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Varzideh F, Gambardella J, Kansakar U, Jankauskas SS, Santulli G. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Pluripotency and Self-Renewal of Embryonic Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8386. [PMID: 37176093 PMCID: PMC10179698 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the blastocyst. ESCs have two distinctive properties: ability to proliferate indefinitely, a feature referred as "self-renewal", and to differentiate into different cell types, a peculiar characteristic known as "pluripotency". Self-renewal and pluripotency of ESCs are finely orchestrated by precise external and internal networks including epigenetic modifications, transcription factors, signaling pathways, and histone modifications. In this systematic review, we examine the main molecular mechanisms that sustain self-renewal and pluripotency in both murine and human ESCs. Moreover, we discuss the latest literature on human naïve pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahimeh Varzideh
- Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology), Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation (INI), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Jessica Gambardella
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Urna Kansakar
- Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology), Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation (INI), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Stanislovas S. Jankauskas
- Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology), Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation (INI), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Gaetano Santulli
- Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology), Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation (INI), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
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2
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Bansal P, Ahern DT, Kondaveeti Y, Qiu CW, Pinter SF. Contiguous erosion of the inactive X in human pluripotency concludes with global DNA hypomethylation. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109215. [PMID: 34107261 PMCID: PMC8267460 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Female human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) routinely undergo inactive X (Xi) erosion. This progressive loss of key repressive features follows the loss of XIST expression, the long non-coding RNA driving X inactivation, and causes reactivation of silenced genes across the eroding X (Xe). To date, the sporadic and progressive nature of erosion has obscured its scale, dynamics, and key transition events. To address this problem, we perform an integrated analysis of DNA methylation (DNAme), chromatin accessibility, and gene expression across hundreds of hPSC samples. Differential DNAme orders female hPSCs across a trajectory from initiation to terminal Xi erosion. Our results identify a cis-regulatory element crucial for XIST expression, trace contiguously growing reactivated domains to a few euchromatic origins, and indicate that the late-stage Xe impairs DNAme genome-wide. Surprisingly, from this altered regulatory landscape emerge select features of naive pluripotency, suggesting that its link to X dosage may be partially conserved in human embryonic development. Reactivation of the silenced X in human female iPSC/ESCs compromises their utility. Bansal et al. perform an integrated genomics analysis to reveal a prevalent X erosion trajectory that they validate in long-term culture. Starting with XIST loss, this trajectory indicates that reactivation may spread contiguously from escapees to silenced genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakhar Bansal
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA; Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Darcy T Ahern
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA; Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Yuvabharath Kondaveeti
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Catherine W Qiu
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Stefan F Pinter
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA; Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA; Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA.
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3
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Global hyperactivation of enhancers stabilizes human and mouse naive pluripotency through inhibition of CDK8/19 Mediator kinases. Nat Cell Biol 2020; 22:1223-1238. [PMID: 32989249 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-020-0573-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) transition between cell states in vitro, reflecting developmental changes in the early embryo. PSCs can be stabilized in the naive state by blocking extracellular differentiation stimuli, particularly FGF-MEK signalling. Here, we report that multiple features of the naive state in human and mouse PSCs can be recapitulated without affecting FGF-MEK signalling or global DNA methylation. Mechanistically, chemical inhibition of CDK8 and CDK19 (hereafter CDK8/19) kinases removes their ability to repress the Mediator complex at enhancers. CDK8/19 inhibition therefore increases Mediator-driven recruitment of RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) to promoters and enhancers. This efficiently stabilizes the naive transcriptional program and confers resistance to enhancer perturbation by BRD4 inhibition. Moreover, naive pluripotency during embryonic development coincides with a reduction in CDK8/19. We conclude that global hyperactivation of enhancers drives naive pluripotency, and this can be achieved in vitro by inhibiting CDK8/19 kinase activity. These principles may apply to other contexts of cellular plasticity.
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Karner H, Webb CH, Carmona S, Liu Y, Lin B, Erhard M, Chan D, Baldi P, Spitale RC, Sun S. Functional Conservation of LncRNA JPX Despite Sequence and Structural Divergence. J Mol Biol 2019; 432:283-300. [PMID: 31518612 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in all eukaryotes and are most abundant in the human genome. However, the functional importance and mechanisms of action for human lncRNAs are largely unknown. Using comparative sequence, structural, and functional analyses, we characterize the evolution and molecular function of human lncRNA JPX. We find that human JPX and its mouse homolog, lncRNA Jpx, have deep divergence in their nucleotide sequences and RNA secondary structures. Despite such differences, both lncRNAs demonstrate robust binding to CTCF, a protein that is central to Jpx's role in X chromosome inactivation. In addition, our functional rescue experiment using Jpx-deletion mutant cells shows that human JPX can functionally complement the loss of Jpx in mouse embryonic stem cells. Our findings support a model for functional conservation of lncRNAs independent from sequence and structural divergence. This study provides mechanistic insight into the evolution of lncRNA function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Karner
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Chiu-Ho Webb
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Sarah Carmona
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Computer Science, Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Benjamin Lin
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Micaela Erhard
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Dalen Chan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Pierre Baldi
- Department of Computer Science, Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Robert C Spitale
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Sha Sun
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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Mutzel V, Okamoto I, Dunkel I, Saitou M, Giorgetti L, Heard E, Schulz EG. A symmetric toggle switch explains the onset of random X inactivation in different mammals. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2019; 26:350-360. [PMID: 30962582 PMCID: PMC6558282 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0214-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Gene-regulatory networks control establishment and maintenance of alternative gene expression states during development. A particular challenge is the acquisition of opposing states by two copies of the same gene, as it is the case in mammals for Xist at the onset of random X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). The regulatory principles that lead to stable mono-allelic expression of Xist remain unknown. Here, we uncovered the minimal Xist regulatory network, by combining mathematical modeling and experimental validation of central model predictions. We identified a symmetric toggle switch as the basis for random mono-allelic Xist up-regulation, which reproduces data from several mutant, aneuploid and polyploid murine cell lines with various Xist expression patterns. Moreover, this toggle switch explains the diversity of strategies employed by different species at the onset of XCI. In addition to providing a unifying conceptual framework to explore X-chromosome inactivation across mammals, our study sets the stage for identifying the molecular mechanisms required to initiate random XCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Mutzel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ikuhiro Okamoto
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology (JST), Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Luca Giorgetti
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Edith Heard
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Paris, France.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Directors' research unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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6
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Eisen B, Ben Jehuda R, Cuttitta AJ, Mekies LN, Shemer Y, Baskin P, Reiter I, Willi L, Freimark D, Gherghiceanu M, Monserrat L, Scherr M, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Arad M, Michele DE, Binah O. Electrophysiological abnormalities in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes generated from Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients. J Cell Mol Med 2019; 23:2125-2135. [PMID: 30618214 PMCID: PMC6378185 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X‐linked progressive muscle degenerative disease, caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene and resulting in death because of respiratory or cardiac failure. To investigate the cardiac cellular manifestation of DMD, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC‐derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC‐CMs) from two DMD patients: a male and female manifesting heterozygous carrier. Dystrophin mRNA and protein expression were analysed by qRT‐PCR, RNAseq, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. For comprehensive electrophysiological analysis, current and voltage clamp were used to record transmembrane action potentials and ion currents, respectively. Microelectrode array was used to record extracellular electrograms. X‐inactive specific transcript (XIST) and dystrophin expression analyses revealed that female iPSCs underwent X chromosome reactivation (XCR) or erosion of X chromosome inactivation, which was maintained in female iPSC‐CMs displaying mixed X chromosome expression of wild type (WT) and mutated alleles. Both DMD female and male iPSC‐CMs presented low spontaneous firing rate, arrhythmias and prolonged action potential duration. DMD female iPSC‐CMs displayed increased beat rate variability (BRV). DMD male iPSC‐CMs manifested decreased If density, and DMD female and male iPSC‐CMs showed increased ICa,L density. Our findings demonstrate cellular mechanisms underlying electrophysiological abnormalities and cardiac arrhythmias in DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binyamin Eisen
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ronen Ben Jehuda
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.,Department of Biotechnology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ashley J Cuttitta
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Lucy N Mekies
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yuval Shemer
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Polina Baskin
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Irina Reiter
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Lubna Willi
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dov Freimark
- Leviev Heart Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | | | - Michaela Scherr
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Michael Arad
- Leviev Heart Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Daniel E Michele
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Ofer Binah
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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7
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Rugg-Gunn PJ. Naive pluripotent stem cells as a model for studying human developmental epigenomics: opportunities and limitations. Epigenomics 2017; 9:1485-1488. [DOI: 10.2217/epi-2017-0115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Rugg-Gunn
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Babraham, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
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