Project description:Harnessing the self-organizing abilities of human embryonic stem cells to mimic normal and aberrant development is a pressing challenge. Generation of highly reproducible and standardized models would allow drug screening with unprecedented accuracy. Here we report single-cell RNA-seq data (10xGenomics) of human "neuruloids". Using micro-patterned technologies we recapitulate the self-organization of the complete human embryonic ectodermal compartment during neurulation containing: neural progenitors, neural crest, sensory placode and epidermis. Single-cell transcriptomics allowed the precise molecular characterization of each cell type in a faithful model of human neurulation. Additionally, isogenic neuruloids coupled to deep neural network analysis provide a unique opportunity to model human neuropathological disorders as demonstrated for Huntignton’s disease.
Project description:Knowledge of cell signaling pathways that drive human neural crest differentiation into craniofacial chondrocytes is incomplete, yet essential for using stem cells to regenerate craniomaxillofacial structures. To accelerate translational progress, we developed a differentiation protocol that generated self-organizing craniofacial cartilage organoids from human embryonic stem cell-derived neural crest stem cells. Histological staining of cartilage organoids revealed tissue architecture and staining typical of elastic cartilage. Protein and post-translational modification (PTM) mass spectrometry and snRNASeq data showed that chondrocyte organoids expressed robust levels of cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) components: many collagens, aggrecan, perlecan, proteoglycans, and elastic fibers. We identified two populations of chondroprogenitor cells, mesenchyme cells and nascent chondrocytes and the growth factors involved in paracrine signaling between them. We show that ECM components secreted by chondrocytes not only create a structurally resilient matrix that defines cartilage, but also play a pivotal autocrine cell signaling role to determine chondrocyte fate.
Project description:The capacity of 3D organoids to mimic physiological tissue organization and functionality has provided an invaluable tool to model development and disease in vitro. However, conventional organoid cultures primarily represent the homeostasis of self-organizing including VPA, EPZ6438, LDN193189, and R-Spondin 1 conditioned medium, which mimics the gut epithelium regeneration that produces hyperplastic crypts following injury; therefore, these organoids were designated hyperplastic intestinal organoids (Hyperorganoids). Single-cell RNA sequencing identified different regenerative stem cell populations in our Hyper-organoids that shared molecular features with in vivo injury-responsive Lgr5+ stem cells or Clu+ revival stem cells. Further analysis revealed that VPA and EPZ6438 were indispensable for epigenome reprogramming and regeneration in Hyper-organoids, which functioned through epigenetically regulating YAP signaling. Furthermore, VPA and EPZ6438 synergistically promoted regenerative response in gut upon damage in vivo. In summary, our results demonstrated a new in vitro organoid model to study epithelial regeneration, highlighting the importance of epigenetic reprogramming that pioneers tissue repair.
Project description:The capacity of 3D organoids to mimic physiological tissue organization and functionality has provided an invaluable tool to model development and disease in vitro. However, conventional organoid cultures primarily represent the homeostasis of self-organizing including VPA, EPZ6438, LDN193189, and R-Spondin 1 conditioned medium, which mimics the gut epithelium regeneration that produces hyperplastic crypts following injury; therefore, these organoids were designated hyperplastic intestinal organoids (Hyperorganoids). Single-cell RNA sequencing identified different regenerative stem cell populations in our Hyper-organoids that shared molecular features with in vivo injury-responsive Lgr5+ stem cells or Clu+ revival stem cells. Further analysis revealed that VPA and EPZ6438 were indispensable for epigenome reprogramming and regeneration in Hyper-organoids, which functioned through epigenetically regulating YAP signaling. Furthermore, VPA and EPZ6438 synergistically promoted regenerative response in gut upon damage in vivo. In summary, our results demonstrated a new in vitro organoid model to study epithelial regeneration, highlighting the importance of epigenetic reprogramming that pioneers tissue repair.
Project description:The capacity of 3D organoids to mimic physiological tissue organization and functionality has provided an invaluable tool to model development and disease in vitro. However, conventional organoid cultures primarily represent the homeostasis of self-organizing including VPA, EPZ6438, LDN193189, and R-Spondin 1 conditioned medium, which mimics the gut epithelium regeneration that produces hyperplastic crypts following injury; therefore, these organoids were designated hyperplastic intestinal organoids (Hyperorganoids). Single-cell RNA sequencing identified different regenerative stem cell populations in our Hyper-organoids that shared molecular features with in vivo injury-responsive Lgr5+ stem cells or Clu+ revival stem cells. Further analysis revealed that VPA and EPZ6438 were indispensable for epigenome reprogramming and regeneration in Hyper-organoids, which functioned through epigenetically regulating YAP signaling. Furthermore, VPA and EPZ6438 synergistically promoted regenerative response in gut upon damage in vivo. In summary, our results demonstrated a new in vitro organoid model to study epithelial regeneration, highlighting the importance of epigenetic reprogramming that pioneers tissue repair.
Project description:We developed hepatic organoids (HOs) from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) through a de novo induction protocol, mimicking the stages of fetal liver development: ESCs to definitive endoderm (DE), then to foregut (FG), hepatoblasts (HB), and finally to HOs stage 1 (HO1), culminating in self-organizing HOs stage 2 (HO2) via dissociation and re-inoculation. Comprehensive transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing and analysis were conducted on FG, HB, HO1, and HO2.
Project description:Self-elongating neural tube organoids recapitulate key aspects of the morphology, anterior-posterior patterning, neural crest emergence and neural differentiation of mouse embryo in vivo by self-organization. We used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyse the cell types and to reveal the sequence of transcriptional events in the emergence of neural crest cells and neural differentiation.
Project description:Defining molecular controls that orchestrate human brain development is essential for uncovering the complexity behind neurodevelopment and the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Due to the difficulties in accessing embryonic and fetal brain tissues, the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived three-dimensional neural organoids has made it possible to recapitulate this developmental process in vitro and provide a unique opportunity to investigate human brain development and disease. To elucidate the molecular programs that drive this highly dynamic process, here, we generate a comprehensive trans-omic map of the phosphoproteome, proteome, and transcriptome of the initial stages of pluripotency and neural differentiation towards the formation of cerebral organoids. Our integrative analysis uncovers key phospho-signalling events underlying neural lineage differentiation, and their convergence on transcriptional (co-)factors and chromatin remodellers that govern downstream gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Comparative analysis with developing human and mouse embryos using these GRNs demonstrates the fidelity of our early cerebral organoids in modelling embryonic brain development. Finally, we demonstrate biochemical modulation of the AKT signalling as a key molecular switch for controlling human cerebral organoid formation. Our data provides a comprehensive resource to gain insight into the molecular controls in human embryonic brain development and also provide a guide for future development of protocols for human cerebral organoid differentiation.
Project description:The role of central nervous system (CNS) glia in sustaining self-autonomous inflammation and driving clinical progression in multiple sclerosis is attracting increasing scientific interest. Here, we applied a single transcription factor (SOX10)-based protocol for accelerating oligodendrocyte differentiation from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neural precursor cells to produce three dimensional, multilineage organoids integrating submillimetric self-organizing forebrain organoids (consisting of neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocyte precursors cells, and myelinating oligodendrocytes). To achieve an immunocompetent organotypic model, hiPSC-derived microglia was also incorporated. Within an 8-week time frame, organoids reproducibly generated a rich diversity of mature cell types, with single-cell transcriptional profiles similar to the human adult brain. This cellular system is able to respond to complex inflammatory stimuli and to properly mimic macroglia-microglia neurodegenerative phenotypes and crosstalk, as seen in chronic active multiple sclerosis. The results obtained pave the way for the implementation of this novel 3D model in the identification of druggable targets for inflammatory neurodegeneration as drug screening platform.