321. HEDGEHOG SIGNALLING COMPONENTS IN DEVELOPING RAT TESTIS

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Z. Sahin ◽  
A. Szczepny ◽  
I. Ustunel ◽  
K. Loveland
Keyword(s):  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Hedgehog Signaling ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Mouse Testis ◽  
Rat Testis ◽  
Cellular Expression ◽  
Desert Hedgehog ◽  
Developing Rat

Hedgehog (Hh) signalling regulates normal development of many tissues and is upregulated in some cancers. Mice which lack the testicular desert hedgehog (Dhh) ligand exhibit disrupted embryonic gonad formation and male infertility in adulthood. However, the roles and sites of Hedgehog (Hh) signalling activity in the developing rat testis are unknown. Transcripts encoding Hh pathway components in embryonic and juvenile rat testes were localised by in situ hybridization with DIG-labelled cRNA probes. On embryonic day (E) 17.5, Sertoli cells contained transcripts encoding Dhh and both gonocytes and Sertoli cells contained the Ptc2 and Smo receptor transcripts. The cytoplasmic regulators (fused [Fu], suppressor of fused [SuFu]) and the three Gli transcriptional mediators were also detected in gonocytes. On E21.5 and postnatal day 4, all transcripts were present in Sertoli cells, but not gonocytes. To test the function of Hh signalling at the onset of rodent spermatogenesis, the newborn (day 1) mouse testis was cultured in hanging drop cultures. Addition of the selective Hh signalling inhibitor, cyclopamine, yielded a significantly lower level of the Hh target, Gli1 mRNA, as measured by real time PCR compared to vehicle controls. This confirms Hh pathway activity and inhibition in this system. Meiotic markers, SYCP3 and Stra8, were consistently upregulated (n = 6) following cyclopamine addition, however the fold-change varied between experiments. Overall, the cellular expression data indicate that Hh signals are active in both embryonic and juvenile rodent testes. The finding that Hh genes analysed in this study are expressed in both Sertoli and germ cells shows that both cell types are potential Hh targets, depending on the developmental stage of testis. The upregulation of candidates for Dhh target genes in the juvenile mouse testis in vitro suggests that Hedgehog signaling downregulates the expression of meiotic genes in gonocytes via paracrine mechanisms.

scholarly journals 243.Nuclear transport of Gli transcription factors during spermatogenesis

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 243
Author(s):  
A. Szczepny ◽  
D. A. Jans ◽  
K. L. Loveland ◽  
M. Dias
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Nuclear Import ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
In Situ Hybridisation ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Mouse Testis ◽  
Expression Vectors ◽  
African Green Monkey Kidney

Development is highly regulated by complex signalling cascades. One such pathway is the Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway which plays an essential role in spermatogenesis. The Gli family of zinc finger TFs, consisting of Gli1, Gli2 and Gli3, are mediators of the Hh signalling cascade. Gli1 is an activator of Hh target genes, whereas Gli2 and Gli3 can undergo proteolytic cleavage and function as both activators and repressors. Little is known regarding the nuclear import pathway of these TFs. In this study, the mRNA expression pattern of all Gli family members in the developing mouse testis was compiled by in situ hybridisation and shown to have unique expression patterns. In the adult mouse testis, Gli1 mRNA was detected in spermatogonia through to round spermatids whereas Gli2 was only found in spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Very low levels of Gli3 mRNA were detected in all ages and cell types. Since little is known regarding the import pathway for Gli1, expression vectors containing different fragments of the N-terminus of Gli1 were created and used to perform transfection experiments and generate vectors for bacterial GFP-fusion protein expression. Transfection experiments into African green monkey kidney Cos-7 cells, and the murine spermatogenic cell lines, Gc-1 and Gc-2 using 3 different constructs localised the NLS(s) required to target Gli1 to the nucleus in the zinc finger DNA-binding domain of Gli1. Preliminary results for in vitro binding of bacterially expressed Gli1 indicated no binding by importin β 1 or β3 but a weak interaction with the importin α/β heterodimer. This can be seen as the first step towards defining the nuclear import pathway for Gli1. The mechanisms by which Gli activity is modulated remain unanswered and the regulation of its nuclear entry may be an important means of doing so.

Homeotic response elements are tightly linked to tissue-specific elements in a transcriptional enhancer of the teashirt gene

Development ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (9) ◽  
pp. 2799-2812 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. McCormick ◽  
N. Core ◽  
S. Kerridge ◽  
M.P. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Hox Genes ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Transcriptional Enhancer ◽  
Hox Proteins ◽  
Tissue Specific ◽  
Conserved Sequences

Along the anterior-posterior axis of animal embryos, the choice of cell fates, and the organization of morphogenesis, is regulated by transcription factors encoded by clustered homeotic or ‘Hox’ genes. Hox genes function in both epidermis and internal tissues by regulating the transcription of target genes in a position- and tissue-specific manner. Hox proteins can have distinct targets in different tissues; the mechanisms underlying tissue and homeotic protein specificity are unknown. Light may be shed by studying the organization of target gene enhancers. In flies, one of the target genes is teashirt (tsh), which encodes a zinc finger protein. tsh itself is a homeotic gene that controls trunk versus head development. We identified a tsh gene enhancer that is differentially activated by Hox proteins in epidermis and mesoderm. Sites where Antennapedia (Antp) and Ultrabithorax (Ubx) proteins bind in vitro were mapped within evolutionarily conserved sequences. Although Antp and Ubx bind to identical sites in vitro, Antp activates the tsh enhancer only in epidermis while Ubx activates the tsh enhancer in both epidermis and in somatic mesoderm. We show that the DNA elements driving tissue-specific transcriptional activation by Antp and Ubx are separable. Next to the homeotic protein-binding sites are extensive conserved sequences likely to control tissue activation by different homeodomain proteins. We propose that local interactions between homeotic proteins and other factors effect activation of targets in proper cell types.

Haematotoxicology: Scientific Basis and Regulatory Aspects

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 111-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Gribaldo
Keyword(s):  
Target Genes ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Cancer Drugs ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Clinical Drug Development ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Starting Dose ◽  
Life Threatening

Haematopoietic tissues are the targets of numerous xenobiotics. The purpose of in vitro haematotoxicology is the prediction of adverse haematological effects from toxicants on human haematopoietic targets under controlled experimental conditions in the laboratory. Building on its foundations in experimental haematology and the wealth of haematotoxicological data found in experimental oncology, this field of alternatives toxicology has developed rapidly during the past decade. Preclinical and clinical drug development for anti-cancer drugs differs from that for other pharmaceuticals, because of the life-threatening nature of the disease. Treatment with anti-cancer drugs at clinically efficacious doses usually induces serious side-effects. The design of preclinical toxicology studies for anti-cancer drugs is intended to identify a safe clinical starting dose, characterise toxicities that could be encountered in human clinical trials, and determine whether these toxicities are reversible, manageable, and predictable. Although the myeloid colony-forming unit (CFU-GM) progenitor is most frequently evaluated, other defined progenitors and stem cells, as well as cell types found in the bone-marrow stroma, can now be evaluated in vitro. Genetic damage to haematopoietic cells can occur in the absence of any overt haematological signs. The development of tissue-specific screening systems that are able to give information about the toxic effects of chemicals, drugs and environmental hazards on target genes is needed, in order to make preliminary decisions or to set priorities for selection among large groups of chemicals and possible drugs.

scholarly journals Efficient Development of Platform Cell Lines Using CRISPR-Cas9 and Transcriptomics Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Tae-Jun Kwon ◽  
Kohta Mohri ◽  
Satoshi Takizawa ◽  
Takahiro Arakawa ◽  
Maiko Takahashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Target Antigen ◽  
Drug Conjugates ◽  
Targeted Mutation ◽  
Additional Cell ◽  
Delivery Platform

AbstractAntibody-drug conjugates offers many advantages as a drug delivery platform that allows for highly specific targeting of cell types and genes. Ideally, testing the efficacy of these systems requires two cell types to be different only in the gene targeted by the drug, with the rest of the cellular machinery unchanged, in order to minimize other potential differences from obscuring the effects of the drug. In this study, we created multiple variants of U87MG cells with targeted mutation in the TP53 gene using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, and determined that their major transcriptional differences stem from the loss of p53 function. Using the transcriptome data, we predicted which mutant clones would have less divergent phenotypes from the wild type and thereby serve as the best candidates to be used as drug delivery testing platforms. Further in vitro and in vivo assays of cell morphology, proliferation rate and target antigen-mediated uptake supported our predictions. Based on the combined analysis results, we successfully selected the best qualifying mutant clone. This study serves as proof-of-principle of the approach and paves the way for extending to additional cell types and target genes.

scholarly journals Targeted delivery of antisense oligonucleotides to pancreatic β-cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. eaat3386 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ämmälä ◽  
W. J. Drury ◽  
L. Knerr ◽  
I. Ahlstedt ◽  
P. Stillemark-Billton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cell Type Specificity ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cells ◽  
Glucagon Like Peptide 1 ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) silencing of the expression of disease-associated genes is an attractive novel therapeutic approach, but treatments are limited by the ability to deliver ASOs to cells and tissues. Following systemic administration, ASOs preferentially accumulate in liver and kidney. Among the cell types refractory to ASO uptake is the pancreatic insulin-secreting β-cell. Here, we show that conjugation of ASOs to a ligand of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) can productively deliver ASO cargo to pancreatic β-cells both in vitro and in vivo. Ligand-conjugated ASOs silenced target genes in pancreatic islets at doses that did not affect target gene expression in liver or other tissues, indicating enhanced tissue and cell type specificity. This finding has potential to broaden the use of ASO technology, opening up novel therapeutic opportunities, and presents an innovative approach for targeted delivery of ASOs to additional cell types.

scholarly journals Canonical Wnt signalling regulates nuclear export of Setdb1 during skeletal muscle terminal differentiation

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Beyer ◽  
Julien Pontis ◽  
Elija Schirwis ◽  
Valentine Battisti ◽  
Anja Rudolf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Terminal Differentiation ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Wnt Signalling ◽  
Skeletal Myoblasts ◽  
Exclusive Processes ◽  
Canonical Wnt

Abstract The histone 3 lysine 9 methyltransferase Setdb1 is essential for both stem cell pluripotency and terminal differentiation of different cell types. To shed light on the roles of Setdb1 in these mutually exclusive processes, we used mouse skeletal myoblasts as a model of terminal differentiation. Ex vivo studies on isolated single myofibres showed that Setdb1 is required for adult muscle stem cells expansion following activation. In vitro studies in skeletal myoblasts confirmed that Setdb1 suppresses terminal differentiation. Genomic binding analyses showed a release of Setdb1 from selected target genes upon myoblast terminal differentiation, concomitant to a nuclear export of Setdb1 to the cytoplasm. Both genomic release and cytoplasmic Setdb1 relocalisation during differentiation were dependent on canonical Wnt signalling. Transcriptomic assays in myoblasts unravelled a significant overlap between Setdb1 and Wnt3a regulated genetic programmes. Together, our findings revealed Wnt-dependent subcellular relocalisation of Setdb1 as a novel mechanism regulating Setdb1 functions and myogenesis.

scholarly journals Novel use of a chemically modified siRNA for robust and sustainable in vivo gene silencing in the retina

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takazumi Taniguchi ◽  
Ken-ichi Endo ◽  
Hidetoshi Tanioka ◽  
Masaaki Sasaoka ◽  
Kei Tashiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Intravitreal Injection ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Vitreous Body ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Retinal Cell ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Chemically Modified

AbstractDespite efficient and specific in vitro knockdown, more reliable and convenient methods for in vivo knockdown of target genes remain to be developed particularly for retinal research. Using commercially available and chemically modified siRNA so-called Accell siRNA, we established a novel in vivo gene silencing approach in the rat retina. siRNA designed for knockdown of the house keeping gene Gapdh or four retinal cell type-specific genes (Nefl, Pvalb, Rho and Opn1sw) was injected into the vitreous body, and their retinal mRNA levels were quantified using real-time PCR. Intravitreal injection of siRNA for Gapdh resulted in approximately 40–70% reduction in its retinal mRNA levels, which lasted throughout a 9-day study period. Furthermore, all the selected retinal specific genes were efficiently down-regulated by 60–90% following intravitreal injection, suggesting injected siRNA penetrated into major retinal cell types. These findings were consistent with uniform distribution of a fluorescence-labeled siRNA injected into the vitreous body. Interestingly, gene silencing of Grin1, a core subunit of NMDA receptor, was accompanied by significant prevention from NMDA-induced retinal ganglion cell death. Thus, we provide single intravitreal injection of Accell siRNA as a versatile technique for robust and sustainable in vivo retinal gene silencing to characterize their biological functions under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Sex determining gene expression during embryogenesis

1993 ◽  
Vol 339 (1288) ◽  
pp. 159-164 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cell Interactions ◽  
Follicle Cells ◽  
Sequence Comparisons ◽  
Hmg Box ◽  
Cell Cell

The Y-linked gene Sry acts during a critical period of gonadal differentiation to divert the normal or default pathway of gene activity that would otherwise lead to the development of ovaries into one that leads to the development of testes. It acts cell autonomously, probably within the cell lineage that gives rise to Sertoli cells in the testis or follicle cells in the ovary. The remaining cell types within the gonad, each of which has a developmental choice, then become fated to follow the testicular pathway. This process must depend on cell-cell interactions as Sry is not required within these other cell types for their differentiation. Subsequent male development of the animal as a whole is dependent on the production of testosterone and other factors by the testis. Sry encodes a DNA binding protein of the HMG box class, and presumably acts to regulate the expression of other genes which then confer cellular phenotype. However, rather than operating like other classes of transcription factor, it has been shown to induce a dramatic bend in its DNA binding sites, and may not directly affect transcription of target genes. Instead, it may perm it other factors to interact, which in turn either activate or repress transcription. Sequence comparisons between Sry genes from various species suggest that the HMG box is the only functional part of the protein. This part is responsible for DNA binding, and both mouse and hum an SRY bind the same consensus sequence at high affinity in vitro . However, the hum an gene fails to cause female to male sex reversal in transgenic mice. Possible reasons for this are discussed. There is also much evidence, including transgenic data, to suggest that the level of expression of Sry is critical to its function. On top of this, the gene can only successfully induce testis differentiation if the correct cell-cell interactions occur within the developing gonad. Despite knowing the identity of the testis determining gene, we are therefore still a long way from understanding how it achieves its function.

scholarly journals Phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes-15 is expressed in mouse testis and protects spermatocytes from apoptosis

Reproduction ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 743-751 ◽  
Author(s):  
S C Mizrak ◽  
F Renault-Mihara ◽  
M Párraga ◽  
J Bogerd ◽  
H J G van de Kant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Meiotic Prophase ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Mouse Testis ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Specific Step ◽  
Different Cell Types

Phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes (PEA-15) is a 15 kDa acidic serine-phosphorylated protein expressed in different cell types, especially in the CN. We initially detected the expression of PEA-15 in primary cultures of Sertoli cells. To assess the presence and localization of PEA-15 in the mouse testis, we studied the expression pattern of the PEA-15 protein by immunohistochemistry and mRNA byin situhybridization. Both the protein and the mRNA of PEA-15 were localized in the cytoplasm of Sertoli cells, all types of spermatogonia, and spermatocytes up till zygotene phase of the meiotic prophase. Subsequently, with ongoing development of the spermatocytes, the expression decreased and was very low in the cytoplasm of diplotene spermatocytes. To analyze the possible role of PEA-15 in the developing testis, null mutants for PEA-15 were examined. As the PEA-15 C terminus contains residues for ERK binding, we studied possible differences between the localization of the ERK2 protein in wild type (WT) andPEA-15−/−mice. In the WT testis, ERK2 was localized in the cytoplasm of Sertoli cells, B spermatogonia, preleptotene, leptotene, and zygotene spermatocytes, whereas in the KO testis, ERK2 was primarily localized in the nuclei of these cells and only little staining remained in the cytoplasm. Moreover, in PEA-15-deficient mice, significantly increased numbers of apoptotic spermatocytes were found, indicating an anti-apoptotic role of PEA-15 during the meiotic prophase. The increased numbers of apoptotic spermatocytes were not found at a specific step in the meiotic prophase.

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