The Generation of Genetically Engineered Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Overexpressing IFN-β for Future

Olga Sheveleva1, Elena Protasova1, Elena Grigor'eva2

  • 1Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Basis of Histogenesis, Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be generated from various adult cells, genetically modified and differentiated into diverse cell populations. Type I interferons (IFN-Is) have multiple immunotherapeutic applications; however, their systemic administration can lead to severe adverse outcomes. One way of overcoming the limitation is to introduce cells able to enter the site of pathology and to produce IFN-Is locally. As a first step towards the generation of such cells, here, we aimed to generate human iPSCs overexpressing interferon-beta (IFNB, IFNB-iPSCs). IFNB-iPSCs were obtained by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the previously generated iPSC line K7-4Lf. IFNB-iPSCs overexpressed IFNB RNA and produced a functionally active IFN-β. The cells displayed typical iPSC morphology and expressed pluripotency markers. Following spontaneous differentiation, IFNB-iPSCs formed embryoid bodies and upregulated endoderm, mesoderm, and some ectoderm markers. However, an upregulation of key neuroectoderm markers, PAX6 and LHX2, was compromised. A negative effect of IFN-β on iPSC neuroectoderm differentiation was confirmed in parental iPSCs differentiated in the presence of a recombinant IFN-β. The study describes new IFN-β-producing iPSC lines suitable for the generation of various types of IFN-β-producing cells for future experimental and clinical applications, and it unravels an inhibitory effect of IFN-β on stem cell neuroectoderm differentiation.