Derivation of human embryonic stem cell line MUSIe001-A from an embryo with homozygous α0-thalassemia (SEA deletion)

Role of YAP in hematopoietic differentiation and erythroid lineage specification of human-induced pluripotent stem cells

BACKGROUND

In vitro production of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provides opportunities for fundamental research, disease modeling, and large-scale production of HLA-matched HSPCs for therapeutic applications. However, a comprehensive understanding of the signaling mechanisms that regulate human hematopoiesis is needed to develop a more effective procedure for deriving HSPCs from hiPSCs.

METHODS

In this study, we investigate the role of YAP during the hematopoietic differentiation of hiPSCs to HSPCs and erythrocytes using the isogenic YAP-overexpressing (YAP-S5A) and YAP-depleting (YAP-KD) hiPSCs to eliminate the effects of a genetic background variation.

RESULTS

Although YAP is dispensable for maintaining the self-renewal and pluripotency of these hiPSCs, it affects the early cell-fate determination and hematopoietic differentiation of hiPSCs. Depleting YAP enhances the derivation efficiency of HSPCs from hiPSCs by inducing the mesodermal lineage commitment, promoting hematopoietic differentiation, and preventing the differentiation toward endothelial lineage. On the contrary, the overexpression of YAP reduced HSPCs yield by inducing the endodermal lineage commitment, suppressing hematopoietic differentiation, and promoting the differentiation toward endothelial lineage.

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of YAP is crucial for the differentiation of hiPSC-derived HSPCs toward mature erythrocytes. We believe that by manipulating YAP activity using small molecules, the efficiency of the large-scale in vitro production system for generating hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells for future therapeutic use could be improved.

Derivation of the MUSIe002-A human embryonic stem cell line

The MUSIe002-A cell line was established from in vitro fertilization of human sperm and oocytes donated for research with informed consent. This cell line exhibited normal human embryonic stem cell (hESC) characteristics, including typical cell morphology, expression of all pluripotent stem cell markers, and potential to differentiate into three germ layers. A karyotyping analysis revealed 46 XY chromosome and cells that did not have mycoplasma contamination. MUSIe002-A represents a valuable unlimited cell source and is of potential interest for human in vitro stem cell based-models, genetic modifications, and stem cell-based therapy of human disease.