Derivation of haploid embryonic stem cells from mouse embryos

Most animals are diploid, but haploid-only and male-haploid (such as honeybee and ant) species have been described. The diploid genomes of complex organisms limit genetic approaches in biomedical model species such as mice. To overcome this problem, experimental induction of haploidy has been used in fish. Haploid development in zebrafish has been applied for genetic screening. Recently, haploid pluripotent cell lines from medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) have also been established. In contrast, haploidy seems less compatible with development in mammals. Although haploid cells have been observed in egg cylinder stage parthenogenetic mouse embryos, most cells in surviving embryos become diploid. Here we describe haploid mouse embryonic stem cells and show their application in forward genetic screening.     

Derivation of embryonic germ cells and male gametes from embryonic stem cells

Egg and sperm cells (gametes) of the mouse are derived from a founder population of primordial germ cells that are set aside early in embryogenesis. Primordial germ cells arise from the proximal epiblast, a region of the early mouse embryo that also contributes to the first blood lineages of the embryonic yolk sac. Embryonic stem cells differentiate in vitro into cystic structures called embryoid bodies consisting of tissue lineages typical of the early mouse embryo. Because embryoid bodies sustain blood development, we reasoned that they might also support primordial germ cell formation. Here we isolate primordial germ cells from embryoid bodies, and derive continuously growing lines of embryonic germ cells. Embryonic germ cells show erasure of the methylation markers (imprints) of the Igf2r and H19 genes, a property characteristic of the germ lineage. We show that embryoid bodies support maturation of the primordial germ cells into haploid male gametes, which when injected into oocytes restore the somatic diploid chromosome complement and develop into blastocysts. Our ability to derive germ cells from embryonic stem cells provides an accessible in vitro model system for studies of germline epigenetic modification and mammalian gametogenesis.     

Derivation of pluripotent epiblast stem cells from mammalian embryos

Although the first mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell lines were derived 25 years ago using feeder-layer-based blastocyst cultures, subsequent efforts to extend the approach to other mammals, including both laboratory and domestic species, have been relatively unsuccessful. The most notable exceptions were the derivation of non-human primate ES cell lines followed shortly thereafter by their derivation of human ES cells. Despite the apparent common origin and the similar pluripotency of mouse and human embryonic stem cells, recent studies have revealed that they use different signalling pathways to maintain their pluripotent status. Mouse ES cells depend on leukaemia inhibitory factor and bone morphogenetic protein, whereas their human counterparts rely on activin (INHBA)/nodal (NODAL) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Here we show that pluripotent stem cells can be derived from the late epiblast layer of post-implantation mouse and rat embryos using chemically defined, activin-containing culture medium that is sufficient for long-term maintenance of human embryonic stem cells. Our results demonstrate that activin/Nodal signalling has an evolutionarily conserved role in the derivation and the maintenance of pluripotency in these novel stem cells. Epiblast stem cells provide a valuable experimental system for determining whether distinctions between mouse and human embryonic stem cells reflect species differences or diverse temporal origins.     

胚胎干细胞向心肌细胞分化研究进展(综述)

胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cells,ES)在体外分化培养条件下可以分化出各种组织细胞，其中包括心肌细胞。ES细胞在体外向心肌细胞分化与体内完整胚胎心肌发育过程相符合。该细胞在体外分化过程中顺序表达心肌细胞特有结构蛋白和离子通道，如肌球蛋白轻链和重链、特异性肌动蛋白、电压依赖性Ca^2 通道、K^ 通道等。ES细胞分化来源的心肌细胞具有体内心肌细胞的生理学特点，如产生的动作电位、表现自发性收缩等。因此，ES细胞是研究心肌细胞发育分化机制及鉴定其关键基因的理想模型。     

An intrinsic mechanism of corticogenesis from embryonic stem cells

The cerebral cortex develops through the coordinated generation of dozens of neuronal subtypes, but the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Here we show that mouse embryonic stem cells, cultured without any morphogen but in the presence of a sonic hedgehog inhibitor, recapitulate in vitro the major milestones of cortical development, leading to the sequential generation of a diverse repertoire of neurons that display most salient features of genuine cortical pyramidal neurons. When grafted into the cerebral cortex, these neurons develop patterns of axonal projections corresponding to a wide range of cortical layers, but also to highly specific cortical areas, in particular visual and limbic areas, thereby demonstrating that the identity of a cortical area can be specified without any influence from the brain. The discovery of intrinsic corticogenesis sheds new light on the mechanisms of neuronal specification, and opens new avenues for the modelling and treatment of brain diseases.     

利用人胚胎干细胞评价反式维甲酸的胚胎发育毒性

目前,药品安全、食品安全和环境污染等问题受到国人的广泛关注,也受到政府的特别重视。医用化学品、食品添加剂和环境污染物等通过各种途径进入体内,可能产生胚胎发育毒性;因此,建立新的高通量、高灵敏的胚胎发育毒性检测和评价十分重要。研究尝试利用全反式维甲酸(all-trans retinoic acid,RA)对人胚胎干细胞H9的细胞毒性和分化抑制,评价RA的胚胎发育毒性。通过CCK8检测不同浓度下RA对人胚胎干细胞H9和鼠胚胎成纤维细胞3T3的细胞存活百分数和半数增殖抑制浓度(50%inhibitory concentration,IC50),发现处理5 d和10 d,RA对人胚胎干细胞H9的IC50分别是9.23μg/mL和7.20μg/mL,明显低于3T3细胞。通过实时定量PCR检测不同RA浓度下,自然分化20 d的细胞中Nkx2.5、α-MHC、ACTC1和TNNT2基因的表达,发现0.3μg/mL及其以上浓度RA显著抑制H9细胞向心肌细胞分化。RA对H9细胞α-MHC、TNNT2和ACTC1的半数抑制分化浓度(ID50),分别为0.16、0.07和0.05μg/mL,ACTC1和TNNT2的ID50明显低于α-MHC的,提示ACTC1和TNNT2可能更适合作为人胚胎干细胞分化抑制的评价的指标。     

Flk1-positive cells derived from embryonic stem cells serve as vascular progenitors

Interaction between endothelial cells and mural cells (pericytes and vascular smooth muscle) is essential for vascular development and maintenance. Endothelial cells arise from Flk1-expressing (Flk1+) mesoderm cells, whereas mural cells are believed to derive from mesoderm, neural crest or epicardial cells and migrate to form the vessel wall. Difficulty in preparing pure populations of these lineages has hampered dissection of the mechanisms underlying vascular formation. Here we show that Flk1+ cells derived from embryonic stem cells can differentiate into both endothelial and mural cells and can reproduce the vascular organization process. Vascular endothelial growth factor promotes endothelial cell differentiation, whereas mural cells are induced by platelet-derived growth factor-BB. Vascular cells derived from Flk1+ cells can organize into vessel-like structures consisting of endothelial tubes supported by mural cells in three-dimensional culture. Injection of Flk1+ cells into chick embryos showed that they can incorporate as endothelial and mural cells and contribute to the developing vasculature in vivo. Our findings indicate that Flk1+ cells can act as 'vascular progenitor cells' to form mature vessels and thus offer potential for tissue engineering of the vascular system.     

Properties and applications of embryonic stem cells

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells derived from the early embryo and can be propagated stably in undifferentiated state in vitro. They retain the ability to differentiate into all cell types found in the embryonic and adult body in vivo, and can be induced to differentiate into many cell types under appropriate culture conditions in vitro. Using these properties, people have set up various differentiated systems of many cell types and tissues in vitro. Through analysis of these systems, one can identify novel bioactive factors and reveal mechanisms of cell differentiation and organogenesis. ES cell-derived differentiated cells can also be applied to cell transplantation therapy. In addition, we summarized the features and potential applications of human ES cells.     

丹酚酸B诱导分化的小鼠胎脑神经干细胞膜结构特征

目的:观察丹酚酸B诱导小鼠胎脑神经干细胞分化后细胞膜结构.方法:取孕13.5 d小鼠胎脑,机械分离神经干细胞,用Nestin免疫细胞化学进行鉴定.丹酚酸B诱导其分化为神经元样细胞,用原子力显微镜观察分化后的细胞膜结构.结果:神经干细胞经诱导分化为典型的神经元形态,细胞呈聚集悬浮生长,发出突起和分支.用原子力显微镜观察到对照组细胞膜有一些形态不规则,边缘光滑的窗孔样结构及小凹,膜表面粗糙,丹酚酸组亦有相似结构,窗孔样结构大而深且小凹聚集,其密度较对照组明显增大(P＜0.05),膜粗糙度与对照组无显著差异(P＞0.05).结论:丹酚酸B诱导神经干细胞分化的神经元细胞膜的窗孔样结构与小凹明显增多,可能与增强细胞内外物质交换功能和促进细胞内信号转导有关.     

Induction of embryonic stem cells to hematopoietic cells in vitro

In order to get hematopoietic cells from embryonic stem (ES) cells and to study development mechanisms of hematopoietic cells, the method of inducing embryonic stem cells to hematopoietic cells was explored by differenciating mouse ES cells and human embryonic cells in three stages. The differentiated cells were identified by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and Wright's staining. The results showed that embryoid bodies (EBs) could form when ES cells were cultured in the medium with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME). However, cytokines, such as stem cell factor (SCF), thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), erythropoietin (EPO) and granular colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), were not helpful for forming EBs. SCF, TPO and embryonic cell conditional medium were useful for the differentiation of mouse EBs to hematopoietic progenitors. Eighty-six percent of these cells were CD34+ after 6-d culture. Hematopoietic progenitors differentiated to B lymphocytes when they were cocultured with primary bone marrow stroma cells in the DMEM medium with SCF and IL-6. 14 d later, most of the cells were CD34-CD38+. Wright's staining and immunohistochemistry showed that 80% of these cells were plasma-like morphologically and immunoglubolin positive. The study of hematopoietic cells from human embryonic cells showed that human embryonic cell differentiation was very similar to that of mouse ES cells. They could form EBs in the first stage and the CD34 positive cells account for about 48.5% in the second stage.     

Differentiation of embryonic stem cells transfected by ibeB gene

We have previously identified an E. coli determinant, ibeB gene locus contributing to invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells. In the present study, we established embryonic stem (ES) cell lines overexpressing IbeB and found that exogenic ibeB gene could start-up expression of a neural stem cell specific marker, nestin, and give rise to polar changes. In analysis of IbeB location, it was found that GFP-IbeB fusion protein targeted at the ES cell nucleus. These data suggests that ibeB gene may play an important role in the regulation of nestin expression.     

哺乳动物胚胎干细胞的特性及利用

哺乳动物胚胎干细胞（ES细胞）是由动物早期胚胎发育的内细胞团（ICM）或原始生殖细胞（PGC）分离得到的。人们利用ES细胞所具有的全能性、体外分化以及稳定的遗传性能等特点，展示了ES细胞在建立哺乳动物的早期胚胎体外分化模型、转基因动物模型、器官和组织的修复和移植治疗、克隆动物的生产、发育生物学的研究等方面广阔的应用前景。但是，由于哺乳动物错综复杂的基因调控和环境因素的影响，对于胚胎干细胞的研究还存在诸多问题，还需作更深入细致的研究。     

Maintenance of human embryonic stem cells on gelatin

Matrigel is routinely used as a coating material in the feeder-free culture system of human embryonic stem cells （hESCs）. However, matrigel is costive and inconvenient to use. In this study, the possibility of using gelatin as an alternative coating material was investigated. The results showed that, after trypsinization, hESCs were maintained undifferentiated on gelatin. These hESCs expressed pluripotent markers, formed teratoma and maintained a normal karyotype. As measured at passage 10, the hESCs expressed a high level of Oct4 on both gelatin and Matrigeh hESCs growing on gelatin formed AP-positive colonies in similar size and number to those growing on Matrigel （P〉 0.05）. Moreover, hESCs growing on gelatin contained a comparable percentage of SSEA-4-positive cells to those growing on Matrigel （95.1% vs.94.3%, P〉 0.05）. H-1 hESCs were maintained undifferentiated on gelatin for 20 passages and remained the stable normal karyotype. This gelatin-based culture protocol may allow us to propagate hESCs in large scale, with less cost.     

用高代数小鼠胚胎干细胞制作嵌合体小鼠

为了检验胚胎干的全能性,通过用1日龄卵巢移植后,经体外受精得到的囊胚的饲养建立了小鼠的ES系,并在较高的代数下(第41代)制出了5只毛色嵌合体小鼠,但是没有得到性腺嵌合的小鼠。研究结果证实,高代数的ES细胞仍然具有构建嵌合体的能力。     

HPRT-deficient (Lesch-Nyhan) mouse embryos derived from germline colonization by cultured cells

Embryonal stem (ES) cell lines, established in culture from peri-implantation mouse blastocysts, can colonize both the somatic and germ-cell lineages of chimaeric mice following injection into host blastocysts. Recently, ES cells with multiple integrations of retroviral sequences have been used to introduce these sequences into the germ-line of chimaeric mice, demonstrating an alternative to the microinjection of fertilized eggs for the production of transgenic mice. However, the properties of ES cells raise a unique possibility: that of using the techniques of somatic cell genetics to select cells with genetic modifications such as recessive mutations, and of introducing these mutations into the mouse germ line. Here we report the realization of this possibility by the selection in vitro of variant ES cells deficient in hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT; EC 2.4.2.8), their use to produce germline chimaeras resulting in female offspring heterozygous for HPRT-deficiency, and the generation of HPRT-deficient preimplantation embryos from these females. In human males, HPRT deficiency causes Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, which is characterized by mental retardation and self-mutilation.     

Induction of embryonic stem cells to hematopoietic cellsin vitro

In order to get hematopoietic cells from embryonic stem (ES) cells and to study development mechanisms of hematopoietic cells, the method of inducing embryonic stem cells to hematopoietic cells was explored by differenciating mouse ES cells and human embryonic cells in three stages. The differentiated cells were identified by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and Wright’s staining. The results showed that embryoid bodies (EBs) could form when ES cells were cultured in the medium with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME). However, cytokines, such as stem cell factor (SCF), thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), erythropoietin (EPO) and granular colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), were not helpful for forming EBs. SCF, TPO and embryonic cell conditional medium were useful for the differentiation of mouse EBs to hematopoietic progenitors. Eighty-six percent of these cells were CD34⁺ after 6-d culture. Hematopoietic progenitors differentiated to B lymphocytes when they were cocultured with primary bone marrow stroma cells in the DMEM medium with SCF and IL-6. 14 d later, most of the cells were CD34^－CD38⁺. Wright’s staining and immunohistochemistry showed that 80% of these cells were plasma-like morphologically and immunoglubolin positive. The study of hematopoietic cells from human embryonic cells showed that human embryonic cell differentiation was very similar to that of mouse ES cells. They could form EBs in the first stage and the CD34 positive cells account for about 48.5% in the second stage.