Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Capturing trophectoderm-like stem cells enables step-wisely remodeling of placental development

doi: 10.1101/2025.08.25.672082

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) The morphology of ESCs, TBLCs and ESCs, TBLCs in TS medium after 3 days of induction. Scale bars, 250 μm. (B) FACS analysis of the percentage of CDX2 + cells from ESCs and TBLCs, as well as ESCs and TBLCs cultured in TS medium, using V6.5 cell line. (C) FACS analysis of the percentage of CD40 + cells from ESCs and TBLCs, as well as ESCs and TBLCs cultured in TS medium, using TC1 cell line. (D) FACS analysis of the percentage of CD40 + TELCs obtained from the TBLCs after induction with different molecules, including FGF4, Activin A, TGFβ1 and BMP4. The corresponding cell morphology is displayed in the lower panel. (E) Scatterplots displaying the transcriptome comparison of TELCs before and after CD40-based FACS using RNA-seq. Upregulated (FC>2) and downregulated (FC<0.5) genes are shown in red and blue, respectively. (F) The morphology of TBLCs of different passages and long-term culture in TX and TS medium, also the morphology of TBLCs after CD40 FACS after induction. Scale bars, 250 μm. (G) Western blotting was used to detect OCT4, CDX2 and EOMES in TELSCs from different passages. β-Tubulin was used as a loading control. (H) The morphology 8C embryos cultured in TX medium. Scale bars, 250 μm. (I) FACS analysis of the percentage of CD40 + cells in TELSC em s at different passages. (J) Immunofluorescence staining of TFAP2C and PEG10 in TBLCs, TELSCs and TELSC em s. Scale bars, 50 μm. (K) Cell cycle analysis of ESCs, TELSCs and TELSC em s. (L) Heatmap indicating the relative expression of TBLCs, TELSCs and TELSC em s. The representative genes and enrichment of GO terms of these genes is shown. (M) Heatmap indicating the relative expression of characteristic genes in TELSCs, TELSC em s and TSCs. Bubble chart showing the relative expression of these genes in mouse embryos. (N) Heatmap indicating the relative expression of characteristic genes in TELSCs, TSCs cultured in TX medium and TSCs cultured in TS medium. Heatmap on the right demonstrating the expression of each cluster in mouse embryos. The representative genes and enrichment of GO terms of these genes is shown. (O) The scatter plot displays differentially expressed genes between TELSCs and TSCs cultured in various media. The bar graph summarizes the number of differentially expressed genes identified under each comparison condition. (P) GSEA analysis of ESCs, TBLCs, TELCs and TELSCs based on “embryonic placenta development” and “placenta development” geneset. (Q) Heatmap indicating the differentially expressed genes in Hippo pathway of TELSCs and TBLCs. (R) Heatmap indicating the relative expression of characteristic genes in TELSCs, TSCs cultured in TX medium and TSCs cultured in TS medium. Bubble chart showing the relative expression of these genes in mouse embryos. (S) Phase contrast images of TBLCs cultured in TS medium for 24h supplemented with Verteporfin at the indicated concentration. Scale bars, 100 µm. (T) Heatmap indicating the differentially expressed genes of TELCs and TBLCs induction in TS medium plus verteporfin. Bubble chart showing the relative expression of these genes in mouse embryos. (U) GSEA analysis of TELCs, TBLCs induction in TS medium and in TS medium plus verteporfin based on TE geneset. (V) The morphology of TELSCs cultured in TS medium, TS medium plus ITS-X and TS medium plus TGFβ1. (W) Heatmap indicating the differentially expressed genes of TELSCs, TBLCs induction in TX medium withdraw ITS-X, in TS medium and in TS medium plus ITS-X. Heatmap on the right demonstrating the expression of each cluster in mouse embryos. The representative genes and enrichment of GO terms of these genes is shown. (X) GSEA analysis of TBLCs induction in TX medium withdraw ITS-X and in TX medium based on “Positive regulation of stem cell proliferation” and “Positive regulation of cell cycle” geneset.

Article Snippet: All TSLs were cultured on Matrigel-coated plates, in 30% TS medium (RPMI 1640 (GIBCO, 11875119), 20% FBS, 1% GlutaMax (GIBCO, 35050061), 1% penicillin-streptomycin (GIBCO, 15140163), 1% sodium pyruvate (GIBCO, 11360070)) and 70% MEF-conditioned TS medium supplemented with 25 ng/ml human recombinant FGF4 (MCE, HY-P7014) and 1 μg/ml heparin (STEMCELL, 7980).

Techniques: Cell Culture, Comparison, RNA Sequencing, Western Blot, Control, Immunofluorescence, Staining, Cell Cycle Assay, Expressing, Concentration Assay

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: PHF19 drives PRC2 sub-nuclear compartmentalization to promote motility in TNBC cells

doi: 10.1101/2025.03.13.642950

Figure Lengend Snippet: ( A-B ) Representative confocal fluorescence microscopy images of endogenous EZH2 (A) or SUZ12 (B) immunostaining in MDA-MB-231 and BoM-1833 cells. Insets highlight exemplary nuclear bodies of EZH2 or SUZ12 accumulation (arrows) in the BoM-1833 cells. Scale bar: 10 µm. Images were acquired and are displayed with identical settings. ( C ) Violin plot quantifying PRC2 body diameter in BoM-1833 cells. Each dot represents a single PRC2 body; data from 3 biological replicates (N = 16–32 cells). ( D ) Quantification of percentage of cell nuclei with PRC2 bodies in MDA-MB-231 and BoM-1833 cells, based on the images representatively shown in A-B. Data represent measurements from n = 3 biological replicates. Biological repeats are color coded. Statistical significance was determined via unpaired t-test, p=0.0102. Error bars indicate mean ±SEM. ( E ) Representative confocal fluorescence microscopy image of BoM-833 cells stained for endogenous PRC2 (SUZ12, green) and H3K27me3 (magenta) immunostaining in BoM-1833 cells. The arrow indicates an exemplary area of co-localization at a PRC2 body. Scale bar: 5 µm. ( F ) Schematic representation of the 3D photo-biotinylation approach used to map the proteome of endogenous PRC2 bodies. Total EZH2 (green) is spatially distributed within the cell and selectively photo-biotinylated at defined regions of interest (magenta) upon light activation. Following cell lysis, biotinylated proteins are captured using avidin-based immunoprecipitation and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The figure was created using Biorender. ( G ) Volcano plot illustrating the proteomic content of PRC2 bodies in BoM-1833 cells. Analysis was performed on the 1384 proteins identified as enriched in the labeled versus control condition in all 4 biological repeats, with unique peptides ≥ 2, fold change ≥ 1.5; and t-test significance ≤ 0.05. The x-axis represents the log 2 enrichment ratio (2P/CTL), and the y-axis represents the -log 10 p-value, indicating statistical significance. The dotted horizontal line corresponds to the p-value threshold (p < 0.05). Members of the core PRC2 complex are labeled in green. ( H ) Representative confocal fluorescence microscopy images of endogenous PHF19 immunostaining in MDA-MB-231 and BoM-1833 cells. The arrow highlights exemplary accumulations of PHF19 within nuclear bodies in BoM-1833 cells. Scale bar: 20 µm. The images were acquired and are displayed with identical settings. ( I ) Violin plot showing the quantification of endogenous PHF19 body diameter in BoM-1833 cells based on the images representatively shown in (H). Data represent measurements from N = 14–17 cells across n = 3 biological replicates, with each dot representing the diameter of a single PHF19 body. Biological repeats are color coded. ( J ) Quantification of percentage of cell nuclei with PHF19 bodies in MDA-MB-231 and BoM-1833 cells, based on the images representatively shown in (I). Data represent measurements from n = 3 biological replicates. Biological repeats are color coded. Statistical significance was determined via unpaired t-test, p=0.003. Error bars indicate mean ±SEM. ( K ) Representative confocal fluorescence microscopy image of endogenous PHF19 (green) and H3K27me3 (magenta) immunostaining in BoM-1833 cells. The arrow indicates an exemplary area of co-localization at a PHF19 body. Scale bar: 5 µm. ( L ) Representative confocal fluorescence microscopy images of BoM-1833 cells, 24 h post transfection with a GFP-PHF19 (green) expression plasmid and immunostained for endogenous core PRC2 subunits (SUZ12, purple). The arrow indicates an exemplary area of co-localization. Scale bar: 10 µm.

Article Snippet: The cells were then incubated with the rabbit anti-EZH2 antibody (5246, Cell signaling, USA) for 4 hours at RT, washed 3 times with PBST for 5 min and then incubated with Alexa Fluor™ 647 secondary antibody (A-21245, ThermoFisher, USA) for 2 hours.

Techniques: Fluorescence, Microscopy, Immunostaining, Staining, Activation Assay, Lysis, Avidin-Biotin Assay, Immunoprecipitation, Liquid Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectroscopy, Labeling, Control, Transfection, Expressing, Plasmid Preparation

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: PHF19 drives PRC2 sub-nuclear compartmentalization to promote motility in TNBC cells

doi: 10.1101/2025.03.13.642950

Figure Lengend Snippet: ( A-B ) Representative confocal fluorescence microscopy images of BoM-1833 cells transfected with the indicated siRNAs. Cells were fixed 96 hours post-transfection and immunostained for endogenous EZH2 (A) or SUZ12 (B). Regions of interest (ROIs) are highlighted, with inset images showing magnified views of the immunostained cells. Scale bar: 10 µm. Images that are to be directly compared where imaged and are displayed with identical settings. ( C ) Quantification of the percentage of nuclei exhibiting PRC2 bodies in BoM-1833 cells treated as in (A-B) and immunostained for PRC2 core subunits. Data represent measurements from N = 50–60 cells across n = 3 biological replicates. Biological repeats are color coded. Statistical significance was determined via one-way ANOVA testing, *** = 0.0003, ns= not significant. Error bars indicate mean ±SD. ( D ) BoM-1833 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNAs and lysed 96 hours later for Western blot analysis using the specified antibodies. GAPDH was used as loading control. ( E-I ) Densitometric analysis of PHF19 (E), EZH2 (F), SUZ12 (G), PHF1 (H) and MTF2 (I) protein levels in cell lysates obtained from BoM-1833 cells treated as described in (D). GAPDH was used for relative normalization of the chemiluminescence signal obtained for the different PRC2 subunits. Data represent measurements from n = 3 biological replicates, whereby the values for siPHF19 are reported relative to the mean value of the control (siNT) within each biological replicate. Biological repeats are color coded. Statistical significance was determined via one-way ANOVA testing, **** < 0.0001, ns = not significant. Error bars indicate mean ±SD.

Article Snippet: The cells were then incubated with the rabbit anti-EZH2 antibody (5246, Cell signaling, USA) for 4 hours at RT, washed 3 times with PBST for 5 min and then incubated with Alexa Fluor™ 647 secondary antibody (A-21245, ThermoFisher, USA) for 2 hours.

Techniques: Fluorescence, Microscopy, Transfection, Western Blot, Control

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: PHF19 drives PRC2 sub-nuclear compartmentalization to promote motility in TNBC cells

doi: 10.1101/2025.03.13.642950

Figure Lengend Snippet: ( A ) PHF19 gene expression analysis across a TCGA BRCA cohort sorted by molecular subtype subtype. Box plots display the expression levels of PHF19 in normal (grey) and tumor (green) tissue for the indicated breast cancer subtypes. Data are derived from TCGA/GTEx datasets and visualized using GEPIA2. Statistical significance between tumor and normal samples was determined by unpaired t-test (*p < 0.05). n= 291 (Normal), 194 (Luminal B), 415 (Luminal A), 66 (HER2), 135 (Basal-like). ( B-C ) Representative confocal microscopy images of EZH2 (B) and SUZ12 (C) immunostaining in the indicated cell lines. Scale bar: 20 µm. Images that are to be directly compared were recorded and are displayed using identical settings. ( D ) Quantification of the percentage of cell nuclei with PRC2 bodies in the indicated cell lines based on confocal microscopy images as shown in (B-C). Data represent measurements from N = 35– 55 cells across n = 3 biological replicates. Biological repeats are color coded. ( E ) Representative immunoblot analysis of full cell lysates prepared from the indicated cell lines and using the annotated antibodies. GAPDH was used as the loading control. ( F-G ) Densitometric quantification of EZH2, SUZ12 (F) and PCL family (G) subunit protein expression in the TNBC cell line panel used in this work. GAPDH was used for normalization of the chemiluminescence signal of the PRC2 subunits across cell lines. The data for siPHF19 are reported relative to the mean values for the siNT control. Data represent measurements from n = 3 biological replicates, error bars are mean ±SD. Measurements stemming from cell lines forming detectable PRC2 bodies by Airyscan microscopy were highlighted in red. ( H-I ) Representative confocal fluorescence microscopy images showing co-immunostaining of H3K27me3 with the endogenous PRC2 core subunit SUZ12 (H) and PHF19 (I) in MDA-MB-436 cells. Arrows indicate exemplary regions of colocalization. Scale bar: 10 µm (H), 5 µm (I). ( J ) Violin plot showing the quantification of PRC2 core and PHF19 protein body diameter as based on the images representatively shown in (F-G). Data represent measurements from N = 14–29 (core PRC2 subunits) and N= 19-22 (PHF19) cells across n = 3 biological replicates, with each dot representing the diameter of a single protein body. Biological repeats are color coded. ( K ) Representative confocal fluorescence microscopy images of MDA-MB-436 cells, 24 h post transfection with GFP-PHF19 (green) and immunostained for endogenous SUZ12 (purple). The arrow indicates an exemplary area of co-localization. Scale bar: 5 µm. ( L-M ) MDA-MB-436 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNAs followed by fixation 96 h later and immunostaining for endogenous EZH2 (L) or SUZ12 (M). The bottom row shows magnified views of the cropped fields of view. Images that are to be directly compared were acquired and are displayed using identical settings. Scale bar: 10 µm ( N ) Quantification of percentage of cell nuclei with PRC2 bodies in MDA-MB-436 cells transfected with the indicated siRNAs and imaged as representatively shown in (L-M). Data represent measurements from n = 3 biological replicates. Biological repeats are color coded. Statistical significance was determined via one-way ANOVA, ****= 0.001, ns= not significant. Error bars indicate mean ±SD. ( O ) MDA-MB-436 were treated as described in (L-M), followed by cell lysis. The material was analyzed by Western blot using the indicated antibodies. See also Figure S4. ( P , S ) Representative confocal microscopy images and ( R , T ) quantification of HS578T (P, R) and BT549 (S, T) fixed 24 h after transfection with a plasmid encoding for GFP-PHF19 (magenta) and immunostained for endogenous SUZ12 (PRC2 core). ROIs (Regions of Interest) are highlighted and magnified, showing the endogenous localization of SUZ12 in cells transfected with GFP-PHF19 (ROI 1) versus un-transfected cells (ROI 2). Scale bar: 20 µm. The bar diagrams show the endogenous SUZ12 localization phenotype in relation to the GFP-PHF19 expression status. Data represent measurements from N = 7–30 cells from n = 3 biological replicates. Biological repeats are color coded. Statistical significance was determined via unpaired t-test, * = 0.0123, **= 0.0038. Error bars indicate mean ±SD.

Article Snippet: The cells were then incubated with the rabbit anti-EZH2 antibody (5246, Cell signaling, USA) for 4 hours at RT, washed 3 times with PBST for 5 min and then incubated with Alexa Fluor™ 647 secondary antibody (A-21245, ThermoFisher, USA) for 2 hours.

Techniques: Gene Expression, Expressing, Derivative Assay, Confocal Microscopy, Immunostaining, Western Blot, Control, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Transfection, Lysis, Plasmid Preparation

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Elimination of senescent cells with senolytic host-directed therapy reduces tuberculosis progression in mice

doi: 10.1101/2025.03.28.645957

Figure Lengend Snippet: (a) Schematics of the experimental strategy to measure senescence markers (p21, p16 and SA-βGal activity) and SASP cytokines levels in mice lungs at 10 and 20 days p.i. Day 1 CFU= 55. (b) %p21+p16+ and (c) %SA-βGal+ (CellEvent Senescence green+) cells out of all live lung (uninfected and Mtb- infected mice) and Spleen ( Mtb- infected mice) cells at 10 days p.i. as determined by multicolor flow cytometry. (d) %p21+p16+ and (e) %SA-βGal+ cells out of different lung-cell types at 10 days p.i., as determined by multicolor flow cytometry. Gating for p16⁺, p21⁺, and SA-βGal⁺ events for each cell type were established using reference cells from Mtb -infected WT B6 mice (set at 1 %). (AMs: Alveolar macrophages, IMs: Interstitial macrophages) (f) Normalized concentration of SASP-cytokines in lung homogenates at 20 dpi and 4 wpi as measured by a LEGENDplex™ Mouse Inflammation Panel (13-plex). The data are means ± SEM. Each data point represents a mouse (n=11-12). (two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s (b-e) or Dunnett’s (f) multiple comparisons test).

Article Snippet: The PVDF membranes were blocked using 5% Blotting-grade blocker (Bio-Rad; 1706404) in TBST buffer-Tris-buffered saline (Quality Biological; 351086101)+ 0.1% Tween 20 (Sigma; P2287) for 1-2 hour and incubated overnight at 4°C with the primary antibodies from Mouse Reactive Senescence Marker Antibody Sampler Kit (Cell Signaling Technology-78551)-Phospho-Histone H2A.X (Ser139) (20E3) Rabbit mAb (1: 1000 dilution), Lamin B1 (E6M5T) Rabbit mAb (1: 1000 dilution), HMGB1 (D3E5) Rabbit mAb (1: 1000 dilution), p16 INK4A (E5F3Y) Rabbit mAb (1: 1000 dilution) and β-Actin (D6A8) Rabbit mAb (Cell Signaling Technology; 8457) (1:5000 dilution).

Techniques: Activity Assay, Infection, Flow Cytometry, Concentration Assay

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Elimination of senescent cells with senolytic host-directed therapy reduces tuberculosis progression in mice

doi: 10.1101/2025.03.28.645957

Figure Lengend Snippet: (a) Representative H&E-stained images of Mtb -infected mice lungs treated with Vehicle or drugs, and respective ImageJ-based quantification. Yellow arrow indicates necrotic granuloma in Vehicle treated B6.Sst1S mice at 5 wpi. The data are means ± SEM. Each data point represents a mouse. Statistical analysis between two groups was done by unpaired two-tailed Student’s t test. Square represents necrotic granuloma formation in the lung. (b) Representative γH2A.X-Immunohistochemistry images of mice after lungs vehicle/ drugs treatment, and respective Violin plots to show ImageJ quantification of γH2A.X-stained area. Each data point represents a mouse. Statistical analysis between two groups was done by unpaired two-tailed Student’s t test. (c) %p21+βGal+ and %p16+βGal+ subpopulation observed in all live lung cells of Mtb -infected mice (n= 5-8). The data are means ± SEM. Each data point represents a mouse. Statistical analysis was calculated by two-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test. Bubble plot to show %p21+βGal+ and %p16+βGal+ subpopulation in different lung cell types in Mtb -infected (d) B6.Sst1S mice (n= 8) and (e) WT B6 old mice (n= 5) at indicated time point and treatment groups. The size of the bubble indicates %subpopulation out of all of particular cell types and color is adjusted p values relative to Veh group. Statistics are calculated by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test ( p > 0.15: ns).

Article Snippet: The PVDF membranes were blocked using 5% Blotting-grade blocker (Bio-Rad; 1706404) in TBST buffer-Tris-buffered saline (Quality Biological; 351086101)+ 0.1% Tween 20 (Sigma; P2287) for 1-2 hour and incubated overnight at 4°C with the primary antibodies from Mouse Reactive Senescence Marker Antibody Sampler Kit (Cell Signaling Technology-78551)-Phospho-Histone H2A.X (Ser139) (20E3) Rabbit mAb (1: 1000 dilution), Lamin B1 (E6M5T) Rabbit mAb (1: 1000 dilution), HMGB1 (D3E5) Rabbit mAb (1: 1000 dilution), p16 INK4A (E5F3Y) Rabbit mAb (1: 1000 dilution) and β-Actin (D6A8) Rabbit mAb (Cell Signaling Technology; 8457) (1:5000 dilution).

Techniques: Staining, Infection, Two Tailed Test, Immunohistochemistry