Project description:The lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) is a transient tissue that produces a diverse range of differentiated structures, including the limbs. However, the molecular mechanisms that drive early LPM specification and development are poorly understood. In this study, we utilize single-cell transcriptomics to define the cell-fate decisions directing LPM specification, subdivision, and early initiation of the forelimb mesenchyme in chicken embryos. We establish a transcriptional atlas and global cell-cell signalling interactions in progenitor, transitional and mature cell types throughout the developing forelimb field.
Project description:The lung mesenchyme plays important roles in lung development and is affected in many respiratory diseases, yet relatively little is known about the biology of lung mesenchymal progenitors. We sought to establish an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based model to study lung mesenchyme development and epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. We generated a mouse iPSC line carrying a lung mesenchyme-specific reporter/tracer to establish a protocol for differentiation into lung mesenchymal progenitors. We derived lung mesenchyme from iPSCs both by directed differentiation via a lateral plate mesodermal progenitor state (induced lung mesenchyme, iLM), and by co-development during lung epithelial differentiation (co-developed lung mesenchyme, cLM). We found that directed differentiation via a lateral plate mesoderm progenitor was not only more efficient, but also yielded engineered lung mesenchymal cells that were more similar to primary lung mesenchyme from day 12.5 mouse embryos, as determined by single cell RNAseq. Our iPSC-derived population will provide an inexhaustible source of cells for studying lung development, modeling diseases, and developing therapeutics.
Project description:Renal precusors of the Xenopus pronephros arise from dorso-lateral mesoderm at the early neurula stage. This process is under the control of retinoic acid (RA). We have used microarrays to identify RA targets in dorso-latearl mesoderm by performing differential expression analysis between control and RA-depleted situations
Project description:The data revealed differential expression between floor plate and ventral lateral region in E10.5 mouse embryo midbrain. Several differentially expressed genes in these regions have been reported in the literature, demonstrating reliability of tissue dissection. Midbrain floor plate and non-overlapping adjacent ventral lateral region of mouse E10.5 embryo midbrain was dissected. Each sample was a pool from 6 embryos. Three replicates for each region were used for the experiment.
Project description:The data revealed differential expression between floor plate and ventral lateral region in E10.5 mouse embryo midbrain. Several differentially expressed genes in these regions have been reported in the literature, demonstrating reliability of tissue dissection.
Project description:Purpose: The goal of this study is to identify similarities and differences in the induction of the central nervous system and the sensory placodes in chick. Method: mRNA profiles for central and anterior pre-steak epiblast, neural plate, anterior and posterior pre-placodal region, non-neural epiblast, gastrula stage area opaca exposed to Hensen's node for 5 hours and control area of opaca from the same stage. Deep sequencing was carried with Illumina HiSeq 2000. After filtering low quality reads, alignment was carried using TopHat2, differential expression analysis was done using R-package (easyRNA-seq and DSEq). Results: Despite the differences in inducing tissues (i.e. node and lateral head mesoderm) and in the final outcome (neural plate and pre-placodal region), the initial set of genes induced by both tissues is largely identical. We define this transcriptional signature as 'pre-neural state', and demonstrate its functional significance for both inductive processes. An unbiased approach using GENEI3 and community clustering reveals the gene regulatory modules characterising the transcirptional states of pre-neural, neural and placodal cells. Conclusion: Induction of the neural plate and the pre-placodal region initially share common features, and diverge later. The pre-neural state is similar to the neural plate border and pre-streak epiblast state.