Transcriptomes of germinal zones of human and mouse fetal neocortex suggest a role of extracellular matrix in progenitor self-renewal.
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ABSTRACT: The expansion of the neocortex during mammalian brain evolution results primarily from an increase in neural progenitor cell divisions in its two principal germinal zones during development, the ventricular zone (VZ) and the subventricular zone (SVZ). Using mRNA sequencing, we analyzed the transcriptomes of fetal human and embryonic mouse VZ, SVZ and cortical plate (CP). We describe sets of genes that are up- or down-regulated in each germinal zone. These data suggest that cell adhesion and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions promote the proliferation and self-renewal of neural progenitors in the developing human neocortex. Notably, relevant ECM-associated genes include distinct sets of collagens, laminins, proteoglycans and integrins, along with specific sets of growth factors and morphogens. Our data establish a basis for identifying novel cell-type markers and open up avenues to unravel the molecular basis of neocortex expansion during evolution.
Project description:The expansion of the neocortex during mammalian brain evolution results primarily from an increase in neural progenitor cell divisions in its two principal germinal zones during development, the ventricular zone (VZ) and the subventricular zone (SVZ). Using mRNA sequencing, we analyzed the transcriptomes of fetal human and embryonic mouse VZ, SVZ and cortical plate (CP). We describe sets of genes that are up- or down-regulated in each germinal zone. These data suggest that cell adhesion and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions promote the proliferation and self-renewal of neural progenitors in the developing human neocortex. Notably, relevant ECM-associated genes include distinct sets of collagens, laminins, proteoglycans and integrins, along with specific sets of growth factors and morphogens. Our data establish a basis for identifying novel cell-type markers and open up avenues to unravel the molecular basis of neocortex expansion during evolution. Total RNA was isolated from the VZ, inner SVZ (ISVZ), outer SVZ (OSVZ) and CP of six 13-16 weeks post-conception (w.p.c.) human fetuses and from the VZ, SVZ and CP of five E14.5 mouse embryos using laser capture microdissection of Nissl-stained cryosections of dorsolateral telencephalon. Poly A+ RNA was used as template for the preparation of cDNA which were then subjected to single-end 76-bp RNA-Seq.
Project description:<p>Non-coding regions comprise most of the human genome and harbor a significant fraction of risk alleles for neuropsychiatric diseases, yet their functions remain poorly defined. We created a high-resolution map of non-coding elements involved in human cortical neurogenesis by contrasting chromatin accessibility and gene expression in the germinal zone and cortical plate of the developing cerebral cortex. To obtain a high resolution depiction of chromatin structure and gene expression in developing human fetal cortex, we dissected the post-conception week (PCW) 15-17 human neocortex into two major anatomical divisions to distinguish between proliferating neural progenitors and post mitotic neurons: (1) GZ: the neural progenitor-enriched region encompassing the ventricular zone (VZ), subventricular zone (SVZ), and intermediate zone (IZ) and (2) CP: the neuron-enriched region containing the subplate (SP), cortical plate (CP), and marginal zone (MZ). Tissues were obtained from three independent donors and three to four technical replicates from each tissue were processed for ATAC-seq to define the landscape of accessible chromatin and RNA-seq for genome-wide gene expression profiling.</p>
Project description:We performed single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize transcriptional heterogeneity of neural progenitors within the ventricular zone and subventricular zone of E12.5 and E14.5 mouse cortex and ganglionic eminences. By using a transgenic mouse line (Nestin-d4-Venus) to enrich for VZ cells, we detect significant transcriptional heterogeneity within VZ and SVZ progenitors, both between forebrain regions and within spatial subdomains of specific GEs.
Project description:The cortical area map is initially patterned by transcription factor (TF) gradients in the neocortical primordium, which define a protomap in the embryonic ventricular zone (VZ). However, mechanisms that propagate regional identity from VZ progenitors to cortical plate (CP) neurons are unknown. Here we show that the VZ, subventricular zone (SVZ), and CP contain distinct molecular maps of regional identity, reflecting different gene expression gradients in radial glia progenitors, intermediate progenitors, and projection neurons, respectively. The intermediate map in SVZ is modulated by Eomes (also known as Tbr2), a T-box TF. Eomes inactivation caused rostrocaudal shifts in SVZ and CP gene expression, with loss of corticospinal axons and gain of corticotectal projections. These findings suggest that cortical areas and connections are shaped by sequential maps of regional identity, propagated by the Pax6 → Eomes → Tbr1 TF cascade. In humans, PAX6, EOMES, and TBR1 have been linked to intellectual disability and autism.
Project description:The cortical area map is initially patterned by transcription factor (TF) gradients in the neocortical primordium, which define a protomap in the embryonic ventricular zone (VZ). However, mechanisms that propagate regional identity from VZ progenitors to cortical plate (CP) neurons are unknown. Here we show that the VZ, subventricular zone (SVZ), and CP contain distinct molecular maps of regional identity, reflecting different gene expression gradients in radial glia progenitors, intermediate progenitors, and projection neurons, respectively. The intermediate map in SVZ is modulated by Eomes (also known as Tbr2), a T-box TF. Eomes inactivation caused rostrocaudal shifts in SVZ and CP gene expression, with loss of corticospinal axons and gain of corticotectal projections. These findings suggest that cortical areas and connections are shaped by sequential maps of regional identity, propagated by the Pax6 ? Eomes ? Tbr1 TF cascade. In humans, PAX6, EOMES, and TBR1 have been linked to intellectual disability and autism. To determine the role of Eomes in the propagation of the protomap to cortical plate neurons, used microarray analysis of E14.5 cortex from five wild type and three Eomes knockout mice.
Project description:The Outer Subventricular Zone (OSVZ) is a germinal layer playing key roles in the development of the neocortex, with particular relevance in gyrencephalic species like human and ferret where it contains abundant basal Radial Glia Cells (bRGCs) that promote cortical expansion. Here we identify a brief period in ferret embryonic development when apical RGCs generate a burst of bRGCs that become founders of the OSVZ. After this period, bRGCs in the OSVZ proliferate and self-renew exclusively locally, thereby forming a self-sustained lineage independent from the other germinal layers. The time window for the brief period of OSVZ bRGC production is delineated by the coincident down-regulation of Cdh1 and Trnp1, and their up-regulation reduces bRGC production and prevents OSVZ seeding. This mechanism in cortical development may have key relevance in brain evolution and disease Samples were analyzed with 3 replicates of each of them (except E34SVZ that has 2 replicantes). Comparisons were done taking different reference sample depending on the comparison.
Project description:Neocortex expansion is largely based on the proliferative capacity of basal progenitors (BPs), which is increased by extracellular matrix (ECM) components via integrin signaling. Here we show that Sox9 drives expression of ECM components and that laminin 211 increases BP proliferation in embryonic mouse neocortex. Examination of Sox9 expression reveals that Sox9 is expressed in BPs of developing ferret and human, but not mouse neocortex. Functional studies by conditional Sox9 expression in the mouse BP lineage demonstrate increased BP proliferation, reduced Tbr2 and induction of Olig2 expression, indicative of premature gliogenesis. Conditional Sox9 expression also results in cell non-autonomous stimulation of BP proliferation followed by increased production of upper-layer neurons. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Sox9 exerts concerted effects on transcription, BP proliferation, neuron production, and neurogenic as well as gliogenic BP cell fate, suggesting that Sox9 acts a master regulator in the subventricular zone to promote neocortical expansion.
Project description:Delamination of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) from the ventricular surface is a crucial prerequisite to form the subventricular zone, the germinal layer linked to the expansion of the mammalian neocortex in development and evolution. Here, we dissect the molecular mechanism by which the transcription factor Insm1 promotes the generation of basal progenitors (BPs). Insm1 protein is most highly expressed in newborn BPs in mouse and human developing neocortex. Forced Insm1 expression in embryonic mouse neocortex causes NPC delamination, converting apical to basal radial glia. Insm1 represses the expression of the apical adherens junction belt-specific protein Plekha7. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of Plekha7 expression suffices to cause NPC delamination. Plekha7 overexpression impedes the intrinsic, and counteracts the Insm1-induced, NPC delamination. Our findings uncover a novel molecular mechanism underlying NPC delamination in which a BP-genic transcription factor specifically targets the integrity of the apical adherens junction belt, rather than adherens junction components as such.
Project description:The largest germinal niche of the adult mammal brain locates at the ventricular zone (VZ), which is made up of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) and multiciliated ependymal cells (EPCs). Both NSCs and EPCs derive from radial glia (RG), whereas the transcriptomic dynamic changes of the cell fate continuum remain elusive. Here, we used single cell RNA-seq of CD133 positive RGCs from the VZ of new born mice to uncover the developmental trajectories of RGCs to NSCs and EPCs.