Abstract
A major goal of regenerative medicine is to instruct formation of multipotent, tissue-specific stem cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for cell replacement therapies. Generation of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from iPSCs or embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is not currently possible, however, necessitating a better understanding of how HSCs normally arise during embryonic development. We previously showed that haematopoiesis occurs through four distinct waves during zebrafish development, with HSCs arising in the final wave in close association with the dorsal aorta. Recent reports have suggested that murine HSCs derive from haemogenic endothelial cells (ECs) lining the aortic floor1,2. Additional in vitro studies have similarly indicated that the haematopoietic progeny of ESCs arise through intermediates with endothelial potential3,4. Here we have used the unique strengths of the zebrafish embryo to image directly the generation of HSCs from the ventral wall of the dorsal aorta. Using combinations of fluorescent reporter transgenes, confocal time-lapse microscopy and flow cytometry, we have identified and isolated the stepwise intermediates as aortic haemogenic endothelium transitions to nascent HSCs. Finally, using a permanent lineage tracing strategy, we demonstrate that the HSCs generated from haemogenic endothelium are the lineal founders of the adult haematopoietic system.
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Acknowledgements
We thank S. Lin for providing kdrl:RFP animals. J.Y.B. was supported by the Irvington program of the Cancer Research Institute and by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), N.C.C. by National Institutes of Health (NIH) HL074891, a Research and Education Foundation Award from GlaxoSmithKline and a Beginning Grant in Aid Award from the American Heart Association, B.S. by NIH F32DK752433, D.Y.R.S. by the Packard Foundation and NIH HL54737, and D.T. by a Scholar Award from the American Society of Hematology, a New Investigator Award from CIRM, and NIH DK074482.
Author Contributions J.Y.B., N.C.C. and D.T. designed experiments. J.Y.B. and D.T. wrote the manuscript, with key input from N.C.C. and D.Y.R.S.; J.Y.B. performed experiments. B.S. and S.T. generated and characterized the bactin:switch reporter line. N.C.C. and D.Y.R.S. generated kdrl:Cre and kdrl:memCherry transgenic lines.
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Supplementary Figures
This file contains Supplementary Figures 1-3 with Legends. (PDF 2510 kb)
Supplementary Movie 1
This movie shows emergence of HSCs from the floor of the dorsal aorta. (MOV 5321 kb)
Supplementary Movie 2
This movie shows close up of HSC emergence. (MOV 6540 kb)
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Bertrand, J., Chi, N., Santoso, B. et al. Haematopoietic stem cells derive directly from aortic endothelium during development. Nature 464, 108–111 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08738
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08738
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