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Quantification of the morphological characteristics of hESC colonies

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Sirio Orozco Fuentes, Dr Irina Neganova, Dr Laura WadkinORCiD, Dr Andrew BaggaleyORCiD, Professor Anvar ShukurovORCiD, Professor Nick ParkerORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

The maintenance of the undifferentiated state in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is critical for further application in regenerative medicine, drug testing and studies of fundamental biology. Currently, the selection of the best quality cells and colonies for propagation is typically performed by eye, in terms of the displayed morphological features, such as prominent/abundant nucleoli and a colony with a tightly packed appearance and a well-defined edge. Using image analysis and computational tools, we precisely quantify these properties using phase-contrast images of hESC colonies of different sizes (0.1–1.1 𝐦𝐦2mm2) during days 2, 3 and 4 after plating. Our analyses reveal noticeable differences in their structure influenced directly by the colony area 𝐴A. Large colonies (A > 0.6 mm2) have cells with smaller nuclei and a short intercellular distance when compared with small colonies (A < 0.2 mm2). The gaps between the cells, which are present in small and medium sized colonies with A ≤ 0.6 mm2, disappear in large colonies (A > 0.6 mm2) due to the proliferation of the cells in the bulk. This increases the colony density and the number of nearest neighbours. We also detect the self-organisation of cells in the colonies where newly divided (smallest) cells cluster together in patches, separated from larger cells at the final stages of the cell cycle. This might influence directly cell-to-cell interactions and the community effects within the colonies since the segregation induced by size differences allows the interchange of neighbours as the cells proliferate and the colony grows. Our findings are relevant to efforts to determine the quality of hESC colonies and establish colony characteristics database.The maintenance of the undifferentiated state in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is critical for further application in regenerative medicine, drug testing and studies of fundamental biology. Currently, the selection of the best quality cells and colonies for propagation is typically performed by eye, in terms of the displayed morphological features, such as prominent/abundant nucleoli and a colony with a tightly packed appearance and a well-defined edge. Using image analysis and computational tools, we precisely quantify these properties using phase-contrast images of hESC colonies of different sizes (0.1–1.1 𝐦𝐦2mm2) during days 2, 3 and 4 after plating. Our analyses reveal noticeable differences in their structure influenced directly by the colony area 𝐴A. Large colonies (A > 0.6 mm2) have cells with smaller nuclei and a short intercellular distance when compared with small colonies (A < 0.2 mm2). The gaps between the cells, which are present in small and medium sized colonies with A ≤ 0.6 mm2, disappear in large colonies (A > 0.6 mm2) due to the proliferation of the cells in the bulk. This increases the colony density and the number of nearest neighbours. We also detect the self-organisation of cells in the colonies where newly divided (smallest) cells cluster together in patches, separated from larger cells at the final stages of the cell cycle. This might influence directly cell-to-cell interactions and the community effects within the colonies since the segregation induced by size differences allows the interchange of neighbours as the cells proliferate and the colony grows. Our findings are relevant to efforts to determine the quality of hESC colonies and establish colony characteristics database.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Orozco-Fuentes S, Neganova I, Wadkin LE, Baggaley AW, Barrio RA, Shukurov AS, Parker NG

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Scientific Reports

Year: 2019

Volume: 9

Online publication date: 26/11/2019

Acceptance date: 04/11/2019

Date deposited: 29/11/2019

ISSN (electronic): 2045-2322

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-53719-9

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53719-9


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
14.w03.31.0029
283279
614620European Research Council (ERC)
BB/I020209/1
CVU-174695

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