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Jackson BT, Finley LWS. Metabolic regulation of the hallmarks of stem cell biology. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:161-180. [PMID: 38306993 PMCID: PMC10842269 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Stem cells perform many different functions, each of which requires specific metabolic adaptations. Over the past decades, studies of pluripotent and tissue stem cells have uncovered a range of metabolic preferences and strategies that correlate with or exert control over specific cell states. This review aims to describe the common themes that emerge from the study of stem cell metabolism: (1) metabolic pathways supporting stem cell proliferation, (2) metabolic pathways maintaining stem cell quiescence, (3) metabolic control of cellular stress responses and cell death, (4) metabolic regulation of stem cell identity, and (5) metabolic requirements of the stem cell niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin T Jackson
- Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lydia W S Finley
- Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Tippetts TS, Sieber MH, Solmonson A. Beyond energy and growth: the role of metabolism in developmental signaling, cell behavior and diapause. Development 2023; 150:dev201610. [PMID: 37883062 PMCID: PMC10652041 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Metabolism is crucial for development through supporting cell growth, energy production, establishing cell identity, developmental signaling and pattern formation. In many model systems, development occurs alongside metabolic transitions as cells differentiate and specialize in metabolism that supports new functions. Some cells exhibit metabolic flexibility to circumvent mutations or aberrant signaling, whereas other cell types require specific nutrients for developmental progress. Metabolic gradients and protein modifications enable pattern formation and cell communication. On an organism level, inadequate nutrients or stress can limit germ cell maturation, implantation and maturity through diapause, which slows metabolic activities until embryonic activation under improved environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor S. Tippetts
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Matthew H. Sieber
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ashley Solmonson
- Laboratory of Developmental Metabolism and Placental Biology, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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3
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Collignon E, Cho B, Furlan G, Fothergill-Robinson J, Martin SB, McClymont SA, Ross RL, Limbach PA, Ramalho-Santos M. m 6A RNA methylation orchestrates transcriptional dormancy during paused pluripotency. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1279-1289. [PMID: 37696947 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01212-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Embryos across metazoan lineages can enter reversible states of developmental pausing, or diapause, in response to adverse environmental conditions. The molecular mechanisms that underlie this remarkable dormant state remain largely unknown. Here we show that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation by Mettl3 is required for developmental pausing in mouse blastocysts and embryonic stem (ES) cells. Mettl3 enforces transcriptional dormancy through two interconnected mechanisms: (1) it promotes global mRNA destabilization and (2) it suppresses global nascent transcription by destabilizing the mRNA of the transcriptional amplifier and oncogene N-Myc, which we identify as a crucial anti-pausing factor. Knockdown of N-Myc rescues pausing in Mettl3-/- ES cells, and forced demethylation and stabilization of Mycn mRNA in paused wild-type ES cells largely recapitulates the transcriptional defects of Mettl3-/- ES cells. These findings uncover Mettl3 as a key orchestrator of the crosstalk between transcriptomic and epitranscriptomic regulation during developmental pausing, with implications for dormancy in adult stem cells and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyne Collignon
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB-Cancer Research Centre (U-CRC) and Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Brandon Cho
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Giacomo Furlan
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie Fothergill-Robinson
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sylvia-Bryn Martin
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah A McClymont
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Patrick A Limbach
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Miguel Ramalho-Santos
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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4
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Collignon E, Cho B, Fothergill-Robinson J, Furlan G, Ross RL, Limbach PA, Ramalho-Santos M. m 6 A RNA methylation orchestrates transcriptional dormancy during developmental pausing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.30.526234. [PMID: 36778216 PMCID: PMC9915470 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.30.526234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Embryos across metazoan lineages can enter reversible states of developmental pausing, or diapause, in response to adverse environmental conditions. The molecular mechanisms that underlie this remarkable dormant state remain largely unknown. Here we show that m 6 A RNA methylation by Mettl3 is required for developmental pausing in mice by maintaining dormancy of paused embryonic stem cells and blastocysts. Mettl3 enforces transcriptional dormancy via two interconnected mechanisms: i) it promotes global mRNA destabilization and ii) suppresses global nascent transcription by specifically destabilizing the mRNA of the transcriptional amplifier and oncogene N-Myc, which we identify as a critical anti-pausing factor. Our findings reveal Mettl3 as a key orchestrator of the crosstalk between transcriptomic and epitranscriptomic regulation during pausing, with implications for dormancy in stem cells and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyne Collignon
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Brandon Cho
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Julie Fothergill-Robinson
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Giacomo Furlan
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | | | - Patrick A. Limbach
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati; Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Miguel Ramalho-Santos
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
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5
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Correia B, Sousa MI, Branco AF, Rodrigues AS, Ramalho-Santos J. Leucine and Arginine Availability Modulate Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Proliferation and Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214286. [PMID: 36430764 PMCID: PMC9694364 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acids are crucial nutrients involved in several cellular and physiological processes, including fertilization and early embryo development. In particular, Leucine and Arginine have been shown to stimulate implantation, as lack of both in a blastocyst culture system is able to induce a dormant state in embryos. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of Leucine and Arginine withdrawal on pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cell status, notably, their growth, self-renewal, as well as glycolytic and oxidative metabolism. Our results show that the absence of both Leucine and Arginine does not affect mouse embryonic stem cell pluripotency, while reducing cell proliferation through cell-cycle arrest. Importantly, these effects are not related to Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) and are reversible when both amino acids are reconstituted in the culture media. Moreover, a lack of these amino acids is related to a reduction in glycolytic and oxidative metabolism and decreased protein translation in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), while maintaining their pluripotent status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibiana Correia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Inês Sousa
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Filipa Branco
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Sofia Rodrigues
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Ramalho-Santos
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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6
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Hussein AM, Balachandar N, Mathieu J, Ruohola-Baker H. Molecular Regulators of Embryonic Diapause and Cancer Diapause-like State. Cells 2022; 11:cells11192929. [PMID: 36230891 PMCID: PMC9562880 DOI: 10.3390/cells11192929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic diapause is an enigmatic state of dormancy that interrupts the normally tight connection between developmental stages and time. This reproductive strategy and state of suspended development occurs in mice, bears, roe deer, and over 130 other mammals and favors the survival of newborns. Diapause arrests the embryo at the blastocyst stage, delaying the post-implantation development of the embryo. This months-long quiescence is reversible, in contrast to senescence that occurs in aging stem cells. Recent studies have revealed critical regulators of diapause. These findings are important since defects in the diapause state can cause a lack of regeneration and control of normal growth. Controlling this state may also have therapeutic applications since recent findings suggest that radiation and chemotherapy may lead some cancer cells to a protective diapause-like, reversible state. Interestingly, recent studies have shown the metabolic regulation of epigenetic modifications and the role of microRNAs in embryonic diapause. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanism of diapause induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdiasis M. Hussein
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Nanditaa Balachandar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 603203, India
| | - Julie Mathieu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Hannele Ruohola-Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Correspondence:
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7
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Diamante L, Martello G. Metabolic regulation in pluripotent stem cells. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 75:101923. [PMID: 35691147 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have the capacity to give rise to all cell types of the adult body and to expand rapidly while retaining genome integrity, representing a perfect tool for regenerative medicine. PSCs are obtained from preimplantation embryos as embryonic stem cells (ESCs), or by reprogramming of somatic cells as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Understanding the metabolic requirements of PSCs is instrumental for their efficient generation, expansion and differentiation. PSCs reshape their metabolic profile during developmental progression. Fatty acid oxidation is strictly required for energy production in naive PSCs, but becomes dispensable in more advanced, or primed, PSCs. Other metabolites directly affect proliferation, differentiation or the epigenetic profile of PSCs, showing how metabolism plays an instructive role on PSC behaviour. Developmental progression of pluripotent cells can be paused, both in vitro and in vivo, in response to hormonal and metabolic alterations. Such reversible pausing has been recently linked to mammalian target of rapamycin activity, lipid metabolism and mitochondrial activity. Finally, metabolism is not simply regulated by exogenous stimuli or nutrient availability in PSCs, as key pluripotency regulators, such as Oct4, Stat3 and Tfcp2l1, actively shape the metabolic profile of PSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Diamante
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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8
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Moniz I, Ramalho-Santos J, Branco AF. Differential Oxygen Exposure Modulates Mesenchymal Stem Cell Metabolism and Proliferation through mTOR Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073749. [PMID: 35409106 PMCID: PMC8998189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells reside under precise hypoxic conditions that are paramount in determining cell fate and behavior (metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, etc.). In this work, we show that different oxygen tensions promote a distinct proliferative response and affect the biosynthetic demand and global metabolic profile of umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs). Using both gas-based strategies and CoCl2 as a substitute for the costly hypoxic chambers, we found that specific oxygen tensions influence the fate of UC-MSCs differently. While 5% O2 potentiates proliferation, stimulates biosynthetic pathways, and promotes a global hypermetabolic profile, exposure to <1% O2 contributes to a quiescent-like cell state that relies heavily on anaerobic glycolysis. We show that using CoCl2 as a hypoxia substitute of moderate hypoxia has distinct metabolic effects, when compared with gas-based strategies. The present study also highlights that, while severe hypoxia regulates global translation via mTORC1 modulation, its effects on survival-related mechanisms are mainly modulated through mTORC2. Therefore, the experimental conditions used in this study establish a robust and reliable hypoxia model for UC-MSCs, providing relevant insights into how stem cells are influenced by their physiological environment, and how different strategies of modulating hypoxia may influence experimental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Moniz
- CNC—Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - João Ramalho-Santos
- CNC—Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- Correspondence: (J.R.-S.); (A.F.B.)
| | - Ana F. Branco
- CNC—Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (J.R.-S.); (A.F.B.)
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9
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Alhasan BA, Gordeev SA, Knyazeva AR, Aleksandrova KV, Margulis BA, Guzhova IV, Suvorova II. The mTOR Pathway in Pluripotent Stem Cells: Lessons for Understanding Cancer Cell Dormancy. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:858. [PMID: 34832087 PMCID: PMC8620939 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11110858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the success of targeted anticancer therapies largely depends on the correct understanding of the dormant state of cancer cells, since it is increasingly regarded to fuel tumor recurrence. The concept of cancer cell dormancy is often considered as an adaptive response of cancer cells to stress, and, therefore, is limited. It is possible that the cancer dormant state is not a privilege of cancer cells but the same reproductive survival strategy as diapause used by embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Recent advances reveal that high autophagy and mTOR pathway reduction are key mechanisms contributing to dormancy and diapause. ESCs, sharing their main features with cancer stem cells, have a delicate balance between the mTOR pathway and autophagy activity permissive for diapause induction. In this review, we discuss the functioning of the mTOR signaling and autophagy in ESCs in detail that allows us to deepen our understanding of the biology of cancer cell dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Irina I. Suvorova
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia; (B.A.A.); (S.A.G.); (A.R.K.); (K.V.A.); (B.A.M.); (I.V.G.)
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10
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van der Weijden VA, Bulut-Karslioglu A. Molecular Regulation of Paused Pluripotency in Early Mammalian Embryos and Stem Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:708318. [PMID: 34386497 PMCID: PMC8353277 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.708318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The energetically costly mammalian investment in gestation and lactation requires plentiful nutritional sources and thus links the environmental conditions to reproductive success. Flexibility in adjusting developmental timing enhances chances of survival in adverse conditions. Over 130 mammalian species can reversibly pause early embryonic development by switching to a near dormant state that can be sustained for months, a phenomenon called embryonic diapause. Lineage-specific cells are retained during diapause, and they proliferate and differentiate upon activation. Studying diapause thus reveals principles of pluripotency and dormancy and is not only relevant for development, but also for regeneration and cancer. In this review, we focus on the molecular regulation of diapause in early mammalian embryos and relate it to maintenance of potency in stem cells in vitro. Diapause is established and maintained by active rewiring of the embryonic metabolome, epigenome, and gene expression in communication with maternal tissues. Herein, we particularly discuss factors required at distinct stages of diapause to induce, maintain, and terminate dormancy.
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11
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Correia B, Sousa MI, Branco AF, Ramalho-Santos J. Monitoring Mitochondrial Function in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells (mESCs). Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2310:47-56. [PMID: 34095997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) can be grown in culture, recapitulating the different states of pluripotency of their in vivo counterparts, with notably different metabolic profiles. mESCs in a naïve pluripotent state present an ambivalent metabolism, using both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation as energy sources. Here, we describe a method to evaluate the oxidative function of naïve mESCs using the Seahorse Extracellular Flux Analyzer coupled to flow cytometry analysis of mitochondrial transmembrane potential using the TMRM fluorescence probe, thus assessing both oxygen consumption and mitochondrial membrane potential. This may be a useful protocol for understanding how mitochondrial oxidative function and potential of mESCs change in certain circumstances, and how is it related with various pluripotency/differentiation phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibiana Correia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Inês Sousa
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana F Branco
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Ramalho-Santos
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Polo 3, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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12
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Effects of DMSO on the Pluripotency of Cultured Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells (mESCs). Stem Cells Int 2020; 2020:8835353. [PMID: 33123203 PMCID: PMC7584961 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8835353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
DMSO is a commonly used solvent in biological studies, as it is an amphipathic molecule soluble in both aqueous and organic media. For that reason, it is the vehicle of choice for several water-insoluble substances used in research. At the molecular and cellular level, DMSO is a hydrogen-bound disrupter, an intercellular electrical uncoupler, and a cryoprotectant, among other properties. Importantly, DMSO often has overlooked side effects. In stem cell research, the literature is scarce, but there are reports on the effect of DMSO in human embryoid body differentiation and on human pluripotent stem cell priming towards differentiation, via modulation of cell cycle. However, in mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) culture, there is almost no available information. Taking into consideration the almost ubiquitous use of DMSO in experiments involving mESCs, we aimed to understand the effect of very low doses of DMSO (0.0001%-0.2%), usually used to introduce pharmacological inhibitors/modulators, in mESCs cultured in two different media (2i and FBS-based media). Our results show that in the E14Tg2a mESC line used in this study, even the smallest concentration of DMSO had minor effects on the total number of cells in serum-cultured mESCs. However, these effects could not be explained by alterations in cell cycle or apoptosis. Furthermore, DMSO did not affect pluripotency or differentiation potential. All things considered, and although control experiments should be carried out in each cell line that is used, it is reasonable to conclude that DMSO at the concentrations used here has a minimal effect on this particular mESC line.
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