Revitalizing the Epigenome of Adult Jaw Periosteal Cells: Enhancing Diversity in iPSC-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (iMSCs)

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are rapidly emerging as a transformative resource in regenerative medicine. In a previous study, our laboratory achieved a significant milestone by successfully reprograming jaw periosteal cells (JPCs) into iPSCs, which were then differentiated into iPSC-derive...

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Main Authors: Felix Umrath, Valerie Wendt, Gilles Gasparoni, Yasser Narknava, Jörn Walter, Bernd Lethaus, Josefin Weber, Victor Carriel, Meltem Avci-Adali, Dorothea Alexander
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/9/627
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author Felix Umrath
Valerie Wendt
Gilles Gasparoni
Yasser Narknava
Jörn Walter
Bernd Lethaus
Josefin Weber
Victor Carriel
Meltem Avci-Adali
Dorothea Alexander
author_facet Felix Umrath
Valerie Wendt
Gilles Gasparoni
Yasser Narknava
Jörn Walter
Bernd Lethaus
Josefin Weber
Victor Carriel
Meltem Avci-Adali
Dorothea Alexander
author_sort Felix Umrath
collection DOAJ
description Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are rapidly emerging as a transformative resource in regenerative medicine. In a previous study, our laboratory achieved a significant milestone by successfully reprograming jaw periosteal cells (JPCs) into iPSCs, which were then differentiated into iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs). Using an optimized protocol, we generated iMSCs with a remarkable osteogenic potential while exhibiting lower expression levels of the senescence markers p16 and p21 compared to the original JPCs. This study aimed to explore the epigenetic landscape by comparing the DNA methylation and transcription profiles of iMSCs with their JPC precursors, seeking to uncover key differences. Additionally, this analysis provided an opportunity for us to investigate the potential rejuvenation effects associated with cellular reprogramming. To assess the safety of the generated cells, we evaluated their ability to form teratomas through subcutaneous injection into immunodeficient mice. Our findings revealed that, while the methylation profile of iMSCs closely mirrored that of JPCs, distinct iMSC-specific methylation patterns were evident. Strikingly, the application of DNA methylation (DNAm) clocks for biological age estimation showed a dramatic reduction in DNAm age to approximately zero in iPSCs—a rejuvenation effect that persisted in the derived iMSCs. This profound reset in biological age, together with our transcriptome data, indicate that iMSCs could possess an enhanced regenerative potential compared to adult MSCs. Future in vivo studies should validate this hypothesis.
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spelling doaj-art-30c75d77d98f46f7ae9e6a37790efb3b2025-08-20T03:52:58ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-04-0114962710.3390/cells14090627Revitalizing the Epigenome of Adult Jaw Periosteal Cells: Enhancing Diversity in iPSC-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (iMSCs)Felix Umrath0Valerie Wendt1Gilles Gasparoni2Yasser Narknava3Jörn Walter4Bernd Lethaus5Josefin Weber6Victor Carriel7Meltem Avci-Adali8Dorothea Alexander9Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyDepartment of Genetics and Epigenetics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, GermanyDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyDepartment of Genetics and Epigenetics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, GermanyDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyDepartment of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyDepartment of Histology, Tissue Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, SpainDepartment of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyInduced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are rapidly emerging as a transformative resource in regenerative medicine. In a previous study, our laboratory achieved a significant milestone by successfully reprograming jaw periosteal cells (JPCs) into iPSCs, which were then differentiated into iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs). Using an optimized protocol, we generated iMSCs with a remarkable osteogenic potential while exhibiting lower expression levels of the senescence markers p16 and p21 compared to the original JPCs. This study aimed to explore the epigenetic landscape by comparing the DNA methylation and transcription profiles of iMSCs with their JPC precursors, seeking to uncover key differences. Additionally, this analysis provided an opportunity for us to investigate the potential rejuvenation effects associated with cellular reprogramming. To assess the safety of the generated cells, we evaluated their ability to form teratomas through subcutaneous injection into immunodeficient mice. Our findings revealed that, while the methylation profile of iMSCs closely mirrored that of JPCs, distinct iMSC-specific methylation patterns were evident. Strikingly, the application of DNA methylation (DNAm) clocks for biological age estimation showed a dramatic reduction in DNAm age to approximately zero in iPSCs—a rejuvenation effect that persisted in the derived iMSCs. This profound reset in biological age, together with our transcriptome data, indicate that iMSCs could possess an enhanced regenerative potential compared to adult MSCs. Future in vivo studies should validate this hypothesis.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/9/627bone engineeringjaw periosteal cellsreprogrammingiPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cellsrejuvenationepigenetics
spellingShingle Felix Umrath
Valerie Wendt
Gilles Gasparoni
Yasser Narknava
Jörn Walter
Bernd Lethaus
Josefin Weber
Victor Carriel
Meltem Avci-Adali
Dorothea Alexander
Revitalizing the Epigenome of Adult Jaw Periosteal Cells: Enhancing Diversity in iPSC-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (iMSCs)
Cells
bone engineering
jaw periosteal cells
reprogramming
iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells
rejuvenation
epigenetics
title Revitalizing the Epigenome of Adult Jaw Periosteal Cells: Enhancing Diversity in iPSC-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (iMSCs)
title_full Revitalizing the Epigenome of Adult Jaw Periosteal Cells: Enhancing Diversity in iPSC-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (iMSCs)
title_fullStr Revitalizing the Epigenome of Adult Jaw Periosteal Cells: Enhancing Diversity in iPSC-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (iMSCs)
title_full_unstemmed Revitalizing the Epigenome of Adult Jaw Periosteal Cells: Enhancing Diversity in iPSC-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (iMSCs)
title_short Revitalizing the Epigenome of Adult Jaw Periosteal Cells: Enhancing Diversity in iPSC-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (iMSCs)
title_sort revitalizing the epigenome of adult jaw periosteal cells enhancing diversity in ipsc derived mesenchymal stem cells imscs
topic bone engineering
jaw periosteal cells
reprogramming
iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells
rejuvenation
epigenetics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/9/627
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