Rationale: Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) serve as a critical source of seed cells for regenerative therapies due to their unlimited proliferative capacity and ability to differentiate into all three germ layers. Despite their potential, the risk of teratoma formation caused by residual PSCs within differentiated cell populations poses a significant barrier to clinical applications. This study aims to develop a novel strategy to selectively remove residual PSCs while preserving the safety and functionality of PSC-derived differentiated cells (iDCs). Methods: The calcium- and magnesium-free balanced salt solution (BSS(Ca-Mg-)) was employed to selectively target PSCs in a co-culture system comprising PSCs and four types of iDCs. The effect of BSS(Ca-Mg-) treatment on teratoma formation was evaluated in immunodeficient mice following cell transplantation. Comparative analysis and gene knockdown experiments were conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the differential response of PSCs and iDCs to BSS(Ca-Mg-), focusing on FAK signaling and its interaction with OCT4 and ITGA6. Results: The BSS(Ca-Mg-) treatment effectively induced the detachment of PSCs in the co-culture system without disrupting iDC adhesion. In vivo experiments confirmed that cells treated with BSS(Ca-Mg-) did not form teratomas upon implantation into immunodeficient mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that PSCs exhibit lower activation of FAK signaling compared to iDCs, contributing to their selective detachment. Additionally, OCT4 and ITGA6 were found to maintain each other's protein expression, forming a feedback loop that suppressed FAK signaling, while FAK suppression further enhanced OCT4 expression. Conclusions: The study presents a safe, effective, and cost-efficient method for the selective removal of residual PSCs. This approach enhances existing safety measures for iDC applications, improving the clinical feasibility of iDC-based cell therapies.
FAK signaling suppression by OCT4-ITGA6 mediates the effectively removal of residual pluripotent stem cells and enhances application safety.
阅读:2
作者:Song Wenpeng, Wang Jian, Gong Shixin, Wang Xiaoyan, Xu Junji, Wu Ruiqing, Jiang Zongmin, Zhang Huiyuan, Wu Lida, Wang Yilong, Su Yingying, Wang Hao, Gu Yuchun
期刊: | Theranostics | 影响因子: | 13.300 |
时间: | 2025 | 起止号: | 2025 Jun 12; 15(14):7127-7153 |
doi: | 10.7150/thno.111198 |
特别声明
1、本文转载旨在传播信息,不代表本网站观点,亦不对其内容的真实性承担责任。
2、其他媒体、网站或个人若从本网站转载使用,必须保留本网站注明的“来源”,并自行承担包括版权在内的相关法律责任。
3、如作者不希望本文被转载,或需洽谈转载稿费等事宜,请及时与本网站联系。
4、此外,如需投稿,也可通过邮箱info@biocloudy.com与我们取得联系。