Integrative analysis of reprogramming human fibroblast cells to naïve pluripotency [RNA-seq]

Derivation of human naïve cells in the ground state of pluripotency provides promising avenues for developmental studies and therapeutic manipulations. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in establishment and maintenance of human naïve pluripotency remain poorly understood. Using the human inducible reprogramming system together with 5iLAF naïve induction strategy, we performed integrative analysis across the timeline from human fibroblasts to naïve iPSCs, which reveals ordered expression waves of gene networks sharing signatures with embryonic development process from post-implantation to pre-implantation stages. We also observed a significant transient re-activation of transcripts with 8-cell-stage-like characteristics in late naïve reprogramming stages. Moreover, combined quantitative proteomics analysis with transcriptional dynamics during naïve pluripotency induction, we identified ALPPL2 as the specific surface marker for human naïve pluripotency. Altogether, our study deepens the understanding of molecular mechanisms of human naïve pluripotency. mRNA profiles of transitioning cells at different time points in the naïve reprogramming process were performed by deep sequencing.