Human embryonic stem cells with biological and epigenetic characteristics similar to those of mouse ESCs.
Human and mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from blastocyst-stage embryos but have very different biological properties, and molecular analyses suggest that the pluripotent state of human ESCs isolated so far corresponds to that of mouse-derived epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs). Here we rewire the identity of conventional human ESCs into a more immature state that extensively shares defining features with pluripotent mouse ESCs. This was achieved by ectopic induction of Oct4, Klf4, and Klf2 factors combined with LIF and inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2) pathway. Forskolin, a protein kinase A pathway agonist which can induce Klf4 and Klf2 expression, transiently substitutes for the requirement for ectopic transgene expression. In contrast to conventional human ESCs, these epigenetically converted cells have growth properties, an X-chromosome activation state (XaXa), a gene expression profile, and a signaling pathway dependence that are highly similar to those of mouse ESCs. Finally, the same growth conditions allow the derivation of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells with similar properties as mouse iPS cells. The generation of validated "naïve" human ESCs will allow the molecular dissection of a previously undefined pluripotent state in humans and may open up new opportunities for patient-specific, disease-relevant research.
Hanna
Jacob
J
The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. hanna@wi.mit.edu
Cheng
Albert W
AW
Saha
Krishanu
K
Kim
Jongpil
J
Lengner
Christopher J
CJ
Soldner
Frank
F
Cassady
John P
JP
Muffat
Julien
J
Carey
Bryce W
BW
Jaenisch
Rudolf
R
D000818:Animals; D054337:Cell Dedifferentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006801:Humans; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
C096161:KLF2 protein, human; C000715467:KLF4 protein, human; C000715468:Klf4 protein, mouse; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; D005576:Colforsin; C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; C000605507:Gsk3b protein, mouse; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3