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Targeted and Selective Treatment of Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Teratomas Using External Beam Radiation in a Small-animal Model
Published on: February 17, 2019
Complement-dependent control of teratoma formation by embryonic stem cells.
Cody A Koch1, Corinne E Jordan, Jeffrey L Platt
1Transplantation Biology, Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, NY 55905, USA.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|September 20, 2006
Summary
The complement system protects against embryonic stem cell tumor formation. This defense mechanism, particularly the alternative pathway, can be leveraged to prevent teratomas from pluripotent stem cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Pluripotent stem cells, found in fetuses, can form tumors when transferred to mature individuals.
- Tumor formation from fetal pluripotent stem cells is rare during normal gestation, suggesting protective mechanisms.
- The role of the complement system in preventing such tumor formation remains unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the complement system protects against tumor formation by pluripotent stem cells.
- To determine the specific pathways and factors involved in complement-mediated protection.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of murine embryonic stem cells' susceptibility to complement-mediated lysis versus differentiated cells.
- Assessment of tumor formation after transplanting complement-treated embryonic stem cells into mice.
- Evaluation of tumor formation in complement-deficient (C3-deficient) versus wild-type mice.
Main Results:
- Embryonic stem cells were more susceptible to complement lysis than differentiated cells.
- Treatment with heterologous serum prevented tumor formation in transplanted embryonic stem cells.
- Untreated embryonic stem cells formed tumors more rapidly in C3-deficient mice compared to wild-type mice.
- Embryonic stem cell susceptibility to complement required an intact alternative pathway and was linked to lower sialic acid levels.
Conclusions:
- The alternative pathway of complement plays a role in controlling tumor formation from embryonic stem cells.
- Susceptibility to complement may be a general characteristic of pluripotent stem cells.
- Exploiting complement-mediated lysis offers a potential strategy for preventing teratoma formation.
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