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Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the...
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Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata...
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Modelling co-development between the somites and neural tube in human trunk-like structures.

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Researchers developed human trunk-like structures from stem cells to model early human development. These models mimic key developmental stages and reveal how signaling pathways influence tissue formation, aiding in the study of embryonic development.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Stem Cell Research
  • Human Embryogenesis

Background:

  • Human stem cell-based embryo models offer in vitro systems for developmental research.
  • Multi-lineage differentiation is crucial for studying tissue co-development in these models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop human trunk-like structures with organized somites and neural tubes.
  • To investigate the role of endogenous and exogenous signaling in human trunk development.
  • To compare these structures with human embryo datasets for developmental stage approximation.

Main Methods:

  • Development of self-organizing human trunk-like structures from stem cells.
  • Transcriptomic comparison with human embryo datasets.
  • Manipulation of Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway.
  • Analysis of reciprocal signaling between neural tube and somites.

Main Results:

  • Human trunk-like structures exhibit organized somites and neural tubes, resembling Carnegie stages 13-14.
  • Absence of notochord leads to dorsal identity, while Sonic Hedgehog signaling induces ventralization.
  • Reciprocal signaling identified: neural tube cues induce ALDH1A2 in somites, which produce retinoic acid for neural tube patterning.

Conclusions:

  • Modularity in embryo models is valuable for exploring human trunk co-development.
  • The developed model provides insights into the self-organized signaling mechanisms governing early human trunk development.
  • This system facilitates the study of developmental processes and potential therapeutic interventions.