Transition of signal requirement in hematopoietic stem cell development from hemogenic endothelial cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) develop from hemogenic endothelial cells (HECs) in vivo during mouse embryogenesis. When cultured in vitro, cells from the embryo phenotypically defined as pre-HSC-I and pre-HSC-II have the potential to differentiate into HSCs. However, minimal factors required for HSC induction from HECs have not yet been determined.

Sweat Protects against Contact Hypersensitivity: Transient Sweat Suppression Compromises Skin Barrier Function in Mice.

Although subtle barrier defects may facilitate allergen penetration, thereby enabling allergic sensitization, the relationship between sweating disturbance and skin barrier function is unknown. However, many studies on contact hypersensitivity in mice examined ear skin, which does not sweat, instead of the footpad, where sweating is uniquely present. In this study, we assessed whether sweat suppression in the footpad before hapten application provoked a skin barrier abnormality and reduced inflammatory thresholds to topical haptens.

The role of Zfp352 in the regulation of transient expression of 2-cell specific genes in mouse embryonic stem cells.

Mouse ES cell populations contain a minor sub-population that expresses genes specifically expressed in 2-cell stage embryos. This sub-population consists of 2-cell-gene labeled cells (2CLCs) generated by the transient activation of the 2-cell specific genes initiated by the master regulator, Dux. However, the mechanism regulating the transient expression remains largely unclear.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-triggered conversion from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to bullous SLE and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors-associated bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) is a rare blistering disease in patients with SLE. BSLE is a heterogenous disease caused by autoantibodies to the basement membrane, mainly type VII collagen. The pathogenesis of the development of autoantibodies in BSLE remains unknown.

The polyol pathway is an evolutionarily conserved system for sensing glucose uptake.

Cells must adjust the expression levels of metabolic enzymes in response to fluctuating nutrient supply. For glucose, such metabolic remodeling is highly dependent on a master transcription factor ChREBP/MondoA. However, it remains elusive how glucose fluctuations are sensed by ChREBP/MondoA despite the stability of major glycolytic pathways.

Molecular detection of maturation stages in the developing kidney.

Recent advances in stem cell biology have enabled the generation of kidney organoids in vitro, and further maturation of these organoids is observed after experimental transplantation. However, the current organoids remain immature and their precise maturation stages are difficult to determine because of limited information on developmental stage-dependent gene expressions in the kidney in vivo. To establish relevant molecular coordinates, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on developing kidneys at different stages in the mouse.

Establishment of bone marrow-derived M-CSF receptor-dependent self-renewing macrophages.

Recent studies have revealed that tissue macrophages are derived from yolk sac precursors or fetal liver monocytes, in addition to bone marrow monocytes. The relative contribution of these cells to the tissue macrophage pool is not fully understood, but embryo-derived cells are supposed to be more important because of their capacity to self-renew. Here, we show the presence of adult bone marrow-derived macrophages that retain self-renewing capacity.

Meiosis-Specific C19orf57/4930432K21Rik/BRME1 Modulates Localization of RAD51 and DMC1 to DSBs in Mouse Meiotic Recombination.

Meiotic recombination is critical for genetic exchange and generation of chiasmata that ensures faithful chromosome segregation during meiosis I. Meiotic recombination is initiated by DNA double-strand break (DSB) followed by multiple processes of DNA repair. The exact mechanisms for how recombinases localize to DSB remain elusive.

MEIOSIN Directs the Switch from Mitosis to Meiosis in Mammalian Germ Cells.

The mechanisms regulating meiotic initiation in mammals are enigmatic. It is known that retinoic acid (RA) signaling plays a pivotal role during meiotic initiation. STRA8, which is expressed in response to RA, is thought to be a key factor promoting meiotic initiation.

Overlapping functions of Krüppel-like factor family members: targeting multiple transcription factors to maintain the naïve pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Krüppel-like factors (Klfs) have a pivotal role in maintaining self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). The functions of three Klf family members (Klf2, Klf4 and Klf5) have been identified, and are suggested to largely overlap. For further dissection of their functions, we applied an inducible knockout system for these Klf family members and assessed the effects of combinatorial loss of function.

Contiguous multiple π-coordination of π-conjugated polyenes: bonding nature and charge delocalization behaviour of polyene-(palladium chain) sandwich clusters.

The contiguous multiple π-coordination (CMπC) bonds are formed at the molecular interface between the extended π-conjugated sp-carbon framework and metal-metal moieties. However, the static properties including the bonding nature of the CMπC bonds have not been well-understood. Here we report the charge delocalization behavior and bonding nature of the polyene-(palladium chain) sandwich clusters.

Zscan10 is dispensable for maintenance of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells.

Zinc finger and SCAN domain-containing 10 (Zscan10, also known as Zfp206) encodes a transcription factor that has been reported to be involved in the maintenance of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Here we generated inducible knockout ES cells for Zscan10 using the Cre-loxP system and analyzed its function. We succeeded in establishing Zscan10-null ES cells and confirmed their pluripotency by the generation of chimeric embryos.

Sox7 is dispensable for primitive endoderm differentiation from mouse ES cells.

Background: Primitive endoderm is a cell lineage segregated from the epiblast in the blastocyst and gives rise to parietal and visceral endoderm. Sox7 is a member of the SoxF gene family that is specifically expressed in primitive endoderm in the late blastocyst, although its function in this cell lineage remains unclear.

Results: Here we characterize the function of Sox7 in primitive endoderm differentiation using mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells as a model system.

Nr0b1 is a negative regulator of Zscan4c in mouse embryonic stem cells.

Nuclear receptor subfamily 0, group B, member 1 (Nr0b1, also known as Dax1) is regarded as an important component of the transcription factor network that governs pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Here we generated inducible knockout ES cells for Nr0b1 using the Cre-loxP system and analyzed its precise function. We succeeded in establishing the Nr0b1-null ES cells and confirmed their pluripotency by showing their contribution to chimeric embryos.

The C-terminal region of Xpc is dispensable for the transcriptional activity of Oct3/4 in mouse embryonic stem cells.

The transcription factor Oct3/4 is essential to maintain pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. It was reported that the Xpc DNA repair complex is involved in this process. Here we examined the role of Xpc on the transcriptional activation of the target genes by Oct3/4 using the inducible knockout strategy.

Maintenance of pluripotency in mouse ES cells without Trp53.

Tumor suppressor Trp53 works as a guardian of the genome in somatic cells. In mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, it was reported that Trp53 represses pluripotency-associated transcription factor Nanog to induce differentiation. However, since Trp53-null mice develop to term, Trp53 is dispensable for both the maintenance and differentiation of the pluripotent stem cell population in vivo, suggesting the differential functions of Trp53 in ES cells and embryos.

In vivo determination of vitamin d function using transgenic mice carrying a human osteocalcin luciferase reporter gene.

Vitamin D is an essential factor for ossification, and its deficiency causes rickets. Osteocalcin, which is a noncollagenous protein found in bone matrix and involved in mineralization and calcium ion homeostasis, is one of the major bone morphogenetic markers and is used in the evaluation of osteoblast maturation and osteogenic activation. We established transgenic mouse line expressing luciferase under the control of a 10-kb osteocalcin enhancer/promoter sequence.

Induction of DNA demethylation depending on two sets of Sox2 and adjacent Oct3/4 binding sites (Sox-Oct motifs) within the mouse H19/insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) imprinted control region.

DNA demethylation is used to establish and maintain an unmethylated state. The molecular mechanisms to induce DNA demethylation at a particular genomic locus remain unclear. The mouse H19/insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) imprinted control region (ICR) is a methylation state-sensitive insulator that regulates transcriptional activation of both genes.