title: Immobilized WNT Proteins Act as a Stem Cell Niche for Tissue Engineering.
abstract: The timing, location, and level of WNT signaling are highly regulated during embryonic development and for the maintenance of adult tissues. Consequently the ability to provide a defined and directed source of WNT proteins is crucial to fully understand its role in tissue development and to mimic its activity in vitro. Here we describe a one-step immobilization technique to covalently bind WNT3A proteins as a basal surface with easy storage and long-lasting activity. We show that this platform is able to maintain adult and embryonic stem cells while also being adaptable for 3D systems. Therefore, this platform could be used for recapitulating specific stem cell niches with the goal of improving tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK.
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lowndes
authors.affiliation: Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7QB, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rotherham
authors.affiliation: Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK; Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7QB, UK.
authors.forename: Joshua C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7QB, UK.
authors.forename: Alicia J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: El Haj
authors.affiliation: Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK. Electronic address: shukry.habib@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Shukry J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Habib
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D055767:Immobilized Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000235:genetics*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000235:genetics; D060509:Wnt3A Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D055767:Immobilized Proteins; D060509:Wnt3A Protein