1
|
Morizet D, Foucher I, Alunni A, Bally-Cuif L. Reconstruction of macroglia and adult neurogenesis evolution through cross-species single-cell transcriptomic analyses. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3306. [PMID: 38632253 PMCID: PMC11024210 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47484-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Macroglia fulfill essential functions in the adult vertebrate brain, producing and maintaining neurons and regulating neuronal communication. However, we still know little about their emergence and diversification. We used the zebrafish D. rerio as a distant vertebrate model with moderate glial diversity as anchor to reanalyze datasets covering over 600 million years of evolution. We identify core features of adult neurogenesis and innovations in the mammalian lineage with a potential link to the rarity of radial glia-like cells in adult humans. Our results also suggest that functions associated with astrocytes originated in a multifunctional cell type fulfilling both neural stem cell and astrocytic functions before these diverged. Finally, we identify conserved elements of macroglial cell identity and function and their time of emergence during evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Morizet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Zebrafish Neurogenetics Unit, Team supported by the Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, F-75015, Paris, France.
- Sorbonne Université, Collège doctoral, F-75005, Paris, France.
| | - Isabelle Foucher
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Zebrafish Neurogenetics Unit, Team supported by the Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Alessandro Alunni
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Zebrafish Neurogenetics Unit, Team supported by the Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, F-75015, Paris, France
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR9197, F-91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Laure Bally-Cuif
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Zebrafish Neurogenetics Unit, Team supported by the Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, F-75015, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Haerinck J, Goossens S, Berx G. The epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity landscape: principles of design and mechanisms of regulation. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:590-609. [PMID: 37169858 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00601-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) enables cells to interconvert between several states across the epithelial-mesenchymal landscape, thereby acquiring hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotypic features. This plasticity is crucial for embryonic development and wound healing, but also underlies the acquisition of several malignant traits during cancer progression. Recent research using systems biology and single-cell profiling methods has provided novel insights into the main forces that shape EMP, which include the microenvironment, lineage specification and cell identity, and the genome. Additionally, key roles have emerged for hysteresis (cell memory) and cellular noise, which can drive stochastic transitions between cell states. Here, we review these forces and the distinct but interwoven layers of regulatory control that stabilize EMP states or facilitate epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) and discuss the therapeutic potential of manipulating the EMP landscape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jef Haerinck
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Goossens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Unit for Translational Research in Oncology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Berx
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Birkhoff JC, Korporaal AL, Brouwer RWW, Nowosad K, Milazzo C, Mouratidou L, van den Hout MCGN, van IJcken WFJ, Huylebroeck D, Conidi A. Zeb2 DNA-Binding Sites in Neuroprogenitor Cells Reveal Autoregulation and Affirm Neurodevelopmental Defects, Including in Mowat-Wilson Syndrome. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14030629. [PMID: 36980900 PMCID: PMC10048071 DOI: 10.3390/genes14030629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional perturbation and action mechanism studies have shown that the transcription factor Zeb2 controls cell fate decisions, differentiation, and/or maturation in multiple cell lineages in embryos and after birth. In cultured embryonic stem cells (ESCs), Zeb2’s mRNA/protein upregulation is necessary for the exit from primed pluripotency and for entering general and neural differentiation. We edited mouse ESCs to produce Flag-V5 epitope-tagged Zeb2 protein from one endogenous allele. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with sequencing (ChIP-seq), we mapped 2432 DNA-binding sites for this tagged Zeb2 in ESC-derived neuroprogenitor cells (NPCs). A new, major binding site maps promoter-proximal to Zeb2 itself. The homozygous deletion of this site demonstrates that autoregulation of Zeb2 is necessary to elicit the appropriate Zeb2-dependent effects in ESC-to-NPC differentiation. We have also cross-referenced all the mapped Zeb2 binding sites with previously obtained transcriptome data from Zeb2 perturbations in ESC-derived NPCs, GABAergic interneurons from the ventral forebrain of mouse embryos, and stem/progenitor cells from the post-natal ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) in mouse forebrain, respectively. Despite the different characteristics of each of these neurogenic systems, we found interesting target gene overlaps. In addition, our study also contributes to explaining developmental disorders, including Mowat-Wilson syndrome caused by ZEB2 deficiency, and also other monogenic syndromes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith C. Birkhoff
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne L. Korporaal
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rutger W. W. Brouwer
- Center for Biomics-Genomics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karol Nowosad
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
- The Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Claudia Milazzo
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lidia Mouratidou
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Wilfred F. J. van IJcken
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Biomics-Genomics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Danny Huylebroeck
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andrea Conidi
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-10-7043169
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Birkhoff JC, Huylebroeck D, Conidi A. ZEB2, the Mowat-Wilson Syndrome Transcription Factor: Confirmations, Novel Functions, and Continuing Surprises. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1037. [PMID: 34356053 DOI: 10.3390/genes12071037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
After its publication in 1999 as a DNA-binding and SMAD-binding transcription factor (TF) that co-determines cell fate in amphibian embryos, ZEB2 was from 2003 studied by embryologists mainly by documenting the consequences of conditional, cell-type specific Zeb2 knockout (cKO) in mice. In between, it was further identified as causal gene causing Mowat-Wilson Syndrome (MOWS) and novel regulator of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). ZEB2’s functions and action mechanisms in mouse embryos were first addressed in its main sites of expression, with focus on those that helped to explain neurodevelopmental and neural crest defects seen in MOWS patients. By doing so, ZEB2 was identified in the forebrain as the first TF that determined timing of neuro-/gliogenesis, and thereby also the extent of different layers of the cortex, in a cell non-autonomous fashion, i.e., by its cell-intrinsic control within neurons of neuron-to-progenitor paracrine signaling. Transcriptomics-based phenotyping of Zeb2 mutant mouse cells have identified large sets of intact-ZEB2 dependent genes, and the cKO approaches also moved to post-natal brain development and diverse other systems in adult mice, including hematopoiesis and various cell types of the immune system. These new studies start to highlight the important adult roles of ZEB2 in cell–cell communication, including after challenge, e.g., in the infarcted heart and fibrotic liver. Such studies may further evolve towards those documenting the roles of ZEB2 in cell-based repair of injured tissue and organs, downstream of actions of diverse growth factors, which recapitulate developmental signaling principles in the injured sites. Evident questions are about ZEB2’s direct target genes, its various partners, and ZEB2 as a candidate modifier gene, e.g., in other (neuro)developmental disorders, but also the accurate transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of its mRNA expression sites and levels. Other questions start to address ZEB2’s function as a niche-controlling regulatory TF of also other cell types, in part by its modulation of growth factor responses (e.g., TGFβ/BMP, Wnt, Notch). Furthermore, growing numbers of mapped missense as well as protein non-coding mutations in MOWS patients are becoming available and inspire the design of new animal model and pluripotent stem cell-based systems. This review attempts to summarize in detail, albeit without discussing ZEB2’s role in cancer, hematopoiesis, and its emerging roles in the immune system, how intense ZEB2 research has arrived at this exciting intersection.
Collapse
|
5
|
de Haan W, Dheedene W, Apelt K, Décombas-Deschamps S, Vinckier S, Verhulst S, Conidi A, Deffieux T, Staring MW, Vandervoort P, Caluwé E, Lox M, Mannaerts I, Takagi T, Jaekers J, Berx G, Haigh J, Topal B, Zwijsen A, Higashi Y, van Grunsven LA, van IJcken WFJ, Mulugeta E, Tanter M, Lebrin FPG, Huylebroeck D, Luttun A. Endothelial Zeb2 preserves the hepatic angioarchitecture and protects against liver fibrosis. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 118:1262-1275. [PMID: 33909875 PMCID: PMC8953454 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims Hepatic capillaries are lined with specialized liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) which support macromolecule passage to hepatocytes and prevent fibrosis by keeping hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) quiescent. LSEC specialization is co-determined by transcription factors. The zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox (Zeb)2 transcription factor is enriched in LSECs. Here, we aimed to elucidate the endothelium-specific role of Zeb2 during maintenance of the liver and in liver fibrosis. Methods and results To study the role of Zeb2 in liver endothelium we generated EC-specific Zeb2 knock-out (ECKO) mice. Sequencing of liver EC RNA revealed that deficiency of Zeb2 results in prominent expression changes in angiogenesis-related genes. Accordingly, the vascular area was expanded and the presence of pillars inside ECKO liver vessels indicated that this was likely due to increased intussusceptive angiogenesis. LSEC marker expression was not profoundly affected and fenestrations were preserved upon Zeb2 deficiency. However, an increase in continuous EC markers suggested that Zeb2-deficient LSECs are more prone to dedifferentiation, a process called ‘capillarization’. Changes in the endothelial expression of ligands that may be involved in HSC quiescence together with significant changes in the expression profile of HSCs showed that Zeb2 regulates LSEC–HSC communication and HSC activation. Accordingly, upon exposure to the hepatotoxin carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), livers of ECKO mice showed increased capillarization, HSC activation, and fibrosis compared to livers from wild-type littermates. The vascular maintenance and anti-fibrotic role of endothelial Zeb2 was confirmed in mice with EC-specific overexpression of Zeb2, as the latter resulted in reduced vascularity and attenuated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Conclusion Endothelial Zeb2 preserves liver angioarchitecture and protects against liver fibrosis. Zeb2 and Zeb2-dependent genes in liver ECs may be exploited to design novel therapeutic strategies to attenuate hepatic fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Willeke de Haan
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wouter Dheedene
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katerina Apelt
- Department of Internal Medicine (Nephrology), Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine. Leiden University Medical Center, . Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sofiane Décombas-Deschamps
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University, Paris, France
| | - Stefan Vinckier
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Liver Cell Biology research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Andrea Conidi
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Deffieux
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University, Paris, France
| | - Michael W Staring
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Petra Vandervoort
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen Caluwé
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marleen Lox
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tsuyoshi Takagi
- Department of Disease Model, Institute of Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, Aichi, Japan
| | | | - Geert Berx
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jody Haigh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Care Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Baki Topal
- Abdominal Surgery, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Zwijsen
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yujiro Higashi
- Department of Disease Model, Institute of Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, Aichi, Japan
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wilfred F J van IJcken
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Center for Biomics-Genomics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eskeatnaf Mulugeta
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mickael Tanter
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University, Paris, France
| | - Franck P G Lebrin
- Department of Internal Medicine (Nephrology), Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine. Leiden University Medical Center, . Leiden, The Netherlands.,Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University, Paris, France
| | - Danny Huylebroeck
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aernout Luttun
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang J, Wang RJ, Chen M, Liu XY, Ma K, Xu HY, Deng WS, Ye YC, Li WX, Chen XY, Sun HT. Collagen/heparan sulfate porous scaffolds loaded with neural stem cells improve neurological function in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:1068-1077. [PMID: 33269752 PMCID: PMC8224125 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.300458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
One reason for the poor therapeutic effects of stem cell transplantation in traumatic brain injury is that exogenous neural stem cells cannot effectively migrate to the local injury site, resulting in poor adhesion and proliferation of neural stem cells at the injured area. To enhance the targeted delivery of exogenous stem cells to the injury site, cell therapy combined with neural tissue engineering technology is expected to become a new strategy for treating traumatic brain injury. Collagen/heparan sulfate porous scaffolds, prepared using a freeze-drying method, have stable physical and chemical properties. These scaffolds also have good cell biocompatibility because of their high porosity, which is suitable for the proliferation and migration of neural stem cells. In the present study, collagen/heparan sulfate porous scaffolds loaded with neural stem cells were used to treat a rat model of traumatic brain injury, which was established using the controlled cortical impact method. At 2 months after the implantation of collagen/heparan sulfate porous scaffolds loaded with neural stem cells, there was significantly improved regeneration of neurons, nerve fibers, synapses, and myelin sheaths in the injured brain tissue. Furthermore, brain edema and cell apoptosis were significantly reduced, and rat motor and cognitive functions were markedly recovered. These findings suggest that the novel collagen/heparan sulfate porous scaffold loaded with neural stem cells can improve neurological function in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force, China (approval No. 2017-0007.2) on February 10, 2019.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Institute of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroscience, Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force; Graduate School, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China
| | - Ren-Jie Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Institute of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroscience, Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China
| | - Miao Chen
- Graduate School, Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xiao-Yin Liu
- Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ke Ma
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Institute of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroscience, Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force; Graduate School, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China
| | - Hui-You Xu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Institute of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroscience, Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force; Graduate School, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China
| | - Wu-Sheng Deng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Institute of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroscience, Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi-Chao Ye
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Institute of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroscience, Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force; Graduate School, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei-Xin Li
- Graduate School, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China
| | - Xu-Yi Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Institute of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroscience, Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China
| | - Hong-Tao Sun
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Institute of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroscience, Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|