Project description:This work examines sarcoma formation within discrete subsets of KRAS(G12V)-expressing p16p19null myogenic and mesenchymal cells found normally in skeletal muscle. We show that prospectively isolated skeletal muscle precursor cells (SMPs) within the satellite cell pool can serve as cancer cells-of-origin for mouse rhabdomyosarcomas (soft tissue sarcomas with features of myogenic differentiation). Alternatively, non-myogenic progenitors (ScaPCs) induce sarcomas lacking myogenic differentiation markers. We used Affymetrix whole mouse genome 430 2.0 microarrays to gain deeper insights into the molecular underpinnings of the three types of KRAS; p16p19null mouse soft-tissue sarcomas (originating from SMPs, ScaPCs and CD45-MAC1-TER119-Sca1-CXCR4- cells). Four replicates of each type.
Project description:This work examines sarcoma formation within discrete subsets of KRAS(G12V)-expressing p16p19null myogenic and mesenchymal cells found normally in skeletal muscle. We show that prospectively isolated skeletal muscle precursor cells (SMPs) within the satellite cell pool can serve as cancer cells-of-origin for mouse rhabdomyosarcomas (soft tissue sarcomas with features of myogenic differentiation). Alternatively, non-myogenic progenitors (ScaPCs) induce sarcomas lacking myogenic differentiation markers.
Project description:Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare and diverse mesenchymal cancers with limited treatment options. Here we undertake comprehensive proteomic profiling of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tumour specimens from 321 STS patients representing 11 histological subtypes.
Project description:Pancreas development involves a coordinated process in which an early phase of cell segregation and patterning is proceeded by a longer phase of lineage restriction, expansion and extensive tissue remodeling. By combining quantitative clonal lineage tracing and whole-mount reconstruction with proliferation kinetics and single-cell transcriptional profiling, we define the functional basis of pancreas morphogenesis. Our results show that the large-scale organization of tissue can be traced to the activity of self-renewing precursors that localize at the termini of growing ductal branches and act collectively to drive serial rounds of stochastic ductal bifurcation balanced by termination. During this process, multipotent precursors give rise to self-renewing acinar-committed precursors, which are conveyed with growing ducts, as well as fate-restricted ductal progenitors that expand the trailing ducts and give rise to delaminating islet precursors. Together, these findings define quantitatively how the functional behavior and lineage progression of heterogeneous pools of the pancreatic precursors that define the organization of the organ.
Project description:Despite their key role in immunity our understanding of primary and secondary lymphoid stromal cell heterogeneity and ontogeny remains limited. Here, using genome-wide expression profiling and phenotypic and localization studies, we identify a functionally distinct subset of BP3-PDPN+PDGFRβ+/α+CD34+ stromal adventitial cells in both lymph nodes and thymus that is located within the perivascular niche surrounding PDPN-PDGFRβ+/α-Esam-1+ITGA7+ pericytes. In re-aggregate organ grafts adult CD34+ adventitial cells gave rise to multiple thymic and lymph node mesenchymal subsets including pericytes, FRC-, MRC- and FDC-like cells, the development of which was lymphoid environment dependent. During thymic ontogeny pericytes developed from a transient population of BP3-PDPN+PDGFRβ+/α+CD34-/lo anlage-seeding progenitors that subsequently up-regulated CD34 and we provide evidence suggesting that similar embryonic progenitors give rise to lymph node mesenchymal subsets. These findings extend the current understanding of lymphoid mesenchymal cell heterogeneity and highlight a role of the CD34+ vascular adventitia as a potential ubiquitous source of lymphoid stromal precursors in postnatal tissues. To comprehensively study the differences and similarities between mesenchymal stromal subsets in the thymus and lymph nodes, global gene expression analysis was performed on sorted PDPN-, BP-3-PDPN+ and BP-3+PDPN+ PDGFRb+ lymph node mesenchymal cells (LNMC) as well as PDPN- and BP-3-PDPN+ PDGFRb+ thymic mesenchymal cells (TMC) from 2 w old mice by microarray. Total RNA was prepared from TMC and LNMC (pooled inguinal, brachial and axillary LN) subsets sorted from 3 (TMC) and 10-11 (LNMC) 2 weeks old mice per experiment. Isolated RNA from 3 individual experiments was amplified and prepared for hybridization to the Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.1 ST Array at a genomics core facility: Center of Excellence for Fluorescent Bioanalytics (KFB, University of Regensburg, Germany)
Project description:Splenic white pulp (WP) structures are underpinned by fibroblastic stromal cells (FSCs) to facilitate splenic compartmentalization and execute efficient immune responses. Although distinct WP FSCs exhibit various molecular traits, the origin and the hierarchical differentiation of different cell subsets are not characterized. Here we showed, the organization of splenic WP and the differentiation of WP FSCs were governed by lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTβR) signaling pathway. Cell fate mapping analysis revealed that different WP fibroblastic stromal cells descend from a common perivascular LTβR-sensitive mesenchymal lymphoid organizer cells (mLTo) at prenatal stage. Moreover, embryonic mLTo cells required LTβR signaling to give rise to different WP stromal cell subsets, while the proliferation of these cells was devoid of LTβR signaling but followed the development of WP during ontogeny. Moreover, cell fate mapping from different time point indicated a consecutive commitment of mLTo cells initiated from the proximal region around the splenic artery. RNAseq and differentiation trajectory analysis of distinct FSCs showed that Ltbr-deficient cells and perivascular reticular cells (PRCs) from adult spleen exhibited a progenitor phenotype and revealed a closer hierarchical lineage with embryonic mLTo cells. Taken together, our results unveil that embryonic mLTo cells residing in the perivascular niches can give rise to different FSC populations in a LTβR-dependent manner during development.
Project description:Splenic white pulp (WP) structures are underpinned by fibroblastic stromal cells (FSCs) to facilitate splenic compartmentalization and execute efficient immune responses. Although distinct WP FSCs exhibit various molecular traits, the origin and the hierarchical differentiation of different cell subsets are not characterized. Here we showed, the organization of splenic WP and the differentiation of WP FSCs were governed by lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTβR) signaling pathway. Cell fate mapping analysis revealed that different WP fibroblastic stromal cells descend from a common perivascular LTβR-sensitive mesenchymal lymphoid organizer cells (mLTo) at prenatal stage. Moreover, embryonic mLTo cells required LTβR signaling to give rise to different WP stromal cell subsets, while the proliferation of these cells was devoid of LTβR signaling but followed the development of WP during ontogeny. Moreover, cell fate mapping from different time point indicated a consecutive commitment of mLTo cells initiated from the proximal region around the splenic artery. RNAseq and differentiation trajectory analysis of distinct FSCs showed that Ltbr-deficient cells and perivascular reticular cells (PRCs) from adult spleen exhibited a progenitor phenotype and revealed a closer hierarchical lineage with embryonic mLTo cells. Taken together, our results unveil that embryonic mLTo cells residing in the perivascular niches can give rise to different FSC populations in a LTβR-dependent manner during development.
Project description:Splenic white pulp (WP) structures are underpinned by fibroblastic stromal cells (FSCs) to facilitate splenic compartmentalization and execute efficient immune responses. Although distinct WP FSCs exhibit various molecular traits, the origin and the hierarchical differentiation of different cell subsets are not characterized. Here we showed, the organization of splenic WP and the differentiation of WP FSCs were governed by lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTβR) signaling pathway. Cell fate mapping analysis revealed that different WP fibroblastic stromal cells descend from a common perivascular LTβR-sensitive mesenchymal lymphoid organizer cells (mLTo) at prenatal stage. Moreover, embryonic mLTo cells required LTβR signaling to give rise to different WP stromal cell subsets, while the proliferation of these cells was devoid of LTβR signaling but followed the development of WP during ontogeny. Moreover, cell fate mapping from different time point indicated a consecutive commitment of mLTo cells initiated from the proximal region around the splenic artery. RNAseq and differentiation trajectory analysis of distinct FSCs showed that Ltbr-deficient cells and perivascular reticular cells (PRCs) from adult spleen exhibited a progenitor phenotype and revealed a closer hierarchical lineage with embryonic mLTo cells. Taken together, our results unveil that embryonic mLTo cells residing in the perivascular niches can give rise to different FSC populations in a LTβR-dependent manner during development.
Project description:Soft-tissue tumours are derived from mesenchymal cells such as fibroblasts, muscle cells, or adipocytes, but for many such tumours the histogenesis is controversial. We aimed to start molecular characterisation of these rare neoplasms and to do a genome-wide search for new diagnostic markers. We analysed gene-expression patterns of 41 soft-tissue tumours with spotted cDNA microarrays. After removal of errors introduced by use of different microarray batches, the expression patterns of 5520 genes that were well defined were used to separate tumours into discrete groups by hierarchical clustering and singular value decomposition. Synovial sarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, neural tumours, and a subset of the leiomyosarcomas, showed strikingly distinct gene-expression patterns. Other tumour categories--malignant fibrous histiocytoma, liposarcoma, and the remaining leiomyosarcomas--shared molecular profiles that were not predicted by histological features or immunohistochemistry. Strong expression of known genes, such as KIT in gastrointestinal stromal tumours, was noted within gene sets that distinguished the different sarcomas. However, many uncharacterised genes also contributed to the distinction between tumour types. These results suggest a new method for classification of soft-tissue tumours, which could improve on the method based on histological findings. Large numbers of uncharacterised genes contributed to distinctions between the tumours, and some of these could be useful markers for diagnosis, have prognostic significance, or prove possible targets for treatment.