Diet-induced alteration of intestinal stem cell function underlies obesity and prediabetes in mice
Aliluev, A;Tritschler, S;Sterr, M;Oppenländer, L;Hinterdobler, J;Greisle, T;Irmler, M;Beckers, J;Sun, N;Walch, A;Stemmer, K;Kindt, A;Krumsiek, J;Tschöp, MH;Luecken, MD;Theis, FJ;Lickert, H;Böttcher, A;
PMID: 34552271 | DOI: 10.1038/s42255-021-00458-9
Excess nutrient uptake and altered hormone secretion in the gut contribute to a systemic energy imbalance, which causes obesity and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer. This functional maladaptation is thought to emerge at the level of the intestinal stem cells (ISCs). However, it is not clear how an obesogenic diet affects ISC identity and fate. Here we show that an obesogenic diet induces ISC and progenitor hyperproliferation, enhances ISC differentiation and cell turnover and changes the regional identities of ISCs and enterocytes in mice. Single-cell resolution of the enteroendocrine lineage reveals an increase in progenitors and peptidergic enteroendocrine cell types and a decrease in serotonergic enteroendocrine cell types. Mechanistically, we link increased fatty acid synthesis, Ppar signaling and the Insr-Igf1r-Akt pathway to mucosal changes. This study describes molecular mechanisms of diet-induced intestinal maladaptation that promote obesity and therefore underlie the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome and associated complications.
Novellasdemunt L, Kucharska A, Jamieson C, Prange-Barczynska M, Baulies A, Antas P, van der Vaart J, Gehart H, Maurice MM, Li VS
PMID: 31867777 | DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019102771
The intestinal stem cell (ISC) marker LGR5 is a receptor for R-spondin (RSPO) that functions to potentiate Wnt signalling in the proliferating crypt. It has been recently shown that Wnt plays a priming role for ISC self-renewal by inducing RSPO receptor LGR5 expression. Despite its pivotal role in homeostasis, regeneration and cancer, little is known about the post-translational regulation of LGR5. Here, we show that the HECT-domain E3 ligases NEDD4 and NEDD4L are expressed in the crypt stem cell regions and regulate ISC priming by degrading LGR receptors. Loss of Nedd4 and Nedd4l enhances ISC proliferation, increases sensitivity to RSPO stimulation and accelerates tumour development in Apcmin mice with increased numbers of high-grade adenomas. Mechanistically, we find that both NEDD4 and NEDD4L negatively regulate Wnt/?-catenin signalling by targeting LGR5 receptor and DVL2 for proteasomal and lysosomal degradation. Our findings unveil the previously unreported post-translational control of LGR receptors via NEDD4/NEDD4L to regulate ISC priming. Inactivation of NEDD4 and NEDD4L increases Wnt activation and ISC numbers, which subsequently enhances tumour predisposition and progression.
Pærregaard, SI;Wulff, L;Schussek, S;Niss, K;Mörbe, U;Jendholm, J;Wendland, K;Andrusaite, AT;Brulois, KF;Nibbs, RJB;Sitnik, K;Mowat, AM;Butcher, EC;Brunak, S;Agace, WW;
PMID: 37085516 | DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37952-5
The intestinal lamina propria contains a diverse network of fibroblasts that provide key support functions to cells within their local environment. Despite this, our understanding of the diversity, location and ontogeny of fibroblasts within and along the length of the intestine remains incomplete. Here we show that the small and large intestinal lamina propria contain similar fibroblast subsets that locate in specific anatomical niches. Nevertheless, we find that the transcriptional profile of similar fibroblast subsets differs markedly between the small intestine and colon suggesting region specific functions. We perform in vivo transplantation and lineage-tracing experiments to demonstrate that adult intestinal fibroblast subsets, smooth muscle cells and pericytes derive from Gli1-expressing precursors present in embryonic day 12.5 intestine. Trajectory analysis of single cell RNA-seq datasets of E12.5 and adult mesenchymal cells suggest that adult smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts derive from distinct embryonic intermediates and that adult fibroblast subsets develop in a linear trajectory from CD81+ fibroblasts. Finally, we provide evidence that colonic subepithelial PDGFRαhi fibroblasts comprise several functionally distinct populations that originate from an Fgfr2-expressing fibroblast intermediate. Our results provide insights into intestinal stromal cell diversity, location, function, and ontogeny, with implications for intestinal development and homeostasis.
Jensen, BO;Knops, E;Cords, L;Lübke, N;Salgado, M;Busman-Sahay, K;Estes, JD;Huyveneers, LEP;Perdomo-Celis, F;Wittner, M;Gálvez, C;Mummert, C;Passaes, C;Eberhard, JM;Münk, C;Hauber, I;Hauber, J;Heger, E;De Clercq, J;Vandekerckhove, L;Bergmann, S;Dunay, GA;Klein, F;Häussinger, D;Fischer, JC;Nachtkamp, K;Timm, J;Kaiser, R;Harrer, T;Luedde, T;Nijhuis, M;Sáez-Cirión, A;Schulze Zur Wiesch, J;Wensing, AMJ;Martinez-Picado, J;Kobbe, G;
PMID: 36807684 | DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02213-x
Despite scientific evidence originating from two patients published to date that CCR5Δ32/Δ32 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can cure human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the knowledge of immunological and virological correlates of cure is limited. Here we characterize a case of long-term HIV-1 remission of a 53-year-old male who was carefully monitored for more than 9 years after allogeneic CCR5Δ32/Δ32 HSCT performed for acute myeloid leukemia. Despite sporadic traces of HIV-1 DNA detected by droplet digital PCR and in situ hybridization assays in peripheral T cell subsets and tissue-derived samples, repeated ex vivo quantitative and in vivo outgrowth assays in humanized mice did not reveal replication-competent virus. Low levels of immune activation and waning HIV-1-specific humoral and cellular immune responses indicated a lack of ongoing antigen production. Four years after analytical treatment interruption, the absence of a viral rebound and the lack of immunological correlates of HIV-1 antigen persistence are strong evidence for HIV-1 cure after CCR5Δ32/Δ32 HSCT.
Conforti, P;Bocchi, VD;Campus, I;Scaramuzza, L;Galimberti, M;Lischetti, T;Talpo, F;Pedrazzoli, M;Murgia, A;Ferrari, I;Cordiglieri, C;Fasciani, A;Arenas, E;Felsenfeld, D;Biella, G;Besusso, D;Cattaneo, E;
PMID: 36590694 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100367
Stem cell engineering of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) is a promising strategy to understand diseases affecting the striatum and for cell-replacement therapies in different neurological diseases. Protocols to generate cells from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are scarce and how well they recapitulate the endogenous fetal cells remains poorly understood. We have developed a protocol that modulates cell seeding density and exposure to specific morphogens that generates authentic and functional D1- and D2-MSNs with a high degree of reproducibility in 25 days of differentiation. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) shows that our cells can mimic the cell-fate acquisition steps observed in vivo in terms of cell type composition, gene expression, and signaling pathways. Finally, by modulating the midkine pathway we show that we can increase the yield of MSNs. We expect that this protocol will help decode pathogenesis factors in striatal diseases and eventually facilitate cell-replacement therapies for Huntington's disease (HD).
Frederico, B;Martins, I;Chapela, D;Gasparrini, F;Chakravarty, P;Ackels, T;Piot, C;Almeida, B;Carvalho, J;Ciccarelli, A;Peddie, CJ;Rogers, N;Briscoe, J;Guillemot, F;Schaefer, AT;Saúde, L;Reis E Sousa, C;
PMID: 35998585 | DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.07.012
Cells with latent stem ability can contribute to mammalian tissue regeneration after damage. Whether the central nervous system (CNS) harbors such cells remains controversial. Here, we report that DNGR-1 lineage tracing in mice identifies an ependymal cell subset, wherein resides latent regenerative potential. We demonstrate that DNGR-1-lineage-traced ependymal cells arise early in embryogenesis (E11.5) and subsequently spread across the lining of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled compartments to form a contiguous sheet from the brain to the end of the spinal cord. In the steady state, these DNGR-1-traced cells are quiescent, committed to their ependymal cell fate, and do not contribute to neuronal or glial lineages. However, trans-differentiation can be induced in adult mice by CNS injury or in vitro by culture with suitable factors. Our findings highlight previously unappreciated ependymal cell heterogeneity and identify across the entire CNS an ependymal cell subset wherein resides damage-responsive neural stem cell potential.
Neurotensin regulates proliferation and stem cell function in the small intestine in a nutrient-dependent manner
Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology
Rock, SA;Jiang, K;Wu, Y;Liu, Y;Li, J;Weiss, HL;Wang, C;Jia, J;Gao, T;Evers, BM;
PMID: 34560309 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.09.006
Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are sensitive to dietary alterations and nutrient availability. Neurotensin (NT), a gut peptide localized predominantly to the small bowel and released by fat ingestion, stimulates the growth of intestinal mucosa under basal conditions and during periods of nutrient deprivation, suggesting a possible role for NT on ISC function.Lgr5-EGFP, NT wild type (Nt+/+) and Lgr5-EGFP, NT knockout (Nt-/-) mice were fed ad libitum (AL) or fasted for 48 h. Small intestine tissue and crypts were examined by gene expression analyses, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, western blot, immunohistochemistry, and crypt-derived organoid culture. Drosophila expressing NT in midgut enteroendocrine cells were fed a standard diet or low-energy diet and esg-GFP+ ISCs quantified via immunofluorescence.Loss of NT impaired crypt cell proliferation and ISC function in a manner dependent on nutrient status. Under nutrient-rich conditions, NT stimulated ERK1/2 signaling and the expression of genes that promote cell cycle progression, leading to crypt cell proliferation. Under conditions of nutrient depletion, NT stimulated WNT/ -catenin signaling and promoted an ISC gene signature, leading to enhanced ISC function. NT was required for the induction of WNT/ -catenin signaling and ISC-specific gene expression during nutrient depletion, and loss of NT reduced crypt cell proliferation and impaired ISC function and Lgr5 expression in the intestine during fasting. Conversely, the expression of NT in midgut enteroendocrine cells of Drosophila prevented loss of ISCs during nutrient depletion.Collectively, our findings establish an evolutionarily conserved role for NT in ISC maintenance during nutritional stress.
Guan, R;Pan, M;Xu, X;Du, L;Rao, X;Fu, G;Lv, T;Zhang, L;Li, Y;Tang, P;Zhou, Y;Wang, Y;Zhang, Z;Gao, J;Zhou, H;Mi, W;Hua, G;
PMID: 37291802 | DOI: 10.1177/09636897231177377
Epithelial regeneration is critical for barrier maintenance and organ function after intestinal radiation injury. Accumulating evidence indicates that the interleukin family members play critical roles in intestinal stem-cell-mediated epithelial regeneration. However, little is known about the relationship between interleukin 33 (IL-33)/ST2 axis and intestinal regeneration after radiation injury. We demonstrate here that IL-33 expression significantly increased after radiation treatment. Deficiency of IL-33/ST2 promotes intestinal epithelial regeneration, resulting in a reduction of mortality during radiation-induced intestine injury. Using ex vivo organoid cultures, we show that recombinant IL-33 promotes intestinal stem cell differentiation. Mechanistically, the effects of IL-33 were mediated by activation of transforming growth factor-β signaling. Our findings reveal a fundamental mechanism by which IL-33 is able to regulate the intestinal crypt regeneration after tissue damage.
Ali A, Syed SM, Jamaluddin MFB, Colino-Sanguino Y, Gallego-Ortega D, Tanwar PS
PMID: 32023462 | DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.01.003
The intact vaginal epithelium is essential for women's reproductive health and provides protection against HIV and sexually transmitted infections. How this epithelium maintains itself remains poorly understood. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to define the diverse cell populations in the vaginal epithelium. We show that vaginal epithelial cell proliferation is limited to the basal compartment without any obvious label-retaining cells. Furthermore, we developed vaginal organoids and show that the basal cells have increased organoid forming efficiency. Importantly, Axin2 marks a self-renewing subpopulation of basal cells that gives rise to differentiated cells over time. These cells are ovariectomy-resistant stem cells as they proliferate even in the absence of hormones. Upon hormone supplementation, these cells expand and reconstitute the entire vaginal epithelium. Wnt/?-catenin is essential for the proliferation and differentiation of vaginal stem cells. Together, these data define heterogeneity in vaginal epithelium and identify vaginal epithelial stem cells
Kraiczy, J;McCarthy, N;Malagola, E;Tie, G;Madha, S;Boffelli, D;Wagner, DE;Wang, TC;Shivdasani, RA;
PMID: 37028407 | DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.03.004
Signals from the surrounding niche drive proliferation and suppress differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) at the bottom of intestinal crypts. Among sub-epithelial support cells, deep sub-cryptal CD81+ PDGFRAlo trophocytes capably sustain ISC functions ex vivo. Here, we show that mRNA and chromatin profiles of abundant CD81- PDGFRAlo mouse stromal cells resemble those of trophocytes and that both populations provide crucial canonical Wnt ligands. Mesenchymal expression of key ISC-supportive factors extends along a spatial and molecular continuum from trophocytes into peri-cryptal CD81- CD55hi cells, which mimic trophocyte activity in organoid co-cultures. Graded expression of essential niche factors is not cell-autonomous but dictated by the distance from bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-secreting PDGFRAhi myofibroblast aggregates. BMP signaling inhibits ISC-trophic genes in PDGFRAlo cells near high crypt tiers; that suppression is relieved in stromal cells near and below the crypt base, including trophocytes. Cell distances thus underlie a self-organized and polar ISC niche.
McCarthy, N;Tie, G;Madha, S;He, R;Kraiczy, J;Maglieri, A;Shivdasani, RA;
PMID: 36924771 | DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.02.012
Wnt and Rspondin (RSPO) signaling drives proliferation, and bone morphogenetic protein inhibitors (BMPi) impede differentiation, of intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Here, we identify the mouse ISC niche as a complex, multi-layered structure that encompasses distinct mesenchymal and smooth muscle populations. In young and adult mice, diverse sub-cryptal cells provide redundant ISC-supportive factors; few of these are restricted to single cell types. Niche functions refine during postnatal crypt morphogenesis, in part to oppose the dense aggregation of differentiation-promoting BMP+ sub-epithelial myofibroblasts at crypt-villus junctions. Muscularis mucosae, a specialized muscle layer, first appears during this period and supplements neighboring RSPO and BMPi sources. Components of this developing niche are conserved in human fetuses. The in vivo ablation of mouse postnatal smooth muscle increases BMP signaling activity, potently limiting a pre-weaning burst of crypt fission. Thus, distinct and progressively specialized mesenchymal cells together create the milieu that is required to propagate crypts during rapid organ growth and to sustain adult ISCs.
Tani, S;Okada, H;Onodera, S;Chijimatsu, R;Seki, M;Suzuki, Y;Xin, X;Rowe, DW;Saito, T;Tanaka, S;Chung, UI;Ohba, S;Hojo, H;
PMID: 36965484 | DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112276
Although the skeleton is essential for locomotion, endocrine functions, and hematopoiesis, the molecular mechanisms of human skeletal development remain to be elucidated. Here, we introduce an integrative method to model human skeletal development by combining in vitro sclerotome induction from human pluripotent stem cells and in vivo endochondral bone formation by implanting the sclerotome beneath the renal capsules of immunodeficient mice. Histological and scRNA-seq analyses reveal that the induced bones recapitulate endochondral ossification and are composed of human skeletal cells and mouse circulatory cells. The skeletal cell types and their trajectories are similar to those of human embryos. Single-cell multiome analysis reveals dynamic changes in chromatin accessibility associated with multiple transcription factors constituting cell-type-specific gene-regulatory networks (GRNs). We further identify ZEB2, which may regulate the GRNs in human osteogenesis. Collectively, these results identify components of GRNs in human skeletal development and provide a valuable model for its investigation.