Highly Efficient Generation of CiPSCs from MEFs

This protocol is intended as a guide only, for full experimental details please read the reference provided.

In Brief

Zhao et al. describe a protocol for the highly efficient reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to chemically-induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs) in 16-20 days using a small molecule cocktail.

Briefly, MEFs were grown in MEF culture medium. On day 0 the medium was changed to optimized stage I medium. On day 4-6 small extraembryonic endoderm (XEN)-like colonies appeared and stage I medium was exchanged for optimized N2B27-SII medium. Cells were cultured for a further 4-6 days, then on day 8 or 12 N2B27-SII medium was exchanged for stage III medium containing 500 μM Valproic Acid (VPA). VPA was removed on day 12 or 16, and cells were cultured for a further 4-10 days in stage III medium, when CiPSC colonies emerged.

Highly Efficient Generation of CiPSCs from MEFs

Cocktails

Optimized Stage I Medium (FBS/KSR-based medium)Optimized N2B27-SII Medium (N2B27-based medium )Stage III Medium (N2B27-based medium)
Valproic acid (Cat.No. 2815)100 μMValproic acid (Cat.No. 2815)1 mMCHIR 99021 (Cat.No. 4423)3 μM
CHIR 99021 (Cat.No. 4423)40 μMCHIR 99021 (Cat.No. 4423)10 μMPD 0325901 (Cat.No. 4192)1 μM
RepSox (Cat.No. 3742)10 μMRepSox (Cat.No. 3742)10 μMLIF10 ng/ml
Tranylcypromine (Cat.No. 3852)5 μMTranylcypromine (Cat.No. 3852)5 μML-Ascorbic Acid (Cat.No. 4055)50 μg/ml
Forskolin (Cat.No. 1099)10 μMForskolin (Cat.No. 1099)10 μM  
Ch 55 (Cat.No. 2020)1 μMCh 55 (Cat.No. 2020)1 μM  
EPZ 004777 (Cat.No. 5567)5 μM3-Deazaneplanocin A (Cat.No. 4703)0.05 μM  
  Decitabine (Cat.No. 2624)0.5 μM  
  SGC 0946 (Cat.No. 4541)5 μM  
  L-Ascorbic Acid (Cat.No. 4055)50 μg/ml  
  LIF10 ng/ml  
  bFGF25 ng/ml  
Timeline for Highly Efficient Generation of CiPSCs from MEFs

Reference

Zhao et al. (2018) Single-cell RNA-seq reveals dynamic early embryonic-like programs during chemical reprogramming. Cell Stem Cell. 23 31 PMID: 29937202