Urothelial organoids originating from Cd49fhigh mouse stem cells display Notch-dependent differentiation capacity

Nat Commun. 2019 Sep 27;10(1):4407. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12307-1.

Abstract

Understanding urothelial stem cell biology and differentiation has been limited by the lack of methods for their unlimited propagation. Here, we establish mouse urothelial organoids that can be maintained uninterruptedly for >1 year. Organoid growth is dependent on EGF and Wnt activators. High CD49f/ITGA6 expression features a subpopulation of organoid-forming cells expressing basal markers. Upon differentiation, multilayered organoids undergo reduced proliferation, decreased cell layer number, urothelial program activation, and acquisition of barrier function. Pharmacological modulation of PPARγ and EGFR promotes differentiation. RNA sequencing highlighted genesets enriched in proliferative organoids (i.e. ribosome) and transcriptional networks involved in differentiation, including expression of Wnt ligands and Notch components. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) analysis of the organoids revealed five clusters with distinct gene expression profiles. Together, with the use of γ-secretase inhibitors and scRNA-Seq, confirms that Notch signaling is required for differentiation. Urothelial organoids provide a powerful tool to study cell regeneration and differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Gene Ontology
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha6 / genetics*
  • Integrin alpha6 / metabolism
  • Mice, 129 Strain
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Organoids / cytology
  • Organoids / drug effects
  • Organoids / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Notch / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism*
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Urothelium / cytology
  • Urothelium / metabolism*

Substances

  • Integrin alpha6
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Epidermal Growth Factor