Project description:In this study we introduced Sox21 as a new regulator of trophoblast stem cell (TSC) differentiation. The transcriptome of different cell types were analyzed and compared to identify a TSC gene signature. In order to identify novel TSC specific genes, we performed genome-wide expression profiling of TSCs, embryonic stem cells, epiblast stem cells, and mouse embryo fibroblasts derived from mice of the same genetic background (129S1/SvImJ).
Project description:In this study we introduced Sox21 as a new regulator of trophoblast stem cell (TSC) differentiation. The transcriptome of different cell types were analyzed and compared to identify a TSC gene signature.
Project description:This dataset is part of a study that aims to compare in vivo human trophoblast differentiation into EVTs to different in vitro trophoblast organoids using single-cell and single-nuclei RNA sequencing. This specific dataset includes scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq data from trophoblast stem cells (TSCs). Trophoblast stem cell (TSC) lines BTS5 and BTS11 derived by Okae and colleagues were grown as described previously (Okae et al. 2018) together with EVT differentiation media. This study shows that the main regulatory programs mediating EVT invasion in vivo are preserved in in vitro models of EVT differentiation from primary trophoblast organoids and trophoblast stem cells. Data for primary trophoblast organoids is available under E-MTAB-12650.
Project description:To understand how SOX21 regulates neural fate specification, we differentiated wild type and SOX21 knockout hESC into neural epithelial cells (NECs) using dual SMAD inhibition protocol. We collected cells at neural differentiation day 5 and performed SOX21 ChIP-seq to investigate the genome-wide binding profiles. Meanwhile, we also carried out b-catenin ChIP-seq in wild type and SOX21 knockout NECs to dissect the role of SOX21 in Wnt signaling inhibition, thus providing important information for the mechanism underlying SOX21's functions in early neural fate specification.
Project description:Generation of brain region-specific progenitors from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is critical for their application. However, transcriptional regulation of neural regionalization in human embryos is poorly understood. Here, we report that transcription factor SOX21 is required for telencephalic fate specification from hESCs. SOX21 knockout (KO) impairs telencephalic fate specification, concomitant with the activation of diencephalic genes and Wnt signaling. Inhibition of Wnt signaling restores telencephalic specification from SOX21 KO hESCs. Analysis of global SOX21 DNA binding profiles and SOX21-regulated genes identifies SOX21 targets. SOX21 interacts with b-catenin and interferes with TCF4/b-catenin binding to the enhancer of WNT8B. Double KO of SOX21 and WNT8B restores telencephalic specification, indicating that SOX21 specifies the telencephalic fate through repressing WNT8B expression. Moreover, the high and low levels of SOX21 in the telencephalon and diencephalon, respectively, in developing human brains support its role in telencephalic fate specification. Collectively, this study unveils previously unappreciated roles of SOX21 and sheds light on the transcriptional control of telencephalic patterning in humans.
Project description:Generation of brain region-specific progenitors from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is critical for their application. However, transcriptional regulation of neural regionalization in human embryos is poorly understood. Here, we report that transcription factor SOX21 is required for telencephalic fate specification from hESCs. SOX21 knockout (KO) impairs telencephalic fate specification, concomitant with the activation of diencephalic genes and Wnt signaling. Inhibition of Wnt signaling restores telencephalic specification from SOX21 KO hESCs. Analysis of global SOX21 DNA binding profiles and SOX21-regulated genes identifies SOX21 targets. SOX21 interacts with b-catenin and interferes with TCF4/b-catenin binding to the enhancer of WNT8B. Double KO of SOX21 and WNT8B restores telencephalic specification, indicating that SOX21 specifies the telencephalic fate through repressing WNT8B expression. Moreover, the high and low levels of SOX21 in the telencephalon and diencephalon, respectively, in developing human brains support its role in telencephalic fate specification. Collectively, this study unveils previously unappreciated roles of SOX21 and sheds light on the transcriptional control of telencephalic patterning in humans.
Project description:Here, we demonstrate that upon inhibition of the Fgf/Erk pathway in mouse trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), the Ets2 repressor factor (Erf) interacts with components of the Nuclear Receptor Corepressor Complex 1 and 2 (NCoR1 and NCoR2). Upon attenuation of Fgf signalling, unphosphorylated, nuclear Erf recruits the NCoR1/2 complex to key trophoblast genes, brings about their transcriptional silencing and facilitates differentiation and placental development.
Project description:This study aims to compare in vivo human trophoblast differentiation into EVTs to different in vitro trophoblast organoids using single-cell and single-nuclei RNA sequencing. The study includes two type of systems: human primary trophoblast organoids (PTO) and trophoblast stem cells (TSCs). Trophoblast stem cell (TSC) lines BTS5 and BTS11 derived by Okae and colleagues were grown as described previously (Okae et al. 2018) and together with EVT media. Primary trophoblast organoids (PTO) were grown and differentiated into EVT as previously described by Turco & Sheridan (Turco et al 2018; Sheridan et al 2020). This study shows that the main regulatory programs mediating EVT invasion in vivo are preserved in in vitro models of EVT differentiation from primary trophoblast organoids and trophoblast stem cells.
Project description:Human naive pluripotent stem cells have unrestricted lineage potential. Underpinning this property, naive cells are thought to lack chromatin-based lineage barriers. However, this assumption has not been tested. Here, we define the chromatin-associated proteome, histone post-translational modifications and transcriptome of human naive and primed pluripotent stem cells. Our integrated analysis reveals differences in the relative abundance and activities of distinct chromatin modules. We identify a strong enrichment of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2)-associated H3K27me3 in naive pluripotent stem cell chromatin, and H3K27me3 enrichment at promoters of lineage-determining genes, including trophoblast regulators. PRC2 activity acts as a chromatin barrier restricting the differentiation of naive cells towards the trophoblast lineage, while inhibition of PRC2 promotes trophoblast fate induction and cavity formation in human blastoids. Together, our results establish that human naive pluripotent stem cells are not epigenetically unrestricted, but instead possess chromatin mechanisms that oppose the induction of alternative cell fates.
Project description:Tooth and hair development starts from ectodermal invaginations. However, the determination of organ-specific cell fates is poorly understood. The transcription factor Sox21 is expressed in the epithelium of developing teeth. We discovered that disruption of Sox21 caused severe enamel hypoplasia and ectopic hair formation in the gingiva in Sox21 knockout incisors. We dissected tooth germ from P1 Sox21 KO and control incisors for microarray. In particular, several markers of ameloblast maturity, i.e. amelotin (Amtn), laminin α3 (Lama3), and kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (Klk4), were included among the downregulated molecules in Sox21 KO tooth germ, whereas the expression of Mmp20 and Amel was not changed. On the other hand, numerous keratin-related genes were upregulated in the Sox21 KO tooth germ and WT skin. As in the microarray results, the expression of dental epithelial stem cell marker Sox2, as well as keratin family and hair-related genes such as Lgr5, were increased in Sox21 KO dental epithelium. Taken together, these results reflected the perturbed differentiation of ameloblasts and a cell fate change in the Sox21 KO incisors.