Project description:Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital defect that usually results from aberrant development of embryonic pharyngeal arches. However, the molecular basis of CFM pathogenesis is largely unknown. Here, we employ the zebrafish model to investigate mechanisms of CFM pathogenesis. In early embryos, tet2 and tet3 are essential for pharyngeal cartilage development. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that loss of Tet2/3 impairs chondrocyte differentiation due to insufficient BMP signaling. Moreover, biochemical and genetic evidence reveals that the sequence-specific 5mC/5hmC-binding protein, Sall4, binds the promoter of bmp4 to activate bmp4 expression and control pharyngeal cartilage development. Mechanistically, Sall4 directs co-phase separation of Tet2/3 with Sall4 to form condensates that mediate 5mC oxidation on the bmp4 promoter, thereby promoting bmp4 expression and enabling sufficient BMP signaling. These findings suggest the TET-BMP-Sall4 regulatory axis is critical for pharyngeal cartilage development. Collectively, our study provides insights into understanding craniofacial development and CFM pathogenesis.
Project description:Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital defect that usually results from aberrant development of embryonic pharyngeal arches. However, the molecular basis of CFM pathogenesis is largely unknown. Here, we employ the zebrafish model to investigate mechanisms of CFM pathogenesis. In early embryos, tet2 and tet3 are essential for pharyngeal cartilage development. Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals that loss of Tet2/3 impaired chondrocyte differentiation due to insufficient BMP signaling. Moreover, biochemical and genetic evidence reveals that the sequence-specific 5mC/5hmC-binding protein, Sall4, binds the promoter of bmp4 to activate bmp4 expression and control pharyngeal cartilage development. Mechanistically, Sall4 directs co-phase separation of Tet2/3 with Sall4 to form condensates that mediate 5mC oxidation on the bmp4 promoter, thereby promoting bmp4 expression and enabling sufficient BMP signaling. These findings suggest the TET-BMP-Sall4 regulatory axis is critical for pharyngeal cartilage development. Collectively, our study provides novel insights into understanding craniofacial development and CFM pathogenesis.
Project description:Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital defect that usually results from aberrant development of embryonic pharyngeal arches. However, the molecular basis of CFM pathogenesis is largely unknown. Here we employ zebrafish model to investigate the mechanism of CFM pathogenesis. In early embryos, tet2 and tet3 are highly expressed and are essential for pharyngeal cartilage development. Single-cell RNA sequencing and genetic analyses reveal that loss of Tet2/3 impaired chondrocyte differentiation largely due to insufficient BMP signaling. Mechanistically, Tet2/3-mediated 5-hydroxymethylcytosine modification allows the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine “reader”, Sall4, to specifically bind the bmp4 promoter, thereby promoting bmp4 expression and enabling efficient BMP signaling. These findings indicate the TET-BMP regulatory axis via 5-hydroxymethylcytosine to be critical for pharyngeal cartilage development. Whole-exome sequencing of CFM patient samples show that single nucleotide polymorphisms in TET and BMP pathway genes increase the risk of CFM. Collectively, our study provides novel insights into understanding craniofacial development and CFM pathogenesis.
Project description:Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital defect that usually results from aberrant development of embryonic pharyngeal arches. However, the molecular basis of CFM pathogenesis is largely unknown. Here we employ zebrafish model to investigate the mechanism of CFM pathogenesis. In early embryos, tet2 and tet3 are highly expressed and are essential for pharyngeal cartilage development. Single-cell RNA sequencing and genetic analyses reveal that loss of Tet2/3 impaired chondrocyte differentiation largely due to insufficient BMP signaling. Mechanistically, Tet2/3-mediated 5-hydroxymethylcytosine modification allows the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine “reader”, Sall4, to specifically bind the bmp4 promoter, thereby promoting bmp4 expression and enabling efficient BMP signaling. These findings indicate the TET-BMP regulatory axis via 5-hydroxymethylcytosine to be critical for pharyngeal cartilage development. Whole-exome sequencing of CFM patient samples show that single nucleotide polymorphisms in TET and BMP pathway genes increase the risk of CFM. Collectively, our study provides novel insights into understanding craniofacial development and CFM pathogenesis.
Project description:Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital defect that usually results from aberrant development of embryonic pharyngeal arches. However, the molecular basis of CFM pathogenesis is largely unknown. Here we employ zebrafish model to investigate the mechanism of CFM pathogenesis. In early embryos, tet2 and tet3 are highly expressed and are essential for pharyngeal cartilage development. Single-cell RNA sequencing and genetic analyses reveal that loss of Tet2/3 impaired chondrocyte differentiation largely due to insufficient BMP signaling. Mechanistically, Tet2/3-mediated 5-hydroxymethylcytosine modification allows the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine “reader”, Sall4, to specifically bind the bmp4 promoter, thereby promoting bmp4 expression and enabling efficient BMP signaling. These findings indicate the TET-BMP regulatory axis via 5-hydroxymethylcytosine to be critical for pharyngeal cartilage development. Whole-exome sequencing of CFM patient samples show that single nucleotide polymorphisms in TET and BMP pathway genes increase the risk of CFM. Collectively, our study provides novel insights into understanding craniofacial development and CFM pathogenesis.
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:Craniofacial dysmorphisms are among the most common birth defects. Proteasome mutations frequently result in craniofacial dysmorphisms including lower jaw malformations; however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here we use a zebrafish proteasome subunit beta 1 (psmb1) mutant to define the cellular mechanisms underlying proteasome mutation-induced craniofacial dysmorphisms. psmb1 mutants exhibit a flattened ceratohyal and smaller Meckel’s and palatoquadrate cartilages. Ceratohyal flattening is a result of failed chondrocyte convergent extension, accompanied by reduced numbers of chondrocytes in the lower jaw due to defects in chondrocyte differentiation. Morphogenesis of craniofacial muscles and tendons is similarly perturbed. psmb1 mutants lack the hyohyal muscles and craniofacial tendons are shortened and disorganized. We additionally identify a critical period for proteasome function in craniofacial development, specifically during chondrocyte and muscle differentiation. psmb1 overexpression in sox10+ cells of mutant embryos rescued both cartilage and tendon phenotypes but induced only a partial rescue of the muscle phenotype, indicating that psmb1 is required in both tissue-autonomous and non-autonomous fashions during craniofacial development. Overall, our work demonstrates that psmb1 is required for craniofacial cartilage, tendon, and muscle differentiation and morphogenesis.
Project description:Nasal septum deviation (NSD) is a common abnormality of the septal cartilage often associated with disordered breathing. The etiology of NSD is unknown. BMP7 neural crest-knockout mice, a well-characterized model for midfacial hypoplasia and nasal airway obstruction, develops a deviated septum by 4 weeks of age. Using comparative gene expression, quantitative proteomics, and immunofluorescence analysis we investigated the septum prior, immediately preceding, and with established deviation. We provide a detailed description of cellular and molecular changes leading to septum deviation, including changes to extracellular matrix organization, cell metabolism, and chondrocyte differentiation. Loss of BMP7 was associated with acquisition of elastic cartilage properties, a switch to glucose metabolism, and molecular characteristics commonly associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Many alterations preceded the deviation establishing that molecular changes to chondrocyte properties predispose to the deviation. Interestingly, NSD was associated with a persistent increase in BMP2. Genetic reduction of BMP2 in BMP7ncko mice restores WNT signalling, energy metabolism, and rescues NSD, showing the importance of balanced BMP signaling for normal cartilage. Many of the cellular and molecular changes have been described for knee osteoarthritis, suggesting that these two pathologies might have a similar underlying etiology.