title: Derivation of Transgene-Free Rat Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Approximating the Quality of Embryonic Stem Cells.
abstract: Although a variety of reprogramming strategies have been reported to create transgene-free induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from differentiated cell sources, a fundamental question still remains: Can we generate safe iPS cells that have the full spectrum of features of corresponding embryonic stem (ES) cells? Studies in transgene-free mouse iPS cells have indicated a positive answer to this question. However, the reality is that no other species have a derived transgene-free iPS cell line that can truly mimic ES cell quality. Specifically, critical data for chimera formation and germline transmission are generally lacking. To date, the rat is the only species, other than the mouse, that has commonly recognized authentic ES cells that can be used for direct comparison with measure features of iPS cells. To help find the underlying reasons of the current inability to derive germline-competent ES/iPS cells in nonrodent animals, we first used optimized culture conditions to isolate and establish rat ES cell lines and demonstrated they are fully competent for chimeric formation and germline transmission. We then used episomal vectors bearing eight reprogramming genes to improve rat iPS (riPS) cell generation from Sprague-Dawley rat embryonic fibroblasts. The obtained transgene-free riPS cells exhibit the typical characteristics of pluripotent stem cells; moreover, they are amenable to subsequent genetic modification by homologous recombination. Although they can contribute significantly to chimeric formation, no germline transmission has been achieved. Although this partial success in achieving competency is encouraging, it suggests that more efforts are still needed to derive ground-state riPS cells. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:340-351.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shuping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Rat Resource and Research Center, Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Hongsheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Men
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Mario R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Capecchi
authors.affiliation: Rat Resource and Research Center, Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Bryda
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D000067470:Cellular Reprogramming Techniques; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D010641:Phenotype; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Embryonic stem cells; Induced pluripotent stem cells; Rat; Transgene-free