@article{VaragnoloLinObieretal.2015, author = {Varagnolo, Linda and Lin, Quiong and Obier, Nadine and Plass, Christoph and Dietl, Johannes and Zenke, Martin and Claus, Rainer and M{\"u}ller, Albrecht M.}, title = {PRC2 inhibition counteracts the culture-associated loss of engraftment potential of human cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {5}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, number = {12319}, doi = {10.1038/srep12319}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-148374}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Cord blood hematopoietic stem cells (CB-HSCs) are an outstanding source for transplantation approaches. However, the amount of cells per donor is limited and culture expansion of CB-HSCs is accompanied by a loss of engraftment potential. In order to analyze the molecular mechanisms leading to this impaired potential we profiled global and local epigenotypes during the expansion of human CB hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HPSCs). Human CB-derived CD34+ cells were cultured in serum-free medium together with SCF, TPO, FGF, with or without Igfbp2 and Angptl5 (STF/STFIA cocktails). As compared to the STF cocktail, the STFIA cocktail maintains in vivo repopulation capacity of cultured CD34+ cells. Upon expansion, CD34+ cells genome-wide remodel their epigenotype and depending on the cytokine cocktail, cells show different HK4me3 and H3K27me3 levels. Expanding cells without Igfbp2 and Angptl5 leads to higher global H3K27me3 levels. ChIPseq analyses reveal a cytokine cocktail-dependent redistribution of H3K27me3 profiles. Inhibition of the PRC2 component EZH2 counteracts the culture-associated loss of NOD scid gamma (NSG) engraftment potential. Collectively, our data reveal chromatin dynamics that underlie the culture-associated loss of engraftment potential. We identify PRC2 component EZH2 as being involved in the loss of engraftment potential during the in vitro expansion of HPSCs.}, language = {en} } @article{AhmadWolberEckardtetal.2012, author = {Ahmad, Ruhel and Wolber, Wanja and Eckardt, Sigrid and Koch, Philipp and Schmitt, Jessica and Semechkin, Ruslan and Geis, Christian and Heckmann, Manfred and Br{\"u}stle, Oliver and McLaughlin, John K. and Sir{\´e}n, Anna-Leena and M{\"u}ller, Albrecht M.}, title = {Functional Neuronal Cells Generated by Human Parthenogenetic Stem Cells}, series = {PLoS One}, volume = {7}, journal = {PLoS One}, number = {8}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0042800}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-130268}, pages = {e42800}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Parent of origin imprints on the genome have been implicated in the regulation of neural cell type differentiation. The ability of human parthenogenetic (PG) embryonic stem cells (hpESCs) to undergo neural lineage and cell type-specific differentiation is undefined. We determined the potential of hpESCs to differentiate into various neural subtypes. Concurrently, we examined DNA methylation and expression status of imprinted genes. Under culture conditions promoting neural differentiation, hpESC-derived neural stem cells (hpNSCs) gave rise to glia and neuron-like cells that expressed subtype-specific markers and generated action potentials. Analysis of imprinting in hpESCs and in hpNSCs revealed that maternal-specific gene expression patterns and imprinting marks were generally maintained in PG cells upon differentiation. Our results demonstrate that despite the lack of a paternal genome, hpESCs generate proliferating NSCs that are capable of differentiation into physiologically functional neuron-like cells and maintain allele-specific expression of imprinted genes. Thus, hpESCs can serve as a model to study the role of maternal and paternal genomes in neural development and to better understand imprinting-associated brain diseases.}, language = {en} }