Differentiation of mouse fetal lung alveolar progenitors in serum-free organotypic cultures

  1. Konstantinos Gkatzis  Is a corresponding author
  2. Paolo Panza  Is a corresponding author
  3. Sofia Peruzzo
  4. Didier YR Stainier  Is a corresponding author
  1. Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Germany
6 figures, 1 table and 2 additional files

Figures

Figure 1 with 1 supplement
Lung distal progenitor marker expression is progressively lost in 3D explant cultures.

(A) Schematic of the organoid establishment procedure. (B) Organoid forming efficiency from fresh (black bar) and cryopreserved (gray bar) epithelial tips. (C) Representative organoids over time (brightfield imaging). Isolated tips lumenize by day 2 and subsequently form digit-like branches. (D) Distal epithelial progenitor marker SOX9 expression becomes progressively restricted by day 6 of culture, correlating with a reduced number of proliferating KI67+ cells. (E) Distal epithelial progenitor markers are upregulated by day 2 and downregulated by day 6. Expression values are normalized to transcript levels in isolated E13.5 distal epithelial tips. Each box depicts one biological replicate, showing the mean value among two technical replicates; 27 tip cultures were used for each time point. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, C), 50 µm (D). (B) Mean values are displayed; error bars represent S.D.

Figure 1—source data 1

Organoid forming efficiency counts, fresh vs. frozen tissue. Normalized expression values of progenitor markers.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/65811/elife-65811-fig1-data1-v1.xlsx
Figure 1—figure supplement 1
Growth factors, cellular composition and patterning of the organoids.

(A) Combined FGF treatment supports epithelial cell expansion. Organoid morphology in absence (no add.) or presence of growth factor additives (brightfield imaging). (B) Alveolar organoids mainly contain epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Transcript expression of epithelial (Epcam), mesenchymal (Pdgfra), and endothelial (Pecam1) markers in day 9 organoids (white columns). Displayed values represent mRNA levels relative to expression in E18.5 distal lung tissue (black columns). (C) SOX9 expression is localized to the distal region of organoids, while SOX2 is expressed in the organoid core. (D) Distal regions in day 6 organoids do not display expression of proximal airway differentiation markers. KRT5 (basal cells) and FOXJ1 (ciliated cells) can be variably expressed in the central (proximal) region of organoids. Scale bars: 50 µm. (B) Mean values are displayed; error bars represent S.D.

Figure 1—figure supplement 1—source data 1

Normalized expression values of epithelial, mesenchymal, and endothelial markers.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/65811/elife-65811-fig1-figsupp1-data1-v1.xlsx
Lung distal progenitor cells differentiate in 3D explant cultures.

(A) Whole-mount immunostaining for the alveolar cell markers SFTPC and RAGE at consecutive culture days. By day 2, SFTPC and RAGE are expressed by most cells. Day 6 epithelial branches comprise both bipotent progenitor (BP) cells (SFTPC+/RAGE+) and differentiated alveolar cells (AT1, SFTPC-/RAGE+ and AT2, SFTPC+/RAGE-) in an organotypic pattern. (B) Collagen I promotes AT1 cell differentiation, compared with Matrigel alone. Cell identities were scored on day 6. (C) Markers of differentiated AT1 and AT2 cells are transcriptionally upregulated by day 6 of culture, at levels comparable with E18.5 distal lung tissue. Expression values are normalized to culture day 0. Each box depicts one biological replicate, showing the mean value among two technical replicates; 27 tip cultures were used for each time point. (D) AT1 and AT2 cells in organoids are morphologically distinct and display apico-basal polarity. AT1 cells are elongated and often populate stalk regions. Upper row: AT1 cells display basolateral localization of the AT1 cell marker RAGE and apical localization of PODXL. Lower row: epithelial branches in organoids display adhesions typical of intact epithelia, such as tight junctions (ZO-1). The AT2 cell marker LAMP3 is localized to the apical secretory compartment of surfactant-producing cells. Scale bars: 20 µm. (B) Mean values are displayed; error bars represent S.D.

Figure 2—source data 1

Counts of alveolar cell types in organoid culture, Matrigel vs. Collagen. Normalized expression values of alveolar markers.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/65811/elife-65811-fig2-data1-v1.xlsx
A WNT pathway chemical screen identifies modulators of alveolar cell differentiation.

(A) Screening workflow schematic. Organoids at day 6 were treated for 48 h with WNT-modulating compounds. (10 µM). Phenotypes were scored by cell counting after immunostaining for SFTPC and RAGE and F-actin co-staining (Phalloidin). (B) Phenotypic classes observed in the chemical screen comprise an increased proportion of SFTPC+/RAGE+ cells (BP, middle panel) and increased proportion of SFTPC-/RAGE+ cells (AT1, right panel). (C) Casein Kinase inhibitors IC261, CX-4945, and DMAT (arrows) led to a higher proportion of AT1 cells at the expense of progenitors, while a majority of the compounds tested did not alter the proportion of differentiated alveolar cells in culture. Four biological replicates were analyzed, 12 tip cultures per compound. Scale bars: 50 µm. (C) Mean values are displayed; error bars represent S.D.

Figure 3—source data 1

Counts of alveolar cell types in the WNT modulators screen. Percentages of alveolar cell types in the WNT modulators screen.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/65811/elife-65811-fig3-data1-v1.xlsx
Compounds promoting AT1 cell differentiation lead to concomitant loss of AT2 marker gene expression and WNT-dependent transcription.

(A) IC261, CX-4945, and DMAT treatments (48 h) lead to downregulation of AT2 cell markers. TTP22 and Emodin (also CK2 inhibitors) do not lead to the same phenotype, possibly due to differences in potency/target affinity. Expression levels relative to DMSO control. Three biological replicates (consisting of 2 technical replicates each) were analyzed per compound. (B) Casein Kinase inhibition by IC261, CX-4945, and DMAT (6 h) leads to reduced Axin2 relative expression. Treatment with TTP22 or Emodin does not significantly affect Axin2 levels. More than three biological replicates were analyzed. (C) CK inhibition reduced WNT/β-catenin-dependent transcription in HEK293T epithelial cells (SuperTOPFlash-based luciferase assay). (B) Mean values are displayed; error bars represent S.D.; p-values from one-way ANOVA, Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. (C) Mean values displayed; error bars represent S.D.; p-values from one-way ANOVA, Tukey’s multiple comparisons test; displayed p-values refer to comparisons with WNT3A-treated condition.

Figure 4—source data 1

Normalized expression values of AT2 cell markers, CK inhibitors vs. DMSO control. Normalized Axin2 expression values, CK inhibitors vs. DMSO control and related statistics. Raw luciferase data. Normalized luciferase values and related statistics.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/65811/elife-65811-fig4-data1-v1.xlsx
Author response image 1
Author response image 2

Tables

Key resources table
Reagent type (species) or resourceDesignationSource or referenceIdentifiersAdditional information
Strain, strain background (Mus musculus)C57BL/6J micehttps://www.jax.org/strain/000664RRID:IMSR_JAX:000664
Cell line (Homo sapiens)HEK-293TATCCATCC:CRL-3216; RRID:CVCL_0063
OtherRat-tail Collagen ICorningCorning:354236
OtherGrowth factor reduced MatrigelCorningCorning:356231
OtherDMEM/F12SigmaSigma:D6434
OtherL-GlutamineSigmaSigma:G7513
OtherPenicillin/StreptomycinSigmaSigma:P4333
OtherDNAse IRocheRoche:10104159001
Other10% BSASigmaSigma:A1595
OtherMEM Non-Essential Amino Acids solutionGibcoThermo Fisher Scientific:11140050
OtherInsulin-Transferrin-Selenium-Ethanolamine (ITS-X)GibcoThermo Fisher Scientific:51500056
OtherPrimocinInvivogenInvivogen:ant-pm-1
Other10x DMEMSigmaSigma:D2429
Chemical compound, drug1 N NaOHSigmaSigma:S2770
Peptide, recombinant proteinHuman recombinant FGF10R&D SystemsR&D Systems:345-FG
Peptide, recombinant proteinHuman recombinant FGF7PeprotechPeprotech:100–19
OtherCryoStor CS10Stem Cell
Technologies
Stem Cell
Technologies:07959
OtherNormal donkey serumJackson ImmunoResearchJackson Immuno
Research:017-000-121;
RRID:AB_2337258
AntibodyAnti-SOX9 (rabbit polyclonal)MilliporeMillipore:AB5535; RRID:AB_2239761(1:250)
AntibodyAnti-KI67 (rat monoclonal)InvitrogenThermo Fisher
Scientific:14-5698-82; RRID:AB_10854564
(1:250)
AntibodyAnti-SOX2 (goat polyclonal)R&D SystemsR&D Systems:AF2018; RRID:AB_355110(1:250)
AntibodyAnti-KRT5 (rabbit polyclonal)AbcamAbcam:ab53121; RRID:AB_869889(1:250)
AntibodyAnti-FOXJ1 (mouse monoclonal)InvitrogenThermo Fisher
Scientific:14-9965-82; RRID:AB_1548835
(1:250)
AntibodyAnti-ProSP-C (rabbit polyclonal)MilliporeMillipore:AB3786; RRID:AB_91588(1:500)
AntibodyAnti-RAGE (rat monoclonal)R&D SystemsR&D Systems:MAB1179; RRID:AB_2289349(1:250)
AntibodyAnti-PDPN (sheep polyclonal)R&D SystemsR&D Systems:AF3670; RRID:AB_2162070(1:250)
AntibodyAnti-PDPN (syrian hamster monoclonal)DSHBDSHB:8.1.1;
RRID:AB_531893
(1:20)
AntibodyAnti-PODXL (goat polyclonal)R&D SystemR&D Systems:AF1556; RRID:AB_354858(1:250)
AntibodyAnti-ZO1/TJP1
(mouse monoclonal)
InvitrogenThermo Fisher
Scientific:33–9100; RRID:AB_2533147
(1:250)
AntibodyAnti-CDH1 (goat polyclonal)R&D SystemsR&D Systems:AF748; RRID:AB_355568(1:250)
AntibodyAnti-LAMP3 (rat monoclonal)DendriticsIMGENEX:DDX0192; RRID:AB_1148779(1:250)
otherPhalloidin,
Alexa Fluor 488 conjugate
InvitrogenThermo Fisher Scientific:A12379Thermo Fisher Scientific:A12379(1:500)
otherDAPISigmaSigma:D9542(1 µg/ml)
AntibodyAlexa 488-, 568-,
647- or Cy3-conjugated secondaries
Invitrogen(1:500)
AntibodyAlexa 488-, 568-,
647- or Cy3-conjugated secondaries
Jackson
ImmunoResearch
(1:500)
OtherDMEM + GlutamaxGibcoThermo Fisher Scientific:31966021
OtherFBS superiorSigmaSigma:S0615
OtherLipofectamine 3000 Transfection ReagentInvitrogenThermo Fisher Scientific:L3000001
Transfected construct (Homo sapiens)M50 Super 8x TOPFlash (plasmid)AddgeneAddgene:12456; http://n2t.net/addgene:12456; RRID:Addgene_12456
Transfected construct (Homo sapiens)M51 Super 8x FOPFlash (TOPFlash mutant) (plasmid)AddgeneAddgene:12457; http://n2t.net/addgene:12457; RRID:Addgene_12457
Transfected construct (Homo sapiens)pRL-TK (plasmid)PromegaPromega:E2241
Peptide, recombinant proteinRecombinant human WNT3AProteintechProteintech:HZ-1296(500 ng/ml)
Chemical compound, drugDimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)SigmaSigma:D2650
Chemical compound, drugEmodinTocrisTocris:3811(10 µM)
Chemical compound, drugTTP22TocrisTocris:4432(10 µM)
Chemical compound, drugIC261SigmaSigma:I0658(10 µM)
Chemical compound, drugCX-4945Enzo Life SciencesEnzo Life
Sciences:
ENZ-CHM151
(10 µM)
Chemical compound, drugDMATSigmaSigma:SML2044(10 µM)
Chemical compound, drugIWR-1SigmaSigma:I0161(10 µM)
Commercial assay or kitDual-Luciferase
Reporter Assay
System
PromegaPromega:E1910
Commercial
assay or kit
NucleoSpin RNA kitMacherey-NagelMacherey-
Nagel:740955.50
Commercial
assay or kit
Superscript III
Reverse Transcriptase system
InvitrogenThermo Fisher Scientific:18080093
Commercial
assay or kit
DyNAmo ColorFlash SYBR green qPCR kitThermo ScientificThermo Fisher Scientific:F416XL
Sequence-
based reagent
qPCRThis paperSupplementary file 1
Software,
algorithm
Fiji/ImageJ 1.53 cSchindelin et al., 2012; doi:10.1038/nmeth.2019RRID:SCR_002285
Software,
algorithm
GraphPad Prism 8GraphPadRRID:SCR_002798

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  1. Konstantinos Gkatzis
  2. Paolo Panza
  3. Sofia Peruzzo
  4. Didier YR Stainier
(2021)
Differentiation of mouse fetal lung alveolar progenitors in serum-free organotypic cultures
eLife 10:e65811.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.65811