Autologous mitochondria transport via transzonal filopodia rejuvenates aged oocytes by UC-MSCs derived granulosa cells-oocyte aggregation

Mitochondria transfer can rescue oocyte aging-related infertility. However, heterologous techniques are suspended due to heteroplasmy. Regarding autologous approaches, the donor source and manipulating procedures require further optimization. Here we propose a strategy using umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) as mitochondria donor cells and employing intercellular mitochondria transport as the transfer method. We cryopreserved UC-MSCs of the female pup. When the female aged, its UC-MSCs were induced into granulosa cells (iGCs). The zona-weakened GV oocytes were aggregated with autologous iGCs into iGC-oocyte complexes. After cultivation in GDF9-containing media, mitochondria migrated from iGCs into the GV oocyte via transzonal filopodia. The maturation rate, quality, and developmental potential of these oocytes were substantially increased. Furthermore, the birth rate after embryo transfer has been improved. This approach utilized noninvasive procedures to collect mitochondria donor cells and optimized mitochondria transfer manipulations, so may represent a promising advance towards the improvement of aging-related infertility.

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Lipid Metabolism Was Associated With Oocyte in vitro Maturation in Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Undergoing Unstimulated Natural Cycle

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology ◽

10.3389/fcell.2021.719173 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Tao Liu ◽

Dongming Liu ◽

Xueling Song ◽

Jiangxue Qu ◽

Xiaoying Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Live Birth ◽

Birth Rate ◽

Live Birth Rate ◽

Developmental Potential ◽

Maturation Rate ◽

Low Hdl ◽

The Relationship ◽

Ovarian Syndrome ◽

Natural Cycles

ObjectiveHyperlipidemia are common polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)-related metabolic dysfunctions and can adversely affect assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between lipid metabolism and ART outcomes in unstimulated natural cycles without the utilization of ovarian induction drugs, which is still uncertain.MethodsThis retrospective study included infertile women with PCOS between 21 and 40 years old undergoing unstimulated natural cycles from January 01, 2006 to December 31, 2019. Lipid metabolism was measured by body mass index (BMI) and serum biochemical parameters including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C). ART outcomes were measured by number of oocytes retrieved, oocyte maturation quality and developmental potential, clinical pregnancy and live birth.ResultsA total of 586 patients were included in this study. Multivariate Poisson log-linear analysis showed that high TC (≥5.18 mmol/L), triglycerides (TG) (≥1.76 mmol/L), LDL-C (≥3.37 mmol/L) levelsand low HDL-C levels (≤1.04 mmol/L) were significantly (PTC = 0.001, PTG < 0.001, PHDL–C < 0.001, PLDL–C < 0.001) associated with increased number of oocytes retrieved. BMI was significantly negatively associated with maturation rate (P < 0.001), fertilization rate (P < 0.001) and transferrable embryo rate (P = 0.002). High TG levels and low HDL-C levels were also associated with decreased maturation rate (PTG < 0.001, PHDL–C = 0.026). Logistic regression analysis showed statistically significant association between obesity (≥28.0 kg/m2) and decreased live birth rate (P = 0.004) as well as cumulative live birth rate (P = 0.007).ConclusionThis is the first study that focused on the relationship between basal lipid metabolism and ART outcomes in women with PCOS undergoing unstimulated natural cycles. The results showed that high levels of lipid metabolic parameters were associated with increased number of oocytes retrieved and obesity was closely associated with impaired oocyte maturation quality and developmental potential as well as poor live birth outcomes.

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52 EFFECT OF DONOR CELLS WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENTIATED STATUS ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCE OF PORCINE NUCLEAR TRANSFER EMBRYOS

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv19n1ab52 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 144

Author(s):

J. G. Kim ◽

E. J. Kang ◽

M. K. Kim ◽

S. Y. Choe ◽

G. J. Rho

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Nuclear Transfer ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Blastocyst Stage ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Differentiation Potential ◽

Developmental Potential ◽

Differentiated Cells ◽

Donor Cells ◽

Fetal Fibroblasts

Adult stem cells are more desirable than somatic cells for nuclear transfer (NT) because of their easy reprogrammability to resemble the genome of the zygote (Zhu et al. 2004 Biol. Reprod. 70, 1088–1095). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population of uncommitted and lineage-committed cells and have a more flexible potential as donor cells for NT. The aim of this study was to compare the developmental potential of NT embryos using undifferentiated (MSCs) and differentiated cells in the same lineage (osteocyte, adipocyte, and chondrocyte) by assessing the cleavage and blastocyst rates. Fetal fibroblasts were used as NT control. MSCs obtained from the aspirated bone marrow of a neonatal pig were cultured in advanced-DMEM (ADMEM) supplemented with 5% FCS. The differentiation potential was demonstrated by culture of MSCs at passage 3 under the conditions that were favorable for adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic development (Pittenger et al. 1999 Science 284, 143–147). For NT, cells from passages 3–5 were transferred into the perivitelline space of enucleated MII oocytes that had been in vitro-matured after collection from slaughterhouse-derived ovaries. After fusion with a needle-type electrode, eggs were cultured in 7.5 µg mL−1 cytochalasin B for 3 h, and subsequently cultured in PZM-3 medium for 6 days. Statistical significance was tested using ANOVA with Bonferroni and Duncan tests. The results are presented in Table 1. The rates of cleavage and development to blastocyst stage of NT embryos varied among donor cell sources. Most eggs (92.2 ± 2.7%) cloned with MSCs cleaved, and 47.8% of eggs developed to the blastocyst stage. In contrast, NT eggs using differentiated MSCs—osteocytes, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and controls (fetal fibroblasts)—revealed significantly (P < 0.05) lower cleavage (74.5, 63.4, 74.3, and 66.4%, respectively) and blastocyst development (33.7, 30.1, 36.5, and 25.5%, respectively) rates than those using undifferentiated MSCs. The results demonstrate that the genome of donor cells with different differentiated status supports embryonic development to various degrees, and multipotent MSCs might have a greater potential in producing viable cloned porcine embryos. Table 1.Development of NT embryos with undifferentiated and differentiated cells This work was supported by Grant No. R05-2004-000-10702-0 from KOSEF, Republic of Korea.

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33 PRE-AND POST-IMPLANTATION DEVELOPMENT OF EMBRYOS CLONED FROM PORCINE SKIN-DERIVED SPHERE STEM CELLS

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv20n1ab33 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 97

Author(s):

Y. H. Hao ◽

D. Wax ◽

Z. S. Zhong ◽

C. N. Murphy ◽

L. Spate ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Genetic Modification ◽

Selection Process ◽

Donor Cell ◽

Porcine Skin ◽

Developmental Potential ◽

Vitro Fertilization ◽

Donor Cells ◽

Post Implantation

Although transgenic animals have been successfully cloned, the process is still inefficient. One of the limitations is the use of somatic donor cells that have a limited lifespan. If a genetic modification is made, the selection process must be initiated and completed rapidly or the cells will undergo senescence. Identification of a stem cell that would proliferate rapidly and not undergo senescence would prove to be very valuable. Here we report attempts at cloning by using porcine skin-derived sphere stem cells to determine if they are a suitable donor cell type. Skin-derived stem cells were isolated from fetal skin and express the neural progenitor marker NES, as well as genes that may be critical for pluripotency such as POU5F1 and STAT3. The skin-derived stem cells proliferate rapidly in vitro and retain a normal karyotype after long-term culture. In the present study, skin-derived stem cells were cultured and frozen in liquid nitrogen from passage 1 to passage 8. To investigate the developmental potential of the skin-derived stem cells, we performed nuclear transfer (NT) and compared their preimplantation developmental efficiency to that of the embryos derived from in vitro fertilization (IVF). Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from antral follicles of ovaries from prepubertal gilts. Approximately, groups of 50-70 COCs were matured in vitro in 500 µL TCM-199 per culture well for 40–44 h at 38.5�C, in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. The donor cells were thawed and cultured one day before NT; skin-derived stem cells were pipetted vigorously in PBS-EDTA to isolate individual cells. For IVF, cryopreserved ejaculated spermatozoa were thawed and washed and then resuspended with fertilization medium (mTBM). The MII oocytes were co-incubated with sperm for 6 h, and then transferred to PZM3 and cultured. For NT and IVF, respectively, the percent cleavage at 48 h in PZM3 was 64.9 � 8.2% (169/208) and 62.1 � 3.1% (94/184) (P > 0.05), the percent blastocysts after 6 days was 21.5 � 5.8% (53/208) and 25.2 � 3.4% (46/184) (P > 0.05), and the number of nuclei per blastocyst was 28.5 � 1.9 (NT, maximum was 58) and 16.8 � 4.0 (IVF, maximum was 31) (P < 0.05). To determine development post-implantation, some cloned embryos were cultured in PZM3 for 15.5 h and an average of 112 cloned embryos were transferred to the oviducts of four naturally cycling gilts on Day 0–1 of standing estrus. Three of the animals were pregnant: one of them farrowed two male piglets on August 14th, with the other two due on September 8th and 9th. Future studies will involve performing NT and ET on skin-derived stem cells from a higher passage number to determine if they would be suitable for genetic modification prior to NT.

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43 PRODUCTION OF PORCINE EMBRYOS BY NUCLEAR TRANSFER OF BONE MARROW MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv18n2ab43 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 130

Author(s):

H.-F. Jin ◽

B. Mohana Kumar ◽

J.-G. Kim ◽

H.-J. Song ◽

S. Balasubramanian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Nuclear Transfer ◽

Total Cell ◽

Differentiation Potential ◽

Developmental Potential ◽

Cell Numbers ◽

Donor Cells ◽

Fetal Fibroblasts

Recent experimental evidence indicates that adult stem cells are more desirable than somatic cells for nuclear transfer (NT) because of their easy reprogrammability to resemble the genome of the zygote (Zhu et al. 2004 Biol. Reprod. 71, 1890-1897). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population of uncommitted and lineage-committed cells and may have a more flexible potential as donor cells for NT. The aim of this study was to characterize an isolated population of porcine MSCs from bone marrow and to compare the developmental potential of cloned (IVF) embryos with MSCs and porcine fetal fibroblasts (pFFs) by assessing the cleavage and blastocyst rate, total cell numbers, inner cell mass (ICM) ratio and apoptosis. MSCs were obtained from the aspirated bone marrow of 6-8-month-old pigs. Cells were centrifuged, resuspended, and plated in advanced-DMEM (ADMEM) supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The differentiation potential was demonstrated by culture of MSCs (passage 3) under conditions that were favorable for adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic development (Pittenger et al. 1999 Science 284, 143-147). Oil red O staining revealed that MSCs produced lipid droplets after incubation in adipogenic media. Following osteoinduction, MSCs exhibited robust alkaline phosphatase activity and cells later transformed into mineralized nodules as demonstrated by von Kossa staining. Histological staining of proteoglycan indicated chondrogenic differentiation. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured, fertilized, and cultured by the following method (Abeydeera et al. 2000 Theriogenology 54, 787-797). NT embryos were produced as described by Kim et al. (2005 Mol. Rep. Dev. 70, 308-313). Cleavage rate was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in IVF embryos than in NT embryos derived from MSCs and pFFs (84.5% � 4.6 vs. 52.2% � 5.4 and 50.8% � 5.2, respectively). However, blastocyst rates in IVF embryos and NT embryos derived from MSCs (20.6% � 2.5 and 18.5% � 3.0) did not differ but these rates were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that for NT embryos derived from pFFs (9.5% � 2.1). Total cell numbers and the ratio of ICM to total cells among embryos developed in NT from MSCs (29.4 � 5.2 and 0.38 � 0.08, respectively) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than for those from pFFs (22.6 � 5.5 and 0.18 � 0.12, respectively). Proportions of TUNEL-positive cells in NT embryos from pFFs (12.8 � 2.5) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in those from MSCs (8.6 � 1.8) and in IVF embryos (4.6 � 1.5). The results clearly demonstrate that multipotent bone marrow MSCs can make a suitable alternative to fibroblasts as donor cells and have a greater potential for producing viable cloned porcine embryos. This work was supported by Grant No. R05-2004-000-10702-0 from KOSEF, Republic of Korea.

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Human Granulosa Cells—Stemness Properties, Molecular Cross-Talk and Follicular Angiogenesis

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10061396 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1396

Author(s):

Claudia Dompe ◽

Magdalena Kulus ◽

Katarzyna Stefańska ◽

Wiesława Kranc ◽

Błażej Chermuła ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Granulosa Cells ◽

Polycystic Ovary ◽

Ovarian Follicle ◽

Cumulus Cells ◽

Ovary Syndrome ◽

Different Types ◽

Metabolite Exchange ◽

Reproductive Techniques ◽

New Strategies

The ovarian follicle is the basic functional unit of the ovary, comprising theca cells and granulosa cells (GCs). Two different types of GCs, mural GCs and cumulus cells (CCs), serve different functions during folliculogenesis. Mural GCs produce oestrogen during the follicular phase and progesterone after ovulation, while CCs surround the oocyte tightly and form the cumulus oophurus and corona radiata inner cell layer. CCs are also engaged in bi-directional metabolite exchange with the oocyte, as they form gap-junctions, which are crucial for both the oocyte’s proper maturation and GC proliferation. However, the function of both GCs and CCs is dependent on proper follicular angiogenesis. Aside from participating in complex molecular interplay with the oocyte, the ovarian follicular cells exhibit stem-like properties, characteristic of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Both GCs and CCs remain under the influence of various miRNAs, and some of them may contribute to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) occurrence. Considering increasing female fertility problems worldwide, it is of interest to develop new strategies enhancing assisted reproductive techniques. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider GCs as ovarian stem cells in terms of the cellular features and molecular pathways involved in their development and interactions as well as outline their possible application in translational medicine.

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Dynamic integration of enteric neural stem cells in ex vivo organotypic colon cultures

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-95434-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Georgina Navoly ◽

Conor J. McCann

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

Organotypic Culture ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Donor Cell ◽

Colonic Tissue ◽

Cell Therapies ◽

Enteric Ganglia ◽

Donor Cells

AbstractEnteric neural stem cells (ENSC) have been identified as a possible treatment for enteric neuropathies. After in vivo transplantation, ENSC and their derivatives have been shown to engraft within colonic tissue, migrate and populate endogenous ganglia, and functionally integrate with the enteric nervous system. However, the mechanisms underlying the integration of donor ENSC, in recipient tissues, remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to examine ENSC integration using an adapted ex vivo organotypic culture system. Donor ENSC were obtained from Wnt1cre/+;R26RYFP/YFP mice allowing specific labelling, selection and fate-mapping of cells. YFP+ neurospheres were transplanted to C57BL6/J (6–8-week-old) colonic tissue and maintained in organotypic culture for up to 21 days. We analysed and quantified donor cell integration within recipient tissues at 7, 14 and 21 days, along with assessing the structural and molecular consequences of ENSC integration. We found that organotypically cultured tissues were well preserved up to 21-days in ex vivo culture, which allowed for assessment of donor cell integration after transplantation. Donor ENSC-derived cells integrated across the colonic wall in a dynamic fashion, across a three-week period. Following transplantation, donor cells displayed two integrative patterns; longitudinal migration and medial invasion which allowed donor cells to populate colonic tissue. Moreover, significant remodelling of the intestinal ECM and musculature occurred upon transplantation, to facilitate donor cell integration within endogenous enteric ganglia. These results provide critical evidence on the timescale and mechanisms, which regulate donor ENSC integration, within recipient gut tissue, which are important considerations in the future clinical translation of stem cell therapies for enteric disease.

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Developmental potential and dynamic behavior of hematopoietic stem cells

Cell ◽

10.1016/0092-8674(86)90566-0 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 45 (6) ◽

pp. 917-927 ◽

Cited By ~ 547

Author(s):

Ihor R. Lemischka ◽

David H. Raulet ◽

Richard C. Mulligan

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽

Dynamic Behavior ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Developmental Potential

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Rabbit somatic cell cloning: effects of donor cell type, histone acetylation status and chimeric embryo complementation

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep.1.01206 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 133 (1) ◽

pp. 219-230 ◽

Cited By ~ 73

Author(s):

Feikun Yang ◽

Ru Hao ◽

Barbara Kessler ◽

Gottfried Brem ◽

Eckhard Wolf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Histone Acetylation ◽

Nuclear Transfer ◽

Donor Cell ◽

Epigenetic Mark ◽

Cell Type ◽

Developmental Potential ◽

Acetylation Status ◽

Donor Cells ◽

Donor Cell Type

The epigenetic status of a donor nucleus has an important effect on the developmental potential of embryos produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In this study, we transferred cultured rabbit cumulus cells (RCC) and fetal fibroblasts (RFF) from genetically marked rabbits (Alicia/Basilea) into metaphase II oocytes and analyzed the levels of histone H3-lysine 9-lysine 14 acetylation (acH3K9/14) in donor cells and cloned embryos. We also assessed the correlation between the histone acetylation status of donor cells and cloned embryos and their developmental potential. To test whether alteration of the histone acetylation status affects development of cloned embryos, we treated donor cells with sodium butyrate (NaBu), a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Further, we tried to improve cloning efficiency by chimeric complementation of cloned embryos with blastomeres fromin vivofertilized or parthenogenetic embryos. The levels of acH3K9/14 were higher in RCCs than in RFFs (P<0.05). Although the type of donor cells did not affect development to blastocyst, after transfer into recipients, RCC cloned embryos induced a higher initial pregnancy rate as compared to RFF cloned embryos (40 vs 20%). However, almost all pregnancies with either type of cloned embryos were lost by the middle of gestation and only one fully developed, live RCC-derived rabbit was obtained. Treatment of RFFs with NaBu significantly increased the level of acH3K9/14 and the proportion of nuclear transfer embryos developing to blastocyst (49 vs 33% with non-treated RFF,P<0.05). The distribution of acH3K9/14 in either group of cloned embryos did not resemble that inin vivofertilized embryos suggesting that reprogramming of this epigenetic mark is aberrant in cloned rabbit embryos and cannot be corrected by treatment of donor cells with NaBu. Aggregation of embryos cloned from NaBu-treated RFFs with blastomeres fromin vivoderived embryos improved development to blastocyst, but no cloned offspring were obtained. Two live cloned rabbits were produced from this donor cell type only after aggregation of cloned embryos with a parthenogenetic blastomere. Our study demonstrates that the levels of histone acetylation in donor cells and cloned embryos correlate with their developmental potential and may be a useful epigenetic mark to predict efficiency of SCNT in rabbits.

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Umbilical Cord Tissue as a Source of Young Cells for the Derivation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Non-Integrating Episomal Vectors and Feeder-Free Conditions

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10010049 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 49

Author(s):

Aisha Mohamed ◽

Theresa Chow ◽

Jennifer Whiteley ◽

Amanda Fantin ◽

Kersti Sorra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽

Umbilical Cord ◽

Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽

Blood Cells ◽

Growth Media ◽

Donor Cells ◽

Episomal Vectors ◽

Umbilical Cord Tissue ◽

Induced Pluripotent

The clinical application of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) needs to balance the use of an autologous source that would be a perfect match for the patient against any safety or efficacy issues that might arise with using cells from an older patient or donor. Drs. Takahashi and Yamanaka and the Office of Cellular and Tissue-based Products (PMDA), Japan, have had concerns over the existence of accumulated DNA mutations in the cells of older donors and the possibility of long-term negative effects. To mitigate the risk, they have chosen to partner with the Umbilical Cord (UC) banks in Japan to source allogeneic-matched donor cells. Production of iPSCs from UC blood cells (UCB) has been successful; however, reprogramming blood cells requires cell enrichment with columns or flow cytometry and specialized growth media. These requirements add to the cost of production and increase the manipulation of the cells, which complicates the regulatory approval process. Alternatively, umbilical cord tissue mesenchymal stromal cells (CT-MSCs) have the same advantage as UCB cells of being a source of young donor cells. Crucially, CT-MSCs are easier and less expensive to harvest and grow compared to UCB cells. Here, we demonstrate that CT-MSCs can be easily isolated without expensive enzymatic treatment or columns and reprogramed well using episomal vectors, which allow for the removal of the reprogramming factors after a few passages. Together the data indicates that CT-MSCs are a viable source of donor cells for the production of clinical-grade, patient matched iPSCs.

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