Mechanics-guided embryonic patterning of neuroectoderm tissue from human pluripotent stem cells Journal Article


Authors: Xue, X.; Sun, Y.; Resto-Irizarry, A. M.; Yuan, Y.; Aw Yong, K. M.; Zheng, Y.; Weng, S.; Shao, Y.; Chai, Y.; Studer, L.; Fu, J.
Article Title: Mechanics-guided embryonic patterning of neuroectoderm tissue from human pluripotent stem cells
Abstract: Classic embryological studies have successfully applied genetics and cell biology principles to understand embryonic development. However, it remains unresolved how mechanics, as an integral driver of development, is involved in controlling tissue-scale cell fate patterning. Here we report a micropatterned human pluripotent stem (hPS)-cell-based neuroectoderm developmental model, in which pre-patterned geometrical confinement induces emergent patterning of neuroepithelial and neural plate border cells, mimicking neuroectoderm regionalization during early neurulation in vivo. In this hPS-cell-based neuroectoderm patterning model, two tissue-scale morphogenetic signals - cell shape and cytoskeletal contractile force - instruct neuroepithelial/neural plate border patterning via BMP-SMAD signalling. We further show that ectopic mechanical activation and exogenous BMP signalling modulation are sufficient to perturb neuroepithelial/neural plate border patterning. This study provides a useful microengineered, hPS-cell-based model with which to understand the biomechanical principles that guide neuroectoderm patterning and hence to study neural development and disease. © 2018 The Author(s).
Keywords: cytology; stem cells; pluripotent stem cells; embryonic development; tissue; cell signaling; neural development; embryonic patterning; contractile force; developmental models; geometrical confinement; mechanical activation
Journal Title: Nature Materials
Volume: 17
Issue: 7
ISSN: 1476-1122
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2018-07-01
Start Page: 633
End Page: 641
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/s41563-018-0082-9
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 29784997
PMCID: PMC6622450
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 August 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Lorenz Studer
    224 Studer