Generation of a human ovarian granulosa cell model from induced pluripotent stem cells

Abstract

Sex development is an intricate and crucial process in all vertebrates that ensures the continued propagation of genetic diversity within a species, and ultimately their survival. Perturbations in this process can manifest as variations/differences of sex development (VSD/DSD). Primary gonadal somatic cells - the ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in the case of women - represent the absolute model to investigate mechanism of disease in VSDs. Collection of these cells in humans is laborious and invasive, while classical animal models fail to recapitulate the human phenotype and function. Furthermore, in patients with the most severe forms of VSD gonadal cells are totally absent. It is therefore vital to develop an alternative cell-model. In view of this, we established an efficient method to reprogram donor-derived urinary progenitor cells (UPs) and differentiate iPSCs into granulosa-like cells (GLCs). The UPs presented a less invasive and high-quality cell source, improving the clinical applicability of the model along with utilising a non-integrative reprogramming method that eliminates alteration of the original genome. This novel GLC model closely resembles human GCs in morphology and marker gene expression of GC cell-fate and essential function. These results provide the prospect to generate patient-specific personalised GC models to investigate mechanism of disease in VSDs and could improve understanding of the intricacies in female gonadal development.