Project description:We developed a strategy to generate cardiac progenitor cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells using a novel small molecule. mRNA-sequencing results showed different gene expression profile among undifferentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs), DMSO and ISX-9 treated hiPSCs.In comparsion with DMSO treated cells or undifferentiated hiPSCs, ISX-9 upregulated the genes related to WNT and cytoskeleton remodeling and TGF-β signaling, which are involved in heart development and cardiac differentiation. In addition, the genes related to cardiac differentiation signaling pathways were upregulated by ISX-9 including development of PIP3 signaling in cardiomyocyte myocytes, muscle contraction and NF-AT hypertrophy signaling.
Project description:We developed a strategy to generate cardiac progenitor cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells using a novel small molecule.miRNA-sequencing results showed different miRNA expression profile among undifferentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs), DMSO and ISX-9 treated hiPSCs.In comparsion with DMSO treated cells, ISX-9 upregulated several myogenic miRNAs and cardiac hypertrophy related-miRNAs including miR-335, miR-21, miR-30c,miRNA-181a and miR-214.
Project description:We investigated the enriched miRNAs in exosomes from cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) which were induced by a small molecule-ISX-9 compared with exosomes from human iPSC, embryoid bodies and commerical cardiac progenitor cells.
Project description:Objective: Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) survey the gut luminal environment and co-ordinate hormonal, immune and neuronal responses to it. They exhibit well characterized physiological roles ranging from the control of local gut function to whole body metabolism, but little is known regarding the regulatory networks controlling their differentiation, especially in human gut. The small molecule Isoxazole-9 (ISX-9) has been shown to stimulate neuronal and pancreatic beta-cell differentiation, both closely related to EEC differentiation. Our aim was to use ISX-9 as a tool to explore EEC differentiation. Methods: We investigated the effects of ISX-9 on EEC differentiation in mouse and human intestinal organoids, using real time quantitative PCR, fluorescent activated cell sorting, immunostaining and single cell RNA sequencing. Results: ISX-9 increased the number of neurogenin3 (Ngn3) positive endocrine progenitor cells and upregulated NeuroD1 and Pax4, transcription factors which play roles in mouse EEC specification. Single cell analysis revealed induction of Pax4 expression in a developmentally late Ngn3+ population of cells and potentiation of genes associated with progenitors biased towards serotonin-producing enterochromaffin (EC) cells. This coincided with enrichment of organoids with functional EC cells which was partly dependent on stimulation of calcium signalling in a population of cells residing outside the crypt base. Inducible Pax4 overexpression, in ileal organoids, uncovered its importance as a component of early human endocrine specification and highlighted the potential existence of two major endocrine lineages, the early appearing enterochromaffin lineage and the later developing peptidergic lineage which contains classical gut hormone cell types. Conclusion: Our data provide proof-of-concept for the controlled manipulation of specific endocrine lineages with small molecules, whilst also shedding new light on human EEC differentiation and its similarity to mouse. Given their diverse roles, understanding endocrine lineage plasticity and its control could have multiple therapeutic implications.
Project description:We investigated the cell identity and cell proportion in the intestinal organoids treated by Isoxazole-9 (Isx-9) using single-cell transcriptome analysis. Isx-9 enriches enteroendocrine cells without altering the cell identity of other lineages. To investigate the mechanism of this process, we performed RNA-seq and ATAC-seq of Isx-9 treated intestinal stem cells. Based on the gene expression pattern and differential peaks of open chromatin, we found that Isx-9 upregulated neuroendocrine related genes, and elevated the chromatin accessibility at the promoter region of enteroendocrine related transcription factors.
Project description:The identification of cell surface proteins on stem cells or stem cell derivatives is a key strategy for the functional characterization, isolation, and understanding of stem cell population dynamics. Here, using an integrated mass spectrometry and microarray based approach, we analyzed the surface proteome and transcriptome of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) generated from the stage-specific differentiation of mouse and human pluripotent stem cells. Through bioinformatic analysis, we have identified and characterized FZD4 as a new marker for lateral plate mesoderm. Additionally, we utilized FZD4, in conjunction with FLK1 and PDGFRA, to further purify CPCs and increase cardiomyocyte (CM) enrichment in both mouse and human systems. Moreover, we have shown that NORRIN presented to FZD4 further increases CM output via proliferation through the canonical WNT pathway. Taken together, these findings demonstrate a role for FZD4 in mammalian cardiac development.