Master of Science / Department of Grain Science and Industry / X. Susan Sun / Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are generated from human somatic cells using defined transcription factors. These cells possess characteristics very similar to that of human embryonic stem cells including the ability to differentiate into cell types of all three germ layers. HiPSCs show great potential in clinical researches like drug screening and regenerative medicine, that all require large amount of cells cultured under well-defined conditions. The most common culture methods used for hiPSCs are 2D culture methods using Matrigel or vitronectin coated culture plates or flasks. 2D culture methods require large surface area to produce the same amount of cells compared to 3D methods. In addition, cells cultured in 2D culture environment are far from that in vivo. In this study, we developed a robust 3D culture condition based on hiPSC-qualified PGmatrix (PGmatrix-hiPSC) hydrogel. This 3D culture system provide hiPSCs with well-defined, more in vivo-like environment that encapsulate cells in liquid rich hydrogel with appropriate oxygen supply that resembles the hypoxia condition in vivo. Two hiPSC lines grown continuously in PGmatrix-hiPSC showed higher total population expansion and higher viability, with more consistency compared to the same cell lines grown in 2D on Matrigel or Vitronectin-XF. After grown in 3D PGmatrix-hiPSC for over 25 passages, major pluripotency markers, such as Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and SSEA4 are expressed in most hiPSCs examined by flow cytometry. RT-qPCR also confirmed adequate expression levels of major pluripotency related genes. In addition, karyotype analysis of hiPSC after 37 passages in 3D PGmatrix-hiPSC was found normal. The same hiPSC lines cultured continuously in parallel in 2D and 3D showed differences in gene expression and surface marker TRA-1-81 expression. These results indicated the 3D PGmatrix-hiPSC system is likely superior in maintaining hiPSC growth as well as pluripotency. The findings also suggest that it is very important to study cells in 3D culture environment to better understand the mechanism of pluripotency maintenance.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第22306号 / 医博第4547号 / 新制||医||1040(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 妻木 範行, 教授 平井 豊博, 教授 川口 義弥 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第22879号 / 医博第4673号 / 新制||医||1047(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 川口 義弥, 教授 柳田 素子, 教授 小川 修 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第20792号 / 医博第4292号 / 新制||医||1025(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 山下 潤, 教授 川村 孝, 教授 湊谷 謙司 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第20077号 / 医博第4170号 / 新制||医||1018(附属図書館) / 33193 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 江藤 浩之, 教授 斎藤 通紀, 教授 山田 泰広 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Este estudo apresenta o desenvolvimento e validação de uma nova abordagem para a avaliação do cálcio intracelular em culturas de cardiomiócitos derivados de células-tronco pluripotentes induzidas humanas (hiPSC-CM - do inglês human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes) que pode ser aplicada para avaliar o efeito de drogas no acoplamento excitação-contração. O método consiste na estimulação elétrica e medição conjunta da fluorescência de forma automatizada e foi viabilizado a partir da inclusão de um sistema de estimulação elétrica em um leitor de ELISA (do inglês Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Um estimulador eletrônico compacto foi projetado para operar junto a um leitor de placas gerando pulsos quadrados monofásicos com duração de 5 ms e campo elétrico de 8 Vcm-1 aplicados por microeletrodos metálicos de platina-irídio em células em cultura. Uma placa de cultura normalmente utilizada em leitor de placas foi modificada para permitir a colocação do estimulador e dos eletrodos. A intensidade de fluorescência do cálcio intracelular foi avaliada utilizando um leitor de ELISA durante a estimulação elétrica em culturas de células marcadas com o indicador de Ca2+ Fluo-4 AM. A estimulação elétrica das células resultou em contrações regulares nas frequências de 0,1 Hz; 0,2 Hz; 0,3 Hz e 0,5 Hz induzidas pelo estimulador. Parâmetros dos transientes de cálcio foram estudados após a exposição de culturas de células ao Verapamil (0,05; 0,5 e 5,0 µM), a amplitude e a inclinação máxima da fase de subida foram progressivamente reduzidas com doses crescentes da droga. Os dados obtidos demonstraram que o método apresentado permite a avaliação automatizada de transientes de cálcio durante a estimulação elétrica de culturas de hiPSC-CM utilizando o sistema de estimulação em um leitor de ELISA. Esses resultados validaram a aplicabilidade do sistema ao estudo das alterações da dinâmica do cálcio intracelular induzidas por drogas em células sob estimulação elétrica. O sistema de avaliação automatizada desenvolvido pode ser ampliado para realizar a triagem de alto rendimento em bibliotecas de compostos que tem como alvo o acoplamento excitação-contração em células cardíacas humanas in vitro. / This study presents the development and validation of a new approach for the evaluation of intracellular calcium in cultures of cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CM), which can be applied to evaluate the effect of drugs on excitation-contraction coupling. The method consists of electrical stimulation and joint measurement of fluorescence in an automated manner and was made possible by the inclusion of an electrical stimulation system in an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). A compact electronic stimulator was designed to operate inside a plate reader generating monophasic square pulses with duration of 5 ms and electric field of 8 Vcm-1 applied by platinum-iridium metal microelectrodes to cells in culture. A culture plate used in a plate reader was modified to allow placement of the stimulator and electrodes. Fluorescence intensity of intracellular calcium was measured during electrical stimulation of cell cultures loaded with Ca2+ Fluo-4 AM indicator using a plate reader. The electrical stimulation of the cells generated regularly spaced contractions following the pace of the stimulator at the frequencies of 0.1 Hz, 0.2 Hz, 0.3 Hz and 0.5 Hz. Transient profile parameters were studied after treating cell cultures with Verapamil (0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 µM) the amplitude and the maximum slope of rising phase were progressively reduced with increasing verapamil doses. The data obtained demonstrated that the method presented allows the automated evaluation of calcium transients during the electrical stimulation of hiPSC-CM cultures using the stimulation system in an ELISA reader. These results demonstrated the applicability of the system to the study of changes in the intracellular calcium dynamics induced by drugs in electrically stimulated cells. The system developed is amenable to scaling thus allowing high content automated drug library screening for compounds that target the excitationcontraction coupling in human heart cells in vitro.

Este estudo apresenta o desenvolvimento e validação de uma nova abordagem para a avaliação do cálcio intracelular em culturas de cardiomiócitos derivados de células-tronco pluripotentes induzidas humanas (hiPSC-CM - do inglês human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes) que pode ser aplicada para avaliar o efeito de drogas no acoplamento excitação-contração. O método consiste na estimulação elétrica e medição conjunta da fluorescência de forma automatizada e foi viabilizado a partir da inclusão de um sistema de estimulação elétrica em um leitor de ELISA (do inglês Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Um estimulador eletrônico compacto foi projetado para operar junto a um leitor de placas gerando pulsos quadrados monofásicos com duração de 5 ms e campo elétrico de 8 Vcm-1 aplicados por microeletrodos metálicos de platina-irídio em células em cultura. Uma placa de cultura normalmente utilizada em leitor de placas foi modificada para permitir a colocação do estimulador e dos eletrodos. A intensidade de fluorescência do cálcio intracelular foi avaliada utilizando um leitor de ELISA durante a estimulação elétrica em culturas de células marcadas com o indicador de Ca2+ Fluo-4 AM. A estimulação elétrica das células resultou em contrações regulares nas frequências de 0,1 Hz; 0,2 Hz; 0,3 Hz e 0,5 Hz induzidas pelo estimulador. Parâmetros dos transientes de cálcio foram estudados após a exposição de culturas de células ao Verapamil (0,05; 0,5 e 5,0 µM), a amplitude e a inclinação máxima da fase de subida foram progressivamente reduzidas com doses crescentes da droga. Os dados obtidos demonstraram que o método apresentado permite a avaliação automatizada de transientes de cálcio durante a estimulação elétrica de culturas de hiPSC-CM utilizando o sistema de estimulação em um leitor de ELISA. Esses resultados validaram a aplicabilidade do sistema ao estudo das alterações da dinâmica do cálcio intracelular induzidas por drogas em células sob estimulação elétrica. O sistema de avaliação automatizada desenvolvido pode ser ampliado para realizar a triagem de alto rendimento em bibliotecas de compostos que tem como alvo o acoplamento excitação-contração em células cardíacas humanas in vitro. / This study presents the development and validation of a new approach for the evaluation of intracellular calcium in cultures of cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CM), which can be applied to evaluate the effect of drugs on excitation-contraction coupling. The method consists of electrical stimulation and joint measurement of fluorescence in an automated manner and was made possible by the inclusion of an electrical stimulation system in an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). A compact electronic stimulator was designed to operate inside a plate reader generating monophasic square pulses with duration of 5 ms and electric field of 8 Vcm-1 applied by platinum-iridium metal microelectrodes to cells in culture. A culture plate used in a plate reader was modified to allow placement of the stimulator and electrodes. Fluorescence intensity of intracellular calcium was measured during electrical stimulation of cell cultures loaded with Ca2+ Fluo-4 AM indicator using a plate reader. The electrical stimulation of the cells generated regularly spaced contractions following the pace of the stimulator at the frequencies of 0.1 Hz, 0.2 Hz, 0.3 Hz and 0.5 Hz. Transient profile parameters were studied after treating cell cultures with Verapamil (0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 µM) the amplitude and the maximum slope of rising phase were progressively reduced with increasing verapamil doses. The data obtained demonstrated that the method presented allows the automated evaluation of calcium transients during the electrical stimulation of hiPSC-CM cultures using the stimulation system in an ELISA reader. These results demonstrated the applicability of the system to the study of changes in the intracellular calcium dynamics induced by drugs in electrically stimulated cells. The system developed is amenable to scaling thus allowing high content automated drug library screening for compounds that target the excitationcontraction coupling in human heart cells in vitro.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represent a scalable cell source for the generation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (iHPCs); however, a lack of efficient iHPC expansion in vitro currently limits translational applications. To address this translational bottleneck, we assessed a panel of stem cell agonist cocktails (SCACs), originally developed to enhance cord-blood derived HSPC (CB-HSPC) expansion, on iHPC expansion. Three SCACs and GAS6 (X2A, X2A+GAS6, SM6, or SMA) were supplemented during iHPC differentiation and subsequent expansion using the STEMdiff™ Hematopoietic Kit. This monolayer differentiation strategy yielded a population of CD34⁺CD43⁺ and CD45⁺CD34⁺ iHPC. SCAC supplementation during iHPC differentiation yielded up to 2.5-fold higher frequency of CD34⁺CD43⁺ hematopoietic progenitors and up to 2.9-fold higher frequency of CD45⁺CD34⁺CD45RA⁻CD90⁺ HSC-like cells compared to non-treated controls. Subsequent SCAC supplementation during 2 weeks of expansion culture also significantly increased iHPC expansion (X2A+GAS6: 3.8-fold, X2A: 3.5-fold, SM6: 2.8-fold, SMA: 2.0-fold). The expanded iHPCs retained high levels of CD34⁺CD43⁺ expression but we observed an increase in the expansion of HSC-like cell fraction. The collective expansion observed with the SCACs was 1.5- to 2.8-fold higher than UM171 treatment alone. Furthermore, all SCAC-supplemented iHPCs retained multilineage potency, producing erythroid and granulocyte-macrophage progenitors in CFU assays. However, prolonged expansion, beyond 7 days, reduced multilineage potential, indicating a limited expansion window. Although optimal timing and composition of SCAC supplementation remains to be refined, these results highlight that exploiting the additive and synergistic effects of multiple small molecules represents a promising approach for enhancing iHPC expansion yields and biomanufacturing.

Une accélération de la fréquence cardiaque (FC) au repos est observée chez les femmes enceintes. Au dernier trimestre, la FC accélère en moyenne de 15%, ce qui représente un facteur de risque dans le développement d’arythmies de novo ou dans l’exacerbation d’arythmies cardiaques préexistantes. Ceci est dangereux pour la mère ainsi que pour le fœtus. Cependant, les mécanismes responsables de ce changement cardiovasculaire restent peu connus. Notre laboratoire a récemment démontré que la grossesse était associée à une augmentation de la densité du courant pacemaker (If) et du courant calcique de type L (ICaL), ainsi qu’à des changements de l’homéostasie calcique dans les cellules de nœud sinusal (NS) de souris. Sachant que les concentrations plasmatiques en œstrogènes sont significativement augmentées pendant la grossesse et que ces hormones sexuelles féminines ont la capacité de modifier les propriétés électrophysiologiques du cœur, l’hypothèse de ce projet de recherche est que les œstrogènes jouent un rôle important dans l’augmentation de la FC associée à la grossesse et régulent les propriétés électrophysiologiques du NS. Les objectifs de ce projet de recherche sont de déterminer le rôle du 17β-œstradiol (E2) dans l’augmentation de la FC, d’examiner si ces effets sont régulés par les récepteurs aux œstrogènes alpha (ERα) et/ou bêta (ERβ) ainsi que d’évaluer les différents mécanismes de régulation de l’E2 sur l’électrophysiologie du NS. Des souris femelles adultes non-gestantes (2-4 mois) déficientes en ERα (ERKOα) ou en ERβ (ERKOβ) ont reçu un traitement chronique à l’E2 (30 μg deux fois par jour pendant quatre jours) simulant les concentrations plasmatiques en E2 retrouvées en fin de grossesse (23,3 ± 5,0 nM) chez la souris. L’analyse des électrocardiogrammes de surface montrent que la FC des souris ERKOβ (ERKOβ : 511 ± 15 bpm; ERKOβ +E2 : 580 ± 10 bpm, n = 10, p < 0,001) est significativement accélérée suivant le traitement à l’E2. Toutefois, la FC demeure inchangée chez les souris ERKOα (ERKOα : 520 ± 16 bpm; ERKOα +E2 : 530 ± 21 bpm, n = 7, p = 0,114). La méthode du patch-clamp en mode courant-imposé a permis de démontrer une accélération de l’automaticité des cellules du NS des souris ERKOβ suivant le traitement à l’E2, se traduisant par une augmentation de la fréquence des potentiels d’action spontanés (ERKOβ : 284 ± 24 bpm, n = 8; ERKOβ +E2 : 354 ± 23 bpm, n = 15, p = 0,0395) et par une pente de dépolarisation diastolique plus rapide (ERKOβ : 82 ± 12 mV/s, n = 8; ERKOβ +E2 : 140 ± 14 mV/s, n = 15, p < 0,003). En lien avec ces résultats, le patch-clamp en mode voltage-imposé a permis de démontrer que la densité de If est augmentée suivant un traitement à l’E2 (à -90 mV : ERKOβ : -6,6 ± 0,7 pA/pF, n = 12-15; ERKOβ +E2 : -11 ± 1 pA/pF, n = 9-11, p < 0,05). Cependant, If est similaire chez les souris ERKOα traitées ou non à l’E2. De plus, des cardiomyocytes humains dérivés de cellules souches pluripotentes induites de type nodal (N-hiPSC-CM) ont une accélération de la fréquence des potentiels d’action (CTL : 69 ± 5 bpm, n = 12; +E2 : 99 ± 6 bpm, n = 14, p < 0,001) ainsi qu’une augmentation de la densité de If (à -90 mV : CTL : -0,95 ± 0,14 pA/pF, n = 7-10; +E2 : -1,62 ± 0,17 pA/pF, n = 13-14, p < 0,05) suivant le traitement à l’E2. L’administration d’E2 ne modifie pas la fréquence des transitoires calciques des cellules de NS des souris ERKOα (139 ± 15, n = 13-14; +E2 : 142 ± 14, n = 15-16, p = ns) et ERKOβ (142 ± 11, n = 14-15; +E2 : 147 ± 13, n = 15-16, p = ns). En lien avec ces résultats, le courant ICaL des N-hiPSC-CM est inchangé suivant le traitement d’E2 (à 0 mV : CTL : -14,0 ± 1,3 pA/pF, n = 12-13; +E2 : -14,5 ± 1,4 pA/pF, n = 22, p = ns). En conclusion, l’accélération de l’automaticité cardiaque associée à la grossesse est, entre autres, expliquée par une augmentation de la densité de If, régulée par la voie de signalisation E2-ERα. Cependant, les changements de l’homéostasie calcique observés pendant la grossesse sont indépendants des niveaux élevés en œstrogènes. Les résultats obtenus sur les N-hiPSC-CM concordent avec ce qui est observé dans les cellules de NS de souris, ce qui démontre l’applicabilité humaine des résultats. Notre étude contribue à élucider l’influence de la grossesse et le rôle des hormones sexuelles féminines sur la fonction du NS et l’automaticité cardiaque. Ultimement, notre travail pourrait aider à développer une meilleure gestion des arythmies associées aux fluctuations hormonales féminines et/ou à la grossesse. / An increased heart rate (HR) is observed in pregnant women. In fact, in the last trimester, in average, the HR increases by 15%, which is a known risk factor to developing cardiac arrhythmias or exacerbating pre-existing arrhythmias. This can lead to major consequences for both the mother and fetus. However, the mechanisms underlying this increased HR remain largely unexplored. Our laboratory recently demonstrate that pregnancy is associated with an increased density of the pacemaker current (If) and the L-type calcium current (ICaL) as well as changes in calcium homeostasis of mouse sinoatrial node (SAN) cells. Knowing that estrogens are increased during pregnancy and that these sex hormones can modify cardiac electrophysiological properties, we hypothesized that estrogens play a key role in the pregnancy-induced increased HR and regulate the SAN electrophysiological properties. Our research project aims to determine the role of 17β-estradiol (E2) on the pregnancy-induced increased HR, to determine if these effects are regulated through estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and/or beta (ERβ) and to study the E2 underlying mechanisms on SAN electrophysiology. Non-pregnant female mice (2-4 months) lacking ERα (ERKOα) or ERβ (ERKOβ) received a chronic E2 treatment (30 μg twice daily for four days) mimicking E2 concentrations found in late pregnancy (23.3 ± 5.0 nM). Surface electrocardiogram analysis showed a significant increased HR in ERKOβ mice (ERKOβ: 511 ± 15 bpm; ERKOβ +E2: 580 ± 10 bpm; n = 10; p<0.001) following E2 administration. However, the HR remains unchanged in ERKOα mice (ERKOα: 520 ± 16 bpm; ERKOα +E2: 530 ± 21 bpm, n = 7, p = 0.114). Following E2 treatment, current-clamp method demonstrates an increase SAN cells automaticity in ERKOβ mice, resulting in an increase in the spontaneous action potential frequency (ERKOβ : 284 ± 24 bpm, n = 8; ERKOβ +E2 : 354 ± 23 bpm, n = 15, p = 0.0395), associated with a steeper diastolic depolarization slope (ERKOβ : 82 ± 12 mV/s, n = 8; ERKOβ +E2 : 140 ± 14 mV/s, n = 15, p < 0.003), a major determinant of cardiac automaticity. In line with these results, voltage-clamp data showed an increased If density in SAN cells of ERKOβ mice treated with E2 (at -90 mV: ERKOβ: -6.6 ± 0.7 pA/pF, n = 12-15; ERKOβ +E2: -11.0 ± 1.3 pA/pF, n = 9-11, p < 0.05). Nevertheless, If density was similar in E2-treated ERKOα mice. E2-treated nodal-like human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (N-hiPSC-CM) also showed an increased spontaneous action potential frequency (CTL : 69 ± 5 bpm, n = 12; +E2 : 99 ± 6 bpm, n = 14, p < 0.001) and If density (at -90 mV: CTL: -0.95 ± 0.14 pA/pF, n = 7-10; +E2: -1.62 ± 0.17 pA/pF, n = 13-14, p < 0.05). Following E2 administration, the rate of calcium transient was similar in SAN cells from ERKOα (139 ± 15, n = 13-14; +E2 : 142 ± 14, n = 15-16, p = ns) and ERKOβ (142 ± 11, n = 14-15; +E2 : 147 ± 13, n = 15-16, p = ns) mice. In line with these results, no modification was seen on ICaL density in E2-treated N-hiPSC-CM (at 0 mV: CTL: -14.0 ± 1.3 pA/pF, n = 12-13; +E2: -14.5 ± 1.4 pA/pF, n = 22, p = ns). In conclusion, the increased cardiac automaticity observed during pregnancy is, in part, explained by an increased If density. This mechanism is mediated by the E2-ERα pathway. In the other hand, calcium homeostasis changes detected during pregnancy appear to be mediated by an E2-independent mechanism. Finally, results obtained on N-hiPSC-CM are consistent with our observations on mouse SAN cells, demonstrating the human applicability of our results. This study provides novel insight on the effects of female sex hormones on the SAN functions. Ultimately, this information can lead to improved management of arrhythmias associated with female hormone fluctuations and/or pregnancy-induced arrhythmias.