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Juran CM, Zvirblyte J, Almeida E. Differential Single Cell Responses of Embryonic Stem Cells Versus Embryoid Bodies to Gravity Mechanostimulation. Stem Cells Dev 2022; 31:346-356. [PMID: 35570697 PMCID: PMC9293686 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2022.0037] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The forces generated by gravity have shaped life on Earth and impact gene expression and morphogenesis during early development. Conversely, disuse on Earth or during spaceflight, reduces normal mechanical loading of organisms, resulting in altered cell and tissue function. Although gravity mechanical loading in adult mammals is known to promote increased cell proliferation and differentiation, little is known about how distinct cell types respond to gravity mechanostimulation during early development. In this study we sought to understand, with single cell RNA-sequencing resolution, how a 60-min pulse of 50 g hypergravity (HG)/5 kPa hydrostatic pressure, influences transcriptomic regulation of developmental processes in the embryoid body (EB) model. Our study included both day-9 EBs and progenitor mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) with or without the HG pulse. Single cell t-distributed stochastic neighbor mapping shows limited transcriptome shifts in response to the HG pulse in either ESCs or EBs; this pulse however, induces greater positional shifts in EB mapping compared to ESCs, indicating the influence of mechanotransduction is more pronounced in later states of cell commitment within the developmental program. More specifically, HG resulted in upregulation of self-renewal and angiogenesis genes in ESCs, while in EBs, HG loading was associated with upregulation of Gene Ontology-pathways for multicellular development, mechanical signal transduction, and DNA damage repair. Cluster transcriptome analysis of the EBs show HG promotes maintenance of transitory cell phenotypes in early development; including EB cluster co-expression of markers for progenitor, post-implant epiblast, and primitive endoderm phenotypes with HG pulse but expression exclusivity in the non-pulsed clusters. Pseudotime analysis identified three branching cell types susceptible to HG induction of cell fate decisions. In totality, this study provides novel evidence that ESC maintenance and EB development can be regulated by gravity mechanostimulation and that stem cells committed to a differentiation program are more sensitive to gravity-induced changes to their transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Justina Zvirblyte
- Vilnius University, 54694, Sector of Microtechnologies, Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center,, Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Eduardo Almeida
- NASA AMES Research Center, Space Biosciences Division, Bldg 236 rm 217, Moffett Field , California, United States, 94035-1000, ,
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2
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Zheng J, Ye Y, Xu Q, Xu W, Zhang W, Chen X. A Modified SMART-Seq Method for Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis of Embryoid Body Differentiation. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2021; 2520:233-259. [PMID: 34661880 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2021_435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Embryoid bodies (EBs) are aggregate of cells that contain three embryonic germ layers. They can be formed by direct differentiation from pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which serves as a useful model for understanding early embryo development. Due to the mixture of different cell types, it is necessary to investigate EBs at the single-cell level. Here, we describe a robust and straightforward method for single-cell gene expression profiling during mouse EB differentiation from mouse ESCs (mESCs). The protocol is modified from a widely used method in the SMART-seq family, which only requires standard molecular biology techniques and lab equipment. It allows for accurate 3' counting of transcript at the single-cell level, which helps reveal cellular identities during EB formation. Combined with perturbation experiments, the method provides an opportunity for mechanistic studies of embryo development at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianqun Zheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Ye
- Cam-Su Genomic Resource Center, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qiushi Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wensheng Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China. .,Cam-Su Genomic Resource Center, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Xi Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
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de Leeuw VC, Pennings JLA, Hessel EVS, Piersma AH. Exploring the biological domain of the neural embryonic stem cell test (ESTn): Morphogenetic regulators, Hox genes and cell types, and their usefulness as biomarkers for embryotoxicity screening. Toxicology 2021; 454:152735. [PMID: 33636252 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Animal-free assessment of compound-induced developmental neurotoxicity will most likely be based on batteries of multiple in vitro tests. The optimal battery is built by combining tests with complementary biological domains that together ideally cover all relevant toxicity pathways. Thus, biological domain definition, i.e. which biological processes and cell types are represented, is an important assay characteristic for determining the place of assays in testing strategies. The murine neural embryonic stem cell test (ESTn) is employed to predict the developmental neurotoxicity of compounds. The aim of this study was to explore the biological domain of ESTn according to three groups of biomarker genes of early (neuro)development: morphogenetic regulators, Hox genes and cell type markers for the ectodermal and neural lineages. These biomarker groups were selected based on their crucial regulatory role in (neuro)development. Analysis of these genes in a series of previously generated whole transcriptome datasets of ESTn showed that at day 7 in culture cell differentiation resembled hindbrain/branchial/thoracic development between E6.5-E12.5 in vivo, with subsequent development into a mixed cell culture containing different neural subtypes, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes by day 13. In addition, the selected biomarkers showed common and distinct responses to compound exposure. Monitoring the biological domain of ESTn through gene expression patterns of morphogenetic regulators, Hox genes and cell type markers proved instrumental in providing mechanistic understanding of compound effects on neural differentiation in ESTn, and can aid in positioning of the test in a battery of complementary in vitro tests in integrated approaches to testing and assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria C de Leeuw
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Jeroen L A Pennings
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Ellen V S Hessel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Aldert H Piersma
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Zeevaert K, Elsafi Mabrouk MH, Wagner W, Goetzke R. Cell Mechanics in Embryoid Bodies. Cells 2020; 9:E2270. [PMID: 33050550 PMCID: PMC7599659 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryoid bodies (EBs) resemble self-organizing aggregates of pluripotent stem cells that recapitulate some aspects of early embryogenesis. Within few days, the cells undergo a transition from rather homogeneous epithelial-like pluripotent stem cell colonies into a three-dimensional organization of various cell types with multifaceted cell-cell interactions and lumen formation-a process associated with repetitive epithelial-mesenchymal transitions. In the last few years, culture methods have further evolved to better control EB size, growth, cellular composition, and organization-e.g., by the addition of morphogens or different extracellular matrix molecules. There is a growing perception that the mechanical properties, cell mechanics, and cell signaling during EB development are also influenced by physical cues to better guide lineage specification; substrate elasticity and topography are relevant, as well as shear stress and mechanical strain. Epithelial structures outside and inside EBs support the integrity of the cell aggregates and counteract mechanical stress. Furthermore, hydrogels can be used to better control the organization and lineage-specific differentiation of EBs. In this review, we summarize how EB formation is accompanied by a variety of biomechanical parameters that need to be considered for the directed and reproducible self-organization of early cell fate decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Zeevaert
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (K.Z.); (M.H.E.M.)
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering–Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Mohamed H. Elsafi Mabrouk
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (K.Z.); (M.H.E.M.)
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering–Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wagner
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (K.Z.); (M.H.E.M.)
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering–Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Roman Goetzke
- Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (K.Z.); (M.H.E.M.)
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering–Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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Genet M, Torres-Padilla ME. The molecular and cellular features of 2-cell-like cells: a reference guide. Development 2020; 147:147/16/dev189688. [PMID: 32847823 DOI: 10.1242/dev.189688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Currently, two main cell culture models predominate pluripotent stem cell research: embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Thanks to their ability to contribute to and form all tissues within the body, ESCs and iPSCs have proven invaluable in understanding pluripotent states, early embryonic development and cell differentiation, as well as in devising strategies for regenerative medicine. Comparatively little is known about totipotency - a cellular state with greater developmental potential. In mice, only the zygote and the blastomeres of the 2-cell-stage embryo are truly totipotent, as they alone can develop to form the embryo and all of its supportive extra-embryonic tissues. However, the discovery of a rare subpopulation of cells in murine ESC cultures, possessing features of 2-cell embryo blastomeres and expanded cell fate potential, has provided a biochemically tractable model to enable the in vitro study of totipotency. Here, we summarize current known features of these 2-cell-like cells (2CLCs) in an effort to provide a reference for the community, and to clarify what we know about their identity so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Genet
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-81377, Germany
| | - Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-81377, Germany .,Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
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Sun X, Ren Z, Cun Y, Zhao C, Huang X, Zhou J, Hu R, Su X, Ji L, Li P, Mak K, Gao F, Yang Y, Xu H, Ding J, Cao N, Li S, Zhang W, Lan P, Sun H, Wang J, Yuan P. Hippo-YAP signaling controls lineage differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells through modulating the formation of super-enhancers. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:7182-7196. [PMID: 32510157 PMCID: PMC7367178 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hippo-YAP signaling pathway functions in early lineage differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, but the detailed mechanisms remain elusive. We found that knockout (KO) of Mst1 and Mst2, two key components of the Hippo signaling in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), resulted in a disruption of differentiation into mesendoderm lineage. To further uncover the underlying regulatory mechanisms, we performed a series of ChIP-seq experiments with antibodies against YAP, ESC master transcription factors and some characterized histone modification markers as well as RNA-seq assays using wild type and Mst KO samples at ES and day 4 embryoid body stage respectively. We demonstrate that YAP is preferentially co-localized with super-enhancer (SE) markers such as Nanog, Sox2, Oct4 and H3K27ac in ESCs. The hyper-activation of nuclear YAP in Mst KO ESCs facilitates the binding of Nanog, Sox2 and Oct4 as well as H3K27ac modification at the loci where YAP binds. Moreover, Mst depletion results in novel SE formation and enhanced liquid-liquid phase-separated Med1 condensates on lineage associated genes, leading to the upregulation of these genes and the distortion of ESC differentiation. Our study reveals a novel mechanism on how Hippo-YAP signaling pathway dictates ESC lineage differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yixian Cun
- Department of Medical Bioinformatics, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Cai Zhao
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Xianglin Huang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Jiajian Zhou
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Rong Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510655, China
- Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510655, China
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Xiaoxi Su
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- China Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Lu Ji
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Peng Li
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - King Lun Kingston Mak
- Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), Guangzhou, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510655, China
- Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510655, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Medical Bioinformatics, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - He Xu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Junjun Ding
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Department of Histology and embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511436, China
| | - Nan Cao
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Shuo Li
- Department of Medical Bioinformatics, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wensheng Zhang
- Cam-Su Genomic Resource Center, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ping Lan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510655, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jinkai Wang
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Jinkai Wang. Tel: +86 2087335142; Fax: +86 2087331209;
| | - Ping Yuan
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +86 18819239657; Fax: +86 2038254166;
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Ban Z, Knöspel F, Schneider MR. Shedding light into the black box: Advances in in vitro systems for studying implantation. Dev Biol 2020; 463:1-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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8
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Kaufman CD, Liu SC, Cvetkovic C, Lee CA, Naseri Kouzehgarani G, Gillette R, Bashir R, Gillette MU. Emergence of functional neuromuscular junctions in an engineered, multicellular spinal cord-muscle bioactuator. APL Bioeng 2020; 4:026104. [PMID: 32548540 PMCID: PMC7190368 DOI: 10.1063/1.5121440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic systems hold great promise for the study of biological systems in vitro as well as for the development and testing of pharmaceuticals. Here, we test the hypothesis that an intact segment of lumbar rat spinal cord will form functional neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) with engineered, 3D muscle tissue, mimicking the partial development of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Muscle tissues are grown on a 3D-printed polyethylene glycol (PEG) skeleton where deflection of the backbone due to muscle contraction causes the displacement of the pillar-like "feet." We show that spinal cord explants extend a robust and complex arbor of motor neurons and glia in vitro. We then engineered a "spinobot" by innervating the muscle tissue with an intact segment of lumbar spinal cord that houses the hindlimb locomotor central pattern generator (CPG). Within 7 days of the spinal cord being introduced to the muscle tissue, functional neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are formed, resulting in the development of an early PNS in vitro. The newly innervated muscles exhibit spontaneous contractions as measured by the displacement of pillars on the PEG skeleton. Upon chemical excitation, the spinal cord-muscle system initiated muscular twitches with a consistent frequency pattern. These sequences of contraction/relaxation suggest the action of a spinal CPG. Chemical inhibition with a blocker of neuronal glutamate receptors effectively blocked contractions. Overall, these data demonstrate that a rat spinal cord is capable of forming functional neuromuscular junctions ex vivo with an engineered muscle tissue at an ontogenetically similar timescale.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - M. U. Gillette
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.: 217-244-1355
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Modic M, Cacchiarelli D, Ten Berge D. Integrative biology studies in pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Res 2019; 42:101686. [PMID: 31887610 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Miha Modic
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department for Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - Davide Cacchiarelli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Pozzuoli, Italy; Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
| | - Derk Ten Berge
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Postbus 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Zhao H, Choi K. Single cell transcriptome dynamics from pluripotency to FLK1 + mesoderm. Development 2019; 146:dev.182097. [PMID: 31740535 DOI: 10.1242/dev.182097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hemangiogenic progenitors generating blood and endothelial cells are specified from FLK1-expressing (FLK1+) mesoderm by the transcription factor ETV2. FLK1+ mesoderm also contributes to smooth muscle and cardiomyocytes. However, the developmental process of FLK1+ mesoderm generation and its allocation to various cell fates remain obscure. Recent single cell RNA-sequencing studies of early embryos or in vitro-differentiated human embryonic stem (ES) cells have provided unprecedented information on the spatiotemporal resolution of cells in embryogenesis. These snapshots, however, lack information on continuous dynamic developmental processes. Here, we performed single cell RNA sequencing of in vitro-differentiated mouse ES cells to capture the continuous developmental process leading to hemangiogenesis. We found that hemangiogenic progenitors from ES cells develop through intermediate gastrulation stages, which are gradually specified by 'relay'-like highly overlapping transcription factor modules. Moreover, the transcriptional program of the Flk1+ mesoderm was maintained in the smooth muscle lineage, suggesting that smooth muscle is the default fate of Flk1+ mesoderm. We also identified the SRC kinase contributing to ETV2-mediated activation of the hemangiogenic program. This continuous transcriptome map will facilitate both basic and applied studies of mesoderm development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyong Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kyunghee Choi
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Kowalski K, Brzoska E, Ciemerych MA. The role of CXC receptors signaling in early stages of mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation. Stem Cell Res 2019; 41:101636. [PMID: 31722287 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Interplay between CXCR7 and other CXC receptors, namely CXCR4 or CXCR3, binding such ligands as SDF-1 or ITAC, was shown to regulate multiple cellular processes. The developmental role of signaling pathways mediated by these receptors was proven by the phenotypes of mice lacking either functional CXCR4, or CXCR7, or SDF-1, showing that formation of certain lineages relies on these factors. In this study, using in vitro differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells that lacked the function of CXCR7, we asked the question about the role of CXCR mediated signaling during early steps of differentiation. Our analysis showed that interaction of SDF-1 or ITAC with CXC receptors is necessary for the regulation of crucial developmental regulators expression and that CXCR7 is involved in the control of ESC pluripotency and differentiation into mesodermal lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kowalski
- Department of Cytology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw 02-096, Poland
| | - Edyta Brzoska
- Department of Cytology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw 02-096, Poland
| | - Maria A Ciemerych
- Department of Cytology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw 02-096, Poland.
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Differential effects of fluoxetine and venlafaxine in the neural embryonic stem cell test (ESTn) revealed by a cell lineage map. Neurotoxicology 2019; 76:1-9. [PMID: 31593710 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
There is a need for in vitro tests for the evaluation of chemicals and pharmaceuticals that may cause developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) in humans. The neural embryonic stem cell test (ESTn) is such an in vitro test that mimics early neural differentiation. The aim of this study was to define the biological domain of ESTn based on the expression of selective markers for certain cell types, and to investigate the effects of two antidepressants, fluoxetine (FLX) and venlafaxine (VNX), on neural differentiation. A cell lineage map was made to track neural differentiation and the effects of FLX and VNX in ESTn. Whole transcriptome analysis revealed differentiation from an embryonic stem cell population to a mixed culture of neural progenitors, neurons and neural crest cells 7 days into differentiation. Maturing neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were present after 13 days. Exposure to FLX or VNX led to different expression patterns between compounds at both time points. On day 7, both compounds upregulated most of the stem cell- and immature neuron markers, but had distinct effects on neural subtype markers. FLX downregulated glycinergic markers and upregulated cholinergic markers, while VNX had the opposite effect. On day 13, FLX and VNX affected their specific therapeutic targets, represented by mainly serotonergic markers by FLX- and dopaminergic and noradrenergic markers in VNX-exposed cultures, as well as oligodendrocyte and glycinergic neuron markers. This proof of concept study shows the added value of assessing DNT in ESTn through a cell lineage map and gives mechanistic insight in the potential neurodevelopmental effects of FLX and VNX. More compounds should be tested to further evaluate the use of the cell lineage map.
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Shparberg RA, Glover HJ, Morris MB. Modeling Mammalian Commitment to the Neural Lineage Using Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells. Front Physiol 2019; 10:705. [PMID: 31354503 PMCID: PMC6637848 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Early mammalian embryogenesis relies on a large range of cellular and molecular mechanisms to guide cell fate. In this highly complex interacting system, molecular circuitry tightly controls emergent properties, including cell differentiation, proliferation, morphology, migration, and communication. These molecular circuits include those responsible for the control of gene and protein expression, as well as metabolism and epigenetics. Due to the complexity of this circuitry and the relative inaccessibility of the mammalian embryo in utero, mammalian neural commitment remains one of the most challenging and poorly understood areas of developmental biology. In order to generate the nervous system, the embryo first produces two pluripotent populations, the inner cell mass and then the primitive ectoderm. The latter is the cellular substrate for gastrulation from which the three multipotent germ layers form. The germ layer definitive ectoderm, in turn, is the substrate for multipotent neurectoderm (neural plate and neural tube) formation, representing the first morphological signs of nervous system development. Subsequent patterning of the neural tube is then responsible for the formation of most of the central and peripheral nervous systems. While a large number of studies have assessed how a competent neurectoderm produces mature neural cells, less is known about the molecular signatures of definitive ectoderm and neurectoderm and the key molecular mechanisms driving their formation. Using pluripotent stem cells as a model, we will discuss the current understanding of how the pluripotent inner cell mass transitions to pluripotent primitive ectoderm and sequentially to the multipotent definitive ectoderm and neurectoderm. We will focus on the integration of cell signaling, gene activation, and epigenetic control that govern these developmental steps, and provide insight into the novel growth factor-like role that specific amino acids, such as L-proline, play in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael B. Morris
- Embryonic Stem Cell Laboratory, Discipline of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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