Linda Harkness

Long-term ovarian function in sheep after ovariectomy and transplantation of autografts stored at -196 C

We have previously demonstrated that ovarian function and fertility can be preserved in sheep after castration by autotransplantation of cryopreserved strips of ovarian cortex. In the current experiments we have investigated the long term survival of such grafts by detailed measurements of ovarian function for a period of nearly 2 yr after autotransplantation. After ovariectomy and transplantation of frozen/thawed grafts, the concentrations of FSH and LH rose to castrate levels for about 14 weeks before falling gradually to reach near-normal levels at about 60 weeks. In the breeding season from October 1994 to March 1995, all ewes had 5-10 estrous cycles that were similar in length to those in the 4 control ewes. Luteal function as indicated by the progesterone concentration was identical before and 11 months after transplantation. In contrast, the basal concentrations of FSH and LH were persistently raised throughout the luteal phase, but showed a normal decline during the follicular phase. The concentration of inhibin A in ovarian venous plasma measured at the end of the experiment 22 months after transplantation was significantly lower than that in control ewes (mean +/- SE, 409 +/- 118 vs. 1914 +/- 555 pg/ml; P < 0.004). Transplantation of frozen/thawed ovarian tissue to SCID mice demonstrated that about 28% of primordial follicles survived the procedure. All of the ovaries transplanted into sheep contained large antral follicles and/or cysts, but very few primordial oocytes when recovered at autopsy after 22 months. These results demonstrate that despite a drastic reduction in the total number of primordial follicles, cyclical ovarian function is preserved in sheep after autotransplantation of frozen/thawed ovarian tissue and provide experimental confirmation that such a technique could provide a means of preserving fertility in women undergoing chemo- or radiotherapy for malignant disease.

Evaluation of Gestational Deficiencies in Cloned Sheep Fetuses and Placentae

Abstract Sheep fetal development at 35 days of gestation was examined following natural mating, in vitro production (IVP) of fertilized embryos, or somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT). Five crossbred (Blackface × Black Welsh) and four purebred (Black Welsh) fetuses and their associated placentae produced by natural mating were morphologically normal and consistent with each other. From 10 ewes receiving 21 IVP embryos, 17 fetuses (81%) were recovered, and 15 of these (88%) were normal. The NT fetuses were derived from two Black Welsh fetal fibroblast cell lines (BLW1 and 6). Transfer of 21 BLW1 and 22 BLW6 NT embryos into 12 and 11 ewes, respectively, yielded 7 (33%) and 8 (36%) fetuses, respectively. Only three (43%) BLW1 and two (25%) BLW6 NT fetuses were normal, with the rest being developmentally retarded. The NT fetal and placental deficiencies included liver enlargement, dermal hemorrhaging, and lack of placental vascular development reflected by reduced or absent cotyledonary structures. Fibroblasts isolated from normal and abnormal cloned fetuses did not differ in their karyotype from sexually conceived fetuses or nuclear donor cell lines. Our results demonstrate that within the first quarter of gestation, cloned fetuses are characterized by a high incidence of developmental retardation and placental insufficiency. These deficiencies are not linked to gross defects in chromosome number.

Teratoma Formation by Human Embryonic Stem Cells Is Site Dependent and Enhanced by the Presence of Matrigel

When implanted into immunodeficient mice, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) give rise to teratoma, tumor-like formations containing tissues belonging to all three germ layers. The ability to form teratoma is a sine qua non characteristic of pluripotent stem cells. However, limited data are available regarding the effects of implantation site and the methods employed for implantation on the success rate of teratoma formation. In this study, the rate of teratoma formation in immunodeficient mice was site dependent: subcutaneous (25-100%), intratesticular (60%), intramuscular (12.5%), and under the kidney capsule (100%). Co-injecting the hESCs with Matrigel increased subcutaneous teratoma formation efficiency from 25-40% to 80-100%. We did not observe site-specific differences in the teratoma composition at the histological level. However, subcutaneous teratomas were quite distinct, easy to remove, and caused minimal discomfort to the mice. Also, subcutaneous teratomas displayed larger proportion of solid tissues as opposed to cyst formation that dominated the teratomas formed at the other sites. Interestingly, a chromosomally abnormal hESCs with trisomy 20 formed teratomas where the ratio of differentiated to undifferentiated tissues was significantly decreased suggesting defective pluripotency of the cells. In conclusion, subcutaneous implantation of hESCs in presence of Matrigel appears to be the most efficient, reproducible, and the easiest approach for teratoma formation by hESCs. Also, teratoma formation can be employed to study the development defects exhibited by the chromosomally abnormal hESC lines.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer in the pig: Control of pronuclear formation and integration with improved methods for activation and maintenance of pregnancy

Abstract To clone a pig from somatic cells, we first validated an electrical activation method for use on ovulated oocytes. We then evaluated delayed versus simultaneous activation (DA vs. SA) strategies, the use of 2 nuclear donor cells, and the use of cytoskeletal inhibitors during nuclear transfer. Using enucleated ovulated oocytes as cytoplasts for fetal fibroblast nuclei and transferring cloned embryos into a recipient within 2 h of activation, a 2-h delay between electrical fusion and activation yielded blastocysts more reliably and with a higher nuclear count than did SA. Comparable rates of development using DA were obtained following culture of embryos cloned from ovulated or in vitro-matured cytoplasts and fibroblast or cumulus nuclei. Treatment of cloned embryos with cytochalasin B (CB) postfusion and for 6 h after DA had no impact on blastocyst development as compared with CB treatment postfusion only. Inclusion of a microtubule inhibitor such as nocodozole with CB before and after DA improved nuclear retention and favored the formation of single pronuclei in experiments using a membrane dye to reliably monitor fusion. However, no improvement in blastocyst development was observed. Using fetal fibroblasts as nuclear donor cells, a live cloned piglet was produced in a pregnancy that was maintained by cotransfer of parthenogenetic embryos.

Enhanced differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to mesenchymal progenitors by inhibition of TGF-β/activin/nodal signaling using SB-431542

Directing differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into specific cell types using an easy and reproducible protocol is a prerequisite for the clinical use of hESCs in regenerative‐medicine procedures. Here, we report a protocol for directing the differentiation of hESCs into mesenchymal progenitor cells. We demonstrate that inhibition of transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β)/activin/nodal signaling during embryoid body (EB) formation using SB‐431542 (SB) in serum‐free medium markedly upregulated paraxial mesodermal markers (TBX6, TBX5) and several myogenic developmental markers, including early myogenic transcriptional factors (Myf5, Pax7), as well as myocyte‐committed markers [NCAM, CD34, desmin, MHC (fast), α‐smooth muscle actin, Nkx2.5, cTNT]. Continuous inhibition of TGF‐β signaling in EB outgrowth cultures (SB‐OG) enriched for myocyte progenitor cells; markers were PAX7+ (25%), MYOD1+ (52%), and NCAM+ (CD56) (73%). DNA microarray analysis revealed differential upregulation of 117 genes (>2‐fold compared with control cells) annotated to myogenic development and function. Moreover, these cells showed the ability to contract (80% of the population) and formed myofibers when implanted intramuscularly in vivo. Interestingly, SB‐OG cells cultured in 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) developed into a homogeneous population of mesenchymal progenitors that expressed CD markers characteristic of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs): CD44+ (100%), CD73+ (98%), CD146+ (96%), and CD166+ (88%) with the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, microarray analysis of these cells revealed downregulation of genes related to myogenesis: MYH3 (−167.9‐fold), ACTA1 (−161‐fold), MYBPH (−139‐fold), ACTC (−100.3‐fold), MYH8 (−45.5‐fold), and MYOT (−41.8‐fold) and marked upregulation of genes related to mesoderm‐derived cell lineages. In conclusion, our data provides a simple and versatile protocol for directing the differentiation of hESCs into a myogenic lineage and then further into mesenchymal progenitors by blocking the TGF‐β signaling pathway.

Germinal Vesicle Material Is Essential for Nucleus Remodeling after Nuclear Transfer

Abstract Successful cloning by nuclear transfer has been reported with somatic or embryonic stem (ES) cell nucleus injection into enucleated mouse metaphase II oocytes. In this study, we enucleated mouse oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) or pro-metaphase I (pro-MI) stage and cultured the cytoplasm to the MII stage. Nuclei from cells of the R1 ES cell line were injected into both types of cytoplasm to evaluate developmental potential of resulting embryos compared to MII cytoplasmic injection. Immunocytochemical staining revealed that a spindle started to organize 30 min after nucleus injection into all three types of cytoplasm. A well-organized bipolar spindle resembling an MII spindle was present in both pro-MI and MII cytoplasm 1 h after injection with ES cells. However, in the mature GV cytoplasm, chromosomes were distributed throughout the cytoplasm and a much bigger spindle was formed. Pseudopronucleus formation was observed in pro-MI and MII cytoplasm after activation treatment. Although no pronucleus formation was found in GV cytoplasm, chromosomes segregated into two groups in response to activation. Only 8.1% of reconstructed embryos with pro-MI cytoplasm developed to the morula stage after culture in CZB medium. In contrast, 53.5% of embryos reconstructed with MII cytoplasm developed to the morula/blastocyst stage, and 5.3% of transferred embryos developed to term. These results indicate that GV material is essential for nucleus remodeling after nuclear transfer.

Effect of Cell Confluence on Production of Cloned Mice Using an Inbred Embryonic Stem Cell Line

Abstract Mice have been successfully cloned from both somatic cells and hybrid embryonic stem (ES) cells. Heterozygosity of the donor ES cell genome has been suggested as a crucial factor for long-term survival of cloned mice. In the present study, an inbred ES cell line, HM-1 (129/Ola), and a well-tested ES cell line, R1 (129/Sv × 129/Sv-CP), were used as donor cells to evaluate the developmental potential of nuclear transfer embryos. We found that ES cell confluence dramatically affects the developmental potential of reconstructed embryos. With the ES cell line HM-1 and 80–90% confluence, 49% of reconstructed embryos developed to the morula/blastocyst stage, 9% of these embryos developed to live pups when transferred to the surrogate mothers, and 5 of 18 live pups survived to adulthood. By contrast, at 60–70% confluence, only 22% of embryos developed to the morula/blastocyst stage, and after transfer, only a single fetus reached term. Consistent with previous reports, the nuclei of R1 ES cells were also shown to direct development to term, but no live pups were derived from cells at later passages (>20). Our results show that the developmental potential of reconstructed embryos is determined by both cell confluence and cell passage. These results also demonstrate that the inbred ES cell line, HM-1, can be used to produce viable cloned mice, although less efficiently than most heterozygous ES cell lines.

Selective isolation and differentiation of a stromal population of human embryonic stem cells with osteogenic potential

The derivation of osteogenic cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) has been hampered by the absence of easy and reproducible protocols. hESC grown in feeder-free conditions, often show a sub population of fibroblast-like, stromal cells growing between the colonies. Thus, we examined the possibility that these cells represent a population of stromal (mesenchymal) stem cells (hESC-stromal). Two in house derived hES cell lines (Odense3 and KMEB3) as well as an externally derived cell line (Hues8) were transitioned to feeder-free conditions. A sub population of fibroblast-like cells established between the hESC colonies were isolated by selective adherence to hyaluronic acid-coated plates (100 μg/ml) and were characterized using a combination of FACS analysis and staining. The cells were CD44(+), CD29(+), CD73(+), CD166(+), CD146(+), and CD105(+); and, Oct4⁻, CD34⁻, CD45⁻ and CXCR4⁻. When cultured in osteogenic differentiation media, up regulation of osteoblastic lineage markers (DLX5, MSX2, RUNX2, SPARC, ALP, COL1a1, BGLAP, IBSP, DCN, LOX-L4) and production of in vitro mineralized matrix was detected. hESC-stromal cells loaded on a carrier and implanted either subcutaneously or in a critical size calvarial defect in immune deficient mice for 10 weeks, resulted in new bone formation and partial repair of the calvarial defect. In conclusion, hESC-stromal can be isolated from hESC cultures and represent a good source for obtaining cells with osteogenic differentiation potential suitable for regenerative medicine protocols.

Distinct GAGE and MAGE-A expression during early human development indicate specific roles in lineage differentiation

BACKGROUND Expression of cancer/testis-associated proteins (CTAs) has traditionally been considered to be restricted to germ cells in normal tissues and to different types of malignancies. We have evaluated the potential role of CTAs in early human development. METHODS Using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, we investigated the expression of CTAs in differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and in late embryos and early fetuses. RESULTS We found that melanoma antigen A (MAGE-A) family members were expressed during differentiation of hESC to embryoid bodies and in teratomas, and overlapped with expression of the neuroectodermal markers beta-tubulin 3, Pax6 and nestin. A widespread expression of MAGE-A was also observed in neurons of the early developing central nervous system and peripheral nerves. G antigen (GAGE) expression was present in the early ectoderm of embryos, including cells of the ectodermal ring and apical epidermal ridge. Neuroectodermal cells in the floor plate and adjacent processes and endfeet of radial glial cells also expressed GAGE. In addition, GAGE family members were expressed in the peripheral adrenal cortex of 6-9-week-old embryos and fetuses, which specifically correlated with massive cellular proliferation and establishment of the definitive and fetal zones. Overlapping expression of MAGE-A and GAGE proteins occurred in migrating primordial germ cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that CTAs, in addition to their role in germ cells, may be involved in early development of various types of somatic cells, and suggest that they are implicated in specific differentiation processes.

An update of human mesenchymal stem cell biology and their clinical uses

Abstract In the past decade, an increasing urge to develop new and novel methods for the treatment of degenerative diseases where there is currently no effective therapy has lead to the emerging of the cell therapy or cellular therapeutics approach for the management of those conditions where organ functions are restored through transplantation of healthy and functional cells. Stem cells, because of their nature, are currently considered among the most suitable cell types for cell therapy. There are an increasing number of studies that have tested the stromal stem cell functionality both in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, stromal (mesenchymal) stem cells (MSCs) are being introduced into many clinical trials due to their ease of isolation and efficacy in treating a number of disease conditions in animal preclinical disease models. The aim of this review is to revise MSC biology, their potential translation in therapy, and the challenges facing their adaptation in clinical practice.