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Fong GH, Zhang L, Bryce DM, Peng J. Increased hemangioblast commitment, not vascular disorganization, is the primary defect in flt-1 knock-out mice. Development 1999; 126:3015-25. [PMID: 10357944 DOI: 10.1242/dev.126.13.3015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated the essential role of the flt-1 gene in regulating the development of the cardiovascular system. While the inactivation of the flt-1 gene leads to a very severe disorganization of the vascular system, the primary defect at the cellular level was unknown. Here we report a surprising finding that it is an increase in the number of endothelial progenitors that leads to the vascular disorganization in flt-1(−/−) mice. At the early primitive streak stage (prior to the formation of blood islands), hemangioblasts are formed much more abundantly in flt-1(−/−) embryos. This increase is primarily due to an alteration in cell fate determination among mesenchymal cells, rather than to increased proliferation, migration or reduced apoptosis of flt-1(−/−) hemangioblasts. We further show that the increased population density of hemangioblasts is responsible for the observed vascular disorganization, based on the following observations: (1) both flt-1(−/−) and flt-1(+/+) endothelial cells formed normal vascular channels in chimaeric embryos; (2) wild-type endothelial cells formed abnormal vascular channels when their population density was significantly increased; and (3) in the absence of wild-type endothelial cells, flt-1(−/−) endothelial cells alone could form normal vascular channels when sufficiently diluted in a developing embryo. These results define the primary defect in flt-1(−/−) embryos at the cellular level and demonstrate the importance of population density of progenitor cells in pattern formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G H Fong
- Lawson Research Institute, St Joseph's Health Centre, Departments of Paediatrics and Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 4V2.
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52
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Hidaka M, Stanford WL, Bernstein A. Conditional requirement for the Flk-1 receptor in the in vitro generation of early hematopoietic cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999; 96:7370-5. [PMID: 10377421 PMCID: PMC22092 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.13.7370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies in mice have previously demonstrated an intrinsic requirement for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor Flk-1 in the early development of both the hematopoietic and endothelial cell lineages. In this study, embryonic stem (ES) cells homozygous for a targeted null mutation in flk-1 (flk-1 (-/-)) were examined for their hematopoietic potential in vitro during embryoid body (EB) formation or when cultured on the stromal cell line OP9. Surprisingly, in EB cultures flk-1 (-/-) ES cells were able to differentiate into all myeloid-erythroid lineages, albeit at half the frequency of heterozygous lines. In contrast, although flk-1 (-/-) ES cells formed mesodermal-like colonies on OP9 monolayers, they failed to generate hematopoietic clusters even in the presence of exogenous cytokines. However, flk-1 (-/-) OP9 cultures did contain myeloid precursors, albeit at greatly reduced percentages. This defect was rescued by first allowing flk-1 (-/-) ES cells to differentiate into EBs and then passaging these cells onto OP9 stroma. Thus, the requirement for Flk-1 in early hematopoietic development can be abrogated by alterations in the microenvironment. This finding is consistent with a role for Flk-1 in regulating the migration of early mesodermally derived precursors into a microenvironment that is permissive for hematopoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hidaka
- Program in Molecular Biology and Cancer, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X5, Canada
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53
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Leahy A, Xiong JW, Kuhnert F, Stuhlmann H. Use of developmental marker genes to define temporal and spatial patterns of differentiation during embryoid body formation. THE JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY 1999; 284:67-81. [PMID: 10368935 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-010x(19990615)284:1<67::aid-jez10>3.0.co;2-o] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Mouse embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that are derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts. When induced to synchronously enter a program of differentiation in vitro, they form embryoid bodies that contain cells of the mesodermal, hematopoietic, endothelial, muscle, and neuronal lineages. Here, we used a panel of marker genes with early expression within the germ layers (oct-3, Brachyury T, Fgf-5, nodal, and GATA-4) or a variety of lineages (flk-1, Nkx-2.5, EKLF, and Msx3) to determine how progressive differentiation of embryoid bodies in culture correlated with early postimplantation development of mouse embryos. Using RNA in situ hybridization, we found that the temporal and spatial relationships existing between these marker genes in vivo were maintained also in vitro. Studying the onset of marker gene expression allowed us also to determine the time course of differentiation during the formation of embryoid bodies. Thus, stages equivalent to embryogenesis between implantation and the beginning of gastrulation (4.5-6.5 d.p.c.) occur within the first two days of embryoid body differentiation. Between days 3 and 5, embryoid bodies contain cell lineages found in embryos during gastrulation at 6.5 to 7.0 d.p.c., and after day 6 in culture, embryoid bodies are equivalent to early organogenesis-stage embryos (7.5 d.p.c.). In addition, we demonstrate that the panel of developmental markers can be applied in a screen for stage- or lineage-specific genes. Reporter gene expression from entrapment vector insertions can be co-localized with expression of specific markers within the same cell during embryoid body formation as well as during embryogenesis. Our results thus demonstrate the power of embryoid body formation as an in vitro model system to study early lineage determination and organogenesis in mammals, and indicate that they will prove to be useful tools for identifying developmental genes whose expression is restricted to particular lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Leahy
- Brookdale Center for Developmental and Molecular Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA
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54
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Redick SD, Bautch VL. Developmental platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression suggests multiple roles for a vascular adhesion molecule. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 1999; 154:1137-47. [PMID: 10233852 PMCID: PMC1866548 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)65366-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM) is used extensively as a murine vascular marker. PECAM interactions have been implicated in both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. To better understand the role of PECAM in mammalian development, PECAM expression was investigated during differentiation of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells and in early mouse embryos. Undifferentiated ES cells express PECAM, and as in vitro differentiation proceeds previously unidentified PECAM-positive cells that are distinct from vascular endothelial cells appear. PECAM expression is gradually restricted to endothelial cells and some hematopoietic cells of differentiated blood islands. In embryos, the preimplantation blastocyst contains PECAM-positive cells. PECAM expression is next documented in the postimplantation embryonic yolk sac, where clumps of mesodermal cells express PECAM before the development of mature blood islands. The patterns of PECAM expression suggest that undifferentiated cells, a prevascular cell type, and vascular endothelial cells express this marker during murine development. PECAM expression in blastocysts and by ES cells suggests that PECAM may function outside the vascular/hematopoietic lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- S D Redick
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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55
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Expression Trapping: Identification of Novel Genes Expressed in Hematopoietic and Endothelial Lineages by Gene Trapping in ES Cells. Blood 1998. [DOI: 10.1182/blood.v92.12.4622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractWe have developed a large-scale, expression-based gene trap strategy to perform genome-wide functional analysis of the murine hematopoietic and vascular systems. Using two different gene trap vectors, we have isolated embryonic stem (ES) cell clones containing lacZreporter gene insertions in genes expressed in blood island and vascular cells, muscle, stromal cells, and unknown cell types. Of 79 clones demonstrating specific expression patterns, 49% and 16% were preferentially expressed in blood islands and/or the vasculature, respectively. The majority of ES clones that expressedlacZ in blood islands also expressed lacZ upon differentiation into hematopoietic cells on OP9 stromal layers. Importantly, the in vivo expression of the lacZ fusion products accurately recapitulated the observed in vitro expression patterns. Expression and sequence analysis of representative clones suggest that this approach will be useful for identifying and mutating novel genes expressed in the developing hematopoietic and vascular systems.
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56
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Expression Trapping: Identification of Novel Genes Expressed in Hematopoietic and Endothelial Lineages by Gene Trapping in ES Cells. Blood 1998. [DOI: 10.1182/blood.v92.12.4622.424k23_4622_4631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed a large-scale, expression-based gene trap strategy to perform genome-wide functional analysis of the murine hematopoietic and vascular systems. Using two different gene trap vectors, we have isolated embryonic stem (ES) cell clones containing lacZreporter gene insertions in genes expressed in blood island and vascular cells, muscle, stromal cells, and unknown cell types. Of 79 clones demonstrating specific expression patterns, 49% and 16% were preferentially expressed in blood islands and/or the vasculature, respectively. The majority of ES clones that expressedlacZ in blood islands also expressed lacZ upon differentiation into hematopoietic cells on OP9 stromal layers. Importantly, the in vivo expression of the lacZ fusion products accurately recapitulated the observed in vitro expression patterns. Expression and sequence analysis of representative clones suggest that this approach will be useful for identifying and mutating novel genes expressed in the developing hematopoietic and vascular systems.
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57
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Korff T, Augustin HG. Integration of endothelial cells in multicellular spheroids prevents apoptosis and induces differentiation. J Cell Biol 1998; 143:1341-52. [PMID: 9832561 PMCID: PMC2133072 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.143.5.1341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 443] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Single endothelial cells (EC) seeded in suspension culture rapidly undergo apoptosis. Addition of survival factors, such as VEGF and FGF-2, does not prevent apoptosis of suspended EC. However, when cells are allowed to establish cell-cell contacts, they become responsive to the activities of survival factors. These observations have led to the development of a three-dimensional spheroid model of EC differentiation. EC spheroids remodel over time to establish a differentiated surface layer of EC and a center of unorganized EC that subsequently undergo apoptosis. Surface EC become quiescent, establish firm cell-cell contacts, and can be induced to express differentiation antigens (e.g., induction of CD34 expression by VEGF). In contrast, the unorganized center spheroid cells undergo apoptosis if they are not rescued by survival factors. The responsiveness to the survival factor activities of VEGF and FGF-2 was not dependent on cell shape changes since it was retained after cytochalasin D treatment. Taken together, these findings characterize survival factor requirements of unorganized EC and indicate that polarized surface EC differentiate to become independent of exogenous survival factors. Furthermore, they demonstrate that spheroid cell culture systems are useful not just for the study of tumor cells and embryonic stem cells but also for the analysis of differentiated functions of nontransformed cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Korff
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Göttingen Medical School, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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58
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Inamdar M, Koch T, Rapoport R, Dixon JT, Probolus JA, Cram E, Bautch VL. Yolk sac-derived murine macrophage cell line has a counterpart during ES cell differentiation. Dev Dyn 1997; 210:487-97. [PMID: 9415432 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0177(199712)210:4<487::aid-aja11>3.0.co;2-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are phagocytic hematopoietic cells involved in several immune processes, but they are also present early in mammalian development and may participate in embryonic tissue remodeling. We have isolated and characterized a cell line, Py-YSA, from the mouse yolk sac. Py-YSA cells have several functional properties of macrophages, including uptake of acetylated low density lipoprotein and phagocytic capability. They express the murine macrophage markers F4/80 and Mac-1, and they express RNA for the c-fms receptor. Their expansion in culture requires fibroblast conditioned medium or exogenous monocyte-colony stimulating factor. Murine ES (embryonic stem) cell cultures that undergo in vitro differentiation recapitulate yolk sac development, and during this process cells arise that express both Mac-1 and F4/80 and morphologically resemble the Py-YSA cells. The kinetics and distribution pattern of the Mac-1+ cells during a time course of ES cell differentiation suggest that they originate in the blood islands, and that they subsequently leave the blood islands and disperse to tissue sites. Both F4/80 and Mac-1 are first expressed in primary cultures from day 9.5 yolk sacs. The Py-YSA cultured cells thus resemble embryonic tissue macrophages by several criteria, and they share a marker profile with a cell type found in yolk sacs and differentiating ES cells. Py-YSA cells will be a useful reagent for further understanding the role of embryonic tissue macrophages in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Inamdar
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599, USA
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59
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Narita N, Bielinska M, Wilson DB. Cardiomyocyte differentiation by GATA-4-deficient embryonic stem cells. Development 1997; 124:3755-64. [PMID: 9367431 DOI: 10.1242/dev.124.19.3755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In situ hybridization studies, promoter analyses and antisense RNA experiments have implicated transcription factor GATA-4 in the regulation of cardiomyocyte differentiation. In this study, we utilized Gata4−/− embryonic stem (ES) cells to determine whether this transcription factor is essential for cardiomyocyte lineage commitment. First, we assessed the ability of Gata4−/− ES cells form cardiomyocytes during in vitro differentiation of embryoid bodies. Contracting cardiomyocytes were seen in both wild-type and Gata4−/− embryoid bodies, although cardiomyocytes were observed more often in wild type than in mutant embryoid bodies. Electron microscopy of cardiomyocytes in the Gata4−/− embryoid bodies revealed the presence of sarcomeres and junctional complexes, while immunofluorescence confirmed the presence of cardiac myosin. To assess the capacity of Gata4−/− ES cells to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vivo, we prepared and analyzed chimeric mice. Gata4−/− ES cells were injected into 8-cell-stage embryos derived from ROSA26 mice, a transgenic line that expresses beta-galactosidase in all cell types. Chimeric embryos were stained with X-gal to discriminate ES cell- and host-derived tissue. Gata4−/− ES cells contributed to endocardium, myocardium and epicardium. In situ hybridization showed that myocardium derived from Gata4−/− ES cells expressed several cardiac-specific transcripts, including cardiac alpha-myosin heavy chain, troponin C, myosin light chain-2v, Nkx-2.5/Csx, dHAND, eHAND and GATA-6. Taken together these results indicate that GATA-4 is not essential for terminal differentiation of cardiomyocytes and suggest that additional GATA-binding proteins known to be in cardiac tissue, such as GATA-5 or GATA-6, may compensate for a lack of GATA-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Narita
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children's Hospital, MO 63110, USA
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60
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Bielinska M, Wilson DB. Induction of yolk sac endoderm in GATA-4-deficient embryoid bodies by retinoic acid. Mech Dev 1997; 65:43-54. [PMID: 9256344 DOI: 10.1016/s0925-4773(97)00053-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
GATA-4, a transcription factor implicated in lineage determination, is expressed in both parietal and visceral endoderm of the early mouse embryo. In embryonic stem cell-derived embryoid bodies, GATA-4 mRNA is first detectable at 4-5 days of differentiation and is confined to visceral endoderm cells on the surface of the bodies. Previously we reported that targeted mutagenesis of the Gata4 gene in embryonic stem cells results in a block in visceral endoderm differentiation in vitro. In an attempt to elucidate the role of GATA-4 in the formation of visceral endoderm, we have now differentiated Gata4 -/- and wild type embryoid bodies in the presence of retinoic acid +/- dbcAMP, known inducers of endoderm formation. We show that differentiation of Gata4 -/- embryoid bodies in the presence of retinoic acid results in formation of visceral endoderm, while differentiation of Gata4 -/- embryoid bodies in the presence of retinoic acid plus dbcAMP causes parietal endoderm formation. The presence of these yolk sac endoderm layers was confirmed by light microscopy and analysis of biochemical markers including alpha-fetoprotein, type IV collagen, laminin, and binding sites for Dolichos biflorus agglutinin. Treatment of Gata4 -/- embryoid bodies with retinoic acid induces expression of another GATA-binding protein, GATA-6, in both visceral and parietal endoderm cells. That another GATA-binding protein is induced in the absence of GATA-4 suggests that this family of transcription factors plays an important role in yolk sac differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bielinska
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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61
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Shalaby F, Ho J, Stanford WL, Fischer KD, Schuh AC, Schwartz L, Bernstein A, Rossant J. A requirement for Flk1 in primitive and definitive hematopoiesis and vasculogenesis. Cell 1997; 89:981-90. [PMID: 9200616 DOI: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80283-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 662] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Mouse embryos lacking the receptor tyrosine kinase, Flk1, die without mature endothelial and hematopoietic cells. To investigate the role of Flk1 during vasculogenesis and hematopoiesis, we examined the developmental potential of Flk1-/- embryonic stem cells in chimeras. We show that Flk1 is required cell autonomously for endothelial development. Furthermore, Flk1-/- cells do not contribute to primitive hematopoiesis in chimeric yolk sacs or definitive hematopoiesis in adult chimeras and chimeric fetal livers. We also demonstrate that cells lacking Flk1 are unable to reach the correct location to form blood islands, suggesting that Flk1 is involved in the movement of cells from the posterior primitive streak to the yolk sac and, possibly, to the intraembryonic sites of early hematopoiesis.
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MESH Headings
- Amnion/cytology
- Animals
- Blood Vessels/chemistry
- Blood Vessels/cytology
- Blood Vessels/embryology
- Cell Lineage/physiology
- Chimera
- Embryo, Mammalian/chemistry
- Embryo, Mammalian/cytology
- Embryonic and Fetal Development/physiology
- Endothelium, Vascular/chemistry
- Endothelium, Vascular/cytology
- Endothelium, Vascular/embryology
- Hematopoiesis/physiology
- Heterozygote
- Homozygote
- Liver/chemistry
- Liver/cytology
- Mice
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Mutagenesis/physiology
- Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics
- Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism
- Receptors, Growth Factor/genetics
- Receptors, Growth Factor/metabolism
- Receptors, Mitogen/genetics
- Receptors, Mitogen/metabolism
- Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
- Stem Cells/chemistry
- Stem Cells/cytology
- Yolk Sac/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- F Shalaby
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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