Carlos O. Lizama

Repression of arterial genes in hemogenic endothelium is sufficient for haematopoietic fate acquisition

Changes in cell fate and identity are essential for endothelial-to-haematopoietic transition (EHT), an embryonic process that generates the first adult populations of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from hemogenic endothelial cells. Dissecting EHT regulation is a critical step towards the production of in vitro derived HSCs. Yet, we do not know how distinct endothelial and haematopoietic fates are parsed during the transition. Here we show that genes required for arterial identity function later to repress haematopoietic fate. Tissue-specific, temporally controlled, genetic loss of arterial genes (Sox17 and Notch1) during EHT results in increased production of haematopoietic cells due to loss of Sox17-mediated repression of haematopoietic transcription factors (Runx1 and Gata2). However, the increase in EHT can be abrogated by increased Notch signalling. These findings demonstrate that the endothelial haematopoietic fate switch is actively repressed in a population of endothelial cells, and that derepression of these programs augments haematopoietic output.

Polarizing pathways: Balancing endothelial polarity, permeability, and lumen formation

The mechanisms underlying cell polarity and lumen formation are well described within epithelial structures of mammalian systems, and invertebrate model organisms. Only recently has the molecular control of endothelial polarity and vessel lumen formation undergone similar investigation. The endothelial layer requires similar organization including a requisite apical-basolateral polarity corresponding to luminal and abluminal membranes. In addition, the endothelium also exhibits features of planar cell polarity traditionally described in drosophila eye and wing discs (1), where in response to flow endothelial cells orient in a planar fashion. Coincident with providing a barrier to flow, the endothelial layer also functions to regulate permeability. Key molecules known to regulate endothelial permeability have been shown to control polarity, suggesting the processes may be linked. The integrity of the polarized endothelial layer becomes paramount when initiating new vascular growth. New vascular sprouts require breaking the existing symmetry within a vascular tube, and the adoption of a migratory phenotype typified by the front-rear polarity previously described in leukocytes (2). We will review the various types of polarity as they apply to endothelial cells. In addition, we will touch upon vascular lumen formation and how polarity plays an integral role in the process.

Emergence of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells involves a Chd1-dependent increase in total nascent transcription

Significance Adult hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) develop from a small number of specialized endothelial cells in the embryo. Very little is known about how this process, known as the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition, is regulated. In this paper, we used mouse genetic knockout models to establish Chd1 as the first chromatin remodeler, to our knowledge, shown to regulate this transition. Chd1 is not required in the endothelium prior to the transition, nor in the blood system after the transition. We found that the emergence of HSPCs involves an increase in total nascent transcription that is dependent on Chd1. These results reveal a new paradigm of regulation of a developmental transition by modulation of transcriptional output that may be relevant in other stem/progenitor cell contexts. Lineage specification during development involves reprogramming of transcriptional states, but little is known about how this is regulated in vivo. The chromatin remodeler chomodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 1 (Chd1) promotes an elevated transcriptional output in mouse embryonic stem cells. Here we report that endothelial-specific deletion of Chd1 leads to loss of definitive hematopoietic progenitors, anemia, and lethality by embryonic day (E)15.5. Mutant embryos contain normal numbers of E10.5 intraaortic hematopoietic clusters that express Runx1 and Kit, but these clusters undergo apoptosis and fail to mature into blood lineages in vivo and in vitro. Hematopoietic progenitors emerging from the aorta have an elevated transcriptional output relative to structural endothelium, and this elevation is Chd1-dependent. In contrast, hematopoietic-specific deletion of Chd1 using Vav-Cre has no apparent phenotype. Our results reveal a new paradigm of regulation of a developmental transition by elevation of global transcriptional output that is critical for hemogenesis and may play roles in other contexts.

NOTCH1 is a mechanosensor in adult arteries

Endothelial cells transduce mechanical forces from blood flow into intracellular signals required for vascular homeostasis. Here we show that endothelial NOTCH1 is responsive to shear stress, and is necessary for the maintenance of junctional integrity, cell elongation, and suppression of proliferation, phenotypes induced by laminar shear stress. NOTCH1 receptor localizes downstream of flow and canonical NOTCH signaling scales with the magnitude of fluid shear stress. Reduction of NOTCH1 destabilizes cellular junctions and triggers endothelial proliferation. NOTCH1 suppression results in changes in expression of genes involved in the regulation of intracellular calcium and proliferation, and preventing the increase of calcium signaling rescues the cell–cell junctional defects. Furthermore, loss of Notch1 in adult endothelium increases hypercholesterolemia-induced atherosclerosis in the descending aorta. We propose that NOTCH1 is atheroprotective and acts as a mechanosensor in adult arteries, where it integrates responses to laminar shear stress and regulates junctional integrity through modulation of calcium signaling.The arterial wall is subjected to mechanical forces that modulate endothelial cell responses. Here, Mack and colleagues identify a novel role for Notch1 as a mechanosensor in adult arteries, where it ensures junctional integrity through modulation of calcium signalling and limits atherosclerosis.

From transplantation to transgenics: Mouse models of developmental hematopoiesis

The mouse is integral to our understanding of hematopoietic biology. Serving as a mammalian model system, the mouse has allowed for the discovery of self-renewing multipotent stem cells, provided functional assays to establish hematopoietic stem cell identity and function, and has become a tool for understanding the differentiation capacity of early hematopoietic progenitors. The advent of genetic technology has strengthened the use of mouse models for identifying critical pathways in hematopoiesis. Full genetic knockout models, tissue-specific gene deletion, and genetic overexpression models create a system for the dissection and identification of critical cellular and genetic processes underlying hematopoiesis. However, the murine model has also introduced perplexity in understanding developmental hematopoiesis. Requisite in utero development paired with circulation has historically made defining sites of origin and expansion in the murine hematopoietic system challenging. However, the genetic accessibility of the mouse as a mammalian system has identified key regulators of hematopoietic development. Technological advances continue to generate extremely powerful tools that when translated to the murine system provide refined in vivo spatial and temporal control of genetic deletion or overexpression. Future advancements may add the ability of reversible genetic manipulation. In this review, we describe the major contributions of the murine model to our understanding of hematopoiesis.

Differential expression and localization of ADAM10 and ADAM17 during rat spermatogenesis suggest a role in germ cell differentiation

BackgroundExtracellular metolloproteases have been implied in different process such as cell death, differentiation and migration. Membrane-bound metalloproteases of the ADAM family shed the extracellular domain of many cytokines and receptor controlling auto and para/juxtacrine cell signaling in different tissues. ADAM17 and ADAM10 are two members of this family surface metalloproteases involved in germ cell apoptosis during the first wave of spermatogenesis in the rat, but they have other signaling functions in somatic tissues.ResultsIn an attempt to further study these two enzymes, we describe the presence and localization in adult male rats. Results showed that both enzymes are detected in germ and Sertoli cells during all the stages of spermatogenesis. Interestingly their protein levels and cell surface localization in adult rats were stage-specific, suggesting activation of these enzymes at particular events of rat spermatogenesis.ConclusionsTherefore, these results show that ADAM10 and ADAM17 protein levels and subcellular (cell surface) localization are regulated during rat spermatogenesis.

SOX2 regulates acinar cell development in the salivary gland

Acinar cells play an essential role in the secretory function of exocrine organs. Despite this requirement, how acinar cells are generated during organogenesis is unclear. Using the acini-ductal network of the developing human and murine salivary gland, we demonstrate an unexpected role for SOX2 and parasympathetic nerves in generating the acinar lineage that has broad implications for epithelial morphogenesis. Despite SOX2 being expressed by progenitors that give rise to both acinar and duct cells, genetic ablation of SOX2 results in a failure to establish acini but not ducts. Furthermore, we show that SOX2 targets acinar-specific genes and is essential for the survival of acinar but not ductal cells. Finally, we illustrate an unexpected and novel role for peripheral nerves in the creation of acini throughout development via regulation of SOX2. Thus, SOX2 is a master regulator of the acinar cell lineage essential to the establishment of a functional organ. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.26620.001

Let-7 microRNA-dependent control of leukotriene signaling regulates the transition of hematopoietic niche in mice

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells arise from the vascular endothelium of the dorsal aorta and subsequently switch niche to the fetal liver through unknown mechanisms. Here we report that vascular endothelium-specific deletion of mouse Drosha (DroshacKO), an enzyme essential for microRNA biogenesis, leads to anemia and death. A similar number of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells emerge from Drosha-deficient and control vascular endothelium, but DroshacKO-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells accumulate in the dorsal aorta and fail to colonize the fetal liver. Depletion of the let-7 family of microRNAs is a primary cause of this defect, as it leads to activation of leukotriene B4 signaling and induction of the α4β1 integrin cell adhesion complex in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Inhibition of leukotriene B4 or integrin rescues maturation and migration of DroshacKO hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to the fetal liver, while it hampers hematopoiesis in wild-type animals. Our study uncovers a previously undefined role of innate leukotriene B4 signaling as a gatekeeper of the hematopoietic niche transition.Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are generated first from the vascular endothelium of the dorsal aorta and then the fetal liver but what regulates this switch is unknown. Here, the authors show that changing miRNA biogenesis and leukotriene B4 signaling in mice modulates this switch in the niche.

Deficient Vitamin E Uptake During Development Impairs Neural Tube Closure in Mice Lacking Lipoprotein Receptor SR-BI

SR-BI is the main receptor for high density lipoproteins (HDL) and mediates the bidirectional transport of lipids, such as cholesterol and vitamin E, between these particles and cells. During early development, SR-BI is expressed in extraembryonic tissue, specifically in trophoblast giant cells in the parietal yolk sac. We previously showed that approximately 50% of SR-BI−/− embryos fail to close the anterior neural tube and develop exencephaly, a perinatal lethal condition. Here, we evaluated the role of SR-BI in embryonic vitamin E uptake during murine neural tube closure. Our results showed that SR-BI−/− embryos had a very low vitamin E content in comparison to SR-BI+/+ embryos. Whereas SR-BI−/− embryos with closed neural tubes (nSR-BI−/−) had high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), intermediate ROS levels between SR-BI+/+ and nSR-BI−/− embryos were detected in SR-BI−/− with NTD (NTD SR-BI−/−). Reduced expression of Pax3, Alx1 and Alx3 genes was found in NTD SR-BI−/− embryos. Maternal α-tocopherol dietary supplementation prevented NTD almost completely (from 54% to 2%, p < 0.001) in SR-BI−/− embryos and normalized ROS and gene expression levels. In sum, our results suggest the involvement of SR-BI in the maternal provision of embryonic vitamin E to the mouse embryo during neural tube closure.

AGPAT2 is essential for postnatal development and maintenance of white and brown adipose tissue

Objective Characterize the cellular and molecular events responsible for lipodystrophy in AGPAT2 deficient mice. Methods Adipose tissue and differentiated MEF were assessed using light and electron microscopy, followed by protein (immunoblots) and mRNA analysis (qPCR). Phospholipid profiling was determined by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Results In contrast to adult Agpat2−/− mice, fetuses and newborn Agpat2−/− mice have normal mass of white and brown adipose tissue. Loss of both the adipose tissue depots occurs during the first week of postnatal life as a consequence of adipocyte death and inflammatory infiltration of the adipose tissue. At the ultrastructural level, adipose tissue of newborn Agpat2−/− mice is virtually devoid of caveolae and has abnormal mitochondria and lipid droplets. Autophagic structures are also abundant. Consistent with these findings, differentiated Agpat2−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) also have impaired adipogenesis, characterized by a lower number of lipid-laden cells and ultrastructural abnormalities in lipid droplets, mitochondria and plasma membrane. Overexpression of PPARγ, the master regulator of adipogenesis, increased the number of Agpat2−/− MEFs that differentiated into adipocyte-like cells but did not prevent morphological abnormalities and cell death. Furthermore, differentiated Agpat2−/− MEFs have abnormal phospholipid compositions with 3-fold increased levels of phosphatidic acid. Conclusion We conclude that lipodystrophy in Agpat2−/− mice results from postnatal cell death of adipose tissue in association with acute local inflammation. It is possible that AGPAT2 deficient adipocytes have an altered lipid filling or a reduced capacity to adapt the massive lipid availability associated with postnatal feeding.