Discovery of novel determinants of endothelial lineage using chimeric heterokaryons

Jack Wong, Gianfranco Matrone, Xiaoyu Tian, Simion Alin Tomoiaga, Kin Fai Au, Shu Meng, Sayumi Yamazoe, Daniel Sieveking, Kaifu Chen, David M. Burns, James K. Chen, Helen M. Blau, John P. Cooke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

We wish to identify determinants of endothelial lineage. Murine embryonic stem cells (mESC) were fused with human endothelial cells in stable, non-dividing, heterokaryons. Using RNA-seq, it is possible to discriminate between human and mouse transcripts in these chimeric heterokaryons. We observed a temporal pattern of gene expression in the ESCs of the heterokaryons that recapitulated ontogeny, with early mesodermal factors being expressed before mature endothelial genes. A set of transcriptional factors not known to be involved in endothelial development was upregulated, one of which was POU class 3 homeobox 2 (Pou3f2). We confirmed its importance in differentiation to endothelial lineage via loss- and gain-of-function (LOF and GOF). Its role in vascular development was validated in zebrafish embryos using morpholino oligonucleotides. These studies provide a systematic and mechanistic approach for identifying key regulators in directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells to somatic cell lineages.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere23588
JournaleLife
Volume6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 21 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Immunology and Microbiology(all)

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