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Staal L, Plösch T, Kunovac Kallak T, Sundström Poromaa I, Wertheim B, Olivier JDA. Sex-Specific Transcriptomic Changes in the Villous Tissue of Placentas of Pregnant Women Using a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1074-1083. [PMID: 38421943 PMCID: PMC10958514 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
About 5% of pregnant women are treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants to treat their depression. SSRIs influence serotonin levels, a key factor in neural embryonic development, and their use during pregnancy has been associated with adverse effects on the developing embryo. However, the role of the placenta in transmitting these negative effects is not well understood. In this study, we aim to elucidate how disturbances in the maternal serotonergic system affect the villous tissue of the placenta by assessing whole transcriptomes in the placentas of women with healthy pregnancies and women with depression and treated with the SSRI fluoxetine during pregnancy. Twelve placentas of the Biology, Affect, Stress, Imaging and Cognition in Pregnancy and the Puerperium (BASIC) project were selected for RNA sequencing to examine differentially expressed genes: six male infants and six female infants, equally distributed over women treated with SSRI and without SSRI treatment. Our results show that more genes in the placenta of male infants show changed expression associated with fluoxetine treatment than in placentas of female infants, stressing the importance of sex-specific analyses. In addition, we identified genes related to extracellular matrix organization to be significantly enriched in placentas of male infants born to women treated with fluoxetine. It remains to be established whether the differentially expressed genes that we found to be associated with SSRI treatment are the result of the SSRI treatment itself, the underlying depression, or a combination of the two.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Staal
- Neurobiology,
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department
of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Torsten Plösch
- Departments
of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
- Perinatal
Neurobiology, Department of Human Medicine, School of Medicine and
Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University
Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Bregje Wertheim
- Evolutionary
Genetics, Development & Behaviour, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary
Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jocelien D. A. Olivier
- Neurobiology,
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
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2
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Button AC, Hall SD, Ashley EL, McHugh CA. Dissection of protein and RNA regions required for SPEN binding to XIST A-repeat RNA. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 30:240-255. [PMID: 38164599 PMCID: PMC10870365 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079713.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
XIST noncoding RNA promotes the initiation of X chromosome silencing by recruiting the protein SPEN to one X chromosome in female mammals. The SPEN protein is also called SHARP (SMRT and HDAC-associated repressor protein) and MINT (Msx-2 interacting nuclear target) in humans. SPEN recruits N-CoR2 and HDAC3 to initiate histone deacetylation on the X chromosome, leading to the formation of repressive chromatin marks and silencing gene expression. We dissected the contributions of different RNA and protein regions to the formation of a human XIST-SPEN complex in vitro and identified novel sequence and structure determinants that may contribute to X chromosome silencing initiation. Binding of SPEN to XIST RNA requires RRM 4 of the protein, in contrast to the requirement of RRM 3 and RRM 4 for specific binding to SRA RNA. Measurements of SPEN binding to full-length, dimeric, trimeric, or other truncated versions of the A-repeat region revealed that high-affinity binding of XIST to SPEN in vitro requires a minimum of four A-repeat segments. SPEN binding to XIST A-repeat RNA changes the accessibility of the RNA at specific nucleotide sequences, as indicated by changes in RNA reactivity through chemical structure probing. Based on computational modeling, we found that inter-repeat duplexes formed by multiple A-repeats can present an unpaired adenosine in the context of a double-stranded region of RNA. The presence of this specific combination of sequence and structural motifs correlates with high-affinity SPEN binding in vitro. These data provide new information on the molecular basis of the XIST and SPEN interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen C Button
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Simone D Hall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Ethan L Ashley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Colleen A McHugh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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3
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Kaufmann C, Wutz A. IndiSPENsable for X Chromosome Inactivation and Gene Silencing. EPIGENOMES 2023; 7:28. [PMID: 37987303 PMCID: PMC10660550 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes7040028] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
For about 30 years, SPEN has been the subject of research in many different fields due to its variety of functions and its conservation throughout a wide spectrum of species, like worms, arthropods, and vertebrates. To date, 216 orthologues have been documented. SPEN had been studied for its role in gene regulation in the context of cell signaling, including the NOTCH or nuclear hormone receptor signaling pathways. More recently, SPEN has been identified as a major regulator of initiation of chromosome-wide gene silencing during X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in mammals, where its function remains to be fully understood. Dependent on the biological context, SPEN functions via mechanisms which include different domains. While some domains of SPEN are highly conserved in sequence and secondary structure, species-to-species differences exist that might lead to mechanistic differences. Initiation of XCI appears to be different between humans and mice, which raises additional questions about the extent of generalization of SPEN's function in XCI. In this review, we dissect the mechanism of SPEN in XCI. We discuss its subregions and domains, focusing on its role as a major regulator. We further highlight species-related research, specifically of mouse and human SPEN, with the aim to reveal and clarify potential species-to-species differences in SPEN's function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anton Wutz
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Hönggerberg, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland;
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4
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Baines KJ, West RC. Sex differences in innate and adaptive immunity impact fetal, placental, and maternal health†. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:256-270. [PMID: 37418168 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The differences between males and females begin shortly after birth, continue throughout prenatal development, and eventually extend into childhood and adult life. Male embryos and fetuses prioritize proliferation and growth, often at the expense of the fetoplacental energy reserves. This singular focus on growth over adaptability leaves male fetuses and neonates vulnerable to adverse outcomes during pregnancy and birth and can have lasting impacts throughout life. Beyond this prioritization of growth, male placentas and fetuses also respond to infection and inflammation differently than female counterparts. Pregnancies carrying female fetuses have a more regulatory immune response, whereas pregnancies carrying male fetuses have a stronger inflammatory response. These differences can be seen as early as the innate immune response with differences in cytokine and chemokine signaling. The sexual dimorphism in immunity then continues into the adaptive immune response with differences in T-cell biology and antibody production and transfer. As it appears that these sex-specific differences are amplified in pathologic pregnancies, it stands to reason that differences in the placental, fetal, and maternal immune responses in pregnancy contribute to increased male perinatal morbidity and mortality. In this review, we will describe the genetic and hormonal contributions to the sexual dimorphism of fetal and placental immunity. We will also discuss current research efforts to describe the sex-specific differences of the maternal-fetal interface and how it impacts fetal and maternal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J Baines
- Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology Department, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Rachel C West
- Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology Department, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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5
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Mattimoe T, Payer B. The compleX balancing act of controlling X-chromosome dosage and how it impacts mammalian germline development. Biochem J 2023; 480:521-537. [PMID: 37096944 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220450] [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: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
In female mammals, the two X chromosomes are subject to epigenetic gene regulation in order to balance X-linked gene dosage with autosomes and in relation to males, which have one X and one Y chromosome. This is achieved by an intricate interplay of several processes; X-chromosome inactivation and reactivation elicit global epigenetic regulation of expression from one X chromosome in a stage-specific manner, whilst the process of X-chromosome upregulation responds to this by fine-tuning transcription levels of the second X. The germline is unique in its function of transmitting both the genetic and epigenetic information from one generation to the next, and remodelling of the X chromosome is one of the key steps in setting the stage for successful development. Here, we provide an overview of the complex dynamics of X-chromosome dosage control during embryonic and germ cell development, and aim to decipher its potential role for normal germline competency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Mattimoe
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bernhard Payer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
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6
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Juchniewicz P, Kloska A, Portalska K, Jakóbkiewicz-Banecka J, Węgrzyn G, Liss J, Głodek P, Tukaj S, Piotrowska E. X-chromosome inactivation patterns depend on age and tissue but not conception method in humans. Chromosome Res 2023; 31:4. [PMID: 36695960 PMCID: PMC9877087 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-023-09717-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Female somatic X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) balances the X-linked transcriptional dosages between the sexes, randomly silencing the maternal or paternal X chromosome in each cell of 46,XX females. Skewed XCI toward one parental X has been observed in association with ageing and in some female carriers of X-linked diseases. To address the problem of non-random XCI, we quantified the XCI skew in different biological samples of naturally conceived females of different age groups and girls conceived after in vitro fertilization (IVF). Generally, XCI skew differed between saliva, blood, and buccal swabs, while saliva and blood had the most similar XCI patterns in individual females. XCI skew increased with age in saliva, but not in other tissues. We showed no significant differences in the XCI patterns in tissues of naturally conceived and IVF females. The gene expression profile of the placenta and umbilical cord blood was determined depending on the XCI pattern. The increased XCI skewing in the placental tissue was associated with the differential expression of several genes out of 40 considered herein. Notably, skewed XCI patterns (> 80:20) were identified with significantly increased expression levels of four genes: CD44, KDM6A, PHLDA2, and ZRSR2. The differences in gene expression patterns between samples with random and non-random XCI may shed new light on factors contributing to the XCI pattern outcome and indicate new paths in future research on the phenomenon of XCI skewing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja Juchniewicz
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Kloska
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Karolina Portalska
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Joanna Jakóbkiewicz-Banecka
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Węgrzyn
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Joanna Liss
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland ,Research and Development Center, INVICTA, Sopot, Poland
| | - Piotr Głodek
- Research and Development Center, INVICTA, Sopot, Poland
| | - Stefan Tukaj
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Ewa Piotrowska
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
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7
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Braun AE, Mitchel OR, Gonzalez TL, Sun T, Flowers AE, Pisarska MD, Winn VD. Sex at the interface: the origin and impact of sex differences in the developing human placenta. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:50. [PMID: 36114567 PMCID: PMC9482177 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00459-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The fetal placenta is a source of hormones and immune factors that play a vital role in maintaining pregnancy and facilitating fetal growth. Cells in this extraembryonic compartment match the chromosomal sex of the embryo itself. Sex differences have been observed in common gestational pathologies, highlighting the importance of maternal immune tolerance to the fetal compartment. Over the past decade, several studies examining placentas from term pregnancies have revealed widespread sex differences in hormone signaling, immune signaling, and metabolic functions. Given the rapid and dynamic development of the human placenta, sex differences that exist at term (37–42 weeks gestation) are unlikely to align precisely with those present at earlier stages when the fetal–maternal interface is being formed and the foundations of a healthy or diseased pregnancy are established. While fetal sex as a variable is often left unreported in studies performing transcriptomic profiling of the first-trimester human placenta, four recent studies have specifically examined fetal sex in early human placental development. In this review, we discuss the findings from these publications and consider the evidence for the genetic, hormonal, and immune mechanisms that are theorized to account for sex differences in early human placenta. We also highlight the cellular and molecular processes that are most likely to be impacted by fetal sex and the evolutionary pressures that may have given rise to these differences. With growing recognition of the fetal origins of health and disease, it is important to shed light on sex differences in early prenatal development, as these observations may unlock insight into the foundations of sex-biased pathologies that emerge later in life. Placental sex differences exist from early prenatal development, and may help explain sex differences in pregnancy outcomes. Transcriptome profiling of early to mid-gestation placenta reveals that immune signaling is a hub of early prenatal sex differences. Differentially expressed genes between male and female placenta fall into the following functional associations: chromatin modification, transcription, splicing, translation, signal transduction, metabolic regulation, cell death and autophagy regulation, ubiquitination, cell adhesion and cell–cell interaction. Placental sex differences likely reflect the interaction of cell-intrinsic chromosome complement with extrinsic endocrine signals from the fetal compartment that accompany gonadal differentiation. Understanding the mechanisms behind sex differences in placental development and function will provide key insight into molecular targets that can be modulated to improve sex-biased obstetrical complications.
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8
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Phung TN, Olney KC, Pinto BJ, Silasi M, Perley L, O’Bryan J, Kliman HJ, Wilson MA. X chromosome inactivation in the human placenta is patchy and distinct from adult tissues. HGG ADVANCES 2022; 3:100121. [PMID: 35712697 PMCID: PMC9194956 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2022.100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, one of the X chromosomes in genetic females is inactivated by a process called X chromosome inactivation (XCI). Variation in XCI across the placenta may contribute to observed sex differences and variability in pregnancy outcomes. However, XCI has predominantly been studied in human adult tissues. Here, we sequenced and analyzed DNA and RNA from two locations from 30 full-term pregnancies. Implementing an allele-specific approach to examine XCI, we report evidence that XCI in the human placenta is patchy, with large patches of either maternal or paternal X chromosomes inactivated. Further, using similar measurements, we show that this is in contrast to adult tissues, which generally exhibit mosaic X inactivation, where bulk samples exhibit both maternal and paternal X chromosome expression. Further, by comparing skewed samples in placenta and adult tissues, we identify genes that are uniquely inactivated or expressed in the placenta compared with adult tissues, highlighting the need for tissue-specific maps of XCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya N. Phung
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
| | - Kimberly C. Olney
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
| | - Brendan J. Pinto
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
| | - Michelle Silasi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Mercy Hospital St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63141, USA
| | - Lauren Perley
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jane O’Bryan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Harvey J. Kliman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Melissa A. Wilson
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
- The Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
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9
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Karvas RM, Khan SA, Verma S, Yin Y, Kulkarni D, Dong C, Park KM, Chew B, Sane E, Fischer LA, Kumar D, Ma L, Boon ACM, Dietmann S, Mysorekar IU, Theunissen TW. Stem-cell-derived trophoblast organoids model human placental development and susceptibility to emerging pathogens. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:810-825.e8. [PMID: 35523141 PMCID: PMC9136997 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Trophoblast organoids derived from placental villi provide a 3D model system of human placental development, but access to first-trimester tissues is limited. Here, we report that trophoblast stem cells isolated from naive human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can efficiently self-organize into 3D stem-cell-derived trophoblast organoids (SC-TOs) with a villous architecture similar to primary trophoblast organoids. Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals the presence of distinct cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast clusters and a small cluster of extravillous trophoblasts, which closely correspond to trophoblast identities in the post-implantation embryo. These organoid cultures display clonal X chromosome inactivation patterns previously described in the human placenta. We further demonstrate that SC-TOs exhibit selective vulnerability to emerging pathogens (SARS-CoV-2 and Zika virus), which correlates with expression levels of their respective entry factors. The generation of trophoblast organoids from naive hPSCs provides an accessible 3D model system of the developing placenta and its susceptibility to emerging pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan M Karvas
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Ave, Room 3313, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shafqat A Khan
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Ave, Room 3313, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Sonam Verma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yan Yin
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Devesha Kulkarni
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Chen Dong
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Ave, Room 3313, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kyoung-Mi Park
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Ave, Room 3313, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Brian Chew
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Ave, Room 3313, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Eshan Sane
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Ave, Room 3313, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Laura A Fischer
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Ave, Room 3313, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Liang Ma
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Adrianus C M Boon
- Division of Infection Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Sabine Dietmann
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Ave, Room 3313, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Division of Nephrology and Institute for Informatics (I(2)), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| | - Indira U Mysorekar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Thorold W Theunissen
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Ave, Room 3313, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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10
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Mechanisms of Choice in X-Chromosome Inactivation. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030535. [PMID: 35159344 PMCID: PMC8833938 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Early in development, placental and marsupial mammals harbouring at least two X chromosomes per nucleus are faced with a choice that affects the rest of their lives: which of those X chromosomes to transcriptionally inactivate. This choice underlies phenotypical diversity in the composition of tissues and organs and in their response to the environment, and can determine whether an individual will be healthy or affected by an X-linked disease. Here, we review our current understanding of the process of choice during X-chromosome inactivation and its implications, focusing on the strategies evolved by different mammalian lineages and on the known and unknown molecular mechanisms and players involved.
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11
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Sex differences in white adipose tissue expansion: emerging molecular mechanisms. Clin Sci (Lond) 2021; 135:2691-2708. [PMID: 34908104 DOI: 10.1042/cs20210086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The escalating prevalence of individuals becoming overweight and obese is a rapidly rising global health problem, placing an enormous burden on health and economic systems worldwide. Whilst obesity has well described lifestyle drivers, there is also a significant and poorly understood component that is regulated by genetics. Furthermore, there is clear evidence for sexual dimorphism in obesity, where overall risk, degree, subtype and potential complications arising from obesity all differ between males and females. The molecular mechanisms that dictate these sex differences remain mostly uncharacterised. Many studies have demonstrated that this dimorphism is unable to be solely explained by changes in hormones and their nuclear receptors alone, and instead manifests from coordinated and highly regulated gene networks, both during development and throughout life. As we acquire more knowledge in this area from approaches such as large-scale genomic association studies, the more we appreciate the true complexity and heterogeneity of obesity. Nevertheless, over the past two decades, researchers have made enormous progress in this field, and some consistent and robust mechanisms continue to be established. In this review, we will discuss some of the proposed mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in obesity, and discuss some of the key regulators that influence this phenomenon.
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12
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Christians JK. The Placenta's Role in Sexually Dimorphic Fetal Growth Strategies. Reprod Sci 2021; 29:1895-1907. [PMID: 34699045 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00780-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Fetal sex affects the risk of pregnancy complications and the long-term effects of prenatal environment on health. Some have hypothesized that growth strategies differ between the sexes, whereby males prioritize growth whereas females are more responsive to their environment. This review evaluates the role of the placenta in such strategies, focusing on (1) mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in gene expression, (2) the nature and extent of sexual dimorphism in placental gene expression, (3) sexually dimorphic responses to nutrient supply, and (4) sexual dimorphism in morphology and histopathology. The sex chromosomes contribute to sex differences in placental gene expression, and fetal hormones may play a role later in development. Sexually dimorphic placental gene expression may contribute to differences in the prevalence of complications such as preeclampsia, although this link is not clear. Placental responses to nutrient supply frequently show sexual dimorphism, but there is no consistent pattern where one sex is more responsive. There are sex differences in the prevalence of placental histopathologies, and placental changes in pregnancy complications, but also many similarities. Overall, no clear patterns support the hypothesis that females are more responsive to the maternal environment, or that males prioritize growth. While male fetuses are at greater risk of a variety of complications, total prenatal mortality is higher in females, such that males exposed to early insults may be more likely to survive and be observed in studies of adverse outcomes. Going forward, robust statistical approaches to test for sex-dependent effects must be more widely adopted to reduce the incidence of spurious results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian K Christians
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. .,Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada. .,British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Women's Health Research Institute, BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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13
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Vafaeie F, Alerasool M, Kaseb Mojaver N, Mojarrad M. Fragile X Syndrome in a Female With Homozygous Full-Mutation Alleles of the FMR1 Gene. Cureus 2021; 13:e16340. [PMID: 34395123 PMCID: PMC8357243 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.16340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) has been reported as the leading cause of mental retardation (MR) that predominantly involves males compared to females. An over-expansion of CGG repeats in the 5' untranslated region of the FMR1 gene plays the primary role in this disease. In this study, we encountered a homozygote female patient affected by FMR1 expansion mutation. Surprisingly, she had inherited her full-mutated alleles from two different ancestors. This condition is an extremely rare case of FXS. After accurate genetic counseling, family members were referred to the laboratory for genetic testing. Karyotype with two X chromosomes was the finding after the G-banding study of the proband. Molecular analysis indicated that she was a female with full-mutated or pre-mutated alleles on both of her X chromosomes. It is a rare phenomenon that we detected in this patient. We have concluded that a combination of allele instability during oogenesis and inheritance of two alleles are the leading cause of MR in the presented case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzane Vafaeie
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Genetic Foundation of Khorasan Razavi, Mashhad, IRN
| | - Masoome Alerasool
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Genetic Foundation of Khorasan Razavi, Mashhad, IRN.,Department of Medical Genetics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IRN
| | - Nasrin Kaseb Mojaver
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Genetic Foundation of Khorasan Razavi, Mashhad, IRN
| | - Majid Mojarrad
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Genetic Foundation of Khorasan Razavi, Mashhad, IRN.,Department of Medical Genetics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IRN.,Genetic Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IRN
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14
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Inkster AM, Fernández-Boyano I, Robinson WP. Sex Differences Are Here to Stay: Relevance to Prenatal Care. J Clin Med 2021; 10:3000. [PMID: 34279482 PMCID: PMC8268816 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10133000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences exist in the incidence and presentation of many pregnancy complications, including but not limited to pregnancy loss, spontaneous preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction. Sex differences arise very early in development due to differential gene expression from the X and Y chromosomes, and later may also be influenced by the action of gonadal steroid hormones. Though offspring sex is not considered in most prenatal diagnostic or therapeutic strategies currently in use, it may be beneficial to consider sex differences and the associated mechanisms underlying pregnancy complications. This review will cover (i) the prevalence and presentation of sex differences that occur in perinatal complications, particularly with a focus on the placenta; (ii) possible mechanisms underlying the development of sex differences in placental function and pregnancy phenotypes; and (iii) knowledge gaps that should be addressed in the development of diagnostic or risk prediction tools for such complications, with an emphasis on those for which it would be important to consider sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M. Inkster
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; (A.M.I.); (I.F.-B.)
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Icíar Fernández-Boyano
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; (A.M.I.); (I.F.-B.)
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Wendy P. Robinson
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; (A.M.I.); (I.F.-B.)
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
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15
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Abstract
Genomic imprinting is the monoallelic expression of a gene based on parent of origin and is a consequence of differential epigenetic marking between the male and female germlines. Canonically, genomic imprinting is mediated by allelic DNA methylation. However, recently it has been shown that maternal H3K27me3 can result in DNA methylation-independent imprinting, termed "noncanonical imprinting." In this review, we compare and contrast what is currently known about the underlying mechanisms, the role of endogenous retroviral elements, and the conservation of canonical and noncanonical genomic imprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney W Hanna
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin Kelsey
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, United Kingdom
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16
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Concurrent X chromosome inactivation and upregulation during non-human primate preimplantation development revealed by single-cell RNA-sequencing. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9624. [PMID: 33953270 PMCID: PMC8100148 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89175-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, dosage compensation of X-linked gene expression between males and females is achieved by inactivation of a single X chromosome in females, while upregulation of the single active X in males and females leads to X:autosome dosage balance. Studies in human embryos revealed that random X chromosome inactivation starts at the preimplantation stage and is not complete by day 12 of development. Alternatively, others proposed that dosage compensation in human preimplantation embryos is achieved by dampening expression from the two X chromosomes in females. Here, we characterize X-linked dosage compensation in another primate, the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Analyzing scRNA-seq data from preimplantation embryos, we detected upregulation of XIST at the morula stage, where female embryos presented a significantly higher expression of XIST than males. Moreover, we show an increase of X-linked monoallelically expressed genes in female embryos between the morula and late blastocyst stages, indicative of XCI. Nevertheless, dosage compensation was not achieved by the late blastocyst stage. Finally, we show that X:autosome dosage compensation is achieved at the 8-cell stage, and demonstrate that X chromosome dampening in females does not take place in the marmoset. Our work contributes to the elucidation of primate X-linked dosage compensation.
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17
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Coorens THH, Oliver TRW, Sanghvi R, Sovio U, Cook E, Vento-Tormo R, Haniffa M, Young MD, Rahbari R, Sebire N, Campbell PJ, Charnock-Jones DS, Smith GCS, Behjati S. Inherent mosaicism and extensive mutation of human placentas. Nature 2021; 592:80-85. [PMID: 33692543 PMCID: PMC7611644 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03345-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Placentas can exhibit chromosomal aberrations that are absent from the fetus1. The basis of this genetic segregation, which is known as confined placental mosaicism, remains unknown. Here we investigated the phylogeny of human placental cells as reconstructed from somatic mutations, using whole-genome sequencing of 86 bulk placental samples (with a median weight of 28 mg) and of 106 microdissections of placental tissue. We found that every bulk placental sample represents a clonal expansion that is genetically distinct, and exhibits a genomic landscape akin to that of childhood cancer in terms of mutation burden and mutational imprints. To our knowledge, unlike any other healthy human tissue studied so far, the placental genomes often contained changes in copy number. We reconstructed phylogenetic relationships between tissues from the same pregnancy, which revealed that developmental bottlenecks genetically isolate placental tissues by separating trophectodermal lineages from lineages derived from the inner cell mass. Notably, there were some cases with full segregation-within a few cell divisions of the zygote-of placental lineages and lineages derived from the inner cell mass. Such early embryonic bottlenecks may enable the normalization of zygotic aneuploidy. We observed direct evidence for this in a case of mosaic trisomic rescue. Our findings reveal extensive mutagenesis in placental tissues and suggest that mosaicism is a typical feature of placental development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas R W Oliver
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Ulla Sovio
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emma Cook
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Muzlifah Haniffa
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of Dermatology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | | | - Neil Sebire
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | | | - D Stephen Charnock-Jones
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Gordon C S Smith
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Sam Behjati
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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18
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Brekke TD, Moore EC, Campbell-Staton SC, Callahan CM, Cheviron ZA, Good JM. X chromosome-dependent disruption of placental regulatory networks in hybrid dwarf hamsters. Genetics 2021; 218:6168998. [PMID: 33710276 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic development in mammals is highly sensitive to changes in gene expression within the placenta. The placenta is also highly enriched for genes showing parent-of-origin or imprinted expression, which is predicted to evolve rapidly in response to parental conflict. However, little is known about the evolution of placental gene expression, or if divergence of placental gene expression plays an important role in mammalian speciation. We used crosses between two species of dwarf hamsters (Phodopus sungorus and Phodopus campbelli) to examine the genetic and regulatory underpinnings of severe placental overgrowth in their hybrids. Using quantitative genetic mapping and mitochondrial substitution lines, we show that overgrowth of hybrid placentas was primarily caused by genetic differences on the maternally inherited P. sungorus X chromosome. Mitochondrial interactions did not contribute to abnormal hybrid placental development, and there was only weak correspondence between placental disruption and embryonic growth. Genome-wide analyses of placental transcriptomes from the parental species and first- and second-generation hybrids revealed a central group of co-expressed X-linked and autosomal genes that were highly enriched for maternally biased expression. Expression of this gene network was strongly correlated with placental size and showed widespread misexpression dependent on epistatic interactions with X-linked hybrid incompatibilities. Collectively, our results indicate that the X chromosome is likely to play a prominent role in the evolution of placental gene expression and the accumulation of hybrid developmental barriers between mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Brekke
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.,School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Emily C Moore
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Shane C Campbell-Staton
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Colin M Callahan
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Zachary A Cheviron
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Good
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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19
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Balaton BP, Fornes O, Wasserman WW, Brown CJ. Cross-species examination of X-chromosome inactivation highlights domains of escape from silencing. Epigenetics Chromatin 2021; 14:12. [PMID: 33597016 PMCID: PMC7890635 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-021-00386-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) in eutherian mammals is the epigenetic inactivation of one of the two X chromosomes in XX females in order to compensate for dosage differences with XY males. Not all genes are inactivated, and the proportion escaping from inactivation varies between human and mouse (the two species that have been extensively studied). Results We used DNA methylation to predict the XCI status of X-linked genes with CpG islands across 12 different species: human, chimp, bonobo, gorilla, orangutan, mouse, cow, sheep, goat, pig, horse and dog. We determined the XCI status of 342 CpG islands on average per species, with most species having 80–90% of genes subject to XCI. Mouse was an outlier, with a higher proportion of genes subject to XCI than found in other species. Sixteen genes were found to have discordant X-chromosome inactivation statuses across multiple species, with five of these showing primate-specific escape from XCI. These discordant genes tended to cluster together within the X chromosome, along with genes with similar patterns of escape from XCI. CTCF-binding, ATAC-seq signal and LTR repeats were enriched at genes escaping XCI when compared to genes subject to XCI; however, enrichment was only observed in three or four of the species tested. LINE and DNA repeats showed enrichment around subject genes, but again not in a consistent subset of species. Conclusions In this study, we determined XCI status across 12 species, showing mouse to be an outlier with few genes that escape inactivation. Inactivation status is largely conserved across species. The clustering of genes that change XCI status across species implicates a domain-level control. In contrast, the relatively consistent, but not universal correlation of inactivation status with enrichment of repetitive elements or CTCF binding at promoters demonstrates gene-based influences on inactivation state. This study broadens enrichment analysis of regulatory elements to species beyond human and mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley P Balaton
- Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Oriol Fornes
- Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Wyeth W Wasserman
- Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Carolyn J Brown
- Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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20
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Panda A, Zylicz JJ, Pasque V. New Insights into X-Chromosome Reactivation during Reprogramming to Pluripotency. Cells 2020; 9:E2706. [PMID: 33348832 PMCID: PMC7766869 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dosage compensation between the sexes results in one X chromosome being inactivated during female mammalian development. Chromosome-wide transcriptional silencing from the inactive X chromosome (Xi) in mammalian cells is erased in a process termed X-chromosome reactivation (XCR), which has emerged as a paradigm for studying the reversal of chromatin silencing. XCR is linked with germline development and induction of naive pluripotency in the epiblast, and also takes place upon reprogramming somatic cells to induced pluripotency. XCR depends on silencing of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) X inactive specific transcript (Xist) and is linked with the erasure of chromatin silencing. Over the past years, the advent of transcriptomics and epigenomics has provided new insights into the transcriptional and chromatin dynamics with which XCR takes place. However, multiple questions remain unanswered about how chromatin and transcription related processes enable XCR. Here, we review recent work on establishing the transcriptional and chromatin kinetics of XCR, as well as discuss a model by which transcription factors mediate XCR not only via Xist repression, but also by direct targeting of X-linked genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitesh Panda
- Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Jan J. Zylicz
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Vincent Pasque
- Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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21
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Hamline MY, Corcoran CM, Wamstad JA, Miletich I, Feng J, Lohr JL, Hemberger M, Sharpe PT, Gearhart MD, Bardwell VJ. OFCD syndrome and extraembryonic defects are revealed by conditional mutation of the Polycomb-group repressive complex 1.1 (PRC1.1) gene BCOR. Dev Biol 2020; 468:110-132. [PMID: 32692983 PMCID: PMC9583620 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BCOR is a critical regulator of human development. Heterozygous mutations of BCOR in females cause the X-linked developmental disorder Oculofaciocardiodental syndrome (OFCD), and hemizygous mutations of BCOR in males cause gestational lethality. BCOR associates with Polycomb group proteins to form one subfamily of the diverse Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) complexes, designated PRC1.1. Currently there is limited understanding of differing developmental roles of the various PRC1 complexes. We therefore generated a conditional exon 9-10 knockout Bcor allele and a transgenic conditional Bcor expression allele and used these to define multiple roles of Bcor, and by implication PRC1.1, in mouse development. Females heterozygous for Bcor exhibiting mosaic expression due to the X-linkage of the gene showed reduced postnatal viability and had OFCD-like defects. By contrast, Bcor hemizygosity in the entire male embryo resulted in embryonic lethality by E9.5. We further dissected the roles of Bcor, focusing on some of the tissues affected in OFCD through use of cell type specific Cre alleles. Mutation of Bcor in neural crest cells caused cleft palate, shortening of the mandible and tympanic bone, ectopic salivary glands and abnormal tongue musculature. We found that defects in the mandibular region, rather than in the palate itself, led to palatal clefting. Mutation of Bcor in hindlimb progenitor cells of the lateral mesoderm resulted in 2/3 syndactyly. Mutation of Bcor in Isl1-expressing lineages that contribute to the heart caused defects including persistent truncus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect and fetal lethality. Mutation of Bcor in extraembryonic lineages resulted in placental defects and midgestation lethality. Ubiquitous over expression of transgenic Bcor isoform A during development resulted in embryonic defects and midgestation lethality. The defects we have found in Bcor mutants provide insights into the etiology of the OFCD syndrome and how BCOR-containing PRC1 complexes function in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Y Hamline
- The Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA; University of Minnesota Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Connie M Corcoran
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Joseph A Wamstad
- The Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Isabelle Miletich
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Jifan Feng
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Jamie L Lohr
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Myriam Hemberger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Paul T Sharpe
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK; Medical Research Council Centre for Transplantation, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Micah D Gearhart
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA; Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Vivian J Bardwell
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA; Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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22
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Female human primordial germ cells display X-chromosome dosage compensation despite the absence of X-inactivation. Nat Cell Biol 2020; 22:1436-1446. [PMID: 33257808 PMCID: PMC7717582 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-020-00607-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
X-chromosome dosage compensation in female placental mammals is achieved by X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). An exception are human pre-implantation embryos, where dosage compensation occurs by X-chromosome dampening (XCD). Here, we examined whether XCD extends to human prenatal germ cells given their similarities with naïve pluripotent cells. We found that female human primordial germ cells (hPGCs) display reduced X-linked gene expression before entering meiosis. Moreover, in hPGCs, both X-chromosome are active and express the long non-coding RNAs XACT and XIST, the master regulator of XCI, which are silenced upon entry into meiosis. These findings uncover XACT as hPGC-marker, describe XCD associated with XIST-expression in hPGCs, and suggest that XCD evolved in humans to regulate X-linked genes in pre-implantation embryos and PGCs. Additionally, we found a unique X-chromosome regulation in human primordial oocytes. Therefore, future studies of human germline development must consider the sexually dimorphic X-chromosome dosage compensation mechanisms in the prenatal germline.
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23
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Examining Sex Differences in the Human Placental Transcriptome During the First Fetal Androgen Peak. Reprod Sci 2020; 28:801-818. [PMID: 33150487 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00355-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in human placenta exist from early pregnancy to term, however, it is unclear whether these differences are driven solely by sex chromosome complement or are subject to differential sex hormonal regulation. Here, we survey the human chorionic villus (CV) transcriptome for sex-linked signatures from 11 to 16 gestational weeks, corresponding to the first window of increasing testis-derived androgen production in male fetuses. Illumina HiSeq RNA sequencing was performed on Lexogen Quantseq 3' libraries derived from CV biopsies (n = 11 females, n = 12 males). Differential expression (DE) was performed to identify sex-linked transcriptional signatures, followed by chromosome mapping, pathway analysis, predicted protein interaction, and post-hoc linear regressions to identify transcripts that trend over time. We observe 322 transcripts DE between male and female CV from 11 to 16 weeks, with 22 transcripts logFC > 1. Contrary to our predictions, the difference between male and female expression of DE autosomal genes was more pronounced at the earlier gestational ages. In females, we found selective upregulation of extracellular matrix components, along with a number of X-linked genes. In males, DE transcripts centered on chromosome 19, with mitochondrial, immune, and pregnancy maintenance-related transcripts upregulated. Among the highest differentially expressed autosomal genes were CCRL2, LGALS13, and LGALS14, which are known to regulate immune cell interactions. Our results provide insight into sex-linked gene expression in late first and early second trimester developing human placenta and lay the groundwork to understand the mechanistic origins of sex differences in prenatal development.
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24
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Shibata S, Kobayashi EH, Kobayashi N, Oike A, Okae H, Arima T. Unique features and emerging in vitro models of human placental development. Reprod Med Biol 2020; 19:301-313. [PMID: 33071632 PMCID: PMC7542016 DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The placenta is an essential organ for the normal development of mammalian fetuses. Most of our knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of placental development has come from the analyses of mice, especially histopathological examination of knockout mice. Choriocarcinoma and immortalized cell lines have also been used for basic research on the human placenta. However, these cells are quite different from normal trophoblast cells. Methods In this review, we first provide an overview of mouse and human placental development with particular focus on the differences in the anatomy, transcription factor networks, and epigenetic characteristics between these species. Next, we discuss pregnancy complications associated with abnormal placentation. Finally, we introduce emerging in vitro models to study the human placenta, including human trophoblast stem (TS) cells, trophoblast and endometrium organoids, and artificial embryos. Main findings The placental structure and development differ greatly between humans and mice. The recent establishment of human TS cells and trophoblast and endometrial organoids enhances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying human placental development. Conclusion These in vitro models will greatly advance our understanding of human placental development and potentially contribute to the elucidation of the causes of infertility and other pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Shibata
- Department of Informative Genetics Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Sendai Japan
| | - Eri H Kobayashi
- Department of Informative Genetics Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Sendai Japan
| | - Norio Kobayashi
- Department of Informative Genetics Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Sendai Japan
| | - Akira Oike
- Department of Informative Genetics Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Sendai Japan
| | - Hiroaki Okae
- Department of Informative Genetics Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Sendai Japan
| | - Takahiro Arima
- Department of Informative Genetics Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Sendai Japan
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25
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Patrat C, Ouimette JF, Rougeulle C. X chromosome inactivation in human development. Development 2020; 147:147/1/dev183095. [PMID: 31900287 DOI: 10.1242/dev.183095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a key developmental process taking place in female mammals to compensate for the imbalance in the dosage of X-chromosomal genes between sexes. It is a formidable example of concerted gene regulation and a paradigm for epigenetic processes. Although XCI has been substantially deciphered in the mouse model, how this process is initiated in humans has long remained unexplored. However, recent advances in the experimental capacity to access human embryonic-derived material and in the laws governing ethical considerations of human embryonic research have allowed us to enlighten this black box. Here, we will summarize the current knowledge of human XCI, mainly based on the analyses of embryos derived from in vitro fertilization and of pluripotent stem cells, and highlight any unanswered questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Patrat
- Université de Paris, UMR 1016, Institut Cochin, 75014 Paris, France .,Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, Paris Centre Hospital, APHP.centre, 75014 Paris, France
| | | | - Claire Rougeulle
- Université de Paris, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France
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26
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Abstract
The placenta is essential for normal in utero development in mammals. In humans, defective placental formation underpins common pregnancy disorders such as pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. The great variation in placental types across mammals means that animal models have been of limited use in understanding human placental development. However, new tools for studying human placental development, including 3D organoids, stem cell culture systems and single cell RNA sequencing, have brought new insights into this field. Here, we review the morphological, molecular and functional aspects of human placental formation, with a focus on the defining cell of the placenta - the trophoblast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Y Turco
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK
- Department of Physiology, Neuroscience and Development, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Ashley Moffett
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK
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27
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Zou H, Yu D, Du X, Wang J, Chen L, Wang Y, Xu H, Zhao Y, Zhao S, Pang Y, Liu Y, Hao H, Zhao X, Du W, Dai Y, Li N, Wu S, Zhu H. No imprinted XIST expression in pigs: biallelic XIST expression in early embryos and random X inactivation in placentas. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:4525-4538. [PMID: 31139846 PMCID: PMC11105601 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03123-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Dosage compensation, which is achieved by X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) in female mammals, ensures balanced X-linked gene expression levels between the sexes. Although eutherian mammals commonly display random XCI in embryonic and adult tissues, imprinted XCI has also been identified in extraembryonic tissues of mouse, rat, and cow. Little is known about XCI in pigs. Here, we sequenced the porcine XIST gene and identified an insertion/deletion mutation between Asian- and Western-origin pig breeds. Allele-specific analysis revealed biallelic XIST expression in porcine ICSI blastocysts. To investigate the XCI pattern in porcine placentas, we performed allele-specific RNA sequencing analysis on individuals from reciprocal crosses between Duroc and Rongchang pigs. Our results were the first to reveal that random XCI occurs in the placentas of pigs. Next, we investigated the H3K27me3 histone pattern in porcine blastocysts, showing that only 17-31.8% cells have attained XCI. The hypomethylation status of an important XIST DMR (differentially methylated region) in gametes and early embryos demonstrated that no methylation is pre-deposited on XIST in pigs. Our findings reveal that the XCI regulation mechanism in pigs is different from that in mice and highlight the importance of further study of the mechanisms regulating XCI during early porcine embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiying Zou
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Dawei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xuguang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Chongqing Academy of Animal Science, Chongqing, 402460, China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Huitao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yunxuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Shanjiang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yunwei Pang
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Haisheng Hao
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xueming Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Weihua Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yunping Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ning Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Sen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Huabin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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28
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Talon I, Janiszewski A, Chappell J, Vanheer L, Pasque V. Recent Advances in Understanding the Reversal of Gene Silencing During X Chromosome Reactivation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:169. [PMID: 31552244 PMCID: PMC6733891 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dosage compensation between XX female and XY male cells is achieved by a process known as X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in mammals. XCI is initiated early during development in female cells and is subsequently stably maintained in most somatic cells. Despite its stability, the robust transcriptional silencing of XCI is reversible, in the embryo and also in a number of reprogramming settings. Although XCI has been intensively studied, the dynamics, factors, and mechanisms of X chromosome reactivation (XCR) remain largely unknown. In this review, we discuss how new sequencing technologies and reprogramming approaches have enabled recent advances that revealed the timing of transcriptional activation during XCR. We also discuss the factors and chromatin features that might be important to understand the dynamics and mechanisms of the erasure of transcriptional gene silencing on the inactive X chromosome (Xi).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Vincent Pasque
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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29
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Laskowski AI, Neems DS, Laster K, Strojny-Okyere C, Rice EL, Konieczna IM, Voss JH, Mathew JM, Leventhal JR, Ramsey-Goldman R, Smith ED, Kosak ST. Varying levels of X chromosome coalescence in female somatic cells alters the balance of X-linked dosage compensation and is implicated in female-dominant systemic lupus erythematosus. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8011. [PMID: 31142749 PMCID: PMC6541617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44229-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The three-dimensional organization of the genome in mammalian interphase nuclei is intrinsically linked to the regulation of gene expression. Whole chromosome territories and their encoded gene loci occupy preferential positions within the nucleus that changes according to the expression profile of a given cell lineage or stage. To further illuminate the relationship between chromosome organization, epigenetic environment, and gene expression, here we examine the functional organization of chromosome X and corresponding X-linked genes in a variety of healthy human and disease state X diploid (XX) cells. We observe high frequencies of homologous chromosome X colocalization (or coalescence), typically associated with initiation of X-chromosome inactivation, occurring in XX cells outside of early embryogenesis. Moreover, during chromosome X coalescence significant changes in Xist, H3K27me3, and X-linked gene expression occur, suggesting the potential exchange of gene regulatory information between the active and inactive X chromosomes. We also observe significant differences in chromosome X coalescence in disease-implicated lymphocytes isolated from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients compared to healthy controls. These results demonstrate that X chromosomes can functionally interact outside of embryogenesis when X inactivation is initiated and suggest a potential gene regulatory mechanism aberration underlying the increased frequency of autoimmunity in XX individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka I Laskowski
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Daniel S Neems
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Kyle Laster
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Chelsee Strojny-Okyere
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Ellen L Rice
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Iwona M Konieczna
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Department of Medicine, Surgery Division, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Jessica H Voss
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Department of Medicine, Surgery Division, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - James M Mathew
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Department of Medicine, Surgery Division, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Joseph R Leventhal
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Department of Medicine, Surgery Division, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman
- Deparment of Medicine, Rheumatology Division, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Erica D Smith
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Steven T Kosak
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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30
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A novel approach to differentiate rat embryonic stem cells in vitro reveals a role for RNF12 in activation of X chromosome inactivation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6068. [PMID: 30988473 PMCID: PMC6465393 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42246-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a mammalian specific, developmentally regulated process relying on several mechanisms including antisense transcription, non-coding RNA-mediated silencing, and recruitment of chromatin remodeling complexes. In vitro modeling of XCI, through differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), provides a powerful tool to study the dynamics of XCI, overcoming the need for embryos, and facilitating genetic modification of key regulatory players. However, to date, robust initiation of XCI in vitro has been mostly limited to mouse pluripotent stem cells. Here, we adapted existing protocols to establish a novel monolayer differentiation protocol for rat ESCs to study XCI. We show that differentiating rat ESCs properly downregulate pluripotency factor genes, and present female specific Xist RNA accumulation and silencing of X-linked genes. We also demonstrate that RNF12 seems to be an important player in regulation of initiation of XCI in rat, acting as an Xist activator. Our work provides the basis to investigate the mechanisms directing the XCI process in a model organism different from the mouse.
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31
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Gong S, Sovio U, Aye IL, Gaccioli F, Dopierala J, Johnson MD, Wood AM, Cook E, Jenkins BJ, Koulman A, Casero RA, Constância M, Charnock-Jones DS, Smith GC. Placental polyamine metabolism differs by fetal sex, fetal growth restriction, and preeclampsia. JCI Insight 2018; 3:120723. [PMID: 29997303 PMCID: PMC6124516 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.120723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR) are major causes of the more than 5 million perinatal and infant deaths occurring globally each year, and both are associated with placental dysfunction. The risk of perinatal and infant death is greater in males, but the mechanisms are unclear. We studied data and biological samples from the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction (POP) study, a prospective cohort study that followed 4,212 women having first pregnancies from their dating ultrasound scan through delivery. We tested the hypothesis that fetal sex would be associated with altered placental function using multiomic and targeted analyses. We found that spermine synthase (SMS) escapes X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) in the placenta and is expressed at lower levels in male primary trophoblast cells, and male cells were more sensitive to polyamine depletion. The spermine metabolite N1,N12-diacetylspermine (DiAcSpm) was higher in the female placenta and in the serum of women pregnant with a female fetus. Higher maternal serum levels of DiAcSpm increased the risk of preeclampsia but decreased the risk of FGR. To our knowledge, DiAcSpm is the first maternal biomarker to demonstrate opposite associations with preeclampsia and FGR, and this is the first evidence to implicate polyamine metabolism in sex-related differences in placentally related complications of human pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungsam Gong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre
| | - Ulla Sovio
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre,,Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR), Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
| | - Irving L.M.H. Aye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre,,Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR), Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
| | - Francesca Gaccioli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre,,Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR), Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
| | - Justyna Dopierala
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre,,Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR), Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
| | - Michelle D. Johnson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre,,Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR), Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
| | | | - Emma Cook
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre
| | - Benjamin J. Jenkins
- NIHR BRC Core Metabolomics and Lipidomics Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Albert Koulman
- NIHR BRC Core Metabolomics and Lipidomics Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A. Casero
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Miguel Constância
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre,,Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR), Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience,,University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - D. Stephen Charnock-Jones
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre,,Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR), Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
| | - Gordon C.S. Smith
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre,,Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR), Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
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32
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Sahakyan A, Yang Y, Plath K. The Role of Xist in X-Chromosome Dosage Compensation. Trends Cell Biol 2018; 28:999-1013. [PMID: 29910081 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
In each somatic cell of a female mammal one X chromosome is transcriptionally silenced via X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), initiating early in development. Although XCI events are conserved in mouse and human postimplantation development, regulation of X-chromosome dosage in preimplantation development occurs differently. In preimplantation development, mouse embryos undergo imprinted form of XCI, yet humans lack imprinted XCI and instead regulate gene expression of both X chromosomes by dampening transcription. The long non-coding RNA Xist/XIST is expressed in mouse and human preimplantation and postimplantation development to orchestrate XCI, but its role in dampening is unclear. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the role of Xist in X chromosome dosage compensation in mouse and human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sahakyan
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yihao Yang
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kathrin Plath
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Sahakyan A, Plath K, Rougeulle C. Regulation of X-chromosome dosage compensation in human: mechanisms and model systems. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0363. [PMID: 28947660 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The human blastocyst forms 5 days after one of the smallest human cells (the sperm) fertilizes one of the largest human cells (the egg). Depending on the sex-chromosome contribution from the sperm, the resulting embryo will either be female, with two X chromosomes (XX), or male, with an X and a Y chromosome (XY). In early development, one of the major differences between XX female and XY male embryos is the conserved process of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), which compensates gene expression of the two female X chromosomes to match the dosage of the single X chromosome of males. Most of our understanding of the pre-XCI state and XCI establishment is based on mouse studies, but recent evidence from human pre-implantation embryo research suggests that many of the molecular steps defined in the mouse are not conserved in human. Here, we will discuss recent advances in understanding the control of X-chromosome dosage compensation in early human embryonic development and compare it to that of the mouse.This article is part of the themed issue 'X-chromosome inactivation: a tribute to Mary Lyon'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sahakyan
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kathrin Plath
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Claire Rougeulle
- Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, UMR 7216 CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
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34
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Studying X chromosome inactivation in the single-cell genomic era. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 46:577-586. [PMID: 29678955 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell genomics is set to revolutionise our understanding of how epigenetic silencing works; by studying specific epigenetic marks or chromatin conformations in single cells, it is possible to ask whether they cause transcriptional silencing or are instead a consequence of the silent state. Here, we review what single-cell genomics has revealed about X chromosome inactivation, perhaps the best characterised mammalian epigenetic process, highlighting the novel findings and important differences between mouse and human X inactivation uncovered through these studies. We consider what fundamental questions these techniques are set to answer in coming years and propose that X chromosome inactivation is an ideal model to study gene silencing by single-cell genomics as technical limitations are minimised through the co-analysis of hundreds of genes.
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35
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Midic U, Goheen B, Vincent KA, VandeVoort CA, Latham KE. Changes in gene expression following long-term in vitro exposure of Macaca mulatta trophoblast stem cells to biologically relevant levels of endocrine disruptors. Reprod Toxicol 2018; 77:154-165. [PMID: 29505797 PMCID: PMC5898618 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2018.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) are crucial for embryo implantation and placentation. Environmental toxicants that compromise TSC function could impact fetal viability, pregnancy, and progeny health. Understanding the effects of low, chronic EDC exposures on TSCs and pregnancy is a priority in developmental toxicology. Differences in early implantation between primates and other mammals make a nonhuman primate model ideal. We examined effects of chronic low-level exposure to atrazine, tributyltin, bisphenol A, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and perfluorooctanoic acid on rhesus monkey TSCs in vitro by RNA sequencing. Pathway analysis of affected genes revealed negative effects on cytokine signaling related to anti-viral response, most strongly for atrazine and tributyltin, but shared with the other three EDCs. Other affected processes included metabolism, DNA repair, and cell migration. Low-level chronic exposure of primate TSCs to EDCs may thus compromise trophoblast development in vivo, inhibit responses to infection, and negatively affect embryo implantation and pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uros Midic
- Department of Animal Science, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Benjamin Goheen
- Department of Animal Science, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Kailey A Vincent
- Department of Animal Science, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Catherine A VandeVoort
- California National Primate Research Center and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Keith E Latham
- Department of Animal Science, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States.
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36
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Geens M, Chuva De Sousa Lopes SM. X chromosome inactivation in human pluripotent stem cells as a model for human development: back to the drawing board? Hum Reprod Update 2018; 23:520-532. [PMID: 28582519 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmx015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC), both embryonic and induced (hESC and hiPSC), are regarded as a valuable in vitro model for early human development. In order to fulfil this promise, it is important that these cells mimic as closely as possible the in vivo molecular events, both at the genetic and epigenetic level. One of the most important epigenetic events during early human development is X chromosome inactivation (XCI), the transcriptional silencing of one of the two X chromosomes in female cells. XCI is important for proper development and aberrant XCI has been linked to several pathologies. Recently, novel data obtained using high throughput single-cell technology during human preimplantation development have suggested that the XCI mechanism is substantially different from XCI in mouse. It has also been suggested that hPSC show higher complexity in XCI than the mouse. Here we compare the available recent data to understand whether XCI during human preimplantation can be properly recapitulated using hPSC. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE We will summarize what is known on the timing and mechanisms of XCI during human preimplantation development. We will compare this to the XCI patterns that are observed during hPSC derivation, culture and differentiation, and comment on the cause of the aberrant XCI patterns observed in hPSC. Finally, we will discuss the implications of the aberrant XCI patterns on the applicability of hPSC as an in vitro model for human development and as cell source for regenerative medicine. SEARCH METHODS Combinations of the following keywords were applied as search criteria in the PubMed database: X chromosome inactivation, preimplantation development, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, primordial germ cells, differentiation. OUTCOMES Recent single-cell RNASeq data have shed new light on the XCI process during human preimplantation development. These indicate a gradual inactivation on both XX chromosomes, starting from Day 4 of development and followed by a random choice to inactivate one of them, instead of the mechanism in mice where imprinted XCI is followed by random XCI. We have put these new findings in perspective using previous data obtained in human (and mouse) embryos. In addition, there is an ongoing discussion whether or not hPSC lines show X chromosome reactivation upon derivation, mimicking the earliest embryonic cells, and the XCI states observed during culture of hPSC are highly variable. Recent studies have shown that hPSC rapidly progress to highly aberrant XCI patterns and that this process is probably driven by suboptimal culture conditions. Importantly, these aberrant XCI states seem to be inherited by the differentiated hPSC-progeny. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The aberrant XCI states (and epigenetic instability) observed in hPSC throw a shadow on their applicability as an in vitro model for development and disease modelling. Moreover, as the aberrant XCI states observed in hPSC seem to shift to a more malignant phenotype, this may also have important consequences for the safety aspect of using hPSC in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieke Geens
- Research Group Reproduction and Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Jette, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Susana M Chuva De Sousa Lopes
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Reproductive Medicine, Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST), Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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37
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Gonzalez TL, Sun T, Koeppel AF, Lee B, Wang ET, Farber CR, Rich SS, Sundheimer LW, Buttle RA, Chen YDI, Rotter JI, Turner SD, Williams J, Goodarzi MO, Pisarska MD. Sex differences in the late first trimester human placenta transcriptome. Biol Sex Differ 2018; 9:4. [PMID: 29335024 PMCID: PMC5769539 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-018-0165-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Development of the placenta during the late first trimester is critical to ensure normal growth and development of the fetus. Developmental differences in this window such as sex-specific variation are implicated in later placental disease states, yet gene expression at this time is poorly understood. Methods RNA-sequencing was performed to characterize the transcriptome of 39 first trimester human placentas using chorionic villi following genetic testing (17 females, 22 males). Gene enrichment analysis was performed to find enriched canonical pathways and gene ontologies in the first trimester. DESeq2 was used to find sexually dimorphic gene expression. Patient demographics were analyzed for sex differences in fetal weight at time of chorionic villus sampling and birth. Results RNA-sequencing analyses detected 14,250 expressed genes, with chromosome 19 contributing the greatest proportion (973/2852, 34.1% of chromosome 19 genes) and Y chromosome contributing the least (16/568, 2.8%). Several placenta-enriched genes as well as histone-coding genes were identified to be unique to the first trimester and common to both sexes. Further, we identified 58 genes with significantly different expression between males and females: 25 X-linked, 15 Y-linked, and 18 autosomal genes. Genes that escape X inactivation were highly represented (59.1%) among X-linked genes upregulated in females. Many genes differentially expressed by sex consisted of X/Y gene pairs, suggesting that dosage compensation plays a role in sex differences. These X/Y pairs had roles in parallel, ancient canonical pathways important for eukaryotic cell growth and survival: chromatin modification, transcription, splicing, and translation. Conclusions This study is the first characterization of the late first trimester placenta transcriptome, highlighting similarities and differences among the sexes in ongoing human pregnancies resulting in live births. Sexual dimorphism may contribute to pregnancy outcomes, including fetal growth and birth weight, which was seen in our cohort, with males significantly heavier than females at birth. This transcriptome provides a basis for development of early diagnostic tests of placental function that can indicate overall pregnancy heath, fetal-maternal health, and long-term adult health. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13293-018-0165-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania L Gonzalez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tianyanxin Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alexander F Koeppel
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Bora Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Erica T Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Charles R Farber
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Stephen S Rich
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Lauren W Sundheimer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rae A Buttle
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen D Turner
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - John Williams
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mark O Goodarzi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Margareta D Pisarska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Wang Q, Mank JE, Li J, Yang N, Qu L. Allele-Specific Expression Analysis Does Not Support Sex Chromosome Inactivation on the Chicken Z Chromosome. Genome Biol Evol 2017; 9:619-626. [PMID: 28391319 PMCID: PMC5381566 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterogametic sex chromosomes have evolved many times independently, and in many cases, the loss of functional genes from the sex-limited Y or W chromosome leaves only one functional gene copy on the corresponding X or Z chromosome in the heterogametic sex. Because gene dose often correlates with gene expression level, this difference in gene dose between males and females for X- or Z-linked genes in some cases has selected for chromosome-wide transcriptional dosage compensation mechanisms to counteract any reduction in expression in the heterogametic sex. These mechanisms are thought to restore the balance between sex-linked loci and the autosomal genes they interact with, and this also typically results in equal expression between the sexes. However, dosage compensation in many other species is incomplete, and in the case of birds average expression from males (ZZ) remains higher than in females (ZW). Interestingly, recent reports in chickens and related species have shown that the Z chromosome is expressed less in males than would be expected from two copies of the chromosome, and recent data from cell-based approaches on 11 loci in chicken have suggested that one Z chromosome is partially inactivated in males, in a mechanism thought to be homologous to X inactivation in therian mammals. In the present study, we use controlled crosses in three tissues to test for the presence of Z inactivation in males, which would be expected to bias transcription to the active gene copy (allele-specific expression). We show that for the vast majority of genes on the chicken Z chromosome, males express both parental alleles at statistically similar levels, indicating no Z chromosome inactivation. For those Z chromosome loci with detectable ASE in males, we show that the most likely cause is cis-regulatory variation, rather than Z chromosome inactivation. Taken together, our results indicate that unlike the X chromosome in mammals, Z inactivation does not affect an appreciable number of loci in chicken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Wang
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Judith E Mank
- Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Junying Li
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lujiang Qu
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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40
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Early X chromosome inactivation during human preimplantation development revealed by single-cell RNA-sequencing. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10794. [PMID: 28883481 PMCID: PMC5589911 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11044-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In female mammals, one X chromosome is transcriptionally inactivated (XCI), leading to dosage compensation between sexes, fundamental for embryo viability. A previous study using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data proposed that female human preimplantation embryos achieve dosage compensation by downregulating both Xs, a phenomenon named dampening of X expression. Using a novel pipeline on those data, we identified a decrease in the proportion of biallelically expressed X-linked genes during development, consistent with XCI. Moreover, we show that while the expression sum of biallelically expressed X-linked genes decreases with embryonic development, their median expression remains constant, rejecting the hypothesis of X dampening. In addition, analyses of a different dataset of scRNA-seq suggest the appearance of X-linked monoallelic expression by the late blastocyst stage in females, another hallmark of initiation of XCI. Finally, we addressed the issue of dosage compensation between the single active X and autosomes in males and females for the first time during human preimplantation development, showing emergence of X to autosome dosage compensation by the upregulation of the active X chromosome in both male and female embryonic stem cells. Our results show compelling evidence of an early process of X chromosome inactivation during human preimplantation development.
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He N, Lim SJ, Moreira de Mello JC, Navarro I, Bialecka M, Salvatori DCF, van der Westerlaken LAJ, Pereira LV, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM. At Term, XmO and XpO Mouse Placentas Show Differences in Glucose Metabolism in the Trophectoderm-Derived Outer Zone. Front Cell Dev Biol 2017; 5:63. [PMID: 28680878 PMCID: PMC5478694 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2017.00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic mouse model (39,XO) for human Turner Syndrome (45,XO) harboring either a single maternally inherited (Xm) or paternally inherited (Xp) chromosome show a pronounced difference in survival rate at term. However, a detailed comparison of XmO and XpO placentas to explain this difference is lacking. We aimed to investigate the morphological and molecular differences between XmO and XpO term mouse placentas. We observed that XpO placentas at term contained a significantly larger area of glycogen cells (GCs) in their outer zone, compared to XmO, XX, and XY placentas. In addition, the outer zone of XpO placentas showed higher expression levels of lactate dehydrogenase (Ldha) than XmO, XX, and XY placentas, suggestive of increased anaerobic glycolysis. In the labyrinth, we detected significantly lower expression level of trophectoderm (TE)-marker keratin 19 (Krt19) in XpO placentas than in XX placentas. The expression of other TE-markers was comparable as well as the area of TE-derived cells between XO and wild-type labyrinths. XpO placentas exhibited specific defects in the amount of GCs and glucose metabolism in the outer zone, suggestive of increased anaerobic glycolysis, as a consequence of having inherited a single Xp chromosome. In conclusion, the XpO genotype results in a more severe placental phenotype at term, with distinct abnormalities regarding glucose metabolism in the outer zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan He
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical CenterLeiden, Netherlands
| | - Shujing J Lim
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical CenterLeiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Injerreau Navarro
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical CenterLeiden, Netherlands
| | - Monika Bialecka
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical CenterLeiden, Netherlands
| | - Daniela C F Salvatori
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical CenterLeiden, Netherlands.,Central Laboratory Animal Facility, Leiden University Medical CenterLeiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Lygia V Pereira
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Susana M Chuva de Sousa Lopes
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical CenterLeiden, Netherlands.,Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University HospitalGhent, Belgium
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42
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Revealing allele-specific gene expression by single-cell transcriptomics. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2017; 90:155-160. [PMID: 28578186 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2017.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Single-cell sequencing has emerged as a revolutionary method that reveals biological processes with unprecedented resolution and scale, and has already greatly impacted biology and medicine. To investigate processes such as alternative splicing, novel exon detection and allele-specific expression (ASE), full-length based single-cell RNA-seq methods are required for broad sequence coverage and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification. In this review, we revisit recent achievements from studies that used single-cell RNA-seq to advance our understanding of ASE in the context of both autosomal and X-chromosome genes. We also recapitulate useful bioinformatic tools developed to identify haplotype phase.
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43
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Min B, Park JS, Jeon K, Kang YK. Characterization of X-Chromosome Gene Expression in Bovine Blastocysts Derived by In vitro Fertilization and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. Front Genet 2017; 8:42. [PMID: 28443134 PMCID: PMC5385346 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2017.00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
To better understand X-chromosome reactivation (XCR) during early development, we analyzed transcriptomic data obtained from bovine male and female blastocysts derived by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). We found that X-linked genes were upregulated by almost two-fold in female compared with male IVF blastocysts. The upregulation of X-linked genes in female IVFs indicated a transcriptional dimorphism between the sexes, because the mean autosomal gene expression levels were relatively constant, regardless of sex. X-linked genes were expressed equivalently in the inner-cell mass and the trophectoderm parts of female blastocysts, indicating no imprinted inactivation of paternal X in the trophectoderm. All these features of X-linked gene expression observed in IVFs were also detected in SCNT blastocysts, although to a lesser extent. A heatmap of X-linked gene expression revealed that the initial resemblance of X-linked gene expression patterns between male and female donor cells turned sexually divergent in host SCNTs, ultimately resembling the patterns of male and female IVFs. Additionally, we found that sham SCNT blastocysts, which underwent the same nuclear-transfer procedures, but retained their embryonic genome, closely mimicked IVFs for X-linked gene expression, which indicated that the embryo manipulation procedure itself does not interfere with XCR in SCNT blastocysts. Our findings indicated that female SCNTs have less efficient XCR, suggesting that clonal reprogramming of X chromosomes is incomplete and occurs variably among blastocysts, and even among cells in a single blastocyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byungkuk Min
- Development and Differentiation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience BiotechnologyDaejeon, South Korea
| | - Jung Sun Park
- Development and Differentiation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience BiotechnologyDaejeon, South Korea
| | - Kyuheum Jeon
- Development and Differentiation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience BiotechnologyDaejeon, South Korea
| | - Yong-Kook Kang
- Development and Differentiation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience BiotechnologyDaejeon, South Korea
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44
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Altmäe S, Segura MT, Esteban FJ, Bartel S, Brandi P, Irmler M, Beckers J, Demmelmair H, López-Sabater C, Koletzko B, Krauss-Etschmann S, Campoy C. Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Obesity Is Associated with Altered Placental Transcriptome. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169223. [PMID: 28125591 PMCID: PMC5268451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity has a major impact on pregnancy outcomes. There is growing evidence that maternal obesity has a negative influence on placental development and function, thereby adversely influencing offspring programming and health outcomes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes are poorly understood. We analysed ten term placenta’s whole transcriptomes in obese (n = 5) and normal weight women (n = 5), using the Affymetrix microarray platform. Analyses of expression data were carried out using non-parametric methods. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis showed a clear distinction in placental transcriptome between obese and normal weight women. We identified 72 differentially regulated genes, with most being down-regulated in obesity (n = 61). Functional analyses of the targets using DAVID and IPA confirm the dysregulation of previously identified processes and pathways in the placenta from obese women, including inflammation and immune responses, lipid metabolism, cancer pathways, and angiogenesis. In addition, we detected new molecular aspects of obesity-derived effects on the placenta, involving the glucocorticoid receptor signalling pathway and dysregulation of several genes including CCL2, FSTL3, IGFBP1, MMP12, PRG2, PRL, QSOX1, SERPINE2 and TAC3. Our global gene expression profiling approach demonstrates that maternal obesity creates a unique in utero environment that impairs the placental transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Altmäe
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Research EURISTIKOS and Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- * E-mail: (SA); (CC)
| | - Maria Teresa Segura
- Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Research EURISTIKOS and Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Sabine Bartel
- Division of Experimental Asthma Research, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Borstel, Germany
| | - Pilar Brandi
- Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Research EURISTIKOS and Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Martin Irmler
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Beckers
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, Neuherberg, Germany
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Experimental Genetics, Freising, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Hans Demmelmair
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Dr. Hauner Children’s Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, Munich, Germany
| | - Carmen López-Sabater
- Department of Nutrition and Bromatology, School of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Berthold Koletzko
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Dr. Hauner Children’s Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, Munich, Germany
| | - Susanne Krauss-Etschmann
- Division of Experimental Asthma Research, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Borstel, Germany
- Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universitaet zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Ludwig Maximilians University Hospital and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Großhadern, Germany
| | - Cristina Campoy
- Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Research EURISTIKOS and Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biohealth Institute of Granada, Granada, Spain
- * E-mail: (SA); (CC)
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Hamada H, Okae H, Toh H, Chiba H, Hiura H, Shirane K, Sato T, Suyama M, Yaegashi N, Sasaki H, Arima T. Allele-Specific Methylome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Widespread Imprinting in the Human Placenta. Am J Hum Genet 2016; 99:1045-1058. [PMID: 27843122 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2016.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is globally reprogrammed after fertilization, and as a result, the parental genomes have similar DNA-methylation profiles after implantation except at the germline differentially methylated regions (gDMRs). We and others have previously shown that human blastocysts might contain thousands of transient maternally methylated gDMRs (transient mDMRs), whose maternal methylation is lost in embryonic tissues after implantation. In this study, we performed genome-wide allelic DNA methylation analyses of purified trophoblast cells from human placentas and, surprisingly, found that more than one-quarter of the transient-in-embryo mDMRs maintained their maternally biased DNA methylation. RNA-sequencing-based allelic expression analyses revealed that some of the placenta-specific mDMRs were associated with expression of imprinted genes (e.g., TIGAR, SLC4A7, PROSER2-AS1, and KLHDC10), and three imprinted gene clusters were identified. This approach also identified some X-linked gDMRs. Comparisons of the data with those from other mammals revealed that genomic imprinting in the placenta is highly variable. These findings highlight the incomplete erasure of germline DNA methylation in the human placenta; understanding this erasure is important for understanding normal placental development and the pathogenesis of developmental disorders with imprinting effects.
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46
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Have humans lost control: The elusive X-controlling element. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 56:71-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.01.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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47
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Chen CY, Chan CH, Chen CM, Tsai YS, Tsai TY, Wu Lee YH, You LR. Targeted inactivation of murine Ddx3x: essential roles of Ddx3x in placentation and embryogenesis. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:2905-2922. [PMID: 27179789 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Revised: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The X-linked DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX3 (DDX3X) is a multifunctional protein that has been implicated in gene regulation, cell cycle control, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. However, the precise physiological function of Ddx3x during development remains unknown. Here, we show that loss of Ddx3x results in an early post-implantation lethality in male mice. The size of the epiblast marked by Oct3/4 is dramatically reduced in embryonic day 6.5 (E6.5) Ddx3x-/Y embryos. Preferential paternal X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in extraembryonic tissues of Ddx3x heterozygous (Ddx3x-/+) female mice with a maternally inherited null allele leads to placental abnormalities and embryonic lethality during development. In the embryonic tissues, Ddx3x exhibits developmental- and tissue-specific differences in escape from XCI. Targeted Ddx3x ablation in the epiblast leads to widespread apoptosis and abnormal growth, which causes embryonic lethality in the Sox2-cre/+;Ddx3xflox/Y mutant around E11.5. The observation of significant increases in γH2AX and p-p53Ser15 indicates DNA damage, which suggests that loss of Ddx3x leads to higher levels of genome damage. Significant upregulation of p21WAF1/Cip1 and p15Ink4b results in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in Ddx3x-deficient cells. These results have uncovered that mouse Ddx3x is essential for both embryo and extraembryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chun-Ming Chen
- Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences.,VYM Genome Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Yan-Hwa Wu Lee
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology .,Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Li-Ru You
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology .,VYM Genome Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
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48
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Furlan G, Rougeulle C. Function and evolution of the long noncoding RNA circuitry orchestrating X-chromosome inactivation in mammals. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2016; 7:702-22. [PMID: 27173581 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a chromosome-wide regulatory process that ensures dosage compensation for X-linked genes in Theria. XCI is established during early embryogenesis and is developmentally regulated. Different XCI strategies exist in mammalian infraclasses and the regulation of this process varies also among closely related species. In Eutheria, initiation of XCI is orchestrated by a cis-acting locus, the X-inactivation center (Xic), which is particularly enriched in genes producing long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Among these, Xist generates a master transcript that coats and propagates along the future inactive X-chromosome in cis, establishing X-chromosome wide transcriptional repression through interaction with several protein partners. Other lncRNAs also participate to the regulation of X-inactivation but the extent to which their function has been maintained in evolution is still poorly understood. In Metatheria, Xist is not conserved, but another, evolutionary independent lncRNA with similar properties, Rsx, has been identified, suggesting that lncRNA-mediated XCI represents an evolutionary advantage. Here, we review current knowledge on the interplay of X chromosome-encoded lncRNAs in ensuring proper establishment and maintenance of chromosome-wide silencing, and discuss the evolutionary implications of the emergence of species-specific lncRNAs in the control of XCI within Theria. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:702-722. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1359 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Furlan
- Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, UMR7216 CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Claire Rougeulle
- Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, UMR7216 CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
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49
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Payer B. Developmental regulation of X-chromosome inactivation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 56:88-99. [PMID: 27112543 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
With the emergence of sex-determination by sex chromosomes, which differ in composition and number between males and females, appeared the need to equalize X-chromosomal gene dosage between the sexes. Mammals have devised the strategy of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), in which one of the two X-chromosomes is rendered transcriptionally silent in females. In the mouse, the best-studied model organism with respect to XCI, this inactivation process occurs in different forms, imprinted and random, interspersed by periods of X-chromosome reactivation (XCR), which is needed to switch between the different modes of XCI. In this review, I describe the recent advances with respect to the developmental control of XCI and XCR and in particular their link to differentiation and pluripotency. Furthermore, I review the mechanisms, which influence the timing and choice, with which one of the two X-chromosomes is chosen for inactivation during random XCI. This has an impact on how females are mosaics with regard to which X-chromosome is active in different cells, which has implications on the severity of diseases caused by X-linked mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Payer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology and Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Dr. Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
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Single-Cell RNA-Seq Reveals Lineage and X Chromosome Dynamics in Human Preimplantation Embryos. Cell 2016; 165:1012-26. [PMID: 27062923 PMCID: PMC4868821 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 589] [Impact Index Per Article: 73.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Mouse studies have been instrumental in forming our current understanding of early cell-lineage decisions; however, similar insights into the early human development are severely limited. Here, we present a comprehensive transcriptional map of human embryo development, including the sequenced transcriptomes of 1,529 individual cells from 88 human preimplantation embryos. These data show that cells undergo an intermediate state of co-expression of lineage-specific genes, followed by a concurrent establishment of the trophectoderm, epiblast, and primitive endoderm lineages, which coincide with blastocyst formation. Female cells of all three lineages achieve dosage compensation of X chromosome RNA levels prior to implantation. However, in contrast to the mouse, XIST is transcribed from both alleles throughout the progression of this expression dampening, and X chromosome genes maintain biallelic expression while dosage compensation proceeds. We envision broad utility of this transcriptional atlas in future studies on human development as well as in stem cell research. Transcriptomes of 1,529 individual cells from 88 human preimplantation embryos Lineage segregation of trophectoderm, primitive endoderm, and pluripotent epiblast X chromosome dosage compensation in the human blastocyst
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