Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Frozen Buffy Coats using Non-integrating Episomal Plasmids

Summary

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represent a source of patient-specific tissues for clinical applications and basic research. Here, we present a detailed protocol to reprogram human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) obtained from frozen buffy coats into viral-free iPSCs using non-integrating episomal plasmids.

Abstract

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by forcing the expression of four transcription factors (Oct-4, Sox-2, Klf-4, and c-Myc), typically expressed by human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Due to their similarity with hESCs, iPSCs have become an important tool for potential patient-specific regenerative medicine, avoiding ethical issues associated with hESCs. In order to obtain cells suitable for clinical application, transgene-free iPSCs need to be generated to avoid transgene reactivation, altered gene expression and misguided differentiation. Moreover, a highly efficient and inexpensive reprogramming method is necessary to derive sufficient iPSCs for therapeutic purposes. Given this need, an efficient non-integrating episomal plasmid approach is the preferable choice for iPSC derivation. Currently the most common cell type used for reprogramming purposes are fibroblasts, the isolation of which requires tissue biopsy, an invasive surgical procedure for the patient. Therefore, human peripheral blood represents the most accessible and least invasive tissue for iPSC generation.

In this study, a cost-effective and viral-free protocol using non-integrating episomal plasmids is reported for the generation of iPSCs from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) obtained from frozen buffy coats after whole blood centrifugation and without density gradient separation.

Introduction

In 2006, the group of Shinya Yamanaka¹ demonstrated for the first time that somatic cells from adult mice and humans can be converted into a pluripotent state by ectopic expression of four reprogramming factors (Oct-4, Sox-2, Klf-4, and c-Myc), generating the so-called Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)². Patient-specific iPSCs closely resemble human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in terms of morphology, proliferation and ability to differentiate into the three-germ cell types (mesoderm, endoderm and ectoderm) while lacking the ethical concerns associated to the use of hESCs and bypassing possible immune rejection³. Thus, iPSCs appea....

Protocol

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) were isolated from human peripheral blood samples of healthy donors after signed informed consent and approval of the Ethical Committee of the Province of South Tyrol. Experiments were conducted in accordance with the principles expressed in the Declaration of Helsinki. All data were collected and analyzed anonymously.

1. Isolation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMNCs)

1. PBMNCs obtained from buffy coats after whole blood centrifugation, without density gradient separation.
   1. Collect 8 mL of venous peripheral blood into a sodium citrate buffered plastic tube, and store ....

Results

In this study a simple and effective protocol for the generation of viral-free iPSCs by reprogramming of PBMNCs isolated from frozen buffy coats after whole blood centrifugation and comparison with reprogramming of PBMNCs obtained after density gradient separation is reported. Figure 1A shows a schematic representation of the detailed protocol. After thawing, the isolated PBMNCs, showing a typical rounded shape, are expanded in specific blood culture medium for 14 days (Figure 1B) and th.......

Discussion

In the past, the only way to obtain human pluripotent stem cells carrying a particular genetic mutation was to recruit parents undergoing pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and generate embryonic stem cells from their discarded blastocysts^31,32. Using a reprogramming approach, researchers can now generate iPSCs from patients carrying virtually any genotype. The possibility to start from a patient-specific cell line and an easily accessible source is very important since it allows an investigation of the pathop.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Sodium Citrate buffered Venosafe Plastic Tube	Terumo	VF-054SBCS07
Ammodium chloride	Sigma-Aldrich	A9434
Potassium bicarbonate	Sigma-Aldrich	60339
EDTA disodium powder	Sigma-Aldrich	E5134	0.5 M solution
Ficoll-Paque Premium	GE Healthcare Life Sciences	17-5442-02	Polysucrose solution for density gradient centrifugation
Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium (IMDM)	Gibco	21056-023	No phenol red
Ham's F-12	Mediatech	10-080-CV
Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium-Ethanolamine (ITS -X)	Gibco	51500-056	1X (Stock: 100X)
Chemically Defined Lipid Concentrate	Gibco	11905031	1X (Stock: 100X)
Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)	Sigma-Aldrich	A9418
L-Ascorbic acid 2-phosphate sesquimagnesium salt hydrate	Sigma-Aldrich	A8960
1-Thioglycerol	Sigma-Aldrich	M6145	Final Concentration at 200 µM
Recombinant Human Stem Cell Factor (SCF)	PeproTech	300-07	100 ng/ml (Stock:100 µg/ml)
Recombinant Human Interleukin-3 (IL-3)	PeproTech	200-03	10 ng/ml (Stock: 10 µg/ml)
Recombinant Human Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1)	PeproTech	100-11	40 ng/ml (Stock: 40 µg/ml)
Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (EPO)	R&D Systems	287-TC-500	2 U/ml (Stock: 50 U/ml)
Dexamethasone	Sigma-Aldrich	D2915	1 μM (Stock: 1 mM)
Human Holo-Transferrin	R&D Systems	2914-HT	100 μg/ml (Stock: 20 mg/ml)
Amniomax II	Gibco	11269016	Medium for cytogenetic analysis
mTeSR1	StemCell Technologies	5850	Medium for iPSC feeder-free culture
Knockout DMEM	Gibco	10829-018
Knockout Serum Replacement	Gibco	10828-028
Penicillin-Streptomycin (10,000 U/mL)	Gibco	15140-122
L-Glutamine (200 mM)	Gibco	25030-024
MEM Non-Essential Amino Acids Solution (100X)	Gibco	11140-050
2-Mercaptoethanol	Gibco	31350-010	0.1 mM (Stock: 50 mM)
Sodium Butyrate	Sigma-Aldrich	B5887	0.25 mM (Stock: 0.5 M)
Recombinant Human FGF basic, 145 aa	R&D Systems	4114-TC	10 ng/ml (Stock: 10 µg/ml)
Y-27632 dihydrochloride	Sigma-Aldrich	Y0503	10 µM (Stock: 10 mM)
Fetal Defined Bovine Serum	Hyclone	SH 30070.03
EmbryoMax 0.1% Gelatin Solution	Merck-Millipore	ES-006-B
Matrigel Basement Membrane Matrix Growth Factor Reduced	BD Biosciences	354230
Collagenase, Type IV	Gibco	17104-019	1 mg/ml (Stock: 10 mg/ml)
Accutase	PAA Laboratories GmbH	L11-007	Cell detachment solution
Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast (CF1)	Global Stem	GSC-6201G	1*106 cells/6 well plate
Plasmid pCXLE-hOCT3/4-shp53-F	Addgene	27077	1 µg (Stock: 1 µg/µl)
Plasmid pCXLE-hSK	Addgene	27078	1 µg (Stock: 1 µg/µl)
Plasmid pCXLE-hUL	Addgene	27080	1 µg (Stock: 1 µg/µl)
Plasmid pCXLE-EGFP	Addgene	27082	1 µg (Stock: 1 µg/µl)
Alkaline Phosphatase Staining Kit	Stemgent	00-0009
Anti-Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigen-4 (SSEA-4) Antibody	Merck-Millipore	MAB4304	1/250
Anti-TRA-1-60 Antibody	Merck-Millipore	MAB4360	1/250
Anti-TRA-1-81 Antibody	Merck-Millipore	MAB4381	1/250
Anti-Oct-3/4 Antibody	Santa Cruz Biotechnology	sc-9081	1/500
Anti-Nanog Antibody	Santa Cruz Biotechnology	sc-33759	1/500
Anti-Troponin I Antibody	Santa Cruz Biotechnology	sc-15368	1/500
Anti-α-Actinin (Sarcomeric) Antibody	Sigma-Aldrich	A7732	1/250
Neuronal Class III ß-Tubulin (TUJ1) Antibody	Covance Research Products Inc	MMS-435P-100	1/500
Anti-Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) Antibody	Calbiochem	657012	1/200
Alexa Fluor 488 Goat Anti-Mouse	Molecular Probes	A-11029	1/1000
Alexa Fluor 555 Goat Anti-Rabbit	Molecular Probes	A-21429	1/1000
Ultra-Low Attachment Cell Culture 6-well plate	Corning	3471
Trizol Reagent	Ambion	15596-018	reagent for RNA extraction
SuperScript VILO cDNA Synthesis Kit	Invitrogen	11754050	Reverse transcriptase kit
iTaq Universal SYBR Green Supermix	Bio-Rad	172-5124
CFX96 Real-Time PCR Detection System	Bio-Rad	185-5195
Experion Automated Electrophoresis System	Bio-Rad	700-7000	Instrument to check RNA integrity
Experion RNA Highsense Analysis kit	Bio-Rad	7007105	Reagent kit to check RNA integrity
Dissecting microscope (SteREO Discovery V12 )	Zeiss	495007
NeonTransfection System 100 µl Kit	Invitrogen	MPK10025	Reagent kit for electroporation
Neon Transfection System	Invitrogen	MPK5000	Instrument used for electroporation
NanoDrop UV/Vis Spectrophotometer	Thermo Scientific	ND-2000	Instrument for DNA/RNA quantification
EndoFree Plasmid Maxi Kit	Qiagen	12362	Plasmid purification kit