Publications by authors named "P Snell"
The human blastocyst contains the pluripotent epiblast from which human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be derived. ACTIVIN/NODAL signaling maintains expression of the transcription factor NANOG and in vitro propagation of hESCs. It is unknown whether this reflects a functional requirement for epiblast development in human embryos.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA critical host response against viral infections entails the activation of innate immune signaling that culminates in the production of antiviral proteins. DNA viruses are sensed by the cytosolic pattern recognition receptor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), which initiates a signaling pathway that results in production of proinflammatory cytokines such as Interferon-β (IFN-β) and activation of the antiviral response. Precise regulation of the antiviral innate immune response is required to avoid deleterious effects of its overactivation.
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- Many mammals, including mice, can delay development between conception and birth by entering a dormant state during the blastocyst stage.
- Research shows that reducing the mTOR signaling pathway activity can induce this dormant state in human pluripotent stem cells and blastoids, leading to limited growth and development.
- This discovery suggests that humans also have the ability to enter dormancy around the blastocyst stage, which could have important implications for reproductive therapies.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examines how secondary genetic variants can influence the clinical features of individuals with primary disease-causing variants, suggesting that these modifiers play a significant role in disease expression.
- - Specifically focusing on the 16p12.1 deletion, researchers identified various rare and common variants that predisposed individuals to specific developmental issues, such as neurological defects and microcephaly.
- - By analyzing data from different cohorts, the findings indicate that the effects of primary and secondary variants on phenotype vary depending on the specific primary variant involved, highlighting the need for personalized approaches in treatment.
During the first week of development, human embryos form a blastocyst composed of an inner cell mass and trophectoderm (TE) cells, the latter of which are progenitors of placental trophoblast. Here, we investigated the expression of transcripts in the human TE from early to late blastocyst stages. We identified enrichment of the transcription factors GATA2, GATA3, TFAP2C and KLF5 and characterised their protein expression dynamics across TE development.
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