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Murine pluripotent stem cells that escape differentiation inside teratomas maintain pluripotency
Yangli Pei1,2, Liang Yue2, Wei Zhang2
1State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Peerj
|January 10, 2018
Summary
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can escape differentiation in teratomas, retaining pluripotency and partially developing into germ cells. This poses a tumor formation risk, requiring caution in regenerative medicine applications.
Area of Science:
- Stem Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are crucial for regenerative therapies.
- Teratoma assays are standard for evaluating PSCs, but teratoma composition remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fate of pluripotent stem cells during in vivo teratoma formation.
- To identify residual pluripotent cells and their differentiation status within teratomas.
Main Methods:
- Utilized enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing PSCs under the Pou5f1 promoter.
- Generated and characterized mouse embryonic stem cells (MES) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS).
- Assessed pluripotency and differentiation via in vivo teratoma formation assays and molecular markers (qPCR, AP staining, immunofluorescence).
Main Results:
- A subset of OCT4-expressing PSCs escaped differentiation within teratomas, maintaining pluripotency.
- These escaped cells (MES-FT, iPS-FT) and subsequent cells (MES-ST, iPS-ST) retained pluripotency and expressed germ cell markers (Dazl, Stella, Stra8).
Conclusions:
- A small fraction of PSCs evade differentiation in teratomas, preserving pluripotency and exhibiting partial germ cell development.
- Both undifferentiated PSCs and germ cells within teratomas pose a tumor formation risk.
- Clinical application of stem cells necessitates careful strategies to mitigate teratoma risk.
Keywords:
DifferentiationEmbryonic stem cellsGerm cellsInduced pluripotent stem cellsPluripotencyTeratomaMore Related Videos
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