Project description:In this study we analyzed the contribution of PHF8 histone demethylase to astrocytes differentiation from mouse neural stem cells. We found that PHF8 depletion affects astocytes differentiation. Moreover, PHF8 is crucial for synaptogenesis in neurons/astrocytes cocultures. Genome wide analysis demonstrated that PHF8 controls the expression of critical astrogenic and synaptogenic genes by keeping low levels of H4K20me1 at promoters. PHF8 depletion induces aberrant astrocytes phenotype and caused a significant decrease in miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSC) frequency and amplitude in neurons/astrocytes coclutures. These data reveal a new role of PHF8 in astrocyte differentiation and function, modulating neuronal synapse. Thus, lack of histone demethylase activity associated to PHF8 mutations might led to synapse disfunction that could directly impact into X-linked intellectual disabilities.
Project description:Primitive neural stem cells (NSCs) could be derived from pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, and then differentiate into definitive-type neural stem cells which resemble NSCs obtained from the central nervous system. Hence, primitive NSCs define an early stage of neural induction and provide a model to understand the mechanism that controls initial neural commitment. In this study, we performed microarray assay to analyze the global transcriptional profiles in mouse ES cell-derived primitive and definitive NSCs and to depict the molecular changes during the multi-staged neural differentiation process. Primitive NSCs derived directly from ESCs in Lif (p-NSC_L), primitive NSCs that were sub-cultured in the presence of Lif and FGF (p-NSC_LF), as well as definitive NSCs derived from primitive NSCs in medium containing FGF and EGF, were collected for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. Mouse ESCs and NSCs obtained from mouse embryonic brain (E11.5) were included for controls. For each cell type, we collected two biological replicate samples for microarray analysis.
Project description:Primitive neural stem cells (NSCs) could be derived from pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, and then differentiate into definitive-type neural stem cells which resemble NSCs obtained from the central nervous system. Hence, primitive NSCs define an early stage of neural induction and provide a model to understand the mechanism that controls initial neural commitment. In this study, we performed microarray assay to analyze the global transcriptional profiles in mouse ES cell-derived primitive and definitive NSCs and to depict the molecular changes during the multi-staged neural differentiation process.
Project description:It remains controversial whether the routes from differentiated cells to iPSCs are related to the reverse order of normal developmental processes or independent of them. Here, we generated iPSCs from mouse astrocytes by three (Oct3/4, Klf4 and Sox2 (OKS)), two (OK), or four (OKS plus c-Myc) factors. Sox1, a neural stem cell (NSC)-specific transcription factor, is transiently upregulated during reprogramming and Sox1-positive cells become iPSCs. The upregulation of Sox1 is essential for OK-induced reprogramming. Genome-wide analysis revealed that the gene expression profile of Sox1-expressing intermediate-state cells resembles that of NSCs. Furthermore, the intermediate-state cells are able to generate neurospheres, which can differentiate into both neurons and glial cells. Remarkably, during MEF reprogramming, neither Sox1 upregulation nor an increase in neurogenic potential occurs. Thus, astrocytes are reprogrammed through an NSC-like state, suggesting that reprogramming partially follows the retrograde pathway of normal developmental processes. To investigate the gene expression profile of intermediate-state cells during astrocyte reprogramming, we performed genome-wide gene expression analysis in five samples; starting astrocytes, intermediate-state cells expressing Sox1-GFP, NSCs, iPSCs established from astrocytes, and iPSCs established from MEFs (iPS-MEF-Ng-20D-17) that had previously been reported (Okita, K. et al. Nature 448: 313-317 (2007)). Two (NSCs, iPSCs from astrocytes and MEFs) or three (astrocytes, intermediate-state cells) biological replicates were prepared for microarray samples. Total RNA was extracted with an RNeasy kit (Qiagen). cDNA synthesis and transcriptional amplification were performed using 50-100 ng of total RNA with the GeneChip WT PLUS Reagent Kit (Affymetrix). Fragmented and biotin-labeled cDNA targets were hybridized to GeneChip Mouse Gene 1.0 ST arrays (Affymetrix) according to the manufacturerâ??s protocol. Hybridized arrays were scanned using an Affymetrix GeneChip Scanner.
Project description:Gene expression was compared between two control PSC lines and neurons and astrocytes differentiated from each line. Total RNA obtained from fetal astrocytes from two sources compared to total RNA obtained from two neuronal stem cell lines.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of mouse primary astrocytes comparing control untreated astrocytes with astrocytes treated with recombinant LCN2 protein (10 micro gram/ml). Goal was to determine the effects of LCN2 treatment on global gene expression in astrocytes. A secreted protein lipocalin-2 (LCN2) has been implicated in diverse cellular processes including cell morphology and migration. We have previously demonstrated that lcn2 mediates reactive astrocytosis. In order to further understand the role of lcn2 in the CNS, astrocyte transcriptome was analyzed following LCN2 treatment. Chemokines were the major group of genes upregulated by LCN2. Two-condition experiment, control untreated astrocytes vs. LCN2 protein treated astrocytes. Biological replicates: 1 control replicates, 1 treated replicates.