Somatic transcriptome priming gates lineage specific differentiation potential of human induced pluripotent stem cell states

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provide an invaluable source for regenerative medicine; but are limited by proficient lineage specific differentiation. Here we reveal that hiPSCs derived from dermal skin fibroblasts (Fib) vs. human cord blood (CB) cells exhibit equivalent and indistinguishable pluripotent properties, but harbor important propensities for neural and hematopoietic lineage differentiation, independent of reprogramming factors used. Genes associated with germ layer specification were identical in both Fib or CB derived iPSCs; whereas patterns of lineage specific marks emerge upon differentiation induction of hiPSCs that were correlated to the cell type of origin used to create hiPSCs. Functionally, CB-iPSCs predominantly differentiate into hematopoietic cells and even adopt definitive hematopoiesis as evidenced by adult -globin positive red blood cell development whereas Fib-iPSCs possess enhanced neural capacity. These clear differentiation propensities come at the expense of other lineages and cannot be overcome with additional external stimuli for alternative cell fates. Moreover, these differences in developmental potential are encoded within cultures of CB vs. Fib derived hiPSCs that can be used to predict differentiation propensity.

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Lee JH, Lee JB, Shapovalova Z, Fiebig-Comyn A, Mitchell RR, Laronde S, Szabo E, Benoit YD, Bhatia M