Multipotent RAG1+ progenitors emerge directly from haemogenic endothelium in human pluripotent stem cell-derived haematopoietic organoids

Nat Cell Biol. 2020 Jan;22(1):60-73. doi: 10.1038/s41556-019-0445-8. Epub 2020 Jan 6.

Abstract

Defining the ontogeny of the human adaptive immune system during embryogenesis has implications for understanding childhood diseases including leukaemias and autoimmune conditions. Using RAG1:GFP human pluripotent stem cell reporter lines, we examined human T-cell genesis from pluripotent-stem-cell-derived haematopoietic organoids. Under conditions favouring T-cell development, RAG1+ cells progressively upregulated a cohort of recognized T-cell-associated genes, arresting development at the CD4+CD8+ stage. Sort and re-culture experiments showed that early RAG1+ cells also possessed B-cell, myeloid and erythroid potential. Flow cytometry and single-cell-RNA-sequencing data showed that early RAG1+ cells co-expressed the endothelial/haematopoietic progenitor markers CD34, VECAD and CD90, whereas imaging studies identified RAG1+ cells within CD31+ endothelial structures that co-expressed SOX17+ or the endothelial marker CAV1. Collectively, these observations provide evidence for a wave of human T-cell development that originates directly from haemogenic endothelium via a RAG1+ intermediate with multilineage potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Embryonic Development / physiology
  • Endothelium / cytology*
  • Hemangioblasts / cytology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Organoids / cytology
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • RAG-1 protein