Signalling Mechanisms Underlying Congenital Malformation: The Gatekeepers, Glypicans

Fico, Annalisa; Dono, Rosanna

doi:10.5772/33099

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 91 publications

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“…We explored an alternative approach for enhancing the differentiation propensity of human induced PSCs (hiPSCs) toward VMDA neurons, based on modulating expression levels of the cell membrane protein GLYPICAN‐4 (GPC4). GPC4 is a member of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan family (HSPG) GLYPICANS, which are known to regulate developmental processes by fine‐tuning cellular responses to instructive extracellular proteins 20‐23 . Our strategy relies on the rationale that the three morphogens, SHH, WNT, and FGF, required for induction of a floor‐plate with VM identity in vivo are modulated by GPC4.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells toward the midbrain dopaminergic neuron lineage through GLYPICAN-4 downregulation

Corti

Bonjean

Legier

et al. 2021

Stem Cells Translational Medicine

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Enhancing the differentiation potential of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) into disease‐relevant cell types is instrumental for their widespread application in medicine. Here, we show that hiPSCs downregulated for the signaling modulator GLYPICAN‐4 (GPC4) acquire a new biological state characterized by increased hiPSC differentiation capabilities toward ventral midbrain dopaminergic (VMDA) neuron progenitors. This biological trait emerges both in vitro, upon exposing cells to VMDA neuronal differentiation signals, and in vivo, even when transplanting hiPSCs at the extreme conditions of floor‐plate stage in rat brains. Moreover, it is compatible with the overall neuronal maturation process toward acquisition of substantia nigra neuron identity. HiPSCs with downregulated GPC4 also retain self‐renewal and pluripotency in stemness conditions, in vitro, while losing tumorigenesis in vivo as assessed by flank xenografts. In conclusion, our results highlight GPC4 downregulation as a powerful approach to enhance generation of VMDA neurons. Outcomes may contribute to establish hiPSC lines suitable for translational applications.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%