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Lox2, a putative leech segment identity gene, is expressed in the same segmental domain in different stem cell lineages.

The segmented tissues of the adult leech arise from a set of five, bilaterally paired embryonic stem cells via a stereotyped sequence of cell lineage. Individual segments exhibit unique patterns of cell differentiation, and previous studies have suggested that each stem cell lineage establishes at least some aspects of its own segmental specificity autonomously. In this paper, we describe a putative leech segment identity gene, Lox2, and examine its expression in the various stem cell lineages. Both sequence analysis and the segmental pattern of Lox2 expression suggest a specific homology to the fruitfly segment identity genes Ubx and abdA. In situ hybridization reveals a cellular accumulation of Lox2 RNA over a contiguous domain of 16 midbody segments (M6-M21), including postmitotic neurons, muscles and the differentiating genitalia. Lox2 transcripts were not detected at the stage when segment identities are first established, suggesting that Lox2 gene products may not be part of the initial specification process. Individual stem cell lineages were labeled by intracellular injection of fluorescent tracers, and single cell colocalization of lineage tracer and hybridization reaction product revealed expression of Lox2 RNA in the progeny of four different stem cells. The segmental domain of Lox2 RNA was very similar in the various stem cell lineages, despite the fact that some stem cells generate one founder cell/segment, whereas other stem cells generate two founder cells/segment.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Pan genome clustering identifies a novel mosaic prophage specific to Salmonella Enteritidis lineage associated with the invasive disease in India.

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is a leading cause of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) disease globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast, the epidemiology and population structure of invasive S. Enteritidis in South Asia remain poorly characterized. This study investigates the clinical presentation, phylogenetic relationships and genomic characteristics of S. Enteritidis bloodstream infections (BSIs) in India. Clinical data were collected from 101 patients with S. Enteritidis BSI between 2012 and 2022. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on representative bloodstream isolates together with isolates from non-blood clinical specimens and poultry sources. Comparative genomic analyses included phylogenetic reconstruction, invasiveness index prediction, and prophage characterization. Infants and immunosuppressed individuals were disproportionately affected by iNTS disease. Phylogenetic analysis identified four major lineages of S. Enteritidis. Most BSI isolates clustered in a previously unrecognized lineage, designated the Global Intermediate Clade, which occupied a phylogenetic position between the Global outlier and Global epidemic clades. Bayesian inference dated its most recent common ancestor to around 1789 AD (95% HPD: 1692-1941), with global circulation confirmed by European and Asian isolates. The Global Intermediate clade exhibited the second-highest invasiveness index (median 0.221, SD 0.013) after the West African clade; however, this index reflects genomic signatures associated with invasiveness and should not be interpreted as a direct measure of virulence. Poultry isolates clustered separately from the dominant bloodstream-associated lineage. Pan-genome analysis identified a lineage-specific mosaic prophage composed of modules homologous to prophages found in diverse Enterobacterales. This study provides the first detailed genomic insight into invasive S. Enteritidis in India and identifies a previously unrecognized Global Intermediate Clade associated with bloodstream infection. The distinct phylogenetic placement and genomic features of this lineage, including a lineage-specific mosaic prophage, warrant further investigation and support the need for expanded One Health genomic surveillance.

Humans↗

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex Lineage 1: A neglected cause of tuberculosis.

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) phylogenetic lineages 1-4 (L1-L4) are the main causes of human tuberculosis (TB). Until now, most of the focus in the TB field has been on MTBC L2 and L4, as these two lineages are geographically widespread and have been repeatedly associated with multidrug resistance. By comparison, MTBC L1 has received little attention, partially because of its restricted geographical range that mainly includes low- to middle-income countries in South and Southeast Asia, and East Africa. However, recent estimates indicate that MTBC L1 is in fact the most common cause of human TB in terms of absolute numbers of TB patients, particularly among several high TB burden countries. As more L1 strains are being sampled in L1-endemic countries, the high genetic diversity of this geographically restricted MTBC lineage is slowly uncovered. This discovery has also impacted L1 nomenclature, which has been modified as new distinct L1 clades were identified. In parallel to the genomic discoveries ushered by progress in whole genome sequencing, clinical researchers have also studied several phenotypes that better describe L1 TB disease. L1 strains have been shown to have increased vulnerability to oxidative stress, which was associated with decreased virulence in animal and in vitro models. L1 infection also shows possible association with extrapulmonary TB and asymptomatic TB. However, despite belonging to the same lineage, L1 strains display phenotypic diversity that can be attributed to high within-lineage genetic diversity and possibly the interaction of different L1 genotypes with different human host genotypes. Among the clinical phenotypes that show heterogeneity are bacterial factors, immune profiles, and clinical virulence. The traditional view regarding the reduced transmissibility in L1 is now being challenged by new data indicating that L1 may be as transmissible as L2 or L4. Lastly, although historically referred to as being negatively associated with drug resistance, there is indication that the contribution of L1 to TB drug resistance is significant and that it may evolve drug resistance in ways distinct from those of other MTBC lineages.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis↗

A novel functional class I lineage in zebrafish (Danio rerio), carp (Cyprinus carpio), and large barbus (Barbus intermedius) showing an unusual conservation of the peptide binding domains.

Species from all major jawed vertebrate taxa possess linked polymorphic class I and II genes located in an MHC. The bony fish are exceptional with class I and II genes located on different linkage groups. Zebrafish (Danio rerio), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and barbus (Barbus intermedius) represent highly divergent cyprinid genera. The genera Danio and Cyprinus diverged 50 million years ago, while Cyprinus and Barbus separated 30 million years ago. In this study, we report the first complete protein-coding class I ZE lineage cDNA sequences with high similarity between the three cyprinid species. Two unique complete protein-coding cDNA sequences were isolated in zebrafish, Dare-ZE*0101 and Dare-ZE*0102, one in common carp, Cyca-ZE*0101, and six in barbus, Bain-ZE*0101, Bain-ZE*0102, Bain-ZE*0201, Bain-ZE*0301, Bain-ZE*0401, and Bain-ZE*0402. Deduced amino acid sequences indicate that these sequences encode bonafide class I proteins. In addition, the presence of conserved potential peptide anchoring residues, exon-intron organization, ubiquitous expression, and polymorphism generated by positive selection on putative peptide binding residues support a classical nature of class I ZE lineage genes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed clustering of the ZE lineage clade with nonclassical cyprinid class I Z lineage clade away from classical cyprinid class I genes, suggesting a common ancestor of these nonclassical genes as observed for mammalian class I genes. Data strongly support the classical nature of these ZE lineage genes that evolved in a trans-species fashion with lineages being maintained for up to 100 million years as estimated by divergence time calculations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Combined immunophenotyping and DNA in situ hybridization to study lineage involvement in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Clonality of myeloid and lymphoid cell fractions obtained from peripheral blood (PB) or bone marrow (BM) of five patients with a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), was studied by combined immunophenotypic analysis and DNA in situ hybridization. This novel technique enables quantitative and direct analysis of cytogenetic alterations in nondividing cells of distinct cell lineages. Four patients with a trisomy 8 and one patient with a translocation (1;7) were studied. For cell lineage determination, antibodies specific for progenitor cells (CD34), myeloid cells (CD15), monocytes (63D3), T cells (CD3), and B cells (CD19,20,22) were used. In one patient with a trisomy 8, BM cells were available and the erythroid lineage could be studied. For detection of cytogenetic aberrations, we used chromosome-specific repetitive DNA probes. In three patients, all nonlymphoid cells carried the cytogenetic abnormality; in two patients, mosaicism within these lineages was suggested by the relative low numbers (35% to 55%) of aberrant cells. None of the T or B cells of the five patients carried the chromosomal aberrations. We conclude that combined immunophenotyping and in situ hybridization is a feasible technique to study lineage involvement. Our data suggest that the chromosomal aberrations studied in MDS are restricted to the myeloid lineages.

Adult↗

In vitro and in vivo radiation resistance associated with CD3 surface antigen expression in T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The radiobiologic features of primary clonogenic blasts (referred to also as T-lineage leukemic progenitor cells) from newly diagnosed and relapsed T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients were analyzed. Intrinsic radiation sensitivity differed substantially among primary clonogenic blasts from 34 newly diagnosed patients. The mean D0 (37% dose slope), SF2 (surviving fraction at 200 cGy), and alpha values (initial slope of the survival curve) were 141 +/- 15 cGy, 0.31 +/- 0.04, and 0.630 +/- 0.093 Gy-1, respectively. Among newly diagnosed cases, nine had SF2 values of greater than or equal to 0.50 and alpha values of less than or equal to 0.2 Gy-1, consistent with a marked intrinsic radiation resistance at the level of clonogenic blasts using the multitarget and linear quadratic models of cell survival. Of these nine radiation resistant cases, seven were CD3+. Furthermore, the mean D0 (162 +/- 20.8 cGy) and SF2 (0.377 +/- 0.057) values for the 20 CD3+ cases were significantly higher than the D0 (108.6 +/- 18.2 cGy) and SF2 (0.204 +/- 0.051) values for the 14 CD3- cases (P less than or equal to .05). Thus, clonogenic blasts from CD3+ newly diagnosed T-lineage ALL patients were more resistant to radiation than clonogenic blasts from CD3- newly diagnosed T-lineage ALL patients. Nineteen T-lineage ALL patients received autologous bone marrow transplants during complete remission. Pretransplant conditioning consisted of total body irradiation (TBI) combined with high-dose chemotherapy. Primary clonogenic blasts from patients who relapsed after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) displayed a particularly high degree of intrinsic radiation resistance with a mean D0 value of 333 cGy and an alpha value of 0.112 Gy-1. The expression of CD3 antigen appeared to predict the outcome of relapsed T-lineage ALL patients undergoing autologous BMT after TBI plus high-dose chemotherapy. The Kaplan-Meier estimates and standard errors of the probability of remaining in remission after BMT were 60% +/- 22% (mean relapse - free interval = 1.6 +/- 0.7 years) for CD3- patients and 0% +/- 0% (mean relapse - free interval = 0.2 +/- 0.0 years) for CD3+ patients (P = .002). Furthermore, the mean percentage of CD3-positive leukemic marrow blasts at presentation or relapse before BMT was significantly lower than the mean percentage of CD3-positive leukemic marrow blasts at relapse after BMT. Notably, in cultured leukemic bone marrow specimens from newly diagnosed as well as relapsed patients, colony blasts surviving in vitro radiation expressed CD3 more vividly than did colony blasts in unirradiated cultures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Quantitative lineage analysis of the origin of frog primary motor and sensory neurons from cleavage stage blastomeres.

The average number of primary motoneurons and Rohon-Beard neurons that descend from each "identified" blastomere of the 16- and 32-cell stages of the frog Xenopus laevis was determined. The dorsal, animal blastomeres are the major motoneuron progenitors, and the ventral, animal blastomeres are the major Rohon-Beard progenitors. Cells along the midline primarily give rise to only one of these phenotypes, whereas cells along the frontal plane, which separates dorsal from ventral, give rise to both phenotypes. Each blastomere produces a characteristic number of each type of neuron, with only small variations between embryos. The mean values were used to construct quantitative retrospective lineage diagrams for the first 5 cell cycles after fertilization. These diagrams illustrate that the fate to become a major neuronal progenitor is segregated as early as the 4-cell stage. The lineage patterns of which sister cell makes the majority of primary neurons at each cleavage after the 4-cell stage are quite similar for both neurons in the D lineage but only moderately similar for both neurons in the V lineage. The pattern of predominant Rohon-Beard neuron fate is very similar in the D and V lineages. Analysis of the axial distribution of the primary motoneurons and Rohon-Beard neurons that descend from each blastomere indicates that the major progenitors contribute neuronal descendants periodically, to nearly every segmental bin, but the minor progenitors distribute neuronal descendants randomly along the axis. These data demonstrate that primary neuronal phenotype, cell number, predominant lineal pattern, and in some cases segmental distribution are highly regular across a large population of embryos. This population consistency suggests that several features of neuronal fate may be influenced either by cell position or lineage.

Animals↗

Cell lineage segregation during bursa of Fabricius ontogeny.

The population dynamics of myeloid and lymphoid lineages during bursa of Fabricius ontogeny were analyzed by immunofluorescence by using two monoclonal antibodies (mAb). CL-1 mAb reacts with all chicken hemopoietic cells, except mature erythrocytes. L22 mAb reacts with bursa and bursa-derived lymphocytes, with a minor subset of macrophages and with some cells of the thymic medulla. The staining of embryonic bursas by these antibodies helps to distinguish between two different lineages of hemopoietic cells: CL-1+/L22+ cells represent B lymphocytes and a minor subset of macrophages, while CL-1+/L22- cells correspond to most of the macrophages and to the granulocytes, which disappear at the end of the embryonic life. CL-1+/L22- as well as CL-1+/L22+ cells were first observed outside the bursal rudiment. This indicates that there is a pre-bursal segregation between these two hemopoietic lineages and that two different kinds of precursors colonize the bursal rudiment at about the same time (day 9 for CL-1+/L22- cells and days 9 or 10 for CL-1+/L22+ cells). Moreover our data show that the colonization of the bursal epithelium by hemopoietic precursors is a two-step phenomenon. The first cells which enter belong to the CL-1+/L22- lineage, express Ia-like antigens at a high level, are dendritic in morphology, and represent cells of the macrophage/dendritic cell lineage. They are responsible for the formation of the epithelial bud which are then colonized by a small number of lymphoid precursors which belong to the CL-1+/L22+ lineage. Quail-chick bursa grafting experiments were also performed and the grafts were examined for CL-1 (restricted to chicken hemopoietic cells) and L22 reactivity. These observations confirmed our previous findings about the kinetics of the colonization of bursal rudiment by hemopoietic precursors and give support for a pre-bursal segregation between two hemopoietic pathways.

Age Factors↗

Lineage infidelity in acute leukemia.

Blast cells from 20 patients with acute leukemia (13 diagnosed myeloblastic and 7 as lymphoblastic, using the FAB classification) were studied using antibodies to lineage-specific differentiation markers. The phenotypic findings were usually consistent with the clinical diagnosis. However, examples were encountered where individual blast cells had a cytoplasmic marker of one lineage and a surface marker of a different lineage (lineage infidelity). Six examples of intramyeloid (two different myeloid lineages in the same cell) and three examples of interlineage infidelity (myeloid and lymphoid markers in the same blast cell) were encountered. No doubly marked cells were found in control material consisting of normal marrow cells, marrow regenerating after transplantation, or multilineage colonies derived from marrow in culture. A significant trend was observed relating the presence of lineage infidelity and failure of remission-induction. The data are interpreted as support for abnormal gene expression in leukemia.

Acute Disease↗

T-cell lineage commitment and cytokine responses of thymic progenitors.

The earliest steps of intrathymic differentiation recently have been elucidated. It has been reported that both CD4lo (CD44+ CD25- c-kit+ CD3- CD4lo CD8-) and pro-T cells (CD44+ CD25+ c-kit+ CD3- CD4- CD8-, representing the next step in maturation) exhibit germline T-cell receptor beta and gamma loci, suggesting that neither population is exclusively committed to the T-cell lineage. Several groups have shown that CD4lo cells retain the capacity to generate multiple lymphoid lineages in vivo; however, the lineage commitment status of pro-T cells is unknown. To determine when T-cell lineage commitment occurs, we examined the ability of sorted CD4lo and pro-T cells to generate lymphoid lineage cells in vivo or in fetal thymic organ cultures (FTOCs). When intravenously injected into scid mice, CD4lo cells generated both T and B cells, whereas the progeny of pro-T cells contained T cells exclusively. Fetal thymic organ cultures repopulated with CD4lo cells contained both T and natural killer (NK) cells, whereas cultures repopulated with pro-T cells contained T cells almost exclusively. These observations strongly suggest that T-cell lineage commitment occurs during the transition of CD4lo to pro-T cells. Because it is likely that the thymic microenvironment plays a critical role in T-cell commitment, we compared the responses of CD4lo and pro-T cells to various cytokine combinations in vitro, as well as the ability of the cultured cells to repopulate organ cultures. Cytokine combinations that maintained T-cell repopulation potential for both CD4lo and pro-T cells were found. CD4lo cells proliferated best in response to the combination containing interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-3, IL-6, IL-7, and stem cell factor (SCF). Unlike CD4lo cells, pro-T cells were much more dependent upon IL-7 for proliferation and FTOC repopulation. However, combinations of cytokines lacking IL-7 were found that maintained the T-cell repopulating potential of pro-T cells, suggesting that, whereas this cytokine is clearly very important for normal pro-T cell function, it is not an absolute necessity during early T-cell expansion and differentiation.

Animals↗

[Phenotypic analysis of immature T-lineage cells].

The characteristics of very immature T-lineage blasts including co-expression of myeloid properties and the distinctions between the phenotypes of pro-thymic (CD7+ CD5+ CD2+ CD3- CD4- CD8- or more immature) and thymic (CD3- CD4+ CD8+ or more mature) blasts are shown. The lineage-derivation of CD7+ CD5- CD2- and CD7+ CD5+ CD2- lymphoid blasts was investigated based on the gene expression of CD3 epsilon, CD3 delta and myeloperoxidase (MPO). The former group included 4 categories; undifferentiated blasts without commitment to myeloid or T-lineage, T-lineage blasts with mRNA of CD3 epsilon, T/myeloid blasts with mRNA of CD3 epsilon and MPO and blasts with mRNA of MPO. The latter included 2 categories; T-lineage blasts with CD3 epsilon and CD3 delta mRNA and T/myeloid blasts with CD3 epsilon, CD3 delta and MPO mRNA. Thus, CD3 epsilon was expressed at a more immature stage than CD3 delta. The blasts at the pro-thymic stage were different from those at the thymic stage in several respects. The T-cell receptor (TCR) beta-chain gene showed a germ-line configuration in most pro-thymic blasts. The CD13/CD33, CD11b and class II MHC antigens were expressed very frequently in the pro-thymic stage. The CD21 antigen was most selectively expressed at the thymic stage. Pro-thymic blasts were of RA type of CD45 antigen, while thymic blasts were of RO type. Recombination activation gene-1 (RAG-1) was only limitedly expressed at the pro-thymic stage, but was highly expressed at the thymic stage. These findings indicate that there are distinctive differences before and after the initiation of clonal selection which is unique and thymus-specific, and that the neoplastic cells represent each stage of T-lineage differentiation involving the unique thymic function.

Antigens, Surface↗

Lack of CD24 antigen expression in B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia is associated with intrinsic radiation resistance of primary clonogenic blasts.

The radiation sensitivity of primary clonogenic blasts from 27 children with immunologically classified CD2-CD5-CD7-CD19+slg- B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was analyzed using leukemic progenitor cell (LPC) colony assays. Radiation survival curves of primary clonogenic blasts (ie, LPC) were constructed for each patient using computer programs for the single-hit multitarget as well as the linear quadratic models of cell survival. The D0 values ranged from 49 to 891 cGy (median, 239 cGy; mean +/- SE, 307 +/- 44 cGy) and the alpha values ranged from 0.000 to 2.047 Gy-1 (median, 0.156 Gy-1; mean +/- SE, 0.284 +/- 0.078 Gy-1). Patients were divided into groups according to sex, age, white blood cell count (WBC) at diagnosis, plating efficiency of primary bone marrow blasts, and immunophenotype. Patient sex, age, WBC at diagnosis, or in vitro plating efficiency was not associated with radiation resistance. Notably, freshly isolated primary clonogenic blasts from patients with a CD19+CD24-CD34+ composite immunophenotype (stage I B-cell precursor [BCP]) had 2.2-fold higher D0 values (P = .005) and 3.4-fold lower alpha values (P = .05) than those from patients with a CD19+CD24+CD34+ (stage II BCP) or CD19+CD24+CD34- (stage III BCP) immunophenotype. The relative values for CD24- primary clonogenic blasts signify greater intrinsic radiation resistance. Furthermore, the CD19+CD24-CD34+ immunophenotype had a larger radiation resistant fraction. Whereas only 60% of CD19+CD24+CD34+ and 33% of CD19+CD24+CD34- cases had clonogenic blasts with alpha < or = 0.2, 100% of CD19+CD24-CD34+ cases had clonogenic blasts with alpha < or = 0.2. Furthermore, clonogenic blasts from established CD19+CD24- B-lineage ALL cell lines were significantly more radiation resistant than CD19+CD24+ B-lineage ALL cell lines. Notably, radiation doses sufficient to induce apoptosis of CD24- B-lineage ALL cells were higher than those capable of inducing apoptosis in CD24+ B-lineage ALL cells. Thus, the lack of CD24 surface antigen expression in B-lineage ALL is associated with intrinsic radiation resistance at the level of primary clonogenic blasts.

Antigens, CD↗

The origins of the Polynesians: an interpretation from mitochondrial lineage analysis.

Using mitochondrial lineage analysis of 1,178 individuals from Polynesia, the western Pacific, and Taiwan, we show that the major prehistoric settlement of Polynesia was from the west and involved two or possibly three genetically distinct populations. The predominant lineage group, accounting for 94% of Polynesian mtDNA, shares a 9-bp COII/tRNA(Lys) intergenic deletion and characteristic control region transition variants, compared to the Cambridge reference sequence. In Polynesia, the diversity of this group is extremely restricted, while related lineages in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Taiwan are increasingly diverse. This suggests a relatively recent major eastward expansion into Polynesia, perhaps originating from Taiwan, in agreement with archeological and linguistic evidence, but which experienced one or more severe population bottlenecks. The second mitochondrial lineage group, accounting for 3.5% of Polynesian mtDNA haplotypes, does not have the 9-bp deletion and its characterized by an A-C transversional variant at nt position 16265. Specific oligonucleotides for this variant were used to select individuals from the population sample who, with other sequences, show that the Polynesian lineages were part of a diverse group in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. The very low overall diversity of both lineage groups in Polynesia suggests there was severe population restriction during the colonization of remote Oceania. A third group, represented by only four individuals (0.6%) in Polynesia but also present in the Philippines, shares variants at nt positions 16172 and 16304. Two Polynesians had unrelated haplotypes matching published sequences from native South Americans, which may be the first genetic evidence of prehistoric human contact between Polynesia and South America.

Base Sequence↗

Sezary lineage cells can be induced to proliferate via CD28-mediated costimulation.

Sezary syndrome and mycosis fungoides are related chronic lymphoproliferative diseases caused by the malignant growth of CD4+ T lymphocytes that display hyperconvoluted nuclei and a predilection for skin homing. Despite the malignant nature of these cells, they paradoxically do not grow in vitro, either spontaneously or following exposure to mitogens. Partly because of this technical limitation, the cellular lineage and causes of abnormal growth resulting in a classical hyperconvoluted Sezary cell are poorly characterized. To better understand these aspects, we examined Sezary lineage cell growth in vitro. We found that, contrary to previous reports, Sezary lineage cells are capable of in vitro proliferation in response to either PHA or anti-CD3 mAb, if exogenous costimulation is provided. The CD28-B7 interaction provides at least one of the costimulatory signals capable of inducing Sezary lineage cell growth. Namely, Sezary lineage cells from three of six Sezary syndrome patients proliferated in response to PHA if an anti-CD28 mAb was also added to the in vitro culture. The remaining three patients' Sezary lineage cells were dependent upon CD28-B7-mediated costimulation, but in addition required other intercellular signals present on blood mononuclear cells. The relative lack of costimulation from the patients' own PBMC is not due to an intrinsic defect in the mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome patients' immune accessory cells. Rather, it appears primarily due to an inability of Sezary cells to significantly up-regulate CD40 ligand (gp39) following in vitro exposure to PHA.

Aged↗

LINNAEUS: Simultaneous Single-Cell Lineage Tracing and Cell Type Identification.

A key goal of biology is to understand the origin of the many cell types that can be observed during diverse processes such as development, regeneration, and disease. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) is commonly used to identify cell types in a tissue or organ. However, organizing the resulting taxonomy of cell types into lineage trees to understand the origins of cell states and relationships between cells remains challenging. Here we present LINNAEUS (Spanjaard et al, Nat Biotechnol 36:469-473. https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.4124 , 2018; Hu et al, Nat Genet 54:1227-1237. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01129-5 , 2022) (LINeage tracing by Nuclease-Activated Editing of Ubiquitous Sequences)-a strategy for simultaneous lineage tracing and transcriptome profiling in thousands of single cells. By combining scRNA-seq with computational analysis of lineage barcodes, generated by genome editing of transgenic reporter genes, LINNAEUS can be used to reconstruct organism-wide single-cell lineage trees. LINNAEUS provides a systematic approach for tracing the origin of novel cell types, or known cell types under different conditions.

Single-Cell Analysis↗

Generation and validation of a Myh11Dre-Spp1Cre intersectional mouse model for lineage tracing of disease-associated smooth muscle cell states.

BACKGROUND: Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a hallmark of vascular remodeling and cardiovascular disease. Recent lineage-tracing and single-cell transcriptomic studies have identified secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) as a prominent marker associated with disease-associated VSMC states, particularly those linked to fibrotic remodeling and vascular calcification. However, the cellular origins and fate of SPP1-associated VSMC populations remain incompletely understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: We generated a novel Spp1-rSTOPr-Cre (Spp1Cre) knock-in mouse line in which Cre recombinase is expressed from the endogenous Spp1 locus following Dre-mediated excision of a rox-flanked transcriptional STOP cassette. Correct targeting of the knock-in allele was validated by internal, 5' junction, 3' junction, and long-range PCR analyses, as well as Sanger sequencing. To establish an intersectional lineage-tracing strategy, Spp1Cre mice were crossed with Myh11DreERT2 and Rosa26-RSR-LSL-tdTomato-LSL-eGFP reporter mice, enabling permanent labeling of VSMC-derived populations following activation of the endogenous Spp1 locus. Under physiological conditions, eGFP-positive cells were detected at low frequency within the vascular wall and were predominantly negative for the contractile markers ACTA2 and MYH11. As a proof-of-principle application, eGFP-positive cells markedly expanded within atherosclerotic lesions induced by AAV-PCSK9D377Y and high-fat diet feeding. These lineage-traced cells remained largely ACTA2- and MYH11-negative, consistent with a modulated phenotype. Notably, only a minority of eGFP-positive cells expressed SPP1 or fibronectin at the time of analysis, demonstrating the utility of permanent lineage tracing for tracking cells with a history of endogenous Spp1 activation during vascular remodeling. CONCLUSION: We report the generation and validation of a novel Myh11Dre-Spp1Cre intersectional mouse model for lineage tracing of VSMC-derived populations that have activated the endogenous Spp1 locus. This genetic resource provides a valuable platform for investigating the origin, fate, and phenotypic evolution of Spp1-associated VSMC populations during vascular remodeling and cardiovascular disease.

Animals↗

CD226 is expressed on the megakaryocytic lineage from hematopoietic stem cells/progenitor cells and involved in its polyploidization.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined the expression of CD226 on megakaryocytic, granulocytic and erythroid lineage from hematopoietic stem cells/progenitor cells in adult and fetus and its potential role in megakaryocytic maturation. METHODS: CD34(+) cells from adult and fetus were induced to differentiate toward the megakaryocytic lineage by thrombopoietin (TPO) and the granulocytic lineage by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), respectively. Mononuclear cells from fetal liver and CD34(+) cells from adult were induced to differentiate toward erythroid-lineage by erythropoiesis (EPO). We investigated the expression of CD226 and lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) (CD11a) during hemopoiesis. We also studied the effect of CD226 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) and LFA-1 MoAb on megakaryocyte with antibody cross-liking technique. RESULTS: CD34(+) cells from adult and fetus and TPO-induced CD41(+) cells all expressed CD226 molecule. CD226 was not expressed on erythroid progenitor cells and erythroblasts and most cells of granulocytic lineage although G-CSF induced a significant increase of the expression of CD226 on CD34(+) cells in early period of time. CD226 MoAb acts on megakaryocytes by inducing intracellular calcium mobilization. The expression of LFA-1 decreased significantly at late stage of differentiation and maturation of fetal megakaryocytes whereas the expression of LFA-1 on adult megakaryocytes retained at a high level. CD226 MoAb in combination with LFA-1 MoAb shifted the ploidy of generated megakaryocytes from adult-derived CD34(+) cells to higher classes significantly although CD226 and LFA-1 MoAb slightly increased the ploidy of the generated megakaryocytes individually. CD226 MoAb or LFA-1 MoAb or CD226 MoAb plus LFA-1 MoAbs did not increase the ploidy of the generated megakaryocytes from fetus-derived CD34(+) cells. CONCLUSION: CD226 molecules play an important role in maturation of the megakaryocytes in combination with LFA-1.

Adult↗

Distribution of GABA-like immunoreactive neurons in insects suggests lineage homology.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an important inhibitory neurotransmitter in vertebrates and invertebrates (Sattelle [1990] Adv. Insect Physiol. 22:1-113). The GABA phenotype is lineally determined in postembryonic neurons in the tobacco hawkmoth, Manduca sexta (Witten and Truman, [1991] J. Neurosci. 11:1980-1989) and is restricted to six identifiable postembryonic lineages in the moth's thoracic hemiganglia. We used a comparative approach to determine whether this distinct clustering of GABAergic neurons is conserved in Insecta. In the nine orders of insects surveyed (Thysanura, Odonata, Orthoptera, Isoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera), GABA-like immunoreactive neurons within a thoracic hemiganglion were clustered into six distinct groups that occupied positions similar to the six postembryonic lineages in Manduca. On the basis of cell body position and axon trajectories, we suggest that these are indeed homologous lineage groups and that the lineal origins of the GABAergic cells have been very conservative through insect evolution. The distinctive clustering of GABA-positive cells is shared with crustaceans (Mulloney and Hall [1990] J. Comp. Neurol. 291:383-394; Homberg et al. [1993] Cell Tissue Res. 271:279-288) but is not found in the centipede Lithobius forficulatus. There is a two- to threefold increase in numbers of thoracic neurons between the flightless Thysanura and the most advanced orders of insects. Using the GABA clusters as indicators of specific lineages, we find that only selected lineages have significantly contributed to this increase in neuronal numbers.

Animals↗