Derivation of human primordial germ cell-like cells in an embryonic-like culture

Sajedeh Nasr Esfahani; Yi Zheng; Auriana Arabpour; Agnes M. Resto Irizarry; Norio Kobayashi; Xufeng Xue; Yue Shao; Cheng Zhao; Nicole L. Agranonik; Megan Sparrow; Timothy J. Hunt; Jared Faith; Mary Jasmine Lara; Qiu Ya Wu; Sherman Silber; Sophie Petropoulos; Ran Yang; Kenneth R. Chien; Amander T. Clark; Jianping Fu

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-43871-2

Nature Communications (Jan 2024)

Derivation of human primordial germ cell-like cells in an embryonic-like culture

Sajedeh Nasr Esfahani,
Yi Zheng,
Auriana Arabpour,
Agnes M. Resto Irizarry,
Norio Kobayashi,
Xufeng Xue,
Yue Shao,
Cheng Zhao,
Nicole L. Agranonik,
Megan Sparrow,
Timothy J. Hunt,
Jared Faith,
Mary Jasmine Lara,
Qiu Ya Wu,
Sherman Silber,
Sophie Petropoulos,
Ran Yang,
Kenneth R. Chien,
Amander T. Clark,
Jianping Fu

Affiliations

Sajedeh Nasr Esfahani: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
Yi Zheng: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
Auriana Arabpour: Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
Agnes M. Resto Irizarry: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
Norio Kobayashi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
Xufeng Xue: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
Yue Shao: Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University
Cheng Zhao: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Instituet
Nicole L. Agranonik: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Megan Sparrow: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Timothy J. Hunt: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Jared Faith: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Mary Jasmine Lara: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Qiu Ya Wu: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Sherman Silber: Infertility Center of St. Louis, St. Luke’s Hospital
Sophie Petropoulos: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Instituet
Ran Yang: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet
Kenneth R. Chien: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet
Amander T. Clark: Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
Jianping Fu: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43871-2
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the embryonic precursors of sperm and eggs. They transmit genetic and epigenetic information across generations. Given the prominent role of germline defects in diseases such as infertility, detailed understanding of human PGC (hPGC) development has important implications in reproductive medicine and studying human evolution. Yet, hPGC specification remains an elusive process. Here, we report the induction of hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) in a bioengineered human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) culture that mimics peri-implantation human development. In this culture, amniotic ectoderm-like cells (AMLCs), derived from hPSCs, induce hPGCLC specification from hPSCs through paracrine signaling downstream of ISL1. Our data further show functional roles of NODAL, WNT, and BMP signaling in hPGCLC induction. hPGCLCs are successfully derived from eight non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) participant-derived hPSC lines using this biomimetic platform, demonstrating its promise for screening applications.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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