We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) during the in vitro transition of mouse ESCs (mESCs) from a naïve pluripotent state into epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs), a primed pluripotent state. We derived pseudotime expression trajectories to investigate transcript dynamics of key metabolic regulators, with the aim to identify metabolic pathways that potentially impact on early embryonic cell state transitions. Overall design: Single-cell RNA-seq during the in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in 2i culture conditions (time point t=0h) into epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs) at time points t=24h and t=48h.
Metabolic regulation of pluripotency and germ cell fate through α-ketoglutarate.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View Sampleswe report single cell expression profiles of embryonic cells (from day 5 to 11) of pig embryo development. Overall design: single cell transcriptomes were generated from 220 cells obtained from 28 embryos (15 male and 13 female)
Pluripotency and X chromosome dynamics revealed in pig pre-gastrulating embryos by single cell analysis.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesIn humans, germline competency and the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) are thought to occur in a restricted developmental window during early embryogenesis. Despite the importance of specifying the appropriate number of PGCs for human reproduction, the molecular mechanisms governing PGC formation remain largely unexplored. Here, we compared PGC-like cell (PGCLC) differentiation from 18 independently derived human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines, and discovered that the expression of primitive streak genes were positively associated with hESC germline competency. Furthermore, we show that chemical inhibition of TGFß and WNT signaling, which are required for primitive streak formation and CRISPR/Cas9 deletion of Eomesodermin (EOMES), significantly impacts PGCLC differentiation from hESCs. Taken together, our results suggest that human PGC formation involves signaling and transcriptional programs associated with somatic germ layer induction and expression of EOMES. Overall design: There are 91 RNAseq samples in total.
Germline competency of human embryonic stem cells depends on eomesodermin.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesNaive pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and embryonic germ cells (EGCs) are derived from the preimplantation epiblast and primordial germ cells (PGCs), respectively. We investigated whether differences exist between ESCs and EGCs, in view of their distinct developmental origins. PGCs are programmed to undergo global DNA demethylation; however, we find that EGCs and ESCs exhibit equivalent global DNA methylation levels. Importantly, inhibition of Erk and Gsk3b by 2i conditions leads to pronounced reduction in DNA methylation in both cell types. This is driven by Prdm14 and is associated with downregulation of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b. However, genomic imprints are maintained in 2i, and we report derivation of EGCs with intact genomic imprints. Collectively, our findings establish that culture in 2i instills a naive pluripotent state with a distinctive epigenetic configuration that parallels molecular features observed in both the preimplantation epiblast and nascent PGCs.
Naive pluripotency is associated with global DNA hypomethylation.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesTransgenic StellaGFP ESCs were used to derive primordial germ cells during embryoid body (EB) differentiation, and microarry analysis used to compared FACS sorted Stella-positive cells of day 7 Ebs with the parental ESCs and Stella-negative cells of day 7 Ebs.
A role for Lin28 in primordial germ-cell development and germ-cell malignancy.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesUnderstanding the biological potential of fetal stem/progenitor cells will help define mechanisms in liver development and homeostasis. We isolated epithelial fetal human liver cells and established phenotype-specific changes in gene expression during continuous culture conditions. Fetal human liver epithelial cells displayed stem cell properties with multilineage gene expression, extensive proliferation and generation of mesenchymal lineage cells, although the initial epithelial phenotype was rapidly supplanted by meso-endodermal phenotype in culture. This meso-endodermal phenotype was genetically regulated through cytokine signaling, including transforming growth factor-b, bone morphogenetic protein, fibroblast growth factors, and other signaling pathways. Reactivation of HNF-3a (FOXA1) transcription factor, a driver of hepatic specification in the primitive endoderm, indicated that the meso-endodermal phenotype represented an earlier developmental stage of cells. We found that fetal liver epithelial cells formed mature hepatocytes in vivo, including after genetic manipulation using lentiviral vectors, offering convenient assays for analysis of further cell differentiation and fate. Taken together, these studies demonstrated plasticity in fetal liver epithelial stem/progenitor cells, offered paradigms for defining mechanisms regulating lineage switching in stem/progenitor cells, and provided potential avenues for regulating cell phenotypes for applications of stem/progenitor cells, such as for cell therapy.
Phenotype reversion in fetal human liver epithelial cells identifies the role of an intermediate meso-endodermal stage before hepatic maturation.
Specimen part
View SamplesMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations cause inherited diseases and are implicated in the pathogenesis of common late-onset disorders, but it is not clear how they arise and propagate in the humans. Here we show that mtDNA mutations are present in primordial germ cells (PGCs) within healthy female human embryos. Close scrutiny revealed the signature of selection against non-synonymous variants in the protein-coding region, tRNA gene variants, and variants in specific regions of the non-coding D-loop. In isolated single PGCs we saw a profound reduction in the cellular mtDNA content, with discrete mitochondria containing ~5 mtDNA molecules during early germline development. Single cell deep mtDNA sequencing showed rare variants reaching higher heteroplasmy levels in later PGCs, consistent with the observed genetic bottleneck, and predicting >80% levels within isolated organelles. Genome-wide RNA-seq showed a progressive upregulation of genes involving mtDNA replication and transcription, linked to a transition from glycolytic to oxidative metabolism. The metabolic shift exposes deleterious mutations to selection at the organellar level during early germ cell development. In this way, the genetic bottleneck prevents the relentless accumulation of mtDNA mutations in the human population predicted by Muller's ratchet. Mutations escaping this mechanism will, however, show massive shifts in heteroplasmy levels within one human generation, explaining the extreme phenotypic variation seen in human pedigrees with inherited mtDNA disorders. Overall design: RNA-Seq and NGS analysis to investigate transcriptomes and mtDNA sequences of fetal hPGCs
Segregation of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy through a developmental genetic bottleneck in human embryos.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesMale and female CD-1 mice were administered dietary Phenobarbital for 2 or 7 days. In-life, enzyme activity, cell proliferation, genomic analysis, and Bench-mark dose modeling was carried out.
Dose-response modeling of early molecular and cellular key events in the CAR-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis pathway.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe examined the transcriptional changes modulated by KDM1A inhibitor NCD-38 by performing global transcriptome analysis. Glioma Stem Cells (GSC10) were treated with either vehicle or NCD-38 for 24 h and the isolated RNA was utilized for RNA-seq analysis. Our results demonstrated that NCD-38 modulated several genes that are involved in unfolded protein response, endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and NRF-2 mediated oxidative stress response. Overall design: Total RNA was isolated from the GSC10 cells that were treated with vehicle or NCD-38 for 24 hours. Illumina TruSeq RNA Sample Preparation was performed following manufacturer''s protocol. Samples were run on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 in duplicate. The combined raw reads were aligned to UCSC hg19 and genes were annotated by Tophat. Genes were annotated and quantified by HTSeq-DESeq pipeline.
Novel KDM1A inhibitors induce differentiation and apoptosis of glioma stem cells via unfolded protein response pathway.
Treatment, Subject
View SamplesHeme-regulated eIF2 kinase (HRI) is essential for the survival of erythroid precursors in iron and heme deficiency and it also plays a protective role in red blood cell diseases of erythroid protoporphyria and -thalassemia. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time the impairment of GATA-1 and Fog-1 expressions in iron deficiency and the impairment of GATA-1 expression in -thalassemia. Furthermore, HRI is necessary to maintain the GATA-1/Fog-1 induced functions in erythroid differentiation, cell cycle and cell survival by sustaining both expressions of GATA-1 and Fog-1 in iron deficiency and in -thalassemia.
Haem-regulated eIF2alpha kinase is necessary for adaptive gene expression in erythroid precursors under the stress of iron deficiency.
Specimen part
View Samples