Reprogramming of cells into pluripotent ones was significantly accelerated

Biologists accelerated the growth of stem cells by blocking kinase proteins

RIA NewsThe growth rate of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can be significantly accelerated by suppressing the activity of some proteins from the kinase family in cultures of "blank" cells, American molecular biologists say in an article published in the journal Nature Communications (Zhonghan Li & Tariq M. Rana, A kinase inhibitor screen identifies small-molecule enhancers of reprogramming and iPS cell generation; press release published on the website of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute: Making it easier to make stem cells – VM).

"The formation of stem cells largely depends on the peculiarities of the chemical communication system between cells. Therefore, when you start manipulating genes inside the cell, a lot of DNA sections containing instructions for the synthesis of protein kinases are turned on. Since many kinases hinder or slow down the process of "reprogramming" cells, we tried to prevent this," explained Tariq Rana, head of the biologists' group from the Sanford–Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla (USA).

Tarik Rana and his colleagues observed how the speed and other parameters of the reprogramming process of skin cells change when substances blocking one or more kinases are added. During the experiment, scientists added an inhibitor to a nutrient medium with future stem cells and analyzed which proteins it blocks and how it affects the process of cell transformation.

In total, biologists tested over 240 kinase inhibitors on stem cells, which allowed them to isolate three key proteins and related genes that prevent the development of iPS cells. These included the proteins aurorakinase A, P38 and IP3k. As scientists explain, all these proteins are involved in the processes of cell division and growth.

Biologists have prepared a special drug based on three substances that block the work of these kinases, and tested it in action on the culture of future stem cells. As scientists expected, the mixture of inhibitors accelerated the growth rate of stem cells several times and significantly increased the efficiency of "reprogramming" the source material.

The researchers tested the quality of the stem cells obtained by adding them to the emerging mouse embryo. According to scientists, iPSC cells successfully integrated into the embryo, and the surrogate mother gave birth to a chimera mouse consisting of two sets of cells with different genomes.

Scientists believe that their discovery will help "reprogrammed" iPSC cells to replace conventional stem cells extracted from embryos or umbilical cord blood. Such cells can be produced in any quantity and their existence does not raise ethical questions related to the fate of the embryo.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru26.09.2012