1
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Wang Y, Ge H, Chen P, Wang Y. Wnt/β-catenin signaling in corneal epithelium development, homeostasis, and pathobiology. Exp Eye Res 2024; 246:110022. [PMID: 39117134 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.110022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
The corneal epithelium is located on the most anterior surface of the eyeball and protects against external stimuli. The development of the corneal epithelium and the maintenance of corneal homeostasis are essential for the maintenance of visual acuity. It has been discovered recently via the in-depth investigation of ocular surface illnesses that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is necessary for the growth and stratification of corneal epithelial cells as well as the control of endothelial cell stability. In addition, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is directly linked to the development of common corneal illnesses such as keratoconus, fungal keratitis, and corneal neovascularization. This review mainly summarizes the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the development, homeostasis, and pathobiology of cornea, hoping to provide new insights into the study of corneal epithelium and the treatment of related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Huanhuan Ge
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Peng Chen
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China; Institute of Stem Cell Regeneration Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Ye Wang
- Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Medical Group), Qingdao, Shandong 266042, China.
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2
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Correa E, Mialon M, Cizeron M, Bessereau JL, Pinan-Lucarre B, Kratsios P. UNC-30/PITX coordinates neurotransmitter identity with postsynaptic GABA receptor clustering. Development 2024; 151:dev202733. [PMID: 39190555 PMCID: PMC11385328 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202733] [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: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Terminal selectors are transcription factors that control neuronal identity by regulating expression of key effector molecules, such as neurotransmitter biosynthesis proteins and ion channels. Whether and how terminal selectors control neuronal connectivity is poorly understood. Here, we report that UNC-30 (PITX2/3), the terminal selector of GABA nerve cord motor neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans, is required for neurotransmitter receptor clustering, a hallmark of postsynaptic differentiation. Animals lacking unc-30 or madd-4B, the short isoform of the motor neuron-secreted synapse organizer madd-4 (punctin/ADAMTSL), display severe GABA receptor type A (GABAAR) clustering defects in postsynaptic muscle cells. Mechanistically, UNC-30 acts directly to induce and maintain transcription of madd-4B and GABA biosynthesis genes (e.g. unc-25/GAD, unc-47/VGAT). Hence, UNC-30 controls GABAA receptor clustering in postsynaptic muscle cells and GABA biosynthesis in presynaptic cells, transcriptionally coordinating two crucial processes for GABA neurotransmission. Further, we uncover multiple target genes and a dual role for UNC-30 as both an activator and a repressor of gene transcription. Our findings on UNC-30 function may contribute to our molecular understanding of human conditions, such as Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, caused by PITX2 and PITX3 gene variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Correa
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Committee on Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Morgane Mialon
- Melis, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5284, INSERM U1314, Institut NeuroMyoGene - Faculte de Medecine et de Pharmacie, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Mélissa Cizeron
- Melis, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5284, INSERM U1314, Institut NeuroMyoGene - Faculte de Medecine et de Pharmacie, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Jean-Louis Bessereau
- Melis, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5284, INSERM U1314, Institut NeuroMyoGene - Faculte de Medecine et de Pharmacie, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Berangere Pinan-Lucarre
- Melis, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5284, INSERM U1314, Institut NeuroMyoGene - Faculte de Medecine et de Pharmacie, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Paschalis Kratsios
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Committee on Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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3
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Topczewska PM, Savvopoulou A, Cosovanu C, Klose CSN. Transcriptional profiling identifies IL-33-expressing intestinal stromal cells as a signaling hub poised to interact with enteric neurons. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1420313. [PMID: 39149516 PMCID: PMC11325031 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1420313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in mucosal immunology have unveiled a complex network of intercellular connections within diverse tissues, shedding light on the unique properties of different cell types. Central to this intricate network is the cytokine IL-33, which has gained significant attention for its critical role in various diseases, from allergy to cancer, triggering type 2 immune responses, among others. Recent research has challenged the prior assumptions attributing IL-33 expression to epithelial cells, highlighting stromal cells as the predominant source in adipose tissue and the lungs. However, in the complex landscape of the intestine, where IL-33 plays a crucial role in mediating immune surveillance and tolerance and is implicated in many gut-related disorders, its primary source, regulation, and main characteristics need more exploration. This study identifies stromal cells as the primary IL-33-expressing cell type in the small intestine. By investigating their transcriptome and intrinsic signaling pathways, we have uncovered a possible role of IL-33+ stromal cells in maintaining the stem cell niche and their potential crosstalk with neurons relevant to the regulation of axonogenesis. Importantly, our experiments have demonstrated that vasoactive intestinal peptide stimulation of a primary intestinal stromal cell culture significantly amplifies IL-33 expression on mRNA and protein level. Therefore, our study represents a significant leap forward in understanding the plethora of interactions IL-33+ intestinal stromal cells maintain in the intestine, paving the way for future investigations into stromal-neuro crosstalk in the gut. These findings hold great promise for developing targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at harnessing the potential of IL-33 across a spectrum of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja M Topczewska
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Savvopoulou
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Catalina Cosovanu
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph S N Klose
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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4
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Peysson A, Zariohi N, Gendrel M, Chambert-Loir A, Frébault N, Cheynet E, Andrini O, Boulin T. Wnt-Ror-Dvl signalling and the dystrophin complex organize planar-polarized membrane compartments in C. elegans muscles. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4935. [PMID: 38858388 PMCID: PMC11164867 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49154-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell polarity mechanisms allow the formation of specialized membrane domains with unique protein compositions, signalling properties, and functional characteristics. By analyzing the localization of potassium channels and proteins belonging to the dystrophin-associated protein complex, we reveal the existence of distinct planar-polarized membrane compartments at the surface of C. elegans muscle cells. We find that muscle polarity is controlled by a non-canonical Wnt signalling cascade involving the ligand EGL-20/Wnt, the receptor CAM-1/Ror, and the intracellular effector DSH-1/Dishevelled. Interestingly, classical planar cell polarity proteins are not required for this process. Using time-resolved protein degradation, we demonstrate that -while it is essentially in place by the end of embryogenesis- muscle polarity is a dynamic state, requiring continued presence of DSH-1 throughout post-embryonic life. Our results reveal the unsuspected complexity of the C. elegans muscle membrane and establish a genetically tractable model system to study cellular polarity and membrane compartmentalization in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Peysson
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5284, INSERM U1314, MeLiS, Lyon, 69008, France
| | - Noura Zariohi
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5284, INSERM U1314, MeLiS, Lyon, 69008, France
| | - Marie Gendrel
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Amandine Chambert-Loir
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5284, INSERM U1314, MeLiS, Lyon, 69008, France
| | - Noémie Frébault
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5284, INSERM U1314, MeLiS, Lyon, 69008, France
| | - Elise Cheynet
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5284, INSERM U1314, MeLiS, Lyon, 69008, France
| | - Olga Andrini
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5284, INSERM U1314, MeLiS, Lyon, 69008, France
| | - Thomas Boulin
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5284, INSERM U1314, MeLiS, Lyon, 69008, France.
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5
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Aydin E, Callahan DL, Chong L, Azizoglu S, Gokhale M, Suphioglu C. The Plight of the Metabolite: Oxidative Stress and Tear Film Destabilisation Evident in Ocular Allergy Sufferers across Seasons in Victoria, Australia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4019. [PMID: 38612830 PMCID: PMC11012581 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074019] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ocular allergy (OA) is characterised by ocular surface itchiness, redness, and inflammation in response to allergen exposure. The primary aim of this study was to assess differences in the human tear metabolome and lipidome between OA and healthy controls (HCs) across peak allergy (spring-summer) and off-peak (autumn-winter) seasons in Victoria, Australia. A total of 19 participants (14 OA, 5 HCs) aged 18-45 were recruited and grouped by allergy questionnaire score. Metabolites and lipids from tear samples were analysed using mass spectrometry. Data were analysed using TraceFinder and Metaboanalyst. Metabolomics analysis showed 12 differentially expressed (DE) metabolites between those with OA and the HCs during the peak allergy season, and 24 DE metabolites were found in the off-peak season. The expression of niacinamide was upregulated in OA sufferers vs. HCs across both seasons (p ≤ 0.05). A total of 6 DE lipids were DE between those with OA and the HCs during the peak season, and 24 were DE in the off-peak season. Dysregulated metabolites affected oxidative stress, inflammation, and homeostasis across seasons, suggesting a link between OA-associated itch and ocular surface damage via eye rubbing. Tear lipidome changes were minimal between but suggested tear film destabilisation and thinning. Such metabolipodome findings may pave new and exciting ways for effective diagnostics and therapeutics for OA sufferers in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esrin Aydin
- NeuroAllergy Research Lab (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3217, Australia
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds 3216, Australia
| | - Damien L Callahan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood 3125, Australia
| | - Luke Chong
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds 3216, Australia
| | - Serap Azizoglu
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds 3216, Australia
| | - Moneisha Gokhale
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds 3216, Australia
| | - Cenk Suphioglu
- NeuroAllergy Research Lab (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3217, Australia
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds 3216, Australia
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6
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Hernández-Morán BA, Taylor G, Lorente-Macías Á, Wood AJ. Degron tagging for rapid protein degradation in mice. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050613. [PMID: 38666498 PMCID: PMC11073515 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Degron tagging allows proteins of interest to be rapidly degraded, in a reversible and tuneable manner, in response to a chemical stimulus. This provides numerous opportunities for understanding disease mechanisms, modelling therapeutic interventions and constructing synthetic gene networks. In recent years, many laboratories have applied degron tagging successfully in cultured mammalian cells, spurred by rapid advances in the fields of genome editing and targeted protein degradation. In this At a Glance article, we focus on recent efforts to apply degron tagging in mouse models, discussing the distinct set of challenges and opportunities posed by the in vivo environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianda A. Hernández-Morán
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4, 2XR, UK
| | - Gillian Taylor
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4, 2XR, UK
| | - Álvaro Lorente-Macías
- Edinburgh Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Andrew J. Wood
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4, 2XR, UK
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7
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Stefanakis N, Jiang J, Liang Y, Shaham S. LET-381/FoxF and its target UNC-30/Pitx2 specify and maintain the molecular identity of C. elegans mesodermal glia that regulate motor behavior. EMBO J 2024; 43:956-992. [PMID: 38360995 PMCID: PMC10943081 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00049-w] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
While most glial cell types in the central nervous system (CNS) arise from neuroectodermal progenitors, some, like microglia, are mesodermally derived. To understand mesodermal glia development and function, we investigated C. elegans GLR glia, which envelop the brain neuropil and separate it from the circulatory system cavity. Transcriptome analysis shows that GLR glia combine astrocytic and endothelial characteristics, which are relegated to separate cell types in vertebrates. Combined fate acquisition is orchestrated by LET-381/FoxF, a fate-specification/maintenance transcription factor also expressed in glia and endothelia of other animals. Among LET-381/FoxF targets, the UNC-30/Pitx2 transcription factor controls GLR glia morphology and represses alternative mesodermal fates. LET-381 and UNC-30 co-expression in naive cells is sufficient for GLR glia gene expression. GLR glia inactivation by ablation or let-381 mutation disrupts locomotory behavior and promotes salt-induced paralysis, suggesting brain-neuropil activity dysregulation. Our studies uncover mechanisms of mesodermal glia development and show that like neuronal differentiation, glia differentiation requires autoregulatory terminal selector genes that define and maintain the glial fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Stefanakis
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jessica Jiang
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yupu Liang
- Research Bioinformatics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA, 02135, USA
| | - Shai Shaham
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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8
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Hiroki S, Yoshitane H. Ror homolog nhr-23 is essential for both developmental clock and circadian clock in C. elegans. Commun Biol 2024; 7:243. [PMID: 38418700 PMCID: PMC10902330 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05894-3] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals have internal clocks that generate biological rhythms. In mammals, clock genes such as Period form the circadian clock to generate approximately 24-h biological rhythms. In C. elegans, the clock gene homologs constitute the "developmental clock", which has an 8-h period during larval development to determine the timing of molting. Thus, the ancestral circadian clock has been believed to evolve into the oscillator with a shorter period in C. elegans. However, circadian rhythms have also been observed in adult C. elegans, albeit relatively weak. This prompts the question: if the clock gene homologs drive the developmental rhythm with 8-h period, which genes generate the circadian rhythms in C. elegans? In this study, we discovered that nhr-23, a homolog of the mammalian circadian clock gene Ror, is essential for circadian transcriptional rhythms in adult C. elegans. Interestingly, nhr-23 was also known to be essential for the molting clock. The bilaterian ancestral circadian clock genes might have evolved to function over multiple periods depending on developmental contexts rather than a single 8-h period in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Hiroki
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Hikari Yoshitane
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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9
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Schmeisser K, Kaptan D, Raghuraman BK, Shevchenko A, Rodenfels J, Penkov S, Kurzchalia TV. Mobilization of cholesterol induces the transition from quiescence to growth in Caenorhabditis elegans through steroid hormone and mTOR signaling. Commun Biol 2024; 7:121. [PMID: 38267699 PMCID: PMC10808130 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05804-7] [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: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Recovery from the quiescent developmental stage called dauer is an essential process in C. elegans and provides an excellent model to understand how metabolic transitions contribute to developmental plasticity. Here we show that cholesterol bound to the small secreted proteins SCL-12 or SCL-13 is sequestered in the gut lumen during the dauer state. Upon recovery from dauer, bound cholesterol undergoes endocytosis into lysosomes of intestinal cells, where SCL-12 and SCL-13 are degraded and cholesterol is released. Free cholesterol activates mTORC1 and is used for the production of dafachronic acids. This leads to promotion of protein synthesis and growth, and a metabolic switch at the transcriptional level. Thus, mobilization of sequestered cholesterol stores is the key event for transition from quiescence to growth, and cholesterol is the major signaling molecule in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Schmeisser
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Damla Kaptan
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Andrej Shevchenko
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jonathan Rodenfels
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Physics of Life (PoL), Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sider Penkov
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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10
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Hicks T, Silva N, Smolikove S. Temporal Analysis of DSB Repair Outcome in Caenorhabditis elegans Meiosis. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2818:195-212. [PMID: 39126476 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3906-1_13] [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] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans germline is arranged spatiotemporally and is therefore a powerful model system for the interrogation of meiotic molecular dynamics. Coupling this property with the temporal control that the auxin-inducible degron (AID) system allows can unveil new/unappreciated roles for critical meiotic factors in specific germline regions. Here we describe a widely used approach for the introduction of degron tags to specific targets and provide a procedure for applying the AID system to C. elegans meiotic DSB repair dynamics in the germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Hicks
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Nicola Silva
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Sarit Smolikove
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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11
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Selvarajah K, Tan JJ, Shaharuddin B. Corneal Epithelial Development and the Role of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Regeneration. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 19:292-306. [PMID: 36915985 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x18666230313094121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Severe corneal disorders due to infective aetiologies, trauma, chemical injuries, and chronic cicatricial inflammations, are among vision-threatening pathologies leading to permanent corneal scarring. The whole cornea or lamellar corneal transplantation is often used as a last resort to restore vision. However, limited autologous tissue sources and potential adverse post-allotransplantation sequalae urge the need for more robust and strategic alternatives. Contemporary management using cultivated corneal epithelial transplantation has paved the way for utilizing stem cells as a regenerative potential. Humaninduced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can generate ectodermal progenitors and potentially be used for ocular surface regeneration. This review summarizes the process of corneal morphogenesis and the signaling pathways underlying the development of corneal epithelium, which is key to translating the maturation and differentiation process of hiPSCs in vitro. The current state of knowledge and methodology for driving efficient corneal epithelial cell differentiation from pluripotent stem cells are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komathi Selvarajah
- Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (AIMST) University, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Jun Jie Tan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (AIMST) University, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Bakiah Shaharuddin
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (AIMST) University, Kedah, Malaysia
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12
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Huang TT, Mori I. Analyses of Genetic Regulation of the Nervous System in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2794:313-319. [PMID: 38630240 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3810-1_26] [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] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the methodologies available to dissect genetic regulation of the nervous systems in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. These techniques encompass genetic screens and genetic tools to unravel the spatial-temporal contribution of genes on neural structure and function. Unbiased genetic screens on random mutations induced by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) or target gene silencing by genome-wide RNA interference (RNAi) help progress our understanding of the genetic control of neural development and functions. Complement to unbiased genetic approaches, gene- and protein-targeted manipulation by Cre/LoxP recombination system and auxin-inducible degron (AID) protein degradation system, respectively, helps identify tissues/cells and the time window critical for gene and protein function during the proper execution of a particular behavior. Considering the remarkable conservation of genetic pathways between C. elegans and mammalian systems, elucidating the genetic underpinnings of neural functions and learning behaviors in C. elegans may furnish invaluable insights into analogous processes in more complex organisms. As shown in the following chapter, leveraging these diverse methodologies enable researchers to elucidate the intricate network governing neural function and structure, laying the foundation for innovating strategies to ameliorate cognitive alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Ting Huang
- Neuroscience Institute, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ikue Mori
- Neuroscience Institute, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing (CIBR), Changping District, Beijing, China.
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13
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Stojanovski K, Gheorghe I, Lenart P, Lanjuin A, Mair WB, Towbin BD. Maintenance of appropriate size scaling of the C. elegans pharynx by YAP-1. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7564. [PMID: 37985670 PMCID: PMC10661912 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43230-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Even slight imbalance between the growth rate of different organs can accumulate to a large deviation from their appropriate size during development. Here, we use live imaging of the pharynx of C. elegans to ask if and how organ size scaling nevertheless remains uniform among individuals. Growth trajectories of hundreds of individuals reveal that pharynxes grow by a near constant volume per larval stage that is independent of their initial size, such that undersized pharynxes catch-up in size during development. Tissue-specific depletion of RAGA-1, an activator of mTOR and growth, shows that maintaining correct pharynx-to-body size proportions involves a bi-directional coupling between pharynx size and body growth. In simulations, this coupling cannot be explained by limitation of food uptake alone, and genetic experiments reveal an involvement of the mechanotransducing transcriptional co-regulator yap-1. Our data suggests that mechanotransduction coordinates pharynx growth with other tissues, ensuring body plan uniformity among individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ioana Gheorghe
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Lenart
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anne Lanjuin
- Department Molecular Metabolism, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William B Mair
- Department Molecular Metabolism, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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14
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Alexander KD, Ramachandran S, Biswas K, Lambert CM, Russell J, Oliver DB, Armstrong W, Rettler M, Liu S, Doitsidou M, Bénard C, Walker AK, Francis MM. The homeodomain transcriptional regulator DVE-1 directs a program for synapse elimination during circuit remodeling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7520. [PMID: 37980357 PMCID: PMC10657367 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43281-4] [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: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The elimination of synapses during circuit remodeling is critical for brain maturation; however, the molecular mechanisms directing synapse elimination and its timing remain elusive. We show that the transcriptional regulator DVE-1, which shares homology with special AT-rich sequence-binding (SATB) family members previously implicated in human neurodevelopmental disorders, directs the elimination of juvenile synaptic inputs onto remodeling C. elegans GABAergic neurons. Juvenile acetylcholine receptor clusters and apposing presynaptic sites are eliminated during the maturation of wild-type GABAergic neurons but persist into adulthood in dve-1 mutants, producing heightened motor connectivity. DVE-1 localization to GABAergic nuclei is required for synapse elimination, consistent with DVE-1 regulation of transcription. Pathway analysis of putative DVE-1 target genes, proteasome inhibitor, and genetic experiments implicate the ubiquitin-proteasome system in synapse elimination. Together, our findings define a previously unappreciated role for a SATB family member in directing synapse elimination during circuit remodeling, likely through transcriptional regulation of protein degradation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellianne D Alexander
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Shankar Ramachandran
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Kasturi Biswas
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Christopher M Lambert
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Julia Russell
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Devyn B Oliver
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - William Armstrong
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Monika Rettler
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Samuel Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Maria Doitsidou
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Claire Bénard
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Amy K Walker
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Michael M Francis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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15
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Sanfeliu-Cerdán N, Català-Castro F, Mateos B, Garcia-Cabau C, Ribera M, Ruider I, Porta-de-la-Riva M, Canals-Calderón A, Wieser S, Salvatella X, Krieg M. A MEC-2/stomatin condensate liquid-to-solid phase transition controls neuronal mechanotransduction during touch sensing. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1590-1599. [PMID: 37857834 PMCID: PMC10635833 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01247-0] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of work suggests that the material properties of biomolecular condensates ensuing from liquid-liquid phase separation change with time. How this aging process is controlled and whether the condensates with distinct material properties can have different biological functions is currently unknown. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model, we show that MEC-2/stomatin undergoes a rigidity phase transition from fluid-like to solid-like condensates that facilitate transport and mechanotransduction, respectively. This switch is triggered by the interaction between the SH3 domain of UNC-89 (titin/obscurin) and MEC-2. We suggest that this rigidity phase transition has a physiological role in frequency-dependent force transmission in mechanosensitive neurons during body wall touch. Our data demonstrate a function for the liquid and solid phases of MEC-2/stomatin condensates in facilitating transport or mechanotransduction, and a previously unidentified role for titin homologues in neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neus Sanfeliu-Cerdán
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Frederic Català-Castro
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Borja Mateos
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carla Garcia-Cabau
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Ribera
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iris Ruider
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Montserrat Porta-de-la-Riva
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Adrià Canals-Calderón
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stefan Wieser
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Xavier Salvatella
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Michael Krieg
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain.
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16
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Yuan W, Weaver YM, Earnest S, Taylor CA, Cobb MH, Weaver BP. Modulating p38 MAPK signaling by proteostasis mechanisms supports tissue integrity during growth and aging. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4543. [PMID: 37507441 PMCID: PMC10382525 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40317-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The conserved p38 MAPK family is activated by phosphorylation during stress responses and inactivated by phosphatases. C. elegans PMK-1 p38 MAPK initiates innate immune responses and blocks development when hyperactivated. Here we show that PMK-1 signaling is enhanced during early aging by modulating the stoichiometry of non-phospho-PMK-1 to promote tissue integrity and longevity. Loss of pmk-1 function accelerates progressive declines in neuronal integrity and lysosome function compromising longevity which has both cell autonomous and cell non-autonomous contributions. CED-3 caspase cleavage limits phosphorylated PMK-1. Enhancing p38 signaling with caspase cleavage-resistant PMK-1 protects lysosomal and neuronal integrity extending a youthful phase. PMK-1 works through a complex transcriptional program to regulate lysosome formation. During early aging, the absolute phospho-p38 amount is maintained but the reservoir of non-phospho-p38 diminishes to enhance signaling without hyperactivation. Our findings show that modulating the stoichiometry of non-phospho-p38 dynamically supports tissue-homeostasis during aging without hyper-activation of stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yi M Weaver
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Svetlana Earnest
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Clinton A Taylor
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Melanie H Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Benjamin P Weaver
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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17
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Pitayu-Nugroho L, Aubry M, Laband K, Geoffroy H, Ganeswaran T, Primadhanty A, Canman JC, Dumont J. Kinetochore component function in C. elegans oocytes revealed by 4D tracking of holocentric chromosomes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4032. [PMID: 37419936 PMCID: PMC10329006 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39702-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
During cell division, chromosome congression to the spindle center, their orientation along the spindle long axis and alignment at the metaphase plate depend on interactions between spindle microtubules and kinetochores, and are pre-requisite for chromosome bi-orientation and accurate segregation. How these successive phases are controlled during oocyte meiosis remains elusive. Here we provide 4D live imaging during the first meiotic division in C. elegans oocytes with wild-type or disrupted kinetochore protein function. We show that, unlike in monocentric organisms, holocentric chromosome bi-orientation is not strictly required for accurate chromosome segregation. Instead, we propose a model in which initial kinetochore-localized BHC module (comprised of BUB-1Bub1, HCP-1/2CENP-F and CLS-2CLASP)-dependent pushing acts redundantly with Ndc80 complex-mediated pulling for accurate chromosome segregation in meiosis. In absence of both mechanisms, homologous chromosomes tend to co-segregate in anaphase, especially when initially mis-oriented. Our results highlight how different kinetochore components cooperate to promote accurate holocentric chromosome segregation in oocytes of C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mélanie Aubry
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Kimberley Laband
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Hélène Geoffroy
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Julie C Canman
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Julien Dumont
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013, Paris, France.
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18
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Raj D, Kraish B, Martikainen J, Podraza-Farhanieh A, Kao G, Naredi P. Cisplatin toxicity is counteracted by the activation of the p38/ATF-7 signaling pathway in post-mitotic C. elegans. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2886. [PMID: 37210583 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38568-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin kills proliferating cells via DNA damage but also has profound effects on post-mitotic cells in tumors, kidneys, and neurons. However, the effects of cisplatin on post-mitotic cells are still poorly understood. Among model systems, C. elegans adults are unique in having completely post-mitotic somatic tissues. The p38 MAPK pathway controls ROS detoxification via SKN-1/NRF and immune responses via ATF-7/ATF2. Here, we show that p38 MAPK pathway mutants are sensitive to cisplatin, but while cisplatin exposure increases ROS levels, skn-1 mutants are resistant. Cisplatin exposure leads to phosphorylation of PMK-1/MAPK and ATF-7 and the IRE-1/TRF-1 signaling module functions upstream of the p38 MAPK pathway to activate signaling. We identify the response proteins whose increased abundance depends on IRE-1/p38 MAPK activity as well as cisplatin exposure. Four of these proteins are necessary for protection from cisplatin toxicity, which is characterized by necrotic death. We conclude that the p38 MAPK pathway-driven proteins are crucial for adult cisplatin resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Raj
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Bashar Kraish
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jari Martikainen
- Bioinformatics and Data Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Agnieszka Podraza-Farhanieh
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Lundberg Laboratory for Diabetes Research, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gautam Kao
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Peter Naredi
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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19
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Ra’oh NA, Man RC, Fauzi MB, Ghafar NA, Buyong MR, Hwei NM, Halim WHWA. Recent Approaches to the Modification of Collagen Biomatrix as a Corneal Biomatrix and Its Cellular Interaction. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15071766. [PMID: 37050380 PMCID: PMC10097332 DOI: 10.3390/polym15071766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last several decades, numerous modifications and advancements have been made to design the optimal corneal biomatrix for corneal epithelial cell (CECs) or limbal epithelial stem cell (LESC) carriers. However, researchers have yet to discover the ideal optimization strategies for corneal biomatrix design and its effects on cultured CECs or LESCs. This review discusses and summarizes recent optimization strategies for developing an ideal collagen biomatrix and its interactions with CECs and LESCs. Using PRISMA guidelines, articles published from June 2012 to June 2022 were systematically searched using Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, PubMed, Wiley, and EBSCOhost databases. The literature search identified 444 potential relevant published articles, with 29 relevant articles selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria following screening and appraising processes. Physicochemical and biocompatibility (in vitro and in vivo) characterization methods are highlighted, which are inconsistent throughout various studies. Despite the variability in the methodology approach, it is postulated that the modification of the collagen biomatrix improves its mechanical and biocompatibility properties toward CECs and LESCs. All findings are discussed in this review, which provides a general view of recent trends in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Amalia Ra’oh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Rohaina Che Man
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Mh Busra Fauzi
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (CTERM), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Norzana Abd Ghafar
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Muhamad Ramdzan Buyong
- Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Ng Min Hwei
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (CTERM), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Wan Haslina Wan Abdul Halim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
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20
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Yu Z, Kim HJ, Dernburg AF. ATM signaling modulates cohesin behavior in meiotic prophase and proliferating cells. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2023; 30:436-450. [PMID: 36879153 PMCID: PMC10113158 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-00929-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Cohesins are ancient and ubiquitous regulators of chromosome architecture and function, but their diverse roles and regulation remain poorly understood. During meiosis, chromosomes are reorganized as linear arrays of chromatin loops around a cohesin axis. This unique organization underlies homolog pairing, synapsis, double-stranded break induction, and recombination. We report that axis assembly in Caenorhabditis elegans is promoted by DNA-damage response (DDR) kinases that are activated at meiotic entry, even in the absence of DNA breaks. Downregulation of the cohesin-destabilizing factor WAPL-1 by ATM-1 promotes axis association of cohesins containing the meiotic kleisins COH-3 and COH-4. ECO-1 and PDS-5 also contribute to stabilizing axis-associated meiotic cohesins. Further, our data suggest that cohesin-enriched domains that promote DNA repair in mammalian cells also depend on WAPL inhibition by ATM. Thus, DDR and Wapl seem to play conserved roles in cohesin regulation in meiotic prophase and proliferating cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouliang Yu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.,Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.,California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Hyung Jun Kim
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Abby F Dernburg
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA. .,Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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21
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Godini R, Pocock R. Characterization of the Doublesex/MAB-3 transcription factor DMD-9 in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkac305. [PMID: 36454093 PMCID: PMC9911054 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
DMD-9 is a Caenorhabditis elegans Doublesex/MAB-3 Domain transcription factor (TF) of unknown function. Single-cell transcriptomics has revealed that dmd-9 is highly expressed in specific head sensory neurons, with lower levels detected in non-neuronal tissues (uterine cells and sperm). Here, we characterized endogenous dmd-9 expression and function in hermaphrodites and males to identify potential sexually dimorphic roles. In addition, we dissected the trans- and cis-regulatory mechanisms that control DMD-9 expression in neurons. Our results show that of the 22 neuronal cell fate reporters we assessed in DMD-9-expressing neurons, only the neuropeptide-encoding flp-19 gene is cell-autonomously regulated by DMD-9. Further, we did not identify defects in behaviors mediated by DMD-9 expressing neurons in dmd-9 mutants. We found that dmd-9 expression in neurons is regulated by 4 neuronal fate regulatory TFs: ETS-5, EGL-13, CHE-1, and TTX-1. In conclusion, our study characterized the DMD-9 expression pattern and regulatory logic for its control. The lack of detectable phenotypes in dmd-9 mutant animals suggests that other proteins compensate for its loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasoul Godini
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Roger Pocock
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
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22
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de Wit E, Nora EP. New insights into genome folding by loop extrusion from inducible degron technologies. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:73-85. [PMID: 36180596 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00530-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin folds into dynamic loops that often span hundreds of kilobases and physically wire distant loci together for gene regulation. These loops are continuously created, extended and positioned by structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) protein complexes, such as condensin and cohesin, and their regulators, including CTCF, in a highly dynamic process known as loop extrusion. Genetic loss of extrusion factors is lethal, complicating their study. Inducible protein degradation technologies enable the depletion of loop extrusion factors within hours, leading to the rapid reconfiguration of chromatin folding. Here, we review how these technologies have changed our understanding of genome organization, upsetting long-held beliefs on its role in transcription. Finally, we examine recent models that attempt to reconcile observations after chronic versus acute perturbations, and discuss future developments in this rapidly developing field of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elzo de Wit
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Elphège P Nora
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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23
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Wang Y, Di G, Zhang K, Bai Y, Cao X, Zhao H, Wang D, Chen P. Loss of aquaporin 5 contributes to the corneal epithelial pathogenesis via Wnt/β-catenin pathway. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22776. [PMID: 36688817 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201503r] [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: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
AQP5 plays a crucial role in maintaining corneal transparency and the barrier function of the cornea. Here, we found that in the corneas of Aqp5-/- mice at older than 6 months, loss of AQP5 significantly increased corneal neovascularization, inflammatory cell infiltration, and corneal haze. The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that upregulation of K1, K10, and K14, and downregulation of K12 and Pax6 were detected in Aqp5-/- cornea and primary corneal epithelial cells. Loss of AQP5 aggravated wound-induced corneal neovascularization, inflammation, and haze. mRNA sequencing, western blotting, and qRT-PCR showed that Wnt2 and Wnt6 were significantly decreased in Aqp5-/- corneas and primary corneal epithelial cells, accompanied by decreased aggregation in the cytoplasm and nucleus of β-catenin. IIIC3 significantly suppressed corneal neovascularization, inflammation, haze, and maintained corneal transparent epithelial in Aqp5-/- corneas. We also found that pre-stimulated Aqp5-/- primary corneal epithelial cells with IIIC3 caused the decreased expression of K1, K10, and K14, the increased expression of K12, Pax6, and increased aggregation in the cytoplasm and nucleus of β-catenin. These findings revealed that AQP5 may regulate corneal epithelial homeostasis and function through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Together, we uncovered a possible role of AQP5 in determining corneal epithelial cell fate and providing a potential therapeutic target for corneal epithelial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Guohu Di
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Stem Cell Regeneration Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Kaier Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ying Bai
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xin Cao
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- The 971 Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, Qingdao, China
| | - Dianqiang Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Qingdao Aier Eye Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Stem Cell Regeneration Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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24
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Kong X, Lu L, Lin D, Chong L, Wen S, Shi Y, Lin L, Zhou L, Zhang H, Zhang H. FGF10 ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice via the BMP4-autophagy pathway. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1019755. [PMID: 36618911 PMCID: PMC9813441 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1019755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Damage to alveolar epithelial cells caused by uncontrolled inflammation is considered to be the main pathophysiological change in acute lung injury. FGF10 plays an important role as a fibroblast growth factor in lung development and lung diseases, but its protective effect against acute lung injury is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate protective effect and mechanism of FGF10 on acute lung injury in mice. Methods: ALI was induced by intratracheal injection of LPS into 57BL/6J mice. Six hours later, lung bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was acquired to analyse cells, protein and the determination of pro-inflammatory factor levels, and lung issues were collected for histologic examination and wet/dry (W/D) weight ratio analysis and blot analysis of protein expression. Results: We found that FGF10 can prevent the release of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β, increase the expression of BMP4 and autophagy pathway, promote the regeneration of alveolar epithelial type Ⅱ cells, and improve acute lung injury. BMP4 gene knockdown decreased the protective effect of FGF10 on the lung tissue of mice. However, the activation of autophagy was reduced after BMP4 inhibition by Noggin. Additionally, the inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA also lowered the protective effect of FGF10 on alveolar epithelial cells induced by LPS. Conclusions: These data suggest that the protective effect of FGF10 is related to the activation of autophagy and regeneration of alveolar epithelial cells in an LPS-induced ALI model, and that the activation of autophagy may depend on the increase in BMP4 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Kong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Hypoxia Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Children’s Respiration, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liling Lu
- Department of Children’s Respiration, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Ultrasound, Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Daopeng Lin
- Department of Children’s Respiration, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Cangnan Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Cangnan, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lei Chong
- Department of Children’s Respiration, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shunhang Wen
- Department of Children’s Respiration, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yaokai Shi
- Department of Children’s Respiration, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lidan Lin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Hypoxia Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liqin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhuji People’s Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhuji People’s Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China,*Correspondence: Hongyu Zhang, ; Hailin Zhang,
| | - Hailin Zhang
- Department of Children’s Respiration, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China,*Correspondence: Hongyu Zhang, ; Hailin Zhang,
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Martinez MAQ, Mullarkey AA, Yee C, Zhao CZ, Zhang W, Shen K, Matus DQ. Reevaluating the relationship between EGL-43 (EVI1) and LIN-12 (Notch) during C. elegans anchor cell invasion. Biol Open 2022; 11:bio059668. [PMID: 36445013 PMCID: PMC9751802 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of the Caenorhabditis elegans reproductive tract is orchestrated by the anchor cell (AC). This occurs in part through a cell invasion event that connects the uterine and vulval tissues. Several key transcription factors regulate AC invasion, such as EGL-43, HLH-2, and NHR-67. Specifically, these transcription factors function together to maintain the post-mitotic state of the AC, a requirement for AC invasion. Recently, a mechanistic connection has been made between loss of EGL-43 and AC cell-cycle entry. The current model states that EGL-43 represses LIN-12 (Notch) expression to prevent AC proliferation, suggesting that Notch signaling has mitogenic effects in the invasive AC. To reexamine the relationship between EGL-43 and LIN-12, we first designed and implemented a heterologous co-expression system called AIDHB that combines the auxin-inducible degron (AID) system of plants with a live cell-cycle sensor based on human DNA helicase B (DHB). After validating AIDHB using AID-tagged GFP, we sought to test it by using AID-tagged alleles of egl-43 and lin-12. Auxin-induced degradation of either EGL-43 or LIN-12 resulted in the expected AC phenotypes. Lastly, we seized the opportunity to pair AIDHB with RNAi to co-deplete LIN-12 and EGL-43, respectively, which revealed that LIN-12 is not required for AC proliferation following loss of EGL-43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Q. Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Angelina A. Mullarkey
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Callista Yee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Chris Z. Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Wan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Kang Shen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David Q. Matus
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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26
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Vester K, Preußner M, Holton N, Feng S, Schultz C, Heyd F, Wahl MC. Recruitment of a splicing factor to the nuclear lamina for its inactivation. Commun Biol 2022; 5:736. [PMID: 35869234 PMCID: PMC9307855 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03689-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Precursor messenger RNA splicing is a highly regulated process, mediated by a complex RNA-protein machinery, the spliceosome, that encompasses several hundred proteins and five small nuclear RNAs in humans. Emerging evidence suggests that the spatial organization of splicing factors and their spatio-temporal dynamics participate in the regulation of splicing. So far, methods to manipulate the spatial distribution of splicing factors in a temporally defined manner in living cells are missing. Here, we describe such an approach that takes advantage of a reversible chemical dimerizer, and outline the requirements for efficient, reversible re-localization of splicing factors to selected sub-nuclear compartments. In a proof-of-principle study, the partial re-localization of the PRPF38A protein to the nuclear lamina in HEK293T cells induced a moderate increase in intron retention. Our approach allows fast and reversible re-localization of splicing factors, has few side effects and can be applied to many splicing factors by fusion of a protein tag through genome engineering. Apart from the systematic analysis of the spatio-temporal aspects of splicing regulation, the approach has a large potential for the fast induction and reversal of splicing switches and can reveal mechanisms of splicing regulation in native nuclear environments. Through the use of a reversible chemical dimerizer, the splicing factor PRPF38A is re-localized to the nuclear lamina, paving the way for a systematic analysis of spatio-temporal splicing regulation.
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Guo L, Wang Z, Zhu C, Li J, Cui L, Dong J, Meng X, Zhu G, Li J, Wang H. MCC950 inhibits the inflammatory response and excessive proliferation of canine corneal stromal cells induced by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Mol Immunol 2022; 152:162-171. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Sonam S, Bangru S, Perry KJ, Chembazhi UV, Kalsotra A, Henry JJ. Cellular and molecular profiles of larval and adult Xenopus corneal epithelia resolved at the single-cell level. Dev Biol 2022; 491:13-30. [PMID: 36049533 PMCID: PMC10241109 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.08.007] [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: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Corneal Epithelial Stem Cells (CESCs) and their proliferative progeny, the Transit Amplifying Cells (TACs), are responsible for homeostasis and maintaining corneal transparency. Owing to our limited knowledge of cell fates and gene activity within the cornea, the search for unique markers to identify and isolate these cells remains crucial for ocular surface reconstruction. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of corneal cells from larval and adult stages of Xenopus. Our results indicate that as the cornea develops and matures, there is an increase in cellular diversity, which is accompanied by a substantial shift in transcriptional profile, gene regulatory network and cell-cell communication dynamics. Our data also reveals several novel genes expressed in corneal cells and changes in gene expression during corneal differentiation at both developmental time-points. Importantly, we identify specific basal cell clusters in both the larval and adult cornea that comprise a relatively undifferentiated cell type and express distinct stem cell markers, which we propose are the putative larval and adult CESCs, respectively. This study offers a detailed atlas of single-cell transcriptomes in the frog cornea. In the future, this work will be useful to elucidate the function of novel genes in corneal epithelial homeostasis, wound healing and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Sonam
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Sushant Bangru
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA; Cancer Center@Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Kimberly J Perry
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Ullas V Chembazhi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Auinash Kalsotra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA; Cancer Center@Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.
| | - Jonathan J Henry
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.
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Intestine-specific removal of DAF-2 nearly doubles lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans with little fitness cost. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6339. [PMID: 36284093 PMCID: PMC9596710 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33850-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty-nine years following the breakthrough discovery that a single-gene mutation of daf-2 doubles Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan, it remains unclear where this insulin/IGF-1 receptor gene is expressed and where it acts to regulate ageing. Using knock-in fluorescent reporters, we determined that daf-2 and its downstream transcription factor daf-16 are expressed ubiquitously. Using tissue-specific targeted protein degradation, we determined that intracellular DAF-2-to-DAF-16 signaling in the intestine plays a major role in lifespan regulation, while that in the hypodermis, neurons, and germline plays a minor role. Notably, intestine-specific loss of DAF-2 activates DAF-16 in and outside the intestine, causes almost no adverse effects on development and reproduction, and extends lifespan by 94% in a way that partly requires non-intestinal DAF-16. Consistent with intestine supplying nutrients to the entire body, evidence from this and other studies suggests that altered metabolism, particularly down-regulation of protein and RNA synthesis, mediates longevity by reduction of insulin/IGF-1 signaling.
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Sunny SS, Lachova J, Dupacova N, Kozmik Z. Multiple roles of Pax6 in postnatal cornea development. Dev Biol 2022; 491:1-12. [PMID: 36049534 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian corneal development is a multistep process, including formation of the corneal epithelium (CE), endothelium and stroma during embryogenesis, followed by postnatal stratification of the epithelial layers and continuous renewal of the epithelium to replace the outermost corneal cells. Here, we employed the Cre-loxP system to conditionally deplete Pax6 proteins in two domains of ocular cells, i.e., the ocular surface epithelium (cornea, limbus and conjunctiva) (OSE) or postnatal CE via K14-cre or Aldh3-cre, respectively. Earlier and broader inactivation of Pax6 in the OSE resulted in thickened OSE with CE and limbal cells adopting the conjunctival keratin expression pattern. More restricted depletion of Pax6 in postnatal CE resulted in an abnormal cornea marked by reduced epithelial thickness despite increased epithelial cell proliferation. Immunofluorescence studies revealed loss of intermediate filament Cytokeratin 12 and diffused expression of adherens junction components, together with reduced tight junction protein, Zonula occludens-1. Furthermore, the expression of Cytokeratin 14, a basal cell marker in apical layers, indicates impaired differentiation of CE cells. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Pax6 is essential for maintaining proper differentiation and strong intercellular adhesion in postnatal CE cells, whereas limbal Pax6 is required to prevent the outgrowth of conjunctival cells to the cornea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sweetu Susan Sunny
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Praha 4, 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Lachova
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Praha 4, 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Naoko Dupacova
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Praha 4, 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Praha 4, 142 20, Czech Republic.
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31
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Domostegui A, Nieto-Barrado L, Perez-Lopez C, Mayor-Ruiz C. Chasing molecular glue degraders: screening approaches. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:5498-5517. [PMID: 35723413 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00197g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) govern all biological processes. Some small molecules modulate PPIs through induced protein proximity. In particular, molecular glue degraders are monovalent compounds that orchestrate interactions between a target protein and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, prompting the proteasomal degradation of the former. This and other pharmacological strategies of targeted protein degradation (e.g. proteolysis-targeting chimeras - PROTACs) overcome some limitations of traditional occupancy-based therapeutics. Here, we provide an overview of the "molecular glue" concept, with a special focus on natural and synthetic inducers of proximity to E3s. We then briefly highlight the serendipitous discoveries of some clinical and preclinical molecular glue degraders, and discuss the first examples of intentional discoveries. Specifically, we outline the different screening strategies reported in this rapidly evolving arena and our thoughts on future perspectives. By mastering the ability to influence PPIs, molecular glue degraders can induce the degradation of unligandable proteins, thus providing an exciting path forward to broaden the targetable proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Domostegui
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Luis Nieto-Barrado
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Carles Perez-Lopez
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Cristina Mayor-Ruiz
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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32
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Stojanovski K, Großhans H, Towbin BD. Coupling of growth rate and developmental tempo reduces body size heterogeneity in C. elegans. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3132. [PMID: 35668054 PMCID: PMC9170734 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29720-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals increase by orders of magnitude in volume during development. Therefore, small variations in growth rates among individuals could amplify to a large heterogeneity in size. By live imaging of C. elegans, we show that amplification of size heterogeneity is prevented by an inverse coupling of the volume growth rate to the duration of larval stages and does not involve strict size thresholds for larval moulting. We perturb this coupling by changing the developmental tempo through manipulation of a transcriptional oscillator that controls the duration of larval development. As predicted by a mathematical model, this perturbation alters the body volume. Model analysis shows that an inverse relation between the period length and the growth rate is an intrinsic property of genetic oscillators and can occur independently of additional complex regulation. This property of genetic oscillators suggests a parsimonious mechanism that counteracts the amplification of size differences among individuals during development. Animals must reach the correct size during development, despite stochastic differences in their growth rate. Here, Stojanovski et al. show that a coupling of growth and development by an oscillatory timer buffers fluctuations in the growth of the nematode C. elegans to ensure its correct size.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helge Großhans
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Benjamin D Towbin
- University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. .,Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), Basel, Switzerland.
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33
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Analysis of Multifactor-Driven Myopia Disease Modules to Guide Personalized Treatment and Drug Development. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:5262259. [PMID: 35586671 PMCID: PMC9110184 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5262259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Myopia is recognized as a multifactor, multicascade complex disease. However, people still know little about the pathogenesis of myopia. Therefore, we aim to guide the personalized treatment, drug research, and development of myopia. Here, based on the interaction network of myopia-related genes, this study constructed a multifactor-driven myopia disease module map. We first identified differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs in myopia. Then, we constructed a myopia-related protein interaction network targeted by these DE miRNAs. Further, we clustered the network into modules and identified module-driven factors, including ncRNAs and transcription factors. Especially, miR-16-5p and miR-34b-5p significantly differentially expressed drive the pathogenic module to influence the progression of myopia. At the same time, transcription factors were involved in myopia-related functions and pathways by regulating the expression of genes in modules, such as Ctnnb1, Myc, and Notch1. In addition, we identified 43 genes in modules that played key roles in the development and progression of myopia such as Vamp2, Egfr, and Wasl. Finally, we constructed a comprehensive multifactor-driven myopia pathogenic module landscape and predicted potential drug and drug targets for myopia. In general, our work not only provided candidates for biological experiments which laid the foundation for the in-depth study of myopia but also has a high reference value for the personalized treatment of myopia and drug development.
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34
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Cao W, Tran C, Archer SK, Gopal S, Pocock R. Functional recovery of the germ line following splicing collapse. Cell Death Differ 2022; 29:772-787. [PMID: 34663906 PMCID: PMC8991207 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00891-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Splicing introns from precursor-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) transcripts is essential for translating functional proteins. Here, we report that the previously uncharacterized Caenorhabditis elegans protein MOG-7 acts as a pre-mRNA splicing factor. Depleting MOG-7 from the C. elegans germ line causes intron retention in most germline-expressed genes, impeding the germ cell cycle, and causing defects in nuclear morphology, germ cell identity and sterility. Despite the deleterious consequences caused by MOG-7 loss, the adult germ line can functionally recover to produce viable and fertile progeny when MOG-7 is restored. Germline recovery is dependent on a burst of apoptosis that likely clears defective germ cells, and viable gametes generated from the proliferation of germ cells in the progenitor zone. Together, these findings reveal that MOG-7 is essential for germ cell development, and that the germ line can functionally recover after a collapse in RNA splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cao
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Christopher Tran
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Stuart K. Archer
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Monash Bioinformatics Platform, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Sandeep Gopal
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Roger Pocock
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800 Australia
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35
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Nguyen HT, Theerakittayakorn K, Somredngan S, Ngernsoungnern A, Ngernsoungnern P, Sritangos P, Ketudat-Cairns M, Imsoonthornruksa S, Assawachananont J, Keeratibharat N, Wongsan R, Rungsiwiwut R, Laowtammathron C, Bui NX, Parnpai R. Signaling Pathways Impact on Induction of Corneal Epithelial-like Cells Derived from Human Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063078. [PMID: 35328499 PMCID: PMC8949174 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Corneal epithelium, the outmost layer of the cornea, comprises corneal epithelial cells (CECs) that are continuously renewed by limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs). Loss or dysfunction of LESCs causes limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) which results in corneal epithelial integrity loss and visual impairment. To regenerate the ocular surface, transplantation of stem cell-derived CECs is necessary. Human Wharton’s jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) are a good candidate for cellular therapies in allogeneic transplantation. This study aimed to test the effects of treatments on three signaling pathways involved in CEC differentiation as well as examine the optimal protocol for inducing corneal epithelial differentiation of human WJ-MSCs. All-trans retinoic acid (RA, 5 or 10 µM) inhibited the Wnt signaling pathway via suppressing the translocation of β-catenin from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. SB505124 downregulated the TGF-β signaling pathway via reducing phosphorylation of Smad2. BMP4 did not increase phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 that is involved in BMP signaling. The combination of RA, SB505124, BMP4, and EGF for the first 3 days of differentiation followed by supplementing hormonal epidermal medium for an additional 6 days could generate corneal epithelial-like cells that expressed a CEC specific marker CK12. This study reveals that WJ-MSCs have the potential to transdifferentiate into CECs which would be beneficial for further applications in LSCD treatment therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Thi Nguyen
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (H.T.N.); (K.T.); (S.S.)
- Laboratory of Embryo Technology, Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Kasem Theerakittayakorn
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (H.T.N.); (K.T.); (S.S.)
| | - Sirilak Somredngan
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (H.T.N.); (K.T.); (S.S.)
| | - Apichart Ngernsoungnern
- School of Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (A.N.); (P.N.); (P.S.)
| | - Piyada Ngernsoungnern
- School of Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (A.N.); (P.N.); (P.S.)
| | - Pishyaporn Sritangos
- School of Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (A.N.); (P.N.); (P.S.)
| | - Mariena Ketudat-Cairns
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (M.K.-C.); (S.I.)
| | - Sumeth Imsoonthornruksa
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (M.K.-C.); (S.I.)
| | - Juthaporn Assawachananont
- School of Ophthalmology, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand;
| | - Nattawut Keeratibharat
- School of Surgery, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand;
| | - Rangsirat Wongsan
- The Center for Scientific and Technological Equipment, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand;
| | - Ruttachuk Rungsiwiwut
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10000, Thailand;
| | - Chuti Laowtammathron
- Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10000, Thailand;
| | | | - Rangsun Parnpai
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (H.T.N.); (K.T.); (S.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-442-242-34
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Reprogramming the piRNA pathway for multiplexed and transgenerational gene silencing in C. elegans. Nat Methods 2022; 19:187-194. [PMID: 35115715 PMCID: PMC9798472 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-021-01369-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Single-guide RNAs can target exogenous CRISPR-Cas proteins to unique DNA locations, enabling genetic tools that are efficient, specific and scalable. Here we show that short synthetic guide Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) (21-nucleotide sg-piRNAs) expressed from extrachromosomal transgenes can, analogously, reprogram the endogenous piRNA pathway for gene-specific silencing in the hermaphrodite germline, sperm and embryos of Caenorhabditis elegans. piRNA-mediated interference ('piRNAi') is more efficient than RNAi and can be multiplexed, and auxin-mediated degradation of the piRNA-specific Argonaute PRG-1 allows conditional gene silencing. Target-specific silencing results in decreased messenger RNA levels, amplification of secondary small interfering RNAs and repressive chromatin modifications. Short (300 base pairs) piRNAi transgenes amplified from arrayed oligonucleotide pools also induce silencing, potentially making piRNAi highly scalable. We show that piRNAi can induce transgenerational epigenetic silencing of two endogenous genes (him-5 and him-8). Silencing is inherited for four to six generations after target-specific sg-piRNAs are lost, whereas depleting PRG-1 leads to essentially permanent epigenetic silencing.
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Pradhan S, Hendricks M. Observing and Quantifying Fluorescent Reporters. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2468:73-87. [PMID: 35320561 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2181-3_5] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Genetically encoded fluorescent reporters take advantage of C. elegans' transparency to allow non-invasive, in vivo observation, and recording of physiological processes in intact animals. Here, we discuss the basic microscope components required to observe, image, and measure fluorescent proteins in live animals for students and researchers who work with C. elegans but have limited experience with fluorescence imaging and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreeparna Pradhan
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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38
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Signalling dynamics in embryonic development. Biochem J 2021; 478:4045-4070. [PMID: 34871368 PMCID: PMC8718268 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210043] [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: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In multicellular organisms, cellular behaviour is tightly regulated to allow proper embryonic development and maintenance of adult tissue. A critical component in this control is the communication between cells via signalling pathways, as errors in intercellular communication can induce developmental defects or diseases such as cancer. It has become clear over the last years that signalling is not static but varies in activity over time. Feedback mechanisms present in every signalling pathway lead to diverse dynamic phenotypes, such as transient activation, signal ramping or oscillations, occurring in a cell type- and stage-dependent manner. In cells, such dynamics can exert various functions that allow organisms to develop in a robust and reproducible way. Here, we focus on Erk, Wnt and Notch signalling pathways, which are dynamic in several tissue types and organisms, including the periodic segmentation of vertebrate embryos, and are often dysregulated in cancer. We will discuss how biochemical processes influence their dynamics and how these impact on cellular behaviour within multicellular systems.
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Temporal transitions in the post-mitotic nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature 2021; 600:93-99. [PMID: 34759317 PMCID: PMC8785361 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04071-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In most animals, the majority of the nervous system is generated and assembled into neuronal circuits during embryonic development1. However, during juvenile stages, nervous systems still undergo extensive anatomical and functional changes to eventually form a fully mature nervous system by the adult stage2,3. The molecular changes in post-mitotic neurons across post-embryonic development and the genetic programs that control these temporal transitions are not well understood4,5. Here, using the model system Caenorhabditis elegans, we comprehensively characterized the distinct functional states (locomotor behaviour) and the corresponding distinct molecular states (transcriptome) of the post-mitotic nervous system across temporal transitions during post-embryonic development. We observed pervasive, neuron-type-specific changes in gene expression, many of which are controlled by the developmental upregulation of the conserved heterochronic microRNA LIN-4 and the subsequent promotion of a mature neuronal transcriptional program through the repression of its target, the transcription factor lin-14. The functional relevance of these molecular transitions are exemplified by a temporally regulated target gene of the LIN-14 transcription factor, nlp-45, a neuropeptide-encoding gene, which we find is required for several distinct temporal transitions in exploratory activity during post-embryonic development. Our study provides insights into regulatory strategies that control neuron-type-specific gene batteries to modulate distinct behavioural states across temporal, sexual and environmental dimensions of post-embryonic development.
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Zhou Q, Ren X, Oberoi MK, Bedar M, Caprini RM, Dewey MJ, Kolliopoulos V, Yamaguchi DT, Harley BA, Lee JC. β-Catenin Limits Osteogenesis on Regenerative Materials in a Stiffness-Dependent Manner. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2101467. [PMID: 34585526 PMCID: PMC8665088 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Targeted refinement of regenerative materials requires mechanistic understanding of cell-material interactions. The nanoparticulate mineralized collagen glycosaminoglycan (MC-GAG) scaffold is shown to promote skull regeneration in vivo without additive exogenous growth factors or progenitor cells, suggesting potential for clinical translation. This work evaluates modulation of MC-GAG stiffness on canonical Wnt (cWnt) signaling. Primary human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are differentiated on two MC-GAG scaffolds (noncrosslinked, NX-MC, 0.3 kPa vs conventionally crosslinked, MC, 3.9 kPa). hMSCs increase expression of activated β-catenin, the major cWnt intracellular mediator, and the mechanosensitive YAP protein with near complete subcellular colocalization on stiffer MC scaffolds. Overall Wnt pathway inhibition reduces activated β-catenin and osteogenic differentiation, while elevating BMP4 and phosphorylated Smad1/5 (p-Smad1/5) expression on MC, but not NX-MC. Unlike Wnt pathway downregulation, isolated canonical Wnt inhibition with β-catenin knockdown increases osteogenic differentiation and mineralization specifically on the stiffer MC. β-catenin knockdown also increases p-Smad1/5, Runx2, and BMP4 expression only on the stiffer MC material. Thus, while stiffness-induced activation of the Wnt and mechanotransduction pathways promotes osteogenesis on MC-GAG, activated β-catenin is a limiting agent and may serve as a useful target or readout for optimal modulation of stiffness in skeletal regenerative materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhou
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Research Service, Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Xiaoyan Ren
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Research Service, Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Michelle K. Oberoi
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Research Service, Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Meiwand Bedar
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Research Service, Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Rachel M. Caprini
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Research Service, Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Marley J. Dewey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Vasiliki Kolliopoulos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Dean T. Yamaguchi
- Research Service, Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073
| | - Brendan A.C. Harley
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Justine C. Lee
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Research Service, Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90095
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4) Enhances the Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Limbal Progenitor Cells. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2021; 43:2124-2134. [PMID: 34940121 PMCID: PMC8929048 DOI: 10.3390/cimb43030147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal epithelium maintains visual acuity and is regenerated by the proliferation and differentiation of limbal progenitor cells. Transplantation of human limbal progenitor cells could restore the integrity and functionality of the corneal surface in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. However, multiple protocols are employed to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into corneal epithelium or limbal progenitor cells. The aim of this study was to optimize a protocol that uses bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and limbal cell-specific medium. Human dermal fibroblast-derived iPS cells were differentiated into limbal progenitor cells using limbal cell-specific (PI) medium and varying doses (1, 10, and 50 ng/mL) and durations (1, 3, and 10 days) of BMP4 treatment. Differentiated human iPS cells were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunocytochemical studies at 2 or 4 weeks after BMP4 treatment. Culturing human dermal fibroblast-derived iPS cells in limbal cell-specific medium and BMP4 gave rise to limbal progenitor and corneal epithelial-like cells. The optimal protocol of 10 ng/mL and three days of BMP4 treatment elicited significantly higher limbal progenitor marker (ABCG2, ∆Np63α) expression and less corneal epithelial cell marker (CK3, CK12) expression than the other combinations of BMP4 dose and duration. In conclusion, this study identified a successful reprogramming strategy to induce limbal progenitor cells from human iPS cells using limbal cell-specific medium and BMP4. Additionally, our experiments indicate that the optimal BMP4 dose and duration favor limbal progenitor cell differentiation over corneal epithelial cells and maintain the phenotype of limbal stem cells. These findings contribute to the development of therapies for limbal stem cell deficiency disorders.
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Latta L, Figueiredo FC, Ashery-Padan R, Collinson JM, Daniels J, Ferrari S, Szentmáry N, Solá S, Shalom-Feuerstein R, Lako M, Xapelli S, Aberdam D, Lagali N. Pathophysiology of aniridia-associated keratopathy: Developmental aspects and unanswered questions. Ocul Surf 2021; 22:245-266. [PMID: 34520870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Aniridia, a rare congenital disease, is often characterized by a progressive, pronounced limbal insufficiency and ocular surface pathology termed aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK). Due to the characteristics of AAK and its bilateral nature, clinical management is challenging and complicated by the multiple coexisting ocular and systemic morbidities in aniridia. Although it is primarily assumed that AAK originates from a congenital limbal stem cell deficiency, in recent years AAK and its pathogenesis has been questioned in the light of new evidence and a refined understanding of ocular development and the biology of limbal stem cells (LSCs) and their niche. Here, by consolidating and comparing the latest clinical and preclinical evidence, we discuss key unanswered questions regarding ocular developmental aspects crucial to AAK. We also highlight hypotheses on the potential role of LSCs and the ocular surface microenvironment in AAK. The insights thus gained lead to a greater appreciation for the role of developmental and cellular processes in the emergence of AAK. They also highlight areas for future research to enable a deeper understanding of aniridia, and thereby the potential to develop new treatments for this rare but blinding ocular surface disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Latta
- Dr. Rolf. M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Saarland University, Homburg, Saar, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
| | - F C Figueiredo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - R Ashery-Padan
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - J M Collinson
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom
| | - J Daniels
- Cells for Sight, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - S Ferrari
- The Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, Venice, Italy
| | - N Szentmáry
- Dr. Rolf. M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Saarland University, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - S Solá
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - R Shalom-Feuerstein
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - M Lako
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - S Xapelli
- Instituto Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - D Aberdam
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM U1138, Team 17, France; Université de Paris, 75006, Paris, France.
| | - N Lagali
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Ophthalmology, Sørlandet Hospital Arendal, Arendal, Norway.
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43
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Kapitonova MA, Shadrina OA, Korolev SP, Gottikh MB. Main Approaches to Controlled Protein Degradation in the Cell. Mol Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893321030067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Conditional Deletion of AP-2β in the Periocular Mesenchyme of Mice Alters Corneal Epithelial Cell Fate and Stratification. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168730. [PMID: 34445433 PMCID: PMC8395778 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The cornea is an anterior eye structure specialized for vision. The corneal endothelium and stroma are derived from the periocular mesenchyme (POM), which originates from neural crest cells (NCCs), while the stratified corneal epithelium develops from the surface ectoderm. Activating protein-2β (AP-2β) is highly expressed in the POM and important for anterior segment development. Using a mouse model in which AP-2β is conditionally deleted in the NCCs (AP-2β NCC KO), we investigated resulting corneal epithelial abnormalities. Through PAS and IHC staining, we observed structural and phenotypic changes to the epithelium associated with AP-2β deletion. In addition to failure of the mutant epithelium to stratify, we also observed that Keratin-12, a marker of the differentiated epithelium, was absent, and Keratin-15, a limbal and conjunctival marker, was expanded across the central epithelium. Transcription factors PAX6 and P63 were not observed to be differentially expressed between WT and mutant. However, growth factor BMP4 was suppressed in the mutant epithelium. Given the non-NCC origin of the epithelium, we hypothesize that the abnormalities in the AP-2β NCC KO mouse result from changes to regulatory signaling from the POM-derived stroma. Our findings suggest that stromal pathways such as Wnt/β-Catenin signaling may regulate BMP4 expression, which influences cell fate and stratification.
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Li WJ, Wang CW, Tao L, Yan YH, Zhang MJ, Liu ZX, Li YX, Zhao HQ, Li XM, He XD, Xue Y, Dong MQ. Insulin signaling regulates longevity through protein phosphorylation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4568. [PMID: 34315882 PMCID: PMC8316574 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24816-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling (IIS) is known to constrain longevity by inhibiting the transcription factor FOXO. How phosphorylation mediated by IIS kinases regulates lifespan beyond FOXO remains unclear. Here, we profile IIS-dependent phosphorylation changes in a large-scale quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of wild-type and three IIS mutant Caenorhabditis elegans strains. We quantify more than 15,000 phosphosites and find that 476 of these are differentially phosphorylated in the long-lived daf-2/insulin receptor mutant. We develop a machine learning-based method to prioritize 25 potential lifespan-related phosphosites. We perform validations to show that AKT-1 pT492 inhibits DAF-16/FOXO and compensates the loss of daf-2 function, that EIF-2α pS49 potently inhibits protein synthesis and daf-2 longevity, and that reduced phosphorylation of multiple germline proteins apparently transmits reduced DAF-2 signaling to the soma. In addition, an analysis of kinases with enriched substrates detects that casein kinase 2 (CK2) subunits negatively regulate lifespan. Our study reveals detailed functional insights into longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jun Li
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chen-Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Center for Artificial Intelligence Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Nanjing University Institute of Artificial Intelligence Biomedicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Tao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yong-Hong Yan
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mei-Jun Zhang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
- Annoroad Gene Tech. Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Ze-Xian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Center for Artificial Intelligence Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Xin Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Han-Qing Zhao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Mei Li
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xian-Dong He
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Xue
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Center for Artificial Intelligence Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
- Nanjing University Institute of Artificial Intelligence Biomedicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Meng-Qiu Dong
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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Berger S, Spiri S, deMello A, Hajnal A. Microfluidic-based imaging of complete Caenorhabditis elegans larval development. Development 2021; 148:269282. [PMID: 34170296 PMCID: PMC8327290 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Several microfluidic-based methods for Caenorhabditis elegans imaging have recently been introduced. Existing methods either permit imaging across multiple larval stages without maintaining a stable worm orientation, or allow for very good immobilization but are only suitable for shorter experiments. Here, we present a novel microfluidic imaging method that allows parallel live-imaging across multiple larval stages, while maintaining worm orientation and identity over time. This is achieved through an array of microfluidic trap channels carefully tuned to maintain worms in a stable orientation, while allowing growth and molting to occur. Immobilization is supported by an active hydraulic valve, which presses worms onto the cover glass during image acquisition only. In this way, excellent quality images can be acquired with minimal impact on worm viability or developmental timing. The capabilities of the devices are demonstrated by observing the hypodermal seam and P-cell divisions and, for the first time, the entire process of vulval development from induction to the end of morphogenesis. Moreover, we demonstrate feasibility of on-chip RNAi by perturbing basement membrane breaching during anchor cell invasion. Summary: Parallel microfluidic long-term imaging allows reliable long-term study of Caenorhabditis elegans development across multiple larval stages at high-resolution and with minimal effect on physiological development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Berger
- Department of Molecular Life Science, University Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.,Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Silvan Spiri
- Department of Molecular Life Science, University Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew deMello
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Alex Hajnal
- Department of Molecular Life Science, University Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
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47
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Hou Y, He YX, Zhang JH, Wang SR, Zhang Y. Effects of bone morphogenetic proteins on epithelial repair. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:2269-2277. [PMID: 34233522 DOI: 10.1177/15353702211028193] [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: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial tissue has important functions such as protection, secretion, and sensation. Epithelial damage is involved in various pathological processes. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a class of growth factors with multiple functions. They play important roles in epithelial cells, including in differentiation, proliferation, and migration during the repair of the epithelium. This article reviews the functions and mechanisms of the most profoundly studied BMPs in the process of epithelial damage repair and their clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Hou
- Department of Ophthalmology, 2nd Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China.,Norman Bethune Health Science Center of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Yu-Xi He
- Department of Ophthalmology, 2nd Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Jia-Hao Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, 2nd Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China.,Norman Bethune Health Science Center of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Shu-Rong Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, 2nd Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, 2nd Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
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48
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Dou S, Wang Q, Qi X, Zhang B, Jiang H, Chen S, Duan H, Lu Y, Dong J, Cao Y, Xie L, Zhou Q, Shi W. Molecular identity of human limbal heterogeneity involved in corneal homeostasis and privilege. Ocul Surf 2021; 21:206-220. [PMID: 33964410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The corneal limbus maintains the homeostasis, immune and angiogenic privilege of cornea. This study aimed to depict the landscape of human limbal tissues by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). METHODS Single cells of human limbus collected from donor corneas were subjected to 10x scRNA-seq, followed by clustering cell types through the t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) and unbiased computational informatic analysis. Immunofluorescent staining was performed using human corneas to validate the analysis results. RESULTS 47,627 cells acquired from six human limbal tissues were collected and subjected to scRNA-seq. 14 distinct clusters were identified and 8 cell types were annotated with representative markers. In-depth dissection revealed three limbal epithelial cell subtypes and refined the X-Y-Z hypothesis of corneal epithelial maintenance. We further unveiled two cell states with higher stemness (TP63+ and CCL20+ cells), and two other differentiated cell states (GPHA2+ and KRT6B + cells) in homeostatic limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSPCs) that differ in transcriptional profiles. Cell-cell communication analysis revealed the central role of LSPCs and their bidirectional regulation with various niche cells. Moreover, comparative analysis between limbus and skin deciphered the pivotal contribution of limbal immune cells, vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells to corneal immune and angiogenic privilege. CONCLUSIONS The human limbus atlas provided valuable resources and foundations for understanding corneal biology, disease and potential interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengqian Dou
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qun Wang
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xia Qi
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shengwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Haoyun Duan
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yao Lu
- OE Biotech Co., Ltd, Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Yihai Cao
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lixin Xie
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qingjun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.
| | - Weiyun Shi
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China; Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.
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49
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Ma W, Xie Z, Chen H, Zeng L, Chen X, Feng S, Lu X. Nuclear translocation of β-catenin induced by E-cadherin endocytosis causes recurrent erosion of diabetic cornea. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:1167-1176. [PMID: 33554651 PMCID: PMC8142105 DOI: 10.1177/1535370220983243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrent epithelial erosion and refractory corneal ulcer are the clinical features of diabetic keratopathy (DK), which eventually lead to corneal scar and visual disturbance. In this study, we sought to determine the abnormalities of cell junction in diabetic corneal epithelial cells and the effect of high glucose on the β-catenin/E-cadherin complex. Corneal histology showed that corneal epithelial cells of high glucose mice were loosely arranged, and the immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of E-cadherin decreased, the levels of β-catenin increased in nuclear. High glucose-induced degradation and endocytosis of E-cadherin of corneal epithelial cells reduce the formation of β-catenin/E-cadherin complex and promote the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Moreover, high glucose also activated the transcription and expression of matrix metallopeptidase and snail, which interfered with the adhesion of corneal epithelial cells to the basement membrane. These findings reveal that DK is associated with the dissociation of cell junctions. The maintenance of the stability of the β-catenin/E-cadherin complex may be a potential therapeutic target of refractory corneal ulcers in patients with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbei Ma
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Zhengyuan Xie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Affiliated Jiangmen Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Jiangmen 529030, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Lina Zeng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Xiaohong Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Songfu Feng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Xiaohe Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
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Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Possible Immunomodulatory Activity Mechanism of Chlorella sp. Exopolysaccharides on RAW264.7 Macrophages. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:md19040217. [PMID: 33919822 PMCID: PMC8070752 DOI: 10.3390/md19040217] [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: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the exopolysaccharides of Chlorella sp. (CEP) were isolated to obtain the purified fraction CEP4. Characterization results showed that CEP4 was a sulfated heteropolysaccharide. The main monosaccharide components of CEP4 are glucosamine hydrochloride (40.8%) and glucuronic acid (21.0%). The impact of CEP4 on the immune activity of RAW264.7 macrophage cytokines was detected, and the results showed that CEP4 induced the production of nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, and IL-6 in a dose-dependent pattern within a range of 6 μg/mL. A total of 4824 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the results of RNA-seq. Gene enrichment analysis showed that immune-related genes such as NFKB1, IL-6, and IL-1β were significantly upregulated, while the genes RIPK1 and TLR4 were significantly downregulated. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were significantly enriched in immune-related biological processes, including toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway, cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway, and C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis showed that HSP90AB1, Rbx1, ISG15, Psmb6, Psmb3, Psmb8, PSMA7, Polr2f, Rpsa, and NEDD8 were the hub genes with an essential role in the immune activity of CEP4. The preliminary results of the present study revealed the potential mechanism of CEP4 in the immune regulation of RAW264.7 macrophages, suggesting that CEP4 is a promising immunoregulatory agent.
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