弗朗西斯·克里克研究所Naomi Moris小组宣布他们揭示了人体躯干样结构体与神经管共同发育的建模。该研究于2025年12月16日发表于国际一流学术期刊《自然—细胞生物学》杂志上。

在这里，该课题组研究人员开发了人类躯干样结构，具有形态学上有组织的体和神经管，通过自组织的内源性信号传导形成。与人类胚胎数据集的转录组学比较表明，人类树干样结构细胞接近卡内基阶段13-14期 (受精后28-35天)。脊索缺失导致背侧同一性，但外源性Sonic Hedgehog信号激活以剂量依赖的方式使体节和神经管均侧化。研究团队进一步确定了相互信号传导：神经管来源的信号诱导体细胞的内侧ALDH1A2，这反过来产生维甲酸信号，驱动自发神经管模式。总之，他们的数据突出了胚胎模型模块化的价值，该课题组研究人员利用它来探索人类躯干的共同发育。

研究人员表示，基于人类干细胞的胚胎模型为发育研究提供了实验上可行的体外系统。胚胎模型的一个关键特征是它们的多谱系分化，这使得研究组织共同发育成为可能。

附：英文原文

Title: Modelling co-development between the somites and neural tube in human trunk-like structures

Author: Makwana, Komal, Tilley, Louise, Chakravarty, Probir, Thompson, Jamie, Baillie-Benson, Peter, Rodriguez-Polo, Ignacio, Moris, Naomi

Issue&Volume: 2025-12-16

Abstract: Human stem cell-based embryo models provide experimentally amenable in vitro systems for developmental research. A key feature of embryo models is their multi-lineage differentiation, which allows for the study of tissue co-development. Here we develop human trunk-like structures that have morphologically organized somites and a neural tube that form through self-organized, endogenous signalling. Transcriptomic comparison with human embryo datasets suggests that human trunk-like structure cells approximate Carnegie stage 13–14 (28–35days after fertilization). The absence of a notochord leads to a dorsal identity, but exogenous Sonic Hedgehog signalling activation ventralizes both the somites and the neural tube in a dose-dependent manner. We further identify reciprocal signalling: neural tube-derived cues induce medial ALDH1A2 in somites, which in turn generate retinoic acid signals that drive spontaneous neural-tube patterning. Together, our data highlight the value of modularity in embryo models, which we leverage to explore human trunk co-development.

DOI: 10.1038/s41556-025-01813-8

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41556-025-01813-8