Regional differences in WT-1 and Tcf21 expression during ventricular development: implications for myocardial compaction

Background

Morphological and functional differences of the right and left ventricle are apparent in the adult human heart. A differential contribution of cardiac fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells (populations of epicardium-derived cells) to each ventricle may account for part of the morphological-functional disparity. Here we studied the relation between epicardial derivatives and the development of compact ventricular myocardium.

Results

Wildtype and Wt1^CreERT2/+ reporter mice were used to study WT-1 expressing cells, and Tcf21^lacZ/+ reporter mice and PDGFRα^-/-;Tcf21^LacZ/+ mice to study the formation of the cardiac fibroblast population. After covering the heart, intramyocardial WT-1+ cells were first observed at the inner curvature, the right ventricular postero-lateral wall and left ventricular apical wall. Later, WT-1+ cells were present in the walls of both ventricles, but significantly more pronounced in the left ventricle. Tcf21-^LacZ + cells followed the same distribution pattern as WT-1+ cells but at later stages, indicating a timing difference between these cell populations. Within the right ventricle, WT-1+ and Tcf21-lacZ+ cell distribution was more pronounced in the posterior inlet part. A gradual increase in myocardial wall thickness was observed early in the left ventricle and at later stages in the right ventricle. PDGFRα^-/-;Tcf21^LacZ/+ mice showed deficient epicardium, diminished number of Tcf21-^LacZ + cells and reduced ventricular compaction.

Conclusions

During normal heart development, spatio-temporal differences in contribution of WT-1 and Tcf21-^LacZ + cells to right versus left ventricular myocardium occur parallel to myocardial thickening. These findings may relate to lateralized differences in ventricular (patho)morphology in humans.     

Tbx18+心外膜祖细胞参与成年小鼠部分心脏组织形成

转录因子Tbx18在胚胎心脏发育过程中起重要调控作用,是心外膜祖细胞标记之一|故以Tbx18为标记的阳性祖细胞群被称为：Tbx18+心外膜祖细胞(epicardial progenitor cells, EPCs)。小鼠胚胎、新生和成年期心脏组织细胞的特性区别较大,成年小鼠的心脏属于终末分化组织。但是,Tbx18+EPCs对成年小鼠心脏组织的贡献大小尚存争议。本研究拟定量分析Tbx18+EPCs对成年小鼠心脏组织的贡献大小。采用整体和组织切片X-gal染色检测成年心脏组织LacZ的表达|荧光激活细胞分选法(fluorescence activated cell sorting,FACS)分离成年Tbx18Cre/R26EYFP小鼠心脏组织EYFP+细胞。结果显示,在Tbx18+EPCs遗传谱系示踪小鼠,报告基因LacZ和EYFP在成年小鼠心脏的心室、心房、冠状动脉、室间隔等处表达|成年Tbx18Cre/R26EYFP小鼠心脏组织细胞用FACS分离,分选的EYFP+细胞比例平均约为33.94%。由此可见,成年小鼠心脏的心室、心房、冠状动脉、室间隔等心脏组织均可来源于Tbx18+EPCs|约1/3成年小鼠心脏组织细胞来源于Tbx18+EPCs。故Tbx18+EPCs参与成年小鼠心脏组织的部分形成。     

Augmenting Endogenous Wnt Signaling Improves Skin Wound Healing

Wnt signaling is required for both the development and homeostasis of the skin, yet its contribution to skin wound repair remains controversial. By employing Axin2^LacZ/+ reporter mice we evaluated the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of Wnt responsive cells, and found that the pattern of Wnt responsiveness varies with the hair cycle, and correlates with wound healing potential. Using Axin2^LacZ/LacZ mice and an ear wound model, we demonstrate that amplified Wnt signaling leads to improved healing. Utilizing a biochemical approach that mimics the amplified Wnt response of Axin2^LacZ/LacZ mice, we show that topical application of liposomal Wnt3a to a non-healing wound enhances endogenous Wnt signaling, and results in better skin wound healing. Given the importance of Wnt signaling in the maintenance and repair of skin, liposomal Wnt3a may have widespread application in clinical practice.     

Role of T‐bet,the master regulator of Th1 cells,in the cytotoxicity of murine CD4+ T cells

Although CD4⁺ T cells are generally regarded as helper T cells, some activated CD4⁺ T cells have cytotoxic properties. Given that CD4⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) often secrete IFN‐γ, CTL activity among CD4⁺ T cells may be attributable to Th1 cells, where a T‐box family molecule, T‐bet serves as the “master regulator”. However, although the essential contribution of T‐bet to expression of IFN‐γ has been well‐documented, it remains unclear whether T‐bet is involved in CD4⁺ T cell‐mediated cytotoxicity. In this study, to investigate the ability of T‐bet to confer cytolytic activity on CD4⁺ T cells, the T‐bet gene (Tbx21) was introduced into non‐cytocidal CD4⁺ T cell lines and their cytolytic function analyzed. Up‐regulation of FasL (CD178), which provided the transfectant with cytotoxicity, was observed in Tbx21transfected CD4⁺ T cells but not in untransfected parental cells. In one cell line, T‐bet transduction also induced perforin gene (Prf1) expression and Tbx21 transfectants efficiently killed Fas^? target cells. Although T‐bet was found to repress up‐regulation of CD40L (CD154), which controls FasL‐mediated cytolysis, the extent of CD40L up‐regulation on in vitro‐differentiated Th1 cells was similar to that on Th2 cells, suggesting the existence of a compensatory mechanism. These results collectively indicate that T‐bet may be involved in the expression of genes, such as FasL and Prf1, which confer cytotoxicity on Th1 cells.

     

谱系示踪技术揭示Tbx18+肾脏祖细胞分化为脂肪细胞

转录因子Tbx18在泌尿系发育中发挥重要作用。利用遗传谱系示踪模型，揭示了Tbx18+肾祖细胞具有向多种肾系细胞分化的潜能。但尚无文献报道其是否具有向脂肪细胞分化的潜能。本研究通过对Tbx18Cre/Rosa26LacZ双杂合小鼠泌尿系组织进行整体X-gal染色发现，肾包膜、输尿管及肾周脂肪组织能特异性表达β-gal蛋白，说明肾包膜、输尿管及肾周脂肪组织可能来源于Tbx18+祖细胞。对Tbx18Cre/Rosa26EYFP双杂合小鼠泌尿系组织进行免疫荧光染色，发现部分脂滴相关蛋白+（perilipin）脂肪细胞能表达标记蛋白EYFP，说明部分泌尿系脂肪细胞来源于Tbx18+祖细胞。本研究揭示了Tbx18+祖细胞具有分化为脂肪细胞的潜能，进一步证实了Tbx18+肾祖细胞的多分化潜能。结合本研究结果，若进一步研究肾损伤时，来源于Tbx18+祖细胞的泌尿系脂肪细胞是否进一步增多，将会为肾损伤的再生修复提供一些思路和启发。     

Spatial-temporal targeting of lung-specific mesenchyme by a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tbx4</Emphasis>enhancer

Background

Reciprocal interactions between lung mesenchymal and epithelial cells play essential roles in lung organogenesis and homeostasis. Although the molecular markers and related animal models that target lung epithelial cells are relatively well studied, molecular markers of lung mesenchymal cells and the genetic tools to target and/or manipulate gene expression in a lung mesenchyme-specific manner are not available, which becomes a critical barrier to the study of lung mesenchymal biology and the related pulmonary diseases.

Results

We have identified a mouse Tbx4 gene enhancer that contains conserved DNA sequences across many vertebrate species with lung or lung-like gas exchange organ. We then generate a mouse line to express rtTA/LacZ under the control of the Tbx4 lung enhancer, and therefore a Tet-On inducible transgenic system to target lung mesenchymal cells at different developmental stages. By combining a Tbx4-rtTA driven Tet-On inducible Cre expression mouse line with a Cre reporter mouse line, the spatial-temporal patterns of Tbx4 lung enhancer targeted lung mesenchymal cells were defined. Pulmonary endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells were targeted by the Tbx4-rtTA driver line prior to E11.5 and E15.5, respectively, while other subtypes of lung mesenchymal cells including airway smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, pericytes could be targeted during the entire developmental stage.

Conclusions

Developmental lung mesenchymal cells can be specifically marked by Tbx4 lung enhancer activity. With our newly created Tbx4 lung enhancer-driven Tet-On inducible system, lung mesenchymal cells can be specifically and differentially targeted in vivo for the first time by controlling the doxycycline induction time window. This novel system provides a unique tool to study lung mesenchymal cell lineages and gene functions in lung mesenchymal development, injury repair, and regeneration in mice.

     

基因谱系示踪揭示Tbx18+祖细胞的多分化潜能

为探讨Tbx18+祖细胞在小鼠生长发育过程中的多分化潜能及分化的组织类型,本工作建立了Tbx18：Cre/Rosa26RLacZ谱系示踪小鼠.该示踪小鼠基于Cre/LoxP系统,能够准确及有效地示踪Tbx18+祖细胞的分化命运,通过整体胚胎及组织X-gal染色,检测分析报告基因LacZ在其中的表达情况.结果显示,在Tbx18：Cre/Rosa26RLacZ双杂合小鼠胚胎发育早期,报告基因LacZ主要在脊柱、四肢及心外膜表达|而在胚胎发育晚期则分别表达于皮肤、毛囊、肾脏、输尿管、膀胱、睾丸、输精管、椎间盘、肋软骨、心耳、心肌、冠状动脉.结果阐明,Tbx18+祖细胞在小鼠生长发育过程中具有强大的多器官及组织分化潜能,包括分化形成表皮系统,泌尿生殖系统,骨骼系统,心血管系统,并在其生长发育中发挥重要作用.     

基因谱系示踪技术揭示小鼠Tbx18+心脏祖细胞向心系细胞分化的潜能

心脏祖细胞(cardiac progenitor cells,CPCs)的研究对阐明先天性心脏病的机制及治疗心血管疾病具有重要意义.哺乳动物的心脏组织由多种不同CPCs分化形成.转录因子Tbx18在发育中的心外膜中表达,对心脏的发育形成起重要的调节作用.为了在组织及活体细胞水平检测和阐明Tbx18+CPC的分化潜能,应用Cre-LoxP系统建立Tbx18+CPCs基因命运谱系示踪模型:Tbx18-Cre/Rosa26R-EYFP和Tbx18-Cre/Rosa26R-LacZ双杂合基因敲入小鼠.该双杂合基因敲入小鼠通过Cre的表达能有效地示踪Tbx18+细胞在胚胎和成年小鼠中的分化命运.Tbx18-Cre/Rosa26R-EYFP双杂合小鼠心脏能非常容易地利用流式细胞分选系统(FACS)分离出YFP+细胞,也可在倒置共聚焦显微镜下观察.应用X-gal染色分析其表达模式,揭示Tbx18命运谱系参与心房肌、室间隔、心室肌、冠状动脉、瓣膜等的形成.应用免疫荧光技术初步揭示Tbx18+CPCs向心脏肌钙蛋白T(cTNT)阳性心肌细胞和平滑肌肌球蛋白重链11(MYH11)阳性血管平滑肌细胞分化的潜能.心脏是一个由多种肌肉和非肌肉组织细胞构成的复杂器官.推测Tbx18可能在心脏祖细胞向肌源性细胞分化的信号通路中起重要调节作用.在上述研究中应用基因谱系示踪技术,验证Tbx18可作为一类CPCs的标志,为更深入揭示心脏祖细胞向心系细胞的分化潜能打下基础.     

A novel reporter rat strain that expresses LacZ upon Cre‐mediated recombination

The recent widespread application of Cre/loxP technology has resulted in a new generation of conditional animal models that can better recapitulate many salient features of human disease. These models benefit from the ability to monitor the expression and functionality of Cre protein. We have generated a conditional (Cre/loxP dependent) LacZ reporter rat (termed the LacZ541 rat) to monitor Cre in transgenic rats. When LacZ541 rats were bred with another transgenic rat line expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the CAG promoter, LacZ/Cre double transgenic embryos displayed ubiquitous expression of LacZ, and when LacZ541 rats were bred with transgenic rats expressing Cre/loxP‐dependent oncogenic H‐ or K‐ras, LacZ was expressed in the lesions resulting from the activation of the oncogene. The LacZ541 rat enables evaluation of the performance of Cre‐expressing systems which are based upon transgenic rats or somatic gene transfer vectors and provides efficient and simple lineage marking. genesis 51:268–274. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Gain of function of Tbx1 affects pharyngeal and heart development in the mouse

Mammalian development is highly sensitive to Tbx1 gene dosage reduction. Gene function insights can also be learned from increased or ectopic expression. The authors generated a novel mouse transgenic line, named COET, which expresses Tbx1 upon Cre‐mediated recombination. The authors crossed this transgenic line with Tbx1^Cre animals to activate expression in the Tbx1‐expression domain. Compound mutant COET;Tbx1^Cre/+ animals died after birth and showed heart enlargement. At E18.5, compound mutants showed ventricular septal defects and thymic abnormalities. The authors crossed compound mutants into a Tbx1 null background to understand whether this phenotype is caused by gene overdosage. Results showed that gene dosage reduction at the endogenous locus could not rescue heart and thymic defects, although the transgene rescued the loss of function phenotype. Thus, the transgenic phenotype appears to be due to gain of function. Resultant data demonstrate that Tbx1 expression must be tightly regulated to be compatible with normal embryonic development. genesis 47:188–195, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Tbx1 and Brn4 regulate retinoic acid metabolic genes during cochlear morphogenesis

Background  

In vertebrates, the inner ear is comprised of the cochlea and vestibular system, which develop from the otic vesicle. This process is regulated via inductive interactions from surrounding tissues. Tbx1, the gene responsible for velo-cardio-facial syndrome/DiGeorge syndrome in humans, is required for ear development in mice. Tbx1 is expressed in the otic epithelium and adjacent periotic mesenchyme (POM), and both of these domains are required for inner ear formation. To study the function of Tbx1 in the POM, we have conditionally inactivated Tbx1 in the mesoderm while keeping expression in the otic vesicle intact.