1
|
Bobotis BC, Halvorson T, Carrier M, Tremblay MÈ. Established and emerging techniques for the study of microglia: visualization, depletion, and fate mapping. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1317125. [PMID: 38425429 PMCID: PMC10902073 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1317125] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is an essential hub for neuronal communication. As a major component of the CNS, glial cells are vital in the maintenance and regulation of neuronal network dynamics. Research on microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the CNS, has advanced considerably in recent years, and our understanding of their diverse functions continues to grow. Microglia play critical roles in the formation and regulation of neuronal synapses, myelination, responses to injury, neurogenesis, inflammation, and many other physiological processes. In parallel with advances in microglial biology, cutting-edge techniques for the characterization of microglial properties have emerged with increasing depth and precision. Labeling tools and reporter models are important for the study of microglial morphology, ultrastructure, and dynamics, but also for microglial isolation, which is required to glean key phenotypic information through single-cell transcriptomics and other emerging approaches. Strategies for selective microglial depletion and modulation can provide novel insights into microglia-targeted treatment strategies in models of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions, cancer, and autoimmunity. Finally, fate mapping has emerged as an important tool to answer fundamental questions about microglial biology, including their origin, migration, and proliferation throughout the lifetime of an organism. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of these established and emerging techniques, with applications to the study of microglia in development, homeostasis, and CNS pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Caroline Bobotis
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Torin Halvorson
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Paidi SK, Zhang Q, Yang Y, Xia CH, Ji N, Gong X. Adaptive optical two-photon fluorescence microscopy probes cellular organization of ocular lenses in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.17.524320. [PMID: 36711806 PMCID: PMC9882239 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.17.524320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian ocular lens is an avascular multicellular organ that grows continuously throughout life. Traditionally, its cellular organization is investigated using dissected lenses, which eliminates in vivo environmental and structural support. Here, we demonstrated that two-photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM) can visualize lens cells in vivo. To maintain subcellular resolution at depth, we employed adaptive optics (AO) to correct aberrations due to ocular and lens tissues, which led to substantial signal and resolution improvements. Imaging lens cells up to 980 μm deep, we observed novel cellular organizations including suture-associated voids, enlarged vacuoles, and large cavities, contrary to the conventional view of a highly ordered organization. We tracked these features longitudinally over weeks and observed the incorporation of new cells during growth. Taken together, non-invasive longitudinal in vivo imaging of lens morphology using AO 2PFM will allow us to directly observe the development or alterations of lens cellular organization in living animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kumar Paidi
- School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Qinrong Zhang
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Yuhan Yang
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Chun-Hong Xia
- School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA,Vision Science Program, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Na Ji
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA,Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA,Corresponding authors: Xiaohua Gong () and Na Ji ()
| | - Xiaohua Gong
- School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA,Vision Science Program, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA,Corresponding authors: Xiaohua Gong () and Na Ji ()
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Disatham J, Brennan L, Jiao X, Ma Z, Hejtmancik JF, Kantorow M. Changes in DNA methylation hallmark alterations in chromatin accessibility and gene expression for eye lens differentiation. Epigenetics Chromatin 2022; 15:8. [PMID: 35246225 PMCID: PMC8897925 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00440-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Methylation at cytosines (mCG) is a well-known regulator of gene expression, but its requirements for cellular differentiation have yet to be fully elucidated. A well-studied cellular differentiation model system is the eye lens, consisting of a single anterior layer of epithelial cells that migrate laterally and differentiate into a core of fiber cells. Here, we explore the genome-wide relationships between mCG methylation, chromatin accessibility and gene expression during differentiation of eye lens epithelial cells into fiber cells. Results Whole genome bisulfite sequencing identified 7621 genomic loci exhibiting significant differences in mCG levels between lens epithelial and fiber cells. Changes in mCG levels were inversely correlated with the differentiation state-specific expression of 1285 genes preferentially expressed in either lens fiber or lens epithelial cells (Pearson correlation r = − 0.37, p < 1 × 10–42). mCG levels were inversely correlated with chromatin accessibility determined by assay for transposase-accessible sequencing (ATAC-seq) (Pearson correlation r = − 0.86, p < 1 × 10–300). Many of the genes exhibiting altered regions of DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility and gene expression levels in fiber cells relative to epithelial cells are associated with lens fiber cell structure, homeostasis and transparency. These include lens crystallins (CRYBA4, CRYBB1, CRYGN, CRYBB2), lens beaded filament proteins (BFSP1, BFSP2), transcription factors (HSF4, SOX2, HIF1A), and Notch signaling pathway members (NOTCH1, NOTCH2, HEY1, HES5). Analysis of regions exhibiting cell-type specific alterations in DNA methylation revealed an overrepresentation of consensus sequences of multiple transcription factors known to play key roles in lens cell differentiation including HIF1A, SOX2, and the MAF family of transcription factors. Conclusions Collectively, these results link DNA methylation with control of chromatin accessibility and gene expression changes required for eye lens differentiation. The results also point to a role for DNA methylation in the regulation of transcription factors previously identified to be important for lens cell differentiation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13072-022-00440-z.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Disatham
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Lisa Brennan
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Xiaodong Jiao
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zhiwei Ma
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - J Fielding Hejtmancik
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marc Kantorow
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Seese SE, Deml B, Muheisen S, Sorokina E, Semina EV. Genetic disruption of zebrafish mab21l1 reveals a conserved role in eye development and affected pathways. Dev Dyn 2021; 250:1056-1073. [PMID: 33570754 PMCID: PMC8349561 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The male-abnormal 21 like (MAB21L) genes are important in human ocular development. Homozygous loss of MAB21L1 leads to corneal dystrophy in all affected individuals along with cataracts and buphthalmos in some. The molecular function and downstream pathways of MAB21L factors are largely undefined. RESULTS We generated the first mab21l1 zebrafish mutant carrying a putative loss-of-function allele, c.107delA p.(Lys36Argfs*7). At the final stages of embryonic development, homozygous mab21l1c.107delA fish displayed enlarged anterior chambers and corneal thinning which progressed with age. Additional studies revealed increased cell death in the mutant corneas, transformation of the cornea into a skin-like epithelium, and progressive lens degeneration with development of fibrous masses in the anterior chamber. RNA-seq of wild-type and mutant ocular transcriptomes revealed significant changes in expression of several genes, including irf1a and b, stat1, elf3, krt17, tlr9, and loxa associated with immunity and/or corneal function. Abnormal expression of lysyl oxidases have been previously linked with corneal thinning, fibrosis, and lens defects in mammals, suggesting a role for loxa misexpression in the progressive mab21l1c.107delA eye phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Zebrafish mab21l1 is essential for normal corneal development, similar to human MAB21L1. The identified molecular changes in mab21l1c.107delA mutants provide the first clues about possible affected pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Seese
- Department of Pediatrics, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Brett Deml
- Department of Pediatrics, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- PreventionGenetics, Marshfield, Wisconsin
| | - Sanaa Muheisen
- Department of Pediatrics, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Elena Sorokina
- Department of Pediatrics, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Elena V. Semina
- Department of Pediatrics, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Disatham J, Brennan L, Chauss D, Kantorow J, Afzali B, Kantorow M. A functional map of genomic HIF1α-DNA complexes in the eye lens revealed through multiomics analysis. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:497. [PMID: 34215186 PMCID: PMC8254356 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07795-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During eye lens development the embryonic vasculature regresses leaving the lens without a direct oxygen source. Both embryonically and throughout adult life, the lens contains a decreasing oxygen gradient from the surface to the core that parallels the natural differentiation of immature surface epithelial cells into mature core transparent fiber cells. These properties of the lens suggest a potential role for hypoxia and the master regulator of the hypoxic response, hypoxia-inducible transcription factor 1 (HIF1), in the regulation of genes required for lens fiber cell differentiation, structure and transparency. Here, we employed a multiomics approach combining CUT&RUN, RNA-seq and ATACseq analysis to establish the genomic complement of lens HIF1α binding sites, genes activated or repressed by HIF1α and the chromatin states of HIF1α-regulated genes. RESULTS CUT&RUN analysis revealed 8375 HIF1α-DNA binding complexes in the chick lens genome. One thousand one hundred ninety HIF1α-DNA binding complexes were significantly clustered within chromatin accessible regions (χ2 test p < 1 × 10- 55) identified by ATACseq. Formation of the identified HIF1α-DNA complexes paralleled the activation or repression of 526 genes, 116 of which contained HIF1α binding sites within 10kB of the transcription start sites. Some of the identified HIF1α genes have previously established lens functions while others have novel functions never before examined in the lens. GO and pathway analysis of these genes implicate HIF1α in the control of a wide-variety of cellular pathways potentially critical for lens fiber cell formation, structure and function including glycolysis, cell cycle regulation, chromatin remodeling, Notch and Wnt signaling, differentiation, development, and transparency. CONCLUSIONS These data establish the first functional map of genomic HIF1α-DNA complexes in the eye lens. They identify HIF1α as an important regulator of a wide-variety of genes previously shown to be critical for lens formation and function and they reveal a requirement for HIF1α in the regulation of a wide-variety of genes not yet examined for lens function. They support a requirement for HIF1α in lens fiber cell formation, structure and function and they provide a basis for understanding the potential roles and requirements for HIF1α in the development, structure and function of more complex tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Disatham
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431 USA
| | - Lisa Brennan
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431 USA
| | - Daniel Chauss
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | | | - Behdad Afzali
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Marc Kantorow
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431 USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Islam Z, Ali AM, Naik A, Eldaw M, Decock J, Kolatkar PR. Transcription Factors: The Fulcrum Between Cell Development and Carcinogenesis. Front Oncol 2021; 11:681377. [PMID: 34195082 PMCID: PMC8236851 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.681377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher eukaryotic development is a complex and tightly regulated process, whereby transcription factors (TFs) play a key role in controlling the gene regulatory networks. Dysregulation of these regulatory networks has also been associated with carcinogenesis. Transcription factors are key enablers of cancer stemness, which support the maintenance and function of cancer stem cells that are believed to act as seeds for cancer initiation, progression and metastasis, and treatment resistance. One key area of research is to understand how these factors interact and collaborate to define cellular fate during embryogenesis as well as during tumor development. This review focuses on understanding the role of TFs in cell development and cancer. The molecular mechanisms of cell fate decision are of key importance in efforts towards developing better protocols for directed differentiation of cells in research and medicine. We also discuss the dysregulation of TFs and their role in cancer progression and metastasis, exploring TF networks as direct or indirect targets for therapeutic intervention, as well as specific TFs’ potential as biomarkers for predicting and monitoring treatment responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zeyaul Islam
- Diabetes Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ameena Mohamed Ali
- Diabetes Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Adviti Naik
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohamed Eldaw
- Diabetes Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Julie Decock
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Prasanna R Kolatkar
- Diabetes Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yang L, Su Z, Wang Z, Li Z, Shang Z, Du H, Liu G, Qi D, Yang Z, Xu Z, Zhang Z. Transcriptional profiling reveals the transcription factor networks regulating the survival of striatal neurons. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:262. [PMID: 33712552 PMCID: PMC7955055 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03552-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The striatum is structurally highly diverse, and its organ functionality critically depends on normal embryonic development. Although several studies have been conducted on the gene functional changes that occur during striatal development, a system-wide analysis of the underlying molecular changes is lacking. Here, we present a comprehensive transcriptome profile that allows us to explore the trajectory of striatal development and identify the correlation between the striatal development and Huntington's disease (HD). Furthermore, we applied an integrative transcriptomic profiling approach based on machine learning to systematically map a global landscape of 277 transcription factor (TF) networks. Most of these TF networks are linked to biological processes, and some unannotated genes provide information about the corresponding mechanisms. For example, we found that the Meis2 and Six3 were crucial for the survival of striatal neurons, which were verified using conditional knockout (CKO) mice. Finally, we used RNA-Seq to speculate their downstream targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Zihao Su
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Ziwu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Zhenmeiyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Zicong Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Heng Du
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Guoping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Dashi Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Zhengang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Zhejun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China.
| | - Zhuangzhi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lin Y, Xiao Y, Lin C, Zhang Q, Zhang S, Pei F, Liu H, Chen Z. SALL1 regulates commitment of odontoblast lineages by interacting with RUNX2 to remodel open chromatin regions. STEM CELLS (DAYTON, OHIO) 2020; 39:196-209. [PMID: 33159702 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Mouse dental papilla cells (mDPCs) derive from cranial neural crest cells and maintain mesenchymal stem cell characteristics. The differentiation of neural crest cells into odontoblasts is orchestrated by transcription factors regulating the expression of genes whose enhancers are initially inaccessible. However, the identity of the transcription factors driving the emergence of odontoblast lineages remains elusive. In this study, we identified SALL1, a transcription factor that was particularly expressed in preodontoblasts, polarizing odontoblasts, and secretory odontoblasts in vivo. Knockdown of Sall1 in mDPCs inhibited their odontoblastic differentiation. In order to identify the regulatory network of Sall1, RNA sequencing and an assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing were performed to analyze the genome-wide direct regulatory targets of SALL1. We found that inhibition of Sall1 expression could decrease the accessibility of some chromatin regions associated with odontoblast lineages at embryonic day 16.5, whereas these regions remained unaffected at postnatal day 0.5, suggesting that SALL1 regulates the fate of mDPCs by remodeling open chromatin regions at the early bell stage. Specifically, we found that SALL1 could directly increase the accessibility of cis-regulatory elements near Tgf-β2 and within the Runx2 locus. Moreover, coimmunoprecipitation and proximal ligation assays showed that SALL1 could establish functional interactions with RUNX2. Taken together, our results demonstrated that SALL1 positively regulates the commitment of odontoblast lineages by interacting with RUNX2 and directly activating Tgf-β2 at an early stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiu Lin
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - ChuJiao Lin
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Pei
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Liu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Periodontology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi Chen
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|