Definitive endoderm of the mouse embryo: Formation, cell fates, and morphogenetic function

Transcription factors are tools repetitively used by the embryo to generate a variety of lineages. Hence, their context of activation is an important determinant of their ability to specifically trigger certain cell fates, but not others. The context is also consequential when considering directing differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In this study, we sought to assess the context of pancreatic transcription factor 1a (PTF1a) activation in reference to its propancreatic effects in mouse ESCs (mESCs). We hypothesized that an enriched endodermal population would respond to PTF1a and trigger the pancreatic program more effectively than a spontaneously differentiated population. Using anin vitromodel of pancreas development that we recently established, we found that inducing PTF1a in highly enriched definitive endoderm did not promote pancreatic differentiation but induction in more differentiated endoderm, specifically posterior foregut endoderm, did form pancreatic progenitors. These progenitors never underwent terminal differentiation to endocrine or acinar phenotype. However, a short 3D culture period, prior to PTF1a induction, led to the generation of monohormonal insulin+cells and amylase-expressing cells. Our findings suggest that enriched posterior foregut endoderm is competent to respond to PTF1a’s propancreatic activity; but a 3D culture environment is essential for terminal differentiation of pancreatic progenitors.

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Hex: a homeobox gene revealing peri-implantation asymmetry in the mouse embryo and an early transient marker of endothelial cell precursors

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.125.1.85 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 125 (1) ◽

pp. 85-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

P.Q. Thomas ◽

A. Brown ◽

R.S. Beddington

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cell ◽

Mouse Embryo ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Homeobox Gene ◽

Definitive Endoderm ◽

Visceral Endoderm ◽

Primitive Endoderm ◽

Mouse Development ◽

Expression Domain ◽

Early Marker

The divergent homeobox gene Hex exhibits three notable expression patterns during early mouse development. Initially Hex is expressed in the primitive endoderm of the implanting blastocyst but by 5.5 dpc its transcripts are present only in a small patch of visceral endoderm at the distal tip of the egg cylinder. Lineage analysis shows that these cells move unilaterally to assume an anterior position while continuing to express Hex. The primitive streak forms on the opposite side of the egg cylinder from this anterior Hex expression domain approximately 24 hours after the initial anterior movement of the distal visceral endoderm. Thus, Hex expression marks the earliest unequivocal molecular anteroposterior asymmetry in the mouse embryo and indicates that the anteroposterior axis of the embryo develops from conversion of a proximodistal asymmetry established in the primitive endoderm lineage. Subsequently, Hex is expressed in the earliest definitive endoderm to emerge from the streak and its expression within the gut strongly suggests that the ventral foregut is derived from the most anterior definitive endoderm and that the liver is probably the most anterior gut derivative. Hex is also an early marker of the thyroid primordium. Within the mesoderm, Hex is transiently expressed in the nascent blood islands of the visceral yolk sac and later in embryonic angioblasts and endocardium. Comparison with flk-1 (T. P. Yamaguchi et al., Development 118, 489–498, 1993) expression indicates that Hex is also an early marker of endothelial precursors but its expression in this progenitor population is much more transient than that of flk-1, being downregulated once endothelial cell differentiation commences.

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Hematopoietic induction and respecification of A-P identity by visceral endoderm signaling in the mouse embryo

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.125.24.5009 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 125 (24) ◽

pp. 5009-5018 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

M. Belaoussoff ◽

S.M. Farrington ◽

M.H. Baron

Keyword(s):

Mouse Embryo ◽

Decisive Role ◽

Primitive Streak ◽

Explant Culture ◽

Cell Contact ◽

Primitive Endoderm ◽

Cell Fates ◽

Posterior Aspect ◽

Anterior Posterior

The anteroposterior axis of the developing embryo becomes morphologically apparent at the onset of gastrulation with the formation of the primitive streak. This structure, where the first mesodermal cells arise, marks the posterior aspect of the embryo. To examine the potential role of non-mesodermal signals in specifying posterior (hematopoietic and endothelial) cell fates in the mouse embryo, we have devised a transgenic explant culture system. We show that interactions between primitive endoderm and adjacent embryonic ectoderm or nascent mesoderm are required early in gastrulation for initiation of hematopoiesis and vasculogenesis. Surprisingly, primitive endoderm signals can respecify anterior (prospective neural) ectoderm to a posterior mesodermal fate, resulting in formation of blood and activation of endothelial markers. Reprogramming of anterior ectoderm does not require cell contact and is effected by stage-dependent, short-range, diffusible signal(s). Therefore, primitive endoderm signaling is a critical early determinant of hematopoietic and vascular development and plays a decisive role in anterior-posterior patterning during mouse embryogenesis.

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The head-process and the formation of the definitive endoderm in the mouse embryo

Anatomy and Embryology ◽

10.1007/bf00318093 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 162 (1) ◽

pp. 41-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

R. E. Poelmann

Keyword(s):

Mouse Embryo ◽

Definitive Endoderm

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Spontaneous Production of Type C Virus Particles in a Culture Derived from Rat Embryo Cells

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010009470x ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. 288-289

Author(s):

Elizabeth S. Priori ◽

T. Shigematsu ◽

B. Myers ◽

L. Dmochowski

Keyword(s):

Virus Particle ◽

Mouse Embryo ◽

Calf Serum ◽

Embryo Cell ◽

Virus Particles ◽

Extracellular Virus ◽

Mouse Embryo Cell ◽

Mature Virus Particle ◽

Embryo Cells ◽

Type C

Spontaneous release of type C virus particles in long-term cultures of mouse embryo cells as well as induction of similar particles in mouse embryo cell cultures with IUDR or BUDR have been reported. The presence of type C virus particles in cultures of normal rat embryos has not been reported.NB-1, a culture derived from embryos of a New Zealand Black (NB) rat (rats obtained from Mr. Samuel M. Poiley, N.C.I., Bethesda, Md.) and grown in McCoy's 5A medium supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum was passaged weekly. Extracellular virus particles similar to murine leukemia particles appeared in the 22nd subculture. General appearance of cells in passage 23 is shown in Fig. 1. Two budding figures and one immature type C virus particle may be seen in Fig. 2. The virus particles and budding were present in all further passages examined (currently passage 39). Various stages of budding are shown in Figs. 3a,b,c,d. Appearance of a mature virus particle is shown in Fig. 4.

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Use of F9 teratocarcinoma STEM cells to study cell-matrix interactions in the early mouse embryo

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100123416 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 602-603

Author(s):

Marc Lenburg ◽

Rulang Jiang ◽

Lengya Cheng ◽

Laura Grabel

Keyword(s):

Mouse Embryo ◽

Inner Cell Mass ◽

Cell Mass ◽

Cell Types ◽

Embryoid Bodies ◽

F9 Cells ◽

Cell Matrix ◽

Matrix Interactions ◽

Cell Matrix Interactions ◽

F9 Teratocarcinoma

We are interested in defining the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that help direct the differentiation of extraembryonic endoderm in the peri-implantation mouse embryo. At the blastocyst stage the mouse embryo consists of an outer layer of trophectoderm surrounding the fluid-filled blastocoel cavity and an eccentrically located inner cell mass. On the free surface of the inner cell mass, facing the blastocoel cavity, a layer of primitive endoderm forms. Primitive endoderm then generates two distinct cell types; parietal endoderm (PE) which migrates along the inner surface of the trophectoderm and secretes large amounts of basement membrane components as well as tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and visceral endoderm (VE), a columnar epithelial layer characterized by tight junctions, microvilli, and the synthesis and secretion of α-fetoprotein. As these events occur after implantation, we have turned to the F9 teratocarcinoma system as an in vitro model for examining the differentiation of these cell types. When F9 cells are treated in monolayer with retinoic acid plus cyclic-AMP, they differentiate into PE. In contrast, when F9 cells are treated in suspension with retinoic acid, they form embryoid bodies (EBs) which consist of an outer layer of VE and an inner core of undifferentiated stem cells. In addition, we have established that when VE containing embryoid bodies are plated on a fibronectin coated substrate, PE migrates onto the matrix and this interaction is inhibited by RGDS as well as antibodies directed against the β1 integrin subunit. This transition is accompanied by a significant increase in the level of tPA in the PE cells. Thus, the outgrowth system provides a spatially appropriate model for studying the differentiation and migration of PE from a VE precursor.

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Cell-matrix interactions in the early mouse embryo

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100123404 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 600-601

Author(s):

A.E. Sutherland ◽

P.G. Calarco ◽

C.H. Damsky

Keyword(s):

Mouse Embryo ◽

Giant Cells ◽

Blastocyst Stage ◽

Integrin Subunit ◽

Β1 Integrin ◽

Cell Stage ◽

Early Mouse Embryo ◽

Migratory Activity ◽

Early Mouse ◽

Cell Matrix Interactions

Cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions mediated by the integrin family of receptors are critical for morphogenesis and may also play a regulatory role in differentiation during early development. We have examined the onset of expression of individual integrin subunit proteins in the early mouse embryo, and their roles in early morphogenetic events. As detected by immunoprecipitation, the α6, αV, β1, and β3 subunits are detected as early as the 4-cell stage, α5 at the hatched blastocyst stage and αl and α3 following blastocyst attachment. We tested the role of these integrins in the attachment and migratory activity of two cell populations of the early mouse embryo: the trophoblast giant cells, which invade the uterine stroma and ultimately contribute to the chorio-allantoic placenta, and the parietal endoderm, which migrates over the inner surface of the trophoblast and ultimately forms Reichert's membrane and the parietal yolk sac. Experiments were done in serum-free medium on substrates coated with laminin (Ln) and fibronectin (Fn). Trophoblast outgrowth occurs on Ln and its E8 fragment (long arm), but not on the E1’ fragment (cross region) (Figs. 1, 2 ). This outgrowth is inhibited by anti-E8, anti-Ln, and by the anti-β1 family antiserum anti-ECMR, but not by anti-αV or the function-perturbing GoH3 antibody that recognizes the α6/β1 integrin, a major Ln (E8) receptor. This suggests that trophoblast outgrowth on Ln or E8 is mediated by a different β1 integrin such as α3/β1. Early stages of trophoblast outgrowth (up to 48 hours) on Fn are inhibited by anti-Fn and by function-perturbing anti-αV antibodies, whereas at later times outgrowth becomes insensitive to anti-αV but remains sensitive to the anti-β1 family antiserum anti-ECMr, indicating that trophoblast cells modulate their interaction with Fn during outgrowth. Trophoblast outgrowth on vitronectin (Vn) is sensitive to anti-αV antibodies throughout the 5-day period examined.

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IRE1α Kinase Activation Modes Control Alternate Endoribonuclease Outputs to Determine Divergent Cell Fates

Journal of End-to-End-testing ◽

10.1016/s9999-9994(09)20397-7 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 138 (3) ◽

pp. 562-575

Author(s):

Dan Han ◽

Alana G. Lerner ◽

Lieselotte Vande Walle ◽

John-Paul Upton ◽

Weihong Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Fates ◽

Kinase Activation

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