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Shirasawa A, Hayashi M, Shono M, Ideta A, Yoshino T, Hayashi K. Efficient derivation of embryonic stem cells and primordial germ cell-like cells in cattle. J Reprod Dev 2024; 70:82-95. [PMID: 38355134 PMCID: PMC11017101 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2023-087] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The induction of the germ cell lineage from pluripotent stem cells (in vitro gametogenesis) will help understand the mechanisms underlying germ cell differentiation and provide an alternative source of gametes for reproduction. This technology is especially important for cattle, which are among the most important livestock species for milk and meat production. Here, we developed a new method for robust induction of primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs) from newly established bovine embryonic stem (bES) cells. First, we refined the pluripotent culture conditions for pre-implantation embryos and ES cells. Inhibition of RHO increased the number of epiblast cells in the pre-implantation embryos and dramatically improved the efficiency of ES cell establishment. We then determined suitable culture conditions for PGCLC differentiation using bES cells harboring BLIMP1-tdTomato and TFAP2C-mNeonGreen (BTTN) reporter constructs. After a 24-h culture with bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), followed by three-dimensional culture with BMP4 and a chemical agonist and WNT signaling chemical antagonist, bES cells became positive for the reporters. A set of primordial germ cells (PGC) marker genes, including PRDM1/BLIMP1, TFAP2C, SOX17, and NANOS3, were expressed in BTTN-positive cells. These bovine PGCLCs (bPGCLCs) were isolated as KIT/CD117-positive and CD44-negative cell populations. We anticipate that this method for the efficient establishment of bES cells and induction of PGCLCs will be useful for stem cell-based reproductive technologies in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Shirasawa
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Zen-noh Embryo Transfer Center, Fukuoka 810-0001, Japan
| | - Masafumi Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Mayumi Shono
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Atsushi Ideta
- Zen-noh Embryo Transfer Center, Fukuoka 810-0001, Japan
| | - Takashi Yoshino
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine (WPI-PRIMe), Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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2
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Chousal JN, Morey R, Srinivasan S, Lee K, Zhang W, Yeo AL, To C, Cho K, Garzo VG, Parast MM, Laurent LC, Cook-Andersen H. Molecular profiling of human blastocysts reveals primitive endoderm defects among embryos of decreased implantation potential. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113701. [PMID: 38277271 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113701] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Human embryo implantation is remarkably inefficient, and implantation failure remains among the greatest obstacles in treating infertility. Gene expression data from human embryos have accumulated rapidly in recent years; however, identification of the subset of genes that determine successful implantation remains a challenge. We leverage clinical morphologic grading-known for decades to correlate with implantation potential-and transcriptome analyses of matched embryonic and abembryonic samples to identify factors and pathways enriched and depleted in human blastocysts of good and poor morphology. Unexpectedly, we discovered that the greatest difference was in the state of extraembryonic primitive endoderm (PrE) development, with relative deficiencies in poor morphology blastocysts. Our results suggest that implantation success is most strongly influenced by the embryonic compartment and that deficient PrE development is common among embryos with decreased implantation potential. Our study provides a valuable resource for those investigating the markers and mechanisms of human embryo implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N Chousal
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Robert Morey
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Srimeenakshi Srinivasan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Katherine Lee
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Reproductive Partners Fertility Center - San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ana Lisa Yeo
- Reproductive Partners Fertility Center - San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Cuong To
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kyucheol Cho
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - V Gabriel Garzo
- Reproductive Partners Fertility Center - San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mana M Parast
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Louise C Laurent
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Heidi Cook-Andersen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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3
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Lee M, Oh JN, Choe GC, Choi KH, Lee DK, Kim SH, Jeong J, Ahn Y, Lee CK. NANOG expression in parthenogenetic porcine blastocysts is required for intact lineage specification and pluripotency. Anim Biosci 2023; 36:1905-1917. [PMID: 37641830 PMCID: PMC10623019 DOI: 10.5713/ab.23.0210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Nanog homeobox (NANOG) is a core transcription factor that contributes to pluripotency along with octamer binding transcription factor-4 (OCT4) and sex determining region-Y box-2 (SOX2). It is an epiblast lineage marker in mammalian pre-implantation embryos and exhibits a species-specific expression pattern. Therefore, it is important to understand the lineage of NANOG, the trophectoderm, and the primitive endoderm in the pig embryo. METHODS A loss- and gain-of-function analysis was done to determine the role of NANOG in lineage specification in parthenogenetic porcine blastocysts. We analyzed the relationship between NANOG and pluripotent core transcription factors and other lineage makers. RESULTS In NANOG-null late blastocysts, OCT4-, SOX2-, and SOX17-positive cells were decreased, whereas GATA binding protein 6 (GATA6)-positive cells were increased. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that the expression of SOX2 was decreased in NANOG-null blastocysts, whereas that of primitive endoderm makers, except SOX17, was increased. In NANOG-overexpressing blastocysts, caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2-), SOX17-, and GATA6-positive cells were decreased. The results indicated that the expression of primitive endoderm markers and trophectoderm-related genes was decreased. CONCLUSION Taken together, the results demonstrate that NANOG is involved in the epiblast and primitive endoderm differentiation and is essential for maintaining pluripotency within the epiblast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyun Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826,
Korea
| | - Jong-Nam Oh
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510,
USA
| | - Gyung Cheol Choe
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826,
Korea
| | - Kwang-Hwan Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826,
Korea
| | - Dong-Kyung Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826,
Korea
| | - Seung-Hun Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826,
Korea
| | - Jinsol Jeong
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826,
Korea
| | - Yelim Ahn
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826,
Korea
| | - Chang-Kyu Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Major, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826,
Korea
- Institute of Green Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354,
Korea
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4
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Speckhart SL, Oliver MA, Ealy AD. Developmental Hurdles That Can Compromise Pregnancy during the First Month of Gestation in Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1760. [PMID: 37889637 PMCID: PMC10251927 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Several key developmental events are associated with early embryonic pregnancy losses in beef and dairy cows. These developmental problems are observed at a greater frequency in pregnancies generated from in-vitro-produced bovine embryos. This review describes critical problems that arise during oocyte maturation, fertilization, early embryonic development, compaction and blastulation, embryonic cell lineage specification, elongation, gastrulation, and placentation. Additionally, discussed are potential remediation strategies, but unfortunately, corrective actions are not available for several of the problems being discussed. Further research is needed to produce bovine embryos that have a greater likelihood of surviving to term.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan D. Ealy
- School of Animal Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (S.L.S.); (M.A.O.)
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5
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Pinzón-Arteaga CA, Wang Y, Wei Y, Ribeiro Orsi AE, Li L, Scatolin G, Liu L, Sakurai M, Ye J, Hao Ming, Yu L, Li B, Jiang Z, Wu J. Bovine blastocyst-like structures derived from stem cell cultures. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:611-616.e7. [PMID: 37146582 PMCID: PMC10230549 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of blastocyst formation and implantation is critical for improving farm animal reproduction but is hampered by a limited supply of embryos. Here, we developed an efficient method to generate bovine blastocyst-like structures (termed blastoids) via assembling bovine trophoblast stem cells and expanded potential stem cells. Bovine blastoids resemble blastocysts in morphology, cell composition, single-cell transcriptomes, in vitro growth, and the ability to elicit maternal recognition of pregnancy following transfer to recipient cows. Bovine blastoids represent an accessible in vitro model for studying embryogenesis and improving reproductive efficiency in livestock species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Pinzón-Arteaga
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yinjuan Wang
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, USA
| | - Yulei Wei
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China, Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ana E Ribeiro Orsi
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leijie Li
- SJTU-Yale Joint Center for Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Giovanna Scatolin
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, USA; Department of Animal Sciences, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Lizhong Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Masahiro Sakurai
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jianfeng Ye
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hao Ming
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, USA
| | - Leqian Yu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; The State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Bo Li
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Zongliang Jiang
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, USA; Department of Animal Sciences, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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6
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Ramos-Ibeas P, Pérez-Gómez A, González-Brusi L, Quiroga AC, Bermejo-Álvarez P. Pre-hatching exposure to N2B27 medium improves post-hatching development of bovine embryos in vitro. Theriogenology 2023; 205:73-78. [PMID: 37087966 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Ungulate embryos undergo critical cell differentiation and proliferation events around and after blastocyst hatching. Failures in these processes lead to early pregnancy losses, which generate an important economic impact on farming. Conventional embryo culture media, such as SOF, are unable to support embryo development beyond hatching. In contrast, N2B27 medium supports early post-hatching development, evidencing a swift in embryonic nutritional requirements during this developmental window. Here, we investigate if earlier exposure to N2B27 could improve embryo development after hatching. Embryo culture in N2B27 from day (D) 5, 6 or 7 significantly enhanced complete hypoblast migration (>45 vs. ∼24%) and epiblast development into an embryonic disc (ED)-like structure at D12 (>40 vs. 23%), compared to embryos cultured in SOF up to D9. Culture in N2B27 from D5 significantly increased epiblast and hypoblast cell number in D8 blastocysts, but post-hatching embryos cultured in N2B27 from D5 or 6 frequently showed a disorganized distribution of epiblast cells. In conclusion, bovine embryo culture in N2B27 from D7 onwards improves subsequent post-hatching development. This improved fully in vitro system will be very useful to functionally explore cell differentiation mechanisms and the bases of early pregnancy failures without requiring animal experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ramos-Ibeas
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - A Pérez-Gómez
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - L González-Brusi
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - A C Quiroga
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain
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7
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Effects of fetal bovine serum on trophectoderm and primitive endoderm cell allocation of in vitro-produced bovine embryos. ZYGOTE 2023; 31:44-50. [PMID: 36278322 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199422000491] [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: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Supplementing embryonic culture medium with fetal bovine serum (FBS) renders this medium undefined. Glucose and growth factors present in FBS may affect the results of cell differentiation studies. This study tested the hypothesis that FBS supplementation during in vitro culture (IVC) alters cell differentiation in early bovine embryo development. Bovine embryos were produced in vitro and randomly distributed into three experimental groups at 90 h post insemination (90 hpi): the KSOM-FBS group, which consisted of a 5% (v/v) FBS supplementation; the KSOM33 group, with the renewal of 33% of medium volume; and the KSOM-Zero group, without FBS supplementation nor renewal of the culture medium. The results showed that the blastocyst rate (blastocyst/oocytes) at 210 hpi in the KSOM-FBS group was higher than in the KSOM-Zero group but not different from the KSOM33 group. There were no significant changes in metabolism-related aspects, such as fluorescence intensities of CellROX Green and MitoTracker Red or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD+). Immunofluorescence analysis of CDX2 revealed that the lack of FBS or medium supplementation reduced the number of trophectoderm (TE) cells and total cells. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed a reduction of SOX17-positive cell numbers after FBS supplementation compared with the KSOM33 group. Therefore, we concluded that FBS absence reduced blastocyst rates; however, no reduction occurred when there was a 33% volume renewal of the medium at 90 hpi. We also concluded that FBS supplementation altered TE and primitive endoderm cell allocation during early bovine embryo development.
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8
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Chowdhary S, Hadjantonakis AK. Journey of the mouse primitive endoderm: from specification to maturation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210252. [PMID: 36252215 PMCID: PMC9574636 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The blastocyst is a conserved stage and distinct milestone in the development of the mammalian embryo. Blastocyst stage embryos comprise three cell lineages which arise through two sequential binary cell fate specification steps. In the first, extra-embryonic trophectoderm (TE) cells segregate from inner cell mass (ICM) cells. Subsequently, ICM cells acquire a pluripotent epiblast (Epi) or extra-embryonic primitive endoderm (PrE, also referred to as hypoblast) identity. In the mouse, nascent Epi and PrE cells emerge in a salt-and-pepper distribution in the early blastocyst and are subsequently sorted into adjacent tissue layers by the late blastocyst stage. Epi cells cluster at the interior of the ICM, while PrE cells are positioned on its surface interfacing the blastocyst cavity, where they display apicobasal polarity. As the embryo implants into the maternal uterus, cells at the periphery of the PrE epithelium, at the intersection with the TE, break away and migrate along the TE as they mature into parietal endoderm (ParE). PrE cells remaining in association with the Epi mature into visceral endoderm. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the PrE from its specification to its maturation. This article is part of the theme issue 'Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayali Chowdhary
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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9
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Simmet K, Kurome M, Zakhartchenko V, Reichenbach HD, Springer C, Bähr A, Blum H, Philippou-Massier J, Wolf E. OCT4/POU5F1 is indispensable for the lineage differentiation of the inner cell mass in bovine embryos. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22337. [PMID: 35486003 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101713rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian blastocyst undergoes two lineage segregations, that is, formation of the trophectoderm and subsequently differentiation of the hypoblast (HB) from the inner cell mass, leaving the epiblast (EPI) as the remaining pluripotent lineage. To clarify the expression patterns of markers specific for these lineages in bovine embryos, we analyzed day 7, 9, and 12 blastocysts completely produced in vivo by staining for OCT4, NANOG, SOX2 (EPI), and GATA6, SOX17 (HB) and identified genes specific for these developmental stages in a global transcriptomics approach. To study the role of OCT4, we generated OCT4-deficient (OCT4 KO) embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer or in vitro fertilization. OCT4 KO embryos reached the expanded blastocyst stage by day 8 but lost NANOG and SOX17 expression, while SOX2 and GATA6 were unaffected. Blastocysts transferred to recipient cows from day 6 to 9 expanded, but the OCT4 KO phenotype was not rescued by the uterine environment. Exposure of OCT4 KO embryos to exogenous FGF4 or chimeric complementation with OCT4 intact embryos did not restore NANOG or SOX17 in OCT4-deficient cells. Our data show that OCT4 is required cell autonomously for the maintenance of pluripotency of the EPI and differentiation of the HB in bovine embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Simmet
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Mayuko Kurome
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Valeri Zakhartchenko
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | | | - Claudia Springer
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Andrea Bähr
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Helmut Blum
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Philippou-Massier
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany.,Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, Institute of Animal Breeding, Poing, Germany
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10
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Pluripotent Core in Bovine Embryos: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12081010. [PMID: 35454256 PMCID: PMC9032358 DOI: 10.3390/ani12081010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early development in mammals is characterized by the ability of each cell to produce a complete organism plus the extraembryonic, or placental, cells, defined as pluripotency. During subsequent development, pluripotency is lost, and cells begin to differentiate to a particular cell fate. This review summarizes the current knowledge of pluripotency features of bovine embryos cultured in vitro, focusing on the core of pluripotency genes (OCT4, NANOG, SOX2, and CDX2), and main chemical strategies for controlling pluripotent networks during early development. Finally, we discuss the applicability of manipulating pluripotency during the morula to blastocyst transition in cattle species.
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11
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Kinoshita M, Kobayashi T, Planells B, Klisch D, Spindlow D, Masaki H, Bornelöv S, Stirparo GG, Matsunari H, Uchikura A, Lamas-Toranzo I, Nichols J, Nakauchi H, Nagashima H, Alberio R, Smith A. Pluripotent stem cells related to embryonic disc exhibit common self-renewal requirements in diverse livestock species. Development 2021; 148:273644. [PMID: 34874452 PMCID: PMC8714072 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite four decades of effort, robust propagation of pluripotent stem cells from livestock animals remains challenging. The requirements for self-renewal are unclear and the relationship of cultured stem cells to pluripotent cells resident in the embryo uncertain. Here, we avoided using feeder cells or serum factors to provide a defined culture microenvironment. We show that the combination of activin A, fibroblast growth factor and the Wnt inhibitor XAV939 (AFX) supports establishment and continuous expansion of pluripotent stem cell lines from porcine, ovine and bovine embryos. Germ layer differentiation was evident in teratomas and readily induced in vitro. Global transcriptome analyses highlighted commonality in transcription factor expression across the three species, while global comparison with porcine embryo stages showed proximity to bilaminar disc epiblast. Clonal genetic manipulation and gene targeting were exemplified in porcine stem cells. We further demonstrated that genetically modified AFX stem cells gave rise to cloned porcine foetuses by nuclear transfer. In summary, for major livestock mammals, pluripotent stem cells related to the formative embryonic disc are reliably established using a common and defined signalling environment. This article has an associated ‘The people behind the papers’ interview. Summary: We report the derivation of similar, stable and continuously expandable pluripotent stem cells related to embryonic disc epiblast from embryos of pig, sheep and cow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Kinoshita
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffery Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Toshihiro Kobayashi
- Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan.,Division of Mammalian Embryology, Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Benjamin Planells
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Nottingham LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Doris Klisch
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Nottingham LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Daniel Spindlow
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffery Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK.,Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Hideki Masaki
- Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Distinguished Professor Unit, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Susanne Bornelöv
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffery Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Giuliano Giuseppe Stirparo
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffery Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK.,Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Hitomi Matsunari
- Laboratory of Medical Bioengineering, Department of Life Sciences, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashi-mita, Tama, Kawasaki 214-8571, Japan
| | - Ayuko Uchikura
- Laboratory of Medical Bioengineering, Department of Life Sciences, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashi-mita, Tama, Kawasaki 214-8571, Japan
| | - Ismael Lamas-Toranzo
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffery Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK.,School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Nottingham LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Jennifer Nichols
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffery Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK.,Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Hiromitsu Nakauchi
- Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Distinguished Professor Unit, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.,Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305USA
| | - Hiroshi Nagashima
- Laboratory of Medical Bioengineering, Department of Life Sciences, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashi-mita, Tama, Kawasaki 214-8571, Japan
| | - Ramiro Alberio
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Nottingham LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffery Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK.,Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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12
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Springer C, Zakhartchenko V, Wolf E, Simmet K. Hypoblast Formation in Bovine Embryos Does Not Depend on NANOG. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092232. [PMID: 34571882 PMCID: PMC8466907 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the pluripotency factor NANOG during the second embryonic lineage differentiation has been studied extensively in mouse, although species-specific differences exist. To elucidate the role of NANOG in an alternative model organism, we knocked out NANOG in fibroblast cells and produced bovine NANOG-knockout (KO) embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). At day 8, NANOG-KO blastocysts showed a decreased total cell number when compared to controls from SCNT (NT Ctrl). The pluripotency factors OCT4 and SOX2 as well as the hypoblast (HB) marker GATA6 were co-expressed in all cells of the inner cell mass (ICM) and, in contrast to mouse Nanog-KO, expression of the late HB marker SOX17 was still present. We blocked the MEK-pathway with a MEK 1/2 inhibitor, and control embryos showed an increase in NANOG positive cells, but SOX17 expressing HB precursor cells were still present. NANOG-KO together with MEK-inhibition was lethal before blastocyst stage, similarly to findings in mouse. Supplementation of exogenous FGF4 to NANOG-KO embryos did not change SOX17 expression in the ICM, unlike mouse Nanog-KO embryos, where missing SOX17 expression was completely rescued by FGF4. We conclude that NANOG mediated FGF/MEK signaling is not required for HB formation in the bovine embryo and that another—so far unknown—pathway regulates HB differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Springer
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (V.Z.); (E.W.)
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Valeri Zakhartchenko
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (V.Z.); (E.W.)
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (V.Z.); (E.W.)
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Kilian Simmet
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (V.Z.); (E.W.)
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
- Correspondence:
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13
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Gerri C, Menchero S, Mahadevaiah SK, Turner JMA, Niakan KK. Human Embryogenesis: A Comparative Perspective. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2021; 36:411-440. [PMID: 33021826 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-022020-024900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Understanding human embryology has historically relied on comparative approaches using mammalian model organisms. With the advent of low-input methods to investigate genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and efficient techniques to assess gene function, we can now study the human embryo directly. These advances have transformed the investigation of early embryogenesis in nonrodent species, thereby providing a broader understanding of conserved and divergent mechanisms. Here, we present an overview of the major events in human preimplantation development and place them in the context of mammalian evolution by comparing these events in other eutherian and metatherian species. We describe the advances of studies on postimplantation development and discuss stem cell models that mimic postimplantation embryos. A comparative perspective highlights the importance of analyzing different organisms with molecular characterization and functional studies to reveal the principles of early development. This growing field has a fundamental impact in regenerative medicine and raises important ethical considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Gerri
- Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom;
| | - Sergio Menchero
- Sex Chromosome Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom;
| | - Shantha K Mahadevaiah
- Sex Chromosome Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom;
| | - James M A Turner
- Sex Chromosome Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom;
| | - Kathy K Niakan
- Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom;
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14
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Alberio R, Kobayashi T, Surani MA. Conserved features of non-primate bilaminar disc embryos and the germline. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:1078-1092. [PMID: 33979595 PMCID: PMC8185373 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-implantation embryo development commences with a bilaminar disc in most mammals, including humans. Whereas access to early human embryos is limited and subject to greater ethical scrutiny, studies on non-primate embryos developing as bilaminar discs offer exceptional opportunities for advances in gastrulation, the germline, and the basis for evolutionary divergence applicable to human development. Here, we discuss the advantages of investigations in the pig embryo as an exemplar of development of a bilaminar disc embryo with relevance to early human development. Besides, the pig has the potential for the creation of humanized organs for xenotransplantation. Precise genetic engineering approaches, imaging, and single-cell analysis are cost effective and efficient, enabling research into some outstanding questions on human development and for developing authentic models of early human development with stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramiro Alberio
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
| | - Toshihiro Kobayashi
- Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan; The Graduate University of Advanced Studies, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - M Azim Surani
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK; Wellcome Trust/Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK.
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15
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Springer C, Wolf E, Simmet K. A New Toolbox in Experimental Embryology-Alternative Model Organisms for Studying Preimplantation Development. J Dev Biol 2021; 9:15. [PMID: 33918361 PMCID: PMC8167745 DOI: 10.3390/jdb9020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Preimplantation development is well conserved across mammalian species, but major differences in developmental kinetics, regulation of early lineage differentiation and implantation require studies in different model organisms, especially to better understand human development. Large domestic species, such as cattle and pig, resemble human development in many different aspects, i.e., the timing of zygotic genome activation, mechanisms of early lineage differentiations and the period until blastocyst formation. In this article, we give an overview of different assisted reproductive technologies, which are well established in cattle and pig and make them easily accessible to study early embryonic development. We outline the available technologies to create genetically modified models and to modulate lineage differentiation as well as recent methodological developments in genome sequencing and imaging, which form an immense toolbox for research. Finally, we compare the most recent findings in regulation of the first lineage differentiations across species and show how alternative models enhance our understanding of preimplantation development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Springer
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (E.W.)
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (E.W.)
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Kilian Simmet
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (C.S.); (E.W.)
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16
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Carreiro LE, Santos GSD, Luedke FE, Goissis MD. Cell differentiation events in pre-implantation mouse and bovine embryos. Anim Reprod 2021; 18:e20210054. [PMID: 35035540 PMCID: PMC8747937 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2021-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Early mammal embryogenesis starts with oocyte fertilization, giving rise to the zygote. The events that the newly formed zygote surpasses are crucial to the embryo developmental success. Shortly after activation of its genome, cells of the embryo segregate into the inner cell mass (ICM) or the trophectoderm (TE). The first will give rise to the embryo while the latter will become the placenta. This first segregation involves cellular and molecular processes that include cell polarity linked to intracellular pathway activation, which will regulate the transcription of trophectoderm-related genes. Then, cells of the ICM undergo the second event of mammalian cell differentiation, which consists of the separation between epiblast (EPI) and hypoblast or primitive endoderm (PrE). This second segregation involves paracrine signaling, leading to differential expression of key genes that will dictate the fate of the cell. Although these processes are described in detail in the mouse, recent studies suggest that the bovine embryo could also be an interesting model for early development, since there are differences to the mouse and similarities with early human embryogenesis. In this review, we gathered the main data available in the literature upon bovine and mouse early development events, suggesting that both models should be analyzed and studied in a complementary way, to better model early events occurring in human development.
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17
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Ramos-Ibeas P, Lamas-Toranzo I, Martínez-Moro Á, de Frutos C, Quiroga AC, Zurita E, Bermejo-Álvarez P. Embryonic disc formation following post-hatching bovine embryo development in vitro. Reproduction 2020; 160:579-589. [PMID: 32698149 PMCID: PMC7497357 DOI: 10.1530/rep-20-0243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Failures during conceptus elongation are a major cause of pregnancy losses in ungulates, exerting a relevant economic impact on farming. The developmental events occurring during this period are poorly understood, mainly because this process cannot be recapitulated in vitro. Previous studies have established an in vitro post-hatching development (PHD) system that supports bovine embryo development beyond the blastocyst stage, based on agarose gel tunnels and serum- and glucose-enriched medium. Unfortunately, under this system embryonic disc formation is not achieved and embryos show notorious signs of apoptosis and necrosis. The objective of this study has been to develop an in vitro system able to support embryonic disc formation. We first compared post-hatching development inside agarose tunnels or free-floating over an agarose-coated dish in serum- and glucose-enriched medium (PHD medium). Culture inside agarose tunnels shaped embryo morphology by physical constriction, but it restricted embryo growth and did not provide any significant advantage in terms of development of hypoblast and epiblast lineages. In contrast to PHD medium, a chemically defined and enriched medium (N2B27) supported complete hypoblast migration and epiblast survival in vitro, even in the absence of agarose coating. Cells expressing the pluripotency marker SOX2 were observed in ~56% of the embryos and ~25% developed embryonic disc-like structures formed by SOX2+ cells. In summary, here we provide a culture system that supports trophectoderm proliferation, hypoblast migration and epiblast survival after the blastocyst stage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Esther Zurita
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Madrid, Spain
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18
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Płusa B, Piliszek A. Common principles of early mammalian embryo self-organisation. Development 2020; 147:147/14/dev183079. [PMID: 32699138 DOI: 10.1242/dev.183079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pre-implantation mammalian development unites extreme plasticity with a robust outcome: the formation of a blastocyst, an organised multi-layered structure ready for implantation. The process of blastocyst formation is one of the best-known examples of self-organisation. The first three cell lineages in mammalian development specify and arrange themselves during the morphogenic process based on cell-cell interactions. Despite decades of research, the unifying principles driving early mammalian development are still not fully defined. Here, we discuss the role of physical forces, and molecular and cellular mechanisms, in driving self-organisation and lineage formation that are shared between eutherian mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berenika Płusa
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Anna Piliszek
- Department of Experimental Embryology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Postepu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
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19
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Warzych E, Pawlak P, Lechniak D, Madeja ZE. WNT signalling supported by MEK/ERK inhibition is essential to maintain pluripotency in bovine preimplantation embryo. Dev Biol 2020; 463:63-76. [PMID: 32360193 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.04.004] [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: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Capturing stable embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines from domesticated animals still remains one of the challenges of non-rodent embryology. The stake is high, as stable ESCs derived from species such as cattle present high economic and scientific value. Understanding of the processes leading to the embryonic lineage segregation is crucial to provide species-orientated molecular environment capable of supporting self-renewal and pluripotency. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the action of the two core regulatory pathways (WNT and MEK/ERK) during bovine embryo development. In vitro produced bovine embryos were obtained in the presence of inhibitors (i), which enable activation of the WNT pathway (via GSK3i, CHIR99021) and suppression of MEK signalling by PD0325901 in the 2i system and PD184325 and SU5402 in the 3i system. We have followed the changes in the distribution of the key lineage specific markers both at the transcript and protein level. Our results showed that WNT signalling promotes the expression of key inner cell mass (ICM) specific markers in bovine embryos, regardless of the MEK/ERK inhibitor cocktail used. MEK/ERK downregulation is crucial to maintain OCT4 and NANOG expression within the ICM and to prevent their exclusion from the trophectoderm (TE). At the same time, the classical TE marker (CDX2) was downregulated at the mRNA and protein level. As a follow up for the observed pluripotency stimulating effect of the inhibitors, we have tested the potential of the 2i and the 3i culture conditions (supported by LIF) to derive primary bovine ESC lines. As a result, we propose a model in which all of the primary signalling pathways determining embryonic cell fate are active in bovine embryos, yet the requirement for pluripotency maintenance in cattle may differ from the described standards. WNT activation leads to the formation (and stabilisation of the ICM) and MEK/ERK signalling is maintained at low levels. Unlike in the mouse, GATA6 is expressed in both ICM and TE. MEK/ERK signalling affects HP formation in cattle, but this process is activated at the post-blastocyst stage. With regard to self-renewal, 2i is preferable, as 3i also blocks the FGF receptor, what may prevent PI3K signalling, important for pluripotency and self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Warzych
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Piotr Pawlak
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Dorota Lechniak
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Zofia Eliza Madeja
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland.
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20
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Abstract
Early embryogenesis is characterized by the segregation of cell lineages that fulfill critical roles in the establishment of pregnancy and development of the fetus. The formation of the blastocyst marks the emergence of extraembryonic precursors, needed for implantation, and of pluripotent cells, which differentiate toward the major lineages of the adult organism. The coordinated emergence of these cell types shows that these processes are broadly conserved in mammals. However, developmental heterochrony and changes in gene regulatory networks highlight unique evolutionary adaptations that may explain the diversity in placentation and in the mechanisms controlling pluripotency in mammals. The incorporation of new technologies, including single-cell omics, imaging, and gene editing, is instrumental for comparative embryology. Broadening the knowledge of mammalian embryology will provide new insights into the mechanisms driving evolution and development. This knowledge can be readily translated into biomedical and biotechnological applications in humans and livestock, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramiro Alberio
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom;
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