The undifferentiated state of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) depends on their cell–cell and cell–substrate adhesions. In this study, we report that exposure to botulinum hemagglutinin (HA), an E-cadherin function-blocking agent, selectively removed cells that deviated from the undifferentiated state in hiPSC colonies. After HA treatment, cell–cell adhesion was disrupted, deviated cells detached from colony centers, and dividing cells filled these spaces. Because E-cadherin-mediated adhesion was disrupted in undifferentiated cells, stress-fiber formation and focal adhesions were diminished; however, these were subsequently restored, and the cells retained expression of undifferentiated stem cell markers and their differentiation potential. In contrast, actin structures and focal adhesions were lost from deviated cells, and they subsequently died. In undifferentiated and deviated cells, the cadherin/integrin-regulator Rap1 was localized at cell–cell adhesions and in the cytoplasm, respectively. Concurrent HA and Rap1-inhibitor treatment accelerated the deviated-cell detachment and delayed the recovery of hiPSC morphology, but this effect was significantly attenuated by co-treatment with Rap1 activator. Thus, Rap1 regulated E-cadherin–integrin interplay in hiPSC colonies exhibiting deviation, while HA-mediated selective removal of these deviated cells helped maintain the undifferentiated state in the remaining hiPSCs.

BackgroundUnderstanding the fundamental mechanisms underlying the cellular response to topographical surface features will extend our knowledge regarding the regulation of cell functions. Analyzing the cellular response to different topographical features, over multiple temporal and spatial scales, is central to understanding and guiding several biological functions. We used micropatterned substrates with convex and concave architectures to evaluate the behaviors of human epithelial cells on these substrates.ResultsPillar and pit substrates caused heterogeneous spatial growth and distribution, with differences in cell density, over 48 h. Regional densities and distribution were significantly increased at pillar sidewalls, and at pit sidewalls and bottoms compared with those on flat unpatterned areas. Time-lapse observations revealed that different mechanisms of cell migration were dependent upon pillar and pit features. Cells on pillar substrate migrated towards the sidewall, whereas cells on pit substrate tended to move towards the sidewalls and bottom. Cytoskeletal staining of F-actin and vinculin showed that this migration can be attributed to difference in spatial reorganization of actin cytoskeleton, and the formation of focal adhesions at various points on the at the convex and concave corners of pillar and pit substrates. Cells cultured on the pillar substrate had stress fibers with extended filopodia and immature focal contacts at the sidewalls and convex corners, similar to those on the flat unpatterned substrate. Cells at the sidewalls and concave corners of pit substrate had more contractile stress fibers and stable focal contacts compared with cells on the pillar substrate. We also found that the substrate structures affect cell-cell contact formation via E-cadherin, and that this was associated with reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton at the sidewall, and at the convex and concave corners of the substrate.ConclusionMigration is an important factor affecting spatial growth and distribution. Heterogeneity at various locations was caused by different migratory behaviors at the convex and concave corners of pillar and pit substrates. We propose that this investigation is a valuable method for understanding cell phenotypes and the heterogeneity during spatial growth and distribution of epithelial cells during culture.

Three‐dimensional (3D) culture platforms have been explored to establish physiologically relevant cell culture environment and permit expansion scalability; however, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the regulation of pluripotency of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). This study elucidated epigenetic modifications contributing to pluripotency of hiPSCs in response to 3D culture. Unlike two‐dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures, 3D cultured cells aggregated with each other to form ball‐like aggregates. 2D cultured cells expressed elevated levels of Rac1 and RhoA; however, Rac1 level was significantly lower while RhoA level was persisted in 3D aggregates. Compared with 2D monolayers, the 3D aggregates also exhibited significantly lower myosin phosphorylation. Histone methylation analysis revealed remarkable H3K4me3 upregulation and H3K27me3 maintenance throughout the duration of 3D culture; in addition, we observed the existence of naïve pluripotency signatures in cells grown in 3D culture. These results demonstrated that hiPSCs adapted to 3D culture through alteration of the Rho‐Rho kinase‐phospho‐myosin pathway, influencing the epigenetic modifications and transcriptional expression of pluripotency‐associated factors. These results may help design culture environments for stable and high‐quality hiPSCs.

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Understanding mechanisms that govern cell fate determination of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) could assist in maintenance of the undifferentiated state during cell expansion. We used polyamidoamine dendrimer surfaces with first-generation (G1), third-generation (G3) and fifth-generation (G5) of dendron structure in cultures of hiPSCs with SNL feeder cells. Cells on the G1 surface formed tightly packed colony with close cell-cell contacts during division and migration; those on the G3 surface exhibited loose or dispersed colony pattern by enhanced migration. On the G5 surface, formation of aggregated colony with ring-like structures occurred spontaneously. We found that the substrate-adsorbed fibronectin and feeder cell-secreted fibronectin appeared elevated levels with the varied generation numbers of dendrimer surfaces. This subsequently resulted in cell migration and in activation of paxillin of hiPSCs. Location-dependent expression of Rac1 induced rearrangement of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell interactions on dendrimer surfaces, and was associated with alterations in the cell and colony morphology, and migratory behavior. Furthermore, caspase-3 occurred in apoptotic cells on dendrimer surfaces, concomitant with the loss of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell interactions. Cells on the G1 surface were maintained in an undifferentiated state, while those on the G5 surface exhibited the early commitment to differentiation toward endodermal fates. We conclude that morphological changes associated with altered migration on the dendrimer surfaces were responsible for the coordinated regulation of balance between cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions, thereby switching their transition from self-renewal state to early endoderm differentiation in hiPSCs.