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Kong R, Zhao H, Li J, Ma Y, Li N, Shi L, Li Z. A regulatory loop of JAK/STAT signalling and its downstream targets represses cell fate conversion and maintains male germline stem cell niche homeostasis. Cell Prolif 2024; 57:e13648. [PMID: 38987866 PMCID: PMC11471429 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A specialised microenvironment, termed niche, provides extrinsic signals for the maintenance of residential stem cells. However, how residential stem cells maintain niche homeostasis and whether stromal niche cells could convert their fate into stem cells to replenish lost stem cells upon systemic stem cell loss remain largely unknown. Here, through systemic identification of JAK/STAT downstream targets in adult Drosophila testis, we show that Escargot (Esg), a member of the Snail family of transcriptional factors, is a putative JAK/STAT downstream target. esg is intrinsically required in cyst stem cells (CySCs) but not in germline stem cells (GSCs). esg depletion in CySCs results in CySC loss due to differentiation and non-cell autonomous GSC loss. Interestingly, hub cells are gradually lost by delaminating from the hub and converting into CySCs in esg-defective testes. Mechanistically, esg directly represses the expression of socs36E, the well-known downstream target and negative regulator of JAK/STAT signalling. Finally, further depletion of socs36E completely rescues the defects observed in esg-defective testes. Collectively, JAK/STAT target Esg suppresses SOCS36E to maintain CySC fate and repress niche cell conversion. Thus, our work uncovers a regulatory loop between JAK/STAT signalling and its downstream targets in controlling testicular niche homeostasis under physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyan Kong
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Hang Zhao
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Juan Li
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yankun Ma
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Ningfang Li
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Lin Shi
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhouhua Li
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
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2
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Kong R, Li J, Liu F, Ma Y, Zhao H, Zhao H, Ma M, Li Z. A feedforward loop between JAK/STAT downstream target p115 and STAT in germline stem cells. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1940-1953. [PMID: 37683644 PMCID: PMC10656303 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs) is essential for tissue homeostasis. JAK/STAT signaling maintains GSC fate in Drosophila testis. However, how JAK/STAT signaling maintains male GSC fate through its downstream targets remains poorly understood. Here, we identify p115, a tER/cis-Golgi golgin protein, as a putative downstream target of JAK/STAT signaling. p115 maintains GSC fate independent of GM130 and GRASP65. p115 localizes in cytosol, the ER and Golgi apparatus in germline cells and is required for the morphology of the ER and Golgi apparatus. Furthermore, depletion of p115 in GSCs results in aberrant spindle orientation. Mechanistically, p115 associates with and stabilizes STAT. Finally, ectopic expression of STAT completely restores GSC loss caused by p115 depletion. Collectively, JAK/STAT signaling and p115 form a feedforward loop to maintain male GSC fate. Our work provides new insights into the regulatory mechanism of how stem cell maintenance is properly controlled by JAK/STAT signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyan Kong
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Juan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Fuli Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Yankun Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Hang Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Hanfei Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Meifang Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Zhouhua Li
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.
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3
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Yu J, Fu Y, Li Z, Huang Q, Tang J, Sun C, Zhou P, He L, Sun F, Cheng X, Ji L, Yu H, Shi Y, Gu Z, Sun F, Zhao X. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals cell landscape following antimony exposure during spermatogenesis in Drosophila testes. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:86. [PMID: 36894529 PMCID: PMC9998446 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01391-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimony (Sb), is thought to induce testicular toxicity, although this remains controversial. This study investigated the effects of Sb exposure during spermatogenesis in the Drosophila testis and the underlying transcriptional regulatory mechanism at single-cell resolution. Firstly, we found that flies exposed to Sb for 10 days led to dose-dependent reproductive toxicity during spermatogenesis. Protein expression and RNA levels were measured by immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to characterize testicular cell composition and identify the transcriptional regulatory network after Sb exposure in Drosophila testes. scRNA-seq analysis revealed that Sb exposure influenced various testicular cell populations, especially in GSCs_to_Early_Spermatogonia and Spermatids clusters. Importantly, carbon metabolism was involved in GSCs/early spermatogonia maintenance and positively related with SCP-Containing Proteins, S-LAPs, and Mst84D signatures. Moreover, Seminal Fluid Proteins, Mst57D, and Serpin signatures were highly positively correlated with spermatid maturation. Pseudotime trajectory analysis revealed three novel states for the complexity of germ cell differentiation, and many novel genes (e.g., Dup98B) were found to be expressed in state-biased manners during spermatogenesis. Collectively, this study indicates that Sb exposure negatively impacts GSC maintenance and spermatid elongation, damaging spermatogenesis homeostasis via multiple signatures in Drosophila testes and therefore supporting Sb-mediated testicular toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yangbo Fu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Zhiran Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Qiuru Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Juan Tang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Chi Sun
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Peiyao Zhou
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Lei He
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Feiteng Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xinmeng Cheng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Li Ji
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Zhifeng Gu
- Department of Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Xinyuan Zhao
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China.
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4
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Zhao H, Li Z, Kong R, Shi L, Ma R, Ren X, Li Z. Novel intrinsic factor Yun maintains female germline stem cell fate through Thickveins. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:1914-1923. [PMID: 35985332 PMCID: PMC9481913 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Germline stem cells (GSCs) are critical for the reproduction of an organism. The self-renewal and differentiation of GSCs must be tightly controlled to avoid uncontrolled stem cell proliferation or premature stem cell differentiation. However, how the self-renewal and differentiation of GSCs are properly controlled is not fully understood. Here, we find that the novel intrinsic factor Yun is required for female GSC maintenance in Drosophila. GSCs undergo precocious differentiation due to de-repression of differentiation factor Bam by defective BMP/Dpp signaling in the absence of yun. Mechanistically, Yun associates with and stabilizes Thickveins (Tkv), the type I receptor of Dpp/BMP signaling. Finally, ectopic expression of a constitutively active Tkv (TkvQD) completely suppresses GSC loss caused by yun depletion. Collectively, these data demonstrate that Yun functions through Tkv to maintain GSC fate. Our results provide new insight into the regulatory mechanisms of how stem cell maintenance is properly controlled. Novel intrinsic factor Yun is required for female GSC maintenance Yun-defective GSCs undergo differentiation due to Bam upregulation Yun associates with and stabilizes Tkv to regulate GSC maintenance GSC loss in the absence of yun could be rescued by constitutively active Tkv
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Zhengran Li
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Ruiyan Kong
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Lin Shi
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Rui Ma
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Xuejing Ren
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Zhouhua Li
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.
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Yang Y, Kong R, Goh FG, Somers WG, Hime GR, Li Z, Cai Y. dRTEL1 is essential for the maintenance of Drosophila male germline stem cells. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009834. [PMID: 34644293 PMCID: PMC8513875 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells have the potential to maintain undifferentiated state and differentiate into specialized cell types. Despite numerous progress has been achieved in understanding stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, many fundamental questions remain unanswered. In this study, we identify dRTEL1, the Drosophila homolog of Regulator of Telomere Elongation Helicase 1, as a novel regulator of male germline stem cells (GSCs). Our genome-wide transcriptome analysis and ChIP-Seq results suggest that dRTEL1 affects a set of candidate genes required for GSC maintenance, likely independent of its role in DNA repair. Furthermore, dRTEL1 prevents DNA damage-induced checkpoint activation in GSCs. Finally, dRTEL1 functions to sustain Stat92E protein levels, the key player in GSC maintenance. Together, our findings reveal an intrinsic role of the DNA helicase dRTEL1 in maintaining male GSC and provide insight into the function of dRTEL1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Pathology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Ruiyan Kong
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Guang Goh
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - W. Gregory Somers
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gary R. Hime
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zhouhua Li
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Cai
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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6
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Zheng Q, Chen X, Qiao C, Wang M, Chen W, Luan X, Yan Y, Shen C, Fang J, Hu X, Zheng B, Wu Y, Yu J. Somatic CG6015 mediates cyst stem cell maintenance and germline stem cell differentiation via EGFR signaling in Drosophila testes. Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:68. [PMID: 33824283 PMCID: PMC8024382 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00452-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell niche is regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In the Drosophila testis, cyst stem cells (CySCs) support the differentiation of germline stem cells (GSCs). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found that somatic CG6015 is required for CySC maintenance and GSC differentiation in a Drosophila model. Knockdown of CG6015 in CySCs caused aberrant activation of dpERK in undifferentiated germ cells in the Drosophila testis, and disruption of key downstream targets of EGFR signaling (Dsor1 and rl) in CySCs results in a phenotype resembling that of CG6015 knockdown. CG6015, Dsor1, and rl are essential for the survival of Drosophila cell line Schneider 2 (S2) cells. Our data showed that somatic CG6015 regulates CySC maintenance and GSC differentiation via EGFR signaling, and inhibits aberrant activation of germline dpERK signals. These findings indicate regulatory mechanisms of stem cell niche homeostasis in the Drosophila testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianwen Zheng
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 212001, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 212001, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Chen Qiao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 212001, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 212001, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Wanyin Chen
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 212001, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Xiaojin Luan
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 212001, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Yidan Yan
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 212001, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Cong Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, 215002, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Jie Fang
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 212001, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Xing Hu
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 212001, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Bo Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, 215002, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
| | - Yibo Wu
- Human Reproductive and Genetic Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 214062, Wuxi, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 212001, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
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7
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Ladyzhets S, Antel M, Simao T, Gasek N, Cowan AE, Inaba M. Self-limiting stem-cell niche signaling through degradation of a stem-cell receptor. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3001003. [PMID: 33315855 PMCID: PMC7769618 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem-cell niche signaling is short-range in nature, such that only stem cells but not their differentiating progeny receive self-renewing signals. At the apical tip of the Drosophila testis, 8 to 10 germline stem cells (GSCs) surround the hub, a cluster of somatic cells that organize the stem-cell niche. We have previously shown that GSCs form microtubule-based nanotubes (MT-nanotubes) that project into the hub cells, serving as the platform for niche signal reception; this spatial arrangement ensures the reception of the niche signal specifically by stem cells but not by differentiating cells. The receptor Thickveins (Tkv) is expressed by GSCs and localizes to the surface of MT-nanotubes, where it receives the hub-derived ligand Decapentaplegic (Dpp). The fate of Tkv receptor after engaging in signaling on the MT-nanotubes has been unclear. Here we demonstrate that the Tkv receptor is internalized into hub cells from the MT-nanotube surface and subsequently degraded in the hub cell lysosomes. Perturbation of MT-nanotube formation and Tkv internalization from MT-nanotubes into hub cells both resulted in an overabundance of Tkv protein in GSCs and hyperactivation of a downstream signal, suggesting that the MT-nanotubes also serve a second purpose to dampen the niche signaling. Together, our results demonstrate that MT-nanotubes play dual roles to ensure the short-range nature of niche signaling by (1) providing an exclusive interface for the niche ligand-receptor interaction; and (2) limiting the amount of stem cell receptors available for niche signal reception. A stem cell niche is the specialized micro-environment that provides the signal to the resident stem cells to support their undifferentiated, self-renewing state. This study shows that the cells that compose the niche do not only provide the signal, but also take up the receptor of stem cells for subsequent lysosomal degradation; this mechanism is essential for restriction of niche signal range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Ladyzhets
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Matthew Antel
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Taylor Simao
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Nathan Gasek
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Ann E. Cowan
- Richard D. Berlin Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Mayu Inaba
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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8
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Ma H, Zhao H, Liu F, Zhao H, Kong R, Shi L, Wei M, Li Z. Heparan sulfate negatively regulates intestinal stem cell proliferation in Drosophila adult midgut. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio047126. [PMID: 31628141 PMCID: PMC6826283 DOI: 10.1242/bio.047126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue homeostasis is maintained by differentiated progeny of residential stem cells. Both extrinsic signals and intrinsic factors play critical roles in the proliferation and differentiation of adult intestinal stem cells (ISCs). However, how extrinsic signals are transduced into ISCs still remains unclear. Here, we find that heparan sulfate (HS), a class of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains, negatively regulates progenitor proliferation and differentiation to maintain midgut homeostasis under physiological conditions. Interestingly, HS depletion in progenitors results in inactivation of Decapentaplegic (Dpp) signaling. Dpp signal inactivation in progenitors resembles HS-deficient intestines. Ectopic Dpp signaling completely rescued the defects caused by HS depletion. Taken together, these data demonstrate that HS is required for Dpp signaling to maintain midgut homeostasis. Our results provide insight into the regulatory mechanisms of how extrinsic signals are transduced into stem cells to regulate their proliferation and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubing Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Huiqing Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Fuli Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Hang Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Ruiyan Kong
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Lin Shi
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Min Wei
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Zhouhua Li
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
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9
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Precursor RNA processing 3 is required for male fertility, and germline stem cell self-renewal and differentiation via regulating spliceosome function in Drosophila testes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9988. [PMID: 31292463 PMCID: PMC6620278 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46419-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuclear pre-mRNA spliceosome is a large complex containing five small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) and many splicing factors. Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are generated from pre-mRNAs by the process of RNA splicing, which is conserved in eukaryotes. Precursor RNA processing 3 (Prp3) is a U4/U6-associated snRNP whose function remains largely unknown. In the present study, using genetic manipulation of a Drosophila melanogaster testis model, we demonstrated that Prp3 is essential for male fertility in Drosophila. Prp3 deficiency in germline stem cells (GSCs) and early cyst cells resulted in abnormal structure of testes and maintenance defects of GSCs and cyst stem cells. Knockdown of Prp3 in spermatogonia and early cyst cells mediated tumor formation caused by differentiation defects. Using an in vitro assay, knockdown of Prp3 decreased proliferation and increased cell death, and controlled the spliceosome function via regulating spliceosome subunits expression in Drosophila S2 cells. We also identified two other splicing factors in the Prp complex (Prp19 and Prp8), which mimicked the phenotype of Prp3 in the Drosophila stem cell niche. Our results revealed a significant role of precursor RNA processing factors in male testes, indicating that Prp3, a key spliceosome component in the Prp complex, is essential for male fertility, and germline stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, via regulating the spliceosome function in Drosophila testes.
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10
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Lu Y, Yao Y, Li Z. Ectopic Dpp signaling promotes stem cell competition through EGFR signaling in the Drosophila testis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6118. [PMID: 30992503 PMCID: PMC6467874 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42630-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell competition could select the fittest stem cells and potentially control tumorigenesis. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we find that ectopic Decapentaplegic (Dpp) signal activation by expressing a constitutively active form of Thickveins (TkvCA) in cyst stem cells (CySCs) leads to competition between CySCs and germline stem cells (GSCs) for niche occupancy and GSC loss. GSCs are displaced from the niche and undergo differentiation. Interestingly, we find that induction of TkvCA results in elevated expression of vein, which further activates Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling in CySCs to promote their proliferation and compete GSCs out of the niche. Our findings elucidate the important role of Dpp signaling in regulating stem cell competition and tumorigenesis, which could be shed light on tumorigenesis and cancer treatment in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfen Lu
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, No. 7 Beinong Road, Changping District, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yuncong Yao
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, No. 7 Beinong Road, Changping District, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Zhouhua Li
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China.
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11
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Gordon KL, Payne SG, Linden-High LM, Pani AM, Goldstein B, Hubbard EJA, Sherwood DR. Ectopic Germ Cells Can Induce Niche-like Enwrapment by Neighboring Body Wall Muscle. Curr Biol 2019; 29:823-833.e5. [PMID: 30799241 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.01.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Niche cell enwrapment of stem cells and their differentiating progeny is common and provides a specialized signaling and protective environment. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying enwrapment behavior has important basic and clinical significance in not only understanding how niches are formed and maintained but also how they can be engineered and how they are misregulated in human pathologies, such as cancer. Previous work in C. elegans found that, when germ cells, which are enwrapped by somatic gonadal niche cells, are freed into the body cavity, they embed into other tissues. We investigated this phenomenon using live-cell imaging and discovered that ectopic germ cells preferentially induce body-wall muscle to extend cellular processes that enwrap the germ cells, the extent of which was strikingly similar to the distal tip cell (DTC)-germ stem cell niche. Enwrapment was specific for escaped germ cells, and genetic analysis revealed it did not depend on pathways that control cell death and engulfment or muscle arm extension. Instead, using a large-scale RNAi screen and GFP knockin strains, we discovered that the enwrapping behavior of muscle relied upon the same suite of cell-cell adhesion molecules that functioned in the endogenous niche: the C. elegans E-cadherin HMR-1, its intracellular associates α-catenin (HMP-1) and β-catenin (HMP-2), and the L1CAM protein SAX-7. This ectopic niche-like behavior resembles the seed-and-soil model of cancer metastasis and offers a new model to understand factors regulating ectopic niche formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacy L Gordon
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Sara G Payne
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | | | - Ariel M Pani
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Bob Goldstein
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - E Jane Albert Hubbard
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - David R Sherwood
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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