1
|
Ahuja S, Adjekukor C, Li Q, Kocha KM, Rosin N, Labit E, Sinha S, Narang A, Long Q, Biernaskie J, Huang P, Childs SJ. The development of brain pericytes requires expression of the transcription factor nkx3.1 in intermediate precursors. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002590. [PMID: 38683849 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain pericytes are one of the critical cell types that regulate endothelial barrier function and activity, thus ensuring adequate blood flow to the brain. The genetic pathways guiding undifferentiated cells into mature pericytes are not well understood. We show here that pericyte precursor populations from both neural crest and head mesoderm of zebrafish express the transcription factor nkx3.1 develop into brain pericytes. We identify the gene signature of these precursors and show that an nkx3.1-, foxf2a-, and cxcl12b-expressing pericyte precursor population is present around the basilar artery prior to artery formation and pericyte recruitment. The precursors later spread throughout the brain and differentiate to express canonical pericyte markers. Cxcl12b-Cxcr4 signaling is required for pericyte attachment and differentiation. Further, both nkx3.1 and cxcl12b are necessary and sufficient in regulating pericyte number as loss inhibits and gain increases pericyte number. Through genetic experiments, we have defined a precursor population for brain pericytes and identified genes critical for their differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suchit Ahuja
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Cynthia Adjekukor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Katrinka M Kocha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Nicole Rosin
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Elodie Labit
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Sarthak Sinha
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Ankita Narang
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Quan Long
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Jeff Biernaskie
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Sarah J Childs
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Debette S, Chasman DI. Multiomic approaches to stroke: the beginning of a journey. Nat Rev Neurol 2024; 20:65-66. [PMID: 38102384 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00908-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Debette
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM U1219, Bordeaux Population Health (BPH) Research Center, Bordeaux, France.
- Bordeaux University Hospital, Department of Neurology, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Daniel I Chasman
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|