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Zhao Y, Xue S, Wei D, Zhang J, Zhang N, Mao L, Liu N, Zhao L, Yan J, Wang Y, Cai X, Zhu S, Roessler S, Ji J. Membrane RRM2-positive cells represent a malignant population with cancer stem cell features in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:255. [PMID: 39243109 PMCID: PMC11378576 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03174-w] [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: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is one of the most lethal malignancies and highly heterogeneous. We thus aimed to identify and characterize iCCA cell subpopulations with severe malignant features. METHODS Transcriptomic datasets from three independent iCCA cohorts (iCCA cohorts 1-3, n = 382) and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from iCCA cohort 4 (n = 31) were used. An unbiased global screening strategy was established, including the transcriptome analysis with the activated malignancy/stemness (MS) signature in iCCA cohorts 1-3 and the mass spectrometry analysis of the sorted stemness reporter-positive iCCA cells. A group of cellular assays and subcutaneous tumor xenograft assay were performed to investigate functional roles of the candidate. Immunohistochemistry was performed in iCCA cohort 4 to examine the expression and localization of the candidate. Molecular and biochemical assays were used to evaluate the membrane localization and functional protein domains of the candidate. Cell sorting was performed and the corresponding cellular molecular assays were utilized to examine cancer stem cell features of the sorted cells. RESULTS The unbiased global screening identified RRM2 as the top candidate, with a significantly higher level in iCCA patients with the MS signature activation and in iCCA cells positive for the stemness reporter. Consistently, silencing RRM2 significantly suppressed iCCA malignancy phenotypes both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, immunohistochemistry in tumor tissues of iCCA patients revealed an unreported cell membrane localization of RRM2, in contrast to its usual cytoplasmic localization. RRM2 cell membrane localization was then confirmed in iCCA cells via immunofluorescence with or without cell membrane permeabilization, cell fractionation assay and cell surface biotinylation assay. Meanwhile, an unclassical signal peptide and a transmembrane domain of RRM2 were revealed experimentally. They were essential for RRM2 trafficking to cell membrane via the conventional endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi secretory pathway. Furthermore, the membrane RRM2-positive iCCA cells were successfully sorted. These cells possessed significant cancer stem cell malignant features including cell differentiation ability, self-renewal ability, tumor initiation ability, and stemness/malignancy gene signatures. Patients with membrane RRM2-positive iCCA cells had poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS RRM2 had an alternative cell membrane localization. The membrane RRM2-positive iCCA cells represented a malignant subpopulation with cancer stem cell features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhi Zhao
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Shuting Xue
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Danduo Wei
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jianjuan Zhang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Nachuan Zhang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Liping Mao
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Niya Liu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong Cancer Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jianing Yan
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yifan Wang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiujun Cai
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Saiyong Zhu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Stephanie Roessler
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Junfang Ji
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Department of General Surgery in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Cancer Center, Center for Life Sciences in Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
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Chen C, Wei Y, Jiang X, Li T. RNA Surveillance Factor SMG5 Is Essential for Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation. Biomolecules 2024; 14:1023. [PMID: 39199410 PMCID: PMC11352633 DOI: 10.3390/biom14081023] [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: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a highly conserved post-transcriptional gene expression regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic cells. NMD eliminates aberrant mRNAs with premature termination codons to surveil transcriptome integrity. Furthermore, NMD fine-tunes gene expression by destabilizing RNAs with specific NMD features. Thus, by controlling the quality and quantity of the transcriptome, NMD plays a vital role in mammalian development, stress response, and tumorigenesis. Deficiencies of NMD factors result in early embryonic lethality, while the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. SMG5 is a key NMD factor. In this study, we generated an Smg5 conditional knockout mouse model and found that Smg5-null results in early embryonic lethality before E13.5. Furthermore, we produced multiple lines of Smg5 knockout mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and found that the deletion of Smg5 in mESCs does not compromise cell viability. Smg5-null delays differentiation of mESCs. Mechanistically, our study reveals that the c-MYC protein, but not c-Myc mRNA, is upregulated in SMG5-deficient mESCs. The overproduction of c-MYC protein could be caused by enhanced protein synthesis upon SMG5 loss. Furthermore, SMG5-null results in dysregulation of alternative splicing on multiple stem cell differentiation regulators. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of SMG5-NMD in regulating mESC cell-state transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao Campus, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yanling Wei
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Xiaoning Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Tangliang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao Campus, Qingdao 266237, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
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3
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Waisman A, Sevlever F, Saulnier D, Francia M, Blanco R, Amín G, Lombardi A, Biani C, Palma MB, Scarafía A, Smucler J, La Greca A, Moro L, Sevlever G, Guberman A, Miriuka S. The transcription factor OCT6 promotes the dissolution of the naïve pluripotent state by repressing Nanog and activating a formative state gene regulatory network. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10420. [PMID: 38710730 PMCID: PMC11074312 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59247-5] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
In the mouse embryo, the transition from the preimplantation to the postimplantation epiblast is governed by changes in the gene regulatory network (GRN) that lead to transcriptional, epigenetic, and functional changes. This transition can be faithfully recapitulated in vitro by the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs), that reside in naïve and formative states of pluripotency, respectively. However, the GRN that drives this conversion is not fully elucidated. Here we demonstrate that the transcription factor OCT6 is a key driver of this process. Firstly, we show that Oct6 is not expressed in mESCs but is rapidly induced as cells exit the naïve pluripotent state. By deleting Oct6 in mESCs, we find that knockout cells fail to acquire the typical morphological changes associated with the formative state when induced to differentiate. Additionally, the key naïve pluripotency TFs Nanog, Klf2, Nr5a2, Prdm14, and Esrrb were expressed at higher levels than in wild-type cells, indicating an incomplete dismantling of the naïve pluripotency GRN. Conversely, premature expression of Oct6 in naïve cells triggered a rapid morphological transformation mirroring differentiation, that was accompanied by the upregulation of the endogenous Oct6 as well as the formative genes Sox3, Zic2/3, Foxp1, Dnmt3A and FGF5. Strikingly, we found that OCT6 represses Nanog in a bistable manner and that this regulation is at the transcriptional level. Moreover, our findings also reveal that Oct6 is repressed by NANOG. Collectively, our results establish OCT6 as a key TF in the dissolution of the naïve pluripotent state and support a model where Oct6 and Nanog form a double negative feedback loop which could act as an important toggle mediating the transition to the formative state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Waisman
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Federico Sevlever
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Denisse Saulnier
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcos Francia
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Renata Blanco
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guadalupe Amín
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonella Lombardi
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Celeste Biani
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Belén Palma
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Scarafía
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Joaquín Smucler
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro La Greca
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía Moro
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Sevlever
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra Guberman
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Miriuka
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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4
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Saha D, Animireddy S, Bartholomew B. The SWI/SNF ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex in cell lineage priming and early development. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:603-616. [PMID: 38572912 PMCID: PMC11088921 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230416] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
ATP dependent chromatin remodelers have pivotal roles in transcription, DNA replication and repair, and maintaining genome integrity. SWI/SNF remodelers were first discovered in yeast genetic screens for factors involved in mating type switching or for using alternative energy sources therefore termed SWI/SNF complex (short for SWItch/Sucrose NonFermentable). The SWI/SNF complexes utilize energy from ATP hydrolysis to disrupt histone-DNA interactions and shift, eject, or reposition nucleosomes making the underlying DNA more accessible to specific transcription factors and other regulatory proteins. In development, SWI/SNF orchestrates the precise activation and repression of genes at different stages, safe guards the formation of specific cell lineages and tissues. Dysregulation of SWI/SNF have been implicated in diseases such as cancer, where they can drive uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor metastasis. Additionally, SWI/SNF defects are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, leading to disruption of neural development and function. This review offers insights into recent developments regarding the roles of the SWI/SNF complex in pluripotency and cell lineage primining and the approaches that have helped delineate its importance. Understanding these molecular mechanisms is crucial for unraveling the intricate processes governing embryonic stem cell biology and developmental transitions and may potentially apply to human diseases linked to mutations in the SWI/SNF complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhurjhoti Saha
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Epigenetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, U.S.A
| | - Srinivas Animireddy
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Epigenetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, U.S.A
| | - Blaine Bartholomew
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Epigenetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, U.S.A
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5
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Ranek JS, Stallaert W, Milner JJ, Redick M, Wolff SC, Beltran AS, Stanley N, Purvis JE. DELVE: feature selection for preserving biological trajectories in single-cell data. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2765. [PMID: 38553455 PMCID: PMC10980758 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46773-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Single-cell technologies can measure the expression of thousands of molecular features in individual cells undergoing dynamic biological processes. While examining cells along a computationally-ordered pseudotime trajectory can reveal how changes in gene or protein expression impact cell fate, identifying such dynamic features is challenging due to the inherent noise in single-cell data. Here, we present DELVE, an unsupervised feature selection method for identifying a representative subset of molecular features which robustly recapitulate cellular trajectories. In contrast to previous work, DELVE uses a bottom-up approach to mitigate the effects of confounding sources of variation, and instead models cell states from dynamic gene or protein modules based on core regulatory complexes. Using simulations, single-cell RNA sequencing, and iterative immunofluorescence imaging data in the context of cell cycle and cellular differentiation, we demonstrate how DELVE selects features that better define cell-types and cell-type transitions. DELVE is available as an open-source python package: https://github.com/jranek/delve .
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolene S Ranek
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Computational Medicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Wayne Stallaert
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J Justin Milner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Margaret Redick
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Computational Medicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Samuel C Wolff
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Computational Medicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Adriana S Beltran
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Human Pluripotent Cell Core, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Natalie Stanley
- Computational Medicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Jeremy E Purvis
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Computational Medicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Ye Y, Xie W, Ma Z, Wang X, Wen Y, Li X, Qi H, Wu H, An J, Jiang Y, Lu X, Chen G, Hu S, Blaber EA, Chen X, Chang L, Zhang W. Conserved mechanisms of self-renewal and pluripotency in mouse and human ESCs regulated by simulated microgravity using a 3D clinostat. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:68. [PMID: 38336777 PMCID: PMC10858198 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01846-2] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit unique attributes of boundless self-renewal and pluripotency, making them invaluable for fundamental investigations and clinical endeavors. Previous examinations of microgravity effects on ESC self-renewal and differentiation have predominantly maintained a descriptive nature, constrained by limited experimental opportunities and techniques. In this investigation, we present compelling evidence derived from murine and human ESCs, demonstrating that simulated microgravity (SMG)-induced stress significantly impacts self-renewal and pluripotency through a previously unidentified conserved mechanism. Specifically, SMG induces the upregulation of heat shock protein genes, subsequently enhancing the expression of core pluripotency factors and activating the Wnt and/or LIF/STAT3 signaling pathways, thereby fostering ESC self-renewal. Notably, heightened Wnt pathway activity, facilitated by Tbx3 upregulation, prompts mesoendodermal differentiation in both murine and human ESCs under SMG conditions. Recognizing potential disparities between terrestrial SMG simulations and authentic microgravity, forthcoming space flight experiments are imperative to validate the impact of reduced gravity on ESC self-renewal and differentiation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Ye
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wenyan Xie
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhaoru Ma
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xuepeng Wang
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yi Wen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xuemei Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Hongqian Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jinnan An
- Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xinyi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Guokai Chen
- Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Shijun Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China.
| | - Elizabeth A Blaber
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Xi Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Lei Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Province International Joint Laboratory For Regeneration Medicine, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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7
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Ghosh A, Som A. Network analysis of transcriptomic data uncovers molecular signatures and the interplay of mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs in human embryonic stem cells. Differentiation 2024; 135:100738. [PMID: 38008592 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2023.11.001] [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] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence has shown that besides the protein coding genes, the non-coding elements of the genome are indispensable for maintaining the property of self-renewal in human embryonic stem cells and in cell fate determination. However, the regulatory mechanisms and the landscape of interactions between the coding and non-coding elements is poorly understood. In this work, we used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) on transcriptomic data retrieved from RNA-seq and small RNA-seq experiments and reconstructed the core human pluripotency network (called PluriMLMiNet) consisting of 375 mRNA, 57 lncRNA and 207 miRNAs. Furthermore, we derived networks specific to the naïve and primed states of human pluripotency (called NaiveMLMiNet and PrimedMLMiNet respectively) that revealed a set of molecular markers (RPS6KA1, ZYG11A, ZNF695, ZNF273, and NLRP2 for naive state, and RAB34, TMEM178B, PTPRZ1, USP44, KIF1A and LRRN1 for primed state) which can be used to distinguish the pluripotent state from the non-pluripotent state and also to identify the intra-pluripotency states (i.e., naïve and primed state). The lncRNA DANT1 was found to be a crucial as it formed a bridge between the naive and primed state-specific networks. Analysis of the genes neighbouring DANT1 suggested its possible role as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for the induction and maintenance of human pluripotency. This was computationally validated by predicting the missing DANT1-miRNA interactions to complete the ceRNA circuit. Here we first report that DANT1 might harbour binding sites for miRNAs hsa-miR-30c-2-3p, hsa-miR-210-3p and hsa-let-7b-5p which may influence pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arindam Ghosh
- Centre of Bioinformatics, Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, 211002, India; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70210, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Anup Som
- Centre of Bioinformatics, Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, 211002, India.
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8
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Fatima N, Saif Ur Rahman M, Qasim M, Ali Ashfaq U, Ahmed U, Masoud MS. Transcriptional Factors Mediated Reprogramming to Pluripotency. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 19:367-388. [PMID: 37073151 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x18666230417084518] [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: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
A unique kind of pluripotent cell, i.e., Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), now being targeted for iPSC synthesis, are produced by reprogramming animal and human differentiated cells (with no change in genetic makeup for the sake of high efficacy iPSCs formation). The conversion of specific cells to iPSCs has revolutionized stem cell research by making pluripotent cells more controllable for regenerative therapy. For the past 15 years, somatic cell reprogramming to pluripotency with force expression of specified factors has been a fascinating field of biomedical study. For that technological primary viewpoint reprogramming method, a cocktail of four transcription factors (TF) has required: Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), four-octamer binding protein 34 (OCT3/4), MYC and SOX2 (together referred to as OSKM) and host cells. IPS cells have great potential for future tissue replacement treatments because of their ability to self-renew and specialize in all adult cell types, although factor-mediated reprogramming mechanisms are still poorly understood medically. This technique has dramatically improved performance and efficiency, making it more useful in drug discovery, disease remodeling, and regenerative medicine. Moreover, in these four TF cocktails, more than 30 reprogramming combinations were proposed, but for reprogramming effectiveness, only a few numbers have been demonstrated for the somatic cells of humans and mice. Stoichiometry, a combination of reprogramming agents and chromatin remodeling compounds, impacts kinetics, quality, and efficiency in stem cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazira Fatima
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Muhammad Saif Ur Rahman
- Institute of Advanced Studies, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Muhammad Qasim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Usman Ali Ashfaq
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Uzair Ahmed
- EMBL Partnership Institute for Genome Editing Technologies, Vilnius University, Vilnius, 10257, Lithuania
| | - Muhammad Shareef Masoud
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
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9
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Wang X, Song C, Ye Y, Gu Y, Li X, Chen P, Leng D, Xiao J, Wu H, Xie S, Liu W, Zhao Q, Chen D, Chen X, Wu Q, Chen G, Zhang W. BRD9-mediated control of the TGF-β/Activin/Nodal pathway regulates self-renewal and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and progression of cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:11634-11651. [PMID: 37870468 PMCID: PMC10681724 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9) is a specific subunit of the non-canonical SWI/SNF (ncBAF) chromatin-remodeling complex, whose function in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that impaired BRD9 function reduces the self-renewal capacity of hESCs and alters their differentiation potential. Specifically, BRD9 depletion inhibits meso-endoderm differentiation while promoting neural ectoderm differentiation. Notably, supplementation of NODAL, TGF-β, Activin A or WNT3A rescues the differentiation defects caused by BRD9 loss. Mechanistically, BRD9 forms a complex with BRD4, SMAD2/3, β-CATENIN and P300, which regulates the expression of pluripotency genes and the activity of TGF-β/Nodal/Activin and Wnt signaling pathways. This is achieved by regulating the deposition of H3K27ac on associated genes, thus maintaining and directing hESC differentiation. BRD9-mediated regulation of the TGF-β/Activin/Nodal pathway is also demonstrated in the development of pancreatic and breast cancer cells. In summary, our study highlights the crucial role of BRD9 in the regulation of hESC self-renewal and differentiation, as well as its participation in the progression of pancreatic and breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuepeng Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Chengcheng Song
- Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Ying Ye
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yashi Gu
- Zhejiang University–University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China
| | - Xuemei Li
- Peninsula Cancer Research Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Peixin Chen
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Dongliang Leng
- Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Jing Xiao
- Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Sisi Xie
- Zhejiang University–University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China
| | - Weiwei Liu
- Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Di Chen
- Zhejiang University–University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Qiang Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
- The Precision Regenerative Medicine Centre, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Guokai Chen
- Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Wensheng Zhang
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Peninsula Cancer Research Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255049, China
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10
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Sultana Z, Dorel M, Klinger B, Sieber A, Dunkel I, Blüthgen N, Schulz EG. Modeling unveils sex differences of signaling networks in mouse embryonic stem cells. Mol Syst Biol 2023; 19:e11510. [PMID: 37735975 PMCID: PMC10632733 DOI: 10.15252/msb.202211510] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
For a short period during early development of mammalian embryos, both X chromosomes in females are active, before dosage compensation is ensured through X-chromosome inactivation. In female mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), which carry two active X chromosomes, increased X-dosage affects cell signaling and impairs differentiation. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain poorly understood. To dissect X-dosage effects on the signaling network in mESCs, we combine systematic perturbation experiments with mathematical modeling. We quantify the response to a variety of inhibitors and growth factors for cells with one (XO) or two X chromosomes (XX). We then build models of the signaling networks in XX and XO cells through a semi-quantitative modeling approach based on modular response analysis. We identify a novel negative feedback in the PI3K/AKT pathway through GSK3. Moreover, the presence of a single active X makes mESCs more sensitive to the differentiation-promoting Activin A signal and leads to a stronger RAF1-mediated negative feedback in the FGF-triggered MAPK pathway. The differential response to these differentiation-promoting pathways can explain the impaired differentiation propensity of female mESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeba Sultana
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto‐Warburg‐LaboratoriesMax Planck Institute for Molecular GeneticsBerlinGermany
| | - Mathurin Dorel
- Computational Modelling in Medicine, Institute of PathologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Bertram Klinger
- Computational Modelling in Medicine, Institute of PathologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Anja Sieber
- Computational Modelling in Medicine, Institute of PathologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto‐Warburg‐LaboratoriesMax Planck Institute for Molecular GeneticsBerlinGermany
| | - Nils Blüthgen
- Computational Modelling in Medicine, Institute of PathologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto‐Warburg‐LaboratoriesMax Planck Institute for Molecular GeneticsBerlinGermany
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11
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Mehlferber MM, Kuyumcu-Martinez M, Miller CL, Sheynkman GM. Transcription factors and splice factors - interconnected regulators of stem cell differentiation. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2023; 9:31-41. [PMID: 38939410 PMCID: PMC11210451 DOI: 10.1007/s40778-023-00227-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of review The underlying molecular mechanisms that direct stem cell differentiation into fully functional, mature cells remain an area of ongoing investigation. Cell state is the product of the combinatorial effect of individual factors operating within a coordinated regulatory network. Here, we discuss the contribution of both gene regulatory and splicing regulatory networks in defining stem cell fate during differentiation and the critical role of protein isoforms in this process. Recent findings We review recent experimental and computational approaches that characterize gene regulatory networks, splice regulatory networks, and the resulting transcriptome and proteome they mediate during differentiation. Such approaches include long-read RNA sequencing, which has demonstrated high-resolution profiling of mRNA isoforms, and Cas13-based CRISPR, which could make possible high-throughput isoform screening. Collectively, these developments enable systems-level profiling of factors contributing to cell state. Summary Overall, gene and splice regulatory networks are important in defining cell state. The emerging high-throughput systems-level approaches will characterize the gene regulatory network components necessary in driving stem cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison M Mehlferber
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Muge Kuyumcu-Martinez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Fontaine Medical Office Building 1, 415 Ray C. Hunt Dr, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Clint L Miller
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Multistory Building, West Complex, 1335 Lee St, Charlottesville, VA 22908, PO Box 800717, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908
| | - Gloria M Sheynkman
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, Center for Public Health Genomics, UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, 1340 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903
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12
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Singh J, Singh S. Review on kidney diseases: types, treatment and potential of stem cell therapy. RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY 2023; 9:21. [PMID: 37131920 PMCID: PMC10134709 DOI: 10.1186/s41100-023-00475-2] [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: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal disorders are an emerging global public health issue with a higher growth rate despite progress in supportive therapies. In order to find more promising treatments to stimulate renal repair, stem cell-based technology has been proposed as a potentially therapeutic option. The self-renewal and proliferative nature of stem cells raised the hope to fight against various diseases. Similarly, it opens a new path for the treatment and repair of damaged renal cells. This review focuses on the types of renal diseases; acute and chronic kidney disease-their statistical data, and the conventional drugs used for treatment. It includes the possible stem cell therapy mechanisms involved and outcomes recorded so far, the limitations of using these regenerative medicines, and the progressive improvement in stem cell therapy by adopting approaches like PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, and the Sendai virus. Specifically, about the paracrine activities of amniotic fluid stem cells, renal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cell, induced pluripotent stem cells as well as other stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaspreet Singh
- School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, 15935, Block 56, Room No 202, Phagwara, Punjab 144411 India
| | - Sanjeev Singh
- School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, 15935, Block 56, Room No 202, Phagwara, Punjab 144411 India
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13
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Ruan Y, Wang J, Yu M, Wang F, Wang J, Xu Y, Liu L, Cheng Y, Yang R, Zhang C, Yang Y, Wang J, Wu W, Huang Y, Tian Y, Chen G, Zhang J, Jian R. A multi-omics integrative analysis based on CRISPR screens re-defines the pluripotency regulatory network in ESCs. Commun Biol 2023; 6:410. [PMID: 37059858 PMCID: PMC10104827 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04700-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive and precise definition of the pluripotency gene regulatory network (PGRN) is crucial for clarifying the regulatory mechanisms in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Here, after a CRISPR/Cas9-based functional genomics screen and integrative analysis with other functional genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes and epigenome data, an expanded pluripotency-associated gene set is obtained, and a new PGRN with nine sub-classes is constructed. By integrating the DNA binding, epigenetic modification, chromatin conformation, and RNA expression profiles, the PGRN is resolved to six functionally independent transcriptional modules (CORE, MYC, PAF, PRC, PCGF and TBX). Spatiotemporal transcriptomics reveal activated CORE/MYC/PAF module activity and repressed PRC/PCGF/TBX module activity in both mouse ESCs (mESCs) and pluripotent cells of early embryos. Moreover, this module activity pattern is found to be shared by human ESCs (hESCs) and cancers. Thus, our results provide novel insights into elucidating the molecular basis of ESC pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ruan
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Meng Yu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Fengsheng Wang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China
| | - Jiangjun Wang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yixiao Xu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lianlian Liu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yuda Cheng
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Ran Yang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Experimental Center of Basic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - JiaLi Wang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Southwest Hospital, The First Hospital Affiliated to Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Biomedical Analysis Center, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yanping Tian
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Guangxing Chen
- Department of Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Junlei Zhang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Rui Jian
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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14
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Choi EB, Vodnala M, Saini P, Anugula S, Zerbato M, Ho JJ, Wang J, Ho Sui SJ, Yoon J, Roels M, Inouye C, Fong YW. Transcription factor SOX15 regulates stem cell pluripotency and promotes neural fate during differentiation by activating the neurogenic gene Hes5. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102996. [PMID: 36764520 PMCID: PMC10023989 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102996] [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: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
SOX2 and SOX15 are Sox family transcription factors enriched in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The role of SOX2 in activating gene expression programs essential for stem cell self-renewal and acquisition of pluripotency during somatic cell reprogramming is well-documented. However, the contribution of SOX15 to these processes is unclear and often presumed redundant with SOX2 largely because overexpression of SOX15 can partially restore self-renewal in SOX2-deficient ESCs. Here, we show that SOX15 contributes to stem cell maintenance by cooperating with ESC-enriched transcriptional coactivators to ensure optimal expression of pluripotency-associated genes. We demonstrate that SOX15 depletion compromises reprogramming of fibroblasts to pluripotency which cannot be compensated by SOX2. Ectopic expression of SOX15 promotes the reversion of a postimplantation, epiblast stem cell state back to a preimplantation, ESC-like identity even though SOX2 is expressed in both cell states. We also uncover a role of SOX15 in lineage specification, by showing that loss of SOX15 leads to defects in commitment of ESCs to neural fates. SOX15 promotes neural differentiation by binding to and activating a previously uncharacterized distal enhancer of a key neurogenic regulator, Hes5. Together, these findings identify a multifaceted role of SOX15 in induction and maintenance of pluripotency and neural differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Bee Choi
- Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Munender Vodnala
- Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Prince Saini
- Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sharath Anugula
- Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Madeleine Zerbato
- Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jaclyn J Ho
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Li Ka Shing Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Center of Excellence, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Jianing Wang
- Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shannan J Ho Sui
- Harvard Chan Bioinformatics Core, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joon Yoon
- Harvard Chan Bioinformatics Core, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marielle Roels
- Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carla Inouye
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Li Ka Shing Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Center of Excellence, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Yick W Fong
- Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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15
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Identification of SALL4 Expressing Islet-1+ Cardiovascular Progenitor Cell Clones. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021780. [PMID: 36675298 PMCID: PMC9863009 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The utilization of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) has been shown to induce favorable regenerative effects. While there are various populations of endogenous CPCs in the heart, there is no consensus regarding which population is ideal for cell-based regenerative therapy. Early-stage progenitor cells can be differentiated into all cardiovascular lineages, including cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. Identifying an Islet-1+ (Isl-1+) early-stage progenitor population with enhanced stemness, multipotency and differentiation potential would be beneficial for the development of novel regenerative therapies. Here, we investigated the transcriptome of human neonatal Isl-1+ CPCs. Isl-1+ human neonatal CPCs exhibit enhanced stemness properties and were found to express Spalt-like transcription factor 4 (SALL4). SALL4 plays a role in embryonic development as well as proliferation and expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells. SALL4, SOX2, EpCAM and TBX5 are co-expressed in the majority of Isl-1+ clones isolated from neonatal patients. The pre-mesendodermal transcript TFAP2C was identified in select Isl-1, SALL4, SOX2, EpCAM and TBX5 expressing clones. The ability to isolate and expand pre-mesendodermal stage cells from human patients is a novel finding that holds potential value for applications in regenerative medicine.
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16
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Kimura JO, Bolaños DM, Ricci L, Srivastava M. Embryonic origins of adult pluripotent stem cells. Cell 2022; 185:4756-4769.e13. [PMID: 36493754 PMCID: PMC9761687 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although adult pluripotent stem cells (aPSCs) are found in many animal lineages, mechanisms for their formation during embryogenesis are unknown. Here, we leveraged Hofstenia miamia, a regenerative worm that possesses collectively pluripotent aPSCs called neoblasts and produces manipulable embryos. Lineage tracing and functional experiments revealed that one pair of blastomeres gives rise to cells that resemble neoblasts in distribution, behavior, and gene expression. In Hofstenia, aPSCs include transcriptionally distinct subpopulations that express markers associated with differentiated tissues; our data suggest that despite their heterogeneity, aPSCs are derived from one lineage, not from multiple tissue-specific lineages during development. Next, we combined single-cell transcriptome profiling across development with neoblast cell-lineage tracing and identified a molecular trajectory for neoblast formation that includes transcription factors Hes, FoxO, and Tbx. This identification of a cellular mechanism and molecular trajectory for aPSC formation opens the door for in vivo studies of aPSC regulation and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian O Kimura
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - D Marcela Bolaños
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Lorenzo Ricci
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Mansi Srivastava
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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17
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Mamun MMA, Khan MR, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Zhou S, Xu R, Bukhari I, Thorne RF, Li J, Zhang XD, Liu G, Chen S, Wu M, Song X. Stub1 maintains proteostasis of master transcription factors in embryonic stem cells. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110919. [PMID: 35675767 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110919] [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: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The pluripotency and differentiation states of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are regulated by a set of core transcription factors, primarily Sox2, Oct4, and Nanog. Although their transcriptional regulation has been studied extensively, the contribution of posttranslational modifications in Sox2, Oct4, and Nanog are poorly understood. Here, using a CRISPR-Cas9 knockout library screen in murine ESCs, we identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase Stub1 as a negative regulator of pluripotency. Manipulation of Stub1 expression in murine ESCs shows that ectopic Stub1 expression significantly reduces the protein half-life of Sox2, Oct4, and Nanog. Mechanistic investigations reveal Stub1 catalyzes the polyubiquitination and 26S proteasomal degradation of Sox2 and Nanog through K48-linked ubiquitin chains and Oct4 via K63 linkage. Stub1 deficiency positively enhances somatic cell reprogramming and delays differentiation, whereas its enforced expression triggers ESC differentiation. The discovery of Stub1 as an integral pluripotency regulator strengthens our understanding of ESC regulation beyond conventional transcriptional control mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mahfuz Al Mamun
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Zhengzhou City Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Non-coding RNA and Metabolism in Cancer, Zhengzhou 450003, China
| | - Muhammad Riaz Khan
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Zhengzhou City Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Non-coding RNA and Metabolism in Cancer, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Research Center on Aging, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux de l'Estrie-Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8 Canada
| | - Yifu Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Yuwei Zhang
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
| | - Shuai Zhou
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Zhengzhou City Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Non-coding RNA and Metabolism in Cancer, Zhengzhou 450003, China
| | - Ran Xu
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Ihtisham Bukhari
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Zhengzhou City Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Non-coding RNA and Metabolism in Cancer, Zhengzhou 450003, China
| | - Rick F Thorne
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Zhengzhou City Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Non-coding RNA and Metabolism in Cancer, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Molecular Pathology Center, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450053, China; School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2258, Australia
| | - Jinming Li
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Zhengzhou City Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Non-coding RNA and Metabolism in Cancer, Zhengzhou 450003, China
| | - Xu Dong Zhang
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Zhengzhou City Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Non-coding RNA and Metabolism in Cancer, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Molecular Pathology Center, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450053, China; School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Guangzhi Liu
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China.
| | - Song Chen
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Zhengzhou City Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Non-coding RNA and Metabolism in Cancer, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Molecular Pathology Center, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450053, China; Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223300, China.
| | - Mian Wu
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Differentiation and Modification, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Zhengzhou City Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Long Non-coding RNA and Cancer Metabolism, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Non-coding RNA and Metabolism in Cancer, Zhengzhou 450003, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Molecular Pathology Center, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450053, China.
| | - Xiaoyuan Song
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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18
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Quan Y, Wang M, Xu C, Wang X, Wu Y, Qin D, Lin Y, Lu X, Lu F, Li L. Cnot8 eliminates naïve regulation networks and is essential for naïve-to-formative pluripotency transition. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:4414-4435. [PMID: 35390160 PMCID: PMC9071485 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac236] [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: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian early epiblasts at different phases are characterized by naïve, formative, and primed pluripotency states, involving extensive transcriptome changes. Here, we report that deadenylase Cnot8 of Ccr4-Not complex plays essential roles during the transition from naïve to formative state. Knock out (KO) Cnot8 resulted in early embryonic lethality in mice, but Cnot8 KO embryonic stem cells (ESCs) could be established. Compared with the cells differentiated from normal ESCs, Cnot8 KO cells highly expressed a great many genes during their differentiation into the formative state, including several hundred naïve-like genes enriched in lipid metabolic process and gene expression regulation that may form the naïve regulation networks. Knockdown expression of the selected genes of naïve regulation networks partially rescued the differentiation defects of Cnot8 KO ESCs. Cnot8 depletion led to the deadenylation defects of its targets, increasing their poly(A) tail lengths and half-life, eventually elevating their expression levels. We further found that Cnot8 was involved in the clearance of targets through its deadenylase activity and the binding of Ccr4-Not complex, as well as the interacting with Tob1 and Pabpc1. Our results suggest that Cnot8 eliminates naïve regulation networks through mRNA clearance, and is essential for naïve-to-formative pluripotency transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Quan
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Meijiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chengpeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dandan Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yuxuan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xukun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Falong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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19
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Wei B, Zeng M, Yang J, Li S, Zhang J, Ding N, Jiang Z. N6-Methyladenosine RNA Modification: A Potential Regulator of Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:835205. [PMID: 35445023 PMCID: PMC9013802 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.835205] [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: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell transplantation (SCT) holds great promise for overcoming diseases by regenerating damaged cells, tissues and organs. The potential for self-renewal and differentiation is the key to SCT. RNA methylation, a dynamic and reversible epigenetic modification, is able to regulate the ability of stem cells to differentiate and regenerate. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the richest form of RNA methylation in eukaryotes and is regulated by three classes of proteins: methyltransferase complexes, demethylase complexes and m6A binding proteins. Through the coordination of these proteins, RNA methylation precisely modulates the expression of important target genes by affecting mRNA stability, translation, selective splicing, processing and microRNA maturation. In this review, we summarize the most recent findings on the regulation of m6A modification in embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and adult stem cells, hoping to provide new insights into improving SCT technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wei
- Research Lab of Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Human International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Arteriosclerotic Disease, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Meiyu Zeng
- Research Lab of Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Research Lab of Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shuainan Li
- Research Lab of Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Jiantao Zhang
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Nan Ding
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Ding, ; Zhisheng Jiang,
| | - Zhisheng Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Human International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Arteriosclerotic Disease, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Ding, ; Zhisheng Jiang,
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20
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Liu Y, Wang H, Shao M, Jin Y, Liao B. The functional role of OGDH for maintaining mitochondrial respiration and identity of primed human embryonic stem cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 612:30-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.04.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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21
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p57 Suppresses the Pluripotency and Proliferation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells by Positively Regulating p53 Activation. Stem Cells Int 2022; 2021:4968649. [PMID: 34976070 PMCID: PMC8720024 DOI: 10.1155/2021/4968649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent stem cells that have indefinite self-renewal capacities under appropriate culture conditions in vitro. The pluripotency maintenance and proliferation of these cells are delicately governed by the concert effect of a complex transcriptional regulatory network. Herein, we discovered that p57Kip2 (p57), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor canonically inhibiting cell proliferation, played a role in suppressing the pluripotency state of mouse ESCs (mESCs). p57 knockdown significantly stimulated the expressions of core pluripotency factors NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2, while p57 overexpression inhibited the expressions of these factors in mESCs. In addition, consistent with its function in somatic cells, p57 suppressed mESC proliferation. Further analysis showed that p57 could interact with and contribute to the activation of p53 in mESCs. In conclusion, the present study showed that p57 could antagonize the pluripotency state and the proliferation process of mESCs. This finding uncovers a novel function of p57 and provides new evidence for elucidating the complex regulatory of network of mESC fate.
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22
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Lu V, Roy IJ, Teitell MA. Nutrients in the fate of pluripotent stem cells. Cell Metab 2021; 33:2108-2121. [PMID: 34644538 PMCID: PMC8568661 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells model certain features of early mammalian development ex vivo. Medium-supplied nutrients can influence self-renewal, lineage specification, and earliest differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. However, which specific nutrients support these distinct outcomes, and their mechanisms of action, remain under active investigation. Here, we evaluate the available data on nutrients and their metabolic conversion that influence pluripotent stem cell fates. We also discuss key questions open for investigation in this rapidly expanding area of increasing fundamental and practical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Lu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Irena J Roy
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Michael A Teitell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, California NanoSystems Institute, and Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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23
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Singh V. Intracellular metabolic reprogramming mediated by micro-RNAs in differentiating and proliferating cells under non-diseased conditions. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:8123-8140. [PMID: 34643930 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06769-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular metabolic reprogramming is a critical process the cells carry out to increase biomass, energy fulfillment and genome replication. Cells reprogram their demands from internal catabolic or anabolic activities in coordination with multiple genes and microRNAs which further control the critical processes of differentiation and proliferation. The microRNAs reprogram the metabolism involving mitochondria, the nucleus and the biochemical processes utilizing glucose, amino acids, lipids, and nucleic acids resulting in ATP production. The processes of glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, or oxidative phosphorylation are also mediated by micro-RNAs maintaining cells and organs in a non-diseased state. Several reports have shown practical applications of metabolic reprogramming for clinical utility to assess various diseases, mostly studying cancer and immune-related disorders. Cells under diseased conditions utilize glycolysis for abnormal growth or proliferation, respectively, affecting mitochondrial paucity and biogenesis. Similar metabolic processes also affect gene expressions and transcriptional regulation for carrying out biochemical reactions. Metabolic reprogramming is equally vital for regulating cell environment to maintain organs and tissues in non-diseased states. This review offers in depth insights and analysis of how miRNAs regulate metabolic reprogramming in four major types of cells undergoing differentiation and proliferation, i.e., immune cells, neuronal cells, skeletal satellite cells, and cardiomyocytes under a non-diseased state. Further, the work systematically summarizes and elaborates regulation of genetic switches by microRNAs through predominantly through cellular reprogramming and metabolic processes for the first time. The observations will lead to a better understanding of disease initiation during the differentiation and proliferation stages of cells, as well as fresh approaches to studying clinical onset of linked metabolic diseases targeting metabolic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Singh
- Centre for Life Sciences, Chitkara School of Health Sciences, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, 140401, India.
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24
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Festuccia N, Owens N, Chervova A, Dubois A, Navarro P. The combined action of Esrrb and Nr5a2 is essential for murine naïve pluripotency. Development 2021; 148:271840. [PMID: 34397088 PMCID: PMC8451941 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The maintenance of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is governed by the action of an interconnected network of transcription factors. Among them, only Oct4 and Sox2 have been shown to be strictly required for the self-renewal of ESCs and pluripotency, particularly in culture conditions in which differentiation cues are chemically inhibited. Here, we report that the conjunct activity of two orphan nuclear receptors, Esrrb and Nr5a2, parallels the importance of that of Oct4 and Sox2 in naïve mouse ESCs. By occupying a large common set of regulatory elements, these two factors control the binding of Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog to DNA. Consequently, in their absence the pluripotency network collapses and the transcriptome is substantially deregulated, leading to the differentiation of ESCs. Altogether, this work identifies orphan nuclear receptors, previously thought to be performing supportive functions, as a set of core regulators of naïve pluripotency. Summary: Esrrb and Nr5a2, two orphan nuclear receptors, are identified as essential regulators of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Festuccia
- Regulatory Dynamics and Cell Identity, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.,Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3738, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Nick Owens
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Almira Chervova
- Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3738, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Agnès Dubois
- Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3738, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Pablo Navarro
- Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3738, 75015 Paris, France
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25
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Building Pluripotency Identity in the Early Embryo and Derived Stem Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10082049. [PMID: 34440818 PMCID: PMC8391114 DOI: 10.3390/cells10082049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The fusion of two highly differentiated cells, an oocyte with a spermatozoon, gives rise to the zygote, a single totipotent cell, which has the capability to develop into a complete, fully functional organism. Then, as development proceeds, a series of programmed cell divisions occur whereby the arising cells progressively acquire their own cellular and molecular identity, and totipotency narrows until when pluripotency is achieved. The path towards pluripotency involves transcriptome modulation, remodeling of the chromatin epigenetic landscape to which external modulators contribute. Both human and mouse embryos are a source of different types of pluripotent stem cells whose characteristics can be captured and maintained in vitro. The main aim of this review is to address the cellular properties and the molecular signature of the emerging cells during mouse and human early development, highlighting similarities and differences between the two species and between the embryos and their cognate stem cells.
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26
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Ngezahayo A, Ruhe FA. Connexins in the development and physiology of stem cells. Tissue Barriers 2021; 9:1949242. [PMID: 34227910 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2021.1949242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Connexins (Cxs) form gap junction (GJ) channels linking vertebrate cells. During embryogenesis, Cxs are expressed as early as the 4-8 cell stage. As cells differentiate into pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and during gastrulation, the Cx expression pattern is adapted. Knockdown of Cx43 and Cx45 does not interfere with embryogenic development until the blastula stage, questioning the role of Cxs in PSC physiology and development. Studies in cultivated and induced PSCs (iPSCs) showed that Cx43 is essential for the maintenance of self-renewal and the expression of pluripotency markers. It was found that the role of Cxs in PSCs is more related to regulation of transcription or cell-cell adherence than to formation of GJ channels. Furthermore, a crucial role of Cxs for the self-renewal and differentiation was shown in cultivated adult mesenchymal stem cells. This review aims to highlight aspects that link Cxs to the function and physiology of stem cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaclet Ngezahayo
- Dept. Cell Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Frederike A Ruhe
- Dept. Cell Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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27
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Zeng H, Peng F, Wang J, Meng R, Zhang J. Effects of Fruquintinib on the Pluripotency Maintenance and Differentiation Potential of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Cell Reprogram 2021; 23:180-190. [PMID: 34077681 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2020.0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) can maintain self-renewal and differentiate into any cell type of the three primary germ layers. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in the regulation of mESC differentiation and induces the activation of a series of kinase responses and several cell signaling pathways by binding to its respective transmembrane receptors, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor VEGFR1, and VEGFR2. Fruquintinib is a selective inhibitor of VEGFRs, and we used it to investigate the effects on the maintenance of pluripotency and differentiation potential of mESCs in this study. Our results showed that fruquintinib-treated cells expressed higher levels of pluripotent markers, including Oct4, Nanog, Sox2, and Esrrb under serum and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) condition, whereas the expression of phosphorylated Erk1/2 was restricted. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) signaling inhibitor (PD0325901) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) signaling inhibitor (CHIR99021) (also known as 2i) enable cells to maintain naive pluripotency with LIF, and fruquintinib can also promote cells to maintain naive pluripotent state even under serum/LIF condition, whereas VEGF addition limits the pluripotency characteristics in serum/LIF mESCs. Furthermore, fruquintinib could inhibit the three-germ layer establishment in embryoid body formation and maintain the undifferentiated characteristics of mESCs, indicating that fruquintinib could promote the maintenance of naive pluripotency and inhibit early differentiation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyi Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fanke Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiachen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ru Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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28
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Dvir S, Argoetti A, Lesnik C, Roytblat M, Shriki K, Amit M, Hashimshony T, Mandel-Gutfreund Y. Uncovering the RNA-binding protein landscape in the pluripotency network of human embryonic stem cells. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109198. [PMID: 34077720 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and cell fate decisions are driven by a broad array of molecular signals. While transcriptional regulators have been extensively studied in human ESCs (hESCs), the extent to which RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) contribute to human pluripotency remains unclear. Here, we carry out a proteome-wide screen and identify 810 proteins that bind RNA in hESCs. We reveal that RBPs are preferentially expressed in hESCs and dynamically regulated during early stem cell differentiation. Notably, many RBPs are affected by knockdown of OCT4, a master regulator of pluripotency, several dozen of which are directly targeted by this factor. Using cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP-seq), we find that the pluripotency-associated STAT3 and OCT4 transcription factors interact with RNA in hESCs and confirm the binding of STAT3 to the conserved NORAD long-noncoding RNA. Our findings indicate that RBPs have a more widespread role in human pluripotency than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shlomi Dvir
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel
| | - Amir Argoetti
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel
| | - Chen Lesnik
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel
| | | | | | - Michal Amit
- Accellta LTD, Haifa 320003, Israel; Ephraim Katzir Department of Biotechnology Engineering, ORT Braude College, Karmiel 2161002, Israel
| | - Tamar Hashimshony
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel
| | - Yael Mandel-Gutfreund
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel; Computer Science Department, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel.
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29
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Yu S, Li J, Ji G, Ng ZL, Siew J, Lo WN, Ye Y, Chew YY, Long YC, Zhang W, Guccione E, Loh YH, Jiang ZH, Yang H, Wu Q. Npac Is a Co-factor of Histone H3K36me3 and Regulates Transcriptional Elongation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2021; 20:110-128. [PMID: 33676077 PMCID: PMC9510873 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2020.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Chromatin modification contributes to pluripotency maintenance in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, the related mechanisms remain obscure. Here, we show that Npac, a “reader” of histone H3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3), is required to maintain mouse ESC (mESC) pluripotency since knockdown of Npac causes mESC differentiation. Depletion of Npac in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) inhibits reprogramming efficiency. Furthermore, our chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) results of Npac reveal that Npac co-localizes with histone H3K36me3 in gene bodies of actively transcribed genes in mESCs. Interestingly, we find that Npac interacts with positive transcription elongation factor b (p-TEFb), Ser2-phosphorylated RNA Pol II (RNA Pol II Ser2P), and Ser5-phosphorylated RNA Pol II (RNA Pol II Ser5P). Furthermore, depletion of Npac disrupts transcriptional elongation of the pluripotency genes Nanog and Rif1. Taken together, we propose that Npac is essential for the transcriptional elongation of pluripotency genes by recruiting p-TEFb and interacting with RNA Pol II Ser2P and Ser5P.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue Yu
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Jia Li
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore 117599, Singapore
| | - Guanxu Ji
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau Special Administrative Region 999078, China
| | - Zhen Long Ng
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Jiamin Siew
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Wan Ning Lo
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Ying Ye
- Cam-Su Genomic Resource Center, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yuan Yuan Chew
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Yun Chau Long
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Wensheng Zhang
- Cam-Su Genomic Resource Center, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Yuin Han Loh
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Zhi-Hong Jiang
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau Special Administrative Region 999078, China
| | - Henry Yang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore 117599, Singapore.
| | - Qiang Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau Special Administrative Region 999078, China.
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30
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Lu H, Xie Y, Tran L, Lan J, Yang Y, Murugan NL, Wang R, Wang YJ, Semenza GL. Chemotherapy-induced S100A10 recruits KDM6A to facilitate OCT4-mediated breast cancer stemness. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:4607-4623. [PMID: 32427586 DOI: 10.1172/jci138577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) play a critical role in cancer recurrence and metastasis. Chemotherapy induces BCSC specification through increased expression of pluripotency factors, but how their expression is regulated is not fully understood. Here, we delineate a pathway controlled by hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) that epigenetically activates pluripotency factor gene transcription in response to chemotherapy. Paclitaxel induces HIF-1-dependent expression of S100A10, which forms a complex with ANXA2 that interacts with histone chaperone SPT6 and histone demethylase KDM6A. S100A10, ANXA2, SPT6, and KDM6A are recruited to OCT4 binding sites and KDM6A erases H3K27me3 chromatin marks, facilitating transcription of genes encoding the pluripotency factors NANOG, SOX2, and KLF4, which along with OCT4 are responsible for BCSC specification. Silencing of S100A10, ANXA2, SPT6, or KDM6A expression blocks chemotherapy-induced enrichment of BCSCs, impairs tumor initiation, and increases time to tumor recurrence after chemotherapy is discontinued. Pharmacological inhibition of KDM6A also impairs chemotherapy-induced BCSC enrichment. These results suggest that targeting HIF-1/S100A10-dependent and KDM6A-mediated epigenetic activation of pluripotency factor gene expression in combination with chemotherapy may block BCSC enrichment and improve clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiquan Lu
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering.,Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | | | - Linh Tran
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering
| | - Jie Lan
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering
| | - Yongkang Yang
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering.,Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | | | - Ru Wang
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering
| | | | - Gregg L Semenza
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering.,Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Department of Genetic Medicine.,Department of Pediatrics.,Department of Medicine.,Department of Oncology.,Department of Radiation Oncology, and.,Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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31
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Ford E, Pearlman J, Ruan T, Manion J, Waller M, Neely GG, Caron L. Human Pluripotent Stem Cells-Based Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Current Status and Challenges. Cells 2020; 9:E2517. [PMID: 33233861 PMCID: PMC7699962 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by irreversible cell damage, loss of neuronal cells and limited regeneration potential of the adult nervous system. Pluripotent stem cells are capable of differentiating into the multitude of cell types that compose the central and peripheral nervous systems and so have become the major focus of cell replacement therapies for the treatment of neurological disorders. Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cells have both been extensively studied as cell therapies in a wide range of neurodegenerative disease models in rodents and non-human primates, including Parkinson's disease, stroke, epilepsy, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and pain. In this review, we discuss the latest progress made with stem cell therapies targeting these pathologies. We also evaluate the challenges in clinical application of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-based therapies including risk of oncogenesis and tumor formation, immune rejection and difficulty in regeneration of the heterogeneous cell types composing the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Ford
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (E.F.); (J.P.); (T.R.); (J.M.); (M.W.); (G.G.N.)
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Jodie Pearlman
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (E.F.); (J.P.); (T.R.); (J.M.); (M.W.); (G.G.N.)
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Travis Ruan
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (E.F.); (J.P.); (T.R.); (J.M.); (M.W.); (G.G.N.)
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - John Manion
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (E.F.); (J.P.); (T.R.); (J.M.); (M.W.); (G.G.N.)
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Departments of Surgery and Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Matthew Waller
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (E.F.); (J.P.); (T.R.); (J.M.); (M.W.); (G.G.N.)
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Gregory G. Neely
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (E.F.); (J.P.); (T.R.); (J.M.); (M.W.); (G.G.N.)
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Leslie Caron
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (E.F.); (J.P.); (T.R.); (J.M.); (M.W.); (G.G.N.)
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
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32
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Chung CYT, Lo PHY, Lee KKH. Babam2 Regulates Cell Cycle Progression and Pluripotency in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells as Revealed by Induced DNA Damage. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8100397. [PMID: 33050379 PMCID: PMC7600899 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8100397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BRISC and BRCA1-A complex member 2 (Babam2) plays an essential role in promoting cell cycle progression and preventing cellular senescence. Babam2-deficient fibroblasts show proliferation defect and premature senescence compared with their wild-type (WT) counterpart. Pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are known to have unlimited cell proliferation and self-renewal capability without entering cellular senescence. Therefore, studying the role of Babam2 in ESCs would enable us to understand the mechanism of Babam2 in cellular aging, cell cycle regulation, and pluripotency in ESCs. For this study, we generated Babam2 knockout (Babam2−/−) mESCs to investigate the function of Babam2 in mESCs. We demonstrated that the loss of Babam2 in mESCs leads to abnormal G1 phase retention in response to DNA damage induced by gamma irradiation or doxorubicin treatments. Key cell cycle regulators, CDC25A and CDK2, were found to be degraded in Babam2−/− mESCs following gamma irradiation. In addition, Babam2−/− mESCs expressed p53 strongly and significantly longer than in control mESCs, where p53 inhibited Nanog expression and G1/S cell cycle progression. The combined effects significantly reduced developmental pluripotency in Babam2−/− mESCs. In summary, Babam2 maintains cell cycle regulation and pluripotency in mESCs in response to induced DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk Yiu Tenny Chung
- MOE Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; (C.Y.T.C.); (P.H.Y.L.)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong-University of Southampton Joint Laboratory for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Paulisally Hau Yi Lo
- MOE Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; (C.Y.T.C.); (P.H.Y.L.)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong-University of Southampton Joint Laboratory for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Kenneth Ka Ho Lee
- MOE Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; (C.Y.T.C.); (P.H.Y.L.)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong-University of Southampton Joint Laboratory for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Correspondence:
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33
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Huang B, Lu M, Galbraith M, Levine H, Onuchic JN, Jia D. Decoding the mechanisms underlying cell-fate decision-making during stem cell differentiation by random circuit perturbation. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200500. [PMID: 32781932 PMCID: PMC7482558 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells can precisely and robustly undergo cellular differentiation and lineage commitment, referred to as stemness. However, how the gene network underlying stemness regulation reliably specifies cell fates is not well understood. To address this question, we applied a recently developed computational method, random circuit perturbation (RACIPE), to a nine-component gene regulatory network (GRN) governing stemness, from which we identified robust gene states. Among them, four out of the five most probable gene states exhibit gene expression patterns observed in single mouse embryonic cells at 32-cell and 64-cell stages. These gene states can be robustly predicted by the stemness GRN but not by randomized versions of the stemness GRN. Strikingly, we found a hierarchical structure of the GRN with the Oct4/Cdx2 motif functioning as the first decision-making module followed by Gata6/Nanog. We propose that stem cell populations, instead of being viewed as all having a specific cellular state, can be regarded as a heterogeneous mixture including cells in various states. Upon perturbations by external signals, stem cells lose the capacity to access certain cellular states, thereby becoming differentiated. The new gene states and key parameters regulating transitions among gene states proposed by RACIPE can be used to guide experimental strategies to better understand differentiation and design reprogramming. The findings demonstrate that the functions of the stemness GRN is mainly determined by its well-evolved network topology rather than by detailed kinetic parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Huang
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Mingyang Lu
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Madeline Galbraith
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jose N. Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Dongya Jia
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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34
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Global translation during early development depends on the essential transcription factor PRDM10. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3603. [PMID: 32681107 PMCID: PMC7368010 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17304-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the PR/SET domain-containing (PRDM) family of zinc finger transcriptional regulators play diverse developmental roles. PRDM10 is a yet uncharacterized family member, and its function in vivo is unknown. Here, we report an essential requirement for PRDM10 in pre-implantation embryos and embryonic stem cells (mESCs), where loss of PRDM10 results in severe cell growth inhibition. Detailed genomic and biochemical analyses reveal that PRDM10 functions as a sequence-specific transcription factor. We identify Eif3b, which encodes a core component of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) complex, as a key downstream target, and demonstrate that growth inhibition in PRDM10-deficient mESCs is in part mediated through EIF3B-dependent effects on global translation. Our work elucidates the molecular function of PRDM10 in maintaining global translation, establishes its essential role in early embryonic development and mESC homeostasis, and offers insights into the functional repertoire of PRDMs as well as the transcriptional mechanisms regulating translation.
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35
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Rengaraj D, Hwang YS, Lee HC, Han JY. Zygotic genome activation in the chicken: a comparative review. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1879-1891. [PMID: 31728579 PMCID: PMC11104987 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03360-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Maternal RNAs and proteins in the oocyte contribute to early embryonic development. After fertilization, these maternal factors are cleared and embryonic development is determined by an individual's own RNAs and proteins, in a process called the maternal-to-zygotic transition. Zygotic transcription is initially inactive, but is eventually activated by maternal transcription factors. The timing and molecular mechanisms involved in zygotic genome activation (ZGA) have been well-described in many species. Among birds, a transcriptome-based understanding of ZGA has only been explored in chickens by RNA sequencing of intrauterine embryos. RNA sequencing of chicken intrauterine embryos, including oocytes, zygotes, and Eyal-Giladi and Kochav (EGK) stages I-X has enabled the identification of differentially expressed genes between consecutive stages. These studies have revealed that there are two waves of ZGA: a minor wave at the one-cell stage (shortly after fertilization) and a major wave between EGK.III and EGK.VI (during cellularization). In the chicken, the maternal genome is activated during minor ZGA and the paternal genome is quiescent until major ZGA to avoid transcription from supernumerary sperm nuclei. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of events in intrauterine embryonic development in birds (and particularly in chickens), as well as a transcriptome-based analysis of ZGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deivendran Rengaraj
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Young Sun Hwang
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Hyung Chul Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jae Yong Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
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36
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Ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate enhances oct4 expression and reinforces pluripotency through the NF-κB signaling pathway. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 177:113984. [PMID: 32311348 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.113984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells are have therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine and drug discovery. However, the differentiation of stem cells in vitro hinders their large-scale production and clinical applications. The maintenance of cell pluripotency relies on a complex network of transcription factors; of these, octamer-binding transcription factor-4 (Oct4) plays a key role. This study aimed to construct an Oct4 gene promoter-driven firefly luciferase reporter and screen small-molecule compounds could maintain cell self-renewal and pluripotency. The results showed that ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) enhance the promoter activity of the Oct4 gene, increased the expression of Oct4 at both mRNA and protein levels, and significantly promoted the colony formation of P19 cells. These findings suggesting that EPMC could reinforce the self-renewal capacity of P19 cells. The pluripotency markers Oct4, SRY-related high-mobility-group-box protein-2, and Nanog were expressed at higher levels in EPMC-induced colonies. EPMC could promote teratoma formation and differentiation potential of P19 cells in vivo. It also enhanced self-renewal and pluripotency of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and mouse embryonic stem cells. Moreover, it significantly activated the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway via the myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent pathway. The expression level of Oct4 decreased after blocking the NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that EPMC promoted the expression of Oct4 partially through the NF-κB signaling pathway. This study indicated that EPMC could maintain self-renewal and pluripotency of stem cells.
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37
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Kim HJ, Osteil P, Humphrey SJ, Cinghu S, Oldfield AJ, Patrick E, Wilkie EE, Peng G, Suo S, Jothi R, Tam PPL, Yang P. Transcriptional network dynamics during the progression of pluripotency revealed by integrative statistical learning. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:1828-1842. [PMID: 31853542 PMCID: PMC7038952 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The developmental potential of cells, termed pluripotency, is highly dynamic and progresses through a continuum of naive, formative and primed states. Pluripotency progression of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from naive to formative and primed state is governed by transcription factors (TFs) and their target genes. Genomic techniques have uncovered a multitude of TF binding sites in ESCs, yet a major challenge lies in identifying target genes from functional binding sites and reconstructing dynamic transcriptional networks underlying pluripotency progression. Here, we integrated time-resolved ‘trans-omic’ datasets together with TF binding profiles and chromatin conformation data to identify target genes of a panel of TFs. Our analyses revealed that naive TF target genes are more likely to be TFs themselves than those of formative TFs, suggesting denser hierarchies among naive TFs. We also discovered that formative TF target genes are marked by permissive epigenomic signatures in the naive state, indicating that they are poised for expression prior to the initiation of pluripotency transition to the formative state. Finally, our reconstructed transcriptional networks pinpointed the precise timing from naive to formative pluripotency progression and enabled the spatiotemporal mapping of differentiating ESCs to their in vivo counterparts in developing embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hani Jieun Kim
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,Computational Systems Biology Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Pierre Osteil
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Sean J Humphrey
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Senthilkumar Cinghu
- Epigenetics & Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Andrew J Oldfield
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Ellis Patrick
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Emilie E Wilkie
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Guangdun Peng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China, and Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Shengbao Suo
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Raja Jothi
- Epigenetics & Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Patrick P L Tam
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Pengyi Yang
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,Computational Systems Biology Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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38
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Li D, Kishta MS, Wang J. Regulation of pluripotency and reprogramming by RNA binding proteins. Curr Top Dev Biol 2020; 138:113-138. [PMID: 32220295 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells have the capacities of self-renewal and pluripotency. Pluripotency establishment (somatic cell reprogramming), maintenance, and execution (differentiation) require orchestrated regulatory mechanisms of a cell's molecular machinery, including signaling pathways, epigenetics, transcription, translation, and protein degradation. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) take part in every process of RNA regulation and recent studies began to address their important functions in the regulation of pluripotency and reprogramming. Here, we discuss the roles of RBPs in key regulatory steps in the control of pluripotency and reprogramming. Among RNA binding proteins are a group of RNA helicases that are responsible for RNA structure remodeling with important functional implications. We highlight the largest family of RNA helicases, DDX (DEAD-box) helicase family and our current understanding of their functions specifically in the regulation of pluripotency and reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology; The Black Family Stem Cell Institute; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mohamed S Kishta
- Hormones Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt; Stem Cell Lab., Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jianlong Wang
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology; The Black Family Stem Cell Institute; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.
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39
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Kang X, Li C. Landscape inferred from gene expression data governs pluripotency in embryonic stem cells. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:366-374. [PMID: 32128066 PMCID: PMC7044515 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can differentiate into diverse cell types and have the ability of self-renewal. Therefore, the study of cell fate decisions on embryonic stem cells has far-reaching significance for regenerative medicine and other biomedical fields. Mathematical models have been used to study emryonic stem cell differentiation. However, the underlying mechanisms of cell differentiation and lineage reprogramming remain to be elucidated. Especially, how to integrate the computational models with quantitative experimental data is still challenging. In this work, we developed a data-constrained modelling approach, and established a model of mouse embryonic stem cells. We used the truncated moment equations (TME) method to quantify the potential landscape of the ESC network. We identified two attractors on the landscape, which represent the embryonic stem cell (ESC) state and differentiated cell (DC) state, respectively, and quantified high dimensional biological paths for differentiation and reprogramming process. Through identifying the optimal combinations of gene targets based on a landscape control strategy, we offered some predictions about the key regulatory factors that govern the differentiation and reprogramming in ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Kang
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunhe Li
- Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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40
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Mounir MMF, Rashed FM, Bukhary SM. Regeneration of Neural Networks in Immature Teeth with Non-Vital Pulp Following a Novel Regenerative Procedure. Int J Stem Cells 2019; 12:410-418. [PMID: 31658509 PMCID: PMC6881045 DOI: 10.15283/ijsc19026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Recombinant amelogenin protein (RAP) was reported to induce soft-tissue regeneration in canine infected endodontically treated permanent teeth with open apices. To characterize identities of the cells found in the RAP regenerated tissues compared to authentic pulp by identifying: 1) stem cells by their expression of Sox2; 2) nerve fibers by distribution of the axonal marker peripherin; 3) axons by their expression of calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP); 4) the presence of astrocytes expressing glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAP). Methods A total of 240 open-apex root canals in dogs were used. After establishment of oral contamination to the pulp, the canals were cleaned, irrigated, and 120 canals filled with RAP, and the other 120 with calcium hydroxide. Results After 1, 3, and 6 months, teeth were recovered for immune-detection of protein markers associated with native pulp tissues. Regenerated pulp and apical papilla of RAP group revealed an abundance of stem cells showing intense immunoreactivity to Sox2 antibody, immunoreactivity of peripherin mainly in the A-fibers of the odontoblast layer and immunoreactivity to CGRP fibers in the central pulp region indicative of C-fibres. GFAP immunoreactivity was observed near the odontoblastic, cell-rich regions and throughout the regenerated pulp. Conclusions RAP induces pulp regeneration following regenerative endodontic procedures with cells identity by gene expression demonstrating a distribution pattern similar to the authentic pulp innervation. A- and C-fibers, as well as GFAP specific to astrocytic differentiation, are recognized. The origin of the regenerated neural networks may be derived from the Sox2 identified stem cells within the apical papilla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha M F Mounir
- Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexadria, Egypt
| | - Fatma M Rashed
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Sahar M Bukhary
- Department of Oral Biology, King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Dentistry, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Lee BR, Rengaraj D, Choi HJ, Han JY. A novel F-box domain containing cyclin F like gene is required for maintaining the genome stability and survival of chicken primordial germ cells. FASEB J 2019; 34:1001-1017. [PMID: 31914591 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901294r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The stability and survival of germ cells are controlled by the germline-specific genes, however, such genes are less known in the avian species. Using a microarray-based the National Center for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus dataset, we found an unigene (Gga.9721) that upregulated in the chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs). The unigene showed 97% identities with an uncharacterized chicken cyclin F like gene. The predicted chicken cyclin F like gene was further characterized through expression and regulation in the chicken PGCs. The sequence analysis revealed that the gene shows identities with cyclin F gene and contains an F-box domain. The expression of chicken cyclin F like was detected specifically in the gonads, PGCs, and germline cells. The knockdown of cyclin F like gene resulted in DNA damage and apoptosis in the PGCs. The genes related to stemness and germness were downregulated, whereas, genes related to apoptosis and DNA damage response were increased in the PGCs after the knockdown of chicken cyclin F like. We further observed that the Nanog homeobox controlled the transcriptional activity of chicken cyclin F like gene in PGCs. Collectively, the chicken cyclin F like gene, which is not reported in any other species, is required for maintaining the genome stability of germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Ram Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.,Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun, Korea
| | - Deivendran Rengaraj
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Jung Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Yong Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
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42
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Ding J, Fang Z, Liu X, Zhu Z, Wen C, Wang H, Gu J, Li QR, Zeng R, Li H, Jin Y. CDK11 safeguards the identity of human embryonic stem cells via fine-tuning signaling pathways. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:4279-4290. [PMID: 31612516 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Signaling pathways transmit extracellular cues into cells and regulate transcriptome and epigenome to maintain or change the cell identity. Protein kinases and phosphatases are critical for signaling transduction and regulation. Here, we report that CDK11, a member of the CDK family, is required for the maintenance of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) self-renewal. Our results show that, among the three main isoforms of CDK11, CDK11p46 is the main isoform safeguarding the hESC identity. Mechanistically, CDK11 constrains two important mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways (JNK and p38 signaling) through modulating the activity of protein phosphatase 1. Furthermore, CDK11 knockdown activates transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/SMAD2/3 signaling and upregulates certain nonneural differentiation-associated genes. Taken together, this study uncovers a kinase required for hESC self-renewal through fine-tuning MAPK and TGF-β signaling at appropriate levels. The kinase-phosphatase axis reported here may shed new light on the molecular mechanism sustaining the identity of hESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyi Ding
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuoqing Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyuan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhexin Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunsheng Wen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Han Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjie Gu
- Basic Clinical Research Center, Renji Hospital, Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing-Run Li
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Li
- Basic Clinical Research Center, Renji Hospital, Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Jin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Basic Clinical Research Center, Renji Hospital, Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
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Liu J, Zhu X, Li J, Liu Z, Liu Y, Xue F, Yang L, An L, Chen CH, Presicce GA, Zheng Q, Du F. Deriving rabbit embryonic stem cells by small molecule inhibitors. Am J Transl Res 2019; 11:5122-5133. [PMID: 31497228 PMCID: PMC6731393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We previously developed pluripotent rabbit embryonic stem cells (rbES) using a culture system supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), noggin and Y-27632 (referred to as iFLY). In present work, we explored multiple approaches to enhance the chance of deriving domed pluripotent rbES cells by inhibition of MEK, GSK, and PKC signaling pathways. Domed stated rbES were derived in defined medium supplemented with 15% KOSR, 103 IU/mL mouse LIF, 10 ng/mL bFGF and three inhibitors to the MEK (PD0325901, 1 µM), GSK3 (CHIR99021, 3 µM) and PKC (Gö6983, 5 µM) (3i). Domed rbES were passaged every 3-4 days till passage 3-4 for the designated experiments. We showed that bFGF and LIF are indispensable for the derivation and maintenance of rbES; whereas the 3i medium containing inhibitors to the MEK (PD0325901), GSK3 (CHIR99021) and PKC (Gö6983) were necessary for deriving domed rbES. Domed rbES possessed naïve ES markers as Rex1 and ERAS in addition to Oct4, Klf4, Sox 2 and c-myc by RT-PCR. Domed rbES showed positive staining for Rex1, Fgf4, Klf4, Nanog and Oct4 by immunofluorescence chemistry. Further deleting either one factor in 3i medium as CHIR99021, PD0325901, Gö6983 or bFGF resulted in disappearing of domed rbES colonies. The optimal concentrations of 3i contained 0.75 µM PD0325901, 2.25 µM CHIR99021, and 4.5 µM Gö6983. Our work, in combination of different inhibitors for deriving rabbit ES, supports that the network of signal pathways plays an important role in ES self-renew, propagation and maintenance, and sheds light on deriving authentic properties of rbES in an important yet understudied model animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal UniversityNanjing 210046, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Xiumei Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal UniversityNanjing 210046, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Jinshan Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal UniversityNanjing 210046, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Zhihui Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal UniversityNanjing 210046, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Yanhong Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal UniversityNanjing 210046, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Fei Xue
- Renova Life, Inc.Jacksonville, Florida 32258, USA
| | - Lan Yang
- Lannuo Biotechnologies Wuxi Inc.Wuxi 214000, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Liyou An
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal UniversityNanjing 210046, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | | | | | - Qiping Zheng
- Department of Hematological Laboratory Science, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Fuliang Du
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal UniversityNanjing 210046, Jiangsu, P. R. China
- Renova Life, Inc.Jacksonville, Florida 32258, USA
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Han X, Wei Y, Wang H, Wang F, Ju Z, Li T. Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay: a 'nonsense' pathway makes sense in stem cell biology. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:1038-1051. [PMID: 29272451 PMCID: PMC5814811 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a highly conserved post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism of gene expression in eukaryotes. Originally, NMD was identified as an RNA surveillance machinery in degrading 'aberrant' mRNA species with premature termination codons. Recent studies indicate that NMD regulates the stability of natural gene transcripts that play significant roles in cell functions. Although components and action modes of the NMD machinery in degrading its RNA targets have been extensively studied with biochemical and structural approaches, the biological roles of NMD remain to be defined. Stem cells are rare cell populations, which play essential roles in tissue homeostasis and hold great promises in regenerative medicine. Stem cells self-renew to maintain the cellular identity and differentiate into somatic lineages with specialized functions to sustain tissue integrity. Transcriptional regulations and epigenetic modulations have been extensively implicated in stem cell biology. However, post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, such as NMD, in stem cell regulation are largely unknown. In this paper, we summarize the recent findings on biological roles of NMD factors in embryonic and tissue-specific stem cells. Furthermore, we discuss the possible mechanisms of NMD in regulating stem cell fates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Han
- Institute of Aging Research, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310036, China
| | - Yanling Wei
- Institute of Aging Research, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310036, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Institute of Aging Research, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310036, China
| | - Feilong Wang
- Institute of Aging Research, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310036, China
| | - Zhenyu Ju
- Institute of Aging Research, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310036, China
| | - Tangliang Li
- Institute of Aging Research, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310036, China
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OCT4 and PAX6 determine the dual function of SOX2 in human ESCs as a key pluripotent or neural factor. Stem Cell Res Ther 2019; 10:122. [PMID: 30999923 PMCID: PMC6471829 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-019-1228-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sox2 is a well-established pluripotent transcription factor that plays an essential role in establishing and maintaining pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). It is also thought to be a linage specifier that governs PSC neural lineage specification upon their exiting the pluripotent state. However, the exact role of SOX2 in human PSCs was still not fully understood. In this study, we studied the role of SOX2 in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by gain- and loss-of-function approaches and explored the possible underlying mechanisms. Results We demonstrate that knockdown of SOX2 induced hESC differentiation to endoderm-like cells, whereas overexpression of SOX2 in hESCs enhanced their pluripotency under self-renewing culture conditions but promoted their neural differentiation upon replacing the culture to non-self-renewal conditions. We show that this culture-dependent dual function of SOX2 was probably attributed to its interaction with different transcription factors predisposed by the culture environments. Whilst SOX2 interacts with OCT4 under self-renewal conditions, we found that, upon neural differentiation, PAX6, a key neural transcription factor, is upregulated and shows interaction with SOX2. The SOX2-PAX6 complex has different gene regulation pattern from that of SOX2-OCT4 complex. Conclusions Our work provides direct evidence that SOX2 is necessarily required for hESC pluripotency; however, it can also function as a neural factor, depending on the environmental input. OCT4 and PAX6 might function as key SOX2-interacting partners that determine the function of SOX2 in hESCs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-019-1228-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Zhavoronkov A, Mamoshina P, Vanhaelen Q, Scheibye-Knudsen M, Moskalev A, Aliper A. Artificial intelligence for aging and longevity research: Recent advances and perspectives. Ageing Res Rev 2019; 49:49-66. [PMID: 30472217 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The applications of modern artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms within the field of aging research offer tremendous opportunities. Aging is an almost universal unifying feature possessed by all living organisms, tissues, and cells. Modern deep learning techniques used to develop age predictors offer new possibilities for formerly incompatible dynamic and static data types. AI biomarkers of aging enable a holistic view of biological processes and allow for novel methods for building causal models-extracting the most important features and identifying biological targets and mechanisms. Recent developments in generative adversarial networks (GANs) and reinforcement learning (RL) permit the generation of diverse synthetic molecular and patient data, identification of novel biological targets, and generation of novel molecular compounds with desired properties and geroprotectors. These novel techniques can be combined into a unified, seamless end-to-end biomarker development, target identification, drug discovery and real world evidence pipeline that may help accelerate and improve pharmaceutical research and development practices. Modern AI is therefore expected to contribute to the credibility and prominence of longevity biotechnology in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, and to the convergence of countless areas of research.
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Abstract
The Reasoning Engine for Interaction Networks (RE:IN) is a tool that was developed initially for the study of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells. A set of critical factors that regulate the pluripotent state had been identified experimentally, but it was not known how these genes interacted to stabilize self-renewal or commit the cell to differentiation. The methodology encapsulated in RE:IN enabled the exploration of a space of possible network interaction models, allowing for uncertainty in whether individual interactions exist between the pluripotency factors. This concept of an "abstract" network was combined with automated reasoning that allows the user to eliminate models that are inconsistent with experimental observations. The tool generalizes beyond the study of stem cell decision-making, allowing for the study of interaction networks more broadly across biology.
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48
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Malla S, Melguizo-Sanchis D, Aguilo F. Steering pluripotency and differentiation with N 6-methyladenosine RNA modification. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2018; 1862:394-402. [PMID: 30412796 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Chemical modifications of RNA provide a direct and rapid way to modulate the existing transcriptome, allowing the cells to adapt rapidly to the changing environment. Among these modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has recently emerged as a widely prevalent mark of messenger RNA in eukaryotes, linking external stimuli to an intricate network of transcriptional, post-transcriptional and translational processes. m6A modification modulates a broad spectrum of biochemical processes, including mRNA decay, translation and splicing. Both m6A modification and the enzymes that control m6A metabolism are essential for normal development. In this review, we summarized the most recent findings on the role of m6A modification in maintenance of the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), cell fate specification, the reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and differentiation of stem and progenitor cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: mRNA modifications in gene expression control edited by Dr. Soller Matthias and Dr. Fray Rupert.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya Malla
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, SE-90185 Umeå, Sweden; Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dario Melguizo-Sanchis
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, SE-90185 Umeå, Sweden; Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Francesca Aguilo
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, SE-90185 Umeå, Sweden; Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden.
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Chanoumidou K, Hadjimichael C, Athanasouli P, Ahlenius H, Klonizakis A, Nikolaou C, Drakos E, Kostouros A, Stratidaki I, Grigoriou M, Kretsovali A. Groucho related gene 5 (GRG5) is involved in embryonic and neural stem cell state decisions. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13790. [PMID: 30214018 PMCID: PMC6137157 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31696-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Groucho related gene 5 (GRG5) is a multifunctional protein that has been implicated in late embryonic and postnatal mouse development. Here, we describe a previously unknown role of GRG5 in early developmental stages by analyzing its function in stem cell fate decisions. By both loss and gain of function approaches we demonstrate that ablation of GRG5 deregulates the Embryonic Stem Cell (ESC) pluripotent state whereas its overexpression leads to enhanced self-renewal and acquisition of cancer cell-like properties. The malignant characteristics of teratomas generated by ESCs that overexpress GRG5 reveal its pro-oncogenic potential. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis and cell differentiation approaches underline GRG5 as a multifaceted signaling regulator that represses mesendodermal-related genes. When ESCs exit pluripotency, GRG5 promotes neuroectodermal specification via Wnt and BMP signaling suppression. Moreover, GRG5 promotes the neuronal reprogramming of fibroblasts and maintains the self-renewal of Neural Stem Cells (NSCs) by sustaining the activity of Notch/Hes and Stat3 signaling pathways. In summary, our results demonstrate that GRG5 has pleiotropic roles in stem cell biology functioning as a stemness factor and a neural fate specifier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Chanoumidou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100, Alexandroupoli, Greece.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Lund Stem Cell Center, University Hospital, SE-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christiana Hadjimichael
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Paraskevi Athanasouli
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Department of Biology, University of Crete, 71409, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Henrik Ahlenius
- Lund Stem Cell Center, University Hospital, SE-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Antonis Klonizakis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 71409, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | | | - Elias Drakos
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Antonis Kostouros
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Irene Stratidaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Maria Grigoriou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100, Alexandroupoli, Greece
| | - Androniki Kretsovali
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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Temporal expression of pluripotency-associated transcription factors in sheep and cattle preimplantation embryos. ZYGOTE 2018; 26:270-278. [PMID: 30033902 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199418000175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
SummaryPluripotency-associated transcription factors (PATFs) modulate gene expression during early mammalian embryogenesis. Despite a strong understanding of PATFs during mouse embryogenesis, limited progress has been made in ruminants. This work aimed to describe the temporal expression of eight PATFs during both sheep and cattle preimplantation development. Transcript availability of PATFs was evaluated by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in eggs, cleavage-stage embryos, morulae, and blastocysts. Transcripts of five genes were detected in all developmental stages of both species (KLF5, OCT4, RONIN, ZFP281, and ZFX). Furthermore, CMYC was detected in all cattle samples but was found from cleavage-stage onwards in sheep. In contrast, NR0B1 was detected in all sheep samples but was not detected in cattle morulae. GLIS1 displayed the most significant variation in temporal expression between species, as this PATF was only detected in cattle eggs and sheep cleavage-stage embryos and blastocysts. In silico analysis suggested that cattle and sheep PATFs share similar size, isometric point and molecular weight. A phenetic analysis showed two patterns of PATF clustering between cattle and sheep, among several mammalian species. In conclusion, the temporal expression of pluripotency-associated transcription factors differs between sheep and cattle, suggesting species-specific regulation during preimplantation development.
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