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Kawaguchi A, Wang J, Knapp D, Murawala P, Nowoshilow S, Masselink W, Taniguchi-Sugiura Y, Fei JF, Tanaka EM. A chromatin code for limb segment identity in axolotl limb regeneration. Dev Cell 2024; 59:2239-2253.e9. [PMID: 38788714 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.05.002] [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: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
The salamander limb correctly regenerates missing limb segments because connective tissue cells have segment-specific identities, termed "positional information". How positional information is molecularly encoded at the chromatin level has been unknown. Here, we performed genome-wide chromatin profiling in mature and regenerating axolotl limb connective tissue cells. We find segment-specific levels of histone H3K27me3 as the major positional mark, especially at limb homeoprotein gene loci but not their upstream regulators, constituting an intrinsic segment information code. During regeneration, regeneration-specific regulatory elements became active prior to the re-appearance of developmental regulatory elements. In the hand, the permissive chromatin state of the homeoprotein gene HoxA13 engages with the regeneration program bypassing the upper limb program. Comparison of regeneration regulatory elements with those found in other regenerative animals identified a core shared set of transcription factors, supporting an ancient, conserved regeneration program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akane Kawaguchi
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jingkui Wang
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Dunja Knapp
- DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Prayag Murawala
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria; DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Sergej Nowoshilow
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria; DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Wouter Masselink
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Yuka Taniguchi-Sugiura
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ji-Feng Fei
- Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Elly M Tanaka
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria.
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2
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Hirsinger E, Blavet C, Bonnin MA, Bellenger L, Gharsalli T, Duprez D. Limb connective tissue is organized in a continuum of promiscuous fibroblast identities during development. iScience 2024; 27:110305. [PMID: 39050702 PMCID: PMC11267076 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Connective tissue (CT), which includes tendon and muscle CT, plays critical roles in development, in particular as positional cue provider. Nonetheless, our understanding of fibroblast developmental programs is hampered because fibroblasts are highly heterogeneous and poorly characterized. Combining single-cell RNA-sequencing-based strategies including trajectory inference and in situ hybridization analyses, we address the diversity of fibroblasts and their developmental trajectories during chicken limb fetal development. We show that fibroblasts switch from a positional information to a lineage diversification program at the fetal period onset. Muscle CT and tendon are composed of several fibroblast populations that emerge asynchronously. Once the final muscle pattern is set, transcriptionally close populations are found in neighboring locations in limbs, prefiguring the adult fibroblast layers. We propose that the limb CT is organized in a continuum of promiscuous fibroblast identities, allowing for the robust and efficient connection of muscle to bone and skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Hirsinger
- Sorbonne Université, Institut Biologie Paris Seine, CNRS UMR7622, Developmental Biology Laboratory, Inserm U1156, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Cédrine Blavet
- Sorbonne Université, Institut Biologie Paris Seine, CNRS UMR7622, Developmental Biology Laboratory, Inserm U1156, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Marie-Ange Bonnin
- Sorbonne Université, Institut Biologie Paris Seine, CNRS UMR7622, Developmental Biology Laboratory, Inserm U1156, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Léa Bellenger
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS FR3631, Inserm U1156, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), ARTbio Bioinformatics Analysis Facility, Paris, Institut Français de Bioinformatique (IFB), 75005 Paris, France
| | - Tarek Gharsalli
- Sorbonne Université, Institut Biologie Paris Seine, CNRS UMR7622, Developmental Biology Laboratory, Inserm U1156, 75005 Paris, France
- Inovarion, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Delphine Duprez
- Sorbonne Université, Institut Biologie Paris Seine, CNRS UMR7622, Developmental Biology Laboratory, Inserm U1156, 75005 Paris, France
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3
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Morris ZS, Colbert MW, Rowe TB. Variation and Variability in Skeletal Ossification of the Gray Short-tailed Opossum, Monodelphis domestica. Integr Org Biol 2024; 6:obae024. [PMID: 39114377 PMCID: PMC11305135 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obae024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
By reconstructing and comparing the sequence of ontogenetic (embryonic development and post-natal growth) events across species, developmental biologists have gained unique insights into the key processes underlying the evolution of modern lineages and their extinct relatives. However, despite the importance of intraspecific variation to evolutionary transformation and lineage divergence, variation in the sequence of developmental events is seldom acknowledged. Thus, how much variation or variability should be expected during ontogeny remains poorly understood and it is an open question to what extent it impacts interspecific comparisons of developmental patterns. To address this crucial question, we studied the skeletal development of the important biomedical and developmental model organism, Monodelphis domestica. We investigated cranial, forelimb, and hindlimb elements using ontogenetic sequence analysis (OSA) to quantify and assess the full range of variation and variability in the sequence of ossification. Our study documented that previously unrecognized variation exists during M. domestica ontogeny-with over 5000 sequences for the full 92 event analysis. Further, OSA revealed unexpectedly high variability (i.e., the propensity to express variation) in the sequence of ossification for the skull and across the entire skeleton. Reconstructed modal sequences were generally in agreement with previously recognized patterns, including earlier ossification of the facial skeleton and a slight offset between forelimb and hindlimb development. However, the full range of variation shows that the majority of specimens in our analysis followed developmental trajectories distinct from those recovered by prior studies. This level of variation is quite remarkable and demonstrates the importance of assessing intraspecific ontogenetic variation. By quantifying sequence polymorphism and studying how developmental variation and variability differ among species, we can clarify more precisely how developmental patterns differ among species and gain insights into how ontogeny itself evolves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z S Morris
- Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| | - M W Colbert
- Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- University of Texas High‐Resolution X‐Ray CT Facility, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - T B Rowe
- Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- University of Texas High‐Resolution X‐Ray CT Facility, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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4
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Chen KQ, Kawakami H, Anderson A, Corcoran D, Soni A, Nishinakamura R, Kawakami Y. Sall genes regulate hindlimb initiation in mouse embryos. Genetics 2024; 227:iyae029. [PMID: 38386912 PMCID: PMC11075541 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae029] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate limbs start to develop as paired protrusions from the lateral plate mesoderm at specific locations of the body with forelimb buds developing anteriorly and hindlimb buds posteriorly. During the initiation process, limb progenitor cells maintain active proliferation to form protrusions and start to express Fgf10, which triggers molecular processes for outgrowth and patterning. Although both processes occur in both types of limbs, forelimbs (Tbx5), and hindlimbs (Isl1) utilize distinct transcriptional systems to trigger their development. Here, we report that Sall1 and Sall4, zinc finger transcription factor genes, regulate hindlimb initiation in mouse embryos. Compared to the 100% frequency loss of hindlimb buds in TCre; Isl1 conditional knockouts, Hoxb6Cre; Isl1 conditional knockout causes a hypomorphic phenotype with only approximately 5% of mutants lacking the hindlimb. Our previous study of SALL4 ChIP-seq showed SALL4 enrichment in an Isl1 enhancer, suggesting that SALL4 acts upstream of Isl1. Removing 1 allele of Sall4 from the hypomorphic Hoxb6Cre; Isl1 mutant background caused loss of hindlimbs, but removing both alleles caused an even higher frequency of loss of hindlimbs, suggesting a genetic interaction between Sall4 and Isl1. Furthermore, TCre-mediated conditional double knockouts of Sall1 and Sall4 displayed a loss of expression of hindlimb progenitor markers (Isl1, Pitx1, Tbx4) and failed to develop hindlimbs, demonstrating functional redundancy between Sall1 and Sall4. Our data provides genetic evidence that Sall1 and Sall4 act as master regulators of hindlimb initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Q Chen
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Hiroko Kawakami
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Aaron Anderson
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Dylan Corcoran
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Aditi Soni
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ryuichi Nishinakamura
- Department of Kidney Development, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Kawakami
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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5
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Liao Y, Kang F, Xiong J, Xie K, Li M, Yu L, Wang Y, Chen H, Ye G, Yin Y, Guo W, Cai H, Zhu Q, Li Z. MSX1 +PDGFRA low limb mesenchyme-like cells as an efficient stem cell source for human cartilage regeneration. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:399-413. [PMID: 38428414 PMCID: PMC10937155 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.02.001] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Degenerative bone disorders have a significant impact on global health, and regeneration of articular cartilage remains a challenge. Existing cell therapies using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown limited efficacy, highlighting the necessity for alternative stem cell sources. Here, we have identified and characterized MSX1+ mesenchymal progenitor cells in the developing limb bud with remarkable osteochondral-regenerative and microenvironment-adaptive capabilities. Single-cell sequencing further revealed the presence of two major cell compositions within the MSX1+ cells, where a distinct PDGFRAlow subset retained the strongest osteochondral competency and could efficiently regenerate articular cartilage in vivo. Furthermore, a strategy was developed to generate MSX1+PDGFRAlow limb mesenchyme-like (LML) cells from human pluripotent stem cells that closely resembled their mouse counterparts, which were bipotential in vitro and could directly regenerate damaged cartilage in a mouse injury model. Together, our results indicated that MSX1+PDGFRAlow LML cells might be a prominent stem cell source for human cartilage regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuansong Liao
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fanchen Kang
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingfei Xiong
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kun Xie
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingxu Li
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Yu
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuqing Wang
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hanyi Chen
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guogen Ye
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yike Yin
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihua Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Oral Regenerative Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Haoyang Cai
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qing Zhu
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Zhonghan Li
- Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Oral Regenerative Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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6
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Jacobson KR, Saleh AM, Lipp SN, Tian C, Watson AR, Luetkemeyer CM, Ocken AR, Spencer SL, Kinzer-Ursem TL, Calve S. Extracellular matrix protein composition dynamically changes during murine forelimb development. iScience 2024; 27:108838. [PMID: 38303699 PMCID: PMC10831947 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an integral part of multicellular organisms, connecting different cell layers and tissue types. During morphogenesis and growth, tissues undergo substantial reorganization. While it is intuitive that the ECM remodels in concert, little is known regarding how matrix composition and organization change during development. Here, we quantified ECM protein dynamics in the murine forelimb during appendicular musculoskeletal morphogenesis (embryonic days 11.5-14.5) using tissue fractionation, bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging, and mass spectrometry. Our analyses indicated that ECM protein (matrisome) composition in the embryonic forelimb changed as a function of development and growth, was distinct from other developing organs (brain), and was altered in a model of disease (osteogenesis imperfecta murine). Additionally, the tissue distribution for select matrisome was assessed via immunohistochemistry in the wild-type embryonic and postnatal musculoskeletal system. This resource will guide future research investigating the role of the matrisome during complex tissue development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R. Jacobson
- Purdue University Interdisciplinary Life Science Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Aya M. Saleh
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Sarah N. Lipp
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- The Indiana University Medical Scientist/Engineer Training Program, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Chengzhe Tian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine (CEMM) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Audrey R. Watson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Callan M. Luetkemeyer
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Alexander R. Ocken
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Sabrina L. Spencer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Tamara L. Kinzer-Ursem
- Purdue University Interdisciplinary Life Science Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Sarah Calve
- Purdue University Interdisciplinary Life Science Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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7
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Bardhan S, Bhargava N, Dighe S, Vats N, Naganathan SR. Emergence of a left-right symmetric body plan in vertebrate embryos. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 159:310-342. [PMID: 38729680 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.01.003] [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: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
External bilateral symmetry is a prevalent feature in vertebrates, which emerges during early embryonic development. To begin with, vertebrate embryos are largely radially symmetric before transitioning to bilaterally symmetry, after which, morphogenesis of various bilateral tissues (e.g somites, otic vesicle, limb bud), and structures (e.g palate, jaw) ensue. While a significant amount of work has probed the mechanisms behind symmetry breaking in the left-right axis leading to asymmetric positioning of internal organs, little is known about how bilateral tissues emerge at the same time with the same shape and size and at the same position on the two sides of the embryo. By discussing emergence of symmetry in many bilateral tissues and structures across vertebrate model systems, we highlight that understanding symmetry establishment is largely an open field, which will provide deep insights into fundamental problems in developmental biology for decades to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddhartha Bardhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Nandini Bhargava
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Swarali Dighe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Neha Vats
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Sundar Ram Naganathan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India.
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8
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Newton AH, Smith CA. Resolving the mechanisms underlying epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of the lateral plate mesoderm. Genesis 2024; 62:e23531. [PMID: 37443419 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Formation of the vertebrate limb buds begins with a localized epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the somatic lateral plate mesoderm (LPM). While the processes that drive proliferation and outgrowth of the limb mesenchyme are well established, the fundamental mechanisms that precede this process and initiate EMT are less understood. In this review, we outline putative drivers of EMT of the LPM, drawing from analyses across a range of vertebrates and developmental models. We detail the expression patterns of key EMT transcriptional regulators in the somatic LPM of the presumptive limb fields, and their potential role in producing a mesenchymal cell fate. These include a putative cooperative role between the EMT inducers PRRX1 and TWIST1, supported by evidence in zebrafish and chicken models but unconfirmed data from mice. As such, additional functional data are required to definitively determine the mechanisms that initiate and drive EMT of the somatic LPM, a critical transition preceding formation of the limb bud mesenchyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel H Newton
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Craig A Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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9
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Wanninger A. Hox, homology, and parsimony: An organismal perspective. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 152-153:16-23. [PMID: 36670036 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Hox genes are important regulators in animal development. They often show a mosaic of conserved (e.g., longitudinal axis patterning) and lineage-specific novel functions (e.g., development of skeletal, sensory, or locomotory systems). Despite extensive research over the past decades, it remains controversial at which node in the animal tree of life the Hox cluster evolved. Its presence already in the last common metazoan ancestor has been proposed, although the genomes of both putative earliest extant metazoan offshoots, the ctenophores and the poriferans, are devoid of Hox sequences. The lack of Hox genes in the supposedly "simple"-built poriferans and their low number in cnidarians and the basally branching bilaterians, the xenacoelomorphs, seems to support the classical notion that the number of Hox genes is correlated with the degree of animal complexity. However, the 4-fold increase of the Hox cluster in xiphosurans, a basally branching chelicerate clade, as well as the situation in some teleost fishes that show a multitude of Hox genes compared to, e.g., human, demonstrates, that there is no per se direct correlation between organismal complexity and Hox number. Traditional approaches have tried to base homology on the morphological level on shared expression profiles of individual genes, but recent data have shown that, in particular with respect to Hox and other regulatory genes, complex gene-gene interactions rather than expression signatures of individual genes alone are responsible for shaping morphological traits during ontogeny. Accordingly, for sound homology assessments and reconstructions of character evolution on organ system level, additional independent datasets (e.g., morphological, developmental) need to be included in any such analyses. If supported by solid data, proposed structural homology should be regarded as valid and not be rejected solely on the grounds of non-parsimonious distribution of the character over a given phylogenetic topology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Wanninger
- University of Vienna, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Unit for Integrative Zoology, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
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10
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Bobola N, Sagerström CG. TALE transcription factors: Cofactors no more. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 152-153:76-84. [PMID: 36509674 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Exd/PBX, Hth/MEIS and PREP proteins belong to the TALE (three-amino-acid loop extension) superclass of transcription factors (TFs) with an atypical homedomain (HD). Originally discovered as "cofactors" to HOX proteins, revisiting their traditional role in light of genome-wide experiments reveals a strong and reproducible pattern of HOX and TALE co-occupancy across diverse embryonic tissues. While confirming that TALE increases HOX specificity and selectivity in vivo, this wider outlook also reveals novel aspects of HOX:TALE collaboration, namely that HOX TFs generally require pre-bound TALE factors to access their functional binding sites in vivo. In contrast to the restricted expression domains of HOX TFs, TALE factors are largely ubiquitous, and PBX and PREP are expressed at the earliest developmental stages. PBX and MEIS control development of many organs and tissues and their dysregulation is associated with congenital disease and cancer. Accordingly, many instances of TALE cooperation with non HOX TFs have been documented in various systems. The model that emerges from these studies is that TALE TFs create a permissive chromatin platform that is selected by tissue-restricted TFs for binding. In turn, HOX and other tissue-restricted TFs selectively convert a ubiquitous pool of low affinity TALE binding events into high confidence, tissue-restricted binding events associated with transcriptional activation. As a result, TALE:TF complexes are associated with active chromatin and domain/lineage-specific gene activity. TALE ubiquitous expression and broad genomic occupancy, as well as the increasing examples of TALE tissue-specific partners, reveal a universal and obligatory role for TALE in the control of tissue and lineage-specific transcriptional programs, beyond their initial discovery as HOX co-factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Bobola
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Charles G Sagerström
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO, USA.
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11
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Zhang B, He P, Lawrence JEG, Wang S, Tuck E, Williams BA, Roberts K, Kleshchevnikov V, Mamanova L, Bolt L, Polanski K, Li T, Elmentaite R, Fasouli ES, Prete M, He X, Yayon N, Fu Y, Yang H, Liang C, Zhang H, Blain R, Chedotal A, FitzPatrick DR, Firth H, Dean A, Bayraktar OA, Marioni JC, Barker RA, Storer MA, Wold BJ, Zhang H, Teichmann SA. A human embryonic limb cell atlas resolved in space and time. Nature 2023:10.1038/s41586-023-06806-x. [PMID: 38057666 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06806-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Human limbs emerge during the fourth post-conception week as mesenchymal buds, which develop into fully formed limbs over the subsequent months1. This process is orchestrated by numerous temporally and spatially restricted gene expression programmes, making congenital alterations in phenotype common2. Decades of work with model organisms have defined the fundamental mechanisms underlying vertebrate limb development, but an in-depth characterization of this process in humans has yet to be performed. Here we detail human embryonic limb development across space and time using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. We demonstrate extensive diversification of cells from a few multipotent progenitors to myriad differentiated cell states, including several novel cell populations. We uncover two waves of human muscle development, each characterized by different cell states regulated by separate gene expression programmes, and identify musculin (MSC) as a key transcriptional repressor maintaining muscle stem cell identity. Through assembly of multiple anatomically continuous spatial transcriptomic samples using VisiumStitcher, we map cells across a sagittal section of a whole fetal hindlimb. We reveal a clear anatomical segregation between genes linked to brachydactyly and polysyndactyly, and uncover transcriptionally and spatially distinct populations of the mesenchyme in the autopod. Finally, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing on mouse embryonic limbs to facilitate cross-species developmental comparison, finding substantial homology between the two species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao Zhang
- The Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng He
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - John E G Lawrence
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shuaiyu Wang
- The Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Elizabeth Tuck
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Brian A Williams
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Kenny Roberts
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | | | - Lira Mamanova
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Enhanc3D Genomics Ltd, Cambridge, UK
| | - Liam Bolt
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Genomics England, London, UK
| | | | - Tong Li
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Rasa Elmentaite
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Eirini S Fasouli
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Basic Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Martin Prete
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Xiaoling He
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nadav Yayon
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Yixi Fu
- The Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Yang
- The Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen Liang
- The Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Raphael Blain
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Alain Chedotal
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
- Institut de pathologie, groupe hospitalier Est, hospices civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
- University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, MeLiS, CNRS UMR5284, INSERM U1314, Lyon, France
| | | | - Helen Firth
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Andrew Dean
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - John C Marioni
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Roger A Barker
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mekayla A Storer
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Barbara J Wold
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- The Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Sarah A Teichmann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK.
- Theory of Condensed Matter Group, Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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12
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Horbaly H, Hubbe M, Sylvester AD, Steadman DW, Auerbach BM. Variation in human limb joint articular morphology. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2023; 182:388-400. [PMID: 37702986 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Synovial joints in human limbs strike a balance between mobility, stability, and articular fit, yet little is known about how these conflicting demands pattern intraspecific variation in articular shape. In this study, we use geometric morphometrics to establish the apportionment and magnitude of morphological variance of the articular surfaces of the human shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. We hypothesize that variances will be comparable between articulating surfaces within a joint and will be larger in joints with smaller ranges of motion, given their plurality of functional demands. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three-dimensional landmarks were taken on the articular surfaces of the glenohumeral, humeroulnar, acetabulofemoral, and tibiofemoral joints from CT scans of 200 skeletons from the University of Tennessee Donated Skeletal Collection (84 females, 116 males). Root mean-squared distances between articulations calculated from Procrustes shape coordinates were used to determine variance distributions. RESULTS We found no difference in variances for each articular surface between the sexes or between left and right articular surfaces. A high range of motion is associated with greater morphological variance; however, this pattern is largely driven by the concave articular surfaces of each joint, which consistently exhibit statistically greater variance than their convex counterparts. DISCUSSION The striking pattern of differential variance between articulating morphologies points to potential disparities in development between them. Consistently higher variance in concave surfaces may relate to chondral modeling theory for the formation of joints. Establishing intraspecific morphological variance patterns is a first step in understanding coordinated evolution among articular features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley Horbaly
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Congdon School of Health Sciences, High Point University, High Point, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Congdon School of Health Sciences, High Point University, High Point, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mark Hubbe
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Adam D Sylvester
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Benjamin M Auerbach
- Department of Anthropology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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13
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Sedas Perez S, McQueen C, Stainton H, Pickering J, Chinnaiya K, Saiz-Lopez P, Placzek M, Ros MA, Towers M. Fgf signalling triggers an intrinsic mesodermal timer that determines the duration of limb patterning. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5841. [PMID: 37730682 PMCID: PMC10511490 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41457-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Complex signalling between the apical ectodermal ridge (AER - a thickening of the distal epithelium) and the mesoderm controls limb patterning along the proximo-distal axis (humerus to digits). However, the essential in vivo requirement for AER-Fgf signalling makes it difficult to understand the exact roles that it fulfils. To overcome this barrier, we developed an amenable ex vivo chick wing tissue explant system that faithfully replicates in vivo parameters. Using inhibition experiments and RNA-sequencing, we identify a transient role for Fgfs in triggering the distal patterning phase. Fgfs are then dispensable for the maintenance of an intrinsic mesodermal transcriptome, which controls proliferation/differentiation timing and the duration of patterning. We also uncover additional roles for Fgf signalling in maintaining AER-related gene expression and in suppressing myogenesis. We describe a simple logic for limb patterning duration, which is potentially applicable to other systems, including the main body axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Sedas Perez
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Caitlin McQueen
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Chester Medical School, Chester, CH2 1BR, UK
| | - Holly Stainton
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Joseph Pickering
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Kavitha Chinnaiya
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Patricia Saiz-Lopez
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria), 39011, Santander, Spain
- Departamento de Anatomía y Biología Celular Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cantabria, 39011, Santander, Spain
| | - Marysia Placzek
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Maria A Ros
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria), 39011, Santander, Spain
- Departamento de Anatomía y Biología Celular Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cantabria, 39011, Santander, Spain
| | - Matthew Towers
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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14
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Luxey M, Stieger G, Berki B, Tschopp P. Distinct patterning responses of wing and leg neuromuscular systems to different preaxial polydactylies. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1154205. [PMID: 37215090 PMCID: PMC10192688 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1154205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The tetrapod limb has long served as a paradigm to study vertebrate pattern formation and evolutionary diversification. The distal part of the limb, the so-called autopod, is of particular interest in this regard, given the numerous modifications in both its morphology and behavioral motor output. While the underlying alterations in skeletal form have received considerable attention, much less is known about the accompanying changes in the neuromuscular system. However, modifications in the skeleton need to be properly integrated with both muscle and nerve patterns, to result in a fully functional limb. This task is further complicated by the distinct embryonic origins of the three main tissue types involved-skeleton, muscles and nerves-and, accordingly, how they are patterned and connected with one another during development. To evaluate the degree of regulative crosstalk in this complex limb patterning process, here we analyze the developing limb neuromuscular system of Silkie breed chicken. These animals display a preaxial polydactyly, due to a polymorphism in the limb regulatory region of the Sonic Hedgehog gene. Using lightsheet microscopy and 3D-reconstructions, we investigate the neuromuscular patterns of extra digits in Silkie wings and legs, and compare our results to Retinoic Acid-induced polydactylies. Contrary to previous findings, Silkie autopod muscle patterns do not adjust to alterations in the underlying skeletal topology, while nerves show partial responsiveness. We discuss the implications of tissue-specific sensitivities to global limb patterning cues for our understanding of the evolution of novel forms and functions in the distal tetrapod limb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maëva Luxey
- *Correspondence: Maëva Luxey, ; Patrick Tschopp,
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15
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Khatib NS, Monsen J, Ahmed S, Huang Y, Hoey DA, Nowlan NC. Mechanoregulatory role of TRPV4 in prenatal skeletal development. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade2155. [PMID: 36696489 PMCID: PMC9876556 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade2155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Biophysical cues are essential for guiding skeletal development, but the mechanisms underlying the mechanical regulation of cartilage and bone formation are unknown. TRPV4 is a mechanically sensitive ion channel involved in cartilage and bone cell mechanosensing, mutations of which lead to skeletal developmental pathologies. We tested the hypothesis that loading-driven prenatal skeletal development is dependent on TRPV4 activity. We first establish that mechanically stimulating mouse embryo hindlimbs cultured ex vivo stimulates knee cartilage growth, morphogenesis, and expression of TRPV4, which localizes to areas of high biophysical stimuli. We then demonstrate that loading-driven joint cartilage growth and shape are dependent on TRPV4 activity, mediated via control of cell proliferation and matrix biosynthesis, indicating a mechanism by which mechanical loading could direct growth and morphogenesis during joint formation. We conclude that mechanoregulatory pathways initiated by TRPV4 guide skeletal development; therefore, TRPV4 is a valuable target for the development of skeletal regenerative and repair strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidal S. Khatib
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - James Monsen
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Saima Ahmed
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Yuming Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David A. Hoey
- Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing, and Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh C. Nowlan
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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16
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Wnt/β-catenin signalling is required for pole-specific chromatin remodeling during planarian regeneration. Nat Commun 2023; 14:298. [PMID: 36653403 PMCID: PMC9849279 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35937-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
For successful regeneration, the identity of the missing tissue must be specified according to the pre-existing tissue. Planarians are ideal for the study of the mechanisms underlying this process; the same field of cells can regrow a head or a tail according to the missing body part. After amputation, the differential activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signal specifies anterior versus posterior identity. Initially, both wnt1 and notum (Wnt inhibitor) are expressed in all wounds, but 48 hours later they are restricted to posterior or anterior facing wounds, respectively, by an unknown mechanism. Here we show that 12 hours after amputation, the chromatin accessibility of cells in the wound region changes according to the polarity of the pre-existing tissue in a Wnt/β-catenin-dependent manner. Genomic analyses suggest that homeobox transcription factors and chromatin-remodeling proteins are direct Wnt/β-catenin targets, which trigger the expression of posterior effectors. Finally, we identify FoxG as a wnt1 up-stream regulator, probably via binding to its first intron enhancer region.
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17
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Craig SEL, Michalski MN, Williams BO. Got WNTS? Insight into bone health from a WNT perspective. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 153:327-346. [PMID: 36967199 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
WNT signaling, essential for many aspects of development, is among the most commonly altered pathways associated with human disease. While initially studied in cancer, dysregulation of WNT signaling has been determined to be essential for skeletal development and the maintenance of bone health throughout life. In this review, we discuss the role of Wnt signaling in bone development and disease with a particular focus on two areas. First, we discuss the roles of WNT signaling pathways in skeletal development, with an emphasis on congenital and idiopathic skeletal syndromes and diseases that are associated with genetic variations in WNT signaling components. Next, we cover a topic that has long been an interest of our laboratory, how high and low levels of WNT signaling affects the establishment and maintenance of healthy bone mass. We conclude with a discussion of the status of WNT-based therapeutics in the treatment of skeletal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonya E L Craig
- Department of Cell Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Megan N Michalski
- Department of Cell Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Bart O Williams
- Department of Cell Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States.
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18
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Murphy P, Rolfe RA. Building a Co-ordinated Musculoskeletal System: The Plasticity of the Developing Skeleton in Response to Muscle Contractions. ADVANCES IN ANATOMY, EMBRYOLOGY, AND CELL BIOLOGY 2023; 236:81-110. [PMID: 37955772 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-38215-4_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The skeletal musculature and the cartilage, bone and other connective tissues of the skeleton are intimately co-ordinated. The shape, size and structure of each bone in the body is sculpted through dynamic physical stimuli generated by muscle contraction, from early development, with onset of the first embryo movements, and through repair and remodelling in later life. The importance of muscle movement during development is shown by congenital abnormalities where infants that experience reduced movement in the uterus present a sequence of skeletal issues including temporary brittle bones and joint dysplasia. A variety of animal models, utilising different immobilisation scenarios, have demonstrated the precise timing and events that are dependent on mechanical stimulation from movement. This chapter lays out the evidence for skeletal system dependence on muscle movement, gleaned largely from mouse and chick immobilised embryos, showing the many aspects of skeletal development affected. Effects are seen in joint development, ossification, the size and shape of skeletal rudiments and tendons, including compromised mechanical function. The enormous plasticity of the skeletal system in response to muscle contraction is a key factor in building a responsive, functional system. Insights from this work have implications for our understanding of morphological evolution, particularly the challenging concept of emergence of new structures. It is also providing insight for the potential of physical therapy for infants suffering the effects of reduced uterine movement and is enhancing our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in skeletal tissue differentiation, with potential for informing regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Murphy
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Rebecca A Rolfe
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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19
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Rose CS. The cellular basis of cartilage growth and shape change in larval and metamorphosing Xenopus frogs. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0277110. [PMID: 36634116 PMCID: PMC9836273 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
As the first and sometimes only skeletal tissue to appear, cartilage plays a fundamental role in the development and evolution of vertebrate body shapes. This is especially true for amphibians whose largely cartilaginous feeding skeleton exhibits unparalleled ontogenetic and phylogenetic diversification as a consequence of metamorphosis. Fully understanding the evolutionary history, evolvability and regenerative potential of cartilage requires in-depth analysis of how chondrocytes drive growth and shape change. This study is a cell-level description of the larval growth and postembryonic shape change of major cartilages of the feeding skeleton of a metamorphosing amphibian. Histology and immunohistochemistry are used to describe and quantify patterns and trends in chondrocyte size, shape, division, death, and arrangement, and in percent matrix from hatchling to froglet for the lower jaw, hyoid and branchial arch cartilages of Xenopus laevis. The results are interpreted and integrated into programs of cell behaviors that account for the larval growth and histology, and metamorphic remodeling of each element. These programs provide a baseline for investigating hormone-mediated remodeling, cartilage regeneration, and intrinsic shape regulating mechanisms. These programs also contain four features not previously described in vertebrates: hypertrophied chondrocytes being rejuvenated by rapid cell cycling to a prechondrogenic size and shape; chondrocytes dividing and rearranging to reshape a cartilage; cartilage that lacks a perichondrium and grows at single-cell dimensions; and an adult cartilage forming de novo in the center of a resorbing larval one. Also, the unexpected superimposition of cell behaviors for shape change onto ones for larval growth and the unprecedented exploitation of very large and small cell sizes provide new directions for investigating the development and evolution of skeletal shape and metamorphic ontogenies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S. Rose
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Gao M, Liu X, Guo P, Wang J, Li J, Wang W, Stoddart MJ, Grad S, Li Z, Wu H, Li B, He Z, Zhou G, Liu S, Zhu W, Chen D, Zou X, Zhou Z. Deciphering postnatal limb development at single-cell resolution. iScience 2022; 26:105808. [PMID: 36619982 PMCID: PMC9813795 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The early postnatal limb developmental progression bridges embryonic and mature stages and mirrors the pathological remodeling of articular cartilage. However, compared with multitudinous research on embryonic limb development, the early postnatal stage seems relatively unnoticed. Here, a systematic work to portray the postnatal limb developmental landscape was carried out by characterization of 19,952 single cells from murine hindlimbs at 4 postnatal stages using single-cell RNA sequencing technique. By delineation of cell heterogeneity, the candidate progenitor sub-clusters marked by Cd34 and Ly6e were discovered in articular cartilage and enthesis, and three cellular developmental branches marked by Col10a1, Spp1, and Tnni2 were reflected in growth plate. The representative transcriptomes and developmental patterns were intensively explored, and the key regulation mechanisms as well as evolvement in osteoarthritis were discussed. Above all, these results expand horizons of postnatal limb developmental biology and reach the interconnections between limb development, remodeling, and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manman Gao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China,Department of Sport Medicine, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518035, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Anti-aging and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medical Cell Biology and Genetics, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, China
| | - Xizhe Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Peng Guo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jianmin Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Junhong Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wentao Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | | | - Sibylle Grad
- AO Research Institute Davos, Davos 7270, Switzerland
| | - Zhen Li
- AO Research Institute Davos, Davos 7270, Switzerland
| | - Huachuan Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Baoliang Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhongyuan He
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Guangqian Zhou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Anti-aging and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medical Cell Biology and Genetics, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, China
| | - Shaoyu Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Weimin Zhu
- Department of Sport Medicine, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518035, China,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Anti-aging and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medical Cell Biology and Genetics, Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, China,Corresponding author
| | - Dafu Chen
- Laboratory of Bone Tissue Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing Research Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Beijing JiShuiTan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China,Corresponding author
| | - Xuenong Zou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China,Corresponding author
| | - Zhiyu Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China,Corresponding author
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21
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Gene expression changes during the evolution of the tetrapod limb. Biol Futur 2022; 73:411-426. [PMID: 36355308 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-022-00136-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Major changes in the vertebrate anatomy have preceded the conquest of land by the members of this taxon, and continuous changes in limb shape and use have occurred during the later radiation of tetrapods. While the main, conserved mechanisms of limb development have been discerned over the past century using a combination of classical embryological and molecular methods, only recent advances made it possible to identify and study the regulatory changes that have contributed to the evolution of the tetrapod appendage. These advances include the expansion of the model repertoire from traditional genetic model species to non-conventional ones, a proliferation of predictive mathematical models that describe gene interactions, an explosion in genomic data and the development of high-throughput methodologies. These revolutionary innovations make it possible to identify specific mutations that are behind specific transitions in limb evolution. Also, as we continue to apply them to more and more extant species, we can expect to gain a fine-grained view of this evolutionary transition that has been so consequential for our species as well.
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22
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Hudson DT, Bromell JS, Day RC, McInnes T, Ward JM, Beck CW. Gene expression analysis of the Xenopus laevis early limb bud proximodistal axis. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1880-1896. [PMID: 35809036 PMCID: PMC9796579 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limb buds develop as bilateral outgrowths of the lateral plate mesoderm and are patterned along three axes. Current models of proximal to distal patterning of early amniote limb buds suggest that two signals, a distal organizing signal from the apical epithelial ridge (AER, Fgfs) and an opposing proximal (retinoic acid [RA]) act early on pattern this axis. RESULTS Transcriptional analysis of stage 51 Xenopus laevis hindlimb buds sectioned along the proximal-distal axis showed that the distal region is distinct from the rest of the limb. Expression of capn8.3, a novel calpain, was located in cells immediately flanking the AER. The Wnt antagonist Dkk1 was AER-specific in Xenopus limbs. Two transcription factors, sall1 and zic5, were expressed in distal mesenchyme. Zic5 has no described association with limb development. We also describe expression of two proximal genes, gata5 and tnn, not previously associated with limb development. Differentially expressed genes were associated with Fgf, Wnt, and RA signaling as well as differential cell adhesion and proliferation. CONCLUSIONS We identify new candidate genes for early proximodistal limb patterning. Our analysis of RA-regulated genes supports a role for transient RA gradients in early limb bud in proximal-to-distal patterning in this anamniote model organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T. Hudson
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand,Oritain GlobalDunedinNew Zealand
| | - Jessica S. Bromell
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand,Dairy Goat Co‐operativeHamiltonNew Zealand
| | - Robert C. Day
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
| | - Tyler McInnes
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
| | - Joanna M. Ward
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
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23
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Fenelon KD, Thomas E, Samani M, Zhu M, Tao H, Sun Y, McNeill H, Hopyan S. Transgenic force sensors and software to measure force transmission across the mammalian nuclear envelope in vivo. Biol Open 2022; 11:281166. [DOI: 10.1242/bio.059656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Nuclear mechanotransduction is a growing field with exciting implications for the regulation of gene expression and cellular function. Mechanical signals may be transduced to the nuclear interior biochemically or physically through connections between the cell surface and chromatin. To define mechanical stresses upon the nucleus in physiological settings, we generated transgenic mouse strains that harbour FRET-based tension sensors or control constructs in the outer and inner aspects of the nuclear envelope. We knocked-in a published esprin-2G sensor to measure tensions across the LINC complex and generated a new sensor that links the inner nuclear membrane to chromatin. To mitigate challenges inherent to fluorescence lifetime analysis in vivo, we developed software (FLIMvivo) that markedly improves the fitting of fluorescence decay curves. In the mouse embryo, the sensors responded to cytoskeletal relaxation and stretch applied by micro-aspiration. They reported organ-specific differences and a spatiotemporal tension gradient along the proximodistal axis of the limb bud, raising the possibility that mechanical mechanisms coregulate pattern formation. These mouse strains and software are potentially valuable tools for testing and refining mechanotransduction hypotheses in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli D. Fenelon
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
- University of Toronto 2 Department of Molecular Genetics , , Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 , Canada
| | - Evan Thomas
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
| | - Mohammad Samani
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
| | - Min Zhu
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
- University of Toronto 3 Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering , , Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 , Canada
| | - Hirotaka Tao
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
| | - Yu Sun
- University of Toronto 3 Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering , , Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 , Canada
| | - Helen McNeill
- Washington University 4 Department of Developmental Biology , , St. Louis, MO 63110 , USA
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute 5 , Toronto, ON M5G 1X5 , Canada
| | - Sevan Hopyan
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
- University of Toronto 2 Department of Molecular Genetics , , Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 , Canada
- Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto 6 Division of Orthopaedic Surgery , , ON M5G 1X8 , Canada
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24
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Lancman JJ, Hasso SM, Suzuki T, Kherdjemil Y, Kmita M, Ferris A, Dong PDS, Ros MA, Fallon JF. Downregulation of Grem1 expression in the distal limb mesoderm is a necessary precondition for phalanx development. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1439-1455. [PMID: 34719843 PMCID: PMC9054941 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The phalanges are the final skeletal elements to form in the vertebrate limb and their identity is regulated by signaling at the phalanx forming region (PFR) located at the tip of the developing digit ray. Here, we seek to explore the relationship between PFR activity and phalanx morphogenesis, which define the most distal limb skeletal elements, and signals associated with termination of limb outgrowth. RESULTS As Grem1 is extinguished in the distal chick limb mesoderm, the chondrogenesis marker Aggrecan is up-regulated in the metatarsals and phalanges. Fate mapping confirms that subridge mesoderm cells contribute to the metatarsal and phalanges when subridge Grem1 is down-regulated. Grem1 overexpression specifically blocks chick phalanx development by inhibiting PFR activity. PFR activity and digit development are also disrupted following overexpression of a Gli3 repressor, which results in Grem1 expression in the distal limb and downregulation of Bmpr1b. CONCLUSIONS Based on expression and fate mapping studies, we propose that downregulation of Grem1 in the distal limb marks the transition from metatarsal to phalanx development. This suggests that downregulation of Grem1 in the distal limb mesoderm is necessary for phalanx development. Grem1 downregulation allows for full PFR activity and phalanx progenitor cell commitment to digit fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Lancman
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sean M Hasso
- Heat Biologics, Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Takayuki Suzuki
- Department of Animal Sciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yacine Kherdjemil
- Genetics and Development Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie Kmita
- Genetics and Development Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Andrea Ferris
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - P Duc S Dong
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Marian A Ros
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Cantabria-Sociedad para al Desarrollo Cantabria, Santander, Spain
- Departamento de Anatomía y Biología Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - John F Fallon
- Department of Anatomy, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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25
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Guinard G. THE FORELIMBS OF ALVAREZSAUROIDEA (DINOSAURIA: THEROPODA): INSIGHT FROM EVOLUTIONARY TERATOLOGY. J Morphol 2022; 283:1257-1272. [PMID: 35915891 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Alvarezsauroidea (Tetanurae) are non-avian theropod dinosaurs whose forelimb evolution is characterised by overdevelopment of digit I, at the expense of the other two digits, complemented by a drastic forelimb shortening in derived species (Parvicursorinae). These variations are recognised as evolutionary developmental anomalies. Evolutionary teratology hence leads to a double diagnosis with 1) macrodactyly of digit I and microdactyly of digits II and III, plus 2) anterior micromelia. The teratological macrodactyly/microdactyly coupling evolved first. Developmental mechanisms disturbing limb proportion are thought to be convergent with those of other Tetanurae (Tyrannosauridae, Carcharodontosauridae). As for the manual anomalies, both are specific to Alvarezsauroidea (macrodactyly/microdactyly) and inherited (digit loss/reduction). While considering the frame-shift theory, posterior digits develop before the most anterior one. There would therefore be a decrease in the area devoted to digits II (condensation 3) and III (condensation 4), in connection with the Shh signalling pathway, interacting with other molecular players such as the GLI 3 protein and the Hox system. Developmental independence of digit I (condensation 2) would contribute to generate a particular morphology. Macrodactyly would be linked to a variation in Hoxd-13, impacting Gli3 activity, increasing cell proliferation. The loss/reduction of digital ray/phalanges (digits II and III), would be associated to Shh activity, a mechanism inherited from the theropodan ancestry. The macrodactyly/macrodactyly coupling, and then anterior micromelia, fundamentally changed the forelimb mechanical function, compared to the 'classical' grasping structure of basal representatives and other theropods. The distal ossification of the macrodactylian digit has been identified as physiological, implying the use of the structure. However, the debate of a particular 'adaptive' use is pointless since the ecology of an organism is interactively complex, being both at the scale of the individual and dependent on circumstances. Other anatomical features also allow for compensation and a different predation (cursorial hindlimbs). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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26
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García-García RD, Garay-Pacheco E, Marín-Llera JC, Chimal-Monroy J. Recombinant Limb Assay as in Vivo Organoid Model. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:863140. [PMID: 35557939 PMCID: PMC9086426 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.863140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Organ formation initiates once cells become committed to one of the three embryonic germ layers. In the early stages of embryogenesis, different gene transcription networks regulate cell fate after each germ layer is established, thereby directing the formation of complex tissues and functional organs. These events can be modeled in vitro by creating organoids from induced pluripotent, embryonic, or adult stem cells to study organ formation. Under these conditions, the induced cells are guided down the developmental pathways as in embryonic development, resulting in an organ of a smaller size that possesses the essential functions of the organ of interest. Although organoids are widely studied, the formation of skeletal elements in an organoid model has not yet been possible. Therefore, we suggest that the formation of skeletal elements using the recombinant limb (RL) assay system can serve as an in vivo organoid model. RLs are formed from undissociated or dissociated-reaggregated undifferentiated mesodermal cells introduced into an ectodermal cover obtained from an early limb bud. Next, this filled ectoderm is grafted into the back of a donor chick embryo. Under these conditions, the cells can receive the nascent embryonic signals and develop complex skeletal elements. We propose that the formation of skeletal elements induced through the RL system may occur from stem cells or other types of progenitors, thus enabling the study of morphogenetic properties in vivo from these cells for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Damián García-García
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Estefanía Garay-Pacheco
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jessica Cristina Marín-Llera
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jesús Chimal-Monroy
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
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27
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Lovely AM, Duerr TJ, Qiu Q, Galvan S, Voss SR, Monaghan JR. Wnt Signaling Coordinates the Expression of Limb Patterning Genes During Axolotl Forelimb Development and Regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:814250. [PMID: 35531102 PMCID: PMC9068880 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.814250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
After amputation, axolotl salamanders can regenerate their limbs, but the degree to which limb regeneration recapitulates limb development remains unclear. One limitation in answering this question is our lack of knowledge about salamander limb development. Here, we address this question by studying expression patterns of genes important for limb patterning during axolotl salamander limb development and regeneration. We focus on the Wnt signaling pathway because it regulates multiple functions during tetrapod limb development, including limb bud initiation, outgrowth, patterning, and skeletal differentiation. We use fluorescence in situ hybridization to show the expression of Wnt ligands, Wnt receptors, and limb patterning genes in developing and regenerating limbs. Inhibition of Wnt ligand secretion permanently blocks limb bud outgrowth when treated early in limb development. Inhibiting Wnt signaling during limb outgrowth decreases the expression of critical signaling genes, including Fgf10, Fgf8, and Shh, leading to the reduced outgrowth of the limb. Patterns of gene expression are similar between developing and regenerating limbs. Inhibition of Wnt signaling during regeneration impacted patterning gene expression similarly. Overall, our findings suggest that limb development and regeneration utilize Wnt signaling similarly. It also provides new insights into the interaction of Wnt signaling with other signaling pathways during salamander limb development and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy J. Duerr
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Qingchao Qiu
- Department of Neuroscience, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, and Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | | | - S. Randal Voss
- Department of Neuroscience, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, and Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - James R. Monaghan
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
- Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
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28
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Purushothaman S, Lopez Aviña BB, Seifert AW. Sonic hedgehog is Essential for Proximal-Distal Outgrowth of the Limb Bud in Salamanders. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:797352. [PMID: 35433673 PMCID: PMC9010949 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.797352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The developing forelimb has been a foundational model to understand how specified progenitor cells integrate genetic information to produce the tetrapod limb bauplan. Although the reigning hypothesis is that all tetrapods develop limbs in a similar manner, recent work suggests that urodeles have evolved a derived mode of limb dvelopment. Here, we demonstrate through pharmacological and genetic inactivation of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling in axolotls that Shh directs expansion and survival of limb progenitor cells in addition to patterning the limb across the proximodistal and antero-posterior axis. In contrast to inactivation of Shh in mouse or chick embryos where a humerus, radius, and single digit develop, Shh crispant axolotls completely lack forelimbs. In rescuing limb development by implanting SHH-N protein beads into the nascent limb field of Shh crispants, we show that the limb field is specified in the absence of Shh and that hedgehog pathway activation is required to initiate proximodistal outgrowth. When our results are examined alongside other derived aspects of salamander limb development and placed in a phylogenetic context, a new hypothesis emerges whereby the ability for cells at an amputation plane to activate morphogenesis and regenerate a limb may have evolved uniquely in urodeles.
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29
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Stainton H, Towers M. Retinoic acid influences the timing and scaling of avian wing development. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110288. [PMID: 35081337 PMCID: PMC8810399 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental question in biology is how embryonic development is timed between different species. To address this problem, we compared wing development in the quail and the larger chick. We reveal that pattern formation is faster in the quail as determined by the earlier activation of 5′Hox genes, termination of developmental organizers (Shh and Fgf8), and the laying down of the skeleton (Sox9). Using interspecies tissue grafts, we show that developmental timing can be reset during a critical window of retinoic acid signaling. Accordingly, extending the duration of retinoic acid signaling switches developmental timing between the quail and the chick and the chick and the larger turkey. However, the incremental growth rate is comparable between all three species, suggesting that the pace of development primarily governs differences in the expansion of the skeletal pattern. The widespread distribution of retinoic acid could coordinate developmental timing throughout the embryo. Quail wings develop faster than chick and turkey wings Retinoic acid can set the species timing of wing development Developmental timing is independent of growth and scales the skeletal pattern
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Stainton
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Matthew Towers
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
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30
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Aztekin C. Tissues and Cell Types of Appendage Regeneration: A Detailed Look at the Wound Epidermis and Its Specialized Forms. Front Physiol 2021; 12:771040. [PMID: 34887777 PMCID: PMC8649801 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.771040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic implementation of human limb regeneration is a daring aim. Studying species that can regrow their lost appendages provides clues on how such a feat can be achieved in mammals. One of the unique features of regeneration-competent species lies in their ability to seal the amputation plane with a scar-free wound epithelium. Subsequently, this wound epithelium advances and becomes a specialized wound epidermis (WE) which is hypothesized to be the essential component of regenerative success. Recently, the WE and specialized WE terminologies have been used interchangeably. However, these tissues were historically separated, and contemporary limb regeneration studies have provided critical new information which allows us to distinguish them. Here, I will summarize tissue-level observations and recently identified cell types of WE and their specialized forms in different regeneration models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Aztekin
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, EPFL, School of Life Sciences, Lausanne, Switzerland
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31
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Swank S, Sanger TJ, Stuart YE. (Non)Parallel developmental mechanisms in vertebrate appendage reduction and loss. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:15484-15497. [PMID: 34824770 PMCID: PMC8601893 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8226] [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: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Appendages have been reduced or lost hundreds of times during vertebrate evolution. This phenotypic convergence may be underlain by shared or different molecular mechanisms in distantly related vertebrate clades. To investigate, we reviewed the developmental and evolutionary literature of appendage reduction and loss in more than a dozen vertebrate genera from fish to mammals. We found that appendage reduction and loss was nearly always driven by modified gene expression as opposed to changes in coding sequences. Moreover, expression of the same genes was repeatedly modified across vertebrate taxa. However, the specific mechanisms by which expression was modified were rarely shared. The multiple routes to appendage reduction and loss suggest that adaptive loss of function phenotypes might arise routinely through changes in expression of key developmental genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Swank
- Department of BiologyLoyola University ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Thomas J. Sanger
- Department of BiologyLoyola University ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Yoel E. Stuart
- Department of BiologyLoyola University ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
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32
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Reviewing the Effects of Skin Manipulations on Adult Newt Limb Regeneration: Implications for the Subcutaneous Origin of Axial Pattern Formation. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9101426. [PMID: 34680543 PMCID: PMC8533417 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9101426] [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: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Newts are unique salamanders that can regenerate their limbs as postmetamorphic adults. In order to regenerate human limbs as newts do, it is necessary to determine whether the cells homologous to those contributing to the limb regeneration of adult newts also exist in humans. Previous skin manipulation studies in larval amphibians have suggested that stump skin plays a pivotal role in the axial patterning of regenerating limbs. However, in adult newts such studies are limited, though they are informative. Therefore, in this article we have conducted skin manipulation experiments such as rotating the skin 180° around the proximodistal axis of the limb and replacing half of the skin with that of another location on the limb or body. We found that, contrary to our expectations, adult newts robustly regenerated limbs with a normal axial pattern regardless of skin manipulation, and that the appearance of abnormalities was stochastic. Our results suggest that the tissue under the skin, rather than the skin itself, in the intact limb is of primary importance in ensuring the normal axial pattern formation in adult newt limb regeneration. We propose that the important tissues are located in small areas underlying the ventral anterior and ventral posterior skin.
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Loo CKC, Pearen MA, Ramm GA. The Role of Sonic Hedgehog in Human Holoprosencephaly and Short-Rib Polydactyly Syndromes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189854. [PMID: 34576017 PMCID: PMC8468456 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog (HH) signalling pathway is one of the major pathways controlling cell differentiation and proliferation during human development. This pathway is complex, with HH function influenced by inhibitors, promotors, interactions with other signalling pathways, and non-genetic and cellular factors. Many aspects of this pathway are not yet clarified. The main features of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signalling are discussed in relation to its function in human development. The possible role of SHH will be considered using examples of holoprosencephaly and short-rib polydactyly (SRP) syndromes. In these syndromes, there is wide variability in phenotype even with the same genetic mutation, so that other factors must influence the outcome. SHH mutations were the first identified genetic causes of holoprosencephaly, but many other genes and environmental factors can cause malformations in the holoprosencephaly spectrum. Many patients with SRP have genetic defects affecting primary cilia, structures found on most mammalian cells which are thought to be necessary for canonical HH signal transduction. Although SHH signalling is affected in both these genetic conditions, there is little overlap in phenotype. Possible explanations will be canvassed, using data from published human and animal studies. Implications for the understanding of SHH signalling in humans will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine K. C. Loo
- South Eastern Area Laboratory Services, Department of Anatomical Pathology, NSW Health Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-93829015
| | - Michael A. Pearen
- Hepatic Fibrosis Group, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (M.A.P.); (G.A.R.)
| | - Grant A. Ramm
- Hepatic Fibrosis Group, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (M.A.P.); (G.A.R.)
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
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Newman SA, Bhat R, Glimm T. Spatial waves and temporal oscillations in vertebrate limb development. Biosystems 2021; 208:104502. [PMID: 34364929 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The mesenchymal tissue of the developing vertebrate limb bud is an excitable medium that sustains both spatial and temporal periodic phenomena. The first of these is the outcome of general Turing-type reaction-diffusion dynamics that generate spatial standing waves of cell condensations. These condensations are transformed into the nodules and rods of the cartilaginous, and eventually (in most species) the bony, endoskeleton. In the second, temporal periodicity results from intracellular regulatory dynamics that generate oscillations in the expression of one or more gene whose products modulate the spatial patterning system. Here we review experimental evidence from the chicken embryo, interpreted by a set of mathematical and computational models, that the spatial wave-forming system is based on two glycan-binding proteins, galectin-1A and galectin-8 in interaction with each other and the cells that produce them, and that the temporal oscillation occurs in the expression of the transcriptional coregulator Hes1. The multicellular synchronization of the Hes1 oscillation across the limb bud serves to coordinate the biochemical states of the mesenchymal cells globally, thereby refining and sharpening the spatial pattern. Significantly, the wave-forming reaction-diffusion-based mechanism itself, unlike most Turing-type systems, does not contain an oscillatory core, and may have evolved to this condition as it came to incorporate the cell-matrix adhesion module that enabled its pattern-forming capability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart A Newman
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA.
| | - Ramray Bhat
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Biological Sciences Division, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Tilmann Glimm
- Department of Mathematics, Western Washington University Bellingham, WA, 98229, USA
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Höch R, Schneider RF, Kickuth A, Meyer A, Woltering JM. Spiny and soft-rayed fin domains in acanthomorph fish are established through a BMP- gremlin- shh signaling network. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2101783118. [PMID: 34230098 PMCID: PMC8307853 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2101783118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With over 18,000 species, the Acanthomorpha, or spiny-rayed fishes, form the largest and arguably most diverse radiation of vertebrates. One of the key novelties that contributed to their evolutionary success are the spiny rays in their fins that serve as a defense mechanism. We investigated the patterning mechanisms underlying the differentiation of median fin Anlagen into discrete spiny and soft-rayed domains during the ontogeny of the direct-developing cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni Distinct transcription factor signatures characterize these two fin domains, whereby mutually exclusive expression of hoxa13a/b with alx4a/b and tbx2b marks the spine to soft-ray boundary. The soft-ray domain is established by BMP inhibition via gremlin1b, which synergizes in the posterior fin with shh secreted from a zone of polarizing activity. Modulation of BMP signaling by chemical inhibition or gremlin1b CRISPR/Cas9 knockout induces homeotic transformations of spines into soft rays and vice versa. The expression of spine and soft-ray genes in nonacanthomorph fins indicates that a combination of exaptation and posterior expansion of an ancestral developmental program for the anterior fin margin allowed the evolution of robustly individuated spiny and soft-rayed domains. We propose that a repeated exaptation of such pattern might underly the convergent evolution of anterior spiny-fin elements across fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekka Höch
- Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78457, Germany
| | - Ralf F Schneider
- Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78457, Germany
| | - Alison Kickuth
- Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78457, Germany
| | - Axel Meyer
- Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78457, Germany
| | - Joost M Woltering
- Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78457, Germany
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Fernandez-Guerrero M, Zdral S, Castilla-Ibeas A, Lopez-Delisle L, Duboule D, Ros MA. Time-sequenced transcriptomes of developing distal mouse limb buds: A comparative tissue layer analysis. Dev Dyn 2021; 251:1550-1575. [PMID: 34254395 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of the amniote limb has been an important model system to study patterning mechanisms and morphogenesis. For proper growth and patterning, it requires the interaction between the distal sub-apical mesenchyme and the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) that involve the separate implementation of coordinated and tissue-specific genetic programs. RESULTS Here, we produce and analyze the transcriptomes of both distal limb mesenchymal progenitors and the overlying ectodermal cells, following time-coursed dissections that cover from limb bud initiation to fully patterned limbs. The comparison of transcriptomes within each layer as well as between layers over time, allowed the identification of specific transcriptional signatures for each of the developmental stages. Special attention was given to the identification of genes whose transcription dynamics suggest a previously unnoticed role in the context of limb development and also to signaling pathways enriched between layers. CONCLUSION We interpret the transcriptomic data in light of the known development pattern and we conclude that a major transcriptional transition occurs in distal limb buds between E9.5 and E10.5, coincident with the switch from an early phase continuation of the signature of trunk progenitors, related to the initial proximo distal specification, to a late intrinsic phase of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Fernandez-Guerrero
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC-University of Cantabria-SODERCAN), Santander, Spain
| | - Sofia Zdral
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC-University of Cantabria-SODERCAN), Santander, Spain
| | - Alejandro Castilla-Ibeas
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC-University of Cantabria-SODERCAN), Santander, Spain
| | | | - Denis Duboule
- School of Life Sciences, Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Collège de France, Paris, France
| | - Marian A Ros
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC-University of Cantabria-SODERCAN), Santander, Spain.,Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Anatomía y Biología Celular, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
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Composite morphogenesis during embryo development. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 120:119-132. [PMID: 34172395 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Morphogenesis drives the formation of functional living shapes. Gene expression patterns and signaling pathways define the body plans of the animal and control the morphogenetic processes shaping the embryonic tissues. During embryogenesis, a tissue can undergo composite morphogenesis resulting from multiple concomitant shape changes. While previous studies have unraveled the mechanisms that drive simple morphogenetic processes, how a tissue can undergo multiple and simultaneous changes in shape is still not known and not much explored. In this chapter, we focus on the process of concomitant tissue folding and extension that is vital for the animal since it is key for embryo gastrulation and neurulation. Recent pioneering studies focus on this problem highlighting the roles of different spatially coordinated cell mechanisms or of the synergy between different patterns of gene expression to drive composite morphogenesis.
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Rayon T, Briscoe J. Cross-species comparisons and in vitro models to study tempo in development and homeostasis. Interface Focus 2021; 11:20200069. [PMID: 34055305 PMCID: PMC8086913 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2020.0069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Time is inherent to biological processes. It determines the order of events and the speed at which they take place. However, we still need to refine approaches to measure the course of time in biological systems and understand what controls the pace of development. Here, we argue that the comparison of biological processes across species provides molecular insight into the timekeeping mechanisms in biology. We discuss recent findings and the open questions in the field and highlight the use of in vitro systems as tools to investigate cell-autonomous control as well as the coordination of temporal mechanisms within tissues. Further, we discuss the relevance of studying tempo for tissue transplantation, homeostasis and lifespan.
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Lewis Wolpert, who died on 28 January 2021, was an inspirational figure to generations of developmental biologists, and a man whose influence extended far beyond his subject. By seeing significance in the commonplace, and by identifying and re-framing research questions, he inspired new ways of thinking about embryonic development. As a teacher and as a lecturer he was nonpareil, and his ideas were brilliantly distilled in his textbook Principles of Development, which will continue to imbue students with his clarity of thought. In writing about his depression, Wolpert reduced the stigma associated with the disease and provided scientific understanding, solace and hope. An open, kind and generous man, he went out of his way to support young scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. C. Smith
- Wellcome Trust, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK
- Developmental Biology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
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40
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Vargesson N. Lewis Wolpert (1929-2021). Cells Dev 2021; 166:203673. [PMID: 34051671 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2021.203673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Lewis Wolpert was a brilliant and inspiring scientist who made hugely significant contributions which underpin and influence our understanding of developmental biology today. He spent his career interested in how the fertilised egg can give rise to the whole embryo (and ultimately the adult) with one head, two arms, two legs, all its organs and importantly how cells become different from each other and how they 'know' what to become. His ideas revolutionised the way developmental biology was perceived and also reinvigorated, in particular, the key question of how pattern formation in embryonic development is achieved. He published over 200 scientific articles and received many accolades over his career for his work and services to science in the UK. These included a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) from the Queen, being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He was also a recipient of the Waddington Medal from the British Society for Developmental Biology and was awarded The Royal Society's top honour, the Royal Medal in 2018. Lewis was also a gifted teacher and communicator, including being the author of a textbook on developmental biology used around the world to train the next generation of developmental biologists. This contribution was recognised in 2003, by the award of the Viktor Hamburger Outstanding Educator Award from the Society of Developmental Biology in the USA. Lewis always enjoyed giving talks and lectures, having an infectious and persuasive enthusiasm coupled with a sharp sense of humour. He also published articles in popular science journals (aimed at the public) such as New Scientist, Scientific American and The Scientist. Lewis also wrote several popular science books. He was a passionate advocate for the public understanding of science and was the Chair of The Royal Society/Royal Institution/British Association for the Advancement of Science Committee for Public Understanding of Science (1994-1998). For this contribution he was awarded The Royal Society Michael Faraday Medal for "excellence in communicating science to UK audiences". He presented the prestigious Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 1986 entitled 'Frankenstein's Quest: development of life'. These lectures, six in total, are presented by leading scientists and aimed at the general public and broadcast on national television. On a personal level, Lewis influenced all who came into contact with him, shaped his students and postdocs careers and instilled in them, and the community as whole, a life-long love of developmental biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Vargesson
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK.
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41
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Newton AH, Smith CA. Regulation of vertebrate forelimb development and wing reduction in the flightless emu. Dev Dyn 2021; 250:1248-1263. [PMID: 33368781 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate limb is a dynamic structure which has evolved into many diverse forms to facilitate complex behavioral adaptations. The principle molecular and cellular processes that underlie development of the vertebrate limb are well characterized. However, how these processes are altered to drive differential limb development between vertebrates is less well understood. Several vertebrate models are being utilized to determine the developmental basis of differential limb morphogenesis, though these typically focus on later patterning of the established limb bud and may not represent the complete developmental trajectory. Particularly, heterochronic limb development can occur prior to limb outgrowth and patterning but receives little attention. This review summarizes the genetic regulation of vertebrate forelimb diversity, with particular focus on wing reduction in the flightless emu as a model for examining limb heterochrony. These studies highlight that wing reduction is complex, with heterochronic cellular and genetic events influencing the major stages of limb development. Together, these studies provide a broader picture of how different limb morphologies may be established during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel H Newton
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Craig A Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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