Biology subjects

Casquero-Garcia, V.

Publications and source records attributed to Casquero-Garcia, V..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

iFlpMosaics: A method for the ratiometric induction and high-throughput comparative analysis of mutant and wildtype cells

To understand gene function, it is necessary to compare cells carrying the mutated target gene with normal cells. In most biomedical studies, the cells being compared are in different mutant and control animals and therefore do not experience the same epigenetic changes and tissue microenvironment. The experimental induction of genetic mosaics is essential to determine a gene cell-autonomous function and to model the etiology of diseases caused by somatic mutations. Current technologies used to induce genetic mosaics in mice lack either accuracy, throughput or barcoding diversity. Here, we present a large set of new genetic tools and mouse lines that enable Flp recombinase-dependent ratiometric induction and single-cell clonal tracking of multiple fluorescently labeled wildtype and Cre-mutant cells within the same time window and tissue microenvironment. The labeled cells can be profiled by multispectral imaging or by FACS and scRNA-seq. This technology facilitates the induction and analysis of genetic mosaics in any cell type and for any given single or combination of floxed genes. iFlpMosaics enables a more accurate understanding of how induced genetic mutations affect the biology of single cells during tissue development, homeostasis, and disease.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Incongruence between transcriptional and vascular pathophysiological cell states

The Notch pathway is a major regulator of transcriptional specification and vascular biology. Previous studies have suggested that targeting the ligand Dll4 or the Notch-receptors results in similar molecular and angiogenesis outcomes. Here, we analyzed single and compound genetic mutants for all Notch signaling members and found very significant differences in the way ligands and receptors regulate vascular homeostasis. Loss of Notch receptors, leads to minor vascular pathology featuring hypermitogenic MAPK-driven cell-cycle arrest and senescence. In contrast, loss of Dll4 triggers a strong Myc-driven switch towards cell proliferation and sprouting and major organ pathology. Targeting of Myc completely suppressed the proliferative and tip-cell angiogenic states induced by Dll4 loss-of-function, however, this did not avoid vascular pathology. Only VEGF blockade prevented the pathology induced by Dll4 loss, but without fully suppressing its transcriptional and metabolic programs. This study shows incongruence between single-cell transcriptional states and adult vascular phenotypes and related pathophysiology.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition is induced by Notch glycosylation and upregulation of Mycn

A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) specification and expansion may enable better pharmacological strategies to produce them in sufficient numbers for transplantation. In the embryo, HSCs arise from a defined subset of arterial endothelial cells (ECs) located in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region that undergo endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT). Arterialization and HSC development are generally believed to require the action of Notch. Here we show that although Notch activity is initially required for arterialization, it is detrimental to subsequent EHT. Mechanistically, we show that effective EHT depends on a Mfng-induced decrease in Jag1-Notch signaling in hemogenic ECs. This causes upregulation of Mycn, an important metabolic and cell-cycle regulator that we found to be required for EHT. During the subsequent development of hematopoietic lineages, Mycn expression decreases and its function is taken on by the homologous Myc gene.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Notch controls arterialization by regulating the cell cycle and not differentiation

Arteries are thought to be formed by the induction of a highly conserved arterial genetic program in a subset of vessels experiencing an increase in pulsatile and oxygenated blood flow. Both VEGF and Notch signalling have been shown to be essential for the initial steps of arterial specification. Here, we combined inducible genetic mosaics and transcriptomics to modulate and understand the function of these signalling pathways on cell proliferation, arterial-venous differentiation and mobilization. We observed that endothelial cells with high VEGF or Notch signalling are not genetically pre-determined and can form both arteries and veins. Importantly, cells completely lacking the Notch-Rbpj transcriptional activator complex can form arteries when the Myc-dependent metabolic and cell-cycle activity is suppressed. Thus, arterial development does not require the induction of a Notch-dependent arterial differentiation program, but rather the timely suppression of the endothelial metabolism and cell-cycle, a process preceding arterial mobilization and complete differentiation.

developmental biology↗