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(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2011/0044954 A1 Stice Et Al US 20110044954A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2011/0044954 A1 Stice et al. (43) Pub. Date: Feb. 24, 2011 (54) METHODS OF PRODUCING GERM-LIKE Publication Classification CELLS AND RELATED THERAPES (51) Int. Cl. A6II 35/12 (2006.01) CI2N 5/071 (2010.01) (76) Inventors: Steven Stice, Athens, GA (US); CI2N 5/07 (2010.01) Franklin West, Athens, GA (US) CI2N 5/00 (2006.01) A6IP 5/00 (2006.01) (52) U.S. Cl. ........ 424/93.7:435/377; 435/366; 435/354; Correspondence Address: 435/325 Henry D. Coleman (57) ABSTRACT 714 Colorado Avenue The present invention relates to methods of producing germ Bridgeport, CT 06605-1601 (US) like cells (GLCs) from embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, GLCs produced by such methods, gametes derived from Such GLCs, pharmaceutical composi (21) Appl. No.: 12/583,402 tions and kits containing Such GLCs, screens that use GLCs to identify agents useful in enhancing mammalian reproductive health, and methods of treatment that use GLCs to enhance (22) Filed: Aug. 20, 2009 mammalian reproductive health. Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 1 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 2 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 A 1000 to a post. : : Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 3 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 xxx x missism &r-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o: aaraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa to reexier : & Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 4 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 xix. Erie Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 5 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 ad Feeders Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 6 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 rix is --as-a-----> is is & is Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 7 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 8 & is is st 38: 8.8 3xx: 8888 Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 8 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 vxoaueauea Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 9 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 s s s s s s s s r s s s s s '' s s s Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 10 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 B i8. : Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 11 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 8::::::::: : x : 8 : x 88: 888 &888x8:8: * 8.3: x w8xxx &-------------------. 500 s k • . ...&&...... Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 12 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 ay 16 with bfGr a treeties Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 13 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 3 : Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 14 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 rix . GLC Clone Secondary Only Control Clone Test Sample Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 15 of 15 US 2011/0044954 A1 US 2011/0044954 A1 Feb. 24, 2011 METHODS OF PRODUCING GERM-LIKE state of mitotic arrest at 13.5 days post coitum. This quiescent CELLS AND RELATED THERAPES state is not reversed until puberty is reached; the mitotic process is then continued, and meiosis first takes place 15. RELATED APPLICATIONS Synaptonemal complexes formed during homologous chro mosome pairing in meiosis involve numerous proteins. Such 0001. Not applicable. as SYCP3 16, 17. SYCP3 expression is specific to meiotic germ cells, and knockout of this gene results in meiotic dis FIELD OF THE INVENTION ruption and sterility 15, 18. After the pairing of homologous 0002 The present invention relates to methods of produc chromosomes, crossing over occurs, which is controlled by ing germ-like cells (GLCs) from embryonic stem cells and proteins such as MLH1 19, 20 and is associated with the induced pluripotent stem cells, GLCs produced by such meth formation of chiasmata during a crossing-over event 19. ods, gametes derived from Such GLCs, pharmaceutical com MLH1 positions and kits containing such GLCs, Screens that use knockout mice exhibit disrupted meiosis, which results in GLCs to identify agents useful in enhancing mammalian sterility in both female and male mice 20. The expression of reproductive health, and methods of treatment that use GLCs these genes in human germ cells has been noted, but their to enhance mammalian reproductive health. study has been limited. Further understanding of these genes and others through in vitro human germ cell models is there BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION fore warranted. 0007. In an attempt to address the need for an in vitro 0003 Citations for all references are found after the model to better understand these developmental processes, experimental section. Numerical citations (designated by "I several groups have reported the differentiation of mouse I”) are listed in “Reference Collection 1 except for the embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and hESCs into germ-like numerical citations in Part 3 of the Experimental Section, cells. mESCs have produced both male and female germ-like which are listed in “Reference Collection 3”. Name citations cells with protein profiles consistent with germ cell develop for the Experimental Section, Part 2, are listed in “Reference ment 4, 5. Cells in advanced differentiation cultures have Collection 2. even proven to undergo meiosis and erasure of methylation in 0004 Throughout this application, various publications imprinting genes, two hallmarks of normal germ cell devel are referenced. The disclosures of all of these publications opment 21. Nayernia et al. successfully showed that mESC and those references cited within those publications in their derived germ cells can produce offspring 22. Differentiated entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this appli hESCs have also proven to have protein profiles consistent cation in order to more fully describe the state of the art to with normal germ cell development (i.e., DDX4+) and which this invention pertains. undergo early stages of meiosis 3, 14. Unfortunately, both 0005 Infertility is a major problem in the United States, mESC and hESC germ cell differentiation culture systems with 7.4% of married couples considered to be clinically have produced relatively mixed populations, with less than infertile 1. To aid these couples, assisted reproductive tech 35% DDX4-positive cells derived from hESCs, and coex nologies have been developed, but they are ineffective in pression of other germ cell markers, such as POU5F1, was not treating the most severe cases, where there is an absence of determined 3, 14. Traditionally, isolation of stem cell popu germ cell production 2. Human embryonic stem cells lations based on only a single marker is not as robust as that (hESCs) offer the means to further understand intrinsic and based on two or more markers. Previous work has established extrinsic factors involved in early and late germ cell develop that mouse embryonic fibroblasts feeders and basic fibroblast ment and survival 3-5. New developments and discoveries growth factor are essential for culturing primary germ cells using hESCs should ultimately lead to novel fertility treat 23-25; however, their role has not been examined in the mentS. derivation of germ-like cells from hESCs. 0006. Several genes and their products are expressed dur 0008. Therefore, the need exists for methods which will ing germ cell development and are used to follow germ cell reliably produce adequately-sized and relatively genetically differentiation. POU5F1 (also known as Oct4), a transcrip homogeneous populations of germ-like cells from which tion factor involved in stem cell pluripotency, is also expressed in primordial germ cells (PGCs) and is highly functioning gametes can be derived. conserved among species 6. As PGCs become linage-re SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION stricted during germ cell development, POU5F1 becomes exclusively expressed in germ cells and is not expressed in 0009. The present invention relates to novel methods of somatic cells 7. In the mouse, Ifitm3 and DPPA3 are spe producing homogeneous populations of germ-like cells cifically expressed in PGCs 8, 9). Unrestricted germ cells (GLCs), including methods of cloning a pure population of first express Ifitm3 during pregastrulation, followed by embryonic stem cells (ESC)-derived GLCs. In preferred DPPA3 expression at the late primitive streak stage of devel embodiments, methods of the present invention combine opment. In addition, DDX4 (also known as VASA) is a highly adherent clonal cell culture propagation with selection for a conserved, functionally important germ cell gene that is GLC population that expresses both germ cell specific and expressed exclusively in germ cells in numerous species, pluripotency proteins, DDX4 and POU5F1 respectively. including Drosophila, Xenopus, mice, and humans 10-13. 0010. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a DDX4 is an RNA helicase that in Drosophila has been shown novel adherent hESC to GLC differentiation culture system to be important for germ cell plasm formation, but its role has that is capable of producing a highly enriched GLC popula not yet been fully elucidated in the mammalian system 11. tion wherein greater than about 69% of cells co-express the However, male DDX4 homozygous knockout mice are sterile germ cell markers DDX4 and POU5F1 and wherein greater 12, and previous studies have used DDX4 in human ESC to than about 90% of GLCs express the meiotic markers SYCP3 PGC differentiation 3, 14. Male mouse germ cells enter a and MLH. US 2011/0044954 A1 Feb. 24, 2011 0011. The adherent differentiation system of the present (a) the embryonic stem cells are human embryonic stem cells invention offers at least the following advantages over embry (hESCs) and the adherent differentiation culture system com oid body (EB) systems: prises mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder cells; 0012 1. Feeder cells have proven to be important in (b) prior to differentiation, the hESCs are cultured in a culture differentiating hESCs into GLCs as cultures lacking medium comprising an effective amount of basic fibroblast feeders demonstrate reduced GLC numbers.
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