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Taelman J, Czukiewska SM, Moustakas I, Chang YW, Hillenius S, van der Helm T, van der Meeren LE, Mei H, Fan X, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM. Characterization of the human fetal gonad and reproductive tract by single-cell transcriptomics. Dev Cell 2024; 59:529-544.e5. [PMID: 38295793 PMCID: PMC10898717 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.006] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
During human fetal development, sex differentiation occurs not only in the gonads but also in the adjacent developing reproductive tract. However, while the cellular composition of male and female human fetal gonads is well described, that of the adjacent developing reproductive tract remains poorly characterized. Here, we performed single-cell transcriptomics on male and female human fetal gonads together with the adjacent developing reproductive tract from first and second trimesters, highlighting the morphological and molecular changes during sex differentiation. We validated different cell populations of the developing reproductive tract and gonads and compared the molecular signatures between the first and second trimesters, as well as between sexes, to identify conserved and sex-specific features. Together, our study provides insights into human fetal sex-specific gonadogenesis and development of the reproductive tract beyond the gonads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasin Taelman
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sylwia M Czukiewska
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ioannis Moustakas
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Yolanda W Chang
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne Hillenius
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Talia van der Helm
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lotte E van der Meeren
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Pathology, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Xueying Fan
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Susana M Chuva de Sousa Lopes
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands; Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Czukiewska SM, Fan X, Mulder AA, Van Der Helm T, Hillenius S, Van Der Meeren L, Matorras R, Eguizabal C, Lei L, Koning RI, Chuva De Sousa Lopes SM. Cell-cell interactions during the formation of primordial follicles in humans. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202301926. [PMID: 37643865 PMCID: PMC10465921 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202301926] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Gametogenesis is a complex and sex-specific multistep process during which the gonadal somatic niche plays an essential regulatory role. One of the most crucial steps during human female gametogenesis is the formation of primordial follicles, the functional unit of the ovary that constitutes the pool of follicles available at birth during the entire reproductive life. However, the relation between human fetal germ cells (hFGCs) and gonadal somatic cells during the formation of the primordial follicles remains largely unexplored. We have discovered that hFGCs can form multinucleated syncytia, some connected via interconnecting intercellular bridges, and that not all nuclei in hFGC-syncytia were synchronous regarding meiotic stage. As hFGCs progressed in development, pre-granulosa cells formed protrusions that seemed to progressively constrict individual hFGCs, perhaps contributing to separate them from the multinucleated syncytia. Our findings highlighted the cell-cell interaction and molecular dynamics between hFGCs and (pre)granulosa cells during the formation of primordial follicles in humans. Knowledge on how the pool of primordial follicle is formed is important to understand human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia M Czukiewska
- https://ror.org/05xvt9f17 Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Xueying Fan
- https://ror.org/05xvt9f17 Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Adriaan A Mulder
- https://ror.org/05xvt9f17 Electron Microscopy Facility, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Talia Van Der Helm
- https://ror.org/05xvt9f17 Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sanne Hillenius
- https://ror.org/05xvt9f17 Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Lotte Van Der Meeren
- https://ror.org/05xvt9f17 Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Roberto Matorras
- IVIRMA, IVI Bilbao, Bilbao, Spain
- Human Reproduction Unit, Cruces University Hospital, Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Basque Country University, Bilbao, Spain
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Cristina Eguizabal
- Cell Therapy, Stem Cells and Tissues Group, Basque Centre for Blood Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Roman I Koning
- https://ror.org/05xvt9f17 Electron Microscopy Facility, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Susana M Chuva De Sousa Lopes
- https://ror.org/05xvt9f17 Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- https://ror.org/00xmkp704 Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Overeem AW, Chang YW, Moustakas I, Roelse CM, Hillenius S, Helm TVD, Schrier VFVD, Gonçalves MA, Mei H, Freund C, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM. Efficient and scalable generation of primordial germ cells in 2D culture using basement membrane extract overlay. Cell Rep Methods 2023; 3:100488. [PMID: 37426764 PMCID: PMC10326346 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100488] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Current methods to generate human primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can be inefficient, and it is challenging to generate sufficient hPGCLCs to optimize in vitro gametogenesis. We present a differentiation method that uses diluted basement membrane extract (BMEx) and low BMP4 concentration to efficiently induce hPGCLC differentiation in scalable 2D cell culture. We show that BMEx overlay potentiated BMP/SMAD signaling, induced lumenogenesis, and increased expression of key hPGCLC-progenitor markers such as TFAP2A and EOMES. hPGCLCs that were generated using the BMEx overlay method were able to upregulate more mature germ cell markers, such as DAZL and DDX4, in human fetal ovary reconstitution culture. These findings highlight the importance of BMEx during hPGCLC differentiation and demonstrate the potential of the BMEx overlay method to interrogate the formation of PGCs and amnion in humans, as well as to investigate the next steps to achieve in vitro gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arend W. Overeem
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Yolanda W. Chang
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ioannis Moustakas
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Celine M. Roelse
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne Hillenius
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Talia Van Der Helm
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Manuel A.F.V. Gonçalves
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Christian Freund
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
- Leiden University Medical Center hiPSC Hotel, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Susana M. Chuva de Sousa Lopes
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
- Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Timmerman DM, Eleveld TF, Gillis AJM, Friedrichs CC, Hillenius S, Remmers TL, Sriram S, Looijenga LHJ. The Role of TP53 in Cisplatin Resistance in Mediastinal and Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111774. [PMID: 34769213 PMCID: PMC8583723 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are considered to be highly curable; however, there are major differences in the outcomes related to histology and anatomical localization. GCTs originating from the testis are, overall, sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy, whereas GCTs originating from the mediastinum show a worse response, which remains largely unexplained. Here, we address the differences among GCTs from two different anatomical locations (testicular versus mediastinal/extragonadal), with a specific focus on the role of the P53 pathway. It was recently shown that GCTs with TP53 mutations most often localize to the mediastinum. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, TP53 knock-out lines were generated in cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant clones of the representative 2102Ep cell line (wild-type TP53 testicular GCT) and NCCIT cell line (hemizygously mutated TP53, mutant TP53 mediastinal GCT). The full knock-out of TP53 in 2102Ep and resistant NCCIT resulted in an increase in cisplatin resistance, suggesting a contributing role for P53, even in NCCIT, in which P53 had been reported to be non-functional. In conclusion, these results suggest that TP53 mutations contribute to the cisplatin-resistant phenotype of mediastinal GCTs and, therefore, are a potential candidate for targeted treatment. This knowledge provides a novel model system to elucidate the underlying mechanism of clinical behavior and possible alternative treatment of the TP53 mutant and mediastinal GCTs.
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Timmerman DM, Remmers TL, Hillenius S, Looijenga LHJ. Mechanisms of TP53 Pathway Inactivation in Embryonic and Somatic Cells-Relevance for Understanding (Germ Cell) Tumorigenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105377. [PMID: 34065345 PMCID: PMC8161298 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The P53 pathway is the most important cellular pathway to maintain genomic and cellular integrity, both in embryonic and non-embryonic cells. Stress signals induce its activation, initiating autophagy or cell cycle arrest to enable DNA repair. The persistence of these signals causes either senescence or apoptosis. Over 50% of all solid tumors harbor mutations in TP53 that inactivate the pathway. The remaining cancers are suggested to harbor mutations in genes that regulate the P53 pathway such as its inhibitors Mouse Double Minute 2 and 4 (MDM2 and MDM4, respectively). Many reviews have already been dedicated to P53, MDM2, and MDM4, while this review additionally focuses on the other factors that can deregulate P53 signaling. We discuss that P14ARF (ARF) functions as a negative regulator of MDM2, explaining the frequent loss of ARF detected in cancers. The long non-coding RNA Antisense Non-coding RNA in the INK4 Locus (ANRIL) is encoded on the same locus as ARF, inhibiting ARF expression, thus contributing to the process of tumorigenesis. Mutations in tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins deregulate P53 signaling through their ubiquitin ligase activity. Several microRNAs (miRNAs) inactivate the P53 pathway through inhibition of translation. CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) maintains an open chromatin structure at the TP53 locus, explaining its inactivation of CTCF during tumorigenesis. P21, a downstream effector of P53, has been found to be deregulated in different tumor types. This review provides a comprehensive overview of these factors that are known to deregulate the P53 pathway in both somatic and embryonic cells, as well as their malignant counterparts (i.e., somatic and germ cell tumors). It provides insights into which aspects still need to be unraveled to grasp their contribution to tumorigenesis, putatively leading to novel targets for effective cancer therapies.
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Georgiadou D, Boussata S, Ranzijn WHM, Root LEA, Hillenius S, Bij de Weg JM, Abheiden CNH, de Boer MA, de Vries JIP, Vrijkotte TGM, Lambalk CB, Kuijper EAM, Afink GB, van Dijk M. Peptide hormone ELABELA enhances extravillous trophoblast differentiation, but placenta is not the major source of circulating ELABELA in pregnancy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19077. [PMID: 31836787 PMCID: PMC6911039 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55650-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a frequent gestational hypertensive disorder with equivocal pathophysiology. Knockout of peptide hormone ELABELA (ELA) has been shown to cause preeclampsia-like symptoms in mice. However, the role of ELA in human placentation and whether ELA is involved in the development of preeclampsia in humans is not yet known. In this study, we show that exogenous administration of ELA peptide is able to increase invasiveness of extravillous trophoblasts in vitro, is able to change outgrowth morphology and reduce trophoblast proliferation ex vivo, and that these effects are, at least in part, independent of signaling through the Apelin Receptor (APLNR). Moreover, we show that circulating levels of ELA are highly variable between women, correlate with BMI, but are significantly reduced in first trimester plasma of women with a healthy BMI later developing preeclampsia. We conclude that the large variability and BMI dependence of ELA levels in circulation make this peptide an unlikely candidate to function as a first trimester preeclampsia screening biomarker, while in the future administering ELA or a derivative might be considered as a potential preeclampsia treatment option as ELA is able to drive extravillous trophoblast differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danai Georgiadou
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location AMC, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Souad Boussata
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location AMC, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willemijn H M Ranzijn
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location AMC, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leah E A Root
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location AMC, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Hillenius
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location AMC, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeske M Bij de Weg
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VUmc, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carolien N H Abheiden
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VUmc, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marjon A de Boer
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VUmc, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johanna I P de Vries
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VUmc, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tanja G M Vrijkotte
- Department of Public Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis B Lambalk
- Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VUmc, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther A M Kuijper
- Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VUmc, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gijs B Afink
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location AMC, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marie van Dijk
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location AMC, Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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