Submitted on August 26, 2007
Accepted on November 13, 2007
In Vitro and In Vivo Induced Transgene Expression in Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Derivatives
Xiaofeng Xia 1,
Melvin Ayala 2,
Benjamin R. Thiede 2,
Su Chun Zhang 3*
1 WiCell Research Institute, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, USA
2 Departments of Anatomy and Neurology, School of Medicine and Public Health, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA
3 WiCell Research Institute, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, USA; Departments of Anatomy and Neurology, School of Medicine and Public Health, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: Zhang{at}waisman.wisc.edu.
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Abstract |
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The use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) as a research and therapeutic tool will be facilitated by conditional gene expression. Here we report drug-induced transgene expression, both in vitro and in vivo, from a tet-on hESC line with >95% purity. Using GFP as an indicator, we demonstrated that the tet-on system allowed a tight control of the gene expression in both undifferentiated hESCs and differentiated cells of the three germ layers. More importantly, after the cells were transplanted into animals the gene expression remained to be regulated by an orally administered drug. These results provide a technical basis for regulation of gene expression in hESCs and derivatives in vitro and in vivo.
Key Words.
Human embryonic stem cell, gene modification, Gene delivery systems in vivo or in vitro, inducible gene expression
