FGF signaling modulates mechanotransduction/WNT signaling in progenitors during tooth root development

Stem/progenitor cells differentiate into different cell lineages during organ development and morphogenesis.Signaling pathway networks and mechanotransduction are important factors to guide the lineage commitment of stem/progenitor cells during craniofacial tissue morphogenesis.

Single-cell sequencing technology in diabetic wound healing:New insights into the progenitors-based repair strategies

Diabetes mellitus(DM),an increasingly prevalent chronic metabolic disease,is characterised by prolonged hyperglycaemia,which leads to long-term health consequences.Although much effort has been put into understanding the pathogenesis of diabetic wounds,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNAseq)has revolutionised biological research by enabling the identification of novel cell types,the discovery of cellular markers,the analysis of gene expression patterns and the prediction of develop-mental trajectories.This powerful tool allows for an in-depth exploration of pathogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels.In this editorial,we focus on progenitor-based repair strategies for diabetic wound healing as revealed by scRNAseq and highlight the biological behaviour of various healing-related cells and the alteration of signalling pathways in the process of diabetic wound healing.ScRNAseq could not only deepen our understanding of the complex biology of diabetic wounds but also identify and validate new targets for inter-vention,offering hope for improved patient outcomes in the management of this challenging complication of DM.

Perilipin-2 mediates ferroptosis in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and myelin injury after ischemic stroke

Differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells into mature myelin-forming oligodendrocytes contributes to remyelination.Failure of remyelination due to oligodendrocyte progenitor cell death can result in severe nerve damage.Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death caused by membrane rupture induced by lipid peroxidation,and plays an important role in the pathological process of ischemic stroke.However,there are few studies on oligodendrocyte progenitor cell ferroptosis.We analyzed transcriptome sequencing data from GEO databases and identified a role of ferroptosis in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell death and myelin injury after cerebral ischemia.Bioinformatics analysis suggested that perilipin-2(PLIN2)was involved in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell ferroptosis.PLIN2 is a lipid storage protein and a marker of hypoxia-sensitive lipid droplet accumulation.For further investigation,we established a mouse model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.We found significant myelin damage after cerebral ischemia,as well as oligodendrocyte progenitor cell death and increased lipid peroxidation levels around the infarct area.The ferroptosis inhibitor,ferrostatin-1,rescued oligodendrocyte progenitor cell death and subsequent myelin injury.We also found increased PLIN2 levels in the peri-infarct area that co-localized with oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.Plin2 knockdown rescued demyelination and improved neurological deficits.Our findings suggest that targeting PLIN2 to regulate oligodendrocyte progenitor cell ferroptosis may be a potential therapeutic strategy for rescuing myelin damage after cerebral ischemia.

Small extracellular vesicles derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell-differentiated neural progenitor cells mitigate retinal ganglion cell degeneration in a mouse model of optic nerve injury

Several studies have found that transplantation of neural progenitor cells(NPCs)promotes the survival of injured neurons.However,a poor integration rate and high risk of tumorigenicity after cell transplantation limits their clinical application.Small extracellular vesicles(sEVs)contain bioactive molecules for neuronal protection and regeneration.Previous studies have shown that stem/progenitor cell-derived sEVs can promote neuronal survival and recovery of neurological function in neurodegenerative eye diseases and other eye diseases.In this study,we intravitreally transplanted sEVs derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs)and hiPSCs-differentiated NPCs(hiPSC-NPC)in a mouse model of optic nerve crush.Our results show that these intravitreally injected sEVs were ingested by retinal cells,especially those localized in the ganglion cell layer.Treatment with hiPSC-NPC-derived sEVs mitigated optic nerve crush-induced retinal ganglion cell degeneration,and regulated the retinal microenvironment by inhibiting excessive activation of microglia.Component analysis further revealed that hiPSC-NPC derived sEVs transported neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory miRNA cargos to target cells,which had protective effects on RGCs after optic nerve injury.These findings suggest that sEVs derived from hiPSC-NPC are a promising cell-free therapeutic strategy for optic neuropathy.

Osteoclast-like giant cell tumors of the pancreas and liver

Osteoclast-like giant cell tumors （OGCT） are rare abdominal tumors, which mainly occur in the pancreas. The neoplasms are composed of two distinct cell populations and frequently show an inhomogenous appearance with cystic structures. However, due to the rarity of these tumors, only very limited clinical data are available. Imaging features and sonographic appearance have hardly been characterized. Here we report on two cases of osteoclast-like giant cell tumors, one located within the pancreas, the other within the liver, in which OGCTs are extremely rare. Both patients were investigated by contrast sonography, which demonstrated a complex, partly cystic and strongly vascularized tumor within the head of the pancreas in the first patient and a large, hypervascularized neoplasm with calcifications within the liver in the second patient. The liver OGCT responded well to a combination of carboplatin, etoposide and paclitaxel. With a combination of surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation and chemotherapy, the patient＇s survival is currently more than 15 too, making him the longest survivor with an OGCT of the liver to date.

Spatially defined single-cell transcriptional profiling characterizes diverse chondrocyte subtypes and nucleus pulposus progenitors in human intervertebral discs

A comprehensive understanding of the cellular heterogeneity and molecular mechanisms underlying the development,homeostasis,and disease of human intervertebral disks(IVDs)remains challenging.Here,the transcriptomic landscape of 108108 IVD cells was mapped using single-cell RNA sequencing of three main compartments from young and adult healthy IVDs,including the nucleus pulposus(NP),annulus fibrosus,and cartilage endplate(CEP).The chondrocyte subclusters were classified based on their potential regulatory,homeostatic,and effector functions in extracellular matrix(ECM)homeostasis.Notably,in the NP,a PROCR+resident progenitor population showed enriched colony-forming unit-fibroblast(CFU-F)activity and trilineage differentiation capacity.Finally,intercellular crosstalk based on signaling network analysis uncovered that the PDGF and TGF-βcascades are important cues in the NP microenvironment.In conclusion,a single-cell transcriptomic atlas that resolves spatially regulated cellular heterogeneity together with the critical signaling that underlies homeostasis will help to establish new therapeutic strategies for IVD degeneration in the clinic.

Characterization of hepatic progenitors from human fetal liver using CD34 as a hepatic progenitor marker

AIM: To enrich putative hepatic progenitors from the developing human fetal liver using CD34 as a marker. METHODS: Aborted fetuses of 13-20 wk were used for the isolation of liver cells. The cells were labeled with anti CD34; a marker used for isolating progenitor population and the cells were sorted using magnetic cell sorting. The positive fractions of cells were assessed for specific hepatic markers. Further, these cells were cultured in vitro for long term investigation. RESULTS: Flow cytometric and immunocytochemical analysis for alphafetoprotein (AFP) showed that the majority of the enriched CD34 positive cells were positive for AFP. Furthermore, these enriched cells proliferated in the long term and maintained hepatic characteristics in in vitro culture. CONCLUSION: The study shows that aborted human fetal liver is a potential source for isolation of hepatic progenitors for clinical applications. The study also demonstrates that CD34 can be a good marker for the enrichment of progenitor populations.

Characterization of hepatic progenitors from human fetal liver during second trimester

AIM： To enrich hepatic progenitors using epithelial cell adhesion molecule （EpCAM） as a marker from human fetal liver and investigate the expression of human leukocyte antigen （HLA） and their markers associated with hepatic progenitor cells. METHODS： EpCAM ＋ve cells were isolated using magnetic cell sorting （MACS） from human fetuses （n = 10） at 15-25 wk gestation. Expression of markers for hepatic progenitors such as albumin, alpha-fetoprotein （AFP）, CD29 （integrin ~1）, CD49f （integrin c^6） and CD90 （Thy 1） was studied by using flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR; HLA class Ⅰ （A, B, C） and class Ⅱ （DR） expression was studied by flow cytometry only. RESULTS： FACS analysis indicated that EpCAM ＋ve cells were positive for CD29, CD49f, CD90, CD34, HLA class I, albumin and AFP but negative for HLA class Ⅱ （DR） and CD45. RT PCR showed that EpCAM ＋ve cells expressed liver epithelial markers （CK18）, biliary specific marker （CK19） and hepatic markers （albumin, AFP）. On immunocytochemical staining, EpCAM ＋ve cells were shown positive signals for CK18 and albumin. CONCLUSION： Our study suggests that these EpCAM ＋ve cells can be used as hepatic progenitors for cell transplantation with a minimum risk of alloreactivity and these cells may serve as a potential source for enrichment of hepatic progenitor.

Influence of endogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor on neural differentiation of adult rat hippocampal progenitors

Ciliary neurotrophic factor is the only known neurotrophic factor that can promote differentiation of hippocampal neural progenitor cells to glial cells and neurons in adult rats. This process is similar to spontaneous differentiation. Therefore, ciliary neurotrophic factor may be involved in spontaneous differentiation of neural stem cells. To verify this hypothesis, the present study isolated neural progenitor cells from adult male rats and cultured them in vitro. Results showed that when neural progenitor cells were cultured in the absence of mitogen fibroblast growth factor-2 or epidermal growth factor, they underwent spontaneous differentiation into neurons and glial cells. Western blot and immunocytochemical staining showed that exogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor strongly induced adult hippocampal progenitor cells to differentiate into neurons and glial cells. Moreover, passage 4 adult hippocampal progenitor cells expressed high levels of endogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor, and a neutralizing antibody against ciliary neurotrophic factor prevented the spontaneous neuronal and glial differentiation of adult hippocampal progenitor cells. These results suggest that the spontaneous differentiation of adult hippocampal progenitor cells is mediated partially by endogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor.

Effects of Lanthanum on Formation and Bone-Resorbing Activity of Osteoclast-Like Cells

The effect of La^(3+) on formation of osteoclast-like cells in rabbit bone marrow cells induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D_3 and their bone-resorbing activity was evaluated by counting the number of tartrate resistant-acid phosphatase-positive [TRAP(+)] multi-nucleated cells and measuring the number and surface area of bone resorption pits with photomicrography and image analysis. The formation and morphological characteristics of osteoclast-like cells and bone resorption pits were observed under a phase contrast inverted microscope. La^(3+) promotes the formation of osteoclast-like cells at the concentration of 1.00×10^(-8)mol·L^(-1) compared with the control group(P<(0.01)), whereas no significant change in cell number is observed at higher concentrations(1.00×10^(-5), (1.00×)10^(-6) and 1.00×10^(-7) mol·L^(-1))(P>0.05). La^(3+) at the concentration of 1.00×10^(-8)mol·L^(-1) also increases the number and surface area of the resorption pits(P<0.01), but inhibits the bone-resorbing activity dose-dependently(P<0.01)at higher concentrations(1.00×10^(-5), 1.00×10^(-6) and 1.00×10^(-7) mol·L^(-1)). These findings suggest that La^(3+) may promote or inhibit the formation and bone-resorbing activity of osteoclast-like cells depending on its concentration.

Type Ⅱ collagen-positive progenitors are important stem cells in controlling skeletal development and vascular formation

Type II collagen-positive(Col2^(+))cells have been reported as skeletal stem cells(SSCs),but the contribution of Col2^(+)progenitors to skeletal development both prenatally and postnatally during aging remains unclear.To address this question,we generated new mouse models with ablation of Col2^(+)cells at either the embryonic or postnatal stages.The embryonic ablation of Col2^(+)progenitors resulted in the death of newborn mice due to a decrease in skeletal blood vessels,loss of all vertebral bones and absence of most other bones except part of the craniofacial bone,the clavicle bone and a small piece of the long bone and ribs,which suggested that intramembranous ossification is involved in long bone development but does not participate in spine development.The postnatal ablation of Col2^(+)cells resulted in mouse growth retardation and a collagenopathy phenotype.Lineage tracing experiments with embryonic or postnatal mice revealed that Col2^(+)progenitors occurred predominantly in the growth plate(GP)and articular cartilage,but a limited number of Col2^(+)cells were detected in the bone marrow.Moreover,the number and differentiation ability of Col2^(+)progenitors in the long bone and knee joints decreased with increasing age.The fate-mapping study further revealed Col2^(+)lineage cells contributed to,in addition to osteoblasts and chondrocytes,CD31^(+)blood vessels in both the calvarial bone and long bone.Specifically,almost all blood vessels in calvarial bone and 25.4%of blood vessels in long bone were Col2^(+)lineage cells.However,during fracture healing,95.5%of CD31^(+)blood vessels in long bone were Col2^(+)lineage cells.In vitro studies further confirmed that Col2^(+)progenitors from calvarial bone and GP could form CD31^(+)vascular lumens.Thus,this study provides the first demonstration that intramembranous ossification is involved in long bone and rib development but not spine development.Col2^(+)progenitors contribute to CD31^(+)skeletal blood vessel formation,but the percentage differs between long bone and skull bone.The number and differentiation ability of Col2^(+)progenitors decreases with increasing age.

Dorsal root ganglion progenitors differentiate to gamma-aminobutyric acid-and choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons

This study examined the isolation and differentiation of dorsal root ganglion progenitor cells for therapeutic use in neurodegenerative diseases. Rat embryonic dorsal root ganglia progenitors were isolated and purified using the differential adhesion method combined with cytosine arabinoside treatment. After culture in serum-free medium supplemented with B27, basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor, these cells remained viable and survived for more than 18 months in vitro. Most cells differentiated to neurons that were immunoreactive for gamma-aminobutyric acid and choline acetyltransferase as detected by immunohistochemical staining. In addition, nerve growth factor and neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor expression were also observed in dorsal root ganglion progenitors and differentiated cells. K252a, an inhibitor that blocks nerve growth factor-induced signaling, inhibited cell survival, suggesting the possible existence of a nerve growth factor autocrine loop in these proliferating cells.

The characteristics of mRNA m^(6)A methylomes in allopolyploid Brassica napus and its diploid progenitors

Genome duplication events,comprising whole-genome duplication and single-gene duplication,produce a complex genomic context leading to multiple levels of genetic changes.However,the characteristics of m^(6)A modification,the most widespread internal eukaryotic mRNA modification,in polyploid species are still poorly understood.This study revealed the characteristics of m^(6)A methylomes within the early formation and following the evolution of allopolyploid Brassica napus.We found a complex relationship between m^(6)A modification abundance and gene expression level depending on the degree of enrichment or presence/absence of m^(6)A modification.Overall,the m^(6)A genes had lower gene expression levels than the non-m^(6)A genes.Allopolyploidization may change the expression divergence of duplicated gene pairs with identical m^(6)A patterns and diverged m^(6)A patterns.Compared with duplicated genes,singletons with a higher evolutionary rate exhibited higher m^(6)A modification.Five kinds of duplicated genes exhibited distinct distributions of m^(6)A modifications in transcripts and gene expression level.In particular,tandem duplication-derived genes showed unique m^(6)A modification enrichment around the transcript start site.Active histone modifications(H3K27ac and H3K4me3)but not DNA methylation were enriched around genes of m^(6)A peaks.These findings provide a new understanding of the features of m 6A modification and gene expression regulation in allopolyploid plants with sophisticated genomic architecture.

The collagen receptor,discoidin domain receptor 2,functions in Gli1-positive skeletal progenitors and chondrocytes to control bone development

Discoidin Domain Receptor 2(DDR2)is a collagen-activated receptor kinase that,together with integrins,is required for cells to respond to the extracellular matrix.Ddr2 loss-of-function mutations in humans and mice cause severe defects in skeletal growth and development.However,the cellular functions of Ddr2 in bone are not understood.Expression and lineage analysis showed selective expression of Ddr2 at early stages of bone formation in the resting zone and proliferating chondrocytes and periosteum.Consistent with these findings,Ddr2^(+)cells could differentiate into hypertrophic chondrocytes,osteoblasts,and osteocytes and showed a high degree of colocalization with the skeletal progenitor marker,Gli1.A conditional deletion approach showed a requirement for Ddr2 in Gli1-positive skeletal progenitors and chondrocytes but not mature osteoblasts.Furthermore,Ddr2 knockout in limb bud chondroprogenitors or purified marrow-derived skeletal progenitors inhibited chondrogenic or osteogenic differentiation,respectively.This work establishes a cell-autonomous function for Ddr2 in skeletal progenitors and cartilage and emphasizes the critical role of this collagen receptor in bone development.

Enrichment of retinal ganglion and Müller glia progenitors from retinal organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells-possibilities and current limitations

BACKGROUND Retinal organoids serve as excellent human-specific disease models for conditions affecting otherwise inaccessible retinal tissue from patients.They permit the isolation of key cell types affected in various eye diseases including retinal ganglion cells(RGCs)and Müller glia.AIM To refine human-induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs)differentiated into threedimensional(3D)retinal organoids to generate sufficient numbers of RGCs and Müller glia progenitors for downstream analyses.METHODS In this study we described,evaluated,and refined methods with which to generate Müller glia and RGC progenitors,isolated them via magnetic-activated cell sorting,and assessed their lineage stability after prolonged 2D culture.Putative progenitor populations were characterized via quantitative PCR and immunocytochemistry,and the ultrastructural composition of retinal organoid cells was investigated.RESULTS Our study confirms the feasibility of generating marker-characterized Müller glia and RGC progenitors within retinal organoids.Such retinal organoids can be dissociated and the Müller glia and RGC progenitor-like cells isolated via magnetic-activated cell sorting and propagated as monolayers.CONCLUSION Enrichment of Müller glia and RGC progenitors from retinal organoids is a feasible method with which to study cell type-specific disease phenotypes and to potentially generate specific retinal populations for cell replacement therapies.

Transplanting neural progenitors to build a neuronal relay across the injured spinal cord

Cellular transplantation for repair of spinal cord injury is a prom- ising therapeutic strategy that includes the use of a variety of neural and non-neural cells isolated or derived from embryonic and adult tissue as well as embryonic stem cells and induced plu- ripotent stem cells. In particular, transplants of neural progenitor cells （NPCs） have been shown to limit secondary injury and scar formation and create a permissive environment in the injured spinal cord through the provision of neurotrophic molecules and growth supporting matrices that promote growth of injured host axons. Importantly, transplants of NPC are unique in their poten- tial to replace lost neural cells - including neurons, astrocytes,

Soxllb regulates the migration and fate determination of Müller glia-derived progenitors during retina regeneration in zebrafish

The transcription factor Sox11 plays important roles in retinal neurogenesis during vertebrate eye development.However,its function in retina regeneration remains elusive.Here we report that Sox11 b,a zebrafish Sox11 homolog,regulates the migration and fate determination of Müller glia-derived progenitors(MGPCs)in an adult zebrafish model of mechanical retinal injury.Following a stab injury,the expression of Sox11 b was induced in proliferating MGPCs in the retina.Sox11 b knockdown did not affect MGPC formation at 4 days post-injury,although the nuclear morphology and subsequent radial migration of MGPCs were alte red.At 7 days post-injury,Sox11 b knockdown res ulted in an increased proportion of MGPCs in the inner retina and a decreased propo rtion of MGPCs in the outer nuclear layer,compared with controls.Furthermore,Sox11 b knockdown led to reduced photoreceptor regeneration,while it increased the numbe rs of newborn amacrines and retinal ganglion cells.Finally,quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that Sox11 b regulated the expression of Notch signaling components in the retina,and Notch inhibition partially recapitulated the Sox11 b knockdown phenotype,indicating that Notch signaling functions downstream of Sox11 b.Our findings imply that Sox11 b plays key roles in MGPC migration and fate determination during retina regeneration in zebrafish,which may have critical im plications for future explorations of retinal repair in mammals.

Isolation of neural progenitors from midbrain of newborn rats

Objective: To isolate neural progenitors from midbrain of new born rats. Methods: Cell groups with cloning capability were obtained from midbrain of new-born rats by using serum-free and floating cell culture. Immunocytochemistry was applied to detect antigens such as BrdU, Nestin and specific markers for mature neural cells. Results: Cell groups isolated from midbrain propagated in succession and shaped 'neuro-spheres'. Nestin antigen was expressed in the course of proliferation. After differentiation, epitopes of neuron , astrocyte and oligodendrocyte were all found in the neural progenitors-derived cells, the most majority were astrocyte-epitoped cells. Conclusion: Cell groups expressing Nestin isolated from midbrain of new-born rats have properties of propagating, multi-potency differentiating and self-renewal. It is demonstrated that the cell groups are stem-like neural progenitors in the central nervous system, which are qualified for cell therapy of diseases in central nervous system.

Long-term and non-invasive in vivo tracking of DiD dye-labeled human hepatic progenitors in chronic liver disease models

BACKGROUND Chronic liver diseases(CLD)are the major public health burden due to the continuous increasing rate of global morbidity and mortality.The inherent limitations of organ transplantation have led to the development of stem cell-based therapy as a supportive and promising therapeutic option.However,identifying the fate of transplanted cells in vivo represents a crucial obstacle.AIM To evaluate the potential applicability of DiD dye as a cell labeling agent for longterm,and non-invasive in vivo tracking of transplanted cells in the liver.METHODS Magnetically sorted,epithelial cell adhesion molecule positive(1×106 cells/mL)fetal hepatic progenitor cells were labeled with DiD dye and transplanted into the livers of CLD-severe combined immunodeficiency(SCID)mice.Near-infrared(NIR)imaging was performed for in vivo tracking of the DiD-labeled transplanted cells along with colocalization of hepatic markers for up to 80 d.The existence of human cells within mouse livers was identified using Alu polymerase chain reaction and sequencing.RESULTS NIR fluorescence imaging of CLD-SCID mice showed a positive fluorescence signal of DiD at days 7,15,30,45,60,and 80 post-transplantation.Furthermore,positive staining of cytokeratin,c-Met,and albumin colocalizing with DiD fluorescence clearly demonstrated that the fluorescent signal of hepatic markers emerged from the DiD-labeled transplanted cells.Recovery of liver function was also observed with serum levels of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase,glutamate-pyruvate transaminase,and bilirubin.The detection of human-specific Alu sequence from the transplanted mouse livers provided evidence for the survival of transplanted cells at day 80.CONCLUSION DiD-labeling is promising for long-term and non-invasive in vivo cell tracking,and understanding the regenerative mechanisms incurred by the transplanted cells.

Production of Neural Progenitors from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

In the brain, there are hundreds of types of specialized neurons and to generate one type of them we need to have neural progenitors for differentiation to specific neuron type. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are easily isolated, cultured, manipulated ex vivo, showing great potential for therapeutic applications. The adult MSCs have the potential to produce progeny that differentiate into a variety of cell types such as neurons. This fact suggests that MSCs derived neurons are an important cell type and a deep understanding of the molecular characteristics of it would significantly enhance the advancement of cell therapy for neurological disorders. Therefore, in this study, we isolated, identified, and studied neural progenitors by measuring expression levels through neurogenesis pathway of three neural differentiation markers nestin (NES), neurofilament (NF-L), and microtubule association protein (MAP-2) from mouse bone marrow MSCs (mouse bmMSCs) by using butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and diethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as neural inducers agents. The results of immunocytochemistry and Real Time-PCR showed that in contrast to MSCs, neural differentiated cells showed neural progenitor pattern by showing stable increase in NES gene expression through differentiation process with increasing the protein expression through different exposures times, while NF-L gene and protein expression start to increased after 48 h but not replaced the NES expression completely even when its expression passed NES levels. The maturation marker Map-2 expression was low during the duration of differentiation period in protein and gene expression, which prove that these cells are still progenitors and can be redirected into specific type of neurons by further treatments.