Open AccessDefinitive Hematopoiesis in the Yolk Sac Emerges from W nt‐Responsive Hemogenic Endothelium Independently of Circulation and Arterial Identity
Author(s) -
Frame Jenna M.,
Fegan Katherine H.,
Conway Simon J.,
McGrath Kathleen E.,
Palis James
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.2213
Subject(s) - biology , yolk sac , hemangioblast , haematopoiesis , microbiology and biotechnology , embryonic stem cell , endothelium , stem cell , wnt signaling pathway , progenitor cell , embryo , immunology , anatomy , genetics , signal transduction , gene
A bstract Adult‐repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) emerge in low numbers in the midgestation mouse embryo from a subset of arterial endothelium, through an endothelial‐to‐hematopoietic transition. HSC‐producing arterial hemogenic endothelium relies on the establishment of embryonic blood flow and arterial identity, and requires β‐catenin signaling. Specified prior to and during the formation of these initial HSCs are thousands of yolk sac‐derived erythro‐myeloid progenitors (EMPs). EMPs ensure embryonic survival prior to the establishment of a permanent hematopoietic system, and provide subsets of long‐lived tissue macrophages. While an endothelial origin for these HSC‐independent definitive progenitors is also accepted, the spatial location and temporal output of yolk sac hemogenic endothelium over developmental time remain undefined. We performed a spatiotemporal analysis of EMP emergence, and document the morphological steps of the endothelial‐to‐hematopoietic transition. Emergence of rounded EMPs from polygonal clusters of Kit + cells initiates prior to the establishment of arborized arterial and venous vasculature in the yolk sac. Interestingly, Kit + polygonal clusters are detected in both arterial and venous vessels after remodeling. To determine whether there are similar mechanisms regulating the specification of EMPs with other angiogenic signals regulating adult‐repopulating HSCs, we investigated the role of embryonic blood flow and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling during EMP emergence. In embryos lacking a functional circulation, rounded Kit + EMPs still fully emerge from unremodeled yolk sac vasculature. In contrast, canonical Wnt signaling appears to be a common mechanism regulating hematopoietic emergence from hemogenic endothelium. These data illustrate the heterogeneity in hematopoietic output and spatiotemporal regulation of primary embryonic hemogenic endothelium. S tem C ells 2016;34:431–444