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Casado-Navarro R, Serrano-Saiz E. DMRT Transcription Factors in the Control of Nervous System Sexual Differentiation. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:937596. [PMID: 35958734 PMCID: PMC9361473 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.937596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual phenotypic differences in the nervous system are one of the most prevalent features across the animal kingdom. The molecular mechanisms responsible for sexual dimorphism throughout metazoan nervous systems are extremely diverse, ranging from intrinsic cell autonomous mechanisms to gonad-dependent endocrine control of sexual traits, or even extrinsic environmental cues. In recent years, the DMRT ancient family of transcription factors has emerged as being central in the development of sex-specific differentiation in all animals in which they have been studied. In this review, we provide an overview of the function of Dmrt genes in nervous system sexual regulation from an evolutionary perspective.
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Lmx1a-Dependent Activation of miR-204/211 Controls the Timing of Nurr1-Mediated Dopaminergic Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23136961. [PMID: 35805964 PMCID: PMC9266978 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23136961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons requires a fine temporal and spatial regulation of a very specific gene expression program. Here, we report that during mouse brain development, the microRNA (miR-) 204/211 is present at a high level in a subset of DA precursors expressing the transcription factor Lmx1a, an early determinant for DA-commitment, but not in more mature neurons expressing Th or Pitx3. By combining different in vitro model systems of DA differentiation, we show that the levels of Lmx1a influence the expression of miR-204/211. Using published transcriptomic data, we found a significant enrichment of miR-204/211 target genes in midbrain dopaminergic neurons where Lmx1a was selectively deleted at embryonic stages. We further demonstrated that miR-204/211 controls the timing of the DA differentiation by directly downregulating the expression of Nurr1, a late DA differentiation master gene. Thus, our data indicate the Lmx1a-miR-204/211-Nurr1 axis as a key component in the cascade of events that ultimately lead to mature midbrain dopaminergic neurons differentiation and point to miR-204/211 as the molecular switch regulating the timing of Nurr1 expression.
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Kikkawa T, Osumi N. Multiple Functions of the Dmrt Genes in the Development of the Central Nervous System. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:789583. [PMID: 34955736 PMCID: PMC8695973 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.789583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Dmrt genes encode the transcription factor containing the DM (doublesex and mab-3) domain, an intertwined zinc finger-like DNA binding module. While Dmrt genes are mainly involved in the sexual development of various species, recent studies have revealed that Dmrt genes, which belong to the DmrtA subfamily, are differentially expressed in the embryonic brain and spinal cord and are essential for the development of the central nervous system. Herein, we summarize recent studies that reveal the multiple functions of the Dmrt genes in various aspects of vertebrate neural development, including brain patterning, neurogenesis, and the specification of neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takako Kikkawa
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Noriko Osumi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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4
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Kasahara R, Yuzawa T, Fujii T, Aoki F, Suzuki MG. dmrt11E ortholog is a crucial factor for oogenesis of the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 129:103517. [PMID: 33422636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
DMRT (Doublesex and Mab-3-related transcription factor) is a highly conserved transcription factor family involved in sex determination in numerous animal species. One DMRT, dmrt2/dmrt11E, has entirely different functions in invertebrate and vertebrate species, indicating unpredicted functions. Here, we performed functional analysis of the dmrt11E gene in the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori. This gene was preferentially expressed in ovarioles at the last larval instar stage. Its mRNA accumulated in ovarian eggs during the adult stage. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of Bombyx dmrt11E (Bmdmrt11E) caused defects in oogenesis, resulting in the production of abnormal eggs with transparent liquids. These eggs had significantly reduced fertility and lipid levels. Transcriptomic comparisons between ovaries of control and mutant insects at two developmental stages identified six genes that may be under the control of Bmdmrt11E. Finally, we provide a possible model for lipid uptake and storage in eggs of Bombyx mori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Kasahara
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan
| | - Tomohisa Yuzawa
- Japan Water Systems Corporation, 4-9-4 Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0032, Japan
| | - Takehsi Fujii
- Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Setsunan University, 45-1 Nagao-Togecho, Hirakata-shi, Osaka, 573-0101, Japan
| | - Fugaku Aoki
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan
| | - Masataka G Suzuki
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan.
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Flitsch LJ, Laupman KE, Brüstle O. Transcription Factor-Based Fate Specification and Forward Programming for Neural Regeneration. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:121. [PMID: 32508594 PMCID: PMC7251072 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, in vitro generation of donor cells for brain repair has been dominated by the application of extrinsic growth factors and morphogens. Recent advances in cell engineering strategies such as reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells and direct cell fate conversion have impressively demonstrated the feasibility to manipulate cell identities by the overexpression of cell fate-determining transcription factors. These strategies are now increasingly implemented for transcription factor-guided differentiation of neural precursors and forward programming of pluripotent stem cells toward specific neural subtypes. This review covers major achievements, pros and cons, as well as future prospects of transcription factor-based cell fate specification and the applicability of these approaches for the generation of donor cells for brain repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea J Flitsch
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Karen E Laupman
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Oliver Brüstle
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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6
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Precious SV, Smith GA, Heuer A, Jaeger I, Lane EL, Dunnett SB, Li M, Kelly CM, Rosser AE. Dopaminergic Progenitors Derived From Epiblast Stem Cells Function Similarly to Primary VM-Derived Progenitors When Transplanted Into a Parkinson's Disease Model. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:312. [PMID: 32317925 PMCID: PMC7154167 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00312] [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: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural transplantation in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) offers to replace cells lost during the progression of the disease process. Primary fetal ventral mesencephalon (VM), the origin of bona fide midbrain dopaminergic (DAergic) precursors, is currently the gold standard source of cells for transplantation in PD. However, the use of tissue from this source raises ethical and logistical constraints necessitating the need for alternative supplies of donor cells. The requirement of any alternative donor cell source is to have the capability to generate authentic mature DAergic neurons, which could be utilized in cell-replacement strategies. Mouse pluripotent stem cells can efficiently generate electrochemically mature midbrain DAergic precursors in vitro using a stepwise control of FGF signaling. Here, we have compared DAergic transplants derived from two progenitor cell sources in an allograft system: mouse epiblast stem cells (EpiSC) and primary fetal mouse VM tissue. Cells were transplanted into the striatum of 6-OHDA lesioned mice pre-treated with L-DOPA. Drug-induced rotations, a number of motor tests and drug-induced abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) were assessed. Functional improvements were demonstrated post-transplantation in some behavioral tests, with no difference in graft volume or the number of TH immuno-positive cells in the grafts of the two transplant groups. L-DOPA-induced AIMs and amphetamine-induced AIMs were observed in both transplant groups, with no differences in rate or severity between the two groups. Collectively, in this mouse-to-mouse allograft system, we report no significant differences in the functional ability between the gold standard primary VM derived and pluripotent stem cell-derived DAergic transplants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie V Precious
- Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Gaynor A Smith
- School of Medicine, UK Dementia Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Heuer
- Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ines Jaeger
- Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group, School of Medicine and Biosciences, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Emma L Lane
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen B Dunnett
- Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Meng Li
- Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group, School of Medicine and Biosciences, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Claire M Kelly
- School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anne E Rosser
- Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Wales Brain Repair and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics Unit, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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Cao D, Cheung HH, Chan WY. Doxycycline Masks the Genuine Effect of the Doxycycline-Inducible Transgene by Promoting Dopaminergic Neuron Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2019; 28:833-845. [PMID: 31020917 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2018.0209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Doxycycline (DOX), an antibacterial drug, has been widely used in the inducible gene expression system. However, its effect was largely ignored when studying functions of the inducible transgene. By using a DOX-inducible Tet-ON system, we identified that DOX alone dramatically promoted dopaminergic (DA) neuron differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), whereas the studied gene had no significant effects after considering the confounding factor DOX. These findings suggest that the effect of DOX should be taken into consideration when it is used in the inducible system especially during DA neuron differentiation from hPSCs. Meanwhile, it also suggests that DOX can be used as an efficient and inexpensive molecule to increase DA neuron differentiation efficacy from hPSCs for cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Cao
- 1 Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine (CUHK-Jinan University), School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,2 CUHK-CAS Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health Joint Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Hoi-Hung Cheung
- 1 Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine (CUHK-Jinan University), School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,2 CUHK-CAS Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health Joint Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Wai-Yee Chan
- 1 Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine (CUHK-Jinan University), School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,2 CUHK-CAS Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health Joint Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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8
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Hilbold E, Bergmann M, Fietz D, Kliesch S, Weidner W, Langeheine M, Rode K, Brehm R. Immunolocalization of DMRTB1 in human testis with normal and impaired spermatogenesis. Andrology 2019; 7:428-440. [PMID: 30920770 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transcription factor DMRTB1 plays a pivotal role in coordinating the transition between mitosis and meiosis in murine germ cells. No reliable data are available for human testis. OBJECTIVES The present study aims to examine the testicular expression pattern of DMRTB1 in men showing normal and impaired spermatogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunohistochemistry was performed using 54 human testicular biopsy specimens and a commercial rabbit polyclonal anti-DMRTB1 primary antibody. RT-PCR complemented immunohistochemistry. To further characterize immunopositive cells and possible co-localization, the proliferation marker Ki-67, the tumor marker PLAP, and an anti-DMRT1 antibody were used. RESULTS In men with normal spermatogenesis, a strong immunoreactivity was detectable in a subset of spermatogonia (38.34 ± 2.14%). Some spermatocytes showed a weak immunostaining. Adjacent Sertoli cells were immunonegative. Compared with a hematoxylin and eosin overview staining, these immunopositive cells were almost exclusively identified as Apale and B spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes in (pre-)leptotene, zygotene, and pachytene stages. In patients with spermatogenic arrest at spermatogonial level, an altered staining pattern was found. No immunoreactivity was detected in Sertoli cells in Sertoli cell-only syndrome. In germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) tubules, except for a few (0.4 ± 0.03%), pre-invasive tumor cells were immunonegative. Seminoma cells showed no immunostaining. DISCUSSION According to previous findings in mice, it seems reasonable that DMRTB1 is expressed in these normal germ cell populations. Moreover, altered staining pattern in spermatogenic arrest at spermatogonial stage suggests a correlation with mitosis and transformation into B spermatogonia. The absence of DMRTB1 in GCNIS cells and tumor cells might be associated with uncontrolled neoplastic cell proliferation and progression into invasive germ cell tumors. Further research is required to elucidate, for example, the role of DMRTB1 in the malignant transformation of human germ cells. CONCLUSION Our data indicate a relevant role for DMRTB1 regarding the entry of spermatogonia into meiosis in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Hilbold
- Institute for Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - M Bergmann
- Institute for Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - D Fietz
- Institute for Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - S Kliesch
- Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - W Weidner
- Department of Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - M Langeheine
- Institute for Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - K Rode
- Institute for Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - R Brehm
- Institute for Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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9
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De Gregorio R, Pulcrano S, De Sanctis C, Volpicelli F, Guatteo E, von Oerthel L, Latagliata EC, Esposito R, Piscitelli RM, Perrone-Capano C, Costa V, Greco D, Puglisi-Allegra S, Smidt MP, di Porzio U, Caiazzo M, Mercuri NB, Li M, Bellenchi GC. miR-34b/c Regulates Wnt1 and Enhances Mesencephalic Dopaminergic Neuron Differentiation. Stem Cell Reports 2018. [PMID: 29526736 PMCID: PMC5998209 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of dopaminergic neurons requires concerted action of morphogens and transcription factors acting in a precise and well-defined time window. Very little is known about the potential role of microRNA in these events. By performing a microRNA-mRNA paired microarray screening, we identified miR-34b/c among the most upregulated microRNAs during dopaminergic differentiation. Interestingly, miR-34b/c modulates Wnt1 expression, promotes cell cycle exit, and induces dopaminergic differentiation. When combined with transcription factors ASCL1 and NURR1, miR-34b/c doubled the yield of transdifferentiated fibroblasts into dopaminergic neurons. Induced dopaminergic (iDA) cells synthesize dopamine and show spontaneous electrical activity, reversibly blocked by tetrodotoxin, consistent with the electrophysiological properties featured by brain dopaminergic neurons. Our findings point to a role for miR-34b/c in neuronal commitment and highlight the potential of exploiting its synergy with key transcription factors in enhancing in vitro generation of dopaminergic neurons. miR-34b/c is enriched in Pitx3-GFP+ mDA neurons miR-34b/c targets Wnt1-3′ UTR miR-34b/c is expressed during dopaminergic differentiation of mESCs miR-34b/c enhances fibroblast transdifferentiation into functional iDA neurons
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto De Gregorio
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Salvatore Pulcrano
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy; Deparment of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Claudia De Sanctis
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy; Neuromed IRCCS, 86077 Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | - Floriana Volpicelli
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy; Deparment of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Ezia Guatteo
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00143 Rome, Italy; Parthenope University, Department of Motor Science and Wellness, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Lars von Oerthel
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GE Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Roberta Esposito
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Piscitelli
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00143 Rome, Italy; Parthenope University, Department of Motor Science and Wellness, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Carla Perrone-Capano
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy; Deparment of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Valerio Costa
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Dario Greco
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Marten P Smidt
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GE Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Umberto di Porzio
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Caiazzo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Nicola Biagio Mercuri
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00143 Rome, Italy; University of Tor Vergata, Department of Systems Medicine, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Meng Li
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Gian Carlo Bellenchi
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy.
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Guerrero-Flores G, Bastidas-Ponce A, Collazo-Navarrete O, Guerra-Crespo M, Covarrubias L. Functional determination of the differentiation potential of ventral mesencephalic neural precursor cells during dopaminergic neurogenesis. Dev Biol 2017; 429:56-70. [PMID: 28733161 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The ventral mesencephalic neural precursor cells (vmNPCs) that give rise to dopaminergic (DA) neurons have been identified by the expression of distinct genes (e.g., Lmx1a, Foxa2, Msx1/2). However, the commitment of these NPCs to the mesencephalic DA neuronal fate has not been functionally determined. Evaluation of the plasticity of vmNPCs suggests that their commitment occurs after E10.5. Here we show that E9.5 vmNPCs implanted in an ectopic area of E10.5 mesencephalic explants, retained their specification marker Lmx1a and efficiently differentiated into neurons but did not express the gene encoding tyrosine hydroxylase (Th), the limiting enzyme for dopamine synthesis. A proportion of E10.5-E11.5 implanted vmNPCs behaved as committed, deriving into Th+ neurons in ectopic sites. Interestingly, implanted cells from E12.5 embryos were unable to give rise to a significant number of Th+ neurons. Concomitantly, differentiation assays in culture and in mesencephalic explants treated with Fgf2+LIF detected vmNPCs with astrogenic potential since E11.5. Despite this, a full suspension of E12.5 vmNPCs give rise to DA neurons in a similar proportion as those of E10.5 when they were transplanted into adult brain, but astrocytes were only detected with the former population. These data suggest that the subventricular postmitotic progenitors present in E12.5 ventral mesencephalon are unable to implant in embryonic explants and are the source of DA neurons in the transplanted adult brain. Based on our findings we propose that during DA differentiation committed vmNPCs emerge at E10.5 and they exhaust their neurogenic capacity with the rise of NPCs with astrogenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Guerrero-Flores
- Department of Developmental Genetics and Molecular Physiology, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Aimée Bastidas-Ponce
- Department of Developmental Genetics and Molecular Physiology, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Omar Collazo-Navarrete
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Magdalena Guerra-Crespo
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Luis Covarrubias
- Department of Developmental Genetics and Molecular Physiology, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico.
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The doublesex-related Dmrta2 safeguards neural progenitor maintenance involving transcriptional regulation of Hes1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E5599-E5607. [PMID: 28655839 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1705186114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms that determine whether a neural progenitor cell (NPC) reenters the cell cycle or exits and differentiates are pivotal for generating cells in the correct numbers and diverse types, and thus dictate proper brain development. Combining gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches in an embryonic stem cell-derived cortical differentiation model, we report that doublesex- and mab-3-related transcription factor a2 (Dmrta2, also known as Dmrt5) plays an important role in maintaining NPCs in the cell cycle. Temporally controlled expression of transgenic Dmrta2 in NPCs suppresses differentiation without affecting their neurogenic competence. In contrast, Dmrta2 knockout accelerates the cell cycle exit and differentiation into postmitotic neurons of NPCs derived from embryonic stem cells and in Emx1-cre conditional mutant mice. Dmrta2 function is linked to the regulation of Hes1 and other proneural genes, as demonstrated by genome-wide RNA-seq and direct binding of Dmrta2 to the Hes1 genomic locus. Moreover, transient Hes1 expression rescues precocious neurogenesis in Dmrta2 knockout NPCs. Our study thus establishes a link between Dmrta2 modulation of Hes1 expression and the maintenance of NPCs during cortical development.
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12
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Lu C, Wu J, Xiong S, Zhang X, Zhang J, Mei J. MicroRNA-203a regulates fast muscle differentiation by targeting dmrt2a in zebrafish embryos. Gene 2017; 625:49-54. [PMID: 28483596 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Dmrt2b (doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 2b) has been revealed to be involved in zebrafish slow muscle development. However, the function of dmrt2a, a paralogue gene of dmrt2b, remains unclear during zebrafish muscle development. Here, we demonstrated that knockdown of dmrt2a resulted in severe developmental defects, and caused downregulation of fast muscle marker myhz-2 and upregulation of slow muscle marker myhz-5, respectively. It is known that microRNAs (miRNAs) control many biological events including muscle development. Dmrt2a was predicted to be a target gene of miR-203, which was further verified by luciferase reporter assay, since miR-203a was found to directly reduce the expression of dmrt2a by binding to the seed sequence of its 3'UTR. After miR-203a injection into zebrafish embryos, the expression of dmrt2a was significantly inhibited. Similar to the effect of dmrt2a knockdown, miR-203a overexpression led to downregulation of myhz-2 and upregulation of myhz-5. Our studies indicated that miR-203a directly regulated dmrt2a expression to control fast and slow muscle differentiation, while overexpression of miR-203a or knockdown of dmrt2a will impair fast muscle development and promote slow muscle development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Lu
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Junjie Wu
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shuting Xiong
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jie Mei
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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13
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Gennet N, Tamburini C, Nan X, Li M. FolR1: a novel cell surface marker for isolating midbrain dopamine neural progenitors and nascent dopamine neurons. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32488. [PMID: 27580818 PMCID: PMC5007511 DOI: 10.1038/srep32488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell type-specific surface markers offer a powerful tool for purifying defined cell types for restorative therapies and drug screenings. Midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mesDA) are the nerve cells preferentially lost in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients. Clinical trials of transplantation of fetal neural precursors suggest that cell therapy may offer a cure for this devastating neurological disease. Many lines of preclinical studies demonstrate that neural progenitors committed to dopaminergic fate survive and integrate better than postmitotic DA neurons. We show that the folate-receptor 1 (FolR1), a GPI-anchored cell surface molecule, specifically marks mesDA neural progenitors and immature mesDA neurons. FolR1 expression superimposes with Lmx1a, a bona-fide mesDA lineage marker, during the active phase of mesDA neurogenesis from E9.5 to E14.5 during mouse development, as well as in ESC-derived mesDA lineage. FolR1(+) neural progenitors can be isolated by FACS or magnetic sorting (MAC) which give rise to dopamine neurons expressing TH and Pitx3, whilst FolR1 negative cells generate non-dopaminergic neurons and glia cells. This study identifies FolR1 as a new cell surface marker selectively expressed in mesDA progenitors in vivo and in vitro and that can be used to enrich in vitro differentiated TH neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Gennet
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and school of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24, 4HQ, UK
| | - Claudia Tamburini
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and school of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24, 4HQ, UK
| | - Xinsheng Nan
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and school of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24, 4HQ, UK
| | - Meng Li
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and school of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24, 4HQ, UK
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14
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Arber C, Precious SV, Cambray S, Risner-Janiczek JR, Kelly C, Noakes Z, Fjodorova M, Heuer A, Ungless MA, Rodríguez TA, Rosser AE, Dunnett SB, Li M. Activin A directs striatal projection neuron differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. Development 2016; 142:1375-86. [PMID: 25804741 DOI: 10.1242/dev.117093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The efficient generation of striatal neurons from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is fundamental for realising their promise in disease modelling, pharmaceutical drug screening and cell therapy for Huntington's disease. GABAergic medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) are the principal projection neurons of the striatum and specifically degenerate in the early phase of Huntington's disease. Here we report that activin A induces lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) characteristics in nascent neural progenitors derived from hESCs and hiPSCs in a sonic hedgehog-independent manner. Correct specification of striatal phenotype was further demonstrated by the induction of the striatal transcription factors CTIP2, GSX2 and FOXP2. Crucially, these human LGE progenitors readily differentiate into postmitotic neurons expressing the striatal projection neuron signature marker DARPP32, both in culture and following transplantation in the adult striatum in a rat model of Huntington's disease. Activin-induced neurons also exhibit appropriate striatal-like electrophysiology in vitro. Together, our findings demonstrate a novel route for efficient differentiation of GABAergic striatal MSNs from human pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Arber
- Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Sophie V Precious
- Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Serafí Cambray
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Jessica R Risner-Janiczek
- Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Claire Kelly
- Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Zoe Noakes
- Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Marija Fjodorova
- Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Andreas Heuer
- Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Mark A Ungless
- Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Tristan A Rodríguez
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Anne E Rosser
- Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Stephen B Dunnett
- Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Meng Li
- Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
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15
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Metzakopian E, Bouhali K, Alvarez-Saavedra M, Whitsett JA, Picketts DJ, Ang SL. Genome-wide characterisation of Foxa1 binding sites reveals several mechanisms for regulating neuronal differentiation in midbrain dopamine cells. Development 2016; 142:1315-24. [PMID: 25804738 PMCID: PMC4378246 DOI: 10.1242/dev.115808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Midbrain dopamine neuronal progenitors develop into heterogeneous subgroups of neurons, such as substantia nigra pars compacta, ventral tegmental area and retrorubal field, that regulate motor control, motivated and addictive behaviours. The development of midbrain dopamine neurons has been extensively studied, and these studies indicate that complex cross-regulatory interactions between extrinsic and intrinsic molecules regulate a precise temporal and spatial programme of neurogenesis in midbrain dopamine progenitors. To elucidate direct molecular interactions between multiple regulatory factors during neuronal differentiation in mice, we characterised genome-wide binding sites of the forkhead/winged helix transcription factor Foxa1, which functions redundantly with Foxa2 to regulate the differentiation of mDA neurons. Interestingly, our studies identified a rostral brain floor plate Neurog2 enhancer that requires direct input from Otx2, Foxa1, Foxa2 and an E-box transcription factor for its transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the chromatin remodelling factor Smarca1 was shown to function downstream of Foxa1 and Foxa2 to regulate differentiation from immature to mature midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Our genome-wide Foxa1-bound cis-regulatory sequences from ChIP-Seq and Foxa1/2 candidate target genes from RNA-Seq analyses of embryonic midbrain dopamine cells also provide an excellent resource for probing mechanistic insights into gene regulatory networks involved in the differentiation of midbrain dopamine neurons. Summary: ChIP-Seq and RNA-Seq experiments identify novel molecular mechanisms underlying midbrain dopaminergic neuron production downstream of Foxa1 and Foxa2 during mouse neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kamal Bouhali
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, NIMR, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Matías Alvarez-Saavedra
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8L6 Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5
| | - Jeffrey A Whitsett
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - David J Picketts
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8L6 Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5
| | - Siew-Lan Ang
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, NIMR, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, UK
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16
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Bodea GO, Blaess S. Establishing diversity in the dopaminergic system. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:3773-85. [PMID: 26431946 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2015] [Revised: 09/13/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Midbrain dopaminergic neurons (MbDNs) modulate cognitive processes, regulate voluntary movement, and encode reward prediction errors and aversive stimuli. While the degeneration of MbDNs underlies the motor defects in Parkinson's disease, imbalances in dopamine levels are associated with neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and substance abuse. In recent years, progress has been made in understanding how MbDNs, which constitute a relatively small neuronal population in the brain, can contribute to such diverse functions and dysfunctions. In particular, important insights have been gained regarding the distinct molecular, neurochemical and network properties of MbDNs. How this diversity of MbDNs is established during brain development is only starting to be unraveled. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the diversity in MbDN progenitors and differentiated MbDNs in the developing rodent brain. We discuss the signaling pathways, transcription factors and transmembrane receptors that contribute to setting up these diverse MbDN subpopulations. A better insight into the processes that establish diversity in MbDNs will ultimately improve the understanding of the architecture and function of the dopaminergic system in the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela O Bodea
- Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sandra Blaess
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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17
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Transcriptome analysis reveals transmembrane targets on transplantable midbrain dopamine progenitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E1946-55. [PMID: 25775569 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1501989112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An important challenge for the continued development of cell therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) is the establishment of procedures that better standardize cell preparations for use in transplantation. Although cell sorting has been an anticipated strategy, its application has been limited by lack of knowledge regarding transmembrane proteins that can be used to target and isolate progenitors for midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons. We used a "FACS-array" approach to identify 18 genes for transmembrane proteins with high expression in mDA progenitors and describe the utility of four of these targets (Alcam, Chl1, Gfra1, and Igsf8) for isolating mDA progenitors from rat primary ventral mesencephalon through flow cytometry. Alcam and Chl1 facilitated a significant enrichment of mDA neurons following transplantation, while targeting of Gfra1 allowed for robust separation of dopamine and serotonin neurons. Importantly, we also show that mDA progenitors isolated on the basis of transmembrane proteins are capable of extensive, functional innervation of the host striatum and correction of motor impairment in a unilateral model of PD. These results are highly relevant for current efforts to establish safe and effective stem cell-based procedures for PD, where clinical translation will almost certainly require safety and standardization measures in order to deliver well-characterized cell preparations.
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18
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Blaess S, Ang SL. Genetic control of midbrain dopaminergic neuron development. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2015; 4:113-34. [PMID: 25565353 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Midbrain dopaminergic neurons are involved in regulating motor control, reward behavior, and cognition. Degeneration or dysfunction of midbrain dopaminergic neurons is implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, substance use disorders, depression, and schizophrenia. Understanding the developmental processes that generate midbrain dopaminergic neurons will facilitate the generation of dopaminergic neurons from stem cells for cell replacement therapies to substitute degenerating cells in Parkinson's disease patients and will forward our understanding on how functional diversity of dopaminergic neurons in the adult brain is established. Midbrain dopaminergic neurons develop in a multistep process. Following the induction of the ventral midbrain, a distinct dopaminergic progenitor domain is specified and dopaminergic progenitors undergo proliferation, neurogenesis, and differentiation. Subsequently, midbrain dopaminergic neurons acquire a mature dopaminergic phenotype, migrate to their final position and establish projections and connections to their forebrain targets. This review will discuss insights gained on the signaling network of secreted molecules, cell surface receptors, and transcription factors that regulate specification and differentiation of midbrain dopaminergic progenitors and neurons, from the induction of the ventral midbrain to the migration of dopaminergic neurons. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website. CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Blaess
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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19
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Graf M, Teo Qi-Wen ER, Sarusie MV, Rajaei F, Winkler C. Dmrt5 controls corticotrope and gonadotrope differentiation in the zebrafish pituitary. Mol Endocrinol 2014; 29:187-99. [PMID: 25489906 DOI: 10.1210/me.2014-1176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Dmrt transcription factors control sex determination or sex-specific differentiation across all invertebrate and vertebrate species, in which they have been studied so far. In addition to important functions in the reproductive system, also nongonadal roles have been assigned to several dmrt family members. One example is dmrt5, which was shown to guide neurogenesis in the forebrain of some vertebrates including fish. Here we show that in zebrafish, dmrt5 is also expressed adjacent to the pituitary anlage and later in the anterior pars distalis in which it organizes differentiation of endocrine cells. We find that pituitary induction, cell survival, proliferation, and early lineage specification in the pituitary is independent of dmrt5. Instead, dmrt5 is required for terminal differentiation of corticotropes and gonadotropes. Gene knockdown and mutant analysis revealed that dmrt5 promotes corticotrope differentiation via tbx19 expression, whereas it prevents gonadotrope differentiation in the anterior pars distalis. In dmrt5 morphants and mutants, reduced corticotrope numbers may result in irregular positioning and reduced maintenance of lactotropes. In conclusion, our study establishes a novel function for dmrt5 for cell differentiation in the anterior pituitary. Intriguingly, its effect on gonadotrope numbers defines a first nongonadal role for a dmrt family member that appears crucial for the activity of the reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Graf
- Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Bioimaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543
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20
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Liu J, Wang X, Li J, Wang H, Wei G, Yan J. Reconstruction of the gene regulatory network involved in the sonic hedgehog pathway with a potential role in early development of the mouse brain. PLoS Comput Biol 2014; 10:e1003884. [PMID: 25299227 PMCID: PMC4191885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is crucial for pattern formation in early central nervous system development. By systematically analyzing high-throughput in situ hybridization data of E11.5 mouse brain, we found that Shh and its receptor Ptch1 define two adjacent mutually exclusive gene expression domains: Shh+Ptch1− and Shh−Ptch1+. These two domains are associated respectively with Foxa2 and Gata3, two transcription factors that play key roles in specifying them. Gata3 ChIP-seq experiments and RNA-seq assays on Gata3-knockdown cells revealed that Gata3 up-regulates the genes that are enriched in the Shh−Ptch1+ domain. Important Gata3 targets include Slit2 and Slit3, which are involved in the process of axon guidance, as well as Slc18a1, Th and Qdpr, which are associated with neurotransmitter synthesis and release. By contrast, Foxa2 both up-regulates the genes expressed in the Shh+Ptch1− domain and down-regulates the genes characteristic of the Shh−Ptch1+ domain. From these and other data, we were able to reconstruct a gene regulatory network governing both domains. Our work provides the first genome-wide characterization of the gene regulatory network involved in the Shh pathway that underlies pattern formation in the early mouse brain. Recent large-scale projects of high-throughput in situ hybridization (ISH) have generated a wealth of spatiotemporal information on gene expression patterns in the early mouse brain. We have developed a computational approach that combines publicly available high-throughput ISH data with our own experimental data to investigate gene regulation, involving signal molecules and transcription factors (TFs), during early brain development. The analysis indicates that two key TFs, Foxa2 and Gata3, play antagonizing roles in the formation of two mutually exclusive domains established by the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway in the developing mouse brain. Further ChIP-seq and RNA-seq experiments support this hypothesis and have identified novel target genes of Gata3, including the axon guidance regulators Slit2 and Slit3 as well as three neurotransmitter-associated genes, Slc18a1, Th and Qdpr. The findings have allowed us to reconstruct the gene regulatory network brought into play by the Sonic hedgehog pathway that mediates early mouse brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhua Liu
- CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuelong Wang
- CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Li
- CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Haifang Wang
- CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Wei
- CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Yan
- CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail:
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21
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Wang JH, Miao L, Li MY, Guo XF, Pan N, Chen YY, Zhao L. Cloning the Dmrt1 and DmrtA2 genes of ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) and mapping their expression in adult, larval, and embryonic stages. DONG WU XUE YAN JIU = ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2014; 35:99-107. [PMID: 24668652 DOI: 10.11813/j.issn.0254-5853.2014.2.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The Dmrt family of genes are involved in sex differentiation in different species of invertebrates, and some vertebrates including human. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNA of ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) Dmrt1 and DmrtA2. Sequence and phylogenetic tree analyses showed ayu Dmrt1 showed highest similarity to that of Oncorhynchus mykiss while ayu DmrtA2 is most similar to that of Oryzias latipes. Fluorescence-based quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed the Dmrt1 was predominantly expressed in the testis. At the larval stages, Dmrt1 mRNA expression level was highest during 52-64 days post hatching (dph) and at the gastrula stage during embryonic development. DmrtA2, meanwhile, was specifically expressed in the ovary and was highly expressed in the female brain tissue, but not male brain tissue. During the larval stages, DmrtA2 expression remained high before day 34, and then fluctuated while generally decreasing. During embryonic development, DmrtA2 expression increased gradually and peaked at the hatching stage. Our data suggest that ayu Dmrt1 might participate in the differentiation and maintenance of testis while DmrtA2 may play a role in ovary-differentiation and mature-ovary maintenance. DmrtA2 might also participate in brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Na Pan
- Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
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22
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Bellefroid EJ, Leclère L, Saulnier A, Keruzore M, Sirakov M, Vervoort M, De Clercq S. Expanding roles for the evolutionarily conserved Dmrt sex transcriptional regulators during embryogenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2013; 70:3829-45. [PMID: 23463235 PMCID: PMC11113232 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1288-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Revised: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Dmrt genes encode a large family of transcription factors characterized by the presence of a DM domain, an unusual zinc finger DNA binding domain. While Dmrt genes are well known for their important role in sexual development in arthropodes, nematodes and vertebrates, several new findings indicate emerging functions of this gene family in other developmental processes. Here, we provide an overview of the evolution, structure and mechanisms of action of Dmrt genes. We summarize recent findings on their function in sexual regulation and discuss more extensively the role played by these proteins in somitogenesis and neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Bellefroid
- Laboratoire de Génétique du Développement, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires (IBMM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, rue des Profs. Jeener et Brachet 12, 6041, Gosselies, Belgium,
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23
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Tan L, Xiong L, Xu W, Wu F, Huang N, Xu Y, Kong L, Zheng L, Schwartz L, Shi Y, Shi YG. Genome-wide comparison of DNA hydroxymethylation in mouse embryonic stem cells and neural progenitor cells by a new comparative hMeDIP-seq method. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:e84. [PMID: 23408859 PMCID: PMC3627583 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The genome-wide distribution patterns of the ‘6th base’ 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in many tissues and cells have recently been revealed by hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation (hMeDIP) followed by high throughput sequencing or tiling arrays. However, it has been challenging to directly compare different data sets and samples using data generated by this method. Here, we report a new comparative hMeDIP-seq method, which involves barcoding different input DNA samples at the start and then performing hMeDIP-seq for multiple samples in one hMeDIP reaction. This approach extends the barcode technology from simply multiplexing the DNA deep sequencing outcome and provides significant advantages for quantitative control of all experimental steps, from unbiased hMeDIP to deep sequencing data analysis. Using this improved method, we profiled and compared the DNA hydroxymethylomes of mouse ES cells (ESCs) and mouse ESC-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs). We identified differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DHMRs) between ESCs and NPCs and uncovered an intricate relationship between the alteration of DNA hydroxymethylation and changes in gene expression during neural lineage commitment of ESCs. Presumably, the DHMRs between ESCs and NPCs uncovered by this approach may provide new insight into the function of 5hmC in gene regulation and neural differentiation. Thus, this newly developed comparative hMeDIP-seq method provides a cost-effective and user-friendly strategy for direct genome-wide comparison of DNA hydroxymethylation across multiple samples, lending significant biological, physiological and clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Tan
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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24
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Xu S, Xia W, Zohar Y, Gui JF. Zebrafish dmrta2 regulates the expression of cdkn2c in spermatogenesis in the adult testis. Biol Reprod 2013; 88:14. [PMID: 23175770 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.105130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The exact function of the doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor-like family a2 gene (dmrta2) has remained largely unknown possibly because of its functional redundancy with dmrta1 in most vertebrates. In this study, dmrta1 was demonstrated to likely be absent in the zebrafish genome, which facilitated our functional analysis of dmrta2 in this model organism. To analyze its gene function in embryos and adults, we generated a mutant form of Dmrta2 (R106Q, Dmrta2(RQ)) with its in vitro DNA-binding capacity abolished and a transgenic line for the inducible expression of this mutant Dmrta2(RQ) upon doxycycline (Dox) treatment. Preferential dmrta2 expression was detected in the developing brain during embryogenesis and in the adult testis. During embryogenesis, Dmrta2(RQ) expression caused severe embryonic development defects and dramatic expression changes of two telencephalic marker genes, fibroblast growth factor 8a (fgf8a), and empty spiracles homolog 1 (emx1). In adults, the inducible Dmrta2(RQ) expression occurred specifically in the adult testis and recapitulated the endogenous dmrta2 expression in this organ. Intriguingly, adult males expressing dmrta2(RQ) showed normal spermatogenesis and were fertile, but the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2C (cdkn2c), which is evolutionarily clustered with dmrta2, was significantly suppressed during spermatogenesis. Further protein-binding and promoter mutation analysis indicated that a putative Dmrta2-binding site on the cdkn2c promoter was required for sustaining the normal expression of cdkn2c during zebrafish spermatogenesis, suggesting that Dmrta2 might regulate the expression of cdkn2c.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Xu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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26
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Parlier D, Moers V, Van Campenhout C, Preillon J, Leclère L, Saulnier A, Sirakov M, Busengdal H, Kricha S, Marine JC, Rentzsch F, Bellefroid EJ. The Xenopus doublesex-related gene Dmrt5 is required for olfactory placode neurogenesis. Dev Biol 2012; 373:39-52. [PMID: 23064029 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Revised: 09/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Dmrt (doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor) genes encode a large family of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors whose function in sex specific differentiation has been well studied in all animal lineages. In vertebrates, their function is not restricted to the developing gonads. For example, Xenopus Dmrt4 is essential for neurogenesis in the olfactory system. Here we have isolated and characterized Xenopus Dmrt5 and found that it is coexpressed with Dmrt4 in the developing olfactory placodes. As Dmrt4, Dmrt5 is positively regulated in the ectoderm by neural inducers and negatively by proneural factors. Both Dmrt5 and Dmrt4 genes are also activated by the combined action of the transcription factor Otx2, broadly transcribed in the head ectoderm and of Notch signaling, activated in the anterior neural ridge. As for Dmrt4, knockdown of Dmrt5 impairs neurogenesis in the embryonic olfactory system and in neuralized animal caps. Conversely, its overexpression promotes neuronal differentiation in animal caps, a property that requires the conserved C-terminal DMA and DMB domains. We also found that the sea anenome Dmrt4/5 related gene NvDmrtb also induces neurogenesis in Xenopus animal caps and that conversely, its knockdown in Nematostella reduces elav-1 positive neurons. Together, our data identify Dmrt5 as a novel important regulator of neurogenesis whose function overlaps with that of Dmrt4 during Xenopus olfactory system development. They also suggest that Dmrt may have had a role in neurogenesis in the last common ancestor of cnidarians and bilaterians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Parlier
- Laboratoire de Génétique du Développement, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires (IBMM), rue des Profs. Jeener et Brachet 12, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
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Konno D, Iwashita M, Satoh Y, Momiyama A, Abe T, Kiyonari H, Matsuzaki F. The mammalian DM domain transcription factor Dmrta2 is required for early embryonic development of the cerebral cortex. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46577. [PMID: 23056351 PMCID: PMC3462758 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Accepted: 08/31/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of the mammalian telencephalon is precisely organized by a combination of extracellular signaling events derived from signaling centers and transcription factor networks. Using gene expression profiling of the developing mouse dorsal telencephalon, we found that the DM domain transcription factor Dmrta2 (doublesex and mab-3-related transcription factor a2) is involved in the development of the dorsal telencephalon. Consistent with its medial-high/lateral-low expression pattern in the dorsal telencephalon, Dmrta2 null mutants demonstrated a dramatic reduction in medial cortical structures such as the cortical hem and the choroid plexus, and a complete loss of the hippocampus. In this mutant, the dorsal telencephalon also showed a remarkable size reduction, in addition to abnormal cell cycle kinetics and defective patterning. In contrast, a conditional Dmrta2 deletion in the telencephalon, which was accomplished after entry into the neurogenic phase, resulted in only a slight reduction in telencephalon size and normal patterning. We also found that Dmrta2 expression was decreased by a dominant-negative Tcf and was increased by a stabilized β-catenin form. These data suggest that Dmrta2 plays pivotal roles in the early development of the telencephalon via the formation of the cortical hem, a source of Wnts, and also in the maintenance of neural progenitors as a downstream of the Wnt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daijiro Konno
- Laboratory for Cell Asymmetry, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- * E-mail: (DK); (FM)
| | - Misato Iwashita
- Laboratory for Cell Asymmetry, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Satoh
- Laboratory for Cell Asymmetry, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Asuka Momiyama
- Laboratory for Cell Asymmetry, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Takaya Abe
- Laboratory for Animal Resources and Genetic Engineering, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kiyonari
- Laboratory for Animal Resources and Genetic Engineering, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Fumio Matsuzaki
- Laboratory for Cell Asymmetry, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- * E-mail: (DK); (FM)
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Johnsen H, Andersen Ø. Sex dimorphic expression of five dmrt genes identified in the Atlantic cod genome. The fish-specific dmrt2b diverged from dmrt2a before the fish whole-genome duplication. Gene 2012; 505:221-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2011] [Revised: 06/07/2012] [Accepted: 06/14/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Saulnier A, Keruzore M, De Clercq S, Bar I, Moers V, Magnani D, Walcher T, Filippis C, Kricha S, Parlier D, Viviani L, Matson CK, Nakagawa Y, Theil T, Götz M, Mallamaci A, Marine JC, Zarkower D, Bellefroid EJ. The doublesex homolog Dmrt5 is required for the development of the caudomedial cerebral cortex in mammals. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 23:2552-67. [PMID: 22923088 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhs234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Regional patterning of the cerebral cortex is initiated by morphogens secreted by patterning centers that establish graded expression of transcription factors within cortical progenitors. Here, we show that Dmrt5 is expressed in cortical progenitors in a high-caudomedial to low-rostrolateral gradient. In its absence, the cortex is strongly reduced and exhibits severe abnormalities, including agenesis of the hippocampus and choroid plexus and defects in commissural and thalamocortical tracts. Loss of Dmrt5 results in decreased Wnt and Bmp in one of the major telencephalic patterning centers, the dorsomedial telencephalon, and in a reduction of Cajal-Retzius cells. Expression of the dorsal midline signaling center-dependent transcription factors is downregulated, including Emx2, which promotes caudomedial fates, while the rostral determinant Pax6, which is inhibited by midline signals, is upregulated. Consistently, Dmrt5(-/-) brains exhibit patterning defects with a dramatic reduction of the caudomedial cortex. Dmrt5 is increased upon the activation of Wnt signaling and downregulated in Gli3(xt/xt) mutants. We conclude that Dmrt5 is a novel Wnt-dependent transcription factor required for early cortical development and that it may regulate initial cortical patterning by promoting dorsal midline signaling center formation and thereby helping to establish the graded expression of the other transcription regulators of cortical identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Saulnier
- Laboratoire de Génétique du Développement, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires (IBMM), Gosselies, Belgium
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Metzakopian E, Lin W, Salmon-Divon M, Dvinge H, Andersson E, Ericson J, Perlmann T, Whitsett JA, Bertone P, Ang SL. Genome-wide characterization of Foxa2 targets reveals upregulation of floor plate genes and repression of ventrolateral genes in midbrain dopaminergic progenitors. Development 2012; 139:2625-34. [PMID: 22696295 DOI: 10.1242/dev.081034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factors Foxa1 and Foxa2 promote the specification of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons and the floor plate. Whether their role is direct has remained unclear as they also regulate the expression of Shh, which has similar roles. We characterized the Foxa2 cis-regulatory network by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing of mDA progenitors. This identified 9160 high-quality Foxa2 binding sites associated with 5409 genes, providing mechanistic insights into Foxa2-mediated positive and negative regulatory events. Foxa2 regulates directly and positively key determinants of mDA neurons, including Lmx1a, Lmx1b, Msx1 and Ferd3l, while negatively inhibiting transcription factors expressed in ventrolateral midbrain such as Helt, Tle4, Otx1, Sox1 and Tal2. Furthermore, Foxa2 negatively regulates extrinsic and intrinsic components of the Shh signaling pathway, possibly by binding to the same enhancer regions of co-regulated genes as Gli1. Foxa2 also regulates the expression of floor plate factors that control axon trajectories around the midline of the embryo, thereby contributing to the axon guidance function of the floor plate. Finally, this study identified multiple Foxa2-regulated enhancers that are active in the floor plate of the midbrain or along the length of the embryo in mouse and chick. This work represents the first comprehensive characterization of Foxa2 targets in mDA progenitors and provides a framework for elaborating gene regulatory networks in a functionally important progenitor population.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We identify the major recent advances in sourcing, preparation and delivery of primary and stem cell transplants into the brain, the preclinical studies in animal models and preliminary results on feasibility, safety and efficacy in an increasing range of human neurodegenerative diseases. RECENT FINDINGS After a decade of debate concerning the reliability and safety of foetal cell transplantation in Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, the conditions for eliminating side-effects and achieving more consistent efficacy are being implemented in renewed trials. In parallel, rapid advances are being made in identifying alternative sources of stem cells for transplantation, establishing the protocols for their reliable differentiation into specific neuronal phenotypes and translating these novel sources to cell therapy for patients in new clinical trials. Objective assessment of efficacy in patients does not always reveal outcomes that are as impressive as claimed - either in the preclinical animal models or by many commercial stem cell clinics - and even when stem cell therapies do appear to have been validated, the mechanisms are not always clear. SUMMARY In spite of rapid progress, the conditions for reliable, well tolerated and effective cell therapies in brain disease are not yet fully established.
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Yoshizawa A, Nakahara Y, Izawa T, Ishitani T, Tsutsumi M, Kuroiwa A, Itoh M, Kikuchi Y. Zebrafish Dmrta2 regulates neurogenesis in the telencephalon. Genes Cells 2012; 16:1097-109. [PMID: 22023386 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2011.01555.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Although recent findings showed that some Drosophila doublesex and Caenorhabditis elegans mab-3 related genes are expressed in neural tissues during development, their functions have not been fully elucidated. Here, we isolated a zebrafish mutant, ha2, that shows defects in telencephalic neurogenesis and found that ha2 encodes Doublesex and MAB-3 related transcription factor like family A2 (Dmrta2). dmrta2 expression is restricted to the telencephalon, diencephalon and olfactory placode during somitogenesis. We found that the expression of the proneural gene, neurogenin1, in the posterior and dorsal region of telencephalon (posterior-dorsal telencephalon) is markedly reduced in this mutant at the 14-somite stage without any defects in cell proliferation or cell death. In contrast, the telencephalic expression of her6, a Hes-related gene that is known to encode a negative regulator of neurogenin1, expands dramatically in the ha2 mutant. Based on over-expression experiments and epistatic analyses, we propose that zebrafish Dmrta2 controls neurogenin1 expression by repressing her6 in the posterior-dorsal telencephalon. Furthermore, the expression domains of the telencephalic marker genes, foxg1 and emx3, and the neuronal differentiation gene, neurod, are downregulated in the ha2 posterior-dorsal telencephalon during somitogenesis. These results suggest that Dmrta2 plays important roles in the specification of the posterior-dorsal telencephalic cell fate during somitogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akio Yoshizawa
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama 1-3-1, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526 Japan
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Siehr MS, Koo PK, Sherlekar AL, Bian X, Bunkers MR, Miller RM, Portman DS, Lints R. Multiple doublesex-related genes specify critical cell fates in a C. elegans male neural circuit. PLoS One 2011; 6:e26811. [PMID: 22069471 PMCID: PMC3206049 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2011] [Accepted: 10/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In most animal species, males and females exhibit differences in behavior and morphology that relate to their respective roles in reproduction. DM (Doublesex/MAB-3) domain transcription factors are phylogenetically conserved regulators of sexual development. They are thought to establish sexual traits by sex-specifically modifying the activity of general developmental programs. However, there are few examples where the details of these interactions are known, particularly in the nervous system. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we show that two C. elegans DM domain genes, dmd-3 and mab-23, regulate sensory and muscle cell development in a male neural circuit required for mating. Using genetic approaches, we show that in the circuit sensory neurons, dmd-3 and mab-23 establish the correct pattern of dopaminergic (DA) and cholinergic (ACh) fate. We find that the ETS-domain transcription factor gene ast-1, a non-sex-specific, phylogenetically conserved activator of dopamine biosynthesis gene transcription, is broadly expressed in the circuit sensory neuron population. However, dmd-3 and mab-23 repress its activity in most cells, promoting ACh fate instead. A subset of neurons, preferentially exposed to a TGF-beta ligand, escape this repression because signal transduction pathway activity in these cells blocks dmd-3/mab-23 function, allowing DA fate to be established. Through optogenetic and pharmacological approaches, we show that the sensory and muscle cell characteristics controlled by dmd-3 and mab-23 are crucial for circuit function. Conclusions/Significance In the C. elegans male, DM domain genes dmd-3 and mab-23 regulate expression of cell sub-type characteristics that are critical for mating success. In particular, these factors limit the number of DA neurons in the male nervous system by sex-specifically regulating a phylogenetically conserved dopamine biosynthesis gene transcription factor. Homologous interactions between vertebrate counterparts could regulate sex differences in neuron sub-type populations in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan S. Siehr
- Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Pamela K. Koo
- Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Amrita L. Sherlekar
- Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Xuelin Bian
- Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Meredith R. Bunkers
- Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Renee M. Miller
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, Center for Neural Development and Disease, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Douglas S. Portman
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, Center for Neural Development and Disease, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Robyn Lints
- Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Jaeger I, Arber C, Risner-Janiczek JR, Kuechler J, Pritzsche D, Chen IC, Naveenan T, Ungless MA, Li M. Temporally controlled modulation of FGF/ERK signaling directs midbrain dopaminergic neural progenitor fate in mouse and human pluripotent stem cells. Development 2011; 138:4363-74. [PMID: 21880784 DOI: 10.1242/dev.066746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Effective induction of midbrain-specific dopamine (mDA) neurons from stem cells is fundamental for realizing their potential in biomedical applications relevant to Parkinson's disease. During early development, the Otx2-positive neural tissues are patterned anterior-posteriorly to form the forebrain and midbrain under the influence of extracellular signaling such as FGF and Wnt. In the mesencephalon, sonic hedgehog (Shh) specifies a ventral progenitor fate in the floor plate region that later gives rise to mDA neurons. In this study, we systematically investigated the temporal actions of FGF signaling in mDA neuron fate specification of mouse and human pluripotent stem cells and mouse induced pluripotent stem cells. We show that a brief blockade of FGF signaling on exit of the lineage-primed epiblast pluripotent state initiates an early induction of Lmx1a and Foxa2 in nascent neural progenitors. In addition to inducing ventral midbrain characteristics, the FGF signaling blockade during neural induction also directs a midbrain fate in the anterior-posterior axis by suppressing caudalization as well as forebrain induction, leading to the maintenance of midbrain Otx2. Following a period of endogenous FGF signaling, subsequent enhancement of FGF signaling by Fgf8, in combination with Shh, promotes mDA neurogenesis and restricts alternative fates. Thus, a stepwise control of FGF signaling during distinct stages of stem cell neural fate conversion is crucial for reliable and highly efficient production of functional, authentic midbrain-specific dopaminergic neurons. Importantly, we provide evidence that this novel, small-molecule-based strategy applies to both mouse and human pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Jaeger
- Stem Cell Neurogenesis, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
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