Generation of multiciliated cells in functional airway epithelia from human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Despite therapeutic advancement, pulmonary disease still remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Opportunities to study human lung disease either in vivo or in vitro are currently limited. Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we generated mature multiciliated cells in a functional airway epithelium. Robust multiciliogenesis occurred when notch signaling was inhibited and was confirmed by (i) the assembly of multiple pericentrin-stained centrioles at the apical surface, (ii) expression of transcription factor forkhead box protein J1, and (iii) presence of multiple acetylated tubulin-labeled cilia projections in individual cells. Clara, goblet, and basal cells were all present, confirming the generation of a complete polarized epithelial-cell layer. Additionally, cAMP-activated and cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator inhibitor 172-sensitive cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator currents were recorded in isolated epithelial cells. Our report demonstrating the generation of mature multiciliated cells in respiratory epithelium from iPSCs is a significant advance toward modeling a number of human respiratory diseases in vitro.

Functional Gene Correction for Cystic Fibrosis in Lung Epithelial Cells Generated from Patient iPSCs.

Lung disease is a major cause of death in the United States, with current therapeutic approaches serving only to manage symptoms. The most common chronic and life-threatening genetic disease of the lung is cystic fibrosis (CF) caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR). We have generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from CF patients carrying a homozygous deletion of F508 in the CFTR gene, which results in defective processing of CFTR to the cell membrane. This mutation was precisely corrected using CRISPR to target corrective sequences to the endogenous CFTR genomic locus, in combination with a completely excisable selection system, which significantly improved the efficiency of this correction. The corrected iPSCs were subsequently differentiated to mature airway epithelial cells where recovery of normal CFTR expression and function was demonstrated. This isogenic iPSC-based model system for CF could be adapted for the development of new therapeutic approaches.

Lymphoid regeneration from gene-corrected SCID-X1 subject-derived iPSCs.

X-linked Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID-X1) is a genetic disease that leaves newborns at high risk of serious infection and a predicted life span of less than 1 year in the absence of a matched bone marrow donor. The disease pathogenesis is due to mutations in the gene encoding the Interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain (IL-2Rγ), leading to a lack of functional lymphocytes. With the leukemogenic concerns of viral gene therapy there is a need to explore alternative therapeutic options. We have utilized induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology and genome editing mediated by TALENs to generate isogenic subject-specific mutant and gene-corrected iPSC lines. While the subject-derived mutant iPSCs have the capacity to generate hematopoietic precursors and myeloid cells, only wild-type and gene-corrected iPSCs can additionally generate mature NK cells and T cell precursors expressing the correctly spliced IL-2Rγ. This study highlights the potential for the development of autologous cell therapy for SCID-X1 subjects.