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Schauer A, Pranjic-Ferscha K, Hauschild R, Heisenberg CP. Robust axis elongation by Nodal-dependent restriction of BMP signaling. Development 2024; 151:dev202316. [PMID: 38372390 PMCID: PMC10911127 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202316] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Embryogenesis results from the coordinated activities of different signaling pathways controlling cell fate specification and morphogenesis. In vertebrate gastrulation, both Nodal and BMP signaling play key roles in germ layer specification and morphogenesis, yet their interplay to coordinate embryo patterning with morphogenesis is still insufficiently understood. Here, we took a reductionist approach using zebrafish embryonic explants to study the coordination of Nodal and BMP signaling for embryo patterning and morphogenesis. We show that Nodal signaling triggers explant elongation by inducing mesendodermal progenitors but also suppressing BMP signaling activity at the site of mesendoderm induction. Consistent with this, ectopic BMP signaling in the mesendoderm blocks cell alignment and oriented mesendoderm intercalations, key processes during explant elongation. Translating these ex vivo observations to the intact embryo showed that, similar to explants, Nodal signaling suppresses the effect of BMP signaling on cell intercalations in the dorsal domain, thus allowing robust embryonic axis elongation. These findings suggest a dual function of Nodal signaling in embryonic axis elongation by both inducing mesendoderm and suppressing BMP effects in the dorsal portion of the mesendoderm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schauer
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | | | - Robert Hauschild
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
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2
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Devendran A, Liu C. Subtype and Lineage-Mediated Protocol for Standardizing Activin/Nodal and BMP Signaling for hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocyte Differentiation. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2803:13-33. [PMID: 38676882 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3846-0_2] [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] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The adept and systematic differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to diverse lineage-prone cell types involves crucial step-by-step process that mimics the vital strategic commitment phase that is usually observed during the process of embryo development. The development of precise tissue-specific cell types from these stem cells indeed plays an important role in the advancement of imminent stem cell-based therapeutic strategies. Therefore, the usage of hiPSC-derived cell types for subsequent cardiovascular disease modeling, drug screening, and therapeutic drug development undeniably entails an in-depth understanding of each and every step to proficiently stimulate these stem cells into desired cardiomyogenic lineage. Thus, to accomplish this definitive and decisive fate, it is essential to efficiently induce the mesoderm or pre-cardiac mesoderm, succeeded by the division of cells into cardiovascular and ultimately ensuing with the cardiomyogenic lineage outcome. This usually commences from the earliest phases of pluripotent cell induction. In this chapter, we discuss our robust and reproducible step-wise protocol that will describe the subtype controlled, precise lineage targeted standardization of activin/nodal, and BMP signaling molecules/cytokines, for the efficient differentiation of ventricular cardiomyocytes from hiPSCs via the embryoid body method. In addition, we also describe techniques to dissociate hiPSCs, hiPSC-derived early cardiomyocytes for mesoderm and pre-cardiac mesoderm assessment, and hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes for early and mature markers assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anichavezhi Devendran
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Clifford Liu
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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3
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Tanaka Y, Morozumi A, Hirokawa N. Nodal flow transfers polycystin to determine mouse left-right asymmetry. Dev Cell 2023; 58:1447-1461.e6. [PMID: 37413993 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [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: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Left-dominant [Ca2+]i elevation on the left margin of the ventral node furnishes the initial laterality of mouse embryos. It depends on extracellular leftward fluid flow (nodal flow), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)/sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling, and the PKD1L1 polycystin subunit, of which interrelationship is still elusive. Here, we show that leftward nodal flow directs PKD1L1-containing fibrous strands and facilitates Nodal-mediated [Ca2+]i elevation on the left margin. We generate KikGR-PKD1L1 knockin mice in order to monitor protein dynamics with a photoconvertible fluorescence protein tag. By imaging those embryos, we have identified fragile meshwork being gradually transferred leftward involving pleiomorphic extracellular events. A portion of the meshwork finally bridges over the left nodal crown cells in an FGFR/Shh-dependent manner. As PKD1L1 N-term is predominantly associated with Nodal on the left margin and that PKD1L1/PKD2 overexpression significantly augments cellular Nodal sensitivity, we propose that leftward transfer of polycystin-containing fibrous strands determines left-right asymmetry in developing embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Tanaka
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Ai Morozumi
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Hirokawa
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Juntendo Advanced Research Institute for Health Science, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
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4
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Coda DM, Patel H, Gori I, Gaarenstroom TE, Song OR, Howell M, Hill CS. A network of transcription factors governs the dynamics of NODAL/Activin transcriptional responses. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:jcs259972. [PMID: 35302162 PMCID: PMC9080556 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
SMAD2, an effector of the NODAL/Activin signalling pathway, regulates developmental processes by sensing distinct chromatin states and interacting with different transcriptional partners. However, the network of factors that controls SMAD2 chromatin binding and shapes its transcriptional programme over time is poorly characterised. Here, we combine ATAC-seq with computational footprinting to identify temporal changes in chromatin accessibility and transcription factor activity upon NODAL/Activin signalling. We show that SMAD2 binding induces chromatin opening genome wide. We discover footprints for FOXI3, FOXO3 and ZIC3 at the SMAD2-bound enhancers of the early response genes, Pmepa1 and Wnt3, respectively, and demonstrate their functionality. Finally, we determine a mechanism by which NODAL/Activin signalling induces delayed gene expression, by uncovering a self-enabling transcriptional cascade whereby activated SMADs, together with ZIC3, induce the expression of Wnt3. The resultant activated WNT pathway then acts together with the NODAL/Activin pathway to regulate expression of delayed target genes in prolonged NODAL/Activin signalling conditions. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide M. Coda
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Harshil Patel
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ilaria Gori
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Tessa E. Gaarenstroom
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ok-Ryul Song
- High Throughput Screening Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Michael Howell
- High Throughput Screening Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Caroline S. Hill
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
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5
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Liu L, Nemashkalo A, Rezende L, Jung JY, Chhabra S, Guerra MC, Heemskerk I, Warmflash A. Nodal is a short-range morphogen with activity that spreads through a relay mechanism in human gastruloids. Nat Commun 2022; 13:497. [PMID: 35079017 PMCID: PMC8789905 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28149-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphogens are signaling molecules that convey positional information and dictate cell fates during development. Although ectopic expression in model organisms suggests that morphogen gradients form through diffusion, little is known about how morphogen gradients are created and interpreted during mammalian embryogenesis due to the combined difficulties of measuring endogenous morphogen levels and observing development in utero. Here we take advantage of a human gastruloid model to visualize endogenous Nodal protein in living cells, during specification of germ layers. We show that Nodal is extremely short range so that Nodal protein is limited to the immediate neighborhood of source cells. Nodal activity spreads through a relay mechanism in which Nodal production induces neighboring cells to transcribe Nodal. We further show that the Nodal inhibitor Lefty, while biochemically capable of long-range diffusion, also acts locally to control the timing of Nodal spread and therefore of mesoderm differentiation during patterning. Our study establishes a paradigm for tissue patterning by an activator-inhibitor pair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhong Liu
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Luisa Rezende
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ji Yoon Jung
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sapna Chhabra
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Developmental Biology Unit, EMBL Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Aryeh Warmflash
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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6
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Roudaut M, Idriss S, Caillaud A, Girardeau A, Rimbert A, Champon B, David A, Lévêque A, Arnaud L, Pichelin M, Prieur X, Prat A, Seidah NG, Zibara K, Le May C, Cariou B, Si-Tayeb K. PCSK9 regulates the NODAL signaling pathway and cellular proliferation in hiPSCs. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2958-2972. [PMID: 34739847 PMCID: PMC8693623 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.10.004] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a key regulator of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol metabolism and the target of lipid-lowering drugs. PCSK9 is mainly expressed in hepatocytes. Here, we show that PCSK9 is highly expressed in undifferentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). PCSK9 inhibition in hiPSCs with the use of short hairpin RNA (shRNA), CRISPR/cas9-mediated knockout, or endogenous PCSK9 loss-of-function mutation R104C/V114A unveiled its new role as a potential cell cycle regulator through the NODAL signaling pathway. In fact, PCSK9 inhibition leads to a decrease of SMAD2 phosphorylation and hiPSCs proliferation. Conversely, PCSK9 overexpression stimulates hiPSCs proliferation. PCSK9 can interfere with the NODAL pathway by regulating the expression of its endogenous inhibitor DACT2, which is involved in transforming growth factor (TGF) β-R1 lysosomal degradation. Using different PCSK9 constructs, we show that PCSK9 interacts with DACT2 through its Cys-His-rich domain (CHRD) domain. Altogether these data highlight a new role of PCSK9 in cellular proliferation and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meryl Roudaut
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France; HCS Pharma, Lille, France
| | - Salam Idriss
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France; ER045 - Laboratory of Stem Cells: Maintenance, Differentiation and Pathology, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Amandine Caillaud
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Aurore Girardeau
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Antoine Rimbert
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Benoite Champon
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Amandine David
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Antoine Lévêque
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Lucie Arnaud
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Matthieu Pichelin
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Xavier Prieur
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Annik Prat
- University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Kazem Zibara
- ER045 - Laboratory of Stem Cells: Maintenance, Differentiation and Pathology, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Cedric Le May
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Bertrand Cariou
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France.
| | - Karim Si-Tayeb
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, 44000 Nantes, France.
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7
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Guglielmi L, Heliot C, Kumar S, Alexandrov Y, Gori I, Papaleonidopoulou F, Barrington C, East P, Economou AD, French PMW, McGinty J, Hill CS. Smad4 controls signaling robustness and morphogenesis by differentially contributing to the Nodal and BMP pathways. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6374. [PMID: 34737283 PMCID: PMC8569018 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26486-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptional effector SMAD4 is a core component of the TGF-β family signaling pathways. However, its role in vertebrate embryo development remains unresolved. To address this, we deleted Smad4 in zebrafish and investigated the consequences of this on signaling by the TGF-β family morphogens, BMPs and Nodal. We demonstrate that in the absence of Smad4, dorsal/ventral embryo patterning is disrupted due to the loss of BMP signaling. However, unexpectedly, Nodal signaling is maintained, but lacks robustness. This Smad4-independent Nodal signaling is sufficient for mesoderm specification, but not for optimal endoderm specification. Furthermore, using Optical Projection Tomography in combination with 3D embryo morphometry, we have generated a BMP morphospace and demonstrate that Smad4 mutants are morphologically indistinguishable from embryos in which BMP signaling has been genetically/pharmacologically perturbed. Smad4 is thus differentially required for signaling by different TGF-β family ligands, which has implications for diseases where Smad4 is mutated or deleted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Guglielmi
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Claire Heliot
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Advanced Light Microscopy, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Yuriy Alexandrov
- Advanced Light Microscopy, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ilaria Gori
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | | | - Christopher Barrington
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Philip East
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Andrew D Economou
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Paul M W French
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - James McGinty
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - Caroline S Hill
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
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8
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Untiveros G, Dezi L, Gillette M, Sidor J, Strizzi L. Normal Skin Cells Increase Aggressiveness of Cutaneous Melanoma by Promoting Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition via Nodal and Wnt Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11719. [PMID: 34769150 PMCID: PMC8583838 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a lethal form of skin cancer triggered by genetic and environmental factors. Excision of early-stage, poorly aggressive melanoma often leads to a successful outcome; however, left undiagnosed these lesions can progress to metastatic disease. This research investigates whether the exposure of poorly aggressive melanoma to certain normal skin cells can explain how non-metastatic melanoma becomes more aggressive while still confined to the skin. To this end, we used a serial co-culture approach to sequentially expose cells from two different, poorly aggressive human melanoma cell lines against normal cells of the skin beginning with normal melanocytes, then epidermal keratinocytes, and finally dermal fibroblasts. Protein extraction of melanoma cells occurred at each step of the co-culture sequence for western blot (WB) analysis. In addition, morphological and functional changes were assessed to detect differences between the serially co-cultured melanoma cells and non-co-cultured cells. Results show that the co-cultured melanoma cells assumed a more mesenchymal morphology and displayed a significant increase in proliferation and invasiveness compared to control or reference cells. WB analysis of protein from the co-cultured melanoma cells showed increased expression of Snail and decreased levels of E-cadherin suggesting that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is occurring in these co-cultured cells. Additional WB analysis showed increased levels of Nodal protein and signaling and signs of increased Wnt activity in the co-cultured melanoma cells compared to reference cells. These data suggest that interaction between poorly aggressive melanoma cells with normal cells of the skin may regulate the transition from localized, poorly aggressive melanoma to invasive, metastatic disease via Nodal and/or Wnt induced EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Untiveros
- Department of Pathology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA;
| | - Lindsay Dezi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA;
| | - Megan Gillette
- Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA; (M.G.); (J.S.)
| | - Julia Sidor
- Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA; (M.G.); (J.S.)
| | - Luigi Strizzi
- Department of Pathology, College of Graduate Studies, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA
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9
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Clark AJ, Kugathasan U, Baskozos G, Priestman DA, Fugger N, Lone MA, Othman A, Chu KH, Blesneac I, Wilson ER, Laurà M, Kalmar B, Greensmith L, Hornemann T, Platt FM, Reilly MM, Bennett DL. An iPSC model of hereditary sensory neuropathy-1 reveals L-serine-responsive deficits in neuronal ganglioside composition and axoglial interactions. Cell Rep Med 2021; 2:100345. [PMID: 34337561 PMCID: PMC8324498 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100345] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Hereditary sensory neuropathy type 1 (HSN1) is caused by mutations in the SPTLC1 or SPTLC2 sub-units of the enzyme serine palmitoyltransferase, resulting in the production of toxic 1-deoxysphingolipid bases (DSBs). We used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with HSN1 to determine whether endogenous DSBs are neurotoxic, patho-mechanisms of toxicity and response to therapy. HSN1 iPSC-derived sensory neurons (iPSCdSNs) endogenously produce neurotoxic DSBs. Complex gangliosides, which are essential for membrane micro-domains and signaling, are reduced, and neurotrophin signaling is impaired, resulting in reduced neurite outgrowth. In HSN1 myelinating cocultures, we find a major disruption of nodal complex proteins after 8 weeks, which leads to complete myelin breakdown after 6 months. HSN1 iPSC models have, therefore, revealed that SPTLC1 mutation alters lipid metabolism, impairs the formation of complex gangliosides, and reduces axon and myelin stability. Many of these changes are prevented by l-serine supplementation, supporting its use as a rational therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex J. Clark
- Neural Injury Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Umaiyal Kugathasan
- Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Georgios Baskozos
- Neural Injury Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - David A. Priestman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Nadine Fugger
- Neural Injury Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Museer A. Lone
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alaa Othman
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ka Hing Chu
- Neural Injury Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Iulia Blesneac
- Neural Injury Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Emma R. Wilson
- Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Matilde Laurà
- Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Bernadett Kalmar
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Linda Greensmith
- Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Thorsten Hornemann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Frances M. Platt
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Mary M. Reilly
- Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - David L. Bennett
- Neural Injury Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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10
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Pieplow A, Dastaw M, Sakuma T, Sakamoto N, Yamamoto T, Yajima M, Oulhen N, Wessel GM. CRISPR-Cas9 editing of non-coding genomic loci as a means of controlling gene expression in the sea urchin. Dev Biol 2021; 472:85-97. [PMID: 33482173 PMCID: PMC7956150 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We seek to manipulate gene function here through CRISPR-Cas9 editing of cis-regulatory sequences, rather than the more typical mutation of coding regions. This approach would minimize secondary effects of cellular responses to nonsense mediated decay pathways or to mutant protein products by premature stops. This strategy also allows for reducing gene activity in cases where a complete gene knockout would result in lethality, and it can be applied to the rapid identification of key regulatory sites essential for gene expression. We tested this strategy here with genes of known function as a proof of concept, and then applied it to examine the upstream genomic region of the germline gene Nanos2 in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. We first used CRISPR-Cas9 to target established genomic cis-regulatory regions of the skeletogenic cell transcription factor, Alx1, and the TGF-β signaling ligand, Nodal, which produce obvious developmental defects when altered in sea urchin embryos. Importantly, mutation of cis-activator sites (Alx1) and cis-repressor sites (Nodal) result in the predicted decreased and increased transcriptional output, respectively. Upon identification of efficient gRNAs by genomic mutations, we then used the same validated gRNAs to target a deadCas9-VP64 transcriptional activator to increase Nodal transcription directly. Finally, we paired these new methodologies with a more traditional, GFP reporter construct approach to further our understanding of the transcriptional regulation of Nanos2, a key gene required for germ cell identity in S. purpuratus. With a series of reporter assays, upstream Cas9-promoter targeted mutagenesis, coupled with qPCR and in situ RNA hybridization, we concluded that the promoter of Nanos2 drives strong mRNA expression in the sea urchin embryo, indicating that its primordial germ cell (PGC)-specific restriction may rely instead on post-transcriptional regulation. Overall, we present a proof-of-principle tool-kit of Cas9-mediated manipulations of promoter regions that should be applicable in most cells and embryos for which CRISPR-Cas9 is employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Pieplow
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Meseret Dastaw
- Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute, Addis Ababa University, NBH1, 4killo King George VI St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tetsushi Sakuma
- Division of Integrated Sciences for Life, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan
| | - Naoaki Sakamoto
- Division of Integrated Sciences for Life, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamamoto
- Division of Integrated Sciences for Life, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan
| | - Mamiko Yajima
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Nathalie Oulhen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Gary M Wessel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
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11
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Dieters-Castator D, Dantonio PM, Piaseczny M, Zhang G, Liu J, Kuljanin M, Sherman S, Jewer M, Quesnel K, Kang EY, Köbel M, Siegers GM, Leask A, Hess D, Lajoie G, Postovit LM. Embryonic protein NODAL regulates the breast tumor microenvironment by reprogramming cancer-derived secretomes. Neoplasia 2021; 23:375-390. [PMID: 33784590 PMCID: PMC8041663 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an important mediator of breast cancer progression. Cancer-associated fibroblasts constitute a major component of the TME and may originate from tissue-associated fibroblasts or infiltrating mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The mechanisms by which cancer cells activate fibroblasts and recruit MSCs to the TME are largely unknown, but likely include deposition of a pro-tumorigenic secretome. The secreted embryonic protein NODAL is clinically associated with breast cancer stage and promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and vascularization. Herein, we show that NODAL expression correlates with the presence of activated fibroblasts in human triple-negative breast cancers and that it directly induces Cancer-associated fibroblasts phenotypes. We further show that NODAL reprograms cancer cell secretomes by simultaneously altering levels of chemokines (e.g., CXCL1), cytokines (e.g., IL-6) and growth factors (e.g., PDGFRA), leading to alterations in MSC chemotaxis. We therefore demonstrate a hitherto unappreciated mechanism underlying the dynamic regulation of the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paola M Dantonio
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Matt Piaseczny
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Guihua Zhang
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jiahui Liu
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Miljan Kuljanin
- Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen Sherman
- Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Jewer
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Katherine Quesnel
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Eun Young Kang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Martin Köbel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Andrew Leask
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - David Hess
- Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Gilles Lajoie
- Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Lynne-Marie Postovit
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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12
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Abstract
Nodal, a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, plays critical roles during embryo development. Several studies suggest that Nodal also regulates reproduction. The objective of this study was to investigate if Nodal is expressed in zebrafish ovary and if it is involved in the regulation of ovarian functions. Using real-time PCR, we detected two Nodal homologs, nodal-related (ndr)1, and ndr2 in zebrafish ovarian follicles. We further compared the mRNA levels of ndr1, ndr2, and their receptors between maturational incompetent early vitellogenic follicles (stage IIIa) and mid- to late-vitellogenic follicles (stage IIIb) which are capable of undergoing maturation when they are induced by hormones. We found that mRNAs for ndr1 and ndr2, as well as a type I receptor, acvr1ba, were significantly increased in follicular cells isolated from stage IIIb follicles. In primary cultures of ovarian follicular cells, treatment with recombinant human Nodal inhibited cell proliferation. On the other hand, Nodal increased the mRNA levels of two steroidogenic enzymes hsd3b2 and cyp17a1, as well as paqr8, which encodes the membrane progestin receptor-β (mPR-β). Conversely, knockdown of ndr1 and ndr2 using siRNAs decreased the mRNA levels of hsd3b2, cyp17a1, and paqr8. Finally, treatment of Nodal significantly induced oocyte maturation. Taken together, these findings suggest that Nodal exerts multiple effects on zebrafish ovary to regulate follicle growth, steroidogenesis, and oocyte maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Zayed
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ramsha Malik
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xin Qi
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chun Peng
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; , Centre for Research on Biomolecular Interactions, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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13
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Slota LA, Miranda E, Peskin B, McClay DR. Developmental origin of peripheral ciliary band neurons in the sea urchin embryo. Dev Biol 2020; 459:72-78. [PMID: 31881199 PMCID: PMC7080585 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
In the sea urchin larva, most neurons lie within an ectodermal region called the ciliary band. Our understanding of the mechanisms of specification and patterning of these peripheral ciliary band neurons is incomplete. Here, we first examine the gene regulatory landscape from which this population of neural progenitors arise in the neuroectoderm. We show that ciliary band neural progenitors first appear in a bilaterally symmetric pattern on the lateral edges of chordin expression in the neuroectoderm. Later in development, these progenitors appear in a salt-and-pepper pattern in the ciliary band where they express soxC, and prox, which are markers of neural specification, and begin to express synaptotagminB, a marker of differentiated neurons. We show that the ciliary band expresses the acid sensing ion channel gene asicl, which suggests that ciliary band neurons control the larva's ability to discern touch sensitivity. Using a chemical inhibitor of MAPK signaling, we show that this signaling pathway is required for proper specification and patterning of ciliary band neurons. Using live imaging, we show that these neural progenitors undergo small distance migrations in the embryo. We then show that the normal swimming behavior of the larvae is compromised if the neurogenesis pathway is perturbed. The developmental sequence of ciliary band neurons is very similar to that of neural crest-derived sensory neurons in vertebrates and may provide insights into the evolution of sensory neurons in deuterostomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie A Slota
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Esther Miranda
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Brianna Peskin
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - David R McClay
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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14
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García-Tuñón I, Vuelta E, Lozano L, Herrero M, Méndez L, Palomero-Hernandez J, Pérez-Caro M, Pérez-García J, González-Sarmiento R, Sánchez-Martín M. Establishment of a conditional Nomo1 mouse model by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:1381-1391. [PMID: 31833031 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-05214-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The Nomo1 gene mediates a wide range of biological processes of importance in embryonic development. Accordingly, constitutive perturbation of Nomo1 function may result in myriad developmental defects that trigger embryonic lethality. To extend our understanding of Nomo1 function in postnatal stages and in a tissue-specific manner, we generated a conditional knockout mouse model of Nomo1. To achieve this, we used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 technology in C57Bl/6J mouse zygotes to generate a new mouse model in which exon 3 of the Nomo1 gene is specifically flanked (or floxed) by LoxP sites (Nomo1f/f). Nomo1f/f mouse embryonic fibroblasts were transduced with a Cre adenovirus and efficiently recombined between LoxP sites. Genomic and expression studies in Nomo1-transduced MEFs demonstrated that the Nomo1 exon 3 is ablated. Western blot assay showed that no protein or early truncated protein is produced. In vivo assay crossing Nomo1f/f mouse with a Msi1-CRE transgenic mouse corroborated the previous findings and it showed Nomo1 exon 3 deletion at msi1+ cell compartment. This short technical report demonstrates that CRISPR/Cas9 technology is a simple and easy method for creating conditional mouse models. The Nomo1f/f mouse will be useful to researchers who wish to explore the role of Nomo1 in any developmental stage or in a tissue-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio García-Tuñón
- IBSAL (Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Elena Vuelta
- Servicio de Transgénesis, Nucleus, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Laura Lozano
- Servicio de Transgénesis, Nucleus, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - María Herrero
- Servicio de Transgénesis, Nucleus, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Lucía Méndez
- Servicio de Transgénesis, Nucleus, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier Palomero-Hernandez
- Servicio de Transgénesis, Nucleus, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - María Pérez-Caro
- Banco de ADN, Nucleus, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jessica Pérez-García
- IBSAL (Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rogelio González-Sarmiento
- IBSAL (Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Martín
- IBSAL (Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
- Servicio de Transgénesis, Nucleus, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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15
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Abstract
One of the most powerful ideas in developmental biology has been that of the morphogen gradient. In the classical view, a signaling molecule is produced at a local source from where it diffuses, resulting in graded levels across the tissue. This gradient provides positional information, with thresholds in the level of the morphogen determining the position of different cell fates. While experimental studies have uncovered numerous potential morphogens in biological systems, it is becoming increasingly apparent that one important feature, not captured in the simple model, is the role of time in both the formation and interpretation of morphogen gradients. We will focus on two members of the transforming growth factor-β family that are known to play a vital role as morphogens in early vertebrate development: the Nodals and the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Primarily drawing on the early zebrafish embryo, we will show how recent studies have demonstrated the importance of feedback and other interactions that evolve through time, in shaping morphogen gradients. We will further show how rather than simply reading out levels of a morphogen, the duration of ligand exposure can be a crucial determinant of how cells interpret morphogens, in particular through the unfolding of downstream transcriptional events and in their interactions with other pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Economou
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline S Hill
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom.
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16
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Tewary M, Dziedzicka D, Ostblom J, Prochazka L, Shakiba N, Heydari T, Aguilar-Hidalgo D, Woodford C, Piccinini E, Becerra-Alonso D, Vickers A, Louis B, Rahman N, Danovi D, Geens M, Watt FM, Zandstra PW. High-throughput micropatterning platform reveals Nodal-dependent bisection of peri-gastrulation-associated versus preneurulation-associated fate patterning. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000081. [PMID: 31634368 PMCID: PMC6822778 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro models of postimplantation human development are valuable to the fields of regenerative medicine and developmental biology. Here, we report characterization of a robust in vitro platform that enabled high-content screening of multiple human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) lines for their ability to undergo peri-gastrulation–like fate patterning upon bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) treatment of geometrically confined colonies and observed significant heterogeneity in their differentiation propensities along a gastrulation associable and neuralization associable axis. This cell line–associated heterogeneity was found to be attributable to endogenous Nodal expression, with up-regulation of Nodal correlated with expression of a gastrulation-associated gene profile, and Nodal down-regulation correlated with a preneurulation-associated gene profile expression. We harness this knowledge to establish a platform of preneurulation-like fate patterning in geometrically confined hPSC colonies in which fates arise because of a BMPs signalling gradient conveying positional information. Our work identifies a Nodal signalling-dependent switch in peri-gastrulation versus preneurulation-associated fate patterning in hPSC cells, provides a technology to robustly assay hPSC differentiation outcomes, and suggests conserved mechanisms of organized fate specification in differentiating epiblast and ectodermal tissues. This study describes a method to generate a robust high-throughput micropatterning platform, and uses it to reveal the role played by Nodal signalling in the self-organization of BMP signalling and the consequent fates that arise in micropatterned human embryonic stem cell colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukul Tewary
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Collaborative Program in Developmental Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dominika Dziedzicka
- Research Group Reproduction and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joel Ostblom
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Laura Prochazka
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nika Shakiba
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tiam Heydari
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Daniel Aguilar-Hidalgo
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Curtis Woodford
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elia Piccinini
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Becerra-Alonso
- Department of Quantitative Methods, Universidad Loyola Andalucia, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alice Vickers
- Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Blaise Louis
- Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nafees Rahman
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Davide Danovi
- Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mieke Geens
- Research Group Reproduction and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fiona M. Watt
- Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter W. Zandstra
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Collaborative Program in Developmental Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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17
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Alwhaibi A, Verma A, Artham S, Adil MS, Somanath PR. Nodal pathway activation due to Akt1 suppression is a molecular switch for prostate cancer cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 168:1-13. [PMID: 31202735 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Several studies have unraveled the negative role of Akt1 in advanced cancers, including metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa). Hence, understanding the consequences of targeting Akt1 in the mPCa and identifying its downstream novel targets is essential. We studied how Akt1 deletion in PC3 and DU145 cells activates the Nodal pathway and promotes PCa epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. Here we show that Akt1 loss increases Nodal expression in PCa cells accompanied by activation of FoxO1/3a, and EMT markers Snail and N-cadherin as well as loss of epithelial marker E-cadherin. Treatment with FoxO inhibitor AS1842856 abrogated the Nodal expression in Akt1 deleted PCa cells. Akt1 deficient PCa cells exhibited enhanced cell migration and invasion in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo, which were attenuated by treatment with Nodal pathway inhibitor SB505124. Interestingly, Nodal mRNA analysis from two genomic studies in cBioportal showed a positive correlation between Nodal expression and Gleason score indicating the positive role of Nodal in human mPCa. Collectively, our data demonstrate Akt1-FoxO3a-Nodal pathway as an important mediator of PCa metastasis and present Nodal as a potential target to treat mPCa patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman Alwhaibi
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Arti Verma
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Sandeep Artham
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Mir S Adil
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States; Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center and Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States.
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18
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Wu J, Cheng P, Huang Z, Tan Q, Qu Y. Nodal increases the malignancy of childhood neuroblastoma cells via regulation of Zeb1. Biofactors 2019; 45:355-363. [PMID: 30985990 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common malignant tumors derived from pluripotent cells of the neural crest. Nodal is an important embryonic morphogen which can re-express in cancer cells. The roles of Nodal in the progression of NB are not illustrated. Our present study reveals that Nodal is upregulated in NB cells and tissues. Targeted inhibition of Nodal can suppress the in vitro migration and invasion of NB cells while increase its chemo-sensitivity to doxorubicin (Dox) treatment. Nodal positively regulates the expression of Zeb1, one well-known transcription factors of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells. Knockdown of Zeb1 can attenuate Nodal-induced malignancy of NB cells. Mechanistically, Nodal increases the protein stability of Zeb1 while has no effect on its mRNA expression. It is due to that Nodal can increase the expression of Ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM), which can phosphorylate and stabilize Zeb1 in cancer cells. Collectively, our data revealed that Nodal can increase the malignancy of NB cells via increasing the expression of Zeb1. It suggests that targeted inhibition of Nodal might be a potential therapy approach for NB treatment. © 2019 BioFactors, 45(3):355-363, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingfang Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Panpan Cheng
- Lab of Hematology Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zongxuan Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Qingshi Tan
- Department of Emergency, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yuhua Qu
- Department of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
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19
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Miura R, Yokoi A, Matsumoto T, Oguri Y, Hashimura M, Tochimoto M, Kajita S, Saegusa M. Nodal induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation in ovarian endometriosis-clear cell carcinoma lesions. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:308. [PMID: 30943930 PMCID: PMC6448249 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-5539-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Expression of Nodal, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, is commonly absent in differentiated tissues, while its re-expression occurs in a variety of human malignancy. However, little is known about its involvement in ovarian tumorigenesis. Herein, we focused on the functional roles of Nodal in ovarian endometriosis-carcinoma lesions. METHODS Regulation and function of Nodal and its associated molecules, including Smad2, GSK-3β, and several cell kinetics-related molecules, were assessed using clinical samples consisting of 108 ovarian carcinomas and 33 endometriotic lesions, as well as ES-2 (ovarian clear cell carcinoma; OCCCa) and Ishikawa (endometrial carcinoma) cell lines. RESULTS Nodal expression was significantly higher in endometriosis and OCCCa lesions as compared to that of non-OCCCas, with positive correlations to phosphorylated forms of both Smad2 (pSmad2) and GSK-3β. When compared to endometriotic lesions, the expression of Nodal and pSmad2 was significantly decreased in OCCCa. Treatment of Ishikawa cells with TGF-β1 resulted in transcriptional upregulation of Nodal, along with increased pSmad2 expression, while inhibition of GSK-3β also induced an increase in Nodal expression at the posttranslational level. Both ES-2 and Ishikawa cells stably overexpressing Nodal had increased susceptibility to apoptosis in response to treatment with cisplatin and doxorubicin, respectively, together with higher cleaved caspase-3 expression and decreased Bcl2/Bax ratio. Moreover, the stable Nodal-overexpressing cells showed reduced cell proliferation, along with increased expression of p27kip1 and p21waf1. In clinical samples, a significantly higher number of apoptotic cells and lower Ki-67 labeling indices were observed in Nodal-positive as compared to Nodal-negative OCCCa. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that Nodal is a multifunctional cytokine involved in the modulation of cell kinetics in ovarian endometriosis-OCCCa lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinako Miura
- Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374 Japan
| | - Ako Yokoi
- Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374 Japan
| | - Toshihide Matsumoto
- Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374 Japan
| | - Yasuko Oguri
- Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374 Japan
| | - Miki Hashimura
- Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374 Japan
| | - Masataka Tochimoto
- Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374 Japan
| | - Sabine Kajita
- Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374 Japan
| | - Makoto Saegusa
- Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374 Japan
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Guo Q, Li VZ, Nichol JN, Huang F, Yang W, Preston SEJ, Talat Z, Lefrère H, Yu H, Zhang G, Basik M, Gonçalves C, Zhan Y, Plourde D, Su J, Torres J, Marques M, Habyan SA, Bijian K, Amant F, Witcher M, Behbod F, McCaffrey L, Alaoui-Jamali M, Giannakopoulos NV, Brackstone M, Postovit LM, Del Rincón SV, Miller WH. MNK1/NODAL Signaling Promotes Invasive Progression of Breast Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. Cancer Res 2019; 79:1646-1657. [PMID: 30659022 PMCID: PMC6513674 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-1602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms by which breast cancers progress from relatively indolent ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) are not well understood. However, this process is critical to the acquisition of metastatic potential. MAPK-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (MNK1) signaling can promote cell invasion. NODAL, a morphogen essential for embryogenic patterning, is often reexpressed in breast cancer. Here we describe a MNK1/NODAL signaling axis that promotes DCIS progression to IDC. We generated MNK1 knockout (KO) or constitutively active MNK1 (caMNK1)-expressing human MCF-10A-derived DCIS cell lines, which were orthotopically injected into the mammary glands of mice. Loss of MNK1 repressed NODAL expression, inhibited DCIS to IDC conversion, and decreased tumor relapse and metastasis. Conversely, caMNK1 induced NODAL expression and promoted IDC. The MNK1/NODAL axis promoted cancer stem cell properties and invasion in vitro. The MNK1/2 inhibitor SEL201 blocked DCIS progression to invasive disease in vivo. In clinical samples, IDC and DCIS with microinvasion expressed higher levels of phospho-MNK1 and NODAL versus low-grade (invasion-free) DCIS. Cumulatively, our data support further development of MNK1 inhibitors as therapeutics for preventing invasive disease. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings provide new mechanistic insight into progression of ductal carcinoma and support clinical application of MNK1 inhibitors to delay progression of indolent ductal carcinoma in situ to invasive ductal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyu Guo
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Vivian Z Li
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jessica N Nichol
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Fan Huang
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - William Yang
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Samuel E J Preston
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Zahra Talat
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Hanne Lefrère
- Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Henry Yu
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Guihua Zhang
- Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mark Basik
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christophe Gonçalves
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yao Zhan
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Dany Plourde
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jie Su
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jose Torres
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Maud Marques
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sara Al Habyan
- Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Krikor Bijian
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Frédéric Amant
- Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michael Witcher
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Fariba Behbod
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Centre, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Luke McCaffrey
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Moulay Alaoui-Jamali
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Nadia V Giannakopoulos
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Muriel Brackstone
- Departments of Surgery and Oncology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lynne-Marie Postovit
- Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sonia V Del Rincón
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Wilson H Miller
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Department of Oncology, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Rossy Cancer Network, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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21
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Senft AD, Bikoff EK, Robertson EJ, Costello I. Genetic dissection of Nodal and Bmp signalling requirements during primordial germ cell development in mouse. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1089. [PMID: 30842446 PMCID: PMC6403387 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09052-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The essential roles played by Nodal and Bmp signalling during early mouse development have been extensively documented. Here we use conditional deletion strategies to investigate functional contributions made by Nodal, Bmp and Smad downstream effectors during primordial germ cell (PGC) development. We demonstrate that Nodal and its target gene Eomes provide early instructions during formation of the PGC lineage. We discover that Smad2 inactivation in the visceral endoderm results in increased numbers of PGCs due to an expansion of the PGC niche. Smad1 is required for specification, whereas in contrast Smad4 controls the maintenance and migration of PGCs. Additionally we find that beside Blimp1, down-regulated phospho-Smad159 levels also distinguishes PGCs from their somatic neighbours so that emerging PGCs become refractory to Bmp signalling that otherwise promotes mesodermal development in the posterior epiblast. Thus balanced Nodal/Bmp signalling cues regulate germ cell versus somatic cell fate decisions in the early posterior epiblast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna D Senft
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Elizabeth K Bikoff
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | | | - Ita Costello
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
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22
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Heemskerk I, Burt K, Miller M, Chhabra S, Guerra MC, Liu L, Warmflash A. Rapid changes in morphogen concentration control self-organized patterning in human embryonic stem cells. eLife 2019; 8:e40526. [PMID: 30829572 PMCID: PMC6398983 DOI: 10.7554/elife.40526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
During embryonic development, diffusible signaling molecules called morphogens are thought to determine cell fates in a concentration-dependent way. Yet, in mammalian embryos, concentrations change rapidly compared to the time for making cell fate decisions. Here, we use human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to address how changing morphogen levels influence differentiation, focusing on how BMP4 and Nodal signaling govern the cell-fate decisions associated with gastrulation. We show that BMP4 response is concentration dependent, but that expression of many Nodal targets depends on rate of concentration change. Moreover, in a self-organized stem cell model for human gastrulation, expression of these genes follows rapid changes in endogenous Nodal signaling. Our study shows a striking contrast between the specific ways ligand dynamics are interpreted by two closely related signaling pathways, highlighting both the subtlety and importance of morphogen dynamics for understanding mammalian embryogenesis and designing optimized protocols for directed stem cell differentiation. Editorial note This article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter).
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Affiliation(s)
- Idse Heemskerk
- Department of BiosciencesRice UniversityHoustonUnited States
| | - Kari Burt
- Department of BiosciencesRice UniversityHoustonUnited States
| | - Matthew Miller
- Department of BiosciencesRice UniversityHoustonUnited States
| | - Sapna Chhabra
- Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology ProgramRice UniversityHoustonUnited States
| | | | - Lizhong Liu
- Department of BiosciencesRice UniversityHoustonUnited States
| | - Aryeh Warmflash
- Department of BiosciencesRice UniversityHoustonUnited States
- Department of BioengineeringRice UniversityHoustonUnited States
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23
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Tanaka Y, Yamada S, Connop SL, Hashii N, Sawada H, Shih Y, Nishida H. Vitelline membrane proteins promote left-sided nodal expression after neurula rotation in the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi. Dev Biol 2019; 449:52-61. [PMID: 30710513 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Stereotyped left-right asymmetry both in external and internal organization is found in various animals. Left-right symmetry is broken by the neurula rotation in the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi. Neurula embryos rotate along the anterior-posterior axis in a counterclockwise direction, and the rotation stops when the left side of the embryo is oriented downwards, resulting in contact of the left-side epidermis with the vitelline membrane at the bottom of perivitelline space. Then, such contact induces the expression of nodal and its downstream Pitx2 gene in the left-side epidermis. Vitelline membrane is required for the promotion of nodal expression. Here, we showed that a chemical signal from the vitelline membrane promotes nodal gene expression, but mechanical stimulus at the point of contact is unnecessary since the treatment of devitellinated neurulae with an extract of the vitelline membrane promoted nodal expression on both sides. The signal molecules are already present in the vitelline membranes of unfertilized eggs. These signal molecules are proteins but not sugars. Specific fractions in gel filtration chromatography had the nodal promoting activity. By mass spectrometry, we selected 48 candidate proteins. Proteins that contain both a zona pellucida (ZP) domain and epidermal growth factor (EGF) repeats were enriched in the candidates of the nodal inducing molecules. Six of the ZP proteins had multiple EGF repeats that are only found in ascidian ZP proteins. These were considered to be the most viable candidates of the nodal-inducing molecules. Signal molecules are anchored to the entire vitelline membrane, and contact sites of signal-receiving cells are spatially and mechanically controlled by the neurula rotation. In this context, ascidians are unusual with respect to mechanisms for specification of the left-right axis. By suppressing formation of epidermis monocilia, we also showed that epidermal cilia drive the neurula rotation but are dispensable for sensing the signal from the vitelline membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Tanaka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Shiori Yamada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Samantha L Connop
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Noritaka Hashii
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Biologicals, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Sawada
- Sugashima Marine Biological Laboratory, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Sugashima, Toba 517-0004, Japan
| | - Yu Shih
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Hiroki Nishida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan.
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24
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Jørgensen A, Macdonald J, Nielsen JE, Kilcoyne KR, Perlman S, Lundvall L, Langhoff Thuesen L, Juul Hare K, Frederiksen H, Andersson AM, Skakkebæk NE, Juul A, Sharpe RM, Rajpert-De Meyts E, Mitchell RT. Nodal Signaling Regulates Germ Cell Development and Establishment of Seminiferous Cords in the Human Fetal Testis. Cell Rep 2018; 25:1924-1937.e4. [PMID: 30428358 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.10.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Disruption of human fetal testis development is widely accepted to underlie testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC) origin and additional disorders within testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS). However, the mechanisms for the development of testicular dysgenesis in humans are unclear. We used ex vivo culture and xenograft approaches to investigate the importance of Nodal and Activin signaling in human fetal testis development. Inhibition of Nodal, and to some extent Activin, signaling disrupted seminiferous cord formation, abolished AMH expression, reduced androgen secretion, and decreased gonocyte numbers. Subsequent xenografting of testicular tissue rescued the disruptive effects on seminiferous cords and somatic cells but not germ cell effects. Stimulation of Nodal signaling increased the number of germ cells expressing pluripotency factors, and these persisted after xenografting. Our findings suggest a key role for Nodal signaling in the regulation of gonocyte differentiation and early human testis development with implications for the understanding of TGCC and TDS origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Jørgensen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Joni Macdonald
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - John E Nielsen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karen R Kilcoyne
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Signe Perlman
- Department of Gynaecology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lene Lundvall
- Department of Gynaecology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lea Langhoff Thuesen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Kettegård Alle 30, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Kristine Juul Hare
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Kettegård Alle 30, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Hanne Frederiksen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna-Maria Andersson
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels E Skakkebæk
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Richard M Sharpe
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rod T Mitchell
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
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McClay DR, Miranda E, Feinberg SL. Neurogenesis in the sea urchin embryo is initiated uniquely in three domains. Development 2018; 145:dev167742. [PMID: 30413529 PMCID: PMC6240313 DOI: 10.1242/dev.167742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Many marine larvae begin feeding within a day of fertilization, thus requiring rapid development of a nervous system to coordinate feeding activities. Here, we examine the patterning and specification of early neurogenesis in sea urchin embryos. Lineage analysis indicates that neurons arise locally in three regions of the embryo. Perturbation analyses showed that when patterning is disrupted, neurogenesis in the three regions is differentially affected, indicating distinct patterning requirements for each neural domain. Six transcription factors that function during proneural specification were identified and studied in detail. Perturbations of these proneural transcription factors showed that specification occurs differently in each neural domain prior to the Delta-Notch restriction signal. Though gene regulatory network state changes beyond the proneural restriction are largely unresolved, the data here show that the three neural regions already differ from each other significantly early in specification. Future studies that define the larval nervous system in the sea urchin must therefore separately characterize the three populations of neurons that enable the larva to feed, to navigate, and to move food particles through the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R McClay
- Department of Biology, 124 Science Drive, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Esther Miranda
- Department of Biology, 124 Science Drive, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Stacy L Feinberg
- Department of Biology, 124 Science Drive, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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26
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Blin G, Wisniewski D, Picart C, Thery M, Puceat M, Lowell S. Geometrical confinement controls the asymmetric patterning of brachyury in cultures of pluripotent cells. Development 2018; 145:dev166025. [PMID: 30115626 PMCID: PMC6176930 DOI: 10.1242/dev.166025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Diffusible signals are known to orchestrate patterning during embryogenesis, yet diffusion is sensitive to noise. The fact that embryogenesis is remarkably robust suggests that additional layers of regulation reinforce patterning. Here, we demonstrate that geometrical confinement orchestrates the spatial organisation of initially randomly positioned subpopulations of spontaneously differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells. We use micropatterning in combination with pharmacological manipulations and quantitative imaging to dissociate the multiple effects of geometry. We show that the positioning of a pre-streak-like population marked by brachyury (T) is decoupled from the size of its population, and that breaking radial symmetry of patterns imposes polarised patterning. We provide evidence for a model in which the overall level of diffusible signals together with the history of the cell culture define the number of T+ cells, whereas geometrical constraints guide patterning in a multi-step process involving a differential response of the cells to multicellular spatial organisation. Our work provides a framework for investigating robustness of patterning and provides insights into how to guide symmetry-breaking events in aggregates of pluripotent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Blin
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Darren Wisniewski
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Catherine Picart
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Manuel Thery
- Univ. Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Biosciences and Biotechnology Institute of Grenoble, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire and Végétale, UMR5168, CytoMorpho Lab, 38054 Grenoble, France
- Univ. Paris Diderot, CEA, INSERM, Hôpital Saint Louis, Institut Universitaire d'Hematologie, UMRS1160, CytoMorpho Lab, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Michel Puceat
- INSERM U1251, Université Aix-Marseille, MMG, 13885 Marseille, France
| | - Sally Lowell
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
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Molina MD, Quirin M, Haillot E, De Crozé N, Range R, Rouel M, Jimenez F, Amrouche R, Chessel A, Lepage T. MAPK and GSK3/ß-TRCP-mediated degradation of the maternal Ets domain transcriptional repressor Yan/Tel controls the spatial expression of nodal in the sea urchin embryo. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007621. [PMID: 30222786 PMCID: PMC6160229 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In the sea urchin embryo, specification of the dorsal-ventral axis critically relies on the spatially restricted expression of nodal in the presumptive ventral ectoderm. The ventral restriction of nodal expression requires the activity of the maternal TGF-β ligand Panda but the mechanism by which Panda restricts nodal expression is unknown. Similarly, what initiates expression of nodal in the ectoderm and what are the mechanisms that link patterning along the primary and secondary axes is not well understood. We report that in Paracentrotus lividus, the activity of the maternally expressed ETS-domain transcription factor Yan/Tel is essential for the spatial restriction of nodal. Inhibiting translation of maternal yan/tel mRNA disrupted dorsal-ventral patterning in all germ layers by causing a massive ectopic expression of nodal starting from cleavage stages, mimicking the phenotype caused by inactivation of the maternal Nodal antagonist Panda. We show that like in the fly or in vertebrates, the activity of sea urchin Yan/Tel is regulated by phosphorylation by MAP kinases. However, unlike in the fly or in vertebrates, phosphorylation by GSK3 plays a central role in the regulation Yan/Tel stability in the sea urchin. We show that GSK3 phosphorylates Yan/Tel in vitro at two different sites including a β-TRCP ubiquitin ligase degradation motif and a C-terminal Ser/Thr rich cluster and that phosphorylation of Yan/Tel by GSK3 triggers its degradation by a β-TRCP/proteasome pathway. Finally, we show that, Yan is epistatic to Panda and that the activity of Yan/Tel is required downstream of Panda to restrict nodal expression. Our results identify Yan/Tel as a central regulator of the spatial expression of nodal in Paracentrotus lividus and uncover a key interaction between the gene regulatory networks responsible for patterning the embryo along the dorsal-ventral and animal-vegetal axes. Specification of the embryonic axes is an essential step during early development of metazoa. In the sea urchin embryo, specification of the dorsal-ventral axis critically relies on the spatial restriction of the expression of the TGF-ß family member Nodal in ventral cells, a process that requires the activity of the maternal determinant Panda. How the spatially restricted expression of nodal is established downstream of Panda is not well understood. We have discovered that, in the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, the spatial restriction of nodal on the ventral side of the embryo requires the inhibitory activity of a transcriptional repressor named Yan/Tel. This finding suggests a molecular mechanism for the control of nodal expression by the release of a repression. We found that this release requires the activity of two families of kinases that we identified as the MAP kinases and GSK3, a kinase which, intriguingly, was previously known as a key regulator of patterning along the animal-vegetal axis. We discovered that phosphorylation by MAPK and GSK3 triggers degradation of Yan/Tel by a β-TRCP proteasome pathway. Finally, we find that Yan/Tel likely acts downstream of Panda in the hierarchy of genes required for nodal restriction. Our study therefore identifies Yan/Tel as a new essential regulator of nodal expression downstream of Panda and identifies a novel key interaction between the gene regulatory networks responsible for patterning along the primary and secondary axis of polarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Dolores Molina
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institut Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Magali Quirin
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institut Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Emmanuel Haillot
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institut Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Noémie De Crozé
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institut Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Ryan Range
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Mathieu Rouel
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institut Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Felipe Jimenez
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institut Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Radja Amrouche
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institut Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Aline Chessel
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institut Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Thierry Lepage
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institut Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
- * E-mail:
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28
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Visser A, Beijer M, Oudejans CBM, van Dijk M. The effect of maternal NODAL on STOX1 expression in extravillous trophoblasts is mediated by IGF1. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202190. [PMID: 30092105 PMCID: PMC6084977 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of molecules identified to be involved in communication between placenta and decidua is fast expanding. Previously, we showed that NODAL expressed in maternal endometrial stromal cells is able to affect NODAL and STOX1 expression in placental extravillous trophoblasts. The effect of maternal NODAL on placental NODAL expression is achieved via Activin A, while preliminary data suggests that maternal NODAL affects STOX1 expression in trophoblasts potentially via IGF1. In the current study, T-HESC endometrial stromal cells were treated with siRNAs against NODAL after which IGF1 mRNA expression was determined by quantitative RT-PCR, while IGF1 secretion was measured by ELISA. Recombinant IGF1 and inhibitors of the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways were added to SGHPL-5 extravillous trophoblasts after which the effects on STOX1 mRNA and STOX1 protein expression were determined. The effect of IGF1 and the MAPK and PI3K/AKT inhibitors on the invasive capacity of SGHPL-5 cells was investigated by performing invasion assays. We found that T-HESC cells treated with NODAL siRNAs showed significant upregulation of IGF1 mRNA expression and IGF1 protein secretion. Addition of IGF1 to SGHPL-5 cell media significantly upregulated STOX1 mRNA and protein expression. Using inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathway showed that the effect of IGF1 on STOX1 expression is accomplished via MAPK signaling. Secondly, PI3K inhibition independently leads to reduced STOX1 expression which can be rescued by adding IGF1. IGF1 was unable to influence the invasive capacity of SGHPL-5 cells, while inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway did reduce the invasion of these cells. To conclude, here we show that downregulated NODAL expression in endometrial stromal cells, previously associated with pre-eclampsia like symptoms in mice, increases IGF1 secretion. Increased levels of IGF1 lead to increased expression levels of STOX1 in extravillous trophoblasts via the MAPK pathway, hereby identifying a novel signaling cascade involved in maternal-fetal communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allerdien Visser
- Amsterdam UMC, VU University Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Beijer
- Amsterdam UMC, VU University Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cees B. M. Oudejans
- Amsterdam UMC, VU University Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marie van Dijk
- Amsterdam UMC, VU University Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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29
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Abstract
Embryonic development is orchestrated by the activity of signal transduction pathways, amongst which are those downstream of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family. Here I focus on signalling by one of these ligands, NODAL, which is essential for early embryonic axis patterning. I review recent advances in our understanding of how NODAL signalling is transduced from the plasma membrane to the nucleus to regulate the transcription of target genes, and how domains of NODAL activity are established and refined during embryonic development. The duration of signalling is emerging as a key determinant of the specificity of downstream responses in terms of cell fate decisions and I will discuss what is currently known about the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline S Hill
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.
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30
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Soukup V, Mrstakova S, Kozmik Z. Asymmetric pitx2 expression in medaka epithalamus is regulated by nodal signaling through an intronic enhancer. Dev Genes Evol 2018; 228:131-139. [PMID: 29663064 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-018-0611-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The epithalamic region of fishes shows prominent left-right asymmetries that are executed by nodal signaling upstream of the asymmetry-determining transcription factor pitx2. Previous reports have identified that nodal controls the left-sided pitx2 expression in the lateral plate mesoderm through an enhancer present in the last intron of this gene. However, whether similar regulation occurs also in the case of epithalamic asymmetry is currently unresolved. Here, we address some of the cis-regulatory information that control asymmetric pitx2 expression in epithalamus by presenting a Tg(pitx2:EGFP) 116-17 transgenic medaka model, which expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under control of an intronic enhancer. We show that this transgene recapitulates epithalamic expression of the endogenous pitx2 and that it responds to nodal signaling inhibition. Further, we identify that three foxh1-binding sites present in this enhancer modulate expression of the transgene and that the second site is absolutely necessary for the left-sided epithalamic expression while the other two sites may have subtler regulative roles. We provide evidence that left-sided epithalamic pitx2 expression is controlled through an enhancer present in the last intron of this gene and that the regulatory logic underlying asymmetric pitx2 expression is shared between epithalamic and lateral plate mesoderm regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Soukup
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Vinicna 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Simona Mrstakova
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
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31
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Soukup V, Kozmik Z. The Bmp signaling pathway regulates development of left-right asymmetry in amphioxus. Dev Biol 2018; 434:164-174. [PMID: 29224891 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Establishment of asymmetry along the left-right (LR) body axis in vertebrates requires interplay between Nodal and Bmp signaling pathways. In the basal chordate amphioxus, the left-sided activity of the Nodal signaling has been attributed to the asymmetric morphogenesis of paraxial structures and pharyngeal organs, however the role of Bmp signaling in LR asymmetry establishment has not been addressed to date. Here, we show that Bmp signaling is necessary for the development of LR asymmetric morphogenesis of amphioxus larvae through regulation of Nodal signaling. Loss of Bmp signaling results in loss of the left-sided expression of Nodal, Gdf1/3, Lefty and Pitx and in gain of ectopic expression of Cerberus on the left side. As a consequence, the larvae display loss of the offset arrangement of axial structures, loss of the left-sided pharyngeal organs including the mouth, and ectopic development of the right-sided organs on the left side. Bmp inhibition thus phenocopies inhibition of Nodal signaling and results in the right isomerism. We conclude that Bmp and Nodal pathways act in concert to specify the left side and that Bmp signaling plays a fundamental role during LR development in amphioxus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Soukup
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
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32
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Fresques TM, Wessel GM. Nodal induces sequential restriction of germ cell factors during primordial germ cell specification. Development 2018; 145:dev155663. [PMID: 29358213 PMCID: PMC5825842 DOI: 10.1242/dev.155663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Specification of the germ cell lineage is required for sexual reproduction in animals. The mechanism of germ cell specification varies among animals but roughly clusters into either inherited or inductive mechanisms. The inductive mechanism, the use of cell-cell interactions for germ cell specification, appears to be the ancestral mechanism in animal phylogeny, yet the pathways responsible for this process are only recently surfacing. Here, we show that germ cell factors in the sea star initially are present broadly, then become restricted dorsally and then in the left side of the embryo where the germ cells form a posterior enterocoel. We find that Nodal signaling is required for the restriction of two germ cell factors, Nanos and Vasa, during the early development of this animal. We learned that Nodal inhibits germ cell factor accumulation in three ways including: inhibition of specific transcription, degradation of specific mRNAs and inhibition of tissue morphogenesis. These results document a signaling mechanism required for the sequential restriction of germ cell factors, which causes a specific set of embryonic cells to become the primordial germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara M Fresques
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Gary M Wessel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
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33
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Barone V, Lang M, Krens SFG, Pradhan SJ, Shamipour S, Sako K, Sikora M, Guet CC, Heisenberg CP. An Effective Feedback Loop between Cell-Cell Contact Duration and Morphogen Signaling Determines Cell Fate. Dev Cell 2017; 43:198-211.e12. [PMID: 29033362 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cell-cell contact formation constitutes an essential step in evolution, leading to the differentiation of specialized cell types. However, remarkably little is known about whether and how the interplay between contact formation and fate specification affects development. Here, we identify a positive feedback loop between cell-cell contact duration, morphogen signaling, and mesendoderm cell-fate specification during zebrafish gastrulation. We show that long-lasting cell-cell contacts enhance the competence of prechordal plate (ppl) progenitor cells to respond to Nodal signaling, required for ppl cell-fate specification. We further show that Nodal signaling promotes ppl cell-cell contact duration, generating a positive feedback loop between ppl cell-cell contact duration and cell-fate specification. Finally, by combining mathematical modeling and experimentation, we show that this feedback determines whether anterior axial mesendoderm cells become ppl or, instead, turn into endoderm. Thus, the interdependent activities of cell-cell signaling and contact formation control fate diversification within the developing embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Barone
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Moritz Lang
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
| | - S F Gabriel Krens
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Saurabh J Pradhan
- Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Pune 411008, India
| | - Shayan Shamipour
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Keisuke Sako
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Mateusz Sikora
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Călin C Guet
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
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34
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Charney RM, Forouzmand E, Cho JS, Cheung J, Paraiso KD, Yasuoka Y, Takahashi S, Taira M, Blitz IL, Xie X, Cho KWY. Foxh1 Occupies cis-Regulatory Modules Prior to Dynamic Transcription Factor Interactions Controlling the Mesendoderm Gene Program. Dev Cell 2017; 40:595-607.e4. [PMID: 28325473 PMCID: PMC5434453 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [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: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 12/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The interplay between transcription factors and chromatin dictates gene regulatory network activity. Germ layer specification is tightly coupled with zygotic gene activation and, in most metazoans, is dependent upon maternal factors. We explore the dynamic genome-wide interactions of Foxh1, a maternal transcription factor that mediates Nodal/TGF-β signaling, with cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) during mesendodermal specification. Foxh1 marks CRMs during cleavage stages and recruits the co-repressor Tle/Groucho in the early blastula. We highlight a population of CRMs that are continuously occupied by Foxh1 and show that they are marked by H3K4me1, Ep300, and Fox/Sox/Smad motifs, suggesting interplay between these factors in gene regulation. We also propose a molecular "hand-off" between maternal Foxh1 and zygotic Foxa at these CRMs to maintain enhancer activation. Our findings suggest that Foxh1 functions at the top of a hierarchy of interactions by marking developmental genes for activation, beginning with the onset of zygotic gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah M Charney
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Ayala School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Elmira Forouzmand
- Department of Computer Science, Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jin Sun Cho
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Ayala School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jessica Cheung
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Ayala School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Kitt D Paraiso
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Ayala School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Yuuri Yasuoka
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Shuji Takahashi
- Institute for Amphibian Biology, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Masanori Taira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Ira L Blitz
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Ayala School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Xiaohui Xie
- Department of Computer Science, Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Ken W Y Cho
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Ayala School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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35
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Coda DM, Gaarenstroom T, East P, Patel H, Miller DSJ, Lobley A, Matthews N, Stewart A, Hill CS. Distinct modes of SMAD2 chromatin binding and remodeling shape the transcriptional response to NODAL/Activin signaling. eLife 2017; 6:e22474. [PMID: 28191871 PMCID: PMC5305219 DOI: 10.7554/elife.22474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
NODAL/Activin signaling orchestrates key processes during embryonic development via SMAD2. How SMAD2 activates programs of gene expression that are modulated over time however, is not known. Here we delineate the sequence of events that occur from SMAD2 binding to transcriptional activation, and the mechanisms underlying them. NODAL/Activin signaling induces dramatic chromatin landscape changes, and a dynamic transcriptional network regulated by SMAD2, acting via multiple mechanisms. Crucially we have discovered two modes of SMAD2 binding. SMAD2 can bind pre-acetylated nucleosome-depleted sites. However, it also binds to unacetylated, closed chromatin, independently of pioneer factors, where it induces nucleosome displacement and histone acetylation. For a subset of genes, this requires SMARCA4. We find that long term modulation of the transcriptional responses requires continued NODAL/Activin signaling. Thus SMAD2 binding does not linearly equate with transcriptional kinetics, and our data suggest that SMAD2 recruits multiple co-factors during sustained signaling to shape the downstream transcriptional program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide M Coda
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tessa Gaarenstroom
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Philip East
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Harshil Patel
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel S J Miller
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Lobley
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nik Matthews
- Advanced Sequencing, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aengus Stewart
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline S Hill
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
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36
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Zhong W, Lai Y, Yu T, Xia ZS, Yuan YH, Ouyang H, Shan TD, Chen QK. Wnt and Nodal signaling simultaneously induces definitive endoderm differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. Rom J Morphol Embryol 2017; 58:527-535. [PMID: 28730239] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Induced differentiation of definitive endoderm (DE) from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) has been the recent focus of studies investigating regeneration and transplantation of organs of the digestive system. Poor cell survival is the most important challenge to DE differentiation from ESCs. This study aimed to optimize culture conditions to promote the differentiation of mouse ESCs into DE, and to investigate the roles of the Wnt and Nodal signaling pathways in the DE differentiation. The mouse ESCs were treated with or without leukemia inhibitory factor, Wnt3a and Activin A alone or together, and examined the DE differentiation by the DE marker CXCR4 and the ESC marker Oct4. The result showed the optimal induction of differentiation was achieved in cells simultaneously treated with Wnt3a and Activin A. Induction of CXCR4 was also earlier when there was simultaneous activation of Wnt and Nodal signaling compared to the groups treated with only Wnt3a or Activin A alone. These findings provide the basis for the induced differentiation of ESCs for the generation of functional, mature cells of gastrointestinal lineage, which can be potentially used for cell replacement therapy, disease modeling, as well as drug discovery studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wa Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People Republic of China; ;
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37
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Dai HQ, Wang BA, Yang L, Chen JJ, Zhu GC, Sun ML, Ge H, Wang R, Chapman DL, Tang F, Sun X, Xu GL. TET-mediated DNA demethylation controls gastrulation by regulating Lefty-Nodal signalling. Nature 2016; 538:528-532. [PMID: 27760115 DOI: 10.1038/nature20095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [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: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian genomes undergo epigenetic modifications, including cytosine methylation by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Oxidation of 5-methylcytosine by the Ten-eleven translocation (TET) family of dioxygenases can lead to demethylation. Although cytosine methylation has key roles in several processes such as genomic imprinting and X-chromosome inactivation, the functional significance of cytosine methylation and demethylation in mouse embryogenesis remains to be fully determined. Here we show that inactivation of all three Tet genes in mice leads to gastrulation phenotypes, including primitive streak patterning defects in association with impaired maturation of axial mesoderm and failed specification of paraxial mesoderm, mimicking phenotypes in embryos with gain-of-function Nodal signalling. Introduction of a single mutant allele of Nodal in the Tet mutant background partially restored patterning, suggesting that hyperactive Nodal signalling contributes to the gastrulation failure of Tet mutants. Increased Nodal signalling is probably due to diminished expression of the Lefty1 and Lefty2 genes, which encode inhibitors of Nodal signalling. Moreover, reduction in Lefty gene expression is linked to elevated DNA methylation, as both Lefty-Nodal signalling and normal morphogenesis are largely restored in Tet-deficient embryos when the Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b genes are disrupted. Additionally, a point mutation in Tet that specifically abolishes the dioxygenase activity causes similar morphological and molecular abnormalities as the null mutation. Taken together, our results show that TET-mediated oxidation of 5-methylcytosine modulates Lefty-Nodal signalling by promoting demethylation in opposition to methylation by DNMT3A and DNMT3B. These findings reveal a fundamental epigenetic mechanism featuring dynamic DNA methylation and demethylation crucial to regulation of key signalling pathways in early body plan formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Qiang Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Bang-An Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jia-Jia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Guo-Chun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Mei-Ling Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hao Ge
- Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Deborah L Chapman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA
| | - Fuchou Tang
- Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xin Sun
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Guo-Liang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China
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Sako K, Pradhan SJ, Barone V, Inglés-Prieto Á, Müller P, Ruprecht V, Čapek D, Galande S, Janovjak H, Heisenberg CP. Optogenetic Control of Nodal Signaling Reveals a Temporal Pattern of Nodal Signaling Regulating Cell Fate Specification during Gastrulation. Cell Rep 2016; 16:866-77. [PMID: 27396324 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [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: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
During metazoan development, the temporal pattern of morphogen signaling is critical for organizing cell fates in space and time. Yet, tools for temporally controlling morphogen signaling within the embryo are still scarce. Here, we developed a photoactivatable Nodal receptor to determine how the temporal pattern of Nodal signaling affects cell fate specification during zebrafish gastrulation. By using this receptor to manipulate the duration of Nodal signaling in vivo by light, we show that extended Nodal signaling within the organizer promotes prechordal plate specification and suppresses endoderm differentiation. Endoderm differentiation is suppressed by extended Nodal signaling inducing expression of the transcriptional repressor goosecoid (gsc) in prechordal plate progenitors, which in turn restrains Nodal signaling from upregulating the endoderm differentiation gene sox17 within these cells. Thus, optogenetic manipulation of Nodal signaling identifies a critical role of Nodal signaling duration for organizer cell fate specification during gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Sako
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Saurabh J Pradhan
- Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, Pune 411008, India
| | - Vanessa Barone
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Álvaro Inglés-Prieto
- Laboratory of Synthetic Physiology, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Patrick Müller
- Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Verena Ruprecht
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Daniel Čapek
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Sanjeev Galande
- Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, Pune 411008, India
| | - Harald Janovjak
- Laboratory of Synthetic Physiology, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
| | - Carl-Philipp Heisenberg
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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Yaguchi J, Takeda N, Inaba K, Yaguchi S. Cooperative Wnt-Nodal Signals Regulate the Patterning of Anterior Neuroectoderm. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006001. [PMID: 27101101 PMCID: PMC4839626 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
When early canonical Wnt is experimentally inhibited, sea urchin embryos embody the concept of a Default Model in vivo because most of the ectodermal cell fates are specified as anterior neuroectoderm. Using this model, we describe here how the combination of orthogonally functioning anteroposterior Wnt and dorsoventral Nodal signals and their targeting transcription factors, FoxQ2 and Homeobrain, regulates the precise patterning of normal neuroectoderm, of which serotonergic neurons are differentiated only at the dorsal/lateral edge. Loss-of-function experiments revealed that ventral Nodal is required for suppressing the serotonergic neural fate in the ventral side of the neuroectoderm through the maintenance of foxQ2 and the repression of homeobrain expression. In addition, non-canonical Wnt suppressed homeobrain in the anterior end of the neuroectoderm, where serotonergic neurons are not differentiated. Canonical Wnt, however, suppresses foxQ2 to promote neural differentiation. Therefore, the three-dimensionally complex patterning of the neuroectoderm is created by cooperative signals, which are essential for the formation of primary and secondary body axes during embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Yaguchi
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Noriyo Takeda
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kazuo Inaba
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Yaguchi
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Galvão A, Skarzynski D, Ferreira-Dias G. Nodal Promotes Functional Luteolysis via Down-Regulation of Progesterone and Prostaglandins E2 and Promotion of PGF2α Synthetic Pathways in Mare Corpus Luteum. Endocrinology 2016; 157:858-71. [PMID: 26653568 DOI: 10.1210/en.2015-1362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In the present work, we investigated the role of Nodal, an embryonic morphogen from the TGFβ superfamily in corpus luteum (CL) secretory activity using cells isolated from equine CL as a model. Expression pattern of Nodal and its receptors activin receptor A type IIB (ACVR2B), activin receptor-like kinase (Alk)-7, and Alk4, as well as the Nodal physiological role, demonstrate the involvement of this pathway in functional luteolysis. Nodal and its receptors were immune localized in small and large luteal cells and endothelial cells, except ACVR2B, which was not detected in the endothelium. Nodal mRNA in situ hybridization confirmed its transcription in steroidogenic and endothelial cells. Expression analysis of the aforementioned factors evidenced that Nodal and Alk7 proteins peaked at the mid-CL (P < .01), the time of luteolysis initiation, whereas Alk4 and ACVR2B proteins increased from mid- to late CL (P < .05). The Nodal treatment of luteal cells decreased progesterone and prostaglandin (PG) E2 concentrations in culture media (P < .05) as well as mRNA and protein of secretory enzymes steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, cytosolic PGE2 synthase, and microsomal PGE2 synthase-1 (P < .05). Conversely, PGF2α secretion and gene expression of PG-endoperoxidase synthase 2 and PGF2α synthase were increased after Nodal treatment (P < .05). Mid-CL cells cultured with PGF2α had increased Nodal protein expression (P < .05) and phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic-3 phosphorylation (P < .05). Finally, the supportive interaction between Nodal and PGF2α on luteolysis was shown to its greatest extent because both factors together more significantly inhibited progesterone (P < .05) and promoted PGF2α (P < .05) synthesis than Nodal or PGF2α alone. Our results neatly pinpoint the sites of action of the Nodal signaling pathway toward functional luteolysis in the mare.
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Affiliation(s)
- António Galvão
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research (A.G., D.S.), Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (A.G., G.F.-D.), Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Dariusz Skarzynski
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research (A.G., D.S.), Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (A.G., G.F.-D.), Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Graça Ferreira-Dias
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research (A.G., D.S.), Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (A.G., G.F.-D.), Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
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Abstract
Sea urchin embryos are a useful model system for investigating early developmental processes and the underlying gene regulatory networks. Most functional studies using sea urchin embryos rely on antisense morpholino oligonucleotides to knockdown gene functions. However, major concerns related to this technique include off-target effects, variations in morpholino efficiency, and potential morpholino toxicity; furthermore, such problems are difficult to discern. Recent advances in genome editing technologies have introduced the prospect of not only generating sequence-specific knockouts, but also providing genome-engineering applications. Two genome editing tools, zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), have been utilized in sea urchin embryos, but the resulting efficiencies are far from satisfactory. The CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)-Cas9 (CRISPR-associated nuclease 9) system serves as an easy and efficient method with which to edit the genomes of several established and emerging model organisms in the field of developmental biology. Here, we apply the CRISPR/Cas9 system to the sea urchin embryo. We designed six guide RNAs (gRNAs) against the well-studied nodal gene and discovered that five of the gRNAs induced the expected phenotype in 60-80% of the injected embryos. In addition, we developed a simple method for isolating genomic DNA from individual embryos, enabling phenotype to be precisely linked to genotype, and revealed that the mutation rates were 67-100% among the sequenced clones. Of the two potential off-target sites we examined, no off-target effects were observed. The detailed procedures described herein promise to accelerate the usage of CRISPR/Cas9 system for genome editing in sea urchin embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che-Yi Lin
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsien Su
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
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Chen H, Babino D, Schoenbichler SA, Arkhipova V, Töchterle S, Martin F, Huck CW, von Lintig J, Meyer D. Nmnat1-Rbp7 Is a Conserved Fusion-Protein That Combines NAD+ Catalysis of Nmnat1 with Subcellular Localization of Rbp7. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143825. [PMID: 26618989 PMCID: PMC4664474 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinol binding proteins (Rbps) are known as carriers for transport and targeting of retinoids to their metabolizing enzymes. Rbps are also reported to function in regulating the homeostatic balance of retinoid metabolism, as their level of retinoid occupancy impacts the activities of retinoid metabolizing enzymes. Here we used zebrafish as a model to study rbp7a function and regulation. We find that early embryonic rbp7a expression is negatively regulated by the Nodal/FoxH1-signaling pathway and we show that Nodal/FoxH1 activity has the opposite effect on aldh1a2, which encodes the major enzyme for early embryonic retinoic acid production. The data are consistent with a Nodal-dependent coordination of the allocation of retinoid precursors to processing enzymes with the catalysis of retinoic acid formation. Further, we describe a novel nmnat1-rbp7 transcript encoding a fusion of Rbp7 and the NAD+ (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) synthesizing enzyme Nmnat1. We show that nmnat1-rbp7 is conserved in fish, mouse and chicken, and that in zebrafish regulation of nmnat1-rbp7a is distinct from that of rbp7a and nmnat1. Injection experiments in zebrafish further revealed that Nmnat1-Rbp7a and Nmnat1 have similar NAD+ catalyzing activities but a different subcellular localization. HPLC measurements and protein localization analysis highlight Nmnat1-Rbp7a as the only known cytoplasmic and presumably endoplasmic reticulum (ER) specific NAD+ catalyzing enzyme. These studies, taken together with previously documented NAD+ dependent interaction of RBPs with ER-associated enzymes of retinal catalysis, implicate functions of this newly described NMNAT1-Rbp7 fusion protein in retinol oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Institute of Molecular Biology/CMBI, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Darwin Babino
- School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, 2109 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States of America
| | - Stefan A. Schoenbichler
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry/ CCB–Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80–82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Valeryia Arkhipova
- Institute of Molecular Biology/CMBI, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sonja Töchterle
- Institute of Molecular Biology/CMBI, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Fabian Martin
- Institute of Molecular Biology/CMBI, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christian W. Huck
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry/ CCB–Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80–82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes von Lintig
- School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, 2109 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States of America
| | - Dirk Meyer
- Institute of Molecular Biology/CMBI, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
- * E-mail:
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Cavalieri V, Spinelli G. Ectopic hbox12 Expression Evoked by Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Disrupts Axial Specification of the Sea Urchin Embryo. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143860. [PMID: 26618749 PMCID: PMC4664418 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Dorsal/ventral patterning of the sea urchin embryo depends upon the establishment of a Nodal-expressing ventral organizer. Recently, we showed that spatial positioning of this organizer relies on the dorsal-specific transcription of the Hbox12 repressor. Building on these findings, we determined the influence of the epigenetic milieu on the expression of hbox12 and nodal genes. We find that Trichostatin-A, a potent and selective histone-deacetylases inhibitor, induces histone hyperacetylation in hbox12 chromatin, evoking broad ectopic expression of the gene. Transcription of nodal concomitantly drops, prejudicing dorsal/ventral polarity of the resulting larvae. Remarkably, impairing hbox12 function, either in a spatially-restricted sector or in the whole embryo, specifically rescues nodal transcription in Trichostatin-A-treated larvae. Beyond strengthen the notion that nodal expression is not allowed in the presence of functional Hbox12 in the same cells, these results highlight a critical role of histone deacetylases in regulating the spatial expression of hbox12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Cavalieri
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Italy
- Mediterranean Center for Human Health Advanced Biotechnologies (CHAB), University of Palermo, Italy
- * E-mail: (VC); (GS)
| | - Giovanni Spinelli
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Italy
- * E-mail: (VC); (GS)
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Wang L, Wu G, Qin X, Ma Q, Zhou Y, Liu S, Tan Y. Expression of Nodal on Bronchial Epithelial Cells Influenced by Lung Microbes Through DNA Methylation Modulates the Differentiation of T-Helper Cells. Cell Physiol Biochem 2015; 37:2012-22. [PMID: 26584299 DOI: 10.1159/000438561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS The previous study in our lab showed that Nodal molecule on bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) was modulated by all kinds of lung microbes. The present study was designed to determine the effects of Nodal on proliferation of BECs and BECs-induced differentiation of T-helper (Th) cells. The epigenetic mechanisms of Nodal expression following treatments of different lung microbes were also identified. METHODS Real-time polymerization chain reaction (PCR) and western blot were used to determine the expression of Nodal. Flow cytometry was used to observe the effects of proliferation of BECs and subsequent BECs-induced differentiation of Th cells. Methylation levels of CpG islands in Nodal promoters were also analyzed by time of flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS The results showed that Nodal promoted proliferation of BECs and BECs-induced differentiation of Th cell from Th1 to Th2 and Th17. Nodal promoter showed a hyper-methylation in normal BECs. Through methylation modification in the promoter, P. aeruginosa or A.baumanni inhibited the expression of Nodal while RSV promoted the expression of Nodal. CONCLUSIONS Our data showed that Nodal promoted Th2 and Th17 differentiation and inhibited Th1 differentiation which may cause imbalance of airway microenvironment. P. aeruginosa or A.baumanni may be hopeful for the treatment of airway hyperresponsveness by inhibition Nodal expression through DNA methylation modification in the promoter.
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van Boxtel AL, Chesebro JE, Heliot C, Ramel MC, Stone RK, Hill CS. A Temporal Window for Signal Activation Dictates the Dimensions of a Nodal Signaling Domain. Dev Cell 2015; 35:175-85. [PMID: 26506307 PMCID: PMC4640439 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Morphogen signaling is critical for the growth and patterning of tissues in embryos and adults, but how morphogen signaling gradients are generated in tissues remains controversial. The morphogen Nodal was proposed to form a long-range signaling gradient via a reaction-diffusion system, on the basis of differential diffusion rates of Nodal and its antagonist Lefty. Here we use a specific zebrafish Nodal biosensor combined with immunofluorescence for phosphorylated Smad2 to demonstrate that endogenous Nodal is unlikely to diffuse over a long range. Instead, short-range Nodal signaling activation in a temporal window is sufficient to determine the dimensions of the Nodal signaling domain. The size of this temporal window is set by the differentially timed production of Nodal and Lefty, which arises mainly from repression of Lefty translation by the microRNA miR-430. Thus, temporal information is transformed into spatial information to define the dimensions of the Nodal signaling domain and, consequently, to specify mesendoderm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonius L van Boxtel
- Developmental Signalling, The Francis Crick Institute, Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratory, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK
| | - John E Chesebro
- Developmental Signalling, The Francis Crick Institute, Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratory, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK
| | - Claire Heliot
- Developmental Signalling, The Francis Crick Institute, Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratory, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK
| | - Marie-Christine Ramel
- Developmental Signalling, The Francis Crick Institute, Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratory, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK
| | - Richard K Stone
- Experimental Histopathology, The Francis Crick Institute, Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratory, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK
| | - Caroline S Hill
- Developmental Signalling, The Francis Crick Institute, Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratory, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK.
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Bertacchi M, Lupo G, Pandolfini L, Casarosa S, D'Onofrio M, Pedersen RA, Harris WA, Cremisi F. Activin/Nodal Signaling Supports Retinal Progenitor Specification in a Narrow Time Window during Pluripotent Stem Cell Neuralization. Stem Cell Reports 2015; 5:532-45. [PMID: 26388287 PMCID: PMC4624997 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal progenitors are initially found in the anterior neural plate region known as the eye field, whereas neighboring areas undertake telencephalic or hypothalamic development. Eye field cells become specified by switching on a network of eye field transcription factors, but the extracellular cues activating this network remain unclear. In this study, we used chemically defined media to induce in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) toward eye field fates. Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling was sufficient to drive ESCs to telencephalic, but not retinal, fates. Instead, retinal progenitors could be generated from competent differentiating mouse ESCs by activation of Activin/Nodal signaling within a narrow temporal window corresponding to the emergence of primitive anterior neural progenitors. Activin also promoted eye field gene expression in differentiating human ESCs. Our results reveal insights into the mechanisms of eye field specification and open new avenues toward the generation of retinal progenitors for translational medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Bertacchi
- Laboratorio di Biologia, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lupo
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Luca Pandolfini
- Laboratorio di Biologia, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Simona Casarosa
- Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Via delle Regole 101, 38123 Mattarello (Trento), Italy
| | - Mara D'Onofrio
- Genomics Facility, European Brain Research Institute "Rita Levi-Montalcini," Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; Istituto di Farmacologia Traslazionale, CNR, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Department of Surgery and The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, West Forvie Building, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - William A Harris
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Federico Cremisi
- Laboratorio di Biologia, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56124 Pisa, Italy; Institute of Biomedical Technologies (ITB), National Research Council (CNR) of Pisa, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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Haillot E, Molina MD, Lapraz F, Lepage T. The Maternal Maverick/GDF15-like TGF-β Ligand Panda Directs Dorsal-Ventral Axis Formation by Restricting Nodal Expression in the Sea Urchin Embryo. PLoS Biol 2015; 13:e1002247. [PMID: 26352141 PMCID: PMC4564238 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Specification of the dorsal-ventral axis in the highly regulative sea urchin embryo critically relies on the zygotic expression of nodal, but whether maternal factors provide the initial spatial cue to orient this axis is not known. Although redox gradients have been proposed to entrain the dorsal-ventral axis by acting upstream of nodal, manipulating the activity of redox gradients only has modest consequences, suggesting that other factors are responsible for orienting nodal expression and defining the dorsal-ventral axis. Here we uncover the function of Panda, a maternally provided transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) ligand that requires the activin receptor-like kinases (Alk) Alk3/6 and Alk1/2 receptors to break the radial symmetry of the embryo and orient the dorsal-ventral axis by restricting nodal expression. We found that the double inhibition of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptors Alk3/6 and Alk1/2 causes a phenotype dramatically more severe than the BMP2/4 loss-of-function phenotype, leading to extreme ventralization of the embryo through massive ectopic expression of nodal, suggesting that an unidentified signal acting through BMP type I receptors cooperates with BMP2/4 to restrict nodal expression. We identified this ligand as the product of maternal Panda mRNA. Double inactivation of panda and bmp2/4 led to extreme ventralization, mimicking the phenotype caused by inactivation of the two BMP receptors. Inhibition of maternal panda mRNA translation disrupted the early spatial restriction of nodal, leading to persistent massive ectopic expression of nodal on the dorsal side despite the presence of Lefty. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Panda is not a prototypical BMP ligand but a member of a subfamily of TGF-β distantly related to Inhibins, Lefty, and TGF-β that includes Maverick from Drosophila and GDF15 from vertebrates. Indeed, overexpression of Panda does not appear to directly or strongly activate phosphoSmad1/5/8 signaling, suggesting that although this TGF-β may require Alk1/2 and/or Alk3/6 to antagonize nodal expression, it may do so by sequestering a factor essential for Nodal signaling, by activating a non-Smad pathway downstream of the type I receptors, or by activating extremely low levels of pSmad1/5/8. We provide evidence that, although panda mRNA is broadly distributed in the early embryo, local expression of panda mRNA efficiently orients the dorsal-ventral axis and that Panda activity is required locally in the early embryo to specify this axis. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that maternal panda mRNA is both necessary and sufficient to orient the dorsal-ventral axis. These results therefore provide evidence that in the highly regulative sea urchin embryo, the activity of spatially restricted maternal factors regulates patterning along the dorsal-ventral axis. Panda, a member of the TGF-beta family of signaling molecules, is encoded by maternal mRNA and helps to break radial symmetry and orient the dorsal-ventral axis of the developing sea urchin embryo. A key event during development of bilaterians is specification of the anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral axes of the embryo. In some species, such as the fly Drosophila, this process relies on the activity of maternal determinants localized into the egg during oogenesis. However, in other animals, such as mammals or echinoderms, which are renowned for the developmental plasticity of their embryos, there is presently no evidence for maternal determinants controlling axis formation, and how these embryonic axes emerge from radially symmetrical embryos remains unknown. In the sea urchin embryo, specification of the dorsal-ventral axis critically relies on the localized expression of the TGF-β ligand Nodal in the presumptive ventral territory, but what controls the spatially restricted expression of nodal is not known. We discovered that in the sea urchin embryo, the initial restriction of nodal expression is directed by another TGF-β ligand that is expressed maternally, which we named Panda. Panda is both necessary for the early spatial restriction of nodal and sufficient to orient the dorsal-ventral axis when misexpressed locally. Altogether, our findings suggest that Panda may act as a maternal signal that defines the orientation of the dorsal-ventral axis. Thus, an antagonism between Nodal and maternal Panda signaling drives dorsal-ventral axis formation in the sea urchin embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Haillot
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, iBV, UMR 7277 CNRS, Inserm U1091, UNS, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
| | - Maria Dolores Molina
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, iBV, UMR 7277 CNRS, Inserm U1091, UNS, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
| | - François Lapraz
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, iBV, UMR 7277 CNRS, Inserm U1091, UNS, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
| | - Thierry Lepage
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, iBV, UMR 7277 CNRS, Inserm U1091, UNS, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
- * E-mail:
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Li FF, Zhou J, Zhao DD, Yan P, Li X, Han Y, Li XS, Wang GY, Yu KJ, Liu SL. Characterization of SMAD3 Gene Variants for Possible Roles in Ventricular Septal Defects and Other Congenital Heart Diseases. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131542. [PMID: 26110764 PMCID: PMC4482402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nodal/TGF signaling pathway has an important effect at early stages of differentiation of human embryonic stem cells in directing them to develop into different embryonic lineages. SMAD3 is a key intracellular messenger regulating factor in the Nodal/TGF signaling pathway, playing important roles in embryonic and, particularly, cardiovascular system development. The aim of this work was to find evidence on whether SMAD3 variations might be associated with ventricular septal defects (VSD) or other congenital heart diseases (CHD). METHODS We sequenced the SMAD3 gene for 372 Chinese Han CHD patients including 176 VSD patients and evaluated SNP rs2289263, which is located before the 5'UTR sequence of the gene. The statistical analyses were conducted using Chi-Square Tests as implemented in SPSS (version 13.0). The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test of the population was carried out using the online software OEGE. RESULTS Three heterozygous variants in SMAD3 gene, rs2289263, rs35874463 and rs17228212, were identified. Statistical analyses showed that the rs2289263 variant located before the 5'UTR sequence of SMAD3 gene was associated with the risk of VSD (P value=0.013 <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The SNP rs2289263 in the SMAD3 gene is associated with VSD in Chinese Han populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Feng Li
- Genomics Research Center (one of the State-Province Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Engineering, China), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Intensive Care Unit, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhao
- Genomics Research Center (one of the State-Province Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Engineering, China), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Peng Yan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xia Li
- Genomics Research Center (one of the State-Province Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Engineering, China), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ying Han
- Genomics Research Center (one of the State-Province Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Engineering, China), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | | | - Gui-Yu Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- * E-mail: (GYW); (KJY); (SLL)
| | - Kai-Jiang Yu
- Intensive Care Unit, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- * E-mail: (GYW); (KJY); (SLL)
| | - Shu-Lin Liu
- Genomics Research Center (one of the State-Province Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Engineering, China), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- * E-mail: (GYW); (KJY); (SLL)
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Bertero A, Madrigal P, Galli A, Hubner NC, Moreno I, Burks D, Brown S, Pedersen RA, Gaffney D, Mendjan S, Pauklin S, Vallier L. Activin/nodal signaling and NANOG orchestrate human embryonic stem cell fate decisions by controlling the H3K4me3 chromatin mark. Genes Dev 2015; 29:702-17. [PMID: 25805847 PMCID: PMC4387713 DOI: 10.1101/gad.255984.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells can self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types. These characteristics are maintained by the combination of specific signaling pathways and transcription factors that cooperate to establish a unique epigenetic state. Despite the broad interest of these mechanisms, the precise molecular controls by which extracellular signals organize epigenetic marks to confer multipotency remain to be uncovered. Here, we use human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to show that the Activin-SMAD2/3 signaling pathway cooperates with the core pluripotency factor NANOG to recruit the DPY30-COMPASS histone modifiers onto key developmental genes. Functional studies demonstrate the importance of these interactions for correct histone 3 Lys4 trimethylation and also self-renewal and differentiation. Finally, genetic studies in mice show that Dpy30 is also necessary to maintain pluripotency in the pregastrulation embryo, thereby confirming the existence of similar regulations in vivo during early embryonic development. Our results reveal the mechanisms by which extracellular factors coordinate chromatin status and cell fate decisions in hESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Bertero
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro Madrigal
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Antonella Galli
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Nina C Hubner
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Inmaculada Moreno
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Deborah Burks
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Stephanie Brown
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Gaffney
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Sasha Mendjan
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Siim Pauklin
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute Anne McLaren Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom;
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50
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Abstract
Activin/Nodal growth factors control a broad range of biological processes, including early cell fate decisions, organogenesis and adult tissue homeostasis. Here, we provide an overview of the mechanisms by which the Activin/Nodal signalling pathway governs stem cell function in these different stages of development. We describe recent findings that associate Activin/Nodal signalling to pathological conditions, focusing on cancer stem cells in tumorigenesis and its potential as a target for therapies. Moreover, we will discuss future directions and questions that currently remain unanswered on the role of Activin/Nodal signalling in stem cell self-renewal, differentiation and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siim Pauklin
- Anne McLaren Laboratory For Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, West Forvie Building, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Anne McLaren Laboratory For Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, West Forvie Building, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
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