Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

The Specification of Telencephalic Glutamatergic Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: April 14, 2013
Selective elimination of undifferentiated human pluripotent stem cells using pluripotent state-specific immunogenic
Marina Okada1, Yoshitaka Tada2, Tomohisa Seki1
1Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi Shinjuku-cu, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
Immunogenicity of immature pluripotent stem cells is a topic of intense debate. Immunogenic antigens, which are specific in pluripotent states, have not been described previously. In this study, we identified glypican-3 (GPC3), a known carcinoembryonic antigen, as a pluripotent state-specific immunogenic antigen. Additionally, we validated the applicability of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-class I-restricted GPC3-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the removal of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derivatives. HiPSCs uniquely express GPC3 in pluripotent states and were rejected by GPC3-reactive CTLs, which were sensitized with HLA-class I-restricted GPC3 peptides. Furthermore, GPC3-reactive CTLs selectively removed undifferentiated PSCs from hiPSC-derivatives in vitro and inhibited tumor formation in vivo. Our results demonstrate that GPC3 works as a pluripotent state-specific immunogenic antigen in hiPSCs and is applicable to regenerative medicine as a method of removing undifferentiated PSCs, which are the main cause of tumor formation.
Immunogenicity of immature pluripotent stem cells is a topic of intense debate. Immunogenic antigens, which are specific in pluripotent states, have not been described previously. In this study, we identified glypican-3 (GPC3), a known carcinoembryonic antigen, as a pluripotent state-specific immunogenic antigen. Additionally, we validated the applicability of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-class I-restricted GPC3-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the removal of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derivatives. HiPSCs uniquely express GPC3 in pluripotent states and were rejected by GPC3-reactive CTLs, which were sensitized with HLA-class I-restricted GPC3 peptides. Furthermore, GPC3-reactive CTLs selectively removed undifferentiated PSCs from hiPSC-derivatives in vitro and inhibited tumor formation in vivo. Our results demonstrate that GPC3 works as a pluripotent state-specific immunogenic antigen in hiPSCs and is applicable to regenerative medicine as a method of removing undifferentiated PSCs, which are the main cause of tumor formation.
Related Concept Videos
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Somatic...
Embryonic Stem Cells
Dose-Response Relationship: Selectivity and Specificity
Antigen Presenting Cells
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...
Cell Specific Gene Expression

