scholarly journals OR03-02 Identification of a Novel Stem/Progenitor Population of the Adrenal Medulla

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Santambrogio ◽  
John P Russell ◽  
Emily J Lodge ◽  
Laura D Scriba ◽  
Ilona Berger ◽  
...  

Abstract The adrenal glands regulate multiple physiological processes including the stress response, the immune system and metabolism. The adrenal is composed of an outer cortex that produces steroids, and an inner medulla that produces catecholamines. Tissue-specific stem/progenitor populations have been identified in the adrenal cortex, while the presence of a functional stem/progenitor population in the adrenal medulla is unclear. The adrenal medulla derives from the neural crest and contains chromaffin cells, neurons and sustentacular (support) cells. Establishing cell hierarchy and elucidating mechanisms of regulation of the different cell types is important to understand normal homeostasis and disease pathogenesis, such as of pheochromocytomas. Using genetic approaches in mouse, we have established that a subpopulation of sustentacular cells express the stem/progenitor marker SOX2. Through genetic lineage-tracing using the Sox2-CreERT2 strain, we demonstrate that these are an expanding population, capable of giving rise to chromaffin cells and neurons throughout life, consistent with a stem/progenitor role in vivo. We further demonstrate the self-renewal and differentiation potential of SOX2+ cells through in vitro isolation and expansion. Through analysis of FFPE sections of human adrenals, we confirm the presence of SOX2+ cells in the normal adult organ, as well as in pheochromocytomas. Taken together, our data support the identification of a previously undescribed stem/progenitor cell in the mammalian adrenal medulla, and confirm its functional relevance.

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
pp. 1066-1072 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Yianni ◽  
P.T. Sharpe

Cells have been identified in postnatal tissues that, when isolated from multiple mesenchymal compartments, can be stimulated in vitro to give rise to cells that resemble mature mesenchymal phenotypes, such as odontoblasts, osteoblasts, adipocytes, and myoblasts. This has made these adult cells, collectively called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), strong candidates for fields such as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Based on evidence from in vivo genetic lineage–tracing studies, pericytes have been identified as a source of MSC precursors in vivo in multiple organs, in response to injury or during homeostasis. Questions of intense debate and interest in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative studies include the following: 1) Are all pericytes, irrespective of tissue of isolation, equal in their differentiation potential? 2) What are the mechanisms that regulate the differentiation of MSCs? To gain a better understanding of the latter, recent work has utilized ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing) to reconstruct histone landscapes. This indicated that for dental pulp pericytes, the odontoblast-specific gene Dspp was found in a transcriptionally permissive state, while in bone marrow pericytes, the osteoblast-specific gene Runx2 was primed for expression. RNA sequencing has also been utilized to further characterize the 2 pericyte populations, and results highlighted that dental pulp pericytes are already precommitted to an odontoblast fate based on enrichment analysis indicating overrepresentation of key odontogenic genes. Furthermore, ChIP-seq analysis of the polycomb repressive complex 1 component RING1B indicated that this complex is likely to be involved in inhibiting inappropriate differentiation, as it localized to a number of loci of key transcription factors that are needed for the induction of adipogenesis, chondrogenesis, or myogenesis. In this review, we highlight recent data elucidating molecular mechanisms that indicate that pericytes can be tissue-specific precommitted MSC precursors in vivo and that this precommitment is a major driving force behind MSC differentiation.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan-Hung Liu ◽  
Shih-Yun Huang ◽  
Yi-Shuan Lin ◽  
Hsing-Yu Huang

Recent studies report that postnatal mammalian hearts undergo cardiomyocyte refreshment. While the exact origin of the cells involved in postnatal cardiomyogenesis remains unclear. Here, we identified a pool of Nkx2.5 enhancer expressing cells in the postnatal mouse heart with cardiomyogenic differentiation potential in vitro. We tracked the expression of a cardiac-specific enhancer of Nkx2.5 using inducible Nkx2.5 enhancer-Cre mice from embryonic development to adulthood and post-myocardial infarction (MI) and documented the Nkx2.5 enhancer expressing cells directly contribute to postnatal cardiomyogenesis in vivo. Upon genetic ablation of these activated progenitors after myocardial injury, the cardiac function deteriorated. Transcriptomic analysis of Nkx2.5 enhancer expressing cells showed high expression of heart development genes. To trace the developmental origin of the activated Nkx2.5 cardiomyogenic progenitor cells, we created different lineage-Cre/Nkx2.5 enh-eGFP/ROSA26 reporter triple transgenic mice. Post-MI Nkx2.5 cardiomyogenic progenitor cells originated from the embryonic epicardial cells, not from the pre-existing cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, cardiac neural crest cells, or perinatal/postnatal epicardial cells. Together, this study confirmed that cardiac lineage-specific progenitor cells, which originate from embryonic epicardium-derived cells, contribute to postnatal mammalian cardiomyogenesis.


2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Gomez ◽  
Laura Shankman ◽  
Gary K Owens

Aim: Smooth muscle cells (SMC) possess remarkable phenotypic plasticity that allows adaptation to changing environmental cues. Lack of definitive SMC lineage tracing studies and inability to identify phenotypically modulated SMCs within lesions due to loss of SMC marker gene expression raise major questions regarding the role of SMC in vivo in atherosclerosis progression. We hypothesize that a subset of cells within lesions that express macrophage markers are derived from SMC not monocytes and play a key role in determining plaque stability. Methods: We developed a novel lineage tracing based on detection of H3K4dime of the SM MHC gene, a SMC-specific epigenetic lineage marker we have previously shown is stable during phenotypic switching in vitro. Detection of H3K4dime of the SM MHC locus was done using a Proximity ligation assay (PLA) developed in our lab with an antibody targeting the biotinylated DNA probe for the SM MHC locus in conjunction with an anti-H3K4dime antibody. Use of secondary antibodies conjugated with oligonucleotides induces formation of circular DNA that serve as template for amplification, allowing visualization of co-localization of H3K4dime and the SM MHC gene (Duolink). Our new lineage tracing is suitable with human paraffin-embedded tissue sections (n=4) allowing investigation of SMC fate within human atherosclerotic lesion. Results: H3K4dime on the SM MHC gene (PLA+ cells) was found to be specific for SMCs and not found in any other cell types including adventitial fibroblasts, or endothelial cells. The method was validated using a SMC-specific lineage tracing mouse model wherein SM MHC Cre mice are crossed to ROSA flox STOP eYFP+/+ ApoE -/- mice. The H3K4dime/SM MHC PLA signal (i.e. PLA+) was exclusively found in eYFP+ cells. Moreover, some of the lesion SMCs were eYFP+/PLA+/SM α-actin-. Similarly, we identified PLA+ cells in human lesions that were positive for the macrophage marker CD68. Conclusion: Our new method permits definitive identification of SMC-derived cells within lesions even if they are not identifiable as SMC due to loss of SMC markers. Moreover, we provide exciting evidence that a significant fraction of macrophage-like cells in human lesions are derived from SMC. We postulate that transition of SMC to a macrophage state may be a key event leading to plaque destabilization and rupture with possible myocardial infarction or stroke.


2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (12) ◽  
pp. G975-G987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Gross ◽  
Dina Balderes ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
Samuel Asfaha ◽  
Guoqiang Gu ◽  
...  

There are two major stem cell populations in the intestinal crypt region that express either Bmi1 or Lgr5; however, it has been shown that other populations in the crypt can regain stemness. In this study, we demonstrate that the transcription factor NK2 homeobox 2 (Nkx2.2) is expressed in enteroendocrine cells located in the villus and crypt of the intestinal epithelium and is coexpressed with the stem cell markers Bmi1 and Lgr5 in a subset of crypt cells. To determine whether Nkx2.2-expressing enteroendocrine cells display cellular plasticity and stem cell potential, we performed genetic lineage tracing of the Nkx2.2-expressing population using Nkx2.2Cre/+; R26RTomato mice. These studies demonstrated that Nkx2.2+ cells are able to give rise to all intestinal epithelial cell types in basal conditions. The proliferative capacity of Nkx2.2-expressing cells was also demonstrated in vitro using crypt organoid cultures. Injuring the intestine with irradiation, systemic inflammation, and colitis did not enhance the lineage potential of Nkx2.2-expressing cells. These findings demonstrate that a rare mature enteroendocrine cell subpopulation that is demarcated by Nkx2.2 expression display stem cell properties during normal intestinal epithelial homeostasis, but is not easily activated upon injury.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zhou ◽  
Chuijin Wei ◽  
Shumin Xiong ◽  
Liaoliao Dong ◽  
Zhu Chen ◽  
...  

AbstractHematopoietic reprogramming holds great promise for generating functional target cells and provides new angle for understanding hematopoiesis. We reported before for the first time that diverse differentiated hematopoietic cell lineages could be reprogrammed back into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell-like cells by chemical cocktail. However, the exact cell types of induced cells and reprogramming trajectory remain elusive. Here, based on genetic tracing method CellTagging and single-cell RNA sequencing, it is found that neutrophils could be reprogrammed into multipotent progenitors, which acquire multi-differentiation potential both in vitro and in vivo, including into lymphoid cells. Construction of trajectory map of the reprogramming procession shows that mature neutrophils follow their canonical developmental route reversely into immature ones, premature ones, granulocyte/monocyte progenitors, common myeloid progenitors, and then the terminal cells, which is stage by stage or skips intermediate stages. Collectively, this study provides a precise dissection of hematopoietic reprogramming procession and sheds light on chemical cocktail-induction of hematopoietic stem cells.


1993 ◽  
Vol 178 (4) ◽  
pp. 1283-1292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Matsuzaki ◽  
J Gyotoku ◽  
M Ogawa ◽  
S Nishikawa ◽  
Y Katsura ◽  
...  

We found that c-kit-positive, lineage marker-negative, Thy-1lo cells are present in both bone marrow and thymus ("BM c-kit" and "thymus c-kit" cells). Although the two cell types are phenotypically similar, only BM c-kit cells showed the potential to form colonies in vitro as well as in vivo. However, both of them revealed extensive growth and differentiation potential to T cells after direct transfer into an irradiated adult thymus, or a deoxyguanosine-treated fetal thymus. Time course analysis showed that thymus c-kit cells differentiated into CD4CD8 double-positive cells approximately 4 d earlier than BM c-kit cells did. In addition, anti-c-kit antibody blocked T cell generation of BM c-kit cells but not of thymus c-kit cells. Intravenous injection of thymus c-kit resulted in the generation of not only T cells, but B as well as NK1.1+ cells. These data provide evidence that thymus c-kit cells represent common lymphoid progenitors with the differentiation potential to T, B, and possibly NK cells. The c-kit-mediated signaling appears to be essential in the transition from BM c-kit to thymus c-kit cells.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Anna Meiliana ◽  
Andi Wijaya

BACKGROUND: Less than a decade ago the prospect for reprogramming the human somatic cell looked bleak at best. It seemed that the only methods at our disposal for the generation of human isogenic pluripotent cells would have to involve somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Shinya Yamanaka in August 2006 in his publication (Cell) promised to change everything by showing that it was apparently very simple to revert the phenotype of a differentiated cell to a pluripotent one by overexpressing four transcription factors in murine fibroblasts.CONTENT: Mouse and human somatic cells can be genetically reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by the expression of a defined set of factors (Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4, as well as Nanog and LIN28). iPSCs could be generated from mouse and human fibroblasts as well as from mouse liver, stomach, pancreatic, neural stem cells, and keratinocytes. Similarity of iPSCs and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) has been demonstrated in their morphology, global expression profiles, epigenetic status, as well as in vitro and in vivo differentiation potential for both mouse and human cells. Many techniques for human iPSCs (hiPSCs) derivation have been developed in recent years, utilizing different starting cell types, vector delivery systems, and culture conditions. A refined or perfected combination of these techniques might prove to be the key to generating clinically applicable hiPSCs.SUMMARY: iPSCs are a revolutionary tool for generating in vitro models of human diseases and may help us to understand the molecular basis of epigenetic reprogramming. Progress of the last four years has been truly amazing, almost verging on science fiction, but if we can learn to produce such cells cheaply and easily, and control their differentiation, our efforts to understand and fight disease will become more accessible, controllable and tailored. Ability to safely and efficiently derive hiPSCs may be of decisive importance to the future of regenerative medicine.KEYWORDS: iPSCs, ESC, reprogramming factor, reprogramming efficiency, somatic cell


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (6) ◽  
pp. 1639-1647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Heath ◽  
Hyung Chan Suh ◽  
Matthew Holman ◽  
Katie Renn ◽  
John M. Gooya ◽  
...  

Abstract CCAAT enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα) inhibits proliferation in multiple cell types; therefore, we evaluated whether C/EBPα-deficient hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) have an increased proliferative potential in vitro and in vivo. In this study we demonstrate that C/EBPα-/- fetal liver (FL) progenitors are hyperproliferative, show decreased differentiation potential, and show increased self-renewal capacity in response to hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs). There are fewer committed bipotential progenitors in C/EBPα-/- FL, whereas multipotential progenitors are unaffected. HGF-dependent progenitor cell lines can be derived by directly culturing C/EBPα-/- FL cells in vitro Hyperproliferative spleen colonies and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are observed in mice reconstituted with C/EBPα-/- FL cells, indicating progenitor hyperproliferation in vitro and in vivo. C/EBPα-/- FL lacked macrophage progenitors in vitro and had impaired ability to generate macrophages in vivo. These findings show that C/EBPα deficiency results in hyperproliferation of HPCs and a block in the ability of multipotential progenitors to differentiate into bipotential granulocyte/macrophage progenitors and their progeny. (Blood. 2004; 104:1639-1647)


Author(s):  
D.J.P. Ferguson ◽  
A.R. Berendt ◽  
J. Tansey ◽  
K. Marsh ◽  
C.I. Newbold

In human malaria, the most serious clinical manifestation is cerebral malaria (CM) due to infection with Plasmodium falciparum. The pathology of CM is thought to relate to the fact that red blood cells containing mature forms of the parasite (PRBC) cytoadhere or sequester to post capillary venules of various tissues including the brain. This in vivo phenomenon has been studied in vitro by examining the cytoadherence of PRBCs to various cell types and purified proteins. To date, three Ijiost receptor molecules have been identified; CD36, ICAM-1 and thrombospondin. The specific changes in the PRBC membrane which mediate cytoadherence are less well understood, but they include the sub-membranous deposition of electron-dense material resulting in surface deformations called knobs. Knobs were thought to be essential for cytoadherence, lput recent work has shown that certain knob-negative (K-) lines can cytoadhere. In the present study, we have used electron microscopy to re-examine the interactions between K+ PRBCs and both C32 amelanotic melanoma cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).We confirm previous data demonstrating that C32 cells possess numerous microvilli which adhere to the PRBC, mainly via the knobs (Fig. 1). In contrast, the HUVEC were relatively smooth and the PRBCs appeared partially flattened onto the cell surface (Fig. 2). Furthermore, many of the PRBCs exhibited an invagination of the limiting membrane in the attachment zone, often containing a cytoplasmic process from the endothelial cell (Fig. 2).


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 246-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Termini ◽  
Enrique Boccardo

In vitro culture of primary or established cell lines is one of the leading techniques in many areas of basic biological research. The use of pure or highly enriched cultures of specific cell types obtained from different tissues and genetics backgrounds has greatly contributed to our current understanding of normal and pathological cellular processes. Cells in culture are easily propagated generating an almost endless source of material for experimentation. Besides, they can be manipulated to achieve gene silencing, gene overexpression and genome editing turning possible the dissection of specific gene functions and signaling pathways. However, monolayer and suspension cultures of cells do not reproduce the cell type diversity, cell-cell contacts, cell-matrix interactions and differentiation pathways typical of the three-dimensional environment of tissues and organs from where they were originated. Therefore, different experimental animal models have been developed and applied to address these and other complex issues in vivo. However, these systems are costly and time consuming. Most importantly the use of animals in scientific research poses moral and ethical concerns facing a steadily increasing opposition from different sectors of the society. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of alternative in vitro experimental models that accurately reproduce the events observed in vivo to reduce the use of animals. Organotypic cultures combine the flexibility of traditional culture systems with the possibility of culturing different cell types in a 3D environment that reproduces both the structure and the physiology of the parental organ. Here we present a summarized description of the use of epithelial organotypic for the study of skin physiology, human papillomavirus biology and associated tumorigenesis.


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