Project description:We sequenced embryoid bodies at two time points (18h, 96h) following a differentiation protocol to induce Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells (PGCLC) in a TFAP2A KO line and parental line
Project description:Current human primordial germ cell like cells (hPGCLCs) differentiation methods from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are inefficient, and it is challenging to generate sufficient hPGCLCs to optimize the next steps to achieve in vitro gametogenesis. We present a new differentiation method that uses diluted basement membrane extract (BME) and low BMP4 concentration to induce efficient hPGCLC differentiation, in scalable 2D cell culture. We show that BME overlay potentiates BMP/SMAD signaling, induced lumenogenesis and increases expression of key hPGCLC progenitor markers such as TFAP2A, EOMES, GATA3 and CDX2. These findings highlight the importance of factors in the BME in hPGCLC differentiation, and demonstrate the potential of the BME-overlay method as a new model for interrogating the formation of PGCs and amnion in humans.
Project description:Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the embryonic precursors of eggs and sperm, are a unique model for identifying and studying regulatory mechanisms in singly migrating cells. From their time of specification to eventual colonization of the gonad, mouse PGCs traverse through and interact with many different cell types, including epithelial cells and mesenchymal tissues. Work in drosophila and zebrafish have identified many genes and signaling pathways involved in PGC migration, but little is known about this process in mammals. We have generated a point mutation in the Ror2 gene that we know disrupts primordial germ cell migration in the developing mouse embryo. We used microarray analysis to determine if this defect is mediated through genome-wide or pathway-specific transcriptional changes. We analyzed primordial germ cells (PGCs) from 4 wild-type (WT) and 4 Ror2Y324C/Y324C mutant embryos using Oct4-DPE-EGFP. PGCs were collected during their active migratory state at embryonic day 9.5 (somite range 20-25).
Project description:To investigate the role of NRF1 in regulating primordial germ cell development, We established conditional knockout mice of Nrf1 in primordial germ cell to observe the effect of Nrf1 knockout on the development of primordial germ cell. At the same time, we utilized a pluripotent stem cell differentiation system in vitro to obtain PGCL cells for chip_ Seq, analyze which genes Nrf1 directly binds to. Meanwhile, we established a pluripotent stem cell line induced by Nrf1 overexpression and performed RNA_seq analysis on PGCL cells overexpressing Nrf1 obtained in vitro
Project description:To investigate the role of NRF1 in regulating primordial germ cell development, We established conditional knockout mice of Nrf1 in primordial germ cell to observe the effect of Nrf1 knockout on the development of primordial germ cell. At the same time, we utilized a pluripotent stem cell differentiation system in vitro to obtain PGCL cells for chip_ Seq, analyze which genes Nrf1 directly binds to. Meanwhile, we established a pluripotent stem cell line induced by Nrf1 overexpression and performed RNA_seq analysis on PGCL cells overexpressing Nrf1 obtained in vitro
Project description:In vitro gametogenesis is the process of making germline cells from human pluripotent stem cells. The foundation of this model is the quality of the first progenitors called primordial germ cells (PGCs), which in vivo are specified during the peri-implantation window of human development. Here, we show using human embryo attachment culture that hPGC specification begins at day 12 post fertilization. Using single cell RNA-sequencing of hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) differentiated from pluripotent stem cells we discovered that hPGCLC specification involves resetting pluripotency towards a transitional state with shared characteristics between naïve and primed pluripotency followed by differentiation into lineage primed TFAP2A+ progenitors. Applying the germline trajectory to TFAP2C mutants reveals that TFAP2C functions in the TFAP2A+ progenitors upstream of PRDM1 to regulate the expression of SOX17. This serves to protect hPGCLCs from crossing the Weismann’s barrier to adopt somatic cell fates and therefore is an essential mechanism for successfully initiating in vitro gametogenesis.