1
|
Piszker W, Simunovic M. The fusion of physics and biology in early mammalian embryogenesis. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 160:31-64. [PMID: 38937030 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Biomechanics in embryogenesis is a dynamic field intertwining the physical forces and biological processes that shape the first days of a mammalian embryo. From the first cell fate bifurcation during blastulation to the complex symmetry breaking and tissue remodeling in gastrulation, mechanical cues appear critical in cell fate decisions and tissue patterning. Recent strides in mouse and human embryo culture, stem cell modeling of mammalian embryos, and biomaterial design have shed light on the role of cellular forces, cell polarization, and the extracellular matrix in influencing cell differentiation and morphogenesis. This chapter highlights the essential functions of biophysical mechanisms in blastocyst formation, embryo implantation, and early gastrulation where the interplay between the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix stiffness orchestrates the intricacies of embryogenesis and placenta specification. The advancement of in vitro models like blastoids, gastruloids, and other types of embryoids, has begun to faithfully recapitulate human development stages, offering new avenues for exploring the biophysical underpinnings of early development. The integration of synthetic biology and advanced biomaterials is enhancing the precision with which we can mimic and study these processes. Looking ahead, we emphasize the potential of CRISPR-mediated genomic perturbations coupled with live imaging to uncover new mechanosensitive pathways and the application of engineered biomaterials to fine-tune the mechanical conditions conducive to embryonic development. This synthesis not only bridges the gap between experimental models and in vivo conditions to advancing fundamental developmental biology of mammalian embryogenesis, but also sets the stage for leveraging biomechanical insights to inform regenerative medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Walter Piszker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mijo Simunovic
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States; Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Indana D, Zakharov A, Lim Y, Dunn AR, Bhutani N, Shenoy VB, Chaudhuri O. Lumen expansion is initially driven by apical actin polymerization followed by osmotic pressure in a human epiblast model. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:640-656.e8. [PMID: 38701758 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.03.016] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Post-implantation, the pluripotent epiblast in a human embryo forms a central lumen, paving the way for gastrulation. Osmotic pressure gradients are considered the drivers of lumen expansion across development, but their role in human epiblasts is unknown. Here, we study lumenogenesis in a pluripotent-stem-cell-based epiblast model using engineered hydrogels. We find that leaky junctions prevent osmotic pressure gradients in early epiblasts and, instead, forces from apical actin polymerization drive lumen expansion. Once the lumen reaches a radius of ∼12 μm, tight junctions mature, and osmotic pressure gradients develop to drive further growth. Computational modeling indicates that apical actin polymerization into a stiff network mediates initial lumen expansion and predicts a transition to pressure-driven growth in larger epiblasts to avoid buckling. Human epiblasts show transcriptional signatures consistent with these mechanisms. Thus, actin polymerization drives lumen expansion in the human epiblast and may serve as a general mechanism of early lumenogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dhiraj Indana
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrei Zakharov
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Youngbin Lim
- Cell Sciences Imaging Facility (CSIF), Beckman Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alexander R Dunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nidhi Bhutani
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Vivek B Shenoy
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Chemistry, Engineering, and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sekulovski N, Wettstein JC, Carleton AE, Juga LN, Taniguchi LE, Ma X, Rao S, Schmidt JK, Golos TG, Lin CW, Taniguchi K. Temporally resolved early BMP-driven transcriptional cascade during human amnion specification. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.06.19.545574. [PMID: 38496419 PMCID: PMC10942271 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.19.545574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Amniogenesis, a process critical for continuation of healthy pregnancy, is triggered in a collection of pluripotent epiblast cells as the human embryo implants. Previous studies have established that BMP signaling is a major driver of this lineage specifying process, but the downstream BMP-dependent transcriptional networks that lead to successful amniogenesis remain to be identified. This is, in part, due to the current lack of a robust and reproducible model system that enables mechanistic investigations exclusively into amniogenesis. Here, we developed an improved model of early amnion specification, using a human pluripotent stem cell-based platform in which the activation of BMP signaling is controlled and synchronous. Uniform amniogenesis is seen within 48 hours after BMP activation, and the resulting cells share transcriptomic characteristics with amnion cells of a gastrulating human embryo. Using detailed time-course transcriptomic analyses, we established a previously uncharacterized BMP-dependent amniotic transcriptional cascade, and identified markers that represent five distinct stages of amnion fate specification; the expression of selected markers was validated in early post-implantation macaque embryos. Moreover, a cohort of factors that could potentially control specific stages of amniogenesis was identified, including the transcription factor TFAP2A. Functionally, we determined that, once amniogenesis is triggered by the BMP pathway, TFAP2A controls the progression of amniogenesis. This work presents a temporally resolved transcriptomic resource for several previously uncharacterized amniogenesis states and demonstrates a critical intermediate role for TFAP2A during amnion fate specification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Sekulovski
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Jenna C. Wettstein
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Amber E. Carleton
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Lauren N. Juga
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Linnea E. Taniguchi
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Xiaolong Ma
- Division of Biostatistics, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Sridhar Rao
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI 53226 USA
| | - Jenna K. Schmidt
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), Madison, WI, USA
| | - Thaddeus G. Golos
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Chien-Wei Lin
- Division of Biostatistics, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Kenichiro Taniguchi
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Andrés-San Román JA, Gordillo-Vázquez C, Franco-Barranco D, Morato L, Fernández-Espartero CH, Baonza G, Tagua A, Vicente-Munuera P, Palacios AM, Gavilán MP, Martín-Belmonte F, Annese V, Gómez-Gálvez P, Arganda-Carreras I, Escudero LM. CartoCell, a high-content pipeline for 3D image analysis, unveils cell morphology patterns in epithelia. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100597. [PMID: 37751739 PMCID: PMC10626192 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Decades of research have not yet fully explained the mechanisms of epithelial self-organization and 3D packing. Single-cell analysis of large 3D epithelial libraries is crucial for understanding the assembly and function of whole tissues. Combining 3D epithelial imaging with advanced deep-learning segmentation methods is essential for enabling this high-content analysis. We introduce CartoCell, a deep-learning-based pipeline that uses small datasets to generate accurate labels for hundreds of whole 3D epithelial cysts. Our method detects the realistic morphology of epithelial cells and their contacts in the 3D structure of the tissue. CartoCell enables the quantification of geometric and packing features at the cellular level. Our single-cell cartography approach then maps the distribution of these features on 2D plots and 3D surface maps, revealing cell morphology patterns in epithelial cysts. Additionally, we show that CartoCell can be adapted to other types of epithelial tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesús A Andrés-San Román
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla and Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Carmen Gordillo-Vázquez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla and Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Daniel Franco-Barranco
- Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain; Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Laura Morato
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla and Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Cecilia H Fernández-Espartero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla and Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Gabriel Baonza
- Program of Tissue and Organ Homeostasis, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM and Ramón & Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Tagua
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla and Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | | | - Ana M Palacios
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla and Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - María P Gavilán
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa (CABIMER), JA/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla/Universidad Pablo de Olavide and Departamento de Citología e Histología Normal y Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Fernando Martín-Belmonte
- Program of Tissue and Organ Homeostasis, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM and Ramón & Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Valentina Annese
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla and Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Pedro Gómez-Gálvez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla and Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain; MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.
| | - Ignacio Arganda-Carreras
- Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain; Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain; Biofisika Institute, 48940 Leioa, Spain.
| | - Luis M Escudero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla and Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain; Biomedical Network Research Centre on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen YP, Shao Y, Chen PC, Li K, Li JY, Meng J, Lv CL, Liu HY, Lv C, Feng XQ, Li B. Substrate nesting guides cyst morphogenesis of human pluripotent stem cells without 3D extracellular matrix overlay. Acta Biomater 2023; 170:519-531. [PMID: 37659729 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.08.053] [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: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the principles underlying the self-organization of stem cells into tissues is fundamental for deciphering human embryo development. Here, we report that, without three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM) overlay, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) cultured on two-dimensional soft elastic substrates can self-organize into 3D cysts resembling the human epiblast sac in a stiffness-dependent manner. Our theoretical modeling predicts that this cyst organization is facilitated and guided by the spontaneous nesting of the soft substrate, which results from the adhesion-dependent mechanical interaction between cells and substrate. Such substrate nesting is sufficient for the 3D assembly and polarization of hPSCs required for cyst organization, even without 3D ECM overlay. Furthermore, we identify that the reversible substrate nesting and cyst morphogenesis also require appropriate activation of ROCK-Myosin II pathway. This indicates a unique set of tissue morphomechanical signaling mechanisms that clearly differ from the canonical cystogenic mechanism previously reported in 3D ECM. Our findings highlight an unanticipated synergy between mechanical microenvironment and mechanotransduction in controlling tissue morphogenesis and suggest a mechanics-based strategy for generation of hPSCs-derived models for early human embryogenesis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Soft substrates can induce the self-organization of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into cysts without three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM) overlay. However, the underlying mechanisms by which soft substrate guides cystogenesis are largely unknown. This study shows that substrate nesting, resulting from cell-substrate interaction, plays an important role in cyst organization, including 3D assembly and apical-basal polarization. Additionally, actomyosin contractility mediated by the ROCK-Myosin II pathway also contributes to the substrate deformation and cyst morphology. These findings demonstrate the interplay between the mechanical microenvironment and cells in tissue morphogenesis, suggesting a mechanics-based strategy in building hPSC-derived models for early human embryo development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ping Chen
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yue Shao
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Peng-Cheng Chen
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kun Li
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jing-Yi Li
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jie Meng
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Cheng-Lin Lv
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hao-Yu Liu
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Cunjing Lv
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xi-Qiao Feng
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Bo Li
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chan CJ. Luminogenesis and hydraulics in development. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 131:108-109. [PMID: 35760730 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chii Jou Chan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|