Project description:The phases of fracture healing have been well characterized. However, the exact source and genetic profile of the skeletal progenitors that participate in bone repair is somewhat unclear. Sox9 expression in skeletal elements precedes bone and cartilage formation and a Sox9+ cell type is retained in the adult periosteum. We hypothesized that Sox9+ periosteal cells are multipotent skeletal progenitors normally participating in fracture repair. To test this hypothesis we used tamoxifen (TM)-mediated lineage tracing of Sox9+ cells in Sox9CreErt2:Td-Tomato mice. TM injection indelibly labels Sox9+ cells and all their descendants with the fluorescent reporter protein Td-Tomato. Intact mouse femora were harvested 2 weeks after TM injection and analyzed by histology and immunostaining and RNA sequencing, to evaluate the skeletal distribution and gene expression profile of Td-Tomato positive cells in the adult femur. To assess the role of these cells in fracture repair, mice underwent a closed mid-diaphyseal femoral fracture and their hind limbs were harvested at 3, 9 or 56 days post-fracture to assess the contribution of Sox9+ and Td-tomato+ cells in the fracture healing process. In the intact adult mouse femur, Td-Tomato-labelled cells were observed in articular and growth plate cartilage where Sox9 is known to be expressed, but also in the primary spongiosa, periosteum, and endosteum. RNA sequencing and subsequent analysis showed that Td-Tomato positive periosteal cells were enriched in Sox9 transcripts, and transcripts for various osteogenic and chondrocyte specific genes. In a femoral fracture model, we showed that pre-labeled Td-Tomato positive descendent cells were mobilized during the fracture repair process, expanding and migrating towards the fracture site 3 days post-fracture. Here, Td-Tomato positive cells differentiate into chondrocytes and osteoblasts in the soft and hard callus, respectively, 9 days post-fracture. By 2 months post-fracture, descendants of the original Sox9 labelled cell population were prevalent in the cortex and periosteum, and amongst the differentiated osteocyte population embedded within the cortical bone. Thus, a Sox9+ progenitor population resides in the adult periosteum. Fate tracing shows that these cells likely play a substantial role in repair of the fractured femur giving rise to chondrocytes, osteoblasts and mature cortical osteocytes. To our knowledge this is the first report of this Sox9+ cell population in the periosteum of the adult long bone. Taken together with developmental studies on skeletal formation, our data suggest that Sox9+ osteochondroprogenitors play a continuous role in skeletal formation throughout life.
Project description:The periosteum contains cells which function as a reservoir of stem cells and progenitors and contribute to cortical expansion during growth, cortical bone homeostasis and repair. However, the local or paracrine factors that govern stem cell renewal and differentiation within the periosteal niche remains elusive. Cathepsin K (Ctsk) together with additional cell surface markers marks a subset of stem cells in the periosteum (PSC) which possess self-renewal ability and inducible multipotency. These PSCs produce osteoblasts mediating periosteal bone formation and fracture repair. Sfrp4 is expressed in periosteal Ctsk-lineage cells and using CtskCre mice that are either wild type or Sfrp4-/-, we report here that Sfrp4 deletion decreases the pool of PSCs, impairs their self-renewal, their ability to give rise to their derivatives and their clonal multipotency for differentiation into osteoblasts and chondrocytes in vitro and formation of bone organoids in vivo. Bulk RNA sequencing analysis in Ctsk-lineage PSCs demonstrated that Sfrp4 deletion leads to downregulation of signaling pathways associated with skeletal development, positive regulation of bone mineralization and wound healing. Sfrp4 deletion hampers the Ctsk-lineage PSC response and recruitment after bone injury and leads to an impaired periosteal response. Periosteal Ctsk-lineage cells respond to PTH(1-34) treatment with an increase in the % of PSCs, a response not seen in the absence of Sfrp4. Importantly, bone histomorphometry analysis showed that in the absence of Sfrp4, PTH(1-34)-dependent increase in cortical thickness, periosteal bone formation is markedly impaired.
Project description:Fracture healing is a process that involves many cell populations. In this study we characterized gene expression in a subset of cells involved in fracture healing. αSMACreERT2 mice crossed with Ai9 reporter mice that express tdTomato fluorescent protein after Cre-mediated activation were used as an experimental model. αSMA-expressing cells were labeled by tamoxifen administration, then periosteal cells from the tibia were isolated two days later (controls), or tibial fractures were performed and periosteum/soft callus tissue was collected after 2 and 6 days. The tdTomato positive cell population was isolated by flow cytometry, and subjected to microarray analysis. Histology and cell surface marker analysis indicates that αSMACreERT2 labels a mainly mesenchymal population in the periosteum that expands after fracture, and contributes to both osteogenic and chondrogenic elements of the fracture callus. We were therefore able to examine gene expression in a defined population during the early stages of fracture healing. Total RNA was obtained from the tomato positive cells within the periosteal compartment of fractures from αSMACreERT2/Ai9 mice. Control animals were given 2 doses of tamoxifen, and periosteum was collected and labeled cells sorted (8-9 sex-matched mice per group). Fractures were performed after the second dose of tamoxifen, and tomato positive cells from periosteum/callus tissue were isolated 2 and 6 days after fracture (4-8 animals per sample pooled). 3 replicates for each sample are included.
Project description:Leptin receptor (LepR)-positive cells are key components of the bone marrow hematopoietic microenvironment, and highly enrich skeletal stem and progenitor cells that maintain homeostasis of the adult skeleton. However, the heterogeneity and lineage hierarchy within this population has been elusive. Using genetic lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, we found that Lepr-Cre labels most bone marrow stromal cells and osteogenic lineage cells in adult long bones. Integrated analysis of Lepr-Cre-traced cells under homeostatic and stress conditions revealed dynamic changes of the adipogenic, osteogenic, and periosteal lineages. Importantly, we discovered a Notch3+ bone marrow sub-population that is slow-cycling and closely associated with the vasculatures, as well as key transcriptional networks promoting osteo-chondrogenic differentiation. We also identified a Sca-1+ periosteal sub-population with high clonogenic activity but limited osteo-chondrogenic potential. Together, we mapped the transcriptomic landscape of adult LepR+ stem and progenitor cells and uncovered cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying their maintenance and lineage specification.
Project description:The outer coverings of the skeleton, or periosteum, are arranged in concentric layers and act as a reservoir for tissue specific bone progenitors. Cellular heterogeneity within this tissue depot is increasingly recognized. Here, Pdgfra reporter animals were used to highlight a subset of periosteal progenitor cells with high osteogenic potential. Pdgfra+ periosteal progenitor cells enhanced osteogenic differentiation in vitro and improved fracture healing and bone regeneration in vivo. Depletion of Pdgfra-expressing progenitor cells interferes with cortical appositional bone, periosteal bone formation in response to mechanical load, and during fracture repair. Pdgfra+ periosteal progenitors give rise to Nestin+ periosteal cells overtime, after fracture and upon transplantation.
Project description:PURPOSE: To provide a detailed gene expression profile of the normal postnatal mouse cornea. METHODS: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was performed on postnatal day (PN)9 and adult mouse (6 week) total corneas. The expression of selected genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A total of 64,272 PN9 and 62,206 adult tags were sequenced. Mouse corneal transcriptomes are composed of at least 19,544 and 18,509 unique mRNAs, respectively. One third of the unique tags were expressed at both stages, whereas a third was identified exclusively in PN9 or adult corneas. Three hundred thirty-four PN9 and 339 adult tags were enriched more than fivefold over other published nonocular libraries. Abundant transcripts were associated with metabolic functions, redox activities, and barrier integrity. Three members of the Ly-6/uPAR family whose functions are unknown in the cornea constitute more than 1% of the total mRNA. Aquaporin 5, epithelial membrane protein and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) omega-1, and GST alpha-4 mRNAs were preferentially expressed in distinct corneal epithelial layers, providing new markers for stratification. More than 200 tags were differentially expressed, of which 25 mediate transcription. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to providing a detailed profile of expressed genes in the PN9 and mature mouse cornea, the present SAGE data demonstrate dynamic changes in gene expression after eye opening and provide new probes for exploring corneal epithelial cell stratification, development, and function and for exploring the intricate relationship between programmed and environmentally induced gene expression in the cornea. Keywords: other
Project description:Introgressed variants from other species can be an important source of genetic variation because they may arise rapidly, can include multiple mutations on a single haplotype, and have often been pretested by selection in the species of origin. Although introgressed alleles are generally deleterious, several studies have reported introgression as the source of adaptive alleles-including the rodenticide-resistant variant of Vkorc1 that introgressed from Mus spretus into European populations of Mus musculus domesticus. Here, we conducted bidirectional genome scans to characterize introgressed regions into one wild population of M. spretus from Spain and three wild populations of M. m. domesticus from France, Germany, and Iran. Despite the fact that these species show considerable intrinsic postzygotic reproductive isolation, introgression was observed in all individuals, including in the M. musculus reference genome (GRCm38). Mus spretus individuals had a greater proportion of introgression compared with M. m. domesticus, and within M. m. domesticus, the proportion of introgression decreased with geographic distance from the area of sympatry. Introgression was observed on all autosomes for both species, but not on the X-chromosome in M. m. domesticus, consistent with known X-linked hybrid sterility and inviability genes that have been mapped to the M. spretus X-chromosome. Tract lengths were generally short with a few outliers of up to 2.7 Mb. Interestingly, the longest introgressed tracts were in olfactory receptor regions, and introgressed tracts were significantly enriched for olfactory receptor genes in both species, suggesting that introgression may be a source of functional novelty even between species with high barriers to gene flow.
Project description:Glycolytic metabolism, once considered merely a consequence of cellular function, has emerged as a crucial regulator of cellular differentiation. Both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPhos) are vital for osteoblastogenesis. Osteoblasts are the cells that make bone. To deepen our understanding of OXPhos's role in bone mass accrual, we engineered a mutant mouse model deficient in Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A (TFAM) specifically in mesenchymal progenitors within the limb bud and their descendants, using the PRX1-Cre driver system. TFAM is essential for transcription of the mitochondrial genes that encode critical components of the electron transport chain, thereby governing OXPhos. Our TFAM mutant mice exhibit marked shortening of long bones, evident at birth and progressing with age, accompanied by growth plate abnormalities and bone deformities. Critically, these mice develop spontaneous fractures in long bone mid-shafts by three weeks of age, indicating significant compromise in bone integrity. Comparative analyses using MicroCT and histomorphometry reveal drastic cortical bone thinning in mutants due to severely impaired osteoid deposition and bone formation, especially in the diaphyseal periosteum. Furthermore, an increased number of osteoclasts at this site suggests that an elevated bone resorption contributes to the phenotype. Acknowledging the active role of energy metabolism in cell differentiation and function, we measured ATP production in PRX1 lineage periosteal cells. TFAM deletion led to a substantial decrease in steady-state intracellular ATP levels, highlighting a critical metabolic deficit. To rectify this metabolic defect and potentially correct the resultant phenotype, we bred TFAM mice with another mouse line expressing mutated, oxygen-independent Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1alpha (HIF1dPA) within PRX1 lineage cells (yielding TFAM/HIF1dPA mice). These double mutants did not experience spontaneous fractures, and their cortical bone thickness and the ability of periosteal cells to accumulate osteoid was fully restored. Therefore, by examining the transcriptional profile of periosteal cells, our aim is to determine whether TFAM deficiency alters their genetic landscape and if HIF1 activation can reverse these changes. Our goal is to provide new insights into the role of energy metabolism in shaping the transcriptome landscape, thereby influencing cell differentiation and activity.
Project description:A transcriptome study in mouse hematopoietic stem cells was performed using a sensitive SAGE method, in an attempt to detect medium and low abundant transcripts expressed in these cells. Among a total of 31,380 unique transcript, 17,326 (55%) known genes were detected, 14,054 (45%) low-copy transcripts that have no matches to currently known genes. 3,899 (23%) were alternatively spliced transcripts of the known genes and 3,754 (22%) represent anti-sense transcripts from known genes. Mouse hematopoietic stem cells were purified from bone marrow cells using negative and positive selection with a Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorter (MACS). total RNA and mRNA were purified from the purified cells using Trizol reagent and magnetic oligo dT beads. Double strand cDNAs were synthesized using a cDNA synthesis kit and anchored oligo dT primers. After NlaIII digestion, 3’ cDNAs were isolated and amplified through 16-cycle PCR. SAGE tags were released from the 3’ cDNA after linker ligation. Ditags were formed, concatemerized and cloned into a pZERO vector. Sequencing reactions were performed with the ET sequencing terminator kit. Sequences were collected using a Megabase 1000 sequencer. SAGE tag sequences were extracted using SAGE 2000 software.
Project description:BACKGROUND: Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons make up a large fraction of the typical mammalian genome. They comprise about 8% of the human genome and approximately 10% of the mouse genome. On account of their abundance, LTR retrotransposons are believed to hold major significance for genome structure and function. Recent advances in genome sequencing of a variety of model organisms has provided an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate better the diversity of LTR retrotransposons resident in eukaryotic genomes. RESULTS: Using a new data-mining program, LTR_STRUC, in conjunction with conventional techniques, we have mined the GenBank mouse (Mus musculus) database and the more complete Ensembl mouse dataset for LTR retrotransposons. We report here that the M. musculus genome contains at least 21 separate families of LTR retrotransposons; 13 of these families are described here for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: All families of mouse LTR retrotransposons are members of the gypsy-like superfamily of retroviral-like elements. Several different families of unrelated non-autonomous elements were identified, suggesting that the evolution of non-autonomy may be a common event. High sequence similarity between several LTR retrotransposons identified in this study and those found in distantly-related species suggests that horizontal transfer has been a significant factor in the evolution of mouse LTR retrotransposons.