Global gene expression changes in Sendai virus-derived feline induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) during differentiation into mesenchymal stromal cells

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a valuable resource in veterinary regenerative medicine and cellular therapy, particularly for advancing species-specific applications such as feline medicine. This study employs RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to investigate the transcriptomic profiles of feline iPSCs generated using the Sendai virus method and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from these iPSCs. The comparative analysis reveals unique expression patterns linked to the Sendai virus reprogramming approach, identifying key regulatory pathways and gene networks characteristic of Sendai virus-derived iPSCs. Furthermore, the distinct transcriptome of iPSC-derived MSCs showcases markers associated with mesenchymal lineage commitment and MSC functionality. These findings provide valuable insights into the impact of Sendai virus reprogramming on feline iPSC properties and contribute to advancing stem cell-based therapies tailored to feline-specific needs. Overall design: To compare the gene expression profiles of Sendai virus-derived feline iPSCs and their corresponding iPSC-derived MSCs, RNA sequencing was performed for each of the following cell lines: SV-IPSCs (including SV-IPSCs-1 and SV-IPSCs-2) and IPSC-MSCs (including IPSC-MSCs-1 and IPSC-MSCs-2). To assess transcriptional differences across cell types, comparisons focused on SV-IPSCs vs IPSC-MSCs, highlighting gene expression changes during the differentiation process from SV-derived IPSCs to MSCs. Differential expression analysis was performed using the DESeq2 package in R. This experimental design facilitates the identification of distinct gene expression patterns, key regulatory pathways, and markers associated with differentiation.