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Carvalho S, Zea-Redondo L, Tang TCC, Stachel-Braum P, Miller D, Caldas P, Kukalev A, Diecke S, Grosswendt S, Grosso AR, Pombo A. SRRM2 splicing factor modulates cell fate in early development. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060415. [PMID: 38656788 PMCID: PMC11070786 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryo development is an orchestrated process that relies on tight regulation of gene expression to guide cell differentiation and fate decisions. The Srrm2 splicing factor has recently been implicated in developmental disorders and diseases, but its role in early mammalian development remains unexplored. Here, we show that Srrm2 dosage is critical for maintaining embryonic stem cell pluripotency and cell identity. Srrm2 heterozygosity promotes loss of stemness, characterised by the coexistence of cells expressing naive and formative pluripotency markers, together with extensive changes in gene expression, including genes regulated by serum-response transcription factor (SRF) and differentiation-related genes. Depletion of Srrm2 by RNA interference in embryonic stem cells shows that the earliest effects of Srrm2 heterozygosity are specific alternative splicing events on a small number of genes, followed by expression changes in metabolism and differentiation-related genes. Our findings unveil molecular and cellular roles of Srrm2 in stemness and lineage commitment, shedding light on the roles of splicing regulators in early embryogenesis, developmental diseases and tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Carvalho
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Structure Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology (GABBA), ICBAS, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luna Zea-Redondo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Structure Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biology, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tsz Ching Chloe Tang
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Structure Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Stachel-Braum
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biology, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Exploratory Diagnostic Sciences (EDS) 10178 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), From Cell State to Function Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Duncan Miller
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Pluripotent Stem Cells Platform, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paulo Caldas
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Alexander Kukalev
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Structure Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Diecke
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Pluripotent Stem Cells Platform, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefanie Grosswendt
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Exploratory Diagnostic Sciences (EDS) 10178 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), From Cell State to Function Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ana Rita Grosso
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Ana Pombo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Structure Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biology, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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2
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Torre D, Francoeur NJ, Kalma Y, Gross Carmel I, Melo BS, Deikus G, Allette K, Flohr R, Fridrikh M, Vlachos K, Madrid K, Shah H, Wang YC, Sridhar SH, Smith ML, Eliyahu E, Azem F, Amir H, Mayshar Y, Marazzi I, Guccione E, Schadt E, Ben-Yosef D, Sebra R. Isoform-resolved transcriptome of the human preimplantation embryo. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6902. [PMID: 37903791 PMCID: PMC10616205 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42558-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human preimplantation development involves extensive remodeling of RNA expression and splicing. However, its transcriptome has been compiled using short-read sequencing data, which fails to capture most full-length mRNAs. Here, we generate an isoform-resolved transcriptome of early human development by performing long- and short-read RNA sequencing on 73 embryos spanning the zygote to blastocyst stages. We identify 110,212 unannotated isoforms transcribed from known genes, including highly conserved protein-coding loci and key developmental regulators. We further identify 17,964 isoforms from 5,239 unannotated genes, which are largely non-coding, primate-specific, and highly associated with transposable elements. These isoforms are widely supported by the integration of published multi-omics datasets, including single-cell 8CLC and blastoid studies. Alternative splicing and gene co-expression network analyses further reveal that embryonic genome activation is associated with splicing disruption and transient upregulation of gene modules. Together, these findings show that the human embryo transcriptome is far more complex than currently known, and will act as a valuable resource to empower future studies exploring development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Torre
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | | | - Yael Kalma
- Fertility and IVF Institute, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 64239, Israel
| | - Ilana Gross Carmel
- Fertility and IVF Institute, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 64239, Israel
| | - Betsaida S Melo
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomics Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Gintaras Deikus
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomics Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Kimaada Allette
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ron Flohr
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
- CORAL - Center Of Regeneration and Longevity, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, 64239, Israel
| | - Maya Fridrikh
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomics Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | | | - Kent Madrid
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomics Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Hardik Shah
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomics Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ying-Chih Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomics Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Shwetha H Sridhar
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomics Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Melissa L Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Efrat Eliyahu
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Foad Azem
- Fertility and IVF Institute, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 64239, Israel
| | - Hadar Amir
- Fertility and IVF Institute, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 64239, Israel
| | - Yoav Mayshar
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ivan Marazzi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Center for Epigenetics and Metabolism, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Center for OncoGenomics and Innovative Therapeutics (COGIT); Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Eric Schadt
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Dalit Ben-Yosef
- Fertility and IVF Institute, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 64239, Israel.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel.
- CORAL - Center Of Regeneration and Longevity, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, 64239, Israel.
| | - Robert Sebra
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Center for Advanced Genomics Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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3
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Goutam RS, Kumar V, Lee U, Kim J. Exploring the Structural and Functional Diversity among FGF Signals: A Comparative Study of Human, Mouse, and Xenopus FGF Ligands in Embryonic Development and Cancer Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087556. [PMID: 37108717 PMCID: PMC10146080 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) encode a large family of growth factor proteins that activate several intracellular signaling pathways to control diverse physiological functions. The human genome encodes 22 FGFs that share a high sequence and structural homology with those of other vertebrates. FGFs orchestrate diverse biological functions by regulating cellular differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Dysregulated FGF signaling may contribute to several pathological conditions, including cancer. Notably, FGFs exhibit wide functional diversity among different vertebrates spatiotemporally. A comparative study of FGF receptor ligands and their diverse roles in vertebrates ranging from embryonic development to pathological conditions may expand our understanding of FGF. Moreover, targeting diverse FGF signals requires knowledge regarding their structural and functional heterogeneity among vertebrates. This study summarizes the current understanding of human FGF signals and correlates them with those in mouse and Xenopus models, thereby facilitating the identification of therapeutic targets for various human disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Shankar Goutam
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
- iPS Bio, Inc., 3F, 16 Daewangpangyo-ro 712 Beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13522, Republic of Korea
| | - Unjoo Lee
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaebong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
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4
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Lin X, Liu F, Meng K, Liu H, Zhao Y, Chen Y, Hu W, Luo D. Comprehensive Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Sex-Specific Alternative Splicing Events in Zebrafish Gonads. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12091441. [PMID: 36143477 PMCID: PMC9501657 DOI: 10.3390/life12091441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing is an important way of regulating gene functions in eukaryotes. Several key genes involved in sex determination and gonadal differentiation, such as nr5a1 and ddx4, have sex-biased transcripts between males and females, suggesting a potential regulatory role of alternative splicing in gonads. Currently, the sex-specific alternative splicing events and genes have not been comprehensively studied at the genome-wide level in zebrafish. In this study, through global splicing analysis on three independent sets of RNA-seq data from matched zebrafish testes and ovaries, we identified 120 differentially spliced genes shared by the three datasets, most of which haven’t been reported before. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the GO terms of mRNA processing, mRNA metabolism and microtubule-based process were strongly enriched. The testis- and ovary-biased alternative splicing genes were identified, and part of them (tp53bp1, tpx2, mapre1a, kif2c, and ncoa5) were further validated by RT-PCR. Sequence characteristics analysis suggested that the lengths, GC contents, and splice site strengths of the alternative exons or introns may have different influences in different types of alternative splicing events. Interestingly, we identified an unexpected high proportion (over 70%) of non-frameshift exon-skipping events, suggesting that in these cases the two protein isoforms derived from alternative splicing may both have functions. Furthermore, as a representative example, we found that the alternative splicing of ncoa5 causes the loss of a conserved RRM domain in the short transcript predominantly produced in testes. Our study discovers novel sex-specific alternative splicing events and genes with high reliabilities in zebrafish testes and ovaries, which would provide attractive targets for follow-up studies to reveal the biological significances of alternative splicing events and genes in sex determination and gonadal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Correspondence: (F.L.); (D.L.)
| | - Kaifeng Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hairong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuanli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Daji Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), Zhanjiang 524088, China
- Correspondence: (F.L.); (D.L.)
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5
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Oshima K, Kato K, Ito Y, Daiko H, Nozaki I, Nakagawa S, Shibuya Y, Kojima T, Toh Y, Okada M, Hironaka S, Akiyama Y, Komatsu Y, Maejima K, Nakagawa H, Onuki R, Nagai M, Kato M, Kanato K, Kuchiba A, Nakamura K, Kitagawa Y. A prognostic biomarker study in patients with clinical stage I esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: JCOG0502-A1. Cancer Sci 2021; 113:1018-1027. [PMID: 34962019 PMCID: PMC8898710 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted genomic analyses of Japanese patients with stage I esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to investigate the frequency of genomic alterations and the association with survival outcomes. Biomarker analysis was conducted for patients with clinical stage T1bN0M0 ESCC enrolled in JCOG0502 (UMIN000000551). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed using DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue of ESCC and normal tissue or blood sample. Single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions/deletions (indels), and copy number alterations (CNAs) were identified. We then evaluated the associations between each gene alteration with a frequency ≥10% and progression-free survival (PFS) using a Cox regression model. We controlled for family-wise errors at 0.05 using the Bonferroni method. Among the 379 patients who were enrolled in JCOG0502, 127 patients were successfully analyzed using WES. The median patient age was 63 years (IQR, 57-67 years), and 78.0% of the patients ultimately underwent surgery. The 3-year PFS probability was 76.3%. We detected 20 genes with SNVs, indels, or amplifications with a frequency of ≥10%. Genomic alterations in FGF19 showed the strongest association with PFS with a borderline level of statistical significance of p = 0.00252 (Bonferroni-adjusted significance level is 0.0025). Genomic alterations in FGF4, MYEOV, CTTN, and ORAOV1 showed a marginal association with PFS (p < 0.05). These genomic alterations were all CNAs at chromosome 11q13.3. We have identified new genomic alterations associated with the poor efficacy of ESCC (T1bN0M0). These findings open avenues for the development of new potential treatments for patients with ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotoe Oshima
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - Ken Kato
- Department of Head and Neck, Esophageal Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - Yoshinori Ito
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo
| | - Hiroyuki Daiko
- Esophageal Surgery Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - Isao Nozaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center, Matsuyama
| | - Satoru Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Niigata Cancer Center Hospital, Niigata
| | - Yuichi Shibuya
- Department of Gastroenterology Surgery, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi
| | - Takashi Kojima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa
| | - Yasushi Toh
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka
| | | | - Shuichi Hironaka
- Clinical Trial Promotion Department, Chiba Cancer Center, Chiba.,Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu
| | - Yuji Akiyama
- Department of Surgery, Iwate Medical University, Iwate
| | - Yoshito Komatsu
- Cancer Chemotherapy, Hokkaido University Hospital Cancer Center, Sapporo
| | - Kazuhiro Maejima
- Laboratory for Cancer Genomics, RIKEN Center for integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama
| | - Hidewaki Nakagawa
- Laboratory for Cancer Genomics, RIKEN Center for integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama
| | - Ritsuko Onuki
- Division of Bioinformatics, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo
| | - Momoko Nagai
- Division of Bioinformatics, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo
| | - Mamoru Kato
- Division of Bioinformatics, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo
| | - Keisuke Kanato
- Research Management Division, Clinical Research Support Office, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - Aya Kuchiba
- Biostatistics Division, Center for Research Administration and Support, National Cancer Center, Tokyo.,Graduate School of Health Innovation, Kanagawa University of Human Services, Kanagawa
| | - Kenichi Nakamura
- Research Management Division, Clinical Research Support Office, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - Yuko Kitagawa
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo
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6
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Ebrahimie E, Rahimirad S, Tahsili M, Mohammadi-Dehcheshmeh M. Alternative RNA splicing in stem cells and cancer stem cells: Importance of transcript-based expression analysis. World J Stem Cells 2021; 13:1394-1416. [PMID: 34786151 PMCID: PMC8567453 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i10.1394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative ribonucleic acid (RNA) splicing can lead to the assembly of different protein isoforms with distinctive functions. The outcome of alternative splicing (AS) can result in a complete loss of function or the acquisition of new functions. There is a gap in knowledge of abnormal RNA splice variants promoting cancer stem cells (CSCs), and their prospective contribution in cancer progression. AS directly regulates the self-renewal features of stem cells (SCs) and stem-like cancer cells. Notably, octamer-binding transcription factor 4A spliced variant of octamer-binding transcription factor 4 contributes to maintaining stemness properties in both SCs and CSCs. The epithelial to mesenchymal transition pathway regulates the AS events in CSCs to maintain stemness. The alternative spliced variants of CSCs markers, including cluster of differentiation 44, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and doublecortin-like kinase, α6β1 integrin, have pivotal roles in increasing self-renewal properties and maintaining the pluripotency of CSCs. Various splicing analysis tools are considered in this study. LeafCutter software can be considered as the best tool for differential splicing analysis and identification of the type of splicing events. Additionally, LeafCutter can be used for efficient mapping splicing quantitative trait loci. Altogether, the accumulating evidence re-enforces the fact that gene and protein expression need to be investigated in parallel with alternative splice variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmaeil Ebrahimie
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, South Australia, Australia
- La Trobe Genomics Research Platform, School of Life Sciences, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia,
| | - Samira Rahimirad
- Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran 1497716316, Iran
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, McGill University and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal H4A 3J1, Quebec, Canada
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7
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Park JW, Fu S, Huang B, Xu RH. Alternative splicing in mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Stem Cells 2020; 38:1229-1240. [PMID: 32627865 PMCID: PMC7586970 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The differentiation and maturation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to mesodermal and other lineages are known to be controlled by various extrinsic and intrinsic signals. The dysregulation of the MSC differentiation balance has been linked to several pathophysiological conditions, including obesity and osteoporosis. Previous research of the molecular mechanisms governing MSC differentiation has mostly focused on transcriptional regulation. However, recent findings are revealing the underrated role of alternative splicing (AS) in MSC differentiation and functions. In this review, we discuss recent progress in elucidating the regulatory roles of AS in MSC differentiation. We catalogue and highlight the key AS events that modulate MSC differentiation to major osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes, and discuss the regulatory mechanisms by which AS is regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Woo Park
- Center for Reproduction, Development, and Aging and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyi Fu
- Center for Reproduction, Development, and Aging and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, People's Republic of China
| | - Borong Huang
- Center for Reproduction, Development, and Aging and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, People's Republic of China
| | - Ren-He Xu
- Center for Reproduction, Development, and Aging and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, People's Republic of China
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8
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Profiling and quantification of pluripotency reprogramming reveal that WNT pathways and cell morphology have to be reprogramed extensively. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04035. [PMID: 32490244 PMCID: PMC7260443 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent state can be established via reprogramming of somatic nuclei by factors within an oocyte or by ectopic expression of a few transgenes. Considered as being extensive and intensive, the full complement of genes to be reprogrammed, however, has never been defined, nor has the degree of reprogramming been determined quantitatively. Here, we propose a new concept of reprogramome, which is defined as the full complement of genes to be reprogrammed to the expression levels found in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). This concept in combination with RNA-seq enables us to precisely profile reprogramome and sub-reprogramomes, and study the reprogramming process with the help of other available tools such as GO analyses. With reprogramming of human fibroblasts into PSCs as an example, we have defined the full complement of the human fibroblast-to-PSC reprogramome. Furthermore, our analyses of the reprogramome revealed that WNT pathways and genes with roles in cellular morphogenesis should be extensively and intensely reprogrammed for the establishment of pluripotency. We further developed a new mathematical model to quantitate the overall reprogramming, as well as reprogramming in a specific cellular feature such as WNT signaling pathways and genes regulating cellular morphogenesis. We anticipate that our concept and mathematical model may be applied to study and quantitate other reprogramming (pluripotency reprogramming from other somatic cells, and lineage reprogramming), as well as transcriptional and epigenetic differences between any two types of cells including cancer cells and their normal counterparts.
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9
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Mossahebi-Mohammadi M, Quan M, Zhang JS, Li X. FGF Signaling Pathway: A Key Regulator of Stem Cell Pluripotency. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:79. [PMID: 32133359 PMCID: PMC7040165 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) isolated in vitro from embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced PSC (iPSC) and also post-implantation epiblast-derived stem cells (EpiSCs) are known for their two unique characteristics: the ability to give rise to all somatic lineages and the self-renewal capacity. Numerous intrinsic signaling pathways contribute to the maintenance of the pluripotency state of stem cells by tightly controlling key transcriptional regulators of stemness including sex determining region Y box 2 (Sox-2), octamer-binding transcription factor (Oct)3/4, krueppel-like factor 4 (Klf-4), Nanog, and c-Myc. Signaling by fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is of critical importance in regulating stem cells pluripotency. The FGF family is comprised of 22 ligands that interact with four FGF receptors (FGFRs). FGF/FGFR signaling governs fundamental cellular processes such as cell survival, proliferation, migration, differentiation, embryonic development, organogenesis, tissue repair/regeneration, and metabolism. FGF signaling is mediated by the activation of RAS - mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT, Phospholipase C Gamma (PLCγ), and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT), which intersects and synergizes with other signaling pathways such as Wnt, retinoic acid (RA) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling. In the current review, we summarize the role of FGF signaling in the maintenance of pluripotency state of stem cells through regulation of key transcriptional factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Mossahebi-Mohammadi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Meiyu Quan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jin-San Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaokun Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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10
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An Intricate Connection between Alternative Splicing and Phenotypic Plasticity in Development and Cancer. Cells 2019; 9:cells9010034. [PMID: 31877720 PMCID: PMC7016785 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During tumor progression, hypoxia, nutrient deprivation or changes in the extracellular environment (i.e., induced by anti-cancer drugs) elicit adaptive responses in cancer cells. Cellular plasticity increases the chance that tumor cells may survive in a challenging microenvironment, acquire new mechanisms of resistance to conventional drugs, and spread to distant sites. Re-activation of stem pathways appears as a significant cause of cellular plasticity because it promotes the acquisition of stem-like properties through a profound phenotypic reprogramming of cancer cells. In addition, it is a major contributor to tumor heterogeneity, depending on the coexistence of phenotypically distinct subpopulations in the same tumor bulk. Several cellular mechanisms may drive this fundamental change, in particular, high-throughput sequencing technologies revealed a key role for alternative splicing (AS). Effectively, AS is one of the most important pre-mRNA processes that increases the diversity of transcriptome and proteome in a tissue- and development-dependent manner. Moreover, defective AS has been associated with several human diseases. However, its role in cancer cell plasticity and tumor heterogeneity remains unclear. Therefore, unravelling the intricate relationship between AS and the maintenance of a stem-like phenotype may explain molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell plasticity and improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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11
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Urbini M, Indio V, Tarantino G, Ravegnini G, Angelini S, Nannini M, Saponara M, Santini D, Ceccarelli C, Fiorentino M, Vincenzi B, Fumagalli E, Casali PG, Grignani G, Pession A, Ardizzoni A, Astolfi A, Pantaleo MA. Gain of FGF4 is a frequent event in KIT/PDGFRA/SDH/RAS-P WT GIST. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2019; 58:636-642. [PMID: 30887595 PMCID: PMC6619263 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) lacking mutations in KIT/PDGFRA or RAS pathways and retaining an intact SDH complex are usually referred to as KIT/PDGFRA/SDH/RAS‐P WT GIST or more simply quadruple WT GIST (~5% of all GIST). Despite efforts made, no recurrent genetic event in quadruple WT GIST has been identified so far. To further investigate this disease, we performed high throughput copy number analysis on quadruple WT GIST specimens identifying a recurrent focal gain in band 11q13.3 (involving FGF3/FGF4) in 6/8 cases. This event was not found in the other molecular GIST subgroups. FGF3/FGF4 duplication was associated with high expression of FGF4, both at mRNA and protein level, a growth factor normally not expressed in adult tissues or in KIT/PDGFRA‐mutated GIST. FGFR1 was found to be the predominant FGF receptor expressed and phosphorylation of AKT was detected, suggesting that a FGF4‐FGFR1 autocrine loop could stimulate downstream signaling in quadruple WT GIST. Together with the recent reports of quadruple WT cases carrying FGFR1 activating alterations, these findings strengthen the hypothesis of a potential involvement of FGFR pathway deregulation in quadruple WT GIST, which may represent a rationale for novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Urbini
- "Giorgio Prodi" Cancer Research Center, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Indio
- "Giorgio Prodi" Cancer Research Center, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Tarantino
- "Giorgio Prodi" Cancer Research Center, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gloria Ravegnini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, FaBit; University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sabrina Angelini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, FaBit; University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Margherita Nannini
- Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maristella Saponara
- Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Donatella Santini
- Pathology Unit, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Ceccarelli
- Pathology Unit, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michelangelo Fiorentino
- Laboratory of Oncological and Transplant Molecular Pathology-Pathology Unit, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Bruno Vincenzi
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Fumagalli
- Medical Oncology Unit 2, Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Giovanni Casali
- Medical Oncology Unit 2, Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Grignani
- Sarcoma Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Andrea Pession
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Ardizzoni
- Division of Medical Oncology, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annalisa Astolfi
- "Giorgio Prodi" Cancer Research Center, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Abbondanza Pantaleo
- Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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12
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Xu Y, Zhao W, Olson SD, Prabhakara KS, Zhou X. Alternative splicing links histone modifications to stem cell fate decision. Genome Biol 2018; 19:133. [PMID: 30217220 PMCID: PMC6138936 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1512-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the embryonic stem cell (ESC) fate decision between self-renewal and proper differentiation is important for developmental biology and regenerative medicine. Attention has focused on mechanisms involving histone modifications, alternative pre-messenger RNA splicing, and cell-cycle progression. However, their intricate interrelations and joint contributions to ESC fate decision remain unclear. RESULTS We analyze the transcriptomes and epigenomes of human ESC and five types of differentiated cells. We identify thousands of alternatively spliced exons and reveal their development and lineage-dependent characterizations. Several histone modifications show dynamic changes in alternatively spliced exons and three are strongly associated with 52.8% of alternative splicing events upon hESC differentiation. The histone modification-associated alternatively spliced genes predominantly function in G2/M phases and ATM/ATR-mediated DNA damage response pathway for cell differentiation, whereas other alternatively spliced genes are enriched in the G1 phase and pathways for self-renewal. These results imply a potential epigenetic mechanism by which some histone modifications contribute to ESC fate decision through the regulation of alternative splicing in specific pathways and cell-cycle genes. Supported by experimental validations and extended datasets from Roadmap/ENCODE projects, we exemplify this mechanism by a cell-cycle-related transcription factor, PBX1, which regulates the pluripotency regulatory network by binding to NANOG. We suggest that the isoform switch from PBX1a to PBX1b links H3K36me3 to hESC fate determination through the PSIP1/SRSF1 adaptor, which results in the exon skipping of PBX1. CONCLUSION We reveal the mechanism by which alternative splicing links histone modifications to stem cell fate decision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yungang Xu
- Center for Computational Systems Medicine, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030 USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | - Weiling Zhao
- Center for Computational Systems Medicine, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030 USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | - Scott D. Olson
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Karthik S. Prabhakara
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Xiaobo Zhou
- Center for Computational Systems Medicine, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030 USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 USA
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13
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Kim YD, Kim HS, Lee J, Choi JK, Han E, Jeong JE, Cho YS. ESRP1-Induced CD44 v3 Is Important for Controlling Pluripotency in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2018; 36:1525-1534. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.2864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Young-Dae Kim
- Stem Cell Research Laboratory; Immunotherapy Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Seop Kim
- Stem Cell Research Laboratory; Immunotherapy Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Jungwoon Lee
- Stem Cell Research Laboratory; Immunotherapy Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Kyun Choi
- Stem Cell Research Laboratory; Immunotherapy Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
- Department of Bioscience; KRIBB School, University of Science & Technology; Daejeon Republic of Korea
| | - Enna Han
- Stem Cell Research Laboratory; Immunotherapy Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
- Department of Bioscience; KRIBB School, University of Science & Technology; Daejeon Republic of Korea
| | - Ji E. Jeong
- Stem Cell Research Laboratory; Immunotherapy Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Yee S. Cho
- Stem Cell Research Laboratory; Immunotherapy Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
- Department of Bioscience; KRIBB School, University of Science & Technology; Daejeon Republic of Korea
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14
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Yamazaki T, Liu L, Lazarev D, Al-Zain A, Fomin V, Yeung PL, Chambers SM, Lu CW, Studer L, Manley JL. TCF3 alternative splicing controlled by hnRNP H/F regulates E-cadherin expression and hESC pluripotency. Genes Dev 2018; 32:1161-1174. [PMID: 30115631 PMCID: PMC6120717 DOI: 10.1101/gad.316984.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Yamazaki et al. show that alternative splicing creates two TCF3 isoforms (E12 and E47) and identified two related splicing factors, hnRNPs H1 and F (hnRNP H/F), that regulate TCF3 splicing. Expression of known TCF3 target E-cadherin, critical for maintaining ESC pluripotency, is repressed by E47 but not by E12. Alternative splicing (AS) plays important roles in embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation. In this study, we first identified transcripts that display specific AS patterns in pluripotent human ESCs (hESCs) relative to differentiated cells. One of these encodes T-cell factor 3 (TCF3), a transcription factor that plays important roles in ESC differentiation. AS creates two TCF3 isoforms, E12 and E47, and we identified two related splicing factors, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) H1 and F (hnRNP H/F), that regulate TCF3 splicing. We found that hnRNP H/F levels are high in hESCs, leading to high E12 expression, but decrease during differentiation, switching splicing to produce elevated E47 levels. Importantly, hnRNP H/F knockdown not only recapitulated the switch in TCF3 AS but also destabilized hESC colonies and induced differentiation. Providing an explanation for this, we show that expression of known TCF3 target E-cadherin, critical for maintaining ESC pluripotency, is repressed by E47 but not by E12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Yamazaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Lizhi Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Denis Lazarev
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Amr Al-Zain
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Vitalay Fomin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Percy Luk Yeung
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Stuart M Chambers
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10065, USA.,Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Chi-Wei Lu
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Lorenz Studer
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10065, USA.,Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - James L Manley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
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15
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Pfeuty B, Kress C, Pain B. Network Features and Dynamical Landscape of Naive and Primed Pluripotency. Biophys J 2018; 114:237-248. [PMID: 29320691 PMCID: PMC5773751 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the broad and unique differentiation potential of pluripotent stem cells relies on a complex transcriptional network centered around Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog, two well-distinct pluripotent states, called "naive" and "primed", have been described in vitro and markedly differ in their developmental potential, their expression profiles, their signaling requirements, and their reciprocal conversion. Aiming to determine the key features that segregate and coordinate these two states, data-driven optimization of network models is performed to identify relevant parameter regimes and reduce network complexity to its core structure. Decision dynamics of optimized networks is characterized by signal-dependent multistability and strongly asymmetric transitions among naive, primed, and nonpluripotent states. Further model perturbation and reduction approaches reveal that such a dynamical landscape of pluripotency involves a functional partitioning of the regulatory network. Specifically, two overlapping positive feedback modules, Klf4/Esrrb/Nanog and Oct4/Nanog, stabilize the naive or the primed state, respectively. In turn, their incoherent feedforward and negative feedback coupling mediated by the Erk/Gsk3 module is critical for robust segregation and sequential progression between naive and primed states before irreversible exit from pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Pfeuty
- Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules, Université de Lille, CNRS, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
| | - Clémence Kress
- Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM, INRA, U1208, USC1361, Bron, France
| | - Bertrand Pain
- Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM, INRA, U1208, USC1361, Bron, France
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16
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Vanova T, Konecna Z, Zbonakova Z, La Venuta G, Zoufalova K, Jelinkova S, Varecha M, Rotrekl V, Krejci P, Nickel W, Dvorak P, Kunova Bosakova M. Tyrosine Kinase Expressed in Hepatocellular Carcinoma, TEC, Controls Pluripotency and Early Cell Fate Decisions of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells via Regulation of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Secretion. Stem Cells 2017. [PMID: 28631381 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) require signaling provided by fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors. This can be initiated by the recombinant FGF2 ligand supplied exogenously, but hPSC further support their niche by secretion of endogenous FGF2. In this study, we describe a role of tyrosine kinase expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (TEC) kinase in this process. We show that TEC-mediated FGF2 secretion is essential for hPSC self-renewal, and its lack mediates specific differentiation. Following both short hairpin RNA- and small interfering RNA-mediated TEC knockdown, hPSC secretes less FGF2. This impairs hPSC proliferation that can be rescued by increasing amounts of recombinant FGF2. TEC downregulation further leads to a lower expression of the pluripotency markers, an improved priming towards neuroectodermal lineage, and a failure to develop cardiac mesoderm. Our data thus demonstrate that TEC is yet another regulator of FGF2-mediated hPSC pluripotency and differentiation. Stem Cells 2017;35:2050-2059.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Vanova
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zaneta Konecna
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Zbonakova
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Karolina Zoufalova
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sarka Jelinkova
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Varecha
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Rotrekl
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Krejci
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Walter Nickel
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center (BZH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Petr Dvorak
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center (BZH), Heidelberg, Germany
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17
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Dos Santos ÍGD, Jorge EC, Copola AGL, Bertassoli BM, Goes AMD, Silva GAB. FGF2, FGF3 and FGF4 expression pattern during molars odontogenesis in Didelphis albiventris. Acta Histochem 2017; 119:129-141. [PMID: 28012573 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2016.12.001] [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] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Odontogenesis is guided by a complex signaling cascade in which several molecules, including FGF2-4, ensure all dental groups development and specificity. Most of the data on odontogenesis derives from rodents, which does not have all dental groups. Didelphis albiventris is an opossum with the closest dentition to humans, and the main odontogenesis stages occur when the newborns are in the pouch. In this study, D. albiventris postnatals were used to characterize the main stages of their molars development; and also to establish FGF2, FGF3 and FGF4 expression pattern. D. albiventris postnatals were processed for histological and indirect immunoperoxidase analysis of the tooth germs. Our results revealed similar dental structures between D. albiventris and mice. However, FGF2, FGF3 and FGF4 expression patterns were observed in a larger number of dental structures, suggesting broader functions for these molecules in this opossum species. The knowledge of the signaling that determinates odontogenesis in an animal model with complete dentition may contribute to the development of therapies for the replacement of lost teeth in humans. This study may also contribute to the implementation of D. albiventris as model for Developmental Biology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Íria Gabriela Dias Dos Santos
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Morfologia, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Erika Cristina Jorge
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Morfologia, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Aline Gonçalves Lio Copola
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Morfologia, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Bruno Machado Bertassoli
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Morfologia, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Alfredo Miranda de Goes
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Morfologia, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Gerluza Aparecida Borges Silva
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Morfologia, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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18
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Naftelberg S, Schor IE, Ast G, Kornblihtt AR. Regulation of alternative splicing through coupling with transcription and chromatin structure. Annu Rev Biochem 2015; 84:165-98. [PMID: 26034889 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-060614-034242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 298] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Alternative precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing plays a pivotal role in the flow of genetic information from DNA to proteins by expanding the coding capacity of genomes. Regulation of alternative splicing is as important as regulation of transcription to determine cell- and tissue-specific features, normal cell functioning, and responses of eukaryotic cells to external cues. Its importance is confirmed by the evolutionary conservation and diversification of alternative splicing and the fact that its deregulation causes hereditary disease and cancer. This review discusses the multiple layers of cotranscriptional regulation of alternative splicing in which chromatin structure, DNA methylation, histone marks, and nucleosome positioning play a fundamental role in providing a dynamic scaffold for interactions between the splicing and transcription machineries. We focus on evidence for how the kinetics of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) elongation and the recruitment of splicing factors and adaptor proteins to chromatin components act in coordination to regulate alternative splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiran Naftelberg
- Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel;
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Zhou K, Salamov A, Kuo A, Aerts AL, Kong X, Grigoriev IV. Alternative splicing acting as a bridge in evolution. Stem Cell Investig 2015; 2:19. [PMID: 27358887 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2306-9759.2015.10.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternative splicing (AS) regulates diverse cellular and developmental functions through alternative protein structures of different isoforms. Alternative exons dominate AS in vertebrates; however, very little is known about the extent and function of AS in lower eukaryotes. To understand the role of introns in gene evolution, we examined AS from a green algal and five fungal genomes using a novel EST-based gene-modeling algorithm (COMBEST). METHODS AS from each genome was classified with COMBEST that maps EST sequences to genomes to build gene models. Various aspects of AS were analyzed through statistical methods. The interplay of intron 3n length, phase, coding property, and intron retention (RI) were examined with Chi-square testing. RESULTS With 3 to 834 times EST coverage, we identified up to 73% of AS in intron-containing genes and found preponderance of RI among 11 types of AS. The number of exons, expression level, and maximum intron length correlated with number of AS per gene (NAG), and intron-rich genes suppressed AS. Genes with AS were more ancient, and AS was conserved among fungal genomes. Among stopless introns, non-retained introns (NRI) avoided, but major RI preferred 3n length. In contrast, stop-containing introns showed uniform distribution among 3n, 3n+1, and 3n+2 lengths. We found a clue to the intron phase enigma: it was the coding function of introns involved in AS that dictates the intron phase bias. CONCLUSIONS Majority of AS is non-functional, and the extent of AS is suppressed for intron-rich genes. RI through 3n length, stop codon, and phase bias bridges the transition from functionless to functional alternative isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemin Zhou
- 1 US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA ; 2 Roche Molecular Diagnostics, 4300 Hacienda Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA ; 3 Department of Clinical Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650031, China
| | - Asaf Salamov
- 1 US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA ; 2 Roche Molecular Diagnostics, 4300 Hacienda Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA ; 3 Department of Clinical Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650031, China
| | - Alan Kuo
- 1 US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA ; 2 Roche Molecular Diagnostics, 4300 Hacienda Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA ; 3 Department of Clinical Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650031, China
| | - Andrea L Aerts
- 1 US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA ; 2 Roche Molecular Diagnostics, 4300 Hacienda Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA ; 3 Department of Clinical Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650031, China
| | - Xiangyang Kong
- 1 US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA ; 2 Roche Molecular Diagnostics, 4300 Hacienda Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA ; 3 Department of Clinical Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650031, China
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- 1 US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA ; 2 Roche Molecular Diagnostics, 4300 Hacienda Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA ; 3 Department of Clinical Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650031, China
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Domouzoglou EM, Naka KK, Vlahos AP, Papafaklis MI, Michalis LK, Tsatsoulis A, Maratos-Flier E. Fibroblast growth factors in cardiovascular disease: The emerging role of FGF21. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2015; 309:H1029-38. [PMID: 26232236 PMCID: PMC4747916 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00527.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Early detection of risk factors for enhanced primary prevention and novel therapies for treating the chronic consequences of cardiovascular disease are of the utmost importance for reducing morbidity. Recently, fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have been intensively studied as potential new molecules in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease mainly attributable to metabolic effects and angiogenic actions. Members of the endocrine FGF family have been shown to increase metabolic rate, decrease adiposity, and restore glucose homeostasis, suggesting a multiple metabolic role. Serum levels of FGFs have been associated with established cardiovascular risk factors as well as with the severity and extent of coronary artery disease and could be useful for prediction of cardiovascular death. Furthermore, preclinical investigations and clinical trials have tested FGF administration for therapeutic angiogenesis in ischemic vascular disease, demonstrating a potential role in improving angina and limb function. FGF21 has lately emerged as a potent metabolic regulator with multiple effects that ultimately improve the lipoprotein profile. Early studies show that FGF21 is associated with the presence of atherosclerosis and may play a protective role against plaque formation by improving endothelial function. The present review highlights recent investigations suggesting that FGFs, in particular FGF21, may be useful as markers of cardiovascular risk and may also serve as protective/therapeutic agents in cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni M Domouzoglou
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Katerina K Naka
- Second Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Antonios P Vlahos
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Michail I Papafaklis
- Second Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Lampros K Michalis
- Second Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Agathoklis Tsatsoulis
- Department of Endocrinology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Maratos-Flier
- Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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21
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Chen K, Dai X, Wu J. Alternative splicing: An important mechanism in stem cell biology. World J Stem Cells 2015; 7:1-10. [PMID: 25621101 PMCID: PMC4300919 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v7.i1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2014] [Revised: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is an essential mechanism in post-transcriptional regulation and leads to protein diversity. It has been shown that AS is prevalent in metazoan genomes, and the splicing pattern is dynamically regulated in different tissues and cell types, including embryonic stem cells. These observations suggest that AS may play critical roles in stem cell biology. Since embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells have the ability to give rise to all types of cells and tissues, they hold the promise of future cell-based therapy. Many efforts have been devoted to understanding the mechanisms underlying stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. However, most of the studies focused on the expression of a core set of transcription factors and regulatory RNAs. The role of AS in stem cell differentiation was not clear. Recent advances in high-throughput technologies have allowed the profiling of dynamic splicing patterns and cis-motifs that are responsible for AS at a genome-wide scale, and provided novel insights in a number of studies. In this review, we discuss some recent findings involving AS and stem cells. An emerging picture from these findings is that AS is integrated in the transcriptional and post-transcriptional networks and together they control pluripotency maintenance and differentiation of stem cells.
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22
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Joo JY, Choi HW, Kim MJ, Zaehres H, Tapia N, Stehling M, Jung KS, Do JT, Schöler HR. Establishment of a primed pluripotent epiblast stem cell in FGF4-based conditions. Sci Rep 2014; 4:7477. [PMID: 25515008 PMCID: PMC4268649 DOI: 10.1038/srep07477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Several mouse pluripotent stem cell types have been established either from mouse blastocysts and epiblasts. Among these, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are considered to represent a “naïve”, epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) a “primed” pluripotent state. Although EpiSCs form derivatives of all three germ layers during invitro differentiation, they rarely incorporate into the inner cell mass of blastocysts and rarely contribute to chimera formation following blastocyst injection. Here we successfully established homogeneous population of EpiSC lines with efficient chimera-forming capability using a medium containing fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-4. The expression levels of Rex1 and Nanog was very low although Oct4 level is comparable to ESCs. EpiSCs also expressed higher levels of epiblast markers, such as Cer1, Eomes, Fgf5, Sox17, and T, and further showed complete DNA methylation of Stella and Dppa5 promoters. However, the EpiSCs were clustered separately from E3 and T9 EpiSC lines and showed a completely different global gene expression pattern to ESCs. Furthermore, the EpiSCs were able to differentiate into all three germ layers in vitro and efficiently formed teratomas and chimeric embryos (21.4%) without germ-line contribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Young Joo
- 1] Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149 Münster, Germany [2] Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea [3] Infertility Clinic Center, Haesung Hospital, Chun An 331-950, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Woo Choi
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jung Kim
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Holm Zaehres
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Natalia Tapia
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Stehling
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Koo Sung Jung
- Infertility Clinic Center, Haesung Hospital, Chun An 331-950, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Tae Do
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Hans R Schöler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
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23
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Krejci P, Kunova M, Kubikova I, Trantirek L, Kozubik A, Dvorak P. Expression of FGF19 in human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2014; 31:2582-4. [PMID: 23934687 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2013] [Revised: 07/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Krejci
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics ASCR, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
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Iwasaki Y, Thomsen GH. The splicing factor PQBP1 regulates mesodermal and neural development through FGF signaling. Development 2014; 141:3740-51. [PMID: 25209246 DOI: 10.1242/dev.106658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs is an important means of regulating developmental processes, yet the molecular mechanisms governing alternative splicing in embryonic contexts are just beginning to emerge. Polyglutamine-binding protein 1 (PQBP1) is an RNA-splicing factor that, when mutated, in humans causes Renpenning syndrome, an X-linked intellectual disability disease characterized by severe cognitive impairment, but also by physical defects that suggest PQBP1 has broader functions in embryonic development. Here, we reveal essential roles for PQBP1 and a binding partner, WBP11, in early development of Xenopus embryos. Both genes are expressed in the nascent mesoderm and neurectoderm, and morpholino knockdown of either causes defects in differentiation and morphogenesis of the mesoderm and neural plate. At the molecular level, knockdown of PQBP1 in Xenopus animal cap explants inhibits target gene induction by FGF but not by BMP, Nodal or Wnt ligands, and knockdown of either PQBP1 or WBP11 in embryos inhibits expression of fgf4 and FGF4-responsive cdx4 genes. Furthermore, PQBP1 knockdown changes the alternative splicing of FGF receptor-2 (FGFR2) transcripts, altering the incorporation of cassette exons that generate receptor variants (FGFR2 IIIb or IIIc) with different ligand specificities. Our findings may inform studies into the mechanisms underlying Renpenning syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuno Iwasaki
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Developmental Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5215, USA
| | - Gerald H Thomsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Developmental Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5215, USA
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25
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Fibroblast growth factor 4 is required but not sufficient for the astrocyte dedifferentiation. Mol Neurobiol 2014; 50:997-1012. [PMID: 24510312 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-014-8649-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Our recent studies demonstrated that mature astrocytes from spinal cord can be reprogrammed in vitro and in vivo to generate neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) following treatment with conditioned medium collected from mechanically injured astrocytes. However, little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying the reprogramming of astrocytes. Here, we show that fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) exerts a critical role in synergistically converting astrocytes into NSPCs that can express multiple neural stem cell markers (nestin and CD133) and are capable of both self-renewal and differentiation into neurons and glia. Lack of FGF4 signals fails to elicit the dedifferentiation of astrocytes towards NSPCs, displaying a substantially lower efficiency in the reprogramming of astrocytes and a slower transition through fate-determined state. These astrocyte-derived NSPCs displayed relatively poor self-renewal and multipotency. More importantly, further investigation suggested that FGF4 is a key molecule necessary for activating PI3K/Akt/p21 signaling cascades, as well as their downstream effectors responsible for directing cell reprogramming towards NSPCs. Collectively, these findings provide a molecular basis for astrocyte dedifferentiation into NSPCs after central nervous system (CNS) injury and imply that FGF4 may be a clinically applicable molecule for in situ neural repair in the CNS disorders.
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26
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Xiao L, Tsutsui T. Characterization of human dental pulp cells-derived spheroids in serum-free medium: stem cells in the core. J Cell Biochem 2013; 114:2624-36. [PMID: 23794488 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Spheroid models have led to an increased understanding of differentiation, tissue organization and homeostasis. In the present study, we have observed that under a serum-free medium, human dental pulp cells (DPCs) spontaneously formed spheroids, and could survive over 15 weeks. To characterize these spheroids, we investigated their dynamics, microenvironment, cell distribution, molecular profiles, and neuronal/osteogenic potential. Cell tracking assay showed that cells inside the spheroids have very slow cycling. Although the spheroids had hypoxia microenvironments, there were not any massive cell die-offs even after long-term cultivation. Whole mount immunofluorescence staining and histological analysis showed a distribution of stem cells in the central/intermediate zones of spheroids. qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the expression of stemness markers NANOG, TP63, and CD44 in the spheroids were much higher than within the monolayer cultures. Gene expression levels of neural markers CDH2, NFM, TUBB3, and CD24 in the spheroids were much higher than the monolayer DPCs and increased in a culture time-dependent manner. Without any neural induction, spheroid-derived cells spontaneously converted into neuron-like cells with positive staining of neural markers HuC/D and P75 under the serum-free medium for about 2 weeks. When the spheroids were transferred into osteogenic medium, they rapidly differentiated into osteo/odontogenic cells, especially the central original cells. Compared to the monolayer DPCs, mineralization in spheroids were significantly increased. This spheroid model offers a study tool to explore the molecular bases of stem cell homeostasis and tissue organization, and can be wildly used for nerve tissue and bone regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology, The Nippon Dental University, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, 1-9-20 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8159, Japan
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27
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MBNL proteins repress ES-cell-specific alternative splicing and reprogramming. Nature 2013; 498:241-5. [PMID: 23739326 DOI: 10.1038/nature12270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Previous investigations of the core gene regulatory circuitry that controls the pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) cells have largely focused on the roles of transcription, chromatin and non-coding RNA regulators. Alternative splicing represents a widely acting mode of gene regulation, yet its role in regulating ES-cell pluripotency and differentiation is poorly understood. Here we identify the muscleblind-like RNA binding proteins, MBNL1 and MBNL2, as conserved and direct negative regulators of a large program of cassette exon alternative splicing events that are differentially regulated between ES cells and other cell types. Knockdown of MBNL proteins in differentiated cells causes switching to an ES-cell-like alternative splicing pattern for approximately half of these events, whereas overexpression of MBNL proteins in ES cells promotes differentiated-cell-like alternative splicing patterns. Among the MBNL-regulated events is an ES-cell-specific alternative splicing switch in the forkhead family transcription factor FOXP1 that controls pluripotency. Consistent with a central and negative regulatory role for MBNL proteins in pluripotency, their knockdown significantly enhances the expression of key pluripotency genes and the formation of induced pluripotent stem cells during somatic cell reprogramming.
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28
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Zhao C, Waalwijk C, de Wit PJGM, Tang D, van der Lee T. RNA-Seq analysis reveals new gene models and alternative splicing in the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:21. [PMID: 23324402 PMCID: PMC3577648 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 12/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The genome of Fusarium graminearum has been sequenced and annotated previously, but correct gene annotation remains a challenge. In addition, posttranscriptional regulations, such as alternative splicing and RNA editing, are poorly understood in F. graminearum. Here we took advantage of RNA-Seq to improve gene annotations and to identify alternative splicing and RNA editing in F. graminearum. Results We identified and revised 655 incorrectly predicted gene models, including revisions of intron predictions, intron splice sites and prediction of novel introns. 231 genes were identified with two or more alternative splice variants, mostly due to intron retention. Interestingly, the expression ratios between different transcript isoforms appeared to be developmentally regulated. Surprisingly, no RNA editing was identified in F. graminearum. Moreover, 2459 novel transcriptionally active regions (nTARs) were identified and our analysis indicates that many of these could be missed genes. Finally, we identified the 5′ UTR and/or 3′ UTR sequences of 7666 genes. A number of representative novel gene models and alternatively spliced genes were validated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the generated amplicons. Conclusions We have developed novel and efficient strategies to identify alternatively spliced genes and incorrect gene models based on RNA-Seq data. Our study identified hundreds of alternatively spliced genes in F. graminearum and for the first time indicated that alternative splicing is developmentally regulated in filamentous fungi. In addition, hundreds of incorrect predicted gene models were identified and revised and thousands of nTARs were discovered in our study, which will be helpful for the future genomic and transcriptomic studies in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunzhao Zhao
- Plant Research International, P.O. Box 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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29
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Anokye-Danso F, Snitow M, Morrisey EE. How microRNAs facilitate reprogramming to pluripotency. J Cell Sci 2012; 125:4179-87. [PMID: 23077173 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.095968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to generate pluripotent stem cells from a variety of cell and tissue sources through the ectopic expression of a specific set of transcription factors has revolutionized regenerative biology. The development of this reprogramming technology not only makes it possible to perform basic research on human stem cells that do not have to be derived from embryos, but also allows patient-specific cells and tissues to be generated for therapeutic use. Optimizing this process will probably lead to a better and more efficient means of generating pluripotent stem cells. Here, we discuss recent findings that show that, in addition to transcription factors, microRNAs can promote pluripotent reprogramming and can even substitute for these pluripotency transcription factors in some cases. Taking into consideration that microRNAs have the potential to be used as small-molecule therapeutics, such findings open new possibilities for both pluripotent stem cell reprogramming and the reprogramming of cells into other cell lineages.
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30
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Alternative splicing: decoding an expansive regulatory layer. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2012; 24:323-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2012.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Revised: 01/27/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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31
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Nettersheim D, Westernströer B, Haas N, Leinhaas A, Brüstle O, Schlatt S, Schorle H. Establishment of a versatile seminoma model indicates cellular plasticity of germ cell tumor cells. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2012; 51:717-26. [PMID: 22489004 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.21958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Revised: 03/01/2012] [Accepted: 03/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In western countries, 60% of all malignancies diagnosed in men between 17-45 years of age are germ cell tumors (GCT). GCT arise from the common precursor lesion carcinoma in situ, which transforms within an average of 9 years into invasive Type-II GCTs. Seminomas are considered to be the default developmental pathway of carcinoma in situ cells and the seminoma-like cell line TCam-2 has been used to study seminoma biology in vitro. However, the generation of an animal model, which would allow for the in vivo analysis of seminoma formation, remained elusive. We applied transplantation approaches using TCam-2 cell transfer into ectopic (skin, brain) and orthopic (testis) sites of immunodeficient mice. We demonstrate that a transplantation into the seminiferous tubules results in formation of a carcinoma in situ/seminoma. In contrast, TCam-2 cells adopt an embryonal carcinoma-like fate when grafted to the flank or corpus striatum and display downregulation of the seminoma marker SOX17 and upregulation of the embryonal carcinoma markers SOX2 and CD30. Grafted TCam-2 cells reduce AKT-, ERK-, EphA3-, and Tie2/TEK-signaling to levels comparable to embryonal carcinoma cells. Hence, TCam-2 cell transplantation into the testis generated a carcinoma in situ/seminoma mouse model, which enables addressing the biology of these tumors in vivo. The fact that TCam-2 cells give rise to a carcinoma in situ/seminoma or embryonal carcinoma in a transplantation site specific manner implies that conversion of carcinoma in situ/seminoma to an embryonal carcinoma does not require additional genetic aberrations but relies on signals from the tumor-microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Nettersheim
- Department of Developmental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn, Medical School, Bonn, Germany
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32
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Abstract
The application of stem cells to regenerative medicine depends on a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying their pluripotency. Many studies have identified key transcription factor-regulated transcriptional networks and chromatin landscapes of embryonic and a number of adult stem cells. In addition, recent publications have revealed another interesting molecular feature of stem cells- a distinct alternative splicing pattern. Thus, it is possible that both the identity and activity of stem cells are maintained by stem cell-specific mRNA isoforms, while switching to different isoforms ensures proper differentiation. In this review, we will discuss the generality of mRNA isoform switching and its interaction with other molecular mechanisms to regulate stem cell pluripotency, as well as the reprogramming process in which differentiated cells are induced to become pluripotent stem cell-like cells (iPSCs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Iouri Chepelev
- Systems Biology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Abstract
Current approaches aiming to cure type 1 diabetes (T1D) have made a negligible number of patients insulin-independent. In this review, we revisit the role of stem cell (SC)-based applications in curing T1D. The optimal therapeutic approach for T1D should ideally preserve the remaining β-cells, restore β-cell function, and protect the replaced insulin-producing cells from autoimmunity. SCs possess immunological and regenerative properties that could be harnessed to improve the treatment of T1D; indeed, SCs may reestablish peripheral tolerance toward β-cells through reshaping of the immune response and inhibition of autoreactive T-cell function. Furthermore, SC-derived insulin-producing cells are capable of engrafting and reversing hyperglycemia in mice. Bone marrow mesenchymal SCs display a hypoimmunogenic phenotype as well as a broad range of immunomodulatory capabilities, they have been shown to cure newly diabetic nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, and they are currently undergoing evaluation in two clinical trials. Cord blood SCs have been shown to facilitate the generation of regulatory T cells, thereby reverting hyperglycemia in NOD mice. T1D patients treated with cord blood SCs also did not show any adverse reaction in the absence of major effects on glycometabolic control. Although hematopoietic SCs rarely revert hyperglycemia in NOD mice, they exhibit profound immunomodulatory properties in humans; newly hyperglycemic T1D patients have been successfully reverted to normoglycemia with autologous nonmyeloablative hematopoietic SC transplantation. Finally, embryonic SCs also offer exciting prospects because they are able to generate glucose-responsive insulin-producing cells. Easy enthusiasm should be mitigated mainly because of the potential oncogenicity of SCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Fiorina
- Transplantation Research Center, Division of Nephrology, Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
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Shi G, Gao F, Jin Y. The regulatory role of histone deacetylase inhibitors in Fgf4 expression is dependent on the differentiation state of pluripotent stem cells. J Cell Physiol 2011; 226:3190-6. [PMID: 21321941 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.22679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The identity of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is controlled by a set of pluripotency genes, including Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and Fgf4. How their expression is repressed during differentiation and reactivated during reprogramming is largely unknown. Here, using mouse ESCs as well as F9 and P19 cells (mouse embryonal carcinoma cell lines, P19 being considered further differentiated than F9 cells) as models, we found that HDAC inhibitors elevated Fgf4 expression in P19 cells, but reduced it in F9 cells. We also observed that HDAC inhibitors enhanced the expression of Fgf4 and a subset of pluripotency genes in differentiated ESCs, but reduced their expression in undifferentiated and less differentiated ESCs. Mechanistically, we observed more HDAC1 recruitment and a weaker association of histone 4 lysine 5 acetylation at the Fgf4 enhancer in P19 cells compared to F9 cells. Additionally, we demonstrated the interaction between Sox2 and HDAC1 both in vitro and in vivo, implicating a possible role for Sox2 in the recruitment of HDAC1 to the Fgf4 enhancer. We also found that Nanog bound to the Fgf4 enhancer, and this binding was stronger in F9 cells, indicating the involvement of Nanog in the regulation of Fgf4 expression in undifferentiated and less differentiated pluripotent stem cells. This study uncovers an important role of HDAC1 and histone modifications in the repression of Fgf4 and perhaps other pluripotency genes during ESC differentiation. Our results also suggest that HDAC inhibitors may promote reprogramming partially through activating pluripotency genes at some intermediate stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilai Shi
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences/Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Abstract
Genome-wide analyses of metazoan transcriptomes have revealed an unexpected level of mRNA diversity that is generated by alternative splicing. Recently, regulatory networks have been identified through which splicing promotes dynamic remodelling of the transcriptome to promote physiological changes, which involve robust and coordinated alternative splicing transitions. The regulation of splicing in yeast, worms, flies and vertebrates affects a variety of biological processes. The functional classes of genes that are regulated by alternative splicing include both those with widespread homeostatic activities and those with cell-type-specific functions. Alternative splicing can drive determinative physiological change or can have a permissive role by providing mRNA variability that is used by other regulatory mechanisms.
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36
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Gabut M, Samavarchi-Tehrani P, Wang X, Slobodeniuc V, O'Hanlon D, Sung HK, Alvarez M, Talukder S, Pan Q, Mazzoni EO, Nedelec S, Wichterle H, Woltjen K, Hughes TR, Zandstra PW, Nagy A, Wrana JL, Blencowe BJ. An alternative splicing switch regulates embryonic stem cell pluripotency and reprogramming. Cell 2011; 147:132-46. [PMID: 21924763 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 270] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2011] [Revised: 06/10/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a key process underlying the expansion of proteomic diversity and the regulation of gene expression. Here, we identify an evolutionarily conserved embryonic stem cell (ESC)-specific AS event that changes the DNA-binding preference of the forkhead family transcription factor FOXP1. We show that the ESC-specific isoform of FOXP1 stimulates the expression of transcription factor genes required for pluripotency, including OCT4, NANOG, NR5A2, and GDF3, while concomitantly repressing genes required for ESC differentiation. This isoform also promotes the maintenance of ESC pluripotency and contributes to efficient reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. These results reveal a pivotal role for an AS event in the regulation of pluripotency through the control of critical ESC-specific transcriptional programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Gabut
- Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
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37
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Leri A, Hosoda T, Kajstura J, Anversa P, Rota M. Identification of a coronary stem cell in the human heart. J Mol Med (Berl) 2011; 89:947-59. [PMID: 21607542 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-011-0769-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2011] [Revised: 04/25/2011] [Accepted: 05/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Human ischemic cardiomyopathy is characterized by de novo cardiomyogenesis, which is limited to the surviving portion of the ventricle, and by organ hypertrophy that develops as a chronic response to ischemic injury. Although myocyte hypertrophy and myocyte regeneration restore the original myocardial mass, the coronary vasculature remains defective and the extent and regulation of myocardial perfusion are severely impaired. Recently, vascular stem cells (VSCs) have been identified in the coronary circulation. VSCs express c-kit and the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, KDR. These cells are self-renewing, clonogenic, and multipotent in vitro and in vivo. In animal models of critical coronary artery stenosis, VSCs form large conductive coronary arteries and their distal branches. This degree of vasculogenesis replaces partly the function of the occluded coronary artery improving myocardial perfusion and positively interfering with the development of the post-infarction myopathy. Cell therapy directed to the restoration of the integrity of the coronary circulation, the replacement of atherosclerotic coronary vessels, or both, would change dramatically the goal of cell therapy for the ischemic heart: the prevention of myocardial injury would become the end-point of cell therapy rather than the partial recovery of established damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annarosa Leri
- Departments of Anesthesia and Medicine, and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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38
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Fon Tacer K, Bookout AL, Ding X, Kurosu H, John GB, Wang L, Goetz R, Mohammadi M, Kuro-o M, Mangelsdorf DJ, Kliewer SA. Research resource: Comprehensive expression atlas of the fibroblast growth factor system in adult mouse. Mol Endocrinol 2010; 24:2050-64. [PMID: 20667984 PMCID: PMC2954642 DOI: 10.1210/me.2010-0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 516] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2010] [Accepted: 07/01/2010] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Although members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family and their receptors have well-established roles in embryogenesis, their contributions to adult physiology remain relatively unexplored. Here, we use real-time quantitative PCR to determine the mRNA expression patterns of all 22 FGFs, the seven principal FGF receptors (FGFRs), and the three members of the Klotho family of coreceptors in 39 different mouse tissues. Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis of the mRNA expression data reveals that most FGFs and FGFRs fall into two groups the expression of which is enriched in either the central nervous system or reproductive and gastrointestinal tissues. Interestingly, the FGFs that can act as endocrine hormones, including FGF15/19, FGF21, and FGF23, cluster in a third group that does not include any FGFRs, underscoring their roles in signaling between tissues. We further show that the most recently identified Klotho family member, Lactase-like, is highly and selectively expressed in brown adipose tissue and eye and can function as an additional coreceptor for FGF19. This FGF atlas provides an important resource for guiding future studies to elucidate the physiological functions of FGFs in adult animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klementina Fon Tacer
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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39
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Ouyang JF, Lou J, Yan C, Ren ZH, Qiao HX, Hong DS. In-vitro promoted differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells towards hepatocytes induced by salidroside. J Pharm Pharmacol 2010; 62:530-8. [DOI: 10.1211/jpp.62.04.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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40
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Eiselleova L, Matulka K, Kriz V, Kunova M, Schmidtova Z, Neradil J, Tichy B, Dvorakova D, Pospisilova S, Hampl A, Dvorak P. A complex role for FGF-2 in self-renewal, survival, and adhesion of human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2010; 27:1847-57. [PMID: 19544431 PMCID: PMC2798073 DOI: 10.1002/stem.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The transcription program that is responsible for the pluripotency of human ESCs (hESCs) is believed to be comaintained by exogenous fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), which activates FGF receptors (FGFRs) and stimulates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. However, the same pathway is stimulated by insulin receptors, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptors, and epidermal growth factor receptors. This mechanism is further complicated by intracrine FGF signals. Thus, the molecular mechanisms by which FGF-2 promotes the undifferentiated growth of hESCs are unclear. Here we show that, in undifferentiated hESCs, exogenous FGF-2 stimulated the expression of stem cell genes while suppressing cell death and apoptosis genes. Inhibition of autocrine FGF signaling caused upregulation of differentiation-related genes and downregulation of stem cell genes. Thus, exogenous FGF-2 reinforced the pluripotency maintenance program of intracrine FGF-2 signaling. Consistent with this hypothesis, expression of endogenous FGF-2 decreased during hESC differentiation and FGF-2 knockdown-induced hESC differentiation. In addition, FGF-2 signaling via FGFR2 activated MAPK kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase and AKT kinases, protected hESC from stress-induced cell death, and increased hESC adhesion and cloning efficiency. This stimulation of self-renewal, cell survival, and adhesion by exogenous and endogenous FGF-2 may synergize to maintain the undifferentiated growth of hESCs. Stem Cells2009;27:1847–1857
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Eiselleova
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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41
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Alternative splicing in stem cell self-renewal and diferentiation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2010; 695:92-104. [PMID: 21222201 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-7037-4_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This chapter provides a review of recent advances in understanding the importance of alternative pre-messenger RNA splicing in stem cell biology. The majority of transcribed pre-mRNAs undergo RNA splicing where introns are excised and exons are juxtaposed to form mature messenger RNA sequences. This regulated, selective removal of whole or portions of exons by alternative splicing provides avenues for control of RNA abundance and proteome diversity. We discuss several examples of key alternative splicing events in stem cell biology and provide an overview of recently developed microarray and sequencing technologies that enable systematic and genome-wide assessment of the extent of alternative splicing during stem cell differentiation.
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42
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Wang X, Lin G, Martins-Taylor K, Zeng H, Xu RH. Inhibition of caspase-mediated anoikis is critical for basic fibroblast growth factor-sustained culture of human pluripotent stem cells. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:34054-64. [PMID: 19828453 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.052290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis and proliferation are two dynamically and tightly regulated processes that together maintain the homeostasis of renewable tissues. Anoikis is a subtype of apoptosis induced by detachment of adherent cells from the extracellular matrix. By using the defined mTeSR1 medium and collecting freshly detached cells, we found here that human pluripotent stem (PS) cells including embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are subject to constant anoikis in culture, which is escalated in the absence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Withdrawal of bFGF also promotes apoptosis and differentiation of the remaining adherent cells without affecting their cell cycle progression. Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) has previously been reported to act downstream of FGF signaling to support self-renewal of human ES cells. However, we found that IGF2 cannot substitute bFGF in the TeSR1-supported culture, although endogenous IGF signaling is required to sustain self-renewal of human ES cells. On the other hand, all of the bFGF withdrawal effects observed here can be markedly prevented by the caspase inhibitor z-VAD-FMK. We further demonstrated that the bFGF-repressed anoikis is dependent on activation of ERK and AKT and associated with inhibition of Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death and the caspase-ROCK1-myosin signaling. Anoikis is independent of pre-detachment apoptosis and differentiation of the cells. Because previous studies of human PS cells have been focused on attached cells, our findings revealed a neglected role of bFGF in sustaining self-renewal of human PS cells: preventing them from anoikis via inhibition of caspase activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Wang
- University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute, Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
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43
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Fu RH, Liu SP, Ou CW, Yu HH, Li KW, Tsai CH, Shyu WC, Lin SZ. Alternative Splicing Modulates Stem Cell Differentiation. Cell Transplant 2009; 18:1029-38. [PMID: 19523332 DOI: 10.3727/096368909x471260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells have the surprising potential to develop into many different cell types. Therefore, major research efforts have focused on transplantation of stem cells and/or derived progenitors for restoring depleted diseased cells in degenerative disorders. Understanding the molecular controls, including alternative splicing, that arise during lineage differentiation of stem cells is crucial for developing stem cell therapeutic approaches in regeneration medicine. Alternative splicing to allow a single gene to encode multiple transcripts with different protein coding sequences and RNA regulatory elements increases genomic complexities. Utilizing differences in alternative splicing as a molecular marker may be more sensitive than simply gene expression in various degrees of stem cell differentiation. Moreover, alternative splicing maybe provide a new concept to acquire induced pluripotent stem cells or promote cell–cell transdifferentiation for restorative therapies and basic medicine researches. In this review, we highlight the recent advances of alternative splicing regulation in stem cells and their progenitors. It will hopefully provide much needed knowledge into realizing stem cell biology and related applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru-Huei Fu
- Center for Neuropsychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Immunology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ping Liu
- Center for Neuropsychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Wei Ou
- Graduate Institute of Immunology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Hui Yu
- Center for Neuropsychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Wei Li
- Center for Neuropsychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Hai Tsai
- Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Woei-Cherng Shyu
- Center for Neuropsychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Immunology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shinn-Zong Lin
- Center for Neuropsychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Immunology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan
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44
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Identification of a coronary vascular progenitor cell in the human heart. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:15885-90. [PMID: 19717420 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0907622106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Primitive cells capable of generating small resistance arterioles and capillary structures in the injured myocardium have been identified repeatedly. However, these cells do not form large conductive coronary arteries that would have important implications in the management of the ischemic heart. In the current study, we determined whether the human heart possesses a class of progenitor cells that regulates the growth of endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and vasculogenesis. The expression of vascular endothelial growth-factor receptor 2 (KDR) was used, together with the stem cell antigen c-kit, to isolate and expand a resident coronary vascular progenitor cell (VPC) from human myocardial samples. Structurally, vascular niches composed of c-kit-KDR-positive VPCs were identified within the walls of coronary vessels. The VPCs were connected by gap junctions to ECs, SMCs, and fibroblasts that operate as supporting cells. In vitro, VPCs were self-renewing and clonogenic and differentiated predominantly into ECs and SMCs and partly into cardiomyocytes. To establish the functional import of VPCs, a critical stenosis was created in immunosuppressed dogs, and tagged human VPCs were injected in proximity to the constricted artery. One month later, there was an increase in coronary blood flow (CBF) distal to the stenotic artery, resulting in functional improvement of the ischemic myocardium. Regenerated large, intermediate, and small human coronary arteries and capillaries were found. In conclusion, the human heart contains a pool of VPCs that can be implemented clinically to form functionally competent coronary vessels and improve CBF in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
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45
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Darr H, Benvenisty N. Genetic analysis of the role of the reprogramming gene LIN-28 in human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2009; 27:352-62. [PMID: 19038789 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2008-0720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
LIN-28 is a gene recently shown to be involved in the conversion of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells. We have previously shown that LIN-28 is highly expressed in human embryonic stem cells (HESCs); however, its role in these cells has not been investigated. We now show that, like OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG, LIN-28 is downregulated during differentiation of HESCs into embryoid bodies. In addition, we investigate the role of LIN-28 in HESCs by manipulation of its expression levels. LIN-28 overexpression impairs the ability of cells to grow at clonal densities, due to increased differentiation and decreased cell division. Analysis of cell differentiation under these conditions revealed that it is mostly towards the extraembryonic endoderm lineage. Moreover, we show that, during early mouse development, high levels of Lin-28 are also observed in the extraembryonic endoderm, and therefore it seems that, both in vitro and in vivo, high levels of LIN-28 may specify an extraembryonic endoderm fate. However, LIN-28 seems dispensable for self-renewal of HESCs; its downregulation neither impairs HESC proliferation nor leads to their differentiation. Thus, LIN-28 does not seem to be involved in the self-renewal of HESCs, but rather seems to be involved in their decision to switch from self-renewal to differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henia Darr
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
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46
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Kosaka N, Sakamoto H, Terada M, Ochiya T. Pleiotropic function of FGF-4: its role in development and stem cells. Dev Dyn 2009; 238:265-76. [PMID: 18792115 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) were initially recognized as fibroblast-specific growth factor, and it is now apparent that these growth factors regulate multiple biological functions. The diversity of FGFs function is paralleled by the emerging diversity of interactions between FGF ligands and their receptors. FGF-4 is a member of the FGF superfamily and is a mitogen exhibiting strong action on numerous different cell types. It plays a role in various stages of development and morphogenesis, as well as in a variety of biological processes. Recent studies reveal the molecular mechanisms of FGF-4 gene regulation in mammalian cells, which is involved in the developmental process. Furthermore, FGF-4 also acts on the regulation of proliferation and differentiation in embryonic stem cells and tissue stem cells. In this review, we focus on the diverse biological functions of FGF-4 in the developmental process and also discuss its putative roles in stem cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyoshi Kosaka
- Section for Studies on Metastasis, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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47
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Beltrami AP, Cesselli D, Beltrami CA. Pluripotency rush! Molecular cues for pluripotency, genetic reprogramming of adult stem cells, and widely multipotent adult cells. Pharmacol Ther 2009; 124:23-30. [PMID: 19545589 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2009.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2009] [Accepted: 06/02/2009] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In the last few years, pluripotent stem cells have been the objective of intense investigation efforts. These cells are of paramount therapeutic interest, since they could be utilized: as in vitro models of disease, for pharmaceutical screening purposes, and for the regeneration of damaged organs. Over the years, pluripotent cells have been cultured from teratomas, the inner cell mass, and primordial germ cells. Accumulating informations have partially decrypted the molecular machinery responsible for the maintenance of a very primitive state, permitting the reprogramming of differentiated cells. Although the debate is still open, an extreme excitement is arising from two strictly related possibilities: pluripotent cells could be obtained from adult tissues with minimal manipulations or very rare pluripotent cells could be identified in adult tissues. This intriguing option will trigger new researches aimed both at identifying the possible biological role of pluripotent adult stem cells and at exploiting their potential clinical use. The present review article will summarize current knowledge of the molecular cues for pluripotency but also discusses whether pluripotent stem cells could be obtained from adult tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Paolo Beltrami
- Interdepartmental Center for Regenerative Medicine (CIME), Department of Pathology, University of Udine, Italy.
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48
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Hemmrich G, Bosch TC. Compagen, a comparative genomics platform for early branching metazoan animals, reveals early origins of genes regulating stem-cell differentiation. Bioessays 2008; 30:1010-8. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.20813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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49
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Deconstructing human embryonic stem cell cultures: niche regulation of self-renewal and pluripotency. J Mol Med (Berl) 2008; 86:875-86. [PMID: 18521556 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-008-0356-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2008] [Revised: 03/17/2008] [Accepted: 03/31/2008] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The factors and signaling pathways controlling pluripotent human cell properties, both embryonic and induced, have not been fully investigated. Failure to account for functional heterogeneity within human embryonic stem cell (hESC) cultures has led to inconclusive results in previous work examining extrinsic influences governing hESC fate (self renewal vs. differentiation vs. death). Here, we attempt to reconcile these inconsistencies with recent reports demonstrating that an autologously produced in vitro niche regulates hESCs. Moreover, we focus on the reciprocal paracrine signals within the in vitro hESC niche allowing for the maintenance and/or expansion of the hESC colony-initiating cell (CIC). Based on this, it is clear that separation of hESC-CICs, apart from their differentiated derivatives, will be essential in future studies involving their molecular regulation. Understanding how extrinsic factors control hESC self-renewal and differentiation will allow us to culture and differentiate these pluripotent cells with higher efficiency. This knowledge will be essential for clinical applications using human pluripotent cells in regenerative medicine.
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