Cynomolgus monkey embryonic stem cell lines express green fluorescent protein

Embryonic stem cells in non-human primates: An overview of neural differentiation potential

Non-human primate (NHP) embryonic stem (ES) cells show unlimited proliferative capacities and a great potential to generate multiple cell lineages. These properties make them an ideal resource both for investigating early developmental processes and for assessing their therapeutic potential in numerous models of degenerative diseases. They share the same markers and the same properties with human ES cells, and thus provide an invaluable transitional model that can be used to address the safety issues related to the clinical use of human ES cells. Here, we review the available information on the derivation and the specific features of monkey ES cells. We comment on the capacity of primate ES cells to differentiate into neural lineages and the current protocols to generate self-renewing neural stem cells. We also highlight the signalling pathways involved in the maintenance of these neural cell types. Finally, we discuss the potential of monkey ES cells for neuronal differentiation.

Efficient genetic modification of cynomolgus monkey embryonic stem cells with lentiviral vectors

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the ability to undergo indefinite self-renewal in vitro and give rise during development to derivatives of all three primary germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm), which make them a highly prized reagent in cell and gene therapy. Efficient introduction of various genes of interest into primate ES cells has proven to be difficult. Here, we demonstrated that the self-inactivating HIV-1-based lentiviral vectors constructed by MultiSite gateway technology are efficient tools for the transduction of cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fasicularis) ES (cmES) cells. After antibiotic selection, all of the transduced cells can stably express the reporter gene (humanized Renilla GFP or dTomato) while maintaining their stem cell properties, including continuous expression of stem cell markers, alkaline phosphatase (AKP), OCT-4, SSEA-4, and TRA-1-60, formation of embryoid bodies in vitro and teratomas in vivo containing derivatives of three embryonic germ layers. This approach will provide a useful tool for both gene function studies and in vivo cell tracking of stem cells.

Derivation and cloning of a novel rhesus embryonic stem cell line stably expressing tau-green fluorescent protein

Embryonic stem cells (ESC) have the ability of indefinite self-renewal and multilineage differentiation, and they carry great potential in cell-based therapies. The rhesus macaque is the most relevant preclinical model for assessing the benefit, safety, and efficacy of ESC-based transplantations in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In the case of neural cell grafting, tracing both the neurons and their axonal projections in vivo is essential for studying the integration of the grafted cells in the host brain. Tau-Green fluorescent protein (tau-GFP) is a powerful viable lineage tracer, allowing visualization of cell bodies, dendrites, and axons in exquisite detail. Here, we report the first rhesus monkey ESC line that ubiquitously and stably expresses tau-GFP. First, we derived a new line of rhesus monkey ESC (LYON-ES1) that show marker expression and cell cycle characteristics typical of primate ESCs. LYON-ES1 cells are pluripotent, giving rise to derivatives of the three germ layers in vitro and in vivo through teratoma formation. They retain all their undifferentiated characteristics and a normal karyotype after prolonged culture. Using lentiviral infection, we then generated a monkey ESC line stably expressing tau-GFP that retains all the characteristics of the parental wild-type line and is clonogenic. We show that neural precursors derived from the tau-GFP ESC line are multipotent and that their fate can be precisely mapped in vivo after grafting in the adult rat brain. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.