scholarly journals DMRT1-mediated reprogramming drives development of cancer resembling human germ cell tumors with features of totipotency

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jumpei Taguchi ◽  
Hirofumi Shibata ◽  
Mio Kabata ◽  
Masaki Kato ◽  
Kei Fukuda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Primordial Germ Cell ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Germ Cell Tumors ◽  
Differentiation Potential ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn vivo reprogramming provokes a wide range of cell fate conversion. Here, we discover that in vivo induction of higher levels of OSKM in mouse somatic cells leads to increased expression of primordial germ cell (PGC)-related genes and provokes genome-wide erasure of genomic imprinting, which takes place exclusively in PGCs. Moreover, the in vivo OSKM reprogramming results in development of cancer that resembles human germ cell tumors. Like a subgroup of germ cell tumors, propagated tumor cells can differentiate into trophoblasts. Moreover, these tumor cells give rise to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with expanded differentiation potential into trophoblasts. Remarkably, the tumor-derived iPSCs are able to contribute to non-neoplastic somatic cells in adult mice. Mechanistically, DMRT1, which is expressed in PGCs, drives the reprogramming and propagation of the tumor cells in vivo. Furthermore, the DMRT1-related epigenetic landscape is associated with trophoblast competence of the reprogrammed cells and provides a therapeutic target for germ cell tumors. These results reveal an unappreciated route for somatic cell reprogramming and underscore the impact of reprogramming in development of germ cell tumors.

scholarly journals Single Cell Sequencing Reveals Early PGC-like Intermediates During Mouse Primed to Naïve Transition

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Liu ◽  
Shengyong Yu ◽  
Chunhua Zhou ◽  
Jiangping He ◽  
Xingnan Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Single Cell Analysis ◽  
Primordial Germ Cell ◽  
Model System ◽  
Cell Analysis ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Single Cell Sequencing

Abstract Single cell analysis provides clarity unattainable with bulk approaches. Here we apply single cell RNA-seq to a newly established BMP4 induced mouse primed to naive transition (Bi-PNT) system and show that the reset is not a direct reversal of cell fate but through developmental intermediates. We first show that mEpiSCs bifurcate into c-Kit+ naïve and c-Kit- placenta-like cells, among which, the naive branch undergoes further transition through a primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs) intermediate capable of spermatogenesis in vivo. Indeed, deficiency of Prdm1/Blimp1, the key regulator for PGC specification, blocks the induction of PGCLCs and naïve cells. Instead, Gata2 knockout arrests placenta-like fate, but facilitates the generation of PGCLCs. Our results not only reveal a newly cell fate dynamics between primed and naive states at single-cell resolution, but also provide a model system to explore mechanisms involved in regaining germline competence from primed pluripotency.

scholarly journals Comparative Analyses of Liquid-Biopsy MicroRNA371a-3p Isolation Protocols for Serum and Plasma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4260
Author(s):  
Dennis M. Timmerman ◽  
Ad J. M. Gillis ◽  
Michal Mego ◽  
Leendert H. J. Looijenga
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Liquid Biopsy ◽  
Germ Cell Tumors ◽  
Translation Regulation ◽  
Normal Male ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Testicular Germ Cell ◽  
Tumor Patient ◽  
The Impact

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNAs involved in translation regulation. Dysregulation has been identified in cancer cells. miRNAs can be secreted and detectable in body fluids; therefore, they are potential liquid-biopsy biomarkers. The miR-371a-3 cluster members are an example, monitoring the presence of malignant germ cell tumors based on patient serum/plasma analyses. However, a large variety of isolation techniques on sample types (serum vs. plasma) are reported, hampering interstudy comparisons. Therefore, we analyzed the impact of using the miRNeasy Serum/Plasma Kit (cell-free total RNA purification) Qiagen extraction kit and the TaqMan anti-miRNA bead-capture procedure of ThermoFisher for miRNA isolation. Ten normal male matched serum and plasma samples and seventeen testicular germ cell tumor patient serum samples were investigated. The Qiagen kit requires a higher input volume (200 µL vs. 50 µL), resulting in higher sensitivity. Serum and plasma comparison demonstrated high similarity in miRNA levels. Titration experiments showed that the bead-capture procedure is superior in cases of lower starting volumes (<100 µL). This study highlights the strengths and limitations of two different isolation protocols, relevant for in vivo analysis with small starting volumes. In summary, miRNA detection levels results varied little between plasma and serum, whereas for low volumes the bead capture isolation method is preferable.

scholarly journals Bioactive isoprenoids guide migrating germ cells to the embryonic gonad

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lacy Barton ◽  
Justina Sanny ◽  
Emily P Dawson ◽  
Marcela Nouzova ◽  
Fernando G Noriega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Primordial Germ Cell ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
Germ Cell Development ◽  
Germ Cell Migration ◽  
The Impact

Germ cells are essential to sexual reproduction. Across the animal kingdom, extracellular isoprenoids, such as retinoic acids (RAs) in vertebrates and juvenile hormones (JHs) in insects, impact the germline lifecycle from meiosis to gametogenesis. Emerging evidence suggests that these bioactive isoprenoids also influence embryonic reproductive development, though the precise functions remain unclear. Here, we investigated the specific molecular pathways by which JHs regulates embryonic germ cell development in Drosophila. With a newly generated in vivo reporter, we find that JH signaling is active in the vicinity of germ cells as they migrate to colonize the somatic gonad. Through a combination of in vivo and in vitro assays, we find that JHs are both necessary and sufficient for primordial germ cell migration through mechanisms independent of canonical nuclear receptor-mediated transcription. These findings reveal that JH is present during Drosophila embryogenesis and that bioactive isoprenoids impact germ cell development earlier than previously appreciated. Interestingly, we find that like JH in Drosophila, RA is sufficient for murine germ cell migration in vitro, suggesting that the impact of bioactive isoprenoids on embryonic germ cell development may be broadly conserved.

scholarly journals Germ plasm localisation dynamics mark distinct phases of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation control in primordial germ cells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio M. D’Orazio ◽  
Piotr Balwierz ◽  
Yixuan Guo ◽  
Benjamín Hernández-Rodríguez ◽  
Aleksandra Jasiulewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Germ Plasm ◽  
Primordial Germ Cells ◽  
Primordial Germ Cell ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Chromatin Accessibility ◽  
Post Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Genome Activation ◽  
Chromatin Opening

SUMMARYIn many animal models, primordial germ cell (PGC) development depends on maternally-deposited germ plasm to avoid somatic cell fate. Here, we show that PGCs respond to regulatory information from the germ plasm in two distinct phases and mechanisms in zebrafish. We show that PGCs commence zygotic genome activation together with the rest of the embryo with no demonstrable differences in transcriptional and chromatin accessibility levels. Thus, cytoplasmic germ plasm determinants only affect post-transcriptional stabilisation of RNAs to diverge transcriptome from somatic cells, which, unexpectedly, also activate germ cell-specific genes. Perinuclear relocalisation of germ plasm is coupled to dramatic divergence in chromatin opening and transcriptome from somatic cells characterised by PGC-specific chromatin topology. Furthermore, we reveal Tdrd7, regulator of germ plasm localisation, as crucial determinant of germ fate acquisition.

scholarly journals Teratomatous Elements in Orchiectomy Specimens Are Associated with a Reduced Relapse-Free Survival in Metastasized Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Pia Paffenholz ◽  
Tim Nestler ◽  
Yasmine Maatoug ◽  
Melanie von Brandenstein ◽  
Barbara Köditz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cell Tumors ◽  
Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection ◽  
Advanced Tumor Stage ◽  
Testicular Germ Cell Tumors ◽  
Relapse Free Survival ◽  
Testicular Germ Cell ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Advanced Tumor ◽  
The Impact

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The impact of teratomatous elements in orchiectomy specimens of metastasized testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) regarding oncological outcome is still unclear. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We performed a retrospective analysis including 146 patients with metastasized TGCT analysing patient characteristics. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Twenty-six (18%) of all patients showed teratomatous elements in the orchiectomy specimens. TGCT with teratomatous elements showed a significantly higher frequency of clinical-stage 2C-3 disease (73 vs. 49%, <i>p</i> = 0.031), visceral metastases (58 vs. 32%, <i>p</i> = 0.015), and poor prognosis (<i>p</i> = 0.011) than TGCT without teratomatous elements. Teratoma-containing TGCT revealed a significantly higher rate of post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND, 54 vs. 32%, <i>p</i> = 0.041), with teratomatous elements being more often present in the PC-RPLND specimens (43 vs. 11%, <i>p</i> = 0.020) than nonteratoma-containing primaries. In the Kaplan-Meier estimates, the presence of teratomatous elements in orchiectomy specimens was associated with a significantly reduced relapse-free survival (RFS) (<i>p</i> = 0.049) during a median follow-up of 36 months (10–115.5). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The presence of teratomatous elements in orchiectomy specimens is associated with an advanced tumor stage, worse treatment response as well as a reduced RFS in metastasized TGCT. Consequently, the presence of teratomatous elements might act as a reliable stratification tool for treatment decision in TGCT patients.

Developmental stages, incubation temperature, and in vivo traceability of primordial germ cell in an important aquaculture species Piaractus mesopotamicus

Aquaculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 535 ◽  
pp. 736381
Author(s):  
Geovanna Carla Zacheo Coelho ◽  
Dilberto Ribeiro Arashiro ◽  
Tamiris Disselli ◽  
Matheus Pereira-Santos ◽  
Tatiana María Mira-López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Incubation Temperature ◽  
Primordial Germ Cell ◽  
Piaractus Mesopotamicus

scholarly journals In VivoEfficacy of Anuran Trypsin Inhibitory Peptides against Staphylococcal Skin Infection and the Impact of Peptide Cyclization

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 2113-2121 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Malik ◽  
O. N. Silva ◽  
I. C. M. Fensterseifer ◽  
L. Y. Chan ◽  
R. J. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Cyclic Peptide ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Inhibitory Activities ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTStaphylococcus aureusis a virulent pathogen that is responsible for a wide range of superficial and invasive infections. Its resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs is a global problem, and the development of novel antimicrobial agents is crucial. Antimicrobial peptides from natural resources offer potential as new treatments against staphylococcal infections. In the current study, we have examined the antimicrobial properties of peptides isolated from anuran skin secretions and cyclized synthetic analogues of these peptides. The structures of the peptides were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, revealing high structural and sequence similarity with each other and with sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 (SFTI-1). SFTI-1 is an ultrastable cyclic peptide isolated from sunflower seeds that has subnanomolar trypsin inhibitory activity, and this scaffold offers pharmaceutically relevant characteristics. The five anuran peptides were nonhemolytic and noncytotoxic and had trypsin inhibitory activities similar to that of SFTI-1. They demonstrated weakin vitroinhibitory activities againstS. aureus, but several had strong antibacterial activities againstS. aureusin anin vivomurine wound infection model. pYR, an immunomodulatory peptide fromRana sevosa, was the most potent, with complete bacterial clearance at 3 mg · kg−1. Cyclization of the peptides improved their stability but was associated with a concomitant decrease in antimicrobial activity. In summary, these anuran peptides are promising as novel therapeutic agents for treating infections from a clinically resistant pathogen.

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