In Vivo Human Somitogenesis Guides Somite Development from hPSCs

Haibin Xi; Wakana Fujiwara; Karen Gonzalez; Majib Jan; Simone Liebscher; Ben Van Handel; Katja Schenke-Layland; April D. Pyle

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2017.01.040

Cell Reports (Feb 2017)

In Vivo Human Somitogenesis Guides Somite Development from hPSCs

Haibin Xi,
Wakana Fujiwara,
Karen Gonzalez,
Majib Jan,
Simone Liebscher,
Ben Van Handel,
Katja Schenke-Layland,
April D. Pyle

Affiliations

Haibin Xi: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Wakana Fujiwara: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Karen Gonzalez: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Majib Jan: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Simone Liebscher: Department of Women’s Health, Research Institute for Women’s Health, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
Ben Van Handel: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Katja Schenke-Layland: Department of Women’s Health, Research Institute for Women’s Health, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
April D. Pyle: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2017.01.040
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18, no. 6
pp. 1573 – 1585

Abstract

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Somites form during embryonic development and give rise to unique cell and tissue types, such as skeletal muscles and bones and cartilage of the vertebrae. Using somitogenesis-stage human embryos, we performed transcriptomic profiling of human presomitic mesoderm as well as nascent and developed somites. In addition to conserved pathways such as WNT-β-catenin, we also identified BMP and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling as major regulators unique to human somitogenesis. This information enabled us to develop an efficient protocol to derive somite cells in vitro from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Importantly, the in-vitro-differentiating cells progressively expressed markers of the distinct developmental stages that are known to occur during in vivo somitogenesis. Furthermore, when subjected to lineage-specific differentiation conditions, the hPSC-derived somite cells were multipotent in generating somite derivatives, including skeletal myocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. This work improves our understanding of human somitogenesis and may enhance our ability to treat diseases affecting somite derivatives.

Published in Cell Reports

ISSN: 2211-1247 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General)
Website: http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/home

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Abstract

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