Stem cells are the building blocks during development of organisms as varied as plants and humans. In addition, adult or “tissue” stem cells provide for the maintenance and regeneration of tissues, such as blood and skin throughout the lifetime of an individual. The ability of stem cells to contribute to these processes depends on their unique ability to divide and generate both new stem cells (self-renewal) as well as specialized cell types (differentiation).
In some tissues, cells that have already begun to specialize can revert or “de-differentiate” and assume stem cell properties, including the ability to self-renew. De-differentiation of specialized cells could provide a “reservoir” of cells that could act to replace stem cells lost due to wounding or aging. This proposal seeks to uncover the mechanisms that are utilized to regulate the process of de-differentiation and to compare these to the mechanisms that endow stem cells with the ability to self-renew. Understanding the mechanisms by which partially differentiated cells can reacquire self-renewal potential and how these programs are utilized during the normal course of tissue maintenance and repair could provide powerful strategies for regenerative medicine by stimulating inherent self-repair programs normally present within tissues and organs.
In the most recent funding period, we have focused primarily on understanding the role of a candidate protein, human Igf-II mRNA binding protein (hIMP1), that likely plays a role in enhancing the de-differentiation of committed cells back to a pluripotent stem cell state in mammalian systems. Published data indicate that hIMP1 is highly expressed in most tissue during development and that IMP1 is reportedly down-regulated in all tissues, except gonads, after birth. In contrast, our preliminary data suggest that IMP1 is highly expressed in human pluripotent stem cells as well as in some adult tissue stem and progenitor cells. Our focus in the coming year will be to address the role of hIMP1 in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of human stem cells.
Reporting Period:
Year 3
Stem cells are the building blocks during development of organisms as varied as plants and humans. In addition, adult or “tissue” stem cells provide for the maintenance and regeneration of tissues, such as blood and skin throughout the lifetime of an individual. The ability of stem cells to contribute to these processes depends on their unique ability to divide and generate both new stem cells (self-renewal) as well as specialized cell types (differentiation).
A thorough understanding of the factors that regulate self-renewal programs will be essential for the expansion and long-term maintenance of adult stem cells in culture, a necessary step towards the successful use of stem cells in regenerative medicine and tissue replacement therapies. In some tissues, cells that have already begun to specialize can revert or “de-differentiate” and assume stem cell properties, including the ability to self-renew. De-differentiation of specialized cells could provide a “reservoir” of cells that could act to replace stem cells lost due to wounding or aging. This proposal seeks to uncover the mechanisms that are utilized to regulate the process of de-differentiation and to compare these to the mechanisms that endow stem cells with the ability to self-renew using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as well as pluripotent human cells. Understanding the mechanisms by which partially differentiated cells can re-acquire self-renewal potential and how these programs are utilized during the normal course of tissue maintenance and repair could provide powerful strategies for regenerative medicine by stimulating inherent self-repair programs normally present within tissues and organs.
In the most recent funding period, we have characterized the role of a gene called multiple sex combs (msx), which plays a role in regulating the switch between proliferation and differentiation via control of proteins that are essential for proper DNA compaction and, consequently gene expression. Because the function of this gene is conserved in human cells, we speculate that understanding the function of this gene will provide insight into additional mechanisms that regulate the behavior of human stem cells. IN addition, we have characterized the role of human Igf-II mRNA binding protein 1 (hIMP1) in pluripotent human cells and during early neural differentiation. Lastly, we have developed a system for investigating maintenance and regeneration of specialized stem cell microenvironments in the Drosophila male germ line. Regeneration of stem cell environments (also known as ‘niches’) must accompany the expansion of stem cells required for tissue repair. Thus, investigating this process will lead to the identification of genes and pathways that regulate regeneration of stem cells in more complex mammalian tissues.
Reporting Period:
Year 4
Stem cells are the building blocks during development of organisms as varied as plants and humans. In addition, adult or “tissue” stem cells provide for the maintenance and regeneration of tissues, such as blood and skin throughout the lifetime of an individual. The ability of stem cells to contribute to these processes depends on their unique ability to divide and generate both new stem cells (self-renewal) as well as specialized cell types (differentiation). A thorough understanding of the factors that regulate self-renewal programs will be essential for the expansion and long-term maintenance of adult stem cells in culture, a necessary step towards the successful use of stem cells in regenerative medicine and tissue replacement therapies. This proposal seeks to uncover the mechanisms that endow stem cells with the ability to self-renew using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as well as pluripotent human cells.
In the most recent funding period, we have characterized the role of a gene called multiple sex combs (mxc), which plays a role in regulating the switch between proliferation and differentiation via control of proteins that are essential for proper DNA compaction and, consequently, gene expression; these genes are called histones. However, we have made the surprising finding that the protein encoded by mxc can regulate the expression of genes, in addition to histones. We have shown that this gene is required for maintenance of three different stem cell populations in flies; however, the mechanism by which Mxc regulates stem cell maintenance varies for each stem cell population. Because the function of this gene is conserved in human cells, we speculate that understanding the function of this gene will provide insight into additional mechanisms that regulate the behavior of human stem cells.
In addition, we have characterized the role of human Igf-II mRNA binding protein 1 (hIMP1) in pluripotent human cells and found that it regulates the expression of key proteins that maintain the pluripotent state and, thus, regulates the ability of these cells to give rise to specific tissues during development.
Lastly, we have developed a system for investigating maintenance and regeneration of specialized stem cell microenvironments in the Drosophila male germ line. Regeneration of stem cell environments (also known as ‘niches’) must accompany the expansion of stem cells required for tissue repair. Thus, investigating this process will lead to the identification of genes and pathways that regulate regeneration of stem cells in more complex mammalian tissues.
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
Characterization of mechanisms regulating de-differentiation and the re-acquisition of stem cell identity
Public Abstract:
Stem cells are the building blocks during development of organisms as varied as plants and humans. In addition, adult or “tissue” stem cells provide for the maintenance and regeneration of tissues, such as blood and skin throughout the lifetime of an individual. The ability of stem cells to contribute to these processes depends on their unique ability to divide and generate both new stem cells (self-renewal) as well as specialized cell types (differentiation).
In some tissues, cells that have already begun to specialize can revert or “de-differentiate” and assume stem cell properties, including the ability to self-renew. De-differentiation of specialized cells could provide a “reservoir” of cells that could act to replace stem cells lost due to wounding or aging. This proposal seeks to uncover the mechanisms that are utilized to regulate the process of de-differentiation and to compare these to the mechanisms that endow stem cells with the ability to self-renew.
A thorough understanding of the factors that regulate self-renewal programs will be essential for the expansion and long-term maintenance of adult stem cells in culture, a necessary step towards the successful use of stem cells in regenerative medicine and tissue replacement therapies. Furthermore, understanding the mechanisms by which partially differentiated cells can reacquire self-renewal potential and how these programs are utilized during the normal course of tissue maintenance and repair could provide powerful strategies for regenerative medicine by stimulating inherent self-repair programs normally present within tissues and organs.
Statement of Benefit to California:
We plan to identify and characterize genes and proteins that are involved in regulating the ability of specialized cell types to revert back into a more immature cell that can act like a stem cell. Information revealed by these experiments will likely prove useful in understanding both how tissues can be maintained during aging and/or repaired after damage. Subsequently, this knowledge could be developed into powerful strategies for regenerative medicine by stimulating inherent self-repair programs normally present within tissues and organs. In addition, these experiments may provide some insight into how some tumors may be initiated, leading to cancer. Lastly, in the course of these studies, we will be generating ES cell-like cells from spermatogonial stem cells. Although we will initially work with mouse tissues, our ultimate goal would be to adapt these techniques to human spermatogonial stem cells, which would then be used as a source for generating human ES cells. We would make these cells readily available to other investigators and companies in hopes of accelerating the pace of discovery.
