Normal levels of p27Xic1 are necessary for somite segmentation and determining pronephric organ size

The Xenopus laevis cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27^Xic1 has been shown to be involved in exit from the cell cycle and differentiation of cells into a quiescent state in the nervous system, muscle tissue, heart and retina. We show that p27^Xic1 is expressed in the developing kidney in the nephrostomal regions. Using over-expression and morpholino oligonucleotide (MO) knock-down approaches we show normal levels of p27^Xic1 regulate pronephros organ size by regulating cell cycle exit. Knock-down of p27^Xic1 expression using a MO prevented myogenesis, as previously reported; an effect that subsequently inhibits pronephrogenesis. Furthermore, we show that normal levels of p27^Xic1 are required for somite segmentation also through its cell cycle control function. Finally, we provide evidence to suggest correct paraxial mesoderm segmentation is not necessary for pronephric induction in the intermediate mesoderm. These results indicate novel developmental roles for p27^Xic1, and reveal its differentiation function is not universally utilised in all developing tissues.     

A cell-autonomous requirement for Cip/Kip cyclin-kinase inhibitors in regulating neuronal cell cycle exit but not differentiation in the developing spinal cord

Control over cell cycle exit is fundamental to the normal generation of the wide array of distinct cell types that comprise the mature vertebrate CNS. Here, we demonstrate a critical role for Cip/Kip class cyclin-kinase inhibitory (CKI) proteins in regulating this process during neurogenesis in the embryonic spinal cord. Using immunohistochemistry, we show that all three identified Cip/Kip CKI proteins are expressed in both distinct and overlapping populations of nascent and post-mitotic neurons during early neurogenesis, with p27(Kip1) having the broadest expression, and both p57(Kip2) and p21(Cip1) showing transient expression in restricted populations. Loss- and gain-of-function approaches were used to establish the unique and redundant functions of these proteins in spinal cord neurogenesis. Using genetic lineage tracing, we provide evidence that, in the absence of p57, nascent neurons re-enter the cell cycle inappropriately but later exit to begin differentiation. Analysis of p57(Kip2);p27(Kip1) double mutants, where p21 expression is confined to only a small population of interneurons, demonstrates that Cip/Kip CKI-independent factors initiate progenitor cell cycle exit for the majority of interneurons generated in the developing spinal cord. Our studies indicate that p57 plays a critical cell-autonomous role in timing cell cycle exit at G1/S by opposing the activity of Cyclin D1, which promotes cell cycle progression. These studies support a multi-step model for neuronal progenitor cell cycle withdrawal that involves p57(Kip2) in a central role opposing latent Cyclin D1 and other residual cell cycle promoting activities in progenitors targeted for differentiation.     

H3K27 Trimethylation Is an Early Epigenetic Event of p16INK4a Silencing for Regaining Tumorigenesis in Fusion Reprogrammed Hepatoma Cells

Stable epigenetic silencing of p16^INK4a is a common event in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, which is associated with abnormal cell proliferation and liberation from cell cycle arrest. Understanding the early epigenetic events in silencing p16^INK4a expression may illuminate a prognostic strategy to block HCC development. Toward this end, we created a reprogram cell model by the fusion mouse HCC cells with mouse embryonic stem cells, in which the ES-Hepa hybrids forfeited HCC cell characteristics along with reactivation of the silenced p16^INK4a. HCC characteristics, in terms of gene expression pattern and tumorigenic potential, was restored upon induced differentiation of these reprogrammed ES-Hepa hybrids. The histone methylation pattern relative to p16^INK4a silencing during differentiation of the ES-Hepa hybrids was analyzed. H3K27 trimethylation at the p16^INK4a promoter region, occurring in the early onset of p16^INK4a silencing, was followed by H3K9 dimethylation at later stages. During the induced differentiation of the ES-Hepa hybrids, H3K4 di- and trimethylations were maintained at high levels during the silencing of p16^INK4a, strongly suggesting that H3K4 methylation events did not cause the silencing of p16^INK4a. Our results suggested that the enrichment of H3K27 trimethylation, independent of H3K9 dimethylation, trimethylation, and DNA methylation, was an early event in the silencing of p16^INK4a during the tumor development. This unique chromatin pattern may be a heritable marker of epigenetic regulation for p16^INK4a silencing during the developmental process of hepatocellular carcinogenesis.     

PKC�� promotes a proliferation to differentiation switch in keratinocytes via upregulation of p27Kip1 mRNA through suppression of JNK/c-Jun signaling under stress conditions

To maintain epidermal homeostasis, the balance between keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation is tightly controlled. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this balance remain unclear. In 3D organotypic coculture with mouse keratinocytes and fibroblasts, the thickness of stratified cell layers was prolonged, and growth arrest and terminal differentiation were delayed when PKCη-null keratinocytes were used. Re-expression of PKCη in PKCη-null keratinocytes restored stratified cell layer thickness, growth arrest and terminal differentiation. We show that in 3D cocultured PKCη-null keratinocytes, p27^Kip1 mRNA was downregulated, whereas JNK/c-Jun signaling was enhanced. Furthermore, inhibition of JNK/c-Jun signaling in PKCη-null keratinocytes led to upregulation of p27^Kip1 mRNA, and to thinner stratified cell layers. Collectively, our findings indicate that PKCη upregulates p27^Kip1 mRNA through suppression of JNK/c-Jun signaling. This results in promoting a proliferation to differentiation switch in keratinocytes.     

CDK inhibitors,p21 and p27, participate in cell cycle exit of mammalian cardiomyocytes

Mammalian cardiomyocytes actively proliferate during embryonic stages, following which cardiomyocytes exit their cell cycle after birth. The irreversible cell cycle exit inhibits cardiac regeneration by the proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes. Exactly how the cell cycle exit occurs remains largely unknown. Previously, we showed that cyclin E- and cyclin A-CDK activities are inhibited before the CDKs levels decrease in postnatal stages. This result suggests that factors such as CDK inhibitors (CKIs) inhibit CDK activities, and contribute to the cell cycle exit. In the present study, we focused on a Cip/Kip family, which can inhibit cyclin E- and cyclin A-CDK activities. Expression of p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip1 but not p57^Kip2 showed a peak around postnatal day 5, when cyclin E- and cyclin A-CDK activities start to decrease. p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip1 bound to cyclin E, cyclin A and CDK2 at postnatal stages. Cell cycle distribution patterns of postnatal cardiomyocytes in p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip1 knockout mice showed failure in the cell cycle exit at G1-phase, and endoreplication. These results indicate that p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip play important roles in the cell cycle exit of postnatal cardiomyocytes.     

The cdk inhibitor p27Xic1 is required for differentiation of primary neurones in Xenopus

We have investigated the role of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p27(Xic1), in the coordination of cell cycle exit and differentiation during early neurogenesis. We demonstrate that p27(Xic1) is highly expressed in cells destined to become primary neurones and is essential for an early stage of neurogenesis. Ablation of p27(Xic1) protein prevents differentiation of primary neurones, while overexpressing p27(Xic1) promotes their formation. p27(Xic1) may enhance neurogenesis by stabilising the bHLH protein, neurogenin. Moreover, the ability of p27(Xic1) to stabilise neurogenin and enhance neurogenesis localises to an N-terminal domain of the molecule and is separable from its ability to inhibit the cell cycle.     

The Down syndrome-related protein kinase DYRK1A phosphorylates p27Kip1 and Cyclin D1 and induces cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation

A fundamental question in neurobiology is how the balance between proliferation and differentiation of neuronal precursors is maintained to ensure that the proper number of brain neurons is generated. Substantial evidence implicates DYRK1A (dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A) as a candidate gene responsible for altered neuronal development and brain abnormalities in Down syndrome. Recent findings support the hypothesis that DYRK1A is involved in cell cycle control. Nonetheless, how DYRK1A contributes to neuronal cell cycle regulation and thereby affects neurogenesis remains poorly understood. In the present study we have investigated the mechanisms by which DYRK1A affects cell cycle regulation and neuronal differentiation in a human cell model, mouse neurons, and mouse brain. Dependent on its kinase activity and correlated with the dosage of overexpression, DYRK1A blocked proliferation of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells within 24 h and arrested the cells in G₁ phase. Sustained overexpression of DYRK1A induced G₀ cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that DYRK1A modulated protein stability of cell cycle-regulatory proteins. DYRK1A reduced cellular Cyclin D1 levels by phosphorylation on Thr286, which is known to induce proteasomal degradation. In addition, DYRK1A phosphorylated p27^Kip1 on Ser10, resulting in protein stabilization. Inhibition of DYRK1A kinase activity reduced p27^Kip1 Ser10 phosphorylation in cultured hippocampal neurons and in embryonic mouse brain. In aggregate, these results suggest a novel mechanism by which overexpression of DYRK1A may promote premature neuronal differentiation and contribute to altered brain development in Down syndrome.     

Mitf functions as an in ovo regulator for cell differentiation and proliferation during development of the chick RPE

Mitf has been reported to play a crucial role in regulating the differentiation of pigment cells in homeothermal animals, i.e. the melanocytes and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). However, less is known about the functions of Mitf in the developing RPE. To elucidate such functions, we introduced wild-type and dominant-negative Mitf expression vectors into chick optic vesicles by electroporation. Over-expression of wild-type Mitf altered neural retina cells to become RPE-like and repressed the expression of neural retina markers in vivo. In contrast, dominant-negative Mitf inhibited pigmentation in the RPE. The percentage of BrdU-positive cells decreased during normal RPE development, which was followed by Mitf protein expression. The percentage of BrdU-positive cells decreased in the wild-type Mitf-transfected neural retina, but increased in the dominant-negative Mitf-transfected RPE. p27^kip1, one of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, begins to be expressed in the proximal region of the RPE at stage 16. Transfection of wild-type Mitf induced expression of p27^kip1, while transfection of dominant-negative Mitf inhibited p27^kip1 expression. We found that Mitf was associated with the endogenous p27^kip1 5′ flanking region. These results demonstrate for the first time “in vivo” that Mitf uniquely regulates both differentiation and cell proliferation in the developing RPE.     

Normal and Malignant Muscle Cell Transplantation into Immune Compromised Adult Zebrafish

Zebrafish have become a powerful tool for assessing development, regeneration, and cancer. More recently, allograft cell transplantation protocols have been developed that permit engraftment of normal and malignant cells into irradiated, syngeneic, and immune compromised adult zebrafish. These models when coupled with optimized cell transplantation protocols allow for the rapid assessment of stem cell function, regeneration following injury, and cancer. Here, we present a method for cell transplantation of zebrafish adult skeletal muscle and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS), a pediatric sarcoma that shares features with embryonic muscle, into immune compromised adult rag2^E450fs homozygous mutant zebrafish. Importantly, these animals lack T cells and have reduced B cell function, facilitating engraftment of a wide range of tissues from unrelated donor animals. Our optimized protocols show that fluorescently labeled muscle cell preparations from α-actin-RFP transgenic zebrafish engraft robustly when implanted into the dorsal musculature of rag2 homozygous mutant fish. We also demonstrate engraftment of fluorescent-transgenic ERMS where fluorescence is confined to cells based on differentiation status. Specifically, ERMS were created in AB-strain myf5-GFP; mylpfa-mCherry double transgenic animals and tumors injected into the peritoneum of adult immune compromised fish. The utility of these protocols extends to engraftment of a wide range of normal and malignant donor cells that can be implanted into dorsal musculature or peritoneum of adult zebrafish.     

p21cip1 is required for the differentiation of oligodendrocytes independently of cell cycle withdrawal

Differentiation of most cell types requires both establishment of G₁ arrest and the induction of a program related to achieving quiescence. We have chosen to study the differentiation of oligodendrocyte cells to determine the role of p27 and p21 in this process. Here we report that both p27 and p21 are required for the appropriate differentiation of these cells. p27 is required for proper withdrawal from the cell cycle, p21 is not. Instead, p21 is required for the establishment of the differentiation program following growth arrest. Similar observations were made in vivo. We show that p21^–/– cells withdraw from the cell cycle similar to wild-type cells; however, early in animal life, the brain is hypomyelinated, inferring that the loss of p21 delayed myelination in the cerebellum. We found that we could complement or bypass the differentiation failure in p21^–/– cells with either PD98059, an inhibitor of Mek1, or by transducing them with a tat–p16^Ink4a protein. We concluded that the two cdk inhibitors serve non-redundant roles in this program of differentiation, with p27 being responsible for arrest and p21 having a function in differentiation independent of its ability to control exit from the cell cycle.     

Msx2 alters the timing of retinal ganglion cells fate commitment and differentiation

Timing of cell fate commitment determines distinct retinal cell types, which is believed to be controlled by a tightly coordinated regulatory program of proliferation, cell cycle exit and differentiation. Although homeobox protein Msx2 could induce apoptosis of optic vesicle, it is unclear whether Msx2 regulates differentiation and cell fate commitment of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In this study, we show that overexpression of Msx2 transiently suppressed the expression of Cyclin D1 and blocked cell proliferation. Meanwhile, overexpression of Msx2 delayed the expression of RGC-specific differentiation markers (Math5 and Brn3b), which showed that Msx2 could affect the timing of RGCs fate commitment and differentiation by delaying the timing of cell cycle exit of retinal progenitors. These results indicate Msx2 possesses dual regulatory functions in controlling cell cycle progression of retinal RPCs and timing of RGCs differentiation.     

The cell cycle- and insulin-signaling-inhibiting miRNA expression pattern of very small embryonic-like stem cells contributes to their quiescent state

Murine Oct4⁺, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs), are a quiescent stem cell population that requires a supportive co-culture layer to proliferate and/or to differentiate in vitro. Gene expression studies have revealed that the quiescence of these cells is due to changes in expression of parentally imprinted genes, including genes involved in cell cycle regulation and insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS). To investigate the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in VSEL quiescence, we performed miRNA studies in highly purified VSELs and observed a unique miRNA expression pattern in these cells. Specifically, we observed significant differences in the expression of certain miRNA species (relative to a reference cell population), including (i) miRNA-25_1 and miRNA-19 b, whose downregulation has the effect of upregulating cell cycle checkpoint genes and (ii) miRNA-675-3 p and miRNA-675-5 p, miRNA-292-5 p, miRNA-184, and miRNA-125 b, whose upregulation attenuates IIS. These observations are important for understanding the biology of these cells and for developing efficient ex vivo expansion strategies for VSELs isolated from adult tissues.     

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species originating from Romo1 exert an important role in normal cell cycle progression by regulating p27Kip1 expression

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) steady-state levels are required for entry into the S phase of the cell cycle in normal cells, as well as in tumour cells. However, the contribution of mitochondrial ROS to normal cell proliferation has not been well investigated thus far. A previous report showed that Romo1 was responsible for the high ROS levels in tumour cells. Here, we show that endogenous ROS generated by Romo1 are indispensable for cell cycle transition from G1 to S phase in normal WI-38 human lung fibroblasts. The ROS level in these cells was down-regulated by Romo1 knockdown, resulting in cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. This arrest was associated with an increase in the level of p27^Kip1. These results demonstrate that mitochondrial ROS generated by Romo1 expression is required for normal cell proliferation and it is suggested that Romo1 plays an important role in redox signalling during normal cell proliferation.     

Jagged 1 is necessary for normal mouse lens formation

In mammals, two spatially and temporally distinct waves of fiber cell differentiation are crucial steps for normal lens development. In between these phases, an anterior growth zone forms in which progenitor cells migrate circumferentially, terminally exit the cell cycle and initiate differentiation at the lens equator. Much remains unknown about the molecular pathways orchestrating these processes. Previously, the Notch signal transduction pathway was shown to be critical for anterior lens progenitor cell growth and differentiation. However, the ligand or ligand(s) that direct these events are unknown. Using conditional gene targeting, we show that Jagged1 is required for lens fiber cell genesis, particularly that of secondary fiber cells. In the absence of Jagged1, the anterior growth and equatorial transition zones fail to develop fully, with only a handful of differentiated fiber cells present at birth. Adult Jagged1 conditional mutants completely lack lenses, along with severe anterior chamber deformities. Our data support the hypothesis that Jagged1-Notch signaling conveys a lateral inductive signal, which is indispensable for lens progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation.