1
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Moreno-Campos R, Singleton EW, Uribe RA. A targeted CRISPR-Cas9 mediated F0 screen identifies genes involved in establishment of the enteric nervous system. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303914. [PMID: 38809858 PMCID: PMC11135701 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate enteric nervous system (ENS) is a crucial network of enteric neurons and glia resident within the entire gastrointestinal tract (GI). Overseeing essential GI functions such as gut motility and water balance, the ENS serves as a pivotal bidirectional link in the gut-brain axis. During early development, the ENS is primarily derived from enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs). Disruptions to ENCC development, as seen in conditions like Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), lead to the absence of ENS in the GI, particularly in the colon. In this study, using zebrafish, we devised an in vivo F0 CRISPR-based screen employing a robust, rapid pipeline integrating single-cell RNA sequencing, CRISPR reverse genetics, and high-content imaging. Our findings unveil various genes, including those encoding opioid receptors, as possible regulators of ENS establishment. In addition, we present evidence that suggests opioid receptor involvement in the neurochemical coding of the larval ENS. In summary, our work presents a novel, efficient CRISPR screen targeting ENS development, facilitating the discovery of previously unknown genes, and increasing knowledge of nervous system construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Moreno-Campos
- Biosciences Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Laboratory of Neural Crest and Enteric Nervous System Development, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Eileen W. Singleton
- Biosciences Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Laboratory of Neural Crest and Enteric Nervous System Development, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rosa A. Uribe
- Biosciences Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Laboratory of Neural Crest and Enteric Nervous System Development, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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2
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Uribe RA. Genetic regulation of enteric nervous system development in zebrafish. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:177-190. [PMID: 38174765 PMCID: PMC10903509 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a complex series of interconnected neurons and glia that reside within and along the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract. ENS functions are vital to gut homeostasis and digestion, including local control of peristalsis, water balance, and intestinal cell barrier function. How the ENS develops during embryological development is a topic of great concern, as defects in ENS development can result in various diseases, the most common being Hirschsprung disease, in which variable regions of the infant gut lack ENS, with the distal colon most affected. Deciphering how the ENS forms from its progenitor cells, enteric neural crest cells, is an active area of research across various animal models. The vertebrate animal model, zebrafish, has been increasingly leveraged to understand early ENS formation, and over the past 20 years has contributed to our knowledge of the genetic regulation that underlies enteric development. In this review, I summarize our knowledge regarding the genetic regulation of zebrafish enteric neuronal development, and based on the most current literature, present a gene regulatory network inferred to underlie its construction. I also provide perspectives on areas for future zebrafish ENS research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A. Uribe
- Biosciences Department, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, U.S.A
- Laboratory of Neural Crest and Enteric Nervous System Development, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, U.S.A
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3
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Moreno-Campos R, Singleton EW, Uribe RA. A targeted CRISPR-Cas9 mediated F0 screen identifies genes involved in establishment of the enteric nervous system. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.28.573581. [PMID: 38234831 PMCID: PMC10793464 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.28.573581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The vertebrate enteric nervous system (ENS) is a crucial network of enteric neurons and glia resident within the entire gastrointestinal tract (GI). Overseeing essential GI functions such as gut motility and water balance, the ENS serves as a pivotal bidirectional link in the gut-brain axis. During early development, the ENS is primarily derived from enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs). Disruptions to ENCC development, as seen in conditions like Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), lead to absence of ENS in the GI, particularly in the colon. In this study, using zebrafish, we devised an in vivo F0 CRISPR-based screen employing a robust, rapid pipeline integrating single-cell RNA sequencing, CRISPR reverse genetics, and high-content imaging. Our findings unveil various genes, including those encoding for opioid receptors, as possible regulators of ENS establishment. In addition, we present evidence that suggests opioid receptor involvement in neurochemical coding of the larval ENS. In summary, our work presents a novel, efficient CRISPR screen targeting ENS development, facilitating the discovery of previously unknown genes, and increasing knowledge of nervous system construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Moreno-Campos
- Biosciences Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas, 77005, U.S.A
- Laboratory of Neural Crest and Enteric Nervous System Development, Rice University, Houston, Texas, 77005, U.S.A
| | - Eileen W. Singleton
- Biosciences Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas, 77005, U.S.A
- Laboratory of Neural Crest and Enteric Nervous System Development, Rice University, Houston, Texas, 77005, U.S.A
| | - Rosa A. Uribe
- Biosciences Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas, 77005, U.S.A
- Laboratory of Neural Crest and Enteric Nervous System Development, Rice University, Houston, Texas, 77005, U.S.A
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4
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Ganz J, Ratcliffe EM. Who's talking to whom: microbiome-enteric nervous system interactions in early life. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2023; 324:G196-G206. [PMID: 36625480 PMCID: PMC9988524 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00166.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the intrinsic nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and regulates important GI functions, including motility, nutrient uptake, and immune response. The development of the ENS begins during early organogenesis and continues to develop once feeding begins, with ongoing plasticity into adulthood. There has been increasing recognition that the intestinal microbiota and ENS interact during critical periods, with implications for normal development and potential disease pathogenesis. In this review, we focus on insights from mouse and zebrafish model systems to compare and contrast how each model can serve in elucidating the bidirectional communication between the ENS and the microbiome. At the end of this review, we further outline implications for human disease and highlight research innovations that can lead the field forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Ganz
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States
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5
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Massaquoi MS, Kong GL, Chilin-Fuentes D, Ngo JS, Horve PF, Melancon E, Hamilton MK, Eisen JS, Guillemin K. Cell-type-specific responses to the microbiota across all tissues of the larval zebrafish. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112095. [PMID: 36787219 PMCID: PMC10423310 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal development proceeds in the presence of intimate microbial associations, but the extent to which different host cells across the body respond to resident microbes remains to be fully explored. Using the vertebrate model organism, the larval zebrafish, we assessed transcriptional responses to the microbiota across the entire body at single-cell resolution. We find that cell types across the body, not limited to tissues at host-microbe interfaces, respond to the microbiota. Responses are cell-type-specific, but across many tissues the microbiota enhances cell proliferation, increases metabolism, and stimulates a diversity of cellular activities, revealing roles for the microbiota in promoting developmental plasticity. This work provides a resource for exploring transcriptional responses to the microbiota across all cell types of the vertebrate body and generating new hypotheses about the interactions between vertebrate hosts and their microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle S Massaquoi
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, 1318 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Thermo Fisher Scientific, 29851 Willow Creek Road, Eugene, OR 97402, USA; Thermo Fisher Scientific, 22025 20th Avenue SE, Bothell, WA 98021, USA
| | - Garth L Kong
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, 1318 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Daisy Chilin-Fuentes
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, 1318 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Julia S Ngo
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, 1318 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Patrick F Horve
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, 1318 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Ellie Melancon
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - M Kristina Hamilton
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, 1318 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Thermo Fisher Scientific, 29851 Willow Creek Road, Eugene, OR 97402, USA
| | - Judith S Eisen
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, 1318 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Karen Guillemin
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, 1318 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Humans and the Microbiome Program, CIFAR, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
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6
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Hayot G, Massonot M, Keime C, Faure E, Golzio C. Loss of autism-candidate CHD8 perturbs neural crest development and intestinal homeostatic balance. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201456. [PMID: 36375841 PMCID: PMC9664244 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with mutations in CHD8 present with gastrointestinal complaints, yet the underlying mechanisms are understudied. Here, using a stable constitutive chd8 mutant zebrafish model, we found that the loss of chd8 leads to a reduced number of vagal neural crest cells (NCCs), enteric neural and glial progenitors, emigrating from the neural tube, and that their early migration capability was altered. At later stages, although the intestinal colonization by NCCs was complete, we found the decreased numbers of both serotonin-producing enterochromaffin cells and NCC-derived serotonergic neurons, suggesting an intestinal hyposerotonemia in the absence of chd8 Furthermore, transcriptomic analyses revealed an altered expression of key receptors and enzymes in serotonin and acetylcholine signaling pathways. The tissue examination of chd8 mutants revealed a thinner intestinal epithelium accompanied by an accumulation of neutrophils and the decreased numbers of goblet cells and eosinophils. Last, single-cell sequencing of whole intestines showed a global disruption of the immune balance with a perturbed expression of inflammatory interleukins and changes in immune cell clusters. Our findings propose a causal developmental link between chd8, NCC development, intestinal homeostasis, and autism-associated gastrointestinal complaints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëlle Hayot
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Illkirch, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mathieu Massonot
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Illkirch, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Céline Keime
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Illkirch, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elodie Faure
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Illkirch, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Christelle Golzio
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Illkirch, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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7
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Bandla A, Melancon E, Taylor CR, Davidson AE, Eisen JS, Ganz J. A New Transgenic Tool to Study the Ret Signaling Pathway in the Enteric Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:15667. [PMID: 36555308 PMCID: PMC9779438 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase Ret plays a critical role in regulating enteric nervous system (ENS) development. Ret is important for proliferation, migration, and survival of enteric progenitor cells (EPCs). Ret also promotes neuronal fate, but its role during neuronal differentiation and in the adult ENS is less well understood. Inactivating RET mutations are associated with ENS diseases, e.g., Hirschsprung Disease, in which distal bowel lacks ENS cells. Zebrafish is an established model system for studying ENS development and modeling human ENS diseases. One advantage of the zebrafish model system is that their embryos are transparent, allowing visualization of developmental phenotypes in live animals. However, we lack tools to monitor Ret expression in live zebrafish. Here, we developed a new BAC transgenic line that expresses GFP under the ret promoter. We find that EPCs and the majority of ENS neurons express ret:GFP during ENS development. In the adult ENS, GFP+ neurons are equally present in females and males. In homozygous mutants of ret and sox10-another important ENS developmental regulator gene-GFP+ ENS cells are absent. In summary, we characterize a ret:GFP transgenic line as a new tool to visualize and study the Ret signaling pathway from early development through adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashoka Bandla
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Ellie Melancon
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Charlotte R. Taylor
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ann E. Davidson
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Judith S. Eisen
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Julia Ganz
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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8
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Baker PA, Ibarra-García-Padilla R, Venkatesh A, Singleton EW, Uribe RA. In toto imaging of early enteric nervous system development reveals that gut colonization is tied to proliferation downstream of Ret. Development 2022; 149:278609. [PMID: 36300492 PMCID: PMC9686996 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system is a vast intrinsic network of neurons and glia within the gastrointestinal tract and is largely derived from enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs) that emigrate into the gut during vertebrate embryonic development. Study of ENCC migration dynamics and their genetic regulators provides great insights into fundamentals of collective cell migration and nervous system formation, and these are pertinent subjects for study due to their relevance to the human congenital disease Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). For the first time, we performed in toto gut imaging and single-cell generation tracing of ENCC migration in wild type and a novel ret heterozygous background zebrafish (retwmr1/+) to gain insight into ENCC dynamics in vivo. We observed that retwmr1/+ zebrafish produced fewer ENCCs localized along the gut, and these ENCCs failed to reach the hindgut, resulting in HSCR-like phenotypes. Specifically, we observed a proliferation-dependent migration mechanism, where cell divisions were associated with inter-cell distances and migration speed. Lastly, we detected a premature neuronal differentiation gene expression signature in retwmr1/+ ENCCs. These results suggest that Ret signaling may regulate maintenance of a stem state in ENCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip A. Baker
- BioSciences Department, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA,Biochemistry and Cell Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Rodrigo Ibarra-García-Padilla
- BioSciences Department, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA,Biochemistry and Cell Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | | | | | - Rosa. A. Uribe
- BioSciences Department, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA,Biochemistry and Cell Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA,Author for correspondence ()
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9
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Alhashem Z, Camargo-Sosa K, Kelsh RN, Linker C. Trunk Neural Crest Migratory Position and Asymmetric Division Predict Terminal Differentiation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:887393. [PMID: 35756992 PMCID: PMC9214262 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.887393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The generation of complex structures during embryogenesis requires the controlled migration and differentiation of cells from distant origins. How these processes are coordinated and impact each other to form functional structures is not fully understood. Neural crest cells migrate extensively giving rise to many cell types. In the trunk, neural crest cells migrate collectively forming chains comprised of cells with distinct migratory identities: one leader cell at the front of the group directs migration, while followers track the leader forming the body of the chain. Herein we analysed the relationship between trunk neural crest migratory identity and terminal differentiation. We found that trunk neural crest migration and fate allocation is coherent. Leader cells that initiate movement give rise to the most distal derivativities. Interestingly, the asymmetric division of leaders separates migratory identity and fate. The distal daughter cell retains the leader identity and clonally forms the Sympathetic Ganglia. The proximal sibling migrates as a follower and gives rise to Schwann cells. The sympathetic neuron transcription factor phox2bb is strongly expressed by leaders from early stages of migration, suggesting that specification and migration occur concomitantly and in coordination. Followers divide symmetrically and their fate correlates with their position in the chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zain Alhashem
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Camargo-Sosa
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Robert N Kelsh
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Linker
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Molecular profiling of enteric nervous system cell lineages. Nat Protoc 2022; 17:1789-1817. [PMID: 35676375 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00697-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is an extensive network of enteric neurons and glial cells that is intrinsic to the gut wall and regulates almost all aspects of intestinal physiology. While considerable advancement has been made in understanding the genetic programs regulating ENS development, there is limited understanding of the molecular pathways that control ENS function in adult stages. One of the limitations in advancing the molecular characterization of the adult ENS relates to technical difficulties in purifying healthy neurons and glia from adult intestinal tissues. To overcome this, we developed novel methods for performing transcriptomic analysis of enteric neurons and glia, which are based on the isolation of fluorescently labeled nuclei. Here we provide a step-by-step protocol for the labeling of adult mouse enteric neuronal nuclei using adeno-associated-virus-mediated gene transfer, isolation of the labeled nuclei by fluorimetric analysis, RNA purification and nuclear RNA sequencing. This protocol has also been adapted for the isolation of enteric neuron and glia nuclei from myenteric plexus preparations from adult zebrafish intestine. Finally, we describe a method for visualization and quantification of RNA in myenteric ganglia: Spatial Integration of Granular Nuclear Signals (SIGNS). By following this protocol, it takes ~3 d to generate RNA and create cDNA libraries for nuclear RNA sequencing and 4 d to carry out high-resolution RNA expression analysis on ENS tissues.
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11
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Boesmans W, Nash A, Tasnády KR, Yang W, Stamp LA, Hao MM. Development, Diversity, and Neurogenic Capacity of Enteric Glia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:775102. [PMID: 35111752 PMCID: PMC8801887 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.775102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric glia are a fascinating population of cells. Initially identified in the gut wall as the "support" cells of the enteric nervous system, studies over the past 20 years have unveiled a vast array of functions carried out by enteric glia. They mediate enteric nervous system signalling and play a vital role in the local regulation of gut functions. Enteric glial cells interact with other gastrointestinal cell types such as those of the epithelium and immune system to preserve homeostasis, and are perceptive to luminal content. Their functional versatility and phenotypic heterogeneity are mirrored by an extensive level of plasticity, illustrated by their reactivity in conditions associated with enteric nervous system dysfunction and disease. As one of the hallmarks of their plasticity and extending their operative relationship with enteric neurons, enteric glia also display neurogenic potential. In this review, we focus on the development of enteric glial cells, and the mechanisms behind their heterogeneity in the adult gut. In addition, we discuss what is currently known about the role of enteric glia as neural precursors in the enteric nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werend Boesmans
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Amelia Nash
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kinga R. Tasnády
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Wendy Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan, Taiwan
| | - Lincon A. Stamp
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Marlene M. Hao
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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12
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Howard AGA, Baker PA, Ibarra-García-Padilla R, Moore JA, Rivas LJ, Tallman JJ, Singleton EW, Westheimer JL, Corteguera JA, Uribe RA. An atlas of neural crest lineages along the posterior developing zebrafish at single-cell resolution. eLife 2021; 10:e60005. [PMID: 33591267 PMCID: PMC7886338 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural crest cells (NCCs) are vertebrate stem cells that give rise to various cell types throughout the developing body in early life. Here, we utilized single-cell transcriptomic analyses to delineate NCC-derivatives along the posterior developing vertebrate, zebrafish, during the late embryonic to early larval stage, a period when NCCs are actively differentiating into distinct cellular lineages. We identified several major NCC/NCC-derived cell-types including mesenchyme, neural crest, neural, neuronal, glial, and pigment, from which we resolved over three dozen cellular subtypes. We dissected gene expression signatures of pigment progenitors delineating into chromatophore lineages, mesenchyme cells, and enteric NCCs transforming into enteric neurons. Global analysis of NCC derivatives revealed they were demarcated by combinatorial hox gene codes, with distinct profiles within neuronal cells. From these analyses, we present a comprehensive cell-type atlas that can be utilized as a valuable resource for further mechanistic and evolutionary investigations of NCC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Phillip A Baker
- Department of BioSciences, Rice UniversityHoustonUnited States
| | | | - Joshua A Moore
- Department of BioSciences, Rice UniversityHoustonUnited States
| | - Lucia J Rivas
- Department of BioSciences, Rice UniversityHoustonUnited States
| | - James J Tallman
- Department of BioSciences, Rice UniversityHoustonUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Rosa A Uribe
- Department of BioSciences, Rice UniversityHoustonUnited States
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13
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Rocha M, Singh N, Ahsan K, Beiriger A, Prince VE. Neural crest development: insights from the zebrafish. Dev Dyn 2019; 249:88-111. [PMID: 31591788 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the neural crest, a key vertebrate innovation, is built upon studies of multiple model organisms. Early research on neural crest cells (NCCs) was dominated by analyses of accessible amphibian and avian embryos, with mouse genetics providing complementary insights in more recent years. The zebrafish model is a relative newcomer to the field, yet it offers unparalleled advantages for the study of NCCs. Specifically, zebrafish provide powerful genetic and transgenic tools, coupled with rapidly developing transparent embryos that are ideal for high-resolution real-time imaging of the dynamic process of neural crest development. While the broad principles of neural crest development are largely conserved across vertebrate species, there are critical differences in anatomy, morphogenesis, and genetics that must be considered before information from one model is extrapolated to another. Here, our goal is to provide the reader with a helpful primer specific to neural crest development in the zebrafish model. We focus largely on the earliest events-specification, delamination, and migration-discussing what is known about zebrafish NCC development and how it differs from NCC development in non-teleost species, as well as highlighting current gaps in knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Rocha
- Committee on Development, Regeneration and Stem Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Noor Singh
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kamil Ahsan
- Committee on Development, Regeneration and Stem Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Anastasia Beiriger
- Committee on Development, Regeneration and Stem Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Victoria E Prince
- Committee on Development, Regeneration and Stem Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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14
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Ganz J, Melancon E, Wilson C, Amores A, Batzel P, Strader M, Braasch I, Diba P, Kuhlman JA, Postlethwait JH, Eisen JS. Epigenetic factors Dnmt1 and Uhrf1 coordinate intestinal development. Dev Biol 2019; 455:473-484. [PMID: 31394080 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Intestinal tract development is a coordinated process involving signaling among the progenitors and developing cells from all three germ layers. Development of endoderm-derived intestinal epithelium has been shown to depend on epigenetic modifications, but whether that is also the case for intestinal tract cell types from other germ layers remains unclear. We found that functional loss of a DNA methylation machinery component, ubiquitin-like protein containing PHD and RING finger domains 1 (uhrf1), leads to reduced numbers of ectoderm-derived enteric neurons and severe disruption of mesoderm-derived intestinal smooth muscle. Genetic chimeras revealed that Uhrf1 functions both cell-autonomously in enteric neuron precursors and cell-non-autonomously in surrounding intestinal cells, consistent with what is known about signaling interactions between these cell types that promote one another's development. Uhrf1 recruits the DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1 to unmethylated DNA during replication. Dnmt1 is also expressed in enteric neurons and smooth muscle progenitors. dnmt1 mutants have fewer enteric neurons and disrupted intestinal smooth muscle compared to wildtypes. Because dnmt1;uhrf1 double mutants have a similar phenotype to dnmt1 and uhrf1 single mutants, Dnmt1 and Uhrf1 must function together during enteric neuron and intestinal muscle development. This work shows that genes controlling epigenetic modifications are important to coordinate intestinal tract development, provides the first demonstration that these genes influence development of the ENS, and advances uhrf1 and dnmt1 as potential new Hirschsprung disease candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Ganz
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Ellie Melancon
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Catherine Wilson
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Angel Amores
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Peter Batzel
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Marie Strader
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Ingo Braasch
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Parham Diba
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Julie A Kuhlman
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - John H Postlethwait
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Judith S Eisen
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
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15
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Kulkarni S, Ganz J, Bayrer J, Becker L, Bogunovic M, Rao M. Advances in Enteric Neurobiology: The "Brain" in the Gut in Health and Disease. J Neurosci 2018; 38:9346-9354. [PMID: 30381426 PMCID: PMC6209840 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1663-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a large, complex division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates many digestive, immune, hormonal, and metabolic functions. Recent advances have elucidated the dynamic nature of the mature ENS, as well as the complex, bidirectional interactions among enteric neurons, glia, and the many other cell types that are important for mediating gut behaviors. Here, we provide an overview of ENS development and maintenance, and focus on the latest insights gained from the use of novel model systems and live-imaging techniques. We discuss major advances in the understanding of enteric glia, and the functional interactions among enteric neurons, glia, and enteroendocrine cells, a large class of sensory epithelial cells. We conclude by highlighting recent work on muscularis macrophages, a group of immune cells that closely interact with the ENS in the gut wall, and the importance of neurological-immune system communication in digestive health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash Kulkarni
- Department of Medicine, The John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205,
| | - Julia Ganz
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - James Bayrer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Laren Becker
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Milena Bogunovic
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, and
| | - Meenakshi Rao
- Division of Gastroenterology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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16
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Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract contains its own set of intrinsic neuroglial circuits - the enteric nervous system (ENS) - which detects and responds to diverse signals from the environment. Here, we address recent advances in the understanding of ENS development, including how neural-crest-derived progenitors migrate into and colonize the bowel, the formation of ganglionated plexuses and the molecular mechanisms of enteric neuronal and glial diversification. Modern lineage tracing and transcription-profiling technologies have produced observations that simultaneously challenge and affirm long-held beliefs about ENS development. We review many genetic and environmental factors that can alter ENS development and exert long-lasting effects on gastrointestinal function, and discuss how developmental defects in the ENS might account for some of the large burden of digestive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Rao
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael D Gershon
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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17
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Ganz J. Gut feelings: Studying enteric nervous system development, function, and disease in the zebrafish model system. Dev Dyn 2018; 247:268-278. [PMID: 28975691 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the largest part of the peripheral nervous system and is entirely neural crest-derived. It provides the intrinsic innervation of the gut, controlling different aspects of gut function, such as motility. In this review, we will discuss key points of Zebrafish ENS development, genes, and signaling pathways regulating ENS development, as well as contributions of the Zebrafish model system to better understand ENS disorders. During their migration, enteric progenitor cells (EPCs) display a gradient of developmental states based on their proliferative and migratory characteristics, and show spatiotemporal heterogeneity based on gene expression patterns. Many genes and signaling pathways that regulate the migration and proliferation of EPCs have been identified, but later stages of ENS development, especially steps of neuronal and glial differentiation, remain poorly understood. In recent years, Zebrafish have become increasingly important to test candidate genes for ENS disorders (e.g., from genome-wide association studies), to identify environmental influences on ENS development (e.g., through large-scale drug screens), and to investigate the role the gut microbiota play in ENS development and disease. With its unique advantages as a model organism, Zebrafish will continue to contribute to a better understanding of ENS development, function, and disease. Developmental Dynamics 247:268-278, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Ganz
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
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18
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Uribe RA, Hong SS, Bronner ME. Retinoic acid temporally orchestrates colonization of the gut by vagal neural crest cells. Dev Biol 2018; 433:17-32. [PMID: 29108781 PMCID: PMC5722660 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system arises from neural crest cells that migrate as chains into and along the primitive gut, subsequently differentiating into enteric neurons and glia. Little is known about the mechanisms governing neural crest migration en route to and along the gut in vivo. Here, we report that Retinoic Acid (RA) temporally controls zebrafish enteric neural crest cell chain migration. In vivo imaging reveals that RA loss severely compromises the integrity and migration of the chain of neural crest cells during the window of time window when they are moving along the foregut. After loss of RA, enteric progenitors accumulate in the foregut and differentiate into enteric neurons, but subsequently undergo apoptosis resulting in a striking neuronal deficit. Moreover, ectopic expression of the transcription factor meis3 and/or the receptor ret, partially rescues enteric neuron colonization after RA attenuation. Collectively, our findings suggest that retinoic acid plays a critical temporal role in promoting enteric neural crest chain migration and neuronal survival upstream of Meis3 and RET in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A Uribe
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
| | - Stephanie S Hong
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Marianne E Bronner
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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19
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Kulkarni S, Micci MA, Leser J, Shin C, Tang SC, Fu YY, Liu L, Li Q, Saha M, Li C, Enikolopov G, Becker L, Rakhilin N, Anderson M, Shen X, Dong X, Butte MJ, Song H, Southard-Smith EM, Kapur RP, Bogunovic M, Pasricha PJ. Adult enteric nervous system in health is maintained by a dynamic balance between neuronal apoptosis and neurogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E3709-E3718. [PMID: 28420791 PMCID: PMC5422809 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1619406114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
According to current dogma, there is little or no ongoing neurogenesis in the fully developed adult enteric nervous system. This lack of neurogenesis leaves unanswered the question of how enteric neuronal populations are maintained in adult guts, given previous reports of ongoing neuronal death. Here, we confirm that despite ongoing neuronal cell loss because of apoptosis in the myenteric ganglia of the adult small intestine, total myenteric neuronal numbers remain constant. This observed neuronal homeostasis is maintained by new neurons formed in vivo from dividing precursor cells that are located within myenteric ganglia and express both Nestin and p75NTR, but not the pan-glial marker Sox10. Mutation of the phosphatase and tensin homolog gene in this pool of adult precursors leads to an increase in enteric neuronal number, resulting in ganglioneuromatosis, modeling the corresponding disorder in humans. Taken together, our results show significant turnover and neurogenesis of adult enteric neurons and provide a paradigm for understanding the enteric nervous system in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash Kulkarni
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Maria-Adelaide Micci
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Jenna Leser
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Changsik Shin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033
| | | | - Ya-Yuan Fu
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Liansheng Liu
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Qian Li
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Monalee Saha
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Cuiping Li
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Grigori Enikolopov
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
- Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
| | - Laren Becker
- Division of Gastroenterology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Nikolai Rakhilin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Michael Anderson
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
- Department of Dermatology, Center for Sensory Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Xiling Shen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Xinzhong Dong
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
- Department of Dermatology, Center for Sensory Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Manish J Butte
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Hongjun Song
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
- Institute for Cellular Engineering, Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | | | - Raj P Kapur
- Department of Laboratories, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA 98105
| | - Milena Bogunovic
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Pankaj J Pasricha
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205;
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