The International journal of developmental biology最新文献

Valproic acid (VPA), a neuroprotective agent and inhibitor of GSK3-β, along with human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (hADSCs) have been proposed to be potential therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative disorders. In the present study, we have assessed the effects of VPA alone or in combination with hADSCs on oligodendrocyte differentiation, remyelination, and functional recovery in a mouse model of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). These MS-model mice were randomly divided into cuprizone, sham, VPA, hADSC, and VPA/hADSC groups, with 10 mice considered a control group (healthy mice). The hanging wire test was used to measure motor behavior. To estimate the level of myelination, we performed toluidine blue staining and immunofluorescent staining for OLIG2 and MOG-positive cells. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate the expression of β-catenin, human and mouse Mbp, Mog, and Olig2 genes. Remyelination and motor function improved in mice receiving VPA, hADSCs, and especially VPA/hADSCs compared to the Cup and Sham groups (P < 0.01). Additionally, the number of MOG and OLIG2 positive cells significantly increased in the VPA/hADSCs group compared to the Cup and Sham groups (P < 0.01). The expression of β-catenin, myelin and the other oligodendrocyte-specific genes was significantly higher in the VPA recipient groups. Valproic acid can enhance the differentiation of stem cells into oligodendrocytes, making it a potential candidate for MS treatment.

Cancer cells and embryonic stem (ES) cells share several biological properties, suggesting that some genes expressed in ES cells may play an important role in cancer cell growth. In this study, we investigated the possible role of zinc finger protein 296 (ZFP296), a transcription factor expressed in ES cells, in cancer development. First, we found that overexpression of Zfp296 in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts induced two phenomena indicative of cell transformation: enhanced proliferation under low-serum conditions and anchorage-independent growth. We also found that Zfp296 expression was upregulated in the tumor area of a mouse model of colon carcinogenesis. In addition, the expression levels of ZFP296 in various human cell lines were generally low in normal cells and relatively high in cancer cells. Finally, using a soft agar assay, we found that overexpression of ZFP296 promoted the anchorage-independent growth of cancer cells, while its knockdown had the opposite effect. Overall, these results suggest a possible role of the ES-specific transcription factor ZFP296 in cancer.

The control of cell-cell adhesion and detachment is essential for collective migration and cell rearrangement. Here, we have used the contact behavior of Xenopus gastrula mesoderm explants migrating directionally on ectoderm conditioned substratum to study the regulation of active cell-cell detachment. When colliding laterally, explants repelled each other, whereas they fused front-to-back when aligned in the direction of migration. For this mesoderm polarization by the substratum, we identified three control modules. First, PDGF-A signaling normally suppresses contact-induced collapse of lamellipodia in a polarized manner. Disruption of PDGF-A function, or of Xwnt6, decreased the polarization of explant contact behavior. Second, the Wnt receptor Xfz7 acted upstream of the kinase Pak1 to control explant fusion independently of PDGF-A-promoted lamellipodia stability. Third, ephrinB1 acted with Dishevelled (Dvl) in front-to-back explant fusion. The second and third modules have been identified previously as regulators of tissue separation at the ectoderm-mesoderm boundary. On non-polarizing, fibronectin-coated substratum, they controlled repulsion between explants in the same way as between tissues during boundary formation. However, explant repulsion/fusion responses were reversed on conditioned substratum by the endogenous guidance cues that also control oriented contact inhibition of lamellipodia. Together, control modules and substratum-bound guidance cues combine preferential front-back adhesion and diminished lateral adhesion of cells to promote collective directional mesoderm migration.

Regeneration enables the regrowth and restoration of missing body parts. It is a common phenomenon among animals. However, only some species exhibit remarkable regeneration capabilities and can regenerate organs such as limbs, lenses or hearts. Regeneration has been widely studied, thereby giving rise to new fields, such as regenerative medicine. Furthermore, regeneration has the potential to be applied to the human body. However, the molecular mechanisms governing this process should be elucidated first. Recent advancements in research methods have led to the identification of numerous signaling pathways involved in regeneration. One of them, the Wnt transduction pathway, is an ancient and evolutionarily conserved pathway that plays an important role in both embryonic development and regeneration. The Wnt pathway plays an important role during the regeneration process, as it is implicated in cell fate determination, cell migration, cell polarity and adult cell homeostasis. To date, two major Wnt pathways have been identified: the canonical (β-catenin dependent) pathway and the non-canonical pathway. The latter pathway can be further divided into planar cell polarity, the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway and the JNK pathway. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the Wnt signaling pathway and its role in regeneration, with a particular emphasis on key model species.

The third meeting of the Visegrád Group Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) was held on September 8^th-10^th, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. It was a continuation of previous meetings, the first organized in the Czech Republic in 2018 and the second in Hungary in 2021. Similarly to the previous meetings, the organizers created a friendly platform for networking and science sharing. The conference gathered an excellent group of 160 researchers working on various animal models, who during lecture and poster sessions discussed a broad range of subjects, including early embryonic development, organogenesis, genetic and epigenetic control of developmental processes, stem cells and regeneration, cellular dynamics and migration in developmental biology, and in vitro models in development and disease. Additionally, two satellite events were organized: the Young Developmental Biologists' Forum, which gave young researchers an opportunity to share and promote their work and to participate in hands-on courses, and an outreach initiative "Developmental Biology for Everyone", which presented different aspects of developmental biology to a broad audience.