Nature Communications (May 2023)

Cellular population dynamics shape the route to human pluripotency

  • Francesco Panariello,
  • Onelia Gagliano,
  • Camilla Luni,
  • Antonio Grimaldi,
  • Silvia Angiolillo,
  • Wei Qin,
  • Anna Manfredi,
  • Patrizia Annunziata,
  • Shaked Slovin,
  • Lorenzo Vaccaro,
  • Sara Riccardo,
  • Valentina Bouche,
  • Manuela Dionisi,
  • Marcello Salvi,
  • Sebastian Martewicz,
  • Manli Hu,
  • Meihua Cui,
  • Hannah Stuart,
  • Cecilia Laterza,
  • Giacomo Baruzzo,
  • Geoffrey Schiebinger,
  • Barbara Di Camillo,
  • Davide Cacchiarelli,
  • Nicola Elvassore

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37270-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Human cellular reprogramming to induced pluripotency is still an inefficient process, which has hindered studying the role of critical intermediate stages. Here we take advantage of high efficiency reprogramming in microfluidics and temporal multi-omics to identify and resolve distinct sub-populations and their interactions. We perform secretome analysis and single-cell transcriptomics to show functional extrinsic pathways of protein communication between reprogramming sub-populations and the re-shaping of a permissive extracellular environment. We pinpoint the HGF/MET/STAT3 axis as a potent enhancer of reprogramming, which acts via HGF accumulation within the confined system of microfluidics, and in conventional dishes needs to be supplied exogenously to enhance efficiency. Our data suggest that human cellular reprogramming is a transcription factor-driven process that it is deeply dependent on extracellular context and cell population determinants.