We used RNA-Seq to analyse the interactions between Bmp4 and Wnt at a genome-wide level in EpiSCs treated for 48 hrs with Bmp4 and/or Wnt3a in the presence of Activin and bFGF. Overall design: Control EpiSC were cultured in the presence of IWP2 for 48h. Cells were cultured with BMP4 with or without IWP2; Wnt3a and Wnt3a with BMP4 for 48h.
Endogenous WNT signals mediate BMP-induced and spontaneous differentiation of epiblast stem cells and human embryonic stem cells.
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View SamplesAfter an acclimatization period with increasing temperature (from 27 to 35째C; ~1째C increment/day), adult zebrafish males were exposed to 35째C for 14 days and injected with the cytostatic agent busulfan (single intraperitoneal injection after 7 days at 35째C; 40 mg/Kg). Then, fish were placed back to normal water temperature and testis samples collected at different time points. Morphological analysis of testicular samples showed maximum germ cell depletion 10 days post busulfan injection (i.e. 10 dpi) and the recovery of endogenous spermatogenesis ~14 dpi. Total RNA was isolated from (1) testes of untreated adult control zebrafish, (2) germ cell-depleted, and (3) testis tissue at the beginning of the recovery period, and selected samples were used for library preparation Overall design: 15 samples in total were analyzed: 5 biological replicates from control testis samples, 5 biological replicates from depleted testis samples and 5 biological replicates from recovering testis samples
Endocrine and local signaling interact to regulate spermatogenesis in zebrafish: follicle-stimulating hormone, retinoic acid and androgens.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesFsh-mediated regulation of zebrafish spermatogenesis includes modulating the expression of testicular growth factors. Here, we study if and how two Sertoli cell-derived Fsh-responsive growth factors, anti-Müllerian hormone (Amh; inhibiting steroidogenesis and germ cell differentiation) and insulin-like growth factor 3 (Igf3; stimulating germ cell differentiation), cooperate in regulating spermatogonial development. In dose response and time course experiments with primary testis tissue cultures, Fsh upregulated igf3 transcript levels and down-regulated amh transcript levels; igf3 transcript levels were more rapidly up-regulated and responded to lower Fsh concentrations than were required to decrease amh mRNA levels. Quantification of immunoreactive Amh and Igf3 on testis sections showed that Fsh increased slightly Igf3 staining but decreased clearly Amh staining. Studying the direct interaction of the two growth factors showed that Amh compromised Igf3-stimulated proliferation of type A (both undifferentiated [Aund] and differentiating [Adiff]) spermatogonia. Also the proliferation of those Sertoli cells associated with Aund spermatogonia was reduced by Amh. To gain more insight into how Amh inhibits germ cell development, we examined Amh-induced changes in testicular gene expression by RNA sequencing. The majority (69%) of the differentially expressed genes was down-regulated by Amh, including several stimulators of spermatogenesis, such as igf3 and steroidogenesis-related genes. At the same time, Amh increased the expression of inhibitory signals, such as inha and id3, or facilitated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling. Evaluating one of the potentially inhibitory signals, we indeed found in tissue culture experiments that PGE2 promoted the accumulation of Aund at the expense of Adiff and B spermatogonia. Our data suggest that an important aspect of Fsh bioactivity in stimulating spermatogenesis is implemented by restricting the different inhibitory effects of Amh and by counterbalancing them with stimulatory signals, such as Igf3 Overall design: 10 samples in total were analyzed: 5 biological replicates from control testis samples and 5 biological replicates from Amh-treated testis samples (all co-incubated with 11KT)
Antagonistic regulation of spermatogonial differentiation in zebrafish (Danio rerio) by Igf3 and Amh.
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View SamplesOrganoid technology provides the possibility to culture human colon tissue and patient-derived colorectal cancers (CRC) while maintaining all functional and phenotypic characteristics. Labeling of human colon stem cells (CoSCs), especially in normal and benign tumor organoids, is challenging and therefore limits usability of multi-patient organoid libraries for CoSC research. Here, we developed STAR (STem cell Ascl2 Reporter), a minimal enhancer/promoter element that reports transcriptional activity of ASCL2, a master regulator of LGR5+ CoSC fate. Among others via lentiviral infection, STAR minigene labels stem cells in normal as well as in multiple engineered and patient-derived CRC organoids of different stage and genetic make-up. STAR revealed that stem cell driven differentiation hierarchies and the capacity of cell fate plasticity (de-differentiation) are present at all stages of human CRC development. The flexible and user-friendly nature of STAR applications in combination with organoid technology will facilitate basic research on human adult stem cell biology. Overall design: Cells from different colon organoid types were FACS sorted for stem STemness Ascl2 Reporter activity for transcriptome profiling by RNA-seq.
Specific Labeling of Stem Cell Activity in Human Colorectal Organoids Using an ASCL2-Responsive Minigene.
Subject
View SamplesWe compared the transcriptomes of EpiSCs maintained in the presence or absence of Wnt pathway inhibitor IWP2. We screened also our gene expression data for potential markers for genuine EpiSCs, maintained in the presence of Wnt inhibition and compared with ESC expression data. We compared the transcriptomes of EpiSCs maintained in the presence or absence of IWP2. The high level of Wnt-induced differentiation occurring in conventional EpiSC cultures may have interfered with the analysis of their characteristics. By applying Wnt inhibitors we are now able to establish the properties of genuine EpiSCs.
Endogenous WNT signals mediate BMP-induced and spontaneous differentiation of epiblast stem cells and human embryonic stem cells.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesWe have ablated TAF10 in the erythroid compartment only by crossing the TAF10lox mice with the EpoR-Cre mice and we have studied the development of the erythroid cells in vivo. TAF10 ablation led to embryonic death at E13.5 while at E12.5 there was a clear developmental defect which was reflected in the transcriptional profile of the fetal liver cells. Gata1-target genes were mostly affected and were responsible for the lethal phenotype. Overall design: mRNA from E12.5 fetal livers of TAF10lox/KO:EpoR-Cre+/- (TAF10KO) mice, TAF10HET and WT mice was profiled by NGS (Illumina).
TAF10 Interacts with the GATA1 Transcription Factor and Controls Mouse Erythropoiesis.
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View SamplesSp1 and Sp3 belong to the Specificity proteins (Sp)/Krüppel-like transcription factor family. They are closely related, ubiquitously expressed and recognize G-rich DNA motifs. They are thought to regulate generic processes such as cell cycle and growth control, metabolic pathways and apoptosis. Ablation of Sp1 or Sp3 in mice is lethal, and combined haploinsufficiency results in hematopoietic defects during the fetal stages. Here, we show that in adult mice conditional ablation of either Sp1 or Sp3 has minimal impact on hematopoiesis, while the simultaneous loss of Sp1 and Sp3 results in severe macrothrombocytopenia and platelet dysfunction. We employed flow cytometry, cell culture and electron microscopy and show that although megakaryocyte numbers are normal in bone marrow and spleen, they display a less compact demarcation membrane system and a striking inability to form proplatelets. Through megakaryocyte transcriptomics and platelet proteomics we identified several cytoskeleton-related proteins and downstream effector kinases, including Mylk, that were downregulated upon Sp1/Sp3 depletion, providing an explanation for the observed defects in megakaryopoiesis. We show that Mylk is required for proplatelet formation and stabilization and for ITAM-receptor mediated platelet aggregation. Our data highlights the specific vs generic role of these ubiquitous transcription factors in the highly specialized megakaryocytic lineage. Overall design: Megakaryocyte mRNA profiles of Sp1fl/fl::Sp3fl/fl (WTlox) and Pf4-Cre::Sp1fl/fl::Sp3fl/fl (dKO) mice were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicate.
Sp1/Sp3 transcription factors regulate hallmarks of megakaryocyte maturation and platelet formation and function.
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View SamplesMammalian genomes contain numerous DNA elements with potential transcription regulatory function but unknown target genes. We used transgenic, gain-of-function mice with an ectopic copy of the beta-globin locus control region (LCR) to better understand how regulatory elements dynamically search the genome for target genes. We find that the LCR samples a restricted nuclear sub-volume in which it forms preferential contacts with genes controlled by shared transcription factors. One contacted gene, betah1, located on another chromosome, is upregulated, providing genetic demonstration that mammalian enhancers can function between chromosomes. Upregulation is not pan-cellular but confined to selected jackpot cells significantly enriched for inter-chromosomal LCR-betah1 interactions. This implies that long-range DNA contacts are relatively stable and cell-specific and, when functional, cause variegated expression. We refer to this as spatial effect variegation (SEV). The data provide a dynamic and mechanistic framework for enhancer action, important for assigning function to the one- and three-dimensional structure of DNA.
Variegated gene expression caused by cell-specific long-range DNA interactions.
Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesThe PLZF transcription factor is essential for osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs, however, its regulation and molecular function during this process is not fully understood. Here we revealed that the ZBTB16 locus encoding PLZF, is repressed by Polycomb (PcG) and H3K27me3 in naïve hMSCs. At the pre-osteoblast stage of differentiation, the locus lost PcG binding and H3K27me3, gained JMJD3 recruitment, and H3K27ac resulting in high expression of PLZF. Subsequently, PLZF was recruited to osteogenic enhancers, influencing H3K27 acetylation and expression of nearby genes important for osteogenic function. Furthermore, we identified a latent enhancer within the ZBTB16/PLZF locus itself that became active, gained PLZF, p300 and Mediator binding and looped to the promoter of the nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) gene. The increased expression of NNMT correlated with a decline in SAM levels, which is dependent on PLZF and is required for osteogenic differentiation. Overall design: Effect of PLZF knockdown on osteogenic differentiation of hMSC (RNAseq)
PLZF targets developmental enhancers for activation during osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Allelic exclusion of the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus is independent of its nuclear localization in mature B cells.
Specimen part
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