Transgene Excision Has No Impact on In Vivo Integration of Human iPS Derived Neural Precursors
2011

Impact of Transgene Excision on Neural Stem Cells from iPS Cells

Sample size: 26 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Tamara Major, Jayanthi Menon, Gordon Auyeung, Frank Soldner, Dirk Hockemeyer, Rudolf Jaenisch, Viviane Tabar

Primary Institution: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Hypothesis

Does the reprogramming strategy affect the differentiation potential and in vivo behavior of human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells?

Conclusion

The study found that neither the excision of transgenes nor the presence of c-myc affected the differentiation potential or in vivo behavior of hiPS-derived neural progenitors.

Supporting Evidence

  • hiPS cells showed similar differentiation into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes as human ES cells.
  • All grafted cells integrated into the subventricular zone and migrated to the olfactory bulb.
  • No teratomas or tumors were observed in any of the grafted animals after 12 weeks.

Takeaway

Scientists wanted to see if changing how stem cells are made would change how they grow and develop. They found it didn't matter how the cells were made; they all worked the same.

Methodology

The study involved generating hiPS cells from fibroblasts, differentiating them into neural precursors, and transplanting them into rats to observe their behavior and integration.

Limitations

The study focused on a single fibroblast source, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Participant Demographics

Young adult Sprague Dawley female rats were used for transplantation.

Statistical Information

Statistical Significance

p>0.5

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0024687

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