Time-Series Single Cell RNA Sequencing of Inner Ear Organoid Development
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ABSTRACT: We report the application of single cell RNA sequencing for determining cell type and quantity in developing inner ear organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells. By obtaining samples from multiple time points throughout differentiation, we developed a roadmap at single cell resolution of the multiple cell lineages which give rise to in vitro inner ear tissue as well as 'off-target' tissue types. We find that the cells in the day 0 sample contained primarily a homogenous population of pluripotent stem cells. On day 3, after treatment with BMP4, we find that the cells have differentiated into a split between surface ectoderm, the progenitor of the inner ear tissue, and neuroectoderm. On day 6 and 8, we observed the emergence of cranial placode tissue, both anterior and posterior. Then, after treatment starting on day 8 with a WNT agonist, CHIR, we observed the maturation of inner ear tissue into hair cells and neurons, starting on day 18 and increasing through the last time point collected, day 36. This study provides an atlas of inner ear organoid differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells.
Project description:The molecular characterization of early stages of human inner ear development is limited by the difficulty in accessing samples at early gestational stages. Some aspects of inner ear morphogenesis can be recapitulated using pluripotent stem cell directed differentiation in inner ear organoids (IEOs). Once validated and benchmarked, these models could provide a unique tool to complement and refine our understanding of human otic differentiation and could be used to model developmental defects.Here we provide a first characterization of early human embryonic otocyst development and compare the primary tissue to the iPSC-derived inner ear cell types. Multiplex immunostaining and single cell RNA sequencing were used to characterize human iPSC-derived IEOs at 3 key developmental steps, providing a new and unique signature of in vitro derived otic- placode, epithelium, neuroblasts and sensory epithelia. The expression and localization of key markers were further evaluated in human embryos. We show that the otic placode derived in vitro (day 8-12) matches marker expression of Carnegie Stage (CS) 11 embryos, and subsequently (day 20-40) gives rise to otic epithelia and neuroblasts comparable to the CS13 embryonic stage. Differentiation of sensory epithelia, including supporting cells and hair cells, starts in vitro at day 50-60 of culture. The maturity of these cells is equivalent to vestibular sensory epithelia at week 10 or cochlear tissue at week 12 of development, prior to functional onset. Taken together these data indicates that the current state of the art protocol enables the specification of bona fide otic tissue, supporting further application of IEOs to model inner ear biology and disease
Project description:The inner ear in mammals is derived from a simple ectodermal thickening called the otic placode. Through a series of complex morphological changes, the placode forms the mature inner ear comprising of the auditory organ (cochlea) and the vestibular/balance organs (utricle, saccule, and three semi-circular canals). The vast majority of genes known to be involved during inner ear development have been found through mutational screens or by chance. To identify genes that can serve as novel candidates required for inner ear development, and also candidate genes for uncloned human deafnesses, inner ear tissues from mouse embryos from E9 to E15 were microdissected and expression-profiled at half-day intervals. Also profiled was the non-inner ear mesenchymal tissue surrounding the inner ear tissue. Various patterns of gene expression were identified, and significant biological pathways that these genes represented were identified. Also identified were mouse genes whose human orthologs are located within uncloned non-syndromic deafness intervals, thus serving as candidates for sequence analysis. Experiment Overall Design: Inner ear tissues from E9 to E15 were microdissected at half-day intervals. E9 is the earliest stage when the otic placode is clearly visible and able to be microdissected cleanly. E15 is the stage when all the organs of the inner ear have become established, as have the sensory hair and non-sensory support cells within those organs. For each of the stages from E9 to E10, whole inner ears were profiled. For each of the stages from E10.5 to E12, the primordial cochlear and vestibular organs were profiled separately. For each of the stages from E12.5 to E15, the cochlea and the saccule were profiled separately, whereas the utricle and the three ampullae were combined and profiled together. Any given tissue from any given stage was a collection of anywhere between 4 to 17 identical tissues, and was obtained in duplicate (i.e. from different litters). Hence, a total of 58 inner ear samples were obtained. Moreover, non-inner ear tissue found in the immediate vicinity of inner ear tissue was also obtained and profiled. Specifically, all non-inner ear tissue from E9 was profiled in duplicate. Non-inner ear tissue from E9.5 to E10.5 was pooled and profiled together (in duplicate), whereas that from E11 to E15 was pooled and profiled together (also in duplicate). Therefore, a total of 6 non-inner samples were obtained.
Project description:The inner ear in mammals is derived from a simple ectodermal thickening called the otic placode. Through a series of complex morphological changes, the placode forms the mature inner ear comprising of the auditory organ (cochlea) and the vestibular/balance organs (utricle, saccule, and three semi-circular canals). The vast majority of genes known to be involved during inner ear development have been found through mutational screens or by chance. To identify genes that can serve as novel candidates required for inner ear development, and also candidate genes for uncloned human deafnesses, inner ear tissues from mouse embryos from E9 to E15 were microdissected and expression-profiled at half-day intervals. Also profiled was the non-inner ear mesenchymal tissue surrounding the inner ear tissue. Various patterns of gene expression were identified, and significant biological pathways that these genes represented were identified. Also identified were mouse genes whose human orthologs are located within uncloned non-syndromic deafness intervals, thus serving as candidates for sequence analysis. Keywords: Developmental timecourse
Project description:In this study, we generated a human inner ear atlas containing three stages of inner ear development. This atlas was used to evaluate the differentiation approach of human pluripotent stem cells in to complex inner ear tissue, known as inner ear organoids. The primary goal of this single-nucleus RNA-sequencing analysis was to capture the cell type diversity of the human inner ear at different stages of development. The secondary goal was to define the similarity of organoid-derived inner ear cell types with the atlas-derived human inner ear cell types and to determine the developmental stage of the organoid-derived inner ear cell types.
Project description:In this study, we used a differentiation approach for guiding human pluripotent stem cells in to complex inner ear tissue, known as inner ear organoids. The primary goal of this single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing analyses was to define the cellular composition of the inner ear organoids, which we have shown and confirmed by histology. The secondary goal was to determine whether the inner ear organoids generated using different cell lines (WA01 hESCs, two reporter lines from the parental line GM25256, and LUMC0004iCtrl10 hiPSCs) contain similar cell types.
Project description:The otic placode, from which the inner ear develops, initially forms as a thickened ectodermal patch adjacent to the dorsolateral hindbrain. Induction of otic placodal cells from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provides a robust approach to investigation of otic development. However, attempts to recapitulate otic lineage specification from hPSCs by stepwise differentiation methods have had limited success. One possible reason is that the role of signaling pathways in otic cell differentiation is not fully understood. Here, we developed a novel differentiation system involving use of suspension culture (3D floating culture) in combination with signaling factors for generating otic placodal cells via stepwise differentiation of hPSCs. We demonstrate that hPSC-derived pre-placodal cells acquired the potential to differentiate into posterior placodal cells after fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and retinoic acid (RA) treatment. Subsequent activation of WNT signaling following posterior placode specification induced differentiation of SIX1+/PAX8+/SOX2+ otic placodal cells. qPCR analysis showed that WNT activation increased expression of otocyst markers, including PAX8, PAX2, DLX5 and FBXO2. Moreover, induced otic cells exhibited similar gene expression patterns to the ventral and medial portions of the otocyst that give rise to the sensory epithelium of the inner ear. Collectively, our results indicate a critical role for FGF2, RA, and WNT signaling for the in vitro differentiation of the otic cell lineage from hPSCs. Our new culture system paves the way for improved modeling of early human inner ear development and will be of value to studies on the further differentiation of sensory epithelial cells.
Project description:We sequenced the total RNA of cells from inner ear organoids generated by EFI,EFI-4C and EFI-CL expansion strategies. Transcriptional profiles revealed that CHIR and LPA significantly increased proliferative potency and contributed to the stemness maintenance. We further compared the gene expression profiles among the sorted Lgr5+ CPCs, the primary organoids of passage (P)0, the P4 organoids, and the sorted E-cadherin+ sensory epithelial cells. Inner ear organoids recapitulated genetic characteristics of auditory epithelium rather than Lgr5+ progenitors alone. Differential gene analysis of cells from primary organoids and organoids at fourth passage indicated stable transcriptional profiles among passages, which confirmed the reliability and authenticity of cochlear organoids for modeling the properties of the cochlea.
Project description:We implemented a functional genomics approach as a means to undertake a large-scale analysis of the Xenopus laevis inner ear transcriptome through microarray analysis. Microarray analysis uncovered genes within the X. laevis inner ear transcriptome associated with inner ear function and impairment in other organisms, thereby supporting the inclusion of Xenopus in cross-species genetic studies of the inner ear. Gene expression analysis of Xenopus laevis juvenile inner ear tissue. Inner ear RNA isolated from three groups of 5-10 juvenile X. laevis. Each biological replicate represents pooled inner ear RNA from 10-19 inner ears.
Project description:The vertebrate inner ear arises early in development from a thickened epithelium, the otic placode. Specification toward an otic fate requires diverse signals and complex transcriptional inputs that act sequentially and/or in parallel. To uncover and integrate novel genes with known molecular players in the gene regulatory network (GRN) underlying otic development, we have performed transcriptome analyses of the presumptive otic region at sequential early stages of commitment toward inner ear identity. Our results identify hundreds of genes enriched at specific developmental time points, revealing dynamic changes in gene expression as a function of time during the transition from progenitor to committed otic state. Initial functional analysis of selected enriched transcription factors demonstrates a genetic hierarchy amongst these genes underlying this critical transition. Our results not only characterize the otic transcriptome in unprecedented detail but also identify new links in the GRN responsible for development of the presumptive inner ear.