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Ying QL, Smith A. The Art of Capturing Pluripotency: Creating the Right Culture. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 8:1457-1464. [PMID: 28591647 PMCID: PMC5470336 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are a unique tool for genetic perturbation of mammalian cellular and organismal processes additionally in humans offer unprecedented opportunities for disease modeling and cell therapy. Furthermore, ESCs are a powerful system for exploring the fundamental biology of pluripotency. Indeed understanding the control of self-renewal and differentiation is key to realizing the potential of ESCs. Building on previous observations, we found that mouse ESCs can be derived and maintained with high efficiency through insulation from differentiation cues combined with consolidation of an innate cell proliferation program. This finding of a pluripotent ground state has led to conceptual and practical advances, including the establishment of germline-competent ESCs from recalcitrant mouse strains and for the first time from the rat. Here, we summarize historical and recent progress in defining the signaling environment that supports self-renewal. We compare the contrasting requirements of two types of pluripotent stem cell, naive ESCs and primed post-implantation epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs), and consider the outstanding challenge of generating naive pluripotent stem cells from different mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Long Ying
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK; Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK.
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52
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Kinoshita M, Smith A. Pluripotency Deconstructed. Dev Growth Differ 2018; 60:44-52. [PMID: 29359419 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotency denotes the flexible capacity of single cells to give rise to all somatic lineages and typically also the germline. Mouse ES cells and post-implantation epiblast-derived stem cells (EpiSC) are widely used pluripotent cell culture systems. These two in vitro stem cell types have divergent characteristics. They are considered as representative of distinct developmental stages, distinguished by using the terms "naïve" and "primed". A binary description is an over-simplification, however. Here, we discuss an intermediate stage of pluripotency that we term "formative". Formative pluripotency features a gene regulatory network switch from the naïve state and comprises capacitation of enhancers, signaling pathways and epigenetic machinery in order to install competence for lineage specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Kinoshita
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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53
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Corsinotti A, Wong FC, Tatar T, Szczerbinska I, Halbritter F, Colby D, Gogolok S, Pantier R, Liggat K, Mirfazeli ES, Hall-Ponsele E, Mullin NP, Wilson V, Chambers I. Distinct SoxB1 networks are required for naïve and primed pluripotency. eLife 2017; 6:27746. [PMID: 29256862 PMCID: PMC5758114 DOI: 10.7554/elife.27746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Deletion of Sox2 from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) causes trophectodermal differentiation. While this can be prevented by enforced expression of the related SOXB1 proteins, SOX1 or SOX3, the roles of SOXB1 proteins in epiblast stem cell (EpiSC) pluripotency are unknown. Here, we show that Sox2 can be deleted from EpiSCs with impunity. This is due to a shift in the balance of SoxB1 expression in EpiSCs, which have decreased Sox2 and increased Sox3 compared to ESCs. Consistent with functional redundancy, Sox3 can also be deleted from EpiSCs without eliminating self-renewal. However, deletion of both Sox2 and Sox3 prevents self-renewal. The overall SOXB1 levels in ESCs affect differentiation choices: neural differentiation of Sox2 heterozygous ESCs is compromised, while increased SOXB1 levels divert the ESC to EpiSC transition towards neural differentiation. Therefore, optimal SOXB1 levels are critical for each pluripotent state and for cell fate decisions during exit from naïve pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Corsinotti
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Frederick Ck Wong
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Tülin Tatar
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Iwona Szczerbinska
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Florian Halbritter
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Douglas Colby
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Sabine Gogolok
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Raphaël Pantier
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Kirsten Liggat
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Elham S Mirfazeli
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Elisa Hall-Ponsele
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Nicholas P Mullin
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Valerie Wilson
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Ian Chambers
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
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54
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Weng R, Lu C, Liu X, Li G, Lan Y, Qiao J, Bai M, Wang Z, Guo X, Ye D, Jiapaer Z, Yang Y, Xia C, Wang G, Kang J. Long Noncoding RNA-1604 Orchestrates Neural Differentiation through the miR-200c/ZEB Axis. Stem Cells 2017; 36:325-336. [PMID: 29205638 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Clarifying the regulatory mechanisms of embryonic stem cell (ESC) neural differentiation is helpful not only for understanding neural development but also for obtaining high-quality neural progenitor cells required by stem cell therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we found that long noncoding RNA 1604 (lncRNA-1604) was highly expressed in cytoplasm during neural differentiation, and knockdown of lncRNA-1604 significantly repressed neural differentiation of mouse ESCs both in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics prediction and mechanistic analysis revealed that lncRNA-1604 functioned as a novel competing endogenous RNA of miR-200c and regulated the core transcription factors ZEB1 and ZEB2 during neural differentiation. Furthermore, we also demonstrated the critical role of miR-200c and ZEB1/2 in mouse neural differentiation. Either introduction of miR-200c sponge or overexpression of ZEB1/2 significantly reversed the lncRNA-1604 knockdown-induced repression of mouse ESC neural differentiation. Collectively, these findings not only identified a previously unknown role of lncRNA-1604 and ZEB1/2 but also elucidated a new regulatory lncRNA-1604/miR-200c/ZEB axis in neural differentiation. Stem Cells 2018;36:325-336.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Weng
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenqi Lu
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqin Liu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoping Li
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Lan
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Qiao
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingliang Bai
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaojie Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xudong Guo
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Ye
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zeyidan Jiapaer
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiwei Yang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenliang Xia
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Guiying Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiuhong Kang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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55
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Tamm C, Kadekar S, Pijuan-Galitó S, Annerén C. Fast and Efficient Transfection of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using Non-Viral Reagents. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2017; 12:584-591. [PMID: 27358240 PMCID: PMC5050252 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-016-9673-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Reliable and efficient DNA and RNA transfection methods are required when studying the role of individual genes in mouse pluripotent stem cells. However, these cells usually grow in tight clusters and are therefore more difficult to transfect than many other cell lines. We have found that transfection is especially challenging when mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells are cultured in the newly described 2i medium, which is based on two chemical inhibitors of differentiation pathways. In the present study we have performed a side-by-side comparison of commercially available, non-viral transfection reagents with regard to their ability to deliver plasmid DNA and siRNA into adherent and/or trypsinized mES cells cultured in 2i medium, assessing transfection rates, plasmid gene expression, siRNA mediated knockdown of Oct4 and viability. Finally, we present a fast and efficient method for transfection of trypsinized mES cells using the liposomal-based Lipofectamine 2000. With only a five-minute long transfection time we obtained at least 85 % transfected cells with 80 % maintained viability. Moreover, this protocol saves up to a day of experimental time since the cells are in suspension at the time of transfection, which allows for immediately re-plating into the appropriate format. This fast, simplified and highly efficient transfection method will be valuable for both basic research and high-throughput applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoffer Tamm
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Box 582, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sandeep Kadekar
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Box 582, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sara Pijuan-Galitó
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Box 582, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Annerén
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Box 582, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.
- GE Healthcare BioSciences AB, Björkgatan 30, Uppsala, SE-751 84, Sweden.
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56
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Yu C, Griffiths LR, Haupt LM. Exploiting Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Human Neurogenesis-Controlling Lineage Specification and Fate. Front Integr Neurosci 2017; 11:28. [PMID: 29089873 PMCID: PMC5650988 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2017.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Unspecialized, self-renewing stem cells have extraordinary application to regenerative medicine due to their multilineage differentiation potential. Stem cell therapies through replenishing damaged or lost cells in the injured area is an attractive treatment of brain trauma and neurodegenerative neurological disorders. Several stem cell types have neurogenic potential including neural stem cells (NSCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Currently, effective use of these cells is limited by our lack of understanding and ability to direct lineage commitment and differentiation of neural lineages. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are ubiquitous proteins within the stem cell microenvironment or niche and are found localized on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix (ECM), where they interact with numerous signaling molecules. The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains carried by HSPGs are heterogeneous carbohydrates comprised of repeating disaccharides with specific sulfation patterns that govern ligand interactions to numerous factors including the fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and wingless-type MMTV integration site family (Wnts). As such, HSPGs are plausible targets for guiding and controlling neural stem cell lineage fate. In this review, we provide an overview of HSPG family members syndecans and glypicans, and perlecan and their role in neurogenesis. We summarize the structural changes and subsequent functional implications of heparan sulfate as cells undergo neural lineage differentiation as well as outline the role of HSPG core protein expression throughout mammalian neural development and their function as cell receptors and co-receptors. Finally, we highlight suitable biomimetic approaches for exploiting the role of HSPGs in mammalian neurogenesis to control and tailor cell differentiation into specific lineages. An improved ability to control stem cell specific neural lineage fate and produce abundant cells of lineage specificity will further advance stem cell therapy for the development of improved repair of neurological disorders. We propose a deeper understanding of HSPG-mediated neurogenesis can potentially provide novel therapeutic targets of neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh Yu
- Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lyn R Griffiths
- Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Larisa M Haupt
- Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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57
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Transcriptional and epigenetic control in mouse pluripotency: lessons from in vivo and in vitro studies. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2017; 46:114-122. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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58
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Festuccia N, Owens N, Navarro P. Esrrb, an estrogen-related receptor involved in early development, pluripotency, and reprogramming. FEBS Lett 2017; 592:852-877. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Festuccia
- Epigenetics of Stem Cells; Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology; Institut Pasteur; CNRS UMR3738; Paris France
| | - Nick Owens
- Epigenetics of Stem Cells; Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology; Institut Pasteur; CNRS UMR3738; Paris France
| | - Pablo Navarro
- Epigenetics of Stem Cells; Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology; Institut Pasteur; CNRS UMR3738; Paris France
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59
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Topalovic V, Krstic A, Schwirtlich M, Dolfini D, Mantovani R, Stevanovic M, Mojsin M. Epigenetic regulation of human SOX3 gene expression during early phases of neural differentiation of NT2/D1 cells. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184099. [PMID: 28886103 PMCID: PMC5590877 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Sox3/SOX3 is one of the earliest neural markers in vertebrates. Together with the Sox1/SOX1 and Sox2/SOX2 genes it is implicated in the regulation of stem cell identity. In the present study, we performed the first analysis of epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation and histone marks) involved in the regulation of the human SOX3 gene expression during RA-induced neural differentiation of NT2/D1 cells. We show that the promoter of the human SOX3 gene is extremely hypomethylated both in undifferentiated NT2/D1 cells and during the early phases of RA-induced neural differentiation. By employing chromatin immunoprecipitation, we analyze several histone modifications across different regions of the SOX3 gene and their dynamics following initiation of differentiation. In the same timeframe we investigate profiles of selected histone marks on the promoters of human SOX1 and SOX2 genes. We demonstrate differences in histone signatures of SOX1, SOX2 and SOX3 genes. Considering the importance of SOXB1 genes in the process of neural differentiation, the present study contributes to a better understanding of epigenetic mechanisms implicated in the regulation of pluripotency maintenance and commitment towards the neural lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladanka Topalovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Marija Schwirtlich
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Diletta Dolfini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Milena Stevanovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Mojsin
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- * E-mail:
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60
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Abstract
Since its domestication over 100 years ago, the laboratory rat has been the preferred experimental animal in many areas of biomedical research (Lindsey and Baker The laboratory rat. Academic, New York, pp 1-52, 2006). Its physiology, size, genetics, reproductive cycle, cognitive and behavioural characteristics have made it a particularly useful animal model for studying many human disorders and diseases. Indeed, through selective breeding programmes numerous strains have been derived that are now the mainstay of research on hypertension, obesity and neurobiology (Okamoto and Aoki Jpn Circ J 27:282-293, 1963; Zucker and Zucker J Hered 52(6):275-278, 1961). Despite this wealth of genetic and phenotypic diversity, the ability to manipulate and interrogate the genetic basis of existing phenotypes in rat strains and the methodology to generate new rat models has lagged significantly behind the advances made with its close cousin, the laboratory mouse. However, recent technical developments in stem cell biology and genetic engineering have again brought the rat to the forefront of biomedical studies and enabled researchers to exploit the increasingly accessible wealth of genome sequence information. In this review, we will describe how a breakthrough in understanding the molecular basis of self-renewal of the pluripotent founder cells of the mammalian embryo, embryonic stem (ES) cells, enabled the derivation of rat ES cells and their application in transgenesis. We will also describe the remarkable progress that has been made in the development of gene editing enzymes that enable the generation of transgenic rats directly through targeted genetic modifications in the genomes of zygotes. The simplicity, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the CRISPR/Cas gene editing system, in particular, mean that the ability to engineer the rat genome is no longer a limiting factor. The selection of suitable targets and gene modifications will now become a priority: a challenge where ES culture and gene editing technologies can play complementary roles in generating accurate bespoke rat models for studying biological processes and modelling human disease.
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61
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Mulas C, Kalkan T, Smith A. NODAL Secures Pluripotency upon Embryonic Stem Cell Progression from the Ground State. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 9:77-91. [PMID: 28669603 PMCID: PMC5511111 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Naive mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can develop multiple fates, but the cellular and molecular processes that enable lineage competence are poorly characterized. Here, we investigated progression from the ESC ground state in defined culture. We utilized downregulation of Rex1::GFPd2 to track the loss of ESC identity. We found that cells that have newly downregulated this reporter have acquired capacity for germline induction. They can also be efficiently specified for different somatic lineages, responding more rapidly than naive cells to inductive cues. Inhibition of autocrine NODAL signaling did not alter kinetics of exit from the ESC state but compromised both germline and somatic lineage specification. Transient inhibition prior to loss of ESC identity was sufficient for this effect. Genetic ablation of Nodal reduced viability during early differentiation, consistent with defective lineage specification. These results suggest that NODAL promotes acquisition of multi-lineage competence in cells departing naive pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Mulas
- Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK,Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Tüzer Kalkan
- Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK,Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK,Corresponding author
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62
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Graf U, Casanova EA, Wyck S, Dalcher D, Gatti M, Vollenweider E, Okoniewski M, Weber FA, Patel SS, Schmid MW, Li J, Sharif J, Wanner G, Koseki H, Wong J, Pelczar P, Penengo L, Santoro R, Cinelli P. Pramel7 mediates ground-state pluripotency through proteasomal–epigenetic combined pathways. Nat Cell Biol 2017; 19:763-773. [DOI: 10.1038/ncb3554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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63
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2i Maintains a Naive Ground State in ESCs through Two Distinct Epigenetic Mechanisms. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 8:1312-1328. [PMID: 28457889 PMCID: PMC5425728 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are maintained in serum with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to maintain self-renewal and pluripotency. Recently, a 2i culture method was reported using a combination of MEK inhibition (MEKi) and GSK3 inhibition (GSK3i) with LIF to maintain ESCs in a naive ground state. How 2i maintains a ground state of ESCs remains elusive. Here we show that MEKi and GSK3i maintain the ESC ground state by downregulating global DNA methylation through two distinct mechanisms. MEK1 phosphorylates JMJD2C for ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. Therefore, MEKi increased JMJD2C protein levels but decreased DNMT3 expression. JMJD2C promotes TET1 activity to increase 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) levels. GSK3i suppressed DNMT3 expression, thereby decreasing DNA methylation without affecting 5hmC levels. Furthermore, 2i increased PRDM14 expression to inhibit DNMT3A/B protein expression by promoting G9a-mediated DNMT3A/B protein degradation. Collectively, 2i allows ESCs to maintain a naive ground state through JMJD2C-dependent TET1 activation and PRDM14/G9a-mediated DNMT3A/B protein degradation. MEKi increases JMJD2C protein levels and decreases DNMT3 expression in ESCs JMJD2C promotes TET1 hydroxylase activity to increase global 5hmC levels GSK3i decreases global DNA methylation without affecting 5hmC levels 2i-induced PRDM14 expression promotes G9a-mediated DNMT3A/B protein degradation
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64
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Li G, Jiapaer Z, Weng R, Hui Y, Jia W, Xi J, Wang G, Zhu S, Zhang X, Feng D, Liu L, Zhang X, Kang J. Dysregulation of the SIRT1/OCT6 Axis Contributes to Environmental Stress-Induced Neural Induction Defects. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 8:1270-1286. [PMID: 28434941 PMCID: PMC5425630 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental stresses are increasingly acknowledged as core causes of abnormal neural induction leading to neural tube defects (NTDs). However, the mechanism responsible for environmental stress-triggered neural induction defects remains unknown. Here, we report that a spectrum of environmental stresses, including oxidative stress, starvation, and DNA damage, profoundly activate SIRT1, an NAD+-dependent lysine deacetylase. Both mouse embryos and in vitro differentiated embryonic stem cells (ESCs) demonstrated a negative correlation between the expression of SIRT1 and that of OCT6, a key neural fate inducer. Activated SIRT1 radically deacetylates OCT6, triggers an OCT6 ubiquitination/degradation cascade, and consequently increases the incidence of NTD-like phenotypes in mice or hinders neural induction in both human and mouse ESCs. Together, our results suggest that early exposure to environmental stresses results in the dysregulation of the SIRT1/OCT6 axis and increases the risk of NTDs. Environmental stresses profoundly activate SIRT1 during neural tube development Activated SIRT1 deacetylates OCT6 and induces its ubiquitination/degradation SIRT1/OCT6 axis is related to environmental stress-induced neural tube defects SIRT1/OCT6 axis is involved in the early stage of normal neural tube development
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoping Li
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zeyidan Jiapaer
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Rong Weng
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yi Hui
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Wenwen Jia
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiajie Xi
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Guiying Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Songcheng Zhu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Dandan Feng
- Institute of Translational Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China; Tongji University Advanced Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Institute of Translational Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China; Tongji University Advanced Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaoqing Zhang
- Institute of Translational Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China; Tongji University Advanced Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; The Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Jiuhong Kang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China; The Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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65
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Liu Q, Lyu Z, Yu Y, Zhao ZA, Hu S, Yuan L, Chen G, Chen H. Synthetic Glycopolymers for Highly Efficient Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Neurons: Lipo- or Not? ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:11518-11527. [PMID: 28287262 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b01397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
To realize the potential application of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, it is a prerequisite to develop an effective strategy for the neural differentiation of ESCs so as to obtain adequate amount of neurons. Considering the efficacy of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and their disadvantages (e.g., structure heterogeneity and impurity), GAG-mimicking glycopolymers (designed polymers containing functional units similar to natural GAG) with or without phospholipid groups were synthesized in the present work and their ability to promote neural differentiation of mouse ESCs (mESCs) was investigated. It was found that the lipid-anchored GAG-mimicking glycopolymers (lipo-pSGF) retained on the membrane of mESCs rather than being internalized by cells after 1 h of incubation. Besides, lipo-pSGF showed better activity in promoting neural differentiation. The expression of the neural-specific maker β3-tubulin in lipo-pSGF-treated cells was ∼3.8- and ∼1.9-fold higher compared to natural heparin- and pSGF-treated cells at day 14. The likely mechanism involved in lipo-pSGF-mediated neural differentiation was further investigated by analyzing its effect on fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2)-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway which is important for neural differentiation of ESCs. Lipo-pSGF was found to efficiently bind FGF2 and enhance the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, thus promoting neural differentiation. These findings demonstrated that engineering of cell surface glycan using our synthetic lipo-glycopolymer is a highly efficient approach for neural differentiation of ESCs and this strategy can be applied for the regulation of other cellular activities mediated by cell membrane receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University , 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, P.R. China
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University , Suzhou 215006, P.R. China
| | - Zhonglin Lyu
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University , 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, P.R. China
| | - You Yu
- Institute for Cardiovascular Science and Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University , Suzhou 215000, P.R. China
| | - Zhen-Ao Zhao
- Institute for Cardiovascular Science and Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University , Suzhou 215000, P.R. China
| | - Shijun Hu
- Institute for Cardiovascular Science and Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University , Suzhou 215000, P.R. China
| | - Lin Yuan
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University , 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, P.R. China
| | - Gaojian Chen
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University , 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, P.R. China
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University , Suzhou 215006, P.R. China
| | - Hong Chen
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University , 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, P.R. China
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66
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Abstract
Signaling networks mediate environmental information to the cell nucleus. To perform this task effectively they must be able to integrate multiple stimuli and distinguish persistent signals from transient environmental fluctuations. However, the ways in which signaling networks process environmental noise are not well understood. Here we outline a mathematical framework that relates a network’s structure to its capacity to process noise, and use this framework to dissect the noise-processing ability of signaling networks. We find that complex networks that are dense in directed paths are poor noise processors, while those that are sparse and strongly directional process noise well. These results suggest that while cross-talk between signaling pathways may increase the ability of signaling networks to integrate multiple stimuli, too much cross-talk may compromise the ability of the network to distinguish signal from noise. To illustrate these general results we consider the structure of the signalling network that maintains pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells, and find an incoherent feedforward loop structure involving Stat3, Tfcp2l1, Esrrb, Klf2 and Klf4 is particularly important for noise-processing. Taken together these results suggest that noise-processing is an important function of signaling networks and they may be structured in part to optimize this task.
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67
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Fathi A, Eisa-Beygi S, Baharvand H. Signaling Molecules Governing Pluripotency and Early Lineage Commitments in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. CELL JOURNAL 2017; 19:194-203. [PMID: 28670512 PMCID: PMC5412778 DOI: 10.22074/cellj.2016.3915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Signaling in pluripotent stem cells is a complex and dynamic process involving multiple mediators, finely tuned to balancing pluripotency and differentiation states. Characterizing and modifying the necessary signaling pathways to attain desired cell types is required for stem-cell applications in various fields of regenerative medicine. These signals may help enhance the differentiation potential of pluripotent cells towards each of the embryonic lineages and enable us to achieve pure in vitro cultures of various cell types. This review provides a timely synthesis of recent advances into how maintenance of pluripotency in hPSCs is regulated by extrinsic cues, such as the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and ACTIVIN signaling pathways, their interplay with other signaling pathways, namely, wingless- type MMTV integration site family (WNT) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and the pathways governing the determination of multiple lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Fathi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahram Eisa-Beygi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Baharvand
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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68
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Yan Y, Yang X, Li TT, Gu KL, Hao J, Zhang Q, Wang Y. Significant differences of function and expression of microRNAs between ground state and serum-cultured pluripotent stem cells. J Genet Genomics 2017; 44:179-189. [PMID: 28411033 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2017.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Serum- and 2i-cultured embryonic stem cells (ESCs) show different epigenetic landscapes and transcriptomic profiles. The difference in the function and expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) between these two states remains unclear. Here, we showed that 2i- and serum-cultured ESCs exhibited distinctive miRNA expression profiles with >100 miRNAs differentially expressed, and the expression changes were largely due to transcriptional regulation. We further characterized the function of miRNAs differentially expressed under two conditions and found that ESCs exhibited higher degree of dependency on miRNAs for rapid proliferation; since Dgcr8-/- or Dicer1-/- but not wild-type ESCs showed slower growth rate and more accumulation in the G1 phase under 2i than serum condition. More interestingly, introduction of various self-renewal-silencing miRNAs in wild-type or Dgcr8-/- ESCs failed to silence the self-renewal in 2i medium, but regained the ability to silence the self-renewal upon the addition of serum. Our findings reveal significant differences in the expression and function of miRNAs between serum- and 2i-cultured ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xi Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ting-Ting Li
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Kai-Li Gu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jing Hao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yangming Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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69
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Abstract
Cytokines of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family, including TGF-βs, bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), activins, and Nodal, play crucial roles in embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis by regulating cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation, as well as stem-cell self-renewal and lineage-specific differentiation. Smad proteins are critical downstream mediators of these signaling activities. In addition to regulating the transcription of direct target genes of TGF-β, BMP, activin, or Nodal, Smad proteins also participate in extensive cross talk with other signaling pathways, often in a cell-type- or developmental stage-specific manner. These combinatorial signals often produce context-, time-, and location-dependent biological outcomes that are critical for development. This review discusses recent progress in our understanding of the cross talk between Smad proteins and signaling pathways of Wnt, Notch, Hippo, Hedgehog (Hh), mitogen-activated protein (MAP), kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunxin Luo
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, and Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720
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70
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Luo K. Signaling Cross Talk between TGF-β/Smad and Other Signaling Pathways. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2017. [PMID: 27836834 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family, including TGF-βs, bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), activins, and Nodal, play crucial roles in embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis by regulating cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation, as well as stem-cell self-renewal and lineage-specific differentiation. Smad proteins are critical downstream mediators of these signaling activities. In addition to regulating the transcription of direct target genes of TGF-β, BMP, activin, or Nodal, Smad proteins also participate in extensive cross talk with other signaling pathways, often in a cell-type- or developmental stage-specific manner. These combinatorial signals often produce context-, time-, and location-dependent biological outcomes that are critical for development. This review discusses recent progress in our understanding of the cross talk between Smad proteins and signaling pathways of Wnt, Notch, Hippo, Hedgehog (Hh), mitogen-activated protein (MAP), kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunxin Luo
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, and Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720
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71
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Betschinger J. Charting Developmental Dissolution of Pluripotency. J Mol Biol 2016; 429:1441-1458. [PMID: 28013029 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The formation of tissues and organs during metazoan development begs fundamental questions of cellular plasticity: How can the very same genome program have diverse cell types? How do cell identity programs unfold during development in space and time? How can defects in these mechanisms cause disease and also provide opportunities for therapeutic intervention? And ultimately, can developmental programs be exploited for bioengineering tissues and organs? Understanding principle designs of cellular identity and developmental progression is crucial for providing answers. Here, I will discuss how the capture of embryonic pluripotency in murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro has allowed fundamental insights into the molecular underpinnings of a developmental cell state and how its ordered disassembly during differentiation prepares for lineage specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joerg Betschinger
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
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72
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Herberg M, Glauche I, Zerjatke T, Winzi M, Buchholz F, Roeder I. Dissecting mechanisms of mouse embryonic stem cells heterogeneity through a model-based analysis of transcription factor dynamics. J R Soc Interface 2016; 13:rsif.2016.0167. [PMID: 27097654 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) show heterogeneous expression levels of transcription factors (TFs) involved in pluripotency regulation, among them Nanog and Rex1. The expression of both TFs can change dynamically between states of high and low activity, correlating with the cells' capacity for self-renewal. Stochastic fluctuations as well as sustained oscillations in gene expression are possible mechanisms to explain this behaviour, but the lack of suitable data hampered their clear distinction. Here, we present a systems biology approach in which novel experimental data on TF heterogeneity is complemented by an agent-based model of mESC self-renewal. Because the model accounts for intracellular interactions, cell divisions and heredity structures, it allows for evaluating the consistency of the proposed mechanisms with data on population growth and on TF dynamics after cell sorting. Our model-based analysis revealed that a bistable, noise-driven network model fulfils the minimal requirements to consistently explain Nanog and Rex1 expression dynamics in heterogeneous and sorted mESC populations. Moreover, we studied the impact of TF-related proliferation capacities on the frequency of state transitions and demonstrate that cellular genealogies can provide insights into the heredity structures of mESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Herberg
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Faculty of Medicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ingmar Glauche
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Zerjatke
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria Winzi
- University Cancer Center, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Buchholz
- University Cancer Center, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ingo Roeder
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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73
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Glycans define the stemness of naïve and primed pluripotent stem cells. Glycoconj J 2016; 34:737-747. [PMID: 27796614 DOI: 10.1007/s10719-016-9740-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cell surface glycans are tissue-specific and developmentally regulated. They function as essential modulators in cell-cell interactions, cell-extracellular matrix interactions, and ligand-receptor interactions, binding to various ligands, including Wnt, fibroblast growth factors, and bone morphogenetic proteins. Embryonic stem (ES) cells, originally derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, have the essential characteristics of pluripotency and self-renewal. Recently, it has been proposed that mouse and human conventional ES cells are present in different developmental stages, namely pre-implantation blastocyst and post-implantation blastocyst stages, also called the naïve state and the primed state, respectively. They therefore require different extrinsic signals for the maintenance of self-renewal and pluripotency, and also appear to require different surface glycans. Understanding of molecular mechanisms involving glycans in self-renewal and pluripotency of ES cells is increasingly important for potential clinical applications, as well as for basic research. This review focuses on the roles of glycans in the two different states of pluripotent stem cells, namely the naïve state and the primed state, and the transition between these two states.
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75
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Tan BSN, Kwek J, Wong CKE, Saner NJ, Yap C, Felquer F, Morris MB, Gardner DK, Rathjen PD, Rathjen J. Src Family Kinases and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Regulate Pluripotent Cell Differentiation in Culture. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163244. [PMID: 27723793 PMCID: PMC5056717 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple pluripotent cell populations, which together comprise the pluripotent cell lineage, have been identified. The mechanisms that control the progression between these populations are still poorly understood. The formation of early primitive ectoderm-like (EPL) cells from mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells provides a model to understand how one such transition is regulated. EPL cells form from mES cells in response to l-proline uptake through the transporter Slc38a2. Using inhibitors of cell signaling we have shown that Src family kinases, p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 and GSK3β are required for the transition between mES and EPL cells. ERK1/2, c-Src and GSK3β are likely to be enforcing a receptive, primed state in mES cells, while Src family kinases and p38 MAPK are involved in the establishment of EPL cells. Inhibition of these pathways prevented the acquisition of most, but not all, features of EPL cells, suggesting that other pathways are required. L-proline activation of differentiation is mediated through metabolism and changes to intracellular metabolite levels, specifically reactive oxygen species. The implication of multiple signaling pathways in the process suggests a model in which the context of Src family kinase activation determines the outcomes of pluripotent cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boon Siang Nicholas Tan
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Stem Cells Australia, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Joly Kwek
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Australian Stem Cell Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Chong Kum Edwin Wong
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Australian Stem Cell Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Nicholas J. Saner
- Menzies Institute of Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Charlotte Yap
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Fernando Felquer
- Stem Cells Australia, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Michael B. Morris
- Australian Stem Cell Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - David K. Gardner
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Stem Cells Australia, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Peter D. Rathjen
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Australian Stem Cell Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Menzies Institute of Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Joy Rathjen
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Stem Cells Australia, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Australian Stem Cell Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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76
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Lee JY, Park S, Kim KS, Ko JJ, Lee S, Kim KP, Park KS. Novel Function of Sprouty4 as a Regulator of Stemness and Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells. Dev Reprod 2016; 20:171-7. [PMID: 27660833 PMCID: PMC5027223 DOI: 10.12717/dr.2016.20.2.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Sprouty (Spry) genes encode inhibitors of the receptor tyrosine kinase signaling cascade, which plays important roles in stem cells. However, the role of Spry4 in the stemness of embryonic stem cells has not been fully elucidated. Here, we used mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) as a model system to investigate the role of Spry4 in the stem cells. Suppression of Spry4 expression results in the decreases of cell proliferation, EB formation and stemness marker expression, suggesting that Spry4 activity is associated with stemness of mESCs. Teratoma assay showed that the cartilage maturation was facilitated in Spry4 knocked down mESCs. Our results suggest that Spry4 is an important regulator of the stemness and differentiation of mESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Young Lee
- Dept. of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul 06135, Korea
| | - Sunghyun Park
- Dept. of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul 06135, Korea
| | - Kwang-Soo Kim
- Dept. of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul 06135, Korea
| | - Jeong-Jae Ko
- Dept. of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul 06135, Korea
| | - Soohong Lee
- Dept. of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul 06135, Korea
| | - Keun Pil Kim
- Dept. of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06975, Korea
| | - Kyung-Soon Park
- Dept. of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul 06135, Korea
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77
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Grabiec M, Hříbková H, Vařecha M, Střítecká D, Hampl A, Dvořák P, Sun YM. Stage-specific roles of FGF2 signaling in human neural development. Stem Cell Res 2016; 17:330-341. [PMID: 27608170 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2016.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This study elucidated the stage-specific roles of FGF2 signaling during neural development using in-vitro human embryonic stem cell-based developmental modeling. We found that the dysregulation of FGF2 signaling prior to the onset of neural induction resulted in the malformation of neural rosettes (a neural tube-like structure), despite cells having undergone neural induction. The aberrant neural rosette formation may be attributed to the misplacement of ZO-1, which is a polarized tight junction protein and shown co-localized with FGF2/FGFR1 in the apical region of neural rosettes, subsequently led to abnormal neurogenesis. Moreover, the FGF2 signaling inhibition at the stage of neural rosettes caused a reduction in cell proliferation, an increase in numbers of cells with cell-cycle exit, and premature neurogenesis. These effects may be mediated by NUMB, to which expression was observed enriched in the apical region of neural rosettes after FGF2 signaling inhibition coinciding with the disappearance of PAX6+/Ki67+ neural stem cells and the emergence of MAP2+ neurons. Moreover, our results suggested that the hESC-based developmental system reserved a similar neural stem cell niche in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Grabiec
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Hříbková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Vařecha
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Střítecká
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Hampl
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Dvořák
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yuh-Man Sun
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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78
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Neural stem cells secrete factors facilitating brain regeneration upon constitutive Raf-Erk activation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32025. [PMID: 27554447 PMCID: PMC4995508 DOI: 10.1038/srep32025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular Raf-Erk signaling pathway is activated during neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation, and neuronal and astrocytic differentiation. A key question is how this signal can evoke multiple and even opposing NSC behaviors. We show here, using a constitutively active Raf (ca-Raf), that Raf-Erk activation in NSCs induces neuronal differentiation in a cell-autonomous manner. By contrast, it causes NSC proliferation and the formation of astrocytes in an extrinsic autocrine/paracrine manner. Thus, treatment of NSCs with medium (CM) conditioned in ca-Raf-transduced NSCs (Raf-CM; RCM) became activated to form proliferating astrocytes resembling radial glial cells (RGCs) or adult-type NSCs. Infusion of Raf-CM into injured mouse brains caused expansion of the NSC population in the subventricular zone, followed by the formation of new neurons that migrated to the damaged site. Our study shows an example how molecular mechanisms dissecting NSC behaviors can be utilized to develop regenerative therapies in brain disorders.
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79
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Stumpf PS, Ewing R, MacArthur BD. Single-cell pluripotency regulatory networks. Proteomics 2016; 16:2303-12. [PMID: 27357612 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201500528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are a popular model system for investigating development, tissue regeneration, and repair. Although much is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate the balance between self-renewal and lineage commitment in PSCs, the spatiotemporal integration of responsive signaling pathways with core transcriptional regulatory networks are complex and only partially understood. Moreover, measurements made on populations of cells reveal only average properties of the underlying regulatory networks, obscuring their fine detail. Here, we discuss the reconstruction of regulatory networks in individual cells using novel single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics, in order to expand our understanding of the molecular basis of pluripotency, including the role of cell-cell variability within PSC populations, and ways in which networks may be controlled in order to reliably manipulate cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Stumpf
- Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Rob Ewing
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Ben D MacArthur
- Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. .,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. .,Department of Mathematics, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
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80
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mRNA Cap Methylation in Pluripotency and Differentiation. Cell Rep 2016; 16:1352-1365. [PMID: 27452456 PMCID: PMC4977272 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.06.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2015] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The mRNA cap recruits factors essential for transcript processing and translation initiation. We report that regulated mRNA cap methylation is a feature of embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation. Expression of the mRNA cap methyltransferase activating subunit RAM is elevated in ESCs, resulting in high levels of mRNA cap methylation and expression of a cohort of pluripotency-associated genes. During neural differentiation, RAM is suppressed, resulting in repression of pluripotency-associated factors and expression of a cohort of neural-associated genes. An established requirement of differentiation is increased ERK1/2 activity, which suppresses pluripotency-associated genes. During differentiation, ERK1/2 phosphorylates RAM serine-36, targeting it for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, ultimately resulting in changes in gene expression associated with loss of pluripotency. Elevated RAM expression also increases the efficiency of fibroblast reprogramming. Thus, the mRNA cap emerges as a dynamic mark that instructs change in gene expression profiles during differentiation and reprogramming. The mRNA cap methyltransferase RNMT-RAM is highly expressed in embryonic stem cells RNMT-RAM is important for the expression of pluripotency-associated genes During neural differentiation, the cap methyltransferase activator RAM is repressed Repression of RAM contributes to upregulation of neural genes and neural morphology
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81
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Li M, Zou Y, Lu Q, Tang N, Heng A, Islam I, Tong HJ, Dawe GS, Cao T. Efficient derivation of dopaminergic neurons from SOX1⁻ floor plate cells under defined culture conditions. J Biomed Sci 2016; 23:34. [PMID: 26956435 PMCID: PMC4782356 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-016-0251-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a severe neurodegenerative disease associated with loss of dopaminergic neurons. Derivation of dopaminergic neurons from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) could provide new therapeutic options for PD therapy. Dopaminergic neurons are derived from SOX− floor plate (FP) cells during embryonic development in many species and in human cell culture in vitro. Early treatment with sonic hedgehog (Shh) has been reported to efficiently convert hESCs into FP lineages. Methods In this study, we attempted to utilize a Shh-free approach in deriving SOX1− FP cells from hESCs in vitro. Neuroectoderm conversion from hESCs was achieved with dual inhibition of the BMP4 (LDN193189) and TGF-β signaling pathways (SB431542) for 24 h under defined culture conditions. Results Following a further 5 days of treatment with LDN193189 or LDN193189 + SB431542, SOX1− FP cells constituted 70–80 % of the entire cell population. Upon treatment with Shh and FGF8, the SOX1− FP cells were efficiently converted to functional Nurr1+ and TH+ dopaminergic cells (patterning), which constituted more than 98 % of the entire cell population. However, when the same growth factors were applied to SOX1+ cells, only less than 4 % of the cells became Nurr1+, indicating that patterning was effective only if SOX1 expression was down-regulated. After transplanting the Nurr1+ and TH+ cells into a hemiparkinsonian rat model, significant improvements were observed in amphetamine induced ipslateral rotations, apomorphine induced contra-lateral rotations and Rota rod motor tests over a duration of 8 weeks. Conclusions Our findings thus provide a convenient approach to FP development and functional dopaminergic neuron derivation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12929-016-0251-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Li
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore
| | - Yu Zou
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore
| | - Qiqi Lu
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore
| | - Ning Tang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, The National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore.,Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute of the National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE), The National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore
| | - Alexis Heng
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Intekhab Islam
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore
| | - Huei Jinn Tong
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore
| | - Gavin S Dawe
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, The National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore.,Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute of the National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE), The National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore.,National University of Singapore Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering (NGS), Kent Ridge, Singapore
| | - Tong Cao
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore. .,Tissue Engineering Program, Life Sciences Institute of the National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore. .,National University of Singapore Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering (NGS), Kent Ridge, Singapore.
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82
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Mohammed RH, Sweetman D. Grafting of Beads into Developing Chicken Embryo Limbs to Identify Signal Transduction Pathways Affecting Gene Expression. J Vis Exp 2016:e53342. [PMID: 26863034 DOI: 10.3791/53342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Using chicken embryos it is possible to test directly the effects of either growth factors or specific inhibitors of signaling pathways on gene expression and activation of signal transduction pathways. This technique allows the delivery of signaling molecules at precisely defined developmental stages for specific times. After this embryos can be harvested and gene expression examined, for example by in situ hybridization, or activation of signal transduction pathways observed with immunostaining. In this video heparin beads soaked in FGF18 or AG 1-X2 beads soaked in U0126, a MEK inhibitor, are grafted into the limb bud in ovo. This shows that FGF18 induces expression of MyoD and ERK phosphorylation and both endogenous and FGF18 induced MyoD expression is inhibited by U0126. Beads soaked in a retinoic acid antagonist can potentiate premature MyoD induction by FGF18. This approach can be used with a wide range of different growth factors and inhibitors and is easily adapted to other tissues in the developing embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabeea H Mohammed
- Division of Animal Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham
| | - Dylan Sweetman
- Division of Animal Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham;
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83
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Ma X, Chen H, Chen L. A dual role of Erk signaling in embryonic stem cells. Exp Hematol 2016; 44:151-6. [PMID: 26751246 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2015.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 12/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/26/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Erk signaling plays a critical role in maintaining the pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Inhibition of Mek/Erk signaling by pharmacologic Mek inhibitor promotes self-renewal and pluripotency of mouse ESCs. However, knockout of Erk1/2 genes compromises the self-renewal and genomic stability of mouse ESCs. In this review, we summarize recent progress in understanding the role of Erk signaling in pluripotency maintenance, discuss the dual role of Erk in mouse ESCs, and provide explanations for the conflicting data regarding Mek inhibition and Erk knockout. Remaining questions and the prospects of Erk signaling in pluripotency maintenance are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Haixia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lingyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
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84
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Maintenance of Self-Renewal and Pluripotency in J1 Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells through Regulating Transcription Factor and MicroRNA Expression Induced by PD0325901. Stem Cells Int 2015; 2016:1792573. [PMID: 26770202 PMCID: PMC4685126 DOI: 10.1155/2016/1792573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the ability to grow indefinitely and retain their pluripotency in culture, and this self-renewal capacity is governed by several crucial molecular pathways controlled by specific regulatory genes and epigenetic modifications. It is reported that multiple epigenetic regulators, such as miRNA and pluripotency factors, can be tightly integrated into molecular pathways and cooperate to maintain self-renewal of ESCs. However, mouse ESCs in serum-containing medium seem to be heterogeneous due to the self-activating differentiation signal of MEK/ERK. Thus, to seek for the crucial miRNA and key regulatory genes that establish ESC properties in MEK/ERK pathway, we performed microarray analysis and small RNA deep-sequencing of J1 mESCs treated with or without PD0325901 (PD), a well-known inhibitor of MEK/ERK signal pathway, followed by verification of western blot analysis and quantitative real-time PCR verification; we found that PD regulated the transcript expressions related to self-renewal and differentiation and antagonized the action of retinoic acid- (RA-) induced differentiation. Moreover, PD can significantly modulate the expressions of multiple miRNAs that have crucial functions in ESC development. Overall, our results demonstrate that PD could enhance ESC self-renewal capacity both by key regulatory genes and ES cell-specific miRNA, which in turn influences ESC self-renewal and cellular differentiation.
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85
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Brewer JR, Molotkov A, Mazot P, Hoch RV, Soriano P. Fgfr1 regulates development through the combinatorial use of signaling proteins. Genes Dev 2015; 29:1863-74. [PMID: 26341559 PMCID: PMC4573858 DOI: 10.1101/gad.264994.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Brewer et al. engineered an allelic series of knock-in point mutations designed to disrupt Fgfr1 signaling functions individually and in combination. They found that, in addition to Frs2, Crk proteins and Plcγ also contribute to Erk1/2 activation. Disruption of all known signaling functions diminished Erk1/2 and Plcγ activation but did not recapitulate the peri-implantation Fgfr1-null phenotype. Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) signaling governs multiple processes important in development and disease. Many lines of evidence have implicated Erk1/2 signaling induced through Frs2 as the predominant effector pathway downstream from Fgf receptors (Fgfrs), but these receptors can also signal through other mechanisms. To explore the functional significance of the full range of signaling downstream from Fgfrs in mice, we engineered an allelic series of knock-in point mutations designed to disrupt Fgfr1 signaling functions individually and in combination. Analysis of each mutant indicates that Frs2 binding to Fgfr1 has the most pleiotropic functions in development but also that the receptor uses multiple proteins additively in vivo. In addition to Frs2, Crk proteins and Plcγ also contribute to Erk1/2 activation, affecting axis elongation and craniofacial and limb development and providing a biochemical mechanism for additive signaling requirements. Disruption of all known signaling functions diminished Erk1/2 and Plcγ activation but did not recapitulate the peri-implantation Fgfr1-null phenotype. This suggests that Erk1/2-independent signaling pathways are functionally important for Fgf signaling in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Richard Brewer
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Andrei Molotkov
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Pierre Mazot
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Renée V Hoch
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Philippe Soriano
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA; Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
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86
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Erk signaling is indispensable for genomic stability and self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E5936-43. [PMID: 26483458 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1516319112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of Mek/Erk signaling by pharmacological Mek inhibitors promotes self-renewal and pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Intriguingly, Erk signaling is essential for human ESC self-renewal. Here we demonstrate that Erk signaling is critical for mouse ESC self-renewal and genomic stability. Erk-depleted ESCs cannot be maintained. Lack of Erk leads to rapid telomere shortening and genomic instability, in association with misregulated expression of pluripotency genes, reduced cell proliferation, G1 cell-cycle arrest, and increased apoptosis. Erk signaling is also required for the activation of differentiation genes but not for the repression of pluripotency genes during ESC differentiation. Furthermore, we find an Erk-independent function of Mek, which may explain the diverse effects of Mek inhibition and Erk knockout on ESC self-renewal. Together, in contrast to the prevailing view, Erk signaling is required for telomere maintenance, genomic stability, and self-renewal of mouse ESCs.
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87
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Kalkan T, Smith A. Mapping the route from naive pluripotency to lineage specification. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 369:rstb.2013.0540. [PMID: 25349449 PMCID: PMC4216463 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In the mouse blastocyst, epiblast cells are newly formed shortly before implantation. They possess a unique developmental plasticity, termed naive pluripotency. For development to proceed, this naive state must be subsumed by multi-lineage differentiation within 72 h following implantation. In vitro differentiation of naive embryonic stem cells (ESCs) cultured in controlled conditions provides a tractable system to dissect and understand the process of exit from naive pluripotency and entry into lineage specification. Exploitation of this system in recent large-scale RNAi and mutagenesis screens has uncovered multiple new factors and modules that drive or facilitate progression out of the naive state. Notably, these studies show that the transcription factor network that governs the naive state is rapidly dismantled prior to upregulation of lineage specification markers, creating an intermediate state that we term formative pluripotency. Here, we summarize these findings and propose a road map for state transitions in ESC differentiation that reflects the orderly dynamics of epiblast progression in the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tüzer Kalkan
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
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88
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Abstract
Pluripotency is the remarkable capacity of a single cell to engender all the specialized cell types of an adult organism. This property can be captured indefinitely through derivation of self-renewing embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which represent an invaluable platform to investigate cell fate decisions and disease. Recent advances have revealed that manipulation of distinct signaling cues can render ESCs in a uniform "ground state" of pluripotency, which more closely recapitulates the pluripotent naive epiblast. Here we discuss the extrinsic and intrinsic regulatory principles that underpin the nature of pluripotency and consider the emerging spectrum of pluripotent states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie A Hackett
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK; Wellcome Trust/MRC Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
| | - M Azim Surani
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK; Wellcome Trust/MRC Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK.
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89
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Abstract
Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells perpetuate in vitro the broad developmental potential of naïve founder cells in the preimplantation embryo. ES cells self-renew relentlessly in culture but can reenter embryonic development seamlessly, differentiating on schedule to form all elements of the fetus. Here we review the properties of these remarkable cells. Arising from the stability, homogeneity, and equipotency of ES cells, we consider the concept of a pluripotent ground state. We evaluate the authenticity of ES cells in relation to cells in the embryo and examine their utility for dissecting mechanisms that confer pluripotency and that execute fate choice. We summarize current knowledge of the transcription factor circuitry that governs the ES cell state and discuss the opportunity to expose molecular logic further through iterative computational modeling and experimentation. Finally, we present a perspective on unresolved questions, including the challenge of deriving ground state pluripotent stem cells from non-rodent species.
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90
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Speakman CM, Domke TCE, Wongpaiboonwattana W, Sanders K, Mudaliar M, van Aalten DMF, Barton GJ, Stavridis MP. Elevated O-GlcNAc levels activate epigenetically repressed genes and delay mouse ESC differentiation without affecting naïve to primed cell transition. Stem Cells 2015; 32:2605-15. [PMID: 24898611 PMCID: PMC4737245 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 05/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is controlled by the interaction of multiple signaling pathways, typically mediated by post-translational protein modifications. The addition of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to serine and threonine residues of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins is one such modification (O-GlcNAcylation), whose function in ESCs is only now beginning to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that the specific inhibition of O-GlcNAc hydrolase (Oga) causes increased levels of protein O-GlcNAcylation and impairs differentiation of mouse ESCs both in serum-free monolayer and in embryoid bodies (EBs). Use of reporter cell lines demonstrates that Oga inhibition leads to a reduction in the number of Sox1-expressing neural progenitors generated following induction of neural differentiation as well as maintained expression of the ESC marker Oct4 (Pou5f1). In EBs, expression of mesodermal and endodermal markers is also delayed. However, the transition of naïve cells to primed pluripotency indicated by Rex1 (Zfp42), Nanog, Esrrb, and Dppa3 downregulation and Fgf5 upregulation remains unchanged. Finally, we demonstrate that increased O-GlcNAcylation results in upregulation of genes normally epigenetically silenced in ESCs, supporting the emerging role for this protein modification in the regulation of histone modifications and DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Speakman
- Division of Cancer Research, Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
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91
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Wongpaiboonwattana W, Stavridis MP. Neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells in serum-free monolayer culture. J Vis Exp 2015:e52823. [PMID: 26066640 DOI: 10.3791/52823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to differentiate mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) to neural progenitors allows the study of the mechanisms controlling neural specification as well as the generation of mature neural cell types for further study. In this protocol we describe a method for the differentiation of ESC to neural progenitors using serum-free, monolayer culture. The method is scalable, efficient and results in production of ~70% neural progenitor cells within 4 - 6 days. It can be applied to ESC from various strains grown under a variety of conditions. Neural progenitors can be allowed to differentiate further into functional neurons and glia or analyzed by microscopy, flow cytometry or molecular techniques. The differentiation process is amenable to time-lapse microscopy and can be combined with the use of reporter lines to monitor the neural specification process. We provide detailed instructions on media preparation and cell density optimization to allow the process to be applied to most ESC lines and a variety of cell culture vessels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marios P Stavridis
- Division of Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Dundee;
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92
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Kim D, Park S, Jung YG, Roh S. In vitro culture of stem-like cells derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer bovine embryos of the Korean beef cattle species, HanWoo. Reprod Fertil Dev 2015; 28:RD14071. [PMID: 25966803 DOI: 10.1071/rd14071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We established and maintained somatic cell nuclear transfer embryo-derived stem-like cells (SCNT-eSLCs) from the traditional Korean beef cattle species, HanWoo (Bos taurus coreanae). Each SCNT blastocyst was placed individually on a feeder layer with culture medium containing three inhibitors of differentiation (3i). Primary colonies formed after 2-3 days of culture and the intact colonies were passaged every 5-6 days. The cells in each colony showed embryonic stem cell-like morphologies with a distinct boundary and were positive to alkaline phosphatase staining. Immunofluorescence and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses also confirmed that these colonies expressed pluripotent markers. The colonies were maintained over 50 passages for more than 270 days. The cells showed normal karyotypes consisting of 60 chromosomes at Passage 50. Embryoid bodies were formed by suspension culture to analyse in vitro differentiation capability. Marker genes representing the differentiation into three germ layers were expressed. Typical embryonal carcinoma was generated after injecting cells under the testis capsule of nude mice, suggesting that the cultured cells may also have the potential of in vivo differentiation. In conclusion, we generated eSLCs from SCNT bovine embryos, using a 3i system that sustained stemness, normal karyotype and pluripotency, which was confirmed by in vitro and in vivo differentiation.
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93
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Yeo JC, Jiang J, Tan ZY, Yim GR, Ng JH, Göke J, Kraus P, Liang H, Gonzales KAU, Chong HC, Tan CP, Lim YS, Tan NS, Lufkin T, Ng HH. Klf2 is an essential factor that sustains ground state pluripotency. Cell Stem Cell 2015; 14:864-72. [PMID: 24905170 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2014.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Revised: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The maintenance of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) requires LIF and serum. However, a pluripotent "ground state," bearing resemblance to preimplantation mouse epiblasts, can be established through dual inhibition (2i) of both prodifferentiation Mek/Erk and Gsk3/Tcf3 pathways. While Gsk3 inhibition has been attributed to the transcriptional derepression of Esrrb, the molecular mechanism mediated by Mek inhibition remains unclear. In this study, we show that Krüppel-like factor 2 (Klf2) is phosphorylated by Erk2 and that phospho-Klf2 is proteosomally degraded. Mek inhibition hence prevents Klf2 protein phosphodegradation to sustain pluripotency. Indeed, while Klf2-null mESCs can survive under LIF/Serum, they are not viable under 2i, demonstrating that Klf2 is essential for ground state pluripotency. Importantly, we also show that ectopic Klf2 expression can replace Mek inhibition in mESCs, allowing the culture of Klf2-null mESCs under Gsk3 inhibition alone. Collectively, our study defines the Mek/Erk/Klf2 axis that cooperates with the Gsk3/Tcf3/Esrrb pathway in mediating ground state pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Chi Yeo
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Jianming Jiang
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Zi-Ying Tan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Guo-Rong Yim
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Jia-Hui Ng
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Jonathan Göke
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Petra Kraus
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore; Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | - Hongqing Liang
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Kevin Andrew Uy Gonzales
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore; Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Han-Chung Chong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Cheng-Peow Tan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Yee-Siang Lim
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Nguan-Soon Tan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, A(∗)STAR, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Thomas Lufkin
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore; Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | - Huck-Hui Ng
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome Building, Singapore 138672, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore; Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore; Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Block MD6, Centre for Translational Medicine, 14 Medical Drive #14-01T, Singapore 117599, Singapore.
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94
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Shoni M, Lui KO, Vavvas DG, Muto MG, Berkowitz RS, Vlahos N, Ng SW. Protein kinases and associated pathways in pluripotent state and lineage differentiation. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2015; 9:366-87. [PMID: 24998240 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x09666140616130217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2014] [Revised: 06/07/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Protein kinases (PKs) mediate the reversible conversion of substrate proteins to phosphorylated forms, a key process in controlling intracellular signaling transduction cascades. Pluripotency is, among others, characterized by specifically expressed PKs forming a highly interconnected regulatory network that culminates in a finely-balanced molecular switch. Current high-throughput phosphoproteomic approaches have shed light on the specific regulatory PKs and their function in controlling pluripotent states. Pluripotent cell-derived endothelial and hematopoietic developments represent an example of the importance of pluripotency in cancer therapeutics and organ regeneration. This review attempts to provide the hitherto known kinome profile and the individual characterization of PK-related pathways that regulate pluripotency. Elucidating the underlying intrinsic and extrinsic signals may improve our understanding of the different pluripotent states, the maintenance or induction of pluripotency, and the ability to tailor lineage differentiation, with a particular focus on endothelial cell differentiation for anti-cancer treatment, cell-based tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Shu-Wing Ng
- 221 Longwood Avenue, BLI- 449A, Boston MA 02115, USA.
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95
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Pausing of RNA polymerase II regulates mammalian developmental potential through control of signaling networks. Mol Cell 2015; 58:311-322. [PMID: 25773599 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2015.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Revised: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The remarkable capacity for pluripotency and self-renewal in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) requires a finely tuned transcriptional circuitry wherein the pathways and genes that initiate differentiation are suppressed, but poised to respond rapidly to developmental signals. To elucidate transcriptional control in mouse ESCs in the naive, ground state, we defined the distribution of engaged RNA polymerase II (Pol II) at high resolution. We find that promoter-proximal pausing of Pol II is most enriched at genes regulating cell cycle and signal transduction and not, as expected, at developmental or bivalent genes. Accordingly, ablation of the primary pause-inducing factor NELF does not increase expression of lineage markers, but instead causes proliferation defects, embryonic lethality, and dysregulation of ESC signaling pathways. Indeed, ESCs lacking NELF have dramatically attenuated FGF/ERK activity, rendering them resistant to differentiation. This work thus uncovers a key role for NELF-mediated pausing in establishing the responsiveness of stem cells to developmental cues.
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96
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Tang K, Peng G, Qiao Y, Song L, Jing N. Intrinsic regulations in neural fate commitment. Dev Growth Differ 2015; 57:109-20. [PMID: 25708399 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Revised: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 12/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Neural fate commitment is an early embryonic event that a group of cells in ectoderm, which do not ingress through primitive streak, acquire a neural fate but not epidermal or mesodermal lineages. Several extracellular signaling pathways initiated by the secreted proteins bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), wingless/int class proteins (WNTs) and Nodal play essential roles in the specification of the neural plate. Accumulating evidence from the studies on mouse and pluripotent embryonic stem cells reveals that except for the extracellular signals, the intracellular molecules, including both transcriptional and epigenetic factors, participate in the modulation of neural fate commitment as well. In the review, we mainly focus on recent findings that the initiation of the nervous system is elaborately regulated by the intrinsic programs, which are mediated by transcriptional factors such as Sox2, Zfp521, Sip1 and Pou3f1, as well as epigenetic modifications, including histone methylation/demethylation, histone acetylation/deacetylation, and DNA methylation/demethylation. The discovery of the intrinsic regulatory machineries provides better understanding of the mechanisms by which the neural fate commitment is ensured by the cooperation between extracellular factors and intracellular molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Tang
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330031, China
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97
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Zhu W, Yao X, Liang Y, Liang D, Song L, Jing N, Li J, Wang G. Mediator Med23 deficiency enhances neural differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells through modulating BMP signaling. Development 2015; 142:465-76. [PMID: 25564654 DOI: 10.1242/dev.112946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Unraveling the mechanisms underlying early neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is crucial to developing cell-based therapies of neurodegenerative diseases. Neural fate acquisition is proposed to be controlled by a 'default' mechanism, for which the molecular regulation is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the functional roles of Mediator Med23 in pluripotency and lineage commitment of murine ESCs. Unexpectedly, we found that, despite the largely unchanged pluripotency and self-renewal of ESCs, Med23 depletion rendered the cells prone to neural differentiation in different differentiation assays. Knockdown of two other Mediator subunits, Med1 and Med15, did not alter the neural differentiation of ESCs. Med15 knockdown selectively inhibited endoderm differentiation, suggesting the specificity of cell fate control by distinctive Mediator subunits. Gene profiling revealed that Med23 depletion attenuated BMP signaling in ESCs. Mechanistically, MED23 modulated Bmp4 expression by controlling the activity of ETS1, which is involved in Bmp4 promoter-enhancer communication. Interestingly, med23 knockdown in zebrafish embryos also enhanced neural development at early embryogenesis, which could be reversed by co-injection of bmp4 mRNA. Taken together, our study reveals an intrinsic, restrictive role of MED23 in early neural development, thus providing new molecular insights for neural fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanqu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiao Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Lu Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Naihe Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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98
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Melidoni AN, Dyson MR, McCafferty J. Selection of Antibodies Interfering with Cell Surface Receptor Signaling Using Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1341:111-32. [PMID: 26036698 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2015_270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies able to bind and modify the function of cell surface signaling components in vivo are increasingly being used as therapeutic drugs. The identification of such "functional" antibodies from within large antibody pools is, therefore, the subject of intense research. Here we describe a novel cell-based expression and reporting system for the identification of functional antibodies from antigen-binding populations preselected with phage display. The system involves inducible expression of the antibody gene population from the Rosa-26 locus of embryonic stem (ES) cells, followed by secretion of the antibodies during ES cell differentiation. Target antigens are cell-surface signaling components (receptors or ligands) with a known effect on the direction of cell differentiation (FGFR1 mediating ES cell exit from self renewal in this particular protocol). Therefore, inhibition or activation of these components by functional antibodies in a few elite clones causes a shift in the differentiation outcomes of these clones, leading to their phenotypic selection. Functional antibody genes are then recovered from positive clones and used to produce the purified antibodies, which can be tested for their ability to affect cell fates exogenously. Identified functional antibody genes can be further introduced in different stem cell types. Inducible expression of functional antibodies has a temporally controlled protein-knockdown capability, which can be used to study the unknown role of the signaling pathway in different developmental contexts. Moreover, it provides a means for control of stem cell differentiation with potential in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna N Melidoni
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK. .,European Molecular Biology Laboratory-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK.
| | - Michael R Dyson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK.,IONTAS Ltd., Babraham Research Campus, Babraham, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - John McCafferty
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK.,IONTAS Ltd., Babraham Research Campus, Babraham, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
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99
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Yang F, Liu Y, Tu J, Wan J, Zhang J, Wu B, Chen S, Zhou J, Mu Y, Wang L. Activated astrocytes enhance the dopaminergic differentiation of stem cells and promote brain repair through bFGF. Nat Commun 2014; 5:5627. [PMID: 25517983 PMCID: PMC4284631 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes provide neuroprotective effects against degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons and play a fundamental role in DA differentiation of neural stem cells. Here we show that light illumination of astrocytes expressing engineered channelrhodopsin variant (ChETA) can remarkably enhance the release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and significantly promote the DA differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in vitro. Light activation of transplanted astrocytes in the substantia nigra (SN) also upregulates bFGF levels in vivo and promotes the regenerative effects of co-transplanted stem cells. Importantly, upregulation of bFGF levels, by specific light activation of endogenous astrocytes in the SN, enhances the DA differentiation of transplanted stem cells and promotes brain repair in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Our study indicates that astrocyte-derived bFGF is required for regulation of DA differentiation of the stem cells and may provide a strategy targeting astrocytes for treatment of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yunhui Liu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jie Tu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jun Wan
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bifeng Wu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Shanping Chen
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jiawei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yangling Mu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
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100
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Huang G, Yan H, Ye S, Tong C, Ying QL. STAT3 phosphorylation at tyrosine 705 and serine 727 differentially regulates mouse ESC fates. Stem Cells 2014; 32:1149-60. [PMID: 24302476 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
STAT3 can be transcriptionally activated by phosphorylation of its tyrosine 705 or serine 727 residue. In mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) signaling maintains pluripotency by inducing JAK-mediated phosphorylation of STAT3 Y705 (pY705). However, the function of phosphorylated S727 (pS727) in mESCs remains unclear. In this study, we examined the roles of STAT3 pY705 and pS727 in regulating mESC identities, using a small molecule-based system to post-translationally modulate the quantity of transgenic STAT3 in STAT3(-/-) mESCs. We demonstrated that pY705 is absolutely required for STAT3-mediated mESC self-renewal, while pS727 is dispensable, serving only to promote proliferation and optimal pluripotency. S727 phosphorylation is regulated directly by fibroblast growth factor/Erk signaling and crucial in the transition of mESCs from pluripotency to neuronal commitment. Loss of S727 phosphorylation resulted in significantly reduced neuronal differentiation potential, which could be recovered by a S727 phosphorylation mimic. Moreover, loss of pS727 sufficed LIF to reprogram epiblast stem cells to naïve pluripotency, suggesting a dynamic equilibrium of STAT3 pY705 and pS727 in the control of mESC fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyi Huang
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Department of Cell and Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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