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L2 Stem Cells > Key concepts in early embryo development > Flashcards

Key concepts in early embryo development Flashcards

1
Q

What is a stem cell? (2)

A
  • Gives rise to more specialised cell types via differentiation
  • Gives rise to more copies of itself (self-renewal)
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2
Q

What is a stem cell niche?

A

Environment which keeps the stem cells in a self-renewing state

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3
Q

What causes stem cells to differentiate?

A

Signals that are distinct from the signals in the niche which cause them to be self-renewing

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4
Q

What is the difference between progenitor cells and stem cells?

A

Progenitor cells’ capacity for self-renewal is limited whereas stem cells’ is more prolonged

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5
Q

What 3 cell lineages are established in the blastocyst before implantation?

A
  • Trophectoderm
  • Primitive endoderm
  • Epiblast
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6
Q

What does the trophectoderm give rise to?

A

Placenta

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7
Q

What does the primitive endoderm give rise to?

A

Extraembryonic tissues and later develops into the yolk sac

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8
Q

What does the epiblast give rise to?

A

The embryo proper - becomes all of the cells in the foetus

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9
Q

What is a blastomere?

A

The cell type in the early embryo which is generated by cleavage of the zygote

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10
Q

What is a blastocyst? (2)

A
  • The embryo at the time of implantation
  • Contains primitive endoderm, trophectoderm and epiblast
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10
Q

What is potency?

A

The ability of a cell to differentiate into one or more cell types

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11
Q

What is totipotency?

A

The ability of a cell to differentiate into any embryonic or extraembryonic cell type

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12
Q

What is pluripotency?

A

The ability of a cell to differentiate into any embryonic cell type (but not extraembryonic)

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13
Q

What are the criteria for being a pluripotent cell? (2)

A
  • Expression of pluripotency transcription factors
  • Teratocarcinoma formation
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14
Q

Which transcription factors are markers for pluripotency? (3)

A
  • Nanog
  • Oct4
  • Sox2
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15
Q

What is a teratocarcinoma assay? (2)

A
  • Inject embryonic cells into a mouse above the kidney
  • If they give rise to a teratocarcinoma they are pluripotent
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16
Q

What is a teratocarcinoma?

A

A type of tumour containing all embryonic cell types

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17
Q

What happens at gastrulation? (2)

A
  • Differentiation of pluripotent cells to form 3 germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm)
  • Establishment of the anterior-posterior axis
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18
Q

What are the 3 germ layers?

A
  • Ectoderm
  • Mesoderm
  • Endoderm
19
Q

What does the ectoderm give rise to?

A

Skin, peripheral and central nervous system etc.

20
Q

What does the mesoderm give rise to?

A

Blood, heart, kidneys, muscle etc.

21
Q

What does the endoderm give rise to?

A

Gut, liver, pancreas etc.

22
Q

What is the primitive streak?

A

A groove that appears during gastrulation at the posterior end of the embryo which establishes the anterior-posterior axis

23
Q

Which signals cause the formation of the primitive streak? (4)

A
  • WNT
  • FGF
  • BMP
  • Nodal
24
Q

What is the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition?

A

A process where cells lose their epithelial characteristics and become migratory

25
Q

What is somatogenesis/axis elongation?

A

Formation of somites to build the trunk and body parts after gastrulation

26
Q

What drives somatogenesis?

A

Neuromesodermal progenitors (NMPs)

27
Q

What can neuromesodermal progenitors differentiate into? (2)

A
  • Spinal cord neurons
  • Paraxial mesoderm/somites (future skeletal muscle, bone, cartilage, vertebrae)
28
Q

What is the potency of neuromesodermal progenitors?

A

Bipotent (2 cell fates)

29
Q

Where is the niche of the neuromesodermal progenitors?

A

Posterior of the embryo, near the tail

30
Q

Which signals are elevated in the NMP niche? (2)

A
  • WNT
  • FGF
31
Q

Which transcription factors define NMPs? (2)

A
  • T(Brachyury)
  • Sox2
32
Q

Which signal causes an NMP to become paraxial mesoderm?

A

Downregulation of Sox2 and upregulation of T

33
Q

Which signal causes an NMP to become spinal cord neurons?

A

Upregulation of Sox2 and downregulation of T

34
Q

What happens when there are defects in NMP differentiation? (2)

A
  • Embryos lack the trunk
  • Milder mutations can cause spina bifida (neural tube doesn’t close)
35
Q

Where are neural stem cells located?

A

Central and peripheral nervous system

36
Q

What is the potency of neural stem cells?

A

Bipotent

37
Q

What can neural stem cells differentiate into? (2)

A
  • Neurons
  • Glia
38
Q

Which signals mark the stem cell niche of neural stem cells? (2)

A
  • EGF
  • FGF
39
Q

What can haematopoietic stem cells differentiate into?

A

All blood cell types

40
Q

What is the potency of haematopoietic stem cells?

A

Multipotent

41
Q

Where do haematopoietic stem cells arise in the foetus?

A

Aorta-Gonad-Mesonephros (AGM) region, later in the liver

42
Q

Where is the haematopoietic stem cell niche in adults?

A

Bone marrow

43
Q

How do you define haematopoietic stem cells? (2)

A
  • Irradiate mice to remove the haematopoietic system
  • If you transplant haematopoietic stem cells the system will be rescued
44
Q

Which signals mark neural stem cell self-renewal? (2)

A
  • Sox2
  • RC2
45
Q

What marker is expressed by glial cells?

A

GFAP

46
Q

What marker is expressed by neurons?

A

TUJ1

L2 Stem Cells (12 decks)

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