Project description:In the present study, we developed a chemical method to produce dihydro nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMNH), which is the reduced-form of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). We demonstrated that NMNH was a better nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) enhancer compared to NMN both in vitro and in vivo mediated by mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT). Additionally, NMNH increased the reduced NAD (NADH) levels in cells and in mouse liver. Metabolomic analysis revealed that NMNH inhibited glycolysis and TCA cycle. In vitro experiments demonstrated that NMNH induced cell cycle arrest and suppressed cell growth. Nevertheless, NMNH treatment did not cause observable difference in mice. Taken together, our work demonstrates that NMNH is a potent NAD+ enhancer, and suppresses glycometabolism and cell growth.
Project description:Despite recent advances in pluripotent stem cell-based approaches to induce skeletal cells, recapitulating human limb skeletal development in terms of structure and longitudinally oriented growth remains an unresolved challenge. Here, we report a method to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into region-specific skeletal organoids harboring GDF5+PRG4+ interzone/articular chondrocyte progenitors (IZ/ACPs) and SP7+ growth plate chondrocytes (GPCs) via PRRX1⁺ limb-bud mesenchymal cells. Comparative analysis demonstrated marked similarities of IZ/ACP and GPC organoids to the human embryonic limb, and graft fate and regenerative capacity in vivo were further characterized. We also mimicked the limb skeletal developmental process in a spatially structured manner by vertically positioning two IZ/ACP organoids at both ends of a GPC organoid to generate a human skeletal assembloid. Notably, this human skeletal assembloid recapitulated endochondral ossification with longitudinal skeletal growth upon transplantation. In summary, our study provides a novel research platform for human limb skeletal development and disease.
Project description:Despite recent advances in pluripotent stem cell-based approaches to induce skeletal cells, recapitulating human limb skeletal development in terms of structure and longitudinally oriented growth remains an unresolved challenge. Here, we report a method to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into region-specific skeletal organoids harboring GDF5+PRG4+ interzone/articular chondrocyte progenitors (IZ/ACPs) and SP7+ growth plate chondrocytes (GPCs) via PRRX1⁺ limb-bud mesenchymal cells. Comparative analysis demonstrated marked similarities of IZ/ACP and GPC organoids to the human embryonic limb, and graft fate and regenerative capacity in vivo were further characterized. We also mimicked the limb skeletal developmental process in a spatially structured manner by vertically positioning two IZ/ACP organoids at both ends of a GPC organoid to generate a human skeletal assembloid. Notably, this human skeletal assembloid recapitulated endochondral ossification with longitudinal skeletal growth upon transplantation. In summary, our study provides a novel research platform for human limb skeletal development and disease.
Project description:The ischemic borderzone (BZ) is a geographically complex and biologically enigmatic interface separating poorly perfused infarct zones (IZ) from comparatively healthy remote zones (RZ). BZ cellular and molecular mechanisms are not well understood because efforts to dissect it inevitably include RZ and IZ in uncontrolled proportions. Here, we use single-cell/nuclei RNA-sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and multiplexed RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) to identify BZ cardiomyocytes (CMs) subsets. BZ1 (Nppa+Xirp2-) forms a hundreds-of-microns-thick transitional layer adjacent to RZ, while BZ2 (Nppa+Xirp2+) forms a tens-of-microns-thick layer that the IZ edge. BZ2 CMs have reduced CM cell contact; colocalize with matricellular-protein-expressing myofibroblasts; and upregulate focal adhesion-, sarcomere-, and cytoskeletal-genes. Surprisingly, the transcriptional BZ emerges within an hour of injury and is inducible by non-ischemic fine-needle-trauma. We suggest that mechanical instability and “loss of neighbor” at the BZ edge are the dominant inducers of the BZ transcriptional response.
Project description:Despite recent advances in pluripotent stem cell-based approaches to induce skeletal cells, recapitulating human limb skeletal development in terms of structure and longitudinally oriented growth remains an unresolved challenge. Here, we report a method to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into region-specific skeletal organoids harboring GDF5+PRG4+ interzone/articular chondrocyte progenitors (IZ/ACPs) and SP7+ growth plate chondrocytes (GPCs) via PRRX1⁺ limb-bud mesenchymal cells. Comparative analysis demonstrated marked similarities of IZ/ACP and GPC organoids to the human embryonic limb, and graft fate and regenerative capacity in vivo were further characterized. We also mimicked the limb skeletal developmental process in a spatially structured manner by vertically positioning two IZ/ACP organoids at both ends of a GPC organoid to generate a human skeletal assembloid. Notably, this human skeletal assembloid recapitulated endochondral ossification with longitudinal skeletal growth upon transplantation. In summary, our study provides a novel research platform for human limb skeletal development and disease.