Transparency in controversial research: A review of human embryo research publication ethical disclosure statements.

In 2021, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) released updated guidelines that included human embryo research guidance. Requiring ethics statements in publications using human embryos is one way to verify adherence to these guidelines. A review of top-tier biomedical journal requirements identified only one publisher that requires a human embryo statement. A review of articles using human embryos from top-tier biomedical journals found that all contain some form of ethics statement, but they differ in content and location. Requiring ethics statements with specific elements could improve transparency and adherence to research guidelines.

In toto imaging of early enteric nervous system development reveals that gut colonization is tied to proliferation downstream of Ret.

The enteric nervous system is a vast intrinsic network of neurons and glia within the gastrointestinal tract and is largely derived from enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs) that emigrate into the gut during vertebrate embryonic development. Study of ENCC migration dynamics and their genetic regulators provides great insights into fundamentals of collective cell migration and nervous system formation, and these are pertinent subjects for study due to their relevance to the human congenital disease Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). For the first time, we performed in toto gut imaging and single-cell generation tracing of ENCC migration in wild type and a novel ret heterozygous background zebrafish (retwmr1/+) to gain insight into ENCC dynamics in vivo. We observed that retwmr1/+ zebrafish produced fewer ENCCs localized along the gut, and these ENCCs failed to reach the hindgut, resulting in HSCR-like phenotypes. Specifically, we observed a proliferation-dependent migration mechanism, where cell divisions were associated with inter-cell distances and migration speed. Lastly, we detected a premature neuronal differentiation gene expression signature in retwmr1/+ ENCCs. These results suggest that Ret signaling may regulate maintenance of a stem state in ENCCs.

Role of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 in Lung Disease and Senescence: Potential Role Across the Lifespan.

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) is a divergent member of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) superfamily and is ubiquitously expressed, under normal physiological conditions. GDF15 expression increases during many pathological states and serves a marker of cellular stress. GDF15 has multiple and even paradoxical roles within a pathological condition, as its effects can be dose- and time-dependent and vary based on the targeted tissues and downstream pathways. GDF15 has emerged as one of the most recognized proteins as part of the senescence associated secretory phenotype. Cellular senescence plays a major role in many lung diseases across the life-span from bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the premature neonate to COPD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in aged adults. GDF15 levels have been reported to be as a useful biomarker in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung fibrosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension and predict disease severity, decline in lung function and mortality. Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-like (GFRAL) in the brain stem has been identified as the only validated GDF15 receptor and mediates GDF15-mediated anorexia and wasting. The mechanisms and pathways by which GDF15 exerts its pulmonary effects are being elucidated. GDF15 may also have an impact on the lung based on the changes in circulating levels or through the central action of GDF15 activating peripheral metabolic changes. This review focuses on the role of GDF15 in different lung diseases across the lifespan and its role in cellular senescence.

The development of the trunk neural crest in the turtle Trachemys scripta.

BACKGROUND: The neural crest is a group of multipotent cells that give rise to a wide variety of cells, especially portion of the peripheral nervous system. Neural crest cells (NCCs) show evolutionary conserved fate restrictions based on their axial level of origin: cranial, vagal, trunk, and sacral. While much is known about these cells in mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish, relatively little is known in other types of amniotes such as snakes, lizards, and turtles. We attempt here to provide a more detailed description of the early phase of trunk neural crest cell (tNCC) development in turtle embryos. RESULTS: In this study, we show, for the first time, migrating tNCC in the pharyngula embryo of Trachemys scripta by vital-labeling the NCC with DiI and through immunofluorescence. We found that (a) tNCC form a line along the sides of the trunk NT; (b) The presence of late migrating tNCC on the medial portion of the somite; (c) The presence of lateral mesodermal migrating tNCC in pharyngula embryos; (d) That turtle embryos have large/thick peripheral nerves. CONCLUSIONS: The similarities and differences in tNCC migration and early PNS development that we observe across sauropsids (birds, snake, gecko, and turtle) suggests that these species evolved some distinct NCC pathways.