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Updated: May 20, 2026

In Vitro Differentiation Model of Human Normal Memory B Cells to Long-lived Plasma Cells
Published on: January 20, 2019
C/EBPα bypasses cell cycle-dependency during immune cell transdifferentiation.
Alessandro Di Tullio1, Thomas Graf
1Gene Regulation, Stem Cells and Cancer Program, Center for Genomic Regulation and Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain.
Cell division is not essential for converting pre-B cells into macrophages using transcription factors C/EBPα or C/EBPβ. High C/EBPα levels accelerate differentiation and cell cycle arrest, differing from induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Transcriptional Regulation
Background:
- Earlier studies demonstrated efficient conversion of pre-B cells to macrophage-like cells via transcription factor C/EBPα or C/EBPβ overexpression.
- Investigating the role of cell division in this transdifferentiation process is crucial for understanding cellular reprogramming mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the necessity of cell division during C/EBP-induced transdifferentiation of pre-B cells into macrophages.
- To compare the reprogramming kinetics and requirements with those of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized inducible pre-B cell lines for controlled C/EBPα and C/EBPβ expression.
- Employed BrdU incorporation assays to track DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression.
- Performed p53 knockdown experiments and time-lapse microscopy to analyze cell division and differentiation.
Main Results:
- The majority of C/EBPα-induced cells and all C/EBPβ-induced cells underwent DNA synthesis (BrdU incorporation).
- Inhibition of DNA synthesis partially impaired C/EBPα-induced transdifferentiation, but sorted cell cycle phases showed similar reprogramming kinetics.
- A subset of non-dividing cells exhibited faster differentiation, particularly with high C/EBPα levels, suggesting accelerated growth arrest.
Conclusions:
- Cell cycle traversal is not strictly required for pre-B cell to macrophage transdifferentiation.
- High levels of C/EBPα can accelerate both the differentiation process and cell cycle arrest.
- The mechanisms underlying transcription factor-induced transdifferentiation and iPSC reprogramming appear to differ significantly.
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