Formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer in embryoid bodies requires fgfr/erk signalling.

The primitive endoderm arises from the inner cell mass during mammalian pre-implantation development. It faces the blastocoel cavity and later gives rise to the extraembryonic parietal and visceral endoderm. Here, we investigate a key step in primitive endoderm development, the acquisition of apico-...

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Main Authors: Gail Doughton, Jun Wei, Nicolas Tapon, Melanie J Welham, Andrew D Chalmers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3994041?pdf=render
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author Gail Doughton
Jun Wei
Nicolas Tapon
Melanie J Welham
Andrew D Chalmers
author_facet Gail Doughton
Jun Wei
Nicolas Tapon
Melanie J Welham
Andrew D Chalmers
author_sort Gail Doughton
collection DOAJ
description The primitive endoderm arises from the inner cell mass during mammalian pre-implantation development. It faces the blastocoel cavity and later gives rise to the extraembryonic parietal and visceral endoderm. Here, we investigate a key step in primitive endoderm development, the acquisition of apico-basolateral polarity and epithelial characteristics by the non-epithelial inner cell mass cells. Embryoid bodies, formed from mouse embryonic stem cells, were used as a model to study this transition. The outer cells of these embryoid bodies were found to gradually acquire the hallmarks of polarised epithelial cells and express markers of primitive endoderm cell fate. Fgf receptor/Erk signalling is known to be required for specification of the primitive endoderm, but its role in polarisation of this tissue is less well understood. To investigate the function of this pathway in the primitive endoderm, embryoid bodies were cultured in the presence of a small molecule inhibitor of Mek. This inhibitor caused a loss of expression of markers of primitive endoderm cell fate and maintenance of the pluripotency marker Nanog. In addition, a mislocalisation of apico-basolateral markers and disruption of the epithelial barrier, which normally blocks free diffusion across the epithelial cell layer, occurred. Two inhibitors of the Fgf receptor elicited similar phenotypes, suggesting that Fgf receptor signalling promotes Erk-mediated polarisation. This data shows that primitive endoderm cells of the outer layer of embryoid bodies gradually polarise, and formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer requires the Fgf receptor/Erk signalling pathway.
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spelling doaj.art-fe3021379c37404289845d4bfc0d31512022-12-21T19:48:49ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0194e9543410.1371/journal.pone.0095434Formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer in embryoid bodies requires fgfr/erk signalling.Gail DoughtonJun WeiNicolas TaponMelanie J WelhamAndrew D ChalmersThe primitive endoderm arises from the inner cell mass during mammalian pre-implantation development. It faces the blastocoel cavity and later gives rise to the extraembryonic parietal and visceral endoderm. Here, we investigate a key step in primitive endoderm development, the acquisition of apico-basolateral polarity and epithelial characteristics by the non-epithelial inner cell mass cells. Embryoid bodies, formed from mouse embryonic stem cells, were used as a model to study this transition. The outer cells of these embryoid bodies were found to gradually acquire the hallmarks of polarised epithelial cells and express markers of primitive endoderm cell fate. Fgf receptor/Erk signalling is known to be required for specification of the primitive endoderm, but its role in polarisation of this tissue is less well understood. To investigate the function of this pathway in the primitive endoderm, embryoid bodies were cultured in the presence of a small molecule inhibitor of Mek. This inhibitor caused a loss of expression of markers of primitive endoderm cell fate and maintenance of the pluripotency marker Nanog. In addition, a mislocalisation of apico-basolateral markers and disruption of the epithelial barrier, which normally blocks free diffusion across the epithelial cell layer, occurred. Two inhibitors of the Fgf receptor elicited similar phenotypes, suggesting that Fgf receptor signalling promotes Erk-mediated polarisation. This data shows that primitive endoderm cells of the outer layer of embryoid bodies gradually polarise, and formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer requires the Fgf receptor/Erk signalling pathway.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3994041?pdf=render
spellingShingle Gail Doughton
Jun Wei
Nicolas Tapon
Melanie J Welham
Andrew D Chalmers
Formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer in embryoid bodies requires fgfr/erk signalling.
PLoS ONE
title Formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer in embryoid bodies requires fgfr/erk signalling.
title_full Formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer in embryoid bodies requires fgfr/erk signalling.
title_fullStr Formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer in embryoid bodies requires fgfr/erk signalling.
title_full_unstemmed Formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer in embryoid bodies requires fgfr/erk signalling.
title_short Formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer in embryoid bodies requires fgfr/erk signalling.
title_sort formation of a polarised primitive endoderm layer in embryoid bodies requires fgfr erk signalling
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3994041?pdf=render
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