Signals from embryonic fibroblasts induce adult intestinal epithelial cells to form nestin-positive cells with proliferation and multilineage differentiation capacity in vitro

Intersection of AHR and Wnt signaling in development, health, and disease

The AHR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor) and Wnt (wingless-related MMTV integration site) signaling pathways have been conserved throughout evolution. Appropriately regulated signaling through each pathway is necessary for normal development and health, while dysregulation can lead to developmental defects and disease. Though both pathways have been vigorously studied, there is relatively little research exploring the possibility of crosstalk between these pathways. In this review, we provide a brief background on (1) the roles of both AHR and Wnt signaling in development and disease, and (2) the molecular mechanisms that characterize activation of each pathway. We also discuss the need for careful and complete experimental evaluation of each pathway and describe existing research that explores the intersection of AHR and Wnt signaling. Lastly, to illustrate in detail the intersection of AHR and Wnt signaling, we summarize our recent findings which show that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced disruption of Wnt signaling impairs fetal prostate development.

Nestin involvement in tissue injury and cancer--a potential tumor marker?

BACKGROUND

In eukaryotic cells, the cytoskeleton contains three major filamentous components: actin microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments. Nestin represents one of the class VI intermediate filament proteins. Clinical and molecular analyses have revealed substantial information regarding the presence of Nestin in cells with progenitor or stem cell properties. During tissue injury Nestin is expressed in cells with progenitor cell-like properties. These cells may serve as a tissue reserve and, as such, may contribute to tissue repair. Based on currently available data, Nestin also appears to be implicated in two oncogenic processes. First, Nestin has been found to be expressed in cancer stem-like cells and poorly differentiated cancer cells and, as such, Nestin is thought to contribute to the aggressive behavior of these cells. Second, Nestin has been found to be involved in tumor angiogenesis through an interaction of cancer cells and blood vessel endothelial cells and, as such, Nestin is thought to facilitate tumor growth.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that Nestin may serve as a promising tumor marker and as a potential therapeutic target amenable to tumor suppression and angiogenesis inhibition.

In situ dividing and phagocytosing retinal microglia express nestin, vimentin, and NG2 in vivo

Background

Following injury, microglia become activated with subsets expressing nestin as well as other neural markers. Moreover, cerebral microglia can give rise to neurons in vitro. In a previous study, we analysed the proliferation potential and nestin re-expression of retinal macroglial cells such as astrocytes and Müller cells after optic nerve (ON) lesion. However, we were unable to identify the majority of proliferative nestin⁺ cells. Thus, the present study evaluates expression of nestin and other neural markers in quiescent and proliferating microglia in naïve retina and following ON transection in adult rats in vivo.

Methodology/Principal Findings

For analysis of cell proliferation and cells fates, rats received BrdU injections. Microglia in retinal sections or isolated cells were characterized using immunofluorescence labeling with markers for microglia (e.g., Iba1, CD11b), cell proliferation, and neural cells (e.g., nestin, vimentin, NG2, GFAP, Doublecortin etc.). Cellular analyses were performed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. In the naïve adult rat retina, about 60% of resting ramified microglia expressed nestin. After ON transection, numbers of nestin⁺ microglia peaked to a maximum at 7 days, primarily due to in situ cell proliferation of exclusively nestin⁺ microglia. After 8 weeks, microglia numbers re-attained control levels, but 20% were still BrdU⁺ and nestin⁺, although no further local cell proliferation occurred. In addition, nestin⁺ microglia co-expressed vimentin and NG2, but not GFAP or neuronal markers. Fourteen days after injury and following retrograde labeling of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with Fluorogold (FG), nestin⁺NG2⁺ microglia were positive for the dye indicating an active involvement of a proliferating cell population in phagocytosing apoptotic retinal neurons.

Conclusions/Significance

The current study provides evidence that in adult rat retina, a specific resident population of microglia expresses proteins of immature neural cells that are involved in injury-induced cell proliferation and phagocytosis while transdifferentiation was not observed.

Development of patient-specific neurons in schizophrenia using induced pluripotent stem cells

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has the potential to transform regenerative medicine. It also offers a powerful tool for establishing in vitro models of disease, in particular, for neuropsychiatric disorders where live human neurons are essentially impossible to procure. Using iPSCs derived from three schizophrenia (SZ) patients, one of whom has 22q11.2del (velocardiofacial syndrome; VCFS), the authors developed a culture system to study SZ on a molecular and cellular level. SZ iPSCs were differentiated into functional, primarily glutamatergic neurons that were able to fire action potentials after ∼8 weeks in culture. Early differentiating neurons expressed a number of transcription factors/chromatin remodeling proteins and synaptic proteins relevant to SZ pathogenesis, including ZNF804A, RELN, CNTNAP2, CTNNA2, SMARCA2, and NRXN1. Although a small number of lines were developed in this preliminary study, the SZ line containing 22q11.2del showed a significant delay in the reduction of endogenous OCT4 and NANOG expression that normally occurs during differentiation. Constitutive expression of OCT4 has been observed in Dgcr8-deficient mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs); DGCR8 maps to the 22q11.2-deleted region. These findings demonstrate that the method of inducing neural differentiation employed is useful for disease modeling in SZ and that the transition of iPSCs with 22q11.2 deletions towards a differentiated state may be marked by subtle changes in expression of pluripotency-associated genes.

Dedifferentiation of human primary thyrocytes into multilineage progenitor cells without gene introduction

While identification and isolation of adult stem cells have potentially important implications, recent reports regarding dedifferentiation/reprogramming from differentiated cells have provided another clue to gain insight into source of tissue stem/progenitor cells. In this study, we developed a novel culture system to obtain dedifferentiated progenitor cells from normal human thyroid tissues. After enzymatic digestion, primary thyrocytes, expressing thyroglobulin, vimentin and cytokeratin-18, were cultured in a serum-free medium called SAGM. Although the vast majority of cells died, a small proportion (∼0.5%) survived and proliferated. During initial cell expansion, thyroglobulin/cytokeratin-18 expression was gradually declined in the proliferating cells. Moreover, sorted cells expressing thyroid peroxidase gave rise to proliferating clones in SAGM. These data suggest that those cells are derived from thyroid follicular cells or at least thyroid-committed cells. The SAGM-grown cells did not express any thyroid-specific genes. However, after four-week incubation with FBS and TSH, cytokeratin-18, thyroglobulin, TSH receptor, PAX8 and TTF1 expressions re-emerged. Moreover, surprisingly, the cells were capable of differentiating into neuronal or adipogenic lineage depending on differentiating conditions. In summary, we have developed a novel system to generate multilineage progenitor cells from normal human thyroid tissues. This seems to be achieved by dedifferentiation of thyroid follicular cells. The presently described culture system may be useful for regenerative medicine, but the primary importance will be as a tool to elucidate the mechanisms of thyroid diseases.

Identification of molecules derived from human fibroblast feeder cells that support the proliferation of human embryonic stem cells

The majority of human embryonic stem cell lines depend on a feeder cell layer for continuous growth in vitro, so that they can remain in an undifferentiated state. Limited knowledge is available concerning the molecular mechanisms that underlie the capacity of feeder cells to support both the proliferation and pluripotency of these cells. Importantly, feeder cells generally lose their capacity to support human embryonic stem cell proliferation in vitro following long-term culture. In this study, we performed large-scale gene expression profiles of human foreskin fibroblasts during early, intermediate and late passages using a custom DNA microarray platform (NeuroStem 2.0 Chip). The microarray data was validated using RT-PCR and virtual SAGE analysis. Our comparative gene expression study identified a limited number of molecular targets potentially involved in the ability of human neonatal foreskin fibroblasts to serve as feeder cells for human embryonic stem cell cultures. Among these, the C-KIT, leptin and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) genes were the most interesting candidates.

Nestin action during insulin-secreting cell differentiation

Nestin, which was initially identified as a marker of neural stem cells, has been reported in regenerating pancreas as well as in early embryonic stem (ES) cell derivatives. However, little is known about its specific roles in stem cells as a functional regulator. We investigated the source of the action of nestin in ES and adult pancreatic ductal stem (PDS) cells in regard to the neogenesis of insulin-secreting beta-cells. In ES cells, suppression of nestin by gene silencing led to an increased expression of the pluripotency-associated genes, including Oct 4, Nanog, and SSEA-1, before embryoid body (EB) formation, whereas it reduced endodermal and pancreatic transcription factors in EBs. Inhibition of nestin expression in adult PDS cells caused a low expression of pancreatic transcription factors and islet hormones, leading to poor beta-cell development and insulin secretion. These data may indicate not only that nestin is a simple stem cell marker, but also that it constitutes a functional factor at the time of stem cell differentiation. We suggest that nestin plays pivotal roles as an intermediate regulator governing both stemness and differentiation of stem cells in the process of their differentiation into insulin-secreting cells.

Periodic activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling enhances somatic cell reprogramming mediated by cell fusion

Reprogramming of nuclei allows the dedifferentiation of differentiated cells. Somatic cells can undergo epigenetic modifications and reprogramming through their fusion with embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or after overexpression of a specific blend of ESC transcription factor-encoding genes. We show here that cyclic activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in ESCs with Wnt3a or the glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) inhibitor 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (BIO) strikingly enhances the ability of ESCs to reprogram somatic cells after fusion. In addition, we show that reprogramming is triggered by a dose-dependent accumulation of active beta-catenin. Reprogrammed clones express ESC-specific genes, lose somatic differentiation markers, become demethylated on Oct4 and Nanog CpG islands, and can differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro and generate teratomas in vivo. Our data thus demonstrate that in ESCs, periodic beta-catenin accumulation via the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway provides a specific threshold that leads to the reprogramming of somatic cells after fusion.

Skin keratinocytes pre-treated with embryonic stem cell-conditioned medium or BMP4 can be directed to an alternative cell lineage

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we have investigated whether secreted factors from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) could reprogramme keratinocytes and increase their potential to be directed into alternative cell lineages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Contact and non-contact co-cultures of skin keratinocytes and murine ESCs were used initially to confirm any reprogramming ability of ESC-conditioned medium (CM). Immunofluoresence was used to assess nuclear expression of octamer-4 (Oct-4), as well as to confirm neuronal protein expression in neuroectodermally directed keratinocytes. Transcript expression changes were evaluated using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Western blotting, accompanied by densitometry analysis, was used to evaluate protein expression following morphology changes.

RESULTS

We found that keratinocytes treated with ESC-CM changed their morphology and were stimulated to express the pluripotency regulator, Oct-4, and its target transcripts, Sox-2, Nanog, Utf1 and Rex-1. We demonstrate that at least one of the reprogramming factors is bone morphogenetic factor-4 (BMP4). Pre-treated keratinocytes could be specifically directed to differentiate into cells of the neuronal lineage. The majority of responsive keratinocytes were the epidermal stem cell population, with a small percentage of transit-amplifying cells also being affected.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that ESC-CM contains a number of factors, including BMP4, which are capable of reprogramming mouse skin keratinocytes to make them more developmentally potent, as evidenced by their ability to be re-differentiated into cells of the neuronal lineage. Our findings also imply a continuum of differentiation within the basal keratinocyte population. An increase in developmental potential combined with directed differentiation could increase the therapeutic relevancy of somatic cells.

WNT-conditioned media differentially affect the proliferation and differentiation of cord blood-derived CD133+ cells in vitro

Cord blood-derived CD133+ cells have a degree of non-hematopoietic potential and express transcripts of pluripotency markers including Oct-4, Sox-2, Rex-1, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor, as well as markers of progenitor cells, such as HoxB4, brachyury, and nestin. Having shown by transcriptome analysis that the mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells routinely used to maintain pluripotent embryonic stem cells express transcripts of the WNT/BMP families of signaling factors, we have assessed the effects on proliferation and differentiation of CD133+ cells of medium conditioned (CM) by MEF, by NIH3T3, and by NIH3T3 cells stably expressing WNT1, WNT3a, WNT4, WNT5a, and WNT11. Cultivation of CD133+ cells in MEF-CM led to a significant increase in cell number after 7 days of culture, while WNT-1, WNT3a-, and WNT11-CM increased the cell number significantly by 14 days of culture. During this period, WNT3a-CM increased the proportion of nestin-expressing cells and increased the ratio of blast-like cells to macrophages, suggesting that these signaling molecules contribute to the maintenance of an undifferentiated, blast-like phenotype. The number of cells expressing the endothelial-related marker CD31+ was significantly increased following culture in WNT5a- and WNT11-CM, whereas the number of cells positive for von Willebrand (vW) factor was maintained during 14 days of culture only in the presence of WNT4-CM. In addition, WNT5a-CM led to increased beta-catenin mRNA levels and the presence of beta-catenin protein in the cytoplasm and nucleus, consistent with the activation of the WNT signaling pathway. We conclude that in vitro conditioning of CD133+ cells by media containing specific WNT signaling factors influences the non-hematopoietic potential of CD133+ cells and dynamically alters the expression of the neural stem/progenitor cell marker nestin and the endothelial-related cell surface markers CD31 and vW factor.