The interplay between neural progenitor/stem cells (NPSC) and their extracellular matrix (ECM), is a crucial regulatory mechanism that determines their behavior. Nonetheless, how the ECM dictates internal processes remains elusive. The hindbrain is valuable to examine this relationship, as cells in the hindbrain boundaries (HB), which arise between any two neighboring rhombomeres, express the NPSC-marker Sox2 while being surrounded with the ECM molecule chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG), in chick and mouse embryos. CSPG expression was used to isolate HB/Sox2+ cells for RNA-sequencing, revealing their distinguished molecular properties as typical NPSCs, which express known and newly-identified genes relating to stem cells, cancer, matrisome and cell-cycle. In contrast, the CSPG-/non-HB cells, displayed clear neural-differentiation transcriptome. To address whether CSPG is significant for hindbrain development, its expression was manipulated in vivo and in vitro. CSPG-manipulations shifted the stem versus differentiation state of HB cells, evident by their behavior and altered gene expression. These results provide novel understanding on the uniqueness of hindbrain boundaries as repetitive pools of NPSCs in-between the rapidly-growing rhombomeres, which rely on their microenvironment to maintain undifferentiated during development.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.