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Zhang J, Yang L, Sun Y, Zhang L, Wang Y, Liu M, Li X, Liang Y, Zhao H, Liu Z, Qiu Z, Zhang T, Xie J. Up-regulation of miR-10a-5p expression inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells by targeting Chl1. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024. [PMID: 38841745 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are characterized by the failure of neural tube closure during embryogenesis and are considered the most common and severe central nervous system anomalies during early development. Recent microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling studies have revealed that the dysregulation of several miRNAs plays an important role in retinoic acid (RA)-induced NTDs. However, the molecular functions of these miRNAs in NTDs remain largely unidentified. Here, we show that miR-10a-5p is significantly upregulated in RA-induced NTDs and results in reduced cell growth due to cell cycle arrest and dysregulation of cell differentiation. Moreover, the cell adhesion molecule L1-like ( Chl1) is identified as a direct target of miR-10a-5p in neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro, and its expression is reduced in RA-induced NTDs. siRNA-mediated knockdown of intracellular Chl1 affects cell proliferation and differentiation similar to those of miR-10a-5p overexpression, which further leads to the inhibition of the expressions of downstream ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathway proteins. These cellular responses are abrogated by either increased expression of the direct target of miR-10a-5p ( Chl1) or an ERK agonist such as honokiol. Overall, our study demonstrates that miR-10a-5p plays a major role in the process of NSC growth and differentiation by directly targeting Chl1, which in turn induces the downregulation of the ERK1/2 cascade, suggesting that miR-10a-5p and Chl1 are critical for NTD formation in the development of embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Lihong Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yuqing Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yufei Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Xiujuan Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yuxiang Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Hong Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Zhizhen Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Zhiyong Qiu
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
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Tindula G, Issac B, Mukherjee SK, Ekramullah SM, Arman DM, Islam J, Suchanda HS, Sun L, Rockowitz S, Christiani DC, Warf BC, Mazumdar M. Genome-wide analysis of spina bifida risk variants in a case-control study from Bangladesh. Birth Defects Res 2024; 116:e2331. [PMID: 38526198 PMCID: PMC10963057 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human studies of genetic risk factors for neural tube defects, severe birth defects associated with long-term health consequences in surviving children, have predominantly been restricted to a subset of candidate genes in specific biological pathways including folate metabolism. METHODS In this study, we investigated the association of genetic variants spanning the genome with risk of spina bifida (i.e., myelomeningocele and meningocele) in a subset of families enrolled from December 2016 through December 2022 in a case-control study in Bangladesh, a population often underrepresented in genetic studies. Saliva DNA samples were analyzed using the Illumina Global Screening Array. We performed genetic association analyses to compare allele frequencies between 112 case and 121 control children, 272 mothers, and 128 trios. RESULTS In the transmission disequilibrium test analyses with trios only, we identified three novel exonic spina bifida risk loci, including rs140199800 (SULT1C2, p = 1.9 × 10-7), rs45580033 (ASB2, p = 4.2 × 10-10), and rs75426652 (LHPP, p = 7.2 × 10-14), after adjusting for multiple hypothesis testing. Association analyses comparing cases and controls, as well as models that included their mothers, did not identify genome-wide significant variants. CONCLUSIONS This study identified three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms involved in biological pathways not previously associated with neural tube defects. The study warrants replication in larger groups to validate findings and to inform targeted prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwen Tindula
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Biju Issac
- Research Computing, Information Technology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Sudipta Kumer Mukherjee
- Department of Paediatric Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS), Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Agargoan, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
| | - Sheikh Muhammad Ekramullah
- Department of Paediatric Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS), Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Agargoan, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
| | - DM Arman
- Department of Paediatric Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS), Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Agargoan, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
| | - Joynul Islam
- Department of Clinical Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS), Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Agargoan, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
| | - Hafiza Sultana Suchanda
- Pediatric Neurosurgery Research Committee, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS), Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Agargoan, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
| | - Liang Sun
- Research Computing, Information Technology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Shira Rockowitz
- Research Computing, Information Technology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
- The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - David C. Christiani
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Benjamin C. Warf
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Maitreyi Mazumdar
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
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3
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Oxman E, Li H, Wang HY, Zohn IE. Identification and functional analysis of rare HECTD1 missense variants in human neural tube defects. Hum Genet 2024; 143:263-277. [PMID: 38451291 PMCID: PMC11043113 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-024-02647-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe malformations of the central nervous system that arise from failure of neural tube closure. HECTD1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase required for cranial neural tube closure in mouse models. NTDs in the Hectd1 mutant mouse model are due to the failure of cranial mesenchyme morphogenesis during neural fold elevation. Our earlier research has linked increased extracellular heat shock protein 90 (eHSP90) secretion to aberrant cranial mesenchyme morphogenesis in the Hectd1 model. Furthermore, overexpression of HECTD1 suppresses stress-induced eHSP90 secretion in cell lines. In this study, we report the identification of five rare HECTD1 missense sequence variants in NTD cases. The variants were found through targeted next-generation sequencing in a Chinese cohort of 352 NTD cases and 224 ethnically matched controls. We present data showing that HECTD1 is a highly conserved gene, extremely intolerant to loss-of-function mutations and missense changes. To evaluate the functional consequences of NTD-associated missense variants, functional assays in HEK293T cells were performed to examine protein expression and the ability of HECTD1 sequence variants to suppress eHSP90 secretion. One NTD-associated variant (A1084T) had significantly reduced expression in HEK293T cells. All five NTD-associated variants (p.M392V, p.T801I, p.I906V, p.A1084T, and p.P1835L) reduced regulation of eHSP90 secretion by HECTD1, while a putative benign variant (p.P2474L) did not. These findings are the first association of HECTD1 sequence variation with NTDs in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Oxman
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Research and Innovation Campus, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, 20012, USA
| | - Huili Li
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Hong-Yan Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, State Key Laboratory of Genetic, Engineering at School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Irene E Zohn
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Research and Innovation Campus, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, 20012, USA.
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4
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Mak S, Hammes A. Canonical and Non-Canonical Localization of Tight Junction Proteins during Early Murine Cranial Development. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1426. [PMID: 38338705 PMCID: PMC10855338 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the intricate composition and spatial distribution of tight junction complex proteins during early mouse neurulation. The analyses focused on the cranial neural tube, which gives rise to all head structures. Neurulation brings about significant changes in the neuronal and non-neuronal ectoderm at a cellular and tissue level. During this process, precise coordination of both epithelial integrity and epithelial dynamics is essential for accurate tissue morphogenesis. Tight junctions are pivotal for epithelial integrity, yet their complex composition in this context remains poorly understood. Our examination of various tight junction proteins in the forebrain region of mouse embryos revealed distinct patterns in the neuronal and non-neuronal ectoderm, as well as mesoderm-derived mesenchymal cells. While claudin-4 exhibited exclusive expression in the non-neuronal ectoderm, we demonstrated a neuronal ectoderm specific localization for claudin-12 in the developing cranial neural tube. Claudin-5 was uniquely present in mesenchymal cells. Regarding the subcellular localization, canonical tight junction localization in the apical junctions was predominant for most tight junction complex proteins. ZO-1 (zona occludens protein-1), claudin-1, claudin-4, claudin-12, and occludin were detected at the apical junction. However, claudin-1 and occludin also appeared in basolateral domains. Intriguingly, claudin-3 displayed a non-canonical localization, overlapping with a nuclear lamina marker. These findings highlight the diverse tissue and subcellular distribution of tight junction proteins and emphasize the need for their precise regulation during the dynamic processes of forebrain development. The study can thereby contribute to a better understanding of the role of tight junction complex proteins in forebrain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shermin Mak
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany;
- Institute for Biology, Free University of Berlin, 14159 Berlin, Germany
| | - Annette Hammes
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany;
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5
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Oxman E, Li H, Wang HY, Zohn I. Identification and Functional Analysis of Rare HECTD1 Missense Variants in Human Neural Tube Defects. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3794712. [PMID: 38260607 PMCID: PMC10802691 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3794712/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe malformations of the central nervous system that arise from failure of neural tube closure. HECTD1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase required for cranial neural tube closure in mouse models. NTDs in the Hectd1 mutant mouse model are due to the failure of cranial mesenchyme morphogenesis during neural fold elevation. Our earlier research has linked increased secretion of extracellular heat shock protein 90 (eHSP90) to aberrant cranial mesenchyme morphogenesis in the Hectd1 model. Furthermore, overexpression of HECTD1 suppresses stress-induced eHSP90 secretion in cell lines. In this study, we report the identification of five rare HECTD1 missense sequence variants in NTD cases. The variants were found through targeted next-generation sequencing in a Chinese cohort of 352 NTD cases and 224 ethnically matched controls. We present data showing that HECTD1 is a highly conserved gene, extremely intolerant to loss-of-function mutations and missense changes. To evaluate the functional consequences of NTD-associated missense variants, functional assays in HEK293T cells were performed to examine protein expression and the ability of HECTD1 sequence variants to suppress eHSP90 secretion. One NTD-associated variant (A1084T) had significantly reduced expression in HEK293T cells. All five NTD-associated variants (p.M392V, p.T801I, p.I906V, p.A1084T, and p.P1835L) reduced regulation of eHSP90 secretion by HECTD1, while a putative benign variant (p.P2474L) did not. These findings are the first association of HECTD1 sequence variation with human disease and suggest that sequence variation in HECTD1 may play a role in the etiology of human NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huili Li
- University of Colorado at Boulder
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6
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Ye Y, Zhang J, Feng X, Chen C, Chang Y, Qiu G, Wu Z, Zhang TJ, Gao B, Wu N. Exploring the association between congenital vertebral malformations and neural tube defects. J Med Genet 2023; 60:1146-1152. [PMID: 37775263 DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2023-109501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Congenital vertebral malformations (CVMs) and neural tube defects (NTDs) are common birth defects affecting the spine and nervous system, respectively, due to defects in somitogenesis and neurulation. Somitogenesis and neurulation rely on factors secreted from neighbouring tissues and the integrity of the axial structure. Crucial signalling pathways like Wnt, Notch and planar cell polarity regulate somitogenesis and neurulation with significant crosstalk. While previous studies suggest an association between CVMs and NTDs, the exact mechanism underlying this relationship remains unclear. In this review, we explore embryonic development, signalling pathways and clinical phenotypes involved in the association between CVMs and NTDs. Moreover, we provide a summary of syndromes that exhibit occurrences of both CVMs and NTDs. We aim to provide insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the association between CVMs and NTDs, thereby facilitating clinical diagnosis and management of these anomalies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyu Ye
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianan Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chong Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yunbing Chang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guixing Qiu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Key Laboratory of Big Data for Spinal Deformities, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetic Research of Skeletal Deformity, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihong Wu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Key Laboratory of Big Data for Spinal Deformities, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetic Research of Skeletal Deformity, Beijing, China
| | - Terry Jianguo Zhang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Key Laboratory of Big Data for Spinal Deformities, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetic Research of Skeletal Deformity, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Gao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Key Laboratory of Big Data for Spinal Deformities, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetic Research of Skeletal Deformity, Beijing, China
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7
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MacGowan J, Cardenas M, Williams MK. Vangl2 deficient zebrafish exhibit hallmarks of neural tube closure defects. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.09.566412. [PMID: 37986956 PMCID: PMC10659374 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.09.566412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the most devastating and common congenital anomalies worldwide, and the ability to model these conditions in vivo is essential for identifying causative genetic and environmental factors. Although zebrafish are ideal for rapid candidate testing, their neural tubes develop primarily via a solid neural keel rather that the fold-and-fuse method employed by mammals, raising questions about their suitability as an NTD model. Here, we demonstrate that despite outward differences, zebrafish anterior neurulation closely resembles that of mammals. For the first time, we directly observe fusion of the bilateral neural folds to enclose a lumen in zebrafish embryos. The neural folds fuse by zippering between multiple distinct but contiguous closure sites. Embryos lacking vangl2, a core planar cell polarity and NTD risk gene, exhibit delayed neural fold fusion and abnormal neural groove formation, yielding distinct openings and midline bifurcations in the developing neural tube. These data provide direct evidence for fold-and-fuse neurulation in zebrafish and its disruption upon loss of an NTD risk gene, highlighting conservation of vertebrate neurulation and the utility of zebrafish for modeling NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacalyn MacGowan
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Mara Cardenas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Margot Kossmann Williams
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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8
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Bowman RM, Lee JY, Yang J, Kim KH, Wang KC. Myelomeningocele: the evolution of care over the last 50 years. Childs Nerv Syst 2023; 39:2829-2845. [PMID: 37417984 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-023-06057-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Myelomeningocele (MMC) is one of the representative anomalies in the field of pediatric neurosurgery. During the 50 years of ISPN history, MMC had a tremendous changes in its incidence, clinical management and outcome with advanced understanding of its pathogenesis. We reviewed the changes in MMC during the period. METHODS We reviewed the literature review and collected our experiences. RESULTS During the 50 years, major changes happened in many aspects of MMC including incidence, pathoembryogenesis, folate deficiency, prevention, prenatal diagnosis, mode of delivery, treatment policy with ethical considerations, clinical treatment including fetal surgery, latex allergy, retethering, management outcome, multidisciplinary team approach, and socioeconomic and family issues. CONCLUSIONS There was a great advance in the management and research of MMC during the 50 years. It is a monumental achievement of pediatric neurosurgeons and colleagues of the related fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin M Bowman
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago; Neurosurgery Department, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ji Yeoun Lee
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeyul Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, Korea
| | - Kyung Hyun Kim
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyu-Chang Wang
- Center for Rare Cancers, Neuro-oncology Clinic, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Kyounggi-do, 10408, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Jones E, McLaughlin KA. A Novel Perspective on Neuronal Control of Anatomical Patterning, Remodeling, and Maintenance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13358. [PMID: 37686164 PMCID: PMC10488252 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
While the nervous system may be best known as the sensory communication center of an organism, recent research has revealed a myriad of multifaceted roles for both the CNS and PNS from early development to adult regeneration and remodeling. These systems work to orchestrate tissue pattern formation during embryonic development and continue shaping pattering through transitional periods such as metamorphosis and growth. During periods of injury or wounding, the nervous system has also been shown to influence remodeling and wound healing. The neuronal mechanisms responsible for these events are largely conserved across species, suggesting this evidence may be important in understanding and resolving many human defects and diseases. By unraveling these diverse roles, this paper highlights the necessity of broadening our perspective on the nervous system beyond its conventional functions. A comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions and contributions of the nervous system throughout development and adulthood has the potential to revolutionize therapeutic strategies and open new avenues for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This review highlights an important role for the nervous system during the patterning and maintenance of complex tissues and provides a potential avenue for advancing biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelly A. McLaughlin
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4700, Medford, MA 02155, USA;
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10
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Fernández-Santos B, Reyes-Corral M, Caro-Vega JM, Lao-Pérez M, Vallejo-Grijalba C, Mesa-Cruz C, Morón FJ, Ybot-González P. The loop-tail mouse model displays open and closed caudal neural tube defects. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050175. [PMID: 37589570 PMCID: PMC10481946 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common cause of congenital malformations and are often studied in animal models. Loop-tail (Lp) mice carry a mutation in the Vangl2 gene, a member of the Wnt-planar cell polarity pathway. In Vangl2+/Lp embryos, the mutation induces a failure in the completion of caudal neural tube closure, but only a small percentage of embryos develop open spina bifida. Here, we show that the majority of Vangl2+/Lp embryos developed caudal closed NTDs and presented cellular aggregates that may facilitate the sealing of these defects. The cellular aggregates expressed neural crest cell markers and, using these as a readout, we describe a systematic method to assess the severity of the neural tube dorsal fusion failure. We observed that this defect worsened in combination with other NTD mutants, Daam1 and Grhl3. Besides, we found that in Vangl2+/Lp embryos, these NTDs were resistant to maternal folic acid and inositol supplementation. Loop-tail mice provide a useful model for research on the molecular interactions involved in the development of open and closed NTDs and for the design of prevention strategies for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Fernández-Santos
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Marta Reyes-Corral
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - José Manuel Caro-Vega
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Miguel Lao-Pérez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Claudia Vallejo-Grijalba
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Cristina Mesa-Cruz
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Morón
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Patricia Ybot-González
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
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11
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Rai S, Leydier L, Sharma S, Katwala J, Sahu A. A quest for genetic causes underlying signaling pathways associated with neural tube defects. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1126209. [PMID: 37284286 PMCID: PMC10241075 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1126209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are serious congenital deformities of the nervous system that occur owing to the failure of normal neural tube closures. Genetic and non-genetic factors contribute to the etiology of neural tube defects in humans, indicating the role of gene-gene and gene-environment interaction in the occurrence and recurrence risk of neural tube defects. Several lines of genetic studies on humans and animals demonstrated the role of aberrant genes in the developmental risk of neural tube defects and also provided an understanding of the cellular and morphological programs that occur during embryonic development. Other studies observed the effects of folate and supplementation of folic acid on neural tube defects. Hence, here we review what is known to date regarding altered genes associated with specific signaling pathways resulting in NTDs, as well as highlight the role of various genetic, and non-genetic factors and their interactions that contribute to NTDs. Additionally, we also shine a light on the role of folate and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in neural tube defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Rai
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical University of the Americas, Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Larissa Leydier
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical University of the Americas, Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Shivani Sharma
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical University of the Americas, Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Jigar Katwala
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical University of the Americas, Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Anurag Sahu
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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12
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Lin CM, Oglesbee M, Knudsen D, Smith TW. Ischemic myelomalacia and closed spinal dysraphism in multiple finishing swine. Vet Pathol 2023; 60:258-266. [PMID: 36524748 DOI: 10.1177/03009858221140822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Ischemic myelomalacia secondary to fibrocartilaginous emboli (FCE) is an idiopathic disease in humans and animals. On the other hand, congenital spinal cord malformations result from neural tube defects in fetal development (ie, spinal dysraphism), with structural anomalies referred to collectively as myelodysplasia. Spinal dysraphisms are frequently accompanied by skin and vertebral abnormalities because of the embryogenic relationship. In this observational case study, we report the pathologic findings of 13, 18- to 24-weeks-old pigs from a large conventional operation that presented with acute paraparesis. Ischemic myelomalacia secondary to FCE was observed in 5 of 13 examined pigs. Congenital spinal cord malformations located between the caudal thoracic and sacral spinal cord were identified in 7 pigs, with structural abnormalities that ranged from diplomyelia/split cord malformation to segmental spinal dysgenesis (myelodysplasia) to caudal agenesis. Concurrent myelomalacia and congenital spinal cord malformations in the same or different sites were noted in 2 pigs. No spinal lesion was observed in 3 pigs. Although gross vertebral abnormalities were not observed herein, intervertebral instability due to minor defects in the articular facets, as well as other unidentified factors, is suspected to contribute high incidence of FCE. It is likely that these congenital malformations were previously underdiagnosed or are possibly new conditions associated with continuous inbreeding and genetic improvement in the modern swine industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Ming Lin
- South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
- Charles River Laboratories, Spencerville, OH
| | | | | | - Thomas W Smith
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
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13
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Wang X, Yu J, Wang J. Neural Tube Defects and Folate Deficiency: Is DNA Repair Defective? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032220. [PMID: 36768542 PMCID: PMC9916799 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are complex congenital malformations resulting from failure of neural tube closure during embryogenesis, which is affected by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. It is well known that folate deficiency increases the incidence of NTDs; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Folate deficiency not only causes DNA hypomethylation, but also blocks the synthesis of 2'-deoxythymidine-5'-monophosphate (dTMP) and increases uracil misincorporation, resulting in genomic instabilities such as base mismatch, DNA breakage, and even chromosome aberration. DNA repair pathways are essential for ensuring normal DNA synthesis, genomic stability and integrity during embryonic neural development. Genomic instability or lack of DNA repair has been implicated in risk of development of NTDs. Here, we reviewed the relationship between folate deficiency, DNA repair pathways and NTDs so as to reveal the role and significance of DNA repair system in the pathogenesis of NTDs and better understand the pathogenesis of NTDs.
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14
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Wang S, Zeng Y, He X, Liu F, Pei P, Zhang T. Folate-deficiency induced acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 2 increases lysine crotonylome involved in neural tube defects. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1064509. [PMID: 36743291 PMCID: PMC9895841 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1064509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal folate deficiency increases the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we established a mouse model of NTDs via low folate diets combined with MTX-induced conditions. We found that a significant increase in butyrate acid was observed in mouse NTDs brains. In addition, aberrant key crotonyl-CoA-producing enzymes acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 2 (ACSS2) levels and lysine crotonylation (Kcr) were elevated high in corresponding low folate content maternal serum samples from mouse NTD model. Next, proteomic analysis revealed that folate deficiency led to global proteomic modulation, especially in key crotonyl-CoA-producing enzymes, and dramatic ultrastructural changes in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Furthermore, we determined that folate deficiency induced ACSS2 and Kcr in mESCs. Surprisingly, folic acid supplementation restored level of ACSS2 and Kcr. We also investigated overall protein post-translational Kcr under folate deficiency, revealing the key regulation of Kcr in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and the citric acid cycle. Our findings suggest folate deficiency leads to the occurrence of NTDs by altering ACSS2. Protein crotonylation may be the molecular basis for NTDs remodeling by folate deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Wang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China,Capital Institute of Pediatrics-Peking University Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China,Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Shan Wang, ; Ting Zhang,
| | - Yubing Zeng
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejia He
- Capital Institute of Pediatrics-Peking University Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Liu
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Pei Pei
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China,Capital Institute of Pediatrics-Peking University Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China,Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Shan Wang, ; Ting Zhang,
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15
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Christodoulou N, Skourides PA. Somitic mesoderm morphogenesis is necessary for neural tube closure during Xenopus development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1091629. [PMID: 36699010 PMCID: PMC9868421 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1091629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural tube closure is a fundamental process during vertebrate embryogenesis, which leads to the formation of the central nervous system. Defective neural tube closure leads to neural tube defects which are some of the most common human birth defects. While the intrinsic morphogenetic events shaping the neuroepithelium have been studied extensively, how tissues mechanically coupled with the neural plate influence neural tube closure remains poorly understood. Here, using Xenopus laevis embryos, live imaging in combination with loss of function experiments and morphometric analysis of fixed samples we explore the reciprocal mechanical communication between the neural plate and the somitic mesoderm and its impact on tissue morphogenesis. We show that although somitic mesoderm convergent extension occurs independently from neural plate morphogenesis neural tube closure depends on somitic mesoderm morphogenesis. Specifically, impaired somitic mesoderm remodelling results in defective apical constriction within the neuroepithelium and failure of neural tube closure. Last, our data reveal that mild abnormalities in somitic mesoderm and neural plate morphogenesis have a synergistic effect during neurulation, leading to severe neural tube closure defects. Overall, our data reveal that defective morphogenesis of tissues mechanically coupled with the neural plate can not only drastically exacerbate mild neural tube defects that may arise from abnormalities within the neural tissue but can also elicit neural tube defects even when the neural plate is itself free of inherent defects.
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16
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Geng S, Paul F, Kowalczyk I, Raimundo S, Sporbert A, Mamo TM, Hammes A. Balancing WNT signalling in early forebrain development: The role of LRP4 as a modulator of LRP6 function. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1173688. [PMID: 37091972 PMCID: PMC10119419 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1173688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The specification of the forebrain relies on the precise regulation of WNT/ß-catenin signalling to support neuronal progenitor cell expansion, patterning, and morphogenesis. Imbalances in WNT signalling activity in the early neuroepithelium lead to congenital disorders, such as neural tube defects (NTDs). LDL receptor-related protein (LRP) family members, including the well-studied receptors LRP5 and LRP6, play critical roles in modulating WNT signalling capacity through tightly regulated interactions with their co-receptor Frizzled, WNT ligands, inhibitors and intracellular WNT pathway components. However, little is known about the function of LRP4 as a potential modulator of WNT signalling in the central nervous system. In this study, we investigated the role of LRP4 in the regulation of WNT signalling during early mouse forebrain development. Our results demonstrate that LRP4 can modulate LRP5- and LRP6-mediated WNT signalling in the developing forebrain prior to the onset of neurogenesis at embryonic stage 9.5 and is therefore essential for accurate neural tube morphogenesis. Specifically, LRP4 functions as a genetic modifier for impaired mitotic activity and forebrain hypoplasia, but not for NTDs in LRP6-deficient mutants. In vivo and in vitro data provide evidence that LRP4 is a key player in fine-tuning WNT signalling capacity and mitotic activity of mouse neuronal progenitors and of human retinal pigment epithelial (hTERT RPE-1) cells. Our data demonstrate the crucial roles of LRP4 and LRP6 in regulating WNT signalling and forebrain development and highlight the need to consider the interaction between different signalling pathways to understand the underlying mechanisms of disease. The findings have significant implications for our mechanistic understanding of how LRPs participate in controlling WNT signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Geng
- Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabian Paul
- Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Izabela Kowalczyk
- Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Raimundo
- Advanced Light Microscopy Technology Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Anje Sporbert
- Advanced Light Microscopy Technology Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Tamrat Meshka Mamo
- Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Tamrat Meshka Mamo, ; Annette Hammes,
| | - Annette Hammes
- Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Tamrat Meshka Mamo, ; Annette Hammes,
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17
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Baldwin AT, Kim JH, Wallingford JB. In vivo high-content imaging and regression analysis reveal non-cell autonomous functions of Shroom3 during neural tube closure. Dev Biol 2022; 491:105-112. [PMID: 36113571 PMCID: PMC10118288 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
During neural tube closure, neural ectoderm cells constrict their apical surfaces to bend and fold the tissue into a tube that will become the central nervous system. Recent data from mice and humans with neural tube defects suggest that key genes required for neural tube closure can exert non-cell autonomous effects on cell behavior, but the nature of these effects remains obscure. Here, we coupled tissue-scale, high-resolution time-lapse imaging of the closing neural tube of Xenopus to multivariate regression modeling, and we show that medial actin accumulation drives apical constriction non-autonomously in neighborhoods of cells, rather than solely in individual cells. To further explore this effect, we examined mosaic crispant embryos and identified both autonomous and non-autonomous effects of the apical constriction protein Shroom3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin T Baldwin
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Juliana H Kim
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - John B Wallingford
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, United States.
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18
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Engelhardt DM, Martyr CA, Niswander L. Pathogenesis of neural tube defects: The regulation and disruption of cellular processes underlying neural tube closure. WIREs Mech Dis 2022; 14:e1559. [PMID: 35504597 PMCID: PMC9605354 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Neural tube closure (NTC) is crucial for proper development of the brain and spinal cord and requires precise morphogenesis from a sheet of cells to an intact three-dimensional structure. NTC is dependent on successful regulation of hundreds of genes, a myriad of signaling pathways, concentration gradients, and is influenced by epigenetic and environmental cues. Failure of NTC is termed a neural tube defect (NTD) and is a leading class of congenital defects in the United States and worldwide. Though NTDs are all defined as incomplete closure of the neural tube, the pathogenesis of an NTD determines the type, severity, positioning, and accompanying phenotypes. In this review, we survey pathogenesis of NTDs relating to disruption of cellular processes arising from genetic mutations, altered epigenetic regulation, and environmental influences by micronutrients and maternal condition. This article is categorized under: Congenital Diseases > Genetics/Genomics/Epigenetics Neurological Diseases > Genetics/Genomics/Epigenetics Neurological Diseases > Stem Cells and Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Engelhardt
- Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Cara A Martyr
- Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Lee Niswander
- Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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19
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Karthik KV, Rajalingam A, Shivashankar M, Ganjiwale A. Recursive Feature Elimination-based Biomarker Identification for Open Neural Tube Defects. Curr Genomics 2022; 23:195-206. [PMID: 36777008 PMCID: PMC9878829 DOI: 10.2174/1389202923666220511162038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Open spina bifida (myelomeningocele) is the result of the failure of spinal cord closing completely and is the second most common and severe birth defect. Open neural tube defects are multifactorial, and the exact molecular mechanism of the pathogenesis is not clear due to disease complexity for which prenatal treatment options remain limited worldwide. Artificial intelligence techniques like machine learning tools have been increasingly used in precision diagnosis. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to identify key genes for open neural tube defects using a machine learning approach that provides additional information about myelomeningocele in order to obtain a more accurate diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Our study reports differential gene expression analysis from multiple datasets (GSE4182 and GSE101141) of amniotic fluid samples with open neural tube defects. The sample outliers in the datasets were detected using principal component analysis (PCA). We report a combination of the differential gene expression analysis with recursive feature elimination (RFE), a machine learning approach to get 4 key genes for open neural tube defects. The features selected were validated using five binary classifiers for diseased and healthy samples: Logistic Regression (LR), Decision tree classifier (DT), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest classifier (RF), and K-nearest neighbour (KNN) with 5-fold cross-validation. Results: Growth Associated Protein 43 (GAP43), Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Repetin (RPTN), and CD44 are the important genes identified in the study. These genes are known to be involved in axon growth, astrocyte differentiation in the central nervous system, post-traumatic brain repair, neuroinflammation, and inflammation-linked neuronal injuries. These key genes represent a promising tool for further studies in the diagnosis and early detection of open neural tube defects. Conclusion: These key biomarkers help in the diagnosis and early detection of open neural tube defects, thus evaluating the progress and seriousness in diseases condition. This study strengthens previous literature sources of confirming these biomarkers linked with open NTD's. Thus, among other prenatal treatment options present until now, these biomarkers help in the early detection of open neural tube defects, which provides success in both treatment and prevention of these defects in the advanced stage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aruna Rajalingam
- Department of Life Science, Bangalore University, Bangalore, India
| | | | - Anjali Ganjiwale
- Department of Life Science, Bangalore University, Bangalore, India
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20
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Zhao T, McMahon M, Reynolds K, Saha SK, Stokes A, Zhou CJ. The role of Lrp6-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the development and intervention of spinal neural tube defects in mice. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:275313. [PMID: 35514236 PMCID: PMC9194482 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the common and severe birth defects with poorly understood etiology. Mutations in the Wnt co-receptor LRP6 are associated with NTDs in humans. Either gain-of-function (GOF) or loss-of-function (LOF) mutations of Lrp6 can cause NTDs in mice. NTDs in Lrp6-GOF mutants may be attributed to altered β-catenin-independent noncanonical Wnt signaling. However, the mechanisms underlying NTDs in Lrp6-LOF mutants and the role of Lrp6-mediated canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in neural tube closure remain unresolved. We previously demonstrated that β-catenin signaling is required for posterior neuropore (PNP) closure. In the current study, conditional ablation of Lrp6 in dorsal PNP caused spinal NTDs with diminished activities of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and its downstream target gene Pax3, which is required for PNP closure. β-catenin-GOF rescued NTDs in Lrp6-LOF mutants. Moreover, maternal supplementation of a Wnt/β-catenin signaling agonist reduced the frequency and severity of spinal NTDs in Lrp6-LOF mutants by restoring Pax3 expression. Together, these results demonstrate the essential role of Lrp6-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in PNP closure, which could also provide a therapeutic target for NTD intervention through manipulation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling activities. Summary: Conditional ablation of Lrp6 in dorsal neural folds causes spinal neural tube defects that can be rescued by genetic activation of β-catenin or maternal supplementation of Wnt signaling agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zhao
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Moira McMahon
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Kurt Reynolds
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Subbroto Kumar Saha
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Arjun Stokes
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Chengji J Zhou
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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21
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Wang C, Seltzsam S, Zheng B, Wu CHW, Nicolas-Frank C, Yousef K, Au KS, Mann N, Pantel D, Schneider S, Schierbaum L, Kitzler TM, Connaughton DM, Mao Y, Dai R, Nakayama M, Kari JA, El Desoky S, Shalaby M, Eid LA, Awad HS, Tasic V, Mane SM, Lifton RP, Baum MA, Shril S, Estrada CR, Hildebrandt F. Whole exome sequencing identifies potential candidate genes for spina bifida derived from mouse models. Am J Med Genet A 2022; 188:1355-1367. [PMID: 35040250 PMCID: PMC8995376 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Spina bifida (SB) is the second most common nonlethal congenital malformation. The existence of monogenic SB mouse models and human monogenic syndromes with SB features indicate that human SB may be caused by monogenic genes. We hypothesized that whole exome sequencing (WES) allows identification of potential candidate genes by (i) generating a list of 136 candidate genes for SB, and (ii) by unbiased exome-wide analysis. We generated a list of 136 potential candidate genes from three categories and evaluated WES data of 50 unrelated SB cases for likely deleterious variants in 136 potential candidate genes, and for potential SB candidate genes exome-wide. We identified 6 likely deleterious variants in 6 of the 136 potential SB candidate genes in 6 of the 50 SB cases, whereof 4 genes were derived from mouse models, 1 gene was derived from human nonsyndromic SB, and 1 gene was derived from candidate genes known to cause human syndromic SB. In addition, by unbiased exome-wide analysis, we identified 12 genes as potential candidates for SB. Identification of these 18 potential candidate genes in larger SB cohorts will help decide which ones can be considered as novel monogenic causes of human SB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Steve Seltzsam
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bixia Zheng
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Nanjing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen-Han Wilfred Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Departments of Urology and Genetics, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Camille Nicolas-Frank
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kirollos Yousef
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kit Sing Au
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Nina Mann
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dalia Pantel
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sophia Schneider
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Luca Schierbaum
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas M Kitzler
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dervla M Connaughton
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Youying Mao
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rufeng Dai
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Makiko Nakayama
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jameela A Kari
- Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Pediatric Nephrology Center of Excellence, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sherif El Desoky
- Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Pediatric Nephrology Center of Excellence, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Shalaby
- Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Pediatric Nephrology Center of Excellence, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Loai A Eid
- Pediatric Nephrology Department, Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hazem S Awad
- Pediatric Nephrology Department, Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Velibor Tasic
- Medical Faculty Skopje, University Children's Hospital, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Shrikant M Mane
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Richard P Lifton
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Laboratory of Human Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michelle A Baum
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shirlee Shril
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carlos R Estrada
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Friedhelm Hildebrandt
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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22
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Kakebeen AD, Niswander L. Micronutrient imbalance and common phenotypes in neural tube defects. Genesis 2021; 59:e23455. [PMID: 34665506 PMCID: PMC8599664 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the most common birth defects, with a prevalence of close to 19 per 10,000 births worldwide. The etiology of NTDs is complex involving the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Since nutrient deficiency is a risk factor and dietary changes are the major preventative measure to reduce the risk of NTDs, a more detailed understanding of how common micronutrient imbalances contribute to NTDs is crucial. While folic acid has been the most discussed environmental factor due to the success that population-wide fortification has had on prevention of NTDs, folic acid supplementation does not prevent all NTDs. The imbalance of several other micronutrients has been implicated as risks for NTDs by epidemiological studies and in vivo studies in animal models. In this review, we highlight recent literature deciphering the multifactorial mechanisms underlying NTDs with an emphasis on mouse and human data. Specifically, we focus on advances in our understanding of how too much or too little retinoic acid, zinc, and iron alter gene expression and cellular processes contributing to the pathobiology of NTDs. Synthesis of the discussed literature reveals common cellular phenotypes found in embryos with NTDs resulting from several micronutrient imbalances. The goal is to combine knowledge of these common cellular phenotypes with mechanisms underlying micronutrient imbalances to provide insights into possible new targets for preventative measures against NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneke Dixie Kakebeen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Lee Niswander
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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23
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Palmer AJ, Savery D, Massa V, Copp AJ, Greene NDE. Genetic interaction of Pax3 mutation and canonical Wnt signaling modulates neural tube defects and neural crest abnormalities. Genesis 2021; 59:e23445. [PMID: 34490995 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Mouse models provide opportunities to investigate genetic interactions that cause or modify the frequency of neural tube defects (NTDs). Mutation of the PAX3 transcription factor prevents neural tube closure, leading to cranial and spinal NTDs whose frequency is responsive to folate status. Canonical Wnt signalling is implicated both in regulation of Pax3 expression and as a target of PAX3. This study investigated potential interactions of Pax3 mutation and canonical Wnt signalling using conditional gain- and loss-of-function models of β-catenin. We found an additive effect of β-catenin gain of function and Pax3 loss of function on NTDs and neural crest defects. β-catenin gain of function in the Pax3 expression domain led to significantly increased frequency of cranial but not spinal NTDs in embryos that are heterozygous for Pax3 mutation, while both cranial and spinal neural tube closure were exacerbated in Pax3 homozygotes. Similarly, deficits of migrating neural crest cells were exacerbated by β-catenin gain of function, with almost complete ablation of spinal neural crest cells and derivatives in Pax3 homozygous mutants. Pax3 expression was not affected by β-catenin gain of function, while we confirmed that loss of function led to reduced Pax3 transcription. In contrast to gain of function, β-catenin knockout in the Pax3 expression domain lowered the frequency of cranial NTDs in Pax3 null embryos. However, loss of function of β-catenin and Pax3 resulted in spinal NTDs, suggesting differential regulation of cranial and spinal neural tube closure. In summary, β-catenin function modulates the frequency of PAX3-related NTDs in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J Palmer
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dawn Savery
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Massa
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J Copp
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas D E Greene
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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24
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Wu Y, Peng S, Finnell RH, Zheng Y. Organoids as a new model system to study neural tube defects. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21545. [PMID: 33729606 PMCID: PMC9189980 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002348r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The neural tube is the first critically important structure that develops in the embryo. It serves as the primordium of the central nervous system; therefore, the proper formation of the neural tube is essential to the developing organism. Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe congenital defects caused by failed neural tube closure during early embryogenesis. The pathogenesis of NTDs is complicated and still not fully understood even after decades of research. While it is an ethically impossible proposition to investigate the in vivo formation process of the neural tube in human embryos, a newly developed technology involving the creation of neural tube organoids serves as an excellent model system with which to study human neural tube formation and the occurrence of NTDs. Herein we reviewed the recent literature on the process of neural tube formation, the progress of NTDs investigations, and particularly the exciting potential to use neural tube organoids to model the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the etiology of NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wu
- Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, School of life sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, The institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sisi Peng
- Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, School of life sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, The institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Molecular and Human Genetics and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TA, USA
| | - Yufang Zheng
- Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, School of life sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, The institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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25
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Lepore E, Lauretta R, Bianchini M, Mormando M, Di Lorenzo C, Unfer V. Inositols Depletion and Resistance: Principal Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6796. [PMID: 34202683 PMCID: PMC8268915 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inositols are natural molecules involved in several biochemical and metabolic functions in different organs and tissues. The term "inositols" refers to five natural stereoisomers, among which myo-Inositol (myo-Ins) is the most abundant one. Several mechanisms contribute to regulate cellular and tissue homeostasis of myo-Ins levels, including its endogenous synthesis and catabolism, transmembrane transport, intestinal adsorption and renal excretion. Alterations in these mechanisms can lead to a reduction of inositols levels, exposing patient to several pathological conditions, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, hormonal and metabolic imbalances, like weight gain, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Indeed, myo-Ins is involved in different physiological processes as a key player in signal pathways, including reproductive, hormonal, and metabolic modulation. Genetic mutations in genes codifying for proteins of myo-Ins synthesis and transport, competitive processes with structurally similar molecules, and the administration of specific drugs that cause a central depletion of myo-Ins as a therapeutic outcome, can lead to a reduction of inositols levels. A deeper knowledge of the main mechanisms involved in cellular inositols depletion may add new insights for developing tailored therapeutic approaches and shaping the dosages and the route of administration, with the aim to develop efficacious and safe approaches counteracting inositols depletion-induced pathological events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Lepore
- R&D Department, Lo.Li. Pharma, 00156 Rome, Italy;
| | - Rosa Lauretta
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00128 Rome, Italy; (R.L.); (M.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Marta Bianchini
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00128 Rome, Italy; (R.L.); (M.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Marilda Mormando
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00128 Rome, Italy; (R.L.); (M.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Cherubino Di Lorenzo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, La Sapienza University Polo Pontino, 04100 Latina, Italy;
- The Experts Group on Inositol in Basic and Clinical Research (EGOI), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Vittorio Unfer
- The Experts Group on Inositol in Basic and Clinical Research (EGOI), 00161 Rome, Italy
- System Biology Group Lab, 00161 Rome, Italy
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26
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Finnell RH, Caiaffa CD, Kim SE, Lei Y, Steele J, Cao X, Tukeman G, Lin YL, Cabrera RM, Wlodarczyk BJ. Gene Environment Interactions in the Etiology of Neural Tube Defects. Front Genet 2021; 12:659612. [PMID: 34040637 PMCID: PMC8143787 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.659612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human structural congenital malformations are the leading cause of infant mortality in the United States. Estimates from the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determine that close to 3% of all United States newborns present with birth defects; the worldwide estimate approaches 6% of infants presenting with congenital anomalies. The scientific community has recognized for decades that the majority of birth defects have undetermined etiologies, although we propose that environmental agents interacting with inherited susceptibility genes are the major contributing factors. Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the most prevalent human birth defects and as such, these malformations will be the primary focus of this review. NTDs result from failures in embryonic central nervous system development and are classified by their anatomical locations. Defects in the posterior portion of the neural tube are referred to as meningomyeloceles (spina bifida), while the more anterior defects are differentiated as anencephaly, encephalocele, or iniencephaly. Craniorachischisis involves a failure of the neural folds to elevate and thus disrupt the entire length of the neural tube. Worldwide NTDs have a prevalence of approximately 18.6 per 10,000 live births. It is widely believed that genetic factors are responsible for some 70% of NTDs, while the intrauterine environment tips the balance toward neurulation failure in at risk individuals. Despite aggressive educational campaigns to inform the public about folic acid supplementation and the benefits of providing mandatory folic acid food fortification in the United States, NTDs still affect up to 2,300 United States births annually and some 166,000 spina bifida patients currently live in the United States, more than half of whom are now adults. Within the context of this review, we will consider the role of maternal nutritional status (deficiency states involving B vitamins and one carbon analytes) and the potential modifiers of NTD risk beyond folic acid. There are several well-established human teratogens that contribute to the population burden of NTDs, including: industrial waste and pollutants [e.g., arsenic, pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)], pharmaceuticals (e.g., anti-epileptic medications), and maternal hyperthermia during the first trimester. Animal models for these teratogens are described with attention focused on valproic acid (VPA; Depakote). Genetic interrogation of model systems involving VPA will be used as a model approach to discerning susceptibility factors that define the gene-environment interactions contributing to the etiology of NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard H. Finnell
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics and Medicine, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Carlo Donato Caiaffa
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sung-Eun Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Yunping Lei
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - John Steele
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Xuanye Cao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gabriel Tukeman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ying Linda Lin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Robert M. Cabrera
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bogdan J. Wlodarczyk
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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27
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Jaffe E, Niswander L. Loss of Grhl3 is correlated with altered cellular protrusions in the non-neural ectoderm during neural tube closure. Dev Dyn 2021; 250:732-744. [PMID: 33378081 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transcription factor Grainyhead-like 3 (GRHL3) has multiple roles in a variety of tissues during development including epithelial patterning and actin cytoskeletal regulation. During neural tube closure (NTC) in the mouse embryo, GRHL3 is expressed and functions in the non-neural ectoderm (NNE). Two important functions of GRHL3 are regulating the actin cytoskeleton during NTC and regulating the boundary between the NNE and neural ectoderm. However, an open question that remains is whether these functions explain the caudally restricted neural tube defect (NTD) of spina bifida observed in Grhl3 mutants. RESULTS Using scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence based imaging on Grhl3 mutants and wildtype controls, we show that GRHL3 is dispensable for NNE identity or epithelial maintenance in the caudal NNE but is needed for regulation of cellular protrusions during NTC. Grhl3 mutants have decreased lamellipodia relative to wildtype embryos during caudal NTC, first observed at the onset of delays when lamellipodia become prominent in wildtype embryos. At the axial level of NTD, half of the mutants show increased and disorganized filopodia and half lack cellular protrusions. CONCLUSION These data suggest that altered cellular protrusions during NTC contribute to the etiology of NTD in Grhl3 mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Jaffe
- Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Lee Niswander
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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28
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Sijilmassi O, Del Río Sevilla A, Maldonado Bautista E, Barrio Asensio MDC. Gestational folic acid deficiency alters embryonic eye development: Possible role of basement membrane proteins in eye malformations. Nutrition 2021; 90:111250. [PMID: 33962364 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2021.111250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Folic acid (FA) is crucial before and during early pregnancy. FA deficiency can occur because dietary FA intake is low in mothers at the time of conception. Likewise, various ocular pathologies are related to the alteration of extracellular matrices. The present study aimed to investigate the association between maternal FA deficiency and congenital eye defects. We also investigated whether maternal diet deficient in FA alters the expression of collagen IV and laminin-1 as a possible mechanism responsible for the appearance of ocular malformations. Both proteins are the main components of the basal lamina, and form an interlaced network that creates a relevant scaffold basement membrane. Basal laminae are involved in tissues maintenance and implicated in regulating many cellular processes. METHODS A total of 57 mouse embryos were classified into the following groups: Control group, (mothers were fed a standard rodent diet), and D2 and D8 groups (mothers were fed FA-deficient [FAD] diet for 2 or 8 wk, respectively). Female mice from group D2 were fed a FAD diet (0 mg/kg diet + 1% succinyl sulfathiazole used to block the synthesis of FA) for 2 wk from the day after mating until day 14.5 of gestation (E14.5). On the other hand, female mice from group D8 were fed a FAD diet for 8 wk (6 wk before conception and during the first 2 wk of pregnancy). For the data analysis, we first estimated the incidence of malformations in each group. Then, the statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 25.0. Expression patterns of collagen IV and laminin-1 were examined with the immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS Our results showed that mice born to FA-deficient mothers had several congenital eye abnormalities. Embryos from dams fed a short-term FAD diet were found to have many significant abnormalities in both anterior and posterior segments, as well as choroidal vessel abnormalities. However, embryos from dams fed a long-term FAD diet had a significantly higher incidence of eye defects. Finally, maternal FA deficiency increased the expression of both collagen IV and laminin-1. Likewise, changes in the spatial localization and organization of collagen IV were observed. CONCLUSIONS A maternal FAD diet for a short-term period causes eye developmental defects and induces overexpression of both collagen IV and laminin-1. The malformations observed are probably related to alterations in the expression of basement membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ouafa Sijilmassi
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Aurora Del Río Sevilla
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain; Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain
| | - Estela Maldonado Bautista
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Del Carmen Barrio Asensio
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain; Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain
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29
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Tian T, Cao X, Chen Y, Jin L, Li Z, Han X, Lin Y, Wlodarczyk BJ, Finnell RH, Yuan Z, Wang L, Ren A, Lei Y. Somatic and de novo Germline Variants of MEDs in Human Neural Tube Defects. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:641831. [PMID: 33748132 PMCID: PMC7969791 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.641831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the most common and severe congenital defects in humans. Their genetic etiology is complex and remains poorly understood. The Mediator complex (MED) plays a vital role in neural tube development in animal models. However, no studies have yet examined the role of its human homolog in the etiology of NTDs. METHODS In this study, 48 pairs of neural lesion site and umbilical cord tissues from NTD and 21 case-parent trios were involved in screening for NTD-related somatic and germline de novo variants. A series of functional cell assays were performed. We generated a Med12 p.Arg1784Cys knock-in mouse using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to validate the human findings. RESULTS One somatic variant, MED12 p.Arg1782Cys, was identified in the lesion site tissue from an NTD fetus. This variant was absent in any other normal tissue from different germ layers of the same case. In 21 case-parent trios, one de novo stop-gain variant, MED13L p.Arg1760∗, was identified. Cellular functional studies showed that MED12 p.Arg1782Cys decreased MED12 protein level and affected the regulation of MED12 on the canonical-WNT signaling pathway. The Med12 p.Arg1784Cys knock-in mouse exhibited exencephaly and spina bifida. CONCLUSION These findings provide strong evidence that functional variants of MED genes are associated with the etiology of some NTDs. We demonstrated a potentially important role for somatic variants in the occurrence of NTDs. Our study is the first study in which an NTD-related variant identified in humans was validated in mice using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Tian
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuanye Cao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yongyan Chen
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Jin
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiwen Li
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Han
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ying Lin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bogdan J. Wlodarczyk
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Richard H. Finnell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Zhengwei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Linlin Wang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Aiguo Ren
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunping Lei
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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30
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Galea GL, Maniou E, Edwards TJ, Marshall AR, Ampartzidis I, Greene NDE, Copp AJ. Cell non-autonomy amplifies disruption of neurulation by mosaic Vangl2 deletion in mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1159. [PMID: 33608529 PMCID: PMC7895924 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21372-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-zygotic mutations that generate tissue mosaicism are increasingly associated with severe congenital defects, including those arising from failed neural tube closure. Here we report that neural fold elevation during mouse spinal neurulation is vulnerable to deletion of the VANGL planar cell polarity protein 2 (Vangl2) gene in as few as 16% of neuroepithelial cells. Vangl2-deleted cells are typically dispersed throughout the neuroepithelium, and each non-autonomously prevents apical constriction by an average of five Vangl2-replete neighbours. This inhibition of apical constriction involves diminished myosin-II localisation on neighbour cell borders and shortening of basally-extending microtubule tails, which are known to facilitate apical constriction. Vangl2-deleted neuroepithelial cells themselves continue to apically constrict and preferentially recruit myosin-II to their apical cell cortex rather than to apical cap localisations. Such non-autonomous effects can explain how post-zygotic mutations affecting a minority of cells can cause catastrophic failure of morphogenesis leading to clinically important birth defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel L Galea
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
- Comparative Bioveterinary Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
| | - Eirini Maniou
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Timothy J Edwards
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Abigail R Marshall
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Ioakeim Ampartzidis
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Nicholas D E Greene
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Andrew J Copp
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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31
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Au KS, Hebert L, Hillman P, Baker C, Brown MR, Kim DK, Soldano K, Garrett M, Ashley-Koch A, Lee S, Gleeson J, Hixson JE, Morrison AC, Northrup H. Human myelomeningocele risk and ultra-rare deleterious variants in genes associated with cilium, WNT-signaling, ECM, cytoskeleton and cell migration. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3639. [PMID: 33574475 PMCID: PMC7878900 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83058-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Myelomeningocele (MMC) affects one in 1000 newborns annually worldwide and each surviving child faces tremendous lifetime medical and caregiving burdens. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to disease risk but the mechanism is unclear. This study examined 506 MMC subjects for ultra-rare deleterious variants (URDVs, absent in gnomAD v2.1.1 controls that have Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion score ≥ 20) in candidate genes either known to cause abnormal neural tube closure in animals or previously associated with human MMC in the current study cohort. Approximately 70% of the study subjects carried one to nine URDVs among 302 candidate genes. Half of the study subjects carried heterozygous URDVs in multiple genes involved in the structure and/or function of cilium, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix, WNT signaling, and/or cell migration. Another 20% of the study subjects carried heterozygous URDVs in candidate genes associated with gene transcription regulation, folate metabolism, or glucose metabolism. Presence of URDVs in the candidate genes involving these biological function groups may elevate the risk of developing myelomeningocele in the study cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Au
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - L Hebert
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - P Hillman
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - C Baker
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - M R Brown
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - D-K Kim
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - K Soldano
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - M Garrett
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - A Ashley-Koch
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - S Lee
- Department of Neurosciences and Pediatrics, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA, 92025, USA
| | - J Gleeson
- Department of Neurosciences and Pediatrics, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA, 92025, USA
| | - J E Hixson
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - A C Morrison
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - H Northrup
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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32
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Yacob A, Carr CJ, Foote J, Scullen T, Werner C, Mathkour M, Bui CJ, Dumont AS. The Global Burden of Neural Tube Defects and Disparities in Neurosurgical Care. World Neurosurg 2021; 149:e803-e820. [PMID: 33540098 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.01.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the success of folic acid fortification programs, neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida, encephalocele, and anencephaly remain among the most substantial causes of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although these are complicated conditions that require an interdisciplinary approach to care, definitive treatment of survivable NTDs is often neurosurgical. METHODS Using Global Burden of Disease data, we examined the global burden of NTDs as related to a nation's wealth, health care quality, and access to neurosurgical care. We abstracted data for death by cause, years lived with disability (YLD), gross domestic product (GDP), United Nations geoscheme, Food Fortification Initiative participation, and Healthcare Access and Quality Index. We compared means using 1-way analysis of variance and proportions using Fisher exact tests, with statistical significance as α = 0.05. RESULTS Seventeen of 20 (85%) nations with the most deaths caused by NTDs (P < 0.0001) and 15/20 (75%) nations with the highest YLD (P < 0.0001) were in the lowest GDP quartile. Deaths and YLD were negatively correlated with increasing GDP and Healthcare Access and Quality Index (P < 0.0001). The nations with the highest disease burdens also had the fewest neurosurgeons per capita. CONCLUSIONS Despite the success of folic acid fortification programs, greater global public health efforts should be placed on improving access to neurosurgical care in low and middle-income nations through sustainable initiatives such as surgeon exchange programs and the establishment of neurosurgery residency training programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Yacob
- Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Christopher J Carr
- Tulane University-Ochsner Clinic Foundation Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
| | - Jake Foote
- Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Tyler Scullen
- Tulane University-Ochsner Clinic Foundation Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Cassidy Werner
- Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Mansour Mathkour
- Tulane University-Ochsner Clinic Foundation Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Cuong J Bui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Aaron S Dumont
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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33
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Zarzycki A, Thomas ZM, Mazrier H. Comparison of inherited neural tube defects in companion animals and livestock. Birth Defects Res 2020; 113:319-348. [PMID: 33615733 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are congenital malformations resulting from the improper or incomplete closure of the neural tube during embryonic development. A number of similar malformations of the protective coverings surrounding the central nervous system are also often included under this umbrella term, which may not strictly fit this definition. A range of NTD phenotypes exist and have been reported in humans and a wide range of domestic and livestock species. In the veterinary literature, these include cases of anencephaly, encephalocele, dermoid sinus, spina bifida, and craniorachischisis. While environmental factors have a role, genetic predisposition may account for a significant part of the risk of NTDs in these animal cases. Studies of laboratory model species (fish, birds, amphibians, and rodents) have been instrumental in improving our understanding of the neurulation process. In mice, over 200 genes that may be involved in this process have been identified and variant phenotypes investigated. Like laboratory mouse models, domestic animals and livestock species display a wide range of NTD phenotypes. They remain, however, a largely underutilized population and could complement already established laboratory models. Here we review reports of NTDs in companion animals and livestock, and compare these to other animal species and human cases. We aim to highlight the potential of nonlaboratory animal models for mutation discovery as well as general insights into the mechanisms of neurulation and the development of NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Zarzycki
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zoe M Thomas
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hamutal Mazrier
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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34
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Cai S, Quan S, Yang G, Ye Q, Chen M, Yu H, Wang G, Wang Y, Zeng X, Qiao S. One Carbon Metabolism and Mammalian Pregnancy Outcomes. Mol Nutr Food Res 2020; 65:e2000734. [PMID: 33226182 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202000734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
One-carbon metabolism is involved in varieties of physiological processes in mammals, including nucleic acid synthesis, amino acid homeostasis, epigenetic regulation, redox balance and neurodevelopment. The current evidence linking levels of one-carbon nutrients during pregnancy to the development of oocytes, embryos, and placentas, as well as maternal and offspring health, is reviewed. The sources of mammalian one-carbon units, the pathways active in mammalian one-carbon metabolism, the maternal and fetal needs for one-carbon units and their functions during pregnancy are described. The demand for one-carbon metabolism is highest during pregnancy compared to the entire lifetime of a mammal. The primary types of one-carbon metabolism in mammals are the folate cycle, methionine cycle and transsulfuration pathway, which varies at different pregnancy stages (e.g., methylation programming of embryo, neural development of fetus, fetal growth and placenta development). Therefore, an overall consideration of one-carbon metabolism requirements for different pregnancy stages, is called for, specifically, the balance of all nutrients involved, not just one single nutrient in one-carbon metabolism. Moreover, the establishment of an ideal one-carbon metabolism requirement model is suggested according to the requirements for different pregnancy stages to support optimal pregnancy outcomes and maternal and offspring health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-feed additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Quan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-feed additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
| | - Guangxin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-feed additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
| | - Qianhong Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-feed additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
| | - Meixia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-feed additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
| | - Haitao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-feed additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
| | - Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-feed additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
| | - Yuming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-feed additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
| | - Xiangfang Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-feed additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
| | - Shiyan Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-feed additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
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35
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Brown HM, Murray SA, Northrup H, Au KS, Niswander LA. Snx3 is important for mammalian neural tube closure via its role in canonical and non-canonical WNT signaling. Development 2020; 147:147/22/dev192518. [PMID: 33214242 DOI: 10.1242/dev.192518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Disruptions in neural tube (NT) closure result in neural tube defects (NTDs). To understand the molecular processes required for mammalian NT closure, we investigated the role of Snx3, a sorting nexin gene. Snx3-/- mutant mouse embryos display a fully-penetrant cranial NTD. In vivo, we observed decreased canonical WNT target gene expression in the cranial neural epithelium of the Snx3-/- embryos and a defect in convergent extension of the neural epithelium. Snx3-/- cells show decreased WNT secretion, and live cell imaging reveals aberrant recycling of the WNT ligand-binding protein WLS and mis-trafficking to the lysosome for degradation. The importance of SNX3 in WNT signaling regulation is demonstrated by rescue of NT closure in Snx3-/- embryos with a WNT agonist. The potential for SNX3 to function in human neurulation is revealed by a point mutation identified in an NTD-affected individual that results in functionally impaired SNX3 that does not colocalize with WLS and the degradation of WLS in the lysosome. These data indicate that Snx3 is crucial for NT closure via its role in recycling WLS in order to control levels of WNT signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Mary Brown
- Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | | | - Hope Northrup
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kit Sing Au
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lee A Niswander
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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36
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Brooks ER, Islam MT, Anderson KV, Zallen JA. Sonic hedgehog signaling directs patterned cell remodeling during cranial neural tube closure. eLife 2020; 9:60234. [PMID: 33103996 PMCID: PMC7655103 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural tube closure defects are a major cause of infant mortality, with exencephaly accounting for nearly one-third of cases. However, the mechanisms of cranial neural tube closure are not well understood. Here, we show that this process involves a tissue-wide pattern of apical constriction controlled by Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. Midline cells in the mouse midbrain neuroepithelium are flat with large apical surfaces, whereas lateral cells are taller and undergo synchronous apical constriction, driving neural fold elevation. Embryos lacking the Shh effector Gli2 fail to produce appropriate midline cell architecture, whereas embryos with expanded Shh signaling, including the IFT-A complex mutants Ift122 and Ttc21b and embryos expressing activated Smoothened, display apical constriction defects in lateral cells. Disruption of lateral, but not midline, cell remodeling results in exencephaly. These results reveal a morphogenetic program of patterned apical constriction governed by Shh signaling that generates structural changes in the developing mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Brooks
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, United States
| | - Mohammed Tarek Islam
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, United States
| | - Kathryn V Anderson
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, United States
| | - Jennifer A Zallen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, United States
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37
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Panicker N, Coutman M, Lawlor-O'Neill C, Kahl RGS, Roselli S, Verrills NM. Ppp2r2a Knockout Mice Reveal That Protein Phosphatase 2A Regulatory Subunit, PP2A-B55α, Is an Essential Regulator of Neuronal and Epidermal Embryonic Development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:358. [PMID: 32582689 PMCID: PMC7290052 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a master regulator of the complex cellular signaling that occurs during all stages of mammalian development. PP2A is composed of a catalytic, a structural, and regulatory subunit, for which there are multiple isoforms. The association of specific regulatory subunits determines substrate specificity and localization of phosphatase activity, however, the precise role of each regulatory subunit in development is not known. Here we report the generation of the first knockout mouse for the Ppp2r2a gene, encoding the PP2A-B55α regulatory subunit, using CRISPR/Cas9. Heterozygous animals developed and grew as normal, however, homozygous knockout mice were not viable. Analysis of embryos at different developmental stages found a normal Mendelian ratio of Ppp2r2a–/– embryos at embryonic day (E) 10.5 (25%), but reduced Ppp2r2a–/– embryos at E14.5 (18%), and further reduced at E18.5 (10%). No live Ppp2r2a–/– pups were observed at birth. Ppp2r2a–/– embryos were significantly smaller than wild-type or heterozygous littermates and displayed a variety of neural defects such as exencephaly, spina bifida, and cranial vault collapse, as well as syndactyly and severe epidermal defects; all processes driven by growth and differentiation of the ectoderm. Ppp2r2a–/– embryos had incomplete epidermal barrier acquisition, associated with thin, poorly differentiated stratified epithelium with weak attachment to the underlying dermis. The basal keratinocytes in Ppp2r2a–/– embryos were highly disorganized, with reduced immunolabeling of integrins and basement membrane proteins, suggesting impaired focal adhesion and hemidesmosome assembly. The spinous and granular layers were thinner in the Ppp2r2a–/– embryos, with aberrant expression of adherens and tight junction associated proteins. The overlying stratum corneum was either absent or incomplete. Thus PP2A-B55α is an essential regulator of epidermal stratification, and is essential for ectodermal development during embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Panicker
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research, Innovation and Translation, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Cancer Research Alliance, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Melody Coutman
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research, Innovation and Translation, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Cancer Research Alliance, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Charley Lawlor-O'Neill
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research, Innovation and Translation, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Cancer Research Alliance, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard G S Kahl
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research, Innovation and Translation, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Cancer Research Alliance, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Séverine Roselli
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research, Innovation and Translation, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Cancer Research Alliance, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicole M Verrills
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research, Innovation and Translation, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Cancer Research Alliance, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
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38
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Ye J, Tong Y, Lv J, Peng R, Chen S, Kuang L, Su K, Zheng Y, Zhang T, Zhang F, Jin L, Yang X, Wang H. Rare mutations in the autophagy-regulating gene AMBRA1 contribute to human neural tube defects. Hum Mutat 2020; 41:1383-1393. [PMID: 32333458 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe congenital malformations caused by failed neural tube closure. Recently, autophagy is revealed to play a vital role in neuroepithelium development and neurulation. Autophagy and beclin 1 regulator 1 (Ambra1) is a crucial regulator of autophagy initiation, and its deficiency in mice leads to exencephaly and/or spina bifida. However, the genetic contribution of AMBRA1 to the etiology of human NTDs remains unknown. In this study, we identified five rare missense mutations of AMBRA1 in 352 NTDs cases, which were absent in 224 matched controls. Western blotting and fluorescence puncta counting for MAP1LC3A/LC3 in HEK293T cells suggested that four of the mutations (AMBRA1 p.Thr80Met, p.Leu274Phe, p.Ser743Phe, and p.Met884Val) affected autophagy initiation to various extents. Furthermore, these four mutations also displayed loss-of-function effects compared with wild-type AMBRA1 when we injected messenger RNA (mRNA) to overexpress or rescue ambra1a-morpholino oligos (MO) knockdown in zebrafish. It is intriguing that trehalose, a natural disaccharide, could rescue ambra1a-MO knockdown in a dose-dependent manner independently or together with AMBRA1 mRNA. Taken together, our findings suggest that rare mutations of the autophagy regulator gene AMBRA1 may contribute to the etiology of human neural tube defects, and trehalose is a promising treatment for a subset of NTDs caused by autophagy impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhong Ye
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering at School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,The MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Youli Tong
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiashun Lv
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Peng
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuxia Chen
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lele Kuang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Assisted Reproduction, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Su
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yufang Zheng
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering at School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Developmental Biology and Molecular Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development & Nutriomics, The Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering at School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Jin
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueyan Yang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering at School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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39
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Abstract
During embryonic development, the central nervous system forms as the neural plate and then rolls into a tube in a complex morphogenetic process known as neurulation. Neural tube defects (NTDs) occur when neurulation fails and are among the most common structural birth defects in humans. The frequency of NTDs varies greatly anywhere from 0.5 to 10 in 1000 live births, depending on the genetic background of the population, as well as a variety of environmental factors. The prognosis varies depending on the size and placement of the lesion and ranges from death to severe or moderate disability, and some NTDs are asymptomatic. This chapter reviews how mouse models have contributed to the elucidation of the genetic, molecular, and cellular basis of neural tube closure, as well as to our understanding of the causes and prevention of this devastating birth defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene E Zohn
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
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40
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Non-neural surface ectodermal rosette formation and F-actin dynamics drive mammalian neural tube closure. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 526:647-653. [PMID: 32248972 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.03.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying mammalian neural tube closure remain poorly understood. We report a unique cellular process involving multicellular rosette formation, convergent cellular protrusions, and F-actin cable network of the non-neural surface ectodermal cells encircling the closure site of the posterior neuropore, which are demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and genetic fate mapping analyses during mouse spinal neurulation. These unique cellular structures are severely disrupted in the surface ectodermal transcription factor Grhl3 mutants that exhibit fully penetrant spina bifida. We propose a novel model of mammalian neural tube closure driven by surface ectodermal dynamics, which is computationally visualized.
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41
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Carlson LM, Champagne FA, Cory-Slechta DA, Dishaw L, Faustman E, Mundy W, Segal D, Sobin C, Starkey C, Taylor M, Makris SL, Kraft A. Potential frameworks to support evaluation of mechanistic data for developmental neurotoxicity outcomes: A symposium report. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2020; 78:106865. [PMID: 32068112 PMCID: PMC7160758 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2020.106865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A key challenge in systematically incorporating mechanistic data into human health assessments is that, compared to studies of apical health endpoints, these data are both more abundant (mechanistic studies routinely outnumber other studies by several orders of magnitude) and more heterogeneous (e.g. different species, test system, tissue, cell type, exposure paradigm, or specific assays performed). A structured decision-making process for organizing, integrating, and weighing mechanistic DNT data for use in human health risk assessments will improve the consistency and efficiency of such evaluations. At the Developmental Neurotoxicology Society (DNTS) 2016 annual meeting, a symposium was held to address the application of existing organizing principles and frameworks for evaluation of mechanistic data relevant to interpreting neurotoxicology data. Speakers identified considerations with potential to advance the use of mechanistic DNT data in risk assessment, including considering the context of each exposure, since epigenetics, tissue type, sex, stress, nutrition and other factors can modify toxicity responses in organisms. It was also suggested that, because behavior is a manifestation of complex nervous system function, the presence and absence of behavioral change itself could be used to organize the interpretation of multiple complex simultaneous mechanistic changes. Several challenges were identified with frameworks and their implementation, and ongoing research to develop these approaches represents an early step toward full evaluation of mechanistic DNT data for assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Carlson
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, NC.
| | | | - Deborah A Cory-Slechta
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical School Rochester, NY
| | - Laura Dishaw
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, NC
| | - Elaine Faustman
- School of Public Health, Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - William Mundy
- Neurotoxicologist, Durham, NC (formerly National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, NC))
| | - Deborah Segal
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
| | - Christina Sobin
- Dept of Public Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Carol Starkey
- Booz Allen Hamilton (formerly research fellow with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Engineering (ORISE) with Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC))
| | - Michele Taylor
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, NC
| | - Susan L Makris
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
| | - Andrew Kraft
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC; Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, NC
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42
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Zohn IE. Hsp90 and complex birth defects: A plausible mechanism for the interaction of genes and environment. Neurosci Lett 2020; 716:134680. [PMID: 31821846 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
How genes and environment interact to cause birth defects is not well understood, but key to developing new strategies to modify risk. The threshold model has been proposed to represent this complex interaction. This model stipulates that while environmental exposure or genetic mutation alone may not result in a defect, factors in combination increase phenotypic variability resulting in more individuals crossing the disease threshold where birth defects manifest. Many environmental factors that contribute to birth defects induce widespread cellular stress and misfolding of proteins. Yet, the impact of the stress response on the threshold model is not typically considered in discephering the etiology of birth defects. This mini-review will explore a potential mechanism for gene-environment interactions co-opted from studies of evolution. This model stipulates that heat shock proteins that mediate the stress response induced by environmental factors can influence the number of individuals that cross disease thresholds resulting in increased incidence of birth defects. Studies in the field of evolutionary biology have demonstrated that heat shock proteins and Hsp90 in particular provide a link between environmental stress, genotype and phenotype. Hsp90 is a highly expressed molecular chaperone that assists a wide variety of protein clients with folding and conformational changes needed for proper function. Hsp90 also chaperones client proteins with potentially deleterious amino acid changes to suppress variation caused by genetic mutations. However, upon exposure to stress, Hsp90 abandons its normal physiological clients and is diverted to assist with the misfolded protein response. This can impact the activity of signaling pathways that involve Hsp90 clients as well as unmask suppressed protein variation, essentially creating complex traits in a single step. In this capacity Hsp90 acts as an evolutionary capacitor allowing stored variation to accumulate and then become expressed in times of stress. This mechanism provides a substrate which natural selection can act upon at the population level allowing survival of the species with selective pressure. However, at the level of the individual, this mechanism can result in simultaneous expression of deleterious variants as well as reduced activity of a variety of Hsp90 chaperoned pathways, potentially shifting phenotypic variability over the disease threshold resulting in birth defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene E Zohn
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.
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An D, Wei XW, Zhang HN, Liu D, Ma W, Yuan ZW. Spatiotemporal expression of leukemia inhibitory factor receptor protein during neural tube development in embryos with neural tube defects. Neural Regen Res 2020; 15:705-711. [PMID: 31638095 PMCID: PMC6975157 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.266921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR), as a neuroregulatory cytokine receptor, generally shows a neuroprotective effect in central nervous system injuries. In this study, to understand the effect of LIFR on pathogenesis of neural tube defects, we explored spatiotemporal expression of LIFR at different stages of fetal development in normal and neural tube defect embryos. Spina bifida aperta was induced with all-trans retinoic acid on embryonic day 10 in rats, and the spatiotemporal expression of LIFR was investigated in spina bifida aperta rats and healthy rats from embryonic day 11 to 17. Real time-polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay were used to examine mRNA and protein expression of LIFR in healthy control and neural tube defect embryos. Results of the animal experiment demonstrated that expression of LIFR protein and mRNA in the spinal cords of normal rat embryos increased with embryonic development. LIFR was significantly downregulated in the spinal cords of spina bifida aperta rats compared with healthy rats from embryonic days 11 to 17. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of LIFR in placenta and spinal cord in spina bifida aperta rat embryos was decreased compared with that in control embryos at embryonic day 15. Results from human embryo specimens showed that LIFR mRNA expression was significantly down-regulated in spinal cords of human fetuses with neural tube defects compared with normal controls at a gestational age of 24 to 33 weeks. The results were consistent with the down-regulation of LIFR in the animal experiments. Our study revealed spatiotemporal changes in expression of LIFR during embryonic neurulation. Thus, LIFR might play a specific role in neural tube development. All animal and human experimental procedures were approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, China (approval No. 2016PS106K) on February 25, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong An
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University; Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xiao-Wei Wei
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - He-Nan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Wei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Zheng-Wei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
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Kansara K, Kumar A, Karakoti AS. Combination of humic acid and clay reduce the ecotoxic effect of TiO 2 NPs: A combined physico-chemical and genetic study using zebrafish embryo. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 698:134133. [PMID: 31505348 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The series of breakthroughs that have occurred within the realm of nanotechnology have been the source of several new products and technological interventions. One of the most salient examples in this regard is the widespread employment of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles across a range of consumer goods. Given that waste is generated at every stage of the consumer-product cycle (from production to disposal), many items with TiO2 nanoparticles are likely to end up being discarded into water bodies. In order to understand the interaction of TiO2 NPs with aquatic ecosystem, the ecological fate and toxicity of TiO2 NPs was studied by exposing zebrafish embryos to a combination of abiotic factors (humic acid and clay) to assess its effect on the development of zebrafish embryos. The physiological changes were correlated with genetic marker analysis to holistically understand the effect on embryos development. Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory was used to analyze the interaction energy between TiO2 NPs and natural organic matter (NOM) for understanding the aggregation behavior of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in media. The study revealed that combination of HA and clay stabilized TiO2 NPs, compared to bare TiO2 and HA or clay alone. TiO2 NPs and TiO2 NPs + Clay significantly altered the expression of genes involved in development of dorsoventral axis and neural network of zebrafish embryos. However, the presence of HA and HA + clay showed protective effect on zebrafish embryo development. The complete system analysis demonstrated the possible ameliorating effects of abiotic factors on the ecotoxicity of ENPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krupa Kansara
- Biological & Life Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Central Campus, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009, Gujarat, India
| | - Ashutosh Kumar
- Biological & Life Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Central Campus, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009, Gujarat, India.
| | - Ajay S Karakoti
- Biological & Life Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Central Campus, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009, Gujarat, India.
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Yu J, Wang L, Pei P, Li X, Wu J, Qiu Z, Zhang J, Ao R, Wang S, Zhang T, Xie J. Reduced H3K27me3 leads to abnormal Hox gene expression in neural tube defects. Epigenetics Chromatin 2019; 12:76. [PMID: 31856916 PMCID: PMC6921514 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-019-0318-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe, common birth defects that result from failure of normal neural tube closure during early embryogenesis. Accumulating strong evidence indicates that genetic factors contribute to NTDs etiology, among them, HOX genes play a key role in neural tube closure. Although abnormal HOX gene expression can lead to NTDs, the underlying pathological mechanisms have not fully been understood. Method We detected that H3K27me3 and expression of the Hox genes in a retinoic acid (RA) induced mouse NTDs model on E8.5, E9.5 and E10.5 using RNA-sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing assays. Furthermore, we quantified 10 Hox genes using NanoString nCounter in brain tissue of fetuses with 39 NTDs patients including anencephaly, spina bifida, hydrocephaly and encephalocele. Results Here, our results showed differential expression in 26 genes with a > 20-fold change in the level of expression, including 10 upregulated Hox genes. RT-qPCR revealed that these 10 Hox genes were all upregulated in RA-induced mouse NTDs as well as RA-treated embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Using ChIP-seq assays, we demonstrate that a decrease in H3K27me3 level upregulates the expression of Hox cluster A–D in RA-induced mouse NTDs model on E10.5. Interestingly, RA treatment led to attenuation of H3K27me3 due to cooperate between UTX and Suz12, affecting Hox gene regulation. Further analysis, in human anencephaly cases, upregulation of 10 HOX genes was observed, along with aberrant levels of H3K27me3. Notably, HOXB4, HOXC4 and HOXD1 expression was negatively correlated with H3K27me3 levels. Conclusion Our results indicate that abnormal HOX gene expression induced by aberrant H3K27me3 levels may be a risk factor for NTDs and highlight the need for further analysis of genome-wide epigenetic modification in NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Pei Pei
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Xue Li
- School of Clinical Medical, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China
| | - Jianxin Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Zhiyong Qiu
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Ruifang Ao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Shan Wang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.
| | - Ting Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.
| | - Jun Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.
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Kansara K, Paruthi A, Misra SK, Karakoti AS, Kumar A. Montmorillonite clay and humic acid modulate the behavior of copper oxide nanoparticles in aqueous environment and induces developmental defects in zebrafish embryo. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 255:113313. [PMID: 31600709 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) is one of the most commonly used metal oxide nanoparticles for commercial and industrial products. An increase in the manufacturing and use of the CuO NPs based products has increased the likelihood of their release into the aquatic environment. This has attracted major attention among researchers to explore their impact in human as well as environmental systems. CuO NPs, once released into the environment interact with the biotic and abiotic constituents of the ecosystem. Hence the objective of the study was to provide a holistic understanding of the effect of abiotic factors on the stability and aggregation of CuO NPs and its correlation with their effect on the development of zebrafish embryo. It has been observed that the bioavailability of CuO NPs decrease in presence of humic acid (HA) and heteroagglomeration of CuO NPs occurs with clay minerals. CuO NPs, CuO NPs + HA and CuO NPs + Clay significantly altered the expression of genes involved in development of dorsoventral axis and neural network of zebrafish embryos. However, the presence of HA with clay showed protective effect on zebrafish embryo development. These findings provide new insights into the interaction of NPs with abiotic factors and combined effects of such complexes on developing zebrafish embryos genetic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krupa Kansara
- Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Science, Ahmedabad University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Archini Paruthi
- Materials Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Superb K Misra
- Materials Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Ajay S Karakoti
- Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Science, Ahmedabad University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India; School of Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Australia.
| | - Ashutosh Kumar
- Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Science, Ahmedabad University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
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Wang L, Ren A, Tian T, Li N, Cao X, Zhang P, Jin L, Li Z, Shen Y, Zhang B, Finnell RH, Lei Y. Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifies Damaging de novo Variants in Anencephalic Cases. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1285. [PMID: 31849593 PMCID: PMC6896715 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anencephaly is a lethal neural tube defect (NTD). Although variants in several genes have been implicated in the development of anencephaly, a more complete picture of variants in the genome, especially de novo variants (DNVs), remains unresolved. We aim to identify DNVs that play an important role in the development of anencephaly by performing whole-exome DNA sequencing (WES) of proband-parent trios. RESULTS A total of 13 DNVs were identified in 8 anencephaly trios by WES, including two loss of function (LoF) variants detected in pLI > 0.9 genes (SPHKAP, c.2629_2633del, and NCOR1, p.Y1907X). Damaging DNVs were identified in 61.5% (8/13) of the anencephalic cases. Independent validation was conducted in an additional 502 NTD cases. Gene inactivation using targeted morpholino antisense oligomers and rescue assays were conducted in zebrafish, and transfection expression in HEK293T cells. Four DNVs in four cases were identified and predicted to alter protein function, including p.R328Q in WD repeat domain phosphoinositide-interacting 1 (WIPI1). Three variants, p.G313R, p.T418M, and p.L406P, in the WIPI1 gene were identified from the independent replication cohort consisting of 502 cases. Functional analysis suggested that the wipi1 p.L406P and p.R328Q variants most likely displayed loss-of-function effects during embryonic development. CONCLUSION De novo damaging variants are the main culprit for majority of anencephalic cases. Missense variants in WIPI1 may play a role in the genetic etiology of anencephaly, and LoF variants in SPHKAP and NCOR1 may also contribute to anencephaly. These findings add to our existing understanding of the genetic mechanisms of NTD formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Wang
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, National Health Commission Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Aiguo Ren
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, National Health Commission Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Tian Tian
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, National Health Commission Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Li
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, National Health Commission Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xuanye Cao
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Peng Zhang
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Jin
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, National Health Commission Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiwen Li
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, National Health Commission Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Shen
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Richard H. Finnell
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yunping Lei
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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Massa V, Avagliano L, Grazioli P, De Castro SCP, Parodi C, Savery D, Vergani P, Cuttin S, Doi P, Bulfamante G, Copp AJ, Greene NDE. Dynamic acetylation profile during mammalian neurulation. Birth Defects Res 2019; 112:205-211. [PMID: 31758757 PMCID: PMC7004172 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural tube defects (NTDs) result from failure of neural tube closure during embryogenesis. These severe birth defects of the central nervous system include anencephaly and spina bifida, and affect 0.5-2 per 1,000 pregnancies worldwide in humans. It has been demonstrated that acetylation plays a pivotal role during neural tube closure, as animal models for defective histone acetyltransferase proteins display NTDs. Acetylation represents an important component of the complex network of posttranslational regulatory interactions, suggesting a possible fundamental role during primary neurulation events. This study aimed to assess protein acetylation contribution to early patterning of the central nervous system both in human and murine specimens. METHODS We used both human and mouse (Cited2 -/- ) samples to analyze the dynamic acetylation of proteins during embryo development through immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS We report the dynamic profile of histone and protein acetylation status during neural tube closure. We also report a rescue effect in an animal model by chemical p53 inhibition. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that the p53-acetylation equilibrium may play a role in primary neurulation in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Massa
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Avagliano
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Grazioli
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandra C P De Castro
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Chiara Parodi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Dawn Savery
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Patrizia Vergani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Foundation MBBM, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Serena Cuttin
- Department of Pathology, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Patrizia Doi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Andrew J Copp
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas D E Greene
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
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Avagliano L, Massa V, George TM, Qureshy S, Bulfamante G, Finnell RH. Overview on neural tube defects: From development to physical characteristics. Birth Defects Res 2019; 111:1455-1467. [PMID: 30421543 PMCID: PMC6511489 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common congenital malformations in humans affecting the development of the central nervous system. Although NTD pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated, many risk factors, both genetic and environmental, have been extensively reported. Classically divided in two main sub-groups (open and closed defects) NTDs present extremely variable prognosis mainly depending on the site of the lesion. Herein, we review the literature on the histological and pathological features, epidemiology, prenatal diagnosis, and prognosis, based on the type of defect, with the aim of providing important information based on NTDs classification for clinicians and scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Avagliano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Massa
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Timothy M. George
- Pediatric Neurosurgery, Dell Children’s Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Sarah Qureshy
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Gaetano Bulfamante
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Richard H. Finnell
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, Texas, USA
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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50
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Pei P, Cheng X, Yu J, Shen J, Li X, Wu J, Wang S, Zhang T. Folate deficiency induced H2A ubiquitination to lead to downregulated expression of genes involved in neural tube defects. Epigenetics Chromatin 2019; 12:69. [PMID: 31722724 PMCID: PMC6852770 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-019-0312-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common congenital malformations resulting in failure of the neural tube closure during early embryonic development. Although it is known that maternal folate deficiency increases the risk of NTDs, the mechanism remains elusive. RESULTS Herein, we report that histone H2A monoubiquitination (H2AK119ub1) plays a role in neural tube closure. We found that the folate antagonist methotrexate induced H2AK119ub1 in mouse embryonic stem cells. We demonstrated that an increase in H2AK119ub1 downregulated expression of the neural tube closure-related genes Cdx2, Nes, Pax6, and Gata4 in mouse embryonic stem cells under folate deficiency conditions. We also determined that the E3 ligase Mdm2 was responsible for the methotrexate-induced increase in H2AK119ub1 and downregulation of neural tube closure-related genes. Surprisingly, we found that Mdm2 is required for MTX-induced H2A ubiquitination and is recruited to the sites of DSB, which is dependent on DNA damage signaling kinase ATM. Furthermore, folic acid supplementation restored H2AK119ub1 binding to neural tube closure-related genes. Downregulation of these genes was also observed in both brain tissue of mouse and human NTD cases, and high levels of H2AK119ub1 were found in the corresponding NTDs samples with their maternal serum folate under low levels. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between expression of the neural precursor genes and H2AK119ub1. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that folate deficiency contributes to the onset of NTDs by altering H2AK119ub1 and subsequently affecting expression of neural tube closure-related genes. This may be a potential risk factor for NTDs in response to folate deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Pei
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Xiyue Cheng
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.,Graduate Schools of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Juan Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Jinying Shen
- School of Engineering Technology, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, 519085, Guangdong, China
| | - Xue Li
- School of Clinical Medical, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China
| | - Jianxin Wu
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Shan Wang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China. .,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Ting Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China. .,Graduate Schools of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
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