Dcx expression defines a subpopulation of Gdf5+ cells with chondrogenic potentials in E12.5 mouse embryonic limbs

Ruoxin Lan; Dongxia Ge; Yao-Zhong Liu; Zongbing You

Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports (Mar 2022)

Dcx expression defines a subpopulation of Gdf5+ cells with chondrogenic potentials in E12.5 mouse embryonic limbs

Ruoxin Lan,
Dongxia Ge,
Yao-Zhong Liu,
Zongbing You

Affiliations

Ruoxin Lan: Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health and Tropic Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
Dongxia Ge: Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
Yao-Zhong Liu: Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health and Tropic Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropic Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
Zongbing You: Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA; Department of Research Service, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA, 70119, USA; Tulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA; Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA; Tulane Center for Aging, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, 2400 Canal St, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.,

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 29
p. 101200

Abstract

Read online

Growth differentiation factor 5 (Gdf5) and doublecortin (Dcx) genes are both expressed in joint interzone cells during synovial joint development. In this study, we re-analyzed the single cell RNA-sequencing data (Gene Expression Omnibus GSE151985) generated from Gdf5+ cells of mouse knee joints at embryonic stages of E12.5, E13.5, E14.5, and E15.5, with a new focus on Dcx. We found that Dcx expression was enriched in clusters of Gdf5+ cells, with high expression levels of pro-chondrogenic genes including sex determining region Y-box transcription factor 5 (Sox5), Sox6, Sox9, Gdf5, versican, matrilin 4, collagen type II α 1 chain (Col2a1), Col9a1, Col9a2, and Col9a3 at E12.5. Dcx+ and Dcx- cells had differential gene expression profiles. The up-regulated genes in Dcx+ vs. Dcx- cells at E12.5 and E13.5 were enriched in chondrocyte differentiation and cartilage development, whereas those genes up-regulated at E14.5 and E15.5 were enriched in RNA splicing, protein stability, cell proliferation, and cell growth. Gene expression profiles in Dcx+ cells showed rapid daily changes from E12.5 to E15.5, with limited number of genes shared across the time period. Expression of Gdf5, Sox5, Sox6, melanoma inhibitory activity, noggin, odd-skipped related transcription factor 2, matrilin 4, and versican was positively correlated with Dcx expression. Our results demonstrate that Dcx expression defines a subpopulation of Gdf5+ cells with chondrogenic potentials in E12.5 mouse embryonic limbs.

Published in Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports

ISSN: 2405-5808 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General); Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry: Biochemistry
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/biochemistry-and-biophysics-reports/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords