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Chen B, Khan H, Yu Z, Yao L, Freeburne E, Jo K, Johnson C, Heemskerk I. Extended culture of 2D gastruloids to model human mesoderm development. Nat Methods 2025:10.1038/s41592-025-02669-4. [PMID: 40335707 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-025-02669-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2025] [Indexed: 05/09/2025]
Abstract
Micropatterned human pluripotent stem cells treated with BMP4 (two-dimensional (2D) gastruloids) are among the most widely used stem cell models for human gastrulation. Due to its simplicity and reproducibility, this system is ideal for high-throughput quantitative studies of tissue patterning and has led to many insights into the mechanisms of mammalian gastrulation. However, 2D gastruloids have been studied only up to about 2 days owing to a loss of organization beyond this time with earlier protocols. Here we report an extended 2D gastruloid model to up to 10 days. We discovered a phase of highly reproducible morphogenesis between 2 and 4 days during which directed migration from the primitive streak-like region gives rise to a mesodermal layer beneath an epiblast-like layer. Multiple types of mesoderm arise with striking spatial organization including lateral plate mesoderm-like cells on the colony border and paraxial mesoderm-like cells further inside the colony. Single-cell transcriptomics showed strong similarity of these cells to mesoderm in human and nonhuman primate embryos. Our results illustrate that extended culture of 2D gastruloids provides a powerful model for human mesoderm differentiation and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohan Chen
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hina Khan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zhiyuan Yu
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - LiAng Yao
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emily Freeburne
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kyoung Jo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Craig Johnson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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2
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Bhattacharya I, Nalinan LK, Anusree KV, Saleel A, Khamamkar A, Dey S. Evolving Lessons on Metazoan Primordial Germ Cells in Diversity and Development. Mol Reprod Dev 2025; 92:e70027. [PMID: 40349219 PMCID: PMC12066098 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.70027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2025] [Indexed: 05/14/2025]
Abstract
Germ cells are pivotal for the continuation of biological species. The metazoan germline develops from primordial germ cells (PGCs) that undergo multiple rounds of mitotic divisions. The PGCs are specified by either maternal inheritance of asymmetrically polarized cytoplasmic mRNAs/proteins (found in roundworms, flies, fishes, frogs, and fowl) or via direct induction of epiblast cells from adjacent extraembryonic ectoderm in mammals. In all vertebrates, PGCs remain uncommitted to meiosis and migrate to colonize the developing gonadal ridge before sex determination. Multiple RNA-binding proteins (e.g., Vasa, Dnd, Dazl, etc.) play crucial roles in PGC identity, expansion, survival, and migration. Postsex determination in mouse embryos, Gata4, expressing nascent gonads, induces Dazl expression in newly arriving germ cells that supports retinoic acid-mediated induction of meiotic onset. This article briefly discusses the developmental events regulating the PGC specification and commitment in metazoans. We also highlight the recent progress towards the in vitro generation of functional PGC-like cells in rodents and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrashis Bhattacharya
- Department of ZoologyThe Central University of KeralaTejaswini Hills, Periye (PO)Kasaragod (DT)KeralaIndia
| | - Lakshmi K. Nalinan
- Department of ZoologyThe Central University of KeralaTejaswini Hills, Periye (PO)Kasaragod (DT)KeralaIndia
| | - K. V. Anusree
- Department of ZoologyThe Central University of KeralaTejaswini Hills, Periye (PO)Kasaragod (DT)KeralaIndia
| | - Ahmed Saleel
- Department of ZoologyThe Central University of KeralaTejaswini Hills, Periye (PO)Kasaragod (DT)KeralaIndia
| | - Aditi Khamamkar
- Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics ResearchManipal Academy of Higher EducationManipalKarnatakaIndia
| | - Souvik Dey
- Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics ResearchManipal Academy of Higher EducationManipalKarnatakaIndia
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3
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Haantjes RR, Strik J, de Visser J, Postma M, van Amerongen R, van Boxtel AL. Towards an integrated view and understanding of embryonic signalling during murine gastrulation. Cells Dev 2025:204028. [PMID: 40316255 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2025] [Accepted: 04/29/2025] [Indexed: 05/04/2025]
Abstract
At the onset of mammalian gastrulation, secreted signalling molecules belonging to the Bmp, Wnt, Nodal and Fgf signalling pathways induce and pattern the primitive streak, marking the start for the cellular rearrangements that generate the body plan. Our current understanding of how signalling specifies and organises the germ layers in three dimensions, was mainly derived from genetic experimentation using mouse embryos performed over many decades. However, the exact spatiotemporal sequence of events is still poorly understood, both because of a lack of tractable models that allow for real time visualisation of signalling and differentiation and because of the molecular and cellular complexity of these early developmental events. In recent years, a new wave of in vitro embryo models has begun to shed light on the dynamics of signalling during primitive streak formation. Here we discuss the similarities and differences between a widely adopted mouse embryo model, termed gastruloids, and real embryos from a signalling perspective. We focus on the gene regulatory networks that underlie signalling pathway interactions and outline some of the challenges ahead. Finally, we provide a perspective on how embryo models may be used to advance our understanding of signalling dynamics through computational modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhanna R Haantjes
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS), University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Jeske Strik
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS), University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University, 6525GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Joëlle de Visser
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS), University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Marten Postma
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS), University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Renée van Amerongen
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS), University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Antonius L van Boxtel
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS), University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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4
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Hua L, Peng Y, Yan L, Yuan P, Qiao J. Moving toward totipotency: the molecular and cellular features of totipotent and naive pluripotent stem cells. Hum Reprod Update 2025:dmaf006. [PMID: 40299455 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaf006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2025] [Indexed: 04/30/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dissecting the key molecular mechanism of embryonic development provides novel insights into embryogenesis and potential intervention strategies for clinical practices. However, the ability to study the molecular mechanisms of early embryo development in humans, such as zygotic genome activation and lineage segregation, is meaningfully constrained by methodological limitations and ethical concerns. Totipotent stem cells have an extended developmental potential to differentiate into embryonic and extraembryonic tissues, providing a suitable model for studying early embryo development. Recently, a series of ground-breaking results on stem cells have identified totipotent-like cells or induced pluripotent stem cells into totipotent-like cells. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review followed the PRISMA guidelines, surveys the current works of literature on totipotent, naive, and formative pluripotent stem cells, introduces the molecular and biological characteristics of those stem cells, and gives advice for future research. SEARCH METHODS The search method employed the terms 'totipotent' OR 'naive pluripotent stem cell' OR 'formative pluripotent stem cell' for unfiltered search on PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Papers included were those with information on totipotent stem cells, naive pluripotent stem cells, or formative pluripotent stem cells until June 2024 and were published in the English language. Articles that have no relevance to stem cells, or totipotent, naive pluripotent, or formative pluripotent cells were excluded. OUTCOMES There were 152 records included in this review. These publications were divided into four groups according to the species of the cells included in the studies: 67 human stem cell studies, 70 mouse stem cell studies, 9 porcine stem cell studies, and 6 cynomolgus stem cell studies. Naive pluripotent stem cell models have been established in other species such as porcine and cynomolgus. Human and mouse totipotent stem cells, e.g. human 8-cell-like cells, human totipotent blastomere-like cells, and mouse 2-cell-like cells, have been successfully established and exhibit high developmental potency for both embryonic and extraembryonic contributions. However, the observed discrepancies between these cells and real embryos in terms of epigenetics and transcription suggest that further research is warranted. Our results systematically reviewed the established methods, molecular characteristics, and developmental potency of different naive, formative pluripotent, and totipotent stem cells. Furthermore, we provide a parallel comparison between animal and human models, and offer recommendations for future applications to advance early embryo research and assisted reproduction technologies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Totipotent cell models provide a valuable resource to understand the underlying mechanisms of embryo development and forge new paths toward future treatment of infertility and regenerative medicine. However, current in vitro cell models exhibit epigenetic and transcriptional differences from in vivo embryos, and many cell models are unstable across passages, thus imperfectly recapitulating embryonic development. In this regard, standardizing and expanding current research on totipotent stem cell models are essential to enhance our capability to resemble and decipher embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyue Hua
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yuyang Peng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Qiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Beijing, China
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5
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Ren H, Jia X, Yu L. The building blocks of embryo models: embryonic and extraembryonic stem cells. Cell Discov 2025; 11:40. [PMID: 40258839 PMCID: PMC12012135 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-025-00780-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2025] [Indexed: 04/23/2025] Open
Abstract
The process of a single-celled zygote developing into a complex multicellular organism is precisely regulated at spatial and temporal levels in vivo. However, understanding the mechanisms underlying development, particularly in humans, has been constrained by technical and ethical limitations associated with studying natural embryos. Harnessing the intrinsic ability of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to self-organize when induced and assembled, researchers have established several embryo models as alternative approaches to studying early development in vitro. Recent studies have revealed the critical role of extraembryonic cells in early development; and many groups have created more sophisticated and precise ESC-derived embryo models by incorporating extraembryonic stem cell lines, such as trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), extraembryonic mesoderm cells (EXMCs), extraembryonic endoderm cells (XENs, in rodents), and hypoblast stem cells (in primates). Here, we summarize the characteristics of existing mouse and human embryonic and extraembryonic stem cells and review recent advancements in developing mouse and human embryo models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongan Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojie Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Leqian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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6
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Nakanoh S. Exploring early extraembryonic cells of epiblast origin: Questions on human amniotic ectoderm and extraembryonic mesoderm. Dev Biol 2025; 524:80-86. [PMID: 40228781 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2025.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2025] [Accepted: 04/12/2025] [Indexed: 04/16/2025]
Abstract
Extraembryonic tissues are essential for proper fetal development and exhibit great diversity across species. Despite its importance, human extraembryonic development has been relatively overlooked. Previously, we established an in vitro model to study human amniogenesis and extraembryonic mesoderm formation. In this article, I develop discussions on four topics inspired by this study: (1) Features of amniotic cell populations described to date. A recently reported early amniotic cell type is examined based on its signature genes to consider how this population should be incorporated into models of primate amniogenesis. (2) Molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of cell density in regulating non-neural ectoderm specification. Fate specification by positional cues in mouse is revisited and possible mechanisms are suggested by drawing insights from human epiblast models. (3) Potential applications of the three-dimensional culture we established. Primate amniotic ectoderm is postulated as a gastrulation-inducing signaling center, and our technique could be used to effectively model its interactions with epiblast. (4) Extraembryonic mesoderm development in human embryos. The obscure origin of primate extraembryonic mesoderm and implications from recent in vitro differentiation models using human pluripotent stem cells are explained. The key concepts explored here will stimulate further studies into both amnion and extraembryonic mesoderm during human and non-human primate development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota Nakanoh
- Epigenetics & Signalling Programmes, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK.
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7
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Fu Y, Fan Q, Wu Y, Bao M. Unlocking the potential of stem-cell-derived 'synthetic' embryo models. Trends Biotechnol 2025:S0167-7799(25)00078-2. [PMID: 40090786 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2025] [Accepted: 02/21/2025] [Indexed: 03/18/2025]
Abstract
Stem-cell-derived 'synthetic' embryo models represent a revolutionary avenue in developmental biology, offering unprecedented insights into embryogenesis and tissue formation. However, the majority of current research on embryo models resides predominantly in the engineering construction phase, with limited substantive applications. This review explores the utilization of these embryo models and their applications in deciphering fundamental developmental processes. We delve into the methodologies employed in generating these models, emphasizing their potential to advance our understanding of embryonic development and disease. By evaluating current advancements and challenges, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the opportunities and implications of employing stem-cell-derived embryo models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiong Fu
- OuJiang Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Qin Fan
- OuJiang Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Yanru Wu
- OuJiang Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Min Bao
- OuJiang Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China; Department of Geriatric Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical Univesity, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
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8
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Ziojła NM, Socha M, Guerra MC, Kizewska D, Blaszczyk K, Urbaniak E, Henry S, Grabowska M, Niakan KK, Warmflash A, Borowiak M. ETVs dictate hPSC differentiation by tuning biophysical properties. Nat Commun 2025; 16:1999. [PMID: 40011454 PMCID: PMC11865489 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56591-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2025] [Indexed: 02/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Stem cells maintain a dynamic dialog with their niche, integrating biochemical and biophysical cues to modulate cellular behavior. Yet, the transcriptional networks that regulate cellular biophysical properties remain poorly defined. Here, we leverage human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and two morphogenesis models - gastruloids and pancreatic differentiation - to establish ETV transcription factors as critical regulators of biophysical parameters and lineage commitment. Genetic ablation of ETV1 or ETV1/ETV4/ETV5 in hPSCs enhances cell-cell and cell-ECM adhesion, leading to aberrant multilineage differentiation including disrupted germ-layer organization, ectoderm loss, and extraembryonic cell overgrowth in gastruloids. Furthermore, ETV1 loss abolishes pancreatic progenitor formation. Single-cell RNA sequencing and follow-up assays reveal dysregulated mechanotransduction via the PI3K/AKT signaling. Our findings highlight the importance of transcriptional control over cell biophysical properties and suggest that manipulating these properties may improve in vitro cell and tissue engineering strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia M Ziojła
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Magdalena Socha
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | | | - Dorota Kizewska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Blaszczyk
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Edyta Urbaniak
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Sara Henry
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Grabowska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Kathy K Niakan
- The Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Aryeh Warmflash
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.
- McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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9
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Lehr S, Brückner DB, Minchington TG, Greunz-Schindler M, Merrin J, Hannezo E, Kicheva A. Self-organized pattern formation in the developing mouse neural tube by a temporal relay of BMP signaling. Dev Cell 2025; 60:567-580.e14. [PMID: 39603235 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 10/30/2024] [Indexed: 11/29/2024]
Abstract
Developing tissues interpret dynamic changes in morphogen activity to generate cell type diversity. To quantitatively study bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling dynamics in the mouse neural tube, we developed an embryonic stem cell differentiation system tailored for growing tissues. Differentiating cells form striking self-organized patterns of dorsal neural tube cell types driven by sequential phases of BMP signaling that are observed both in vitro and in vivo. Data-driven biophysical modeling showed that these dynamics result from coupling fast negative feedback with slow positive regulation of signaling by the specification of an endogenous BMP source. Thus, in contrast to relays that propagate morphogen signaling in space, we identify a BMP signaling relay that operates in time. This mechanism allows for a rapid initial concentration-sensitive response that is robustly terminated, thereby regulating balanced sequential cell type generation. Our study provides an experimental and theoretical framework to understand how signaling dynamics are exploited in developing tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Lehr
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - David B Brückner
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | | | | | - Jack Merrin
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Edouard Hannezo
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
| | - Anna Kicheva
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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10
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Gantner CW, Weatherbee BAT, Wang Y, Zernicka-Goetz M. Assembly of a stem cell-derived human postimplantation embryo model. Nat Protoc 2025; 20:67-91. [PMID: 39261744 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-01042-7] [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: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
The embryonic and extraembryonic tissue interactions underlying human embryogenesis at implantation stages are not currently understood. We have generated a pluripotent stem cell-derived model that mimics aspects of peri-implantation development, allowing tractable experimentation otherwise impossible in the human embryo. Activation of the extraembryonic lineage-specific transcription factors GATA6 and SOX17 (hypoblast factors) or GATA3 and TFAP2C (encoding AP2γ; trophoblast factors) in human embryonic stem (ES) cells drive conversion to extraembryonic-like cells. When combined with wild-type ES cells, self-organized embryo-like structures form in the absence of exogenous factors, termed human inducible embryoids (hiEmbryoids). The epiblast-like domain of hiEmbryoids polarizes and differentiates in response to extraembryonic-secreted extracellular matrix and morphogen cues. Extraembryonic mesenchyme, amnion and primordial germ cells are specified in hiEmbryoids in a stepwise fashion. After establishing stable inducible ES lines and converting ES cells to RSeT culture media, the protocol takes 7-10 d to generate hiEmbryoids. Generation of hiEmbryoids can be performed by researchers with basic expertise in stem cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos W Gantner
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bailey A T Weatherbee
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yuntao Wang
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Stem Cell Embryo Models Group, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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11
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Rito T, Libby ARG, Demuth M, Domart MC, Cornwall-Scoones J, Briscoe J. Timely TGFβ signalling inhibition induces notochord. Nature 2025; 637:673-682. [PMID: 39695233 PMCID: PMC11735409 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08332-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2024] [Indexed: 12/20/2024]
Abstract
The formation of the vertebrate body involves the coordinated production of trunk tissues from progenitors located in the posterior of the embryo. Although in vitro models using pluripotent stem cells replicate aspects of this process1-10, they lack crucial components, most notably the notochord-a defining feature of chordates that patterns surrounding tissues11. Consequently, cell types dependent on notochord signals are absent from current models of human trunk formation. Here we performed single-cell transcriptomic analysis of chick embryos to map molecularly distinct progenitor populations and their spatial organization. Guided by this map, we investigated how differentiating human pluripotent stem cells develop a stereotypical spatial organization of trunk cell types. We found that YAP inactivation in conjunction with FGF-mediated MAPK signalling facilitated WNT pathway activation and induced expression of TBXT (also known as BRA). In addition, timely inhibition of WNT-induced NODAL and BMP signalling regulated the proportions of different tissue types, including notochordal cells. This enabled us to create a three-dimensional model of human trunk development that undergoes morphogenetic movements, producing elongated structures with a notochord and ventral neural and mesodermal tissues. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying vertebrate notochord formation and establish a more comprehensive in vitro model of human trunk development. This paves the way for future studies of tissue patterning in a physiologically relevant environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Rito
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
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12
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Prado MB, Coelho BP, Iglesia RP, Alves RN, Boccacino JM, Fernandes CFL, Melo-Escobar MI, Ayyadhury S, Cruz MC, Santos TG, Beraldo FH, Fan J, Ferreira FM, Nakaya HI, Prado MAM, Prado VF, Duennwald ML, Lopes MH. Prion protein regulates invasiveness in glioblastoma stem cells. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:1539. [PMID: 39695426 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-13285-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 12/03/2024] [Indexed: 12/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor driven by glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), which represent an appealing target for therapeutic interventions. The cellular prion protein (PrPC), a scaffold protein involved in diverse cellular processes, interacts with various membrane and extracellular matrix molecules, influencing tumor biology. Herein, we investigate the impact of PrPC expression on GBM. METHODS To address this goal, we employed CRISPR-Cas9 technology to generate PrPC knockout (KO) glioblastoma cell lines, enabling detailed loss-of-function studies. Bulk RNA sequencing followed by differentially expressed gene and pathway enrichment analyses between U87 or U251 PrPC-wild-type (WT) cells and PrPC-knockout (KO) cells were used to identify pathways regulated by PrPC. Immunofluorescence assays were used to evaluate cellular morphology and protein distribution. For assessment of protein levels, Western blot and flow cytometry assays were employed. Transwell and growth curve assays were used to determine the impact of loss-of-PrPC in GBM invasiveness and proliferation, respectively. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of data from patient tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Broad Institute of Single-Cell Data Portal were used to evaluate the correspondence between our in vitro results and patient samples. RESULTS Transcriptome analysis of PrPC-KO GBM cell lines revealed altered expression of genes associated with crucial tumor progression pathways, including migration, proliferation, and stemness. These findings were corroborated by assays that revealed impaired invasion, migration, proliferation, and self-renewal in PrPC-KO GBM cells, highlighting its critical role in sustaining tumor growth. Notably, loss-of-PrPC disrupted the expression and localization of key stemness markers, particularly CD44. Additionally, the modulation of PrPC levels through CD44 overexpression further emphasizes their regulatory role in these processes. CONCLUSIONS These findings establish PrPC as a modulator of essential molecules on the cell surface of GSCs, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana B Prado
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Stem Cells, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Bárbara P Coelho
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Stem Cells, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rebeca P Iglesia
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Stem Cells, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo N Alves
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Stem Cells, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jacqueline M Boccacino
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Stem Cells, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila F L Fernandes
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Stem Cells, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Isabel Melo-Escobar
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Stem Cells, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Shamini Ayyadhury
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mario C Cruz
- Core Facility to Support Research - Institute of Biomedical Sciences (CEFAP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tiago G Santos
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, International Research Center, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Flávio H Beraldo
- Robarts Research Institute, Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jue Fan
- Robarts Research Institute, Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Frederico M Ferreira
- LIM50, Division of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Helder I Nakaya
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Scientific Platform Pasteur, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marco A M Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vania F Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martin L Duennwald
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marilene H Lopes
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Stem Cells, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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13
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Robles-Garcia M, Thimonier C, Angoura K, Ozga E, MacPherson H, Blin G. In vitro modelling of anterior primitive streak patterning with human pluripotent stem cells identifies the path to notochord progenitors. Development 2024; 151:dev202983. [PMID: 39611739 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 11/20/2024] [Indexed: 11/30/2024]
Abstract
Notochord progenitors (NotoPs) represent a scarce yet crucial embryonic cell population, playing important roles in embryo patterning and eventually giving rise to the cells that form and maintain intervertebral discs. The mechanisms regulating NotoPs emergence are unclear. This knowledge gap persists due to the inherent complexity of cell fate patterning during gastrulation, particularly within the anterior primitive streak (APS), where NotoPs first arise alongside neuro-mesoderm and endoderm. To gain insights into this process, we use micropatterning together with FGF and the WNT pathway activator CHIR9901 to guide the development of human embryonic stem cells into reproducible patterns of APS cell fates. We show that CHIR9901 dosage dictates the downstream dynamics of endogenous TGFβ signalling, which in turn controls cell fate decisions. While sustained NODAL signalling defines endoderm and NODAL inhibition is imperative for neuro-mesoderm emergence, timely inhibition of NODAL signalling with spatial confinement potentiates WNT activity and enables us to generate NotoPs efficiently. Our work elucidates the signalling regimes underpinning NotoP emergence and provides insights into the regulatory mechanisms controlling the balance of APS cell fates during gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Robles-Garcia
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Chloë Thimonier
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Konstantina Angoura
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Ewa Ozga
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Heather MacPherson
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Guillaume Blin
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
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14
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Ryu JR, Ko K, Sun W. Polarization of organoids by bioengineered symmetry breaking. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2024; 17:22-31. [PMID: 38881849 PMCID: PMC11176950 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2024.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Symmetry breaking leading to axis formation and spatial patterning is crucial for achieving more accurate recapitulation of human development in organoids. While these processes can occur spontaneously by self-organizing capabilities of pluripotent stem cells, they can often result in variation in structure and composition of cell types within organoids. To address this limitation, bioengineering techniques that utilize geometric, topological and stiffness factors are increasingly employed to enhance control and consistency. Here, we review how spontaneous manners and engineering tools such as micropattern, microfluidics, biomaterials, etc. can facilitate the process of symmetry breaking leading to germ layer patterning and the formation of anteroposterior and dorsoventral axes in blastoids, gastruloids, neuruloids and neural organoids. Furthermore, brain assembloids, which are composed of multiple brain regions through fusion processes are discussed. The overview of organoid polarization in terms of patterning tools can offer valuable insights for enhancing the physiological relevance of organoid system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Ryun Ryu
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Kahee Ko
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Woong Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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15
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Singh A, Cho YK, Cohen DJ. Rapid Whole-Plate Cell and Tissue Micropatterning Using a Budget 3D Resin Printer. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:43808-43816. [PMID: 39494000 PMCID: PMC11525498 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c06539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 09/26/2024] [Accepted: 10/02/2024] [Indexed: 11/05/2024]
Abstract
The ability to precisely pattern cells and proteins is crucial in various scientific disciplines, including cell biology, bioengineering, and materials chemistry. Current techniques, such as microcontact stamping, 3D bioprinting, and direct photopatterning, have limitations in terms of cost, versatility, and throughput. In this Article, we present an accessible approach that combines the throughput of photomask systems with the versatility of programmable light patterning using a low-cost consumer LCD resin printer. The method involves utilizing a bioinert hydrogel, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), and a 405 nm sensitive photoinitiator (LAP) that are selectively cross-linked to form a hydrogel upon light exposure, creating specific regions that are protein and cell-repellent. Our result highlights that a low-cost LCD resin printer can project virtual photomasks onto the hydrogel, allowing for reasonable resolution and large-area printing at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. The study demonstrates the calibration of exposure times for optimal resolution and accuracy and shape corrections to overcome the inherent challenges of wide-field resin printing. The potential of this approach is validated through widely studied 2D and 3D stem cell applications, showcasing its biocompatibility and ability to replicate complex tissue engineering patterns. We also validate the method with a cell-adhesive polymer (gelatin methacrylate; GelMA). The combination of low cost, high throughput, and accessibility makes this method broadly applicable across fields for enabling rapid and precise fabrication of cells and tissues in standard laboratory culture vessels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamika Singh
- Department
of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Youn Kyoung Cho
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Daniel J. Cohen
- Department
of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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16
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Dagher L, Descroix S, Maître JL. Intercellular fluid dynamics in tissue morphogenesis. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R1031-R1044. [PMID: 39437722 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2024]
Abstract
During embryonic development, cells shape our body, which is mostly made up of water. It is often forgotten that some of this water is found in intercellular fluid, which, for example, immerses the cells of developing embryos. Intercellular fluid contributes to the properties of tissues and influences cell behaviour, thereby participating in tissue morphogenesis. While our understanding of the role of cells in shaping tissues advances, the exploration of the contribution of intercellular fluid dynamics is just beginning. In this review, we delve into the intricate mechanisms employed by cells to control fluid movements both across and within sealed tissue compartments. These mechanisms encompass sealing by tight junctions and controlled leakage, osmotic pumping, hydraulic fracturing of cell adhesion, cell and tissue contractions, as well as beating cilia. We illustrate key concepts by drawing extensively from the early mouse embryo, which successively forms multiple lumens that play essential roles in its development. Finally, we detail experimental approaches and emerging techniques that allow for the quantitative characterization and the manipulation of intercellular fluids in vivo, as well as theoretical frameworks that are crucial for comprehending their dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Dagher
- Institut Curie, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France; Institut Curie, Laboratoire Physics of Cells and Cancer (CNRS UMR 168), Institut Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, Sorbonne Université, PSL Research University, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Descroix
- Institut Curie, Laboratoire Physics of Cells and Cancer (CNRS UMR 168), Institut Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, Sorbonne Université, PSL Research University, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Léon Maître
- Institut Curie, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.
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17
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Rufo J, Qiu C, Han D, Baxter N, Daley G, Wilson MZ. An explainable map of human gastruloid morphospace reveals gastrulation failure modes and predicts teratogens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.20.614192. [PMID: 39386623 PMCID: PMC11463602 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.20.614192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Human gastrulation is a critical stage of development where many pregnancies fail due to poorly understood mechanisms. Using the 2D gastruloid, a stem cell model of human gastrulation, we combined high-throughput drug perturbations and mathematical modelling to create an explainable map of gastruloid morphospace. This map outlines patterning outcomes in response to diverse perturbations and identifies variations in canonical patterning and failure modes. We modeled morphogen dynamics to embed simulated gastruloids into experimentally-determined morphospace to explain how developmental parameters drive patterning. Our model predicted and validated the two greatest sources of patterning variance: cell density-based modulations in Wnt signaling and SOX2 stability. Assigning these parameters as axes of morphospace imparted interpretability. To demonstrate its utility, we predicted novel teratogens that we validated in zebrafish. Overall, we show how stem cell models of development can be used to build a comprehensive and interpretable understanding of the set of developmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Rufo
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Center for BioEngineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Chongxu Qiu
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Dasol Han
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Naomi Baxter
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Gabrielle Daley
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Maxwell Z. Wilson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Center for BioEngineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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18
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Hernández-Martínez R, Nowotschin S, Harland LT, Kuo YY, Theeuwes B, Göttgens B, Lacy E, Hadjantonakis AK, Anderson KV. Axin1 and Axin2 regulate the WNT-signaling landscape to promote distinct mesoderm programs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.11.612342. [PMID: 39314295 PMCID: PMC11419046 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.11.612342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
How distinct mesodermal lineages - extraembryonic, lateral, intermediate, paraxial and axial - are specified from pluripotent epiblast during gastrulation is a longstanding open question. By investigating AXIN, a negative regulator of the WNT/β-catenin pathway, we have uncovered new roles for WNT signaling in the determination of mesodermal fates. We undertook complementary approaches to dissect the role of WNT signaling that augmented a detailed analysis of Axin1;Axin2 mutant mouse embryos, including single-cell and single-embryo transcriptomics, with in vitro pluripotent Epiblast-Like Cell differentiation assays. This strategy allowed us to reveal two layers of regulation. First, WNT initiates differentiation of primitive streak cells into mesoderm progenitors, and thereafter, WNT amplifies and cooperates with BMP/pSMAD1/5/9 or NODAL/pSMAD2/3 to propel differentiating mesoderm progenitors into either posterior streak derivatives or anterior streak derivatives, respectively. We propose that Axin1 and Axin2 prevent aberrant differentiation of pluripotent epiblast cells into mesoderm by spatially and temporally regulating WNT signaling levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Hernández-Martínez
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sonja Nowotschin
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Luke T.G. Harland
- Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ying-Yi Kuo
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Bart Theeuwes
- Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elizabeth Lacy
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kathryn V. Anderson
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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19
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Hu X, Bao M. Advances in micropatterning technology for mechanotransduction research. MECHANOBIOLOGY IN MEDICINE 2024; 2:100066. [PMID: 40395493 PMCID: PMC12082312 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbm.2024.100066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2025]
Abstract
Micropatterning is a sophisticated technique that precisely manipulates the spatial distribution of cell adhesion proteins on various substrates across multiple scales. This precise control over adhesive regions facilitates the manipulation of architectures and physical constraints for single or multiple cells. Furthermore, it allows for an in-depth analysis of how chemical and physical properties influence cellular functionality. In this comprehensive review, we explore the current understanding of the impact of geometrical confinement on cellular functions across various dimensions, emphasizing the benefits of micropatterning in addressing fundamental biological queries. We advocate that utilizing directed self-organization via physical confinement and morphogen gradients on micropatterned surfaces represents an innovative approach to generating functional tissue and controlling morphogenesis in vitro. Integrating this technique with cutting-edge technologies, micropatterning presents a significant potential to bridge a crucial knowledge gap in understanding core biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Hu
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Min Bao
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325001, Zhejiang, China
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20
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Krammer T, Stuart HT, Gromberg E, Ishihara K, Cislo D, Melchionda M, Becerril Perez F, Wang J, Costantini E, Lehr S, Arbanas L, Hörmann A, Neumüller RA, Elvassore N, Siggia E, Briscoe J, Kicheva A, Tanaka EM. Mouse neural tube organoids self-organize floorplate through BMP-mediated cluster competition. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1940-1953.e10. [PMID: 38776925 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
During neural tube (NT) development, the notochord induces an organizer, the floorplate, which secretes Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) to pattern neural progenitors. Conversely, NT organoids (NTOs) from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) spontaneously form floorplates without the notochord, demonstrating that stem cells can self-organize without embryonic inducers. Here, we investigated floorplate self-organization in clonal mouse NTOs. Expression of the floorplate marker FOXA2 was initially spatially scattered before resolving into multiple clusters, which underwent competition and sorting, resulting in a stable "winning" floorplate. We identified that BMP signaling governed long-range cluster competition. FOXA2+ clusters expressed BMP4, suppressing FOXA2 in receiving cells while simultaneously expressing the BMP-inhibitor NOGGIN, promoting cluster persistence. Noggin mutation perturbed floorplate formation in NTOs and in the NT in vivo at mid/hindbrain regions, demonstrating how the floorplate can form autonomously without the notochord. Identifying the pathways governing organizer self-organization is critical for harnessing the developmental plasticity of stem cells in tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Krammer
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannah T Stuart
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria; The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Elena Gromberg
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Keisuke Ishihara
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Dillon Cislo
- Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Fernando Becerril Perez
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jingkui Wang
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Elena Costantini
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefanie Lehr
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Laura Arbanas
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Nicola Elvassore
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova & Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, Italy
| | - Eric Siggia
- Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Anna Kicheva
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Elly M Tanaka
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
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21
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Jo K, Liu ZY, Patel G, Yu Z, Yao L, Teague S, Johnson C, Spence J, Heemskerk I. Endogenous FGFs drive ERK-dependent cell fate patterning in 2D human gastruloids. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.08.602611. [PMID: 39026750 PMCID: PMC11257619 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.08.602611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The role of FGF is the least understood of the morphogens driving mammalian gastrulation. Here we investigated the function of FGF in a stem cell model for human gastrulation known as a 2D gastruloid. We found a ring of FGF-dependent ERK activity that closely follows the emergence of primitive streak (PS)-like cells but expands further inward. We showed that this ERK activity pattern is required for PS-like differentiation and that loss of PS-like cells upon FGF receptor inhibition can be rescued by directly activating ERK. We further demonstrated that the ERK-ring depends on localized activation of basally localized FGF receptors (FGFR) by endogenous FGF gradients. We confirm and extend previous studies in analyzing expression of FGF pathway components, showing the main receptor to be FGFR1 and the key ligands FGF2/4/17, similar to the human and monkey embryo but different from the mouse. In situ hybridization and scRNA-seq revealed that FGF4 and FGF17 expression colocalize with the PS marker TBXT but only FGF17 is maintained in nascent mesoderm and endoderm. FGF4 and FGF17 reduction both reduced ERK activity and differentiation to PS-like cells and their derivatives, indicating overlapping function. Thus, we have identified a previously unknown role for FGF-dependent ERK signaling in 2D gastruloids and possibly the human embryo, driven by a mechanism where FGF4 and FGF17 signal through basally localized FGFR1 to induce PS-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung Jo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Zong-Yuan Liu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Gauri Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Zhiyuan Yu
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - LiAng Yao
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Seth Teague
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Craig Johnson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jason Spence
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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22
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Catlin JP, Tooley CES. Exploring potential developmental origins of common neurodegenerative disorders. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1035-1044. [PMID: 38661189 PMCID: PMC11440815 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
In the United States, it is now estimated that 6.7 million people over the age of 65 are afflicted by Alzheimer's disease (AD), over 1 million people are living with Parkinson's disease (PD), and over 200 000 have or are at risk for developing Huntington's disease (HD). All three of these neurodegenerative diseases result in the ultimate death of distinct neuronal subtypes, and it is widely thought that age-related damage is the single biggest contributing factor to this neuronal death. However, recent studies are now suggesting that developmental defects during early neurogenesis could also play a role in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Loss or overexpression of proteins associated with HD, PD, and AD also result in embryonic phenotypes but whether these developmental defects slowly unmask over time and contribute to age-related neurodegeneration remains highly debated. Here, we discuss known links between embryonic neurogenesis and neurodegenerative disorders (including common signaling pathways), potential compensatory mechanisms that could delay presentation of neurodegenerative disorders, and the types of model systems that could be used to study these links in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. Catlin
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Christine E. Schaner Tooley
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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23
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Piszker W, Simunovic M. The fusion of physics and biology in early mammalian embryogenesis. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 160:31-64. [PMID: 38937030 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Biomechanics in embryogenesis is a dynamic field intertwining the physical forces and biological processes that shape the first days of a mammalian embryo. From the first cell fate bifurcation during blastulation to the complex symmetry breaking and tissue remodeling in gastrulation, mechanical cues appear critical in cell fate decisions and tissue patterning. Recent strides in mouse and human embryo culture, stem cell modeling of mammalian embryos, and biomaterial design have shed light on the role of cellular forces, cell polarization, and the extracellular matrix in influencing cell differentiation and morphogenesis. This chapter highlights the essential functions of biophysical mechanisms in blastocyst formation, embryo implantation, and early gastrulation where the interplay between the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix stiffness orchestrates the intricacies of embryogenesis and placenta specification. The advancement of in vitro models like blastoids, gastruloids, and other types of embryoids, has begun to faithfully recapitulate human development stages, offering new avenues for exploring the biophysical underpinnings of early development. The integration of synthetic biology and advanced biomaterials is enhancing the precision with which we can mimic and study these processes. Looking ahead, we emphasize the potential of CRISPR-mediated genomic perturbations coupled with live imaging to uncover new mechanosensitive pathways and the application of engineered biomaterials to fine-tune the mechanical conditions conducive to embryonic development. This synthesis not only bridges the gap between experimental models and in vivo conditions to advancing fundamental developmental biology of mammalian embryogenesis, but also sets the stage for leveraging biomechanical insights to inform regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Piszker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mijo Simunovic
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States; Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.
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24
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Brückner DB, Tkačik G. Information content and optimization of self-organized developmental systems. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322326121. [PMID: 38819997 PMCID: PMC11161761 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322326121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
A key feature of many developmental systems is their ability to self-organize spatial patterns of functionally distinct cell fates. To ensure proper biological function, such patterns must be established reproducibly, by controlling and even harnessing intrinsic and extrinsic fluctuations. While the relevant molecular processes are increasingly well understood, we lack a principled framework to quantify the performance of such stochastic self-organizing systems. To that end, we introduce an information-theoretic measure for self-organized fate specification during embryonic development. We show that the proposed measure assesses the total information content of fate patterns and decomposes it into interpretable contributions corresponding to the positional and correlational information. By optimizing the proposed measure, our framework provides a normative theory for developmental circuits, which we demonstrate on lateral inhibition, cell type proportioning, and reaction-diffusion models of self-organization. This paves a way toward a classification of developmental systems based on a common information-theoretic language, thereby organizing the zoo of implicated chemical and mechanical signaling processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B. Brückner
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, AT-3400Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Gašper Tkačik
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, AT-3400Klosterneuburg, Austria
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25
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Mörsdorf D, Knabl P, Genikhovich G. Highly conserved and extremely evolvable: BMP signalling in secondary axis patterning of Cnidaria and Bilateria. Dev Genes Evol 2024; 234:1-19. [PMID: 38472535 PMCID: PMC11226491 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-024-00714-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Bilateria encompass the vast majority of the animal phyla. As the name states, they are bilaterally symmetric, that is with a morphologically clear main body axis connecting their anterior and posterior ends, a second axis running between their dorsal and ventral surfaces, and with a left side being roughly a mirror image of their right side. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling has widely conserved functions in the formation and patterning of the second, dorso-ventral (DV) body axis, albeit to different extents in different bilaterian species. Whilst initial findings in the fruit fly Drosophila and the frog Xenopus highlighted similarities amongst these evolutionarily very distant species, more recent analyses featuring other models revealed considerable diversity in the mechanisms underlying dorsoventral patterning. In fact, as phylogenetic sampling becomes broader, we find that this axis patterning system is so evolvable that even its core components can be deployed differently or lost in different model organisms. In this review, we will try to highlight the diversity of ways by which BMP signalling controls bilaterality in different animals, some of which do not belong to Bilateria. Future research combining functional analyses and modelling is bound to give us some understanding as to where the limits to the extent of the evolvability of BMP-dependent axial patterning may lie.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mörsdorf
- Dept. Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, UBB, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Knabl
- Dept. Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, UBB, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution (VDSEE), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Grigory Genikhovich
- Dept. Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, UBB, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
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26
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Yang S, Golkaram M, Oh S, Oh Y, Cho Y, Yoe J, Ju S, Lalli MA, Park SY, Lee Y, Jang J. ETV4 is a mechanical transducer linking cell crowding dynamics to lineage specification. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:903-916. [PMID: 38702503 PMCID: PMC11178500 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01415-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Dynamic changes in mechanical microenvironments, such as cell crowding, regulate lineage fates as well as cell proliferation. Although regulatory mechanisms for contact inhibition of proliferation have been extensively studied, it remains unclear how cell crowding induces lineage specification. Here we found that a well-known oncogene, ETS variant transcription factor 4 (ETV4), serves as a molecular transducer that links mechanical microenvironments and gene expression. In a growing epithelium of human embryonic stem cells, cell crowding dynamics is translated into ETV4 expression, serving as a pre-pattern for future lineage fates. A switch-like ETV4 inactivation by cell crowding derepresses the potential for neuroectoderm differentiation in human embryonic stem cell epithelia. Mechanistically, cell crowding inactivates the integrin-actomyosin pathway and blocks the endocytosis of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs). The disrupted FGFR endocytosis induces a marked decrease in ETV4 protein stability through ERK inactivation. Mathematical modelling demonstrates that the dynamics of cell density in a growing human embryonic stem cell epithelium precisely determines the spatiotemporal ETV4 expression pattern and, consequently, the timing and geometry of lineage development. Our findings suggest that cell crowding dynamics in a stem cell epithelium drives spatiotemporal lineage specification using ETV4 as a key mechanical transducer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungbok Yang
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Mahdi Golkaram
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Seyoun Oh
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujeong Oh
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonjae Cho
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeehyun Yoe
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungeun Ju
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Matthew A Lalli
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seung-Yeol Park
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoontae Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwon Jang
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea.
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27
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Camacho-Aguilar E, Yoon ST, Ortiz-Salazar MA, Du S, Guerra MC, Warmflash A. Combinatorial interpretation of BMP and WNT controls the decision between primitive streak and extraembryonic fates. Cell Syst 2024; 15:445-461.e4. [PMID: 38692274 PMCID: PMC11231731 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
BMP signaling is essential for mammalian gastrulation, as it initiates a cascade of signals that control self-organized patterning. As development is highly dynamic, it is crucial to understand how time-dependent combinatorial signaling affects cellular differentiation. Here, we show that BMP signaling duration is a crucial control parameter that determines cell fates upon the exit from pluripotency through its interplay with the induced secondary signal WNT. BMP signaling directly converts cells from pluripotent to extraembryonic fates while simultaneously upregulating Wnt signaling, which promotes primitive streak and mesodermal specification. Using live-cell imaging of signaling and cell fate reporters together with a simple mathematical model, we show that this circuit produces a temporal morphogen effect where, once BMP signal duration is above a threshold for differentiation, intermediate and long pulses of BMP signaling produce specification of mesoderm and extraembryonic fates, respectively. Our results provide a systems-level picture of how these signaling pathways control the landscape of early human development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sumin T Yoon
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | | | - Siqi Du
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - M Cecilia Guerra
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Aryeh Warmflash
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
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28
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Hu X, van Sluijs B, García-Blay Ó, Stepanov Y, Rietrae K, Huck WTS, Hansen MMK. ARTseq-FISH reveals position-dependent differences in gene expression of micropatterned mESCs. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3918. [PMID: 38724524 PMCID: PMC11082235 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48107-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Differences in gene-expression profiles between individual cells can give rise to distinct cell fate decisions. Yet how localisation on a micropattern impacts initial changes in mRNA, protein, and phosphoprotein abundance remains unclear. To identify the effect of cellular position on gene expression, we developed a scalable antibody and mRNA targeting sequential fluorescence in situ hybridisation (ARTseq-FISH) method capable of simultaneously profiling mRNAs, proteins, and phosphoproteins in single cells. We studied 67 (phospho-)protein and mRNA targets in individual mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) cultured on circular micropatterns. ARTseq-FISH reveals relative changes in both abundance and localisation of mRNAs and (phospho-)proteins during the first 48 hours of exit from pluripotency. We confirm these changes by conventional immunofluorescence and time-lapse microscopy. Chemical labelling, immunofluorescence, and single-cell time-lapse microscopy further show that cells closer to the edge of the micropattern exhibit increased proliferation compared to cells at the centre. Together these data suggest that while gene expression is still highly heterogeneous position-dependent differences in mRNA and protein levels emerge as early as 12 hours after LIF withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Hu
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bob van Sluijs
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Óscar García-Blay
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yury Stepanov
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Koen Rietrae
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Wilhelm T S Huck
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Maike M K Hansen
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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29
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Chen B, Khan H, Yu Z, Yao L, Freeburne E, Jo K, Johnson C, Heemskerk I. Extended culture of 2D gastruloids to model human mesoderm development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.21.585753. [PMID: 38585971 PMCID: PMC10996563 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.21.585753] [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: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Micropatterned human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) treated with BMP4 (2D gastruloids) are among the most widely used stem cell models for human gastrulation. Due to its simplicity and reproducibility, this system is ideal for high throughput quantitative studies of tissue patterning and has led to many insights into the mechanisms of mammalian gastrulation. However, 2D gastruloids have only been studied up to 48h. Here we extended this system to 96h. We discovered a phase of highly reproducible morphogenesis during which directed migration from the primitive streak-like region gives rise to a mesodermal layer beneath an epiblast-like layer. Multiple types of mesoderm arise with striking spatial organization including lateral mesoderm-like cells on the colony border and paraxial mesoderm-like further inside the colony. Single cell transcriptomics showed strong similarity of these cells to mesoderm in human and non-human primate embryos. However, our data suggest that the annotation of the reference human embryo may need to be revised. This illustrates that extended culture of 2D gastruloids provides a powerful model for human mesoderm differentiation and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohan Chen
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Hina Khan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Zhiyuan Yu
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - LiAng Yao
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Emily Freeburne
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kyoung Jo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Craig Johnson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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30
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Rodriguez-Polo I, Moris N. Using Embryo Models to Understand the Development and Progression of Embryonic Lineages: A Focus on Primordial Germ Cell Development. Cells Tissues Organs 2024; 213:503-522. [PMID: 38479364 PMCID: PMC7616515 DOI: 10.1159/000538275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recapitulating mammalian cell type differentiation in vitro promises to improve our understanding of how these processes happen in vivo, while bringing additional prospects for biomedical applications. The establishment of stem cell-derived embryo models and embryonic organoids, which have experienced explosive growth over the last few years, opens new avenues for research due to their scale, reproducibility, and accessibility. Embryo models mimic various developmental stages, exhibit different degrees of complexity, and can be established across species. Since embryo models exhibit multiple lineages organized spatially and temporally, they are likely to provide cellular niches that, to some degree, recapitulate the embryonic setting and enable "co-development" between cell types and neighbouring populations. One example where this is already apparent is in the case of primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). SUMMARY While directed differentiation protocols enable the efficient generation of high PGCLC numbers, embryo models provide an attractive alternative as they enable the study of interactions of PGCLCs with neighbouring cells, alongside the regulatory molecular and biophysical mechanisms of PGC competency. Additionally, some embryo models can recapitulate post-specification stages of PGC development (including migration or gametogenesis), mimicking the inductive signals pushing PGCLCs to mature and differentiate and enabling the study of PGCLC development across stages. Therefore, in vitro models may allow us to address questions of cell type differentiation, and PGC development specifically, that have hitherto been out of reach with existing systems. KEY MESSAGE This review evaluates the current advances in stem cell-based embryo models, with a focus on their potential to model cell type-specific differentiation in general and in particular to address open questions in PGC development and gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Naomi Moris
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, Somers Town, London, NW1 1AT, UK
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31
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Nakanoh S, Sham K, Ghimire S, Mohorianu I, Rayon T, Vallier L. Human surface ectoderm and amniotic ectoderm are sequentially specified according to cellular density. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadh7748. [PMID: 38427729 PMCID: PMC10906920 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh7748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Mechanisms specifying amniotic ectoderm and surface ectoderm are unresolved in humans due to their close similarities in expression patterns and signal requirements. This lack of knowledge hinders the development of protocols to accurately model human embryogenesis. Here, we developed a human pluripotent stem cell model to investigate the divergence between amniotic and surface ectoderms. In the established culture system, cells differentiated into functional amnioblast-like cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses of amnioblast differentiation revealed an intermediate cell state with enhanced surface ectoderm gene expression. Furthermore, when the differentiation started at the confluent condition, cells retained the expression profile of surface ectoderm. Collectively, we propose that human amniotic ectoderm and surface ectoderm are specified along a common nonneural ectoderm trajectory based on cell density. Our culture system also generated extraembryonic mesoderm-like cells from the primed pluripotent state. Together, this study provides an integrative understanding of the human nonneural ectoderm development and a model for embryonic and extraembryonic human development around gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota Nakanoh
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Epigenetics & Signalling Programmes, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Kendig Sham
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Sabitri Ghimire
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Irina Mohorianu
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Teresa Rayon
- Epigenetics & Signalling Programmes, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Berlin Institute of Health Centre for Regenerative Therapies, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin 14195, Germany
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32
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Asmar AJ, Benson ZA, Peskin AP, Chalfoun J, Simon M, Halter M, Plant AL. High-volume, label-free imaging for quantifying single-cell dynamics in induced pluripotent stem cell colonies. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298446. [PMID: 38377138 PMCID: PMC10878516 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
To facilitate the characterization of unlabeled induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) during culture and expansion, we developed an AI pipeline for nuclear segmentation and mitosis detection from phase contrast images of individual cells within iPSC colonies. The analysis uses a 2D convolutional neural network (U-Net) plus a 3D U-Net applied on time lapse images to detect and segment nuclei, mitotic events, and daughter nuclei to enable tracking of large numbers of individual cells over long times in culture. The analysis uses fluorescence data to train models for segmenting nuclei in phase contrast images. The use of classical image processing routines to segment fluorescent nuclei precludes the need for manual annotation. We optimize and evaluate the accuracy of automated annotation to assure the reliability of the training. The model is generalizable in that it performs well on different datasets with an average F1 score of 0.94, on cells at different densities, and on cells from different pluripotent cell lines. The method allows us to assess, in a non-invasive manner, rates of mitosis and cell division which serve as indicators of cell state and cell health. We assess these parameters in up to hundreds of thousands of cells in culture for more than 36 hours, at different locations in the colonies, and as a function of excitation light exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J. Asmar
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division Material Measurement Lab, NIST Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Zackery A. Benson
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division Material Measurement Lab, NIST Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Adele P. Peskin
- Software and Systems Division Information Technology Lab, NIST Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joe Chalfoun
- Software and Systems Division Information Technology Lab, NIST Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mylene Simon
- Software and Systems Division Information Technology Lab, NIST Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Michael Halter
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division Material Measurement Lab, NIST Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Anne L. Plant
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division Material Measurement Lab, NIST Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
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33
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Teague S, Primavera G, Chen B, Liu ZY, Yao L, Freeburne E, Khan H, Jo K, Johnson C, Heemskerk I. Time-integrated BMP signaling determines fate in a stem cell model for early human development. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1471. [PMID: 38368368 PMCID: PMC10874454 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45719-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
How paracrine signals are interpreted to yield multiple cell fate decisions in a dynamic context during human development in vivo and in vitro remains poorly understood. Here we report an automated tracking method to follow signaling histories linked to cell fate in large numbers of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Using an unbiased statistical approach, we discover that measured BMP signaling history correlates strongly with fate in individual cells. We find that BMP response in hPSCs varies more strongly in the duration of signaling than the level. However, both the level and duration of signaling activity control cell fate choices only by changing the time integral. Therefore, signaling duration and level are interchangeable in this context. In a stem cell model for patterning of the human embryo, we show that signaling histories predict the fate pattern and that the integral model correctly predicts changes in cell fate domains when signaling is perturbed. Our data suggest that mechanistically, BMP signaling is integrated by SOX2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth Teague
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gillian Primavera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bohan Chen
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zong-Yuan Liu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - LiAng Yao
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emily Freeburne
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hina Khan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kyoung Jo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Craig Johnson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Lefebvre M, Colen J, Claussen N, Brauns F, Raich M, Mitchell N, Fruchart M, Vitelli V, Streichan SJ. Learning a conserved mechanism for early neuroectoderm morphogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.22.573058. [PMID: 38187670 PMCID: PMC10769415 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.22.573058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Morphogenesis is the process whereby the body of an organism develops its target shape. The morphogen BMP is known to play a conserved role across bilaterian organisms in determining the dorsoventral (DV) axis. Yet, how BMP governs the spatio-temporal dynamics of cytoskeletal proteins driving morphogenetic flow remains an open question. Here, we use machine learning to mine a morphodynamic atlas of Drosophila development, and construct a mathematical model capable of predicting the coupled dynamics of myosin, E-cadherin, and morphogenetic flow. Mutant analysis shows that BMP sets the initial condition of this dynamical system according to the following signaling cascade: BMP establishes DV pair-rule-gene patterns that set-up an E-cadherin gradient which in turn creates a myosin gradient in the opposite direction through mechanochemical feedbacks. Using neural tube organoids, we argue that BMP, and the signaling cascade it triggers, prime the conserved dynamics of neuroectoderm morphogenesis from fly to humans.
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Stringa B, Solnica-Krezel L. Signaling mechanisms that direct cell fate specification and morphogenesis in human embryonic stem cells-based models of human gastrulation. Emerg Top Life Sci 2023; 7:383-396. [PMID: 38087898 DOI: 10.1042/etls20230084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
During mammalian gastrulation, a mass of pluripotent cells surrounded by extraembryonic tissues differentiates into germ layers, mesoderm, endoderm, and ectoderm. The three germ layers are then organized into a body plan with organ rudiments via morphogenetic gastrulation movements of emboly, epiboly, convergence, and extension. Emboly is the most conserved gastrulation movement, whereby mesodermal and endodermal progenitors undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and move via a blastopore/primitive streak beneath the ectoderm. Decades of embryologic, genetic, and molecular studies in invertebrates and vertebrates, delineated a BMP > WNT > NODAL signaling cascade underlying mesoderm and endoderm specification. Advances have been made in the research animals in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying gastrulation morphogenesis. In contrast, little is known about human gastrulation, which occurs in utero during the third week of gestation and its investigations face ethical and methodological limitations. This is changing with the unprecedented progress in modeling aspects of human development, using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including embryonic stem cells (hESC)-based embryo-like models (SCEMs). In one approach, hESCs of various pluripotency are aggregated to self-assemble into structures that resemble pre-implantation or post-implantation embryo-like structures that progress to early gastrulation, and some even reach segmentation and neurulation stages. Another approach entails coaxing hESCs with biochemical signals to generate germ layers and model aspects of gastrulation morphogenesis, such as EMT. Here, we review the recent advances in understanding signaling cascades that direct germ layers specification and the early stages of gastrulation morphogenesis in these models. We discuss outstanding questions, challenges, and opportunities for this promising area of developmental biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blerta Stringa
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, U.S.A
| | - Lilianna Solnica-Krezel
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, U.S.A
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36
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Teague S, Yao L, Heemskerk I. The many dimensions of germline competence. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 85:102259. [PMID: 37852152 PMCID: PMC11123554 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102259] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Primordial germ cell (PGC) specification is the first step in the development of the germline. Recent work has elucidated human-mouse differences in PGC differentiation and identified cell states with enhanced competency for PGC-like cell (PGCLC) differentiation in vitro in both species. However, it remains a subject of debate how different PGC competent states in vitro relate to each other, to embryonic development, and to the origin of PGCs in vivo. Here we review recent literature on human PGCLC differentiation in the context of mouse and non-human primate models. In contrast to what was previously thought, recent work suggests human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are highly germline competent. We argue that paradoxical observations regarding the origin and signaling requirements of hPGCLCs may be due to local cell interactions. These confound assays of competence by generating endogenous signaling gradients and spatially modulating the ability to receive exogenous inductive signals. Furthermore, combinatorial signaling suggests that there is no unique germline competent state: rather than a one-dimensional spectrum of developmental progression, competence should be considered in a higher dimensional landscape of cell states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth Teague
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - LiAng Yao
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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37
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Wadkin LE, Makarenko I, Parker NG, Shukurov A, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. Human Stem Cells for Ophthalmology: Recent Advances in Diagnostic Image Analysis and Computational Modelling. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2023; 9:57-66. [PMID: 38145008 PMCID: PMC10739444 DOI: 10.1007/s40778-023-00229-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review To explore the advances and future research directions in image analysis and computational modelling of human stem cells (hSCs) for ophthalmological applications. Recent Findings hSCs hold great potential in ocular regenerative medicine due to their application in cell-based therapies and in disease modelling and drug discovery using state-of-the-art 2D and 3D organoid models. However, a deeper characterisation of their complex, multi-scale properties is required to optimise their translation to clinical practice. Image analysis combined with computational modelling is a powerful tool to explore mechanisms of hSC behaviour and aid clinical diagnosis and therapy. Summary Many computational models draw on a variety of techniques, often blending continuum and discrete approaches, and have been used to describe cell differentiation and self-organisation. Machine learning tools are having a significant impact in model development and improving image classification processes for clinical diagnosis and treatment and will be the focus of much future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. E. Wadkin
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - I. Makarenko
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - N. G. Parker
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - A. Shukurov
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - F. C. Figueiredo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - M. Lako
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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38
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Schröter C, Stapornwongkul KS, Trivedi V. Local cellular interactions during the self-organization of stem cells. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 85:102261. [PMID: 39491308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2024]
Abstract
Stem cell models for early mammalian development offer new experimental opportunities to access spatio-temporal details of the cell-cell interactions that govern cell differentiation and tissue patterning. This review summarizes recent studies that have used stem cell models to investigate the spatial range of developmental cell-cell communication systems. A key message from these works is that important biochemical signals for cell differentiation in these systems, such as Nodal and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), often act over short distances of only a few cell diameters. The formation of long-range patterns at the tissue scale associated with these signals then results from signal relays and cell rearrangements. The modular view of differentiation and patterning emerging from research on stem cell models can offer a fresh perspective on the corresponding processes in the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schröter
- Department of Systemic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, 44227, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Kristina S Stapornwongkul
- Tissue Biology and Disease Modelling, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vikas Trivedi
- Tissue Biology and Disease Modelling, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
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Qing J, Guo Q, Lv L, Zhang X, Liu Y, Heng BC, Li Z, Zhang P, Zhou Y. Organoid Culture Development for Skeletal Systems. TISSUE ENGINEERING. PART B, REVIEWS 2023; 29:545-557. [PMID: 37183418 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2023.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Organoids are widely considered to be ideal in vitro models that have been widely applied in many fields, including regenerative medicine, disease research and drug screening. It is distinguished from other three-dimensional in vitro culture model systems by self-organization and sustainability in long-term culture. The three core components of organoid culture are cells, exogenous factors, and culture matrix. Due to the complexity of bone tissue, and heterogeneity of osteogenic stem/progenitor cells, it is challenging to construct organoids for modeling skeletal systems. In this study, we examine current progress in the development of skeletal system organoid culture systems and analyze the current research status of skeletal stem cells, their microenvironmental factors, and various potential organoid culture matrix candidates to provide cues for future research trajectory in this field. Impact Statement The emergence of organoids has brought new opportunities for the development of many biomedical fields. The bone organoid field still has much room for exploration. This review discusses the characteristics distinguishing organoids from other three-dimensional model systems and examines current progress in the organoid production of skeletal systems. In addition, based on core elements of organoid cultures, three main problems that need to be solved in bone organoid generation are further analyzed. These include the heterogeneity of skeletal stem cells, their microenvironmental factors, and potential organoid culture matrix candidates. This information provides direction for the future research of bone organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Qing
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Guo
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Longwei Lv
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Yunsong Liu
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Boon Chin Heng
- The Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Yongsheng Zhou
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China
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40
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Sullivan AE, Santos SD. The ever-growing world of gastruloids: autogenous models of mammalian embryogenesis. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 82:102102. [PMID: 37604096 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
During early development, extrinsic cues prompt a collection of pluripotent cells to begin the extensive process of cellular differentiation that gives rise to all tissues in the mammalian embryo, a process known as gastrulation. Advances in stem cell biology have resulted in the generation of stem cell-based in vitro models of mammalian gastrulation called gastruloids. Gastruloids and subsequent gastruloid-based models are tractable, scalable and more accessible than mammalian embryos. As such, they have opened an unprecedented avenue for modelling in vitro self-organisation, patterning and fate specification. This review focuses on discussing the recent advances of this rapidly moving research area, clarifying what structures they model and the underlying signal hierarchy. We highlight the exciting potential of these models and where the field might be heading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne E Sullivan
- Quantitative Cell Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1-Midland Road, NW1 1AT London, UK.
| | - Silvia Dm Santos
- Quantitative Cell Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1-Midland Road, NW1 1AT London, UK.
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41
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Steinhart MR, van der Valk WH, Osorio D, Serdy SA, Zhang J, Nist-Lund C, Kim J, Moncada-Reid C, Sun L, Lee J, Koehler KR. Mapping oto-pharyngeal development in a human inner ear organoid model. Development 2023; 150:dev201871. [PMID: 37796037 PMCID: PMC10698753 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Inner ear development requires the coordination of cell types from distinct epithelial, mesenchymal and neuronal lineages. Although we have learned much from animal models, many details about human inner ear development remain elusive. We recently developed an in vitro model of human inner ear organogenesis using pluripotent stem cells in a 3D culture, fostering the growth of a sensorineural circuit, including hair cells and neurons. Despite previously characterizing some cell types, many remain undefined. This study aimed to chart the in vitro development timeline of the inner ear organoid to understand the mechanisms at play. Using single-cell RNA sequencing at ten stages during the first 36 days of differentiation, we tracked the evolution from pluripotency to various ear cell types after exposure to specific signaling modulators. Our findings showcase gene expression that influences differentiation, identifying a plethora of ectodermal and mesenchymal cell types. We also discern aspects of the organoid model consistent with in vivo development, while highlighting potential discrepancies. Our study establishes the Inner Ear Organoid Developmental Atlas (IODA), offering deeper insights into human biology and improving inner ear tissue differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Steinhart
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Wouter H. van der Valk
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- OtoBiology Leiden, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery; Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW); Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel Osorio
- Research Computing, Department of Information Technology; Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sara A. Serdy
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jingyuan Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Carl Nist-Lund
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jin Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Cynthia Moncada-Reid
- Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology (SHBT) Graduate Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Liang Sun
- Research Computing, Department of Information Technology; Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jiyoon Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Karl R. Koehler
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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42
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Kim Y, Kim I, Shin K. A new era of stem cell and developmental biology: from blastoids to synthetic embryos and beyond. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:2127-2137. [PMID: 37779144 PMCID: PMC10618288 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01097-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent discoveries in stem cell and developmental biology have introduced a new era marked by the generation of in vitro models that recapitulate early mammalian development, providing unprecedented opportunities for extensive research in embryogenesis. Here, we present an overview of current techniques that model early mammalian embryogenesis, specifically noting models created from stem cells derived from two significant species: Homo sapiens, for its high relevance, and Mus musculus, a historically common and technically advanced model organism. We aim to provide a holistic understanding of these in vitro models by tracing the historical background of the progress made in stem cell biology and discussing the fundamental underlying principles. At each developmental stage, we present corresponding in vitro models that recapitulate the in vivo embryo and further discuss how these models may be used to model diseases. Through a discussion of these models as well as their potential applications and future challenges, we hope to demonstrate how these innovative advances in stem cell research may be further developed to actualize a model to be used in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhee Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Inha Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Kunyoo Shin
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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43
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Lin F, Li X, Sun S, Li Z, Lv C, Bai J, Song L, Han Y, Li B, Fu J, Shao Y. Mechanically enhanced biogenesis of gut spheroids with instability-driven morphomechanics. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6016. [PMID: 37758697 PMCID: PMC10533890 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41760-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Region-specific gut spheroids are precursors for gastrointestinal and pulmonary organoids that hold great promise for fundamental studies and translations. However, efficient production of gut spheroids remains challenging due to a lack of control and mechanistic understanding of gut spheroid morphogenesis. Here, we report an efficient biomaterial system, termed micropatterned gut spheroid generator (μGSG), to generate gut spheroids from human pluripotent stem cells through mechanically enhanced tissue morphogenesis. We show that μGSG enhances the biogenesis of gut spheroids independent of micropattern shape and size; instead, mechanically enforced cell multilayering and crowding is demonstrated as a general, geometry-insensitive mechanism that is necessary and sufficient for promoting spheroid formation. Combining experimental findings and an active-phase-field morphomechanics theory, our study further reveals an instability-driven mechanism and a mechanosensitive phase diagram governing spheroid pearling and fission in μGSG. This work unveils mechanobiological paradigms based on tissue architecture and surface tension for controlling tissue morphogenesis and advancing organoid technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Lin
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Xia Li
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Shiyu Sun
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Zhongyi Li
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Chenglin Lv
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jianbo Bai
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Lin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Yizhao Han
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Bo Li
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Yue Shao
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China.
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44
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Liu W, Shrestha R, Lowe A, Zhang X, Spaeth L. Self-formation of concentric zones of telencephalic and ocular tissues and directional retinal ganglion cell axons. eLife 2023; 12:RP87306. [PMID: 37665325 PMCID: PMC10476969 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The telencephalon and eye in mammals are originated from adjacent fields at the anterior neural plate. Morphogenesis of these fields generates telencephalon, optic-stalk, optic-disc, and neuroretina along a spatial axis. How these telencephalic and ocular tissues are specified coordinately to ensure directional retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon growth is unclear. Here, we report self-formation of human telencephalon-eye organoids comprising concentric zones of telencephalic, optic-stalk, optic-disc, and neuroretinal tissues along the center-periphery axis. Initially-differentiated RGCs grew axons towards and then along a path defined by adjacent PAX2+ VSX2+ optic-disc cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing of these organoids not only confirmed telencephalic and ocular identities but also identified expression signatures of early optic-disc, optic-stalk, and RGCs. These signatures were similar to those in human fetal retinas. Optic-disc cells in these organoids differentially expressed FGF8 and FGF9; FGFR inhibitions drastically decreased early RGC differentiation and directional axon growth. Through the RGC-specific cell-surface marker CNTN2 identified here, electrophysiologically excitable RGCs were isolated under a native condition. Our findings provide insight into the coordinated specification of early telencephalic and ocular tissues in humans and establish resources for studying RGC-related diseases such as glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
- The Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - Rupendra Shrestha
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
- The Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - Albert Lowe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - Xusheng Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - Ludovic Spaeth
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
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Liu W, Shrestha R, Lowe A, Zhang X, Spaeth L. Self-formation of concentric zones of telencephalic and ocular tissues and directional retinal ganglion cell axons. eLife 2023; 12:RP87306. [PMID: 37665325 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87306.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The telencephalon and eye in mammals are originated from adjacent fields at the anterior neural plate. Morphogenesis of these fields generates telencephalon, optic-stalk, optic-disc, and neuroretina along a spatial axis. How these telencephalic and ocular tissues are specified coordinately to ensure directional retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon growth is unclear. Here, we report self-formation of human telencephalon-eye organoids comprising concentric zones of telencephalic, optic-stalk, optic-disc, and neuroretinal tissues along the center-periphery axis. Initially-differentiated RGCs grew axons towards and then along a path defined by adjacent PAX2+ VSX2+ optic-disc cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing of these organoids not only confirmed telencephalic and ocular identities but also identified expression signatures of early optic-disc, optic-stalk, and RGCs. These signatures were similar to those in human fetal retinas. Optic-disc cells in these organoids differentially expressed FGF8 and FGF9; FGFR inhibitions drastically decreased early RGC differentiation and directional axon growth. Through the RGC-specific cell-surface marker CNTN2 identified here, electrophysiologically excitable RGCs were isolated under a native condition. Our findings provide insight into the coordinated specification of early telencephalic and ocular tissues in humans and establish resources for studying RGC-related diseases such as glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
- The Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
| | - Rupendra Shrestha
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
- The Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
| | - Albert Lowe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
| | - Xusheng Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
| | - Ludovic Spaeth
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
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Fernandes TG. Organoids as complex (bio)systems. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1268540. [PMID: 37691827 PMCID: PMC10485618 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1268540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Organoids are three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells that mimic the organization and function of specific organs, making them valuable tools for studying complex systems in biology. This paper explores the application of complex systems theory to understand and characterize organoids as exemplars of intricate biological systems. By identifying and analyzing common design principles observed across diverse natural, technological, and social complex systems, we can gain insights into the underlying mechanisms governing organoid behavior and function. This review outlines general design principles found in complex systems and demonstrates how these principles manifest within organoids. By acknowledging organoids as representations of complex systems, we can illuminate our understanding of their normal physiological behavior and gain valuable insights into the alterations that can lead to disease. Therefore, incorporating complex systems theory into the study of organoids may foster novel perspectives in biology and pave the way for new avenues of research and therapeutic interventions to improve human health and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago G. Fernandes
- Department of Bioengineering and iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Vasic I, Libby ARG, Maslan A, Bulger EA, Zalazar D, Krakora Compagno MZ, Streets A, Tomoda K, Yamanaka S, McDevitt TC. Loss of TJP1 disrupts gastrulation patterning and increases differentiation toward the germ cell lineage in human pluripotent stem cells. Dev Cell 2023; 58:1477-1488.e5. [PMID: 37354899 PMCID: PMC10529434 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Biological patterning events that occur early in development establish proper tissue morphogenesis. Identifying the mechanisms that guide these patterning events is necessary in order to understand the molecular drivers of development and disease and to build tissues in vitro. In this study, we use an in vitro model of gastrulation to study the role of tight junctions and apical/basolateral polarity in modulating bone morphogenic protein-4 (BMP4) signaling and gastrulation-associated patterning in colonies of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Disrupting tight junctions via knockdown (KD) of the scaffolding tight junction protein-1 (TJP1, also known as ZO1) allows BMP4 to robustly and ubiquitously activate pSMAD1/5 signaling over time, resulting in loss of the patterning phenotype and marked differentiation bias of pluripotent stem cells to primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). These findings give important insights into how signaling events are regulated and lead to spatial emergence of diverse cell types in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Vasic
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
- UC Berkeley-UC San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
| | - Ashley RG Libby
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Ph.D. Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
| | - Annie Maslan
- UC Berkeley-UC San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA 94720
- Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA 94720
| | - Emily A Bulger
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Ph.D. Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
| | - David Zalazar
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
| | | | - Aaron Streets
- UC Berkeley-UC San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA 94720
- Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA 94720
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
| | - Kiichiro Tomoda
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto, Japan 606-8397
| | - Shinya Yamanaka
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto, Japan 606-8397
| | - Todd C McDevitt
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA 94158
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Gattiglio M, Protzek M, Schröter C. Population-level antagonism between FGF and BMP signaling steers mesoderm differentiation in embryonic stem cells. Biol Open 2023; 12:bio059941. [PMID: 37530863 PMCID: PMC10445724 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The mesodermal precursor populations for different internal organ systems are specified during gastrulation by the combined activity of extracellular signaling systems such as BMP, Wnt, Nodal and FGF. The BMP, Wnt and Nodal signaling requirements for the differentiation of specific mesoderm subtypes in mammals have been mapped in detail, but how FGF shapes mesodermal cell type diversity is not precisely known. It is also not clear how FGF signaling integrates with the activity of other signaling systems involved in mesoderm differentiation. Here, we address these questions by analyzing the effects of targeted signaling manipulations in differentiating stem cell populations at single-cell resolution. We identify opposing functions of BMP and FGF, and map FGF-dependent and -independent mesodermal lineages. Stimulation with exogenous FGF boosts the expression of endogenous Fgf genes while repressing Bmp ligand genes. This positive autoregulation of FGF signaling, coupled with the repression of BMP signaling, may contribute to the specification of reproducible and coherent cohorts of cells with the same identity via a community effect, both in the embryo and in synthetic embryo-like systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Gattiglio
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Department of Systemic Cell Biology, 44227Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michelle Protzek
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Department of Systemic Cell Biology, 44227Dortmund, Germany
| | - Christian Schröter
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Department of Systemic Cell Biology, 44227Dortmund, Germany
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Bao M, Xie J. Geometric Confinement-Mediated Mechanical Tension Directs Patterned Differentiation of Mouse ESCs into Organized Germ Layers. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:34397-34406. [PMID: 37458389 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c03798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
The self-organization of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into organized tissues with three distinct germ layers is critical to morphogenesis and early development. While the regulation of this self-organization by soluble signals is well established, the involvement of mechanical force gradients in this process remains unclear due to the lack of a suitable platform to study this process. In this study, we developed a 3D microenvironment to examine the influence of mechanical tension gradients on ESC-patterned differentiation during morphogenesis by controlling the geometrical signals (shape and size) of ESC colonies. We found that changes in colony geometry impacted the germ layer pattern, with Cdx2-positive cells being more abundant at edges and in areas with high curvatures. The differentiation patterns were determined by geometry-mediated cell tension gradients, with an extraembryonic mesoderm-like layer forming in high-tension regions and ectodermal-like lineages at low-tension regions in the center. Suppression of cytoskeletal tension hindered ESC self-organization. These results indicate that geometric confinement-mediated mechanical tension plays a crucial role in linking multicellular organization to cell differentiation and impacting tissue patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Bao
- Oujiang Laboratory, Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health, Wenzhou 325001, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Xie
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
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50
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Ayad NM, Lakins JN, Ghagre A, Ehrlicher AJ, Weaver VM. Tissue tension permits β-catenin phosphorylation to drive mesoderm specification in human embryonic stem cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.14.549074. [PMID: 37503095 PMCID: PMC10370032 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.14.549074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The role of morphogenetic forces in cell fate specification is an area of intense interest. Our prior studies suggested that the development of high cell-cell tension in human embryonic stem cells (hESC) colonies permits the Src-mediated phosphorylation of junctional β-catenin that accelerates its release to potentiate Wnt-dependent signaling critical for initiating mesoderm specification. Using an ectopically expressed nonphosphorylatable mutant of β-catenin (Y654F), we now provide direct evidence that impeding tension-dependent Src-mediated β-catenin phosphorylation impedes the expression of Brachyury (T) and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) necessary for mesoderm specification. Addition of exogenous Wnt3a or inhibiting GSK3β activity rescued mesoderm expression, emphasizing the importance of force dependent Wnt signaling in regulating mechanomorphogenesis. Our work provides a framework for understanding tension-dependent β-catenin/Wnt signaling in the self-organization of tissues during developmental processes including gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia M.E. Ayad
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California Berkeley, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Johnathon N. Lakins
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ajinkya Ghagre
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0E9, Canada
| | - Allen J. Ehrlicher
- Department of Bioengineering, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Centre for Structural Biology, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Valerie M. Weaver
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helen Diller Family Cancer Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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