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Coats plus (CP) syndrome is an inherited autosomal recessive condition that results from mutations in the conserved telomere maintenance component 1 gene (CTC1). The CTC1 protein functions as a part of the CST protein complex, a protein heterotrimer consisting of CTC1–STN1–TEN1 which promotes telomere DNA synthesis and inhibits telomerase-mediated telomere elongation. However, it is unclear how CTC1 mutations may have an effect on telomere structure and function. For that purpose, we established the very first induced pluripotent stem cell lines (iPSCs) from a compound heterozygous patient with CP carrying deleterious mutations in both alleles of CTC1. Telomere dysfunction and chromosomal instability were assessed in both circulating lymphocytes and iPSCs from the patient and from healthy controls of similar age. The circulating lymphocytes and iPSCs from the CP patient were characterized by their higher telomere length heterogeneity and telomere aberrations compared to those in control cells from healthy donors. Moreover, in contrast to iPSCs from healthy controls, the high levels of telomerase were associated with activation of the alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) pathway in CP-iPSCs. This was accompanied by inappropriate activation of the DNA repair proteins γH2AX, 53BP1, and ATM, as well as with accumulation of DNA damage, micronuclei, and anaphase bridges. CP-iPSCs presented features of cellular senescence and increased radiation sensitivity. Clonal dicentric chromosomes were identified only in CP-iPSCs after exposure to radiation, thus mirroring the role of telomere dysfunction in their formation. These data demonstrate that iPSCs derived from CP patients can be used as a model system for molecular studies of the CP syndrome and underscores the complexity of telomere dysfunction associated with the defect of DNA repair machinery in the CP syndrome.

Using induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) technology, it is now possible to reprogram the primary leukemic cells to pluripotency and generate a major source of stem cells. To determine the feasibility of modeling global genomic instability characterizing chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) progression towards blast crisis (BC), we have used a patient-specific iPSC line that has been submitted to in vitro mutagenesis with the mutagenic agent N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). Increased genomic instability was validated using g-H2AX and micronuclei assays. As compared to non-mutagenized cultures, these iPSC generated an increased numbers of progenitors (x 5-Fold) which proliferated in liquid cultures with a blast cell morphology. CGH array analyses were performed using ENU-treated iPSC-derived hematopoietic cells in two different time points as compared to leukemic iPSC cultured without ENU. Several cancer genes were found to be involved in the ENU-treated cultures, some known to be altered in leukemia (BLM, IKZF1, NCOA2, ALK, EP300, ERG, MKL1, PHF6 and TET1). Remarkably, transcriptome geodataset GSE4170 (Radich et al., 2006) allowed us to associate 125 of 249 of the aberrations that we detected in CML iPSC, with genes already described during progression of CML to BC (p-value =9.43exp32, after ANOVA with 1000 permutations). 38 most predictive aberrations allowed perfect reclassification of BC and chronic phase samples by unsupervised classification. Among these candidates, eleven of them have been described in CML physiopathology and connected to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance and genomic instability. Overall, these results demonstrated that we have generated for the first time to our knowledge, an in vitro genetic instability model in CML, reproducing genomic events described in patients with BC. This tool using patient-derived iPSC could be of interest to study CML progression, to discover novel targets and eventually to test novel therapies.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that telomere shortening and/or loss are risk factors for infertility.DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the telomere status in patients with infertility using conventional cytogenetic data collected prospectively.SETTING: Academic centers.PATIENT(S): Cytogenetic slides with cultured peripheral lymphocytes from 50 patients undergoing fertility treatment and 150 healthy donors, including 100 donors matched for age.INTERVENTION(S): Cytogenetic slides were used to detect chromosomal and telomere aberrations.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Telomere length and telomere aberrations were analyzed after telomere and centromere staining.RESULT(S): The mean telomere length of patients consulting for infertility was significantly less than that of healthy donors of similar age. Moreover, patients with infertility showed significantly more extreme telomere loss and telomere doublet formation than healthy controls. Telomere shortening and/or telomere aberrations were more pronounced in patients with structural chromosomal aberrations. Dicentric chromosomes were identified in 6/13 patients, with constitutional chromosomal aberrations leading to chromosomal instability that correlated with chromosomal end-to-end fusions.CONCLUSION(S): Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of analyzing telomere aberrations in addition to chromosomal aberrations, using cytogenetic slides. Telomere attrition and/or dysfunction represent the main common cytogenetic characteristic of patients with infertility, leading to potential implications for fertility assessment. Pending further studies, these techniques that correlate the outcome of assisted reproduction and telomere integrity status may represent a novel and useful diagnostic and/or prognostic tool for medical care in this field.

Telomeres play a major role in maintaining genome stability and integrity. Putative involvement of telomere dysfunction in the formation of various types of chromosomal aberrations is an area of active research. Here, we report a case of a six-month-old boy with a chromosomal gain encompassing the 11q22.3q25 region identified by SNP array analysis. The size of the duplication is 26.7 Mb and contains 170 genes (OMIM). The duplication results in partial trisomy of the region in question with clinical consequences, including bilateral renal dysplasia, delayed development, and a heart defect. Moreover, the karyotype determined by R-banding and chromosome painting as well as by hybridization with specific sub-telomere probes revealed the presence of an unbalanced t(9;11)(p24;q22.3) translocation with a unique breakpoint involving the sub-telomere region of the short arm of chromosome 9. The karyotypes of the parents were normal. Telomere integrity in circulating lymphocytes from the child and from his parents was assessed using an automated high-throughput method based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with telomere- and centromere-specific PNA probes followed by M-FISH multicolor karyotyping. Very short telomeres, as well as an increased frequency of telomere loss and formation of telomere doublets, were detected in the child’s cells. Interestingly, similar telomere profiles were found in the circulating lymphocytes of the father. Moreover, an assessment of clonal telomere aberrations identified chromosomes 9 and 11 with particularly high frequencies of such aberrations. These findings strongly suggest that telomere dysfunction plays a central role in the formation of this specific unbalanced chromosome rearrangement via chromosome end-to-end fusion and breakage–fusion–bridge cycles.

We successfully converted hepatocytes isolated from adult mice into expandable and stable leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5)-positive endodermal progenitor cells (EndoPCs). This was accomplishedin vitrothrough transient exposure to four transcriptional factors (OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4, and cMYC) and STAT3 activators. EndoPCs were generated by a process that involved an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) without the use of any components of the canonical WNT/β-catenin or LGR5/R-spondin signaling pathways. We showed that the proliferation and capacity for self-renewal of EndoPCs in 2D long-term culture were controlled by three interrelated signaling pathways: gp130/JAK/STAT3, LGR5/R-spondin, and WNT/β-catenin. After long-term maintenance in two- and three-dimensional culture systems, EndoPCs were able to differentiate into liver-restricted lineages such as hepatocyte-like cells and bile duct-like structuresin vitroandin vivo. After intra-muscular injection, EndoPCs generated macroscopically visible and well-vascularized liver-like tissue, which contained Alb+liver parenchyma-like structures and substantial, KRT7/KRT19+bile duct-like cell organizations.ConclusionWe have developed an efficient method for producing LGR5+adult endodermal stem cells. These cells will be useful for thein vitrostudy of the molecular mechanisms of liver development and have important potential for therapeutic strategies, including approaches based on bioengineered liver tissue. These cells also open up new avenues for experiments focused on disease modeling, toxicology studies, and regenerative medicine applications.

Dicentric chromosomes are a relevant marker of chromosomal instability. Their appearance is associated with telomere dysfunction, leading to cancer progression and a poor clinical outcome. Here, we present Telomere and Centromere staining followed by M-FISH (TC+M-FISH) for improved detection of telomere dysfunction and the identification of dicentric chromosomes in cancer patients and various genetic syndromes. Significant telomere length shortening and significantly higher frequencies of telomere loss and deletion were found in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients with cancer and genetic syndromes relative to similar age-matched healthy donors. We assessed our technique against conventional cytogenetics for the detection of dicentric chromosomes by subjecting metaphase preparations to both approaches. We identified dicentric chromosomes in 28/50 cancer patients and 21/44 genetic syndrome patients using our approach, but only 7/50 and 12/44, respectively, using standard cytogenetics. We ascribe this discrepancy to the identification of the unique configuration of dicentric chromosomes. We observed significantly higher frequencies of telomere loss and deletion in patients with dicentric chromosomes (p &lt, 10&minus, 4). TC+M-FISH analysis is superior to classical cytogenetics for the detection of chromosomal instability. Our approach is a relatively simple but useful tool for documenting telomere dysfunction and chromosomal instability with the potential to become a standard additional diagnostic tool in medical genetics and the clinic.

A link between telomere shortening and oxidative stress was found in aging people and patients with cancer or inflammatory diseases. Extracts of Astragalus spp. are known to stimulate telomerase activity, thereby compensating telomere shortening. We characterized a multi-component hydroethanolic root extract (HRE) of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and assessed its effects on telomeres compared to those of danazol. Astragalosides I to IV, flavonoids, amino acids and sugars were detected in the HRE. Samples of peripheral blood lymphocytes with short telomeres from 18 healthy donors (mean age 63.5 years, range 3286 years) were exposed to a single dose of 1 &micro, g/mL HRE or danazol for three days. Telomere length and telomerase expression were then measured. Significant elongation of telomeres associated to a less toxicity was observed in lymphocytes from 13/18 donors following HRE treatment (0.54 kb (0.15&ndash, 2.06 kb)) and in those from 9/18 donors after danazol treatment (0.95 kb (0.06&ndash, 2.06 kb)). The rate of cells with short telomeres (&lt, 3 kb) decreased in lymphocytes from all donors after exposure to either HRE or danazol, telomere elongation being telomerase-dependent. These findings suggest that the HRE could be used for the management of age-related diseases.

Heterozygous non-synonymous (p.S142F) mutation in HNF1A leads to maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) type 3, which is a subtype of dominant inherited young-onset non-autoimmune diabetes due to the defect of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient with HNF1A p.S142F mutation. Cells from this patient, which were reprogrammed by non-integrative viral transduction had normal karyotype, harboured the HNF1A p.S142F mutation, expressed pluripotency hallmarks.

We report here the first use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to examine the initial clonal dynamics in an unusual patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), who presented in chronic phase (CP) with doubly marked BCR-ABL1+/JAK2V617F-mutant cells and, over a 9-year period, progressed into an accelerated phase (AP) and then terminal blast phase (BP). WGS revealed that the diagnostic cells also contained mutations in ASXL1, SEC23B, MAD1L1, and RREB1 as well as 12,000 additional uncommon DNA variants. WGS of endothelial cells generated from circulating precursors revealed many of these were shared with the CML clone. Surprisingly, WGS of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from the AP cells revealed only six additional coding somatic mutations, despite retention by the hematopoietic progeny of the parental AP cell levels of BCR-ABL1 expression and sensitivity to imatinib and pimozide. Limited analysis of BP cells revealed independent subclonal progression to homozygosity of the MAD1L1 and RREB1 variants. MAD1L1 and SEC23B mutations were also identified in 2 of 101 cases of myeloproliferative neoplasms, but not in 42 healthy subjects. These findings challenge historic concepts of clonal evolution in CML.

Tumor progression begins when cancer cells recruit tumor-associated stromal cells to produce a vascular niche, ultimately resulting in uncontrolled growth, invasion, and metastasis. It is poorly understood, though, how this process might be affected by deletions or mutations in the breast cancer type 1 susceptibility (BRCA1) gene in patients with a lifetime risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer. To model the BRCA1-deleted stroma, we first generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients carrying a germline deletion of exon 17 of the BRCA1 gene (BRCA1+/&minus, who, based on their family histories, were at a high risk for cancer. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of these two affected family members and two normal (BRCA1+/+) individuals, we established a number of iPSC clones via non-integrating Sendai virus-based delivery of the four OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC factors. Induced mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) were generated and used as normal and pathological stromal cells. In transcriptome analyses, BRCA1+/&minus, iMSCs exhibited a unique pro-angiogenic signature: compared to non-mutated iMSCs, they expressed high levels of HIF-1&alpha, angiogenic factors belonging to the VEGF, PDGF, and ANGPT subfamilies showing high angiogenic potential. This was confirmed in vitro through the increased capacity to generate tube-like structures compared to BRCA1+/+ iMSCs and in vivo by a matrigel plug angiogenesis assay where the BRCA1+/&minus, iMSCs promoted the development of an extended and organized vessel network. We also reported a highly increased migration capacity of BRCA1+/&minus, iMSCs through an in vitro wound healing assay that correlated with the upregulation of the periostin (POSTN). Finally, we assessed the ability of both iMSCs to facilitate the engraftment of murine breast cancer cells using a xenogenic 4T1 transplant model. The co-injection of BRCA1+/&minus, iMSCs and 4T1 breast cancer cells into mouse mammary fat pads gave rise to highly aggressive tumor growth (2-fold increase in tumor volume compared to 4T1 alone, p = 0.01283) and a higher prevalence of spontaneous metastatic spread to the lungs. Here, we report for the first time a major effect of BRCA1 haploinsufficiency on tumor-associated stroma in the context of BRCA1-associated cancers. The unique iMSC model used here was generated using patient-specific iPSCs, which opens new therapeutic avenues for the prevention and personalized treatment of BRCA1-associated hereditary breast cancer.

To identify the cells responsible for the initiation and maintenance of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cells, we have characterized a subpopulation of HL cells grown in vitro and in vivo with the aim of establishing a reliable and robust animal model for HL. To validate our model, we challenged the tumor cells in vivo by injecting the alkylating histone-deacetylase inhibitor, EDO-S101, a salvage regimen for HL patients, into xenografted mice. Methodology: Blood lymphocytes from 50 HL patients and seven HL cell lines were used. Immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and cytogenetics analyses were performed. The in vitro and in vivo effects of EDO-S101 were assessed. Results: We have successfully determined conditions for in vitro amplification and characterization of the HL L428-c subline, containing a higher proportion of CD30&minus, /CD15&minus, cells than the parental L428 cell line. This subline displayed excellent clonogenic potential and reliable reproducibility upon xenografting into immunodeficient NOD-SCID-gamma (&minus, /&minus, )(NSG) mice. Using cell sorting, we demonstrate that CD30&minus, subpopulations can gain the phenotype of the L428-c cell line in vitro. Moreover, the human cells recovered from the seventh week after injection of L428-c cells into NSG mice were small cells characterized by a high frequency of CD30&minus, cells. Cytogenetic analysis demonstrated that they were diploid and showed high telomere instability and telomerase activity. Accordingly, chromosomal instability emerged, as shown by the formation of dicentric chromosomes, ring chromosomes, and breakage/fusion/bridge cycles. Similarly, high telomerase activity and telomere instability were detected in circulating lymphocytes from HL patients. The beneficial effect of the histone-deacetylase inhibitor EDO-S101 as an anti-tumor drug validated our animal model. Conclusion: Our HL animal model requires only 103 cells and is characterized by a high survival/toxicity ratio and high reproducibility. Moreover, the cells that engraft in mice are characterized by a high frequency of small CD30&minus, cells exhibiting high telomerase activity and telomere dysfunction.

Background: We analyzed telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) in lymph node samples from HL patients treated with standard therapy. The TMMs correlated with clinical outcomes of patients. Materials and Methods: Lymph node biopsies obtained from 38 HL patients and 24 patients with lymphadenitis were included in this study. Seven HL cell lines were used as in vitro models. Telomerase activity (TA) was assessed by TRAP assay and verified through hTERT immunofluorescence expression, alternative telomere lengthening (ALT) was also assessed, along with EBV status. Results: Both TA and ALT mechanisms were present in HL lymph nodes. Our findings were reproduced in HL cell lines. The highest levels of TA were expressed in CD30&minus, /CD15&minus, cells. Small cells were identified with ALT and TA. Hodgkin and Reed Sternberg cells contained high levels of PML bodies, but had very low hTERT expression. There was a significant correlation between overall survival (p &lt, 10&minus, 3), event-free survival (p &lt, 4), and freedom from progression (p &lt, 3) and the presence of an ALT profile in lymph nodes of EBV+ patients. Conclusion: The presence of both types of TMMs in HL lymph nodes and in HL cell lines has not previously been reported. TMMs correlate with the treatment outcome of EBV+ HL patients.

The pig is an emerging animal model, complementary to rodents for basic research and for biomedical and agronomical purposes. However despite the progress made on mouse and rat models to produce genuine pluripotent cells, it remains impossible to produce porcine pluripotent cell lines with germline transmission. Reprogramming of pig somatic cells using conventional integrative strategies remains also unsatisfactory. In the present study, we compared the outcome of both integrative and non-integrative reprogramming strategies on pluripotency and chromosome stability during pig somatic cell reprogramming. The porcine cell lines produced with integrative strategies express several pluripotency genes but they do not silence the integrated exogenes and present a high genomic instability upon passaging. In contrast, pig induced pluripotent-like stem cells produced with non-integrative reprogramming system (NI-iPSLCs) exhibit a normal karyotype after more than 12 months in culture and reactivate endogenous pluripotency markers. Despite the persistent expression of exogenous OCT4 and MYC, these cells can differentiate into derivatives expressing markers of the three embryonic germ layers and we propose that these NI-iPSLCs can be used as a model to bring new insights into the molecular factors controlling and maintaining pluripotency in the pig and other non-rodent mammalians.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a fundamental role in allograft rejection and graft-versus-host disease through their immunosuppressive abilities. Recently, Toll-like receptors (TLR) have been shown to modulate MSC functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of several TLR ligands on the interaction between MSC and natural killer (NK) cells. Our results show that TLR-primed adult bone marrow and embryonic MSC are more resistant than unprimed MSC to IL-2-activated NK-induced killing. Such protection can be explained by the modulation of Natural Killer group 2D ligands major histocompatibility complex class I chain A and ULBP3 and DNAM-1 ligands by TLR-primed MSC. These results indicate that MSCs are able to adapt their immuno-behavior in an inflammatory context, decreasing their susceptibility to NK killing. In addition, TLR3 but not TLR4-primed MSC enhance their suppressive functions against NK cells. However, the efficiency of this response is heterogeneous, even if the phenotypes of different analyzed MSC are rather homogeneous. The consequences could be important in MSC-mediated cell therapy, since the heterogeneity of adult MSC responders may be explored in order to select the more efficient responders. Stem Cells 2014;32:290–300

The pig is an emerging animal model, complementary to rodents for basic research and for biomedical and agronomical purposes. However despite the progress made on mouse and rat models to produce genuine pluripotent cells, it remains impossible to produce porcine pluripotent cell lines with germline transmission. Reprogramming of pig somatic cells using conventional integrative strategies remains also unsatisfactory. In the present study, we compared the outcome of both integrative and non-integrative reprogramming strategies on pluripotency and chromosome stability during pig somatic cell reprogramming. The porcine cell lines produced with integrative strategies express several pluripotency genes but they do not silence the integrated exogenes and present a high genomic instability upon passaging. In contrast, pig induced pluripotent-like stem cells produced with non-integrative reprogramming system (NI-iPSLCs) exhibit a normal karyotype after more than 12 months in culture and reactivate endogenous pluripotency markers. Despite the persistent expression of exogenous OCT4 and MYC, these cells can differentiate into derivatives expressing markers of the three embryonic germ layers and we propose that these NI-iPSLCs can be used as a model to bring new insights into the molecular factors controlling and maintaining pluripotency in the pig and other non-rodent mammalians.

International audience; Hematopoiesis generated from human embryonic stem cells (ES) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) are unprecedented resources for cell therapy. We compared hematopoietic differentiation potentials from ES and iPS cell lines originated from various donors and derived them using integrative and non-integrative vectors. Significant differences in differentiation toward hematopoietic lineage were observed among ES and iPS. The ability of engraftment of iPS or ES-derived cells in NOG mice varied among the lines with low levels of chimerism. iPS generated from ES cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) reproduce a similar hematopoietic outcome compared to their parental ES cell line. We were not able to identify any specific hematopoietic transcription factors that allow to distinguish between good versus poor hematopoiesis in undifferentiated ES or iPS cell lines. There is a relatively unpredictable variation in hematopoietic differentiation between ES and iPS cell lines that could not be predicted based on phenotype or gene expression of the undifferentiated cells. These results demonstrate the influence of genetic background in variation of hematopoietic potential rather than the reprogramming process.

Because many of the genes used to produce induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells are either outright established oncogenes, such as c- myc and Klf4 , or potentially related to tumorigenesis in various cancers, both the safety and the risks of tumorigenesis linked to iPSC generation require evaluation. In this work, we generated, by lentivirus-mediated gene transfer of Oct4 , Sox2 , Nanog , and Lin28 , two types of iPSCs from human mesenchymal stem cells and human amniotic fluid–derived cells: fully reprogrammed iPSCs with silencing of the four transgenes and partially reprogrammed iPSCs that still express one or several transgenes. We assessed the behavior of these cells during both their differentiation and proliferation using in vivo teratoma assays in nonobese diabetic mice with severe combined immunodeficiency. In contrast to fully reprogrammed iPSCs, 43% of partially reprogrammed iPSC cases (6 of 14 teratomas) generated major dysplasia and malignant tumors, with yolk sac tumors and embryonal carcinomas positive for α-fetoprotein, cytokeratin AE1/AE3, and CD30. This correlated with the expression of one or several transgenes used for the reprogramming, down-regulation of CDK 1A mRNA (p21/CDKN1A), and up-regulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 mRNA. Therefore, the oncogenicity of therapeutically valuable patient-specific iPSC-derived cells should be scrupulously evaluated before they are used for any clinical applications.

International audience; Photodynamic therapy combines a photosensitizer, localised preferentially in malignant cells with light activation. Hypocrellin A (HA), a lipid-soluble peryloquinone, is considered as a high potential photosensitizer.We report dose and light irradiation effects of HA on HeLa, Calu and K562 cell lines, the latter including a subclone resistant to Imatinib mesylate (IM, Gleevec). All cell lines and subclones tested are sensitive to HA PDT.In the epithelial tumour cell lines, we observe a significant photosensitizing effect in the presence of HA. In the leukemic K562 cells, HA exposure led to an inhibitory effect, which was not seen in the K562 cells resistant to Imatinib mesylate. However, experiments using IM and HA led to a reversal of IM-resistant phenotype in this cell line, with evidence of a major sensitizing effect of photodynamic therapy.Overall our results suggest a phototoxicity of HA in epithelial cell lines and demonstrate for the first time, a synergy between IM and photodynamic therapy to circumvent IM-resistance.

Various pulmonary disorders, including cystic fibrosis, are potentially amenable to a treatment modality in which a therapeutic gene is directly delivered to the lung. Current gene delivery systems, either viral or nonviral, need further improvement in terms of efficiency and safety. We reported that nonionic amphiphilic block copolymers hold promise as nonviral gene delivery systems for transfection of muscular tissues. To evaluate the efficiency of these vectors in the lung, intratracheal instillation or aerosolization of reporter genes complexed with Lutrol or PE6400 was performed. Lutrol-DNA and, to a lesser extent, PE6400-DNA complexes promoted efficient gene transfection into mouse airways in a dose-dependent manner. This improvement over naked DNA was observed irrespective of the reporter gene. Lutrol enabled us to deliver significantly higher DNA amounts than current nonviral vectors, with even greater increases in gene expression and without the formation of colloidally unstable complexes. Time course studies showed that Lutrol-DNA complexes permitted prolonged gene expression for up to 5 days whereas with poly(ethylenimine) (PEI)-DNA polyplexes, expression peaked on days 1-2 postinstillation, was strongly reduced by day 5, and reached background levels on day 7. Aerosolized delivery of Lutrol-DNA complexes, a less invasive approach to deliver genes to the lung, gave 5- to 15-fold higher reporter gene expression compared with PEI-DNA polyplexes administered via the same delivery route. After intratracheal instillation of Lutrol-DNA complexes, histochemical staining for beta-galactosidase expression showed the presence of large blue areas. Histopathological analysis showed that Lutrol alone did not elicit inflammation, and that the inflammatory response after intratracheal instillation of Lutrol-DNA complexes was reversible and was observed only with the highest amounts of DNA. We also found that Lutrol can efficiently deliver genes to the airways of cystic fibrosis mice. Thus, we conclude that Lutrol is a highly promising vector for gene delivery to the lung.

Cationic lipids nowadays constitute a promising alternative to recombinant viruses for gene transfer. We have recently explored the transfection potential of a new class of lipids based upon the use of aminoglycosides as cationic polar headgroups. The encouraging results obtained with a first cholesterol derivative of kanamycin A prompted us to investigate this family of vectors further, by modulating the constituent structural units of the cationic lipid. For this study, we have investigated the transfection properties of a series of new derivatives based on a kanamycin A scaffold. The results primarily confirm that aminoglycoside-based lipids are efficient vectors for gene transfection both in vitro and in vivo (mouse airways). Furthermore, a combination of transfection and physicochemical data revealed that some modifications of the constitutive subunits of kanamycin A-based vectors were associated with substantial changes in their transfection properties.

Cationic lipid-mediated gene transfection involves uptake of the lipid/DNA complexes via endocytosis, a cellular pathway characterized by a significant drop in pH. Thus, in the present study, we aimed to explore the impact on transfection efficiency of the inclusion of an acid-sensitive acylhydrazone function in the cationic lipid structure. We synthesized and evaluated the transfection properties of a series of four cationic steroid derivatives characterized by an acylhydrazone linkage connecting a guanidinium-based headgroup to a saturated cholestanone or an unsaturated cholest-4-enone hydrophobic domain. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis was confirmed for all lipids, its rate being highest for those with a cholestanone moiety. The compound bis-guanidinium bis(2-aminoethyl)amine hydrazone (BGBH)-cholest-4-enone was found to mediate efficient gene transfection into various mammalian cell lines in vitro and into the mouse airways in vivo. In vitro transfection studies with BGBH-cholest-4-enone formulations also showed that incorporation of a degradable acylhydrazone bond led to low cytotoxicity and impacted the intracellular trafficking of the lipoplexes. Thus, our work allowed us to identify a cationic lipid structure with an acid-cleavable acylhydrazone linker capable of mediating efficient gene transfection in vitro and in vivo and it thereby provides a basis for further development of related acid-sensitive gene delivery systems.

Background Cationic lipids are at present very actively investigated for gene transfer studies and gene therapy applications. Basically, they rely on the formation of DNA/lipid aggregates via electrostatic interactions between their cationic headgroup and the negatively charged DNA. Although their structure/activity relationships are not well understood, it is generally agreed that the nature of the positive headgroup impacts on their transfection activity. Thus, we have directed our efforts toward the development of cationic lipids with novel cationic moieties. In the present work, we have explored the transfection potential of the lipophilic derivatives of the aminoglycoside kanamycin A. Indeed, aminoglycosides, which are natural polyamines known to bind to nucleic acids, provide a favorable scaffold for the synthesis of a variety of cationic lipids because of their structural features and multifunctional nature. Methods and results We report here the synthesis of a cationic cholesterol derivative characterized by a kanamycin A headgroup and of its polyguanidinylated derivative. The amino-sugar-based cationic lipid is highly efficient for gene transfection into a variety of mammalian cell lines when used either alone or as a liposomal formulation with the neutral phospholipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Its polyguanidinylated derivative was also found to mediate in vitro gene transfection. In addition, colloidally stable kanamycin-cholesterol/DOPE lipoplexes were found to be efficient for gene transfection into the mouse airways in vivo. Conclusions These results reveal the usefulness of cationic lipids characterized by headgroups composed of an aminoglycoside or its guanidinylated derivative for gene transfection in vitro and in vivo. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Despite the major progress obtained in prognosis with the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), the great majority of patients with CML remain on long-term therapy and progression occurs in patients with either primary or secondary resistance. The mechanisms of progression towards accelerated phase (AP) and blast crisis (BC) have been studied so far only in primary patient samples in BC. Currently, there is no in vitro model to study sequentially the molecular events leading from CP to BC as only some primary sequential samples are amenable to analysis. Using induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) technology, it is now possible to reprogram the primary leukemic cells to pluripotency and generate a major source of stem cells. To determine the feasibility of studying progression of CML towards AP and BC, we have used a patient-specific iPSC line that we have generated from the primary leukemic cells of a patient who later showed a TKI-resistance requiring an allogeneic stem cell transplant. These iPSC expressed BCR-ABL, exhibited all pluripotency markers and after injection in NSG mice, generated teratoma with differentiation into three germ layers. In hematopoietic differentiation assays using day 19-embryoid bodies (EB), increased numbers of hematopoietic progenitors were found as compared to control iPSC (5-fold increase n= 3). We have then treated leukemic iPSC with the mutagenic agent N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) during regular medium changes. After 61 days in ENU cultures, day-19 derived embryoid bodies generated hematopoietic cells (>90% CD45+, CD43+) which proliferated in liquid cultures with myeloid and some blast cell morphology. Cytogenetic analyses of iPSC revealed chromosomal abnormalities such as loss of Y and loss of der q9+, both alterations known to occur in CML during progression. They exhibited increased numbers of micronuclei (MN) as compared to leukemic iPSC without ENU (X 3 Fold increase) suggesting acquisition of a progressive chromosomal instability. CGH array analyses were performed using ENU-treated iPSC-derived hematopoietic cells in two different timepoints as compared to leukemic iPSC cultured without ENU. Genomic aberrations were analyzed by Agilent Cytogenomics software with Mosaicism workflow on HG19 genome. 249 gene loci alterations were detected after polymorphism filtration on European population. These analyses showed DNA losses and DNA gains in genes implicated in mesoderm development and hematopoietic lineage as well as genes implicated in DNA damage response. Several loci of transcription factors were found to be involved such as IKZF1 described in imatinib-refractory chronic myeloid leukemia (Bolton-Gillespie et al. 2013). The aberrations included SIRT1and BLM which is implicated in DNA repair. Several cancer genes were found to be involved, some known to be altered in leukemia (BLM, IKZF1, NCOA2, ALK, EP300, ERG, MKL1, PHF6 and TET1). Remarkably, transcriptome geodataset GSE4170 (Radich et al. 2006) allowed us to associate 125 of 249 of the aberrations that we detected in CML iPSC, with the CML progression genes already described during progression from chronic and AP to BC (p-value =9.43E-32, after ANOVA with 1000 permutations). 38 most predictive aberrations allowed perfect reclassification of BC and chronic phase samples by unsupervised classification. Among these candidates, eleven of them have been described in CML physiopathology and connected to TKI resistance and genomic instability. Majority of them ( 7/11) are connected to chronic phase (FAS, ACTB, TRIM21, ANPEP, MLK1, CSF2RA, and MAGEC2) whereas a minority of them (4/11) are connected to BC (ACP1, SH3YL1, FHL1, IL3RA). Interestingly, these experiments also allowed us to discover the connection of a new multidrug resistance molecule associated to BC and having the ability to modify interferon pathway connected to the TKI sensitivity. Thus, genomic instability pattern that we have generated using a single leukemic iPSC allowed duplication of genomic abnormalities described in CML progression and allowed identification of some novel genes. Overall, these results demonstrated that we have generated for the first time to our knowledge, an in vitro BC model, reproducing genomic events described in patients with BC. This "blast crisis in a dish" tool using patient-derived iPSC will be of major interest to study CML progression and eventually to test novel therapies. Figure. Figure. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Background Colloidal stability of lipid/DNA aggregates is a major requirement for cationic lipid-mediated transfection which is particularly difficult to fulfil at the high DNA concentrations used for in vivo gene delivery. Thus, we have investigated the potential of poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) conjugates for steric stabilization of lipoplexes formed by bis(guanidinium)-tren-cholesterol/dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (BGTC/DOPE) liposomes, a class of cationic liposomes we have developed over the past few years. Methods and results We demonstrate that adequate lipophilic PEG derivatives can stabilize BGTC/DOPE lipoplexes formed at high DNA concentration. We also report the results of cryotransmission electron microscopy studies indicating that PEG-stabilized lipoplexes form DNA-coated structures which assemble into clusters exhibiting various complex morphologies. Finally, we report data from in vivo transfection experiments suggesting that PEG-mediated colloidal stabilization of concentrated lipoplex solutions may allow enhanced transfection of the mouse airways via intranasal administration. Conclusion Our results represent an important step towards the design of multimodular BGTC-based systems for improved in vivo gene transfection. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Les vecteurs synthetiques constituent un domaine particulierement actif de la therapie genique dont le but est de developper une alternative aux vecteurs viraux. Bien que les divers vecteurs actuels aient permis d'obtenir des resultats interessants in vitro et chez l'animal et chez l'homme in vivo, leur utilisation se heurte encore a differents problemes, surtout lors de l'administration systemique. Cependant, des solutions tres attrayantes semblent exister, notamment la mise au point de systemes modulaires de type « virus artificiels .

We have recently discovered that cationic cholesterol derivatives characterized by guanidinium polar headgroups are very efficient for gene transfection in vitro and in vivo . In spite of being based on some rationale at the molecular level, the development of these new synthetic vectors was nevertheless empirical. Indeed, the factors and processes underlying cationic lipid-mediated gene transfer are still poorly understood. Thus, to get a better insight into the mechanisms involved, we have examined the supramolecular structure of lipid/DNA aggregates obtained when using reagent bis(guanidinium)-tren-cholesterol (BGTC), either alone or as a liposomal formulation with the neutral phospholipid dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). We here report the results of cryotransmission electron microscopy studies and small-angle x-ray scattering experiments, indicating the presence of multilamellar domains with a regular spacing of 70 Å and 68 Å in BGTC/DOPE–DNA and BGTC–DNA aggregates, respectively. In addition, DNA lipoplexes with similar lamellar patterns were detected inside transfected HeLa cells by conventional transmission electron microscopy. These results suggest that DNA condensation by multivalent guanidinium-cholesterol cationic lipids involves the formation of highly ordered multilamellar domains, the DNA molecules being intercalated between the lipid bilayers. These results also invite further investigation of the intracellular fate of the internalized lipid/DNA structures during their trafficking toward the cell nucleus. The identification of the basic features of active complexes should indeed help in the design of improved guanidinium-based vectors.

Although most research in the field of somatic gene therapy has investigated the use of recombinant viruses for transferring genes into somatic target cells, various methods for nonviral gene delivery have also been proposed. Both types of gene delivery systems have advantages and drawbacks. Schematically, viral vectors are particularly efficient for gene delivery, whereas nonviral systems are free of the difficulties associated with the use of recombinant viruses but need to be further optimized to reach their full potential. In order to bridge the gap between viral vectors and synthetic reagents, we discuss here some specific features of the viral vector systems of today that could advantageously be taken into account for the design of improved nonviral gene delivery systems. Indeed, although nonviral systems differ fundamentally from viral systems, one possible approach towards enhanced artificial reagents aims at developing 'artificial viruses' that mimic the highly efficient processes of viral infection.

International audience; Background Human induced pluripotent stem cells offer perspectives for cell therapy and research models for diseases. We applied this approach to the normal and pathological erythroid differentiation model by establishing induced pluripotent stem cells from normal and homozygous sickle cell disease donors. Design and Methods We addressed the question as to whether these cells can reach complete erythroid terminal maturation notably with a complete switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin. Sickle cell disease induced pluripotent stem cells were differentiated in vitro into red blood cells and characterized for their terminal maturation in terms of hemoglobin content, oxygen transport capacity, deformability, sickling and adherence. Nucleated erythroblast populations generated from normal and pathological induced pluripotent stem cells were then injected into non-obese diabetic severe combined immunodeficiency mice to follow the in vivo hemoglobin maturation. Results We observed that in vitro erythroid differentiation results in predominance of fetal hemoglobin which rescues the functionality of red blood cells in the pathological model of sickle cell disease. We observed, in vivo, the switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin after infusion of nucleated erythroid precursors derived from either normal or pathological induced pluripotent stem cells into mice. Conclusions These results demonstrate that human induced pluripotent stem cells i) can achieve complete terminal erythroid maturation, in vitro in terms of nucleus expulsion and in vivo in terms of hemoglobin maturation; and ii) open the way to generation of functionally corrected red blood cells from sickle cell disease induced pluripotent stem cells, without any genetic modification or drug treatment. © 2012 Ferrata Storti Foundation.

A major issue in immunosuppressive biotherapy is the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that harbor regulatory capacity. However, currently used bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) are short-lived and cannot assure long lasting immunoregulatory function both in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, we have generated MSCs from human induced pluripotent stem (IPS-MSCs) cells that share similar properties with embryonic stem cells (ES-MSCs). Herein, we compared the immunoregulatory properties of ES/IPS-MSCs with those of BM-MSCs and showed, for the first time, that IPS-derived MSCs display remarkable inhibition of NK-cell proliferation and cytolytic function in a similar way to ES-MSCs. Both MSCs disrupt NK-cell cytolytic machinery in the same fashion that BM-MSCs, by down-regulating the expression of different activation markers and ERK1/2 signaling, leading to an impairment to form immunologic synapses with target cells and, therefore, secretion of cytotoxic granules. In addition, they are more resistant than adult BM-MSCs to preactivated NK cells. IPS-MSCs could represent an attractive alternative source of immunoregulatory cells, and their capacity to impair NK-cell cytotoxicity constitutes a complex mechanism to prevent allograft rejection.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be induced to differentiate towards hematopoiesis with high efficiency. In this work, we analyzed the methylation status of the X-linked HUMARA (human androgen receptor) gene in hematopoietic cells derived from hESC line H9 before and after induction of hematopoietic differentiation. All passages of H9 and H9-derived hematopoietic cells displayed homogenous methylation pattern with disappearance of the same allele upon HpaII digestion. This pattern persisted in the great majority of different hematopoietic progenitors derived from H9, except in 11 of 86 individually plucked colonies in which an equal digestion of the HUMARA alleles has been found, suggesting that a methylation change occurring at this locus during differentiation. Interestingly, quantification of X inactive-specific transcript (XIST) RNA in undifferentiated H9 cell line and day 14 embryoid bodies (EB) by RT-PCR did not show any evidence of XIST expression either before or after differentiation. Thus, during self-renewal conditions and after induction of commitment towards the formation of EB, the methylation pattern of the HUMARA locus appears locked with the same unmethylated allele. However, hematopoietic differentiation seems to be permissive to the reversal of methylation status of HUMARA in some terminally differentiated progenitors. These data suggest that monitoring methylation of HUMARA gene during induced differentiation could be of use for studying hESC-derived hematopoiesis.

Background In utero tracheal occlusion (TO) has been developed to improve the lung hypoplasia associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). However, although TO stimulates fetal lung growth, it results in a decrease of alveolar type II cells (ATII) and surfactant production. Because keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a potent stimulus of ATII proliferation and maturation, we evaluated, in a fetal lamb model of CDH, a gene therapy strategy combining TO and ovine KGF transfection into the fetal airways using bisguanidinium-tren-cholesterol/dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (BGTC/DOPE) cationic liposomes. Methods Three groups of sheep fetuses with CDH and a group of normal fetuses were studied. The fetuses of the three groups with CDH (KGF, Medium and Hernia groups) underwent surgery at 85 days of gestation to create a diaphragmatic hernia. The KGF and medium group fetuses underwent a second surgery step at day 125 to perform TO associated with injection of the KGF transfection mixture (KGF group) or control medium (Medium group), whereas the fetuses of the Hernia group were left untreated. Normal fetuses were used as a control (Normal group). All fetuses were euthanized at 132 days of gestation and various analytical studies [lung weight, radial alveolar count (RAC), KGF and surfactant protein B (SPB) expression, number of ATII cells] were performed to assess the efficiency of KGF transfection and its effects on fetal lung development. Results TO was associated with lung hyperplasia and increased RAC in the Medium and KGF groups versus the Hernia group. Expression of KGF was increased in the KGF group compared to all other groups and was associated with an increased synthesis of SPB by alveolar cells and an ectopic synthesis of SPB by bronchiolar cells compared to TO treatment alone. Conclusions Thus, BGTC/DOPE liposomes can mediate efficient KGF transfection into the airways in a fetal sheep model of CDH. Furthermore, combining KGF transfection and TO resulted not only (as did TO alone) in the correction of the CDH-associated lung hypoplasia and decreased RAC, but also in increased SPB synthesis, suggesting a better maturation of the re-growing lung (compared to TO alone). Additional studies are required to further explore the therapeutic potential of such a combined strategy; in particular, studies evaluating the lung function of in utero-treated CDH lamb newborns. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Synthetic gene delivery vectors are gaining increasing importance in gene therapy as an alternative to recombinant viruses. Among the various types of non-viral vectors, cationic lipids are especially attractive as they can be prepared with relative ease and extensively characterised. Further, each of their constituent parts can be modified, thereby facilitating the elucidation of structure-activity relationships. In this forward-looking review, cationic lipid-mediated gene delivery will mainly be discussed in terms of the structure of the three basic constituent parts of any cationic lipid: the polar headgroup, hydrophobic moiety and linker. Particular emphasis will be placed on recent advances in the field as well as on our own original contributions. In addition to reviewing critical physicochemical features (such as headgroup hydration) of monovalent lipids, the use of headgroups with known nucleic-acid binding modes, such as linear and branched polyamines, aminoglycosides and guanidinium functions, will be comprehensively assessed. A particularly exciting innovation in linker design is the incorporation of environment-sensitive groups, the intracellular hydrolysis of which may lead to more controlled DNA delivery. Examples of pH-, redox- and enzyme-sensitive functional groups integrated into the linker are highlighted and the benefits of such degradable vectors can be evaluated in terms of transfection efficiency and cationic lipid-associated cytotoxicity. Finally, possible correlations between the length and type of hydrophobic moiety and transfection efficiency will be discussed. In conclusion it may be foreseen that in order to be successful, the future of cationic lipid-based gene delivery will probably require the development of sophisticated virus-like systems, which can be viewed as "programmed supramolecular systems" incorporating the various functions required to perform in a chronological order the different steps involved in gene transfection.

Artificial self-assembling systems are currently widely investigated as an alternative approach to recombinant viruses for gene transfection in vitro and in vivo. Cationic lipids are particularly attractive, as a great variety of well-characterized reagents can be synthesized from there. Over the last few years, numerous cationic lipid systems have been developed and shown to be efficient for in vitro transfection. However, although some promising results have been reported in the in vivo setting (even in clinical gene therapy trials in man), the in vivo use of cationic lipid-based systems is still problematic, especially when considering the systemic route of administration. Herein, we summarize our own research on a particular class of cationic lipids, cholesterol derivatives characterized by polar headgroups with guanidinium functions, in order to illustrate the basic principles of and the positive results already obtained by cationic lipid-mediated gene delivery as well as the remaining problems that need to be urgently resolved, particularly as regards the systemic administration. In this forward-looking review, we also discuss the present efforts to develop modular systems for improved in vivo transfection. Indeed, lipid-based vectors offer the possibility to create sophisticated modular gene delivery systems capable of self-assembly via hydrophobic interaction between their components, the role of the different functional elements being to help in overcoming the distinct extracellular and cellular barriers to in vivo gene transfection into the various somatic target tissues.

Synthetic vectors represent an attractive alternative approach to viral vectors for gene transfer, in particular into airway epithelial cells for lung-directed gene therapy for cystic fibrosis. Having recently found that guanidinium-cholesterol cationic lipids are efficient reagents for gene transfer into mammalian cell linesin vitro, we have investigated their use for gene delivery into primary airway epithelial cellsin vitroandin vivo. The results obtained indicate that the lipid bis(guanidinium)-tren-cholesterol (BGTC) can be used to transfer a reporter gene into primary human airway epithelial cells in culture. Furthermore, liposomes composed of BGTC and dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) are efficient for gene delivery to the mouse airway epitheliumin vivo. Transfected cells were detected both in the surface epithelium and in submucosal glands. In addition, the transfection efficiency of BGTC/DOPE liposomesin vivowas quantitatively assessed by using the luciferase reporter gene system.

Genetic instability is a hallmark of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Recently, several major abnormalities in DNA repair mechanisms have been identified in primitive CML cells that likely explain the additional mutations these cells develop leading to their selective growth under tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapies. It seems likely that such mechanisms also underlie disease progression in CML. However, an understanding of the specific somatic mutations involved and investigations of their resulting effects on the biological behavior of primary sources of primitive chronic phase (CP) CML cells is extremely challenging. As an alternative approach, we have now explored the possibility of applying whole genome sequencing (WGS) to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from primitive CML cells to determine if such iPSCs, genocopy the mutations present in the diagnostic sample from which they were generated and whether primitive hematopoietic cells derived from these iPSCs might be useful for future drug screening experiments. To this end, we chosen a CML patient whose CP clonogenic cells contained both the Ph1 chromosome and the JAK2 V617F mutation and whose disease progressed into an accelerated phase (AP) during TKI therapy. iPSC were generated from leukemic cells obtained at the time of AP using Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc gene transfer. The presence of both BCR-ABL and JAK2 V617F was confirmed in 24/24 iPSC colonies. A control iPSC line negative for both genes was similarly established from the patient’s CD34+CD31+ endothelial progenitors purified from peripheral blood. We then performed WGS on DNA prepared from the leukemic cells obtained at diagnosis of CP (CML 006), the AP cell-derived iPSCs (PB34), and the control non-leukemic iPSCs (PB13), using a HighSeq Illumina platform. WGS revealed 845,175 somatic SNVs and 68,817 somatic short Indels in the CP leukemic cells at diagnosis that were not present in the non-leukemic iPSCs (PB13). 49,225 of these SNVs and 11,665 of the short Indels were novel (absent in the dbSNP database), and 419 were found in the COSMIC database. We identified 274 novel SNVs (3 missense, 161 nonsense, 108 synonymous and 2 splice site mutations) and 46 short Indels (19 insertions and 27 deletions). Most of the novel coding SNVs and Indels were heterozygous and an estimation of the variant allele frequency indicated these were present in virtually all leukemic cells. In addition to the JAK2 V617F mutation that was present at diagnosis, we found a novel frame shift mutation in exon 12 of ASXL1 gene (p.S871YfsX5) leading to protein truncation, a genetic event that has also been associated with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and AML. We also identified several novel SNVs predicted by SIFT, Provean and PolyPhen-2 algorithms to be deleterious for protein structure. These novel mutations were found in genes relevant for the pathophysiology of MPNs, including the catenin (CTNNA1 R204C, and AIDA K235T), RAS (RREB1 P789T), autophagy (ULK1 R553C) cellular antioxidant defense (GSR S293C), RNA nuclear transport (NUP160 start loss) pathways. Individual sequencing confirmed the presence of these mutations in PB34 and their absence in PB13 (non-leukemic iPSC). We next compared the sequence data from the AP leukemic cell-derived iPSCs (PB34) with the diagnostic data (CML006). This analysis showed only 799 additional somatic SNVs and 96 new short Indels compared with those already evident in the cells present at diagnosis. Only 4 (3 non synonymous and 1 synonymous) SNVs and no Indels were found in exons. These mutations could have appeared during the application of the reprogramming process to the AP leukemic cell-derived iPSCs; none was an obvious contributor to MPN pathophysiology. Finally, we showed that day16 embryoid bodies derived from the PB34 iPSCs contained expected numbers of CD34+ cells (18±11%, n=6) and BCR-ABL-expressing hematopoietic colony-forming cells (CFCs, 143±64 / 105 cells, n= 6). These CFCs showed a slight inhibitory response to imatinib (54±15% colonies obtained in 1 µM IM, n=4) whereas a combination of IM and Pimozide (a STAT5 phosphorylation inhibitor), reduced survival another ∼10-fold. In conclusion, we have provided proof-of-principle results illustrating the potential of iPSC technology in combination with WGS to dissect the clonal evolution of disease progression in CML and develop patient specific drug screens that could build on this data. Disclosures: Turhan: BMS, Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Two cationic lipids, bis-guanidinium-spermidine-cholesterol (BGSC) and bis-guanidinium-trencholesterol (BGTC)-cholesterol derivatives bearing two guanidinium groups-have been synthesized and tested as artificial vectors for gene transfer. They combine the membrane compatible features of the cholesterol subunit and the favorable structural and high pKa features of the guanidinium functions for binding DNA via its phosphate groups. Reagent BGTC is very efficient for transfection into a variety of mammalian cell lines when used as a micellar solution. In addition, both BGTC and BGSC present also a high transfection activity when formulated as liposomes with the neutral phospholipid dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine. These results reveal the usefulness of cholesterol derivatives bearing guanidinium groups for gene transfer.

Recent technological advances in cell reprogramming by generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) offer major perspectives in disease modelling and future hopes for providing novel stem cells sources in regenerative medicine. However, research on iPSC still requires refining the criteria of the pluripotency stage of these cells and exploration of their equivalent functionality to human embryonic stem cells (ESC). We report here on the use of infrared microspectroscopy to follow the spectral modification of somatic cells during the reprogramming process. We show that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) adopt a chemical composition leading to a spectral signature indistinguishable from that of embryonic stem cells (ESC) and entirely different from that of the original somatic cells. Similarly, this technique allows a distinction to be made between partially and fully reprogrammed cells. We conclude that infrared microspectroscopy signature is a novel methodology to evaluate induced pluripotency and can be added to the tests currently used for this purpose.

Abstract 4789 Pluripotency and self-renewal, two key characteristics of induced pluripotent stem cells (IPS), make these cells ideally suited for modeling diseases in vitro and generating biological resources usable for drug screening and cell therapy. However, the reprogramming efficiency of somatic cells greatly varies according to the cell type, to the in vitro proliferation index, the number of passages and the age of the donor. Human amniotic liquid-derived cells (hALDC), collected during amniocentesis for the prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases, represent an abundant source of primary cells. In preliminary experiments we have shown that hALDC expressed endogenous Oct4 and Sox2 proteins suggesting that could be readily amenable to reprogramming. To this end, we have used two strategies using either hALDC or neonatal fibroblasts: (1) lentivirus mediated gene transfer of OCT4, SOX2, LIN28, NANOG, (2) retroviruses mediated gene transfer of OCT4, SOX2, CMYC, KLF4 and (3) lentiviral transfer of OCT4, SOX2. hALDC transduced by these viruses were placed on MEF and b-FGF (10 ng/ml) with daily medium changes. One to three weeks after infection, typical human ES-like colonies could be picked up for expansion before being characterized. HALDC show an increased reprogramming potential with the [OCT4, SOX2, LIN28, NANOG] and [OCT4, SOX2] cocktails, when compared to reprogramming of neonatal fibroblasts. Twelve hALDC-derived-IPS cells were obtained from 12 different samples of amniotic fluid. All hALDC-IPS cell lines maintained a normal karyotype in culture and displayed the morphology and characteristics of human embryonic stem cells, including the surface expression of Tra-160, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, HESCA-1 and alkaline phosphatase, and formed multi-lineaged teratomas upon injection to NOD-SCID mice. Gene expression profiles of the IPS cell lines reveal a high correlation coefficient between hALDC-iPS cells and human embryonic stem cells, and a low correlation between hALDC-iPS and hALDC. When compared to hES cells H1, H9 and Cl01, these cell lines generated hematopoiesis with a variable efficiency in vitro. Amongst the hALDC-IPS cell lines generated by our laboratory (http://www.hescreg.eu/) four lines carry an inherited trisomy of chromosome 21, and three lines carry the homozygous “S” mutation in the beta-globin gene of sickle-cell anemia. All hALDC-IPS cell are currently banked at the Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Core Facility, France. In conclusion, hALDC can be rapidly and efficiently reprogrammed to pluripotency with a limited number of transgenes. Moreover, hALDC-IPS cell lines derived from patients can be used to modelize in vitro the phenotypic features of monogenic diseases such as sickle cell anemia or more complex, multifactorial disorders such as Down's syndrom. The ability to generate hematopoietic differentiation from these cell lines will facilitate the modelling of these hematopoietic disorders. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Over the last years, we have developed a particular class of nonviral vectors, cationic cholesterol derivatives characterized by polar headgroups with guanidinium functions. Indeed, guanidinium groups have highly favorable features for DNA binding. Liposome formulations of bis(guanidinium)-tren-cholesterol (BGTC) with dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) were found to be efficient for gene transfection into primary human airway epithelial cells as well as into the mouse airway epithelium in vivo by intratracheal administration (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1997, 94, 1651-1656). We have also shown that colloidal stabilization (via lipophilic polyethyleneglycol derivatives) of concentrated solutions of BGTC/DOPE lipoplexes allowed enhanced transfection of the mouse airways by intranasal instillation (J. Gene Med. 2001, 3, 478-487). Thus, as prenatal gene therapy may be necessary for the treatment of a variety of congenital lung diseases, we recently undertook to explore the feasibility of BGTC-mediated gene transfection into the respiratory tract of fetal sheep in utero. Practically, pCIK-CAT plasmids expressing the E. coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene (kindly provided by D. Gill, Oxford, UK) were complexed with BGTC/DOPE liposomes and the resulting lipoplexes were administered to sheep fetuses at 70 days of gestation via surgical replacement of the fetal airway fluid by the transfection mixture followed by tracheal ligature. The fetal tracheas and lungs were harvested at 72 hours and examined for CAT expression and evidence of toxicity. Using an ELISA assay, we detected significant CAT levels in lung and trachea homogenates, no CAT expression being observed in control fetuses receiving naked pCIK-CAT plasmid. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that airway epithelial cells (at both the tracheal and bronchial levels) as well as some mesenchymal cells were transfected. Pulmonary histopathology of varied severity was however observed and manifested as focal epithelial and mesenchymal lesions. These results demonstrated that BGTC/DOPE liposomes can mediate gene transfection into the fetal sheep airway epithelium in utero and they also invited the development of optimized BGTC-based formulations with a view to future experiments with therapeutic genes. Thus, we are at present investigating the utility of BGTC-based lipoplexes for transferring genes encoding pulmonary growth factors in the fetal lamb model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). In these ongoing experiments, a first surgical step allows the creation of the diaphragmatic hernia, whereas the second step consists of the substitution of the fetal airway fluid by the lipoplex medium followed by tracheal occlusion via a balloon. Nonviral gene delivery approaches may be particularly attractive here as long-term transgene expression is probably not required for the treatment of CDH before birth.