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Parodi C, Di Fede E, Peron A, Viganò I, Grazioli P, Castiglioni S, Finnell RH, Gervasini C, Vignoli A, Massa V. Chromatin Imbalance as the Vertex Between Fetal Valproate Syndrome and Chromatinopathies. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:654467. [PMID: 33959609 PMCID: PMC8093873 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.654467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to valproate (VPA), an antiepileptic drug, has been associated with fetal valproate spectrum disorders (FVSD), a clinical condition including congenital malformations, developmental delay, intellectual disability as well as autism spectrum disorder, together with a distinctive facial appearance. VPA is a known inhibitor of histone deacetylase which regulates the chromatin state. Interestingly, perturbations of this epigenetic balance are associated with chromatinopathies, a heterogeneous group of Mendelian disorders arising from mutations in components of the epigenetic machinery. Patients affected from these disorders display a plethora of clinical signs, mainly neurological deficits and intellectual disability, together with distinctive craniofacial dysmorphisms. Remarkably, critically examining the phenotype of FVSD and chromatinopathies, they shared several overlapping features that can be observed despite the different etiologies of these disorders, suggesting the possible existence of a common perturbed mechanism(s) during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Parodi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Di Fede
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Peron
- Human Pathology and Medical Genetics, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.,Child Neuropsychiatry Unit-Epilepsy Center, Department of Health Sciences, San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.,Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Ilaria Viganò
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Grazioli
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Castiglioni
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Molecular and Human Genetics and Medicine, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Cristina Gervasini
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.,"Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Aglaia Vignoli
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Massa
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.,"Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Bold J, Sakata-Haga H, Fukui Y. Spinal nerve defects in mouse embryos prenatally exposed to valproic acid. Anat Sci Int 2016; 93:35-41. [DOI: 10.1007/s12565-016-0363-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Massa V, Cabrera RM, Menegola E, Giavini E, Finnell RH. Valproic acid-induced skeletal malformations: associated gene expression cascades. Pharmacogenet Genomics 2006; 15:787-800. [PMID: 16220111 DOI: 10.1097/01.fpc.0000170914.11898.3a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Valproic acid (VPA) is a widely used anticonvulsant medication with well-known teratogenic effects in both humans and in experimental animal model systems. The most commonly observed malformations induced by VPA in experimental animals include neural and skeletal defects. In this study the potential alterations in somitic tissue gene expression relative to the development of observed axial skeletal defects were examined. METHODS SWV mice were treated at 8.5 days post coitum (d.p.c.) with 1.36 mmol/kg or 2.72 mmol/kg VPA by i.p. injection. At 18.5 d.p.c., animals were killed and stained for morphological and skeletal examination. Cervical malformations consisting of vertebral fusions and cervical ribs were consistently observed. Phenotypic analysis confirmed the presence of dose-dependent axial skeletal malformations induced by in-utero VPA-exposure. Using antisense RNA amplification and cDNA microarrays, we examined the expression of approximately 5700 genes in the first six postotic somites of control and treated embryos at 6, 12, 18 and 24 h after the 8.5 d.p.c. VPA treatment. RESULTS Analysis indicated that several ontological groups (e.g. histone deacetylase complex, guanosine triphosphatases, cell proliferation and cytoskeletal) have significantly enriched gene expression changes in response to the teratogenic insult. The RNA from 6 h post-treatment was also subjected to a microarray cross-platform validation, and genes identified on both platforms are presented. CONCLUSION These data were then used to deduce candidate cellular pathways that may be responsible for the VPA-induced teratogenic skeletal phenotypes.
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Menegola E, Broccia ML, Di Renzo F, Giavini E. Comparative study of sodium valproate-induced skeletal malformations using single or double staining methods. Reprod Toxicol 2002; 16:815-23. [PMID: 12401511 DOI: 10.1016/s0890-6238(02)00056-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The teratogenic activity of xenobiotics is usually investigated by examining visceral and skeletal abnormalities of term fetuses. Although the rodent fetal skeleton is only partially ossified, the single stain for bone is the most commonly used method in routine teratology testing, while the double stain for evaluation of both bone and cartilage is often used only in basic research. The present work compares data obtained from rat fetuses using the two methods after exposure to the teratogenic agent sodium valproate at specific embryonic stages of development. Pregnant rats were treated with 400mg/kg sodium valproate and sacrificed at term of pregnancy. Even if both methods were able to identify sodium valproate as a teratogenic molecule, correct and complete interpretation of data was possible only by using the double stain. Our results show the inability of the single stain to correctly discriminate between major and minor abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Menegola
- Department of Biology, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Sobaniec-Lotowska ME. Ultrastructure of Purkinje cell perikarya and their dendritic processes in the rat cerebellar cortex in experimental encephalopathy induced by chronic application of valproate. Int J Exp Pathol 2001; 82:337-48. [PMID: 11846840 PMCID: PMC2517784 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2613.2001.00206.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term intragastric administration of the antiepileptic drug sodium valproate (Vuprol Polfa) to rats for 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, once daily at the effective dose of 200 mg/kg body weight showed morphological evidence of encephalopathy, manifested by numerous nonspecific changes within Purkinje cell perikarya and their dendritic processes. The first ultrastructural abnormalities appeared after 3 months. They became more severe in animals with longer survival and were most pronounced after 12 months. The changes were maintained both 1 and 3 months after drug withdrawal. Mitochondria of Purkinje cell perikarya were most severely affected. Damage to mitochondria was accompanied by disintegration and fragmentation of granular endoplasmic reticulum, dilation of channels and cisterns of Golgi apparatus, enlargement of smooth endoplasmic reticulum elements including submembranous cisterns, and accumulation of profuse lipofuscin deposits. Frequently, Purkinje cells appeared as dark ischemic neurones, with focally damaged cellular membrane and features of disintegration. Swollen Bergmann's astrocytes were seen among damaged Purkinje cells or at the site of their loss. The general pattern of submicroscopic alterations of Purkinje cell perikarya suggested severe disorders in several intercellular biochemical extents, including inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation and abnormal protein synthesis, both of which could lead to lethal damage. Ultrastructural abnormalities within dendrites were characterized by damage to elements of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which was considerably enlarged, with formation of large vacuolar structures situated deep in the dendroplasm. Mitochondrial lesions and alterations in cytoskeletal elements--disintegration of microtubules or even their complete loss--were also observed. The general pattern of abnormalities within the organelles and cytoskeletal elements of dendritic processes in Purkinje cells in the VPA chronic experimental model imply that there are disturbances in detoxication processes. Furthermore these changes were irreversible, as they were maintained after drug withdrawal.
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McMahon CL, Braddock SR. Septo-optic dysplasia as a manifestation of valproic acid embryopathy. TERATOLOGY 2001; 64:83-6. [PMID: 11460259 DOI: 10.1002/tera.1049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of valproic acid during pregnancy has been associated with adverse fetal outcomes, including major and minor congenital malformations, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), hyperbilirubinemia, hepatotoxicity, transient hyperglycemia, and fetal and neonatal distress. In addition, intrauterine exposure to valproic acid has been associated with an increased risk of central nervous system abnormalities, primarily neural tube defects. Optic nerve hypoplasia has been reported in association with other prenatal anticonvulsant exposures, but the occurrence of septo-optic dysplasia as a manifestation of valproic acid embryopathy has not been reported previously. RESULTS We report on a woman who received Depakote (valproic acid) throughout her pregnancy for the treatment of a seizure disorder. The patient presented with features typical of valproic acid embryopathy, including bitemporal narrowing, hypertelorism, short palpebral fissures, epicanthal folds, microphthalmia, a flat broad nasal bridge, small mouth, hypoplastic nails, mild clinodactyly, and camptodactyly. MRI showed hypoplasia of the optic chiasm and absence of the septum pellucidum. CONCLUSIONS We report the first case of septo-optic dysplasia associated with maternal exposure to valproic acid throughout pregnancy. This case expands the clinical phenotype of valproate embryopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L McMahon
- Section of Reproductive Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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