A new study from Wu et al. showcases the development of an optogenetic system based on human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for controlling transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling, a key element in tissue development and homeostasis.

The researchers demonstrated that light-activated TGF-β signaling could successfully direct the differentiation of iPSCs into various mesenchymal lineages, including smooth muscle, tenogenic, and chondrogenic cells.

The differentiated cells exhibited expression markers similar to those in cultures treated with soluble factors, but with less phototoxicity.

This optogenetic control also enabled the creation of TGF-β gradients in a cartilage-bone model, forming a hyaline-like layer of cartilage tissue while also allowing hypertrophic induction deeper within the tissue.

The technology allows simultaneous maintenance of undifferentiated and differentiated cells in co-cultures by selectively activating TGF-β signaling, making it a potential tool for patient-specific and spatiotemporally precise studies of cellular decision-making processes​.

This study was optimized using an IonOpticks Aurora Ultimate CSI 25×75 C18 UHPLC column.

Publication
Published in Cell Reports, May 30, 2023

Authors

Josephine Y. Wu; Keith Yeager; Daniel Naveed Tavakol; Rajesh Kumar Soni; Clark T. Hung; Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic

Title

Directed differentiation of human iPSCs into mesenchymal lineages by optogenetic control of TGF-β signaling