A single cell characterisation of human embryogenesis identifies pluripotency transitions and putative anterior hypoblast centre

Matteo A. Molè, Tim H. H. Coorens, Marta N. Shahbazi, Antonia Weberling, Bailey A. T. Weatherbee, Carlos W. Gantner, Carmen Sancho-Serra, Lucy Richardson, Abbie Drinkwater, Najma Syed, Stephanie Engley, Philip Snell, Leila Christie, Kay Elder, Alison Campbell, Simon Fishel, Sam Behjati (), Roser Vento-Tormo () and Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz ()
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Matteo A. Molè: University of Cambridge
Tim H. H. Coorens: Wellcome Sanger Institute
Marta N. Shahbazi: University of Cambridge
Antonia Weberling: University of Cambridge
Bailey A. T. Weatherbee: University of Cambridge
Carlos W. Gantner: University of Cambridge
Carmen Sancho-Serra: Wellcome Sanger Institute
Lucy Richardson: Herts & Essex Fertility Centre, Bishops College
Abbie Drinkwater: Herts & Essex Fertility Centre, Bishops College
Najma Syed: Herts & Essex Fertility Centre, Bishops College
Stephanie Engley: Herts & Essex Fertility Centre, Bishops College
Philip Snell: Bourn Hall
Leila Christie: Bourn Hall
Kay Elder: Bourn Hall
Alison Campbell: CARE Fertility Group
Simon Fishel: CARE Fertility Group
Sam Behjati: Wellcome Sanger Institute
Roser Vento-Tormo: Wellcome Sanger Institute
Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz: University of Cambridge

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Following implantation, the human embryo undergoes major morphogenetic transformations that establish the future body plan. While the molecular events underpinning this process are established in mice, they remain unknown in humans. Here we characterise key events of human embryo morphogenesis, in the period between implantation and gastrulation, using single-cell analyses and functional studies. First, the embryonic epiblast cells transition through different pluripotent states and act as a source of FGF signals that ensure proliferation of both embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues. In a subset of embryos, we identify a group of asymmetrically positioned extra-embryonic hypoblast cells expressing inhibitors of BMP, NODAL and WNT signalling pathways. We suggest that this group of cells can act as the anterior singalling centre to pattern the epiblast. These results provide insights into pluripotency state transitions, the role of FGF signalling and the specification of anterior-posterior axis during human embryo development.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23758-w

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23758-w

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