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Sekulovski N, Wettstein JC, Carleton AE, Juga LN, Taniguchi LE, Ma X, Rao S, Schmidt JK, Golos TG, Lin CW, Taniguchi K. Temporally resolved early bone morphogenetic protein-driven transcriptional cascade during human amnion specification. eLife 2024; 12:RP89367. [PMID: 39051990 PMCID: PMC11272160 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Amniogenesis, a process critical for continuation of healthy pregnancy, is triggered in a collection of pluripotent epiblast cells as the human embryo implants. Previous studies have established that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is a major driver of this lineage specifying process, but the downstream BMP-dependent transcriptional networks that lead to successful amniogenesis remain to be identified. This is, in part, due to the current lack of a robust and reproducible model system that enables mechanistic investigations exclusively into amniogenesis. Here, we developed an improved model of early amnion specification, using a human pluripotent stem cell-based platform in which the activation of BMP signaling is controlled and synchronous. Uniform amniogenesis is seen within 48 hr after BMP activation, and the resulting cells share transcriptomic characteristics with amnion cells of a gastrulating human embryo. Using detailed time-course transcriptomic analyses, we established a previously uncharacterized BMP-dependent amniotic transcriptional cascade, and identified markers that represent five distinct stages of amnion fate specification; the expression of selected markers was validated in early post-implantation macaque embryos. Moreover, a cohort of factors that could potentially control specific stages of amniogenesis was identified, including the transcription factor TFAP2A. Functionally, we determined that, once amniogenesis is triggered by the BMP pathway, TFAP2A controls the progression of amniogenesis. This work presents a temporally resolved transcriptomic resource for several previously uncharacterized amniogenesis states and demonstrates a critical intermediate role for TFAP2A during amnion fate specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Sekulovski
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Jenna C Wettstein
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Amber E Carleton
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Lauren N Juga
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Linnea E Taniguchi
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Xiaolong Ma
- Division of Biostatistics, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Sridhar Rao
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
- Versiti Blood Research InstituteMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Jenna K Schmidt
- Wisconsin National Primate Research CenterMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Thaddeus G Golos
- Wisconsin National Primate Research CenterMilwaukeeUnited States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonUnited States
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Veterinary MedicineMadisonUnited States
| | - Chien-Wei Lin
- Division of Biostatistics, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Kenichiro Taniguchi
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
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2
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Wu J, Fu J. Toward developing human organs via embryo models and chimeras. Cell 2024; 187:3194-3219. [PMID: 38906095 PMCID: PMC11239105 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Developing functional organs from stem cells remains a challenging goal in regenerative medicine. Existing methodologies, such as tissue engineering, bioprinting, and organoids, only offer partial solutions. This perspective focuses on two promising approaches emerging for engineering human organs from stem cells: stem cell-based embryo models and interspecies organogenesis. Both approaches exploit the premise of guiding stem cells to mimic natural development. We begin by summarizing what is known about early human development as a blueprint for recapitulating organogenesis in both embryo models and interspecies chimeras. The latest advances in both fields are discussed before highlighting the technological and knowledge gaps to be addressed before the goal of developing human organs could be achieved using the two approaches. We conclude by discussing challenges facing embryo modeling and interspecies organogenesis and outlining future prospects for advancing both fields toward the generation of human tissues and organs for basic research and translational applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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3
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Kurlovich J, Rodriguez Polo I, Dovgusha O, Tereshchenko Y, Cruz CRV, Behr R, Günesdogan U. Generation of marmoset primordial germ cell-like cells under chemically defined conditions. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302371. [PMID: 38499329 PMCID: PMC10948935 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the embryonic precursors of sperm and oocytes, which transmit genetic/epigenetic information across generations. Mouse PGC and subsequent gamete development can be fully reconstituted in vitro, opening up new avenues for germ cell studies in biomedical research. However, PGCs show molecular differences between rodents and humans. Therefore, to establish an in vitro system that is closely related to humans, we studied PGC development in vivo and in vitro in the common marmoset monkey Callithrix jacchus (cj). Gonadal cjPGCs at embryonic day 74 express SOX17, AP2Ɣ, BLIMP1, NANOG, and OCT4A, which is reminiscent of human PGCs. We established transgene-free induced pluripotent stem cell (cjiPSC) lines from foetal and postnatal fibroblasts. These cjiPSCs, cultured in defined and feeder-free conditions, can be differentiated into precursors of mesendoderm and subsequently into cjPGC-like cells (cjPGCLCs) with a transcriptome similar to human PGCs/PGCLCs. Our results not only pave the way for studying PGC development in a non-human primate in vitro under experimentally controlled conditions, but also provide the opportunity to derive functional marmoset gametes in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Kurlovich
- https://ror.org/01y9bpm73 Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Department of Developmental Biology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ignacio Rodriguez Polo
- https://ror.org/01y9bpm73 Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Department of Developmental Biology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Research Platform Degenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
- Stem Cell and Human Development Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Oleksandr Dovgusha
- https://ror.org/01y9bpm73 Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Department of Developmental Biology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Yuliia Tereshchenko
- German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Research Platform Degenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carmela Rieline V Cruz
- https://ror.org/01y9bpm73 Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Department of Developmental Biology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Behr
- German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Research Platform Degenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ufuk Günesdogan
- https://ror.org/01y9bpm73 Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Department of Developmental Biology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- https://ror.org/03av75f26 Department for Molecular Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
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Xiao Z, Cui L, Yuan Y, He N, Xie X, Lin S, Yang X, Zhang X, Shi P, Wei Z, Li Y, Wang H, Wang X, Wei Y, Guo J, Yu L. 3D reconstruction of a gastrulating human embryo. Cell 2024; 187:2855-2874.e19. [PMID: 38657603 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Progress in understanding early human development has been impeded by the scarcity of reference datasets from natural embryos, particularly those with spatial information during crucial stages like gastrulation. We conducted high-resolution spatial transcriptomics profiling on 38,562 spots from 62 transverse sections of an intact Carnegie stage (CS) 8 human embryo. From this spatial transcriptomic dataset, we constructed a 3D model of the CS8 embryo, in which a range of cell subtypes are identified, based on gene expression patterns and positional register, along the anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and dorsal-ventral axis in the embryo. We further characterized the lineage trajectories of embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues and associated regulons and the regionalization of signaling centers and signaling activities that underpin lineage progression and tissue patterning during gastrulation. Collectively, the findings of this study provide insights into gastrulation and post-gastrulation development of the human embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lina Cui
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yang Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Nannan He
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Xinwei Xie
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Sirui Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaolong Yang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Peifu Shi
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhifeng Wei
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hongmei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Yulei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Jingtao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Leqian Yu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China.
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5
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Shirasawa A, Hayashi M, Shono M, Ideta A, Yoshino T, Hayashi K. Efficient derivation of embryonic stem cells and primordial germ cell-like cells in cattle. J Reprod Dev 2024; 70:82-95. [PMID: 38355134 PMCID: PMC11017101 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2023-087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The induction of the germ cell lineage from pluripotent stem cells (in vitro gametogenesis) will help understand the mechanisms underlying germ cell differentiation and provide an alternative source of gametes for reproduction. This technology is especially important for cattle, which are among the most important livestock species for milk and meat production. Here, we developed a new method for robust induction of primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs) from newly established bovine embryonic stem (bES) cells. First, we refined the pluripotent culture conditions for pre-implantation embryos and ES cells. Inhibition of RHO increased the number of epiblast cells in the pre-implantation embryos and dramatically improved the efficiency of ES cell establishment. We then determined suitable culture conditions for PGCLC differentiation using bES cells harboring BLIMP1-tdTomato and TFAP2C-mNeonGreen (BTTN) reporter constructs. After a 24-h culture with bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), followed by three-dimensional culture with BMP4 and a chemical agonist and WNT signaling chemical antagonist, bES cells became positive for the reporters. A set of primordial germ cells (PGC) marker genes, including PRDM1/BLIMP1, TFAP2C, SOX17, and NANOS3, were expressed in BTTN-positive cells. These bovine PGCLCs (bPGCLCs) were isolated as KIT/CD117-positive and CD44-negative cell populations. We anticipate that this method for the efficient establishment of bES cells and induction of PGCLCs will be useful for stem cell-based reproductive technologies in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Shirasawa
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Zen-noh Embryo Transfer Center, Fukuoka 810-0001, Japan
| | - Masafumi Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Mayumi Shono
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Atsushi Ideta
- Zen-noh Embryo Transfer Center, Fukuoka 810-0001, Japan
| | - Takashi Yoshino
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine (WPI-PRIMe), Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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6
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Alves-Lopes JP, Wong FCK, Surani MA. Human primordial germ cell-like cells specified from resetting precursors develop in human hindgut organoids. Nat Protoc 2024; 19:1149-1182. [PMID: 38302732 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-023-00945-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Human primordial germ cells (hPGCs), the precursors of eggs and sperm, start their complex development shortly after specification and during their migration to the primitive gonads. Here, we describe protocols for specifying hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) from resetting precursors and progressing them with the support of human hindgut organoids. Resetting hPGCLCs (rhPGCLCs) are specified from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) transitioning from the primed into the naive state of pluripotency. Hindgut organoids are also derived from hESCs after a sequential differentiation into a posterior endoderm/hindgut fate. Both rhPGCLCs and hindgut organoids are combined and co-cultured for 25 d. The entire procedure takes ~1.5 months and can be successfully implemented by a doctoral or graduate student with basic skills and experience in hESC cultures. The co-culture system supports the progression of rhPGCLCs at a developmental timing analogous to that observed in vivo. Compared with previously developed hPGCLC progression protocols, which depend on co-cultures with mouse embryonic gonadal tissue, our co-culture system represents a developmentally relevant model closer to the environment that hPGCs first encounter after specification. Together with the potential for investigations of events during hPGC specification and early development, these protocols provide a practical approach to designing efficient models for in vitro gametogenesis. Notably, the rhPGCLC-hindgut co-culture system can also be adapted to study failings in hPGC migration, which are associated with the etiology of some forms of infertility and germ cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pedro Alves-Lopes
- Wellcome/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, J9:30, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Frederick C K Wong
- Wellcome/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - M Azim Surani
- Wellcome/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Rodriguez-Polo I, Moris N. Using embryo models to understand the development and progression of embryonic lineages: a focus on primordial germ cell development. Cells Tissues Organs 2024:000538275. [PMID: 38479364 PMCID: PMC7616515 DOI: 10.1159/000538275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recapitulating mammalian cell type differentiation in vitro promises to improve our understanding of how these processes happen in vivo, while bringing additional prospects for biomedical applications. The establishment of stem cell-derived embryo models and embryonic organoids, which have experienced explosive growth over the last few years, open new avenues for research due to their scale, reproducibility, and accessibility. Embryo models mimic various developmental stages, exhibit different degrees of complexity, and can be established across species. Since embryo models exhibit multiple lineages organised spatially and temporally, they are likely to provide cellular niches that, to some degree, recapitulate the embryonic setting and enable "co-development" between cell types and neighbouring populations. One example where this is already apparent is in the case of primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). SUMMARY While directed differentiation protocols enable the efficient generation of high PGCLC numbers, embryo models provide an attractive alternative as they enable the study of interactions of PGCLCs with neighbouring cells, alongside the regulatory molecular and biophysical mechanisms of PGC competency. Additionally, some embryo models can recapitulate post-specification stages of PGC development (including migration or gametogenesis), mimicking the inductive signals pushing PGCLCs to mature and differentiate, and enabling the study of PGCLC development across stages. Therefore, in vitro models may allow us to address questions of cell type differentiation, and PGC development specifically, that have hitherto been out of reach with existing systems. KEY MESSAGE This review evaluates the current advances in stem cell-based embryo models, with a focus on their potential to model cell type-specific differentiation in general, and in particular to address open questions in PGC development and gametogenesis.
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Sekulovski N, Wettstein JC, Carleton AE, Juga LN, Taniguchi LE, Ma X, Rao S, Schmidt JK, Golos TG, Lin CW, Taniguchi K. Temporally resolved early BMP-driven transcriptional cascade during human amnion specification. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.06.19.545574. [PMID: 38496419 PMCID: PMC10942271 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.19.545574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Amniogenesis, a process critical for continuation of healthy pregnancy, is triggered in a collection of pluripotent epiblast cells as the human embryo implants. Previous studies have established that BMP signaling is a major driver of this lineage specifying process, but the downstream BMP-dependent transcriptional networks that lead to successful amniogenesis remain to be identified. This is, in part, due to the current lack of a robust and reproducible model system that enables mechanistic investigations exclusively into amniogenesis. Here, we developed an improved model of early amnion specification, using a human pluripotent stem cell-based platform in which the activation of BMP signaling is controlled and synchronous. Uniform amniogenesis is seen within 48 hours after BMP activation, and the resulting cells share transcriptomic characteristics with amnion cells of a gastrulating human embryo. Using detailed time-course transcriptomic analyses, we established a previously uncharacterized BMP-dependent amniotic transcriptional cascade, and identified markers that represent five distinct stages of amnion fate specification; the expression of selected markers was validated in early post-implantation macaque embryos. Moreover, a cohort of factors that could potentially control specific stages of amniogenesis was identified, including the transcription factor TFAP2A. Functionally, we determined that, once amniogenesis is triggered by the BMP pathway, TFAP2A controls the progression of amniogenesis. This work presents a temporally resolved transcriptomic resource for several previously uncharacterized amniogenesis states and demonstrates a critical intermediate role for TFAP2A during amnion fate specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Sekulovski
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Jenna C. Wettstein
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Amber E. Carleton
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Lauren N. Juga
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Linnea E. Taniguchi
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Xiaolong Ma
- Division of Biostatistics, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Sridhar Rao
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI 53226 USA
| | - Jenna K. Schmidt
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), Madison, WI, USA
| | - Thaddeus G. Golos
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Chien-Wei Lin
- Division of Biostatistics, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Kenichiro Taniguchi
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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Teague S, Yao L, Heemskerk I. The many dimensions of germline competence. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 85:102259. [PMID: 37852152 PMCID: PMC11123554 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Primordial germ cell (PGC) specification is the first step in the development of the germline. Recent work has elucidated human-mouse differences in PGC differentiation and identified cell states with enhanced competency for PGC-like cell (PGCLC) differentiation in vitro in both species. However, it remains a subject of debate how different PGC competent states in vitro relate to each other, to embryonic development, and to the origin of PGCs in vivo. Here we review recent literature on human PGCLC differentiation in the context of mouse and non-human primate models. In contrast to what was previously thought, recent work suggests human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are highly germline competent. We argue that paradoxical observations regarding the origin and signaling requirements of hPGCLCs may be due to local cell interactions. These confound assays of competence by generating endogenous signaling gradients and spatially modulating the ability to receive exogenous inductive signals. Furthermore, combinatorial signaling suggests that there is no unique germline competent state: rather than a one-dimensional spectrum of developmental progression, competence should be considered in a higher dimensional landscape of cell states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth Teague
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - LiAng Yao
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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10
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Khan SA, Theunissen TW. Modeling X-chromosome inactivation and reactivation during human development. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 82:102096. [PMID: 37597506 PMCID: PMC10588740 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Stem-cell-based embryo models generate much excitement as they offer a window into an early phase of human development that has remained largely inaccessible to scientific investigation. An important epigenetic phenomenon during early embryogenesis is the epigenetic silencing of one of the two X chromosomes in female embryos, which ensures an equal output of X-linked gene expression between the sexes. X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is thought to be established within the first three weeks of human development, although the inactive X-chromosome is reactivated in primordial germ cells (PGCs) that migrate to the embryonic gonads. Here, we summarize our current understanding of X-chromosome dynamics during human development and comment on the potential of recently established stem-cell-based models to reveal the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shafqat A Khan
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. https://twitter.com/@sakhan2019
| | - Thorold W Theunissen
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Weatherbee BAT, Gantner CW, Iwamoto-Stohl LK, Daza RM, Hamazaki N, Shendure J, Zernicka-Goetz M. Pluripotent stem cell-derived model of the post-implantation human embryo. Nature 2023; 622:584-593. [PMID: 37369347 PMCID: PMC10584688 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06368-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The human embryo undergoes morphogenetic transformations following implantation into the uterus, but our knowledge of this crucial stage is limited by the inability to observe the embryo in vivo. Models of the embryo derived from stem cells are important tools for interrogating developmental events and tissue-tissue crosstalk during these stages1. Here we establish a model of the human post-implantation embryo, a human embryoid, comprising embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. We combine two types of extraembryonic-like cell generated by overexpression of transcription factors with wild-type embryonic stem cells and promote their self-organization into structures that mimic several aspects of the post-implantation human embryo. These self-organized aggregates contain a pluripotent epiblast-like domain surrounded by extraembryonic-like tissues. Our functional studies demonstrate that the epiblast-like domain robustly differentiates into amnion, extraembryonic mesenchyme and primordial germ cell-like cells in response to bone morphogenetic protein cues. In addition, we identify an inhibitory role for SOX17 in the specification of anterior hypoblast-like cells2. Modulation of the subpopulations in the hypoblast-like compartment demonstrates that extraembryonic-like cells influence epiblast-like domain differentiation, highlighting functional tissue-tissue crosstalk. In conclusion, we present a modular, tractable, integrated3 model of the human embryo that will enable us to probe key questions of human post-implantation development, a critical window during which substantial numbers of pregnancies fail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey A T Weatherbee
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carlos W Gantner
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lisa K Iwamoto-Stohl
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Riza M Daza
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nobuhiko Hamazaki
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jay Shendure
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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