Open AccessNoggin Elicits Retinal Fate in Xenopus Animal Cap Embryonic Stem Cells
Author(s) -
Lan Lei,
Vitobello Antonio,
Bertacchi Michele,
Cremisi Federico,
Vignali Robert,
Andreazzoli Massimiliano,
Demontis Gian Carlo,
Barsacchi Giuseppina,
Casarosa Simona
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.167
Subject(s) - noggin , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , embryonic stem cell , stem cell , xenopus , cellular differentiation , retinal , multipotent stem cell , cell fate determination , retina , genetics , neuroscience , transcription factor , bone morphogenetic protein , progenitor cell , gene , biochemistry
Driving specific differentiation pathways in multipotent stem cells is a main goal of cell therapy. Here we exploited the differentiating potential of Xenopus animal cap embryonic stem (ACES) cells to investigate the factors necessary to drive multipotent stem cells toward retinal fates. ACES cells are multipotent, and can be diverged from their default ectodermal fate to give rise to cell types from all three germ layers. We found that a single secreted molecule, Noggin, is sufficient to elicit retinal fates in ACES cells. Reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization experiments showed that high doses of Noggin are able to support the expression of terminal differentiation markers of the neural retina in ACES cells in vitro. Following in vivo transplantation, ACES cells expressing high Noggin doses form eyes, both in the presumptive eye field region and in ectopic posterior locations. The eyes originating from the transplants in the eye field region are functionally equivalent to normal eyes, as seen by electrophysiology and c‐fos expression in response to light. Our data show that in Xenopus embryos, proper doses of a single molecule, Noggin, can drive ACES cells toward retinal cell differentiation without additional cues. This makes Xenopus ACES cells a suitable model system to direct differentiation of stem cells toward retinal fates and encourages further studies on the role of Noggin in the retinal differentiation of mammalian stem cells. STEM CELLS 2009;27:2146–2152