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Manning E, Placzek M. Organizing activities of axial mesoderm. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 157:83-123. [PMID: 38556460 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.02.007] [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: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
For almost a century, developmental biologists have appreciated that the ability of the embryonic organizer to induce and pattern the body plan is intertwined with its differentiation into axial mesoderm. Despite this, we still have a relatively poor understanding of the contribution of axial mesoderm to induction and patterning of different body regions, and the manner in which axial mesoderm-derived information is interpreted in tissues of changing competence. Here, with a particular focus on the nervous system, we review the evidence that axial mesoderm notochord and prechordal mesoderm/mesendoderm act as organizers, discuss how their influence extends through the different axes of the developing organism, and describe how the ability of axial mesoderm to direct morphogenesis impacts on its role as a local organizer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Manning
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Marysia Placzek
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
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2
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Rüegg AB, van der Weijden VA, de Sousa JA, von Meyenn F, Pausch H, Ulbrich SE. Developmental progression continues during embryonic diapause in the roe deer. Commun Biol 2024; 7:270. [PMID: 38443549 PMCID: PMC10914810 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05944-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryonic diapause in mammals is a temporary developmental delay occurring at the blastocyst stage. In contrast to other diapausing species displaying a full arrest, the blastocyst of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) proliferates continuously and displays considerable morphological changes in the inner cell mass. We hypothesised that developmental progression also continues during this period. Here we evaluate the mRNA abundance of developmental marker genes in embryos during diapause and elongation. Our results show that morphological rearrangements of the epiblast during diapause correlate with gene expression patterns and changes in cell polarity. Immunohistochemical staining further supports these findings. Primitive endoderm formation occurs during diapause in embryos composed of around 3,000 cells. Gastrulation coincides with elongation and thus takes place after embryo reactivation. The slow developmental progression makes the roe deer an interesting model for unravelling the link between proliferation and differentiation and requirements for embryo survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna B Rüegg
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vera A van der Weijden
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - João Agostinho de Sousa
- ETH Zurich, Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ferdinand von Meyenn
- ETH Zurich, Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hubert Pausch
- ETH Zurich, Animal Genomics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne E Ulbrich
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland.
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3
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Asashima M, Satou-Kobayashi Y. Spemann-Mangold organizer and mesoderm induction. Cells Dev 2024:203903. [PMID: 38295873 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2024.203903] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of the Spemann-Mangold organizer strongly influenced subsequent research on embryonic induction, with research aiming to elucidate the molecular characteristics of organizer activity being currently underway. Herein, we review the history of research on embryonic induction, and describe how the mechanisms of induction phenomena and developmental processes have been investigated. Classical experiments investigating the differentiation capacity and inductive activity of various embryonic regions were conducted by many researchers, and important theories of region-specific induction and the concept for chain of induction were proposed. The transition from experimental embryology to developmental biology has enabled us to understand the mechanisms of embryonic induction at the molecular level. Consequently, many inducing substances and molecules such as transcriptional factors and peptide growth factors involved in the organizer formation were identified. One of peptide growth factors, activin, acts as a mesoderm- and endoderm-inducing substance. Activin induces several tissues and organs from the undifferentiated cell mass of amphibian embryos in a concentration-dependent manner. We review the extent to which we can control in vitro organogenesis from undifferentiated cells, and discuss the application to stem cell-based regenerative medicine based on insights gained from animal experiments, such as in amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Asashima
- Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0003, Japan.
| | - Yumeko Satou-Kobayashi
- Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0003, Japan
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4
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Paudel S, Yue M, Nalamalapu R, Saha MS. Deciphering the Calcium Code: A Review of Calcium Activity Analysis Methods Employed to Identify Meaningful Activity in Early Neural Development. Biomolecules 2024; 14:138. [PMID: 38275767 PMCID: PMC10813340 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The intracellular and intercellular flux of calcium ions represents an ancient and universal mode of signaling that regulates an extensive array of cellular processes. Evidence for the central role of calcium signaling includes various techniques that allow the visualization of calcium activity in living cells. While extensively investigated in mature cells, calcium activity is equally important in developing cells, particularly the embryonic nervous system where it has been implicated in a wide variety array of determinative events. However, unlike in mature cells, where the calcium dynamics display regular, predictable patterns, calcium activity in developing systems is far more sporadic, irregular, and diverse. This renders the ability to assess calcium activity in a consistent manner extremely challenging, challenges reflected in the diversity of methods employed to analyze calcium activity in neural development. Here we review the wide array of calcium detection and analysis methods used across studies, limiting the extent to which they can be comparatively analyzed. The goal is to provide investigators not only with an overview of calcium activity analysis techniques currently available, but also to offer suggestions for future work and standardization to enable informative comparative evaluations of this fundamental and important process in neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudip Paudel
- Wyss Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.P.); (M.Y.)
| | - Michelle Yue
- Wyss Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.P.); (M.Y.)
| | - Rithvik Nalamalapu
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
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5
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Ong ALC, Kokaji T, Kishi A, Takihara Y, Shinozuka T, Shimamoto R, Isotani A, Shirai M, Sasai N. Acquisition of neural fate by combination of BMP blockade and chromatin modification. iScience 2023; 26:107887. [PMID: 37771660 PMCID: PMC10522999 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural induction is a process where naive cells are converted into committed cells with neural characteristics, and it occurs at the earliest step during embryogenesis. Although the signaling molecules and chromatin remodeling for neural induction have been identified, the mutual relationships between these molecules are yet to be fully understood. By taking advantage of the neural differentiation system of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, we discovered that the BMP signal regulates the expression of several polycomb repressor complex (PRC) component genes. We particularly focused on Polyhomeotic Homolog 1 (Phc1) and established Phc1-knockout (Phc1-KO) ES cells. We found that Phc1-KO failed to acquire the neural fate, and the cells remained in pluripotent or primitive non-neural states. Chromatin accessibility analysis suggests that Phc1 is essential for chromatin packing. Aberrant upregulation of the BMP signal was confirmed in the Phc1 homozygotic mutant embryos. Taken together, Phc1 is required for neural differentiation through epigenetic modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Lee Chen Ong
- Division of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Toshiya Kokaji
- Data-driven biology, NAIST Data Science Center, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Arisa Kishi
- Division of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Takihara
- Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-0037, Japan
| | - Takuma Shinozuka
- Division of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Ren Shimamoto
- Division of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Ayako Isotani
- Division of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Manabu Shirai
- Omics Research Center (ORC), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, 6-1 Kishibe Shinmachi, Suita, Osaka 564-8565, Japan
| | - Noriaki Sasai
- Division of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
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Modeling Movement Disorders via Generation of hiPSC-Derived Motor Neurons. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233796. [PMID: 36497056 PMCID: PMC9737271 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of motor neurons (MNs) from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) overcomes the limited access to human brain tissues and provides an unprecedent approach for modeling MN-related diseases. In this review, we discuss the recent progression in understanding the regulatory mechanisms of MN differentiation and their applications in the generation of MNs from hiPSCs, with a particular focus on two approaches: induction by small molecules and induction by lentiviral delivery of transcription factors. At each induction stage, different culture media and supplements, typical growth conditions and cellular morphology, and specific markers for validation of cell identity and quality control are specifically discussed. Both approaches can generate functional MNs. Currently, the major challenges in modeling neurological diseases using iPSC-derived neurons are: obtaining neurons with high purity and yield; long-term neuron culture to reach full maturation; and how to culture neurons more physiologically to maximize relevance to in vivo conditions.
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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.
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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
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8
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Ozgun A, Lomboni D, Arnott H, Staines WA, Woulfe J, Variola F. Biomaterial-based strategies for in vitro neural models. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:1134-1165. [PMID: 35023513 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm01361k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In vitro models have been used as a complementary tool to animal studies in understanding the nervous system's physiological mechanisms and pathological disorders, while also serving as platforms to evaluate the safety and efficiency of therapeutic candidates. Following recent advances in materials science, micro- and nanofabrication techniques and cell culture systems, in vitro technologies have been rapidly gaining the potential to bridge the gap between animal and clinical studies by providing more sophisticated models that recapitulate key aspects of the structure, biochemistry, biomechanics, and functions of human tissues. This was made possible, in large part, by the development of biomaterials that provide cells with physicochemical features that closely mimic the cellular microenvironment of native tissues. Due to the well-known material-driven cellular response and the importance of mimicking the environment of the target tissue, the selection of optimal biomaterials represents an important early step in the design of biomimetic systems to investigate brain structures and functions. This review provides a comprehensive compendium of commonly used biomaterials as well as the different fabrication techniques employed for the design of neural tissue models. Furthermore, the authors discuss the main parameters that need to be considered to develop functional platforms not only for the study of brain physiological functions and pathological processes but also for drug discovery/development and the optimization of biomaterials for neural tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alp Ozgun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. .,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - David Lomboni
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. .,Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Biomedical Engineering (OCIBME), Ottawa, Canada
| | - Hallie Arnott
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. .,Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Biomedical Engineering (OCIBME), Ottawa, Canada
| | - William A Staines
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - John Woulfe
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Fabio Variola
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. .,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Biomedical Engineering (OCIBME), Ottawa, Canada.,The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada.,Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Ottawa, Canada
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9
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Russo L, Sladitschek HL, Neveu PA. Multi-layered regulation of neuroectoderm differentiation by retinoic acid in a primitive streak-like context. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:231-244. [PMID: 35063128 PMCID: PMC8828549 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of the primitive streak (PS) and the subsequent induction of neuroectoderm are hallmarks of gastrulation. Combining an in vitro reconstitution of this process based on mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) with a collection of knockouts in reporter mESC lines, we identified retinoic acid (RA) as a critical mediator of early neural induction triggered by TGFβ or Wnt signaling inhibition. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis captured the temporal unfolding of cell type diversification, up to the emergence of somite and neural fates. In the absence of the RA-synthesizing enzyme Aldh1a2, a sensitive RA reporter revealed a hitherto unidentified residual RA signaling that specified neural fate. Genetic evidence showed that the RA-degrading enzyme Cyp26a1 protected PS-like cells from neural induction, even in the absence of TGFβ and Wnt antagonists. Overall, we characterized a multi-layered control of RA levels that regulates early neural differentiation in an in vitro PS-like system. In vitro reconstitution of neural induction by primitive streak-like cells Retinoic acid mediates neural induction triggered by TGFβ or Wnt signaling inhibition A sensitive activity reporter reveals Aldh1a2-independent retinoic acid signaling Cyp26a1 protects primitive streak-like cells from neural induction
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Russo
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; Joint PhD Degree from EMBL and Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hanna L Sladitschek
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pierre A Neveu
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
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10
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Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) affect about 1% of the population and can be caused by mutations in genes that affect the epigenetic code. There is limited functional understanding of most of these epigenetic modifiers, and we suggest that associated NDDs are caused, in part, by deficits in epigenetic priming, a prepatterning step that alters the genome in preparation to make cells competent to signaling cues. We provide evidence from high-resolution epigenetic and transcriptomic mapping studies to demonstrate how a failure to adequately prime the genome for neural induction could lead to impairment of terminally differentiated cells. This idea provides a framework for NDD pathogenesis and treatment.
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Girgin MU, Broguiere N, Hoehnel S, Brandenberg N, Mercier B, Arias AM, Lutolf MP. Bioengineered embryoids mimic post-implantation development in vitro. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5140. [PMID: 34446708 PMCID: PMC8390504 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25237-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The difficulty of studying post-implantation development in mammals has sparked a flurry of activity to develop in vitro models, termed embryoids, based on self-organizing pluripotent stem cells. Previous approaches to derive embryoids either lack the physiological morphology and signaling interactions, or are unconducive to model post-gastrulation development. Here, we report a bioengineering-inspired approach aimed at addressing this gap. We employ a high-throughput cell aggregation approach to simultaneously coax mouse embryonic stem cells into hundreds of uniform epiblast-like aggregates in a solid matrix-free manner. When co-cultured with mouse trophoblast stem cell aggregates, the resulting hybrid structures initiate gastrulation-like events and undergo axial morphogenesis to yield structures, termed EpiTS embryoids, with a pronounced anterior development, including brain-like regions. We identify the presence of an epithelium in EPI aggregates as the major determinant for the axial morphogenesis and anterior development seen in EpiTS embryoids. Our results demonstrate the potential of EpiTS embryoids to study peri-gastrulation development in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet U Girgin
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Broguiere
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylke Hoehnel
- SUN bioscience, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Bastien Mercier
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Matthias P Lutolf
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Roche Institute for Translational Bioengineering (ITB), Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Zilova L, Weinhardt V, Tavhelidse T, Schlagheck C, Thumberger T, Wittbrodt J. Fish primary embryonic pluripotent cells assemble into retinal tissue mirroring in vivo early eye development. eLife 2021; 10:e66998. [PMID: 34252023 PMCID: PMC8275126 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells promise the solution to current challenges in basic and biomedical research. Mammalian organoids are however limited by long developmental time, variable success, and lack of direct comparison to an in vivo reference. To overcome these limitations and address species-specific cellular organization, we derived organoids from rapidly developing teleosts. We demonstrate how primary embryonic pluripotent cells from medaka and zebrafish efficiently assemble into anterior neural structures, particularly retina. Within 4 days, blastula-stage cell aggregates reproducibly execute key steps of eye development: retinal specification, morphogenesis, and differentiation. The number of aggregated cells and genetic factors crucially impacted upon the concomitant morphological changes that were intriguingly reflecting the in vivo situation. High efficiency and rapid development of fish-derived organoids in combination with advanced genome editing techniques immediately allow addressing aspects of development and disease, and systematic probing of impact of the physical environment on morphogenesis and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Zilova
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Venera Weinhardt
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Tinatini Tavhelidse
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Christina Schlagheck
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
- Heidelberg International Biosciences Graduate School HBIGS and HeiKa Graduate School on “Functional Materials”HeidelbergGermany
| | - Thomas Thumberger
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Joachim Wittbrodt
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
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Current State-of-the-Art and Unresolved Problems in Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Dopamine Neurons for Parkinson's Disease Drug Development. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073381. [PMID: 33806103 PMCID: PMC8037675 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have the potential to give rise to a new era in Parkinson's disease (PD) research. As a unique source of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons, iPS cells provide unparalleled capabilities for investigating the pathogenesis of PD, the development of novel anti-parkinsonian drugs, and personalized therapy design. Significant progress in developmental biology of midbrain DA neurons laid the foundation for their efficient derivation from iPS cells. The introduction of 3D culture methods to mimic the brain microenvironment further expanded the vast opportunities of iPS cell-based research of the neurodegenerative diseases. However, while the benefits for basic and applied studies provided by iPS cells receive widespread coverage in the current literature, the drawbacks of this model in its current state, and in particular, the aspects of differentiation protocols requiring further refinement are commonly overlooked. This review summarizes the recent data on general and subtype-specific features of midbrain DA neurons and their development. Here, we review the current protocols for derivation of DA neurons from human iPS cells and outline their general weak spots. The associated gaps in the contemporary knowledge are considered and the possible directions for future research that may assist in improving the differentiation conditions and increase the efficiency of using iPS cell-derived neurons for PD drug development are discussed.
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14
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Castro Colabianchi AM, Tavella MB, Boyadjián López LE, Rubinstein M, Franchini LF, López SL. Segregation of brain and organizer precursors is differentially regulated by Nodal signaling at blastula stage. Biol Open 2021; 10:bio.051797. [PMID: 33563608 PMCID: PMC7928228 DOI: 10.1242/bio.051797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The blastula Chordin- and Noggin-expressing (BCNE) center comprises animal-dorsal and marginal-dorsal cells of the amphibian blastula and contains the precursors of the brain and the gastrula organizer. Previous findings suggested that the BCNE behaves as a homogeneous cell population that only depends on nuclear β-catenin activity but does not require Nodal and later segregates into its descendants during gastrulation. In contrast to previous findings, in this work, we show that the BCNE does not behave as a homogeneous cell population in response to Nodal antagonists. In fact, we found that chordin.1 expression in a marginal subpopulation of notochordal precursors indeed requires Nodal input. We also establish that an animal BCNE subpopulation of cells that express both, chordin.1 and sox2 (a marker of pluripotent neuroectodermal cells), and gives rise to most of the brain, persisted at blastula stage after blocking Nodal. Therefore, Nodal signaling is required to define a population of chordin.1+ cells and to restrict the recruitment of brain precursors within the BCNE as early as at blastula stage. We discuss our findings in Xenopus in comparison to other vertebrate models, uncovering similitudes in early brain induction and delimitation through Nodal signaling. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Nodal signaling is involved in the delimitation of the blastula cell populations that give rise to the brain and axial mesoderm in Xenopus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aitana M Castro Colabianchi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología / 1° U.A. Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética, Laboratorio de Embriología Molecular "Prof. Dr. Andrés E. Carrasco", Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina.,CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis" (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina
| | - María B Tavella
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI) "Dr. Héctor N. Torres", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428, Argentina
| | - Laura E Boyadjián López
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología / 1° U.A. Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética, Laboratorio de Embriología Molecular "Prof. Dr. Andrés E. Carrasco", Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina.,CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis" (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Rubinstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI) "Dr. Héctor N. Torres", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428, Argentina.,Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Lucía F Franchini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI) "Dr. Héctor N. Torres", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428, Argentina
| | - Silvia L López
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología / 1° U.A. Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética, Laboratorio de Embriología Molecular "Prof. Dr. Andrés E. Carrasco", Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina .,CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis" (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina
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15
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Jacob F, Schnoll JG, Song H, Ming GL. Building the brain from scratch: Engineering region-specific brain organoids from human stem cells to study neural development and disease. Curr Top Dev Biol 2021; 142:477-530. [PMID: 33706925 PMCID: PMC8363060 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Human brain development is an intricate process that involves precisely timed coordination of cell proliferation, fate specification, neuronal differentiation, migration, and integration of diverse cell types. Understanding of these fundamental processes, however, has been largely constrained by limited access to fetal brain tissue and the inability to prospectively study neurodevelopment in humans at the molecular, cellular and system levels. Although non-human model organisms have provided important insights into mechanisms underlying brain development, these systems do not fully recapitulate many human-specific features that often relate to disease. To address these challenges, human brain organoids, self-assembled three-dimensional neural aggregates, have been engineered from human pluripotent stem cells to model the architecture and cellular diversity of the developing human brain. Recent advancements in neural induction and regional patterning using small molecules and growth factors have yielded protocols for generating brain organoids that recapitulate the structure and neuronal composition of distinct brain regions. Here, we first provide an overview of early mammalian brain development with an emphasis on molecular cues that guide region specification. We then focus on recent efforts in generating human brain organoids that model the development of specific brain regions and highlight endeavors to enhance the cellular complexity to better mimic the in vivo developing human brain. We also provide examples of how organoid models have enhanced our understanding of human neurological diseases and conclude by discussing limitations of brain organoids with our perspectives on future advancements to maximize their potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadi Jacob
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Medical Scientist Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jordan G Schnoll
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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16
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Thawani A, Groves AK. Building the Border: Development of the Chordate Neural Plate Border Region and Its Derivatives. Front Physiol 2020; 11:608880. [PMID: 33364980 PMCID: PMC7750469 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.608880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The paired cranial sensory organs and peripheral nervous system of vertebrates arise from a thin strip of cells immediately adjacent to the developing neural plate. The neural plate border region comprises progenitors for four key populations of cells: neural plate cells, neural crest cells, the cranial placodes, and epidermis. Putative homologues of these neural plate border derivatives can be found in protochordates such as amphioxus and tunicates. In this review, we summarize key signaling pathways and transcription factors that regulate the inductive and patterning events at the neural plate border region that give rise to the neural crest and placodal lineages. Gene regulatory networks driven by signals from WNT, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling primarily dictate the formation of the crest and placodal lineages. We review these studies and discuss the potential of recent advances in spatio-temporal transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses that would allow a mechanistic understanding of how these signaling pathways and their downstream transcriptional cascades regulate the formation of the neural plate border region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Thawani
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Andrew K Groves
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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17
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Learning about cell lineage, cellular diversity and evolution of the human brain through stem cell models. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 66:166-177. [PMID: 33246264 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Here, we summarize the current knowledge on cell diversity in the cortex and other brain regions from in vivo mouse models and in vitro models based on pluripotent stem cells. We discuss the mechanisms underlying cell proliferation and temporal progression that leads to the sequential generation of neurons dedicated to different layers of the cortex. We highlight models of corticogenesis from stem cells that recapitulate specific transcriptional and connectivity patterns from different cortical areas. We overview state-of-the art of human brain organoids modeling different brain regions, and we discuss insights into human cortical evolution from stem cells. Finally, we interrogate human brain organoid models for their competence to recapitulate the essence of human brain development.
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18
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Kumar S, Umair Z, Kumar V, Kumar S, Lee U, Kim J. Foxd4l1.1 negatively regulates transcription of neural repressor ventx1.1 during neuroectoderm formation in Xenopus embryos. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16780. [PMID: 33033315 PMCID: PMC7545198 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73662-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroectoderm formation is the first step in development of a proper nervous system for vertebrates. The developmental decision to form a non-neural ectoderm versus a neural one involves the regulation of BMP signaling, first reported many decades ago. However, the precise regulatory mechanism by which this is accomplished has not been fully elucidated, particularly for transcriptional regulation of certain key transcription factors. BMP4 inhibition is a required step in eliciting neuroectoderm from ectoderm and Foxd4l1.1 is one of the earliest neural genes highly expressed in the neuroectoderm and conserved across vertebrates, including humans. In this work, we focused on how Foxd4l1.1 downregulates the neural repressive pathway. Foxd4l1.1 inhibited BMP4/Smad1 signaling and triggered neuroectoderm formation in animal cap explants of Xenopus embryos. Foxd4l1.1 directly bound within the promoter of endogenous neural repressor ventx1.1 and inhibited ventx1.1 transcription. Foxd4l1.1 also physically interacted with Xbra in the nucleus and inhibited Xbra-induced ventx1.1 transcription. In addition, Foxd4l1.1 also reduced nuclear localization of Smad1 to inhibit Smad1-mediated ventx1.1 transcription. Foxd4l1.1 reduced the direct binding of Xbra and Smad1 on ventx1.1 promoter regions to block Xbra/Smad1-induced synergistic activation of ventx1.1 transcription. Collectively, Foxd4l1.1 negatively regulates transcription of a neural repressor ventx1.1 by multiple mechanisms in its exclusively occupied territory of neuroectoderm, and thus leading to primary neurogenesis. In conjunction with the results of our previous findings that ventx1.1 directly represses foxd4l1.1, the reciprocal repression of ventx1.1 and foxd4l1.1 is significant in at least in part specifying the mechanism for the non-neural versus neural ectoderm fate determination in Xenopus embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiv Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Gangwon-Do, Chuncheon, 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Zobia Umair
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Gangwon-Do, Chuncheon, 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Gangwon-Do, Chuncheon, 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Gangwon-Do, Chuncheon, 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Unjoo Lee
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Hallym University, Gangwon-Do, Chuncheon, 24252, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jaebong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Gangwon-Do, Chuncheon, 24252, Republic of Korea.
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19
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Benito-Kwiecinski S, Lancaster MA. Brain Organoids: Human Neurodevelopment in a Dish. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2020; 12:cshperspect.a035709. [PMID: 31767649 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The human brain is often described as the most complex organ in our body. Because of the limited accessibility of living brain tissue, human-specific features of neurodevelopment and disease remain largely unknown. The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells to self-organize into 3D brain organoids has revolutionized approaches to studying brain development in vitro. This review will first look at the history of studying neural development in a dish and how organoids came to be. We evaluate the ability of brain organoids to recapitulate key developmental events, focusing on the generation of various regional identities, cytoarchitecture, cell diversity, features of neuronal maturation, and circuit formation. We also consider the limitations of the model and review recent approaches to improve reproducibility and the healthy maturation of brain organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Benito-Kwiecinski
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Madeline A Lancaster
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
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20
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Byrnes WM. E. E. Just's broad, yet hidden, influence on modern cell and developmental biology. Mol Reprod Dev 2020; 87:380-391. [DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W. Malcolm Byrnes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyHoward University College of Medicine Washington DC
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21
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Kalaskar VK, Alur RP, Li LK, Thomas JW, Sergeev YV, Blain D, Hufnagel RB, Cogliati T, Brooks BP. High-throughput custom capture sequencing identifies novel mutations in coloboma-associated genes: Mutation in DNA-binding domain of retinoic acid receptor beta affects nuclear localization causing ocular coloboma. Hum Mutat 2019; 41:678-695. [PMID: 31816153 PMCID: PMC7027867 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Uveal coloboma is a potentially blinding congenital ocular malformation caused by the failure of optic fissure closure during the fifth week of human gestation. We performed custom capture high‐throughput screening of 38 known coloboma‐associated genes in 66 families. Suspected causative novel variants were identified in TFAP2A and CHD7, as well as two previously reported variants of uncertain significance in RARB and BMP7. The variant in RARB, unlike previously reported disease mutations in the ligand‐binding domain, was a missense change in the highly conserved DNA‐binding domain predicted to affect the protein's DNA‐binding ability. In vitro studies revealed lower steady‐state protein levels, reduced transcriptional activity, and incomplete nuclear localization of the mutant RARB protein compared with wild‐type. Zebrafish studies showed that human RARB messenger RNA partially reduced the ocular phenotype caused by morpholino knockdown of rarga gene, a zebrafish homolog of human RARB. Our study indicates that sequence alterations in known coloboma genes account for a small percentage of coloboma cases and that mutations in the RARB DNA‐binding domain could result in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay K Kalaskar
- Pediatric, Developmental & Genetic Ophthalmology Section, Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch (OGVFB), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ramakrishna P Alur
- Pediatric, Developmental & Genetic Ophthalmology Section, Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch (OGVFB), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - LeeAnn K Li
- Pediatric, Developmental & Genetic Ophthalmology Section, Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch (OGVFB), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - James W Thomas
- National Institutes of Health Intramural Sequencing Center, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yuri V Sergeev
- Protein Biochemistry and Molecular Modeling Group, OGVFB, NEI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Delphine Blain
- Ophthalmic Clinical Genetics Section, OGVFB, NEI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Robert B Hufnagel
- Medical Genetics and Ophthalmic Genomics Unit, OGVFB, NEI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Tiziana Cogliati
- Pediatric, Developmental & Genetic Ophthalmology Section, Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch (OGVFB), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Brian P Brooks
- Pediatric, Developmental & Genetic Ophthalmology Section, Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch (OGVFB), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland.,Ophthalmic Clinical Genetics Section, OGVFB, NEI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
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22
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Alia C, Terrigno M, Busti I, Cremisi F, Caleo M. Pluripotent Stem Cells for Brain Repair: Protocols and Preclinical Applications in Cortical and Hippocampal Pathologies. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:684. [PMID: 31447623 PMCID: PMC6691396 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain injuries causing chronic sensory or motor deficit, such as stroke, are among the leading causes of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization; furthermore, they carry heavy social and economic burdens due to decreased quality of life and need of assistance. Given the limited effectiveness of rehabilitation, novel therapeutic strategies are required to enhance functional recovery. Since cell-based approaches have emerged as an intriguing and promising strategy to promote brain repair, many efforts have been made to study the functional integration of neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), or fetal neurons, after grafting into the damaged host tissue. PSCs hold great promises for their clinical applications, such as cellular replacement of damaged neural tissues with autologous neurons. They also offer the possibility to create in vitro models to assess the efficacy of drugs and therapies. Notwithstanding these potential applications, PSC-derived transplanted neurons have to match the precise sub-type, positional and functional identity of the lesioned neural tissue. Thus, the requirement of highly specific and efficient differentiation protocols of PSCs in neurons with appropriate neural identity constitutes the main challenge limiting the clinical use of stem cells in the near future. In this Review, we discuss the recent advances in the derivation of telencephalic (cortical and hippocampal) neurons from PSCs, assessing specificity and efficiency of the differentiation protocols, with particular emphasis on the genetic and molecular characterization of PSC-derived neurons. Second, we address the remaining challenges for cellular replacement therapies in cortical brain injuries, focusing on electrophysiological properties, functional integration and therapeutic effects of the transplanted neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Alia
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Terrigno
- Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Irene Busti
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drugs and Child Health Area, School of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Federico Cremisi
- Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,Biophysics Institute (IBF), National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Caleo
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.,Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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23
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Abstract
In this issue, Metzis et al., demonstrate that in the development of the central nervous system, patterning along the anterior-posterior axis precedes acquisition of neural identity. This contrasts with the prevailing view that neural identity comes first, providing a new window on the origins of the brain and spinal cord.
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24
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Rodrigues RS, Lourenço DM, Paulo SL, Mateus JM, Ferreira MF, Mouro FM, Moreira JB, Ribeiro FF, Sebastião AM, Xapelli S. Cannabinoid Actions on Neural Stem Cells: Implications for Pathophysiology. Molecules 2019; 24:E1350. [PMID: 30959794 PMCID: PMC6480122 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24071350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With the increase of life expectancy, neurodegenerative disorders are becoming not only a health but also a social burden worldwide. However, due to the multitude of pathophysiological disease states, current treatments fail to meet the desired outcomes. Therefore, there is a need for new therapeutic strategies focusing on more integrated, personalized and effective approaches. The prospect of using neural stem cells (NSC) as regenerative therapies is very promising, however several issues still need to be addressed. In particular, the potential actions of pharmacological agents used to modulate NSC activity are highly relevant. With the ongoing discussion of cannabinoid usage for medical purposes and reports drawing attention to the effects of cannabinoids on NSC regulation, there is an enormous, and yet, uncovered potential for cannabinoids as treatment options for several neurological disorders, specifically when combined with stem cell therapy. In this manuscript, we review in detail how cannabinoids act as potent regulators of NSC biology and their potential to modulate several neurogenic features in the context of pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui S Rodrigues
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Diogo M Lourenço
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sara L Paulo
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Joana M Mateus
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Miguel F Ferreira
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Francisco M Mouro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - João B Moreira
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Filipa F Ribeiro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Ana M Sebastião
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sara Xapelli
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
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25
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Buchsbaum IY, Cappello S. Neuronal migration in the CNS during development and disease: insights from in vivo and in vitro models. Development 2019; 146:146/1/dev163766. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.163766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Neuronal migration is a fundamental process that governs embryonic brain development. As such, mutations that affect essential neuronal migration processes lead to severe brain malformations, which can cause complex and heterogeneous developmental and neuronal migration disorders. Our fragmented knowledge about the aetiology of these disorders raises numerous issues. However, many of these can now be addressed through studies of in vivo and in vitro models that attempt to recapitulate human-specific mechanisms of cortical development. In this Review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of these model systems and suggest that a complementary approach, using combinations of in vivo and in vitro models, will broaden our knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie defective neuronal positioning in the human cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Yasmin Buchsbaum
- Developmental Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Silvia Cappello
- Developmental Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
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26
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Differentiation of eye field neuroectoderm from human adipose-derived stem cells by using small-molecules and hADSC-conditioned medium. Ann Anat 2019; 221:17-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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27
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Kishi Y, Gotoh Y. Regulation of Chromatin Structure During Neural Development. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:874. [PMID: 30618540 PMCID: PMC6297780 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of genome architecture is a key determinant of gene transcription patterns and neural development. Advances in methodologies based on chromatin conformation capture (3C) have shed light on the genome-wide organization of chromatin in developmental processes. Here, we review recent discoveries regarding the regulation of three-dimensional (3D) chromatin conformation, including promoter-enhancer looping, and the dynamics of large chromatin domains such as topologically associated domains (TADs) and A/B compartments. We conclude with perspectives on how these conformational changes govern neural development and may go awry in disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Kishi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukiko Gotoh
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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28
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Paudel S, Sindelar R, Saha M. Calcium Signaling in Vertebrate Development and Its Role in Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3390. [PMID: 30380695 PMCID: PMC6274931 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence over the past three decades suggests that altered calcium signaling during development may be a major driving force for adult pathophysiological events. Well over a hundred human genes encode proteins that are specifically dedicated to calcium homeostasis and calcium signaling, and the majority of these are expressed during embryonic development. Recent advances in molecular techniques have identified impaired calcium signaling during development due to either mutations or dysregulation of these proteins. This impaired signaling has been implicated in various human diseases ranging from cardiac malformations to epilepsy. Although the molecular basis of these and other diseases have been well studied in adult systems, the potential developmental origins of such diseases are less well characterized. In this review, we will discuss the recent evidence that examines different patterns of calcium activity during early development, as well as potential medical conditions associated with its dysregulation. Studies performed using various model organisms, including zebrafish, Xenopus, and mouse, have underscored the critical role of calcium activity in infertility, abortive pregnancy, developmental defects, and a range of diseases which manifest later in life. Understanding the underlying mechanisms by which calcium regulates these diverse developmental processes remains a challenge; however, this knowledge will potentially enable calcium signaling to be used as a therapeutic target in regenerative and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudip Paudel
- College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.
| | - Regan Sindelar
- College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.
| | - Margaret Saha
- College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.
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29
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Abstract
The successful segregation of germ cells from somatic lineages is vital for sexual reproduction and species survival. In the mouse, primordial germ cells (PGCs), precursors of all germ cells, are induced from the post-implantation epiblast1. Induction requires BMP4 signalling to prospective PGCs2 and the intrinsic action of PGC transcription factors (TFs)3–6. However, the molecular mechanisms connecting BMP4 to induction of the PGC TFs responsible for segregating PGCs from somatic lineages are unknown. Here we show that the transcription factor OTX2 is a key regulator of these processes. Down-regulation of Otx2 precedes the initiation of the PGC programme both in vitro and in vivo. Deletion of Otx2 in vitro dramatically increases PGCLC differentiation efficiency and prolongs the period of PGC competence. In the absence of Otx2 activity, PGCLC differentiation becomes independent of the otherwise essential cytokine signals, with germline entry initiating even in the absence of the PGC TF Blimp1. Deletion of Otx2 in vivo increases PGC numbers. These data demonstrate that OTX2 functions repressively upstream of PGC TFs, acting as a roadblock to limit entry of epiblast cells to the germline to a small window in space and time, thereby ensuring correct numerical segregation of germline cells from the soma.
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Abstract
Organizers, which comprise groups of cells with the ability to instruct adjacent cells into specific states, represent a key principle in developmental biology. The concept was first introduced by Spemann and Mangold, who showed that there is a cellular population in the newt embryo that elicits the development of a secondary axis from adjacent cells. Similar experiments in chicken and rabbit embryos subsequently revealed groups of cells with similar instructive potential. In birds and mammals, organizer activity is often associated with a structure known as the node, which has thus been considered a functional homologue of Spemann's organizer. Here, we take an in-depth look at the structure and function of organizers across species and note that, whereas the amphibian organizer is a contingent collection of elements, each performing a specific function, the elements of organizers in other species are dispersed in time and space. This observation urges us to reconsider the universality and meaning of the organizer concept. Summary: This Review re-evaluates the notion of Spemann's organizer as identified in amphibians, highlighting the spatiotemporal dispersion of equivalent elements in mouse and the key influence of responsiveness to organizer signals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ben Steventon
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
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31
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Chi L, Fan B, Feng D, Chen Z, Liu Z, Hui Y, Xu X, Ma L, Fang Y, Zhang Q, Jin G, Liu L, Guan F, Zhang X. The Dorsoventral Patterning of Human Forebrain Follows an Activation/Transformation Model. Cereb Cortex 2018; 27:2941-2954. [PMID: 27226442 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The anteroposterior patterning of the central nervous system follows an activation/transformation model, which proposes that a prospective telencephalic fate will be activated by default during the neural induction stage, while this anterior fate could be transformed posteriorly according to caudalization morphogens. Although both extrinsic signals and intrinsic transcription factors have been implicated in dorsoventral (DV) specification of vertebrate telencephalon, the DV patterning model remains elusive. This is especially true in human considering its evolutionary trait and uniqueness of gene regulatory networks during neural induction. Here, we point to a model that human forebrain DV patterning also follows an activation/transformation paradigm. Human neuroectoderm (NE) will activate a forebrain dorsal fate automatically and this default anterior dorsal fate does not depend on Wnts activation or Pax6 expression. Forced expression of Pax6 in human NE hinders its ventralization even under sonic hedgehog (Shh) treatment, suggesting that the ventral fate is repressed by dorsal genes. Genetic manipulation of Nkx2.1, a key gene for forebrain ventral progenitors, shows that Nkx2.1 is neither necessary nor sufficient for Shh-driven ventralization. We thus propose that Shh represses dorsal genes of human NE and subsequently transforms the primitively activated dorsal fate ventrally in a repression release manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liankai Chi
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and.,School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450001, China.,Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Beibei Fan
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Dandan Feng
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhenyu Chen
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhongliang Liu
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yi Hui
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Xiangjie Xu
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lin Ma
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yujiang Fang
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Quanbin Zhang
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Guohua Jin
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.,Advanced Institute of Translational Medicine
| | - Fangxia Guan
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450001, China
| | - Xiaoqing Zhang
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Neuroregeneration Key Laboratory of Shanghai Universities, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.,Advanced Institute of Translational Medicine.,The Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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32
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Cruz-Molina S, Respuela P, Tebartz C, Kolovos P, Nikolic M, Fueyo R, van Ijcken WF, Grosveld F, Frommolt P, Bazzi H, Rada-Iglesias A. PRC2 Facilitates the Regulatory Topology Required for Poised Enhancer Function during Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation. Cell Stem Cell 2017; 20:689-705.e9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Tan J, Chen XJ, Shen CL, Zhang HX, Tang LY, Lu SY, Wu WT, Kuang Y, Fei J, Wang ZG. Lacking of palladin leads to multiple cellular events changes which contribute to NTD. Neural Dev 2017; 12:4. [PMID: 28340616 PMCID: PMC5366166 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-017-0081-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The actin cytoskeleton-associated protein palladin plays an important role in cell motility, morphogenesis and adhesion. In mice, Palladin deficient embryos are lethal before embryonic day (E) 15.5, and exhibit severe cranial neural tube and body wall closure defects. However, the mechanism how palladin regulates the process of cranial neural tube closure (NTC) remains unknown. Methods In this paper, we use gene knockout mouse to elucidate the function of palladin in the regulation of NTC process. Results We initially focuse on the expression pattern of palladin and found that in embryonic brain, palladin is predominantly expressed in the neural folds at E9.5. We further check the major cellular events in the neural epithelium that may contribute to NTC during the early embryogenesis. Palladin deficiency leads to a disturbance of cytoskeleton in the neural tube and the cultured neural progenitors. Furthermore, increased cell proliferation, decreased cell differentiation and diminished apical cell apoptosis of neural epithelium are found in palladin deficient embryos. Cell cycle of neural progenitors in Palladin-/- embryos is much shorter than that in wt ones. Cell adhesion shows a reduction in Palladin-/- neural tubes. Conclusions Palladin is expressed with proper spatio-temporal pattern in the neural folds. It plays a crucial role in regulating mouse cranial NTC by modulating cytoskeleton, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and adhesion of neural epithelium. Our findings facilitate further study of the function of palladin and the underlying molecular mechanism involved in NTC. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13064-017-0081-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Building 17, No. 197, Ruijin 2nd Rd, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Model Organism Division, E-Institutes of Shanghai Universities, SJTUSM, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xue-Jiao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Building 17, No. 197, Ruijin 2nd Rd, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Model Organism Division, E-Institutes of Shanghai Universities, SJTUSM, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Chun-Ling Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Building 17, No. 197, Ruijin 2nd Rd, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Hong-Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Building 17, No. 197, Ruijin 2nd Rd, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Ling-Yun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Building 17, No. 197, Ruijin 2nd Rd, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Model Organism Division, E-Institutes of Shanghai Universities, SJTUSM, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shun-Yuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Building 17, No. 197, Ruijin 2nd Rd, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Wen-Ting Wu
- Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ying Kuang
- Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jian Fei
- Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhu-Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Building 17, No. 197, Ruijin 2nd Rd, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Model Organism Division, E-Institutes of Shanghai Universities, SJTUSM, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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Barry C, Schmitz MT, Jiang P, Schwartz MP, Duffin BM, Swanson S, Bacher R, Bolin JM, Elwell AL, McIntosh BE, Stewart R, Thomson JA. Species-specific developmental timing is maintained by pluripotent stem cells ex utero. Dev Biol 2017; 423:101-110. [PMID: 28179190 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
How species-specific developmental timing is controlled is largely unknown. By following human embryonic stem (ES) cell and mouse epiblast stem (EpiS) cell differentiation through detailed RNA-sequencing time courses, here we show that pluripotent stem cells closely retain in vivo species-specific developmental timing in vitro. In identical neural differentiation conditions in vitro, gene expression profiles are accelerated in mouse EpiS cells compared to human ES cells with relative rates of differentiation closely reflecting the rates of progression through the Carnegie stages in utero. Dynamic Time Warping analysis identified 3389 genes that were regulated more quickly in mouse EpiS cells and identified none that were regulated more quickly in human ES cells. Interestingly, we also find that human ES cells differentiated in teratomas maintain the same rate of differentiation observed in vitro in spite of being grown in a mouse host. These results suggest the existence of a cell autonomous, species-specific developmental clock that pluripotent stem cells maintain even out of context of an intact embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Peng Jiang
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Michael P Schwartz
- Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Bret M Duffin
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Scott Swanson
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Rhonda Bacher
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ron Stewart
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - James A Thomson
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
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35
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Kadoshima T, Sakaguchi H, Eiraku M. Generation of Various Telencephalic Regions from Human Embryonic Stem Cells in Three-Dimensional Culture. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1597:1-16. [PMID: 28361306 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6949-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In the developing embryo, telencephalon arises from the rostral portion of the neural tube. The telencephalon further subdivides into distinct brain regions along the dorsal-ventral (DV) axis by exogenous patterning signals. Here, we describe a protocol for in vitro generation of various telencephalic regions from human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Dissociated human ESCs are reaggregated in a low-cell-adhesion 96-well plate and cultured as floating aggregates. Telencephalic neural progenitors are efficiently generated when ESC aggregates are cultured in serum-free medium containing TGFβ inhibitor and Wnt inhibitor. In long-term culture, the telencephalic neural progenitors acquire cortical identities and self-organize a stratified cortical structure as seen in human fetal cortex. By treatment with Shh signal, the telencephalic progenitors acquire ventral (subpallial) identities and generate lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) and medial ganglionic eminence (MGE). In contrast, by treatment with Wnt and BMP signals, their regional identities shift to more dorsal side that generates choroid plexus and medial palllium (hippocampal primordium).
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Affiliation(s)
- Taisuke Kadoshima
- Cell Asymmetry team, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Asubio Pharma Co., Ltd., Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hideya Sakaguchi
- In Vitro Histogenesis team, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mototsugu Eiraku
- In Vitro Histogenesis team, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
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36
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McMurtrey RJ. Multi-compartmental biomaterial scaffolds for patterning neural tissue organoids in models of neurodevelopment and tissue regeneration. J Tissue Eng 2016; 7:2041731416671926. [PMID: 27766141 PMCID: PMC5056621 DOI: 10.1177/2041731416671926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomaterials are becoming an essential tool in the study and application of stem cell research. Various types of biomaterials enable three-dimensional culture of stem cells, and, more recently, also enable high-resolution patterning and organization of multicellular architectures. Biomaterials also hold potential to provide many additional advantages over cell transplants alone in regenerative medicine. This article describes novel designs for functionalized biomaterial constructs that guide tissue development to targeted regional identities and structures. Such designs comprise compartmentalized regions in the biomaterial structure that are functionalized with molecular factors that form concentration gradients through the construct and guide stem cell development, axis patterning, and tissue architecture, including rostral/caudal, ventral/dorsal, or medial/lateral identities of the central nervous system. The ability to recapitulate innate developmental processes in a three-dimensional environment and under specific controlled conditions has vital application to advanced models of neurodevelopment and for repair of specific sites of damaged or diseased neural tissue.
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37
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Hong S, Jo J, Kim HJ, Lee JE, Shin DH, Lee SG, Baek A, Shim SH, Lee DR. RuvB-Like Protein 2 (Ruvbl2) Has a Role in Directing the Neuroectodermal Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2016; 25:1376-85. [DOI: 10.1089/scd.2016.0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Soomin Hong
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Junghyun Jo
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Hyung Joon Kim
- Fertility Center, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, College of Medicine, CHA University, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Dong Hyuk Shin
- Fertility Center, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, College of Medicine, CHA University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung-Geum Lee
- CHA Stem Cell Institute, CHA University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ahmi Baek
- Fertility Center, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, College of Medicine, CHA University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung Han Shim
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
- Fertility Center, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, College of Medicine, CHA University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dong Ryul Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
- Fertility Center, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, College of Medicine, CHA University, Seoul, Korea
- CHA Stem Cell Institute, CHA University, Seoul, Korea
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Gaur S, Mandelbaum M, Herold M, Majumdar HD, Neilson KM, Maynard TM, Mood K, Daar IO, Moody SA. Neural transcription factors bias cleavage stage blastomeres to give rise to neural ectoderm. Genesis 2016; 54:334-49. [PMID: 27092474 PMCID: PMC4912902 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The decision by embryonic ectoderm to give rise to epidermal versus neural derivatives is the result of signaling events during blastula and gastrula stages. However, there also is evidence in Xenopus that cleavage stage blastomeres contain maternally derived molecules that bias them toward a neural fate. We used a blastomere explant culture assay to test whether maternally deposited transcription factors bias 16-cell blastomere precursors of epidermal or neural ectoderm to express early zygotic neural genes in the absence of gastrulation interactions or exogenously supplied signaling factors. We found that Foxd4l1, Zic2, Gmnn, and Sox11 each induced explants made from ventral, epidermis-producing blastomeres to express early neural genes, and that at least some of the Foxd4l1 and Zic2 activities are required at cleavage stages. Similarly, providing extra Foxd4l1 or Zic2 to explants made from dorsal, neural plate-producing blastomeres significantly increased the expression of early neural genes, whereas knocking down either significantly reduced them. These results show that maternally delivered transcription factors bias cleavage stage blastomeres to a neural fate. We demonstrate that mouse and human homologs of Foxd4l1 have similar functional domains compared to the frog protein, as well as conserved transcriptional activities when expressed in Xenopus embryos and blastomere explants. genesis 54:334-349, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailly Gaur
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 I Street, NW, Washington DC, USA
| | - Max Mandelbaum
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 I Street, NW, Washington DC, USA
| | - Mona Herold
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 I Street, NW, Washington DC, USA
| | - Himani Datta Majumdar
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 I Street, NW, Washington DC, USA
| | - Karen M. Neilson
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 I Street, NW, Washington DC, USA
| | | | - Kathy Mood
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Ira O. Daar
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Sally A. Moody
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 I Street, NW, Washington DC, USA
- George Washington University Institute for Neuroscience
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Azari H, Reynolds BA. In Vitro Models for Neurogenesis. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2016; 8:cshperspect.a021279. [PMID: 26438595 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a021279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The process of generating new neurons of different phenotype and function from undifferentiated stem and progenitor cells starts at very early stages of development and continues in discrete regions of the mammalian nervous system throughout life. Understanding mechanisms underlying neuronal cell development, biology, function, and interaction with other cells, especially in the neurogenic niche of fully developed adults, is important in defining and developing new therapeutic regimes in regenerative neuroscience. Studying these complex and dynamic processes in vivo is challenging because of the complexity of the nervous system and the presence of many known and unknown confounding variables. However, the challenges could be overcome with simple and robust in vitro models that more or less recapitulate the in vivo events. In this work, we will present an overview of present available in vitro cell-based models of neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Azari
- Department of Neurosurgery, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 Neural Stem Cell and Regenerative Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Anatomical Sciences & Shiraz Stem Cell Institute, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Brent A Reynolds
- Department of Neurosurgery, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
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40
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Culminskaya I, Kulminski AM, Yashin AI. Coordinated Action of Biological Processes during Embryogenesis Can Cause Genome-Wide Linkage Disequilibrium in the Human Genome and Influence Age-Related Phenotypes. ANNALS OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRIC RESEARCH 2016; 3:1035. [PMID: 28357417 PMCID: PMC5367637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A role of non-Mendelian inheritance in genetics of complex, age-related traits is becoming increasingly recognized. Recently, we reported on two inheritable clusters of SNPs in extensive genome-wide linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), which were associated with the phenotype of premature death. Here we address biologically-related properties of these two clusters. These clusters have been unlikely selected randomly because they are functionally and structurally different from matched sets of randomly selected SNPs. For example, SNPs in LD from each cluster are highly significantly enriched in genes (p=7.1×10-22 and p=5.8×10-18), in general, and in short genes (p=1.4×10-47 and p=4.6×10-7), in particular. Mapping of SNPs in LD to genes resulted in two, partly overlapping, networks of 1764 and 4806 genes. Both these networks were gene enriched in developmental processes and in biological processes tightly linked with development including biological adhesion, cellular component organization, locomotion, localization, signaling, (p<10-4, q<10-4 for each category). Thorough analysis suggests connections of these genetic networks with different stages of embryogenesis and highlights biological interlink of specific processes enriched for genes from these networks. The results suggest that coordinated action of biological processes during embryogenesis may generate genome-wide networks of genetic variants, which may influence complex age-related phenotypes characterizing health span and lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander M. Kulminski
- Corresponding author: Alexander Kulminski, Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Duke University, Box 90420, Durham, NC, 27708, USA, Tel: 919-684-4962; Fax: 919-684-3861;
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Neural Conversion and Patterning of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Developmental Perspective. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:8291260. [PMID: 27069483 PMCID: PMC4812494 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8291260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 01/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the reprogramming of adult human terminally differentiated somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) became a reality in 2007, only eight years have passed. Yet over this relatively short period, myriad experiments have revolutionized previous stem cell dogmata. The tremendous promise of hiPSC technology for regenerative medicine has fuelled rising expectations from both the public and scientific communities alike. In order to effectively harness hiPSCs to uncover fundamental mechanisms of disease, it is imperative to first understand the developmental neurobiology underpinning their lineage restriction choices in order to predictably manipulate cell fate to desired derivatives. Significant progress in developmental biology provides an invaluable resource for rationalising directed differentiation of hiPSCs to cellular derivatives of the nervous system. In this paper we begin by reviewing core developmental concepts underlying neural induction in order to provide context for how such insights have guided reductionist in vitro models of neural conversion from hiPSCs. We then discuss early factors relevant in neural patterning, again drawing upon crucial knowledge gained from developmental neurobiological studies. We conclude by discussing open questions relating to these concepts and how their resolution might serve to strengthen the promise of pluripotent stem cells in regenerative medicine.
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Turner DA, Baillie‐Johnson P, Martinez Arias A. Organoids and the genetically encoded self-assembly of embryonic stem cells. Bioessays 2016; 38:181-91. [PMID: 26666846 PMCID: PMC4737349 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201500111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [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] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of early embryonic patterning and the timely allocation of specific cells to embryonic regions and fates as well as their development into tissues and organs, is a fundamental problem in Developmental Biology. The classical explanation for this process had been built around the notion of positional information. Accordingly the programmed appearance of sources of Morphogens at localized positions within a field of cells directs their differentiation. Recently, the development of organs and tissues from unpatterned and initially identical stem cells (adult and embryonic) has challenged the need for positional information and even the integrity of the embryo, for pattern formation. Here we review the emerging area of organoid biology from the perspective of Developmental Biology. We argue that the events underlying the development of these systems are not purely linked to self-organization, as often suggested, but rather to a process of genetically encoded self-assembly where genetic programs encode and control the emergence of biological structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Turner
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
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43
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Suzuki IK, Vanderhaeghen P. Is this a brain which I see before me? Modeling human neural development with pluripotent stem cells. Development 2016; 142:3138-50. [PMID: 26395142 DOI: 10.1242/dev.120568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The human brain is arguably the most complex structure among living organisms. However, the specific mechanisms leading to this complexity remain incompletely understood, primarily because of the poor experimental accessibility of the human embryonic brain. Over recent years, technologies based on pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have been developed to generate neural cells of various types. While the translational potential of PSC technologies for disease modeling and/or cell replacement therapies is usually put forward as a rationale for their utility, they are also opening novel windows for direct observation and experimentation of the basic mechanisms of human brain development. PSC-based studies have revealed that a number of cardinal features of neural ontogenesis are remarkably conserved in human models, which can be studied in a reductionist fashion. They have also revealed species-specific features, which constitute attractive lines of investigation to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the development of the human brain, and its link with evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikuo K Suzuki
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IRIBHM), and ULB Institute of Neuroscience (UNI), 808 Route de Lennik, Brussels B-1070, Belgium
| | - Pierre Vanderhaeghen
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IRIBHM), and ULB Institute of Neuroscience (UNI), 808 Route de Lennik, Brussels B-1070, Belgium WELBIO, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 808 Route de Lennik, Brussels B-1070, Belgium
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44
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Gao L, Zhu X, Chen G, Ma X, Zhang Y, Khand AA, Shi H, Gu F, Lin H, Chen Y, Zhang H, He L, Tao Q. A novel role for Ascl1 in the regulation of mesendoderm formation via HDAC-dependent antagonism of VegT. Development 2015; 143:492-503. [PMID: 26700681 PMCID: PMC4760308 DOI: 10.1242/dev.126292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Maternally expressed proteins function in vertebrates to establish the major body axes of the embryo and to establish a pre-pattern that sets the stage for later-acting zygotic signals. This pre-patterning drives the propensity of Xenopus animal cap cells to adopt neural fates under various experimental conditions. Previous studies found that the maternally expressed transcription factor, encoded by the Xenopus achaete scute-like gene ascl1, is enriched at the animal pole. Asc1l is a bHLH protein involved in neural development, but its maternal function has not been studied. Here, we performed a series of gain- and loss-of-function experiments on maternal ascl1, and present three novel findings. First, Ascl1 is a repressor of mesendoderm induced by VegT, but not of Nodal-induced mesendoderm. Second, a previously uncharacterized N-terminal domain of Ascl1 interacts with HDAC1 to inhibit mesendoderm gene expression. This N-terminal domain is dispensable for its neurogenic function, indicating that Ascl1 acts by different mechanisms at different times. Ascl1-mediated repression of mesendoderm genes was dependent on HDAC activity and accompanied by histone deacetylation in the promoter regions of VegT targets. Finally, maternal Ascl1 is required for animal cap cells to retain their competence to adopt neural fates. These results establish maternal Asc1l as a key factor in establishing pre-patterning of the early embryo, acting in opposition to VegT and biasing the animal pole to adopt neural fates. The data presented here significantly extend our understanding of early embryonic pattern formation. Summary: The proneural factor ASCL1 recruits HDAC1 to repress VegT-induced, but not Nodal-induced, mesendoderm formation via a previously uncharacterized N-terminal domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xuechen Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Geng Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xin Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Aftab A Khand
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Huijuan Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fei Gu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hao Lin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuemeng Chen
- Tianjin Normal University College of Life Science, Binshuixidao (extension line) 393, Xinqing District, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lei He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qinghua Tao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
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Pirmoazen E, Matin M, Najafzadeh N, Golmohammadi MG, Sagha M. Retinoic acid recapitulates the action of the somites on neural differentiation of the developing caudal neural plate in chick embryo. NEUROCHEM J+ 2015. [DOI: 10.1134/s1819712415040133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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46
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Klein SL, Moody SA. Early neural ectodermal genes are activated by siamois and twin during blastula stages. Genesis 2015; 53:308-20. [PMID: 25892704 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven L. Klein
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology; George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences; 2300 I Street Northwest Washington DC
| | - Sally A. Moody
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology; George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences; 2300 I Street Northwest Washington DC
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47
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Lee HK, Lee HS, Moody SA. Neural transcription factors: from embryos to neural stem cells. Mol Cells 2014; 37:705-12. [PMID: 25234468 PMCID: PMC4213760 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2014.0227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The early steps of neural development in the vertebrate embryo are regulated by sets of transcription factors that control the induction of proliferative, pluripotent neural precursors, the expansion of neural plate stem cells, and their transition to differentiating neural progenitors. These early events are critical for producing a pool of multipotent cells capable of giving rise to the multitude of neurons and glia that form the central nervous system. In this review we summarize findings from gain- and loss-of-function studies in embryos that detail the gene regulatory network responsible for these early events. We discuss whether this information is likely to be similar in mammalian embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells that are cultured according to protocols designed to produce neurons. The similarities and differences between the embryo and stem cells may provide important guidance to stem cell protocols designed to create immature neural cells for therapeutic uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Kyung Lee
- ABRC, School of Life Sciences, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioReserach Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-702,
Korea
| | - Hyun-Shik Lee
- ABRC, School of Life Sciences, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioReserach Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-702,
Korea
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48
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Vanbekbergen N, Hendrickx M, Leyns L. Growth differentiation factor 11 is an encephalic regionalizing factor in neural differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells. BMC Res Notes 2014; 7:766. [PMID: 25352416 PMCID: PMC4228095 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The central nervous system has a complex structural organization and consists of different subdomains along the antero-posterior axis. However, questions remain about the molecular mechanisms leading to the regionalization of this organ. We used a previously developed methodology to identify the novel patterning role of GDF11, a TGF-β signaling factor. Findings Using an assay based on neural differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells, GDF11 is shown to induce diencephalic (posterior forebrain), mesencephalic (midbrain) and metencephalic (anterior hindbrain) fates at the expense of telencephalic (anterior forebrain) specification. GDF11 has not previously been implicated in the early patterning of the nervous system. In addition, inhibition of the TGF-β type I receptors Alk4, Alk5 and Alk7 by the pharmacological inhibitor SB431542 caused a strong anteriorization of the cells. Conclusions Our findings suggest that GDF11 is involved in the earliest steps of the brain patterning during neurogenesis in the vertebrate embryo and is shown to be a regionalizing factor of the regional fate in the developing brain. This regionalization is not a typical posteriorizing signal as seen with retinoic acid, FGF or BMP molecules. To our knowledge, this is the first time that GDF11 is implicated in the earliest steps of the patterning of the neural plate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luc Leyns
- Department of Biology, Lab for Cell Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 2 Pleinlaan, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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An otx/nodal regulatory signature for posterior neural development in ascidians. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004548. [PMID: 25121599 PMCID: PMC4133040 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In chordates, neural induction is the first step of a complex developmental process through which ectodermal cells acquire a neural identity. In ascidians, FGF-mediated neural induction occurs at the 32-cell stage in two blastomere pairs, precursors respectively of anterior and posterior neural tissue. We combined molecular embryology and cis-regulatory analysis to unveil in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis the remarkably simple proximal genetic network that controls posterior neural fate acquisition downstream of FGF. We report that the combined action of two direct FGF targets, the TGFβ factor Nodal, acting via Smad- and Fox-binding sites, and the transcription factor Otx suffices to trigger ascidian posterior neural tissue formation. Moreover, we found that this strategy is conserved in the distantly related ascidian Phallusia mammillata, in spite of extreme sequence divergence in the cis-regulatory sequences involved. Our results thus highlight that the modes of gene regulatory network evolution differ with the evolutionary scale considered. Within ascidians, developmental regulatory networks are remarkably robust to genome sequence divergence. Between ascidians and vertebrates, major fate determinants, such as Otx and Nodal, can be co-opted into different networks. Comparative developmental studies in ascidians with divergent genomes will thus uncover shared ascidian strategies, and contribute to a better understanding of the diversity of developmental strategies within chordates.
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50
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Turner DA, Trott J, Hayward P, Rué P, Martinez Arias A. An interplay between extracellular signalling and the dynamics of the exit from pluripotency drives cell fate decisions in mouse ES cells. Biol Open 2014; 3:614-26. [PMID: 24950969 PMCID: PMC4154298 DOI: 10.1242/bio.20148409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic Stem cells derived from the epiblast tissue of the mammalian blastocyst retain the capability to differentiate into any adult cell type and are able to self-renew indefinitely under appropriate culture conditions. Despite the large amount of knowledge that we have accumulated to date about the regulation and control of self-renewal, efficient directed differentiation into specific tissues remains elusive. In this work, we have analysed in a systematic manner the interaction between the dynamics of loss of pluripotency and Activin/Nodal, BMP4 and Wnt signalling in fate assignment during the early stages of differentiation of mouse ES cells in culture. During the initial period of differentiation, cells exit from pluripotency and enter an Epi-like state. Following this transient stage, and under the influence of Activin/Nodal and BMP signalling, cells face a fate choice between differentiating into neuroectoderm and contributing to Primitive Streak fates. We find that Wnt signalling does not suppress neural development as previously thought and that it aids both fates in a context dependent manner. Our results suggest that as cells exit pluripotency they are endowed with a primary neuroectodermal fate and that the potency to become endomesodermal rises with time. We suggest that this situation translates into a “race for fates” in which the neuroectodermal fate has an advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Turner
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Jamie Trott
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Penelope Hayward
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Pau Rué
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
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