Genotoxic Effects of Culture Media on Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Sci Rep. 2017 Feb 8:7:42222. doi: 10.1038/srep42222.

Abstract

Culture conditions play an important role in regulating the genomic integrity of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (HPSCs). We report that HPSCs cultured in Essential 8 (E8) and mTeSR, two widely used media for feeder-free culturing of HPSCs, had many fold higher levels of ROS and higher mitochondrial potential than cells cultured in Knockout Serum Replacement containing media (KSR). HPSCs also exhibited increased levels of 8-hydroxyguanosine, phospho-histone-H2a.X and p53, as well as increased sensitivity to γ-irradiation in these two media. HPSCs in E8 and mTeSR had increased incidence of changes in their DNA sequence, indicating genotoxic stress, in addition to changes in nucleolar morphology and number. Addition of antioxidants to E8 and mTeSR provided only partial rescue. Our results suggest that it is essential to determine cellular ROS levels in addition to currently used criteria i.e. pluripotency markers, differentiation into all three germ layers and normal karyotype through multiple passages, in designing culture media.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Ascorbic Acid / pharmacology
  • Cell Nucleolus / drug effects
  • Cell Nucleolus / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media / toxicity*
  • DNA Damage
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Glutathione / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mutagens / toxicity*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Culture Media
  • Mutagens
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Glutathione
  • Ascorbic Acid