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The FEBS Journal May 2022Gonad development is a highly regulated process that coordinates cell specification and morphogenesis to produce sex-specific organ structures that are required for... (Review)
Review
Gonad development is a highly regulated process that coordinates cell specification and morphogenesis to produce sex-specific organ structures that are required for fertility, such as testicular seminiferous tubules and ovarian follicles. While sex determination occurs within specialized gonadal supporting cells, sexual differentiation is evident throughout the entire organ, including within the interstitial compartment, which contains immune cells and vasculature. While immune and vascular cells have been traditionally appreciated for their supporting roles during tissue growth and homeostasis, an increasing body of evidence supports the idea that these cell types are critical drivers of sexually dimorphic morphogenesis of the gonad. Myeloid immune cells, such as macrophages, are essential for multiple aspects of gonadogenesis and fertility, including for forming and maintaining gonadal vasculature in both sexes at varying stages of life. While vasculature is long known for supporting organ growth and serving as an export mechanism for gonadal sex steroids in utero, it is also an important component of fetal testicular morphogenesis and differentiation; additionally, it is vital for ovarian corpus luteal function and maintenance of pregnancy. These findings point toward a new paradigm in which immune cells and blood vessels are integral components of sexual differentiation and organogenesis. In this review, we discuss the state of the field regarding the diverse roles of immune and vascular cells during organogenesis of the testis and ovary and highlight outstanding questions in the field that could stimulate new research into these previously underappreciated constituents of the gonad.
Topics: Female; Gonads; Humans; Male; Organogenesis; Ovary; Pregnancy; Sex Differentiation; Testis
PubMed: 33774913
DOI: 10.1111/febs.15848 -
Nature Communications Jun 2021Current kidney organoids model development and diseases of the nephron but not the contiguous epithelial network of the kidney's collecting duct (CD) system. Here, we...
Current kidney organoids model development and diseases of the nephron but not the contiguous epithelial network of the kidney's collecting duct (CD) system. Here, we report the generation of an expandable, 3D branching ureteric bud (UB) organoid culture model that can be derived from primary UB progenitors from mouse and human fetal kidneys, or generated de novo from human pluripotent stem cells. In chemically-defined culture conditions, UB organoids generate CD organoids, with differentiated principal and intercalated cells adopting spatial assemblies reflective of the adult kidney's collecting system. Aggregating 3D-cultured nephron progenitor cells with UB organoids in vitro results in a reiterative process of branching morphogenesis and nephron induction, similar to kidney development. Applying an efficient gene editing strategy to remove RET activity, we demonstrate genetically modified UB organoids can model congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract. Taken together, these platforms will facilitate an enhanced understanding of development, regeneration and diseases of the mammalian collecting duct system.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Humans; Kidney; Kidney Tubules, Collecting; Male; Mice; Morphogenesis; Nephrons; Organogenesis; Organoids; Pluripotent Stem Cells; Ureter; Urinary Tract
PubMed: 34131121
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23911-5 -
Current Opinion in Genetics &... Jun 2015
Topics: Animals; Body Patterning; Developmental Biology; Embryonic Development; Organogenesis; Regeneration; Species Specificity
PubMed: 26051229
DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2015.05.002 -
Nature Communications Jul 2023Mammalian embryos exhibit sophisticated cellular patterning that is intricately orchestrated at both molecular and cellular level. It has recently become apparent that...
Mammalian embryos exhibit sophisticated cellular patterning that is intricately orchestrated at both molecular and cellular level. It has recently become apparent that cells within the animal body display significant heterogeneity, both in terms of their cellular properties and spatial distributions. However, current spatial transcriptomic profiling either lacks three-dimensional representation or is limited in its ability to capture the complexity of embryonic tissues and organs. Here, we present a spatial transcriptomic atlas of all major organs at embryonic day 13.5 in the mouse embryo, and provide a three-dimensional rendering of molecular regulation for embryonic patterning with stacked sections. By integrating the spatial atlas with corresponding single-cell transcriptomic data, we offer a detailed molecular annotation of the dynamic nature of organ development, spatial cellular interactions, embryonic axes, and divergence of cell fates that underlie mammalian development, which would pave the way for precise organ engineering and stem cell-based regenerative medicine.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Organogenesis; Transcriptome; Gene Expression Profiling; Embryo, Mammalian; Stem Cells; Mammals
PubMed: 37524711
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40155-7 -
Annual Review of Plant Biology Jun 2021Root and tuber crops have been an important part of human nutrition since the early days of humanity, providing us with essential carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins.... (Review)
Review
Root and tuber crops have been an important part of human nutrition since the early days of humanity, providing us with essential carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins. Today, they are especially important in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, where they help to feed an ever-growing population. Early induction and storage organ size are important agricultural traits, as they determine yield over time. During potato tuberization, environmental and metabolic status are sensed, ensuring proper timing of tuberization mediated by phloem-mobile signals. Coordinated cellular restructuring and expansion growth, as well as controlled storage metabolism in the tuber, are executed. This review summarizes our current understanding of potato tuber development and highlights similarities and differences to important tuberous root crop species like sweetpotato and cassava. Finally, we point out knowledge gaps that need to be filled before a complete picture of storage organ development can emerge.
Topics: Crops, Agricultural; Organogenesis, Plant; Phloem; Plant Tubers; Solanum tuberosum
PubMed: 33788583
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-080720-084456 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022Pancreas (and islet) transplantation is the only curative treatment for type 1 diabetes patients whose β-cell functions have been abolished. However, the lack of donor... (Review)
Review
Pancreas (and islet) transplantation is the only curative treatment for type 1 diabetes patients whose β-cell functions have been abolished. However, the lack of donor organs has been the major hurdle to save a large number of patients. Therefore, transplantation of animal organs is expected to be an alternative method to solve the serious shortage of donor organs. More recently, a method to generate organs from pluripotent stem cells inside the body of other species has been developed. This interspecies organ generation using blastocyst complementation (BC) is expected to be the next-generation regenerative medicine. Here, we describe the recent advances and future prospects for these two approaches.
Topics: Animals; Blastocyst; Organogenesis; Pluripotent Stem Cells; Regenerative Medicine; Transplantation, Heterologous
PubMed: 35992127
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.963282 -
The New Phytologist Jun 2018Contents Summary 1334 I. Introduction 1334 II. Regeneration-initial cell: the origin of regeneration 1335 III. Acquiring regeneration competency: the essential... (Review)
Review
Contents Summary 1334 I. Introduction 1334 II. Regeneration-initial cell: the origin of regeneration 1335 III. Acquiring regeneration competency: the essential intermediate step for hormone-induced regeneration 1335 IV. Hormonal induction of stem cell regulators: the program for de novo establishment of apical meristems 1337 V. Conclusions and perspectives 1337 Acknowledgements 1338 Author contributions 1338 References 1338 SUMMARY: High cellular plasticity confers remarkable regeneration capacity to plants. Based on the activity of stem cells and their regulators, higher plants are capable of regenerating new individuals. De novo organogenesis exemplifies the regeneration of the whole plant body and is exploited widely in agriculture and biotechnology. In this Tansley insight article, we summarize recent advances that facilitate our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying de novo organogenesis. According to our current knowledge, this process can be divided into three steps, including activation of regeneration-initial cells, acquisition of competency and de novo establishment of apical meristems. The functions of stem cells and their regulators are critical to de novo organogenesis, whereas auxin and cytokinin act as triggers and linkers between different steps.
Topics: Meristem; Organogenesis; Plant Cells; Plant Growth Regulators; Regeneration; Stem Cells
PubMed: 29574802
DOI: 10.1111/nph.15106 -
Developmental Biology Aug 2022Myriads forces are at play during morphogenesis. Their concerted activity shapes individual cells, tissues and the whole embryo, representing the most awe-inspiring... (Review)
Review
Myriads forces are at play during morphogenesis. Their concerted activity shapes individual cells, tissues and the whole embryo, representing the most awe-inspiring marvel of developmental biology. In spite of their prevalence, the potential instructive role of cell mechanics in fate determination and patterning has remained long neglected, in part due to the difficulties in translating the physical world of cells in molecular terms. The recent discovery of the principles of mechanotransduction, of how these impact on gene expression, is however starting to change this scenario, making mechanotransduction finally amenable to experimental dissection through genetics, molecular and bioengineering approaches. Here we review this emerging field, and a series of discoveries that potently bring back cell mechanics at the centerstage of vertebrate developmental biology. We discuss the role of actomyosin contractility as integrating platform between morphogens, lateral inhibition and mechanosignaling. We also review data indicating that supracellular pulling forces, coupled with solid-to-fluid changes in the material contexture of embryonic fields, may act as overarching mechanical "organizers". The evidence also indicates that a continuum of forces is what ultimately locks "self-organizing" movements with cell fate, from the earliest pre-implantation decisions to the fine details of organogenesis. Notably, similar mechanisms are reawakened in organoids and in adult tissues during regeneration. Developmental biology has been correctly depicted, but recently often forgotten, as the "mother" of all biological disciplines. Investigations in developmental mechanics may revamp interest, and have a broad impact in the fields of regenerative medicine, stem cells and cancer biology.
Topics: Actomyosin; Animals; Embryonic Development; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Morphogenesis; Organogenesis; Vertebrates
PubMed: 35580730
DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.05.005 -
BMC Biology Mar 2023The reactivation of genetic programs from early development is a common mechanism for injury-induced organ regeneration. T-box 3 (TBX3) is a member of the T-box family...
BACKGROUND
The reactivation of genetic programs from early development is a common mechanism for injury-induced organ regeneration. T-box 3 (TBX3) is a member of the T-box family of transcription factors previously shown to regulate pluripotency and subsequent lineage commitment in a number of tissues, including limb and lung. TBX3 is also involved in lung and heart organogenesis. Here, we provide a comprehensive and thorough characterization of TBX3 and its role during pancreatic organogenesis and regeneration.
RESULTS
We interrogated the level and cell specificity of TBX3 in the developing and adult pancreas at mRNA and protein levels at multiple developmental stages in mouse and human pancreas. We employed conditional mutagenesis to determine its role in murine pancreatic development and in regeneration after the induction of acute pancreatitis. We found that Tbx3 is dynamically expressed in the pancreatic mesenchyme and epithelium. While Tbx3 is expressed in the developing pancreas, its absence is likely compensated by other factors after ablation from either the mesenchymal or epithelial compartments. In an adult model of acute pancreatitis, we found that a lack of Tbx3 resulted in increased proliferation and fibrosis as well as an enhanced inflammatory gene programs, indicating that Tbx3 has a role in tissue homeostasis and regeneration.
CONCLUSIONS
TBX3 demonstrates dynamic expression patterns in the pancreas. Although TBX3 is dispensable for proper pancreatic development, its absence leads to altered organ regeneration after induction of acute pancreatitis.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Animals; Mice; Acute Disease; Pancreatitis; T-Box Domain Proteins; Pancreas; Organogenesis
PubMed: 36941669
DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01553-x -
Current Biology : CB Mar 2017Sex determination is as important for the fitness of plants as it is for animals, but its mechanisms appear to vary much more among plants than among animals, and the... (Review)
Review
Sex determination is as important for the fitness of plants as it is for animals, but its mechanisms appear to vary much more among plants than among animals, and the expression of gender in plants differs in important respects from that in most animals. In this Minireview, I provide an overview of the broad variety of ways in which plants determine sex. I suggest that several important peculiarities of plant sex determination can be understood by recognising that: plants show an alternation of generations between sporophytic and gametophytic phases (either of which may take control of sex determination); plants are modular in structure and lack a germ line (allowing for a quantitative expression of gender that is not common in animals); and separate sexes in plants have ultimately evolved from hermaphroditic ancestors. Most theorising about sex determination in plants has focused on dioecious species, but we have much to learn from monecious or hermaphroditic species, where sex is determined at the level of modules, tissues or cells. Because of the fundamental modularity of plant development and potentially important evolutionary links between monoecy and dioecy, it may be useful to relax the distinction often made between 'developmental sex determination' (which underpins the development of male versus female flowers in monoecious species) and 'genetic sex determination' (which underpins the separation of males and females in dioecious species, often mediated by a genetic polymorphism and sex chromosomes). I also argue for relaxing the distinction between sex determination involving a genetic polymorphism and that involving responses to environmental or hormonal cues, because non-genetic cues might easily be converted into genetic switches.
Topics: Biological Evolution; Chromosomes, Plant; Flowers; Organogenesis, Plant; Plants; Sex Determination Processes
PubMed: 28267976
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.01.052