Project description:Rhabdoid tumors (RT) are rare and highly aggressive pediatric neoplasms. Their epigenetically-driven intertumoral heterogeneity is well described; however, the cellular origin of RT remains an enigma. Here, we established and characterized different genetically engineered mouse models driven under the control of distinct promoters and being active in early progenitor cell types with diverse embryonic onsets. From all models only Sox2-positive progenitor cells give rise to murine RT. Using single-cell analyses, we identified distinct cells of origin for the SHH and MYC subgroups of RT, rooting in early stages of embryogenesis. Intra- and extracranial MYC tumors harbor common genetic programs and potentially originate from fetal primordial germ cells (PGCs). Using PGC specific Smarcb1 knockout mouse models we validated that MYC RT originate from these progenitor cells. We uncovered an epigenetic imbalance in MYC tumors compared to PGCs being sustained by epigenetically-driven subpopulations. Importantly, treatments with the DNA demethylating agent decitabine successfully impaired tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.
Project description:Rhabdoid tumors (RT) are rare and highly aggressive pediatric neoplasms. Their epigenetically-driven intertumoral heterogeneity is well described; however, the cellular origin of RT remains an enigma. Here, we established and characterized different genetically engineered mouse models driven under the control of distinct promoters and being active in early progenitor cell types with diverse embryonic onsets. From all models only Sox2-positive progenitor cells give rise to murine RT. Using single-cell analyses, we identified distinct cells of origin for the SHH and MYC subgroups of RT, rooting in early stages of embryogenesis. Intra- and extracranial MYC tumors harbor common genetic programs and potentially originate from fetal primordial germ cells (PGCs). Using PGC specific Smarcb1 knockout mouse models we validated that MYC RT originate from these progenitor cells. We uncovered an epigenetic imbalance in MYC tumors compared to PGCs being sustained by epigenetically-driven subpopulations. Importantly, treatments with the DNA demethylating agent decitabine successfully impaired tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.
Project description:Rhabdoid tumors (RT) are rare and highly aggressive pediatric neoplasms. Their epigenetically-driven intertumoral heterogeneity is well described; however, the cellular origin of RT remains an enigma. Here, we established and characterized different genetically engineered mouse models driven under the control of distinct promoters and being active in early progenitor cell types with diverse embryonic onsets. From all models only Sox2-positive progenitor cells give rise to murine RT. Using single-cell analyses, we identified distinct cells of origin for the SHH and MYC subgroups of RT, rooting in early stages of embryogenesis. Intra- and extracranial MYC tumors harbor common genetic programs and potentially originate from fetal primordial germ cells (PGCs). Using PGC specific Smarcb1 knockout mouse models we validated that MYC RT originate from these progenitor cells. We uncovered an epigenetic imbalance in MYC tumors compared to PGCs being sustained by epigenetically-driven subpopulations. Importantly, treatments with the DNA demethylating agent decitabine successfully impaired tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.
Project description:As germ cell precursor, primordial germ cells (PGCs) are widely used in transgenic animal production, regenerative medicine and other fields. However, the regulation mechanism of chicken PGCs is not incomplete, which leads to the insufficient amount of chicken PGCs obtained in vitro, which seriously affects the specific application of PGCs. During PGC formation (differentiation from ESCs to PGCs), some proteins have inconsistent changes in transcription level and protein abundance. Mediating proteasome degradation is one of the most important roles of protein ubiquitination, and enrichment analysis of transcriptome and proteome also suggests an important role of ubiquitination in the process of PGCs. In order to explore the important functions and potential targets of ubiquitination, we collected chicken ESCs and PGCs cells for label free ubiquitomics analysis. This study preliminarily analyzed how ubiquitination regulates the formation of chicken PGCs, providing a theoretical basis for the subsequent research and specific application of PGCs.
Project description:Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the embryonic precursors of eggs and sperm, are a unique model for identifying and studying regulatory mechanisms in singly migrating cells. From their time of specification to eventual colonization of the gonad, mouse PGCs traverse through and interact with many different cell types, including epithelial cells and mesenchymal tissues. Work in drosophila and zebrafish have identified many genes and signaling pathways involved in PGC migration, but little is known about this process in mammals. We have generated a point mutation in the Ror2 gene that we know disrupts primordial germ cell migration in the developing mouse embryo. We used microarray analysis to determine if this defect is mediated through genome-wide or pathway-specific transcriptional changes. We analyzed primordial germ cells (PGCs) from 4 wild-type (WT) and 4 Ror2Y324C/Y324C mutant embryos using Oct4-DPE-EGFP. PGCs were collected during their active migratory state at embryonic day 9.5 (somite range 20-25).
Project description:Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the embryonic precursors of eggs and sperm, are a unique model for identifying and studying regulatory mechanisms in singly migrating cells. From their time of specification to eventual colonization of the gonad, mouse PGCs traverse through and interact with many different cell types, including epithelial cells and mesenchymal tissues. Work in drosophila and zebrafish have identified many genes and signaling pathways involved in PGC migration, but little is known about this process in mammals. We have generated a point mutation in the Ror2 gene that we know disrupts primordial germ cell migration in the developing mouse embryo. We used microarray analysis to determine if this defect is mediated through genome-wide or pathway-specific transcriptional changes.