V. V. Zenin

Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells of desquamated endometrium: Isolation, characterization, and application as a feeder layer for maintenance of human embryonic stem cells

In this study, we characterize new multipotent human mesenchymal stem cell lines (MSCs) derived from desquamated (shedding) endometrium of menstrual blood. The isolated endometrial MSC (eMSC) is an adhesive to plastic heterogeneous population composed mainly of endometrial glandular and stromal cells. The established cell lines meet the criteria of the International Society for Cellular Therapy for defining multipotent human MSCs of any origin. The eMSCs have positive expression of CD13, CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105 markers and lack hematopoietic cell surface antigens CD19, CD34, CD45, CD117, CD130, and HLA-DR (class II). Multipotency of the established eMSCs is confirmed by their ability to differentiate into other mesodermal lineages, such as osteocytes and adipocytes. In addition, the isolated eMSCs partially (over 50%) express the pluripotency marker SSEA-4. However, they do not express Oct-4. Immunofluorescent analysis of the derived cells revealed the expression of the neural precursor markers nestin and β-III-tubulin. This suggests a neural predisposition of the established eMSCs. These cells are characterized by a high proliferation rate (doubling time 22–23 h) and a high colony-forming efficiency (about 60%). In vitro, the eMSCs undergo more than 45 population doublings without karyotypic abnormalities. We demonstrate that mitotically inactivated eMSCs are perfect feeder cells for maintenance of human embryonic stem cell lines (hESCs) C612 and C910. The eMSCs, being a feeder culture, sustain the hESC pluripotent status that verified by expression of Oct-4, alkaline phosphatase and SSEA-4 markers. The hESCs cocultured with the eMSCs retain their morphology and proliferative rate for more than 40 passages and exhibit the capability for spontaneous differentiation into embryoid bodies comprising three embryonic germ layers. Thus, an easy and noninvasive isolation of the eMSCs from menstrual blood, their multipotency and high proliferative activity in vitro without karyotypic abnormalities demonstrate the potential of use of these stem cells in regenerative medicine. Using the derived eMSCs as the feeder culture eliminates the risks associated with animal cells while transferring hESCs to clinical setting.

Evidence for the existence of satellite DNA‐containing connection between metaphase chromosomes

Physical connections between mitotic chromosomes have been reported previously. It was assumed that the interchromosome connection was based on the DNA‐protein thread. However, the data about DNA sequences and protein component in the thread is fragmentary. We demonstrated on the mouse cultured cell line and prematurely condensed chromosomes that: (a) all four mouse satellite DNA fragments (major and minor satellite, mouse satellite 3 (MS3) and mouse satellite 4 (MS4)) were involved in the thread formation; (b) MS4 was involved in the thread to the least extent among all the other fragments; (c) telomere was never a member of the thread; (d) the thread was synthesized at a late G2 phase; (e) RNA helicase p68 and CENP‐B were among the protein components of the interchromosome connection. It was shown by FACS analysis that in mouse and human cell lines: (1) the flow karyotype spectrums were never free from chromosome aggregates; (2) chromosome association did not depend on the chromosome length and each chromosome was free to associate with the other. J. Cell. Biochem. 101: 1046–1061, 2007.

Reactive Oxygen Species Are Required for Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Initiate Proliferation after the Quiescence Exit.

The present study focuses on the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the process of mesenchymal stem cells “waking up” and entering the cell cycle after the quiescence. Using human endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs), we showed that intracellular basal ROS level is positively correlated with the proliferative status of the cell cultures. Our experiments with the eMSCs synchronized in the G0 phase of the cell cycle revealed a transient increase in the ROS level upon the quiescence exit after stimulation of the cell proliferation. This increase was registered before the eMSC entry to the S-phase of the cell cycle, and elimination of this increase by antioxidants (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, Tempol, and Resveratrol) blocked G1–S-phase transition. Similarly, a cell cycle arrest which resulted from the antioxidant treatment was observed in the experiments with synchronized human mesenchymal stem cells derived from the adipose tissue. Thus, we showed that physiologically relevant level of ROS is required for the initiation of human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and that low levels of ROS due to the antioxidant treatment can block the stem cell self-renewal.

Heat shock induces apoptosis in human embryonic stem cells but a premature senescence phenotype in their differentiated progeny

Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are able to self-renew and to differentiate into any cell type. To escape error transmission to future cell progeny, ESC require robust mechanisms to ensure genomic stability. It was stated that stress defense of mouse and human ESC against oxidative stress and irradiation is superior compared with differentiated cells. Here, we investigated heat shock response of human ESC (hESC) and their differentiated progeny. Fibroblast-like cells were generated by spontaneous hESC differentiation via embryoid bodies. Like normal human diploid fibroblasts, these cells have a finite lifespan in culture, undergo replicative senescence and die. We found that sublethal heat shock affected survival of both cell types, but in hESC it induced apoptosis, whereas in differentiated cells it produced cell cycle arrest and premature senescence phenotype. Heat shock survived hESC and differentiated cells restored the properties of initial cells. Heated hESC progeny exhibited pluripotent markers and the capacity to differentiate into the cells of three germ layers. Fibroblast-like cells resisted heat shock, proliferated for a limited number of passages and entered replicative senescence as unheated parental cells. Taken together, these results show for the first time that both hESC and their differentiated derivatives are sensitive to heat shock, but the mechanisms of their stress response are different: hESC undergo apoptosis, whereas differentiated cells under the same conditions exhibit stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) phenotype. Both cell types that survived sublethal heat shock sustain parental cell properties.

Comparative characteristics of new lines of mesenchymal stem cells derived from human embryonic stem cells, bone marrow, and foreskin

New human nonimmortalized fibroblast-like cell lines were derived from various sources: from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) (the SC5-MSC and SC3a-MSC lines), from bone marrow of a 5- to 6-week-old fetus (the FetMSC line), and from foreskin of a 3-year-old child (the FRSN line). All the lines are successfully used as feeders during cultivation of human ESCs. The mean doubling time of the cell populations fluctuates depending on the line from 25.5 h in the SC5-MSC line to 38.8 h in the SC3a-MSC line. The growth curves indicate active cell proliferation of all lines. Numerical and structural karyotypical analysis has shown these lines to have a normal karyotype: 46, XX (SC5-MSC and SC3a-MSC) and 46, XY (FetMSC and FRSN). To determine the status of these lines, comparative analysis of surface markers was performed with the aid of flow cytofluorimetry, and expression of the c antigens characteristic of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was revealed: CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, and HLA-ABC and the absence of expression of CD34 and HLA-DR. Interlinear differences in the expression level of the marker CD117 (c-kit) were revealed. Immunofluorescent and cytofluorimetric analysis of expression of surface markers and transcription factor Oct-4 that are characteristic of human ESCs has shown that, in all four lines, expression of TRA-1-60 and Oct-4 is absent, whereas in expression of SSEA-4 there are observed the interlinear differences not depending on the origin of cells. At present it is not yet clear whether the revealed interlinear differences affect essentially the functional status of mesenchymal stem cells. Immunofluorescent analysis in cells of all lines showed expression of markers of early differentiation into derivatives of three germ layers characterizing ESCs, which might possibly provide wide MSC possibilities during reparation of different tissue damages, depending on the corresponding microenvironment. The capability of cells of all lines for directed differentiation into the adipogenic and osteogenic directions was revealed.

Both Orai1 and TRPC1 are Involved in Excessive Store-Operated Calcium Entry in Striatal Neurons Expressing Mutant Huntingtin Exon 1

It has been previously reported that N-terminus of mutant huntingtin (product of the 1st exon) is sufficient to cause a Huntingtons disease (HD) pathological phenotype. In view of recent data suggesting that improper regulation of store-operated calcium (SOC) channels is involved in neurodegenerative processes, we investigated influence of expression of the mutant huntingtin N-terminal fragment (Htt138Q-1exon) on SOC entry (SOCE) in mouse neuroblastoma cells (Neuro-2a) and in primary culture of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) isolated from mice. The results show that SOCE in these cells is enhanced upon lentiviral expression of the Htt138Q-1exon. Moreover, we demonstrated that RNAi-mediated knockdown of TRPC1, Orai1, or STIM1 proteins leads to dramatic reduction of abnormal SOCE in both Neuro-2a and MSNs, expressing Htt138Q-1exon. Thus, we concluded that abnormal SOCE in these cells is maintained by both TRPC1- and Orai1-containing channels and required STIM1 for its activation. Furthermore, EVP4593 compound previously tested as a potential anti-HD drug in a Drosophila screening system has proved to be capable of reducing SOCE to the normal level in MSNs expressing the Htt138Q-1exon.

Novel human embryonic stem cell lines C612 and C910

Novel human embryonic stem cell lines C612 and C910 have been established from atching blastocytes. Cells were cultivated in mTeSR medium on a mouse fibroblast feeder layer; they exhibit common pluripotent markers, such as alkaline phosphatase, Oct 3/4, SSEA-4, Nanog, Rex1. The immunophenotyping of these cells by flow cytometry revealed CD90 (Thy-1) and CD117 (c-kit) antigens and showed weak or no expression of CD13, CD34, CD45, CD130, and HLA class I and II antigens, which is typical for human embryonic stem cells. Karyotypic structure of C612 and C910 assayed by the G-banding of metaphase plates is normal in both chromosome number and structure. The cells generate embryoid bodies, undergo spontaneous differentiation, and express three germ-layer markers (nestin, keratin, vimentin ectoderm), α-fetoprotein (entoderm), muscle α-actinin (mesoderm), i.e., possess pluripotent potency. Thus, C612 and C910 display accepted human embryonic stem cell properties, including unlimited self-renewal, expression of pluripotent markers, ability to differentiate into three germ layers, and are diploid; therefore, they may be of potential use for fundamental research, as well as for replacement therapy studies.

Intracellular oxidation of hydroethidine: compartmentalization and cytotoxicity of oxidation products.

Hydroethidine (HE) is a blue fluorescent dye that is intracellularly converted into red-emitting products on two-electron oxidation. One of these products, namely 2-hydroxyethidium, is formed as the result of HE superoxide anion-specific oxidation, and so HE is widely used for the detection of superoxide in cells and tissues. In our experiments we exploited three cell lines of different origin: K562 (human leukemia cells), A431 (human epidermoid carcinoma cells), and SCE2304 (human mesenchymal stem cells derived from endometrium). Using fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry analysis, we showed that HE intracellular oxidation products accumulate mostly in the cell mitochondria. This accumulation provokes gradual depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, affects oxygen consumption rate in HE-treated cells, and causes cellular apoptosis in the case of high HE concentrations and/or long cell incubations with HE, as well as a high rate of HE oxidation in cells exposed to some stimuli.

Mesenchymal stem cells from human endometrium do not undergo spontaneous transformation during long-term cultivation

Human-endometrium mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs) are a promising source of stem cells for regenerative medicine. A large amount of these cells accumulated by in vitro cultivation are usually required for transplantation into patients. We established several cell eMSC lines and cultivated them over a long period to examine the possibility of spontaneous transformation. All cell lines exhibit limited lifespan, undergo replicative senescence, and die. Karyotypic analysis upon different passages reveals that most cells display karyotypic stability. Thus, extended in vitro cultivation of eMSCs does not lead to spontaneous transformation, which makes therapeutic application of these cells safe for patients. During long-term cultivation, eMSCs maintain the expression of surface markers.

A comparative analysis of mesenchymal stem-cell lines derived from bone marrow and limb muscle of early human embryos

The properties of mesenchymal stem-cell (MSC) lines derived from bone marrow (FetMSC) and limb muscle (M-FetMSC) of 5- to 6-week human embryos were assayed. The main cell-line characteristics were obtained at the sixth passage. The average cell-population doubling time was 33.0 ± 1.4 h for FetMSC and 25.0 ± 0.1 h for M-FetMSC. Growth curves indicated active cell proliferation. Numerical and structural karyotypic analysis showed that these lines have normal karyotype, 46, XY. Cell surface markers were analyzed by flow cytometry. It was found that the cells express CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, and HLA-ABC surface antigens and vimentin, which are common for human MSC beings, and lack CD34 and HLA-DR. The cells were capable of osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation. Immunofluorescence and flow-cytometry assays reveled a lack of surface antigen TRA-1-60, high expression of surface antigen SSEA-4, and low expression of transcription factor Oct-4 attributed to human embryonic stem cells. Immunofluorescence analysis showed the presence of early differentiation markers, three germ-layer derivatives for human embryonic stem cells. This makes MSCs useful for repair of damaged tissue in the corresponding microenvironment. Despite their shared MSC status, the FetMSC and M-FetMSC lines displayed some interlinear differences related to growth characteristics and differentiation potential. The MFetMSC line exhibited reduced potential for adipogenic differentiation compared to the FetMSC line. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed Z-disks in M-FetMSC, but not in FetMSC, during skeletal-muscle differentiation. These findings suggest that the different microenvironment has an influence when cells are in an organism before their transplantation in vitro.