1
|
Kidder BL, Ruden X, Singh A, Marben TA, Rass L, Chakravarty A, Xie Y, Puscheck EE, Awonuga AO, Harris S, Ruden DM, Rappolee DA. Novel high throughput screen reports that benzo(a)pyrene overrides mouse trophoblast stem cell multipotency, inducing SAPK activity, HAND1 and differentiated trophoblast giant cells. Placenta 2024; 152:72-85. [PMID: 38245404 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cultured mouse trophoblast stem cells (mTSC) maintain proliferation/normal stemness (NS) under FGF4, which when removed, causes normal differentiation (ND). Hypoxic, or hyperosmotic stress forces trophoblast giant cells (TGC) differentiate. Hypoxic, hyperosmotic, and genotoxic benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), which is found in tobacco smoke, force down-regulation of inhibitor of differentiation (Id)2, enabling TGC differentiation. Hypoxic and hyperosmotic stress induce TGC by SAPK-dependent HAND1 increase. Here we test whether BaP forces mTSC-to-TGC while inducing SAPK and HAND1. METHODS Hand1 and SAPK activity were assayed by immunoblot, mTSC-to-TGC growth and differentiation were assayed at Tfinal after 72hr exposure of BaP, NS, ND, Retinoic acid (RA), or sorbitol. Nuclear-stained cells were micrographed automatically by a live imager, and assayed by ImageJ/FIJI, Biotek Gen 5, AIVIA proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) software or open source, CellPose artificial intelligence/AI software. RESULTS BaP (0.05-1μM) activated SAPK and HAND1 without diminishing growth. TSC-to-TGC differentiation was assayed with increasingly accuracy for 2-4 N cycling nuclei and >4 N differentiating TGC nuclei, using ImageJ/FIJI, Gen 5, AIVIA, or CellPose AI software. The AIVIA and Cellpose AI software matches human accuracy. The lowest BaP effects on SAPK activation/HAND1 increase are >10-fold more sensitive than similar effects for mESC. RA induces 44-47% 1st lineage TGC differentiation, but the same RA dose induces only 1% 1st lineage mESC differentiation. DISCUSSION First, these pilot data suggest that mTSC can be used in high throughput screens (HTS) to predict toxicant exposures that force TGC differentiation. Second, mTSC differentiated more cells than mESC for similar stress exposures, Third, open source AI can replace human micrograph quantitation and enable a miscarriage-predicting HTS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B L Kidder
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - X Ruden
- CS Mott Center/WSU Ob/gyn Department, USA; Reproductive Stress Inc, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, USA
| | - A Singh
- CS Mott Center/WSU Ob/gyn Department, USA; WSU CMMG, USA
| | - T A Marben
- University of Detroit, Mercy (NIH Build Fellow), USA
| | - L Rass
- Barber Foundation Fellows/WSU, USA
| | | | - Y Xie
- Western Fertility, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - E E Puscheck
- CS Mott Center/WSU Ob/gyn Department, USA; Invia Infertility, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - S Harris
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - D M Ruden
- CS Mott Center/WSU Ob/gyn Department, USA; IEHS, WSU, USA
| | - D A Rappolee
- CS Mott Center/WSU Ob/gyn Department, USA; Reproductive Stress Inc, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, USA; Dept of Physiology, WSU, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sato N, Rosa VS, Makhlouf A, Kretzmer H, Sampath Kumar A, Grosswendt S, Mattei AL, Courbot O, Wolf S, Boulanger J, Langevin F, Wiacek M, Karpinski D, Elosegui-Artola A, Meissner A, Zernicka-Goetz M, Shahbazi MN. Basal delamination during mouse gastrulation primes pluripotent cells for differentiation. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1252-1268.e13. [PMID: 38579720 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.03.008] [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: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
The blueprint of the mammalian body plan is laid out during gastrulation, when a trilaminar embryo is formed. This process entails a burst of proliferation, the ingression of embryonic epiblast cells at the primitive streak, and their priming toward primitive streak fates. How these different events are coordinated remains unknown. Here, we developed and characterized a 3D culture of self-renewing mouse embryonic cells that captures the main transcriptional and architectural features of the early gastrulating mouse epiblast. Using this system in combination with microfabrication and in vivo experiments, we found that proliferation-induced crowding triggers delamination of cells that express high levels of the apical polarity protein aPKC. Upon delamination, cells become more sensitive to Wnt signaling and upregulate the expression of primitive streak markers such as Brachyury. This mechanistic coupling between ingression and differentiation ensures that the right cell types become specified at the right place during embryonic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nanami Sato
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Viviane S Rosa
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Aly Makhlouf
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Helene Kretzmer
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Stefanie Grosswendt
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Olivia Courbot
- Cell and Tissue Mechanobiology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Physics, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Steffen Wolf
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | | | - Michal Wiacek
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | - Alberto Elosegui-Artola
- Cell and Tissue Mechanobiology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Physics, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | | | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EL, UK; California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rossant J. Why study human embryo development? Dev Biol 2024; 509:43-50. [PMID: 38325560 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.02.001] [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] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the processes and mechanisms underlying early human embryo development has become an increasingly active and important area of research. It has potential for insights into important clinical issues such as early pregnancy loss, origins of congenital anomalies and developmental origins of adult disease, as well as fundamental insights into human biology. Improved culture systems for preimplantation embryos, combined with the new tools of single cell genomics and live imaging, are providing new insights into the similarities and differences between human and mouse development. However, access to human embryo material is still restricted and extended culture of early embryos has regulatory and ethical concerns. Stem cell-derived models of different phases of human development can potentially overcome these limitations and provide a scalable source of material to explore the early postimplantation stages of human development. To date, such models are clearly incomplete replicas of normal development but future technological improvements can be envisaged. The ethical and regulatory environment for such studies remains to be fully resolved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janet Rossant
- The Gairdner Foundation and the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, MaRS Centre, Heritage Building, 101 College Street, Suite 335, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1L7, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tan JP, Liu X, Polo JM. Reprogramming fibroblast into human iBlastoids. Nat Protoc 2024:10.1038/s41596-024-00984-2. [PMID: 38632379 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-00984-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The study of early human embryogenesis has relied on the use of blastocysts donated to research or simple stem cell culture systems such as pluripotent and trophoblast stem cells, which have been seminal in shedding light on many key developmental processes. However, simple culture systems lack the necessary complexity to adequately model the spatiotemporal, cellular and molecular dynamics occurring during the early phases of embryonic development. As such, an in vitro model of the human blastocyst is advantageous in many aspects to decipher human embryogenesis. Here we describe a step-by-step protocol for the generation of induced blastoids (iBlastoids), an in vitro integrated model of the human blastocyst derived via somatic reprogramming. This protocol details the workflow for reprogramming of human dermal fibroblasts and subsequent generation of iBlastoids using the reprogramming intermediates, which together takes ~27 days (21 days for reprogramming and 6 days for iBlastoid generation). We also discuss several characterization/functional assays that can be used on the iBlastoids. We believe that a person trained in cell culture with ~1 year of experience with human somatic cell and reprogramming/cell differentiation assays would be able to perform this protocol. In short, the iBlastoids present an alternative tool as a model to the blastocyst to facilitate the scientific community in the exploration of early human development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jia Ping Tan
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China.
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jose M Polo
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics, School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
- The South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lodewijk GA, Kozuki S, Han C, Topacio BR, Zargari A, Lee S, Knight G, Ashton R, Qi LS, Shariati SA. Self-organization of embryonic stem cells into a reproducible embryo model through epigenome editing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.05.583597. [PMID: 38496557 PMCID: PMC10942404 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.05.583597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can self-organize in vitro into developmental patterns with spatial organization and molecular similarity to that of early embryonic stages. This self-organization of ESCs requires transmission of signaling cues, via addition of small molecule chemicals or recombinant proteins, to induce distinct embryonic cellular fates and subsequent assembly into structures that can mimic aspects of early embryonic development. During natural embryonic development, different embryonic cell types co-develop together, where each cell type expresses specific fate-inducing transcription factors through activation of non-coding regulatory elements and interactions with neighboring cells. However, previous studies have not fully explored the possibility of engineering endogenous regulatory elements to shape self-organization of ESCs into spatially-ordered embryo models. Here, we hypothesized that cell-intrinsic activation of a minimum number of such endogenous regulatory elements is sufficient to self-organize ESCs into early embryonic models. Our results show that CRISPR-based activation (CRISPRa) of only two endogenous regulatory elements in the genome of pluripotent stem cells is sufficient to generate embryonic patterns that show spatial and molecular resemblance to that of pre-gastrulation mouse embryonic development. Quantitative single-cell live fluorescent imaging showed that the emergence of spatially-ordered embryonic patterns happens through the intrinsic induction of cell fate that leads to an orchestrated collective cellular motion. Based on these results, we propose a straightforward approach to efficiently form 3D embryo models through intrinsic CRISPRa-based epigenome editing and independent of external signaling cues. CRISPRa-Programmed Embryo Models (CPEMs) show highly consistent composition of major embryonic cell types that are spatially-organized, with nearly 80% of the structures forming an embryonic cavity. Single cell transcriptomics confirmed the presence of main embryonic cell types in CPEMs with transcriptional similarity to pre-gastrulation mouse embryos and revealed novel signaling communication links between different embryonic cell types. Our findings offer a programmable embryo model and demonstrate that minimum intrinsic epigenome editing is sufficient to self-organize ESCs into highly consistent pre-gastrulation embryo models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerrald A Lodewijk
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Institute for The Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Equal contribution to this work
| | - Sayaka Kozuki
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Institute for The Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Equal contribution to this work
| | - Clara Han
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Institute for The Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
| | - Benjamin R Topacio
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Institute for The Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
| | - Abolfazl Zargari
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
| | - Seungho Lee
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Institute for The Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
| | - Gavin Knight
- Neurosetta LLC, Madison, WI
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Madison, WI
| | - Randolph Ashton
- Neurosetta LLC, Madison, WI
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Madison, WI
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - S Ali Shariati
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
- Institute for The Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu X, Polo JM. Human blastoid as an in vitro model of human blastocysts. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 84:102135. [PMID: 38052115 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102135] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Human development is a highly coordinated process, with any abnormalities during the early embryonic stages that can often have detrimental consequences. The complexity and nuances of human development underpin its significance in embryo research. However, this research is often hindered by limited availability and ethical considerations associated with the use of donated blastocysts from in vitro fertilization (IVF) surplus. Human blastoids offer promising alternatives as they can be easily generated and manipulated in the laboratory while preserving key characteristics of human blastocysts. In this way, they hold the potential to serve as a scalable and ethically permissible resource in embryology research. By utilizing such human embryo models, we can establish a transformative platform that complements the study with IVF embryos, ultimately enhancing our understanding of human embryogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China; Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jose M Polo
- Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics, School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; The South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Victoria, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Handford CE, Junyent S, Jorgensen V, Zernicka-Goetz M. Topical section: embryonic models (2023) for Current Opinion in Genetics & Development. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 84:102134. [PMID: 38052116 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102134] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Stem cell-based mammalian embryo models facilitate the discovery of developmental mechanisms because they are more amenable to genetic and epigenetic perturbations than natural embryos. Here, we highlight exciting recent advances that have yielded a plethora of models of embryonic development. Imperfections in these models highlight gaps in our current understanding and outline future research directions, ushering in an exciting new era for embryology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E Handford
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA. https://twitter.com/@CEHandford
| | - Sergi Junyent
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA. https://twitter.com/@JunyentSergi
| | - Victoria Jorgensen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Guo M, Wu J, Chen C, Wang X, Gong A, Guan W, Karvas RM, Wang K, Min M, Wang Y, Theunissen TW, Gao S, Silva JCR. Self-renewing human naïve pluripotent stem cells dedifferentiate in 3D culture and form blastoids spontaneously. Nat Commun 2024; 15:668. [PMID: 38253551 PMCID: PMC10803796 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44969-x] [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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Human naïve pluripotent stem cells (hnPSCs) can generate integrated models of blastocysts termed blastoids upon switch to inductive medium. However, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Here we report that self-renewing hnPSCs spontaneously and efficiently give rise to blastoids upon three dimensional (3D) suspension culture. The spontaneous blastoids mimic early stage human blastocysts in terms of structure, size, and transcriptome characteristics and are capable of progressing to post-implantation stages. This property is conferred by the glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) signalling inhibitor IM-12 present in 5iLAF self-renewing medium. IM-12 upregulates oxidative phosphorylation-associated genes that underly the capacity of hnPSCs to generate blastoids spontaneously. Starting from day one of self-organization, hnPSCs at the boundary of all 3D aggregates dedifferentiate into E5 embryo-like intermediates. Intermediates co-express SOX2/OCT4 and GATA6 and by day 3 specify trophoblast fate, which coincides with cavity and blastoid formation. In summary, spontaneous blastoid formation results from 3D culture triggering dedifferentiation of hnPSCs into earlier embryo-like intermediates which are then competent to segregate blastocyst fates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Guo
- Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China.
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China.
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China.
| | - Jinyi Wu
- Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China
| | - Chuanxin Chen
- Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Xinggu Wang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China
| | - An Gong
- Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Wei Guan
- Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China
| | - Rowan M Karvas
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Kexin Wang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingwei Min
- Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China
| | - Yixuan Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Thorold W Theunissen
- Department of Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Shaorong Gao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - José C R Silva
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Arcuri S, Pennarossa G, Ledda S, Gandolfi F, Brevini TAL. Use of Epigenetic Cues and Mechanical Stimuli to Generate Blastocyst-Like Structures from Mammalian Skin Dermal Fibroblasts. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2767:161-173. [PMID: 37199907 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2023_486] [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: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian embryogenesis is characterized by complex interactions between embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues that coordinate morphogenesis, coupling bio-mechanical and bio-chemical cues, to regulate gene expression and influence cell fate. Deciphering such mechanisms is essential to understand early embryogenesis, as well as to harness differentiation disorders. Currently, several early developmental events remain unclear, mainly due to ethical and technical limitations related to the use of natural embryos.Here, we describe a three-step approach to generate 3D spherical structures, arbitrarily defined "epiBlastoids," whose phenotype is remarkably similar to natural embryos. In the first step, adult dermal fibroblasts are converted into trophoblast-like cells, combining the use of 5-azacytidine, to erase the original cell phenotype, with an ad hoc induction protocol, to drive erased cells into the trophoblast lineage. In the second step, once again epigenetic erasing is applied, in combination with mechanosensing-related cues, to generate inner cell mass (ICM)-like spheroids. More specifically, erased cells are encapsulated in micro-bioreactors to promote 3D cell rearrangement and boost pluripotency. In the third step, chemically induced trophoblast-like cells and ICM-like spheroids are co-cultured in the same micro-bioreactors. The newly generated embryoids are then transferred to microwells, to encourage further differentiation and favor epiBlastoid formation. The procedure here described is a novel strategy for in vitro generation of 3D spherical structures, phenotypically similar to natural embryos. The use of easily accessible dermal fibroblasts and the lack of retroviral gene transfection make this protocol a promising strategy to study early embryogenesis as well as embryo disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Arcuri
- Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Centre for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Georgia Pennarossa
- Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Centre for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Sergio Ledda
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Fulvio Gandolfi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Centre for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana A L Brevini
- Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Centre for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Shankar V, van Blitterswijk C, Vrij E, Giselbrecht S. Automated, High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening and Analysis Platform to Study Pre- and Post-Implantation Morphogenesis in Stem Cell-Derived Embryo-Like Structures. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2304987. [PMID: 37991133 PMCID: PMC10811479 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Combining high-throughput generation and high-content imaging of embryo models will enable large-scale screening assays in the fields of (embryo) toxicity, drug development, embryogenesis, and reproductive medicine. This study shows the continuous culture and in situ (i.e., in microwell) imaging-based readout of a 3D stem cell-based model of peri-implantation epiblast (Epi)/extraembryonic endoderm (XEn) development with an expanded pro-amniotic cavity (PAC) (E3.5 E5.5), namely XEn/EPiCs. Automated image analysis and supervised machine learning permit the identification of embryonic morphogenesis, tissue compartmentalization, cell differentiation, and consecutive classification. Screens with signaling pathway modulators at different time windows provide spatiotemporal information on their phenotypic effect on developmental processes leading to the formation of XEn/EPiCs. Exposure of the biological model in the microwell platform to pathway modulators at two time windows, namely 0-72 h and 48-120 h, show that Wnt and Fgf/MAPK pathway modulators affect Epi differentiation and its polarization, while modulation of BMP and Tgfβ/Nodal pathway affects XEn specification and epithelialization. Further, their collective role is identified in the timing of the formation and expansion of PAC. The newly developed, scalable culture and analysis platform, thereby, provides a unique opportunity to quantitatively and systematically study effects of pathway modulators on early embryonic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vinidhra Shankar
- MERLN Institute for Technology‐Inspired Regenerative MedicineDepartment for Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE)Maastricht UniversityMaastricht6229ETThe Netherlands
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- MERLN Institute for Technology‐Inspired Regenerative MedicineDepartment for Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE)Maastricht UniversityMaastricht6229ETThe Netherlands
| | - Erik Vrij
- MERLN Institute for Technology‐Inspired Regenerative MedicineDepartment for Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE)Maastricht UniversityMaastricht6229ETThe Netherlands
| | - Stefan Giselbrecht
- MERLN Institute for Technology‐Inspired Regenerative MedicineDepartment for Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE)Maastricht UniversityMaastricht6229ETThe Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Handford CE, Panda P, Choudhury IBM, Amadei G, Zernicka-Goetz M. Generation of Stem Cell-Based Mouse Embryo-Like Structures. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2767:123-134. [PMID: 37284940 PMCID: PMC11182571 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2023_493] [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: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, we detail the experimental protocol leading to the generation of stem cell-based mouse embryo-like structures termed "ETiX-embryoids." ETiX-embryoids are formed from combined embryonic stem cells, trophoblast stem cells, and embryonic stem cells transiently induced to express Gata4. Cells are seeded into AggreWell dishes where they form aggregates that develop to resemble post-implantation mouse embryos following 4 days of culture. ETiX-embryoids establish an anterior signaling center and undergo gastrulation over the following 2 days. By day 7, ETiX-embryoids undergo neurulation and form an anterior-posterior axis with head folds at one end and a tail bud on the other. On day 8, they develop a brain and form a heart-like structure and a gut tube.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E. Handford
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Pallavi Panda
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wei Y, Zhang E, Yu L, Ci B, Sakurai M, Guo L, Zhang X, Lin S, Takii S, Liu L, Liu J, Schmitz DA, Su T, Zhang J, Shen Q, Ding Y, Zhan L, Sun HX, Zheng C, Xu L, Okamura D, Ji W, Tan T, Wu J. Dissecting embryonic and extraembryonic lineage crosstalk with stem cell co-culture. Cell 2023; 186:5859-5875.e24. [PMID: 38052213 PMCID: PMC10916932 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Embryogenesis necessitates harmonious coordination between embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. Although stem cells of both embryonic and extraembryonic origins have been generated, they are grown in different culture conditions. In this study, utilizing a unified culture condition that activates the FGF, TGF-β, and WNT pathways, we have successfully derived embryonic stem cells (FTW-ESCs), extraembryonic endoderm stem cells (FTW-XENs), and trophoblast stem cells (FTW-TSCs) from the three foundational tissues of mouse and cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) blastocysts. This approach facilitates the co-culture of embryonic and extraembryonic stem cells, revealing a growth inhibition effect exerted by extraembryonic endoderm cells on pluripotent cells, partially through extracellular matrix signaling. Additionally, our cross-species analysis identified both shared and unique transcription factors and pathways regulating FTW-XENs. The embryonic and extraembryonic stem cell co-culture strategy offers promising avenues for developing more faithful embryo models and devising more developmentally pertinent differentiation protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yulei Wei
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - E Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Leqian Yu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Baiquan Ci
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Masahiro Sakurai
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Lei Guo
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Sirui Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shino Takii
- Department of Advanced Bioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Lizhong Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Daniel A Schmitz
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ting Su
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Junmei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qiaoyan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Linfeng Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | | | - Canbin Zheng
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Lin Xu
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Daiji Okamura
- Department of Advanced Bioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Weizhi Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
| | - Tao Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Xu J, Zhang L, Ye Z, Chang B, Tu Z, Du X, Wen X, Teng Y. A 3D "sandwich" co-culture system with vascular niche supports mouse embryo development from E3.5 to E7.5 in vitro. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:349. [PMID: 38072932 PMCID: PMC10712047 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03583-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various methods for ex utero culture systems have been explored. However, limitations remain regarding the in vitro culture platforms used before implanting mouse embryos and the normal development of mouse blastocysts in vitro. Furthermore, vascular niche support during mouse embryo development from embryonic day (E) 3.5 to E7.5 is unknown in vitro. METHODS This study established a three-dimensional (3D) "sandwich" vascular niche culture system with in vitro culture medium (IVCM) using human placenta perivascular stem cells (hPPSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (hUVECs) as supportive cells (which were seeded into the bottom layer of Matrigel) to test mouse embryos from E3.5 to E7.5 in vitro. The development rates and greatest diameters of mouse embryos from E3.5 to E7.5 were quantitatively determined using SPSS software statistics. Pluripotent markers and embryo transplantation were used to monitor mouse embryo quality and function in vivo. RESULTS Embryos in the IVCM + Cells (hPPSCs + hUVECs) group showed higher development rates and greater diameters at each stage than those in the IVCM group. Embryos in the IVCM + Cells group cultured to E5.5 morphologically resembled natural egg cylinders and expressed specific embryonic cell markers, including Oct4 and Nanog. These features were similar to those of embryos developed in vivo. After transplantation, the embryos were re-implanted in the internal uterus and continued to develop to a particular stage. CONCLUSIONS The 3D in vitro culture system enabled embryo development from E3.5 to E7.5, and the vascularization microenvironment constructed by Matrigel, hPPSCs, and hUVECs significantly promoted the development of implanted embryos. This system allowed us to further study the physical and molecular mechanisms of embryo implantation in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, China.
| | - Linye Zhang
- The First School of Medicine, School of Information and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zihui Ye
- The First School of Medicine, School of Information and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Binwen Chang
- School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zheng Tu
- Renji College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuguang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xi Wen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, China.
| | - Yili Teng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lau KYC, Amadei G, Zernicka-Goetz M. Assembly of complete mouse embryo models from embryonic and induced stem cell types in vitro. Nat Protoc 2023; 18:3662-3689. [PMID: 37821625 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-023-00891-y] [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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The interaction between embryonic and extraembryonic tissues is critical in natural mouse embryogenesis. Here, to enable such interaction in vitro, we describe a protocol to assemble a complete mouse embryo model using mouse embryonic stem cells and induced embryonic stem cells to express Cdx2 (or trophoblast stem cells) and Gata4 to reconstitute the epiblast, extraembryonic ectoderm and visceral endoderm lineages, respectively. The resulting complete embryo models recapitulate development from embryonic day 5.0 to 8.5, generating advanced embryonic and extraembryonic tissues that develop through gastrulation to initiate organogenesis to form a head and a beating heart structure as well as a yolk sac and chorion. Once the required stem cell lines are stably maintained in culture, the protocol requires 1 day to assemble complete embryo models and a further 8 days to culture them until headfold stages, although structures can be collected at earlier developmental stages as required. This protocol can be easily performed by researchers with experience in mouse stem cell culture, although they will benefit from knowledge of natural mouse embryos at early postimplantation stages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kasey Y C Lau
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gianluca Amadei
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Li H, Chang L, Wu J, Huang J, Guan W, Bates LE, Stuart HT, Guo M, Zhang P, Huang B, Chen C, Zhang M, Chen J, Min M, Wu G, Hutchins AP, Silva JCR. In vitro generation of mouse morula-like cells. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2510-2527.e7. [PMID: 37875119 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Generating cells with the molecular and functional properties of embryo cells and with full developmental potential is an aim with fundamental biological significance. Here we report the in vitro generation of mouse transient morula-like cells (MLCs) via the manipulation of signaling pathways. MLCs are molecularly distinct from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and cluster instead with embryo 8- to 16-cell stage cells. A single MLC can generate a blastoid, and the efficiency increases to 80% when 8-10 MLCs are used. MLCs make embryoids directly, efficiently, and within 4 days. Transcriptomic analysis shows that day 4-5 MLC-derived embryoids contain the cell types found in natural embryos at early gastrulation. Furthermore, MLCs introduced into morulae segregate into epiblast (EPI), primitive endoderm (PrE), and trophectoderm (TE) fates in blastocyst chimeras and have a molecular signature indistinguishable from that of host embryo cells. These findings represent the generation of cells that are molecularly and functionally similar to the precursors of the first three cell lineages of the embryo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Li
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China.
| | - Litao Chang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; Guangzhou Medical University, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 511495, China
| | - Jinyi Wu
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; Guangzhou Medical University, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 511495, China
| | - Jiahui Huang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China
| | - Wei Guan
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China
| | - Lawrence E Bates
- Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Hannah T Stuart
- Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Mingyue Guo
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; Guangzhou Medical University, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 511495, China
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China
| | - Boyan Huang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China
| | - Chuanxin Chen
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China
| | - Man Zhang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China
| | - Jiekai Chen
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingwei Min
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China
| | - Guangming Wu
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China
| | - Andrew P Hutchins
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518055, China
| | - José C R Silva
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China; Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Romualdez-Tan MV. Modelling in vitro gametogenesis using induced pluripotent stem cells: a review. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 12:33. [PMID: 37843621 PMCID: PMC10579208 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-023-00176-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) has been a topic of great interest in recent years not only because it allows for further exploration of mechanisms of germ cell development, but also because of its prospect for innovative medical applications especially for the treatment of infertility. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying gamete development in vivo has inspired scientists to attempt to recapitulate the entire process of gametogenesis in vitro. While earlier studies have established IVG methods largely using pluripotent stem cells of embryonic origin, the scarcity of sources for these cells and the ethical issues involved in their use are serious limitations to the progress of IVG research especially in humans. However, with the emergence of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) due to the revolutionary discovery of dedifferentiation and reprogramming factors, IVG research has progressed remarkably in the last decade. This paper extensively reviews developments in IVG using iPSCs. First, the paper presents key concepts from groundwork studies on IVG including earlier researches demonstrating that IVG methods using embryonic stem cells (ESCs) also apply when using iPSCs. Techniques for the derivation of iPSCs are briefly discussed, highlighting the importance of generating transgene-free iPSCs with a high capacity for germline transmission to improve efficacy when used for IVG. The main part of the paper discusses recent advances in IVG research using iPSCs in various stages of gametogenesis. In addition, current clinical applications of IVG are presented, and potential future applications are discussed. Although IVG is still faced with many challenges in terms of technical issues, as well as efficacy and safety, novel IVG methodologies are emerging, and IVG using iPSCs may usher in the next era of reproductive medicine sooner than expected. This raises both ethical and social concerns and calls for the scientific community to cautiously develop IVG technology to ensure it is not only efficacious but also safe and adheres to social and ethical norms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Victoria Romualdez-Tan
- Present Address: Repro Optima Center for Reproductive Health, Inc., Ground Floor JRDC Bldg. Osmena Blvd. Capitol Site, Cebu City, 6000, Philippines.
- Cebu Doctors University Hospital, Cebu City, Philippines.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Pham PD, Lu H, Han H, Zhou JJ, Madan A, Wang W, Murre C, Cho KWY. Transcriptional network governing extraembryonic endoderm cell fate choice. Dev Biol 2023; 502:20-37. [PMID: 37423592 PMCID: PMC10550205 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2023.07.002] [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: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The mechanism by which transcription factor (TF) network instructs cell-type-specific transcriptional programs to drive primitive endoderm (PrE) progenitors to commit to parietal endoderm (PE) versus visceral endoderm (VE) cell fates remains poorly understood. To address the question, we analyzed the single-cell transcriptional signatures defining PrE, PE, and VE cell states during the onset of the PE-VE lineage bifurcation. By coupling with the epigenomic comparison of active enhancers unique to PE and VE cells, we identified GATA6, SOX17, and FOXA2 as central regulators for the lineage divergence. Transcriptomic analysis of cXEN cells, an in vitro model for PE cells, after the acute depletion of GATA6 or SOX17 demonstrated that these factors induce Mycn, imparting the self-renewal properties of PE cells. Concurrently, they suppress the VE gene program, including key genes like Hnf4a and Ttr, among others. We proceeded with RNA-seq analysis on cXEN cells with FOXA2 knockout, in conjunction with GATA6 or SOX17 depletion. We found FOXA2 acts as a potent suppressor of Mycn while simultaneously activating the VE gene program. The antagonistic gene regulatory activities of GATA6/SOX17 and FOXA2 in promoting alternative cell fates, and their physical co-bindings at the enhancers provide molecular insights to the plasticity of the PrE lineage. Finally, we show that the external cue, BMP signaling, promotes the VE cell fate by activation of VE TFs and repression of PE TFs including GATA6 and SOX17. These data reveal a putative core gene regulatory module that underpins PE and VE cell fate choice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Duyen Pham
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Hanbin Lu
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92039, USA
| | - Han Han
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Jeff Jiajing Zhou
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Aarushi Madan
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Wenqi Wang
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Cornelis Murre
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92039, USA
| | - Ken W Y Cho
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Sun S, Xue X, Fu J. Modeling development using microfluidics: bridging gaps to foster fundamental and translational research. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 82:102097. [PMID: 37573835 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102097] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
In vitro stem cell-derived embryo and organ models, termed embryoids and organoids, respectively, provide promising experimental tools to study physiological and pathological processes in mammalian development and organ formation. Most of current embryoid and organoid systems are developed using conventional three-dimensional cultures that lack controls of spatiotemporal extracellular signals. Microfluidics, an established technology for quantitative controls and quantifications of dynamic chemical and physical environments, has recently been utilized for developing next-generation embryoids and organoids in a controllable and reproducible manner. In this review, we summarize recent progress in constructing microfluidics-based embryoids and organoids. Development of these models demonstrates the successful applications of microfluidics in establishing morphogen gradients, accelerating medium transport, exerting mechanical forces, facilitating tissue coculture studies, and improving assay throughput, thus supporting using microfluidics for building next-generation embryoids and organoids for fundamental and translational research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Xufeng Xue
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - 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.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Weatherbee BAT, Gantner CW, Iwamoto-Stohl LK, Daza RM, Hamazaki N, Shendure J, Zernicka-Goetz M. Pluripotent stem cell-derived model of the post-implantation human embryo. Nature 2023; 622:584-593. [PMID: 37369347 PMCID: PMC10584688 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06368-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The human embryo undergoes morphogenetic transformations following implantation into the uterus, but our knowledge of this crucial stage is limited by the inability to observe the embryo in vivo. Models of the embryo derived from stem cells are important tools for interrogating developmental events and tissue-tissue crosstalk during these stages1. Here we establish a model of the human post-implantation embryo, a human embryoid, comprising embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. We combine two types of extraembryonic-like cell generated by overexpression of transcription factors with wild-type embryonic stem cells and promote their self-organization into structures that mimic several aspects of the post-implantation human embryo. These self-organized aggregates contain a pluripotent epiblast-like domain surrounded by extraembryonic-like tissues. Our functional studies demonstrate that the epiblast-like domain robustly differentiates into amnion, extraembryonic mesenchyme and primordial germ cell-like cells in response to bone morphogenetic protein cues. In addition, we identify an inhibitory role for SOX17 in the specification of anterior hypoblast-like cells2. Modulation of the subpopulations in the hypoblast-like compartment demonstrates that extraembryonic-like cells influence epiblast-like domain differentiation, highlighting functional tissue-tissue crosstalk. In conclusion, we present a modular, tractable, integrated3 model of the human embryo that will enable us to probe key questions of human post-implantation development, a critical window during which substantial numbers of pregnancies fail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bailey A T Weatherbee
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carlos W Gantner
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lisa K Iwamoto-Stohl
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Riza M Daza
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nobuhiko Hamazaki
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jay Shendure
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Oh SY, Na SB, Kang YK, Do JT. In Vitro Embryogenesis and Gastrulation Using Stem Cells in Mice and Humans. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13655. [PMID: 37686459 PMCID: PMC10563085 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
During early mammalian embryonic development, fertilized one-cell embryos develop into pre-implantation blastocysts and subsequently establish three germ layers through gastrulation during post-implantation development. In recent years, stem cells have emerged as a powerful tool to study embryogenesis and gastrulation without the need for eggs, allowing for the generation of embryo-like structures known as synthetic embryos or embryoids. These in vitro models closely resemble early embryos in terms of morphology and gene expression and provide a faithful recapitulation of early pre- and post-implantation embryonic development. Synthetic embryos can be generated through a combinatorial culture of three blastocyst-derived stem cell types, such as embryonic stem cells, trophoblast stem cells, and extraembryonic endoderm cells, or totipotent-like stem cells alone. This review provides an overview of the progress and various approaches in studying in vitro embryogenesis and gastrulation in mice and humans using stem cells. Furthermore, recent findings and breakthroughs in synthetic embryos and gastruloids are outlined. Despite ethical considerations, synthetic embryo models hold promise for understanding mammalian (including humans) embryonic development and have potential implications for regenerative medicine and developmental research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jeong Tae Do
- Department of Stem Cell Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk Institute of Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.O.); (S.B.N.); (Y.K.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abel A, Sozen B. Shifting early embryology paradigms: Applications of stem cell-based embryo models in bioengineering. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 81:102069. [PMID: 37392541 PMCID: PMC10530566 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Technologies to reproduce specific aspects of early mammalian embryogenesis in vitro using stem cells have skyrocketed over the last several years. With these advances, we have gained new perspectives on how embryonic and extraembryonic cells self-organize to form the embryo. These reductionist approaches hold promise for the future implementation of precise environmental and genetic controls to understand variables affecting embryo development. Our review discusses recent progress in cellular models of early mammalian embryo development and bioengineering advancements that can be leveraged to study the embryo-maternal interface. We summarize current gaps in the field, emphasizing the importance of understanding how intercellular interactions at this interface contribute to reproductive and developmental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Abel
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. https://twitter.com/@caitrionacunn
| | - Berna Sozen
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Emig AA, Williams MLK. Gastrulation morphogenesis in synthetic systems. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 141:3-13. [PMID: 35817656 PMCID: PMC9825685 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in pluripotent stem cell culture allow researchers to generate not only most embryonic cell types, but also morphologies of many embryonic structures, entirely in vitro. This recreation of embryonic form from naïve cells, known as synthetic morphogenesis, has important implications for both developmental biology and regenerative medicine. However, the capacity of stem cell-based models to recapitulate the morphogenetic cell behaviors that shape natural embryos remains unclear. In this review, we explore several examples of synthetic morphogenesis, with a focus on models of gastrulation and surrounding stages. By varying cell types, source species, and culture conditions, researchers have recreated aspects of primitive streak formation, emergence and elongation of the primary embryonic axis, neural tube closure, and more. Here, we describe cell behaviors within in vitro/ex vivo systems that mimic in vivo morphogenesis and highlight opportunities for more complete models of early development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa A Emig
- Center for Precision Environmental Health & Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
| | - Margot L K Williams
- Center for Precision Environmental Health & Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Zhang M, Reis AH, Simunovic M. Human embryoids: A new strategy of recreating the first steps of embryonic development in vitro. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 141:14-22. [PMID: 35871155 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Molecular mechanisms surrounding early human embryonic events such as blastocyst formation, implantation, and the specification of the body axes are some of the most attractive research questions of developmental biology today. A knowledge on the detailed signaling landscape underlying these critical events in the human could impact the way we treat early pregnancy disorders and infertility, and considerably advance our abilities to make precise human tissues in a lab. However, owing to ethical, technical, and policy restrictions, research on early human embryo development historically stalled behind animal models. The rapid progress in 3D culture of human embryonic stem cells over the past years created an opportunity to overcome this critical challenge. We review recently developed strategies of making 3D models of the human embryo built from embryonic stem cells, which we refer to as embryoids. We focus on models aimed at reconstituting the 3D epithelial characteristics of the early human embryo, namely the intra/extraembryonic signaling crosstalk, tissue polarity, and embryonic cavities. We identify distinct classes of embryoids based on whether they explicitly include extraembryonic tissues and we argue for the merit of compromising on certain aspects of embryo mimicry in balancing the experimental feasibility with ethical considerations. Human embryoids open gates toward a new field of synthetic human embryology, allowing to study the long inaccessible stages of early human development at unprecedented detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miaoci Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York 10027, USA; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, USA
| | - Alice H Reis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York 10027, USA; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, USA
| | - Mijo Simunovic
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York 10027, USA; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, USA; Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ávila-González D, Gidi-Grenat MÁ, García-López G, Martínez-Juárez A, Molina-Hernández A, Portillo W, Díaz-Martínez NE, Díaz NF. Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Model for Human Embryogenesis. Cells 2023; 12:1192. [PMID: 37190101 PMCID: PMC10136597 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081192] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs; embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) can recapitulate critical aspects of the early stages of embryonic development; therefore, they became a powerful tool for the in vitro study of molecular mechanisms that underlie blastocyst formation, implantation, the spectrum of pluripotency and the beginning of gastrulation, among other processes. Traditionally, PSCs were studied in 2D cultures or monolayers, without considering the spatial organization of a developing embryo. However, recent research demonstrated that PSCs can form 3D structures that simulate the blastocyst and gastrula stages and other events, such as amniotic cavity formation or somitogenesis. This breakthrough provides an unparalleled opportunity to study human embryogenesis by examining the interactions, cytoarchitecture and spatial organization among multiple cell lineages, which have long remained a mystery due to the limitations of studying in utero human embryos. In this review, we will provide an overview of how experimental embryology currently utilizes models such as blastoids, gastruloids and other 3D aggregates derived from PSCs to advance our understanding of the intricate processes involved in human embryo development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Ávila-González
- Laboratorio de Reprogramación Celular y Bioingeniería de Tejidos, Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
- Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - Mikel Ángel Gidi-Grenat
- Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe García-López
- Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Martínez-Juárez
- Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - Anayansi Molina-Hernández
- Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - Wendy Portillo
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Néstor Emmanuel Díaz-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Reprogramación Celular y Bioingeniería de Tejidos, Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
| | - Néstor Fabián Díaz
- Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Li J, Zhu Q, Cao J, Liu Y, Lu Y, Sun Y, Li Q, Huang Y, Shang S, Bian X, Li C, Zhang L, Wang Y, Nie Y, Fu J, Li W, Mazid MA, Jiang Y, Jia W, Wang X, Sun Y, Esteban MA, Sun Q, Zhou F, Liu Z. Cynomolgus monkey embryo model captures gastrulation and early pregnancy. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:362-377.e7. [PMID: 37028403 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Human stem cell-derived blastoids display similar morphology and cell lineages to normal blastocysts. However, the ability to investigate their developmental potential is limited. Here, we construct cynomolgus monkey blastoids resembling blastocysts in morphology and transcriptomics using naive ESCs. These blastoids develop to embryonic disk with the structures of yolk sac, chorionic cavity, amnion cavity, primitive streak, and connecting stalk along the rostral-caudal axis through prolonged in vitro culture (IVC). Primordial germ cells, gastrulating cells, visceral endoderm/yolk sac endoderm, three germ layers, and hemato-endothelial progenitors in IVC cynomolgus monkey blastoids were observed by single-cell transcriptomics or immunostaining. Moreover, transferring cynomolgus monkey blastoids to surrogates achieves pregnancies, as indicated by progesterone levels and presence of early gestation sacs. Our results reveal the capacity of in vitro gastrulation and in vivo early pregnancy of cynomolgus monkey blastoids, providing a useful system to dissect primate embryonic development without the same ethical concerns and access challenges in human embryo study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingyuan Zhu
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shanxi, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Lu
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yining Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Li
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiming Huang
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenshen Shang
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, Henan, China
| | - Xinyan Bian
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyang Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Liansheng Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanhong Nie
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiqiang Fu
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjuan Li
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Md Abdul Mazid
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenqi Jia
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shanxi, China
| | - Yidi Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Miguel A Esteban
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China.
| | - Fan Zhou
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhen Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Dupont C, Schäffers OJ, Tan BF, Merzouk S, Bindels EM, Zwijsen A, Huylebroeck D, Gribnau J. Efficient generation of ETX embryoids that recapitulate the entire window of murine egg cylinder development. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd2913. [PMID: 36652512 PMCID: PMC9848479 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add2913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The murine embryonic-trophoblast-extra-embryonic endoderm (ETX) model is an integrated stem cell-based model to study early postimplantation development. It is based on the self-assembly potential of embryonic, trophoblast, and hypoblast/primitive/visceral endoderm-type stem cell lines (ESC, TSC, and XEN, respectively) to arrange into postimplantation egg cylinder-like embryoids. Here, we provide an optimized method for reliable and efficient generation of ETX embryoids that develop into late gastrulation in static culture conditions. It is based on transgenic Gata6-overproducing ESCs and modified assembly and culture conditions. Using this method, up to 43% of assembled ETX embryoids exhibited a correct spatial distribution of the three stem cell derivatives at day 4 of culture. Of those, 40% progressed into ETX embryoids that both transcriptionally and morphologically faithfully mimicked in vivo postimplantation mouse development between E5.5 and E7.5. The ETX model system offers the opportunity to study the murine postimplantation egg cylinder stages and could serve as a source of various cell lineage precursors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cathérine Dupont
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Olivier J. M. Schäffers
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Beatrice F. Tan
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sarra Merzouk
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Eric M. Bindels
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - An Zwijsen
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Danny Huylebroeck
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joost Gribnau
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Amadei G, Glover DM. Behind the developing brains and beating hearts of stem cell-derived embryo models. Open Biol 2023; 13:220325. [PMID: 36630196 PMCID: PMC9833437 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies over the past decade have shown how stem cells representing embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues of the mouse can self-assemble in the culture dish to recapitulate an astonishing part of early embryonic development. A systematic analysis has demonstrated how pluripotent embryonic stem cells can be induced to behave like the implanting epiblast; how they can interact with trophectoderm stem cells to form a patterned structure resembling the implanting embryo prior to gastrulation; and how the third stem cell type-extra-embryonic endoderm cells-can be incorporated to generate structures that undergo the cell movements and gene expression patterns of gastrulation. Moreover, such stem cell-derived embryo models can proceed to neurulation and establish progenitors for all parts of the brain and neural tube, somites, beating heart structures and gut tube. They develop within extra-embryonic yolk sacs that initiate haematopoiesis. Here we trace this journey of discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - David M Glover
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Oldak B, Aguilera-Castrejon A, Hanna JH. Recent insights into mammalian natural and synthetic ex utero embryogenesis. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 77:101988. [PMID: 36179582 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Research on early postimplantation mammalian development has been limited by the small size and intrauterine confinement of the developing embryos. Owing to the inability to observe and manipulate living embryos at these stages in utero, the establishment of robust ex utero embryo-culture systems that capture prolonged periods of mouse development has been an important research goal. In the last few years, these methods have been significantly improved by the optimization and enhancement of in vitro culture systems sustaining embryo development during peri-implantation stages for several species, and more recently, proper growth of natural mouse embryos from pregastrulation to late organogenesis stages and of embryonic stem cell (ES)-derived synthetic embryo models until early organogenesis stages. Here, we discuss the most recent ex utero embryo-culture systems established to date for rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans. We emphasize their technical aspects and developmental timeframe and provide insights into the new opportunities that these methods will contribute to the study of natural and synthetic mammalian embryogenesis and the stem-cell field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo Oldak
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | | | - Jacob H Hanna
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Wehmeyer AE, Schüle KM, Conrad A, Schröder CM, Probst S, Arnold SJ. Chimeric 3D gastruloids - a versatile tool for studies of mammalian peri-gastrulation development. Development 2022; 149:280536. [PMID: 36326003 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200812] [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: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell-derived three-dimensional (3D) gastruloids show a remarkable capacity of self-organisation and recapitulate many aspects of gastrulation stage mammalian development. Gastruloids can be rapidly generated and offer several experimental advantages, such as scalability, observability and accessibility for manipulation. Here, we present approaches to further expand the experimental potency of murine 3D gastruloids by using functional genetics in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to generate chimeric gastruloids. In chimeric gastruloids, fluorescently labelled cells of different genotypes harbouring inducible gene expression or loss-of-function alleles are combined with wild-type cells. We showcase this experimental approach in chimeric gastruloids of mESCs carrying homozygous deletions of the Tbx transcription factor brachyury or inducible expression of Eomes. Resulting chimeric gastruloids recapitulate reported Eomes and brachyury functions, such as instructing cardiac fate and promoting posterior axial extension, respectively. Additionally, chimeric gastruloids revealed previously unrecognised phenotypes, such as the tissue sorting preference of brachyury deficient cells to endoderm and the cell non-autonomous effects of brachyury deficiency on Wnt3a patterning along the embryonic axis, demonstrating some of the advantages of chimeric gastruloids as an efficient tool for studies of mammalian gastrulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E Wehmeyer
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katrin M Schüle
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Conrad
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Chiara M Schröder
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.,Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 19a, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.,Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 18, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simone Probst
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian J Arnold
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.,Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 18, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Glykofrydis F, Elfick A. Exploring standards for multicellular mammalian synthetic biology. Trends Biotechnol 2022; 40:1299-1312. [PMID: 35803769 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.06.001] [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: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is moving towards bioengineering multicellular mammalian systems that are poised to advance tissue engineering, biomedicine, and the food industry. Despite progress, the field lacks a framework of standards that could greatly accelerate further development. Here, we explore the landscape of standards for multicellular mammalian synthetic biology. We discuss the limits of current technical standards and categorise unaddressed parameters into an abstraction hierarchy. We then define the concept of a 'synthetic multicellular mammalian system' and apply our standard hierarchy framework to illustrate how it could aid bioengineering endeavours. We conclude with promising areas that could shape the future of the field, flagging the need for a critical and holistic consideration of standards that requires cross-disciplinary dialogue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fokion Glykofrydis
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK; UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3BD, UK
| | - Alistair Elfick
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK; UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3BD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
The complex process by which a single-celled zygote develops into a viable embryo is nothing short of a miraculous wonder of the natural world. Elucidating how this process is orchestrated in humans has long eluded the grasp of scientists due to ethical and practical limitations. Thankfully, pluripotent stem cells that resemble early developmental cell types possess the ability to mimic specific embryonic events. As such, murine and human stem cells have been leveraged by scientists to create in vitro models that aim to recapitulate different stages of early mammalian development. Here, we examine the wide variety of stem cell-based embryo models that have been developed to recapitulate and study embryonic events, from pre-implantation development through to early organogenesis. We discuss the applications of these models, key considerations regarding their importance within the field, and how such models are expected to grow and evolve to achieve exciting new milestones in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aidan H. Terhune
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jeyoon Bok
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Shiyu Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - 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 and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Bao M, Cornwall-Scoones J, Zernicka-Goetz M. Stem-cell-based human and mouse embryo models. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 76:101970. [PMID: 35988317 PMCID: PMC10309046 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic embryology aims to develop embryo-like structures from stem cells to provide new insight into early stages of mammalian development. Recent advances in synthetic embryology have highlighted the remarkable capacity of stem cells to self-organize under certain biochemical or biophysical stimulations, generating structures that recapitulate the fate and form of early mouse/human embryos, in which symmetry breaking, pattern formation, or proper morphogenesis can be observed spontaneously. Here we review recent progress on the design principles for different types of embryoids and discuss the impact of different biochemical and biophysical factors on the process of stem-cell self-organization. We also offer our thoughts about the principal future challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Bao
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK. https://twitter.com/@Min_Bao_
| | - Jake Cornwall-Scoones
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK. https://twitter.com/@jake_cs_
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Amadei G, Handford CE, Qiu C, De Jonghe J, Greenfeld H, Tran M, Martin BK, Chen DY, Aguilera-Castrejon A, Hanna JH, Elowitz MB, Hollfelder F, Shendure J, Glover DM, Zernicka-Goetz M. Embryo model completes gastrulation to neurulation and organogenesis. Nature 2022; 610:143-153. [PMID: 36007540 PMCID: PMC9534772 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05246-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem (ES) cells can undergo many aspects of mammalian embryogenesis in vitro1-5, but their developmental potential is substantially extended by interactions with extraembryonic stem cells, including trophoblast stem (TS) cells, extraembryonic endoderm stem (XEN) cells and inducible XEN (iXEN) cells6-11. Here we assembled stem cell-derived embryos in vitro from mouse ES cells, TS cells and iXEN cells and showed that they recapitulate the development of whole natural mouse embryo in utero up to day 8.5 post-fertilization. Our embryo model displays headfolds with defined forebrain and midbrain regions and develops a beating heart-like structure, a trunk comprising a neural tube and somites, a tail bud containing neuromesodermal progenitors, a gut tube, and primordial germ cells. This complete embryo model develops within an extraembryonic yolk sac that initiates blood island development. Notably, we demonstrate that the neurulating embryo model assembled from Pax6-knockout ES cells aggregated with wild-type TS cells and iXEN cells recapitulates the ventral domain expansion of the neural tube that occurs in natural, ubiquitous Pax6-knockout embryos. Thus, these complete embryoids are a powerful in vitro model for dissecting the roles of diverse cell lineages and genes in development. Our results demonstrate the self-organization ability of ES cells and two types of extraembryonic stem cells to reconstitute mammalian development through and beyond gastrulation to neurulation and early organogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Amadei
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Charlotte E Handford
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chengxiang Qiu
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joachim De Jonghe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Hannah Greenfeld
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Martin Tran
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Beth K Martin
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dong-Yuan Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - Jacob H Hanna
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michael B Elowitz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Jay Shendure
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David M Glover
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Niwa H, Mwalilino L. Ensemble of old and new techniques escorts ESCs to bona fide embryo-like structures. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:1423-1425. [DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
36
|
Amin ND, Pașca SP. Mouse embryo models built from stem cells take shape in a dish. Nature 2022; 610:39-40. [PMID: 36192499 PMCID: PMC10495118 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-022-03075-y] [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: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Two groups have grown self-organizing models of mouse embryos from stem cells in vitro . The models mimic mid-gestation embryos, providing an unparalleled opportunity to study early embryonic development.
Collapse
|
37
|
Synthetic Embryos Can Complete Gastrulation and Initiate Organogenesis Ex Utero. Cell Reprogram 2022; 24:223-224. [DOI: 10.1089/cell.2022.0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
|
38
|
Puscheck EE, Ruden X, Singh A, Abdulhasan M, Ruden DM, Awonuga AO, Rappolee DA. Using high throughput screens to predict miscarriages with placental stem cells and long-term stress effects with embryonic stem cells. Birth Defects Res 2022; 114:1014-1036. [PMID: 35979652 PMCID: PMC10108263 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
A problem in developmental toxicology is the massive loss of life from fertilization through gastrulation, and the surprising lack of knowledge of causes of miscarriage. Half to two-thirds of embryos are lost, and environmental and genetic causes are nearly equal. Simply put, it can be inferred that this is a difficult period for normal embryos, but that environmental stresses may cause homeostatic responses that move from adaptive to maladaptive with increasing exposures. At the lower 50% estimate, miscarriage causes greater loss-of-life than all cancers combined or of all cardio- and cerebral-vascular accidents combined. Surprisingly, we do not know if miscarriage rates are increasing or decreasing. Overshadowed by the magnitude of miscarriages, are insufficient data on teratogenic or epigenetic imbalances in surviving embryos and their stem cells. Superimposed on the difficult normal trajectory for peri-gastrulation embryos are added malnutrition, hormonal, and environmental stresses. An overarching hypothesis is that high throughput screens (HTS) using cultured viable reporter embryonic and placental stem cells (e.g., embryonic stem cells [ESC] and trophoblast stem cells [TSC] that report status using fluorescent reporters in living cells) from the pre-gastrulation embryo will most rapidly test a range of hormonal, environmental, nutritional, drug, and diet supplement stresses that decrease stem cell proliferation and imbalance stemness/differentiation. A second hypothesis is that TSC respond with greater sensitivity in magnitude to stress that would cause miscarriage, but ESC are stress-resistant to irreversible stemness loss and are best used to predict long-term health defects. DevTox testing needs more ESC and TSC HTS to model environmental stresses leading to miscarriage or teratogenesis and more research on epidemiology of stress and miscarriage. This endeavor also requires a shift in emphasis on pre- and early gastrulation events during the difficult period of maximum loss by miscarriage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Puscheck
- CS Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Reproductive Stress 3M Inc, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, USA
- Invia Fertility Clinics, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA
| | - Ximena Ruden
- CS Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Aditi Singh
- CS Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Mohammed Abdulhasan
- CS Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Reproductive Stress 3M Inc, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, USA
| | - Douglas M Ruden
- CS Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Invia Fertility Clinics, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Science, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Awoniyi O Awonuga
- CS Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel A Rappolee
- CS Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Reproductive Stress 3M Inc, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, USA
- Invia Fertility Clinics, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Science, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Program for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Bao M, Cornwall-Scoones J, Sanchez-Vasquez E, Cox AL, Chen DY, De Jonghe J, Shadkhoo S, Hollfelder F, Thomson M, Glover DM, Zernicka-Goetz M. Stem cell-derived synthetic embryos self-assemble by exploiting cadherin codes and cortical tension. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:1341-1349. [PMID: 36100738 PMCID: PMC9481465 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00984-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian embryos sequentially differentiate into trophectoderm and an inner cell mass, the latter of which differentiates into primitive endoderm and epiblast. Trophoblast stem (TS), extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) and embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from these three lineages can self-assemble into synthetic embryos, but the mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we show that a stem cell-specific cadherin code drives synthetic embryogenesis. The XEN cell cadherin code enables XEN cell sorting into a layer below ES cells, recapitulating the sorting of epiblast and primitive endoderm before implantation. The TS cell cadherin code enables TS cell sorting above ES cells, resembling extraembryonic ectoderm clustering above epiblast following implantation. Whereas differential cadherin expression drives initial cell sorting, cortical tension consolidates tissue organization. By optimizing cadherin code expression in different stem cell lines, we tripled the frequency of correctly formed synthetic embryos. Thus, by exploiting cadherin codes from different stages of development, lineage-specific stem cells bypass the preimplantation structure to directly assemble a postimplantation embryo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Bao
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jake Cornwall-Scoones
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Estefania Sanchez-Vasquez
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Andy L Cox
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Dong-Yuan Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Joachim De Jonghe
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shahriar Shadkhoo
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - Matt Thomson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - David M Glover
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Willyard C. Mouse embryos grown without eggs or sperm: why and what's next? Nature 2022; 609:230-231. [PMID: 36008716 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-022-02334-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
41
|
Arias AM, Marikawa Y, Moris N. Gastruloids: Pluripotent stem cell models of mammalian gastrulation and embryo engineering. Dev Biol 2022; 488:35-46. [PMID: 35537519 PMCID: PMC9477185 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Gastrulation is a fundamental and critical process of animal development whereby the mass of cells that results from the proliferation of the zygote transforms itself into a recognizable outline of an organism. The last few years have seen the emergence of a number of experimental models of early mammalian embryogenesis based on Embryonic Stem (ES) cells. One of this is the Gastruloid model. Gastruloids are aggregates of defined numbers of ES cells that, under defined culture conditions, undergo controlled proliferation, symmetry breaking, and the specification of all three germ layers characteristic of vertebrate embryos, and their derivatives. However, they lack brain structures and, surprisingly, reveal a disconnect between cell type specific gene expression and tissue morphogenesis, for example during somitogenesis. Gastruloids have been derived from mouse and human ES cells and several variations of the original model have emerged that reveal a hereto unknown modularity of mammalian embryos. We discuss the organization and development of gastruloids in the context of the embryonic stages that they represent, pointing out similarities and differences between the two. We also point out their potential as a reproducible, scalable and searchable experimental system and highlight some questions posed by the current menagerie of gastruloids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Martinez Arias
- Systems Bioengineering, MELIS, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader, 88, ICREA, Pag Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Yusuke Marikawa
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
| | - Naomi Moris
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Tarazi S, Aguilera-Castrejon A, Joubran C, Ghanem N, Ashouokhi S, Roncato F, Wildschutz E, Haddad M, Oldak B, Gomez-Cesar E, Livnat N, Viukov S, Lokshtanov D, Naveh-Tassa S, Rose M, Hanna S, Raanan C, Brenner O, Kedmi M, Keren-Shaul H, Lapidot T, Maza I, Novershtern N, Hanna JH. Post-gastrulation synthetic embryos generated ex utero from mouse naive ESCs. Cell 2022; 185:3290-3306.e25. [PMID: 35988542 PMCID: PMC9439721 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In vitro cultured stem cells with distinct developmental capacities can contribute to embryonic or extraembryonic tissues after microinjection into pre-implantation mammalian embryos. However, whether cultured stem cells can independently give rise to entire gastrulating embryo-like structures with embryonic and extraembryonic compartments remains unknown. Here, we adapt a recently established platform for prolonged ex utero growth of natural embryos to generate mouse post-gastrulation synthetic whole embryo models (sEmbryos), with both embryonic and extraembryonic compartments, starting solely from naive ESCs. This was achieved by co-aggregating non-transduced ESCs, with naive ESCs transiently expressing Cdx2 or Gata4 to promote their priming toward trophectoderm and primitive endoderm lineages, respectively. sEmbryos adequately accomplish gastrulation, advance through key developmental milestones, and develop organ progenitors within complex extraembryonic compartments similar to E8.5 stage mouse embryos. Our findings highlight the plastic potential of naive pluripotent cells to self-organize and functionally reconstitute and model the entire mammalian embryo beyond gastrulation. Advanced synthetic embryos (sEmbryos) self-assembled from ESCs in an ex utero setup Naive ESCs give rise to all embryonic and extraembryonic compartments in sEmbryos Post-gastrulation stem cell derived sEmbryos develop organ-specific progenitors Extraembryonic compartments adequately develop in post-gastrulation whole sEmbryos
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shadi Tarazi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| | | | - Carine Joubran
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Nadir Ghanem
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shahd Ashouokhi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Francesco Roncato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Emilie Wildschutz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Montaser Haddad
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Bernardo Oldak
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Elidet Gomez-Cesar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Nir Livnat
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Sergey Viukov
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Dmitry Lokshtanov
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Segev Naveh-Tassa
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Max Rose
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Suhair Hanna
- Department of Pediatrics, Rambam Health Care Campus, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Calanit Raanan
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Ori Brenner
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Merav Kedmi
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Hadas Keren-Shaul
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Tsvee Lapidot
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Itay Maza
- Gastroenterology Unit, Rambam Health Care Campus, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Noa Novershtern
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| | - Jacob H Hanna
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Bolondi A, Kretzmer H, Meissner A. Single-cell technologies: a new lens into epigenetic regulation in development. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 76:101947. [PMID: 35839561 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The totipotent zygote gives rise to diverse cell types through a series of well-orchestrated regulatory mechanisms. Epigenetic modifiers play an essential, though still poorly understood, role in the transition from pluripotency towards organogenesis. However, recent advances in single-cell technologies have enabled an unprecedented, high-resolution dissection of this crucial developmental window, highlighting more cell-type-specific functions of these ubiquitous regulators. In this review, we discuss and contextualize several recent studies that explore epigenetic regulation during mouse embryogenesis, emphasizing the opportunities presented by single-cell technologies, in vivo perturbation approaches as well as advanced in vitro models to characterize dynamic developmental transitions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Bolondi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin,14195 Berlin, Germany. https://twitter.com/@adrianobolondi
| | - Helene Kretzmer
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany. https://twitter.com/@helenekretzmer
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin,14195 Berlin, Germany; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 02142 Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, 02138 Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Mau KHT, Karimlou D, Barneda D, Brochard V, Royer C, Leeke B, de Souza RA, Pailles M, Percharde M, Srinivas S, Jouneau A, Christian M, Azuara V. Dynamic enlargement and mobilization of lipid droplets in pluripotent cells coordinate morphogenesis during mouse peri-implantation development. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3861. [PMID: 35790717 PMCID: PMC9256688 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31323-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian pre-implantation embryos accumulate substantial lipids, which are stored in lipid droplets (LDs). Despite the fundamental roles of lipids in many cellular functions, the significance of building-up LDs for the developing embryo remains unclear. Here we report that the accumulation and mobilization of LDs upon implantation are causal in the morphogenesis of the pluripotent epiblast and generation of the pro-amniotic cavity in mouse embryos, a critical step for all subsequent development. We show that the CIDEA protein, found abundantly in adipocytes, enhances lipid storage in blastocysts and pluripotent stem cells by promoting LD enlargement through fusion. The LD-stored lipids are mobilized into lysosomes at the onset of lumenogenesis, but without CIDEA are prematurely degraded by cytosolic lipases. Loss of lipid storage or inactivation of lipophagy leads to the aberrant formation of multiple cavities within disorganised epithelial structures. Thus, our study reveals an unexpected role for LDs in orchestrating tissue remodelling and uncovers underappreciated facets of lipid metabolism in peri-implantation development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- King Hang Tommy Mau
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Physiology and Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Donja Karimlou
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - David Barneda
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Vincent Brochard
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France
- École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maison-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Christophe Royer
- Institute of Developmental & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Bryony Leeke
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Roshni A de Souza
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Mélanie Pailles
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France
- École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maison-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Michelle Percharde
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Shankar Srinivas
- Institute of Developmental & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Alice Jouneau
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France
- École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maison-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Mark Christian
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Véronique Azuara
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Identification of the central intermediate in the extra-embryonic to embryonic endoderm transition through single-cell transcriptomics. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:833-844. [PMID: 35681011 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00923-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
High-resolution maps of embryonic development suggest that acquisition of cell identity is not limited to canonical germ layers but proceeds via alternative routes. Despite evidence that visceral organs are formed via embryonic and extra-embryonic trajectories, the production of organ-specific cell types in vitro focuses on the embryonic one. Here we resolve these differentiation routes using massively parallel single-cell RNA sequencing to generate datasets from FOXA2Venus reporter mouse embryos and embryonic stem cell differentiation towards endoderm. To relate cell types in these datasets, we develop a single-parameter computational approach and identify an intermediate en route from extra-embryonic identity to embryonic endoderm, which we localize spatially in embryos at embryonic day 7.5. While there is little evidence for this cell type in embryonic stem cell differentiation, by following the extra-embryonic trajectory starting with naïve extra-embryonic endoderm stem cells we can generate embryonic gut spheroids. Exploiting developmental plasticity therefore offers alternatives to pluripotent cells and opens alternative avenues for in vitro differentiation.
Collapse
|
46
|
Simunovic M, Siggia ED, Brivanlou AH. In vitro attachment and symmetry breaking of a human embryo model assembled from primed embryonic stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:962-972.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
|
47
|
Abstract
Embryonic cells grow in environments that provide a plethora of physical cues, including mechanical forces that shape the development of the entire embryo. Despite their prevalence, the role of these forces in embryonic development and their integration with chemical signals have been mostly neglected, and scrutiny in modern molecular embryology tilted, instead, towards the dissection of molecular pathways involved in cell fate determination and patterning. It is now possible to investigate how mechanical signals induce downstream genetic regulatory networks to regulate key developmental processes in the embryo. Here, we review the insights into mechanical control of early vertebrate development, including the role of forces in tissue patterning and embryonic axis formation. We also highlight recent in vitro approaches using individual embryonic stem cells and self-organizing multicellular models of human embryos, which have been instrumental in expanding our understanding of how mechanics tune cell fate and cellular rearrangements during human embryonic development.
Collapse
|
48
|
He JP, Tian Q, Zhu QY, Liu JL. Single-cell analysis of mouse uterus at the invasion phase of embryo implantation. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:13. [PMID: 35123575 PMCID: PMC8817544 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00749-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Embryo implantation into the uterus is a crucial step for human reproduction. A hypothesis has been proposed that the molecular circuit invented by trophoblasts for invasive embryo implantation during evolution might be misused by cancer cells to promote malignancy. Unfortunately, our current understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying embryo implantation is far from complete. Results Here we used the mouse as an animal model and generated a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the embryo implantation site of mouse uterus at the invasion phase of embryo implantation on gestational day 6. We revealed 23 distinct cell clusters, including 5 stromal cell clusters, 2 epithelial cell clusters, 1 smooth muscle cell cluster, 2 pericyte clusters, 4 endothelial cell clusters, and 9 immune cell clusters. Through data analysis, we identified differentially expression changes in all uterine cell types upon embryo implantation. By integrated with single-cell RNA-seq data from E5.5 embryos, we predicted cell–cell crosstalk between trophoblasts and uterine cell types. Conclusions Our study provides a valuable resource for understanding of the molecular mechanism of embryo implantation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00749-y.
Collapse
|
49
|
Bérenger-Currias NM, Mircea M, Adegeest E, van den Berg PR, Feliksik M, Hochane M, Idema T, Tans SJ, Semrau S. A gastruloid model of the interaction between embryonic and extra-embryonic cell types. J Tissue Eng 2022; 13:20417314221103042. [PMID: 35707767 PMCID: PMC9189523 DOI: 10.1177/20417314221103042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem-cell derived in vitro systems, such as organoids or embryoids, hold great
potential for modeling in vivo development. Full control over their initial
composition, scalability, and easily measurable dynamics make those systems
useful for studying specific developmental processes in isolation. Here we
report the formation of gastruloids consisting of mouse embryonic stem cells
(mESCs) and extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) cells. These XEN-enhanced gastruloids
(XEGs) exhibit the formation of neural epithelia, which are absent in
gastruloids derived from mESCs only. By single-cell RNA-seq, imaging, and
differentiation experiments, we demonstrate the neural characteristics of the
epithelial tissue. We further show that the mESCs induce the differentiation of
the XEN cells to a visceral endoderm-like state. Finally, we demonstrate that
local inhibition of WNT signaling and production of a basement membrane by the
XEN cells underlie the formation of the neuroepithelial tissue. In summary, we
establish XEGs to explore heterotypic cellular interactions and their
developmental consequences in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Mlp Bérenger-Currias
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Delft University of Technology, Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Mircea
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Esmée Adegeest
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marleen Feliksik
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mazène Hochane
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Timon Idema
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Sander J Tans
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands.,AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Semrau
- Department of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Induction of Rosette-to-Lumen stage embryoids using reprogramming paradigms in ESCs. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7322. [PMID: 34916498 PMCID: PMC8677818 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27586-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocyst-derived stem cell lines were shown to self-organize into embryo-like structures in 3D cell culture environments. Here, we provide evidence that embryo-like structures can be generated solely based on transcription factor-mediated reprogramming of embryonic stem cells in a simple 3D co-culture system. Embryonic stem cells in these cultures self-organize into elongated, compartmentalized embryo-like structures reflecting aspects of the inner regions of the early post-implantation embryo. Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals transcriptional profiles resembling epiblast, primitive-/visceral endoderm, and extraembryonic ectoderm of early murine embryos around E4.5-E5.5. In this stem cell-based embryo model, progression from rosette formation to lumenogenesis accompanied by progression from naïve- to primed pluripotency was observed within Epi-like cells. Additionally, lineage specification of primordial germ cells and distal/anterior visceral endoderm-like cells was observed in epiblast- or visceral endoderm-like compartments, respectively. The system presented in this study allows for fast and reproducible generation of embryo-like structures, providing an additional tool to study aspects of early embryogenesis.
Collapse
|