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Yao Y, Liu P, Li Y, Wang W, Jia H, Bai Y, Yuan Z, Yang Z. Regulatory role of m 6A epitranscriptomic modifications in normal development and congenital malformations during embryogenesis. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116171. [PMID: 38394844 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116171] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation and its role in translation has led to the emergence of a new field of research. Despite accumulating evidence suggesting that m6A methylation is essential for the pathogenesis of cancers and aging diseases by influencing RNA stability, localization, transformation, and translation efficiency, its role in normal and abnormal embryonic development remains unclear. An increasing number of studies are addressing the development of the nervous and gonadal systems during embryonic development, but only few are assessing that of the immune, hematopoietic, urinary, and respiratory systems. Additionally, these studies are limited by the requirement for reliable embryonic animal models and the difficulty in collecting tissue samples of fetuses during development. Multiple studies on the function of m6A methylation have used suitable cell lines to mimic the complex biological processes of fetal development or the early postnatal phase; hence, the research is still in the primary stage. Herein, we discuss current advances in the extensive biological functions of m6A methylation in the development and maldevelopment of embryos/fetuses and conclude that m6A modification occurs extensively during fetal development. Aberrant expression of m6A regulators is probably correlated with single or multiple defects in organogenesis during the intrauterine life. This comprehensive review will enhance our understanding of the pivotal role of m6A modifications involved in fetal development and examine future research directions in embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Yao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Peiqi Liu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Huimin Jia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuzuo Bai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Zhengwei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Zhonghua Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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Rodriguez-Polo I, Moris N. Using embryo models to understand the development and progression of embryonic lineages: a focus on primordial germ cell development. Cells Tissues Organs 2024:000538275. [PMID: 38479364 DOI: 10.1159/000538275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recapitulating mammalian cell type differentiation in vitro promises to improve our understanding of how these processes happen in vivo, while bringing additional prospects for biomedical applications. The establishment of stem cell-derived embryo models and embryonic organoids, which have experienced explosive growth over the last few years, open new avenues for research due to their scale, reproducibility, and accessibility. Embryo models mimic various developmental stages, exhibit different degrees of complexity, and can be established across species. Since embryo models exhibit multiple lineages organised spatially and temporally, they are likely to provide cellular niches that, to some degree, recapitulate the embryonic setting and enable "co-development" between cell types and neighbouring populations. One example where this is already apparent is in the case of primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). SUMMARY While directed differentiation protocols enable the efficient generation of high PGCLC numbers, embryo models provide an attractive alternative as they enable the study of interactions of PGCLCs with neighbouring cells, alongside the regulatory molecular and biophysical mechanisms of PGC competency. Additionally, some embryo models can recapitulate post-specification stages of PGC development (including migration or gametogenesis), mimicking the inductive signals pushing PGCLCs to mature and differentiate, and enabling the study of PGCLC development across stages. Therefore, in vitro models may allow us to address questions of cell type differentiation, and PGC development specifically, that have hitherto been out of reach with existing systems. KEY MESSAGE This review evaluates the current advances in stem cell-based embryo models, with a focus on their potential to model cell type-specific differentiation in general, and in particular to address open questions in PGC development and gametogenesis.
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Zhang Q, Zhang W, Wu X, Ke H, Qin Y, Zhao S, Guo T. Homozygous missense variant in MEIOSIN causes premature ovarian insufficiency. Hum Reprod 2023; 38:ii47-ii56. [PMID: 37982418 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Are variants of genes involved in meiosis initiation responsible for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)? SUMMARY ANSWER A MEIOSIN variant participates in the pathogenesis of human POI by impairing meiosis due to insufficient transcriptional activation of essential meiotic genes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Meiosis is the key event for the establishment of the ovarian reserve, and several gene defects impairing meiotic homologous recombination have been found to contribute to the pathogenesis of POI. Although STRA8 and MEIOISN variants have been found to associate with POI in a recent study, the condition of other meiosis initiation genes is unknown and direct evidence of variants participating in the pathogenesis of POI is still lacking. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This was a retrospective genetic study. An in-house whole exome sequencing (WES) database of 1030 idiopathic POI patients was screened for variations of meiosis initiation genes. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Homozygous or compound heterozygous variations of genes involved in meiosis initiation were screened in the in-house WES database. The pathogenicity of the variation was verified by in vitro experiments, including protein structure prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assay. The effect of the variant on ovarian function and meiosis was demonstrated through histological analyses in a point mutation mouse model. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE One homozygous variant in MEIOSIN (c.1735C>T, p.R579W) and one in STRA8 (c.258 + 1G>A), which initiates meiosis via the retinoic acid-dependent pathway, were identified in a patient with idiopathic POI respectively. The STRA8 variation has been reported in the recently published work. For the MEIOSIN variation, the dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that the variant adversely affected the transcriptional function of MEIOSIN in upregulating meiotic genes. Furthermore, knock-in mice with the homologous mutation confirmed that the variation impacted the meiotic prophase I program and accelerated oocyte depletion. Moreover, the variant p.R579W localizing in the high-mobility group (HMG) box domain disrupted the nuclear localization of the MEIOSIN protein but was dispensable for the cell-cycle switch of oocytes, suggesting a unique role of the MEIOSIN HMG box domain in meiosis initiation. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Further studies are needed to explore the role of other meiosis initiation genes in the pathogenesis of POI. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The MEIOSIN variant was verified to cause POI by impaired transcriptional regulation of meiotic genes and was inherited by a recessive mode. The function of HMG box domain in MEIOSIN protein was also expanded by this study. Although causative variations in meiotic initiation genes are rare in POI, our study confirmed the pathogenicity of a MEIOSIN variant and elucidated another mechanism of human infertility. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the National Key Research & Developmental Program of China (2022YFC2703800, 2022YFC2703000), National Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars (82125014), National Natural Science Foundation of China (32070847, 32170867, 82071609), Basic Science Center Program of NSFC (31988101), Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province for Grand Basic Projects (ZR2021ZD33), Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province for Excellent Young Scholars (ZR2022YQ69), Taishan Scholars Program for Young Experts of Shandong Province (tsqn202211371), and Qilu Young Scholars Program of Shandong University. The authors declare no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wenzhe Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xinyi Wu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hanni Ke
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yingying Qin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shidou Zhao
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ting Guo
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
- National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Shimada R, Kato Y, Takeda N, Fujimura S, Yasunaga KI, Usuki S, Niwa H, Araki K, Ishiguro KI. STRA8-RB interaction is required for timely entry of meiosis in mouse female germ cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6443. [PMID: 37880249 PMCID: PMC10600341 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42259-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is differently regulated in males and females. In females, germ cells initiate meiosis within a limited time period in the fetal ovary and undergo a prolonged meiotic arrest until puberty. However, how meiosis initiation is coordinated with the cell cycle to coincide with S phase remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that STRA8 binds to RB via the LXCXE motif. Mutation of the RB-binding site of STRA8 in female mice delays meiotic entry, which consequently delays progression of meiotic prophase and leads to precocious depletion of the oocyte pool. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis reveals that the STRA8-RB interaction is required for S phase entry and meiotic gene activation, ensuring precise timing of meiosis initiation in oocytes. Strikingly, the results suggest STRA8 could sequester RB from E2F during pre-meiotic G1/S transition. This study highlights the gene regulatory mechanisms underlying the female-specific mode of meiotic initiation in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuki Shimada
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto university, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Yuzuru Kato
- Mammalian Development Laboratory, Department of Gene Function and Phenomics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan
| | - Naoki Takeda
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Sayoko Fujimura
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Yasunaga
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Shingo Usuki
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Niwa
- Department of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology, IMEG, Kumamoto university, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Kimi Araki
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
- Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1, Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto university, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan.
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Horer S, Feichtinger M, Rosner M, Hengstschläger M. Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived In Vitro Gametogenesis and Synthetic Embryos-It Is Never Too Early for an Ethical Debate. Stem Cells Transl Med 2023; 12:569-575. [PMID: 37471266 PMCID: PMC10502567 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szad042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, 2 branches of the wide area of synthetic biology-in vitro gametogenesis and synthetic embryo development-have gained considerable attention. Rodent induced pluripotent stem cells derived via reprogramming of somatic cells can in vitro be differentiated into gametes to produce fertile offspring. And even synthetic embryos with organ progenitors were generated ex utero entirely from murine pluripotent stem cells. The use of these approaches in basic research, which is rightfully accompanied by an ethical discussion, will allow hitherto unattainable insights into the processes of the beginning of life. There is a broad international consensus that currently the application of these technologies in human-assisted reproduction must be considered to be unsafe and unethical. However, newspaper headlines also addressed the putatively resulting paradigm shift in human reproduction and thereby raised expectations in patients. Due to unsolved biological and technological obstacles, most scientists do not anticipate translation of any of these approaches into human reproductive medicine, if ever, for the next 10 years. Still, whereas the usage of synthetic embryos for reproductive purposes should be banned, in the context of in vitro-derived human gametes it is not too early to initiate the evaluation of the ethical implications, which could still remain assuming all technological hurdles can ever be cleared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Horer
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Center of Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Margit Rosner
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Center of Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Hengstschläger
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Center of Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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6
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Rosner M, Horer S, Feichtinger M, Hengstschläger M. Multipotent fetal stem cells in reproductive biology research. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:157. [PMID: 37287077 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03379-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the limited accessibility of the in vivo situation, the scarcity of the human tissue, legal constraints, and ethical considerations, the underlying molecular mechanisms of disorders, such as preeclampsia, the pathological consequences of fetomaternal microchimerism, or infertility, are still not fully understood. And although substantial progress has already been made, the therapeutic strategies for reproductive system diseases are still facing limitations. In the recent years, it became more and more evident that stem cells are powerful tools for basic research in human reproduction and stem cell-based approaches moved into the center of endeavors to establish new clinical concepts. Multipotent fetal stem cells derived from the amniotic fluid, amniotic membrane, chorion leave, Wharton´s jelly, or placenta came to the fore because they are easy to acquire, are not associated with ethical concerns or covered by strict legal restrictions, and can be banked for autologous utilization later in life. Compared to adult stem cells, they exhibit a significantly higher differentiation potential and are much easier to propagate in vitro. Compared to pluripotent stem cells, they harbor less mutations, are not tumorigenic, and exhibit low immunogenicity. Studies on multipotent fetal stem cells can be invaluable to gain knowledge on the development of dysfunctional fetal cell types, to characterize the fetal stem cells migrating into the body of a pregnant woman in the context of fetomaternal microchimerism, and to obtain a more comprehensive picture of germ cell development in the course of in vitro differentiation experiments. The in vivo transplantation of fetal stem cells or their paracrine factors can mediate therapeutic effects in preeclampsia and can restore reproductive organ functions. Together with the use of fetal stem cell-derived gametes, such strategies could once help individuals, who do not develop functional gametes, to conceive genetically related children. Although there is still a long way to go, these developments regarding the usage of multipotent fetal stem cells in the clinic should continuously be accompanied by a wide and detailed ethical discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margit Rosner
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefanie Horer
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Markus Hengstschläger
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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7
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Terrin F, Tesoriere A, Plotegher N, Dalla Valle L. Sex and Brain: The Role of Sex Chromosomes and Hormones in Brain Development and Parkinson's Disease. Cells 2023; 12:1486. [PMID: 37296608 PMCID: PMC10252697 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex hormones and genes on the sex chromosomes are not only key factors in the regulation of sexual differentiation and reproduction but they are also deeply involved in brain homeostasis. Their action is crucial for the development of the brain, which presents different characteristics depending on the sex of individuals. The role of these players in the brain is fundamental in the maintenance of brain function during adulthood as well, thus being important also with respect to age-related neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we explore the role of biological sex in the development of the brain and analyze its impact on the predisposition toward and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, we focus on Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that has a higher incidence in the male population. We report how sex hormones and genes encoded by the sex chromosomes could protect from the disease or alternatively predispose toward its development. We finally underline the importance of considering sex when studying brain physiology and pathology in cellular and animal models in order to better understand disease etiology and develop novel tailored therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicoletta Plotegher
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.T.); (A.T.)
| | - Luisa Dalla Valle
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.T.); (A.T.)
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8
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Burnet G, Bowles J, Spiller CM. Isolation and Culture Techniques for Fetal Mouse Germ Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2677:221-231. [PMID: 37464245 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3259-8_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
The fetal gonad contains a great variety of differentiating cell populations, of which germ cells make up a relatively small percentage. In order to study germ cell-specific gene and protein expression, as well as determine direct effects of signaling molecules, it is necessary to prepare enriched populations of germ cells and maintain them in culture for several hours to multiple days. The protocols in this chapter are designed to provide a guide for the isolation or enrichment of primordial germ cells (from 9.5 days post coitum (dpc) to 18.5 dpc) by flow cytometry (Subheading 3.1) or magnetic sorting (Subheading 3.2), followed by feeder-free primary germ cell culture (Subheading 3.3).
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Burnet
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Josephine Bowles
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Cassy M Spiller
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Ito T, Ohta M, Osada A, Nishiyama A, Ishiguro KI, Tamura T, Sekita Y, Kimura T. Switching defective/sucrose non-fermenting chromatin remodeling complex coordinates meiotic gene activation via promoter remodeling and Meiosin activation in female germline. Genes Cells 2023; 28:15-28. [PMID: 36371617 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, primordial germ cells (PGCs) enter meiosis and differentiate into primary oocytes in embryonic ovaries. Previously, we demonstrated that meiotic gene induction and meiotic initiation were impaired in female germline cells of conditional knockout (CKO) mice lacking the Smarcb1 (Snf5) gene, which encodes a core subunit of the switching defective/sucrose non-fermenting (SWI/SNF) complex. In this study, we classified meiotic genes expressed at lower levels in Snf5 CKO females into two groups based on promoter accessibility. The promoters of 74% of these genes showed lower accessibility in mutant mice, whereas those of the remaining genes were opened without the SWI/SNF complex. Notably, the former genes included Meiosin, which encodes a transcriptional regulator essential for meiotic gene activation. The promoters of the former and the latter genes were mainly modified with H3K27me3/bivalent and H3K4me3 histone marks, respectively. A subset of the former genes was precociously activated in female PGCs deficient in polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs). Our results point to a mechanism through which the SWI/SNF complex coordinates meiotic gene activation via the remodeling of PRC-repressed genes, including Meiosin, in female germline cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiaki Ito
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Graduate School of Science, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
- Chitose Laboratory Corp., Biotechnology Research Center, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masami Ohta
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Graduate School of Science, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Atsuki Osada
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Graduate School of Science, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Akira Nishiyama
- Department of Immunology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Tamura
- Department of Immunology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Advanced Medical Research Center, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoichi Sekita
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Graduate School of Science, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tohru Kimura
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Graduate School of Science, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
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10
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de Manuel M, Wu FL, Przeworski M. A paternal bias in germline mutation is widespread in amniotes and can arise independently of cell divisions. eLife 2022; 11:80008. [PMID: 35916372 PMCID: PMC9439683 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80008] [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: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans and other mammals, germline mutations are more likely to arise in fathers than in mothers. Although this sex bias has long been attributed to DNA replication errors in spermatogenesis, recent evidence from humans points to the importance of mutagenic processes that do not depend on cell division, calling into question our understanding of this basic phenomenon. Here, we infer the ratio of paternal-to-maternal mutations, α, in 42 species of amniotes, from putatively neutral substitution rates of sex chromosomes and autosomes. Despite marked differences in gametogenesis, physiologies and environments across species, fathers consistently contribute more mutations than mothers in all the species examined, including mammals, birds, and reptiles. In mammals, α is as high as 4 and correlates with generation times; in birds and snakes, α appears more stable around 2. These observations are consistent with a simple model, in which mutations accrue at equal rates in both sexes during early development and at a higher rate in the male germline after sexual differentiation, with a conserved paternal-to-maternal ratio across species. Thus, α may reflect the relative contributions of two or more developmental phases to total germline mutations, and is expected to depend on generation time even if mutations do not track cell divisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc de Manuel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Felix L Wu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Molly Przeworski
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, United States
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11
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Mizuta K, Katou Y, Nakakita B, Kishine A, Nosaka Y, Saito S, Iwatani C, Tsuchiya H, Kawamoto I, Nakaya M, Tsukiyama T, Nagano M, Kojima Y, Nakamura T, Yabuta Y, Horie A, Mandai M, Ohta H, Saitou M. Ex vivo reconstitution of fetal oocyte development in humans and cynomolgus monkeys. EMBO J 2022; 41:e110815. [PMID: 35912849 PMCID: PMC9475534 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022110815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro oogenesis is key to elucidating the mechanism of human female germ-cell development and its anomalies. Accordingly, pluripotent stem cells have been induced into primordial germ cell-like cells and into oogonia with epigenetic reprogramming, yet further reconstitutions remain a challenge. Here, we demonstrate ex vivo reconstitution of fetal oocyte development in both humans and cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). With an optimized culture of fetal ovary reaggregates over three months, human and monkey oogonia enter and complete the first meiotic prophase to differentiate into diplotene oocytes that form primordial follicles, the source for oogenesis in adults. The cytological and transcriptomic progressions of fetal oocyte development in vitro closely recapitulate those in vivo. A comparison of single-cell transcriptomes among humans, monkeys, and mice unravels primate-specific and conserved programs driving fetal oocyte development, the former including a distinct transcriptomic transformation upon oogonia-to-oocyte transition and the latter including two active X chromosomes with little X-chromosome upregulation. Our study provides a critical step forward for realizing human in vitro oogenesis and uncovers salient characteristics of fetal oocyte development in primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Mizuta
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Katou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Baku Nakakita
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Aoi Kishine
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Nosaka
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Saki Saito
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Chizuru Iwatani
- Research Center for Animal Life Science, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Hideaki Tsuchiya
- Research Center for Animal Life Science, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Ikuo Kawamoto
- Research Center for Animal Life Science, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Masataka Nakaya
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Research Center for Animal Life Science, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Tsukiyama
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Research Center for Animal Life Science, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nagano
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoji Kojima
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomonori Nakamura
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,The Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Yabuta
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akihito Horie
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masaki Mandai
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ohta
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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12
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Nagano M, Hu B, Yokobayashi S, Yamamura A, Umemura F, Coradin M, Ohta H, Yabuta Y, Ishikura Y, Okamoto I, Ikeda H, Kawahira N, Nosaka Y, Shimizu S, Kojima Y, Mizuta K, Kasahara T, Imoto Y, Meehan K, Stocsits R, Wutz G, Hiraoka Y, Murakawa Y, Yamamoto T, Tachibana K, Peters JM, Mirny LA, Garcia BA, Majewski J, Saitou M. Nucleome programming is required for the foundation of totipotency in mammalian germline development. EMBO J 2022; 41:e110600. [PMID: 35703121 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022110600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ cells are unique in engendering totipotency, yet the mechanisms underlying this capacity remain elusive. Here, we perform comprehensive and in-depth nucleome analysis of mouse germ-cell development in vitro, encompassing pluripotent precursors, primordial germ cells (PGCs) before and after epigenetic reprogramming, and spermatogonia/spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Although epigenetic reprogramming, including genome-wide DNA de-methylation, creates broadly open chromatin with abundant enhancer-like signatures, the augmented chromatin insulation safeguards transcriptional fidelity. These insulatory constraints are then erased en masse for spermatogonial development. Notably, despite distinguishing epigenetic programming, including global DNA re-methylation, the PGCs-to-spermatogonia/SSCs development entails further euchromatization. This accompanies substantial erasure of lamina-associated domains, generating spermatogonia/SSCs with a minimal peripheral attachment of chromatin except for pericentromeres-an architecture conserved in primates. Accordingly, faulty nucleome maturation, including persistent insulation and improper euchromatization, leads to impaired spermatogenic potential. Given that PGCs after epigenetic reprogramming serve as oogenic progenitors as well, our findings elucidate a principle for the nucleome programming that creates gametogenic progenitors in both sexes, defining a basis for nuclear totipotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Nagano
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Shihori Yokobayashi
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akitoshi Yamamura
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fumiya Umemura
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mariel Coradin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Hiroshi Ohta
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Yabuta
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukiko Ishikura
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ikuhiro Okamoto
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ikeda
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Embryology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan
| | - Naofumi Kawahira
- Department of Molecular Cell Developmental Biology, School of Life Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Laboratory for Developmental Morphogeometry, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Nosaka
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sakura Shimizu
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoji Kojima
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ken Mizuta
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomoko Kasahara
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yusuke Imoto
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Killian Meehan
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Roman Stocsits
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gordana Wutz
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yasuaki Hiraoka
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Murakawa
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takuya Yamamoto
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Medical-risk Avoidance based on iPS Cells Team, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kikue Tachibana
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jan-Michel Peters
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leonid A Mirny
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, and Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jacek Majewski
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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13
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Severino J, Bauer M, Mattimoe T, Arecco N, Cozzuto L, Lorden P, Hamada N, Nosaka Y, Nagaoka SI, Audergon P, Tarruell A, Heyn H, Hayashi K, Saitou M, Payer B. Controlled X-chromosome dynamics defines meiotic potential of female mouse in vitro germ cells. EMBO J 2022; 41:e109457. [PMID: 35603814 PMCID: PMC9194795 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021109457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian germline is characterized by extensive epigenetic reprogramming during its development into functional eggs and sperm. Specifically, the epigenome requires resetting before parental marks can be established and transmitted to the next generation. In the female germline, X‐chromosome inactivation and reactivation are among the most prominent epigenetic reprogramming events, yet very little is known about their kinetics and biological function. Here, we investigate X‐inactivation and reactivation dynamics using a tailor‐made in vitro system of primordial germ cell‐like cell (PGCLC) differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells. We find that X‐inactivation in PGCLCs in vitro and in germ cell‐competent epiblast cells in vivo is moderate compared to somatic cells, and frequently characterized by escaping genes. X‐inactivation is followed by step‐wise X‐reactivation, which is mostly completed during meiotic prophase I. Furthermore, we find that PGCLCs which fail to undergo X‐inactivation or reactivate too rapidly display impaired meiotic potential. Thus, our data reveal fine‐tuned X‐chromosome remodelling as a critical feature of female germ cell development towards meiosis and oogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Severino
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Moritz Bauer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tom Mattimoe
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Niccolò Arecco
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luca Cozzuto
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Lorden
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Norio Hamada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Nosaka
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - So I Nagaoka
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Pauline Audergon
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Tarruell
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Holger Heyn
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Bernhard Payer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
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14
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Pan YJ, Tong SK, Hsu CW, Weng JH, Chung BC. Zebrafish Establish Female Germ Cell Identity by Advancing Cell Proliferation and Meiosis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:866267. [PMID: 35445010 PMCID: PMC9013747 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.866267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish is a popular research model; but its mechanism of sex determination is unclear and the sex of juvenile fish cannot be distinguished. To obtain fish with defined sex, we crossed domesticated zebrafish with the Nadia strain that has a female-dominant W segment. These fish were placed on a ziwi:GFP background to facilitate sorting of fluorescent germ cells for transcriptomic analysis. We analyzed the transcriptomes of germ cells at 10–14 days postfertilization (dpf), when sex dimorphic changes started to appear. Gene ontology showed that genes upregulated in the 10-dpf presumptive females are involved in cell cycles. This correlates with our detection of increased germ cell numbers and proliferation. We also detected upregulation of meiotic genes in the presumptive females at 14 dpf. Disruption of a meiotic gene, sycp3, resulted in sex reversal to infertile males. The germ cells of sycp3 mutants could not reach diplotene and underwent apoptosis. Preventing apoptosis by disrupting tp53 restored female characteristics in sycp3 mutants, demonstrating that adequate germ cells are required for female development. Thus, our transcriptome and gene mutation demonstrate that initial germ cell proliferation followed by meiosis is the hallmark of female differentiation in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- You-Jiun Pan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institue of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sok-Keng Tong
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-wei Hsu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Hsia Weng
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bon-chu Chung
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Bon-chu Chung,
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15
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AOP Key Event Relationship report: Linking decreased retinoic acid levels with disrupted meiosis in developing oocytes. Curr Res Toxicol 2022; 3:100069. [PMID: 35345548 PMCID: PMC8957012 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2022.100069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The first case study to develop and publish an individual KER as a stand-alone unit of information under the AOP framework overseen by the OECD. Full description of a KER linking decreased all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) levels in developing ovaries with disrupted meiotic entry of oogonia. KER described is associated with an intended AOP linking inhibition of the atRA producing ALDH1A enzymes with reduced fertility in women.
The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) concept is an emerging tool in regulatory toxicology that uses simplified descriptions to show cause-effect relationships between stressors and toxicity outcomes in intact organisms. The AOP structure is a modular framework, with Key Event Relationships (KERs) representing the unit of causal relationship based on existing knowledge, describing the connection between two Key Events. Because KERs are the only unit to support inference it has been argued recently that KERs should be recognized as the core building blocks of knowledge assembly within the AOP-Knowledge Base. Herein, we present a first case to support this proposal and provide a full description of a KER linking decreased all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) levels in developing ovaries with disrupted meiotic entry of oogonia. We outline the evidence to support a role for atRA in inducing meiosis in oogonia across mammals; this is important because elements of the RA synthesis/degradation pathway are recognized targets for numerous environmental chemicals. The KER we describe will be used to support an intended AOP linking inhibition of the atRA producing ALDH1A enzymes with reduced fertility in women.
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16
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Zhou S, Sakashita A, Yuan S, Namekawa SH. Retrotransposons in the Mammalian Male Germline. Sex Dev 2022:1-19. [PMID: 35231923 DOI: 10.1159/000520683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Retrotransposons are a subset of DNA sequences that constitute a large part of the mammalian genome. They can translocate autonomously or non-autonomously, potentially jeopardizing the heritable germline genome. Retrotransposons coevolved with the host genome, and the germline is the prominent battlefield between retrotransposons and the host genome to maximize their mutual fitness. Host genomes have developed various mechanisms to suppress and control retrotransposons, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA), for their own benefit. Thus, rapidly evolved retrotransposons often acquire positive functions, including gene regulation within the germline, conferring reproductive fitness in a species over the course of evolution. The male germline serves as an ideal model to examine the regulation and evolution of retrotransposons, resulting in genomic co-evolution with the host genome. In this review, we summarize and discuss the regulatory mechanisms of retrotransposons, stage-by-stage, during male germ cell development, with a particular focus on mice as an extensively studied mammalian model, highlighting suppression mechanisms and emerging functions of retrotransposons in the male germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuiqiao Yuan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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17
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Musson R, Gąsior Ł, Bisogno S, Ptak GE. DNA damage in preimplantation embryos and gametes: specification, clinical relevance and repair strategies. Hum Reprod Update 2022; 28:376-399. [PMID: 35021196 PMCID: PMC9071077 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmab046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA damage is a hazard that affects all cells of the body. DNA-damage repair (DDR) mechanisms are in place to repair damage and restore cellular function, as are other damage-induced processes such as apoptosis, autophagy and senescence. The resilience of germ cells and embryos in response to DNA damage is less well studied compared with other cell types. Given that recent studies have described links between embryonic handling techniques and an increased likelihood of disease in post-natal life, an update is needed to summarize the sources of DNA damage in embryos and their capacity to repair it. In addition, numerous recent publications have detailed novel techniques for detecting and repairing DNA damage in embryos. This information is of interest to medical or scientific personnel who wish to obtain undamaged embryos for use in offspring generation by ART. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review aims to thoroughly discuss sources of DNA damage in male and female gametes and preimplantation embryos. Special consideration is given to current knowledge and limits in DNA damage detection and screening strategies. Finally, obstacles and future perspectives in clinical diagnosis and treatment (repair) of DNA damaged embryos are discussed. SEARCH METHODS Using PubMed and Google Scholar until May 2021, a comprehensive search for peer-reviewed original English-language articles was carried out using keywords relevant to the topic with no limits placed on time. Keywords included ‘DNA damage repair’, ‘gametes’, ‘sperm’, ‘oocyte’, ‘zygote’, ‘blastocyst’ and ‘embryo’. References from retrieved articles were also used to obtain additional articles. Literature on the sources and consequences of DNA damage on germ cells and embryos was also searched. Additional papers cited by primary references were included. Results from our own studies were included where relevant. OUTCOMES DNA damage in gametes and embryos can differ greatly based on the source and severity. This damage affects the development of the embryo and can lead to long-term health effects on offspring. DDR mechanisms can repair damage to a certain extent, but the factors that play a role in this process are numerous and altogether not well characterized. In this review, we describe the multifactorial origin of DNA damage in male and female gametes and in the embryo, and suggest screening strategies for the selection of healthy gametes and embryos. Furthermore, possible therapeutic solutions to decrease the frequency of DNA damaged gametes and embryos and eventually to repair DNA and increase mitochondrial quality in embryos before their implantation is discussed. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Understanding DNA damage in gametes and embryos is essential for the improvement of techniques that could enhance embryo implantation and pregnancy success. While our knowledge about DNA damage factors and regulatory mechanisms in cells has advanced greatly, the number of feasible practical techniques to avoid or repair damaged embryos remains scarce. Our intention is therefore to focus on strategies to obtain embryos with as little DNA damage as possible, which will impact reproductive biology research with particular significance for reproductive clinicians and embryologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Musson
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Łukasz Gąsior
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Simona Bisogno
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Grażyna Ewa Ptak
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
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18
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Wu JX, Xia T, She LP, Lin S, Luo XM. Stem Cell Therapies for Human Infertility: Advantages and Challenges. Cell Transplant 2022; 31:9636897221083252. [PMID: 35348026 PMCID: PMC8969497 DOI: 10.1177/09636897221083252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical and mental health and hormonal imbalance are associated with the problems related to infertility and reproductive disorders. The rate of infertility has increased globally over the years, due to various reasons. Given the psychosocial implications of infertility and its effects on the life of the affected people, there has been an increased focus on its treatment over the last several years. Assisted reproductive technology can only solve about 50% of the cases. Moreover, it contains significant risks and does not solve the fundamental problem of infertility. As pluripotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate into almost any type of cell, they have been widely regarded as a promising option in the development of stem cell-based fertility treatments, which could even correct genetic diseases in offspring. These advancements in reproductive biotechnology present both challenges and possibilities for solving infertility problems caused by various unexplainable factors. This review briefly presents the different types of infertility disorders and the potential applications of stem cells in the treatment of these reproductive diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Xiang Wu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Tian Xia
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Li-Ping She
- New England Fertility Institute, Stamford, CT, USA
| | - Shu Lin
- Centre of Neurological and Metabolic Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China.,Diabetes and Metabolism Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Xiang-Min Luo
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
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19
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Ito T, Osada A, Ohta M, Yokota K, Nishiyama A, Niikura Y, Tamura T, Sekita Y, Kimura T. SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex is required for initiation of sex-dependent differentiation in mouse germline. Sci Rep 2021; 11:24074. [PMID: 34912016 PMCID: PMC8674328 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03538-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction involves the creation of sex-dependent gametes, oocytes and sperm. In mammals, sexually dimorphic differentiation commences in the primordial germ cells (PGCs) in embryonic gonads; PGCs in ovaries and testes differentiate into meiotic primary oocytes and mitotically quiescent prospermatogonia, respectively. Here, we show that the transition from PGCs to sex-specific germ cells was abrogated in conditional knockout mice carrying a null mutation of Smarcb1 (also known as Snf5) gene, which encodes a core subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. In female mutant mice, failure to upregulate meiosis-related genes resulted in impaired meiotic entry and progression, including defects in synapsis formation and DNA double strand break repair. Mutant male mice exhibited delayed mitotic arrest and DNA hypomethylation in retrotransposons and imprinted genes, resulting from aberrant expression of genes related to growth and de novo DNA methylation. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the SWI/SNF complex is required for transcriptional reprogramming in the initiation of sex-dependent differentiation of germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiaki Ito
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Graduate School of Science, Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Atsuki Osada
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Graduate School of Science, Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Masami Ohta
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Graduate School of Science, Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Kana Yokota
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Graduate School of Science, Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Akira Nishiyama
- Department of Immunology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Yuichi Niikura
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai International University, 1 Gumyo, Togane, Chiba, 283-8555, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Tamura
- Department of Immunology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Yoichi Sekita
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Graduate School of Science, Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Tohru Kimura
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Graduate School of Science, Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan.
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20
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Zhu Y. Metalloproteases in gonad formation and ovulation. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 314:113924. [PMID: 34606745 PMCID: PMC8576836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Changes in expression or activation of various metalloproteases including matrix metalloproteases (Mmp), a disintegrin and metalloprotease (Adam) and a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motif (Adamts), and their endogenous inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases, Timp), have been shown to be critical for ovulation in various species from studies in past decades. Some of these metalloproteases such as Adamts1, Adamts9, Mmp2, and Mmp9 have also been shown to be regulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) and/or progestin, which are essential triggers for ovulation in all vertebrate species. Most of these metalloproteases also express broadly in various tissues and cells including germ cells and somatic gonad cells. Thus, metalloproteases likely play roles in gonad formation processes comprising primordial germ cell (PGC) migration, development of germ and somatic cells, and sex determination. However, our knowledge on the functions and mechanisms of metalloproteases in these processes in vertebrates is still lacking. This review will summarize our current knowledge on the metalloproteases in ovulation and gonad formation with emphasis on PGC migration and germ cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhu
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
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21
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Sex-specific chromatin remodelling safeguards transcription in germ cells. Nature 2021; 600:737-742. [PMID: 34880491 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04208-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Stability of the epigenetic landscape underpins maintenance of the cell-type-specific transcriptional profile. As one of the main repressive epigenetic systems, DNA methylation has been shown to be important for long-term gene silencing; its loss leads to ectopic and aberrant transcription in differentiated cells and cancer1. The developing mouse germ line endures global changes in DNA methylation in the absence of widespread transcriptional activation. Here, using an ultra-low-input native chromatin immunoprecipitation approach, we show that following DNA demethylation the gonadal primordial germ cells undergo remodelling of repressive histone modifications, resulting in a sex-specific signature in mice. We further demonstrate that Polycomb has a central role in transcriptional control in the newly hypomethylated germline genome as the genetic loss of Ezh2 leads to aberrant transcriptional activation, retrotransposon derepression and dramatic loss of developing female germ cells. This sex-specific effect of Ezh2 deletion is explained by the distinct landscape of repressive modifications observed in male and female germ cells. Overall, our study provides insight into the dynamic interplay between repressive chromatin modifications in the context of a developmental reprogramming system.
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22
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Sex differences in anxiety and depression: circuits and mechanisms. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:674-684. [PMID: 34545241 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00513-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological sex differences in anxiety disorders and major depression are well characterized. Yet the circuits and mechanisms that contribute to these differences are understudied, because preclinical studies have historically excluded female rodents. This oversight is beginning to be addressed, and recent studies that include male and female rodents are identifying sex differences in neurobiological processes that underlie features of these disorders, including conflict anxiety, fear processing, arousal, social avoidance, learned helplessness and anhedonia. These findings allow us to conceptualize various types of sex differences in the brain, which in turn have broader implications for considering sex as a biological variable. Importantly, comparing the sexes could aid in the discovery of novel therapeutics.
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23
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Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitinori Saitou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Developmental Stem Cell Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.,Department of Germline Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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24
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Estermann MA, Major AT, Smith CA. Genetic Regulation of Avian Testis Development. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1459. [PMID: 34573441 PMCID: PMC8470383 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As in other vertebrates, avian testes are the site of spermatogenesis and androgen production. The paired testes of birds differentiate during embryogenesis, first marked by the development of pre-Sertoli cells in the gonadal primordium and their condensation into seminiferous cords. Germ cells become enclosed in these cords and enter mitotic arrest, while steroidogenic Leydig cells subsequently differentiate around the cords. This review describes our current understanding of avian testis development at the cell biology and genetic levels. Most of this knowledge has come from studies on the chicken embryo, though other species are increasingly being examined. In chicken, testis development is governed by the Z-chromosome-linked DMRT1 gene, which directly or indirectly activates the male factors, HEMGN, SOX9 and AMH. Recent single cell RNA-seq has defined cell lineage specification during chicken testis development, while comparative studies point to deep conservation of avian testis formation. Lastly, we identify areas of future research on the genetics of avian testis development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Craig Allen Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; (M.A.E.); (A.T.M.)
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25
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Estermann MA, Mariette MM, Moreau JLM, Combes AN, Smith CA. PAX 2 + Mesenchymal Origin of Gonadal Supporting Cells Is Conserved in Birds. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:735203. [PMID: 34513849 PMCID: PMC8429852 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.735203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During embryonic gonadal development, the supporting cell lineage is the first cell type to differentiate, giving rise to Sertoli cells in the testis and pre-granulosa cells in the ovary. These cells are thought to direct other gonadal cell lineages down the testis or ovarian pathways, including the germline. Recent research has shown that, in contrast to mouse, chicken gonadal supporting cells derive from a PAX2/OSR1/DMRT1/WNT4 positive mesenchymal cell population. These cells colonize the undifferentiated genital ridge during early gonadogenesis, around the time that germ cells migrate into the gonad. During the process of somatic gonadal sex differentiation, PAX2 expression is down-regulated in embryonic chicken gonads just prior to up-regulation of testis- and ovary-specific markers and prior to germ cell differentiation. Most research on avian gonadal development has focused on the chicken model, and related species from the Galloanserae clade. There is a lack of knowledge on gonadal sex differentiation in other avian lineages. Comparative analysis in birds is required to fully understand the mechanisms of avian sex determination and gonadal differentiation. Here we report the first comparative molecular characterization of gonadal supporting cell differentiation in birds from each of the three main clades, Galloanserae (chicken and quail), Neoaves (zebra finch) and Palaeognathe (emu). Our analysis reveals conservation of PAX2+ expression and a mesenchymal origin of supporting cells in each clade. Moreover, down-regulation of PAX2 expression precisely defines the onset of gonadal sex differentiation in each species. Altogether, these results indicate that gonadal morphogenesis is conserved among the major bird clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin A. Estermann
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Mylene M. Mariette
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Julie L. M. Moreau
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Alexander N. Combes
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Craig A. Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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26
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Estermann MA, Hirst CE, Major AT, Smith CA. The homeobox gene TGIF1 is required for chicken ovarian cortical development and generation of the juxtacortical medulla. Development 2021; 148:dev199646. [PMID: 34387307 PMCID: PMC8406534 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
During early embryogenesis in amniotic vertebrates, the gonads differentiate into either ovaries or testes. The first cell lineage to differentiate gives rise to the supporting cells: Sertoli cells in males and pre-granulosa cells in females. These key cell types direct the differentiation of the other cell types in the gonad, including steroidogenic cells. The gonadal surface epithelium and the interstitial cell populations are less well studied, and little is known about their sexual differentiation programs. Here, we show the requirement of the homeobox transcription factor gene TGIF1 for ovarian development in the chicken embryo. TGIF1 is expressed in the two principal ovarian somatic cell populations: the cortex and the pre-granulosa cells of the medulla. TGIF1 expression is associated with an ovarian phenotype in estrogen-mediated sex reversal experiments. Targeted misexpression and gene knockdown indicate that TGIF1 is required, but not sufficient, for proper ovarian cortex formation. In addition, TGIF1 is identified as the first known regulator of juxtacortical medulla development. These findings provide new insights into chicken ovarian differentiation and development, specifically cortical and juxtacortical medulla formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Craig Allen Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton VIC 3800, Australia
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27
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Legoff L, Dali O, De La Mata Santaella E, Jaulin C, D'Cruz SC, Smagulova F. Histone deacetylase inhibition leads to regulatory histone mark alterations and impairs meiosis in oocytes. Epigenetics Chromatin 2021; 14:39. [PMID: 34384478 PMCID: PMC8359552 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-021-00413-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Panobinostat (PB), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor drug, is clinically used in the treatment of cancers. We investigated the effects of PB on murine ovarian functions in embryos and adult animals. Methods C57BL/6J mice were treated with 5 mg/kg PB on alternate days from embryonic day (E) 6.5 to E15.5. We analysed the effects of PB on the ovaries by using immunofluorescence, gene expression analysis and DNA methylation analysis techniques. Results At E15.5, we observed increases in histone H3K9Ac, H4Ac and H3K4me3 marks, while the level of the silencing H3K9me3 mark decreased. Synaptonemal complex examination at E15.5, E17.5 and E18.5 showed a delay in meiotic progression characterized by the absence of synaptonemal complexes at E15.5 and the persistence of double-strand breaks (DSBs) at E17.5 and E18.5 in PB-exposed oocytes. We found that exposure to PB led to changes in the expression of 1169 transcripts at E15.5. Genes regulated by the male-specific factors SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9 (SOX9) and Doublesex and Mab-3-related Transcription factor 1 (DMRT1) were among the most upregulated genes in the ovaries of PB-exposed mice. In contrast, PB treatment led to decreases in the expression of genes regulated by the WNT4 pathway. Notably, we observed 119 deregulated genes encoding Zn-finger proteins. The observed alterations in epigenetic marks and gene expression correlated with decreases in the numbers of germ cells at E15.5. After birth, PB-exposed ovaries showed increased proliferation of primary and secondary follicles. We also observed decreases in the numbers of primordial, primary and secondary follicles in adult ovaries from mice that were exposed to PB in utero. Finally, epigenetic alterations such as decreased H3K4me3 and increased H4 acetylation levels were also detected in somatic cells surrounding fully grown oocytes. Conclusion Our data suggest that inhibition of histone deacetylase by PB during a critical developmental window affects reprogramming and germ cell specification via alteration of epigenetic marks. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13072-021-00413-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Legoff
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Ouzna Dali
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Elena De La Mata Santaella
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Christian Jaulin
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Shereen Cynthia D'Cruz
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France.
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28
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yang
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Huck-Hui Ng
- Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore.
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29
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Li D, Li F, Meng L, Wei H, Zhang Q, Jiang F, Chen DN, Li W, Tan YQ, Li JD. RNF216 regulates meiosis and PKA stability in the testes. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21460. [PMID: 33724554 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002294rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a highly sophisticated process that comprises of mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. RNF216 (ring finger protein 216), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, has been reported to be essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice. However, the stages affected by Rnf216 deficiency and its underlying molecular pathological mechanisms are still unknown. In this study, we generated Rnf216-deficient mice (Rnf216-/- ) using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Knockout of Rnf216 led to infertility in male but not female mice. Rnf216 knockout affected the prophase of meiosis I, as no genotypic difference was observed until 12 dpp (days postpartum). Rnf216-/- spermatocytes were incompletely arrested at the zygotene stage and underwent apoptosis at approximately the pachytene stage. The proportion of zygotene spermatocytes was significantly increased, whereas the proportion of pachytene spermatocytes was significantly decreased in Rnf216-/- testes. Nevertheless, there was no significantly genotypic difference in the number of diplotene spermatocytes. We further revealed that the PKA catalytic subunit β (PRKACB) was significantly increased, which subsequently resulted in elevated PKA activity in testes from adult as well as 9 dpp Rnf216-/- mice. RNF216 interacts with PRKACB and promotes its degradation through the ubiquitin-lysosome pathway. Collectively, our results revealed an important role for RNF216 in regulation of meiosis and PKA stability in the testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengfeng Li
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fangfang Li
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lanlan Meng
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huafang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qianjun Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fang Jiang
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dan-Na Chen
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yue-Qiu Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jia-Da Li
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Animal Models for Human Disease, Changsha, China
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30
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Bhargava A, Arnold AP, Bangasser DA, Denton KM, Gupta A, Hilliard Krause LM, Mayer EA, McCarthy M, Miller WL, Raznahan A, Verma R. Considering Sex as a Biological Variable in Basic and Clinical Studies: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement. Endocr Rev 2021; 42:219-258. [PMID: 33704446 PMCID: PMC8348944 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In May 2014, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated its intent to "require applicants to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) in the design and analysis of NIH-funded research involving animals and cells." Since then, proposed research plans that include animals routinely state that both sexes/genders will be used; however, in many instances, researchers and reviewers are at a loss about the issue of sex differences. Moreover, the terms sex and gender are used interchangeably by many researchers, further complicating the issue. In addition, the sex or gender of the researcher might influence study outcomes, especially those concerning behavioral studies, in both animals and humans. The act of observation may change the outcome (the "observer effect") and any experimental manipulation, no matter how well-controlled, is subject to it. This is nowhere more applicable than in physiology and behavior. The sex of established cultured cell lines is another issue, in addition to aneuploidy; chromosomal numbers can change as cells are passaged. Additionally, culture medium contains steroids, growth hormone, and insulin that might influence expression of various genes. These issues often are not taken into account, determined, or even considered. Issues pertaining to the "sex" of cultured cells are beyond the scope of this Statement. However, we will discuss the factors that influence sex and gender in both basic research (that using animal models) and clinical research (that involving human subjects), as well as in some areas of science where sex differences are routinely studied. Sex differences in baseline physiology and associated mechanisms form the foundation for understanding sex differences in diseases pathology, treatments, and outcomes. The purpose of this Statement is to highlight lessons learned, caveats, and what to consider when evaluating data pertaining to sex differences, using 3 areas of research as examples; it is not intended to serve as a guideline for research design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Bhargava
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kate M Denton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arpana Gupta
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lucinda M Hilliard Krause
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emeran A Mayer
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Margaret McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Walter L Miller
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institutes of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ragini Verma
- Diffusion and Connectomics In Precision Healthcare Research (DiCIPHR) lab, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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31
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The conditional deletion of steroidogenic factor 1 (Nr5a1) in Sox9-Cre mice compromises testis differentiation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4486. [PMID: 33627800 PMCID: PMC7904858 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84095-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroidogenic factor 1 (NR5A1) is essential for gonadal development. To study the importance of NR5A1 during early gonadal sex differentiation, we generated Sox9-Cre-Nr5a1 conditional knockout (cKO) mice: Sox9-Cre;Nr5a1flox/flox and Sox9-Cre;Nr5a1flox/− mice. Double-immunostaining for NR5A1 and AMH revealed silenced NR5A1 in Sertoli cells and reduced AMH+ cells in the gonads of XY Sox9-Cre-Nr5a1 cKO mice between embryonic days 12.5 (E12.5) and E14.5. Double-immunostaining for SOX9 and FOXL2 further indicated an early block in Sertoli cells and ectopic granulosa cell differentiation. The number of cells expressing the Leydig cell marker 3βHSD obviously reduced in the gonads of XY Sox9-Cre;Nr5a1flox/− but not Sox9-Cre;Nr5a1flox/flox mice at E15.5. The presence of STRA8+ cells indicated that germ cells entered meiosis in the gonads of XY Sox9-Cre-Nr5a1 cKO mice. The results of qRT-PCR revealed remarkably reduced and elevated levels of testis and ovary markers, respectively, in the gonads of XY Sox9-Cre-Nr5a1 cKO mice at E12.5‒E13.5. These data suggested that the loss of Nr5a1 abrogates the testicular pathway and induces the ectopic ovarian pathway, resulting in postnatal partial/complete male-to-female gonadal sex reversal. Our findings provide evidence for the critical role of NR5A1 in murine gonadal sex determination in vivo.
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32
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Xia W, Xie W. Rebooting the Epigenomes during Mammalian Early Embryogenesis. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 15:1158-1175. [PMID: 33035464 PMCID: PMC7724468 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Upon fertilization, terminally differentiated gametes are transformed to a totipotent zygote, which gives rise to an embryo. How parental epigenetic memories are inherited and reprogrammed to accommodate parental-to-zygotic transition remains a fundamental question in developmental biology, epigenetics, and stem cell biology. With the rapid advancement of ultra-sensitive or single-cell epigenome analysis methods, unusual principles of epigenetic reprogramming begin to be unveiled. Emerging data reveal that in many species, the parental epigenome undergoes dramatic reprogramming followed by subsequent re-establishment of the embryo epigenome, leading to epigenetic "rebooting." Here, we discuss recent progress in understanding epigenetic reprogramming and their functions during mammalian early development. We also highlight the conserved and species-specific principles underlying diverse regulation of the epigenome in early embryos during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weikun Xia
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wei Xie
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China.
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Ohta H, Yabuta Y, Kurimoto K, Nakamura T, Murase Y, Yamamoto T, Saitou M. Cyclosporin A and FGF signaling support the proliferation/survival of mouse primordial germ cell-like cells in vitro†. Biol Reprod 2020; 104:344-360. [PMID: 33079185 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the founding population of the germ cell lineage that undergo a multistep process to generate spermatozoa or oocytes. Establishing an appropriate culture system for PGCs is a key challenge in reproductive biology. By a chemical screening using mouse PGC-like cells (mPGCLCs), which were induced from mouse embryonic stem cells, we reported previously that forskolin and rolipram synergistically enhanced the proliferation/survival of mPGCLCs with an average expansion rate of ~20-fold. In the present study, we evaluated other chemicals or cytokines to see whether they would improve the current mPGCLC culture system. Among the chemicals and cytokines examined, in the presence of forskolin and rolipram, cyclosporin A (CsA) and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs: FGF2 and FGF10) effectively enhanced the expansion of mPGCLCs in vitro (~50-fold on average). During the expansion by CsA or FGFs, mPGCLCs comprehensively erased their DNA methylation to acquire a profile equivalent to that of gonadal germ cells in vivo, while maintaining their highly motile phenotype as well as their transcriptional properties as sexually uncommitted PGCs. Importantly, these mPGCLCs robustly contributed to spermatogenesis and produced fertile offspring. Furthermore, mouse PGCs (mPGCs) cultured with CsA ex vivo showed transcriptomes and DNA methylomes similar to those of cultured mPGCLCs. The improved culture system for mPGCLCs/mPGCs would be instructive for addressing key questions in PGC biology, including the mechanisms for germ cell migration, epigenetic reprogramming, and sex determination of the germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Ohta
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Yabuta
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuki Kurimoto
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Embryology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan
| | - Tomonori Nakamura
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yusuke Murase
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takuya Yamamoto
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,Medical-risk Avoidance based on iPS Cells Team, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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34
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Putative adverse outcome pathways for female reproductive disorders to improve testing and regulation of chemicals. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:3359-3379. [PMID: 32638039 PMCID: PMC7502037 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02834-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Modern living challenges female reproductive health. We are witnessing a rise in reproductive disorders and drop in birth rates across the world. The reasons for these manifestations are multifaceted and most likely include continuous exposure to an ever-increasing number of chemicals. The cause–effect relationships between chemical exposure and female reproductive disorders, however, have proven problematic to determine. This has made it difficult to assess the risks chemical exposures pose to a woman’s reproductive development and function. To address this challenge, this review uses the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) concept to summarize current knowledge about how chemical exposure can affect female reproductive health. We have a special focus on effects on the ovaries, since they are essential for lifelong reproductive health in women, being the source of both oocytes and several reproductive hormones, including sex steroids. The AOP framework is widely accepted as a new tool for toxicological safety assessment that enables better use of mechanistic knowledge for regulatory purposes. AOPs equip assessors and regulators with a pragmatic network of linear cause–effect relationships, enabling the use of a wider range of test method data in chemical risk assessment and regulation. Based on current knowledge, we propose ten putative AOPs relevant for female reproductive disorders that can be further elaborated and potentially be included in the AOPwiki. This effort is an important step towards better safeguarding the reproductive health of all girls and women.
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35
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Zeng M, Dai X, Liang Z, Sun R, Huang S, Luo L, Li Z. Critical roles of mRNA m 6A modification and YTHDC2 expression for meiotic initiation and progression in female germ cells. Gene 2020; 753:144810. [PMID: 32470506 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.144810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Meiotic entry and progression require dynamic regulation of germline gene expression. m6A on mRNAs and recognition by YTHDC2 has been known as post-transcriptional regulatory complex, but the roles of this regulator remain unclear for meiotic initiation and progression in female germ cells (FGCs). This study showed that m6A modification occurred mainly in FGCs rather than ovarian somatic cells (SOMAs), and m6A levels in FGCs increased significantly with meiotic initiation. m6A inhibition suppressed expression of the meiotic markers and affected the percent of FGCs at zygotene, pachytene and diplotene stage respectively. YTHDC2 expression also increased in the same pattern with m6A. Ythdc2 knockdown decreased the percent of STRA8-positive FGCs and altered the percent of FGCs at zygotene and pachytene stage respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that mRNA m6A modification and YTHDC2 expression are essential for meiotic initiation and progression in FGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zeng
- Medical Research Institute, Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518133, China
| | - Xin Dai
- Medical Research Institute, Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518133, China
| | - Zhibing Liang
- Medical Research Institute, Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518133, China
| | - Ruliang Sun
- Department of Pathology, Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518133, China
| | - Sui Huang
- Department of Pathology, Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518133, China
| | - Liangping Luo
- Medical Imaging Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
| | - Zhongxiang Li
- Medical Research Institute, Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518133, China.
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36
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Yamashiro C, Sasaki K, Yokobayashi S, Kojima Y, Saitou M. Generation of human oogonia from induced pluripotent stem cells in culture. Nat Protoc 2020; 15:1560-1583. [PMID: 32231324 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-0297-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The human germ-cell lineage originates as human primordial germ cells (hPGCs). hPGCs undergo genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming and differentiate into oogonia or gonocytes, precursors for oocytes or spermatogonia, respectively. Here, we describe a protocol to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into oogonia in vitro. hiPSCs are induced into incipient mesoderm-like cells (iMeLCs) using activin A and a WNT pathway agonist. iMeLCs, or, alternatively, hPSCs cultured with divergent signaling inhibitors, are induced into hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) in floating aggregates by cytokines including bone morphogenic protein 4. hPGCLCs are aggregated with mouse embryonic ovarian somatic cells to form xenogeneic reconstituted ovaries, which are cultured under an air-liquid interface condition for ~4 months for hPGCLCs to differentiate into oogonia and immediate precursory states for oocytes. To date, this is the only approach that generates oogonia from hPGCLCs. The protocol is suitable for investigating the mechanisms of hPGC specification and epigenetic reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chika Yamashiro
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kotaro Sasaki
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shihori Yokobayashi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoji Kojima
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. .,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. .,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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37
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Nagaoka SI, Nakaki F, Miyauchi H, Nosaka Y, Ohta H, Yabuta Y, Kurimoto K, Hayashi K, Nakamura T, Yamamoto T, Saitou M. ZGLP1 is a determinant for the oogenic fate in mice. Science 2020; 367:science.aaw4115. [PMID: 32054698 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw4115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Sex determination of germ cells is vital to creating the sexual dichotomy of germ cell development, thereby ensuring sexual reproduction. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that ZGLP1, a conserved transcriptional regulator with GATA-like zinc fingers, determines the oogenic fate in mice. ZGLP1 acts downstream of bone morphogenetic protein, but not retinoic acid (RA), and is essential for the oogenic program and meiotic entry. ZGLP1 overexpression induces differentiation of in vitro primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs) into fetal oocytes by activating the oogenic programs repressed by Polycomb activities, whereas RA signaling contributes to oogenic program maturation and PGC program repression. Our findings elucidate the mechanism for mammalian oogenic fate determination, providing a foundation for promoting in vitro gametogenesis and reproductive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- So I Nagaoka
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Fumio Nakaki
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Miyauchi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Nosaka
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ohta
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Yabuta
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Kazuki Kurimoto
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Tomonori Nakamura
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Takuya Yamamoto
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.,AMED-CREST, AMED, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan.,Medical-risk Avoidance based on iPS Cells Team, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. .,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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38
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Retinoic Acid and Germ Cell Development in the Ovary and Testis. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9120775. [PMID: 31771306 PMCID: PMC6995559 DOI: 10.3390/biom9120775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA), a derivative of vitamin A, is critical for the production of oocytes and sperm in mammals. These gametes derive from primordial germ cells, which colonize the nascent gonad, and later undertake sexual differentiation to produce oocytes or sperm. During fetal development, germ cells in the ovary initiate meiosis in response to RA, whereas those in the testis do not yet initiate meiosis, as they are insulated from RA, and undergo cell cycle arrest. After birth, male germ cells resume proliferation and undergo a transition to spermatogonia, which are destined to develop into haploid spermatozoa via spermatogenesis. Recent findings indicate that RA levels change periodically in adult testes to direct not only meiotic initiation, but also other key developmental transitions to ensure that spermatogenesis is precisely organized for the prodigious output of sperm. This review focuses on how female and male germ cells develop in the ovary and testis, respectively, and the role of RA in this process.
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39
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Yang Y, Wilson MJ. Genome-wide analysis of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 modifications throughout the mouse urogenital ridge at E11.5. GENE REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2019.100412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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40
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Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) must complete a complex and dynamic developmental program during embryogenesis to establish the germline. This process is highly conserved and involves a diverse array of tasks required of PGCs, including migration, survival, sex differentiation, and extensive epigenetic reprogramming. A common theme across many organisms is that PGC success is heterogeneous: only a portion of all PGCs complete all these steps while many other PGCs are eliminated from further germline contribution. The differences that distinguish successful PGCs as a population are not well understood. Here, we examine variation that exists in PGCs as they navigate the many stages of this developmental journey. We explore potential sources of PGC heterogeneity and their potential implications in affecting germ cell behaviors. Lastly, we discuss the potential for PGC development to function as a multistage selection process that assesses heterogeneity in PGCs to refine germline quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H Nguyen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Center for Reproductive Sciences, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Rebecca G Jaszczak
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Center for Reproductive Sciences, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Diana J Laird
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Center for Reproductive Sciences, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
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41
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Meiotic gatekeeper STRA8 suppresses autophagy by repressing Nr1d1 expression during spermatogenesis in mice. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008084. [PMID: 31059511 PMCID: PMC6502318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The transition from mitotic to meiotic cell cycles is essential for haploid gamete formation and fertility. Stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8) is an essential gatekeeper of meiotic initiation in vertebrates; yet, the molecular role of STRA8 remains principally unknown. Here we demonstrate that STRA8 functions as a suppressor of autophagy during spermatogenesis in mice. Stra8-deficient germ cells fail to enter meiosis and present aberrant upregulation of autophagy-lysosome genes, commensurate with autophagy activation. Biochemical assays show that ectopic expression of STRA8 alone is sufficient to inhibit both autophagy induction and maturation. Studies also revealed that, Nr1d1, a nuclear hormone receptor gene, is upregulated in Stra8-deficient testes and that STRA8 binds to the Nr1d1 promoter, indicating that Nr1d1 is a direct target of STRA8 transcriptional repression. In addition, it was found that NR1D1 binds to the promoter of Ulk1, a gene essential for autophagy initiation, and that Nr1d1 is required for the upregulated Ulk1 expression in Stra8-deficient testes. Furthermore, both genetic deletion of Nr1d1 and pharmacologic inhibition of NR1D1 by its synthetic antagonist SR8278 exhibit rescuing effects on the meiotic initiation defects observed in Stra8-deficient male germ cells. Together, the data suggest a novel link between STRA8-mediated autophagy suppression and meiotic initiation. Meiotic initiation is a key feature of sexual reproduction that launches an intricate chromosomal program involving DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), homolog pairing, cohesion, synapsis, and recombination. Vertebrate gene Stra8 is an essential gatekeeper of meiotic initiation. However, the molecular role of STRA8 and its target genes remain elusive. Using mouse spermatogenesis as a model, we report that STRA8 suppresses autophagy by repressing the transcription of a nuclear hormone receptor gene Nr1d1, and in turn, silencing the expression of Ulk1, a gene essential for autophagy initiation. Given that autophagy is critical for protein and cellular organelle recycling and for preventing genomic instability, our study suggests that this newly demonstrated function of STRA8, as a suppressor of autophagy, may be an important mechanistic feature of its role in meiotic initiation.
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Cahoon CK, Libuda DE. Leagues of their own: sexually dimorphic features of meiotic prophase I. Chromosoma 2019; 128:199-214. [PMID: 30826870 PMCID: PMC6823309 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-019-00692-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Meiosis is a conserved cell division process that is used by sexually reproducing organisms to generate haploid gametes. Males and females produce different end products of meiosis: eggs (females) and sperm (males). In addition, these unique end products demonstrate sex-specific differences that occur throughout meiosis to produce the final genetic material that is packaged into distinct gametes with unique extracellular morphologies and nuclear sizes. These sexually dimorphic features of meiosis include the meiotic chromosome architecture, in which both the lengths of the chromosomes and the requirement for specific meiotic axis proteins being different between the sexes. Moreover, these changes likely cause sex-specific changes in the recombination landscape with the sex that has the longer chromosomes usually obtaining more crossovers. Additionally, epigenetic regulation of meiosis may contribute to sexually dimorphic recombination landscapes. Here we explore the sexually dimorphic features of both the chromosome axis and crossing over for each stage of meiotic prophase I in Mus musculus, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, we consider how sex-specific changes in the meiotic chromosome axes and the epigenetic landscape may function together to regulate crossing over in each sex, indicating that the mechanisms controlling crossing over may be different in oogenesis and spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cori K Cahoon
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, 1370 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR, 97403-1229, USA
| | - Diana E Libuda
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, 1370 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR, 97403-1229, USA.
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43
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Abstract
Germline stem cells are sexually indifferent or flexible even in the mature ovary and testis. Acquiring sex identity consistent with the sex of the body is a critical issue in germline stem cells for producing eggs or sperm. However, the molecular mechanism of the sexual fate decision in germ cells is unclear. Medaka is the first vertebrate in which germline stem cells were found in the mature ovary (Nakamura, Kobayashi, Nishimura, Higashijima, & Tanaka, 2010), and a germ cell autonomous switch gene involved in the sexual fate decision, foxl3, was identified (Nishimura et al., 2015) in vertebrates. Here, the mechanism underlying the sex identity of germ cells is described based on the current understanding of germ cell behavior during the sexual fate decision. The control of foxl3 expression in germ cells and components acting downstream of foxl3 are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
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44
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Abstract
Evolution of genetic mechanisms of sex determination led to two processes causing sex differences in somatic phenotypes: gonadal differentiation and sex chromosome dosage inequality. In species with heteromorphic sex chromosomes, the sex of the individual is established at the time of formation of the zygote, leading to inherent sex differences in expression of sex chromosome genes beginning as soon as the embryonic transcriptome is activated. The inequality of sex chromosome gene expression causes sexual differentiation of the gonads and of non-gonadal tissues. The difference in gonad type in turn causes lifelong differences in gonadal hormones, which interact with unequal effects of X and Y genes acting within cells. Separating the effects of gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes has been possible using mouse models in which gonadal determination is separated from the sex chromosomes, allowing comparison of XX and XY mice with the same type of gonad. Sex differences caused by gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes affect basic physiology and disease mechanisms in most or all tissues.
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45
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Zhao L, Wang C, Lehman ML, He M, An J, Svingen T, Spiller CM, Ng ET, Nelson CC, Koopman P. Transcriptomic analysis of mRNA expression and alternative splicing during mouse sex determination. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 478:84-96. [PMID: 30053582 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian sex determination hinges on sexually dimorphic transcriptional programs in developing fetal gonads. A comprehensive view of these programs is crucial for understanding the normal development of fetal testes and ovaries and the etiology of human disorders of sex development (DSDs), many of which remain unexplained. Using strand-specific RNA-sequencing, we characterized the mouse fetal gonadal transcriptome from 10.5 to 13.5 days post coitum, a key time window in sex determination and gonad development. Our dataset benefits from a greater sensitivity, accuracy and dynamic range compared to microarray studies, allows global dynamics and sex-specificity of gene expression to be assessed, and provides a window to non-transcriptional events such as alternative splicing. Spliceomic analysis uncovered female-specific regulation of Lef1 splicing, which may contribute to the enhanced WNT signaling activity in XX gonads. We provide a user-friendly visualization tool for the complete transcriptomic and spliceomic dataset as a resource for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Chenwei Wang
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, 4102, Australia
| | - Melanie L Lehman
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, 4102, Australia
| | - Mingyu He
- Longsoft, Brisbane, Queensland, 4109, Australia
| | - Jiyuan An
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, 4102, Australia
| | - Terje Svingen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Cassy M Spiller
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Ee Ting Ng
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Colleen C Nelson
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, 4102, Australia
| | - Peter Koopman
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
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46
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Eichenlaub-Ritter U. Weibliche Keimzellentwicklung. GYNAKOLOGISCHE ENDOKRINOLOGIE 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10304-018-0210-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Stévant I, Nef S. Single cell transcriptome sequencing: A new approach for the study of mammalian sex determination. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 468:11-18. [PMID: 29371022 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 01/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian sex determination is a highly complex developmental process that is particularly difficult to study due to the limited number of gonadal cells present at the bipotential stage, the large cellular heterogeneity in both testis and ovaries and the rapid sex-dependent differentiation processes. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) circumvents the averaging artifacts associated with methods traditionally used to profile bulk populations of cells. It is a powerful tool that allows the identification and classification of cell populations in a comprehensive and unbiased manner. In particular, scRNA-seq enables the tracing of cells along developmental trajectories and characterization of the transcriptional dynamics controlling their differentiation. In this review, we describe the current state-of-the-art experimental methods used for scRNA-seq and discuss their strengths and limitations. Additionally, we summarize the multiple key insights that scRNA-seq has provided to the understanding of mammalian sex determination. Finally, we briefly discuss the future of this technology, as well as complementary applications in single cell -omics in the context of mammalian sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Stévant
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; iGE3, Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; SIB, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Serge Nef
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; iGE3, Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
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Induction of fetal primary oocytes and the meiotic prophase from mouse pluripotent stem cells. Methods Cell Biol 2018; 144:409-429. [PMID: 29804680 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Meiosis is a key mechanism that ensures sexual reproduction and creates genetic diversity. Here we describe a method that induces fetal oocytes and the prophase of the first meiotic division from mouse pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) under defined conditions. PSCs are induced into epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs), which are in turn induced into primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). PGCLCs are expanded robustly in the presence of forskolin and rolipram, which elevate intracellular cyclic AMP levels. The expanded PGCLCs comprehensively erase their DNA methylome in a manner that recapitulates genome-wide DNA demethylation in germ cells in vivo, and are in turn induced efficiently into the oogenic pathway and the prophase of the first meiotic division up to the pachytene stage in response to bone morphogenetic protein and retinoic acid. This in vitro strategy provides a powerful foundation for exploring the mechanisms of initiation and progression of mammalian oogenesis and meiosis.
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Nagaoka SI, Saitou M. Reconstitution of Female Germ Cell Fate Determination and Meiotic Initiation in Mammals. COLD SPRING HARBOR SYMPOSIA ON QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2017; 82:213-222. [PMID: 29208639 DOI: 10.1101/sqb.2017.82.033803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Meiosis is a fundamental process that underpins sexual reproduction. In mammals, the execution of meiosis is tightly integrated within the complex processes of oogenesis and spermatogenesis, and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms regulating meiotic initiation remains challenging. We have recently developed in vitro culture strategies to induce mouse pluripotent stem cells into germ cells, which successfully contribute to both oogenesis and spermatogenesis and to fertile offspring. The culture strategies faithfully recapitulate transcriptional and epigenetic dynamics as well as signaling principles for germ cell specification, proliferation, and female sex determination/meiotic induction, providing a valuable platform for studies to illuminate the molecular mechanisms underlying such critical processes. Here, we review mammalian gametogenesis with a focus on the implementation of meiosis and, based on our recent studies, discuss new insights into the mechanisms for meiotic initiation and germ cell sex determination in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- So I Nagaoka
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- JST, ERATO, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- JST, ERATO, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Ushinomiya-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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Gill ME, Peters AH. Initiating meiosis in a dish. EMBO J 2017; 36:3097-3099. [PMID: 28978668 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201798101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mark E Gill
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Hfm Peters
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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