1
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Wu J, Fu J. Toward developing human organs via embryo models and chimeras. Cell 2024; 187:3194-3219. [PMID: 38906095 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.027] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Developing functional organs from stem cells remains a challenging goal in regenerative medicine. Existing methodologies, such as tissue engineering, bioprinting, and organoids, only offer partial solutions. This perspective focuses on two promising approaches emerging for engineering human organs from stem cells: stem cell-based embryo models and interspecies organogenesis. Both approaches exploit the premise of guiding stem cells to mimic natural development. We begin by summarizing what is known about early human development as a blueprint for recapitulating organogenesis in both embryo models and interspecies chimeras. The latest advances in both fields are discussed before highlighting the technological and knowledge gaps to be addressed before the goal of developing human organs could be achieved using the two approaches. We conclude by discussing challenges facing embryo modeling and interspecies organogenesis and outlining future prospects for advancing both fields toward the generation of human tissues and organs for basic research and translational applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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2
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Ortiz-Salazar MA, Camacho-Aguilar E, Warmflash A. Endogenous Nodal switches Wnt interpretation from posteriorization to germ layer differentiation in geometrically constrained human pluripotent cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.13.584912. [PMID: 38559061 PMCID: PMC10979992 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.13.584912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The Wnt pathway is essential for inducing the primitive streak, the precursor of the mesendoderm, as well as setting anterior-posterior coordinates. How Wnt coordinates these diverse activities remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that in Wnt-treated human pluripotent cells, endogenous Nodal signaling is a crucial switch between posteriorizing and primitive streak-including activities. While treatment with Wnt posteriorizes cells in standard culture, in micropatterned colonies, higher levels of endogenously induced Nodal signaling combine with exogenous Wnt to drive endoderm differentiation. Inhibition of Nodal signaling restores dose-dependent posteriorization by Wnt. In the absence of Nodal inhibition, micropatterned colonies undergo spontaneous, elaborate morphogenesis concomitant with endoderm differentiation even in the absence of added extracellular matrix proteins like Matrigel. Our study shows how Wnt and Nodal combinatorially coordinate germ layer differentiation with AP patterning and establishes a system to study a natural self-organizing morphogenetic event in in vitro culture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena Camacho-Aguilar
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA 77005
- Present address: Department of Gene Regulation and Morphogenesis, Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CSIC-UPO-JA), Seville, Spain, 41013
| | - Aryeh Warmflash
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA 77005
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA 77005
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3
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Warin J, Vedrenne N, Tam V, Zhu M, Yin D, Lin X, Guidoux-D’halluin B, Humeau A, Roseiro L, Paillat L, Chédeville C, Chariau C, Riemers F, Templin M, Guicheux J, Tryfonidou MA, Ho JW, David L, Chan D, Camus A. In vitro and in vivo models define a molecular signature reference for human embryonic notochordal cells. iScience 2024; 27:109018. [PMID: 38357665 PMCID: PMC10865399 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the emergence of human notochordal cells (NC) is essential for the development of regenerative approaches. We present a comprehensive investigation into the specification and generation of bona fide NC using a straightforward pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-based system benchmarked with human fetal notochord. By integrating in vitro and in vivo transcriptomic data at single-cell resolution, we establish an extended molecular signature and overcome the limitations associated with studying human notochordal lineage at early developmental stages. We show that TGF-β inhibition enhances the yield and homogeneity of notochordal lineage commitment in vitro. Furthermore, this study characterizes regulators of cell-fate decision and matrisome enriched in the notochordal niche. Importantly, we identify specific cell-surface markers opening avenues for differentiation refinement, NC purification, and functional studies. Altogether, this study provides a human notochord transcriptomic reference that will serve as a resource for notochord identification in human systems, diseased-tissues modeling, and facilitating future biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Warin
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Nicolas Vedrenne
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
- Inserm, Univ. Limoges, Pharmacology & Transplantation, U1248, CHU Limoges, Service de Pharmacologie, toxicologie et pharmacovigilance, FHU SUPORT, 87000 Limoges, France
| | - Vivian Tam
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mengxia Zhu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Danqing Yin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xinyi Lin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bluwen Guidoux-D’halluin
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Antoine Humeau
- Inserm, Univ. Limoges, Pharmacology & Transplantation, U1248, CHU Limoges, Service de Pharmacologie, toxicologie et pharmacovigilance, FHU SUPORT, 87000 Limoges, France
| | - Luce Roseiro
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Lily Paillat
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Claire Chédeville
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Caroline Chariau
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, BioCore, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Frank Riemers
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Markus Templin
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Jérôme Guicheux
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Marianna A. Tryfonidou
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua W.K. Ho
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Laurent David
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, BioCore, 44000 Nantes, France
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Inserm, CR2TI, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Danny Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Anne Camus
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
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Schauer A, Pranjic-Ferscha K, Hauschild R, Heisenberg CP. Robust axis elongation by Nodal-dependent restriction of BMP signaling. Development 2024; 151:dev202316. [PMID: 38372390 PMCID: PMC10911127 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202316] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Embryogenesis results from the coordinated activities of different signaling pathways controlling cell fate specification and morphogenesis. In vertebrate gastrulation, both Nodal and BMP signaling play key roles in germ layer specification and morphogenesis, yet their interplay to coordinate embryo patterning with morphogenesis is still insufficiently understood. Here, we took a reductionist approach using zebrafish embryonic explants to study the coordination of Nodal and BMP signaling for embryo patterning and morphogenesis. We show that Nodal signaling triggers explant elongation by inducing mesendodermal progenitors but also suppressing BMP signaling activity at the site of mesendoderm induction. Consistent with this, ectopic BMP signaling in the mesendoderm blocks cell alignment and oriented mesendoderm intercalations, key processes during explant elongation. Translating these ex vivo observations to the intact embryo showed that, similar to explants, Nodal signaling suppresses the effect of BMP signaling on cell intercalations in the dorsal domain, thus allowing robust embryonic axis elongation. These findings suggest a dual function of Nodal signaling in embryonic axis elongation by both inducing mesendoderm and suppressing BMP effects in the dorsal portion of the mesendoderm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schauer
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | | | - Robert Hauschild
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
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5
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Handford CE, Panda P, Choudhury IBM, Amadei G, Zernicka-Goetz M. Generation of Stem Cell-Based Mouse Embryo-Like Structures. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2767:123-134. [PMID: 37284940 PMCID: PMC11182571 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2023_493] [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] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, we detail the experimental protocol leading to the generation of stem cell-based mouse embryo-like structures termed "ETiX-embryoids." ETiX-embryoids are formed from combined embryonic stem cells, trophoblast stem cells, and embryonic stem cells transiently induced to express Gata4. Cells are seeded into AggreWell dishes where they form aggregates that develop to resemble post-implantation mouse embryos following 4 days of culture. ETiX-embryoids establish an anterior signaling center and undergo gastrulation over the following 2 days. By day 7, ETiX-embryoids undergo neurulation and form an anterior-posterior axis with head folds at one end and a tail bud on the other. On day 8, they develop a brain and form a heart-like structure and a gut tube.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E. Handford
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Pallavi Panda
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Denker HW. Embryoids, models, embryos? We need to take a new look at legal norms concerning the beginning of organismic development. Mol Hum Reprod 2023; 30:gaad047. [PMID: 38113415 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaad047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
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7
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Mirdass C, Catala M, Bocel M, Nedelec S, Ribes V. Stem cell-derived models of spinal neurulation. Emerg Top Life Sci 2023; 7:423-437. [PMID: 38087891 DOI: 10.1042/etls20230087] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Neurulation is a critical step in early embryonic development, giving rise to the neural tube, the primordium of the central nervous system in amniotes. Understanding this complex, multi-scale, multi-tissue morphogenetic process is essential to provide insights into normal development and the etiology of neural tube defects. Innovations in tissue engineering have fostered the generation of pluripotent stem cell-based in vitro models, including organoids, that are emerging as unique tools for delving into neurulation mechanisms, especially in the context of human development. Each model captures specific aspects of neural tube morphogenesis, from epithelialization to neural tissue elongation, folding and cavitation. In particular, the recent models of human and mouse trunk morphogenesis, such as gastruloids, that form a spinal neural plate-like or neural tube-like structure are opening new avenues to study normal and pathological neurulation. Here, we review the morphogenetic events generating the neural tube in the mammalian embryo and questions that remain unanswered. We discuss the advantages and limitations of existing in vitro models of neurulation and possible future technical developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camil Mirdass
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013 Paris, France
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, 75005 Paris, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1270, 75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Science and Engineering Faculty, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Martin Catala
- Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS) - Developmental Biology Laboratory, UMR7622 CNRS, INSERM ERL 1156, Sorbonne Université, 9 Quai Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Mikaëlle Bocel
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Nedelec
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, 75005 Paris, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1270, 75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Science and Engineering Faculty, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Vanessa Ribes
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013 Paris, France
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Dingare C, Steventon B. Gastruloids - a minimalistic model to study complex developmental metabolism. Emerg Top Life Sci 2023; 7:455-464. [PMID: 38108463 PMCID: PMC10754324 DOI: 10.1042/etls20230082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic networks are well placed to orchestrate the coordination of multiple cellular processes associated with embryonic development such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and cell movement. Here, we discuss the advantages that gastruloids, aggregates of mammalian embryonic stem cells that self-assemble a rudimentary body plan, have for uncovering the instructive role of metabolic pathways play in directing developmental processes. We emphasise the importance of using such reductionist systems to link specific pathways to defined events of early mammalian development and their utility for obtaining enough material for metabolomic studies. Finally, we review the ways in which the basic gastruloid protocol can be adapted to obtain specific models of embryonic cell types, tissues and regions. Together, we propose that gastruloids are an ideal system to rapidly uncover new mechanistic links between developmental signalling pathways and metabolic networks, which can then inform precise in vivo studies to confirm their function in the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaitanya Dingare
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K
| | - Ben Steventon
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K
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Stringa B, Solnica-Krezel L. Signaling mechanisms that direct cell fate specification and morphogenesis in human embryonic stem cells-based models of human gastrulation. Emerg Top Life Sci 2023; 7:383-396. [PMID: 38087898 DOI: 10.1042/etls20230084] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
During mammalian gastrulation, a mass of pluripotent cells surrounded by extraembryonic tissues differentiates into germ layers, mesoderm, endoderm, and ectoderm. The three germ layers are then organized into a body plan with organ rudiments via morphogenetic gastrulation movements of emboly, epiboly, convergence, and extension. Emboly is the most conserved gastrulation movement, whereby mesodermal and endodermal progenitors undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and move via a blastopore/primitive streak beneath the ectoderm. Decades of embryologic, genetic, and molecular studies in invertebrates and vertebrates, delineated a BMP > WNT > NODAL signaling cascade underlying mesoderm and endoderm specification. Advances have been made in the research animals in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying gastrulation morphogenesis. In contrast, little is known about human gastrulation, which occurs in utero during the third week of gestation and its investigations face ethical and methodological limitations. This is changing with the unprecedented progress in modeling aspects of human development, using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including embryonic stem cells (hESC)-based embryo-like models (SCEMs). In one approach, hESCs of various pluripotency are aggregated to self-assemble into structures that resemble pre-implantation or post-implantation embryo-like structures that progress to early gastrulation, and some even reach segmentation and neurulation stages. Another approach entails coaxing hESCs with biochemical signals to generate germ layers and model aspects of gastrulation morphogenesis, such as EMT. Here, we review the recent advances in understanding signaling cascades that direct germ layers specification and the early stages of gastrulation morphogenesis in these models. We discuss outstanding questions, challenges, and opportunities for this promising area of developmental biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blerta Stringa
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, U.S.A
| | - Lilianna Solnica-Krezel
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, U.S.A
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Xu J, Zhang L, Ye Z, Chang B, Tu Z, Du X, Wen X, Teng Y. A 3D "sandwich" co-culture system with vascular niche supports mouse embryo development from E3.5 to E7.5 in vitro. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:349. [PMID: 38072932 PMCID: PMC10712047 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03583-2] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various methods for ex utero culture systems have been explored. However, limitations remain regarding the in vitro culture platforms used before implanting mouse embryos and the normal development of mouse blastocysts in vitro. Furthermore, vascular niche support during mouse embryo development from embryonic day (E) 3.5 to E7.5 is unknown in vitro. METHODS This study established a three-dimensional (3D) "sandwich" vascular niche culture system with in vitro culture medium (IVCM) using human placenta perivascular stem cells (hPPSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (hUVECs) as supportive cells (which were seeded into the bottom layer of Matrigel) to test mouse embryos from E3.5 to E7.5 in vitro. The development rates and greatest diameters of mouse embryos from E3.5 to E7.5 were quantitatively determined using SPSS software statistics. Pluripotent markers and embryo transplantation were used to monitor mouse embryo quality and function in vivo. RESULTS Embryos in the IVCM + Cells (hPPSCs + hUVECs) group showed higher development rates and greater diameters at each stage than those in the IVCM group. Embryos in the IVCM + Cells group cultured to E5.5 morphologically resembled natural egg cylinders and expressed specific embryonic cell markers, including Oct4 and Nanog. These features were similar to those of embryos developed in vivo. After transplantation, the embryos were re-implanted in the internal uterus and continued to develop to a particular stage. CONCLUSIONS The 3D in vitro culture system enabled embryo development from E3.5 to E7.5, and the vascularization microenvironment constructed by Matrigel, hPPSCs, and hUVECs significantly promoted the development of implanted embryos. This system allowed us to further study the physical and molecular mechanisms of embryo implantation in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, China.
| | - Linye Zhang
- The First School of Medicine, School of Information and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zihui Ye
- The First School of Medicine, School of Information and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Binwen Chang
- School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zheng Tu
- Renji College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuguang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xi Wen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.
| | - Yili Teng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China.
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Kemmler CL, Smolikova J, Moran HR, Mannion BJ, Knapp D, Lim F, Czarkwiani A, Hermosilla Aguayo V, Rapp V, Fitch OE, Bötschi S, Selleri L, Farley E, Braasch I, Yun M, Visel A, Osterwalder M, Mosimann C, Kozmik Z, Burger A. Conserved enhancers control notochord expression of vertebrate Brachyury. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6594. [PMID: 37852970 PMCID: PMC10584899 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42151-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The cell type-specific expression of key transcription factors is central to development and disease. Brachyury/T/TBXT is a major transcription factor for gastrulation, tailbud patterning, and notochord formation; however, how its expression is controlled in the mammalian notochord has remained elusive. Here, we identify the complement of notochord-specific enhancers in the mammalian Brachyury/T/TBXT gene. Using transgenic assays in zebrafish, axolotl, and mouse, we discover three conserved Brachyury-controlling notochord enhancers, T3, C, and I, in human, mouse, and marsupial genomes. Acting as Brachyury-responsive, auto-regulatory shadow enhancers, in cis deletion of all three enhancers in mouse abolishes Brachyury/T/Tbxt expression selectively in the notochord, causing specific trunk and neural tube defects without gastrulation or tailbud defects. The three Brachyury-driving notochord enhancers are conserved beyond mammals in the brachyury/tbxtb loci of fishes, dating their origin to the last common ancestor of jawed vertebrates. Our data define the vertebrate enhancers for Brachyury/T/TBXTB notochord expression through an auto-regulatory mechanism that conveys robustness and adaptability as ancient basis for axis development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie L Kemmler
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jana Smolikova
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hannah R Moran
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Brandon J Mannion
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Comparative Biochemistry Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Dunja Knapp
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabian Lim
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anna Czarkwiani
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Viviana Hermosilla Aguayo
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vincent Rapp
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olivia E Fitch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Seraina Bötschi
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Licia Selleri
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emma Farley
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ingo Braasch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Maximina Yun
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Axel Visel
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Marco Osterwalder
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian Mosimann
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Alexa Burger
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
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Kim Y, Kim I, Shin K. A new era of stem cell and developmental biology: from blastoids to synthetic embryos and beyond. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:2127-2137. [PMID: 37779144 PMCID: PMC10618288 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01097-8] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent discoveries in stem cell and developmental biology have introduced a new era marked by the generation of in vitro models that recapitulate early mammalian development, providing unprecedented opportunities for extensive research in embryogenesis. Here, we present an overview of current techniques that model early mammalian embryogenesis, specifically noting models created from stem cells derived from two significant species: Homo sapiens, for its high relevance, and Mus musculus, a historically common and technically advanced model organism. We aim to provide a holistic understanding of these in vitro models by tracing the historical background of the progress made in stem cell biology and discussing the fundamental underlying principles. At each developmental stage, we present corresponding in vitro models that recapitulate the in vivo embryo and further discuss how these models may be used to model diseases. Through a discussion of these models as well as their potential applications and future challenges, we hope to demonstrate how these innovative advances in stem cell research may be further developed to actualize a model to be used in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhee Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Inha Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Kunyoo Shin
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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13
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Amel A, Rabeling A, Rossouw S, Goolam M. Wnt and BMP signalling direct anterior-posterior differentiation in aggregates of mouse embryonic stem cells. Biol Open 2023; 12:bio059981. [PMID: 37622734 PMCID: PMC10508691 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059981] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem-cell-based embryo models have allowed greater insight into peri-implantation mammalian developmental events that are otherwise difficult to manipulate due to the inaccessibility of the early embryo. The rapid development of this field has resulted in the precise roles of frequently used supplements such as N2, B27 and Chiron in driving stem cell lineage commitment not being clearly defined. Here, we investigate the effects of these supplements on embryoid bodies to better understand their roles in stem cell differentiation. We show that Wnt signalling has a general posteriorising effect on stem cell aggregates and directs differentiation towards the mesoderm, as confirmed through the upregulation of posterior and mesodermal markers. N2 and B27 can mitigate these effects and upregulate the expression of anterior markers. To control the Wnt gradient and the subsequent anterior versus posterior fate, we make use of a BMP4 signalling centre and show that aggregates in these conditions express cephalic markers. These findings indicate that there is an intricate balance between various culture supplements and their ability to guide differentiation in stem cell embryo models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atoosa Amel
- Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Alexa Rabeling
- Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Simoné Rossouw
- Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Mubeen Goolam
- Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
- UCT Neuroscience Institute, Cape Town, South Africa
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14
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Gribaudo S, Robert R, van Sambeek B, Mirdass C, Lyubimova A, Bouhali K, Ferent J, Morin X, van Oudenaarden A, Nedelec S. Self-organizing models of human trunk organogenesis recapitulate spinal cord and spine co-morphogenesis. Nat Biotechnol 2023:10.1038/s41587-023-01956-9. [PMID: 37709912 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01956-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Integrated in vitro models of human organogenesis are needed to elucidate the multi-systemic events underlying development and disease. Here we report the generation of human trunk-like structures that model the co-morphogenesis, patterning and differentiation of the human spine and spinal cord. We identified differentiation conditions for human pluripotent stem cells favoring the formation of an embryo-like extending antero-posterior (AP) axis. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics show that somitic and spinal cord differentiation trajectories organize along this axis and can self-assemble into a neural tube surrounded by somites upon extracellular matrix addition. Morphogenesis is coupled with AP patterning mechanisms, which results, at later stages of organogenesis, in in vivo-like arrays of neural subtypes along a neural tube surrounded by spine and muscle progenitors contacted by neuronal projections. This integrated system of trunk development indicates that in vivo-like multi-tissue co-morphogenesis and topographic organization of terminal cell types can be achieved in human organoids, opening windows for the development of more complex models of organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Gribaudo
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1270, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Science and Engineering Faculty, Paris, France
| | - Rémi Robert
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1270, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Science and Engineering Faculty, Paris, France
| | - Björn van Sambeek
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Camil Mirdass
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France
| | - Anna Lyubimova
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kamal Bouhali
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Julien Ferent
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1270, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Science and Engineering Faculty, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Morin
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Alexander van Oudenaarden
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stéphane Nedelec
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France.
- Inserm, UMR-S 1270, Paris, France.
- Sorbonne Université, Science and Engineering Faculty, Paris, France.
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15
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Oh SY, Na SB, Kang YK, Do JT. In Vitro Embryogenesis and Gastrulation Using Stem Cells in Mice and Humans. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13655. [PMID: 37686459 PMCID: PMC10563085 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
During early mammalian embryonic development, fertilized one-cell embryos develop into pre-implantation blastocysts and subsequently establish three germ layers through gastrulation during post-implantation development. In recent years, stem cells have emerged as a powerful tool to study embryogenesis and gastrulation without the need for eggs, allowing for the generation of embryo-like structures known as synthetic embryos or embryoids. These in vitro models closely resemble early embryos in terms of morphology and gene expression and provide a faithful recapitulation of early pre- and post-implantation embryonic development. Synthetic embryos can be generated through a combinatorial culture of three blastocyst-derived stem cell types, such as embryonic stem cells, trophoblast stem cells, and extraembryonic endoderm cells, or totipotent-like stem cells alone. This review provides an overview of the progress and various approaches in studying in vitro embryogenesis and gastrulation in mice and humans using stem cells. Furthermore, recent findings and breakthroughs in synthetic embryos and gastruloids are outlined. Despite ethical considerations, synthetic embryo models hold promise for understanding mammalian (including humans) embryonic development and have potential implications for regenerative medicine and developmental research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jeong Tae Do
- Department of Stem Cell Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk Institute of Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.O.); (S.B.N.); (Y.K.K.)
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16
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Ai Z, Niu B, Yin Y, Xiang L, Shi G, Duan K, Wang S, Hu Y, Zhang C, Zhang C, Rong L, Kong R, Chen T, Guo Y, Liu W, Li N, Zhao S, Zhu X, Mai X, Li Y, Wu Z, Zheng Y, Fu J, Ji W, Li T. Dissecting peri-implantation development using cultured human embryos and embryo-like assembloids. Cell Res 2023; 33:661-678. [PMID: 37460804 PMCID: PMC10474050 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-023-00846-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies of cultured embryos have provided insights into human peri-implantation development. However, detailed knowledge of peri-implantation lineage development as well as underlying mechanisms remains obscure. Using 3D-cultured human embryos, herein we report a complete cell atlas of the early post-implantation lineages and decipher cellular composition and gene signatures of the epiblast and hypoblast derivatives. In addition, we develop an embryo-like assembloid (E-assembloid) by assembling naive hESCs and extraembryonic cells. Using human embryos and E-assembloids, we reveal that WNT, BMP and Nodal signaling pathways synergistically, but functionally differently, orchestrate human peri-implantation lineage development. Specially, we dissect mechanisms underlying extraembryonic mesoderm and extraembryonic endoderm specifications. Finally, an improved E-assembloid is developed to recapitulate the epiblast and hypoblast development and tissue architectures in the pre-gastrulation human embryo. Our findings provide insights into human peri-implantation development, and the E-assembloid offers a useful model to disentangle cellular behaviors and signaling interactions that drive human embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongyong Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
| | - Baohua Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yu Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lifeng Xiang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Gaohui Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Kui Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Sile Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yingjie Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chengting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lujuan Rong
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ruize Kong
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Tingwei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yixin Guo
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wanlu Liu
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, China
| | - Nan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Shumei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaoqing Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xuancheng Mai
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yonggang Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ze Wu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Weizhi Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
| | - Tianqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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17
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Repina NA, Johnson HJ, Bao X, Zimmermann JA, Joy DA, Bi SZ, Kane RS, Schaffer DV. Optogenetic control of Wnt signaling models cell-intrinsic embryogenic patterning using 2D human pluripotent stem cell culture. Development 2023; 150:dev201386. [PMID: 37401411 PMCID: PMC10399980 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
In embryonic stem cell (ESC) models for early development, spatially and temporally varying patterns of signaling and cell types emerge spontaneously. However, mechanistic insight into this dynamic self-organization is limited by a lack of methods for spatiotemporal control of signaling, and the relevance of signal dynamics and cell-to-cell variability to pattern emergence remains unknown. Here, we combine optogenetic stimulation, imaging and transcriptomic approaches to study self-organization of human ESCs (hESC) in two-dimensional (2D) culture. Morphogen dynamics were controlled via optogenetic activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling (optoWnt), which drove broad transcriptional changes and mesendoderm differentiation at high efficiency (>99% cells). When activated within cell subpopulations, optoWnt induced cell self-organization into distinct epithelial and mesenchymal domains, mediated by changes in cell migration, an epithelial to mesenchymal-like transition and TGFβ signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrate that such optogenetic control of cell subpopulations can be used to uncover signaling feedback mechanisms between neighboring cell types. These findings reveal that cell-to-cell variability in Wnt signaling is sufficient to generate tissue-scale patterning and establish a hESC model system for investigating feedback mechanisms relevant to early human embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A. Repina
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Hunter J. Johnson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Xiaoping Bao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Joshua A. Zimmermann
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - David A. Joy
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Shirley Z. Bi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ravi S. Kane
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - David V. Schaffer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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18
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Emig AA, Williams MLK. Gastrulation morphogenesis in synthetic systems. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 141:3-13. [PMID: 35817656 PMCID: PMC9825685 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in pluripotent stem cell culture allow researchers to generate not only most embryonic cell types, but also morphologies of many embryonic structures, entirely in vitro. This recreation of embryonic form from naïve cells, known as synthetic morphogenesis, has important implications for both developmental biology and regenerative medicine. However, the capacity of stem cell-based models to recapitulate the morphogenetic cell behaviors that shape natural embryos remains unclear. In this review, we explore several examples of synthetic morphogenesis, with a focus on models of gastrulation and surrounding stages. By varying cell types, source species, and culture conditions, researchers have recreated aspects of primitive streak formation, emergence and elongation of the primary embryonic axis, neural tube closure, and more. Here, we describe cell behaviors within in vitro/ex vivo systems that mimic in vivo morphogenesis and highlight opportunities for more complete models of early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa A Emig
- Center for Precision Environmental Health & Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
| | - Margot L K Williams
- Center for Precision Environmental Health & Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, USA.
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19
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Cheng T, Xing YY, Liu C, Li YF, Huang Y, Liu X, Zhang YJ, Zhao GQ, Dong Y, Fu XX, Tian YM, Shu LP, Megason SG, Xu PF. Nodal coordinates the anterior-posterior patterning of germ layers and induces head formation in zebrafish explants. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112351. [PMID: 37018074 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Much progress has been made toward generating analogs of early embryos, such as gastruloids and embryoids, in vitro. However, methods for how to fully mimic the cell movements of gastrulation and coordinate germ-layer patterning to induce head formation are still lacking. Here, we show that a regional Nodal gradient applied to zebrafish animal pole explant can generate a structure that recapitulates the key cell movements of gastrulation. Using single-cell transcriptome and in situ hybridization analysis, we assess the dynamics of the cell fates and patterning of this structure. The mesendoderm differentiates into the anterior endoderm, prechordal plate, notochord, and tailbud-like cells along an anterior-posterior axis, and an anterior-posterior-patterned head-like structure (HLS) progressively forms during late gastrulation. Among 105 immediate Nodal targets, 14 genes contain axis-induction ability, and 5 of them induce a complete or partial head structure when overexpressed in the ventral side of zebrafish embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Cheng
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan-Yi Xing
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic and Developmental Disorders, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yun-Fei Li
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying-Jie Zhang
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guo-Qin Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Yang Dong
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin-Xin Fu
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi-Meng Tian
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li-Ping Shu
- Department of Immunology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Sean G Megason
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Peng-Fei Xu
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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20
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Cossec JC, Traboulsi T, Sart S, Loe-Mie Y, Guthmann M, Hendriks IA, Theurillat I, Nielsen ML, Torres-Padilla ME, Baroud CN, Dejean A. Transient suppression of SUMOylation in embryonic stem cells generates embryo-like structures. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112380. [PMID: 37061916 PMCID: PMC10157296 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112380] [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: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in synthetic embryology have opened new avenues for understanding the complex events controlling mammalian peri-implantation development. Here, we show that mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) solely exposed to chemical inhibition of SUMOylation generate embryo-like structures comprising anterior neural and trunk-associated regions. HypoSUMOylation-instructed ESCs give rise to spheroids that self-organize into gastrulating structures containing cell types spatially and functionally related to embryonic and extraembryonic compartments. Alternatively, spheroids cultured in a droplet microfluidic device form elongated structures that undergo axial organization reminiscent of natural embryo morphogenesis. Single-cell transcriptomics reveals various cellular lineages, including properly positioned anterior neuronal cell types and paraxial mesoderm segmented into somite-like structures. Transient SUMOylation suppression gradually increases DNA methylation genome wide and repressive mark deposition at Nanog. Interestingly, cell-to-cell variations in SUMOylation levels occur during early embryogenesis. Our approach provides a proof of principle for potentially powerful strategies to explore early embryogenesis by targeting chromatin roadblocks of cell fate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack-Christophe Cossec
- Nuclear Organization and Oncogenesis Unit, Department of Cell Biology and Infection, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France; INSERM, U993, 75015 Paris, France.
| | - Tatiana Traboulsi
- Nuclear Organization and Oncogenesis Unit, Department of Cell Biology and Infection, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France; INSERM, U993, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Sart
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France; Physical Microfluidics and Bioengineering Unit, Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Yann Loe-Mie
- Nuclear Organization and Oncogenesis Unit, Department of Cell Biology and Infection, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France; INSERM, U993, 75015 Paris, France; Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics HUB, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Manuel Guthmann
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Ivo A Hendriks
- Proteomics Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ilan Theurillat
- Nuclear Organization and Oncogenesis Unit, Department of Cell Biology and Infection, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France; INSERM, U993, 75015 Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, Collège Doctoral, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Michael L Nielsen
- Proteomics Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81377 München, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Charles N Baroud
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France; Physical Microfluidics and Bioengineering Unit, Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Anne Dejean
- Nuclear Organization and Oncogenesis Unit, Department of Cell Biology and Infection, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France; INSERM, U993, 75015 Paris, France.
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21
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Kemmler CL, Smolikova J, Moran HR, Mannion BJ, Knapp D, Lim F, Czarkwiani A, Hermosilla Aguayo V, Rapp V, Fitch OE, Bötschi S, Selleri L, Farley E, Braasch I, Yun M, Visel A, Osterwalder M, Mosimann C, Kozmik Z, Burger A. Conserved enhancer logic controls the notochord expression of vertebrate Brachyury. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.20.536761. [PMID: 37131681 PMCID: PMC10153258 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.20.536761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The cell type-specific expression of key transcription factors is central to development. Brachyury/T/TBXT is a major transcription factor for gastrulation, tailbud patterning, and notochord formation; however, how its expression is controlled in the mammalian notochord has remained elusive. Here, we identify the complement of notochord-specific enhancers in the mammalian Brachyury/T/TBXT gene. Using transgenic assays in zebrafish, axolotl, and mouse, we discover three Brachyury-controlling notochord enhancers T3, C, and I in human, mouse, and marsupial genomes. Acting as Brachyury-responsive, auto-regulatory shadow enhancers, deletion of all three enhancers in mouse abolishes Brachyury/T expression selectively in the notochord, causing specific trunk and neural tube defects without gastrulation or tailbud defects. Sequence and functional conservation of Brachyury-driving notochord enhancers with the brachyury/tbxtb loci from diverse lineages of fishes dates their origin to the last common ancestor of jawed vertebrates. Our data define the enhancers for Brachyury/T/TBXTB notochord expression as ancient mechanism in axis development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie L. Kemmler
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jana Smolikova
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hannah R. Moran
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Brandon J. Mannion
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Comparative Biochemistry Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Dunja Knapp
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabian Lim
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
- Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anna Czarkwiani
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Viviana Hermosilla Aguayo
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vincent Rapp
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olivia E. Fitch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Seraina Bötschi
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Licia Selleri
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emma Farley
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Ingo Braasch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Maximina Yun
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Axel Visel
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Marco Osterwalder
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology, Berne University Hospital, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Mosimann
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alexa Burger
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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22
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Xie G, Lee JE, Senft AD, Park YK, Jang Y, Chakraborty S, Thompson JJ, McKernan K, Liu C, Macfarlan TS, Rocha PP, Peng W, Ge K. MLL3/MLL4 methyltransferase activities control early embryonic development and embryonic stem cell differentiation in a lineage-selective manner. Nat Genet 2023; 55:693-705. [PMID: 37012455 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01356-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
H3K4me1 methyltransferases MLL3 (KMT2C) and MLL4 (KMT2D) are critical for enhancer activation, cell differentiation and development. However, roles of MLL3/4 enzymatic activities and MLL3/4-mediated enhancer H3K4me1 in these processes remain unclear. Here we report that constitutive elimination of both MLL3 and MLL4 enzymatic activities prevents initiation of gastrulation and leads to early embryonic lethality in mice. However, selective elimination of MLL3/4 enzymatic activities in embryonic, but not extraembryonic, lineages leaves gastrulation largely intact. Consistent with this, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) lacking MLL3/4 enzymatic activities can differentiate toward the three embryonic germ layers but show aberrant differentiation to extraembryonic endoderm (ExEn) and trophectoderm. The failure in ExEn differentiation can be attributed to markedly reduced enhancer-binding of the lineage-determining transcription factor GATA6. Furthermore, we show that MLL3/4-catalyzed H3K4me1 is largely dispensable for enhancer activation during ESC differentiation. Together, our findings suggest a lineage-selective, but enhancer activation-independent, role of MLL3/4 methyltransferase activities in early embryonic development and ESC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojia Xie
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ji-Eun Lee
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anna D Senft
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Young-Kwon Park
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Younghoon Jang
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shreeta Chakraborty
- Unit on Genome Structure and Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Joyce J Thompson
- Unit on Genome Structure and Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kaitlin McKernan
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Chengyu Liu
- Transgenic Core, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Todd S Macfarlan
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Pedro P Rocha
- Unit on Genome Structure and Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Weiqun Peng
- Departments of Physics and Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kai Ge
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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23
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Trentesaux C, Yamada T, Klein OD, Lim WA. Harnessing synthetic biology to engineer organoids and tissues. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:10-19. [PMID: 36608674 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of an organism depends on intrinsic genetic programs of progenitor cells and their spatiotemporally complex extrinsic environment. Ex vivo generation of organoids from progenitor cells provides a platform for recapitulating and exploring development. Current approaches rely largely on soluble morphogens or engineered biomaterials to manipulate the physical environment, but the emerging field of synthetic biology provides a powerful toolbox to genetically manipulate cell communication, adhesion, and even cell fate. Applying these modular tools to organoids should lead to a deeper understanding of developmental principles, improved organoid models, and an enhanced capability to design tissues for regenerative purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Trentesaux
- Department of Orofacial Sciences and Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Toshimichi Yamada
- Cell Design Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ophir D Klein
- Department of Orofacial Sciences and Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
| | - Wendell A Lim
- Cell Design Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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24
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Amel A, Rossouw S, Goolam M. Gastruloids: A Novel System for Disease Modelling and Drug Testing. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023; 19:104-113. [PMID: 36308705 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10462-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
By virtue of its inaccessible nature, mammalian implantation stage development has remained one of the most enigmatic and hard to investigate periods of embryogenesis. Derived from pluripotent stem cells, gastruloids recapitulate key aspects of gastrula-stage embryos and have emerged as a powerful in vitro tool to study the architectural features of early post-implantation embryos. While the majority of the work in this emerging field has focused on the use of gastruloids to model embryogenesis, their tractable nature and suitability for high-throughput scaling, has presented an unprecedented opportunity to investigate both developmental and environmental aberrations to the embryo as they occur in vitro. This review summarises the recent developments in the use of gastruloids to model congenital anomalies, their usage in teratogenicity testing, and the current limitations of this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atoosa Amel
- Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Simoné Rossouw
- Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mubeen Goolam
- Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa. .,UCT Neuroscience Institute, Cape Town, South Africa.
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25
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Amadei G, Glover DM. Behind the developing brains and beating hearts of stem cell-derived embryo models. Open Biol 2023; 13:220325. [PMID: 36630196 PMCID: PMC9833437 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220325] [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] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies over the past decade have shown how stem cells representing embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues of the mouse can self-assemble in the culture dish to recapitulate an astonishing part of early embryonic development. A systematic analysis has demonstrated how pluripotent embryonic stem cells can be induced to behave like the implanting epiblast; how they can interact with trophectoderm stem cells to form a patterned structure resembling the implanting embryo prior to gastrulation; and how the third stem cell type-extra-embryonic endoderm cells-can be incorporated to generate structures that undergo the cell movements and gene expression patterns of gastrulation. Moreover, such stem cell-derived embryo models can proceed to neurulation and establish progenitors for all parts of the brain and neural tube, somites, beating heart structures and gut tube. They develop within extra-embryonic yolk sacs that initiate haematopoiesis. Here we trace this journey of discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David M Glover
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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26
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Scialdone A, Rivron N. In preprints: improving and interrogating embryo models. Development 2022; 149:285864. [PMID: 36475526 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Scialdone
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-81377 Munich, Germany.,Institute of Functional Epigenetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Nicolas Rivron
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Wien, Austria
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27
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DNA methyltransferases 3A and 3B target specific sequences during mouse gastrulation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:1252-1265. [PMID: 36510023 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00885-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In mammalian embryos, DNA methylation is initialized to maximum levels in the epiblast by the de novo DNA methyltransferases DNMT3A and DNMT3B before gastrulation diversifies it across regulatory regions. Here we show that DNMT3A and DNMT3B are differentially regulated during endoderm and mesoderm bifurcation and study the implications in vivo and in meso-endoderm embryoid bodies. Loss of both Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b impairs exit from the epiblast state. More subtly, independent loss of Dnmt3a or Dnmt3b leads to small biases in mesoderm-endoderm bifurcation and transcriptional deregulation. Epigenetically, DNMT3A and DNMT3B drive distinct methylation kinetics in the epiblast, as can be predicted from their strand-specific sequence preferences. The enzymes compensate for each other in the epiblast, but can later facilitate lineage-specific methylation kinetics as their expression diverges. Single-cell analysis shows that differential activity of DNMT3A and DNMT3B combines with replication-linked methylation turnover to increase epigenetic plasticity in gastrulation. Together, these findings outline a dynamic model for the use of DNMT3A and DNMT3B sequence specificity during gastrulation.
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28
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Jeon EY, Sorrells L, Abaci HE. Biomaterials and bioengineering to guide tissue morphogenesis in epithelial organoids. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1038277. [DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1038277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Organoids are self-organized and miniatured in vitro models of organs and recapitulate key aspects of organ architecture and function, leading to rapid progress in understanding tissue development and disease. However, current organoid culture systems lack accurate spatiotemporal control over biochemical and physical cues that occur during in vivo organogenesis and fail to recapitulate the complexity of organ development, causing the generation of immature organoids partially resembling tissues in vivo. Recent advances in biomaterials and microengineering technologies paved the way for better recapitulation of organ morphogenesis and the generation of anatomically-relevant organoids. For this, understanding the native ECM components and organization of a target organ is essential in providing rational design of extracellular scaffolds that support organoid growth and maturation similarly to the in vivo microenvironment. In this review, we focus on epithelial organoids that resemble the spatial distinct structure and function of organs lined with epithelial cells including intestine, skin, lung, liver, and kidney. We first discuss the ECM diversity and organization found in epithelial organs and provide an overview of developing hydrogel systems for epithelial organoid culture emphasizing their key parameters to determine cell fates. Finally, we review the recent advances in tissue engineering and microfabrication technologies including bioprinting and microfluidics to overcome the limitations of traditional organoid cultures. The integration of engineering methodologies with the organoid systems provides a novel approach for instructing organoid morphogenesis via precise spatiotemporal modulation of bioactive cues and the establishment of high-throughput screening platforms.
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29
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Wehmeyer AE, Schüle KM, Conrad A, Schröder CM, Probst S, Arnold SJ. Chimeric 3D gastruloids - a versatile tool for studies of mammalian peri-gastrulation development. Development 2022; 149:280536. [PMID: 36326003 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200812] [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: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell-derived three-dimensional (3D) gastruloids show a remarkable capacity of self-organisation and recapitulate many aspects of gastrulation stage mammalian development. Gastruloids can be rapidly generated and offer several experimental advantages, such as scalability, observability and accessibility for manipulation. Here, we present approaches to further expand the experimental potency of murine 3D gastruloids by using functional genetics in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to generate chimeric gastruloids. In chimeric gastruloids, fluorescently labelled cells of different genotypes harbouring inducible gene expression or loss-of-function alleles are combined with wild-type cells. We showcase this experimental approach in chimeric gastruloids of mESCs carrying homozygous deletions of the Tbx transcription factor brachyury or inducible expression of Eomes. Resulting chimeric gastruloids recapitulate reported Eomes and brachyury functions, such as instructing cardiac fate and promoting posterior axial extension, respectively. Additionally, chimeric gastruloids revealed previously unrecognised phenotypes, such as the tissue sorting preference of brachyury deficient cells to endoderm and the cell non-autonomous effects of brachyury deficiency on Wnt3a patterning along the embryonic axis, demonstrating some of the advantages of chimeric gastruloids as an efficient tool for studies of mammalian gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E Wehmeyer
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katrin M Schüle
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Conrad
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Chiara M Schröder
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.,Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 19a, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.,Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 18, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simone Probst
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian J Arnold
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.,Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 18, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
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30
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Sozen B, Conkar D, Veenvliet JV. Carnegie in 4D? Stem-cell-based models of human embryo development. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 131:44-57. [PMID: 35701286 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
How cells build embryos is still a major mystery. Many unresolved questions require the study of the processes that pattern and shape the embryo in live specimens, in toto, across spatial and temporal scales. In mammalian embryogenesis, this remains a major challenge as the embryo develops in utero, precluding easy accessibility. For human embryos, technical, ethical and legal limitations further hamper the in-depth investigation of embryogenesis, especially beyond gastrulation stages. This has resulted in an over-reliance on model organisms, particularly mice, to understand mammalian development. However, recent efforts show critical differences between rodent and primate embryos, including timing, architecture and transcriptional regulation. Thus, a human-centric understanding of embryogenesis is much needed. To empower this, novel in vitro approaches, which coax human pluripotent stem cells to form embryonic organoids that model embryo development, are pivotal. Here, we summarize these emergent technologies that recapitulate aspects of human development "in a dish". We show how these technologies can provide insights into the molecular, cellular and morphogenetic processes that fuel the formation of a fully formed fetus, and discuss the potential of these platforms to revolutionize our understanding of human development in health and disease. Despite their clear promise, we caution against over-interpreting the extent to which these in vitro platforms model the natural embryo. In particular, we discuss how fate, form and function - a tightly coupled trinity in vivo, can be disconnected in vitro. Finally, we propose how careful benchmarking of existing models, in combination with rational protocol design based on an increased understanding of in vivo developmental dynamics and insights from mouse in vitro models of embryo development, will help guide the establishment of better models of human embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berna Sozen
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA; Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Deniz Conkar
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jesse V Veenvliet
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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31
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Abstract
The complex process by which a single-celled zygote develops into a viable embryo is nothing short of a miraculous wonder of the natural world. Elucidating how this process is orchestrated in humans has long eluded the grasp of scientists due to ethical and practical limitations. Thankfully, pluripotent stem cells that resemble early developmental cell types possess the ability to mimic specific embryonic events. As such, murine and human stem cells have been leveraged by scientists to create in vitro models that aim to recapitulate different stages of early mammalian development. Here, we examine the wide variety of stem cell-based embryo models that have been developed to recapitulate and study embryonic events, from pre-implantation development through to early organogenesis. We discuss the applications of these models, key considerations regarding their importance within the field, and how such models are expected to grow and evolve to achieve exciting new milestones in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan H. Terhune
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jeyoon Bok
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Shiyu Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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32
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López-Anguita N, Gassaloglu SI, Stötzel M, Bolondi A, Conkar D, Typou M, Buschow R, Veenvliet JV, Bulut-Karslioglu A. Hypoxia induces an early primitive streak signature, enhancing spontaneous elongation and lineage representation in gastruloids. Development 2022; 149:276626. [PMID: 36102628 PMCID: PMC9578691 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The cellular microenvironment, together with intrinsic regulators, shapes stem cell identity and differentiation capacity. Mammalian early embryos are exposed to hypoxia in vivo and appear to benefit from hypoxic culture in vitro. Yet, how hypoxia influences stem cell transcriptional networks and lineage choices remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the molecular effects of acute and prolonged hypoxia on embryonic and extra-embryonic stem cells as well as the functional impact on differentiation potential. We find a temporal and cell type-specific transcriptional response including an early primitive streak signature in hypoxic embryonic stem cells mediated by HIF1α. Using a 3D gastruloid differentiation model, we show that hypoxia-induced T expression enables symmetry breaking and axial elongation in the absence of exogenous WNT activation. When combined with exogenous WNT activation, hypoxia enhances lineage representation in gastruloids, as demonstrated by highly enriched signatures of gut endoderm, notochord, neuromesodermal progenitors and somites. Our findings directly link the microenvironment to stem cell function and provide a rationale supportive of applying physiological conditions in models of embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia López-Anguita
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin 2 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Seher Ipek Gassaloglu
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
- Stembryogenesis Lab, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics 3 , 01307 Dresden , Germany
| | - Maximilian Stötzel
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin 2 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Adriano Bolondi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin 2 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Deniz Conkar
- Stembryogenesis Lab, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics 3 , 01307 Dresden , Germany
| | - Marina Typou
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
- Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace 4 , 681 00 Alexandroupoli , Greece
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, International Hellenic University 5 , 570 01, Thessaloniki , Greece
| | - René Buschow
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Jesse V. Veenvliet
- Stembryogenesis Lab, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics 3 , 01307 Dresden , Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden 6 , 01307 Dresden , Germany
| | - Aydan Bulut-Karslioglu
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
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33
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Lau KYC, Rubinstein H, Gantner CW, Hadas R, Amadei G, Stelzer Y, Zernicka-Goetz M. Mouse embryo model derived exclusively from embryonic stem cells undergoes neurulation and heart development. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:1445-1458.e8. [PMID: 36084657 PMCID: PMC9648694 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Several in vitro models have been developed to recapitulate mouse embryogenesis solely from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Despite mimicking many aspects of early development, they fail to capture the interactions between embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. To overcome this difficulty, we have developed a mouse ESC-based in vitro model that reconstitutes the pluripotent ESC lineage and the two extraembryonic lineages of the post-implantation embryo by transcription-factor-mediated induction. This unified model recapitulates developmental events from embryonic day 5.5 to 8.5, including gastrulation; formation of the anterior-posterior axis, brain, and a beating heart structure; and the development of extraembryonic tissues, including yolk sac and chorion. Comparing single-cell RNA sequencing from individual structures with time-matched natural embryos identified remarkably similar transcriptional programs across lineages but also showed when and where the model diverges from the natural program. Our findings demonstrate an extraordinary plasticity of ESCs to self-organize and generate a whole-embryo-like structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasey Y C Lau
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Hernan Rubinstein
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Carlos W Gantner
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Ron Hadas
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel; California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Gianluca Amadei
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Yonatan Stelzer
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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34
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Amadei G, Handford CE, Qiu C, De Jonghe J, Greenfeld H, Tran M, Martin BK, Chen DY, Aguilera-Castrejon A, Hanna JH, Elowitz MB, Hollfelder F, Shendure J, Glover DM, Zernicka-Goetz M. Embryo model completes gastrulation to neurulation and organogenesis. Nature 2022; 610:143-153. [PMID: 36007540 PMCID: PMC9534772 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05246-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem (ES) cells can undergo many aspects of mammalian embryogenesis in vitro1-5, but their developmental potential is substantially extended by interactions with extraembryonic stem cells, including trophoblast stem (TS) cells, extraembryonic endoderm stem (XEN) cells and inducible XEN (iXEN) cells6-11. Here we assembled stem cell-derived embryos in vitro from mouse ES cells, TS cells and iXEN cells and showed that they recapitulate the development of whole natural mouse embryo in utero up to day 8.5 post-fertilization. Our embryo model displays headfolds with defined forebrain and midbrain regions and develops a beating heart-like structure, a trunk comprising a neural tube and somites, a tail bud containing neuromesodermal progenitors, a gut tube, and primordial germ cells. This complete embryo model develops within an extraembryonic yolk sac that initiates blood island development. Notably, we demonstrate that the neurulating embryo model assembled from Pax6-knockout ES cells aggregated with wild-type TS cells and iXEN cells recapitulates the ventral domain expansion of the neural tube that occurs in natural, ubiquitous Pax6-knockout embryos. Thus, these complete embryoids are a powerful in vitro model for dissecting the roles of diverse cell lineages and genes in development. Our results demonstrate the self-organization ability of ES cells and two types of extraembryonic stem cells to reconstitute mammalian development through and beyond gastrulation to neurulation and early organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Amadei
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Charlotte E Handford
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chengxiang Qiu
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joachim De Jonghe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Hannah Greenfeld
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Martin Tran
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Beth K Martin
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dong-Yuan Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - Jacob H Hanna
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michael B Elowitz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Jay Shendure
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David M Glover
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA.
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35
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Arias AM, Marikawa Y, Moris N. Gastruloids: Pluripotent stem cell models of mammalian gastrulation and embryo engineering. Dev Biol 2022; 488:35-46. [PMID: 35537519 PMCID: PMC9477185 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Gastrulation is a fundamental and critical process of animal development whereby the mass of cells that results from the proliferation of the zygote transforms itself into a recognizable outline of an organism. The last few years have seen the emergence of a number of experimental models of early mammalian embryogenesis based on Embryonic Stem (ES) cells. One of this is the Gastruloid model. Gastruloids are aggregates of defined numbers of ES cells that, under defined culture conditions, undergo controlled proliferation, symmetry breaking, and the specification of all three germ layers characteristic of vertebrate embryos, and their derivatives. However, they lack brain structures and, surprisingly, reveal a disconnect between cell type specific gene expression and tissue morphogenesis, for example during somitogenesis. Gastruloids have been derived from mouse and human ES cells and several variations of the original model have emerged that reveal a hereto unknown modularity of mammalian embryos. We discuss the organization and development of gastruloids in the context of the embryonic stages that they represent, pointing out similarities and differences between the two. We also point out their potential as a reproducible, scalable and searchable experimental system and highlight some questions posed by the current menagerie of gastruloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Martinez Arias
- Systems Bioengineering, MELIS, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader, 88, ICREA, Pag Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Yusuke Marikawa
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
| | - Naomi Moris
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
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36
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Shao Y, Fu J. Engineering multiscale structural orders for high-fidelity embryoids and organoids. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:722-743. [PMID: 35523138 PMCID: PMC9097334 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Embryoids and organoids hold great promise for human biology and medicine. Herein, we discuss conceptual and technological frameworks useful for developing high-fidelity embryoids and organoids that display tissue- and organ-level phenotypes and functions, which are critically needed for decoding developmental programs and improving translational applications. Through dissecting the layers of inputs controlling mammalian embryogenesis, we review recent progress in reconstructing multiscale structural orders in embryoids and organoids. Bioengineering tools useful for multiscale, multimodal structural engineering of tissue- and organ-level cellular organization and microenvironment are also discussed to present integrative, bioengineering-directed approaches to achieve next-generation, high-fidelity embryoids and organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Shao
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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37
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Jang H, Kim SH, Koh Y, Yoon KJ. Engineering Brain Organoids: Toward Mature Neural Circuitry with an Intact Cytoarchitecture. Int J Stem Cells 2022; 15:41-59. [PMID: 35220291 PMCID: PMC8889333 DOI: 10.15283/ijsc22004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of brain organoids as a model system has been a tremendously exciting development in the field of neuroscience. Brain organoids are a gateway to exploring the intricacies of human-specific neurogenesis that have so far eluded the neuroscience community. Regardless, current culture methods have a long way to go in terms of accuracy and reproducibility. To perfectly mimic the human brain, we need to recapitulate the complex in vivo context of the human fetal brain and achieve mature neural circuitry with an intact cytoarchitecture. In this review, we explore the major challenges facing the current brain organoid systems, potential technical breakthroughs to advance brain organoid techniques up to levels similar to an in vivo human developing brain, and the future prospects of this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunsoo Jang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Seo Hyun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Youmin Koh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ki-Jun Yoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
- KAIST-Wonjin Cell Therapy Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
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38
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Barhouse PS, Andrade MJ, Smith Q. Home Away From Home: Bioengineering Advancements to Mimic the Developmental and Adult Stem Cell Niche. FRONTIERS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fceng.2022.832754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The inherent self-organizing capacity of pluripotent and adult stem cell populations has advanced our fundamental understanding of processes that drive human development, homeostasis, regeneration, and disease progression. Translating these principles into in vitro model systems has been achieved with the advent of organoid technology, driving innovation to harness patient-specific, cell-laden regenerative constructs that can be engineered to augment or replace diseased tissue. While developmental organization and regenerative adult stem cell niches are tightly regulated in vivo, in vitro analogs lack defined architecture and presentation of physicochemical cues, leading to the unhindered arrangement of mini-tissues that lack complete physiological mimicry. This review aims to highlight the recent integrative engineering approaches that elicit spatio-temporal control of the extracellular niche to direct the structural and functional maturation of pluripotent and adult stem cell derivatives. While the advances presented here leverage multi-pronged strategies ranging from synthetic biology to microfabrication technologies, the methods converge on recreating the biochemical and biophysical milieu of the native tissue to be modeled or regenerated.
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39
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Bérenger-Currias NM, Mircea M, Adegeest E, van den Berg PR, Feliksik M, Hochane M, Idema T, Tans SJ, Semrau S. A gastruloid model of the interaction between embryonic and extra-embryonic cell types. J Tissue Eng 2022; 13:20417314221103042. [PMID: 35707767 PMCID: PMC9189523 DOI: 10.1177/20417314221103042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem-cell derived in vitro systems, such as organoids or embryoids, hold great
potential for modeling in vivo development. Full control over their initial
composition, scalability, and easily measurable dynamics make those systems
useful for studying specific developmental processes in isolation. Here we
report the formation of gastruloids consisting of mouse embryonic stem cells
(mESCs) and extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) cells. These XEN-enhanced gastruloids
(XEGs) exhibit the formation of neural epithelia, which are absent in
gastruloids derived from mESCs only. By single-cell RNA-seq, imaging, and
differentiation experiments, we demonstrate the neural characteristics of the
epithelial tissue. We further show that the mESCs induce the differentiation of
the XEN cells to a visceral endoderm-like state. Finally, we demonstrate that
local inhibition of WNT signaling and production of a basement membrane by the
XEN cells underlie the formation of the neuroepithelial tissue. In summary, we
establish XEGs to explore heterotypic cellular interactions and their
developmental consequences in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Mlp Bérenger-Currias
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Delft University of Technology, Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Mircea
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Esmée Adegeest
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marleen Feliksik
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mazène Hochane
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Timon Idema
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Sander J Tans
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands.,AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Semrau
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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40
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Veenvliet JV, Lenne PF, Turner DA, Nachman I, Trivedi V. Sculpting with stem cells: how models of embryo development take shape. Development 2021; 148:dev192914. [PMID: 34908102 PMCID: PMC8722391 DOI: 10.1242/dev.192914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
During embryogenesis, organisms acquire their shape given boundary conditions that impose geometrical, mechanical and biochemical constraints. A detailed integrative understanding how these morphogenetic information modules pattern and shape the mammalian embryo is still lacking, mostly owing to the inaccessibility of the embryo in vivo for direct observation and manipulation. These impediments are circumvented by the developmental engineering of embryo-like structures (stembryos) from pluripotent stem cells that are easy to access, track, manipulate and scale. Here, we explain how unlocking distinct levels of embryo-like architecture through controlled modulations of the cellular environment enables the identification of minimal sets of mechanical and biochemical inputs necessary to pattern and shape the mammalian embryo. We detail how this can be complemented with precise measurements and manipulations of tissue biochemistry, mechanics and geometry across spatial and temporal scales to provide insights into the mechanochemical feedback loops governing embryo morphogenesis. Finally, we discuss how, even in the absence of active manipulations, stembryos display intrinsic phenotypic variability that can be leveraged to define the constraints that ensure reproducible morphogenesis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse V. Veenvliet
- Stembryogenesis Lab, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Ihnestrasse 63-73, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Pierre-François Lenne
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Center for Living Systems, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - David A. Turner
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, William Henry Duncan Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK
| | - Iftach Nachman
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Vikas Trivedi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratories (EMBL), Barcelona, 08003, Spain
- EMBL Heidelberg, Developmental Biology Unit, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
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41
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Sheng G, Martinez Arias A, Sutherland A. The primitive streak and cellular principles of building an amniote body through gastrulation. Science 2021; 374:abg1727. [PMID: 34855481 DOI: 10.1126/science.abg1727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojun Sheng
- International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Alfonso Martinez Arias
- Systems Bioengineering, DCEXS, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader, 88 ICREA, Pag Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ann Sutherland
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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42
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Weijts B, Yvernogeau L, Robin C. Recent Advances in Developmental Hematopoiesis: Diving Deeper With New Technologies. Front Immunol 2021; 12:790379. [PMID: 34899758 PMCID: PMC8652083 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.790379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The journey of a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) involves the passage through successive anatomical sites where HSCs are in direct contact with their surrounding microenvironment, also known as niche. These spatial and temporal cellular interactions throughout development are required for the acquisition of stem cell properties, and for maintaining the HSC pool through balancing self-renewal, quiescence and lineage commitment. Understanding the context and consequences of these interactions will be imperative for our understanding of HSC biology and will lead to the improvement of in vitro production of HSCs for clinical purposes. The aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region is in this light of particular interest since this is the cradle of HSC emergence during the embryonic development of all vertebrate species. In this review, we will focus on the developmental origin of HSCs and will discuss the novel technological approaches and recent progress made to identify the cellular composition of the HSC supportive niche and the underlying molecular events occurring in the AGM region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Weijts
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) & University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Laurent Yvernogeau
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) & University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Catherine Robin
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) & University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Regenerative Medicine Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
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43
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Steventon B, Busby L, Arias AM. Establishment of the vertebrate body plan: Rethinking gastrulation through stem cell models of early embryogenesis. Dev Cell 2021; 56:2405-2418. [PMID: 34520764 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
A striking property of vertebrate embryos is the emergence of a conserved body plan across a wide range of organisms through the process of gastrulation. As the body plan unfolds, gene regulatory networks (GRNs) and multicellular interactions (cell regulatory networks, CRNs) combine to generate a conserved set of morphogenetic events that lead to the phylotypic stage. Interrogation of these multilevel interactions requires manipulation of the mechanical environment, which is difficult in vivo. We review recent studies of stem cell models of early embryogenesis from different species showing that, independent of species origin, cells in culture form similar structures. The main difference between embryos and in vitro models is the boundary conditions of the multicellular ensembles. We discuss these observations and suggest that the mechanical and geometric boundary conditions of different embryos before gastrulation hide a morphogenetic ground state that is revealed in the stem-cell-based models of embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lara Busby
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Alfonso Martinez Arias
- Systems Bioengineering, DCEXS, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader, 88 ICREA, Pag Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain.
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44
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Anlas K, Trivedi V. Studying evolution of the primary body axis in vivo and in vitro. eLife 2021; 10:e69066. [PMID: 34463611 PMCID: PMC8456739 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The metazoan body plan is established during early embryogenesis via collective cell rearrangements and evolutionarily conserved gene networks, as part of a process commonly referred to as gastrulation. While substantial progress has been achieved in terms of characterizing the embryonic development of several model organisms, underlying principles of many early patterning processes nevertheless remain enigmatic. Despite the diversity of (pre-)gastrulating embryo and adult body shapes across the animal kingdom, the body axes, which are arguably the most fundamental features, generally remain identical between phyla. Recently there has been a renewed appreciation of ex vivo and in vitro embryo-like systems to model early embryonic patterning events. Here, we briefly review key examples and propose that similarities in morphogenesis and associated gene expression dynamics may reveal an evolutionarily conserved developmental mode as well as provide further insights into the role of external or extraembryonic cues in shaping the early embryo. In summary, we argue that embryo-like systems can be employed to inform previously uncharted aspects of animal body plan evolution as well as associated patterning rules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vikas Trivedi
- EMBL BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- EMBL Heidelberg, Developmental BiologyHeidelbergGermany
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45
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van den Brink SC, van Oudenaarden A. 3D gastruloids: a novel frontier in stem cell-based in vitro modeling of mammalian gastrulation. Trends Cell Biol 2021; 31:747-759. [PMID: 34304959 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
3D gastruloids, aggregates of embryonic stem cells that recapitulate key aspects of gastrula-stage embryos, have emerged as a powerful tool to study the early stages of mammalian post-implantation development in vitro. Owing to their tractable nature and the relative ease by which they can be generated in large numbers, 3D gastruloids provide an unparalleled opportunity to study normal and pathological embryogenesis from a bottom-up perspective and in a high-throughput manner. Here, we review how gastruloid models can be exploited to deepen our understanding of mammalian development. In addition, we discuss current limitations, potential clinical applications, and ethical implications of this emerging model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne C van den Brink
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Alexander van Oudenaarden
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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46
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Denker HW. Autonomy in the Development of Stem Cell-Derived Embryoids: Sprouting Blastocyst-Like Cysts, and Ethical Implications. Cells 2021; 10:1461. [PMID: 34200796 PMCID: PMC8230544 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The experimental production of complex structures resembling mammalian embryos (e.g., blastoids, gastruloids) from pluripotent stem cells in vitro has become a booming research field. Since some of these embryoid models appear to reach a degree of complexity that may come close to viability, a broad discussion has set in with the aim to arrive at a consensus on the ethical implications with regard to acceptability of the use of this technology with human cells. The present text focuses on aspects of the gain of organismic wholeness of such stem cell-derived constructs, and of autonomy of self-organization, raised by recent reports on blastocyst-like cysts spontaneously budding in mouse stem cell cultures, and by previous reports on likewise spontaneous formation of gastrulating embryonic disc-like structures in primate models. Mechanisms of pattern (axis) formation in early embryogenesis are discussed in the context of self-organization of stem cell clusters. It is concluded that ethical aspects of development of organismic wholeness in the formation of embryoids need to receive more attention in the present discussions about new legal regulations in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Werner Denker
- Universitätsklinikum, Institut für Anatomie, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
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