RUNX1 safeguards the identity of the fetal ovary through an interplay with FOXL2
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE128767 | GEO | 2019/04/02
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:We discovered that expression of the transcription factor RUNX1 is enriched in the fetal ovary in various vertebrate species. In the mouse, RUNX1 marks the supporting cell lineage and becomes granulosa cell-specific as the gonads differentiate. To understand the function of Runx1 during fetal development of the ovary, we ablated Runx1 specifically in the somatic cell lineage of the fetal ovaries using Sf1-Cre . We compared ovarian differentiation in wild type, Runx1 and Foxl2 single knockouts, and Runx1/Foxl2 double knockout ovaries. Transcriptome comparisons of newborn ovaries revealed that loss of Runx1 or Foxl2 affected a similar set of genes: 41% of the genes affected by the loss of Runx1 were also changed by the loss of Foxl2. Despite these transcriptomic changes, granulosa cell identity was maintained during fetal life in both Runx1 or Foxl2 single knockout ovaries. However, the combined loss of Runx1/Foxl2 resulted in masculinization of the ovaries during fetal life. To further characterize the impacts of the combined loss of Runx1 and Foxl2 on ovarian differentiation, we compared the transcriptome of Runx1/Foxl2 DKO newborn ovaries with the transcriptomes of control, Runx1, or Foxl2 single KO ovaries.
2019-07-17 | GSE129038 | GEO
Project description:The identity of the gonads is determined by which fate, ovarian granulosa cell or testicular Sertoli cell, the bipotential somatic cell precursors choose to follow. In most vertebrates, the fate of granulosa cells is controlled by a conserved regulator FOXL2. To understand how FOXL2 elicits its fate-determining action, we performed genome-wide analysis of FOXL2 chromatin occupancy in fetal ovaries. Combining genome-wide analysis of FOXL2 binding in the fetal ovary with transcriptomic analyses of Foxl2 gain-of-function and Foxl2 loss-of-function models, we identified potential pathways responsible for the feminizing action of FOXL2. Finally, comparison of FOXL2 genome-wide occupancy in the fetal ovary with testis-determining factor SOX9 genome-wide occupancy in the fetal testis revealed extensive overlaps, implying that antagonistic signals between FOXL2 and SOX9 occur at the chromatin level.
2019-03-21 | GSE110093 | GEO
Project description:From fish to human, FOXL2 is considered one of the most conserved markers of ovarian granulosa cell identity. To determine if the sole expression of FOXL2 can determine ovarian differentiation, we created a mouse model that allows the conditional expression of FOXL2. Rosa26-CAG-LSL-Foxl2 mice were crossed to Sf1-Cre mice to induce the expression of FOXL2 in the SF1+ somatic cells of the fetal gonads.When FOXL2 was induced in the somatic cells of the undifferentiated testis, the Sertoli cells and consequently the other cell lineages composing the fetal gonads were feminized, resulting in a partial testis-to-ovary sex reversal We created a mouse genetic model that conditionaly express FOXL2 in the somatic cells of the fetal gonads. All embryos used in this study resulted from the crossing between Rosa26-CAG-LSL-Foxl2+/f and Sf1-cre+/Tg mice. XX and XY fetal gonads were collected at embryonic day E14.5. This microarray analysis led to the identification of the genes misregulated upon ectopic induction of FOXL2 in the fetal testis, and showed that FOXL2 expression resulted in feminization of both somatic and germ cells of the fetal gonad.
2019-03-25 | GSE78774 | GEO
Project description:FOXL2 is a transcription factor essential for female fertility, expressed in somatic cells of the ovary, notably granulosa cells. In the mouse, Foxl2 deletion leads to partial sex reversal postnatally. However, deletion of the gene in 8-week-old females leads to granulosa to Sertoli cell transdifferentiation. We hypothesised that different outcomes of Foxl2 deletion in embryonic versus adult ovary may depend on a different role played across ovarian development. Therefore, we characterised the dynamics of gene expression and chromatin accessibility changes in purified murine granulosa cells across key developmental stages (E14.5, 1 and 8 weeks). We then performed genome-wide identification of FOXL2 target genes and on-chromatin interacting partners by ChIP-SICAP. We found that FOXL2 regulates more genes at postnatal stages, through the interaction with factors regulating primordial follicle activation (PFA), such as NR5A2, and others regulating steroidogenesis including AR and ESR2. As a proof of principle experiment, we chose one FOXL2 interactor, Ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7) and showed that deletion of this gene in granulosa cells leads to a blockage of PFA, impaired ovary development and sterility. Our study constitutes a comprehensive resource for exploration of the molecular mechanisms of ovarian development and causes of female infertility.
2024-03-25 | PXD043951 | Pride
Project description:Gonad somatic cells acquire sex-specific fates during sex determination. In XX gonad, a subset of somatic cells expresses Foxl2 after sex determination which are considered as the progenitor of granulosa cells. However, whether these cells also contribute to other cell type at later developmental stage is unknown. In the present study, the cell fate of Foxl2-expressing cells in fetal ovaries was analyzed by lineage tracing and signal-cell transcriptomics. We found that Foxl2-expressing cells gave rise to three cell types at later developmental stage, including granulosa cells, theca-interstitial cells, and stromal cells. Series single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that Foxl2-positive cells were divided into two clusters at P0. One group further differentiated into granulosa cells and theca cells at P14. Another group was classified as stromal cell lineage, then a small portion of them further differentiated into 3β-HSD-positive interstitial cells. We also found that interstitial cells were CYP17a1-positive, whereas theca cells did express this gene. Our data provide an important resource, at single-cell resolution, for better understanding somatic cell differentiation in ovary development.
2022-11-22 | GSE163879 | GEO
Project description:FOXL2 is a transcription factor essential for female fertility, expressed in somatic cells of the ovary, notably granulosa cells. In the mouse, Foxl2 deletion leads to partial sex reversal postnatally, with mutants developing dysgenic ovaries devoid of oocytes. However, deletion of the gene in 8-week-old females leads to granulosa to Sertoli cell transdifferentiation and gonadal sex reversal. We hypothesise that different outcomes of Foxl2 deletion in embryonic versus adult ovary may depend on a different role played by FOXL2 across ovarian development. Therefore, in this study, we take a multi-omics approach to characterise the dynamics of gene expression and chromatin accessibility changes in purified murine granulosa cells across key developmental stages (E14.5, 1 and 8 weeks). We coupled these analyses with genome wide identification of FOXL2 target genes and on-chromatin interacting partners by ChIP-SICAP to reconstruct the gene regulatory networks underpinned by this essential transcription factor and to discover novel players. We found that, in the embryonic ovary, FOXL2 interacts with factors important for early stages of gonadal development, such as GATA4 and WT1, whilst postnatally it interacts with factors regulating primordial follicle activation, such as NR5A2, and with factors regulating steroidogenesis including AR and ESR2. Integration of chromatin landscape dynamics with gene expression changes and FOXL2 binding sites analysis revealed that its critical role in ovarian cell fate maintenance goes beyond repression of the Sertoli-specific gene Sox9. Our chromatome analysis revealed also that FOXL2 interacts with several proteins involved in chromatin remodelling, DNA repair, splicing and gene repression. We identified a FOXL2 interactor with a role in primordial follicle activation, Ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7). We showed that conditional deletion of this gene in granulosa cells leads to a blockage of primordial follicle activation, impairs ovary development and leads to complete sterility. In summary, in this study we identified target genes dynamically regulated by FOXL2 across ovarian development including known and newly identified FOXL2 targets with a role in embryonic ovarian development and folliculogenesis, as well as cofactors that point towards additional roles played by FOXL2 besides transcriptional regulation. This work constitutes a comprehensive resource for exploration of the molecular mechanisms of ovarian development and causes of female infertility.
2024-03-24 | GSE236785 | GEO
Project description:FOXL2 is a transcription factor essential for female fertility, expressed in somatic cells of the ovary, notably granulosa cells. In the mouse, Foxl2 deletion leads to partial sex reversal postnatally, with mutants developing dysgenic ovaries devoid of oocytes. However, deletion of the gene in 8-week-old females leads to granulosa to Sertoli cell transdifferentiation and gonadal sex reversal. We hypothesise that different outcomes of Foxl2 deletion in embryonic versus adult ovary may depend on a different role played by FOXL2 across ovarian development. Therefore, in this study, we take a multi-omics approach to characterise the dynamics of gene expression and chromatin accessibility changes in purified murine granulosa cells across key developmental stages (E14.5, 1 and 8 weeks). We coupled these analyses with genome wide identification of FOXL2 target genes and on-chromatin interacting partners by ChIP-SICAP to reconstruct the gene regulatory networks underpinned by this essential transcription factor and to discover novel players. We found that, in the embryonic ovary, FOXL2 interacts with factors important for early stages of gonadal development, such as GATA4 and WT1, whilst postnatally it interacts with factors regulating primordial follicle activation, such as NR5A2, and with factors regulating steroidogenesis including AR and ESR2. Integration of chromatin landscape dynamics with gene expression changes and FOXL2 binding sites analysis revealed that its critical role in ovarian cell fate maintenance goes beyond repression of the Sertoli-specific gene Sox9. Our chromatome analysis revealed also that FOXL2 interacts with several proteins involved in chromatin remodelling, DNA repair, splicing and gene repression. We identified a FOXL2 interactor with a role in primordial follicle activation, Ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7). We showed that conditional deletion of this gene in granulosa cells leads to a blockage of primordial follicle activation, impairs ovary development and leads to complete sterility. In summary, in this study we identified target genes dynamically regulated by FOXL2 across ovarian development including known and newly identified FOXL2 targets with a role in embryonic ovarian development and folliculogenesis, as well as cofactors that point towards additional roles played by FOXL2 besides transcriptional regulation. This work constitutes a comprehensive resource for exploration of the molecular mechanisms of ovarian development and causes of female infertility.
2024-03-24 | GSE236860 | GEO
Project description:FOXL2 is a transcription factor essential for female fertility, expressed in somatic cells of the ovary, notably granulosa cells. In the mouse, Foxl2 deletion leads to partial sex reversal postnatally, with mutants developing dysgenic ovaries devoid of oocytes. However, deletion of the gene in 8-week-old females leads to granulosa to Sertoli cell transdifferentiation and gonadal sex reversal. We hypothesise that different outcomes of Foxl2 deletion in embryonic versus adult ovary may depend on a different role played by FOXL2 across ovarian development. Therefore, in this study, we take a multi-omics approach to characterise the dynamics of gene expression and chromatin accessibility changes in purified murine granulosa cells across key developmental stages (E14.5, 1 and 8 weeks). We coupled these analyses with genome wide identification of FOXL2 target genes and on-chromatin interacting partners by ChIP-SICAP to reconstruct the gene regulatory networks underpinned by this essential transcription factor and to discover novel players. We found that, in the embryonic ovary, FOXL2 interacts with factors important for early stages of gonadal development, such as GATA4 and WT1, whilst postnatally it interacts with factors regulating primordial follicle activation, such as NR5A2, and with factors regulating steroidogenesis including AR and ESR2. Integration of chromatin landscape dynamics with gene expression changes and FOXL2 binding sites analysis revealed that its critical role in ovarian cell fate maintenance goes beyond repression of the Sertoli-specific gene Sox9. Our chromatome analysis revealed also that FOXL2 interacts with several proteins involved in chromatin remodelling, DNA repair, splicing and gene repression. We identified a FOXL2 interactor with a role in primordial follicle activation, Ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7). We showed that conditional deletion of this gene in granulosa cells leads to a blockage of primordial follicle activation, impairs ovary development and leads to complete sterility. In summary, in this study we identified target genes dynamically regulated by FOXL2 across ovarian development including known and newly identified FOXL2 targets with a role in embryonic ovarian development and folliculogenesis, as well as cofactors that point towards additional roles played by FOXL2 besides transcriptional regulation. This work constitutes a comprehensive resource for exploration of the molecular mechanisms of ovarian development and causes of female infertility.
2024-03-24 | GSE236859 | GEO
Project description:It has previously been shown that FOXL2 and ESR1 cooperate to repress the testis-determining gene Sox9 in murine granulosa cells, and suggested that FOXL2/ESR1 cooperation may be central to granulosa cell differentiation (Uhlenhaut et al., 2009). However, no study has so far compared the DNA-binding of FOXL2 and ESR1 at the genomic level or analyzed the impact of FOXL2 on ESR1 binding to its regulatory elements. Here, we have analyzed and compared the genomic locations recognized by ESR1 and FOXL2 in E2-treated primary murine granulosa cells. Input DNA, FOXL2 and ESR1 ChIP
2015-07-01 | E-GEOD-62545 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Retinoic acid (RA) is a potent inducer of cell differentiation and plays an essential role in sex-specific germ cell development in the mammalian gonad. RA is essential for male gametogenesis and hence fertility. However, RA can also disrupt sexual cell fate in somatic cells of the testis, promoting transdifferentiation of male Sertoli cells to female granulosa-like cells when the male sexual regulator Dmrt1 is absent. The feminizing ability of RA in the somatic testis suggests that RA might normally play a role in somatic cell differentiation or cell fate maintenance in the ovary. To test for this possibility we disrupted RA signaling in somatic cells of the early fetal ovary using three genetic strategies and one pharmaceutical approach. We found that deleting all three RA receptors (RARs) in the XX somatic gonad at the time of sex determination did not significantly affect ovarian differentiation, follicle development, or female fertility. Transcriptome analysis of adult triple mutant ovaries revealed remarkably little effect on gene expression in the absence of somatic RAR function. Likewise, deletion of three RA synthesis enzymes (Aldha1-3) at the time of sex determination did not masculinize the ovary. A dominant-negative RAR transgene altered granulosa cell proliferation, likely due to interference with a non-RA signaling pathway, but did not affect granulosa cell specification or fertility. Finally, culture of fetal XX gonads with an RAR antagonist blocked germ cell meiotic initiation but did not disrupt sex-biased gene expression. We conclude that RA signaling, although crucial in the ovary for meiotic initiation, is not required for granulosa cell specification, differentiation, or reproductive function.
2017-03-16 | GSE94802 | GEO