Dual-specificity Tyrosine Phosphorylation-regulated Kinase Inhibitor ID-8 Promotes Human Somatic Cell Reprogramming by Activating PDK4 Expression

Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2022 Aug;18(6):2074-2087. doi: 10.1007/s12015-021-10294-9. Epub 2022 Jan 26.

Abstract

Background: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) hold great potentials in disease modeling, drug screening and cell therapy. However, efficiency and costs of hiPSCs preparation still need to be improved.

Methods: We screened the compounds that target signaling pathways, epigenetic modifications or metabolic-process regulation to replace the growth factors. After small molecule treatment, TRA-1-60, which is a cell surface antigen expressed by human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), staining was performed to quantify the efficiency of somatic cell reprogramming. Next, small molecule cocktail-induced ESCs or iPSCs were examined with pluripotent markers expression. Finally, Genome-wide gene expression profile was analyzed by RNA-seq to illustrate the mechanism of human somatic cell reprogramming.

Result: Here, we found that a dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase (DYRK) inhibitor ID-8 robustly enhanced human somatic cell reprogramming by upregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) and activation of glycolysis. Furthermore, we identified a novel growth-factor-free hiPSC generation system using small molecules ID-8 (I) and TGFβ signal pathway agonist Kartogenin (K). Importantly, we developed IK medium combined with low-dose bFGF to support the long-term expansion of human pluripotent stem cells. IK-iPSCs showed pluripotency and normal karyotype.

Conclusions: Our studies may provide a novel growth-factor-free culture system to facilitate the generation of hiPSCs for multiple applications in regenerative medicine. In Brief Xu et at. found that a dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase (DYRK) inhibitor ID-8 robustly enhanced human somatic cell reprogramming by upregulation of PDK4 and activation of glycolysis. Furthermore, we established a novel growth-factor-free hiPSC generation system using small molecules ID-8/Kartogenin (IK). IK medium combined with Low-dose bFGF (IKB medium) supported the long-term expansion of human pluripotent stem cells. Highlights ID-8 Enhanced Reprogramming of Human Fibroblasts and Astrocytes Establishment of the Growth-factor-free Reprogramming System Using Small Molecule Compounds IK IKB Medium Maintained the Long-term Expansion of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells ID-8 Promoted Human Somatic Cell Reprogramming by Activating PDK4 Expression.

Keywords: Human induced pluripotent stem cells; Reprogramming; Self-renewal; Small molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cellular Reprogramming* / genetics
  • Dyrk Kinases
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Acetyl-Transferring Kinase* / metabolism

Substances

  • PDK4 protein, human
  • Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Acetyl-Transferring Kinase
  • Protein Kinases
  • pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases