To uncover the mechanism that Wnt signaling modulates RA-induced ESC differentiation, we conducted time course RNA-seq analysis during the differentiation. Transcriptome profiles of RA-induced and RA/CHIR-induced ESC differentiation were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicate, using Illumina HiSeq 2000. The RNA-seq data revealed a significant decrease in mesoderm (one of the major source of vascular SMCs) markers and increase in PrE markers in CHIR treated samples, while other lineage markers showed no significant expression, implying a diverging to PrE fate by Wnt activation. Subsequent hierarchical clustering analysis also showed that the gene expression profiles of cells derived from RA induction alone clustered with adult SMCs, while cells derived from RA/CHIR induction gradually clustered to XEN cells with differentiation and was very close to XEN cells at day 16, suggesting that RA/CHIR-induced ESCs differentiated into PrE lineage. This study provided new insights into the importance of RA/Wnt crosstalk in the lineage differentiation of ESCs. SOURCE: Shihao Wang (caruso11107011@zju.edu.cn) -  Zhejiang University

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE123632: Next generation sequencing facilitates lineage identity of RA-induced and RA/CHIR-induced ESCs