Dual usage of a stage-specific fluorescent reporter system based on a helper-dependent adenoviral vector to visualize osteogenic differentiation

Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 4;9(1):9705. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-46105-y.

Abstract

We developed a reporter system that can be used in a dual manner in visualizing mature osteoblast formation. The system is based on a helper-dependent adenoviral vector (HDAdV), in which a fluorescent protein, Venus, is expressed under the control of the 19-kb human osteocalcin (OC) genomic locus. By infecting human and murine primary osteoblast (POB) cultures with this reporter vector, the cells forming bone-like nodules were specifically visualized by the reporter. In addition, the same vector was utilized to efficiently knock-in the reporter into the endogenous OC gene of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), by homologous recombination. Neural crest-like cells (NCLCs) derived from the knock-in reporter iPSCs were differentiated into osteoblasts forming bone-like nodules and could be visualized by the expression of the fluorescent reporter. Living mature osteoblasts were then isolated from the murine mixed POB culture by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and their mRNA expression profile was analyzed. Our study presents unique utility of reporter HDAdVs in stem cell biology and related applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Osteoblasts / cytology*
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Osteogenesis*
  • Osteosarcoma / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma / pathology*