Biology subjects

Mayere, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Mayere, C..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Supporting-like cells constitute an alternative steroidogenic lineage conserved in amniotes

In mammals, the production of sex hormones is widely considered to depend on the interstitial lineage of the gonad, which differentiates into Leydig cells in males or theca cells in females. However, certain mammalian species evidence gonadal steroidogenic activity prior to the specialization of these interstitial lineages, suggesting that alternative cell types may assume this function. Here we reveal a previously unrecognized role for supporting-like cells (SLCs), which can act as a major steroidogenic lineage during mammalian embryonic development. Through comparative single-cell transcriptomics, steroidomics and in toto organ imaging we find that in rabbits, SLCs not only contribute to the formation of gonadal rete structures, as described for other mammals, but also differentiate into a steroid-producing population. The steroidogenic program of SLCs is initially activated in both sexes but selectively maintained in ovaries, whereas in testes it is progressively replaced by that of interstitially derived Leydig cells. Evolutionary comparisons indicate that SLCs may represent an ancestral lineage that is homologous to the steroidogenic cells of non-mammalian species, which also derive from supporting precursors and share expression of cell fate regulators such as PAX2/8 and TBX1. Altogether, our findings redefine current models of gonadal lineages, revealing an unexpected plasticity in sex differentiation and exemplifying how distinct cell types can converge on analogous functions during evolution.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Single-cell transcriptomic profiling redefines the origin and specification of early adrenogonadal progenitors

Adrenal cortex and gonads represent the two major steroidogenic organs in mammals. Both tissues are considered to share a common developmental origin characterized by the expression of Nr5a1/Sf1. The precise origin of adrenogonadal progenitors and the processes driving differentiation toward the adrenal or gonadal fate remain, however, elusive. Here we provide a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic atlas of early mouse adrenogonadal development including 52 cell types belonging to twelve major cell lineages. Trajectory reconstruction reveals that adrenogonadal cells emerge from the lateral plate rather than the intermediate mesoderm. Surprisingly, gonadal and adrenal fates show distinct molecular signatures upon Nr5a1 induction indicating the two tissues are specified independently. Finally, lineage separation into gonadal and adrenal fate involves canonical versus non-canonical Wnt signaling and differential expression of Hox patterning genes. Thus our study provides important insights into the molecular programs of adrenal and gonadal fate choice and will be a valuable resource for further research into early adrenogonadal ontogenesis.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Origin, specification and differentiation of a rare supporting-like lineage in the developing mouse gonad

Gonadal sex determination represents a unique model for studying cell fate decisions. However, a complete understanding of the different cell lineages forming the developing testis and ovary remains elusive. Here, we investigated the origin, specification and subsequent sex-specific differentiation of a previously uncharacterized population of supporting-like cells (SLC) in the developing mouse gonads. The SLC lineage is closely related to the coelomic epithelium and specified as early as E10.5, making it the first somatic lineage to be specified in the bipotential gonad. SLC progenitors are localized within the genital ridge at the interface with the mesonephros and initially co-express Wnt4 and Sox9. SLCs become sexually dimorphic around E12.5, progressively acquire a Sertoli- or granulosa-like identity and contribute to the formation of the rete testis and rete ovarii. Finally, we found that WNT4 is a crucial regulator of the SLC lineage and is required for the formation of the rete testis. TeaserDescription of an uncharacterized multipotent gonadal cell lineage involved in testis and ovary development

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Primate naive pluripotent stem cells stall in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and differentiate prematurely during embryo colonization

After reprogramming to naive pluripotency, human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) still exhibit very low ability to make interspecies chimeras. Whether this is because they are inherently devoid of the attributes of chimeric competency or because naive PSCs cannot colonize embryos from distant species remains to be elucidated. Here, we have used different types of mouse, human and rhesus monkey naive PSCs and analyzed their ability to colonize rabbit and cynomolgus monkey embryos. Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) remained mitotically active and efficiently colonized host embryos. In contrast, primate naive PSCs colonized host embryos with much lower efficiency. Unlike mouse ESCs, they slowed DNA replication after dissociation and, after injection into host embryos, they stalled in the G1 phase and differentiated prematurely, regardless of host species. We conclude that human and non-human primate naive PSCs do not efficiently make chimeras because they are inherently unfit to remain mitotically active during colonization.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals temporal dynamics of critical regulators of germ cell fate during mouse sex determination

Despite the importance of germ cell (GC) differentiation for sexual reproduction, the gene networks underlying their fate remain unclear. Here, we comprehensively characterize the gene expression dynamics during sex determination based on single-cell RNA sequencing of 14,914 XX and XY mouse GCs between embryonic days (E) 9.0 and 16.5. We found that XX and XY GCs diverge transcriptionally as early as E11.5 with upregulation of genes downstream of the Bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and Nodal/Activin pathways in XY and XX GCs, respectively. We also identified a sex-specific upregulation of genes associated with negative regulation of mRNA processing and an increase in intron retention consistent with a reduction in mRNA splicing in XY testicular GCs by E13.5. Using computational gene regulation network inference analysis, we identified sex-specific, sequential waves of putative key regulator genes during GC differentiation and revealed that the meiotic genes are regulated by positive and negative master modules acting in an antagonistic fashion. Finally, we found that rare adrenal GCs enter meiosis similarly to ovarian GCs but display altered expression of master genes controlling the female and male genetic programs, indicating that the somatic environment is important for GC function. Our data is available on a web platform and provides a molecular roadmap of GC sex determination at single-cell resolution, which will serve as a valuable resource for future studies of gonad development, function and disease.

developmental biology↗