1
|
Saadeldin IM, Ehab S, Noreldin AE, Swelum AAA, Bang S, Kim H, Yoon KY, Lee S, Cho J. Current strategies using 3D organoids to establish in vitro maternal-embryonic interaction. J Vet Sci 2024; 25:e40. [PMID: 38834510 PMCID: PMC11156602 DOI: 10.4142/jvs.24004] [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: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The creation of robust maternal-embryonic interactions and implantation models is important for comprehending the early stages of embryonic development and reproductive disorders. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems often fail to accurately mimic the highly complex in vivo conditions. The employment of three-dimensional (3D) organoids has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these limitations in recent years. The advancements in the field of organoid technology have opened new avenues for studying the physiology and diseases affecting female reproductive tract. OBSERVATIONS This review summarizes the current strategies and advancements in the field of 3D organoids to establish maternal-embryonic interaction and implantation models for use in research and personalized medicine in assisted reproductive technology. The concepts of endometrial organoids, menstrual blood flow organoids, placental trophoblast organoids, stem cell-derived blastoids, and in vitro-generated embryo models are discussed in detail. We show the incorportaion of organoid systems and microfluidic technology to enhance tissue performance and precise management of the cellular surroundings. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This review provides insights into the future direction of modeling maternal-embryonic interaction research and its combination with other powerful technologies to interfere with this dialogue either by promoting or hindering it for improving fertility or methods for contraception, respectively. The merging of organoid systems with microfluidics facilitates the creation of sophisticated and functional organoid models, enhancing insights into organ development, disease mechanisms, and personalized medical investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Islam Mohamed Saadeldin
- Comparative Medicine Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Seif Ehab
- Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza 11341, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Elsayed Noreldin
- Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, the Scientific Campus, Damanhour 22511, Egypt
| | - Ayman Abdel-Aziz Swelum
- Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Seonggyu Bang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hyejin Kim
- Division in Biomedical Art, Department of Fine Art, Incheon Catholic University Graduate School, Incheon 21986, Korea
| | - Ki Young Yoon
- Department of Companion Animal, Shingu College, Seongnam 13174, Korea
| | - Sanghoon Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Jongki Cho
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pennarossa G, Arcuri S, Gandolfi F, Brevini TAL. Generation of Artificial Blastoids Combining miR-200-Mediated Reprogramming and Mechanical Cues. Cells 2024; 13:628. [PMID: 38607067 PMCID: PMC11011911 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070628] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In vitro-generated blastocyst-like structures are of great importance since they recapitulate specific features or processes of early embryogenesis, thus avoiding ethical concerns as well as increasing scalability and accessibility compared to the use of natural embryos. Here, we combine cell reprogramming and mechanical stimuli to create 3D spherical aggregates that are phenotypically similar to those of natural embryos. Specifically, dermal fibroblasts are reprogrammed, exploiting the miR-200 family property to induce a high plasticity state in somatic cells. Subsequently, miR-200-reprogrammed cells are either driven towards the trophectoderm (TR) lineage using an ad hoc induction protocol or encapsulated into polytetrafluoroethylene micro-bioreactors to maintain and promote pluripotency, generating inner cell mass (ICM)-like spheroids. The obtained TR-like cells and ICM-like spheroids are then co-cultured in the same micro-bioreactor and, subsequently, transferred to microwells to encourage blastoid formation. Notably, the above protocol was applied to fibroblasts obtained from young as well as aged donors, with results that highlighted miR-200's ability to successfully reprogram young and aged cells with comparable blastoid rates, regardless of the donor's cell age. Overall, the approach here described represents a novel strategy for the creation of artificial blastoids to be used in the field of assisted reproduction technologies for the study of peri- and early post-implantation mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Pennarossa
- Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering, Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety and Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Sharon Arcuri
- Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering, Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety and Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Fulvio Gandolfi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences-Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Tiziana A. L. Brevini
- Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering, Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety and Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shankar V, van Blitterswijk C, Vrij E, Giselbrecht S. Automated, High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening and Analysis Platform to Study Pre- and Post-Implantation Morphogenesis in Stem Cell-Derived Embryo-Like Structures. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2304987. [PMID: 37991133 PMCID: PMC10811479 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Combining high-throughput generation and high-content imaging of embryo models will enable large-scale screening assays in the fields of (embryo) toxicity, drug development, embryogenesis, and reproductive medicine. This study shows the continuous culture and in situ (i.e., in microwell) imaging-based readout of a 3D stem cell-based model of peri-implantation epiblast (Epi)/extraembryonic endoderm (XEn) development with an expanded pro-amniotic cavity (PAC) (E3.5 E5.5), namely XEn/EPiCs. Automated image analysis and supervised machine learning permit the identification of embryonic morphogenesis, tissue compartmentalization, cell differentiation, and consecutive classification. Screens with signaling pathway modulators at different time windows provide spatiotemporal information on their phenotypic effect on developmental processes leading to the formation of XEn/EPiCs. Exposure of the biological model in the microwell platform to pathway modulators at two time windows, namely 0-72 h and 48-120 h, show that Wnt and Fgf/MAPK pathway modulators affect Epi differentiation and its polarization, while modulation of BMP and Tgfβ/Nodal pathway affects XEn specification and epithelialization. Further, their collective role is identified in the timing of the formation and expansion of PAC. The newly developed, scalable culture and analysis platform, thereby, provides a unique opportunity to quantitatively and systematically study effects of pathway modulators on early embryonic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vinidhra Shankar
- MERLN Institute for Technology‐Inspired Regenerative MedicineDepartment for Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE)Maastricht UniversityMaastricht6229ETThe Netherlands
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- MERLN Institute for Technology‐Inspired Regenerative MedicineDepartment for Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE)Maastricht UniversityMaastricht6229ETThe Netherlands
| | - Erik Vrij
- MERLN Institute for Technology‐Inspired Regenerative MedicineDepartment for Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE)Maastricht UniversityMaastricht6229ETThe Netherlands
| | - Stefan Giselbrecht
- MERLN Institute for Technology‐Inspired Regenerative MedicineDepartment for Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE)Maastricht UniversityMaastricht6229ETThe Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang L, Zheng Y, Sun Y, Mao S, Li H, Bo X, Li C, Chen H. TimeTalk uses single-cell RNA-seq datasets to decipher cell-cell communication during early embryo development. Commun Biol 2023; 6:901. [PMID: 37660148 PMCID: PMC10475079 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05283-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Early embryonic development is a dynamic process that relies on proper cell-cell communication to form a correctly patterned embryo. Early embryo development-related ligand-receptor pairs (eLRs) have been shown to guide cell fate decisions and morphogenesis. However, the scope of eLRs and their influence on early embryo development remain elusive. Here, we developed a computational framework named TimeTalk from integrated public time-course mouse scRNA-seq datasets to decipher the secret of eLRs. Extensive validations and analyses were performed to ensure the involvement of identified eLRs in early embryo development. Process analysis identified that eLRs could be divided into six temporal windows corresponding to sequential events in the early embryo development process. With the interpolation strategy, TimeTalk is powerful in revealing paracrine settings and studying cell-cell communication during early embryo development. Furthermore, by using TimeTalk in the blastocyst and blastoid models, we found that the blastoid models share the core communication pathways with the epiblast and primitive endoderm lineages in the blastocysts. This result suggests that TimeTalk has transferability to other bio-dynamic processes. We also curated eLRs recognized by TimeTalk, which may provide valuable clues for understanding early embryo development and relevant disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Longteng Wang
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-National Institute of Biological Sciences Joint Graduate Program, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Statistical Science, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Shulin Mao
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Statistical Science, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Yuanpei College, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Hao Li
- Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Xiaochen Bo
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Statistical Science, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Cheng Li
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Statistical Science, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Hebing Chen
- Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Taubenschmid-Stowers J, Reik W. Human 8-cell embryo-like cells from pluripotent stem cells. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 81:102066. [PMID: 37356343 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102066] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
The totipotent embryo initiates transcription during zygotic or embryonic genome activation (EGA, ZGA). ZGA occurs at the 8-cell stage in humans and its failure leads to developmental arrest. Understanding the molecular pathways underlying ZGA and totipotency is essential to comprehend human development. Recently, human 8-cell-like cells (8CLCs) have been discovered in vitro that resemble the 8-cell embryo. 8CLCs exist among naive pluripotent stem cells and can be induced genetically or chemically. Their ZGA-like transcriptome, transposable element activation, 8-cell embryo-specific protein expression, and developmental properties make them an exceptional model system to study early embryonic cell-state transitions and human totipotency programs in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolf Reik
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science, Cambridge, UK; Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK; Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. https://twitter.com/@ReikLab
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kurjak A, Stanojević M, Barišić P, Ferhatović A, Gajović S, Hrabar D. Facts and doubts on the beginning of human life - scientific, legal, philosophical and religious controversies. J Perinat Med 2023; 51:39-50. [PMID: 36087294 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2022-0337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
It is very complicated to give correct answer to the question "How to define human life?" Nowadays dilemmas consider the respect of human life from the birth to death involve not just biology but also other sciences like philosophy, theology, sociology, psychology, law and politics. These sciences evaluate the topic from different points of view. Integration of all of these perspectives could result with a proper definition. The principal purpose of this paper is to try to determine when a human individual begins. If this proves to be too difficult, we might have to settle for a specific stage in the reproductive process before which it would be impossible to say with any plausibility that a human individual exists. It is necessary to return the moral dimension of observation to the science of life. The point is to reconcile the universal ethical principles concerning the absolute value of life with the everyday challenges and dilemmas. It is our deepest conviction that life has an absolute value and that there always remains something indestructible and substantial in life, which may neither be evaluated by anything final, nor completely reduced to the material biological equivalent and the genetic substratum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asim Kurjak
- Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Medical School Universities of Zagreb and Sarajevo, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Milan Stanojević
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School University of Zagreb, Clinical Hospital "Sveti Duh" Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Pavo Barišić
- Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Amila Ferhatović
- Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Srećko Gajović
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dubravka Hrabar
- Faculty of Law, Family Law Department, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| |
Collapse
|