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Miao S, Liu L, Tang Y, Ge H. Season, household registry and isolated birth defects: a population-based case-control study in Danyang, China. Int Health 2024; 16:562-567. [PMID: 38801353 PMCID: PMC11375586 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihae034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A birth population-based study was conducted in Danyang, Jiangsu Province, to evaluate major birth defects in emerging regions in China with similar maternal and neonatal care conditions. METHODS We conducted a population-based study in a cohort of infants born in Danyang from 2014 to 2021, including 55 709 perinatal infants. Four categories of isolated birth defects were defined as cases: congenital heart defects (CHDs; n=2138), polydactyly (n=145), cleft lip with or without palate (CL/P; n=76) and accessory auricles (n=93). Infants with congenital malformations were identified by the Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network. RESULTS Compared with autumn, conception in spring (OR=1.31 [1.16-1.48]) and winter (OR=1.39 [1.23-1.58]) was associated with an increased risk of CHD. Increased risk of CHD, CL/P and accessory auricles was significantly associated with non-local registered residence (OR=1.17 [1.07-1.28], OR=2.73 [1.52-4.88] and OR=2.11 [1.20-3.71], respectively). Individuals of Han nationality were less likely to have polydactyly (OR=0.23 [0.05-0.98]). CONCLUSIONS The season of pregnancy was significantly associated with CHDs. Offspring of mothers with non-local registered hometown had greater risks of CHDs, CL/P and accessory auricles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhan Miao
- D epar tment of Health Care, Women and Children Health Hospital of Zhenjiang, No. 20, Zhengdong Road, Zhenjiang 212003, China
| | - Liqun Liu
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Science, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Yanlin Tang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Science, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Hongyan Ge
- D epar tment of Health Care, Women and Children Health Hospital of Zhenjiang, No. 20, Zhengdong Road, Zhenjiang 212003, China
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2
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Maruyama K, Miyazaki S, Kobayashi R, Hikita H, Tsubone T, Ohnuma K. The migration pattern of cells during the mesoderm and endoderm differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2024; 60:535-543. [PMID: 38656570 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-024-00904-4] [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: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Gastrulation is the first major differentiation process in animal embryos. However, the dynamics of human gastrulation remain mostly unknown owing to the ethical limitations. We studied the dynamics of the mesoderm and endoderm cell differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells for insight into the cellular dynamics of human gastrulation. Human pluripotent stem cells have properties similar to those of the epiblast, which gives rise to the three germ layers. The mesoderm and endoderm were induced with more than 75% purity from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Single-cell dynamics of pluripotent stem cell-derived mesoderm and endoderm cells were traced using time-lapse imaging. Both mesoderm and endoderm cells migrate randomly, accompanied by short-term directional persistence. No substantial differences were detected between mesoderm and endoderm migration. Computer simulations created using the measured parameters revealed that random movement and external force, such as the spread out of cells from the primitive streak area, mimicked the homogeneous discoidal germ layer formation. These results were consistent with the development of amniotes, which suggests the effectiveness of human pluripotent stem cells as a good model for studying human embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenshiro Maruyama
- Department of Science of Technology Innovation, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata, 940-2188, Japan
| | - Shota Miyazaki
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata, 940-2188, Japan
| | - Ryo Kobayashi
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata, 940-2188, Japan
| | - Haru Hikita
- Department of Electrical, Electronics and Information Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata, 940-2188, Japan
| | - Tadashi Tsubone
- Department of Electrical, Electronics and Information Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata, 940-2188, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Ohnuma
- Department of Science of Technology Innovation, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata, 940-2188, Japan.
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata, 940-2188, Japan.
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3
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Simpson L, Alberio R. Interspecies control of development during mammalian gastrulation. Emerg Top Life Sci 2023; 7:397-408. [PMID: 37933589 PMCID: PMC10754326 DOI: 10.1042/etls20230083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Gastrulation represents a pivotal phase of development and aberrations during this period can have major consequences, from minor anatomical deviations to severe congenital defects. Animal models are used to study gastrulation, however, there is considerable morphological and molecular diversity of gastrula across mammalian species. Here, we provide an overview of the latest research on interspecies developmental control across mammals. This includes single-cell atlases of several mammalian gastrula which have enabled comparisons of the temporal and molecular dynamics of differentiation. These studies highlight conserved cell differentiation regulators and both absolute and relative differences in differentiation dynamics between species. Recent advances in in vitro culture techniques have facilitated the derivation, maintenance and differentiation of cell lines from a range of species and the creation of multi-species models of gastrulation. Gastruloids are three-dimensional aggregates capable of self-organising and recapitulating aspects of gastrulation. Such models enable species comparisons outside the confines of the embryo. We highlight recent in vitro evidence that differentiation processes such as somitogenesis and neuronal maturation scale with known in vivo differences in developmental tempo across species. This scaling is likely due to intrinsic differences in cell biochemistry. We also highlight several studies which provide examples of cell differentiation dynamics being influenced by extrinsic factors, including culture conditions, chimeric co-culture, and xenotransplantation. These collective studies underscore the complexity of gastrulation across species, highlighting the necessity of additional datasets and studies to decipher the intricate balance between intrinsic cellular programs and extrinsic signals in shaping embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Simpson
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, U.K
| | - Ramiro Alberio
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, U.K
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Ko H, Chou YC, Olisova K, Chang TY. A practical method for prenatal diagnosis of anal atresia by second trimester ultrasound screening - A retrospective study. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 62:884-890. [PMID: 38008509 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The study aimed to demonstrate the performance of anal atresia ultrasound screening in the second trimester and to describe associated experiences in a primary care fetal medicine clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of fetuses who underwent a second-trimester screening at the Taiji clinic between November 2019 and May 2022. Fisher's exact test was conducted to investigate potential risk factors. RESULTS There were 28 459 fetuses screened in our clinic during the study period; eventually, 6 cases were diagnosed with anal atresia after birth. The incidence of anal atresia in our sample was 2.11 in 10 000. Based on our findings, potential risk factors significantly associated with anal atresia included: multiple pregnancies (p-value = 0.0185) and in-vitro fertilization (p-value = 0.038). Half of the anal atresia cases were associated with abnormalities affecting other organ systems, most frequently the genitourinary system (66.7%) and cardiovascular system (66.7%), especially persistent left superior vena cava (2 cases). CONCLUSION Anal atresia is a malformation that requires extensive care; the clinical management after the prenatal discovery of its signs should include testing for chromosomal abnormalities and close monitoring of the amniotic fluid volume. Therefore, prenatal ultrasound screening for anal atresia in the second trimester is critical, particularly in the cases of multiple and IVF pregnancies, and multiple abnormalities. The fetuses with ultrasound signs of anal atresia should be followed at a later gestational period and referred to a specialized institution for postnatal management planning and parental counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan Ko
- Department of Fetal Medicine, Taiji Clinic, Taiwan
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5
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Regulatory role of apelin receptor signaling in migration and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived mesoderm cells and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. Hum Cell 2023; 36:612-630. [PMID: 36692671 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00861-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Mesoderm-derived cells, including bone, muscle, and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), constitute various parts of vertebrate body. Cell therapy with mesoderm specification in vitro may be a promising treatment for diseases affecting organs of mesodermal origin. Repair and regeneration of damaged organs with in vitro generation of mesoderm-derived tissues and MSCs hold a great potential for regenerative therapy. Therefore, understanding the signaling pathways involving mesoderm and mesoderm-derived cellular differentiation is important. Previous findings indicated the importance of Apelin receptor (Aplnr) signaling, during embryonic development, in gastrulation, cell migration, and differentiation. Nevertheless, regulatory role of Aplnr pathway in differentiation of mesoderm and mesoderm-derived MSCs remains unclear. In the current study, we tried to elucidate the role of Aplnr signaling during mesoderm cell migration and differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). By activating and suppressing Aplnr signaling pathway via peptide, small molecule, and genetic modifications including siRNA- and shRNA-mediated knockdown and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout (KO), we revealed that Aplnr signaling not only induces migration of cells during germ layer formation but also enhances mesoderm differentiation through FGF/MAPK pathway. Antibody array and LC/MS protein profiling data demonstrated that Apelin-13 treatment enhanced cell cycle, EGFR, FGF, Wnt, and Integrin signaling pathway proteins. Furthermore, Aplelin-13 treatment improved MSC characteristics, with mesenchymal phenotype and high expression of MSC markers, and silencing Aplnr signaling components resulted in significantly reduced expression of MSC markers. Also, Aplnr signaling activity enhanced proliferation and survival of the cells during MSC derivation from mesoderm.
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6
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Anand GM, Megale HC, Murphy SH, Weis T, Lin Z, He Y, Wang X, Liu J, Ramanathan S. Controlling organoid symmetry breaking uncovers an excitable system underlying human axial elongation. Cell 2023; 186:497-512.e23. [PMID: 36657443 PMCID: PMC10122509 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The human embryo breaks symmetry to form the anterior-posterior axis of the body. As the embryo elongates along this axis, progenitors in the tail bud give rise to tissues that generate spinal cord, skeleton, and musculature. This raises the question of how the embryo achieves axial elongation and patterning. While ethics necessitate in vitro studies, the variability of organoid systems has hindered mechanistic insights. Here, we developed a bioengineering and machine learning framework that optimizes organoid symmetry breaking by tuning their spatial coupling. This framework enabled reproducible generation of axially elongating organoids, each possessing a tail bud and neural tube. We discovered that an excitable system composed of WNT/FGF signaling drives elongation by inducing a neuromesodermal progenitor-like signaling center. We discovered that instabilities in the excitable system are suppressed by secreted WNT inhibitors. Absence of these inhibitors led to ectopic tail buds and branches. Our results identify mechanisms governing stable human axial elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giridhar M Anand
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Heitor C Megale
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sean H Murphy
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Theresa Weis
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Zuwan Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yichun He
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Xiao Wang
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jia Liu
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sharad Ramanathan
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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7
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Abas R, Masrudin SS, Harun AM, Omar NS, Omar NS. Gastrulation and Body Axes Formation: A Molecular Concept and Its Clinical Correlates. Malays J Med Sci 2022; 29:6-14. [PMID: 36818899 PMCID: PMC9910376 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2022.29.6.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During the third week of human pregnancy, an embryo transforms from two germinal disc layers of hypoblast and epiblast to three germinal layers of endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. Gastrulation is a complex process that includes cellular mobility, morphogenesis and cell signalling, as well as chemical morphogenic gradients, transcription factors and differential gene expression. During gastrulation, many signalling channels coordinate individual cell actions in precise time and location. These channels control cell proliferation, shape, fate and migration to the correct sites. Subsequently, the anteroposterior (AP), dorsoventral (DV) and left-right (LR) body axes are formed before and during gastrulation via these signalling regulation signals. Hence, the anomalies in gastrulation caused by insults to certain molecular pathways manifest as a wide range of body axes-related disorders. This article outlines the formation of body axes during gastrulation and the anomalies as well as the clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razif Abas
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia,Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Siti Saleha Masrudin
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Noorkardiffa Syawalina Omar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, Malaysia,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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8
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Hashmi A, Tlili S, Perrin P, Lowndes M, Peradziryi H, Brickman JM, Martínez Arias A, Lenne PF. Cell-state transitions and collective cell movement generate an endoderm-like region in gastruloids. eLife 2022; 11:59371. [PMID: 35404233 PMCID: PMC9033300 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Shaping the animal body plan is a complex process that involves the spatial organization and patterning of the different germ layers. Recent advances in live imaging have started to unravel the cellular choreography underlying this process in mammals, however, the sequence of events transforming an unpatterned cell ensemble into structured territories is largely unknown. Here, using gastruloids –3D aggregates of mouse embryonic stem cells- we study the formation of one of the three germ layers, the endoderm. We show that the endoderm is generated from an epiblast-like homogeneous state by a three-step mechanism: (i) a loss of E-cadherin mediated contacts in parts of the aggregate leading to the appearance of islands of E-cadherin expressing cells surrounded by cells devoid of E-cadherin, (ii) a separation of these two populations with islands of E-cadherin expressing cells flowing toward the aggregate tip, and (iii) their differentiation into an endoderm population. During the flow, the islands of E-cadherin expressing cells are surrounded by cells expressing T-Brachyury, reminiscent of the process occurring at the primitive streak. Consistent with recent in vivo observations, the endoderm formation in the gastruloids does not require an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, but rather a maintenance of an epithelial state for a subset of cells coupled with fragmentation of E-cadherin contacts in the vicinity, and a sorting process. Our data emphasize the role of signaling and tissue flows in the establishment of the body plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Hashmi
- IBDM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Sham Tlili
- IBDM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Perrin
- IBDM, Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Molly Lowndes
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology (DanStem), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanna Peradziryi
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology (DanStem), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joshua M Brickman
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology (DanStem), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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9
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Zeki Yaşar M, Yusuf AA, Hassan FM, Ali AA, Roble MA. Mermaid syndrome: A case report in Somalia. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022; 76:103533. [PMID: 35495377 PMCID: PMC9052271 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction and Importance: Sirenomelia, which called sirenomelia sequences, is a very rare congenital malformation. It is characterized by complete or incomplete fused lower extremities, renal agenesis, oligohydramnios, absent urinary tract and external genitalia, single umbilical arteries, imperforate anus, etc. We are reporting a case of mermaid syndrome, a twin pregnancy in which one was healthy and the other was identified to have characteristic features of sirenomelia at the time of examination. Case presentation We present a case of a preterm baby who was born at 34 weeks of gestational age by cesarean section for twin pregnancy due to oligohydramnios with fetal distress. He had abdominal distension, an imperforated anus, no pelvic bone, and a fused leg with two femur bones and two tibial bones that shared one skin and two separate feet. There was none of the two kidneys, ureter, or bladder. He had been diagnosed with an atrial septal defect. Clinical discusion Sirenomelia is virtually always a fatal congenital abnormality that affects the fetal body's caudal region. Although fusion of the lower limbs is its most obvious feature. The reported percentage of elective termination of pregnancy for the fetal anomaly is about 49.5%.The anomaly is postulated to be due to a combination of genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger factor, while the precise etiology is undetermined and believed to be multifactorial. In surviving sirenomelia cases, treatment can be provided with amultidisciplinary approach. Conclusion Mermaid Syndrome is a lethal congenital anomaly with a poor prognosis. Ultrasonography can be used to diagnose sirenomelia. Oligo-hydramnios and fused lower limbs are crucial features that aid in the diagnosis during the first trimester of pregnancy, with possible termination of the pregnancy being suggested as an option if detected early. This is the first case of sirenomelia, a rare and lethal congenital abnormality, reported here. Our case report is about twin sirenomelia cases. Although the incidence of sirenomelia in twin pregnancy is extremely low. Half of the children with the condition are born alive, and the majority die within the first five days due to pulmonary hypoplasia and renal failure caused by renal agenesis.
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Cruz Walma DA, Chen Z, Bullock AN, Yamada KM. Ubiquitin ligases: guardians of mammalian development. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:350-367. [DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00448-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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11
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Rodrigues V, Oliveira J, Sousa C, Araújo S, Abreu D, Baêta S. Deradelphous Cephalothoracoomphalopagus in kittens - case report. ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-4162-12368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT The present report describes a case of conjoined twins of the cephalo-thoraco-omphalopagus deradelphous type in cats. A feline female was transferred to our veterinary hospital as an emergency for dystocic labor. The stillborn was subjected to radiographic evaluation, and a single skull and two complete distinct vertebral columns were found. Anatomopathological examination revealed that the twins presented the head, chest, and umbilicus as the main points of union and were classified as the cephalo-thoraco-omphalopagus type. In addition, the twins had unique and well-developed faces, which allowed them to be classified as deradelphous. This malformation is rare in domestic animals, and to the best of our knowledge, this type has not been reported in felines. Further studies are warranted on this embryonic alteration, primarily because its etiology remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - D.M. Abreu
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
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12
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Karasek C, Ashry M, Driscoll CS, Knott JG. A tale of two cell-fates: role of the Hippo signaling pathway and transcription factors in early lineage formation in mouse preimplantation embryos. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 26:653-664. [PMID: 32647873 PMCID: PMC7473788 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the first cell-fate decision occurs during preimplantation embryo development when the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) lineages are established. The ICM develops into the embryo proper, while the TE lineage forms the placenta. The underlying molecular mechanisms that govern lineage formation involve cell-to-cell interactions, cell polarization, cell signaling and transcriptional regulation. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding regarding the cellular and molecular events that regulate lineage formation in mouse preimplantation embryos with an emphasis on cell polarity and the Hippo signaling pathway. Moreover, we will provide an overview on some of the molecular tools that are used to manipulate the Hippo pathway and study cell-fate decisions in early embryos. Lastly, we will provide exciting future perspectives on transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that modulate the activity of the Hippo pathway in preimplantation embryos to ensure robust lineage segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Challis Karasek
- Developmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Mohamed Ashry
- Developmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Chad S Driscoll
- Developmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jason G Knott
- Developmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake Cornwall-Scoones
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA; Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK.
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14
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Moris N, Alev C, Pera M, Martinez Arias A. Biomedical and societal impacts of in vitro embryo models of mammalian development. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:1021-1030. [PMID: 33979591 PMCID: PMC8185435 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, a diverse array of in vitro cell-derived models of mammalian development have been described that hold immense potential for exploring fundamental questions in developmental biology, particularly in the case of the human embryo where ethical and technical limitations restrict research. These models open up new avenues toward biomedical advances in in vitro fertilization, clinical research, and drug screening with potential to impact wider society across many diverse fields. These technologies raise challenging questions with profound ethical, regulatory, and social implications that deserve due consideration. Here, we discuss the potential impacts of embryo-like models, and their biomedical potential and current limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Moris
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK.
| | - Cantas Alev
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8510, Japan.
| | - Martin Pera
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
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15
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Ghimire S, Mantziou V, Moris N, Martinez Arias A. Human gastrulation: The embryo and its models. Dev Biol 2021; 474:100-108. [PMID: 33484705 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Technical and ethical limitations create a challenge to study early human development, especially following the first 3 weeks of development after fertilization, when the fundamental aspects of the body plan are established through the process called gastrulation. As a consequence, our current understanding of human development is mostly based on the anatomical and histological studies on Carnegie Collection of human embryos, which were carried out more than half a century ago. Due to the 14-day rule on human embryo research, there have been no experimental studies beyond the fourteenth day of human development. Mutagenesis studies on animal models, mostly in mouse, are often extrapolated to human embryos to understand the transcriptional regulation of human development. However, due to the existence of significant differences in their morphological and molecular features as well as the time scale of their development, it is obvious that complete knowledge of human development can be achieved only by studying the human embryo. These studies require a cellular framework. Here we summarize the cellular, molecular, and temporal aspects associated with human gastrulation and discuss how they relate to existing human PSCs based models of early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabitri Ghimire
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK.
| | - Veronika Mantziou
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Naomi Moris
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
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Thompson DNP. Gastrulation : Current Concepts and Implications for Spinal Malformations. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2020; 64:329-339. [PMID: 33321561 PMCID: PMC8128527 DOI: 10.3340/jkns.2020.0125] [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: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been recognised for over a century that the events of gastrulation are fundamental in determining, not only the development of the neuraxis but the organisation of the entire primitive embryo. Until recently our understanding of gastrulation was based on detailed histological analysis in animal models and relatively rare human tissue preparations from aborted fetuses. Such studies resulted in a model of gastrulation that neurosurgeons have subsequently used as a means of trying to explain some of the congenital anomalies of caudal spinal cord and vertebral development that present in paediatric neurosurgical practice. Recent advances in developmental biology, in particular cellular biology and molecular genetics have offered new insights into very early development. Understanding the processes that underlie cellular interactions, gene expression and activation/inhibition of signalling pathways has changed the way embryologists view gastrulation and this has led to a shift in emphasis from the ‘descriptive and morphological’ to the ‘mechanistic and functional’. Unfortunately, thus far it has proved difficult to translate this improved knowledge of normal development, typically derived from non-human models, into an understanding of the mechanisms underlying human malformations such as the spinal dysraphisms and anomalies of caudal development. A paediatric neurosurgeons perspective of current concepts in gastrulation is presented along with a critical review of the current hypotheses of human malformations that have been attributed to disorders of this stage of embryogenesis.
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Kylat RI, Bader M. Caudal Regression Syndrome. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 7:children7110211. [PMID: 33158301 PMCID: PMC7694368 DOI: 10.3390/children7110211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Caudal Regression Syndrome (CRS) or Caudal dysgenesis syndrome (CDS) is characterized by maldevelopment of the caudal half of the body with variable involvement of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, skeletal, and nervous systems. CRS affects 1–3 newborn infants per 100,000 live births. The prevalence in infants of diabetic mothers is reported at 1 in 350 live births which includes all the variants. A related condition is sirenomelia sequence or mermaid syndrome or symmelia and is characterized by fusion of the legs and a variable combination of the other abnormalities. The Currarino triad is a related anomaly that includes anorectal atresia, coccygeal and partial sacral agenesis, and a pre-sacral lesion such as anterior meningocele, lipoma or dermoid cyst. A multidisciplinary management approach is needed that includes rehabilitative services, and patients need a staged surgical approach.
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Downs KM, Rodriguez AM. The mouse fetal-placental arterial connection: A paradigm involving the primitive streak and visceral endoderm with implications for human development. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2019; 9:e362. [PMID: 31622045 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
In Placentalia, the fetus depends upon an organized vascular connection with its mother for survival and development. Yet, this connection was, until recently, obscure. Here, we summarize how two unrelated tissues, the primitive streak, or body axis, and extraembryonic visceral endoderm collaborate to create and organize the fetal-placental arterial connection in the mouse gastrula. The primitive streak reaches into the extraembryonic space, where it marks the site of arterial union and creates a progenitor cell pool. Through contact with the streak, associated visceral endoderm undergoes an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, contributing extraembryonic mesoderm to the placental arterial vasculature, and to the allantois, or pre-umbilical tissue. In addition, visceral endoderm bifurcates into the allantois where, with the primitive streak, it organizes the nascent umbilical artery and promotes allantoic elongation to the chorion, the site of fetal-maternal exchange. Brachyury mediates streak extension and vascular patterning, while Hedgehog is involved in visceral endoderm's conversion to mesoderm. A unique CASPASE-3-positive cell separates streak- and non-streak-associated domains in visceral endoderm. Based on these new insights at the posterior embryonic-extraembryonic interface, we conclude by asking whether so-called primordial germ cells are truly antecedents to the germ line that segregate within the allantois, or whether they are placental progenitor cells. Incorporating these new working hypotheses into mutational analyses in which the placentae are affected will aid understanding a spectrum of disorders, including orphan diseases, which often include abnormalities of the umbilical cord, yolk sac, and hindgut, whose developmental relationship to each other has, until now, been poorly understood. This article is categorized under: Birth Defects > Associated with Preimplantation and Gastrulation Early Embryonic Development > Gastrulation and Neurulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen M Downs
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Adriana M Rodriguez
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
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Nalbandyan M, Howley MM, Cunniff CM, Romitti PA, Browne ML. Descriptive and risk factor analysis of nonsyndromic sacral agenesis: National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011. Am J Med Genet A 2019; 179:1799-1814. [PMID: 31294918 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Sacral agenesis is a rare birth defect characterized by partial or complete absence of the sacrum. We sought to (a) describe case characteristics, (b) estimate birth prevalence, and (c) identify risk factors for nonsyndromic sacral agenesis using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS). The NBDPS was a population-based, case-control study involving pregnancies with estimated dates of delivery from October 1997 through December 2011. We estimated birth prevalence using all NBDPS eligible cases. Using self-reported maternal exposure information, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify potential risk factors overall and among women without diabetes. The birth prevalence of sacral agenesis was 2.6/100,000 live births. In the multivariable analysis, multifetal pregnancy, pre-existing Type 1 diabetes, and pre-existing Type 2 diabetes were positively and significantly associated with sacral agenesis, albeit estimates were imprecise. Preexisting Type 1 diabetes was the strongest risk factor (adjusted odds ratio = 96.6, 95% confidence interval = 43.5-214.7). Among women without diabetes, periconceptional smoking was positively and significantly associated with sacral agenesis. Our findings underscore the importance of smoking cessation programs among women planning pregnancy and the importance of better understanding the role of glycemic control before and during pregnancy when designing interventions for primary prevention of sacral agenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Nalbandyan
- New York State Department of Health, Congenital Malformations Registry, Albany, New York.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, New York
| | - Meredith M Howley
- New York State Department of Health, Congenital Malformations Registry, Albany, New York
| | - Christopher M Cunniff
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Paul A Romitti
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Marilyn L Browne
- New York State Department of Health, Congenital Malformations Registry, Albany, New York.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, New York
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Paudel S, Sindelar R, Saha M. Calcium Signaling in Vertebrate Development and Its Role in Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3390. [PMID: 30380695 PMCID: PMC6274931 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence over the past three decades suggests that altered calcium signaling during development may be a major driving force for adult pathophysiological events. Well over a hundred human genes encode proteins that are specifically dedicated to calcium homeostasis and calcium signaling, and the majority of these are expressed during embryonic development. Recent advances in molecular techniques have identified impaired calcium signaling during development due to either mutations or dysregulation of these proteins. This impaired signaling has been implicated in various human diseases ranging from cardiac malformations to epilepsy. Although the molecular basis of these and other diseases have been well studied in adult systems, the potential developmental origins of such diseases are less well characterized. In this review, we will discuss the recent evidence that examines different patterns of calcium activity during early development, as well as potential medical conditions associated with its dysregulation. Studies performed using various model organisms, including zebrafish, Xenopus, and mouse, have underscored the critical role of calcium activity in infertility, abortive pregnancy, developmental defects, and a range of diseases which manifest later in life. Understanding the underlying mechanisms by which calcium regulates these diverse developmental processes remains a challenge; however, this knowledge will potentially enable calcium signaling to be used as a therapeutic target in regenerative and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudip Paudel
- College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.
| | - Regan Sindelar
- College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.
| | - Margaret Saha
- College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.
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21
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Yamamoto Y, Miyazaki S, Maruyama K, Kobayashi R, Le MNT, Kano A, Kondow A, Fujii S, Ohnuma K. Random migration of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human gastrulation-stage mesendoderm. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201960. [PMID: 30199537 PMCID: PMC6130871 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrulation is the initial systematic deformation of the embryo to form germ layers, which is characterized by the placement of appropriate cells in their destined locations. Thus, gastrulation, which occurs at the beginning of the second month of pregnancy, is a critical stage in human body formation. Although histological analyses indicate that human gastrulation is similar to that of other amniotes (birds and mammals), much of human gastrulation dynamics remain unresolved due to ethical and technical limitations. We used human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to study the migration of mesendodermal cells through the primitive streak to form discoidal germ layers during gastrulation. Immunostaining results showed that hiPSCs differentiated into mesendodermal cells and that epithelial–mesenchymal transition occurred through the activation of the Activin/Nodal and Wnt/beta-catenin pathways. Single-cell time-lapse imaging of cells adhered to cover glass showed that mesendodermal differentiation resulted in the dissociation of cells and an increase in their migration speed, thus confirming the occurrence of epithelial–mesenchymal transition. These results suggest that mesendodermal cells derived from hiPSCs may be used as a model system for studying migration during human gastrulation in vitro. Using random walk analysis, we found that random migration occurred for both undifferentiated hiPSCs and differentiated mesendodermal cells. Two-dimensional random walk simulation showed that homogeneous dissociation of particles may form a discoidal layer, suggesting that random migration might be suitable to effectively disperse cells homogeneously from the primitive streak to form discoidal germ layers during human gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Yamamoto
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, NIIGATA, Japan
| | - Shota Miyazaki
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, NIIGATA, Japan
| | - Kenshiro Maruyama
- Department of Science of Technology Innovation, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, NIIGATA, Japan
| | - Ryo Kobayashi
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, NIIGATA, Japan
| | - Minh Nguyen Tuyet Le
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, NIIGATA, Japan
| | - Ayumu Kano
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, NIIGATA, Japan
| | - Akiko Kondow
- Division of Biomedical Polymer Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shuji Fujii
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, NIIGATA, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Ohnuma
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, NIIGATA, Japan
- Department of Science of Technology Innovation, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, NIIGATA, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Urban DJ, Sorensen DW, Maier JA, Fenton MB, Simmons NB, Cooper LN, Sears KE. Conjoined Twins in a Wild Bat: A Case Report. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2015. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2015.17.1.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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