Title: Using human pluripotent stem cells to model human development and disease
Abstract: The human pluripotent stem cell model offers the capability to study human development in vitro that would be difficult or impossible to perform in vivo. I will discuss studies my laboratory has performed examining the transcription factor GATA6 and its impact on gut tube patterning of endodermal organs including the liver, lung and pancreas. While GATA6 has been well studied in the mouse, we find distinct functions of GATA6 in the human stem cell model, highlighting the importance of using a human model system and uncovering previously unappreciated roles for this gene in endoderm development. Coding mutations in GATA6 causes pancreas agenesis and neonatal diabetes. Using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from a pancreas agenesis patient can mimic the disease phenotypes and led to discovery of a novel noncoding disease modifier that is enriched in pancreas agenesis patients. Lastly, I’ll present data demonstrating the generation of repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSC)s from human iPS cells. The ability to generate iPS cell derived HSCs will open new opportunities to model human blood disorders, test gene therapy strategies and generate HSCs to directly treat a variety of blood disorders.
Our Seminar Lab Series will be offered in hybrid format:
The in-person seminar is each Tuesday during the semester from noon-1 p.m. at the Discovery Building, DeLuca Forum.
To join online, please click the zoom link below:
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/96958883460
*if you are asked for a passcode: 970506