2023年 新着論文 21 発生生物学分野から論文が発表されました
Intercellular exchange of Wnt ligands reduces cell population heterogeneity during embryogenesisNat Commun. 2023 Apr 6;14(1):1924. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-37350-x.
Free PMC article AbstractWnt signaling is required to maintain bipotent progenitors for neural and paraxial mesoderm cells, the neuromesodermal progenitor (NMP) cells that reside in the epiblast and tailbud. Since epiblast/tailbud cells receive Wnt ligands produced by one another, this exchange may average out the heterogeneity of Wnt signaling levels among these cells. Here, we examined this possibility by replacing endogenous Wnt3a with a receptor-fused form that activates signaling in producing cells, but not in neighboring cells. Mutant mouse embryos show a unique phenotype in which maintenance of many NMP cells is impaired, although some cells persist for long periods. The epiblast cell population of these embryos increases heterogeneity in Wnt signaling levels as embryogenesis progresses and are sensitive to retinoic acid, an endogenous antagonist of NMP maintenance. Thus, mutual intercellular exchange of Wnt ligands in the epiblast cell population reduces heterogeneity and achieves robustness to environmental stress. © 2023. The Author(s). Conflict of interest statementThe authors declare no competing interests. Full text links  |
