Publication

Diapause represents a major developmental switch in insects and is a seasonal adaptation that evolved as a specific subtype of dormancy in most insect species to ensure survival under unfavorable environmental conditions and synchronize populations. However, the hierarchical relationship of the molecular mechanisms involved in the perception of environmental signals to integration in morphological, physiological, behavioral, and reproductive responses remains unclear. In the bivoltine strain of the silkwormBombyx mori, embryonic diapause is induced transgenerationally as a maternal effect.

Despite a growing appreciation for microglial influences on the developing brain, the responsiveness of microglia to insults during gestation remains less well characterized, especially in the embryo when microglia themselves are still maturing. Here, we asked if fetal microglia could coordinate an innate immune response to an exogenous insult. Using time-lapse imaging, we showed that hypothalamic microglia actively surveyed their environment by near-constant "touching" of radial glia projections.

Development of the human intestine is not well understood. Here, we link single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to characterize intestinal morphogenesis through time. We identify 101 cell states including epithelial and mesenchymal progenitor populations and programs linked to key morphogenetic milestones. We describe principles of crypt-villus axis formation; neural, vascular, mesenchymal morphogenesis, and immune population of the developing gut.

Cathelicidins have been reported to inhibit human papillomavirus infection in vitro; however, nothing is known about their activity in vivo. In this study, experimental skin infection with Mus musculus papillomavirus 1 resulted in robust development of cutaneous papillomas in cyclosporine A-treated C57BL/6J mice deficient for the murine cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP), in contrast to wild-type controls.

The release of urine, or micturition, serves a fundamental physiological function and, in many species, is critical for social communication. In mice, the pattern of urine release is modulated by external and internal factors and transmitted to the spinal cord via the pontine micturition center (PMC). Here, we exploited a behavioral paradigm in which mice, depending on strain, social experience, and sensory context, either vigorously cover an arena with small urine spots or deposit urine in a few isolated large spots.

Mutations of the cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) gene cause severe neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by intractable epilepsy, intellectual disability, and autism. Multiple mouse models generated for mechanistic studies have exhibited phenotypes similar to some human pathological features, but none of the models has developed one of the major symptoms affecting CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) patients: intractable recurrent seizures.

Mammary stem cells (MaSC) are essential for growth and maintenance of mammary epithelium. Previous studies have utilized morphological characteristics or retention of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) label to identify MaSC and progenitor cells, these approaches may not be feasible or may not identify all resident stem cells. Alternatively, these special cells may be identified by assessing protein and mRNA expression of appropriate markers. The focus of this study was to assess the staining patterns and in situ quantification of novel candidate markers for bovine MaSC/progenitor cells.

Pancreatic cancer is characterized by extensive metastasis. EMT plasticity plays a critical role in tumor progression and metastasis by maintaining the transition between EMT and MET states. Our aim is to understand the molecular events regulating metastasis and EMT plasticity in pancreatic cancer.

Astrocytes are glial cells that are abundant in the central nervous system (CNS) and that have important homeostatic and disease-promoting functions1. However, little is known about the homeostatic anti-inflammatory activities of astrocytes and their regulation. Here, using high-throughput flow cytometry screening, single-cell RNA sequencing and CRISPR-Cas9-based cell-specific in vivo genetic perturbations in mice, we identify a subset of astrocytes that expresses the lysosomal protein LAMP12 and the death receptor ligand TRAIL3.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) DANCR has been reported to participate in key processes such as stem cell differentiation and tumorigenesis. In a high throughput screening for lncRNAs involved in Doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, we found DANCR was suppressed by Doxorubicin and it acted as an important repressor of apoptosis in colorectal cancer. Further studies demonstrated that DANCR promoted the oncogenic lncRNA MALAT1 expression via enhancing the RNA stability of MALAT1 to suppress apoptosis. MALAT1 could efficiently mediate the suppressive function of DANCR on apoptosis.