Project description:Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal transduction plays essential roles in cardiac repair following myocardial infarction (MI). Among which, FGF17 was demonstrated to regulate epicardial epithelial-mesenchymal transition to provide new vasculature for muscle regeneration during the process of myocardial repair in zebrafish. However, little is known about its function in the mammalian cardiovascular system. This study investigated whether FGF17 signaling exerts cardioprotective effects in ischemic mice hearts, and attempted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Project description:Cell replacement therapies using human pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic (DA) progenitors are currently in clinical trials for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recapitulating developmental patterning cues, such as fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8), secreted at the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB), is critical for the in-vitro production of authentic midbrain DA progenitors. Here, we explore the application of alternative MHB-secreted FGF-family members, FGF17 and FGF18, for DA progenitor patterning. We show that while FGF17 and FGF18 both recapitulate DA progenitor patterning events, FGF17 induced expression of key DA progenitor markers at higher levels than FGF8 and transplanted FGF17-patterned progenitors fully reversed motor deficits in a rat PD model. Early activation of the cAMP pathway mimicked FGF17-induced patterning, although strong cAMP activation also came at the expense of EN1 expression. In summary, we identified FGF17 as a promising candidate for more precise and robust DA progenitor patterning, with potential to improve cell products for treatment of PD.
Project description:Cell replacement therapies using human pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic (DA) progenitors are currently in clinical trials for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recapitulating developmental patterning cues, such as fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8), secreted at the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB), is critical for the in-vitro production of authentic midbrain DA progenitors. Here, we explore the application of alternative MHB-secreted FGF-family members, FGF17 and FGF18, for DA progenitor patterning. We show that while FGF17 and FGF18 both recapitulate DA progenitor patterning events, FGF17 induced expression of key DA progenitor markers at higher levels than FGF8 and transplanted FGF17-patterned progenitors fully reversed motor deficits in a rat PD model. Early activation of the cAMP pathway mimicked FGF17-induced patterning, although strong cAMP activation also came at the expense of EN1 expression. In summary, we identified FGF17 as a promising candidate for more precise and robust DA progenitor patterning, with potential to improve cell products for treatment of PD.
Project description:Recent understanding of how the systemic environment shapes the brain throughout life has led to numerous intervention strategies to slow brain ageing. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) makes up the immediate environment of brain cells, providing them with nourishing compounds. We discovered that infusing young CSF directly into aged brains improves memory function. Unbiased transcriptome analysis of the hippocampus identified oligodendrocytes to be most responsive to this rejuvenated CSF environment. We further showed that young CSF boosts oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) proliferation and differentiation in the aged hippocampus and in primary OPC cultures. Using SLAMseq to metabolically label nascent mRNA, we identified serum response factor (SRF), a transcription factor that drives actin cytoskeleton rearrangement, as a mediator of OPC proliferation following exposure to young CSF. With age, SRF expression decreases in hippocampal OPCs, and the pathway is induced by acute injection with young CSF. We screened for potential SRF activators in CSF and found that fibroblast growth factor 17 (Fgf17) infusion is sufficient to induce OPC proliferation and long-term memory consolidation in aged mice while Fgf17 blockade impairs cognition in young mice. These findings demonstrate the rejuvenating power of young CSF and identify Fgf17 as a key target to restore oligodendrocyte function in the ageing brain.
Project description:The purpose of the present study was to investigate the activation of the cardiac inflammatory response in the hearts of SHAM (surgical opening of the chest) mice in comparison to CONTROL hearts isolated from naïve (not operated) mice. Male C57BL/6J (10 weeks) were subjected to an open-chest ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) SHAM procedure in order to examine the effects of this surgery alone in producing cardiac inflammation. The procedure consisted of thoracotomy and a suture passed around the left anterior descending artery (LAD). The mouse chest was kept open for approximately 45 min. We chose to study an open-chest I/R SHAM because this is the reference surgery for the most common surgical procedure used to study cardiac inflammation. Mice were sacrificed 5 days after the procedure and the hearts were removed and used in RNAseq experiments.
Project description:Characterization of myocardial B cells in naïve hearts, acutely injured hearts and acutely injured hearts of mice treated with Pirfenidone
Project description:Male C57Bl/6 mice were randomized to undergo 5 days of i) a shiftwork protocol (10-hour light: 10-hour dark cycle) before myocardial infarction (MI) surgery, ii) a normal 12-hour light: 12-hour dark environment before MI surgery, iii) a normal 12-hour light: 12-hour dark environment and used as sham controls, or iv) a shiftwork protocol (10-hour light: 10-hour dark cycle) and used as sham controls. MI surgery was performed on the 5th day, after which all mice were returned to a normal 12-hour light: 12-hour dark cycle. Hearts were collected 24-hours post-MI at ZT06. The microarray approach allows the investigation of transcriptome-wide gene expression changes in hearts from mice on a shiftwork cycle or on a regular light:dark cycle before MI.