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Zhou B, Feng C, Sun S, Chen X, Zhuansun D, Wang D, Yu X, Meng X, Xiao J, Wu L, Wang J, Wang J, Chen K, Li Z, You J, Mao H, Yang S, Zhang J, Jiao C, Li Z, Yu D, Wu X, Zhu T, Yang J, Xiang L, Liu J, Chai T, Shen J, Mao CX, Hu J, Hao X, Xiong B, Zheng S, Liu Z, Feng J. Identification of signaling pathways that specify a subset of migrating enteric neural crest cells at the wavefront in mouse embryos. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1689-1706.e8. [PMID: 38636517 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.03.034] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
During enteric nervous system (ENS) development, pioneering wavefront enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs) initiate gut colonization. However, the molecular mechanisms guiding their specification and niche interaction are not fully understood. We used single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to map the spatiotemporal dynamics and molecular landscape of wavefront ENCCs in mouse embryos. Our analysis shows a progressive decline in wavefront ENCC potency during migration and identifies transcription factors governing their specification and differentiation. We further delineate key signaling pathways (ephrin-Eph, Wnt-Frizzled, and Sema3a-Nrp1) utilized by wavefront ENCCs to interact with their surrounding cells. Disruptions in these pathways are observed in human Hirschsprung's disease gut tissue, linking them to ENS malformations. Additionally, we observed region-specific and cell-type-specific transcriptional changes in surrounding gut tissues upon wavefront ENCC arrival, suggesting their role in shaping the gut microenvironment. This work offers a roadmap of ENS development, with implications for understanding ENS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingyan Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Chenzhao Feng
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Song Sun
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Ministry of Health, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Xuyong Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Didi Zhuansun
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Xiaosi Yu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Xinyao Meng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Luyao Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Ke Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Zejian Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jingyi You
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Handan Mao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Shimin Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Chunlei Jiao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Donghai Yu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Xiaojuan Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Tianqi Zhu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jixin Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Lei Xiang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jiazhe Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518081, China
| | | | - Juan Shen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518081, China
| | - Chuan-Xi Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Juncheng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xingjie Hao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Key Laboratory for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Bo Xiong
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Institute for Brain Research, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Shan Zheng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Ministry of Health, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Zhihua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Jiexiong Feng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Clinical Center of Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
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Kovács T, Halasy V, Pethő C, Szőcs E, Soós Á, Dóra D, de Santa Barbara P, Faure S, Stavely R, Goldstein AM, Nagy N. Essential Role of BMP4 Signaling in the Avian Ceca in Colorectal Enteric Nervous System Development. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15664. [PMID: 37958648 PMCID: PMC10650322 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is principally derived from vagal neural crest cells that migrate caudally along the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract, giving rise to neurons and glial cells in two ganglionated plexuses. Incomplete migration of enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCDC) leads to Hirschsprung disease, a congenital disorder characterized by the absence of enteric ganglia along variable lengths of the colorectum. Our previous work strongly supported the essential role of the avian ceca, present at the junction of the midgut and hindgut, in hindgut ENS development, since ablation of the cecal buds led to incomplete ENCDC colonization of the hindgut. In situ hybridization shows bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) is highly expressed in the cecal mesenchyme, leading us to hypothesize that cecal BMP4 is required for hindgut ENS development. To test this, we modulated BMP4 activity using embryonic intestinal organ culture techniques and retroviral infection. We show that overexpression or inhibition of BMP4 in the ceca disrupts hindgut ENS development, with GDNF playing an important regulatory role. Our results suggest that these two important signaling pathways are required for normal ENCDC migration and enteric ganglion formation in the developing hindgut ENS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Kovács
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (T.K.); (E.S.); (Á.S.); (D.D.)
| | - Viktória Halasy
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (T.K.); (E.S.); (Á.S.); (D.D.)
| | - Csongor Pethő
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (T.K.); (E.S.); (Á.S.); (D.D.)
| | - Emőke Szőcs
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (T.K.); (E.S.); (Á.S.); (D.D.)
| | - Ádám Soós
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (T.K.); (E.S.); (Á.S.); (D.D.)
| | - Dávid Dóra
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (T.K.); (E.S.); (Á.S.); (D.D.)
| | - Pascal de Santa Barbara
- PhyMedExp, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, 34295 Montpellier, France; (P.d.S.B.); (S.F.)
| | - Sandrine Faure
- PhyMedExp, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, 34295 Montpellier, France; (P.d.S.B.); (S.F.)
| | - Rhian Stavely
- Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Allan M. Goldstein
- Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Nándor Nagy
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (T.K.); (E.S.); (Á.S.); (D.D.)
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Halasy V, Szőcs E, Soós Á, Kovács T, Pecsenye-Fejszák N, Hotta R, Goldstein AM, Nagy N. CXCR4 and CXCL12 signaling regulates the development of extrinsic innervation to the colorectum. Development 2023; 150:dev201289. [PMID: 37039233 PMCID: PMC10263150 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract is innervated by an intrinsic neuronal network, known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), and by extrinsic axons arising from peripheral ganglia. The nerve of Remak (NoR) is an avian-specific sacral neural crest-derived ganglionated structure that extends from the cloaca to the proximal midgut and, similar to the pelvic plexus, provides extrinsic innervation to the distal intestine. The molecular mechanisms controlling extrinsic nerve fiber growth into the gut is unknown. In vertebrates, CXCR4, a cell-surface receptor for the CXCL12 chemokine, regulates migration of neural crest cells and axon pathfinding. We have employed chimeric tissue recombinations and organ culture assays to study the role of CXCR4 and CXCL12 molecules in the development of colorectal innervation. CXCR4 is specifically expressed in nerve fibers arising from the NoR and pelvic plexus, while CXCL12 is localized to the hindgut mesenchyme and enteric ganglia. Overexpression of CXCL12 results in significantly enhanced axonal projections to the gut from the NoR, while CXCR4 inhibition disrupts nerve fiber extension, supporting a previously unreported role for CXCR4 and CXCL12 signaling in extrinsic innervation of the colorectum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktória Halasy
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Emőke Szőcs
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Ádám Soós
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Tamás Kovács
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Nóra Pecsenye-Fejszák
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Ryo Hotta
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Allan M. Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nándor Nagy
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
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Stavely R, Hotta R, Guyer RA, Picard N, Rahman AA, Omer M, Soos A, Szocs E, Mueller J, Goldstein AM, Nagy N. A distinct transcriptome characterizes neural crest-derived cells at the migratory wavefront during enteric nervous system development. Development 2023; 150:dev201090. [PMID: 36779913 PMCID: PMC10108706 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Enteric nervous system development relies on intestinal colonization by enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCDCs). This is driven by a population of highly migratory and proliferative ENCDCs at the wavefront, but the molecular characteristics of these cells are unknown. ENCDCs from the wavefront and the trailing region were isolated and subjected to RNA-seq. Wavefront-ENCDCs were transcriptionally distinct from trailing ENCDCs, and temporal modelling confirmed their relative immaturity. This population of ENCDCs exhibited altered expression of ECM and cytoskeletal genes, consistent with a migratory phenotype. Unlike trailing ENCDCs, the wavefront lacked expression of genes related to neuronal or glial maturation. As wavefront ENCDC genes were associated with migration and developmental immaturity, the genes that remain expressed in later progenitor populations may be particularly pertinent to understanding the maintenance of ENCDC progenitor characteristics. Dusp6 expression was specifically upregulated at the wavefront. Inhibiting DUSP6 activity prevented wavefront colonization of the hindgut, and inhibited the migratory ability of post-colonized ENCDCs from midgut and postnatal neurospheres. These effects were reversed by simultaneous inhibition of ERK signaling, indicating that DUSP6-mediated ERK inhibition is required for ENCDC migration in mouse and chick.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhian Stavely
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ryo Hotta
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Richard A. Guyer
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nicole Picard
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ahmed A. Rahman
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Meredith Omer
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Adam Soos
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Emoke Szocs
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Jessica Mueller
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Allan M. Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nandor Nagy
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
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