Niche cells regulate primordial germ cell quiescence in response to basement membrane signaling.
Development
; 150(16)2023 08 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37497562
ABSTRACT
Stem cell quiescence, proliferation and differentiation are controlled by interactions with niche cells and a specialized extracellular matrix called basement membrane (BM). Direct interactions with adjacent BM are known to regulate stem cell quiescence; however, it is less clear how niche BM relays signals to stem cells that it does not contact. Here, we examine how niche BM regulates Caenorhabditis elegans primordial germ cells (PGCs). BM regulates PGC quiescence even though PGCs are enwrapped by somatic niche cells and do not contact the BM; this can be demonstrated by depleting laminin, which causes normally quiescent embryonic PGCs to proliferate. We show that following laminin depletion, niche cells relay proliferation-inducing signals from the gonadal BM to PGCs via integrin receptors. Disrupting the BM proteoglycan perlecan blocks PGC proliferation when laminin is depleted, indicating that laminin functions to inhibit a proliferation-inducing signal originating from perlecan. Reducing perlecan levels in fed larvae hampers germline growth, suggesting that BM signals regulate germ cell proliferation under physiological conditions. Our results reveal how BM signals can regulate stem cell quiescence indirectly, by activating niche cell integrin receptors.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Transdução de Sinais
/
Laminina
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Development
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
EMBRIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos