Biology subjects

Bouchard, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Bouchard, M..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A bicistronic Aldh1a3-P2A-TagBFP knock-in reporter mouse line for studying genitourinary tract development

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a3 (Aldh1a3) is an enzyme involved in retinoic acid synthesis with dynamic expression patterns during development, including in the urogenital system. Here, we generated a bicistronic Aldh1a3-P2A-TagBFP knock-in mouse using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, inserting TagBFP immediately upstream of the endogenous Aldh1a3 stop codon. Correct targeting was confirmed by Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing, and heterozygous and homozygous mice were viable and fertile without overt morphological abnormalities. TagBFP fluorescence faithfully overlapped with endogenous Aldh1a3 immunoreactivity and reproduced established expression domains in the developing craniofacial region, intestine, kidney, and broader urogenital system. Extensive characterization of the urogenital system revealed dynamic, spatially restricted BFP reporter activity in Aldh1a3-expressing domains across several key structures, including the ureteric bud and collecting duct lineage, seminal vesicles, caput epididymis, and developing uterine horns. The Aldh1a3-P2A-TagBFP mouse provides a fluorescent resource for visualizing Aldh1a3 expression across development and in adult tissues, including for the characterization of Aldh1a3-expressing domains in the urogenital system. The relatively low fluorescence intensity of TagBFP should be considered when assessing low-level reporter expression.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Transcriptional Profiling of Commonly Used Liver Cancer Cell Lines Reveals Disease-Specific Modeling Potential and Authentication Concerns

Cell lines are essential tools for liver cancer research, yet their molecular fidelity to primary tumors remains incompletely characterized. Here we comprehensively evaluated transcriptomic similarities between commonly used liver cancer cell lines and primary tumor subtypes to guide optimal model selection. We analyzed RNA sequencing data from 541 samples spanning primary HCC, HPBL, CHOL, and FLC tumors, alongside 21 liver cancer cell lines and primary human hepatocytes. Through systematic variance analysis, we identified 2,523 highly variable genes distinguishing cancer subtypes and cell lines, then performed correlation analyses, unsupervised clustering, and pathway enrichment to assess molecular similarities. Molecular subtypes within each cancer type were identified through hierarchical clustering and characterized using pathway analysis. HepG2 cells showed strongest correlation with HPBL (r=0.62), confirming their hepatoblastoma origin despite frequent HCC misclassification. This correlation was driven by shared Wnt pathway dysregulation signatures. Huh7 cells best represented HCC, particularly the immune-modulatory, MYC-activated subtype with the highest median correlation. RBE cells optimally modeled CHOL, specifically the dedifferentiated, immune-evasive subtype. Several commonly used cell lines (LO2, SMMC-7721, MHCC97L) and specific publicly available samples demonstrated likely HeLa contamination. Primary human hepatocytes cultured under physioxic conditions better preserved liver-specific transcriptional programs compared to standard culture. No established cell line analyzed represented FLC strongly, identifying the need for a standard, available model. This transcriptomic framework provides evidence-based guidance for selecting appropriate liver cancer cell line models and highlights the critical need for rigorous cell line validation to improve experimental design and translational relevance of liver cancer research.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2023

CETP inhibitor evacetrapib enters mouse brain tissue

High levels of plasma cholesterol, especially high levels of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), have been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimers disease. The cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in plasma distributes cholesteryl esters between lipoproteins and increases LDL-C in plasma. Epidemiologically, decreased CETP activity has been associated with sustained cognitive performance during aging, longevity, and a lower risk of Alzheimers disease. Thus, pharmacological CETP inhibitors could potentially be repurposed for the treatment of Alzheimers disease as they are safe and effective at lowering CETP activity and LDL-C. While CETP is mostly expressed by the liver and secreted into the bloodstream, CETP is also expressed by astrocytes in the brain. It is therefore important to determine if CETP inhibitors can enter the brain. Here, we describe pharmacokinetic parameters of the CETP inhibitor evacetrapib in plasma, liver, and brain tissues in CETP transgenic mice. We show that evacetrapib crosses the blood-brain barrier and is detectable in brain tissue 0.5 h after a 40 mg/kg i.v. injection in a nonlinear function. We conclude that evacetrapib may prove to be a good candidate to treat CETP-mediated cholesterol dysregulation in Alzheimers disease.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2022

ZMYM2 is essential for methylation of germline genes and active transposons in embryogenesis

ZMYM2 is a transcriptional repressor whose role in development is largely unexplored. We found that Zmym2-/- mice show embryonic lethality by E10.5. Molecular characterization of Zmym2-/- embryos revealed two distinct defects. First, they fail to undergo DNA methylation and silencing of germline gene promoters, resulting in widespread upregulation of germline genes. Second, they fail to methylate and silence the evolutionarily youngest and most active LINE element subclasses in mice. Zmym2-/- embryos show ubiquitous overexpression of LINE-1 protein as well as aberrant expression of transposon-gene fusion transcripts. Interaction and colocalization data indicate that ZMYM2 homes to germline genes via binding to the non-canonical polycomb complex PRC1.6 and to transposons via the TRIM28 complex. In the absence of ZMYM2, hypermethylation of histone 3 lysine 4 occurs at target sites, creating a chromatin landscape unfavourable for establishment of DNA methylation. ZMYM2-/- human embryonic stem cells also show aberrant upregulation and demethylation of young LINE elements, indicating a conserved role in repression of active transposons. ZMYM2 is thus an important new factor in DNA methylation patterning in early embryonic development.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Sleeping at the Switch

Sleep slow waves are studied for their role in brain plasticity, homeostatic regulation and their changes during aging. Here, we address the possibility that two types of slow waves co-exist in humans. Thirty young and 29 older adults underwent a night of polysomnographic recordings. Using the Transition frequency, slow waves with a slow transition (slow switchers) and with a fast transition (fast switchers) were discovered. Slow switchers had a high EEG connectivity along their depolarization transition while fast switchers had a lower connectivity dynamic and dissipated faster during the night. Aging was associated with lower temporal dissipation of sleep pressure in slow and fast switchers and lower EEG connectivity at the microscale of the oscillations, suggesting a decreased flexibility in the connectivity network of older individuals. Our findings show that two different types of slow waves with possible distinct underlying functions, coexist in the slow wave spectrum.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Oviduct epithelial cells constitute two developmentally distinct lineages that are spatially separated along the distal-proximal axis

Owing to technical advances in single cell biology, the appreciation of cellular heterogeneity has increased, which has aided our understanding of organ function, homeostasis and disease progression. The oviduct (also known as the fallopian tube in humans) is the distal-most portion of the female reproductive tract. It is essential for reproduction and the proposed origin of high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). In mammals, the oviduct is morphologically segmented along the ovary-uterus axis into four evolutionally conserved regions. It is unknown however if there is a diversification of epithelial cell characteristics between these regions. In this study, we identified transcriptionally distinct populations of secretory and multiciliated cells restricted to the distal and proximal regions of the oviduct. We demonstrated that these distal and proximal populations are distinct lineages specified early in Mullerian duct development and are maintained separately. These results aid our understanding of epithelial development, homeostasis and initiation of disease from the oviduct.

developmental biology↗