENV protected bystander cells from infection and protected the infected cells from massive apoptosis. Furthermore, DENV infection activated the NF-$$B pathway, which led to production of proinflammatory cytokines and downregulated many liver-specific genes such as albumin and coagulation factor V. Our study demonstrates the utility of hPSC-derived hepatocytes as an in vitro model for DENV infection and reveals important aspects of DENV-host interactions.