Intracrine Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Maintains Hippocampal Neural Stem Cell Quiescence

In the dentate gyrus (DG) of the adult mouse hippocampus, neural stem cells (NSCs) balance self-renewal and differentiation to produce neurons that support hippocampal function. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a well-known supporting factor for adult neurogenesis, but conflicting studies have left it uncertain how VEGF signals to NSCs. Here, we identified a VEGF-VEGFR2 intracrine signaling mechanism within adult DG NSCs that prevents their exhaustion. We show both in vitro and in vivo that NSC-VEGF loss caused cell-autonomous exhaustion of adult DG NSCs. In contrast, extracellular VEGF was neither necessary nor sufficient to maintain NSC quiescence or to stimulate VEGFR2 signaling, most likely due to sheddase-mediated cleavage of extracellular VEGFR2 ligand binding domains. Our findings support an exclusively intracellular mechanism for VEGF signaling in adult DG NSCs, thereby providing resolution to previously conflicting studies and suggesting cellular source can dictate the functional impact of soluble ligands in DG NSCs.

mRNP granule proteins Fmrp and Dcp1a differentially regulate mRNP complexes to contribute to control of muscle stem cell quiescence and activation

Background During skeletal muscle regeneration, satellite stem cells use distinct pathways to repair damaged myofibers or to self-renew by returning to quiescence. Cellular/mitotic quiescence employs mechanisms that promote a poised or primed state, including altered RNA turnover and translational repression. Here, we investigate the role of mRNP granule proteins Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (Fmrp) and Decapping protein 1a (Dcp1a) in muscle stem cell quiescence and differentiation. Methods Using isolated single muscle fibers from adult mice, we established differential enrichment of mRNP granule proteins including Fmrp and Dcp1a in muscle stem cells vs. myofibers. We investigated muscle tissue homeostasis in adult Fmr1-/- mice, analyzing myofiber cross-sectional area in vivo and satellite cell proliferation ex vivo. We explored the molecular mechanisms of Dcp1a and Fmrp function in quiescence, proliferation and differentiation in a C2C12 culture model. Here, we used polysome profiling, imaging and RNA/protein expression analysis to establish the abundance and assembly status of mRNP granule proteins in different cellular states, and the phenotype of knockdown cells. Results Quiescent muscle satellite cells are enriched for puncta containing the translational repressor Fmrp, but not the mRNA decay factor Dcp1a. MuSC isolated from Fmr1-/- mice exhibit defective proliferation, and mature myofibers show reduced cross-sectional area, suggesting a role for Fmrp in muscle homeostasis. Expression and organization of Fmrp and Dcp1a varies during primary MuSC activation on myofibers, with Fmrp puncta prominent in quiescence, but Dcp1a puncta appearing during activation/proliferation. This reciprocal expression of Fmrp and Dcp1a puncta is recapitulated in a C2C12 culture model of quiescence and activation: consistent with its role as a translational repressor, Fmrp is enriched in non-translating mRNP complexes abundant in quiescent myoblasts; Dcp1a puncta are lost in quiescence, suggesting stabilized and repressed transcripts. The function of each protein differs during proliferation; whereas Fmrp knockdown led to decreased proliferation and lower cyclin expression, Dcp1a knockdown led to increased cell proliferation and higher cyclin expression. However, knockdown of either Fmrp or Dcp1a led to compromised differentiation. We also observed cross-regulation of decay versus storage mRNP granules; knockdown of Fmrp enhances accumulation of Dcp1a puncta, whereas knockdown of Dcp1a leads to increased Fmrp in puncta. Conclusions Taken together, our results provide evidence that the balance of mRNA turnover versus utilization is specific for distinct cellular states.

Megakaryocyte derived immune-stimulating cells regulate host-defense immunity against bacterial pathogens

Megakaryocytes (MKs) continuously produce platelets in bone marrow to support hemostasis. However, MKs also play roles beyond thrombopoiesis as they regulate hematopoietic stem cell quiescence and erythropoiesis, which suggests the functional heterogeneity of MKs. Here, using single-cell sequencing we identified an MK-derived immune-stimulating cell (MDIC) population, which plays an important role in host-protective response against bacteria. In contrast to platelet-generating MKs, MDICs highly express cell migration, immune-modulatory, and response genes. Upon Listeria (L.) monocytogenes infection, MDICs egress to circulation and infiltrate into the spleen, liver and lung. MDICs interact with myeloid cells to promote their migration and tissue infiltration. More importantly, MDICs stimulate phagocytosis of macrophages and neutrophils by producing TNFα and IL-6 and facilitating antigen-specific T cell activation via IL-6 to enhance anti-bacterial response. Ablation of MKs reduced innate immune response and compromised T cell activation in spleen and liver, impairs the anti-bacterial effects in mice under L. monocytogenes challenge. Finally, infection-induced emergency megakaryopoiesis efficiently stimulated MDICs generation upon bacterial infection. Overall, we identify MDICs as a novel MK subpopulation, which regulates host-defense immune response against bacterial infection.