Li Tan

All-trans retinoic acid promotes neural lineage entry by pluripotent embryonic stem cells via multiple pathways

BackgroundAll-trans retinoic acid (RA) is one of the most important morphogens with pleiotropic actions. Its embryonic distribution correlates with neural differentiation in the developing central nervous system. To explore the precise effects of RA on neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), we detected expression of RA nuclear receptors and RA-metabolizing enzymes in mouse ESCs and investigated the roles of RA in adherent monolayer culture.ResultsUpon addition of RA, cell differentiation was directed rapidly and exclusively into the neural lineage. Conversely, pharmacological interference with RA signaling suppressed this neural differentiation. Inhibition of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling did not suppress significantly neural differentiation in RA-treated cultures. Pharmacological interference with extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway or activation of Wnt pathway effectively blocked the RA-promoted neural specification. ERK phosphorylation was enhanced in RA-treated cultures at the early stage of differentiation.ConclusionRA can promote neural lineage entry by ESCs in adherent monolayer culture systems. This effect depends on RA signaling and its crosstalk with the ERK and Wnt pathways.

Pleiotropy of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Inhibition by CHIR99021 Promotes Self-Renewal of Embryonic Stem Cells from Refractory Mouse Strains

Background Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) improves the efficiency of embryonic stem (ES) cell derivation from various strains of mice and rats, as well as dramatically promotes ES cell self-renewal potential. β-catenin has been reported to be involved in the maintenance of self-renewal of ES cells through TCF dependent and independent pathway. But the intrinsic difference between ES cell lines from different species and strains has not been characterized. Here, we dissect the mechanism of GSK-3 inhibition by CHIR99021 in mouse ES cells from refractory mouse strains. Methodology/Principal Findings We found that CHIR99021, a GSK-3 specific inhibitor, promotes self-renewal of ES cells from recalcitrant C57BL/6 (B6) and BALB/c mouse strains through stabilization of β-catenin and c-Myc protein levels. Stabilized β-catenin promoted ES self-renewal through two mechanisms. First, β-catenin translocated into the nucleus to maintain stem cell pluripotency in a lymphoid-enhancing factor/T-cell factor–independent manner. Second, β-catenin binds plasma membrane-localized E-cadherin, which ensures a compact, spherical morphology, a hallmark of ES cells. Further, elevated c-Myc protein levels did not contribute significantly to CH-mediated ES cell self-renewal. Instead, the role of c-Myc is dependent on its transformation activity and can be replaced by N-Myc but not L-Myc. β-catenin and c-Myc have similar effects on ES cells derived from both B6 and BALB/c mice. Conclusions/Significance Our data demonstrated that GSK-3 inhibition by CH promotes self-renewal of mouse ES cells with non-permissive genetic backgrounds by regulation of multiple signaling pathways. These findings would be useful to improve the availability of normally non-permissive mouse strains as research tools.

Differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into hepatocytes induced by a combination of cytokines and sodium butyrate

There is increasing evidence to suggest that embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are capable of differentiating into hepatocytes in vitro. In this study, we used a combination of cytokines and sodium butyrate in a novel three‐step procedure to efficiently direct the differentiation of mouse ESCs into hepatocytes. Mouse ESCs were first differentiated into definitive endoderm cells by 3 days of treatment with Activin A. The definitive endoderm cells were then differentiated into hepatocytes by the addition of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and sodium butyrate to the culture medium for 5 days. After 10 days of further in vitro maturation, the morphological and phenotypic markers of hepatocytes were characterized using immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Furthermore, the cells were tested for functions associated with mature hepatocytes, including glycogen storage and indocyanine green uptake and release, and the ratio of hepatic differentiation was determined by counting the percentage of albumin‐positive cells. In the presence of medium containing cytokines and sodium butyrate, numerous epithelial cells resembling hepatocytes were observed, and ∼74% of the cells expressed the hepatic marker, albumin, after 18 days in culture. RT‐PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry showed that these cells expressed adult liver cell markers, and had the abilities of glycogen storage and indocyanine green uptake and release. We have developed an efficient method for directing the differentiation of mouse ESCs into cells that exhibit the characteristics of mature hepatocytes. This technique will be useful for research into the molecular mechanisms underlying liver development, and could provide a source of hepatocytes for transplantation therapy and drug screening. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 606–614, 2010.

A hybrid protein of the amino-terminal fragment of urokinase and mutant plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 efficiently inhibits tumor cell invasion and metastasis

Abstract The urokinase plasminogen activator(uPA) system plays important roles in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of ATF-PAI2CD, a hybrid protein of the amino-terminal fragment of urokinase and mutant plasminogen activator inhibitor-2, on 95D cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, our results support a current hypothesis that fusion protein blocks tumor invasion and motility by inhibiting localized pericellular proteolysis. Treatment of 95D cells with ATF-PAI2CD resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in tumor-cell invasion through matrigel, and ATF-PAI2CD was much more effective than PAI-2CD. In addition, extracellular regular protein kinase (ERK1/2) expression was downregulated and the adhesion ability to fibronectin was increased in 95D cells treated with the fusion protein, which was confirmed by cell adhesion assay. A high-concentration of ATF-PAI2CD caused a significant reduction in tumor volume and weight in BALB/c (nu/nu) mice female inoculated with human 95D cells (5×106); the antitumor effects were significant, which demonstrated a 67.9±4.2% reduction in tumor growth compared with control mice. The number of lymphatic metastasis was significantly reduced in mice treated with high- and middle- concentrations of ATF-PAI2CD, whereas a low-concentration of ATF-PAI2CD failed to exhibit any antimetastatic effects. In conclusion, the results suggested that the hybrid protein has therapeutic potential for lung carcinoma and other tumors to inhibit tumor invasion and metastasis.

Targeted Knockdown of RNA-Binding Protein TIAR for Promoting Self-Renewal and Attenuating Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells.

RNA-binding protein TIAR has been suggested to mediate the translational silencing of ARE-containing mRNAs. To analyze the functions of TIAR, we established RNAi and genetic rescue assays. We evaluated the expression of neuroectoderm markers Pax6 and nestin, mesoderm markers brachyury and Flk1, and hypoblast and definitive endoderm markers Sox17 and Gata6 during EB differentiation and found that knockdown TIAR expression restrained the differentiation of E14 cells. We assessed gene expression levels of Flk-1 and VE-cadherin and observed attenuated differentiation of E14 cells into endothelial cells upon downregulation of TIAR gene expression. As such, we hypothesized an essential role of TIAR related to EB differentiation. As TIAR inhibits the translation of c-myc, we proposed that downregulation of TIAR results in restrained differentiation of E14 cells, due in part to the function of c-myc. We found that TIAR inhibited c-myc expression at the translational level in E14 cells; accordingly, a reduction of TIAR expression promoted self-renewal of pluripotent cells and attenuated differentiation. Additionally, we established that TIAR inhibited TIA-1 expression at the translational level in E14 cells. Taken together, we have contributed to the understanding of the regulatory relationships between TIAR and both c-myc and TIA-1.