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Jevans B, Cooper F, Fatieieva Y, Gogolou A, Kang YN, Restuadi R, Moulding D, Vanden Berghe P, Adameyko I, Thapar N, Andrews PW, De Coppi P, Tsakiridis A, McCann CJ. Human enteric nervous system progenitor transplantation improves functional responses in Hirschsprung disease patient-derived tissue. Gut 2024:gutjnl-2023-331532. [PMID: 38816188 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-331532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a severe congenital disorder affecting 1:5000 live births. HSCR results from the failure of enteric nervous system (ENS) progenitors to fully colonise the gastrointestinal tract during embryonic development. This leads to aganglionosis in the distal bowel, resulting in disrupted motor activity and impaired peristalsis. Currently, the only viable treatment option is surgical resection of the aganglionic bowel. However, patients frequently suffer debilitating, lifelong symptoms, with multiple surgical procedures often necessary. Hence, alternative treatment options are crucial. An attractive strategy involves the transplantation of ENS progenitors generated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). DESIGN ENS progenitors were generated from hPSCs using an accelerated protocol and characterised, in detail, through a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing, protein expression analysis and calcium imaging. We tested ENS progenitors' capacity to integrate and affect functional responses in HSCR colon, after ex vivo transplantation to organotypically cultured patient-derived colonic tissue, using organ bath contractility. RESULTS We found that our protocol consistently gives rise to high yields of a cell population exhibiting transcriptional and functional hallmarks of early ENS progenitors. Following transplantation, hPSC-derived ENS progenitors integrate, migrate and form neurons/glia within explanted human HSCR colon samples. Importantly, the transplanted HSCR tissue displayed significantly increased basal contractile activity and increased responses to electrical stimulation compared with control tissue. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, the potential of hPSC-derived ENS progenitors to repopulate and increase functional responses in human HSCR patient colonic tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Jevans
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Fay Cooper
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Yuliia Fatieieva
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Centre for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Antigoni Gogolou
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Yi-Ning Kang
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Centre for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Restuadi Restuadi
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Dale Moulding
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Pieter Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Centre for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Cell and Tissue Imaging Cluster (CIC), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Igor Adameyko
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Centre for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nikhil Thapar
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Liver Transplant, Queensland Children's Hospital UQ Faculty, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter W Andrews
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Paolo De Coppi
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
- Specialist Neonatal and Paediatric Surgery Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
| | - Anestis Tsakiridis
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Conor J McCann
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
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2
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Lefèvre MA, Soret R, Pilon N. Harnessing the Power of Enteric Glial Cells' Plasticity and Multipotency for Advancing Regenerative Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12475. [PMID: 37569849 PMCID: PMC10419543 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS), known as the intrinsic nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract, is composed of a diverse array of neuronal and glial cell subtypes. Fascinating questions surrounding the generation of cellular diversity in the ENS have captivated ENS biologists for a considerable time, particularly with recent advancements in cell type-specific transcriptomics at both population and single-cell levels. However, the current focus of research in this field is predominantly restricted to the study of enteric neuron subtypes, while the investigation of enteric glia subtypes significantly lags behind. Despite this, enteric glial cells (EGCs) are increasingly recognized as equally important regulators of numerous bowel functions. Moreover, a subset of postnatal EGCs exhibits remarkable plasticity and multipotency, distinguishing them as critical entities in the context of advancing regenerative medicine. In this review, we aim to provide an updated overview of the current knowledge on this subject, while also identifying key questions that necessitate future exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie A. Lefèvre
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada;
- Centre D’excellence en Recherche Sur Les Maladies Orphelines—Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 3Y7, Canada
| | - Rodolphe Soret
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada;
- Centre D’excellence en Recherche Sur Les Maladies Orphelines—Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 3Y7, Canada
| | - Nicolas Pilon
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada;
- Centre D’excellence en Recherche Sur Les Maladies Orphelines—Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 3Y7, Canada
- Département de Pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
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3
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Kuil LE, Kakiailatu NJ, Windster JD, Bindels E, Zink JT, van der Zee G, Hofstra RM, Shepherd IT, Melotte V, Alves MM. Unbiased characterization of the larval zebrafish enteric nervous system at a single cell transcriptomic level. iScience 2023; 26:107070. [PMID: 37426341 PMCID: PMC10329177 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) regulates many gastrointestinal functions including peristalsis, immune regulation and uptake of nutrients. Defects in the ENS can lead to severe enteric neuropathies such as Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). Zebrafish have proven to be fruitful in the identification of genes involved in ENS development and HSCR pathogenesis. However, composition and specification of enteric neurons and glial subtypes at larval stages, remains mainly unexplored. Here, we performed single cell RNA sequencing of zebrafish ENS at 5 days post-fertilization. We identified vagal neural crest progenitors, Schwann cell precursors, and four clusters of differentiated neurons. In addition, a previously unrecognized elavl3+/phox2bb-population of neurons and cx43+/phox2bb-enteric glia was found. Pseudotime analysis supported binary neurogenic branching of ENS differentiation, driven by a notch-responsive state. Taken together, we provide new insights on ENS development and specification, proving that the zebrafish is a valuable model for the study of congenital enteric neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Kuil
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Naomi J.M. Kakiailatu
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jonathan D. Windster
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eric Bindels
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joke T.M. Zink
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gaby van der Zee
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert M.W. Hofstra
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Veerle Melotte
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Maria M. Alves
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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4
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Raina P, Guinea R, Chatsirisupachai K, Lopes I, Farooq Z, Guinea C, Solyom CA, de Magalhães JP. GeneFriends: gene co-expression databases and tools for humans and model organisms. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 51:D145-D158. [PMID: 36454018 PMCID: PMC9825523 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene co-expression analysis has emerged as a powerful method to provide insights into gene function and regulation. The rapid growth of publicly available RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data has created opportunities for researchers to employ this abundant data to help decipher the complexity and biology of genomes. Co-expression networks have proven effective for inferring the relationship between the genes, for gene prioritization and for assigning function to poorly annotated genes based on their co-expressed partners. To facilitate such analyses we created previously an online co-expression tool for humans and mice entitled GeneFriends. To continue providing a valuable tool to the scientific community, we have now updated the GeneFriends database and website. Here, we present the new version of GeneFriends, which includes gene and transcript co-expression networks based on RNA-seq data from 46 475 human and 34 322 mouse samples. The new database also encompasses tissue-specific gene co-expression networks for 20 human and 21 mouse tissues, dataset-specific gene co-expression maps based on TCGA and GTEx projects and gene co-expression networks for additional seven model organisms (fruit fly, zebrafish, worm, rat, yeast, cow and chicken). GeneFriends is freely available at http://www.genefriends.org/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Raina
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Rodrigo Guinea
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Kasit Chatsirisupachai
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Inês Lopes
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Zoya Farooq
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Cristina Guinea
- UCAL - Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de América Latina, Faculty of Design, Lima 15026, Perú
| | - Csaba-Attila Solyom
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
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5
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Kastriti ME, Faure L, Von Ahsen D, Bouderlique TG, Boström J, Solovieva T, Jackson C, Bronner M, Meijer D, Hadjab S, Lallemend F, Erickson A, Kaucka M, Dyachuk V, Perlmann T, Lahti L, Krivanek J, Brunet J, Fried K, Adameyko I. Schwann cell precursors represent a neural crest-like state with biased multipotency. EMBO J 2022; 41:e108780. [PMID: 35815410 PMCID: PMC9434083 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Schwann cell precursors (SCPs) are nerve-associated progenitors that can generate myelinating and non-myelinating Schwann cells but also are multipotent like the neural crest cells from which they originate. SCPs are omnipresent along outgrowing peripheral nerves throughout the body of vertebrate embryos. By using single-cell transcriptomics to generate a gene expression atlas of the entire neural crest lineage, we show that early SCPs and late migratory crest cells have similar transcriptional profiles characterised by a multipotent "hub" state containing cells biased towards traditional neural crest fates. SCPs keep diverging from the neural crest after being primed towards terminal Schwann cells and other fates, with different subtypes residing in distinct anatomical locations. Functional experiments using CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function further show that knockout of the common "hub" gene Sox8 causes defects in neural crest-derived cells along peripheral nerves by facilitating differentiation of SCPs towards sympathoadrenal fates. Finally, specific tumour populations found in melanoma, neurofibroma and neuroblastoma map to different stages of SCP/Schwann cell development. Overall, SCPs resemble migrating neural crest cells that maintain multipotency and become transcriptionally primed towards distinct lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eleni Kastriti
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Center for Brain ResearchMedical University ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologyKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Center for Brain ResearchMedical University ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Louis Faure
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Center for Brain ResearchMedical University ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Dorothea Von Ahsen
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Center for Brain ResearchMedical University ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - Johan Boström
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Center for Brain ResearchMedical University ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Tatiana Solovieva
- Division of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Cameron Jackson
- Division of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Marianne Bronner
- Division of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Dies Meijer
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Saida Hadjab
- Department of NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | | | - Alek Erickson
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologyKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Marketa Kaucka
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary BiologyPlönGermany
| | | | - Thomas Perlmann
- Department of Cell and Molecular BiologyKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Laura Lahti
- Department of Cell and Molecular BiologyKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Jan Krivanek
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of MedicineMasaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Jean‐Francois Brunet
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), INSERM, CNRS, École Normale SupérieurePSL Research UniversityParisFrance
| | - Kaj Fried
- Department of NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Igor Adameyko
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologyKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Center for Brain ResearchMedical University ViennaViennaAustria
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6
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Hernandez S, Serrano AG, Solis Soto LM. The Role of Nerve Fibers in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment of Solid Tumors. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2022; 6:e2200046. [PMID: 35751462 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The importance of neurons and nerve fibers in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of solid tumors is now acknowledged after being unexplored for a long time; this is possible due to the development of new technologies that allow in situ characterization of the TME. Recent studies have shown that the density and types of nerves that innervate tumors can predict a patient's clinical outcome and drive several processes of tumor biology. Nowadays, several efforts in cancer research and neuroscience are taking place to elucidate the mechanisms that drive tumor-associated innervation and nerve-tumor and nerve-immune interaction. Assessment of neurons and nerves within the context of the TME can be performed in situ, in tumor tissue, using several pathology-based strategies that utilize histochemical and immunohistochemistry principles, hi-plex technologies, and computational pathology approaches to identify measurable histopathological characteristics of nerves. These features include the number and type of tumor associated nerves, topographical location and microenvironment of neural invasion of malignant cells, and investigation of neuro-related biomarker expression in nerves, tumor cells, and cells of the TME. A deeper understanding of these complex interactions and the impact of nerves in tumor biology will guide the design of better strategies for targeted therapy in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharia Hernandez
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2130 West Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Alejandra G Serrano
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2130 West Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Luisa M Solis Soto
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2130 West Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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7
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Chalazonitis A, Rao M, Sulzer D. Similarities and differences between nigral and enteric dopaminergic neurons unravel distinctive involvement in Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2022; 8:50. [PMID: 35459867 PMCID: PMC9033791 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-022-00308-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to the well-known degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, enteric neurons can also be affected in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Dopaminergic neurons have recently been identified in the enteric nervous system (ENS). While ENS dopaminergic neurons have been shown to degenerate in genetic mouse models of PD, analyses of their survival in enteric biopsies of PD patients have provided inconsistent results to date. In this context, this review seeks to highlight the distinctive and shared factors and properties that control the evolution of these two sets of dopaminergic neurons from neuronal precursors to aging neurons. Although their cellular sources and developmental times of origin differ, midbrain and ENS dopaminergic neurons express many transcription factors in common and their respective environments express similar neurotrophic molecules. For example, Foxa2 and Sox6 are expressed by both populations to promote the specification, differentiation, and long-term maintenance of the dopaminergic phenotype. Both populations exhibit sustained patterns of excitability that drive intrinsic vulnerability over time. In disorders such as PD, colon biopsies have revealed aggregation of alpha-synuclein in the submucosal plexus where dopaminergic neurons reside and lack blood barrier protection. Thus, these enteric neurons may be more susceptible to neurotoxic insults and aggregation of α-synuclein that spreads from gut to midbrain. Under sustained stress, inefficient autophagy leads to neurodegeneration, GI motility dysfunction, and PD symptoms. Recent findings suggest that novel neurotrophic factors such as CDNF have the potential to be used as neuroprotective agents to prevent and treat ENS symptoms of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alcmène Chalazonitis
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Meenakshi Rao
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Sulzer
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Pharmacology, Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatry Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
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8
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Mueller JL, Goldstein AM. The science of Hirschsprung disease: What we know and where we are headed. Semin Pediatr Surg 2022; 31:151157. [PMID: 35690468 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2022.151157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a rich network of neurons and glial cells that comprise the gastrointestinal tract's intrinsic nervous system and are responsible for controlling numerous complex functions, including digestion, transit, secretion, barrier function, and maintenance of a healthy microbiome. Development of a functional ENS relies on the coordinated interaction between enteric neural crest-derived cells and their environment as the neural crest-derived cells migrate rostrocaudally along the embryonic gut mesenchyme. Congenital or acquired disruption of ENS development leads to various neurointestinal diseases. Hirschsprung disease is a congenital neurocristopathy, a disease of the neural crest. It is characterized by a variable length of distal colonic aganglionosis due to a failure in enteric neural crest-derived cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and/or survival. In this review, we will review the science of Hirschsprung disease, targeting an audience of pediatric surgeons. We will discuss the basic biology of normal ENS development, as well as what goes awry in ENS development in Hirschsprung disease. We will review animal models that have been integral to studying this disease, as well as current hot topics and future research, including genetic risk profiling, stem cell therapy, non-invasive diagnostic techniques, single-cell sequencing techniques, and genotype-phenotype correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Mueller
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., WRN 1151, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Allan M Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., WRN 1151, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
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9
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Li Y, Li Z, Yang M, Wang F, Zhang Y, Li R, Li Q, Gong Y, Wang B, Fan B, Wang C, Chen L, Li H, Ong J, Teng Z, Jin L, Wang YL, Du P, Jiao J. Decoding the temporal and regional specification of microglia in the developing human brain. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:620-634.e6. [PMID: 35245443 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Region-related heterogeneity and state transitions of microglia are important for brain development and neurological pathogenesis. However, regional specialization and state transition in microglia during early human CNS development remain unclear. Here, we profile single-cell transcriptomes of microglia from distinct regions of the developing human brain, and combined with experimental verification, we define and characterize early microglial fate determinations related to regional specification and state transition. We identified several subclasses of neuronal gene-enriched microglia with regional specification that dynamically and transiently appeared as early brain regions formed. In contrast, immune-related microglia were regionally specialized at later stages of CNS development. Surprisingly, we discovered that region-specialized immune-related microglia exit from a relative resting state and transition into distinct active states. In addition, we experimentally verified the microglial state transition. Finally, we showed that the state transition is conserved but that there are molecular differences in developing microglia in humans and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhongqiu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Min Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Feiyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yuehong Zhang
- Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Beijing, Beijing 101100, China
| | - Rong Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology and Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ministry of Education, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; National Clinical Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yunxia Gong
- Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Beijing, Beijing 101100, China
| | - Binhong Wang
- Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Beijing, Beijing 101100, China
| | - Baoguang Fan
- Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Beijing, Beijing 101100, China
| | - Chunyue Wang
- Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Beijing, Beijing 101100, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Six Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Hong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jennie Ong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zhaoqian Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lei Jin
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/National Health Commission Key Laboratory, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Yan-Ling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Peng Du
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Jianwei Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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10
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Boesmans W, Nash A, Tasnády KR, Yang W, Stamp LA, Hao MM. Development, Diversity, and Neurogenic Capacity of Enteric Glia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:775102. [PMID: 35111752 PMCID: PMC8801887 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.775102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric glia are a fascinating population of cells. Initially identified in the gut wall as the "support" cells of the enteric nervous system, studies over the past 20 years have unveiled a vast array of functions carried out by enteric glia. They mediate enteric nervous system signalling and play a vital role in the local regulation of gut functions. Enteric glial cells interact with other gastrointestinal cell types such as those of the epithelium and immune system to preserve homeostasis, and are perceptive to luminal content. Their functional versatility and phenotypic heterogeneity are mirrored by an extensive level of plasticity, illustrated by their reactivity in conditions associated with enteric nervous system dysfunction and disease. As one of the hallmarks of their plasticity and extending their operative relationship with enteric neurons, enteric glia also display neurogenic potential. In this review, we focus on the development of enteric glial cells, and the mechanisms behind their heterogeneity in the adult gut. In addition, we discuss what is currently known about the role of enteric glia as neural precursors in the enteric nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werend Boesmans
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Amelia Nash
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kinga R. Tasnády
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Wendy Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan, Taiwan
| | - Lincon A. Stamp
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Marlene M. Hao
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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11
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Earley AM, Burbulla LF, Krainc D, Awatramani R. Identification of ASCL1 as a determinant for human iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22257. [PMID: 34782629 PMCID: PMC8593045 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01366-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
During cellular specification, transcription factors orchestrate cellular decisions through gene regulation. By hijacking these transcriptional networks, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can be specialized into neurons with different molecular identities for the purposes of regenerative medicine and disease modeling. However, molecular fine tuning cell types to match their in vivo counterparts remains a challenge. Directing cell fates often result in blended or incomplete neuron identities. A better understanding of hPSC to neuron gene regulation is needed. Here, we used single cell RNA sequencing to resolve some of these graded molecular identities during human neurogenesis from hPSCs. Differentiation platforms were established to model neural induction from stem cells, and we characterized these differentiated cell types by 10x single cell RNA sequencing. Using single cell trajectory and co-expression analyses, we identified a co-regulated transcription factor module expressing achaete-scute family basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor 1 (ASCL1) and neuronal differentiation 1 (NEUROD1). We then tested the function of these transcription factors in neuron subtype differentiation by gene knockout in a novel human system that reports the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis. ASCL1 was identified as a necessary transcription factor for regulating dopaminergic neurotransmitter selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M Earley
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Lena F Burbulla
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Metabolic Biochemistry, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Dimitri Krainc
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Rajeshwar Awatramani
- Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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12
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Fazilaty H, Brügger MD, Valenta T, Szczerba BM, Berkova L, Doumpas N, Hausmann G, Scharl M, Basler K. Tracing colonic embryonic transcriptional profiles and their reactivation upon intestinal damage. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109484. [PMID: 34348153 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We lack a holistic understanding of the genetic programs orchestrating embryonic colon morphogenesis and governing damage response in the adult. A window into these programs is the transcriptomes of the epithelial and mesenchymal cell populations in the colon. Performing unbiased single-cell transcriptomic analyses of the developing mouse colon at different embryonic stages (embryonic day 14.5 [E14.5], E15.5, and E18.5), we capture cellular and molecular profiles of the stages before, during, and after the appearance of crypt structures, as well as in a model of adult colitis. The data suggest most adult lineages are established by E18.5. We find embryonic-specific gene expression profiles and cell populations that reappear in response to tissue damage. Comparison of the datasets from mice and human colitis suggests the processes are conserved. In this study, we provide a comprehensive single-cell atlas of the developing mouse colon and evidence for the reactivation of embryonic genes in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Fazilaty
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael David Brügger
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tomas Valenta
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic.
| | - Barbara M Szczerba
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Linda Berkova
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Nikolaos Doumpas
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - George Hausmann
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Scharl
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Konrad Basler
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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13
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Morarach K, Mikhailova A, Knoflach V, Memic F, Kumar R, Li W, Ernfors P, Marklund U. Diversification of molecularly defined myenteric neuron classes revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing. Nat Neurosci 2020; 24:34-46. [PMID: 33288908 PMCID: PMC7610403 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-00736-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autonomous regulation of the intestine requires the combined activity of functionally distinct neurons of the enteric nervous system (ENS). However, the variety of enteric neuron types and how they emerge during development remain largely unknown. Here, we define a molecular taxonomy of twelve enteric neuron classes within the myenteric plexus of the mouse small intestine using single cell RNA-sequencing. We present cell-cell communication features, histochemical markers for motor, sensory, and interneurons together with transgenic tools for class-specific targeting. Transcriptome analysis of embryonic ENS uncovers a novel principle of neuronal diversification, where two neuron classes arise through a binary neurogenic branching, and all other identities emerge through subsequent post-mitotic differentiation. We identify generic and class-specific transcriptional regulators and functionally connect Pbx3 to a post-mitotic fate transition. Our results offer a conceptual and molecular resource for dissecting ENS circuits, and predicting key regulators for directed differentiation of distinct enteric neuron classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khomgrit Morarach
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anastassia Mikhailova
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Viktoria Knoflach
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fatima Memic
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Zoology Department, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, India
| | - Wei Li
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrik Ernfors
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Marklund
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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14
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Abstract
Investigations of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate the development of the autonomic nervous system have identified critical genes and signaling pathways that, when disrupted, cause disorders of the autonomic nervous system. This review summarizes our current understanding of how the autonomic nervous system emerges from the organized spatial and temporal patterning of precursor cell migration, proliferation, communication, and differentiation, and discusses potential clinical implications for developmental disorders of the autonomic nervous system, including familial dysautonomia, Hirschsprung disease, Rett syndrome, and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances Lefcort
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
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15
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Frith TJR, Gogolou A, Hackland JOS, Hewitt ZA, Moore HD, Barbaric I, Thapar N, Burns AJ, Andrews PW, Tsakiridis A, McCann CJ. Retinoic Acid Accelerates the Specification of Enteric Neural Progenitors from In-Vitro-Derived Neural Crest. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 15:557-565. [PMID: 32857978 PMCID: PMC7486303 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is derived primarily from the vagal neural crest, a migratory multipotent cell population emerging from the dorsal neural tube between somites 1 and 7. Defects in the development and function of the ENS cause a range of enteric neuropathies, including Hirschsprung disease. Little is known about the signals that specify early ENS progenitors, limiting progress in the generation of enteric neurons from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to provide tools for disease modeling and regenerative medicine for enteric neuropathies. We describe the efficient and accelerated generation of ENS progenitors from hPSCs, revealing that retinoic acid is critical for the acquisition of vagal axial identity and early ENS progenitor specification. These ENS progenitors generate enteric neurons in vitro and, following in vivo transplantation, achieved long-term colonization of the ENS in adult mice. Thus, hPSC-derived ENS progenitors may provide the basis for cell therapy for defects in the ENS. Retinoic acid alters the axial identity of hPSC-derived neural crest cells ENS progenitor markers are upregulated in response to RA ENS progenitors are capable of generating enteric neurons in vitro hPSC ENS progenitors colonize the ENS of mice following long-term transplantation
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J R Frith
- University of Sheffield, Department of Biomedical Science, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Antigoni Gogolou
- University of Sheffield, Department of Biomedical Science, Sheffield, UK
| | - James O S Hackland
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Zoe A Hewitt
- University of Sheffield, Department of Biomedical Science, Sheffield, UK
| | - Harry D Moore
- University of Sheffield, Department of Biomedical Science, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ivana Barbaric
- University of Sheffield, Department of Biomedical Science, Sheffield, UK
| | - Nikhil Thapar
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; Neurogastroenterology and Motility Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Liver Transplant, Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; Prince Abdullah Ben Khalid Celiac Research Chair, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA
| | - Alan J Burns
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter W Andrews
- University of Sheffield, Department of Biomedical Science, Sheffield, UK
| | - Anestis Tsakiridis
- University of Sheffield, Department of Biomedical Science, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Conor J McCann
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
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16
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Martinez ME, Duarte CW, Stohn JP, Karaczyn A, Wu Z, DeMambro VE, Hernandez A. Thyroid hormone influences brain gene expression programs and behaviors in later generations by altering germ line epigenetic information. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:939-950. [PMID: 30356120 PMCID: PMC6482106 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0281-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Genetic factors do not fully account for the relatively high heritability of neurodevelopmental conditions, suggesting that non-genetic heritable factors contribute to their etiology. To evaluate the potential contribution of aberrant thyroid hormone status to the epigenetic inheritance of neurological phenotypes, we examined genetically normal F2 generation descendants of mice that were developmentally overexposed to thyroid hormone due to a Dio3 mutation. Hypothalamic gene expression profiling in postnatal day 15 F2 descendants on the paternal lineage of ancestral male and female T3-overexposed mice revealed, respectively, 1089 and 1549 differentially expressed genes. A large number of them, 675 genes, were common to both sets, suggesting comparable epigenetic effects of thyroid hormone on both the male and female ancestral germ lines. Oligodendrocyte- and neuron-specific genes were strongly overrepresented among genes showing, respectively, increased and decreased expression. Altered gene expression extended to other brain regions and was associated in adulthood with decreased anxiety-like behavior, increased marble burying and reduced physical activity. The sperm of T3-overexposed male ancestors revealed significant hypomethylation of CpG islands associated with the promoters of genes involved in the early development of the central nervous system. Some of them were candidates for neurodevelopmental disorders in humans including Nrg3, Nrxn1, Gabrb3, Gabra5, Apba2, Grik3, Reln, Nsd1, Pcdh8, En1, and Elavl2. Thus, developmental levels of thyroid hormone influence the epigenetic information of the germ line, disproportionately affecting genes with critical roles in early brain development, and leading in future generations to disease-relevant alterations in postnatal brain gene expression and adult behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Elena Martinez
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Maine Medical Center, Scarborough, ME, 04074, USA
| | - Christine W. Duarte
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Maine Medical Center, Scarborough, ME, 04074, USA,Graduate School for Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
| | - J. Patrizia Stohn
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Maine Medical Center, Scarborough, ME, 04074, USA
| | - Aldona Karaczyn
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Maine Medical Center, Scarborough, ME, 04074, USA
| | - Zhaofei Wu
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Maine Medical Center, Scarborough, ME, 04074, USA
| | - Victoria E DeMambro
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Maine Medical Center, Scarborough, ME, 04074, USA
| | - Arturo Hernandez
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Maine Medical Center, Scarborough, ME, 04074, USA. .,Graduate School for Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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17
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Wang SZ, Yu YJ, Adeli K. Role of Gut Microbiota in Neuroendocrine Regulation of Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism via the Microbiota-Gut-Brain-Liver Axis. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8040527. [PMID: 32272588 PMCID: PMC7232453 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8040527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota play an important role in maintaining intestinal health and are involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids. Recent studies have shown that the central nervous system (CNS) and enteric nervous system (ENS) can interact with gut microbiota to regulate nutrient metabolism. The vagal nerve system communicates between the CNS and ENS to control gastrointestinal tract functions and feeding behavior. Vagal afferent neurons also express receptors for gut peptides that are secreted from enteroendocrine cells (EECs), such as cholecystokinin (CCK), ghrelin, leptin, peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin). Gut microbiota can regulate levels of these gut peptides to influence the vagal afferent pathway and thus regulate intestinal metabolism via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. In addition, bile acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) can also exert metabolic control through the microbiota-gut-liver axis. This review is mainly focused on the role of gut microbiota in neuroendocrine regulation of nutrient metabolism via the microbiota-gut-brain-liver axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Zhi Wang
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China;
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
- Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Yi-Jing Yu
- Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Khosrow Adeli
- Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-416-813-8682; Fax: +1-416-813-6257
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18
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Chng SH, Pachnis V. Enteric Nervous System: lessons from neurogenesis for reverse engineering and disease modelling and treatment. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2020; 50:100-106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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19
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Klatt A, Salzmann E, Schneider LJ, Reifschneider A, Korneck M, Hermle P, Bürkle A, Stoll D, Kadereit S. Toxicity of ionizing radiation (IR) in a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived 3D early neurodevelopmental model. Arch Toxicol 2019; 93:2879-2893. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-019-02553-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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20
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Yu XX, Qiu WL, Yang L, Zhang Y, He MY, Li LC, Xu CR. Defining multistep cell fate decision pathways during pancreatic development at single-cell resolution. EMBO J 2019; 38:e100164. [PMID: 30737258 PMCID: PMC6463266 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2018100164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The generation of terminally differentiated cell lineages during organogenesis requires multiple, coordinated cell fate choice steps. However, this process has not been clearly delineated, especially in complex solid organs such as the pancreas. Here, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing in pancreatic cells sorted from multiple genetically modified reporter mouse strains at embryonic stages E9.5-E17.5. We deciphered the developmental trajectories and regulatory strategies of the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic lineages as well as intermediate progenitor populations along the developmental pathways. Notably, we discovered previously undefined programs representing the earliest events in islet α- and β-cell lineage allocation as well as the developmental pathway of the "first wave" of α-cell generation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that repressing ERK pathway activity is essential for inducing both α- and β-lineage differentiation. This study provides key insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying cell fate choice and stepwise cell fate commitment and can be used as a resource to guide the induction of functional islet lineage cells from stem cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Xin Yu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei-Lin Qiu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-Tsinghua-NIBS Graduate Program, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Mao-Yang He
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-Tsinghua-NIBS Graduate Program, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin-Chen Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng-Ran Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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21
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Jin K, Xiang M. Transcription factor Ptf1a in development, diseases and reprogramming. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:921-940. [PMID: 30470852 PMCID: PMC11105224 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2972-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor Ptf1a is a crucial helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein selectively expressed in the pancreas, retina, spinal cord, brain, and enteric nervous system. Ptf1a is preferably assembled into a transcription trimeric complex PTF1 with an E protein and Rbpj (or Rbpjl). In pancreatic development, Ptf1a is indispensable in controlling the expansion of multipotent progenitor cells as well as the specification and maintenance of the acinar cells. In neural tissues, Ptf1a is transiently expressed in the post-mitotic cells and specifies the inhibitory neuronal cell fates, mostly mediated by downstream genes such as Tfap2a/b and Prdm13. Mutations in the coding and non-coding regulatory sequences resulting in Ptf1a gain- or loss-of-function are associated with genetic diseases such as pancreatic and cerebellar agenesis in the rodent and human. Surprisingly, Ptf1a alone is sufficient to reprogram mouse or human fibroblasts into tripotential neural stem cells. Its pleiotropic functions in many biological processes remain to be deciphered in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangxin Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Mengqing Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
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22
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Dong ZY, Pei Z, Wang YL, Li Z, Khan A, Meng XT. Ascl1 Regulates Electric Field-Induced Neuronal Differentiation Through PI3K/Akt Pathway. Neuroscience 2019; 404:141-152. [PMID: 30771509 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Directing differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs) to produce functional neurons is one of the greatest challenges in regenerative medicine. Our previous paper has confirmed that electrical stimulation has a high efficiency of triggering neuronal differentiation by using isolated filum terminale (FT)-derived NPCs. To further clarify the intrinsic molecular mechanisms, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was applied to pinpoints novel hubs in electric field (EF)-induced neuronal differentiation. In this study, siRNA transfection of Achaete-scute homolog 1 (Ascl1) in NPCs or NPCs was followed by direct current stimulation at 150 mV/mm. Neuronal differentiation rate and protein expression level were analyzed after 7 or 14 days of electrical stimulation. The data showed that the expression level of Ascl1 was enhanced by electrical stimulation and positively correlated to EF strength. Moreover, we identified that the expression of Ascl1 positively regulated neuronal differentiation of NPCs and can be up-regulated by EF-stimulation through the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the role of Ascl1 and its relevant PI3K/Akt pathway in regulating of EF-induced neuronal differentiation and pointed out that continuous expression of Ascl1 in NPCs is required for EF-induced neuronal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Yong Dong
- Department of Histology & Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
| | - Zhe Pei
- Department of Neuroscience and Pediatric, GSRB1 Duke University, Durham 27710, USA
| | - Yan-Ling Wang
- Laboratory Teaching Center of Basic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
| | - Zhe Li
- Laboratory Teaching Center of Basic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
| | - Amber Khan
- The Graduate Center and CUNY School of Medicine, CUNY, 85 St Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Xiao-Ting Meng
- Department of Histology & Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
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Cerrizuela S, Vega-López GA, Palacio MB, Tríbulo C, Aybar MJ. Gli2 is required for the induction and migration of Xenopus laevis neural crest. Mech Dev 2018; 154:219-239. [PMID: 30086335 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The neural crest (NC) is a multipotent migratory embryonic population that is formed during late gastrulation and gives rise to a wide array of derivatives, including cells from the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the craniofacial bones and cartilages, peripheral glial cells, and melanocyte cells, among others. In this work we analyzed the role of the Hedgehog signaling pathway effector gli2 in Xenopus NC. We provide evidence that the gli2 gene is expressed in the prospective, premigratory and migratory NC. The use of a specific morpholino against gli2 and the pharmacological specific inhibitor GANT61 in different experimental approaches allowed us to determine that gli2 is required for the induction and specification of NC cells as a transcriptional activator. Moreover, gli2 also acts by reducing apoptosis in the NC without affecting its cell proliferation status. We also demonstrated that gli2 is required cell-autonomously for NC migration, and for the formation of NC derivatives such as the craniofacial cartilages, melanocytes and the cranial ganglia. Altogether, our results showed that gli2 is a key transcriptional activator to accomplish the proper specification and development of Xenopus NC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Cerrizuela
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
| | - Guillermo A Vega-López
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina; Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
| | - María Belén Palacio
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Celeste Tríbulo
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina; Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
| | - Manuel J Aybar
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina; Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
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Mori Y, Sakuraoka M, Suzuki T, Sato S, Sugawara S, Hiraide M, Sato S, Kobayashi M. Exogenous TPRX1 homeoprotein modulates the gene expression of lineage-specific transcription factors in human embryonal carcinoma cells. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2018.1447396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Mori
- Laboratory For Advanced Animal Cell Technology, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
| | - Mizuki Sakuraoka
- Laboratory For Advanced Animal Cell Technology, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
| | - Takahiro Suzuki
- Laboratory For Advanced Animal Cell Technology, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
| | - Sho Sato
- Laboratory For Advanced Animal Cell Technology, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
| | - Saiko Sugawara
- Laboratory For Advanced Animal Cell Technology, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
| | - Misuzu Hiraide
- Laboratory For Advanced Animal Cell Technology, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
| | - Suguru Sato
- Laboratory For Advanced Animal Cell Technology, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
| | - Masayuki Kobayashi
- Laboratory For Advanced Animal Cell Technology, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
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Memic F, Knoflach V, Morarach K, Sadler R, Laranjeira C, Hjerling-Leffler J, Sundström E, Pachnis V, Marklund U. Transcription and Signaling Regulators in Developing Neuronal Subtypes of Mouse and Human Enteric Nervous System. Gastroenterology 2018; 154:624-636. [PMID: 29031500 PMCID: PMC6381388 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The enteric nervous system (ENS) regulates gastrointestinal function via different subtypes of neurons, organized into fine-tuned neural circuits. It is not clear how cell diversity is created within the embryonic ENS; information required for development of cell-based therapies and models of enteric neuropathies. We aimed to identify proteins that regulate ENS differentiation and network formation. METHODS We generated and compared RNA expression profiles of the entire ENS, ENS progenitor cells, and non-ENS gut cells of mice, collected at embryonic days 11.5 and 15.5, when different subtypes of neurons are formed. Gastrointestinal tissues from R26ReYFP reporter mice crossed to Sox10-CreERT2 or Wnt1-Cre mice were dissected and the 6 populations of cells were isolated by flow cytometry. We used histochemistry to map differentially expressed proteins in mouse and human gut tissues at different stages of development, in different regions. We examined enteric neuronal diversity and gastric function in Wnt1-Cre x Sox6fl/fl mice, which do not express the Sox6 gene in the ENS. RESULTS We identified 147 transcription and signaling factors that varied in spatial and temporal expression during development of the mouse ENS. Of the factors also analyzed in human ENS, most were conserved. We uncovered 16 signaling pathways (such as fibroblast growth factor and Eph/ephrin pathways). Transcription factors were grouped according to their specific expression in enteric progenitor cells (such as MEF2C), enteric neurons (such as SOX4), or neuron subpopulations (such as SATB1 and SOX6). Lack of SOX6 in the ENS reduced the numbers of gastric dopamine neurons and delayed gastric emptying. CONCLUSIONS Using transcriptome and histochemical analyses of the developing mouse and human ENS, we mapped expression patterns of transcription and signaling factors. Further studies of these candidate determinants might elucidate the mechanisms by which enteric stem cells differentiate into neuronal subtypes and form distinct connectivity patterns during ENS development. We found expression of SOX6 to be required for development of gastric dopamine neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Memic
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department for Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Viktoria Knoflach
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department for Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Khomgrit Morarach
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department for Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Sadler
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department for Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Catia Laranjeira
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, National Institute for Medical Research, Medical Research Council, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jens Hjerling-Leffler
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department for Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Sundström
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Stockholms Sjukhem, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Ulrika Marklund
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department for Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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26
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Martik ML, Bronner ME. Regulatory Logic Underlying Diversification of the Neural Crest. Trends Genet 2017; 33:715-727. [PMID: 28851604 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest is a transient, multipotent population of cells that arises at the border of the developing nervous system. After closure of the neural tube, these cells undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to delaminate and migrate, often to distant locations in the embryo. Neural crest cells give rise to a diverse array of derivatives including neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system, melanocytes, and bone and cartilage of the face. A gene regulatory network (GRN) controls the specification, delamination, migration, and differentiation of this fascinating cell type. With increasing technological advances, direct linkages within the neural crest GRN are being uncovered. The underlying circuitry is useful for understanding important topics such as reprogramming, evolution, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Martik
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Marianne E Bronner
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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Nagy N, Goldstein AM. Enteric nervous system development: A crest cell's journey from neural tube to colon. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 66:94-106. [PMID: 28087321 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is comprised of a network of neurons and glial cells that are responsible for coordinating many aspects of gastrointestinal (GI) function. These cells arise from the neural crest, migrate to the gut, and then continue their journey to colonize the entire length of the GI tract. Our understanding of the molecular and cellular events that regulate these processes has advanced significantly over the past several decades, in large part facilitated by the use of rodents, avians, and zebrafish as model systems to dissect the signals and pathways involved. These studies have highlighted the highly dynamic nature of ENS development and the importance of carefully balancing migration, proliferation, and differentiation of enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCCs). Proliferation, in particular, is critically important as it drives cell density and speed of migration, both of which are important for ensuring complete colonization of the gut. However, proliferation must be tempered by differentiation among cells that have reached their final destination and are ready to send axonal extensions, connect to effector cells, and begin to produce neurotransmitters or other signals. Abnormalities in the normal processes guiding ENCC development can lead to failure of ENS formation, as occurs in Hirschsprung disease, in which the distal intestine remains aganglionic. This review summarizes our current understanding of the factors involved in early development of the ENS and discusses areas in need of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandor Nagy
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Center for Neurointestinal Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Allan M Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Center for Neurointestinal Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.
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