Effect of Passage Number on Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neurons Culture Contaminants with Non-Neuronal Cell Types

Background: The study of live human neurons has been hindered due to the complexity and potential irreversible damage to the patient during biopsy. However, reprogramming of adult human somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has proved to be a novel method in the study of the pathophysiology of disease and therapeutic targets of the human nervous system. There are several approaches, and the optimum time (i.e., passage number) to generate highly pure cultures is being studied. Therefore, our laboratory has investigated the effect of passage number on culture contaminants with non-neuronal cell types. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from whole blood from three cell lines and reprogrammed into iPSCs. Each cell line consisted of three samples that were analyzed after low (5-10), middle (20-26), and high (30-38) number of passages. Cells were maintained in an induction medium for eight days. On day nine, cells were dissociated and replated in a maintenance medium. On day 33, total RNA was extracted from cells. Normalized values for non-neuronal cell marker genes were compared using paired Student’s t-tests and two-way ANOVA, with the cell line and passage number as independent variables. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Our results showed that lower passage number was associated with decreased astrocyte and chondrocyte marker expression. High passage number was associated with decreased oligodendrocyte and glial precursor marker expression. Of the fibroblast markers evaluated, there were similar trends of expression between all three groups. There was no significant difference in microglial cell marker gene expression between all three groups. Conclusion and Potential Impact: Low gene expression suggests a purer culture. According to these results, as passage number increases, there is more contaminants with oligodendrocytes and glial precursor cells. Conversely, with low passage numbers, there are more contaminants with astrocytes and chondrocytes. Future studies will identify the impact of these non-neuronal contaminants and implications on research.

Effect of Micro-strain Stress on in Vitro Proliferation and Functional Expression of Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes

Background: This study aimed to analyze the in vitro effect of micro-strain stress on the proliferation and functional marker expression in chondrocytes isolated from human osteoarthritis cartilage samples.Methods: Chondrocytes isolated from human osteoarthritis cartilage samples were subjected to loading with different types of micro-strain stress. The proliferation activity was assessed by flow cytometry, and the functional expression of chondrocyte markers was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. Results: Flow cytometry results showed stimulation of proliferation of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes when an adequate micro-strain stress was applied. qRT-PCR and western blot results showed that micro-strain stress promotes human osteoarthritic chondrocyte functional marker expression. These features coincide with the upregulation of multiple proteins and genes affecting cell proliferation and functional chondrocyte marker expression, including cyclin D1, collagen II, and Rock.Conclusion: Adequate micro-strain stress could activate the Rho/Rock signaling pathway in osteoarthritic chondrocytes, thus transmitting mechanical signals to the cytoskeleton. This process leads to cytoskeleton reorganization, and transmission of the mechanical signals to the downstream effectors to promote proliferation and functional marker expression of osteoarthritic chondrocytes.

Thoracic composite hemangioendothelioma with neuroendocrine marker expression

Background Composite hemangioendothelioma is an extraordinarily rare form of vascular neoplasm which develops predominantly in the skins and soft tissues of the adults. Neuroendocrine marker expression in composite hemangioendothelioma is considered as specifically relevant to the more aggressive behavior. Case presentation The patient was a 71-year-old man complaining continuous back pain. Computed tomography (CT) showed that 10 cm of contrast-enhanced soft tissue mass was occurring on the right posterior chest wall and developing adjacent to the spinal canal. Via the laminectomy, the tumor end was identified and separated from the dura mater. Then, via the posterolateral thoracotomy, the en bloc resection was achieved by separating the tumor from the diaphragm and vertebras. Histologic examination showed a complex combination of epithelioid and retiform hemangioendothelioma areas which were positive for anti-synaptophysin staining. At 12-month follow-up, there were no signs of tumor recurrence on CT, and the patient had no symptom. Conclusions We achieved the complete resection of a huge thoracic neuroendocrine composite hemangioendothelioma developing adjacent to the spinal canal. The combination of the posterior lumbar laminectomy and the following posterior thoracotomy is a viable approach to radically resect a thoracic neuroendocrine composite hemangioendothelioma involving chest wall.

Progenitor Cells in Healthy and Osteoarthritic Human Cartilage Have Extensive Culture Expansion Capacity while Retaining Chondrogenic Properties

Objective Articular cartilage-derived progenitor cells (ACPCs) are a potential new cell source for cartilage repair. This study aims to characterize endogenous ACPCs from healthy and osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage, evaluate their potential for cartilage regeneration, and compare this to cartilage formation by chondrocytes. Design ACPCs were isolated from full-thickness healthy and OA human cartilage and separated from the total cell population by clonal growth after differential adhesion to fibronectin. ACPCs were characterized by growth kinetics, multilineage differentiation, and surface marker expression. Chondrogenic redifferentiation of ACPCs was compared with chondrocytes in pellet cultures. Pellets were assessed for cartilage-like matrix production by (immuno)histochemistry, quantitative analyses for glycosaminoglycans and DNA content, and expression of chondrogenic and hypertrophic genes. Results Healthy and OA ACPCs were successfully differentiated toward the adipogenic and chondrogenic lineage, but failed to produce calcified matrix when exposed to osteogenic induction media. Both ACPC populations met the criteria for cell surface marker expression of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Healthy ACPCs cultured in pellets deposited extracellular matrix containing proteoglycans and type II collagen, devoid of type I collagen. Gene expression of hypertrophic marker type X collagen was lower in healthy ACPC pellets compared with OA pellets. Conclusions This study provides further insight into the ACPC population in healthy and OA human articular cartilage. ACPCs show similarities to MSCs, yet do not produce calcified matrix under well-established osteogenic culture conditions. Due to extensive proliferative potential and chondrogenic capacity, ACPCs show potential for cartilage regeneration and possibly for clinical application, as a promising alternative to MSCs or chondrocytes.

Modeling the ACVR1R206H mutation in human skeletal muscle stem cells

Abnormalities in skeletal muscle repair can lead to poor function and complications such as scarring or heterotopic ossification (HO). Here, we use fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), a disease of progressive HO caused by ACVR1R206H (Activin receptor type-1 receptor) mutation, to elucidate how ACVR1 affects skeletal muscle repair. Rare and unique primary FOP human muscle stem cells (Hu-MuSCs) isolated from cadaveric skeletal muscle demonstrated increased ECM marker expression, showed skeletal muscle-specific impaired engraftment and regeneration ability. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived muscle stem/progenitor cells (iMPCs) single cell transcriptome analyses from FOP also revealed unusually increased ECM and osteogenic marker expression compared to control iMPCs. These results show that iMPCs can recapitulate many aspects of Hu-MuSCs for detailed in vitro study, that ACVR1 is a key regulator of Hu-MuSC function and skeletal muscle repair; and that ACVR1 activation in iMPCs or Hu-MuSCs may contribute to HO by changing the local tissue environment.

Zinc Ameliorates the Osteogenic Effects of High Glucose in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

In diabetic patients, medial vascular calcification is common and associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Excessive glucose concentrations can activate the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells (NF-kB) and trigger pro-calcific effects in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which may actively augment vascular calcification. Zinc is able to mitigate phosphate-induced VSMC calcification. Reduced serum zinc levels have been reported in diabetes mellitus. Therefore, in this study the effects of zinc supplementation were investigated in primary human aortic VSMCs exposed to excessive glucose concentrations. Zinc treatment was found to abrogate the stimulating effects of high glucose on VSMC calcification. Furthermore, zinc was found to blunt the increased expression of osteogenic and chondrogenic markers in high glucose-treated VSMCs. High glucose exposure was shown to activate NF-kB in VSMCs, an effect that was blunted by additional zinc treatment. Zinc was further found to increase the expression of TNFα-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) in high glucose-treated VSMCs. The silencing of TNFAIP3 was shown to abolish the protective effects of zinc on high glucose-induced NF-kB-dependent transcriptional activation, osteogenic marker expression, and the calcification of VSMCs. Silencing of the zinc-sensing receptor G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39) was shown to abolish zinc-induced TNFAIP3 expression and the effects of zinc on high glucose-induced osteogenic marker expression. These observations indicate that zinc may be a protective factor during vascular calcification in hyperglycemic conditions.

The Therapeutic Modalities of Sickle Cell Disease Reprogram the Platelet Functional-Bioenergetic Profile

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited hemoglobinopathies that continues to be highly morbid and lethal. SCD-associated platelet hyperreactivity is a well-recognized contributor to the pathophysiology of the disease via complex interactions with the immune system and endothelium. Aberrant platelet bioenergetics have been implicated as a biological mechanism for SCD-associated platelet hyperreactivity, however, little is known about the impact current medical interventions (e.g., hydroxyurea [HU] and red blood cell [RBC] exchange transfusions) have on the platelet functional-bioenergetic profile. In this study we investigate the effects of hydroxyurea and RBC exchange transfusions on reprograming the platelet functional-bioenergetic profile and provide insight into biological pathways that may be amenable to intervention. METHODS: Platelets from sex-, race-, and aged-matched adult healthy control subjects and adult patients with homozygous SCD (HbSS), actively being treated with hydroxyurea (HU group) or RBC exchange transfusions (RBC exchange transfusion group), were isolated and washed following standard protocols. Platelet activation by flow cytometry was determined at baseline and following activation with thrombin (0.075U/ml) and ADP (1.25uM). Platelet-activated fibrinogen binding site (αIIbβIII), P-selectin, and phosphatidylserine (PS) surface marker expression (as measured by mean fluorescence intensity [MFI]) was determined with PAC-1, P-selectin, and lactadherin antibodies, respectively. The bioenergetic profile of washed platelets was determined by the 24-well format Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer. Statistical analyses were performed using the one-way ANOVA. Correlations were performed by 2-tailed nonparametric Spearman correlations and linear regression analysis with 95% confidence interval (GraphPad Software v9.1.2). Data expressed as mean plus or minus standard error of the mean (SEM). Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Platelets from patients in the HU group exhibited increased surface marker expression of αIIbβIII (p = 0.004), P-selectin (p = 0.003), and PS (p = 0.003) at resting conditions when compared to the RBC exchange transfusion group and healthy controls. Additionally, an increase in PS expression was seen in the HU group upon activation with ADP (p = 0.0003). No significant differences were seen in the platelet functional profile after activation with thrombin. The platelet bioenergetic profile in the HU group demonstrated an elevated proton leak (p = 0.03) when compared to the RBC exchange transfusion group. Elevated proton leak in SCD was found to have positive correlation with P-selectin and PS expression (Figure 1). CONCLUSION: While therapeutic interventions have improved overall outcomes in patients with SCD, adverse events continue to be a deterrent to many patients prompting the need for safer, more tolerable, and cost-effective alternatives. We have identified that while HU has little impact on the hyperreactive and procoagulant platelet phenotype in SCD, RBC exchange transfusions appear to mitigate the phenotype and reprogram the bioenergetic profile. Amongst treatment groups, a strong correlation was found between platelet activation markers (i.e., P-selectin and PS) and proton leak, suggesting an interplay between alterations in platelet bioenergetics and SCD-associated platelet hyperreactivity. Further studies are needed to elucidate the metabolic pathways that are responsible for the aberrant platelet functional-bioenergetic profile seen in SCD. These observations are important as targeting the platelet bioenergetic profile via less invasive and toxic therapeutic modalities may be equally efficacious as current interventions. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Clonal Evolution in a Murine CALM-AF10 Leukemia: Evidence of Functional Heterogeneity of Leukemia Stem Cells

Myeloid leukemia is caused by acquired genetic changes in haematopoietic stem cells. The combination of stepwise acquisition of genetic changes together with selection of the fittest clones results in great genetic and clonal heterogeneity. We used a CALM-AF10-driven retroviral transduction murine bone marrow transplantation leukemia model (MBMTLM) to study clonal hierarchy and clonal evolution starting with a primary leukaemia (Fig 1: Leu7) which developed after 131 days and had B220 marker expression on 4% of its cells. Limiting dilution assays (LDAs) showed that the leukemia stem cell (LSC) frequency of Leu7 was 1:2339 (95% confidence interval: 1:794-1:6885). Whole exome sequencing (WES) and analysis of the variant allele fraction of somatic mutations revealed that Leu7 was composed of a main clone (Fig 1: grey) with two subclones (blue and red). Half a million leukemic cells from Leu7 were transplanted into 4 sublethally irradiated recipients, which all developed secondary leukemias after a latency of 19 days (Leu7Sec1 to 4). All secondary leukemias showed similar B220 expression levels to Leu7, and all showed an expansion of the blue subclone. When again half a million cells each of one of the secondary leukemias (Leu7Sec2) were transplanted into 4 recipients, the expansion of the blue subclone continued, the red subclone vanished and, surprisingly, the proportion of B220 expressing cells increased to between 16 to 26%. LDAs showed that the LSC frequency of Leu7Sec2 had not changed. However, several of the leukemias from the LDAs had greatly varying latencies (27 to 193 days) and B220 marker expression (2 to 85%). Four of these tertiary LDA leukemias (Leu7Sec2Ter5 to 8), which each arose from a single LSC, were analysed more closely using WES. Leu7Sec2Ter5 showed a similar latency (27 days) and B220 expression levels like Leu7SecTer1 to 4 and also had the expansion of the blue subclone. Leu7Sec2Ter6 had a long latency of 69 days and a very low B220 expression. Leu7Sec2Ter6 was driven by a new, third subclone (pink), and both the blue and the red subclone disappeared. Very interestingly, Leu7Sec2Ter7 and Leu7Sec2Ter8 had a very long latency of 193 days, and showed an expansion of a subclone (green) of the red subclone. The B220 expression was high (37%) to very high (85%) in these two leukemias. Taken together, these observations paint an interesting picture with the blue subclone outcompeting the red subclone, as leukemias arising from the red subclone only appear after a long latency and in leukemias initiated by a single LSC, when there is no blue subclone LSC present. As the four leukemias (Leu7Sec2Ter5 to 8), which each were derived from a single LSC, showed striking differences in latency and surface marker expression, it can be concluded that this variation in phenotype is an intrinsic property of an individual LSCs most likely a consequence of the distinct combination of somatic mutations present in the individual LSCs. These observations also suggest that distinct LSCs with different properties might be present in a single human leukemia. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Browett: Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria.

Novel in Vitro and In Vivo Drug Screening Platform for ALL.

Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignancy of bone marrow. Accumulation of mutations in lymphoid progenitor cells give rise to either B-ALL or T-ALL. Treatment for ALL has improved in recent years, yet relapse of the disease and development of resistance are observed in patients. Lack of suitable and robust in vitro and in vivo drug testing platforms for primary ALL cells along with the lack of rapid development of novel therapeutics drugs encompassing the heterogeneity of the disease contribute to the delay in approved patient treatments. We have developed a short-term culture system that supports the survival of primary B-ALL and T-ALL cells. Our ALL bank includes patient-derived specimens with complete cytogenetics and surface marker expression information. Different culture conditions were evaluated to select conditions that support the survival and maintenance of primary B-ALL and T-ALL specimens. Cell growth/viability was assessed using the Cell Titer-Glo ® assay. Primary B-ALL cells survived in the optimized media for 3 days and a heterogenous dose dependent response was observed across the models to chemotherapeutic drugs doxorubicin, vincristine, imatinib and cytarabine. BCR-ABl - B-ALL patient samples were found to be resistant to imatinib in contrast to BCR-ABL + samples which were sensitive to imatinib. Similarly, culture conditions optimized for T-ALL primary cells supported the survival until day 6 and displayed a diverse response to standard of care drugs like venetoclax, imatinib, vincristine, cytarabine and methotrexate, reflecting the heterogeneity of the patient derived specimens. Immunophenotypic characterization of ALL cells grown in culture displayed retention of the B and T cells surface marker expression. Further, a patient derived pre-clinical xenograft model was developed in NCG mice to study in vivo ALL drug efficacy. 100% engraftment was observed for B-ALL primary cells, with latency of engraftment (>3%) in peripheral blood varying from 15 days to 3.5 months. 30-90% of the bone marrow cells were occupied by human CD45 cells. Infiltration of human B-ALL cells were observed in the spleen causing splenomegaly. 8 out of the 14 models having high penetrance were passaged until P3. Flow analysis at each passage demonstrated surface marker expression displaying low divergence from the primary samples. Additionally, evaluation of ex vivo drug response from B-ALL PDX splenocytes was largely concordant with the primary specimen ex vivo data in three of the models evaluated. In an in vivo drug efficacy study administration of venetoclax, CHOP and R-CHOP inhibited the proliferation of B-ALL cells. Significant reduction of B-ALL cells was observed while on treatment with Venetoclax. At termination of the study, up to 80% reduction of human B-ALL cells was observed in whole blood, bone marrow, and spleen after treatment with CHOP and R-CHOP in comparison to the vehicle cohort. Similarly, patient derived T-ALL pre-clinical xenograft model development is in progress. Thus, we have developed a robust in vitro drug testing platform for B-ALL and T-ALL to evaluate drug efficacy. We also demonstrate that NCG mice support the growth and proliferation of primary B-ALL cells and have successfully developed an in vivo platform that will facilitate the testing of clinically relevant chemotherapeutic drugs for ALL. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.