A5040495495- Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
- Pituitary Gland Disorders and Treatments
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Embedded Systems Design Techniques
- TGF-β signaling in diseases
- 3D IC and TSV technologies
- VLSI and FPGA Design Techniques
- Immune cells in cancer
- Liver physiology and pathology
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Gene expression and cancer classification
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Neuroblastoma Research and Treatments
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
KU Leuven
1978-2025
Stem Cell Institute
2022
The pituitary is the master endocrine gland, harboring stem cells of which phenotype and role remain poorly characterized. Here, we established organoids from mouse with aim to generate a novel research model study cell biology. originated expressing marker SOX2 were long-term expandable, displayed stemness during expansive culture showed specific hormonal differentiation ability, although limited, after subrenal transplantation. Application protocol transgenically injured an activated...
Significance The pituitary is our master endocrine gland. Local damage and aging present important threats. We started to decrypt the ill-defined regulation of gland’s stem cells, typically dormant but acutely activated upon damage. Single-cell transcriptomics uncovered interleukin-6 as a cell activator local damage, corroborated in vivo vitro using cell–derived organoids. This competence extinguishes at aging, concurrent with raised inflammatory state older gland (inflammaging). However,...
The pituitary represents the master gland governing endocrine system. We constructed a single-cell (sc) transcriptomic atlas of male mouse by incorporating existing and new data, spanning important postnatal ages in both healthy injured condition. demonstrate strong applicability this to unravel (patho)biology focusing on its stem cells investigating their complex identity (unveiling cell markers) niche (pinpointing regulatory factors). Importantly, we functionally validated findings using...
The pituitary represents the endocrine master regulator. In mouse, gland undergoes active maturation immediately after birth. Here, we in detail portrayed stem cell compartment of neonatal pituitary. Single-cell RNA-sequencing pictured an gland, revealing proliferative as well hormonal (progenitor) populations. pool displayed a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype, characteristic development-involved tissue cells. Organoid culturing recapitulated cells’ interestingly also reproducing...
Pituitary tumorigenesis is highly prevalent and causes major endocrine disorders. Hardly anything known on the behavior of local stem cells in this pathology. Here, we explored cells’ biology mouse human pituitary tumors using transcriptomic, immunophenotyping organoid approaches. In prolactinoma-growing dopamine receptor D2 knock-out mice, cell population displays an activated state terms proliferative activity distinct cytokine/chemokine phenotype. Organoids derived from tumorous glands’...
The pituitary is the master endocrine gland regulating key physiological processes, including body growth, metabolism, sexual maturation, reproduction, and stress response. More than a decade ago, stem cells were identified in gland. However, despite application of transgenic vivo approaches, their phenotype, biology, role remain unclear. To tackle this enigma, new innovative organoid vitro model developed to deeply unravel cell biology. Organoids represent 3D structures that, under defined...
Abstract The pituitary represents the endocrine master regulator. In mouse, gland undergoes vivid maturation immediately after birth. Here, we in detail portrayed stem cell compartment of neonatal pituitary. Single-cell RNA-sequencing pictured an active gland, revealing proliferative as well hormonal (progenitor) populations. pool displayed a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype, characteristic development-involved tissue cells. Organoid culturing recapitulated cells’ interestingly also...
The pituitary is the master endocrine gland regulating key physiological processes, including body growth, metabolism, sexual maturation, reproduction, and stress response. More than a decade ago, stem cells were identified in gland. However, despite application of transgenic vivo approaches, their phenotype, biology, role remain unclear. To tackle this enigma, new innovative organoid vitro model developed to deeply unravel cell biology. Organoids represent 3D structures that, under defined...
Recently, we discovered that the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) acts as a pituitary stem cell-activating factor, both when administered in vivo and added to cell organoid cultures vitro. Moreover, its expression, predominantly localized gland's mesenchymal cells, promptly increases following damage adult pituitary, leading stem-cell proliferative activation. Given these findings IL-6 is involved regulation, addressed question whether has an impact on phenotype during active phases of...
Abstract The pituitary gland harbors a population of stem cells. However, role and regulation these cells remain poorly understood. We recently established organoids from mouse as novel research tool to explore cell biology (Cox et al., J. Endocrinol. 2019; 240:287-308). In general, represent 3D in vitro configurations that develop self-organize (single) tissue under well-defined culture conditions typically mirror the niche and/or embryogenic processes. Organoids reliably recapitulate key...