1
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Smith A. Propagating pluripotency - The conundrum of self-renewal. Bioessays 2024:e2400108. [PMID: 39180242 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400108] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of mouse embryonic stem cells in 1981 transformed research in mammalian developmental biology and functional genomics. The subsequent generation of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and the development of molecular reprogramming have opened unheralded avenues for drug discovery and cell replacement therapy. Here, I review the history of PSCs from the perspective that long-term self-renewal is a product of the in vitro signaling environment, rather than an intrinsic feature of embryos. I discuss the relationship between pluripotent states captured in vitro to stages of epiblast in the embryo and suggest key considerations for evaluation of PSCs. A remaining fundamental challenge is to determine whether naïve pluripotency can be propagated from the broad range of mammals by exploiting common principles in gene regulatory architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Smith
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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2
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Rodriguez-Polo I, Moris N. Using embryo models to understand the development and progression of embryonic lineages: a focus on primordial germ cell development. Cells Tissues Organs 2024:000538275. [PMID: 38479364 DOI: 10.1159/000538275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recapitulating mammalian cell type differentiation in vitro promises to improve our understanding of how these processes happen in vivo, while bringing additional prospects for biomedical applications. The establishment of stem cell-derived embryo models and embryonic organoids, which have experienced explosive growth over the last few years, open new avenues for research due to their scale, reproducibility, and accessibility. Embryo models mimic various developmental stages, exhibit different degrees of complexity, and can be established across species. Since embryo models exhibit multiple lineages organised spatially and temporally, they are likely to provide cellular niches that, to some degree, recapitulate the embryonic setting and enable "co-development" between cell types and neighbouring populations. One example where this is already apparent is in the case of primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). SUMMARY While directed differentiation protocols enable the efficient generation of high PGCLC numbers, embryo models provide an attractive alternative as they enable the study of interactions of PGCLCs with neighbouring cells, alongside the regulatory molecular and biophysical mechanisms of PGC competency. Additionally, some embryo models can recapitulate post-specification stages of PGC development (including migration or gametogenesis), mimicking the inductive signals pushing PGCLCs to mature and differentiate, and enabling the study of PGCLC development across stages. Therefore, in vitro models may allow us to address questions of cell type differentiation, and PGC development specifically, that have hitherto been out of reach with existing systems. KEY MESSAGE This review evaluates the current advances in stem cell-based embryo models, with a focus on their potential to model cell type-specific differentiation in general, and in particular to address open questions in PGC development and gametogenesis.
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3
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Long T, Bhattacharyya T, Repele A, Naylor M, Nooti S, Krueger S, Manu. The contributions of DNA accessibility and transcription factor occupancy to enhancer activity during cellular differentiation. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkad269. [PMID: 38124496 PMCID: PMC11090500 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
During gene regulation, DNA accessibility is thought to limit the availability of transcription factor (TF) binding sites, while TFs can increase DNA accessibility to recruit additional factors that upregulate gene expression. Given this interplay, the causative regulatory events in the modulation of gene expression remain unknown for the vast majority of genes. We utilized deeply sequenced ATAC-Seq data and site-specific knock-in reporter genes to investigate the relationship between the binding-site resolution dynamics of DNA accessibility and the expression dynamics of the enhancers of Cebpa during macrophage-neutrophil differentiation. While the enhancers upregulate reporter expression during the earliest stages of differentiation, there is little corresponding increase in their total accessibility. Conversely, total accessibility peaks during the last stages of differentiation without any increase in enhancer activity. The accessibility of positions neighboring C/EBP-family TF binding sites, which indicates TF occupancy, does increase significantly during early differentiation, showing that the early upregulation of enhancer activity is driven by TF binding. These results imply that a generalized increase in DNA accessibility is not sufficient, and binding by enhancer-specific TFs is necessary, for the upregulation of gene expression. Additionally, high-coverage ATAC-Seq combined with time-series expression data can infer the sequence of regulatory events at binding-site resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Long
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9019, USA
| | - Tapas Bhattacharyya
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9019, USA
| | - Andrea Repele
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9019, USA
| | - Madison Naylor
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9019, USA
| | - Sunil Nooti
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9019, USA
| | - Shawn Krueger
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9019, USA
| | - Manu
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9019, USA
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4
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Esfahani SN, Zheng Y, Arabpour A, Irizarry AMR, Kobayashi N, Xue X, Shao Y, Zhao C, Agranonik NL, Sparrow M, Hunt TJ, Faith J, Lara MJ, Wu QY, Silber S, Petropoulos S, Yang R, Chien KR, Clark AT, Fu J. Derivation of human primordial germ cell-like cells in an embryonic-like culture. Nat Commun 2024; 15:167. [PMID: 38167821 PMCID: PMC10762101 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43871-2] [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: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the embryonic precursors of sperm and eggs. They transmit genetic and epigenetic information across generations. Given the prominent role of germline defects in diseases such as infertility, detailed understanding of human PGC (hPGC) development has important implications in reproductive medicine and studying human evolution. Yet, hPGC specification remains an elusive process. Here, we report the induction of hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) in a bioengineered human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) culture that mimics peri-implantation human development. In this culture, amniotic ectoderm-like cells (AMLCs), derived from hPSCs, induce hPGCLC specification from hPSCs through paracrine signaling downstream of ISL1. Our data further show functional roles of NODAL, WNT, and BMP signaling in hPGCLC induction. hPGCLCs are successfully derived from eight non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) participant-derived hPSC lines using this biomimetic platform, demonstrating its promise for screening applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajedeh Nasr Esfahani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA
| | - Auriana Arabpour
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | | | - Norio Kobayashi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Xufeng Xue
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Yue Shao
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Zhao
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Instituet, 14186, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicole L Agranonik
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Megan Sparrow
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Timothy J Hunt
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jared Faith
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Mary Jasmine Lara
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Qiu Ya Wu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sherman Silber
- Infertility Center of St. Louis, St. Luke's Hospital, St. Louis, MO, 63017, USA
| | - Sophie Petropoulos
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Instituet, 14186, Stockholm, Sweden
- Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Axe Immunopathologie, Montreal, QC, H2X 19A, Canada
- Département de Médecine, Molecular Biology Programme, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ran Yang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kenneth R Chien
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Amander T Clark
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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Detraux D, Caruso M, Feller L, Fransolet M, Meurant S, Mathieu J, Arnould T, Renard P. A critical role for heme synthesis and succinate in the regulation of pluripotent states transitions. eLife 2023; 12:e78546. [PMID: 37428012 PMCID: PMC10425175 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78546] [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: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Using embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in regenerative medicine or in disease modeling requires a complete understanding of these cells. Two main distinct developmental states of ESCs have been stabilized in vitro, a naïve pre-implantation stage and a primed post-implantation stage. Based on two recently published CRISPR-Cas9 knockout functional screens, we show here that the exit of the naïve state is impaired upon heme biosynthesis pathway blockade, linked in mESCs to the incapacity to activate MAPK- and TGFβ-dependent signaling pathways after succinate accumulation. In addition, heme synthesis inhibition promotes the acquisition of 2 cell-like cells in a heme-independent manner caused by a mitochondrial succinate accumulation and leakage out of the cell. We further demonstrate that extracellular succinate acts as a paracrine/autocrine signal, able to trigger the 2C-like reprogramming through the activation of its plasma membrane receptor, SUCNR1. Overall, this study unveils a new mechanism underlying the maintenance of pluripotency under the control of heme synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Detraux
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (URBC), NAmur Research Institute for LIfe Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur, BelgiumNamurBelgium
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Marino Caruso
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (URBC), NAmur Research Institute for LIfe Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur, BelgiumNamurBelgium
| | - Louise Feller
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (URBC), NAmur Research Institute for LIfe Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur, BelgiumNamurBelgium
| | - Maude Fransolet
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (URBC), NAmur Research Institute for LIfe Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur, BelgiumNamurBelgium
| | - Sébastien Meurant
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (URBC), NAmur Research Institute for LIfe Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur, BelgiumNamurBelgium
| | - Julie Mathieu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Thierry Arnould
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (URBC), NAmur Research Institute for LIfe Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur, BelgiumNamurBelgium
| | - Patricia Renard
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (URBC), NAmur Research Institute for LIfe Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur, BelgiumNamurBelgium
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6
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Hong H, Yoon SB, Park JE, Lee JI, Kim HY, Nam HJ, Cho H. MeCP2 dysfunction prevents proper BMP signaling and neural progenitor expansion in brain organoid. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023. [PMID: 37302988 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Sporadic mutations in MeCP2 are a hallmark of Rett syndrome (RTT). Many RTT brain organoid models have exhibited pathogenic phenotypes such as decreased spine density and small size of soma with altered electrophysiological signals. However, previous models are mainly focused on the phenotypes observed in the late phase and rarely provide clues for the defect of neural progenitors which generate different types of neurons and glial cells. METHODS We newly established the RTT brain organoid model derived from MeCP2-truncated iPS cells which were genetically engineered by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. By immunofluorescence imaging, we studied the development of NPC pool and its fate specification into glutamatergic neurons or astrocytes in RTT organoids. By total RNA sequencing, we investigated which signaling pathways were altered during the early brain development in RTT organoids. RESULTS Dysfunction of MeCP2 caused the defect of neural rosette formation in the early phase of cortical development. In total transcriptome analysis, BMP pathway-related genes are highly associated with MeCP2 depletion. Moreover, levels of pSMAD1/5 and BMP target genes are excessively increased, and treatment of BMP inhibitors partially rescues the cell cycle progression of neural progenitors. Subsequently, MeCP2 dysfunction reduced the glutamatergic neurogenesis and induced overproduction of astrocytes. Nevertheless, early inhibition of BMP pathway rescued VGLUT1 expression and suppressed astrocyte maturation. INTERPRETATION Our results demonstrate that MeCP2 is required for the expansion of neural progenitor cells by modulating BMP pathway at early stages of development, and this influence persists during neurogenesis and gliogenesis at later stages of brain organoid development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyowon Hong
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sae-Bom Yoon
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Eun Park
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung In Lee
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Young Kim
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Jin Nam
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Heeyeong Cho
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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7
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Long T, Bhattacharyya T, Repele A, Naylor M, Nooti S, Krueger S, Manu. The contributions of DNA accessibility and transcription factor occupancy to enhancer activity during cellular differentiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.22.529579. [PMID: 37090616 PMCID: PMC10120690 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.22.529579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
The upregulation of gene expression by enhancers depends upon the interplay between the binding of sequence-specific transcription factors (TFs) and DNA accessibility. DNA accessibility is thought to limit the ability of TFs to bind to their sites, while TFs can increase accessibility to recruit additional factors that upregulate gene expression. Given this interplay, the causative regulatory events underlying the modulation of gene expression during cellular differentiation remain unknown for the vast majority of genes. We investigated the binding-site resolution dynamics of DNA accessibility and the expression dynamics of the enhancers of an important neutrophil gene, Cebpa, during macrophage-neutrophil differentiation. Reporter genes were integrated in a site-specific manner in PUER cells, which are progenitors that can be differentiated into neutrophils or macrophages in vitro by activating the pan-leukocyte TF PU.1. Time series data show that two enhancers upregulate reporter expression during the first 48 hours of neutrophil differentiation. Surprisingly, there is little or no increase in the total accessibility, measured by ATAC-Seq, of the enhancers during the same time period. Conversely, total accessibility peaks 96 hrs after PU.1 activation-consistent with its role as a pioneer-but the enhancers do not upregulate gene expression. Combining deeply sequenced ATAC-Seq data with a new bias-correction method allowed the profiling of accessibility at single-nucleotide resolution and revealed protected regions in the enhancers that match all previously characterized TF binding sites and ChIP-Seq data. Although the accessibility of most positions does not change during early differentiation, that of positions neighboring TF binding sites, an indicator of TF occupancy, did increase significantly. The localized accessibility changes are limited to nucleotides neighboring C/EBP-family TF binding sites, showing that the upregulation of enhancer activity during early differentiation is driven by C/EBP-family TF binding. These results show that increasing the total accessibility of enhancers is not sufficient for upregulating their activity and other events such as TF binding are necessary for upregulation. Also, TF binding can cause upregulation without a perceptible increase in total accessibility. Finally, this study demonstrates the feasibility of comprehensively mapping individual TF binding sites as footprints using high coverage ATAC-Seq and inferring the sequence of events in gene regulation by combining with time-series gene expression data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Long
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, 58202-9019 ND, USA
| | - Tapas Bhattacharyya
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, 58202-9019 ND, USA
| | - Andrea Repele
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, 58202-9019 ND, USA
| | - Madison Naylor
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, 58202-9019 ND, USA
| | - Sunil Nooti
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, 58202-9019 ND, USA
| | - Shawn Krueger
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, 58202-9019 ND, USA
| | - Manu
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, 58202-9019 ND, USA
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8
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Furlan G, Huyghe A, Combémorel N, Lavial F. Molecular versatility during pluripotency progression. Nat Commun 2023; 14:68. [PMID: 36604434 PMCID: PMC9814743 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35775-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A challenge during development is to ensure lineage segregation while preserving plasticity. Using pluripotency progression as a paradigm, we review how developmental transitions are coordinated by redeployments, rather than global resettings, of cellular components. We highlight how changes in response to extrinsic cues (FGF, WNT, Activin/Nodal, Netrin-1), context- and stoichiometry-dependent action of transcription factors (Oct4, Nanog) and reconfigurations of epigenetic regulators (enhancers, promoters, TrxG, PRC) may confer robustness to naïve to primed pluripotency transition. We propose the notion of Molecular Versatility to regroup mechanisms by which molecules are repurposed to exert different, sometimes opposite, functions in close stem cell configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Furlan
- Cellular reprogramming, stem cells and oncogenesis laboratory - Equipe labellisée La Ligue Contre le Cancer - LabEx Dev2Can - Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, 69008, France
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aurélia Huyghe
- Cellular reprogramming, stem cells and oncogenesis laboratory - Equipe labellisée La Ligue Contre le Cancer - LabEx Dev2Can - Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, 69008, France
| | - Noémie Combémorel
- Cellular reprogramming, stem cells and oncogenesis laboratory - Equipe labellisée La Ligue Contre le Cancer - LabEx Dev2Can - Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, 69008, France
| | - Fabrice Lavial
- Cellular reprogramming, stem cells and oncogenesis laboratory - Equipe labellisée La Ligue Contre le Cancer - LabEx Dev2Can - Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, 69008, France.
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9
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Kong X, Yan K, Deng P, Fu H, Sun H, Huang W, Jiang S, Dai J, Zhang QC, Liu JJG, Xi Q. LncRNA-Smad7 mediates cross-talk between Nodal/TGF-β and BMP signaling to regulate cell fate determination of pluripotent and multipotent cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10526-10543. [PMID: 36134711 PMCID: PMC9561265 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily proteins are potent regulators of cellular development and differentiation. Nodal/Activin/TGF-β and BMP ligands are both present in the intra- and extracellular milieu during early development, and cross-talk between these two branches of developmental signaling is currently the subject of intense research focus. Here, we show that the Nodal induced lncRNA-Smad7 regulates cell fate determination via repression of BMP signaling in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Depletion of lncRNA-Smad7 dramatically impairs cardiomyocyte differentiation in mESCs. Moreover, lncRNA-Smad7 represses Bmp2 expression through binding with the Bmp2 promoter region via (CA)12-repeats that forms an R-loop. Importantly, Bmp2 knockdown rescues defects in cardiomyocyte differentiation induced by lncRNA-Smad7 knockdown. Hence, lncRNA-Smad7 antagonizes BMP signaling in mESCs, and similarly regulates cell fate determination between osteocyte and myocyte formation in C2C12 mouse myoblasts. Moreover, lncRNA-Smad7 associates with hnRNPK in mESCs and hnRNPK binds at the Bmp2 promoter, potentially contributing to Bmp2 expression repression. The antagonistic effects between Nodal/TGF-β and BMP signaling via lncRNA-Smad7 described in this work provides a framework for understanding cell fate determination in early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Kong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kun Yan
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Pujuan Deng
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Haipeng Fu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hongyao Sun
- Joint Graduate Program of Peking-Tsinghua-NIBS, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wenze Huang
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.,MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shuangying Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Junbiao Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qiangfeng Cliff Zhang
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.,MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jun-Jie Gogo Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qiaoran Xi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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10
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Coda DM, Patel H, Gori I, Gaarenstroom TE, Song OR, Howell M, Hill CS. A network of transcription factors governs the dynamics of NODAL/Activin transcriptional responses. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:jcs259972. [PMID: 35302162 PMCID: PMC9080556 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
SMAD2, an effector of the NODAL/Activin signalling pathway, regulates developmental processes by sensing distinct chromatin states and interacting with different transcriptional partners. However, the network of factors that controls SMAD2 chromatin binding and shapes its transcriptional programme over time is poorly characterised. Here, we combine ATAC-seq with computational footprinting to identify temporal changes in chromatin accessibility and transcription factor activity upon NODAL/Activin signalling. We show that SMAD2 binding induces chromatin opening genome wide. We discover footprints for FOXI3, FOXO3 and ZIC3 at the SMAD2-bound enhancers of the early response genes, Pmepa1 and Wnt3, respectively, and demonstrate their functionality. Finally, we determine a mechanism by which NODAL/Activin signalling induces delayed gene expression, by uncovering a self-enabling transcriptional cascade whereby activated SMADs, together with ZIC3, induce the expression of Wnt3. The resultant activated WNT pathway then acts together with the NODAL/Activin pathway to regulate expression of delayed target genes in prolonged NODAL/Activin signalling conditions. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide M. Coda
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Harshil Patel
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ilaria Gori
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Tessa E. Gaarenstroom
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ok-Ryul Song
- High Throughput Screening Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Michael Howell
- High Throughput Screening Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Caroline S. Hill
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
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11
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Jo K, Teague S, Chen B, Khan HA, Freeburne E, Li H, Li B, Ran R, Spence JR, Heemskerk I. Efficient differentiation of human primordial germ cells through geometric control reveals a key role for Nodal signaling. eLife 2022; 11:e72811. [PMID: 35394424 PMCID: PMC9106331 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Human primordial germ cells (hPGCs) form around the time of implantation and are the precursors of eggs and sperm. Many aspects of hPGC specification remain poorly understood because of the inaccessibility of the early postimplantation human embryo for study. Here, we show that micropatterned human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) treated with BMP4 give rise to hPGC-like cells (hPGCLC) and use these as a quantitatively reproducible and simple in vitro model to interrogate this important developmental event. We characterize micropatterned hPSCs up to 96 hr and show that hPGCLC populations are stable and continue to mature. By perturbing signaling during hPGCLC differentiation, we identify a previously unappreciated role for Nodal signaling and find that the relative timing and duration of BMP and Nodal signaling are critical parameters controlling the number of hPGCLCs. We formulate a mathematical model for a network of cross-repressive fates driven by Nodal and BMP signaling, which predicts the measured fate patterns after signaling perturbations. Finally, we show that hPSC colony size dictates the efficiency of hPGCLC specification, which led us to dramatically improve the efficiency of hPGCLC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung Jo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Seth Teague
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Bohan Chen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Hina Aftab Khan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Emily Freeburne
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Hunter Li
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Bolin Li
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Ran Ran
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Jason R Spence
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
- Center for Organogenesis, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
- Center for Organogenesis, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
- Department of Physics, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
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12
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Zhang H, Lu T, Liu S, Yang J, Sun G, Cheng T, Xu J, Chen F, Yen K. Comprehensive understanding of Tn5 insertion preference improves transcription regulatory element identification. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqab094. [PMID: 34729473 PMCID: PMC8557372 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqab094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tn5 transposase, which can efficiently tagment the genome, has been widely adopted as a molecular tool in next-generation sequencing, from short-read sequencing to more complex methods such as assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq). Here, we systematically map Tn5 insertion characteristics across several model organisms, finding critical parameters that affect its insertion. On naked genomic DNA, we found that Tn5 insertion is not uniformly distributed or random. To uncover drivers of these biases, we used a machine learning framework, which revealed that DNA shape cooperatively works with DNA motif to affect Tn5 insertion preference. These intrinsic insertion preferences can be modeled using nucleotide dependence information from DNA sequences, and we developed a computational pipeline to correct for these biases in ATAC-seq data. Using our pipeline, we show that bias correction improves the overall performance of ATAC-seq peak detection, recovering many potential false-negative peaks. Furthermore, we found that these peaks are bound by transcription factors, underscoring the biological relevance of capturing this additional information. These findings highlight the benefits of an improved understanding and precise correction of Tn5 insertion preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Ting Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Shan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Jianyu Yang
- Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Guohuan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Tao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Fangyao Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Kuangyu Yen
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
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13
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Hayes K, Kim YK, Pera MF. A case for revisiting Nodal signaling in human pluripotent stem cells. STEM CELLS (DAYTON, OHIO) 2021; 39:1137-1144. [PMID: 33932319 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Nodal is a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily member that plays a number of critical roles in mammalian embryonic development. Nodal is essential for the support of the peri-implantation epiblast in the mouse embryo and subsequently acts to specify mesendodermal fate at the time of gastrulation and, later, left-right asymmetry. Maintenance of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in vitro is dependent on Nodal signaling. Because it has proven difficult to prepare a biologically active form of recombinant Nodal protein, Activin or TGFB1 are widely used as surrogates for NODAL in hPSC culture. Nonetheless, the expression of the components of an endogenous Nodal signaling pathway in hPSC provides a potential autocrine pathway for the regulation of self-renewal in this system. Here we review recent studies that have clarified the role of Nodal signaling in pluripotent stem cell populations, highlighted spatial restrictions on Nodal signaling, and shown that Nodal functions in vivo as a heterodimer with GDF3, another TGF-β superfamily member expressed by hPSC. We discuss the role of this pathway in the maintenance of the epiblast and hPSC in light of these new advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Hayes
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
| | - Yun-Kyo Kim
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
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14
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Kim YS, Fan R, Kremer L, Kuempel-Rink N, Mildner K, Zeuschner D, Hekking L, Stehling M, Bedzhov I. Deciphering epiblast lumenogenesis reveals proamniotic cavity control of embryo growth and patterning. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/11/eabe1640. [PMID: 33692105 PMCID: PMC7946377 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
During the peri-implantation stages, the mouse embryo radically changes its appearance, transforming from a hollow-shaped blastocyst to an egg cylinder. At the same time, the epiblast gets reorganized from a simple ball of cells to a cup-shaped epithelial monolayer enclosing the proamniotic cavity. However, the cavity's function and mechanism of formation have so far been obscure. Through investigating the cavity formation, we found that in the epiblast, the process of lumenogenesis is driven by reorganization of intercellular adhesion, vectoral fluid transport, and mitotic paracellular water influx from the blastocoel into the emerging proamniotic cavity. By experimentally blocking lumenogenesis, we found that the proamniotic cavity functions as a hub for communication between the early lineages, enabling proper growth and patterning of the postimplantation embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung Su Kim
- Embryonic Self-Organization Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Rui Fan
- Embryonic Self-Organization Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Ludmila Kremer
- Transgenic Facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Nannette Kuempel-Rink
- Transgenic Facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Karina Mildner
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Dagmar Zeuschner
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Liesbeth Hekking
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Achtseweg Noord 5, 5651 GG Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Martin Stehling
- Flow Cytometry Unit, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Ivan Bedzhov
- Embryonic Self-Organization Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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15
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Harland LTG, Simon CS, Senft AD, Costello I, Greder L, Imaz-Rosshandler I, Göttgens B, Marioni JC, Bikoff EK, Porcher C, de Bruijn MFTR, Robertson EJ. The T-box transcription factor Eomesodermin governs haemogenic competence of yolk sac mesodermal progenitors. Nat Cell Biol 2021; 23:61-74. [PMID: 33420489 PMCID: PMC7610381 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-020-00611-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Extra-embryonic mesoderm (ExM)-composed of the earliest cells that traverse the primitive streak-gives rise to the endothelium as well as haematopoietic progenitors in the developing yolk sac. How a specific subset of ExM becomes committed to a haematopoietic fate remains unclear. Here we demonstrate using an embryonic stem cell model that transient expression of the T-box transcription factor Eomesodermin (Eomes) governs haemogenic competency of ExM. Eomes regulates the accessibility of enhancers that the transcription factor stem cell leukaemia (SCL) normally utilizes to specify primitive erythrocytes and is essential for the normal development of Runx1+ haemogenic endothelium. Single-cell RNA sequencing suggests that Eomes loss of function profoundly blocks the formation of blood progenitors but not specification of Flk-1+ haematoendothelial progenitors. Our findings place Eomes at the top of the transcriptional hierarchy regulating early blood formation and suggest that haemogenic competence is endowed earlier during embryonic development than was previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke T G Harland
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Claire S Simon
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Developmental Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna D Senft
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ita Costello
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lucas Greder
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Ivan Imaz-Rosshandler
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John C Marioni
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Catherine Porcher
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Marella F T R de Bruijn
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
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16
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Zorzan I, Pellegrini M, Arboit M, Incarnato D, Maldotti M, Forcato M, Tagliazucchi GM, Carbognin E, Montagner M, Oliviero S, Martello G. The transcriptional regulator ZNF398 mediates pluripotency and epithelial character downstream of TGF-beta in human PSCs. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2364. [PMID: 32398665 PMCID: PMC7217929 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16205-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have the capacity to give rise to all differentiated cells of the adult. TGF-beta is used routinely for expansion of conventional hPSCs as flat epithelial colonies expressing the transcription factors POU5F1/OCT4, NANOG, SOX2. Here we report a global analysis of the transcriptional programme controlled by TGF-beta followed by an unbiased gain-of-function screening in multiple hPSC lines to identify factors mediating TGF-beta activity. We identify a quartet of transcriptional regulators promoting hPSC self-renewal including ZNF398, a human-specific mediator of pluripotency and epithelial character in hPSCs. Mechanistically, ZNF398 binds active promoters and enhancers together with SMAD3 and the histone acetyltransferase EP300, enabling transcription of TGF-beta targets. In the context of somatic cell reprogramming, inhibition of ZNF398 abolishes activation of pluripotency and epithelial genes and colony formation. Our findings have clear implications for the generation of bona fide hPSCs for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Zorzan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Pellegrini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy.,UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Developmental Biology and Cancer, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, 30 Guilford Street, WC1N 1EH, London, UK
| | - Mattia Arboit
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Danny Incarnato
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology and Molecular Biotechnology Center (MCB), University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy.,Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), 10060, Candiolo (TO), Italy.,Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Mara Maldotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology and Molecular Biotechnology Center (MCB), University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy.,Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), 10060, Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Mattia Forcato
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Guidantonio Malagoli Tagliazucchi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy.,UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, WC1E 6BT, London, UK
| | - Elena Carbognin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Montagner
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Salvatore Oliviero
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology and Molecular Biotechnology Center (MCB), University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy. .,Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), 10060, Candiolo (TO), Italy.
| | - Graziano Martello
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy.
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17
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Luo X, van der Veer BK, Sun L, Bartoccetti M, Boretto M, Vankelecom H, Khoueiry R, Koh KP. Coordination of germ layer lineage choice by TET1 during primed pluripotency. Genes Dev 2020; 34:598-618. [PMID: 32115407 PMCID: PMC7111260 DOI: 10.1101/gad.329474.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Here, Luo et al. show how the DNA dioxygenase Tet1 plays a pivotal role upstream of germ layer lineage bifurcation. A permissive role for Tet1 in neural fate induction is identified, and involves Zic2-dependent engagement at neural target genes at lineage priming, is dependent on the signaling environment during gastrulation, and impacts neural tube closure after gastrulation. Gastrulation in the early postimplantation stage mammalian embryo begins when epiblast cells ingress to form the primitive streak or develop as the embryonic ectoderm. The DNA dioxygenase Tet1 is highly expressed in the epiblast and yet continues to regulate lineage specification during gastrulation when its expression is diminished. Here, we show how Tet1 plays a pivotal role upstream of germ layer lineage bifurcation. During the transition from naive pluripotency to lineage priming, a global reconfiguration redistributes Tet1 from Oct4-cobound promoters to distal regulatory elements at lineage differentiation genes, which are distinct from high-affinity sites engaged by Oct4. An altered chromatin landscape in Tet1-deficient primed epiblast-like cells is associated with enhanced Oct4 expression and binding to Nodal and Wnt target genes, resulting in collaborative signals that enhance mesendodermal and inhibit neuroectodermal gene expression during lineage segregation. A permissive role for Tet1 in neural fate induction involves Zic2-dependent engagement at neural target genes at lineage priming, is dependent on the signaling environment during gastrulation, and impacts neural tube closure after gastrulation. Our findings provide mechanistic information for epigenetic integration of pluripotency and signal-induced differentiation cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlong Luo
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental Epigenetics, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bernard K van der Veer
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental Epigenetics, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lei Sun
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental Epigenetics, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michela Bartoccetti
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental Epigenetics, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matteo Boretto
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hugo Vankelecom
- Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rita Khoueiry
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental Epigenetics, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kian Peng Koh
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental Epigenetics, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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18
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Eomes and Brachyury control pluripotency exit and germ-layer segregation by changing the chromatin state. Nat Cell Biol 2019; 21:1518-1531. [PMID: 31792383 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-019-0423-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The first lineage specification of pluripotent mouse epiblast segregates neuroectoderm (NE) from mesoderm and definitive endoderm (ME) by mechanisms that are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that the induction of ME gene programs critically relies on the T-box transcription factors Eomesodermin (also known as Eomes) and Brachyury, which concomitantly repress pluripotency and NE gene programs. Cells deficient in these T-box transcription factors retain pluripotency and differentiate to NE lineages despite the presence of ME-inducing signals transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Nodal and Wnt. Pluripotency and NE gene networks are additionally repressed by ME factors downstream of T-box factor induction, demonstrating a redundancy in program regulation to safeguard mutually exclusive lineage specification. Analyses of chromatin revealed that accessibility of ME enhancers depends on T-box factor binding, whereas NE enhancers are accessible and already activation primed at pluripotency. This asymmetry of the chromatin landscape thus explains the default differentiation of pluripotent cells to NE in the absence of ME induction that depends on activating and repressive functions of Eomes and Brachyury.
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19
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Aragón E, Wang Q, Zou Y, Morgani SM, Ruiz L, Kaczmarska Z, Su J, Torner C, Tian L, Hu J, Shu W, Agrawal S, Gomes T, Márquez JA, Hadjantonakis AK, Macias MJ, Massagué J. Structural basis for distinct roles of SMAD2 and SMAD3 in FOXH1 pioneer-directed TGF-β signaling. Genes Dev 2019; 33:1506-1524. [PMID: 31582430 PMCID: PMC6824466 DOI: 10.1101/gad.330837.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
TGF-β receptors phosphorylate SMAD2 and SMAD3 transcription factors, which then form heterotrimeric complexes with SMAD4 and cooperate with context-specific transcription factors to activate target genes. Here we provide biochemical and structural evidence showing that binding of SMAD2 to DNA depends on the conformation of the E3 insert, a structural element unique to SMAD2 and previously thought to render SMAD2 unable to bind DNA. Based on this finding, we further delineate TGF-β signal transduction by defining distinct roles for SMAD2 and SMAD3 with the forkhead pioneer factor FOXH1 as a partner in the regulation of differentiation genes in mouse mesendoderm precursors. FOXH1 is prebound to target sites in these loci and recruits SMAD3 independently of TGF-β signals, whereas SMAD2 remains predominantly cytoplasmic in the basal state and set to bind SMAD4 and join SMAD3:FOXH1 at target promoters in response to Nodal TGF-β signals. The results support a model in which signal-independent binding of SMAD3 and FOXH1 prime mesendoderm differentiation gene promoters for activation, and signal-driven SMAD2:SMAD4 binds to promoters that are preloaded with SMAD3:FOXH1 to activate transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Aragón
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Qiong Wang
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Yilong Zou
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Sophie M Morgani
- Developmental Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Lidia Ruiz
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | | | - Jie Su
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Carles Torner
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Lin Tian
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Jing Hu
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Weiping Shu
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Saloni Agrawal
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Tiago Gomes
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | | | | | - Maria J Macias
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain.,ICREA, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Massagué
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
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20
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Ajduk A, Duncan EJ. From genes to environment in shaping of an embryo: understanding embryonic-extraembryonic interactions at the BSDB autumn meeting in Oxford. Dev Genes Evol 2019; 229:83-87. [PMID: 30798362 PMCID: PMC6500506 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-019-00628-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The British Society for Developmental Biology Autumn Meeting, held in Oxford in September 2018, was the third in a series of international workshops which have been focussed on development at the extraembryonic-embryonic interface. This workshop, entitled "Embryonic-Extraembryonic Interactions: from Genetics to Environment" built on the two previous workshops held in 2011 (Leuven, Belgium) and 2015 (Göttingen, Germany). This workshop brought together researchers utilising a diverse range of organisms (including both vertebrate and invertebrate species) and a range of experimental approaches to answer core questions in developmental biology. This meeting report highlights some of the major themes emerging from the workshop including an evolutionary perspective as well as recent advances that have been made through the adoption of emerging techniques and technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ajduk
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elizabeth J Duncan
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
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21
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Epigenetic modulation of a hardwired 3D chromatin landscape in two naive states of pluripotency. Nat Cell Biol 2019; 21:568-578. [PMID: 31036938 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-019-0310-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying enhancer activation and the extent to which enhancer-promoter rewiring contributes to spatiotemporal gene expression are not well understood. Using integrative and time-resolved analyses we show that the extensive transcriptome and epigenome resetting during the conversion between 'serum' and '2i' states of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) takes place with minimal enhancer-promoter rewiring that becomes more evident in primed-state pluripotency. Instead, differential gene expression is strongly linked to enhancer activation via H3K27ac. Conditional depletion of transcription factors and allele-specific enhancer analysis reveal an essential role for Esrrb in H3K27 acetylation and activation of 2i-specific enhancers. Restoration of a polymorphic ESRRB motif using CRISPR-Cas9 in a hybrid ESC line restores ESRRB binding and enhancer H3K27ac in an allele-specific manner but has no effect on chromatin interactions. Our study shows that enhancer activation in serum- and 2i-ESCs is largely driven by transcription factor binding and epigenetic marking in a hardwired network of chromatin interactions.
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Genga RMJ, Kernfeld EM, Parsi KM, Parsons TJ, Ziller MJ, Maehr R. Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing-Based CRISPRi Screening Resolves Molecular Drivers of Early Human Endoderm Development. Cell Rep 2019; 27:708-718.e10. [PMID: 30995470 PMCID: PMC6525305 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies in vertebrates have outlined conserved molecular control of definitive endoderm (END) development. However, recent work also shows that key molecular aspects of human END regulation differ even from rodents. Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to END offers a tractable system to study the molecular basis of normal and defective human-specific END development. Here, we interrogated dynamics in chromatin accessibility during differentiation of ESCs to END, predicting DNA-binding proteins that may drive this cell fate transition. We then combined single-cell RNA-seq with parallel CRISPR perturbations to comprehensively define the loss-of-function phenotype of those factors in END development. Following a few candidates, we revealed distinct impairments in the differentiation trajectories for mediators of TGFβ signaling and expose a role for the FOXA2 transcription factor in priming human END competence for human foregut and hepatic END specification. Together, this single-cell functional genomics study provides high-resolution insight on human END development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M J Genga
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Eric M Kernfeld
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Krishna M Parsi
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Teagan J Parsons
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Michael J Ziller
- Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - René Maehr
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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Senft AD, Bikoff EK, Robertson EJ, Costello I. Genetic dissection of Nodal and Bmp signalling requirements during primordial germ cell development in mouse. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1089. [PMID: 30842446 PMCID: PMC6403387 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09052-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The essential roles played by Nodal and Bmp signalling during early mouse development have been extensively documented. Here we use conditional deletion strategies to investigate functional contributions made by Nodal, Bmp and Smad downstream effectors during primordial germ cell (PGC) development. We demonstrate that Nodal and its target gene Eomes provide early instructions during formation of the PGC lineage. We discover that Smad2 inactivation in the visceral endoderm results in increased numbers of PGCs due to an expansion of the PGC niche. Smad1 is required for specification, whereas in contrast Smad4 controls the maintenance and migration of PGCs. Additionally we find that beside Blimp1, down-regulated phospho-Smad159 levels also distinguishes PGCs from their somatic neighbours so that emerging PGCs become refractory to Bmp signalling that otherwise promotes mesodermal development in the posterior epiblast. Thus balanced Nodal/Bmp signalling cues regulate germ cell versus somatic cell fate decisions in the early posterior epiblast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna D Senft
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Elizabeth K Bikoff
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | | | - Ita Costello
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
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