MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, reprogramming of human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) into iPSC was carried out using non-integrative Sendai virus for transduction. The iPSC clones were characterised based on the morphological changes, gene expression of pluripotency markers, and spontaneous and directed differentiation abilities into cells of different germ layers.
RESULTS: On day 18-25 post-transduction, colonies with embryonic stem cell-like morphology were obtained. The iPSC generated were free of Sendai genome and transgene after passage 10, as confirmed by RT-PCR. NHDF-derived iPSC expressed multiple pluripotency markers in qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. When cultured in suspension for 8 days, iPSC successfully formed embryoid body-like spheres. NHDF-derived iPSC also demonstrated the ability to undergo directed differentiation into ectoderm and endoderm.
CONCLUSION: NHDF were successfully reprogrammed into iPSC using non-integrating Sendai virus for transduction.
METHODS: hUC-MSCs were labelled with GFP-Luc2 protein, followed by characterisation with flow cytometry. Upon intravenous infusion of transduced hUC-MSCs into the healthy BALB/c mice, the cells were dynamically monitored through the bioluminescent imaging (BLI) approach.
RESULTS: Transduction of hUC-MSCs with GFP-Luc2 not only preserved the characteristics of MSCs, but also allowed live monitoring of transduced cells in the mice model. Upon systemic administration, BLI showed that transduced hUC-MSCs first localised predominantly in the lungs of healthy BALB/c mice and mainly remained in the lungs for up to 3 days before eventually cleared from the body. At terminal sacrifice, plasma chemistry biomarkers remained unchanged except for C-peptide levels, which were significantly reduced in the hUC-MSCs group. Histopathological findings further revealed that hUC-MSCs infusion did not cause any adverse effects and toxicity to lung, liver and heart tissues.
CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, systemically administrated hUC-MSCs was safe and demonstrated dynamic homing capacity before eventually disappearing from the body.