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Zhang P, Xue S, Guo R, Liu J, Bai B, Li D, Hyraht A, Sun N, Shao H, Fan Y, Ji W, Yang S, Yu Y, Tan T. Mapping developmental paths of monkey primordial germ-like cells differentiation from pluripotent stem cells by single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing analysis†. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:237-249. [PMID: 35766401 PMCID: PMC9310512 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The induction of primordial germ-like cells (PGCLCs) from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) provides a powerful system to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying germline specification, which are difficult to study in vivo. The studies reveal the existence of a species-specific mechanism underlying PGCLCs between humans and mice, highlighting the necessity to study regulatory networks in more species, especially in primates. Harnessing the power of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis, the detailed trajectory of human PGCLCs specification in vitro has been achieved. However, the study of nonhuman primates is still needed. Here, we applied an embryoid body (EB) differentiation system to induce PGCLCs specification from cynomolgus monkey male and female PSCs, and then performed high throughput scRNA-seq analysis of approximately 40 000 PSCs and cells within EBs. We found that EBs provided a niche for PGCLCs differentiation by secreting growth factors critical for PGCLC specification, such as bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), BMP4, and Wnt Family Member 3. Moreover, the developmental trajectory of PGCLCs was reconstituted, and gene expression dynamics were revealed. Our study outlines the roadmap of PGCLC specification from PSCs and provides insights that will improve the differentiation efficiency of PGCLCs from PSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puyao Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology and Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Sengren Xue
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongrong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Jian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Bing Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Dexuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Ahjol Hyraht
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Nianqin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Honglian Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Yong Fan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weizhi Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Shihua Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology and Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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Tan K, Wilkinson MF. Regulation of both transcription and RNA turnover contribute to germline specification. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:7310-7325. [PMID: 35776114 PMCID: PMC9303369 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuanced mechanisms driving primordial germ cells (PGC) specification remain incompletely understood since genome-wide transcriptional regulation in developing PGCs has previously only been defined indirectly. Here, using SLAMseq analysis, we determined genome-wide transcription rates during the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to form epiblast-like (EpiLC) cells and ultimately PGC-like cells (PGCLCs). This revealed thousands of genes undergoing bursts of transcriptional induction and rapid shut-off not detectable by RNAseq analysis. Our SLAMseq datasets also allowed us to infer RNA turnover rates, which revealed thousands of mRNAs stabilized and destabilized during PGCLC specification. mRNAs tend to be unstable in ESCs and then are progressively stabilized as they differentiate. For some classes of genes, mRNA turnover regulation collaborates with transcriptional regulation, but these processes oppose each other in a surprisingly high frequency of genes. To test whether regulated mRNA turnover has a physiological role in PGC development, we examined three genes that we found were regulated by RNA turnover: Sox2, Klf2 and Ccne1. Circumvention of their regulated RNA turnover severely impaired the ESC-to-EpiLC and EpiLC-to-PGCLC transitions. Our study demonstrates the functional importance of regulated RNA stability in germline development and provides a roadmap of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation during germline specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Tan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Miles F Wilkinson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Institute of Genomic Medicine (IGM), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Bonefas KM, Iwase S. Soma-to-germline transformation in chromatin-linked neurodevelopmental disorders? FEBS J 2022; 289:2301-2317. [PMID: 34514717 PMCID: PMC8918023 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in numerous chromatin regulators cause neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) with unknown mechanisms. Understandably, most research has focused on how chromatin regulators control gene expression that is directly relevant to brain development and function, such as synaptic genes. However, some NDD models surprisingly show ectopic expression of germline genes in the brain. These germline genes are usually expressed only in the primordial germ cells, testis, and ovaries for germ cell development and sexual reproduction. Such ectopic germline gene expression has been reported in several NDDs, including immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, facial anomalies syndrome 1; Kleefstra syndrome 1; MeCP2 duplication syndrome; and mental retardation, X-linked syndromic, Claes-Jensen type. The responsible genes, DNMT3B, G9A/GLP, MECP2, and KDM5C, all encode chromatin regulators for gene silencing. These mutations may therefore lead to germline gene derepression and, in turn, a severe identity crisis of brain cells-potentially interfering with normal brain development. Thus, the ectopic expression of germline genes is a unique hallmark defining this NDD subset and further implicates the importance of germline gene silencing during brain development. The functional impact of germline gene expression on brain development, however, remains undetermined. This perspective article explores how this apparent soma-to-germline transformation arises and how it may interfere with neurodevelopment through genomic instability and impaired sensory cilium formation. Furthermore, we also discuss how to test these hypotheses experimentally to ultimately determine the contribution of ectopic germline transcripts to chromatin-linked NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Bonefas
- Department of Human Genetics, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,The University of Michigan Neuroscience Graduate Program,Corresponding authors: Please address correspondence to: , and
| | - Shigeki Iwase
- Department of Human Genetics, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,The University of Michigan Neuroscience Graduate Program,Corresponding authors: Please address correspondence to: , and
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Xia Q, Cui G, Fan Y, Wang X, Hu G, Wang L, Luo X, Yang L, Cai Q, Xu K, Guo W, Gao M, Li Y, Wu J, Li W, Chen J, Qi H, Peng G, Yao H. RNA helicase DDX5 acts as a critical regulator for survival of neonatal mouse gonocytes. Cell Prolif 2021; 54:e13000. [PMID: 33666296 PMCID: PMC8088469 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mammalian spermatogenesis is a biological process of male gamete formation. Gonocytes are the only precursors of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) which develop into mature spermatozoa. DDX5 is one of DEAD-box RNA helicases and expresses in male germ cells, suggesting that Ddx5 plays important functions during spermatogenesis. Here, we explore the functions of Ddx5 in regulating the specification of gonocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Germ cell-specific Ddx5 knockout (Ddx5-/- ) mice were generated. The morphology of testes and epididymides and fertility in both wild-type and Ddx5-/- mice were analysed. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to profile the transcriptome in testes from wild-type and Ddx5-/- mice at postnatal day (P) 2. Dysregulated genes were validated by single-cell qRT-PCR and immunofluorescent staining. RESULTS In male mice, Ddx5 was expressed in germ cells at different stages of development. Germ cell-specific Ddx5 knockout adult male mice were sterile due to completely devoid of germ cells. Male germ cells gradually disappeared in Ddx5-/- mice from E18.5 to P6. Single-cell transcriptome analysis showed that genes involved in cell cycle and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) pathway were significantly decreased in Ddx5-deficient gonocytes. Notably, Ddx5 ablation impeded the proliferation of gonocytes. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals the critical roles of Ddx5 in fate determination of gonocytes, offering a novel insight into the pathogenesis of male sterility.
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La H, Yoo H, Lee EJ, Thang NX, Choi HJ, Oh J, Park JH, Hong K. Insights from the Applications of Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis in Germ Cell Development and Reproductive Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:E823. [PMID: 33467661 PMCID: PMC7829788 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanistic understanding of germ cell formation at a genome-scale level can aid in developing novel therapeutic strategies for infertility. Germ cell formation is a complex process that is regulated by various mechanisms, including epigenetic regulation, germ cell-specific gene transcription, and meiosis. Gonads contain a limited number of germ cells at various stages of differentiation. Hence, genome-scale analysis of germ cells at the single-cell level is challenging. Conventional genome-scale approaches cannot delineate the landscape of genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic diversity or heterogeneity in the differentiating germ cells of gonads. Recent advances in single-cell genomic techniques along with single-cell isolation methods, such as microfluidics and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, have helped elucidate the mechanisms underlying germ cell development and reproductive disorders in humans. In this review, the history of single-cell transcriptomic analysis and their technical advantages over the conventional methods have been discussed. Additionally, recent applications of single-cell transcriptomic analysis for analyzing germ cells have been summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kwonho Hong
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; (H.L.); (H.Y.); (E.J.L.); (N.X.T.); (H.J.C.); (J.O.); (J.H.P.)
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6
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Bline AP, Le Goff A, Allard P. What Is Lost in the Weismann Barrier? J Dev Biol 2020; 8:E35. [PMID: 33339122 PMCID: PMC7768413 DOI: 10.3390/jdb8040035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Weismann barrier has long been regarded as a basic tenet of biology. However, upon close examination of its historical origins and August Weismann's own writings, questions arise as to whether such a status is warranted. As scientific research has advanced, the persistence of the concept of the barrier has left us with the same dichotomies Weismann contended with over 100 years ago: germ or soma, gene or environment, hard or soft inheritance. These dichotomies distract from the more important questions we need to address going forward. In this review, we will examine the theories that have shaped Weismann's thinking, how the concept of the Weismann barrier emerged, and the limitations that it carries. We will contrast the principles underlying the barrier with recent and less recent findings in developmental biology and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance that have profoundly eroded the oppositional view of germline vs. soma. Discarding the barrier allows us to examine the interactive processes and their response to environmental context that generate germ cells in the first place, determine the entirety of what is inherited through them, and set the trajectory for the health status of the progeny they bear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail P. Bline
- Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
| | - Anne Le Goff
- UCLA EpiCenter on Epigenetics, Reproduction & Society, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
- Institute for Society & Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Patrick Allard
- Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
- UCLA EpiCenter on Epigenetics, Reproduction & Society, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
- Institute for Society & Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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7
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Gu C, Liu S, Wu Q, Zhang L, Guo F. Integrative single-cell analysis of transcriptome, DNA methylome and chromatin accessibility in mouse oocytes. Cell Res 2018; 29:110-123. [PMID: 30560925 PMCID: PMC6355938 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-018-0125-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Oocyte growth is a key step in forming mature eggs that are ready to be fertilized. The states and modifications of chromatin represent critical sources of information for this process. However, the dynamics and interrelations of these chromatin characteristics remain elusive. In this study, we developed an improved scCOOL-seq technique (iscCOOL-seq), which is a multi-omics, single-cell and single-base resolution method with high mapping rates, and explored the chromatin accessibility landscape and its relationship to DNA methylation in growing mouse oocytes. The most dramatic change in chromatin accessibility occurs during oocyte growth initiation, accompanied with prominent transcriptome alterations and an elevated variation in DNA methylation levels among individual oocytes. Unlike CpG islands (CGIs), partially methylated domains (PMDs) are associated with a low density of nucleosome-depleted regions (NDRs) during the whole maturation period. Surprisingly, highly expressed genes are usually associated with NDRs at their transcriptional end sites (TESs). In addition, genes with de novo methylated gene bodies during oocyte maturation are already open at their promoters before oocyte growth initiation. Furthermore, epigenetic and transcription factors that might be involved in oocyte maturation are identified. Our work paves the way for dissecting the complex, yet highly coordinated, epigenetic alterations during mouse oocyte growth and the establishment of totipotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Gu
- Center for Translational Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Shanling Liu
- Center for Translational Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Qihong Wu
- Center for Translational Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Center for Translational Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Fan Guo
- Center for Translational Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China. .,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
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8
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Lebedeva LA, Yakovlev KV, Kozlov EN, Schedl P, Deshpande G, Shidlovskii YV. Transcriptional quiescence in primordial germ cells. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2018; 53:579-595. [PMID: 30280955 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2018.1506733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In most animal species, newly formed primordial germ cells (PGCs) acquire the special characteristics that distinguish them from the surrounding somatic cells. Proper fate specification of the PGCs is coupled with transcriptional quiescence, whether they are segregated by determinative or inductive mechanisms. Inappropriate differentiation of PGCs into somatic cells is thought to be prevented due to repression of RNA polymerase (Pol) II-dependent transcription. In the case of a determinative mode of PGC formation (Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, etc.), there is a broad downregulation of Pol II activity. By contrast, PGCs display only gene-specific repression in organisms that rely on inductive signaling-based mechanism (e.g., mice). In addition to the global block of Pol II activity in PGCs, gene expression can be suppressed in other ways, such as chromatin remodeling and Piwi-mediated RNAi. Here, we discuss the mechanisms responsible for the transcriptionally silent state of PGCs in common experimental animals, such as Drosophila, C. elegans, Danio rerio, Xenopus, and mouse. While a PGC-specific downregulation of transcription is a common feature among these organisms, the diverse nature of underlying mechanisms suggests that this functional trait likely evolved independently on several instances. We discuss the possible biological relevance of these silencing mechanisms vis-a-vis fate determination of PGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyubov A Lebedeva
- a Institute of Gene Biology , Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow , Russia
| | - Konstantin V Yakovlev
- a Institute of Gene Biology , Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow , Russia.,b Laboratory of Cytotechnology, National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch , Russian Academy of Sciences , Vladivostok , Russia
| | - Eugene N Kozlov
- a Institute of Gene Biology , Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow , Russia
| | - Paul Schedl
- a Institute of Gene Biology , Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow , Russia.,c Department of Molecular Biology , Princeton University , Princeton , USA
| | - Girish Deshpande
- c Department of Molecular Biology , Princeton University , Princeton , USA
| | - Yulii V Shidlovskii
- a Institute of Gene Biology , Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow , Russia.,d Department of Biology and General Genetics, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University , Moscow , Russia
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9
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Causes and evolutionary consequences of primordial germ-cell specification mode in metazoans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 114:5784-5791. [PMID: 28584112 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1610600114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In animals, primordial germ cells (PGCs) give rise to the germ lines, the cell lineages that produce sperm and eggs. PGCs form in embryogenesis, typically by one of two modes: a likely ancestral mode wherein germ cells are induced during embryogenesis by cell-cell signaling (induction) or a derived mechanism whereby germ cells are specified by using germ plasm-that is, maternally specified germ-line determinants (inheritance). The causes of the shift to germ plasm for PGC specification in some animal clades remain largely unknown, but its repeated convergent evolution raises the question of whether it may result from or confer an innate selective advantage. It has been hypothesized that the acquisition of germ plasm confers enhanced evolvability, resulting from the release of selective constraint on somatic gene networks in embryogenesis, thus leading to acceleration of an organism's protein-sequence evolution, particularly for genes expressed at early developmental stages, and resulting in high speciation rates in germ plasm-containing lineages (denoted herein as the "PGC-specification hypothesis"). Although that hypothesis, if supported, could have major implications for animal evolution, our recent large-scale coding-sequence analyses from vertebrates and invertebrates provided important examples of genera that do not support the hypothesis of liberated constraint under germ plasm. Here, we consider reasons why germ plasm might be neither a direct target of selection nor causally linked to accelerated animal evolution. We explore alternate scenarios that could explain the repeated evolution of germ plasm and propose potential consequences of the inheritance and induction modes to animal evolutionary biology.
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10
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Fresques TM, Wessel GM. Nodal induces sequential restriction of germ cell factors during primordial germ cell specification. Development 2018; 145:dev155663. [PMID: 29358213 PMCID: PMC5825842 DOI: 10.1242/dev.155663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Specification of the germ cell lineage is required for sexual reproduction in animals. The mechanism of germ cell specification varies among animals but roughly clusters into either inherited or inductive mechanisms. The inductive mechanism, the use of cell-cell interactions for germ cell specification, appears to be the ancestral mechanism in animal phylogeny, yet the pathways responsible for this process are only recently surfacing. Here, we show that germ cell factors in the sea star initially are present broadly, then become restricted dorsally and then in the left side of the embryo where the germ cells form a posterior enterocoel. We find that Nodal signaling is required for the restriction of two germ cell factors, Nanos and Vasa, during the early development of this animal. We learned that Nodal inhibits germ cell factor accumulation in three ways including: inhibition of specific transcription, degradation of specific mRNAs and inhibition of tissue morphogenesis. These results document a signaling mechanism required for the sequential restriction of germ cell factors, which causes a specific set of embryonic cells to become the primordial germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara M Fresques
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Gary M Wessel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
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11
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Zhang T, Zarkower D. DMRT proteins and coordination of mammalian spermatogenesis. Stem Cell Res 2017; 24:195-202. [PMID: 28774758 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2017.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
DMRT genes encode a deeply conserved family of transcription factors that share a unique DNA binding motif, the DM domain. DMRTs regulate development in a broad variety of metazoans and they appear to have controlled sexual differentiation for hundreds of millions of years. In mice, starting during embryonic development, three Dmrt genes act sequentially to help establish and maintain spermatogenesis. Dmrt1 has notably diverse functions that include repressing pluripotency genes and promoting mitotic arrest in embryonic germ cells, reactivating prospermatogonia perinatally, establishing and maintaining spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), promoting spermatogonial differentiation, and controlling the mitosis/meiosis switch. Dmrt6 acts in differentiating spermatogonia to coordinate an orderly exit from the mitotic/spermatogonial program and allow proper timing of entry to the meiotic/spermatocyte program. Finally, Dmrt7 takes over during the first meiotic prophase to help choreograph a transition in histone modifications that maintains transcriptional silencing of the sex chromosomes. The combined action of these three Dmrt genes helps ensure robust and sustainable spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, and Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, 6-160 Jackson Hall, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - David Zarkower
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, and Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, 6-160 Jackson Hall, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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12
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Harrison SE, Sozen B, Christodoulou N, Kyprianou C, Zernicka-Goetz M. Assembly of embryonic and extraembryonic stem cells to mimic embryogenesis in vitro. Science 2017; 356:science.aal1810. [PMID: 28254784 DOI: 10.1126/science.aal1810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian embryogenesis requires intricate interactions between embryonic and extraembryonic tissues to orchestrate and coordinate morphogenesis with changes in developmental potential. Here, we combined mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and extraembryonic trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) in a three-dimensional scaffold to generate structures whose morphogenesis is markedly similar to that of natural embryos. By using genetically modified stem cells and specific inhibitors, we show that embryogenesis of ESC- and TSC-derived embryos-ETS-embryos-depends on cross-talk involving Nodal signaling. When ETS-embryos develop, they spontaneously initiate expression of mesoderm and primordial germ cell markers asymmetrically on the embryonic and extraembryonic border, in response to Wnt and BMP signaling. Our study demonstrates the ability of distinct stem cell types to self-assemble in vitro to generate embryos whose morphogenesis, architecture, and constituent cell types resemble those of natural embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ellys Harrison
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Berna Sozen
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, 07070, Turkey
| | - Neophytos Christodoulou
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Christos Kyprianou
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Mammalian Embryo and Stem Cell Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK.
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13
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Rolev K, O'Donovan DG, Georgiou C, Rajan MS, Chittka A. Identification of Prdm genes in human corneal endothelium. Exp Eye Res 2017; 159:114-122. [PMID: 28228349 PMCID: PMC5451076 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2017.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Corneal endothelial cells (CECs) are essential for maintaining corneal stromal hydration and ensuring its transparency, which is necessary for normal vision. Dysfunction of CECs leads to stromal decompensation, loss of transparency and corneal blindness. Corneal endothelium has low proliferative potential compared to surface epithelial cells leading to poor regeneration of CEC following injury. Additionally, the tissue exhibits age related decline in endothelial cell density with re-organisation of the cell layer, but no regeneration. The mechanisms which control proliferation and differentiation of neural crest derived CEC progenitors are yet to be clearly elucidated. Prdm (Positive regulatory domain) family of transcriptional regulators and chromatin modifiers are important for driving differentiation of a variety of cellular types. Many Prdm proteins are expressed in specific precursor cell populations and are necessary for their progression to a fully differentiated phenotype. In the present work, we sought to identify members of the Prdm gene family which are specifically expressed in human (h) CECs with a view to begin addressing their potential roles in CEC biology, focussing especially on Prdm 4 and 5 genes. By performing semi-quantitative reverse transcription coupled to PCR amplification we found that in addition to Prdm4 and Prdm5, Prdm2 and Prdm10 genes are expressed in hCECs. We further found that cultured primary hCECs or immortalised HCEC-12 cells express all of the Prdm genes found in CECs, but also express additional Prdm transcripts. This difference is most pronounced between Prdm gene expression patterns of CECs isolated from healthy human corneas and immortalised HCEC-12 cells. We further investigated Prdm 4 and Prdm 5 protein expression in cultured primary hCECs and HCEC-12 cells as well as in a human cadaveric whole cornea. Both Prdm 4 and Prdm 5 are expressed in human corneal endothelium, primary hCECs and in HCECs-12 cells, characterised by expression of the Na+/K+-ATPase. We observed that both proteins exhibit cytosolic (intracellular, but non-nuclear and distinct from extracellular fluid) as well as nuclear localisation within the endothelial layer, with Prdm 5 being more concentrated in the nuclei of the endothelial cells than Prdm 4. Thus, our work identifies novel Prdm genes specifically expressed in corneal endothelial cells which may be important in the control of CEC differentiation and proliferation. The analysis of Prdm (Positive regulatory domain) family of transcriptional regulators and chromatin modifying genes in corneal endothelial cells (CECs) was undertaken. Prdm 2, 4, 5 and 10 genes were found to be expressed in human CECs. Prdm 4 and 5 protein expression was characterised in CECs, ex vivo cultured corneal endothelial cells, and the intact cornea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kostadin Rolev
- Anglia Ruskin University, Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences and the Vision & Eye Research Unit, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom.
| | - Dominic G O'Donovan
- Dept. of Histopathology, Cambridge University Hospitals, Hills Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Christiana Georgiou
- The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, Division of Medicine, UCL, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
| | - Madhavan S Rajan
- Anglia Ruskin University, Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences and the Vision & Eye Research Unit, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology, Cambridge University Hospitals, Hills Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Alexandra Chittka
- The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, Division of Medicine, UCL, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
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14
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Škugor A, Tveiten H, Johnsen H, Andersen Ø. Multiplicity of Buc copies in Atlantic salmon contrasts with loss of the germ cell determinant in primates, rodents and axolotl. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:232. [PMID: 27784263 PMCID: PMC5080839 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0809-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The primordial germ cells (PGCs) giving rise to gametes are determined by two different mechanisms in vertebrates. While the germ cell fate in mammals and salamanders is induced by zygotic signals, maternally delivered germ cell determinants specify the PGCs in birds, frogs and teleost fish. Assembly of the germ plasm in the oocyte is organized by the single Buc in zebrafish, named Velo1 in Xenopus, and by Oskar in Drosophila. Secondary loss of oskar in several insect lineages coincides with changes in germline determination strategies, while the presence of buc in mammals suggests functions not associated with germline formation. RESULTS To clarify the evolutionary history of buc we searched for the gene in genomes available from various chordates. No buc sequence was found in lamprey and chordate invertebrates, while the gene was identified in a conserved syntenic region in elephant shark, spotted gar, teleosts, Comoran coelacanth and most tetrapods. Rodents have probably lost the buc gene, while a premature translation stop was found in primates and in Mexican axolotl lacking germ plasm. In contrast, several buc and buc-like (bucL) paralogs were identified in the teleosts examined, including zebrafish, and the tetraploid genome of Atlantic salmon harbors seven buc and bucL genes. Maternal salmon buc1a, buc2a and buc2b mRNAs were abundant in unfertilized eggs together with dnd and vasa mRNAs. Immunostained salmon Buc1a was restricted to cleavage furrows in 4-cell stage embryos similar to a fluorescent zebrafish Buc construct injected in salmon embryos. Salmon Buc1a and Buc2a localized together with DnD, Vasa and Dazl within the Balbiani body of early oocytes. CONCLUSIONS Buc probably originated more than 400 million years ago and might have played an ancestral role in assembling germ plasm. Functional redundancy or subfunctionalization of salmon Buc paralogs in germline formation is suggested by the maternally inherited mRNAs of three salmon buc genes, the localized Buc1a in the cleavage furrows and the distribution of Buc1a and Buc2a in the Balbiani body during oogenesis. The extra-ovarian expression of salmon buc genes and the presence of a second zebrafish bucL gene suggest additional functions not related to germ cell specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrijana Škugor
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), PO Box 5003, N-1430, Ås, Norway
| | | | | | - Øivind Andersen
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), PO Box 5003, N-1430, Ås, Norway. .,Nofima, PO Box 5010, N-1430, Ås, Norway.
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15
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Epigenetic Remodeling in Male Germline Development. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:3152173. [PMID: 27818689 PMCID: PMC5081465 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3152173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, germ cells guarantee the inheritance of genetic and epigenetic information across generations and are the origin of a new organism. During embryo development, the blastocyst is formed in the early stage, is comprised of an inner cell mass which is pluripotent, and could give rise to the embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The inner cell mass undergoes demethylation processes and will reestablish a methylated state that is similar to that of somatic cells later in epiblast stage. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) will be formed very soon and accompanied by the process of genome-wide demethylation. With the input of male sex determination genes, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are generated and undergo the process of spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis is a delicately regulated process in which various regulations are launched to guarantee normal mitosis and meiosis in SSCs. During all these processes, especially during spermatid development, DNA methylation profile and histone modifications are of crucial importance. In this review, we will discuss the epigenetic modifications from zygote formation to mature sperm generation and their significance to these development processes.
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16
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Respuela P, Nikolić M, Tan M, Frommolt P, Zhao Y, Wysocka J, Rada-Iglesias A. Foxd3 Promotes Exit from Naive Pluripotency through Enhancer Decommissioning and Inhibits Germline Specification. Cell Stem Cell 2016; 18:118-33. [PMID: 26748758 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2015.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Following implantation, mouse epiblast cells transit from a naive to a primed state in which they are competent for both somatic and primordial germ cell (PGC) specification. Using mouse embryonic stem cells as an in vitro model to study the transcriptional regulatory principles orchestrating peri-implantation development, here we show that the transcription factor Foxd3 is necessary for exit from naive pluripotency and progression to a primed pluripotent state. During this transition, Foxd3 acts as a repressor that dismantles a significant fraction of the naive pluripotency expression program through decommissioning of active enhancers associated with key naive pluripotency and early germline genes. Subsequently, Foxd3 needs to be silenced in primed pluripotent cells to allow re-activation of relevant genes required for proper PGC specification. Our findings therefore uncover a cycle of activation and deactivation of Foxd3 required for exit from naive pluripotency and subsequent PGC specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Respuela
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Strasse 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Miloš Nikolić
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Strasse 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Minjia Tan
- The Chemical Proteomics Center and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Peter Frommolt
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Yingming Zhao
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Joanna Wysocka
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alvaro Rada-Iglesias
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Strasse 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
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17
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A Survey of Strategies to Modulate the Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling Pathway: Current and Future Perspectives. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:7290686. [PMID: 27433166 PMCID: PMC4940573 DOI: 10.1155/2016/7290686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) constitute the largest subdivision of the TGF-β family of ligands and are unequivocally involved in regulating stem cell behavior. Appropriate regulation of canonical BMP signaling is critical for the development and homeostasis of numerous human organ systems, as aberrations in the BMP pathway or its regulation are increasingly associated with diverse human pathologies. In this review, we provide a wide-perspective on strategies that increase or decrease BMP signaling. We briefly outline the current FDA-approved approaches, highlight emerging next-generation technologies, and postulate prospective avenues for future investigation. We also detail how activating other pathways may indirectly modulate BMP signaling, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between the BMP and Activin/TGF-β pathways.
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18
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Virant-Klun I. Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells: A Potential Developmental Link Between Germinal Lineage and Hematopoiesis in Humans. Stem Cells Dev 2015; 25:101-13. [PMID: 26494182 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2015.0275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) could become specified from a population of migrating primordial germ cells (PGCs), precursors of gametes, during embryogenesis. Some recent experimental data demonstrated that the cell population that is usually considered to be PGCs, moving toward the gonadal ridges of an embryo, contains a subset of cells coexpressing several germ cell and hematopoietic markers and possessing hematopoietic activity. Experimental data showed that bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) generates PGCs from mouse bone marrow-derived pluripotent stem cells. Interestingly, functional reproductive hormone receptors have been identified in HSPCs, thus indicating their potential role in reproductive function. Several reports have demonstrated fertility restoration and germ cell generation after bone marrow transplantation in both animal models and humans. A potential link between HSPCs and germinal lineage might be represented by very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs), which have been found in adult human bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood, express a specific pattern of pluripotency, germinal lineage, and hematopoiesis, and are proposed to persist in adult tissues and organs from the embryonic period of life. Stem cell populations, similar to VSELs, expressing several genes related to pluripotency and germinal lineage, especially to PGCs, have been discovered in adult human reproductive organs, ovaries and testicles, and were related to primitive germ cell-like cell development in vitro, thus supporting the idea of VSELs as a potential link between germinal lineage and hematopoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irma Virant-Klun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Ljubljana , Ljubljana, Slovenia
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19
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Kjartansdóttir KR, Reda A, Panula S, Day K, Hultenby K, Söder O, Hovatta O, Stukenborg JB. A Combination of Culture Conditions and Gene Expression Analysis Can Be Used to Investigate and Predict hES Cell Differentiation Potential towards Male Gonadal Cells. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144029. [PMID: 26630562 PMCID: PMC4667967 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cell differentiation towards various cell types belonging to ecto-, endo- and mesodermal cell lineages has been demonstrated, with high efficiency rates using standardized differentiation protocols. However, germ cell differentiation from human embryonic stem cells has been very inefficient so far. Even though the influence of various growth factors has been evaluated, the gene expression of different cell lines in relation to their differentiation potential has not yet been extensively examined. In this study, the potential of three male human embryonic stem cell lines to differentiate towards male gonadal cells was explored by analysing their gene expression profiles. The human embryonic stem cell lines were cultured for 14 days as monolayers on supporting human foreskin fibroblasts or as spheres in suspension, and were differentiated using BMP7, or spontaneous differentiation by omitting exogenous FGF2. TLDA analysis revealed that in the undifferentiated state, these cell lines have diverse mRNA profiles and exhibit significantly different potentials for differentiation towards the cell types present in the male gonads. This potential was associated with important factors directing the fate of the male primordial germ cells in vivo to form gonocytes, such as SOX17 or genes involved in the NODAL/ACTIVIN pathway, for example. Stimulation with BMP7 in suspension culture resulted in up-regulation of cytoplasmic SOX9 protein expression in all three lines. The observation that human embryonic stem cells differentiate towards germ and somatic cells after spontaneous and BMP7-induced stimulation in suspension emphasizes the important role of somatic cells in germ cell differentiation in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristín Rós Kjartansdóttir
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Q2:08, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86, Huddinge, Sweden
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Scientific Unit, Horsens Hospital, DK-8700, Horsens, Denmark
| | - Ahmed Reda
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Q2:08, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sarita Panula
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kelly Day
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kjell Hultenby
- Division of Clinical Research Centre, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Olle Söder
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Q2:08, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Outi Hovatta
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jan-Bernd Stukenborg
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Q2:08, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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20
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Nikolic A, Volarevic V, Armstrong L, Lako M, Stojkovic M. Primordial Germ Cells: Current Knowledge and Perspectives. Stem Cells Int 2015; 2016:1741072. [PMID: 26635880 PMCID: PMC4655300 DOI: 10.1155/2016/1741072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Infertility is a condition that occurs very frequently and understanding what defines normal fertility is crucial to helping patients. Causes of infertility are numerous and the treatment often does not lead to desired pregnancy especially when there is a lack of functional gametes. In humans, the primordial germ cell (PGC) is the primary undifferentiated stem cell type that will differentiate towards gametes: spermatozoa or oocytes. With the development of stem cell biology and differentiation protocols, PGC can be obtained from pluripotent stem cells providing a new therapeutic possibility to treat infertile couples. Recent studies demonstrated that viable mouse pups could be obtained from in vitro differentiated stem cells suggesting that translation of these results to human is closer. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge about PGC indicating the perspective of their use in both research and medical application for the treatment of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Nikolic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Vladislav Volarevic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Lyle Armstrong
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, The International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, The International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Miodrag Stojkovic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Spebo Medical, Norvezanska 16, 16 000 Leskovac, Serbia
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21
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Zannino DA, Sagerström CG. An emerging role for prdm family genes in dorsoventral patterning of the vertebrate nervous system. Neural Dev 2015; 10:24. [PMID: 26499851 PMCID: PMC4620005 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-015-0052-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The embryonic vertebrate neural tube is divided along its dorsoventral (DV) axis into eleven molecularly discrete progenitor domains. Each of these domains gives rise to distinct neuronal cell types; the ventral-most six domains contribute to motor circuits, while the five dorsal domains contribute to sensory circuits. Following the initial neurogenesis step, these domains also generate glial cell types—either astrocytes or oligodendrocytes. This DV pattern is initiated by two morphogens—Sonic Hedgehog released from notochord and floor plate and Bone Morphogenetic Protein produced in the roof plate—that act in concentration gradients to induce expression of genes along the DV axis. Subsequently, these DV-restricted genes cooperate to define progenitor domains and to control neuronal cell fate specification and differentiation in each domain. Many genes involved in this process have been identified, but significant gaps remain in our understanding of the underlying genetic program. Here we review recent work identifying members of the Prdm gene family as novel regulators of DV patterning in the neural tube. Many Prdm proteins regulate transcription by controlling histone modifications (either via intrinsic histone methyltransferase activity, or by recruiting histone modifying enzymes). Prdm genes are expressed in spatially restricted domains along the DV axis of the neural tube and play important roles in the specification of progenitor domains, as well as in the subsequent differentiation of motor neurons and various types of interneurons. Strikingly, Prdm proteins appear to function by binding to, and modulating the activity of, other transcription factors (particularly bHLH proteins). The identity of key transcription factors in DV patterning of the neural tube has been elucidated previously (e.g. the nkx, bHLH and pax families), but it now appears that an additional family is also required and that it acts in a potentially novel manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise A Zannino
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation St./LRB815, Worcester, MA, 01605-2324, USA.
| | - Charles G Sagerström
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation St./LRB815, Worcester, MA, 01605-2324, USA.
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22
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Young JC, Wakitani S, Loveland KL. TGF-β superfamily signaling in testis formation and early male germline development. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2015; 45:94-103. [PMID: 26500180 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The TGF-β ligand superfamily contains at least 40 members, many of which are produced and act within the mammalian testis to facilitate formation of sperm. Their progressive expression at key stages and in specific cell types determines the fertility of adult males, influencing testis development and controlling germline differentiation. BMPs are essential for the interactive instructions between multiple cell types in the early embryo that drive initial specification of gamete precursors. In the nascent foetal testis, several ligands including Nodal, TGF-βs, Activins and BMPs, serve as key masculinizing switches by regulating male germline pluripotency, somatic and germline proliferation, and testicular vascularization and architecture. In postnatal life, local production of these factors determine adult testis size by regulating Sertoli cell multiplication and differentiation, in addition to specifying germline differentiation and multiplication. Because TGF-β superfamily signaling is integral to testis formation, it affects processes that underlie testicular pathologies, including testicular cancer, and its potential to contribute to subfertility is beginning to be understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia C Young
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shoichi Wakitani
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Kate L Loveland
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
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23
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Robert VJ, Garvis S, Palladino F. Repression of somatic cell fate in the germline. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:3599-620. [PMID: 26043973 PMCID: PMC11113910 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1942-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Germ cells must transmit genetic information across generations, and produce gametes while also maintaining the potential to form all cell types after fertilization. Preventing the activation of somatic programs is, therefore, crucial to the maintenance of germ cell identity. Studies in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and mouse have revealed both similarities and differences in how somatic gene expression is repressed in germ cells, thereby preventing their conversion into somatic tissues. This review will focus on recent developments in our understanding of how global or gene-specific transcriptional repression, chromatin regulation, and translational repression operate in the germline to maintain germ cell identity and repress somatic differentiation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie J Robert
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 46 allée d'Italie, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Steve Garvis
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 46 allée d'Italie, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Francesca Palladino
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 46 allée d'Italie, 69007, Lyon, France.
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24
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Zernicka-Goetz M, Hadjantonakis AK. From pluripotency to differentiation: laying foundations for the body pattern in the mouse embryo. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 369:rstb.2013.0535. [PMID: 25349444 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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