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Ma SC, Xie YL, Wang Q, Fu SG, Wu HZ. Application of eye organoids in the study of eye diseases. Exp Eye Res 2024; 247:110068. [PMID: 39233304 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.110068] [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: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
The eyes are one of the most important sensory organs in the human body. Currently, diseases such as limbal stem cell deficiency, cataract, retinitis pigmentosa and dry eye seriously threaten the quality of people's lives, and the treatment of advanced blinding eye disease and dry eye is ineffective and costly. Thus, new treatment modalities are urgently needed to improve patients' symptoms and suffering. In recent years, stem cell-derived three-dimensional structural organoids have been shown to mimic specific structures and functions similar to those of organs in the human body. Currently, 3D culture systems are used to construct organoids for different ocular growth and development models and ocular disease models to explore their physiological and pathological mechanisms. Eye organoids can also be used as a platform for drug screening. This paper reviews the latest research progress in regard to eye organoids (the cornea, lens, retina, lacrimal gland, and conjunctiva).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Chao Ma
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yi-Lin Xie
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qian Wang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shan-Gui Fu
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hong-Ze Wu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiujiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiujiang, 332007, Jiangxi, China.
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Yao S, Prates K, Freydenzon A, Assante G, McRae AF, Morris MJ, Youngson NA. Liver-specific deletion of de novo DNA methyltransferases protects against glucose intolerance in high-fat diet-fed male mice. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23690. [PMID: 38795327 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301546rr] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
Alterations to gene transcription and DNA methylation are a feature of many liver diseases including fatty liver disease and liver cancer. However, it is unclear whether the DNA methylation changes are a cause or a consequence of the transcriptional changes. It is even possible that the methylation changes are not required for the transcriptional changes. If DNA methylation is just a minor player in, or a consequence of liver transcriptional change, then future studies in this area should focus on other systems such as histone tail modifications. To interrogate the importance of de novo DNA methylation, we generated mice that are homozygous mutants for both Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b in post-natal liver. These mice are viable and fertile with normal sized livers. Males, but not females, showed increased adipose depots, yet paradoxically, improved glucose tolerance on both control diet and high-fat diets (HFD). Comparison of the transcriptome and methylome with RNA sequencing and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing in adult hepatocytes revealed that widespread loss of methylation in CpG-rich regions in the mutant did not induce loss of homeostatic transcriptional regulation. Similarly, extensive transcriptional changes induced by HFD did not require de novo DNA methylation. The improved metabolic phenotype of the Dnmt3a/3b mutant mice may be mediated through the dysregulation of a subset of glucose and fat metabolism genes which increase both glucose uptake and lipid export by the liver. However, further work is needed to confirm this.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Yao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - K Prates
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Biotechnology, Genetics, and Cellular Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - A Freydenzon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - G Assante
- Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, Foundation for Liver Research, London, UK
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - A F McRae
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - M J Morris
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - N A Youngson
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, Foundation for Liver Research, London, UK
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
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Chang W, Zhao Y, Rayêe D, Xie Q, Suzuki M, Zheng D, Cvekl A. Dynamic changes in whole genome DNA methylation, chromatin and gene expression during mouse lens differentiation. Epigenetics Chromatin 2023; 16:4. [PMID: 36698218 PMCID: PMC9875507 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-023-00478-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellular differentiation is marked by temporally and spatially coordinated gene expression regulated at multiple levels. DNA methylation represents a universal mechanism to control chromatin organization and its accessibility. Cytosine methylation of CpG dinucleotides regulates binding of methylation-sensitive DNA-binding transcription factors within regulatory regions of transcription, including promoters and distal enhancers. Ocular lens differentiation represents an advantageous model system to examine these processes as lens comprises only two cell types, the proliferating lens epithelium and postmitotic lens fiber cells all originating from the epithelium. RESULTS Using whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and microdissected lenses, we investigated dynamics of DNA methylation and chromatin changes during mouse lens fiber and epithelium differentiation between embryos (E14.5) and newborns (P0.5). Histone H3.3 variant chromatin landscapes were also generated for both P0.5 lens epithelium and fibers by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next generation sequencing (ChIP-seq). Tissue-specific features of DNA methylation patterns are demonstrated via comparative studies with embryonic stem (ES) cells and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) at Nanog, Pou5f1, Sox2, Pax6 and Six3 loci. Comparisons with ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data demonstrate that reduced methylation is associated with increased expression of fiber cell abundant genes, including crystallins, intermediate filament (Bfsp1 and Bfsp2) and gap junction proteins (Gja3 and Gja8), marked by high levels of histone H3.3 within their transcribed regions. Interestingly, Pax6-binding sites exhibited predominantly DNA hypomethylation in lens chromatin. In vitro binding of Pax6 proteins showed Pax6's ability to interact with sites containing one or two methylated CpG dinucleotides. CONCLUSIONS Our study has generated the first data on methylation changes between two different stages of mammalian lens development and linked these data with chromatin accessibility maps, presence of histone H3.3 and gene expression. Reduced DNA methylation correlates with expression of important genes involved in lens morphogenesis and lens fiber cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Chang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Danielle Rayêe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Qing Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | - Masako Suzuki
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
- Neurology and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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Cvekl A, Camerino MJ. Generation of Lens Progenitor Cells and Lentoid Bodies from Pluripotent Stem Cells: Novel Tools for Human Lens Development and Ocular Disease Etiology. Cells 2022; 11:3516. [PMID: 36359912 PMCID: PMC9658148 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into specialized tissues and organs represents a powerful approach to gain insight into those cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating human development. Although normal embryonic eye development is a complex process, generation of ocular organoids and specific ocular tissues from pluripotent stem cells has provided invaluable insights into the formation of lineage-committed progenitor cell populations, signal transduction pathways, and self-organization principles. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent advances in generation of adenohypophyseal, olfactory, and lens placodes, lens progenitor cells and three-dimensional (3D) primitive lenses, "lentoid bodies", and "micro-lenses". These cells are produced alone or "community-grown" with other ocular tissues. Lentoid bodies/micro-lenses generated from human patients carrying mutations in crystallin genes demonstrate proof-of-principle that these cells are suitable for mechanistic studies of cataractogenesis. Taken together, current and emerging advanced in vitro differentiation methods pave the road to understand molecular mechanisms of cataract formation caused by the entire spectrum of mutations in DNA-binding regulatory genes, such as PAX6, SOX2, FOXE3, MAF, PITX3, and HSF4, individual crystallins, and other genes such as BFSP1, BFSP2, EPHA2, GJA3, GJA8, LIM2, MIP, and TDRD7 represented in human cataract patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleš Cvekl
- Departments Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Michael John Camerino
- Departments Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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Disatham J, Brennan L, Jiao X, Ma Z, Hejtmancik JF, Kantorow M. Changes in DNA methylation hallmark alterations in chromatin accessibility and gene expression for eye lens differentiation. Epigenetics Chromatin 2022; 15:8. [PMID: 35246225 PMCID: PMC8897925 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00440-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Methylation at cytosines (mCG) is a well-known regulator of gene expression, but its requirements for cellular differentiation have yet to be fully elucidated. A well-studied cellular differentiation model system is the eye lens, consisting of a single anterior layer of epithelial cells that migrate laterally and differentiate into a core of fiber cells. Here, we explore the genome-wide relationships between mCG methylation, chromatin accessibility and gene expression during differentiation of eye lens epithelial cells into fiber cells. Results Whole genome bisulfite sequencing identified 7621 genomic loci exhibiting significant differences in mCG levels between lens epithelial and fiber cells. Changes in mCG levels were inversely correlated with the differentiation state-specific expression of 1285 genes preferentially expressed in either lens fiber or lens epithelial cells (Pearson correlation r = − 0.37, p < 1 × 10–42). mCG levels were inversely correlated with chromatin accessibility determined by assay for transposase-accessible sequencing (ATAC-seq) (Pearson correlation r = − 0.86, p < 1 × 10–300). Many of the genes exhibiting altered regions of DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility and gene expression levels in fiber cells relative to epithelial cells are associated with lens fiber cell structure, homeostasis and transparency. These include lens crystallins (CRYBA4, CRYBB1, CRYGN, CRYBB2), lens beaded filament proteins (BFSP1, BFSP2), transcription factors (HSF4, SOX2, HIF1A), and Notch signaling pathway members (NOTCH1, NOTCH2, HEY1, HES5). Analysis of regions exhibiting cell-type specific alterations in DNA methylation revealed an overrepresentation of consensus sequences of multiple transcription factors known to play key roles in lens cell differentiation including HIF1A, SOX2, and the MAF family of transcription factors. Conclusions Collectively, these results link DNA methylation with control of chromatin accessibility and gene expression changes required for eye lens differentiation. The results also point to a role for DNA methylation in the regulation of transcription factors previously identified to be important for lens cell differentiation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13072-022-00440-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Disatham
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Lisa Brennan
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Xiaodong Jiao
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zhiwei Ma
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - J Fielding Hejtmancik
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marc Kantorow
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
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Gu Y, Yao K, Fu Q. Lens regeneration: scientific discoveries and clinical possibilities. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:4911-4923. [PMID: 34143397 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06489-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the process of exploring new methods for cataract treatment, lens regeneration is an ideal strategy for effectively restoring accommodative vision and avoiding postoperative complications and has great clinical potential. Lens regeneration, which is not a simple repetition of lens development, depends on the complex regulatory network comprising the FGF, BMP/TGF-β, Notch, and Wnt signaling pathways. Current research mainly focuses on in situ and in vitro lens regeneration. On the one hand, the possibility of the autologous stem cell in situ regeneration of functional lenses has been confirmed; on the other hand, both embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells have been induced into lentoid bodies in vitro which are similar to the natural lens to a certain extent. This article will briefly summarize the regulatory mechanisms of lens development, describe the recent progress of lens regeneration, explore the key molecular signaling pathways, and, more importantly, discuss the prospects and challenges of their clinical applications to provide reference for clinical transformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhou Gu
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang Province, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ke Yao
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang Province, China. .,Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang Province, China.
| | - Qiuli Fu
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang Province, China. .,Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang Province, China.
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Yuan J, Chen F, Fan D, Jiang Q, Xue Z, Zhang J, Yu X, Li K, Qu J, Su J. EyeDiseases: an integrated resource for dedicating to genetic variants, gene expression and epigenetic factors of human eye diseases. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqab050. [PMID: 34085038 PMCID: PMC8168129 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Eye diseases are remarkably common and encompass a large and diverse range of morbidities that affect different components of the visual system and visual function. With advances in omics technology of eye disorders, genome-scale datasets have been rapidly accumulated in genetics and epigenetics field. However, the efficient collection and comprehensive analysis of different kinds of omics data are lacking. Herein, we developed EyeDiseases (https://eyediseases.bio-data.cn/), the first database for multi-omics data integration and interpretation of human eyes diseases. It contains 1344 disease-associated genes with genetic variation, 1774 transcription files of bulk cell expression and single-cell RNA-seq, 105 epigenomics data across 185 kinds of human eye diseases. Using EyeDiseases, we investigated SARS-CoV-2 potential tropism in eye infection and found that the SARS-CoV-2 entry factors, ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are highly correlated with cornea and keratoconus, suggest that ocular surface cells are susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, integrating analysis of Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) GWAS loci and co-expression data revealed 9 associated genes involved in HIF-1 signaling pathway and voltage-gate potassium channel complex. The EyeDiseases provides a valuable resource for accelerating the discovery and validation of candidate loci and genes contributed to the molecular diagnosis and therapeutic vulnerabilities with various eyes diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yuan
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou 325027, China
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Fukun Chen
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou 325027, China
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Dandan Fan
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou 325027, China
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Qi Jiang
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou 325027, China
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Zhengbo Xue
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou 325027, China
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Ji Zhang
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou 325027, China
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Xiangyi Yu
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou 325027, China
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Kai Li
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325011, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jia Qu
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Jianzhong Su
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou 325027, China
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
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8
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Li J, Deng Q, Fan W, Zeng Q, He H, Huang F. Melatonin-induced suppression of DNA methylation promotes odontogenic differentiation in human dental pulp cells. Bioengineered 2020; 11:829-840. [PMID: 32718272 PMCID: PMC8291816 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2020.1795425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiation potency of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) is essential for dentin regeneration. DNA methylation is one of the major epigenetic mechanisms and is suggested to involve in differentiation of hDPCs, the machinery of which includes DNA methyltransferase enzymes (DNMTs) and methyl-CpG-binding domain proteins (MBDs). Our previous study has found that melatonin (MT) promoted hDPC differentiation, but its mechanism remains elusive. We aimed to investigate the role of DNA methylation in the promotion of MT to differentiation of hDPCs in vitro. hDPCs were cultured in basal growth medium (CO) or odontogenic medium (OM) exposed to MT at different concentrations (0, 10-12, 10-10, 10-8, 10-6, 10-4 M). The cell growth was analyzed using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and mineralized tissue formation was measured using Alizarin red staining. The expression of the 10 genes (DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, MBD1-6, MeCP2) was determined using real-time qPCR and western blotting. The abundance of MeCP2 in the nuclei was evaluated using immunofluorescence analysis. Global methylation level was tested using ELISA. We found that mineralized tissue formation significantly increased in OM with MT at 10-4 M, while the levels of MeCP2 and global DNA methylation level declined. The expression of MBD1, MBD3, and MBD4 significantly increased in OM alone, and the expession of DNMT1 and MBD2 was decreased. These results indicate that MT promotes odontogenic differentiation of hDPCs in vitro by regulating the levels of DNMT1, MeCP2, and global DNA methylation, suggesting that MT-induced DNA methylation machinery may play an important role in tooth regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingzhou Li
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianyi Deng
- Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wenguo Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Oral Anatomy and Physiology, Hospital of Stomatology,Guanghua School of Stomatology,Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Zeng
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongwen He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Oral Anatomy and Physiology, Hospital of Stomatology,Guanghua School of Stomatology,Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fang Huang
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, China
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Sanchez-Fernandez C, Lorda-Diez CI, Hurlé JM, Montero JA. The methylation status of the embryonic limb skeletal progenitors determines their cell fate in chicken. Commun Biol 2020; 3:283. [PMID: 32504030 PMCID: PMC7275052 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1012-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Digits shape is sculpted by interdigital programmed cell death during limb development. Here, we show that DNA breakage in the periphery of 5-methylcytosine nuclei foci of interdigital precursors precedes cell death. These cells showed higher genome instability than the digit-forming precursors when exposed to X-ray irradiation or local bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) treatments. Regional but not global DNA methylation differences were found between both progenitors. DNA-Methyl-Transferases (DNMTs) including DNMT1, DNMT3B and, to a lesser extent, DNMT3A, exhibited well-defined expression patterns in regions destined to degenerate, as the interdigital tissue and the prospective joint regions. Dnmt3b functional experiments revealed an inverse regulation of cell death and cartilage differentiation, by transcriptional regulation of key genes including Sox9, Scleraxis, p21 and Bak1, via differential methylation of CpG islands across their promoters. Our findings point to a regulation of cell death versus chondrogenesis of limb skeletal precursors based on epigenetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sanchez-Fernandez
- Departamento de Anatomía y Biología Celular and IDIVAL, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, 39011, Spain
| | - Carlos Ignacio Lorda-Diez
- Departamento de Anatomía y Biología Celular and IDIVAL, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, 39011, Spain
| | - Juan M Hurlé
- Departamento de Anatomía y Biología Celular and IDIVAL, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, 39011, Spain.
| | - Juan Antonio Montero
- Departamento de Anatomía y Biología Celular and IDIVAL, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, 39011, Spain.
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Chen E, Bohm K, Rosenblatt M, Kang K. Epigenetic regulation of anterior segment diseases and potential therapeutics. Ocul Surf 2020; 18:383-395. [PMID: 32344150 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, technological advances in sequencing have accelerated our understanding of epigenetics in ocular development and ophthalmic diseases. We now know that epigenetic modifications are necessary for normal ocular development and biological processes such as corneal wound healing and ocular surface repair, while aberrant epigenetic regulation underlies the pathogenesis of a wide range of ocular diseases, including cataracts and various diseases of the ocular surface. As the epigenetics of the eye is a constantly changing field of medicine, this comprehensive review focuses on innovations and scientific discoveries related to epigenetic control of anterior segment diseases that were published in the English literature in the past five years. These recent studies attempt to elucidate therapeutic targets for the anterior segment pathological processes. Already, recent studies have shown therapeutic potential in targeting epigenetic mechanisms of ocular diseases, and new epigenetic therapies are on the verge of being introduced to clinical practice. New drug targets can potentially emerge as we make further discoveries within this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chen
- Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kelley Bohm
- Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mark Rosenblatt
- Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kai Kang
- Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
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11
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Cvekl A, Zhang X. Signaling and Gene Regulatory Networks in Mammalian Lens Development. Trends Genet 2017; 33:677-702. [PMID: 28867048 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ocular lens development represents an advantageous system in which to study regulatory mechanisms governing cell fate decisions, extracellular signaling, cell and tissue organization, and the underlying gene regulatory networks. Spatiotemporally regulated domains of BMP, FGF, and other signaling molecules in late gastrula-early neurula stage embryos generate the border region between the neural plate and non-neural ectoderm from which multiple cell types, including lens progenitor cells, emerge and undergo initial tissue formation. Extracellular signaling and DNA-binding transcription factors govern lens and optic cup morphogenesis. Pax6, c-Maf, Hsf4, Prox1, Sox1, and a few additional factors regulate the expression of the lens structural proteins, the crystallins. Extensive crosstalk between a diverse array of signaling pathways controls the complexity and order of lens morphogenetic processes and lens transparency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ales Cvekl
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Bassnett S, Šikić H. The lens growth process. Prog Retin Eye Res 2017; 60:181-200. [PMID: 28411123 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The factors that regulate the size of organs to ensure that they fit within an organism are not well understood. A simple organ, the ocular lens serves as a useful model with which to tackle this problem. In many systems, considerable variance in the organ growth process is tolerable. This is almost certainly not the case in the lens, which in addition to fitting comfortably within the eyeball, must also be of the correct size and shape to focus light sharply onto the retina. Furthermore, the lens does not perform its optical function in isolation. Its growth, which continues throughout life, must therefore be coordinated with that of other tissues in the optical train. Here, we review the lens growth process in detail, from pioneering clinical investigations in the late nineteenth century to insights gleaned more recently in the course of cell and molecular studies. During embryonic development, the lens forms from an invagination of surface ectoderm. Consequently, the progenitor cell population is located at its surface and differentiated cells are confined to the interior. The interactions that regulate cell fate thus occur within the obligate ellipsoidal geometry of the lens. In this context, mathematical models are particularly appropriate tools with which to examine the growth process. In addition to identifying key growth determinants, such models constitute a framework for integrating cell biological and optical data, helping clarify the relationship between gene expression in the lens and image quality at the retinal plane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Bassnett
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, USA.
| | - Hrvoje Šikić
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
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