Institute of Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University
Email address:
okeyo@infront.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Brief CV
Dr. Kennedy O. Okeyo is currently a senior lecturer at the Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University. He did both his masters and doctoral studies at Kyoto University, Japan, and graduated with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2010. He then worked as a researcher at the Hitachi Central Laboratory, Japan, before becoming an assistant professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Japan. His current research interests includes tissue engineering, biomicrofluidics, and cell biomechanics, with specific interests in application of microdevices to engineer multicellular systems for biomedical applications, drug discovery and basic biological studies.
Presentation Title:
Discerning the differentiation potential of human pluripotent stem cells by modulating the adhesion microenvironment
Abstract:
In this study, we aimed to decipher the potentiating effect of the adhesion microenvironment on self-organization and differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), in the absence of chemical stimulation. Using an original micromesh culture approach in which cell-substrate adhesion is highly restricted in order to trigger self-organization mediated by cell-cell adhesion, we monitored the evolution of morphogenetic events marked by adhered single cells self-organizing to form cell layers from which emerged complex 3D cysts exhibiting trophoblast lineage markers. The cysts were characterized by high levels of hCG hormone production, CDX2 expression, and could successfully generate trophoblast-like stem cells under permitting culture conditions. Collectively, our study demonstrate the potentiating effect of the adhesion microenvironment on self-organization and differentiation of hiPSCs, and highlight the importance of modulating the adhesion microenvironment to capture unique cellular functions that are otherwise not manifested easily under conventional dish culture conditions.
Expected way and time of your presentation:
Presentation way: live or video (PPT incorporated with voice)
Presentation time: LIVE presentation possible. If Oct. 22, I would prefer AM, if Oct. 23rd, both AM and PM are possible.