Scientific publications

Revealing cell populations catching the early stages of human embryo development in naive pluripotent stem cell cultures. Scientific Publication

Jan 10, 2023 | Magazine: Stem Cell Reports

Marta Moya-Jódar  1 , Asier Ullate-Agote  2 , Paula Barlabé  1 , Juan Roberto Rodríguez-Madoz  3 , Gloria Abizanda  1 , Carolina Barreda  1 , Xonia Carvajal-Vergara  1 , Amaia Vilas-Zornoza  4 , Juan Pablo Romero  5 , Leire Garate  3 , Xabier Agirre  3 , Giulia Coppiello  1 , Felipe Prósper  6 , Xabier L Aranguren  7


Abstract

Naive human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are defined as the in vitro counterpart of the human preimplantation embryo's epiblast and are used as a model system to study developmental processes.

In this study, we report the discovery and characterization of distinct cell populations coexisting with epiblast-like cells in 5iLAF naive human induced PSC (hiPSC) cultures. It is noteworthy that these populations closely resemble different cell types of the human embryo at early developmental stages.

While epiblast-like cells represent the main cell population, interestingly we detect a cell population with gene and transposable element expression profile closely resembling the totipotent eight-cell (8C)-stage human embryo, and three cell populations analogous to trophectoderm cells at different stages of their maturation process: transition, early, and mature stages. Moreover, we reveal the presence of cells resembling primitive endoderm.

Thus, 5iLAF naive hiPSC cultures provide an excellent opportunity to model the earliest events of human embryogenesis, from the 8C stage to the peri-implantation period.

CITATION Stem Cell Reports. 2023 Jan 10;18(1):64-80. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.11.015. Epub 2022 Dec 22.

Our authors

Investigadora predoctoral del Programa de Medicina Regenerativa del Cima Universidad de Navarra
Marta Moya Jodar
Dr. Asier Ullate Agote
Dr. Paula Barlabé Ginesta
Gloria Abizanda Sarasa
Carolina Barreda Ordoñez
Técnico de laboratorio del Grupo de Patología Mieloide del Cima Universidad de Navarra
Leire Garate Iturriagagoitia
Laboratory technician Epigenetics Research Group
Dr. Giulia Coppiello