Project description:Although there are several reports describing a stem cell fraction to form urothelium and lineage tracing studies in urinary bladder, it is still unclear about stem cells in mouse bladder epithelium. Here, we have established the cloning system of mouse stem cells from wild type and p63 knockout bladder. We isolated stem/progenitor cells from wild type and p63 knockout epithelium. From wild type bladder, we have cloned keratin 5-positive stem cells, and from p63 knockout epithelium, which loses basal cell fraction, we have cloned morphologically-distinct keratin 8 and claudin 3 positive stem cells, which may be reminiscent of intestinal metaplasia in bladder.
Project description:Gene expression was compared between wild type forestomach and hindstomach epithelial cells at embryonic day E14.5. Gene expression was compared between GATA4 knock out hindstomach epithelial cells and wild type hindstomach epithelial cells at embryonic day E14.5. Gene expression was compared between GATA4 knock in forestomach epithelial cells and wild type forestomach epithelial cells at embryonic day E14.5.
Project description:p63 is a transcription factor central for epithelial homeostasis and development. In our model of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a human prostate cell culture model, p63 was one of the most down-regulated transcription factors during EMT. We therefore investigated the role of p63 in EMT by a gain and loss of function approach. Over-expression of the predominant epithelial isoform DNp63a in mesenchymal EPT1B8 cells led to gain of several epithelial characteristics without resulting in a complete mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET). This was corroborated by a reciprocal effect when p63 was knocked down in epithelial EP156T cells. Global gene expression analyses found that DNp63a induced gene modules involving cell adhesion genes in mesenchymal like cells. Genome-wide analysis of p63 binding sites by ChIP-seq analyses confirmed binding of p63 to regulatory areas of genes associated with cell adhesion in prostate epithelial cells.CDH1 and ZEB1 are two elemental factors in the control of EMT. Over-expression and knock-down of these factors, respectively, were not sufficient alone or in combination with DNp63a to reverse the mesenchymal phenotype in EPT1 cells. The partial reversion of epithelial to mesenchymal transition might reflect the ability of DNp63a, as a key co-ordinator of several epithelial gene expression modules, to reduce epithelial to mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). The utility of DNp63a expression and the potential of reduced EMP in order to counteract metastasis warrant further investigation. Examination of p63 binding profile in prostate cell model EP156T with EPT1 as negative control.
Project description:p63 is a transcription factor central for epithelial homeostasis and development. In our model of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a human prostate cell culture model, p63 was one of the most down-regulated transcription factors during EMT. We therefore investigated the role of p63 in EMT by a gain and loss of function approach. Over-expression of the predominant epithelial isoform DNp63a in mesenchymal EPT1B8 cells led to gain of several epithelial characteristics without resulting in a complete mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET). This was corroborated by a reciprocal effect when p63 was knocked down in epithelial EP156T cells. Global gene expression analyses found that DNp63a induced gene modules involving cell adhesion genes in mesenchymal like cells. Genome-wide analysis of p63 binding sites by ChIP-seq analyses confirmed binding of p63 to regulatory areas of genes associated with cell adhesion in prostate epithelial cells.CDH1 and ZEB1 are two elemental factors in the control of EMT. Over-expression and knock-down of these factors, respectively, were not sufficient alone or in combination with DNp63a to reverse the mesenchymal phenotype in EPT1 cells. The partial reversion of epithelial to mesenchymal transition might reflect the ability of DNp63a, as a key co-ordinator of several epithelial gene expression modules, to reduce epithelial to mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). The utility of DNp63a expression and the potential of reduced EMP in order to counteract metastasis warrant further investigation.
Project description:Purpose: Assess changes in p63 binding in human embryonic stem cells and surface ectoderm; evaluate differences in the following histone marks: H3K27me3, H3K27ac, H3K4me1, and H3K4me3 in the surface ectoderm with and without p63; and examine changes in H3K27me3 between human embyronic stem cells and surface ectoderm with and without p63. Methods: p63 ChIP-seq libraries were generated in p63 gain-of-function human embryonic stem cells and wild-type surface ectoderm. H3K27me3 ChIP-seq libraries were generated in wild-type and p63 gain-of-function human embryonic stem cells as well as wild-type and p63 knockout surface ectoderm. H3K27ac, H3K4me1, and H3K4me3 ChIP-seq libraries were generated in wild-type and p63 knockout surface ectoderm. All ChIP-seq experiments were performed in duplicate and sequenced on Illumina NextSeq 500 sequencer. To ensure quality reads, fastq files were analyzed using FASTQC. Bowtie was used for read mapping and the parameters were as follows: -p 24 -S -a -m 1 --best --strata. For peak calling using MACS2, default settings were specified with a p-value of 0.05. To ensure quality peaks, IDR was run on all files, specifying FDR of 1% or 5% (or 10% for some broadPeak histone marks). Results: Limited changes in p63 binding in human embryonic stem cells and surface ectoderm; global loss of H3K37me3 without p63 in the surface ectoderm; limited differences in H3K27ac, H3K4me1, and H3K4me3 +/- p63 in the surface ectoderm; and increase in H3K27me3 with ectopic expression of p63 in human embryonic stem cells. Conclusion: p63 is able to bind it's surface ectoderm target sites regardless of the epigenetic landscape; p63 promotes H3K27me3 accumulation; and p63 does not regulate histone marks H3K27ac, H3K4me1, or H3K4me3
Project description:Simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) is a novel in vivo limbal stem cells (LSCs) amplification technique used to reconstruct the ocular surface in¬¬¬ limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). However, SLET is limited to two-dimensional (2D) culture systems, and the tissue pieces are easily lost. The developments in hydrogel technology have provided the possibility of three-dimensional (3D) amplification of stem cells. In this study, an injectable photocrosslinkable hydrogel was developed based on porous gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)/silk fibroin glycidyl methacrylate (SilMA), allowing the 3D culture of LSCs with enhanced expansion efficiency and simplified serial cell culture operations to construct an ocular surface with a uniform cell distribution. The porous GelMA/SilMA hydrogels demonstrated excellent transparency and good adhesion. More importantly, this hydrogel maintained the viability and supported the adhesion of the encapsulated rabbit LSCs and promoted their migration in vitro in 3D culture environments. Furthermore, the immunofluorescence staining results showed positive expression of CK3, CK12, P63 and CK14 in differentiated cells. The above results demonstrated that this porous GelMA/SilMA hydrogel 3D culture of LSCs is beneficial for maintaining the phenotype of stem cells and promoting their differentiation into corneal epithelial cells. These findings provide valuable insights into stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine for ocular surface reconstruction.
Project description:The bladder’s remarkable regenerative capacity in response to injury had been thought to reside exclusively in its basal and intermediate cells. While examining consequences of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) inactivation in mouse embryonic bladder epithelium, we made the surprising discovery that Wolffian duct epithelial cells also support bladder regeneration. Conditional inactivation of Dnmt1 in mouse urethral and bladder epithelium triggered widespread apoptosis, depleted basal and intermediate bladder cells and disrupted Uroplakin protein expression. These events coincided with recruitment of Wolffian duct epithelial cells into Dnmt1 mutant urethra and bladder where they were reprogrammed to express bladder markers including FOXA1, Keratin 5, P63 and Uroplakin. This is the first evidence that Wolffian duct epithelial cells can be summoned in vivo to replace damaged bladder epithelium and function as a cell reservoir for bladder regeneration.