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Arroyo-Ataz G, Yagüe AC, Breda JC, Mazzilli SA, Jones D. Transcriptional, developmental, and functional parallels of lymphatic and venous smooth muscle. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.18.604042. [PMID: 39091770 PMCID: PMC11291064 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.18.604042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Lymphatic muscle cells (LMCs) are indispensable for lymphatic vessel contraction and their aberrant recruitment or absence is associated with both primary and secondary lymphedema. Despite their critical role in lymphatic vessel function, the transcriptomic and developmental basis that confer the unique contractile properties to LMCs are largely undefined. In this study, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq), lineage tracing and in vivo imaging to investigate the basis for the hybrid cardiomyocyte and blood vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) characteristics that have been described for LMCs. Using scRNAseq, the transcriptomes of LMC and venous SMCs from the murine hindlimb exhibited more similarities than differences, although both were markedly distinct from that of arteriole SMCs in the same tissue. Functionally, both lymphatic vessels and blood vessels in the murine hindlimb displayed pulsatile contractility. However, despite expressing genes that overlap with the venous SMC transcriptome, through lineage tracing we show that LMCs do not originate from Myh11+ SMC progenitors. Previous studies have shown that LMCs express cardiac-related genes, whereas in our study we found that arteriole SMCs, but not LMCs, expressed cardiac-related genes. Through lineage tracing, we demonstrate that a subpopulation of LMCs and SMCs originate from WT1+ mesodermal progenitors, which are known to give rise to SMCs. LMCs, however, do not derive from Nkx2.5+ cardiomyocyte progenitors. Overall, our findings suggest that venous SMCs and LMCs and may derive from a related mesodermal progenitor and adopt a similar gene expression program that enable their contractile properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Arroyo-Ataz
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 670 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
| | - Alejandra Carrasco Yagüe
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 670 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
| | - Julia C. Breda
- Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 75 E. Newton Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
| | - Sarah A. Mazzilli
- Department of Medicine, Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 75 E. Newton Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
| | - Dennis Jones
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 670 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
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2
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Aloway JA, Ruteshouser EC, Huff V, Behringer RR. Generation of a Wt1 conditional deletion, nuclear red fluorescent protein reporter allele in the mouse. Differentiation 2024; 138:100791. [PMID: 38941819 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2024.100791] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
A Wt1 conditional deletion, nuclear red fluorescent protein (RFP) reporter allele was generated in the mouse by gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. Upon Cre-mediated recombination, a deletion allele is generated that expresses RFP in a Wt1-specific pattern. RFP expression was detected in embryonic and adult tissues known to express Wt1, including the kidney, mesonephros, and testis. In addition, RFP expression and WT1 co-localization was detected in the adult uterine stroma and myometrium, suggesting a role in uterine function. Crosses with Wnt7a-Cre transgenic mice that express Cre in the Müllerian duct epithelium activate Wt1-directed RFP expression in the epithelium of the oviduct but not the stroma and myometrium of the uterus. This new mouse strain should be a useful resource for studies of Wt1 function and marking Wt1-expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jace A Aloway
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Genetics and Epigenetics Program, MD Anderson Cancer Center UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - E Cristy Ruteshouser
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Vicki Huff
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Genetics and Epigenetics Program, MD Anderson Cancer Center UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Richard R Behringer
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Genetics and Epigenetics Program, MD Anderson Cancer Center UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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3
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Chen J, Wang X, He Q, Yang HC, Fogo AB, Harris RC. Inhibition of transcriptional coactivator YAP Impairs the expression and function of transcription factor WT1 in diabetic podocyte injury. Kidney Int 2024; 105:1200-1211. [PMID: 38423183 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2024.01.038] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Podocyte injury and loss are hallmarks of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena remain poorly understood. YAP (Yes-associated protein) is an important transcriptional coactivator that binds with various other transcription factors, including the TEAD family members (nuclear effectors of the Hippo pathway), that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The present study found an increase in YAP phosphorylation at S127 of YAP and a reduction of nuclear YAP localization in podocytes of diabetic mouse and human kidneys, suggesting dysregulation of YAP may play a role in diabetic podocyte injury. Tamoxifen-inducible podocyte-specific Yap gene knockout mice (YappodKO) exhibited accelerated and worsened diabetic kidney injury. YAP inactivation decreased transcription factor WT1 expression with subsequent reduction of Tead1 and other well-known targets of WT1 in diabetic podocytes. Thus, our study not only sheds light on the pathophysiological roles of the Hippo pathway in diabetic podocyte injury but may also lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies to prevent and/or treat DN by targeting the Hippo signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchun Chen
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Kidney Disease, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
| | - Xiaoyong Wang
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Qian He
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Hai-Chun Yang
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Agnes B Fogo
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Raymond C Harris
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Kidney Disease, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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4
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Singh S, Anderson N, Chu D, Roy SW. Nematode histone H2A variant evolution reveals diverse histories of retention and loss and evidence for conserved core-like variant histone genes. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300190. [PMID: 38814971 PMCID: PMC11139335 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300190] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Histone variants are paralogs that replace canonical histones in nucleosomes, often imparting novel functions. However, how histone variants arise and evolve is poorly understood. Reconstruction of histone protein evolution is challenging due to large differences in evolutionary rates across gene lineages and sites. Here we used intron position data from 108 nematode genomes in combination with amino acid sequence data to find disparate evolutionary histories of the three H2A variants found in Caenorhabditis elegans: the ancient H2A.ZHTZ-1, the sperm-specific HTAS-1, and HIS-35, which differs from the canonical S-phase H2A by a single glycine-to-alanine C-terminal change. Although the H2A.ZHTZ-1 protein sequence is highly conserved, its gene exhibits recurrent intron gain and loss. This pattern suggests that specific intron sequences or positions may not be important to H2A.Z functionality. For HTAS-1 and HIS-35, we find variant-specific intron positions that are conserved across species. Patterns of intron position conservation indicate that the sperm-specific variant HTAS-1 arose more recently in the ancestor of a subset of Caenorhabditis species, while HIS-35 arose in the ancestor of Caenorhabditis and its sister group, including the genus Diploscapter. HIS-35 exhibits gene retention in some descendent lineages but gene loss in others, suggesting that histone variant use or functionality can be highly flexible. Surprisingly, we find the single amino acid differentiating HIS-35 from core H2A is ancestral and common across canonical Caenorhabditis H2A sequences. Thus, we speculate that the role of HIS-35 lies not in encoding a functionally distinct protein, but instead in enabling H2A expression across the cell cycle or in distinct tissues. This work illustrates how genes encoding such partially-redundant functions may be advantageous yet relatively replaceable over evolutionary timescales, consistent with the patchwork pattern of retention and loss of both genes. Our study shows the utility of intron positions for reconstructing evolutionary histories of gene families, particularly those undergoing idiosyncratic sequence evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swadha Singh
- Quantitative & Systems Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Noelle Anderson
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Diana Chu
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Scott W. Roy
- Quantitative & Systems Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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Cui H, Zhu H, Ban W, Li Y, Chen R, Li L, Zhang X, Chen K, Xu H. Characterization of Two Gonadal Genes, zar1 and wt1b, in Hermaphroditic Fish Asian Seabass ( Lates calcarifer). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:508. [PMID: 38338151 PMCID: PMC10854929 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Zygote arrest-1 (Zar1) and Wilms' tumor 1 (Wt1) play an important role in oogenesis, with the latter also involved in testicular development and gender differentiation. Here, Lczar1 and Lcwt1b were identified in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer), a hermaphrodite fish, as the valuable model for studying sex differentiation. The cloned cDNA fragments of Lczar1 were 1192 bp, encoding 336 amino acids, and contained a zinc-binding domain, while those of Lcwt1b cDNA were 1521 bp, encoding a peptide of 423 amino acids with a Zn finger domain belonging to Wt1b family. RT-qPCR analysis showed that Lczar1 mRNA was exclusively expressed in the ovary, while Lcwt1b mRNA was majorly expressed in the gonads in a higher amount in the testis than in the ovary. In situ hybridization results showed that Lczar1 mRNA was mainly concentrated in oogonia and oocytes at early stages in the ovary, but were undetectable in the testis. Lcwt1b mRNA was localized not only in gonadal somatic cells (the testis and ovary), but also in female and male germ cells in the early developmental stages, such as those of previtellogenic oocytes, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids. These results indicated that Lczar1 and Lcwt1b possibly play roles in gonadal development. Therefore, the findings of this study will provide a basis for clarifying the mechanism of Lczar1 and Lcwt1b in regulating germ cell development and the sex reversal of Asian seabass and even other hermaphroditic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Cui
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (H.C.); (H.Z.); (W.B.); (Y.L.); (R.C.); (L.L.); (X.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences of Chongqing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Haoyu Zhu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (H.C.); (H.Z.); (W.B.); (Y.L.); (R.C.); (L.L.); (X.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences of Chongqing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Wenzhuo Ban
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (H.C.); (H.Z.); (W.B.); (Y.L.); (R.C.); (L.L.); (X.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences of Chongqing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yulin Li
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (H.C.); (H.Z.); (W.B.); (Y.L.); (R.C.); (L.L.); (X.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences of Chongqing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Ruyi Chen
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (H.C.); (H.Z.); (W.B.); (Y.L.); (R.C.); (L.L.); (X.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences of Chongqing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Lingli Li
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (H.C.); (H.Z.); (W.B.); (Y.L.); (R.C.); (L.L.); (X.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences of Chongqing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (H.C.); (H.Z.); (W.B.); (Y.L.); (R.C.); (L.L.); (X.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences of Chongqing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Kaili Chen
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (H.C.); (H.Z.); (W.B.); (Y.L.); (R.C.); (L.L.); (X.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences of Chongqing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Hongyan Xu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (H.C.); (H.Z.); (W.B.); (Y.L.); (R.C.); (L.L.); (X.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences of Chongqing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
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Bahrami M, Darabi S, Roozbahany NA, Abbaszadeh HA, Moghadasali R. Great potential of renal progenitor cells in kidney: From the development to clinic. Exp Cell Res 2024; 434:113875. [PMID: 38092345 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113875] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian renal organ represents a pinnacle of complexity, housing functional filtering units known as nephrons. During embryogenesis, the depletion of niches containing renal progenitor cells (RPCs) and the subsequent incapacity of adult kidneys to generate new nephrons have prompted the formulation of protocols aimed at isolating residual RPCs from mature kidneys and inducing their generation from diverse cell sources, notably pluripotent stem cells. Recent strides in the realm of regenerative medicine and the repair of tissues using stem cells have unveiled critical signaling pathways essential for the maintenance and generation of human RPCs in vitro. These findings have ushered in a new era for exploring novel strategies for renal protection. The present investigation delves into potential transcription factors and signaling cascades implicated in the realm of renal progenitor cells, focusing on their protection and differentiation. The discourse herein elucidates contemporary research endeavors dedicated to the acquisition of progenitor cells, offering crucial insights into the developmental mechanisms of these cells within the renal milieu and paving the way for the formulation of innovative treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Bahrami
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Laser Applications in Medical Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahram Darabi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | | | - Hojjat Allah Abbaszadeh
- Laser Applications in Medical Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Reza Moghadasali
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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Torban E, Goodyer P. Wilms' tumor gene 1: lessons from the interface between kidney development and cancer. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2024; 326:F3-F19. [PMID: 37916284 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00248.2023] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In 1990, mutations of the Wilms' tumor-1 gene (WT1), encoding a transcription factor in the embryonic kidney, were found in 10-15% of Wilms' tumors; germline WT1 mutations were associated with hereditary syndromes involving glomerular and reproductive tract dysplasia. For more than three decades, these discoveries prompted investigators to explore the embryonic role of WT1 and the mechanisms by which loss of WT1 leads to malignant transformation. Here, we discuss how alternative splicing of WT1 generates isoforms that act in a context-specific manner to activate or repress target gene transcription. WT1 also regulates posttranscriptional regulation, alters the epigenetic landscape, and activates miRNA expression. WT1 functions at multiple stages of kidney development, including the transition from resting stem cells to committed nephron progenitor, which it primes to respond to WNT9b signals from the ureteric bud. WT1 then drives nephrogenesis by activating WNT4 expression and directing the development of glomerular podocytes. We review the WT1 mutations that account for Denys-Drash syndrome, Frasier syndrome, and WAGR syndrome. Although the WT1 story began with Wilms' tumors, an understanding of the pathways that link aberrant kidney development to malignant transformation still has some important gaps. Loss of WT1 in nephrogenic rests may leave these premalignant clones with inadequate DNA repair enzymes and may disturb the epigenetic landscape. Yet none of these observations provide a complete picture of Wilms' tumor pathogenesis. It appears that the WT1 odyssey is unfinished and still holds a great deal of untilled ground to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Torban
- Department of Medicine, McGill University and Research Institute of McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Paul Goodyer
- Department of Human Genetics, Montreal Children's Hospital and McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital and McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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8
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Schnerwitzki D, Englert C, Schmidt M. Adapting the pantograph limb: Differential robustness of fore- and hindlimb kinematics against genetically induced perturbation in the neural control networks and its evolutionary implications. ZOOLOGY 2023; 157:126076. [PMID: 36842298 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2023.126076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionary transformation of limb morphology to the four-segmented pantograph of therians is among the milestones of mammalian evolution. But, it is still unknown if changes of the mechanical limb function were accompanied by corresponding changes in development and sensorimotor control. The impressive locomotor performance of mammals leaves no doubt about the high integration of pattern formation, neural control and mechanics. But, deviations from normal intra- and interlimb coordination (spatial and temporal) become evident in the presence of perturbations. We induced a perturbation in the development of the neural circuits of the spinal cord of mice (Mus musculus) using a deletion of the Wilms tumor suppressor gene Wt1 in a subpopulation of dI6 interneurons. These interneurons are assumed to participate in the intermuscular coordination within the limb and in left-right-coordination between the limbs. We describe the locomotor kinematics in mice with conditional Wt1 knockout and compare them to mice without Wt1 deletion. Unlike knockout neonates, knockout adult mice do not display severe deviations from normal (=control group) interlimb coordination, but the coordinated protraction and retraction of the limbs is altered. The forelimbs are more affected by deviations from the control than the hindlimbs. This observation appears to reflect a different degree of integration and resistance against the induced perturbation between the limbs. Interestingly, the observed effects are similar to locomotor deficits reported to arise when sensory feedback from proprioceptors or cutaneous receptors is impaired. A putative participation of Wt1 positive dI6 interneurons in sensorimotor integration is therefore considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Schnerwitzki
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Christoph Englert
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany; Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany.
| | - Manuela Schmidt
- Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research with Phyletic Museum, Ernst-Haeckel building and Didactics of Biology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erbertstrasse 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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9
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Association between congenital mesoblastic nephroma and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: A case report. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY CASE REPORTS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.epsc.2023.102585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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10
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Liu W, Chen M, Liu C, Wang L, Wei H, Zhang R, Ren Z, Chen Y, Luo M, Zhao J, Jiang H, Gao F, Li W. Epg5 deficiency leads to primary ovarian insufficiency due to WT1 accumulation in mouse granulosa cells. Autophagy 2023; 19:644-659. [PMID: 35786405 PMCID: PMC9851269 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2022.2094671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), also known as premature ovarian failure, is an ovarian defect in humans characterized by the premature depletion of ovarian follicles before the age of 40. However, the mechanisms underlying POI remain largely unknown. Here, we show that knockout of Epg5 (ectopic P-granules autophagy protein 5 homolog (C. elegans)) results in subfertility in female mice, which exhibit a POI-like phenotype. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the knockout of Epg5 affected the differentiation of granulosa cells (GCs). Further investigation demonstrated that knockout of Epg5 blocks macroautophagic/autophagic flux, resulting in the accumulation of WT1 (WT1 transcription factor), an essential transcription factor for GCs, suggesting WT1 needs to be selectively degraded by the autophagy pathway. We found that the insufficient degradation of WT1 in the antral follicular stage contributes to reduced expression of steroidogenesis-related genes, thereby disrupting GC differentiation. Collectively, our studies show that EPG5 promotes WT1 degradation in GCs, indicating that the dysregulation of Epg5 in GCs can trigger POI pathogenesis.Abbreviations: 3-MA, 3-methyladenine; CHX, cycloheximide; CQ, chloroquine; EPG5, ectopic P-granules autophagy protein 5 homolog (C. elegans); GC, granulosa cell; MAP1LC3/LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; MII, metaphase II; POI, primary ovarian insufficiency; PB1, polar body 1; SQSTM1/p62, sequestosome 1; WT1, WT1 transcription factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Liu
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China,College of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, P.R. China,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Chao Liu
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Liying Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Huafang Wei
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Ruidan Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Zhengxing Ren
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yinghong Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Mengcheng Luo
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R China
| | - Jianguo Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hongwei Jiang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China,National Center for Clinical Research of Metabolic Diseases, Luoyang Center for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Luoyang, P.R. China,CONTACT Hongwei Jiang Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital and Clinical Medicine College, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang471003, P.R. China
| | - Fei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China,Fei Gao State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100101, P.R. China
| | - Wei Li
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China,Wei Li Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou510623, P.R. China
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11
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Olaniru OE, Kadolsky U, Kannambath S, Vaikkinen H, Fung K, Dhami P, Persaud SJ. Single-cell transcriptomic and spatial landscapes of the developing human pancreas. Cell Metab 2023; 35:184-199.e5. [PMID: 36513063 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Current differentiation protocols have not been successful in reproducibly generating fully functional human beta cells in vitro, partly due to incomplete understanding of human pancreas development. Here, we present detailed transcriptomic analysis of the various cell types of the developing human pancreas, including their spatial gene patterns. We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing with spatial transcriptomics at multiple developmental time points and revealed distinct temporal-spatial gene cascades. Cell trajectory inference identified endocrine progenitor populations and branch-specific genes as the progenitors differentiate toward alpha or beta cells. Spatial differentiation trajectories indicated that Schwann cells are spatially co-located with endocrine progenitors, and cell-cell connectivity analysis predicted that they may interact via L1CAM-EPHB2 signaling. Our integrated approach enabled us to identify heterogeneity and multiple lineage dynamics within the mesenchyme, showing that it contributed to the exocrine acinar cell state. Finally, we have generated an interactive web resource for investigating human pancreas development for the research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oladapo Edward Olaniru
- Department of Diabetes, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK.
| | - Ulrich Kadolsky
- Genomics Research Platform and Single Cell Laboratory, Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK; Genomics WA, University of Western Australia, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Telethon Kids Institute QEII Campus, Nedlands, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Shichina Kannambath
- Genomics Research Platform and Single Cell Laboratory, Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Heli Vaikkinen
- Genomics Research Platform and Single Cell Laboratory, Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Kathy Fung
- Genomics Research Platform and Single Cell Laboratory, Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Pawan Dhami
- Genomics Research Platform and Single Cell Laboratory, Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Shanta J Persaud
- Department of Diabetes, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK.
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12
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Zhao L, Liu X, Gomez NA, Gao Y, Son JS, Chae SA, Zhu MJ, Du M. Stage-specific nutritional management and developmental programming to optimize meat production. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:2. [PMID: 36597116 PMCID: PMC9809060 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-022-00805-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, genetic selection and refined nutritional management have extensively been used to increase the growth rate and lean meat production of livestock. However, the rapid growth rates of modern breeds are often accompanied by a reduction in intramuscular fat deposition and increased occurrences of muscle abnormalities, impairing meat quality and processing functionality. Early stages of animal development set the long-term growth trajectory of offspring. However, due to the seasonal reproductive cycles of ruminant livestock, gestational nutrient deficiencies caused by seasonal variations, frequent droughts, and unfavorable geological locations negatively affect fetal development and their subsequent production efficiency and meat quality. Therefore, enrolling livestock in nutritional intervention strategies during gestation is effective for improving the body composition and meat quality of the offspring at harvest. These crucial early developmental stages include embryonic, fetal, and postnatal stages, which have stage-specific effects on subsequent offspring development, body composition, and meat quality. This review summarizes contemporary research in the embryonic, fetal, and neonatal development, and the impacts of maternal nutrition on the early development and programming effects on the long-term growth performance of livestock. Understanding the developmental and metabolic characteristics of skeletal muscle, adipose, and fibrotic tissues will facilitate the development of stage-specific nutritional management strategies to optimize production efficiency and meat quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhao
- grid.27871.3b0000 0000 9750 7019College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095 Nanjing, PR China ,grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Nutrigenomics and Growth Biology Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, WA 99164 Pullman, USA
| | - Xiangdong Liu
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Nutrigenomics and Growth Biology Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, WA 99164 Pullman, USA
| | - Noe A Gomez
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Nutrigenomics and Growth Biology Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, WA 99164 Pullman, USA
| | - Yao Gao
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Nutrigenomics and Growth Biology Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, WA 99164 Pullman, USA
| | - Jun Seok Son
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Nutrigenomics and Growth Biology Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, WA 99164 Pullman, USA ,grid.411024.20000 0001 2175 4264Laboratory of Perinatal Kinesioepigenetics, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, MD 21201 Baltimore, USA
| | - Song Ah Chae
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Nutrigenomics and Growth Biology Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, WA 99164 Pullman, USA
| | - Mei-Jun Zhu
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568School of Food Science, Washington State University, WA Pullman, USA
| | - Min Du
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Nutrigenomics and Growth Biology Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, WA 99164 Pullman, USA
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13
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Transgenic Mouse Models to Study the Development and Maintenance of the Adrenal Cortex. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214388. [PMID: 36430866 PMCID: PMC9693478 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The cortex of the adrenal gland is organized into concentric zones that produce distinct steroid hormones essential for body homeostasis in mammals. Mechanisms leading to the development, zonation and maintenance of the adrenal cortex are complex and have been studied since the 1800s. However, the advent of genetic manipulation and transgenic mouse models over the past 30 years has revolutionized our understanding of these mechanisms. This review lists and details the distinct Cre recombinase mouse strains available to study the adrenal cortex, and the remarkable progress total and conditional knockout mouse models have enabled us to make in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating the development and maintenance of the adrenal cortex.
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14
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Targeted Disruption of Lats1 and Lats2 in Mice Impairs Testis Development and Alters Somatic Cell Fate. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113585. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hippo signaling plays an essential role in the development of numerous tissues. Although it was previously shown that the transcriptional effectors of Hippo signaling Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) can fine-tune the regulation of sex differentiation genes in the testes, the role of Hippo signaling in testis development remains largely unknown. To further explore the role of Hippo signaling in the testes, we conditionally deleted the key Hippo kinases large tumor suppressor homolog kinases 1 and -2 (Lats1 and Lats2, two kinases that antagonize YAP and TAZ transcriptional co-regulatory activity) in the somatic cells of the testes using an Nr5a1-cre strain (Lats1flox/flox;Lats2flox/flox;Nr5a1-cre). We report here that early stages of testis somatic cell differentiation were not affected in this model but progressive testis cord dysgenesis was observed starting at gestational day e14.5. Testis cord dysgenesis was further associated with the loss of polarity of the Sertoli cells and the loss of SOX9 expression but not WT1. In parallel with testis cord dysgenesis, a loss of steroidogenic gene expression associated with the appearance of myofibroblast-like cells in the interstitial space was also observed in mutant animals. Furthermore, the loss of YAP phosphorylation, the accumulation of nuclear TAZ (and YAP) in both the Sertoli and interstitial cell populations, and an increase in their transcriptional co-regulatory activity in the testes suggest that the observed phenotype could be attributed at least in part to YAP and TAZ. Taken together, our results suggest that Hippo signaling is required to maintain proper differentiation of testis somatic cells.
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15
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Shiraki T, Hayashi T, Ozue J, Watanabe M. Appropriate Amounts and Activity of the Wilms' Tumor Suppressor Gene, wt1, Are Required for Normal Pronephros Development of Xenopus Embryos. J Dev Biol 2022; 10:jdb10040046. [PMID: 36412640 PMCID: PMC9680428 DOI: 10.3390/jdb10040046] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wilms' tumor suppressor gene, wt1, encodes a zinc finger-containing transcription factor that binds to a GC-rich motif and regulates the transcription of target genes. wt1 was first identified as a tumor suppressor gene in Wilms' tumor, a pediatric kidney tumor, and has been implicated in normal kidney development. The WT1 protein has transcriptional activation and repression domains and acts as a transcriptional activator or repressor, depending on the target gene and context. In Xenopus, an ortholog of wt1 has been isolated and shown to be expressed in the developing embryonic pronephros. To investigate the role of wt1 in pronephros development in Xenopus embryos, we mutated wt1 by CRISPR/Cas9 and found that the expression of pronephros marker genes was reduced. In reporter assays in which known WT1 binding sequences were placed upstream of the luciferase gene, WT1 activated transcription of the luciferase gene. The injection of wild-type or artificially altered transcriptional activity of wt1 mRNA disrupted the expression of pronephros marker genes in the embryos. These results suggest that the appropriate amounts and activity of WT1 protein are required for normal pronephros development in Xenopus embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taisei Shiraki
- Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Tokushima University, 1-1 Minamijosanjima-Cho, Tokushima 770-8054, Japan
| | - Takuma Hayashi
- Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Tokushima University, 1-1 Minamijosanjima-Cho, Tokushima 770-8054, Japan
| | - Jotaro Ozue
- Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Tokushima University, 1-1 Minamijosanjima-Cho, Tokushima 770-8054, Japan
| | - Minoru Watanabe
- Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Tokushima University, 1-1 Minamijosanjima-Cho, Tokushima 770-8054, Japan
- Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-1 Minamijosanjima-Cho, Tokushima 770-8054, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-088-656-7253
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16
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Taglienti M, Graf D, Schumacher V, Kreidberg JA. Bmp7 drives proximal tubule expansion and determines nephron number in the developing kidney. Development 2022; 149:dev200773. [PMID: 35877077 PMCID: PMC9382899 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200773] [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: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian kidney is composed of thousands of nephrons that are formed through reiterative induction of a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transformation by a population of nephron progenitor cells. The number of nephrons in human kidneys ranges from several hundred thousand to nearly a million, and low nephron number has been implicated as a risk factor for kidney disease as an adult. Bmp7 is among a small number of growth factors required to support the proliferation and self-renewal of nephron progenitor cells, in a process that will largely determine the final nephron number. Once induced, each nephron begins as a simple tubule that undergoes extensive proliferation and segmental differentiation. Bmp7 is expressed both by nephron progenitor cells and the ureteric bud derivative branches that induce new nephrons. Here, we show that, in mice, Bmp7 expressed by progenitor cells has a major role in determining nephron number; nephron number is reduced to one tenth its normal value in its absence. Postnatally, Bmp7 also drives proliferation of the proximal tubule cells, and these ultimately constitute the largest segment of the nephron. Bmp7 appears to act through Smad 1,5,9(8), p38 and JNK MAP kinase. In the absence of Bmp7, nephrons undergo a hypertrophic process that involves p38. Following a global inactivation of Bmp7, we also see evidence for Bmp7-driven growth of the nephron postnatally. Thus, we identify a role for Bmp7 in supporting the progenitor population and driving expansion of nephrons to produce a mature kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Taglienti
- Department of Urology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daniel Graf
- School of Dentistry and Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada
| | - Valerie Schumacher
- Department of Urology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Nephrology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jordan A. Kreidberg
- Department of Urology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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17
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Deletion of Wt1 during early gonadogenesis leads to differences of sex development in male and female adult mice. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010240. [PMID: 35704566 PMCID: PMC9200307 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010240] [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: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing the role of the WT1 transcription factor (WT1) during early gonad differentiation and its impact on adult sex development has been difficult due to the complete gonadal agenesis and embryonic lethality exhibited by Wt1KO mouse models. Here, we generated Wt1LoxP/GFP;Wt1Cre mice, the first Wt1KO mouse model that reaches adulthood with a dramatically reduced Wt1 expression during early gonadogenesis. Wt1LoxP/GFP;Wt1Cre mice lacked mature gonads and displayed genital tracts containing both male and female genital structures and ambiguous genitalia. We found that WT1 is necessary for the activation of both male and female sex-determining pathways, as embryonic mutant gonads failed to upregulate the expression of the genes specific for each genetic programme. The gonads of Wt1LoxP/GFP;Wt1Cre mice showed a lack of production of Sertoli and pre-granulosa cells and a reduced number of germ cells. NR5A1 and the steroidogenic genes expression was modulated differently in XY and XX Wt1LoxP/GFP;Wt1Cre gonads, explaining the mutant phenotypes. Further studies of the XX Wt1LoxP/GFP;Wt1Cre gonads revealed that deletion of WT1 at an early stage impaired the differentiation of several cell types including somatic cells and the ovarian epithelium. Through the characterisation of this Wt1KO mouse model, we show that the deletion of Wt1 during early gonadogenesis produces dramatic defects in adult sex development. The WT1 transcription factor (WT1) is a protein expressed during gonad development. WT1 mutations have been reported in several human conditions in which patients present a variable range of genital malformations varying from ambiguous external genitalia to gonadal dysgenesis. Mouse models in which Wt1 has been deleted indicate that WT1 has a critical role in early gonadogenesis. However, assessing the role of this protein in early gonad formation and its impact on adult sex development has been difficult due to the complete gonadal agenesis or embryonic lethality observed in these mouse models. Here, we describe a new genetically engineered mouse model in which Wt1 expression is deleted from an early stage in gonad formation. The analyses of these mice revealed the importance of Wt1 for early gonad differentiation and the impact of its early deletion on the formation of the adult reproductive system. Adult mutant mice lacked mature gonads, with both XX and XY mutants displaying genital tracts containing both male and female structures as well as ambiguous external genitalia. Notably, mutant gonads remained in an undifferentiated stage, indicating that WT1 is important for the differentiation of different populations of progenitor cells.
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18
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Lawrence M, Elhendawi M, Morlock M, Liu W, Liu S, Palakkan A, Seidl L, Hohenstein P, Sjögren A, Davies J. Human iPSC-derived renal organoids engineered to report oxidative stress can predict drug-induced toxicity. iScience 2022; 25:103884. [PMID: 35243244 PMCID: PMC8861638 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in regenerative medicine have led to the construction of many types of organoids, which reproduce important aspects of endogenous organs but may be limited or disorganized in nature. While their usefulness for restoring function remains unclear, they have undoubted usefulness in research, diagnostics, and toxicology. In toxicology, there is an urgent need for better models for human kidneys. We used human iPS-cell (hiPSC)-derived renal organoids to identify HMOX1 as a useful marker of toxic stress via the oxidative stress pathway, and then constructed an HMOX1 reporter in hiPSCs. We used two forms of hiPSC-derived HMOX1-reporter renal organoids to probe their ability to detect nephrotoxicants in a panel of blind-coded compounds. Our results highlight the potential usefulness, and some limitations, of HMOX1-reporter renal organoids as screening tools. The results may guide development of similar stress-reporting organoid assays for other stem-cell-derived organs and tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.L. Lawrence
- Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD UK
| | - M. Elhendawi
- Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD UK
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - M. Morlock
- R&D Graduate, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - W. Liu
- SynthSys Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, C.H Waddington Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK
| | - S. Liu
- Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD UK
| | - A. Palakkan
- Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD UK
| | - L.F. Seidl
- Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD UK
| | - P. Hohenstein
- Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - A.K. Sjögren
- CVRM Safety, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Science, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - J.A. Davies
- Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD UK
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19
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Chen M, Cen C, Wang N, Shen Z, Wang M, Liu B, Li J, Cui X, Wang Y, Gao F. The functions of Wt1 in mouse gonad development and somatic cells differentiation. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:269-274. [PMID: 35244683 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Wilms' tumour 1 (Wt1) encodes a zinc finger nuclear transcription factor which is mutated in 15-20% of Wilms' tumor, a pediatric kidney tumor. Wt1 has been found to be involved in the development of many organs. In gonads, Wt1 is expressed in genital ridge somatic cells before sex determination, and its expression is maintained in Sertoli cells and granulosa cells after sex determination. It has been demonstrated that Wt1 is required for the survival of the genital ridge cells. Homozygous mutation of Wt1 causes gonad agenesis. Recent studies find that Wt1 plays important roles in lineage specification and maintenance of gonad somatic cells. In this review, we will summarize the recent research works about Wt1 in gonadal somatic cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Changhuo Cen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Nan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Zhiming Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Mengyue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Bowen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jiayi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Xiuhong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yanbo Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao, Inner Mongolia, 028000, China
| | - Fei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
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20
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Hopfenmüller VL, Perner B, Reuter H, Bates TJD, Große A, Englert C. The Wilms Tumor Gene wt1a Contributes to Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier Function in Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:809962. [PMID: 35087838 PMCID: PMC8786916 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.809962] [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: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wilms tumor suppressor gene Wt1 encodes a zinc finger transcription factor, which is highly conserved among vertebrates. It is a key regulator of urogenital development and homeostasis but also plays a role in other organs including the spleen and the heart. More recently additional functions for Wt1 in the mammalian central nervous system have been described. In contrast to mammals, bony fish possess two paralogous Wt1 genes, namely wt1a and wt1b. By performing detailed in situ hybridization analyses during zebrafish development, we discovered new expression domains for wt1a in the dorsal hindbrain, the caudal medulla and the spinal cord. Marker analysis identified wt1a expressing cells of the dorsal hindbrain as ependymal cells of the choroid plexus in the myelencephalic ventricle. The choroid plexus acts as a blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier and thus is crucial for brain homeostasis. By employing wt1a mutant larvae and a dye accumulation assay with fluorescent tracers we demonstrate that Wt1a is required for proper choroid plexus formation and function. Thus, Wt1a contributes to the barrier properties of the choroid plexus in zebrafish, revealing an unexpected role for Wt1 in the zebrafish brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Birgit Perner
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Hanna Reuter
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas J D Bates
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Große
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
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21
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Thomson E, Zhao L, Chen YS, Longmuss E, Ng ET, Sreenivasan R, Croft B, Song X, Sinclair A, Weiss M, Koopman P, Pelosi E. Generation and mutational analysis of a transgenic mouse model of human SRY. Hum Mutat 2021; 43:362-379. [PMID: 34918413 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
SRY is the Y-chromosomal gene that determines male sex development in humans and most other mammals. After three decades of study, we still lack a detailed understanding of which domains of the SRY protein are required to engage the pathway of gene activity leading to testis development. Some insight has been gained from the study of genetic variations underlying differences/disorders of sex determination (DSD), but the lack of a system of experimentally generating SRY mutations and studying their consequences in vivo has limited progress in the field. To address this issue, we generated a mouse model carrying a human SRY transgene able to drive testis determination in XX mice. Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, we generated novel genetic modifications in each of SRY's three domains (N-terminal, HMG box, and C-terminal) and performed a detailed analysis of their molecular and cellular effects on embryonic testis development. Our results provide new functional insights unique to human SRY and present a versatile and powerful system in which to functionally analyze variations of SRY including known and novel pathogenic variants found in DSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella Thomson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Liang Zhao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yen-Shan Chen
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Enya Longmuss
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ee Ting Ng
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rajini Sreenivasan
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brittany Croft
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xin Song
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew Sinclair
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Weiss
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Peter Koopman
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Emanuele Pelosi
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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22
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Tang S, Li X, Wu X, Gong Y. WT1 suppresses follicle-stimulating hormone-induced progesterone secretion by regulating ERK1/2 pathway in chicken preovulatory granulosa cells. Gene 2021; 812:146097. [PMID: 34902510 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.146097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Multiple Wilms tumor gene 1 (WT1) splicing variants are expressed in mammals, and these variants regulate tumorigenesis and mediate the development of multiple tissues and organs, including gonads. However, WT1 splicing variants (+KTS or -KTS) are expressed in only two nonmammalian vertebrates, and unexpectedly, their functions in chicken ovaries remain elusive. Progesterone (P4) secreted by chicken granulosa cells (GCs) participates in various physiological processes and plays an important role in maintaining reproductive performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of WT1(+KTS) and WT1(-KTS) on chicken P4 secretion in preovulatory GCs. First, we detected WT1 mRNA expression in GCs from follicles of different developmental stages by Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and found that WT1 mRNA expression was considerably increased in preovulatory GCs compared with prehierarchical GCs. Primary cells collected from preovulatory follicles were treated with WT1(+KTS) or WT1(-KTS) overexpression vectors and subsequently cultured in the absence or presence of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The mRNA levels of FSH-receptor (FSHR) and steroidogenesis genes were determined by RT-qPCR, and the P4 levels in the cell supernatants were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Both WT1(+KTS) and WT1(-KTS) significantly decreased P4 secretion due to a reduction in FSHR, STAR and CYP11A1 mRNA levels. Western blotting revealed that ERK1/2 and BRAF phosphorylation levels were suppressed after overexpression of WT1(+KTS) or WT1(-KTS), whereas total protein and mRNA levels were not significantly changed. In addition, CREB protein and phosphorylation levels were inhibited after overexpression of WT1(+KTS) or WT1(-KTS). In conclusion, WT1(+KTS) and WT1(-KTS) inhibited CREB protein activity and significantly reduced FSHR, STAR and CYP11A1 mRNA levels, which subsequently suppressed FSH-induced P4 secretion in preovulatory GCs by modulating ERK1/2 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuixin Tang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xuelian Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiaohui Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yanzhang Gong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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23
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Streef TJ, Smits AM. Epicardial Contribution to the Developing and Injured Heart: Exploring the Cellular Composition of the Epicardium. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:750243. [PMID: 34631842 PMCID: PMC8494983 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.750243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The epicardium is an essential cell population during cardiac development. It contributes different cell types to the developing heart through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and it secretes paracrine factors that support cardiac tissue formation. In the adult heart the epicardium is a quiescent layer of cells which can be reactivated upon ischemic injury, initiating an embryonic-like response in the epicardium that contributes to post-injury repair processes. Therefore, the epicardial layer is considered an interesting target population to stimulate endogenous repair mechanisms. To date it is still not clear whether there are distinct cell populations in the epicardium that contribute to specific lineages or aid in cardiac repair, or that the epicardium functions as a whole. To address this putative heterogeneity, novel techniques such as single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq) are being applied. In this review, we summarize the role of the epicardium during development and after injury and provide an overview of the most recent insights into the cellular composition and diversity of the epicardium.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anke M. Smits
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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24
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Cen C, Chen M, Zhou J, Zhang L, Duo S, Jiang L, Hou X, Gao F. Inactivation of Wt1 causes pre-granulosa cell to steroidogenic cell transformation and defect of ovary development†. Biol Reprod 2021; 103:60-69. [PMID: 32301970 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Wt1 gene encodes a nuclear transcription factor which is specifically expressed in ovarian granulosa cells and testicular Sertoli cells. Our previous studies demonstrated that Wt1 is required for the lineage specification of supporting cells and inactivation of Wt1 results in Sertoli cells to Leydig-like cells transformation. To test whether Wt1 is also involved in lineage maintenance of granulosa cells during ovary development, Wt1 was specifically deleted in pre-granulosa cells using Foxl2-cre. We found that the female Wt1-/flox; Foxl2-cre mice were infertile with atrophic ovaries and no growing follicles with multiple layers of granulosa cells were observed. A large number of 3β-HSD-positive steroidogenic cells were detected in ovaries of Wt1-/flox; Foxl2-cre mice during embryonic stage and these cells were derived from Foxl2-expressing pre-granulosa cells. The quantitative results showed the expression of granulosa cell marker genes (Foxl2, Follistatin) was downregulated and steroidogenic cell marker genes (3β-HSD, Cyp11a1, Star and Sf1) was dramatically increased in Wt1-/flox; Foxl2-cre ovaries. We also found that the meiosis of germ cells in Wt1-/flox; Foxl2-cre ovaries was delayed but not arrested. This study demonstrates that Wt1 is required for lineage maintenance of granulosa cells and inactivation of Wt1 results in pre-granulosa cells to steroidogenic cells transformation which in turn causes the defect of ovary development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhuo Cen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China, 563000
| | - Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 100101
| | - Jingjing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 100101.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lianjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 100101.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuguang Duo
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 100101
| | - Lin Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China, 563000
| | - Xiaohui Hou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China, 563000
| | - Fei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 100101.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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25
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Ford MJ, Harwalkar K, Pacis AS, Maunsell H, Wang YC, Badescu D, Teng K, Yamanaka N, Bouchard M, Ragoussis J, Yamanaka Y. Oviduct epithelial cells constitute two developmentally distinct lineages that are spatially separated along the distal-proximal axis. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109677. [PMID: 34496237 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Owing to technical advances in single-cell biology, the appreciation of cellular heterogeneity has increased, which has aided our understanding of organ function, homeostasis, and disease progression. The oviduct (also known as the fallopian tube) is the distalmost portion of the female reproductive tract. It is essential for reproduction and the proposed origin of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). In mammals, the oviduct is morphologically segmented along the ovary-uterus axis into four evolutionally conserved regions. It is unclear, however, if there is a diversification of epithelial cell characteristics between these regions. In this study, we identify transcriptionally distinct populations of secretory and multiciliated cells restricted to the distal and proximal regions of the oviduct. We demonstrate that distal and proximal populations are distinct lineages specified early in Müllerian duct development and are maintained separately. These results aid our understanding of epithelial development, homeostasis, and initiation of disease from the oviduct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Ford
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Institute, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Keerthana Harwalkar
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Institute, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Alain S Pacis
- Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics (C3G), Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A4, Canada
| | - Helen Maunsell
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Institute, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Yu Chang Wang
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A OC7, Canada; McGill University and Genome Centre, Montreal, QC H3A 1A4, Canada
| | - Dunarel Badescu
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A OC7, Canada; McGill University and Genome Centre, Montreal, QC H3A 1A4, Canada
| | - Katie Teng
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Institute, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Nobuko Yamanaka
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Institute, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Maxime Bouchard
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Institute and Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Jiannis Ragoussis
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A OC7, Canada; McGill University and Genome Centre, Montreal, QC H3A 1A4, Canada; Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Yojiro Yamanaka
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Institute, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada.
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26
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Every Beat You Take-The Wilms' Tumor Suppressor WT1 and the Heart. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147675. [PMID: 34299295 PMCID: PMC8306835 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Nearly three decades ago, the Wilms’ tumor suppressor Wt1 was identified as a crucial regulator of heart development. Wt1 is a zinc finger transcription factor with multiple biological functions, implicated in the development of several organ systems, among them cardiovascular structures. This review summarizes the results from many research groups which allowed to establish a relevant function for Wt1 in cardiac development and disease. During development, Wt1 is involved in fundamental processes as the formation of the epicardium, epicardial epithelial-mesenchymal transition, coronary vessel development, valve formation, organization of the cardiac autonomous nervous system, and formation of the cardiac ventricles. Wt1 is further implicated in cardiac disease and repair in adult life. We summarize here the current knowledge about expression and function of Wt1 in heart development and disease and point out controversies to further stimulate additional research in the areas of cardiac development and pathophysiology. As re-activation of developmental programs is considered as paradigm for regeneration in response to injury, understanding of these processes and the molecules involved therein is essential for the development of therapeutic strategies, which we discuss on the example of WT1.
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27
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Post-Surgical Peritoneal Scarring and Key Molecular Mechanisms. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11050692. [PMID: 34063089 PMCID: PMC8147932 DOI: 10.3390/biom11050692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-surgical adhesions are internal scar tissue and a major health and economic burden. Adhesions affect and involve the peritoneal lining of the abdominal cavity, which consists of a continuous mesothelial covering of the cavity wall and majority of internal organs. Our understanding of the full pathophysiology of adhesion formation is limited by the fact that the mechanisms regulating normal serosal repair and regeneration of the mesothelial layer are still being elucidated. Emerging evidence suggests that mesothelial cells do not simply form a passive barrier but perform a wide range of important regulatory functions including maintaining a healthy peritoneal homeostasis as well as orchestrating events leading to normal repair or pathological outcomes following injury. Here, we summarise recent advances in our understanding of serosal repair and adhesion formation with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms and novel gene expression signatures associated with these processes. We discuss changes in mesothelial biomolecular marker expression during peritoneal development, which may help, in part, to explain findings in adults from lineage tracing studies using experimental adhesion models. Lastly, we highlight examples of where local tissue specialisation may determine a particular response of peritoneal cells to injury.
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28
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Implications of the Wilms' Tumor Suppressor Wt1 in Cardiomyocyte Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094346. [PMID: 33919406 PMCID: PMC8122684 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wilms’ tumor suppressor Wt1 is involved in multiple developmental processes and adult tissue homeostasis. The first phenotypes recognized in Wt1 knockout mice were developmental cardiac and kidney defects. Wt1 expression in the heart has been described in epicardial, endothelial, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts. Expression of Wt1 in cardiomyocytes has been suggested but remained a controversial issue, as well as the role of Wt1 in cardiomyocyte development and regeneration after injury. We determined cardiac Wt1 expression during embryonic development, in the adult, and after cardiac injury by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. As in vitro model, phenotypic cardiomyocyte differentiation, i.e., the appearance of rhythmically beating clones from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and associated changes in gene expression were analyzed. We detected Wt1 in cardiomyocytes from embryonic day (E10.5), the first time point investigated, until adult age. Cardiac Wt1 mRNA levels decreased during embryonic development. In the adult, Wt1 was reactivated in cardiomyocytes 48 h and 3 weeks following myocardial infarction. Wt1 mRNA levels were increased in differentiating mESCs. Overexpression of Wt1(-KTS) and Wt1(+KTS) isoforms in ES cells reduced the fraction of phenotypically cardiomyocyte differentiated clones, which was preceded by a temporary increase in c-kit expression in Wt1(-KTS) transfected ES cell clones and induction of some cardiomyocyte markers. Taken together, Wt1 shows a dynamic expression pattern during cardiomyocyte differentiation and overexpression in ES cells reduces their phenotypical cardiomyocyte differentiation.
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29
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Oikonomakos I, Weerasinghe Arachchige LC, Schedl A. Developmental mechanisms of adrenal cortex formation and their links with adult progenitor populations. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 524:111172. [PMID: 33484742 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The adrenal cortex is the main steroid producing organ of the human body. Studies on adrenal tissue renewal have been neglected for many years, but recent intensified research has seen tremendous progress in our understanding of the formation and homeostasis of this organ. However, cell turnover of the adrenal cortex appears to be complex and several cell populations have been identified that can differentiate into steroidogenic cells and contribute to adrenal cortex renewal. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of how the adrenal cortex develops and how stem cell populations relate to its developmental progenitors. Finally, we will summarize present and future approaches to harvest the potential of progenitor/stem cells for future cell replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Oikonomakos
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, 06108, Nice, France.
| | | | - Andreas Schedl
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, 06108, Nice, France.
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30
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Hol JA, Jongmans MCJ, Sudour‐Bonnange H, Ramírez‐Villar GL, Chowdhury T, Rechnitzer C, Pal N, Schleiermacher G, Karow A, Kuiper RP, de Camargo B, Avcin S, Redzic D, Wachtel A, Segers H, Vujanic GM, van Tinteren H, Bergeron C, Pritchard‐Jones K, Graf N, van den Heuvel‐Eibrink MM. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with WAGR syndrome and Wilms tumor and/or nephroblastomatosis: The 30-year SIOP-RTSG experience. Cancer 2021; 127:628-638. [PMID: 33146894 PMCID: PMC7894534 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WAGR syndrome (Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and range of developmental delays) is a rare contiguous gene deletion syndrome with a 45% to 60% risk of developing Wilms tumor (WT). Currently, surveillance and treatment recommendations are based on limited evidence. METHODS Clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed for patients with WAGR and WT/nephroblastomatosis who were identified through International Society of Pediatric Oncology Renal Tumor Study Group (SIOP-RTSG) registries and the SIOP-RTSG network (1989-2019). Events were defined as relapse, metachronous tumors, or death. RESULTS Forty-three patients were identified. The median age at WT/nephroblastomatosis diagnosis was 22 months (range, 6-44 months). The overall stage was available for 40 patients, including 15 (37.5%) with bilateral disease and none with metastatic disease. Histology was available for 42 patients; 6 nephroblastomatosis without further WT and 36 WT, including 19 stromal WT (52.8%), 12 mixed WT (33.3%), 1 regressive WT (2.8%) and 2 other/indeterminable WT (5.6%). Blastemal type WT occurred in 2 patients (5.6%) after prolonged treatment for nephroblastomatosis; anaplasia was not reported. Nephrogenic rests were present in 78.9%. Among patients with WT, the 5-year event-free survival rate was 84.3% (95% confidence interval, 72.4%-98.1%), and the overall survival rate was 91.2% (95% confidence interval, 82.1%-100%). Events (n = 6) did not include relapse, but contralateral tumor development (n = 3) occurred up to 7 years after the initial diagnosis, and 3 deaths were related to hepatotoxicity (n = 2) and obstructive ileus (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS Patients with WAGR have a high rate of bilateral disease and no metastatic or anaplastic tumors. Although they can be treated according to existing WT protocols, intensive monitoring of toxicity and surveillance of the remaining kidney(s) are advised. LAY SUMMARY WAGR syndrome (Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and range of developmental delays) is a rare genetic condition with an increased risk of developing Wilms tumor. In this study, 43 patients with WAGR and Wilms tumor (or Wilms tumor precursor lesions/nephroblastomatosis) were identified through the international registry of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology Renal Tumor Study Group (SIOP-RTSG) and the SIOP-RTSG network. In many patients (37.5%), both kidneys were affected. Disease spread to other organs (metastases) did not occur. Overall, this study demonstrates that patients with WAGR syndrome and Wilms tumor can be treated according to existing protocols. However, intensive monitoring of treatment complications and surveillance of the remaining kidney(s) are advised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna A. Hol
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn C. J. Jongmans
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtthe Netherlands
- Department of GeneticsUniversity Medical Center Utrecht/Wilhelmina Children's HospitalUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Tanzina Chowdhury
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Niklas Pal
- Department of Pediatric OncologyKarolinska University HospitalSolnaSweden
| | | | - Axel Karow
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent MedicineFriedrich‐Alexander University Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
| | - Roland P. Kuiper
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Beatriz de Camargo
- Pediatric Hematology‐Oncology ProgramInstituto Nacional de CancerRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Simona Avcin
- Department of Pediatric OncologyUniversity Children's HospitalLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Danka Redzic
- Department of Hemato‐OncologyMother and Child Health Care Institute of SerbiaBelgradeSerbia
| | - Antonio Wachtel
- Pediatric OncologyInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades NeoplásicasLimaPeru
| | - Heidi Segers
- Department of Pediatric Hemato‐OncologyUniversity Hospital LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | - Harm van Tinteren
- Department of BiometricsNetherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Christophe Bergeron
- Institut d'Hematologie et d'Oncologie PédiatriqueCentre Léon BérardLyonFrance
| | - Kathy Pritchard‐Jones
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Norbert Graf
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and HematologySaarland UniversityHomburgGermany
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31
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Schnerwitzki D, Hayn C, Perner B, Englert C. Wt1 Positive dB4 Neurons in the Hindbrain Are Crucial for Respiration. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:529487. [PMID: 33328840 PMCID: PMC7734174 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.529487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Central pattern generator (CPG) networks coordinate the generation of rhythmic activity such as locomotion and respiration. Their development is driven by various transcription factors, one of which is the Wilms tumor protein (Wt1). It is present in dI6 neurons of the mouse spinal cord, and involved in the coordination of locomotion. Here we report about the presence of Wt1 in neurons of the caudoventral medulla oblongata and their impact on respiration. By employing immunohistofluorescence staining, we were able to characterize these Wt1 positive (+) cells as dB4 neurons. The temporal occurrence of Wt1 suggests a role for this transcription factor in the differentiation of dB4 neurons during embryonic and postnatal development. Conditional knockout of Wt1 in these cells caused an altered population size of V0 neurons already in the developing hindbrain, leading to a decline in the respiration rate in the adults. Thereby, we confirmed and extended the previously proposed similarity between dB4 neurons in the hindbrain and dI6 neurons of the spinal cord, in terms of development and function. Ablation of Wt1+ dB4 neurons resulted in the death of neonates due to the inability to initiate respiration, suggesting a vital role for Wt1+ dB4 neurons in breathing. These results expand the role of Wt1 in the CNS and show that, in addition to its function in differentiation of dI6 neurons, it also contributes to the development of dB4 neurons in the hindbrain that are critically involved in the regulation of respiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Schnerwitzki
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Hayn
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Birgit Perner
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany.,Core Facility Imaging, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
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32
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Weiss AC, Rivera-Reyes R, Englert C, Kispert A. Expansion of the renal capsular stroma, ureteric bud branching defects and cryptorchidism in mice with Wilms tumor 1 gene deletion in the stromal compartment of the developing kidney. J Pathol 2020; 252:290-303. [PMID: 32715478 DOI: 10.1002/path.5518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Development of the mammalian kidney is orchestrated by reciprocal interactions of stromal and nephrogenic mesenchymal cells with the ureteric bud epithelium. Previous work showed that the transcription factor Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) acts in the nephrogenic lineage to maintain precursor cells, to drive the epithelial transition of aggregating precursors into a renal vesicle and to specify and maintain the podocyte fate. However, WT1 is expressed not only in the nephrogenic lineage but also transiently in stromal progenitors in the renal cortex. Here we report that specific deletion of Wt1 in the stromal lineage using the Foxd1cre driver line results at birth in cryptorchidism and hypoplastic kidneys that harbour fewer and enlarged ureteric bud tips and display an expansion of capsular stroma into the cortical region. In vivo and ex vivo analysis at earlier stages revealed that stromal loss of Wt1 reduces stromal proliferation, and delays and alters branching morphogenesis, resulting in a variant architecture of the collecting duct tree with an increase of single at the expense of bifurcated ureteric bud tips. Molecular analysis identified a transient reduction of Aldh1a2 expression and of retinoic acid signalling activity in stromal progenitors, and of Ret in ureteric bud tips. Administration of retinoic acid partly rescued the branching defects of mutant kidneys in culture. We propose that WT1 maintains retinoic acid signalling in the cortical stroma, which, in turn, assures proper levels and dynamics of Ret expression in the ureteric bud tips, and thus normal ramification of the ureteric tree. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Carina Weiss
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Christoph Englert
- Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Kispert
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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Abstract
The lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) forms the progenitor cells that constitute the heart and cardiovascular system, blood, kidneys, smooth muscle lineage and limb skeleton in the developing vertebrate embryo. Despite this central role in development and evolution, the LPM remains challenging to study and to delineate, owing to its lineage complexity and lack of a concise genetic definition. Here, we outline the processes that govern LPM specification, organization, its cell fates and the inferred evolutionary trajectories of LPM-derived tissues. Finally, we discuss the development of seemingly disparate organ systems that share a common LPM origin. Summary: The lateral plate mesoderm is the origin of several major cell types and organ systems in the vertebrate body plan. How this mesoderm territory emerges and partitions into its downstream fates provides clues about vertebrate development and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin D Prummel
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, 12801 E 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Susan Nieuwenhuize
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, 12801 E 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Mosimann
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, 12801 E 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA .,Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
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Chassot AA, Le Rolle M, Jolivet G, Stevant I, Guigonis JM, Da Silva F, Nef S, Pailhoux E, Schedl A, Ghyselinck NB, Chaboissier MC. Retinoic acid synthesis by ALDH1A proteins is dispensable for meiosis initiation in the mouse fetal ovary. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz1261. [PMID: 32494737 PMCID: PMC7244317 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz1261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, the timing of meiosis entry is regulated by signals from the gonadal environment. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) signaling is considered the key pathway that promotes Stra8 (stimulated by retinoic acid 8) expression and, in turn, meiosis entry. This model, however, is debated because it is based on analyzing the effects of exogenous ATRA on ex vivo gonadal cultures, which not accurately reflects the role of endogenous ATRA. Aldh1a1 and Aldh1a2, two retinaldehyde dehydrogenases synthesizing ATRA, are expressed in the mouse ovaries when meiosis initiates. Contrary to the present view, here, we demonstrate that ATRA-responsive cells are scarce in the ovary. Using three distinct gene deletion models for Aldh1a1;Aldh1a2;Aldh1a3, we show that Stra8 expression is independent of ATRA production by ALDH1A proteins and that germ cells progress through meiosis. Together, these data demonstrate that ATRA signaling is dispensable for instructing meiosis initiation in female germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Geneviève Jolivet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, ENVA, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Isabelle Stevant
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Marie Guigonis
- Université Côte d’Azur, UMR E4320, CEA, F-06107 Nice, France
- Plateforme “Bernard Rossi”, Faculté de Médecine, Université Côte d’Azur, F-06107 Nice, France
| | - Fabio Da Silva
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, iBV, Nice, France
- Division of Molecular Embryology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Serge Nef
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eric Pailhoux
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, ENVA, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Norbert B. Ghyselinck
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Département de Génétique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, CNRS UMR7104, Inserm U1258, Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), 1 rue Laurent Fries, F-67404 Illkirch CEDEX, France
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35
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Immunohistochemical Expression of Wilms’ Tumor 1 Protein in Human Tissues: From Ontogenesis to Neoplastic Tissues. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app10010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The human Wilms’ tumor gene (WT1) was originally isolated in a Wilms’ tumor of the kidney as a tumor suppressor gene. Numerous isoforms of WT1, by combination of alternative translational start sites, alternative RNA splicing and RNA editing, have been well documented. During human ontogenesis, according to the antibodies used, anti-C or N-terminus WT1 protein, nuclear expression can be frequently obtained in numerous tissues, including metanephric and mesonephric glomeruli, and mesothelial and sub-mesothelial cells, while cytoplasmic staining is usually found in developing smooth and skeletal cells, myocardium, glial cells, neuroblasts, adrenal cortical cells and the endothelial cells of blood vessels. WT1 has been originally described as a tumor suppressor gene in renal Wilms’ tumor, but more recent studies emphasized its potential oncogenic role in several neoplasia with a variable immunostaining pattern that can be exclusively nuclear, cytoplasmic or both, according to the antibodies used (anti-C or N-terminus WT1 protein). With the present review we focus on the immunohistochemical expression of WT1 in some tumors, emphasizing its potential diagnostic role and usefulness in differential diagnosis. In addition, we analyze the WT1 protein expression profile in human embryonal/fetal tissues in order to suggest a possible role in the development of organs and tissues and to establish whether expression in some tumors replicates that observed during the development of tissues from which these tumors arise.
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Abnormal Meiosis Initiation in Germ Cell Caused by Aberrant Differentiation of Gonad Somatic Cell. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2019; 2019:8030697. [PMID: 31583044 PMCID: PMC6748189 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8030697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The interaction between germ cell and somatic cell plays important roles in germ cell development. However, the exact function of gonad somatic cell in germ cell differentiation is unclear. In the present study, the function of gonad somatic cell in germ cell meiosis was examined by using mouse models with aberrant somatic cell differentiation. In Wt1R394W/R394W mice, the genital ridge is absent due to the apoptosis of coelomic epithelial cells. Interestingly, in both male and female Wt1R394W/R394W germ cells, STRA8 was detected at E12.5 and the scattered SYCP3 foci were observed at E13.5 which was consistent with control females. In Wt1-/flox; Cre-ERTM mice, Wt1 was inactivated by the injection of tamoxifen at E9.5 and the differentiation of Sertoli and granulosa cells was completely blocked. We found that most germ cells were located outside of genital ridge after Wt1 inactivation. STRA8, SYCP3, and γH2AX proteins were detected in germ cells of both male and female Wt1-/flox; Cre-ERTM gonads, whereas no thread-like SYCP3 signal was observed. Our study demonstrates that aberrant development of gonad somatic cells leads to ectopic expression of meiosis-associated genes in germ cells, but meiosis was arrested before prophase I. These results suggest that the proper differentiation of gonad somatic cells is essential for germ cell meiosis.
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37
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Mäkelä JA, Koskenniemi JJ, Virtanen HE, Toppari J. Testis Development. Endocr Rev 2019; 40:857-905. [PMID: 30590466 DOI: 10.1210/er.2018-00140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Production of sperm and androgens is the main function of the testis. This depends on normal development of both testicular somatic cells and germ cells. A genetic program initiated from the Y chromosome gene sex-determining region Y (SRY) directs somatic cell specification to Sertoli cells that orchestrate further development. They first guide fetal germ cell differentiation toward spermatogenic destiny and then take care of the full service to spermatogenic cells during spermatogenesis. The number of Sertoli cells sets the limits of sperm production. Leydig cells secrete androgens that determine masculine development. Testis development does not depend on germ cells; that is, testicular somatic cells also develop in the absence of germ cells, and the testis can produce testosterone normally to induce full masculinization in these men. In contrast, spermatogenic cell development is totally dependent on somatic cells. We herein review germ cell differentiation from primordial germ cells to spermatogonia and development of the supporting somatic cells. Testicular descent to scrota is necessary for normal spermatogenesis, and cryptorchidism is the most common male birth defect. This is a mild form of a disorder of sex differentiation. Multiple genetic reasons for more severe forms of disorders of sex differentiation have been revealed during the last decades, and these are described along with the description of molecular regulation of testis development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juho-Antti Mäkelä
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jaakko J Koskenniemi
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Helena E Virtanen
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jorma Toppari
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
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38
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Xie W, Wei L, Guo J, Guo H, Song X, Sheng X. Physiological functions of Wilms' tumor 1-associating protein and its role in tumourigenesis. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:10884-10892. [PMID: 30756410 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The Wilms' tumor-associated gene WT1 encodes a tumor suppressor gene, which is implicated in renal differentiation and development of adult urogenital system. Wilms' tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP) is initially identified as a nuclear protein that specifically interacts with WT1 in both in vitro and in vivo assays. WTAP is ubiquitously expressed in different tissues and various growth periods, and its expression is involved in cell cycle, RNA splicing and stabilization, N6-methyladenosine RNA modification, cell proliferation, and apoptosis as well as embryonic development. In the present review, we aimed to summarize the functions of WTAP in various physiological and pathological processes, in particular with regard to the current knowledge about the role of WTAP in tumorigenesis of different cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Xie
- Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Ling Wei
- Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Jing Guo
- Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Hui Guo
- Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Xianrang Song
- Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Xiugui Sheng
- Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
- National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, P. R. China
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39
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Sebo ZL, Rodeheffer MS. Assembling the adipose organ: adipocyte lineage segregation and adipogenesis in vivo. Development 2019; 146:dev172098. [PMID: 30948523 PMCID: PMC6467474 DOI: 10.1242/dev.172098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Adipose tissue is composed of anatomically distinct depots that mediate several important aspects of energy homeostasis. The past two decades have witnessed increased research effort to elucidate the ontogenetic basis of adipose form and function. In this Review, we discuss advances in our understanding of adipose tissue development with particular emphasis on the embryonic patterning of depot-specific adipocyte lineages and adipocyte differentiation in vivo Micro-environmental cues and other factors that influence cell identity and cell behavior at various junctures in the adipocyte lineage hierarchy are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary L Sebo
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA
| | - Matthew S Rodeheffer
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8016, USA
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8073, USA
- Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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40
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Hiratsuka K, Monkawa T, Akiyama T, Nakatake Y, Oda M, Goparaju SK, Kimura H, Chikazawa-Nohtomi N, Sato S, Ishiguro K, Yamaguchi S, Suzuki S, Morizane R, Ko SBH, Itoh H, Ko MSH. Induction of human pluripotent stem cells into kidney tissues by synthetic mRNAs encoding transcription factors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:913. [PMID: 30696889 PMCID: PMC6351687 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37485-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The derivation of kidney tissues from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and its application for replacement therapy in end-stage renal disease have been widely discussed. Here we report that consecutive transfections of two sets of synthetic mRNAs encoding transcription factors can induce rapid and efficient differentiation of hPSCs into kidney tissues, termed induced nephron-like organoids (iNephLOs). The first set - FIGLA, PITX2, ASCL1 and TFAP2C, differentiated hPSCs into SIX2+SALL1+ nephron progenitor cells with 92% efficiency within 2 days. Subsequently, the second set - HNF1A, GATA3, GATA1 and EMX2, differentiated these cells into PAX8+LHX1+ pretubular aggregates in another 2 days. Further culture in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional conditions produced iNephLOs containing cells characterized as podocytes, proximal tubules, and distal tubules in an additional 10 days. Global gene expression profiles showed similarities between iNephLOs and the human adult kidney, suggesting possible uses of iNephLOs as in vitro models for kidneys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Hiratsuka
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Nephrology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Monkawa
- Department of Nephrology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
- Medical Education Center, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Akiyama
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yuhki Nakatake
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Mayumi Oda
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Sravan Kumar Goparaju
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hiromi Kimura
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Nana Chikazawa-Nohtomi
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Saeko Sato
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Keiichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
- Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Shintaro Yamaguchi
- Department of Nephrology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Sayuri Suzuki
- Department of Nephrology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Ryuji Morizane
- Department of Nephrology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shigeru B H Ko
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Itoh
- Department of Nephrology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Minoru S H Ko
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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41
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Lin28 and let-7 regulate the timing of cessation of murine nephrogenesis. Nat Commun 2019; 10:168. [PMID: 30635573 PMCID: PMC6329821 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08127-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans and in mice the formation of nephrons during embryonic development reaches completion near the end of gestation, after which no new nephrons are formed. The final nephron complement can vary 10-fold, with reduced nephron number predisposing individuals to hypertension, renal, and cardiovascular diseases in later life. While the heterochronic genes lin28 and let-7 are well-established regulators of developmental timing in invertebrates, their role in mammalian organogenesis is not fully understood. Here we report that the Lin28b/let-7 axis controls the duration of kidney development in mice. Suppression of let-7 miRNAs, directly or via the transient overexpression of LIN28B, can prolong nephrogenesis and enhance kidney function potentially via upregulation of the Igf2/H19 locus. In contrast, kidney-specific loss of Lin28b impairs renal development. Our study reveals mechanisms regulating persistence of nephrogenic mesenchyme and provides a rationale for therapies aimed at increasing nephron mass. Nephrogenesis ceases after postnatal day 2 in the mouse or after the 36th week of gestation in humans, but how this is regulated is unclear. Here, the authors identify a role for the RNA-binding protein Lin28 and suppression of let-7 microRNA in regulating the duration of nephrogenesis.
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42
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Tan W, Zhang X, Wang Z, Chen Y, Wang A, Chu M, Tang B, Li Z. Differential expression of Wilms' tumour 1 gene in porcine urogenital organs during development. Anat Histol Embryol 2018; 48:102-109. [PMID: 30450614 DOI: 10.1111/ahe.12415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Wilms' tumour 1 gene (WT1) is essential for the development of mammalian urogenital system. However, the expression pattern of WT1 in the development of porcine urogenital organs is still unclear. Here, we examined the expression of WT1 mRNA and protein in porcine kidneys, ovaries and testes from embryonic days 35 and 60 (E35d, E60d, n = 3) to the newborn (0d, n = 4) and adult (210d, n = 3) stages, using real-time PCR and immunofluorescent staining. Real-time PCR analysis showed that porcine kidneys, ovaries and testes all expressed high level of WT1 mRNAs, especially in adult testes (p < 0.05 or 0.01 vs. kidney and ovary, respectively). Morphologically, characteristic microstructures of the kidneys, ovaries and testes were observed and discerned at all four stages. Immunofluorescently, WT1 expression was detected in a dynamic and context-specific pattern during the development of these organs. Taken together, porcine urogenital organs express relatively high levels of WT1 mRNA. Dynamical and context-specific expression profile of WT1 in these organs occurs during their development, implying its close association with the development and function of porcine kidney, ovary and testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Tan
- The First Bethune Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xueming Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhengzhu Wang
- The First Bethune Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yue Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Aibing Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Meiran Chu
- The First Bethune Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bo Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ziyi Li
- The First Bethune Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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43
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McGregor RJ, Chau YY, Kendall TJ, Artibani M, Hastie N, Hadoke PWF. WT1 expression in vessels varies with histopathological grade in tumour-bearing and control tissue from patients with breast cancer. Br J Cancer 2018; 119:1508-1517. [PMID: 30374123 PMCID: PMC6288121 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0317-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Wilms' tumour protein (WT1), which influences tumour development and angiogenesis, is a promising therapeutic target in breast cancer. We hypothesised that WT1 expression would vary in endothelial cells in distinct sub-classifications of breast cancer. METHODS WT1 expression and vascular density were quantified by immunohistochemical analysis of human (n = 57) and murine breast cancers. Human tumours were sub-classified by histopathological grade, ER status and HER2 enrichment. RESULTS WT1 was identified in endothelial (and epithelial and smooth muscle) cells in tumours and tumour-free tissues (controls) from patients and mice with breast cancer. WT1 expression was higher in tumours than in controls, but this was not due to increased endothelial WT1. Vascular WT1 in cancers decreased as histopathological grade increased. WT1 was higher in ER-positive versus ER-negative cancers. Strikingly, reduced WT1 expression in controls correlated with an increased Nottingham Prognostic Index score. CONCLUSIONS Expression of WT1 is increased in breast cancers but this is not limited to the vascular compartment. The association between reduced WT1 in tumour-free tissue and poor prognosis suggests a protective role for WT1 in the healthy breast.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - You-Ying Chau
- University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Edinburgh, UK.,MRC HGU at the MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM), Edinburgh, UK
| | - Timothy J Kendall
- MRC HGU at the MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM), Edinburgh, UK.,Division of Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mara Artibani
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicholas Hastie
- MRC HGU at the MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM), Edinburgh, UK
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44
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A perivascular niche for multipotent progenitors in the fetal testis. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4519. [PMID: 30375389 PMCID: PMC6207726 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06996-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgens responsible for male sexual differentiation in utero are produced by Leydig cells in the fetal testicular interstitium. Leydig cells rarely proliferate and, hence, rely on constant differentiation of interstitial progenitors to increase their number during fetal development. The cellular origins of fetal Leydig progenitors and how they are maintained remain largely unknown. Here we show that Notch-active, Nestin-positive perivascular cells in the fetal testis are a multipotent progenitor population, giving rise to Leydig cells, pericytes, and smooth muscle cells. When vasculature is disrupted, perivascular progenitor cells fail to be maintained and excessive Leydig cell differentiation occurs, demonstrating that blood vessels are a critical component of the niche that maintains interstitial progenitor cells. Additionally, our data strongly supports a model in which fetal Leydig cell differentiation occurs by at least two different means, with each having unique progenitor origins and distinct requirements for Notch signaling to maintain the progenitor population. Leydig cells are steroidogenic cells in the testes and produce the androgens required for male development and spermatogenesis. Here the authors show that a multipotent progenitor population producing Leydig cells, pericytes and smooth muscle cells is maintained in a perivascular niche within the mouse fetal testis.
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45
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Schnerwitzki D, Perry S, Ivanova A, Caixeta FV, Cramer P, Günther S, Weber K, Tafreshiha A, Becker L, Vargas Panesso IL, Klopstock T, Hrabe de Angelis M, Schmidt M, Kullander K, Englert C. Neuron-specific inactivation of Wt1 alters locomotion in mice and changes interneuron composition in the spinal cord. Life Sci Alliance 2018; 1:e201800106. [PMID: 30456369 PMCID: PMC6238623 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201800106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Locomotion is coordinated by neuronal circuits of the spinal cord. Recently, dI6 neurons were shown to participate in the control of locomotion. A subpopulation of dI6 neurons expresses the Wilms tumor suppressor gene Wt1. However, the function of Wt1 in these cells is not understood. Here, we aimed to identify behavioral changes and cellular alterations in the spinal cord associated with Wt1 deletion. Locomotion analyses of mice with neuron-specific Wt1 deletion revealed a slower walk with a decreased stride frequency and an increased stride length. These mice showed changes in their fore-/hindlimb coordination, which were accompanied by a loss of contralateral projections in the spinal cord. Neonates with Wt1 deletion displayed an increase in uncoordinated hindlimb movements and their motor neuron output was arrhythmic with a decreased frequency. The population size of dI6, V0, and V2a neurons in the developing spinal cord of conditional Wt1 mutants was significantly altered. These results show that the development of particular dI6 neurons depends on Wt1 expression and that loss of Wt1 is associated with alterations in locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Schnerwitzki
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Sharn Perry
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Ivanova
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Fabio V Caixeta
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Paul Cramer
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Sven Günther
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Kathrin Weber
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Lore Becker
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ingrid L Vargas Panesso
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institut, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Klopstock
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institut, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Adolf-Butenandt-Institut, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, University Hospital Munich, Campus Grosshadern, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Hrabe de Angelis
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Experimental Genetics, School of Life Science Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Manuela Schmidt
- Institute of Systematic Zoology and Evolutionary Biology with Phyletic Museum, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Klas Kullander
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christoph Englert
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
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46
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Yang Y, Workman S, Wilson M. The molecular pathways underlying early gonadal development. J Mol Endocrinol 2018; 62:JME-17-0314. [PMID: 30042122 DOI: 10.1530/jme-17-0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The body of knowledge surrounding reproductive development spans the fields of genetics, anatomy, physiology and biomedicine, to build a comprehensive understanding of the later stages of reproductive development in humans and animal models. Despite this, there remains much to learn about the bi-potential progenitor structure that the ovary and testis arise from, known as the genital ridge (GR). This tissue forms relatively late in embryonic development and has the potential to form either the ovary or testis, which in turn produce hormones required for development of the rest of the reproductive tract. It is imperative that we understand the genetic networks underpinning GR development if we are to begin to understand abnormalities in the adult. This is particularly relevant in the contexts of disorders of sex development (DSDs) and infertility, two conditions that many individuals struggle with worldwide, with often no answers as to their aetiology. Here, we review what is known about the genetics of GR development. Investigating the genetic networks required for GR formation will not only contribute to our understanding of the genetic regulation of reproductive development, it may in turn open new avenues of investigation into reproductive abnormalities and later fertility issues in the adult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisheng Yang
- Y Yang, Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Megan Wilson
- M Wilson , Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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47
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Hunter RW, Liu Y, Manjunath H, Acharya A, Jones BT, Zhang H, Chen B, Ramalingam H, Hammer RE, Xie Y, Richardson JA, Rakheja D, Carroll TJ, Mendell JT. Loss of Dis3l2 partially phenocopies Perlman syndrome in mice and results in up-regulation of Igf2 in nephron progenitor cells. Genes Dev 2018; 32:903-908. [PMID: 29950491 PMCID: PMC6075040 DOI: 10.1101/gad.315804.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Loss of function of the DIS3L2 exoribonuclease is associated with Wilms tumor and the Perlman congenital overgrowth syndrome. Here, Hunter et al.’s analysis of Dis3l2-null nephron progenitor cells reveals up-regulation of Igf2, a growth-promoting gene strongly associated with Wilms tumorigenesis. Loss of function of the DIS3L2 exoribonuclease is associated with Wilms tumor and the Perlman congenital overgrowth syndrome. LIN28, a Wilms tumor oncoprotein, triggers the DIS3L2-mediated degradation of the precursor of let-7, a microRNA that inhibits Wilms tumor development. These observations have led to speculation that DIS3L2-mediated tumor suppression is attributable to let-7 regulation. Here we examine new DIS3L2-deficient cell lines and mouse models, demonstrating that DIS3L2 loss has no effect on mature let-7 levels. Rather, analysis of Dis3l2-null nephron progenitor cells, a potential cell of origin of Wilms tumors, reveals up-regulation of Igf2, a growth-promoting gene strongly associated with Wilms tumorigenesis. These findings nominate a new potential mechanism underlying the pathology associated with DIS3L2 deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan W Hunter
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Yangjian Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Hema Manjunath
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Asha Acharya
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Benjamin T Jones
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - He Zhang
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Beibei Chen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Harini Ramalingam
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Robert E Hammer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Yang Xie
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - James A Richardson
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Dinesh Rakheja
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Health, Dallas, Texas 75235, USA
| | - Thomas J Carroll
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Joshua T Mendell
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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48
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Jankowska-Steifer E, Niderla-Bielińska J, Ciszek B, Kujawa M, Bartkowiak M, Flaht-Zabost A, Klosinska D, Ratajska A. Cells with hematopoietic potential reside within mouse proepicardium. Histochem Cell Biol 2018; 149:577-591. [PMID: 29549430 PMCID: PMC5999137 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-018-1661-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
During embryonic development, hematopoietic cells are present in areas of blood-vessel differentiation. These hematopoietic cells emerge from a specific subpopulation of endothelial cells called the hemogenic endothelium. We have previously found that mouse proepicardium contained its own population of endothelial cells forming a network of vascular tubules. We hypothesize that this EC population contains cells of hematopoietic potential. Therefore, we investigated an in vitro hematopoietic potential of proepicardial cell populations. The CD31+/CD45-/CD71- cell population cultured for 10 days in MethocultTM gave numerous colonies of CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, and CFU-E type. These colonies consisted of various cell types. Flk-1+/CD31-/CD45-/CD71-, and CD45+ and/or CD71+ cell populations produced CFU-GEMM and CFU-GM, or CFU-GM and CFU-E colonies, respectively. Immunohistochemical evaluations of smears prepared from colonies revealed the presence of cells of different hematopoietic lineages. These cells were characterized by labeling with various combinations of antibodies directed against CD31, CD41, CD71, c-kit, Mpl, Fli1, Gata-2, and Zeb1 markers. Furthermore, we found that proepicardium-specific marker WT1 co-localized with Runx1 and Zeb1 and that single endothelial cells bearing CD31 molecule expressed Runx1 in the proepicardial area of embryonic tissue sections. We have shown that cells of endothelial and/or hematopoietic phenotypes isolated from mouse proepicardium possess hematopoietic potential in vitro and in situ. These results are supported by RT-PCR analyses of proepicardial extract, which revealed the expression of mRNA for crucial regulatory factors for hemogenic endothelium specification, i.e., Runx1, Notch1, Gata2, and Sox17. Our data are in line with previous observation on hemangioblast derivation from the quail PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Jankowska-Steifer
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Center for Biostructure, Medical University of Warsaw, Chalubińskiego 5, 02-004, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Niderla-Bielińska
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Center for Biostructure, Medical University of Warsaw, Chalubińskiego 5, 02-004, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Bogdan Ciszek
- Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marek Kujawa
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Center for Biostructure, Medical University of Warsaw, Chalubińskiego 5, 02-004, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mateusz Bartkowiak
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Center for Biostructure, Medical University of Warsaw, Chalubińskiego 5, 02-004, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Daria Klosinska
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, WULS, SGGW Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Ratajska
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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49
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WT1-Expressing Interneurons Regulate Left-Right Alternation during Mammalian Locomotor Activity. J Neurosci 2018; 38:5666-5676. [PMID: 29789381 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0328-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The basic pattern of activity underlying stepping in mammals is generated by a neural network located in the caudal spinal cord. Within this network, the specific circuitry coordinating left-right alternation has been shown to involve several groups of molecularly defined interneurons. Here we characterize a population of spinal neurons that express the Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) gene and investigate their role during locomotor activity in mice of both sexes. We demonstrate that WT1-expressing cells are located in the ventromedial region of the spinal cord of mice and are also present in the human spinal cord. In the mouse, these cells are inhibitory, project axons to the contralateral spinal cord, terminate in close proximity to other commissural interneuron subtypes, and are essential for appropriate left-right alternation during locomotion. In addition to identifying WT1-expressing interneurons as a key component of the locomotor circuitry, this study provides insight into the manner in which several populations of molecularly defined interneurons are interconnected to generate coordinated motor activity on either side of the body during stepping.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In this study, we characterize WT1-expressing spinal interneurons in mice and demonstrate that they are commissurally projecting and inhibitory. Silencing of this neuronal population during a locomotor task results in a complete breakdown of left-right alternation, whereas flexor-extensor alternation was not significantly affected. Axons of WT1 neurons are shown to terminate nearby commissural interneurons, which coordinate motoneuron activity during locomotion, and presumably regulate their activity. Finally, the WT1 gene is shown to be present in the spinal cord of humans, raising the possibility of functional homology between these species. This study not only identifies a key component of the locomotor circuitry but also begins to unravel the connectivity among the growing number of molecularly defined interneurons that comprise this neural network.
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50
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Singh AJ, Chang CN, Ma HY, Ramsey SA, Filtz TM, Kioussi C. FACS-Seq analysis of Pax3-derived cells identifies non-myogenic lineages in the embryonic forelimb. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7670. [PMID: 29769607 PMCID: PMC5956100 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25998-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle in the forelimb develops during embryonic and fetal development and perinatally. While much is known regarding the molecules involved in forelimb myogenesis, little is known about the specific mechanisms and interactions. Migrating skeletal muscle precursor cells express Pax3 as they migrate into the forelimb from the dermomyotome. To compare gene expression profiles of the same cell population over time, we isolated lineage-traced Pax3+ cells (Pax3EGFP) from forelimbs at different embryonic days. We performed whole transcriptome profiling via RNA-Seq of Pax3+ cells to construct gene networks involved in different stages of embryonic and fetal development. With this, we identified genes involved in the skeletal, muscular, vascular, nervous and immune systems. Expression of genes related to the immune, skeletal and vascular systems showed prominent increases over time, suggesting a non-skeletal myogenic context of Pax3-derived cells. Using co-expression analysis, we observed an immune-related gene subnetwork active during fetal myogenesis, further implying that Pax3-derived cells are not a strictly myogenic lineage, and are involved in patterning and three-dimensional formation of the forelimb through multiple systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun J Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA
| | - Chih-Ning Chang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA.,Molecular Cell Biology Graduate Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA
| | - Hsiao-Yen Ma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA
| | - Stephen A Ramsey
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA.,School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA
| | - Theresa M Filtz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA
| | - Chrissa Kioussi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA.
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