Similar biological characteristics of human embryonic stem cell lines with normal and abnormal karyotypes.
BACKGROUND
Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines derived from poor quality embryos usually have either normal or abnormal karyotypes. However, it is still unclear whether their biological characteristics are similar.


METHODS
Seven new hESC lines were established using discarded embryos. Five cell lines had normal karyotype, one was with an unbalanced Robertsonian translocation and one had a triploid karyotype. Their biological characteristics, short tandem repeat loci, HLA typing, differentiation capability and imprinted gene, DNA methylation and X chromosome inactivation status were compared between different cell lines.


RESULTS
All seven hESC lines had similar biological characteristics regardless of karyotype (five normal and two abnormal), such as expression of stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-4, tumor-rejection antigen (TRA)-1-81 and TRA-1-60 proteins, transcription factor octamer binding protein 4 mRNA, no detectable expression of SSEA-1 protein and high levels of alkaline phosphatase activity. All cell lines were able to undergo differentiation. Imprinted gene expression and DNA methylation were also similar among these cell lines. Non-random X chromosome inactivation patterns were found in XX cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggest that hESC lines with abnormal karyotype are also useful experimental materials for cell therapy, developmental biology and genetic research.
Sun
Xiaofang
X
Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. xiaofangsun@hotmail.com
Long
Xiaolin
X
Yin
Yifei
Y
Jiang
Yonghua
Y
Chen
Xinjie
X
Liu
Weiqiang
W
Zhang
Wenhong
W
Du
Hongzi
H
Li
Shaoying
S
Zheng
Yuhong
Y
Kong
Shu
S
Pang
Qianying
Q
Shi
Yu
Y
Huang
Yulin
Y
Huang
Shengchan
S
Liao
Baoping
B
Xiao
Guohong
G
Wang
Weihua
W
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D019175:DNA Methylation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation