1
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Thor S. Indirect neurogenesis in space and time. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:519-534. [PMID: 38951687 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00833-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
During central nervous system (CNS) development, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) generate neurons and glia in two different ways. In direct neurogenesis, daughter cells differentiate directly into neurons or glia, whereas in indirect neurogenesis, neurons or glia are generated after one or more daughter cell divisions. Intriguingly, indirect neurogenesis is not stochastically deployed and plays instructive roles during CNS development: increased generation of cells from specific lineages; increased generation of early or late-born cell types within a lineage; and increased cell diversification. Increased indirect neurogenesis might contribute to the anterior CNS expansion evident throughout the Bilateria and help to modify brain-region size without requiring increased NPC numbers or extended neurogenesis. Increased indirect neurogenesis could be an evolutionary driver of the gyrencephalic (that is, folded) cortex that emerged during mammalian evolution and might even have increased during hominid evolution. Thus, selection of indirect versus direct neurogenesis provides a powerful developmental and evolutionary instrument that drives not only the evolution of CNS complexity but also brain expansion and modulation of brain-region size, and thereby the evolution of increasingly advanced cognitive abilities. This Review describes indirect neurogenesis in several model species and humans, and highlights some of the molecular genetic mechanisms that control this important process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Thor
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
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2
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Garber A, Weingarten LS, Abreu NJ, Elloumi HZ, Haack T, Hildebrant C, Martínez-Gil N, Mathews J, Müller AJ, Valenzuela Palafoll I, Steigerwald C, Chung WK. Rare predicted deleterious FEZF2 variants are associated with a neurodevelopmental phenotype. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:e63578. [PMID: 38425142 PMCID: PMC11161304 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63578] [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: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
FEZF2 encodes a transcription factor critical to neurodevelopment that regulates other neurodevelopment genes. Rare variants in FEZF2 have previously been suggested to play a role in autism, and cases of 3p14 microdeletions that include FEZF2 share a neurodevelopmental phenotype including mild dysmorphic features and intellectual disability. We identified seven heterozygous predicted deleterious variants in FEZF2 (three frameshifts, one recurrent missense in two independent cases, one nonsense, and one complete gene deletion) in unrelated individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders including developmental delay/intellectual disability, autism, and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity. Variants were confirmed to be de novo in five of seven cases and paternally inherited from an affected father in one. Predicted deleterious variants in FEZF2 may affect the expression of genes that are involved in fate choice pathways in developing neurons, and thus contribute to the neurodevelopmental phenotype. Future studies are needed to clarify the mechanism by which FEZF2 leads to this neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Garber
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lisa S Weingarten
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nicolas J Abreu
- Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Tobias Haack
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Clara Hildebrant
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Núria Martínez-Gil
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- Medical Genetics Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jennifer Mathews
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amelie Johanna Müller
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Irene Valenzuela Palafoll
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- Medical Genetics Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Connolly Steigerwald
- Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Wendy K Chung
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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3
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Mantica F, Iñiguez LP, Marquez Y, Permanyer J, Torres-Mendez A, Cruz J, Franch-Marro X, Tulenko F, Burguera D, Bertrand S, Doyle T, Nouzova M, Currie PD, Noriega FG, Escriva H, Arnone MI, Albertin CB, Wotton KR, Almudi I, Martin D, Irimia M. Evolution of tissue-specific expression of ancestral genes across vertebrates and insects. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1140-1153. [PMID: 38622362 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02398-5] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Regulation of gene expression is arguably the main mechanism underlying the phenotypic diversity of tissues within and between species. Here we assembled an extensive transcriptomic dataset covering 8 tissues across 20 bilaterian species and performed analyses using a symmetric phylogeny that allowed the combined and parallel investigation of gene expression evolution between vertebrates and insects. We specifically focused on widely conserved ancestral genes, identifying strong cores of pan-bilaterian tissue-specific genes and even larger groups that diverged to define vertebrate and insect tissues. Systematic inferences of tissue-specificity gains and losses show that nearly half of all ancestral genes have been recruited into tissue-specific transcriptomes. This occurred during both ancient and, especially, recent bilaterian evolution, with several gains being associated with the emergence of unique phenotypes (for example, novel cell types). Such pervasive evolution of tissue specificity was linked to gene duplication coupled with expression specialization of one of the copies, revealing an unappreciated prolonged effect of whole-genome duplications on recent vertebrate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Mantica
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis P Iñiguez
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yamile Marquez
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jon Permanyer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Torres-Mendez
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josefa Cruz
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE, CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Xavier Franch-Marro
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE, CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Frank Tulenko
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Demian Burguera
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stephanie Bertrand
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins; BIOM, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Toby Doyle
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Marcela Nouzova
- Institute of Parasitology, CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Peter D Currie
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- EMBL Australia; Victorian Node, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fernando G Noriega
- Biology and BSI, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Parasitology, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hector Escriva
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins; BIOM, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | | | - Caroline B Albertin
- Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Karl R Wotton
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Isabel Almudi
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics and IRBio, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Martin
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE, CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
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4
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Nakamuta S, Noda H, Kato H, Yokoyama T, Yamamoto Y, Nakamuta N. Expression patterns of the transcription factors Fezf1, Fezf2, and Bcl11b in the olfactory organs of turtle embryos. J Morphol 2023; 284:e21655. [PMID: 37856277 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21655] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Many tetrapod vertebrates have two distinct olfactory organs, the olfactory epithelium (OE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO). In turtles, the olfactory organ consists of two types of sensory epithelia, the upper chamber epithelium (UCE; corresponding to the OE) and the lower chamber epithelium (LCE; corresponding to the VNO). In many turtle species, the UCE contains ciliated olfactory receptor cells (ORCs) and the LCE contains microvillous ORCs. To date, several transcription factors involved in the development of the OE and VNO have been identified in mammals. Fez family zinc-finger protein 1 and 2 (Fezf1 and 2) are expressed in the OE and VNO, respectively, of mouse embryos, and are involved in the development and maintenance of ORCs. B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11B (Bcl11b) is expressed in the mouse embryo OE except the dorsomedial parts of the nasal cavity, and regulates the expression of odorant receptors in the ORCs. In this study, we examined the expression of Fezf1, Fezf2, and Bcl11b in the olfactory organs of embryos in three turtle species, Pelodiscus sinensis, Trachemys scripta elegans, and Centrochelys sulcata, to evaluate their involvement in the development of reptile olfactory organs. In all three turtle species, Bcl11b was expressed in the UCE, Fezf2 in the LCE, and Fezf1 in both the UCE and LCE. These results imply that the roles of the transcription factors Fezf1, Fezf2, and Bcl11b in olfactory organ development are conserved among mammals and turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoko Nakamuta
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | | | - Hideaki Kato
- Faculty of Education, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Takuya Yokoyama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Yoshio Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Nakamuta
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
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5
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Hou B, Mao M, Dong S, Deng M, Sun B, Guo Y, Li Y, Liu D, Liu G. Transcriptome analysis reveals mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs associated with fecundity in the hypothalamus of high-and low-fecundity goat. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1145594. [PMID: 37056233 PMCID: PMC10086355 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1145594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
As an important organ that coordinates the neuroendocrine system, the hypothalamus synthesizes and secretes reproductive hormones that act on the goat organism, thereby precisely regulating follicular development and reproductive processes in goats. However, it is still elusive to explore the mechanism of hypothalamic effects on goat fertility alone. Therefore, RNA-seq was used to analyze the gene expression in hypothalamic tissues of goats in high fertility group (HFG: litter size per litter ≥2) and low fertility group (LFG: litter size per litter = 1), and identified the differential lncRNAs and mRNAs and their associated pathways related to their fertility. The results showed that a total of 23 lncRNAs and 57 mRNAs were differentially expressed in the hypothalamic tissue of high and low fertility goats. GO terms and KEGG functional annotation suggest that DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs were significantly enriched in hormone-related pathways regulating ovarian development, hormone synthesis and secretion, regulation of reproductive processes, Estrogen signaling pathway, Oxytocin signaling pathway and GnRH signaling pathway. And we constructed a co-expression network of lncRNAs and target genes, and identified reproduction-related genes such as NMUR2, FEZF1, and WT1. The sequencing results of the hypothalamic transcriptome have broadened our understanding of lncRNA and mRNA in goat hypothalamic tissue and provided some new insights into the molecular mechanisms of follicle development and regulation of its fertility in goats.
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6
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Gene Self-Expressive Networks as a Generalization-Aware Tool to Model Gene Regulatory Networks. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030526. [PMID: 36979461 PMCID: PMC10046116 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-expressiveness is a mathematical property that aims at characterizing the relationship between instances in a dataset. This property has been applied widely and successfully in computer-vision tasks, time-series analysis, and to infer underlying network structures in domains including protein signaling interactions and social-networks activity. Nevertheless, despite its potential, self-expressiveness has not been explicitly used to infer gene networks. In this article, we present Generalizable Gene Self-Expressive Networks, a new, interpretable, and generalization-aware formalism to model gene networks, and we propose two methods: GXN•EN and GXN•OMP, based respectively on ElasticNet and OMP (Orthogonal Matching Pursuit), to infer and assess Generalizable Gene Self-Expressive Networks. We evaluate these methods on four Microarray datasets from the DREAM5 benchmark, using both internal and external metrics. The results obtained by both methods are comparable to those obtained by state-of-the-art tools, but are fast to train and exhibit high levels of sparsity, which make them easier to interpret. Moreover we applied these methods to three complex datasets containing RNA-seq informations from different mammalian tissues/cell-types. Lastly, we applied our methodology to compare a normal vs. a disease condition (Alzheimer), which allowed us to detect differential expression of genes’ sub-networks between these two biological conditions. Globally, the gene networks obtained exhibit a sparse and modular structure, with inner communities of genes presenting statistically significant over/under-expression on specific cell types, as well as significant enrichment for some anatomical GO terms, suggesting that such communities may also drive important functional roles.
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7
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Uzquiano A, Kedaigle AJ, Pigoni M, Paulsen B, Adiconis X, Kim K, Faits T, Nagaraja S, Antón-Bolaños N, Gerhardinger C, Tucewicz A, Murray E, Jin X, Buenrostro J, Chen F, Velasco S, Regev A, Levin JZ, Arlotta P. Proper acquisition of cell class identity in organoids allows definition of fate specification programs of the human cerebral cortex. Cell 2022; 185:3770-3788.e27. [PMID: 36179669 PMCID: PMC9990683 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Realizing the full utility of brain organoids to study human development requires understanding whether organoids precisely replicate endogenous cellular and molecular events, particularly since acquisition of cell identity in organoids can be impaired by abnormal metabolic states. We present a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic, epigenetic, and spatial atlas of human cortical organoid development, comprising over 610,000 cells, from generation of neural progenitors through production of differentiated neuronal and glial subtypes. We show that processes of cellular diversification correlate closely to endogenous ones, irrespective of metabolic state, empowering the use of this atlas to study human fate specification. We define longitudinal molecular trajectories of cortical cell types during organoid development, identify genes with predicted human-specific roles in lineage establishment, and uncover early transcriptional diversity of human callosal neurons. The findings validate this comprehensive atlas of human corticogenesis in vitro as a resource to prime investigation into the mechanisms of human cortical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Uzquiano
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Amanda J Kedaigle
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Martina Pigoni
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Bruna Paulsen
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Xian Adiconis
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kwanho Kim
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Tyler Faits
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Surya Nagaraja
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Noelia Antón-Bolaños
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Chiara Gerhardinger
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ashley Tucewicz
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Evan Murray
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Xin Jin
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Society of Fellows, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jason Buenrostro
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Silvia Velasco
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Aviv Regev
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Joshua Z Levin
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Paola Arlotta
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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8
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García-García L, Fernández-Tabanera E, Cervera ST, Melero-Fernández de Mera RM, Josa S, González-González L, Rodríguez-Martín C, Grünewald TGP, Alonso J. The Transcription Factor FEZF1, a Direct Target of EWSR1-FLI1 in Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Regulates the Expression of Neural-Specific Genes. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5668. [PMID: 34830820 PMCID: PMC8616448 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is a rare pediatric tumor characterized by chromosomal translocations that give rise to aberrant chimeric transcription factors (e.g., EWSR1-FLI1). EWSR1-FLI1 promotes a specific cellular transcriptional program. Therefore, the study of EWSR1-FLI1 target genes is important to identify critical pathways involved in Ewing sarcoma tumorigenesis. In this work, we focused on the transcription factors regulated by EWSR1-FLI1 in Ewing sarcoma. Transcriptomic analysis of the Ewing sarcoma cell line A673 indicated that one of the genes more strongly upregulated by EWSR1-FLI1 was FEZF1 (FEZ family zinc finger protein 1), a transcriptional repressor involved in neural cell identity. The functional characterization of FEZF1 was performed in three Ewing sarcoma cell lines (A673, SK-N-MC, SK-ES-1) through an shRNA-directed silencing approach. FEZF1 knockdown inhibited clonogenicity and cell proliferation. Finally, the analysis of the FEZF1-dependent expression profile in A673 cells showed several neural genes regulated by FEZF1 and concomitantly regulated by EWSR1-FLI1. In summary, FEZF1 is transcriptionally regulated by EWSR1-FLI1 in Ewing sarcoma cells and is involved in the regulation of neural-specific genes, which could explain the neural-like phenotype observed in several Ewing sarcoma tumors and cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura García-García
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (L.G.-G.); (E.F.-T.); (S.T.C.); (R.M.M.-F.d.M.); (S.J.); (L.G.-G.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Enrique Fernández-Tabanera
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (L.G.-G.); (E.F.-T.); (S.T.C.); (R.M.M.-F.d.M.); (S.J.); (L.G.-G.); (C.R.-M.)
- Centro de Investigación, Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Saint T. Cervera
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (L.G.-G.); (E.F.-T.); (S.T.C.); (R.M.M.-F.d.M.); (S.J.); (L.G.-G.); (C.R.-M.)
- Centro de Investigación, Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel M. Melero-Fernández de Mera
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (L.G.-G.); (E.F.-T.); (S.T.C.); (R.M.M.-F.d.M.); (S.J.); (L.G.-G.); (C.R.-M.)
- Centro de Investigación, Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Josa
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (L.G.-G.); (E.F.-T.); (S.T.C.); (R.M.M.-F.d.M.); (S.J.); (L.G.-G.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Laura González-González
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (L.G.-G.); (E.F.-T.); (S.T.C.); (R.M.M.-F.d.M.); (S.J.); (L.G.-G.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Carlos Rodríguez-Martín
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (L.G.-G.); (E.F.-T.); (S.T.C.); (R.M.M.-F.d.M.); (S.J.); (L.G.-G.); (C.R.-M.)
- Centro de Investigación, Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Thomas G. P. Grünewald
- Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Hopp-Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Javier Alonso
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (L.G.-G.); (E.F.-T.); (S.T.C.); (R.M.M.-F.d.M.); (S.J.); (L.G.-G.); (C.R.-M.)
- Centro de Investigación, Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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9
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Oleari R, Massa V, Cariboni A, Lettieri A. The Differential Roles for Neurodevelopmental and Neuroendocrine Genes in Shaping GnRH Neuron Physiology and Deficiency. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9425. [PMID: 34502334 PMCID: PMC8431607 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons are hypothalamic neuroendocrine cells that control sexual reproduction. During embryonic development, GnRH neurons migrate from the nose to the hypothalamus, where they receive inputs from several afferent neurons, following the axonal scaffold patterned by nasal nerves. Each step of GnRH neuron development depends on the orchestrated action of several molecules exerting specific biological functions. Mutations in genes encoding for these essential molecules may cause Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism (CHH), a rare disorder characterized by GnRH deficiency, delayed puberty and infertility. Depending on their action in the GnRH neuronal system, CHH causative genes can be divided into neurodevelopmental and neuroendocrine genes. The CHH genetic complexity, combined with multiple inheritance patterns, results in an extreme phenotypic variability of CHH patients. In this review, we aim at providing a comprehensive and updated description of the genes thus far associated with CHH, by dissecting their biological relevance in the GnRH system and their functional relevance underlying CHH pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Oleari
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Valentina Massa
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142 Milano, Italy;
- CRC Aldo Ravelli for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142 Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Cariboni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Antonella Lettieri
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142 Milano, Italy;
- CRC Aldo Ravelli for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142 Milano, Italy
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10
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Wang H, Zhou C, Hou M, Huang H, Sun Y. Neurogenesis Potential Evaluation and Transcriptome Analysis of Fetal Hypothalamic Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells With Prenatal High Estradiol Exposure. Front Genet 2021; 12:677935. [PMID: 34239542 PMCID: PMC8258253 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.677935] [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: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
High maternal estradiol is reported to induce metabolic disorders by modulating hypothalamic gene expression in offspring. Since neurogenesis plays a crucial role during hypothalamus development, we explored whether prenatal high estradiol exposure (HE) affects proliferation and differentiation of fetal hypothalamic neural stem/progenitor cells (NSC/NPCs) in mice and performed RNA sequencing to identify the critical genes involved. NSC/NPCs in HE mice presented attenuated cell proliferation but increased neuronal differentiation in vitro compared with control (NC) cells. Gene set enrichment analysis of mRNA profiles indicated that genes downregulated in HE NSC/NPCs were enriched in neurogenesis-related Gene Ontology (GO) terms, while genes upregulated in HE NSC/NPCs were enriched in response to estradiol. Protein-protein interaction analysis of genes with core enrichment in GO terms of neurogenesis and response to estradiol identified 10 Hub mRNAs, among which three were potentially correlated with six differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs based on lncRNA profiling and co-expression analysis. These findings offer important insights into developmental modifications in hypothalamic NSC/NPCs and may provide new clues for further investigation on maternal environment programmed neural development disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China.,Animal Laboratory, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengliang Zhou
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Hou
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Hefeng Huang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China.,Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Sun
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China.,Animal Laboratory, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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11
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Hou Y, Zhang Q, Liu H, Wu J, Shi Y, Qi Y, Shao M, Yang Z, Lu J, Wu Z, Gong L, He M. Topographical organization of mammillary neurogenesis and efferent projections in the mouse brain. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108712. [PMID: 33567285 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammillary body is a hypothalamic nucleus that has important functions in memory and spatial navigation, but its developmental principles remain not well understood. Here, we identify progenitor-specific Fezf2 expression in the developing mammillary body and develop an intersectional fate-mapping approach to demonstrate that Fezf2+ mammillary progenitors generate mammillary neurons in a rostral-dorsal-lateral to caudal-ventral-medial fashion. Axonal tracing from different temporal cohorts of labeled mammillary neurons reveal their topographical organization. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering based on intrinsic properties further identify two distinct neuronal clusters independent of birthdates in the medial nuclei. In addition, we generate Fezf2 knockout mice and observe the smaller mammillary body with largely normal anatomy and mildly affected cellular electrophysiology, in contrast to more severe deficits in neuronal differentiation and projection in many other brain regions. These results indicate that Fezf2 may function differently in the mammillary body. Our results provide important insights for mammillary development and connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjie Hou
- Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongzhi Liu
- Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinyun Wu
- Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Shi
- Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanqing Qi
- Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengmeng Shao
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengang Yang
- Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangteng Lu
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuhao Wu
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ling Gong
- Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Miao He
- Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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12
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Chetta M, Tarsitano M, Vicari L, Saracino A, Bukvic N. In Silico Analysis of Possible Interaction between Host Genomic Transcription Factors (TFs) and Zika Virus (ZikaSPH2015) Strain with Combinatorial Gene Regulation; Virus Versus Host-The Game Reloaded. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10010069. [PMID: 33466592 PMCID: PMC7828653 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10010069] [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: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In silico analysis is a promising approach for understanding biological events in complex diseases. Herein we report on the innovative computational workflow allowed to highlight new direct interactions between human transcription factors (TFs) and an entire genome of virus ZikaSPH2015 strain in order to identify the occurrence of specific motifs on a genomic Zika Virus sequence that is able to bind and, therefore, sequester host’s TFs. The analysis pipeline was performed using different bioinformatics tools available online (free of charge). According to obtained results of this in silico analysis, it is possible to hypothesize that these TFs binding motifs might be able to explain the complex and heterogeneous phenotype presentation in Zika-virus-affected fetuses/newborns, as well as the less severe condition in adults. Moreover, the proposed in silico protocol identified thirty-three different TFs identical to the distribution of TFBSs (Transcription Factor Binding Sites) on ZikaSPH2015 strain, potentially able to influence genes and pathways with biological functions confirming that this approach could find potential answers on disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Chetta
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica e di Laboratorio, Ospedale Antonio Cardarelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.T.); (L.V.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Marina Tarsitano
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica e di Laboratorio, Ospedale Antonio Cardarelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.T.); (L.V.)
| | - Laura Vicari
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica e di Laboratorio, Ospedale Antonio Cardarelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.T.); (L.V.)
| | - Annalisa Saracino
- Clinica di Malattie Infettive, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche ed Oncologia Umana, Università degli Studi “Aldo Moro” di Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Nenad Bukvic
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
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13
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Cell-Type-Specific Gene Inactivation and In Situ Restoration via Recombinase-Based Flipping of Targeted Genomic Region. J Neurosci 2020; 40:7169-7186. [PMID: 32801153 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1044-20.2020] [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: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Conditional gene inactivation and restoration are powerful tools for studying gene functions in the nervous system and for modeling neuropsychiatric diseases. The combination of the two is necessary to interrogate specific cell types within defined developmental stages. However, very few methods and animal models have been developed for such purpose. Here we present a versatile method for conditional gene inactivation and in situ restoration through reversibly inverting a critical part of its endogenous genomic sequence by Cre- and Flp-mediated recombinations. Using this method, we generated a mouse model to manipulate Mecp2, an X-linked dosage-sensitive gene whose mutations cause Rett syndrome. Combined with multiple Cre- and Flp-expressing drivers and viral tools, we achieved efficient and reliable Mecp2 inactivation and restoration in the germline and several neuronal cell types, and demonstrated phenotypic reversal and prevention on cellular and behavioral levels in male mice. This study not only provides valuable tools and critical insights for Mecp2 and Rett syndrome, but also offers a generally applicable strategy to decipher other neurologic disorders.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Studying neurodevelopment and modeling neurologic disorders rely on genetic tools, such as conditional gene regulation. We developed a new method to combine conditional gene inactivation and restoration on a single allele without disturbing endogenous expression pattern or dosage. We applied it to manipulate Mecp2, a gene residing on X chromosome whose malfunction leads to neurologic disease, including Rett syndrome. Our results demonstrated the efficiency, specificity, and versatility of this new method, provided valuable tools and critical insights for Mecp2 function and Rett syndrome research, and offered a generally applicable strategy to investigate other genes and genetic disorders.
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14
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Hartenstein V, Omoto JJ, Lovick JK. The role of cell lineage in the development of neuronal circuitry and function. Dev Biol 2020; 475:165-180. [PMID: 32017903 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.01.012] [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: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Complex nervous systems have a modular architecture, whereby reiterative groups of neurons ("modules") that share certain structural and functional properties are integrated into large neural circuits. Neurons develop from proliferating progenitor cells that, based on their location and time of appearance, are defined by certain genetic programs. Given that genes expressed by a given progenitor play a fundamental role in determining the properties of its lineage (i.e., the neurons descended from that progenitor), one efficient developmental strategy would be to have lineages give rise to the structural modules of the mature nervous system. It is clear that this strategy plays an important role in neural development of many invertebrate animals, notably insects, where the availability of genetic techniques has made it possible to analyze the precise relationship between neuronal origin and differentiation since several decades. Similar techniques, developed more recently in the vertebrate field, reveal that functional modules of the mammalian cerebral cortex are also likely products of developmentally defined lineages. We will review studies that relate cell lineage to circuitry and function from a comparative developmental perspective, aiming at enhancing our understanding of neural progenitors and their lineages, and translating findings acquired in different model systems into a common conceptual framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Hartenstein
- Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Jaison J Omoto
- Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jennifer K Lovick
- Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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15
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Gomez-Giro G, Arias-Fuenzalida J, Jarazo J, Zeuschner D, Ali M, Possemis N, Bolognin S, Halder R, Jäger C, Kuper WFE, van Hasselt PM, Zaehres H, del Sol A, van der Putten H, Schöler HR, Schwamborn JC. Synapse alterations precede neuronal damage and storage pathology in a human cerebral organoid model of CLN3-juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:222. [PMID: 31888773 PMCID: PMC6937812 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0871-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The juvenile form of neuronal ceroid Lipofuscinosis (JNCL) is the most common form within this group of rare lysosomal storage disorders, causing pediatric neurodegeneration. The genetic disorder, which is caused by recessive mutations affecting the CLN3 gene, features progressive vision loss, cognitive and motor decline and other psychiatric conditions, seizure episodes, leading to premature death. Animal models have traditionally aid the understanding of the disease mechanisms and pathology and are very relevant for biomarker research and therapeutic testing. Nevertheless, there is a need for establishing reliable and predictive human cellular models to study the disease. Since patient material, particularly from children, is scarce and difficult to obtain, we generated an engineered a CLN3-mutant isogenic human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line carrying the c.1054C → T pathologic variant, using state of the art CRISPR/Cas9 technology. To prove the suitability of the isogenic pair to model JNCL, we screened for disease-specific phenotypes in non-neuronal two-dimensional cell culture models as well as in cerebral brain organoids. Our data demonstrates that the sole introduction of the pathogenic variant gives rise to classical hallmarks of JNCL in vitro. Additionally, we discovered an alteration of the splicing caused by this particular mutation. Next, we derived cerebral organoids and used them as a neurodevelopmental model to study the particular effects of the CLN3Q352X mutation during brain formation in the disease context. About half of the mutation -carrying cerebral organoids completely failed to develop normally. The other half, which escaped this severe defect were used for the analysis of more subtle alterations. In these escapers, whole-transcriptome analysis demonstrated early disease signatures, affecting pathways related to development, corticogenesis and synapses. Complementary metabolomics analysis confirmed decreased levels of cerebral tissue metabolites, some particularly relevant for synapse formation and neurotransmission, such as gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA). Our data suggests that a mutation in CLN3 severely affects brain development. Furthermore, before disease onset, disease -associated neurodevelopmental changes, particular concerning synapse formation and function, occur.
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16
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Peng YR, James RE, Yan W, Kay JN, Kolodkin AL, Sanes JR. Binary Fate Choice between Closely Related Interneuronal Types Is Determined by a Fezf1-Dependent Postmitotic Transcriptional Switch. Neuron 2019; 105:464-474.e6. [PMID: 31812516 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Many neuronal types occur as pairs that are similar in most respects but differ in a key feature. In some pairs of retinal neurons, called paramorphic, one member responds to increases and the other to decreases in luminance (ON and OFF responses). Here, we focused on one such pair, starburst amacrine cells (SACs), to explore how closely related neuronal types diversify. We find that ON and OFF SACs are transcriptionally distinct prior to their segregation, dendritic outgrowth, and synapse formation. The transcriptional repressor Fezf1 is selectively expressed by postmitotic ON SACs and promotes the ON fate and gene expression program while repressing the OFF fate and program. The atypical Rho GTPase Rnd3 is selectively expressed by OFF SACs and regulates their migration but is repressed by Fezf1 in ON SACs, enabling differential positioning of the two types. These results define a transcriptional program that controls diversification of a paramorphic pair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Rong Peng
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Rebecca E James
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Wenjun Yan
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jeremy N Kay
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alex L Kolodkin
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Joshua R Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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17
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Insights into Thymus Development and Viral Thymic Infections. Viruses 2019; 11:v11090836. [PMID: 31505755 PMCID: PMC6784209 DOI: 10.3390/v11090836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell development in the thymus is a complex and highly regulated process, involving a wide variety of cells and molecules which orchestrate thymocyte maturation into either CD4+ or CD8+ single-positive (SP) T cells. Here, we briefly review the process regulating T-cell differentiation, which includes the latest advances in this field. In particular, we highlight how, starting from a pool of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, the sequential action of transcriptional factors and cytokines dictates the proliferation, restriction of lineage potential, T-cell antigen receptors (TCR) gene rearrangements, and selection events on the T-cell progenitors, ultimately leading to the generation of mature T cells. Moreover, this review discusses paradigmatic examples of viral infections affecting the thymus that, by inducing functional changes within this lymphoid gland, consequently influence the behavior of peripheral mature T-lymphocytes.
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18
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Curt JR, Yaghmaeian Salmani B, Thor S. Anterior CNS expansion driven by brain transcription factors. eLife 2019; 8:45274. [PMID: 31271353 PMCID: PMC6634974 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
During CNS development, there is prominent expansion of the anterior region, the brain. In Drosophila, anterior CNS expansion emerges from three rostral features: (1) increased progenitor cell generation, (2) extended progenitor cell proliferation, (3) more proliferative daughters. We find that tailless (mouse Nr2E1/Tlx), otp/Rx/hbn (Otp/Arx/Rax) and Doc1/2/3 (Tbx2/3/6) are important for brain progenitor generation. These genes, and earmuff (FezF1/2), are also important for subsequent progenitor and/or daughter cell proliferation in the brain. Brain TF co-misexpression can drive brain-profile proliferation in the nerve cord, and can reprogram developing wing discs into brain neural progenitors. Brain TF expression is promoted by the PRC2 complex, acting to keep the brain free of anti-proliferative and repressive action of Hox homeotic genes. Hence, anterior expansion of the Drosophila CNS is mediated by brain TF driven ‘super-generation’ of progenitors, as well as ‘hyper-proliferation’ of progenitor and daughter cells, promoted by PRC2-mediated repression of Hox activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Rodriguez Curt
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden
| | | | - Stefan Thor
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden.,School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Australia
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19
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FEZF1-AS1: a novel vital oncogenic lncRNA in multiple human malignancies. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20191202. [PMID: 31175144 PMCID: PMC6591563 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20191202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) refer to the RNA with a length of >200 nucleotides, which lack or have no open reading coding frame and have higher tissue and organ specificity compared with the protein coding genes. A surging number of studies have shown that lncRNA is involved in numerous essential regulatory processes, such as X chromosome silencing, genomic imprinting, chromatin modification, transcriptional activation, transcriptional interference and nuclear transport, which are closely related to the occurrence and development of human malignancies. FEZ family Zinc Finger 1-Antisense RNA 1 (FEZF1-AS1) of FEZ family is a recently discovered lncRNA. FEZF1-AS1 is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, lung adenocarcinoma and other human malignancies, and is associated with poor prognosis. As an oncogene, it plays crucial role in the proliferation, migration, invasion and Warburg effect of various tumor cells. In addition, FEZF1-AS1 is also involved in the regulation of multiple signal pathways such as epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and Wnt/ β-catenin. In this paper, the recent research progress of FEZF1-AS1 in tumorigenesis and development is reviewed systematically.
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20
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LncRNA FEZF1-AS1 Promotes TGF- β2-Mediated Proliferation and Migration in Human Lens Epithelial Cells SRA01/04. J Ophthalmol 2019; 2019:4736203. [PMID: 31281667 PMCID: PMC6594282 DOI: 10.1155/2019/4736203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 02/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a common complication after cataract surgery attributed to the proliferation and migration of postoperative residual lens epithelial cells (LECs). The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) FEZ family zinc finger 1 antisense RNA 1 (FEZF1-AS1) promotes the proliferation and migration of multiple types of cancer cells. Here, we discovered that FEZF1-AS1 is markedly upregulated in TGF-β2-treated SRA01/04 cells. In addition, the proliferation and migration of SRA01/04 cells were enhanced following TGF-β2 treatment. FEZF1-AS1 knockdown inhibited the TGF-β2-induced proliferation and migration of SRA01/04 cells. Accordingly, FEZF1-AS1 overexpression promoted the TGF-β2-induced proliferation and migration of SRA01/04 cells. Finally, FEZF1-AS1 upregulated TGF-β2-induced SRA01/04 cell proliferation and migration via boosting FEZF1 protein levels. Our findings indicate that the dysregulation of FEZF1-AS1 participates in the TGF-β2-induced proliferation and migration of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs), which might be achieved, at least in part, through the induction of FEZF1 expression.
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21
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Zhou J, Park CY, Theesfeld CL, Wong AK, Yuan Y, Scheckel C, Fak JJ, Funk J, Yao K, Tajima Y, Packer A, Darnell RB, Troyanskaya OG. Whole-genome deep-learning analysis identifies contribution of noncoding mutations to autism risk. Nat Genet 2019; 51:973-980. [PMID: 31133750 PMCID: PMC6758908 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-019-0420-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We address the challenge of detecting the contribution of noncoding mutations to disease with a deep-learning-based framework that predicts the specific regulatory effects and the deleterious impact of genetic variants. Applying this framework to 1,790 autism spectrum disorder (ASD) simplex families reveals a role in disease for noncoding mutations-ASD probands harbor both transcriptional- and post-transcriptional-regulation-disrupting de novo mutations of significantly higher functional impact than those in unaffected siblings. Further analysis suggests involvement of noncoding mutations in synaptic transmission and neuronal development and, taken together with previous studies, reveals a convergent genetic landscape of coding and noncoding mutations in ASD. We demonstrate that sequences carrying prioritized mutations identified in probands possess allele-specific regulatory activity, and we highlight a link between noncoding mutations and heterogeneity in the IQ of ASD probands. Our predictive genomics framework illuminates the role of noncoding mutations in ASD and prioritizes mutations with high impact for further study, and is broadly applicable to complex human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhou
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Graduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher Y Park
- Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, NY, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chandra L Theesfeld
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Aaron K Wong
- Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Claudia Scheckel
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - John J Fak
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julien Funk
- Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin Yao
- Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yoko Tajima
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Robert B Darnell
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Olga G Troyanskaya
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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22
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Lan Y, Xiao X, Luo Y, He Z, Song X. FEZF1 is an Independent Predictive Factor for Recurrence and Promotes Cell Proliferation and Migration in Cervical Cancer. J Cancer 2018; 9:3929-3938. [PMID: 30410597 PMCID: PMC6218770 DOI: 10.7150/jca.26073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The Fez family zinc finger protein 1 (FEZF1), a critical transcription factor in nervous system development, has been implicated in cancer progression recently. However, its clinical significance remains unknown. By analyzing gene expression data of eight most common cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we found that FEZF1 prominently associated with the recurrence-free survival of cervical cancer patients (P<0.001) and was an independent diagnostic factor for cervical cancer recurrence (P=0.002). Moreover, FEZF1 expression was significantly higher in the tumor samples from cervical cancer patients with relapse in TCGA(P=0.015). By RNA interference, we knocked down FEZF1 and found that cell proliferation, growth and migration were significantly decreased in C33A and SiHa cells. Meanwhile, FEZF1 knockdown also attenuated the growth of C33A cells in nude mice. In contrast, expression of FEZF1 promoted cell proliferation, growth and migration in HeLa cells. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, we revealed that FEZF1 could bind to multiple key genes in the Wnt signaling pathway in HeLa cells. Furthermore, analysis of the levels of β-catenin protein, the core component of the Wnt pathway, and downstream effector genes of the pathway showed that FEZF1 could activate the Wnt pathway. Together, these results suggest that FEZF1 promotes cell proliferation and migration possibly by acting as a transcriptional activator of the Wnt signaling pathway in cervical cancer, and also provide a valuable molecular predictive marker for cervical cancer recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Lan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, P.R.China
| | - Xuewei Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, P.R.China
| | - Yu Luo
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, P.R.China
| | - Zhengchi He
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, P.R.China
| | - Xu Song
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, P.R.China
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Bian Z, Zhang J, Li M, Feng Y, Wang X, Zhang J, Yao S, Jin G, Du J, Han W, Yin Y, Huang S, Fei B, Zou J, Huang Z. LncRNA-FEZF1-AS1 Promotes Tumor Proliferation and Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer by Regulating PKM2 Signaling. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:4808-4819. [PMID: 29914894 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-2967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Revised: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in human cancers. Here, FEZF1-AS1, a highly overexpressed lncRNA in colorectal cancer, was identified by lncRNA microarrays. We aimed to explore the roles and possible molecular mechanisms of FEZF1-AS1 in colorectal cancer.Experimental Design: LncRNA expression in colorectal cancer tissues was measured by lncRNA microarray and qRT-PCR. The functional roles of FEZF1-AS1 in colorectal cancer were demonstrated by a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase analyses were used to demonstrate the potential mechanisms of FEZF1-AS1.Results: We identified a series of differentially expressed lncRNAs in colorectal cancer using lncRNA microarrays, and revealed that FEZF1-AS1 is one of the most overexpressed. Further validation in two expanded colorectal cancer cohorts confirmed the upregulation of FEZF1-AS1 in colorectal cancer, and revealed that increased FEZF1-AS1 expression is associated with poor survival. Functional assays revealed that FEZF1-AS1 promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Mechanistically, FEZF1-AS1 could bind and increase the stability of the pyruvate kinase 2 (PKM2) protein, resulting in increased cytoplasmic and nuclear PKM2 levels. Increased cytoplasmic PKM2 promoted pyruvate kinase activity and lactate production (aerobic glycolysis), whereas FEZF1-AS1-induced nuclear PKM2 upregulation further activated STAT3 signaling. In addition, PKM2 was upregulated in colorectal cancer tissues and correlated with FEZF1-AS1 expression and patient survival.Conclusions: Together, these data provide mechanistic insights into the regulation of FEZF1-AS1 on both STAT3 signaling and glycolysis by binding PKM2 and increasing its stability. Clin Cancer Res; 24(19); 4808-19. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Bian
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiwei Zhang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Li
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuyang Feng
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Cancer Epeigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Laboratory of Cancer Epeigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jia Zhang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Cancer Epeigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Surui Yao
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guoying Jin
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Du
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weifeng Han
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Yin
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shenglin Huang
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bojian Fei
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Zou
- Center of Clinical Research, Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zhaohui Huang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
- Laboratory of Cancer Epeigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
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24
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Allende ML, Cook EK, Larman BC, Nugent A, Brady JM, Golebiowski D, Sena-Esteves M, Tifft CJ, Proia RL. Cerebral organoids derived from Sandhoff disease-induced pluripotent stem cells exhibit impaired neurodifferentiation. J Lipid Res 2018; 59:550-563. [PMID: 29358305 PMCID: PMC5832932 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m081323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sandhoff disease, one of the GM2 gangliosidoses, is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the absence of β-hexosaminidase A and B activity and the concomitant lysosomal accumulation of its substrate, GM2 ganglioside. It features catastrophic neurodegeneration and death in early childhood. How the lysosomal accumulation of ganglioside might affect the early development of the nervous system is not understood. Recently, cerebral organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have illuminated early developmental events altered by disease processes. To develop an early neurodevelopmental model of Sandhoff disease, we first generated iPS cells from the fibroblasts of an infantile Sandhoff disease patient, then corrected one of the mutant HEXB alleles in those iPS cells using CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology, thereby creating isogenic controls. Next, we used the parental Sandhoff disease iPS cells and isogenic HEXB-corrected iPS cell clones to generate cerebral organoids that modeled the first trimester of neurodevelopment. The Sandhoff disease organoids, but not the HEXB-corrected organoids, accumulated GM2 ganglioside and exhibited increased size and cellular proliferation compared with the HEXB-corrected organoids. Whole-transcriptome analysis demonstrated that development was impaired in the Sandhoff disease organoids, suggesting that alterations in neuronal differentiation may occur during early development in the GM2 gangliosidoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Allende
- Genetics of Development and Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Emily K Cook
- Genetics of Development and Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Bridget C Larman
- Genetics of Development and Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Adrienne Nugent
- Genetics of Development and Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Jacqueline M Brady
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, National Institutes of Health Office of Rare Diseases Research and National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Diane Golebiowski
- Department of Neurology and Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Miguel Sena-Esteves
- Department of Neurology and Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Cynthia J Tifft
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, National Institutes of Health Office of Rare Diseases Research and National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Richard L Proia
- Genetics of Development and Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
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25
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Berrih-Aknin S, Panse RL, Dragin N. AIRE: a missing link to explain female susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1412:21-32. [PMID: 29291257 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Women are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases than men. Autoimmunity results from tolerance breakdown toward self-components. Recently, three transcription modulators were identified in medullary thymic epithelial cells that orchestrate immune central tolerance processes: the autoimmune regulator (AIRE), FEZ family zinc finger 2 (FEZF2 or FEZ1), and PR domain zinc finger protein 1 (PRDM1). Interestingly, these three transcription modulators regulate nonredundant tissue-specific antigen subsets and thus cover broad antigen diversity. Recent data from different groups demonstrated that sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) are involved in the regulation of thymic AIRE expression in humans and mice through direct transcriptional modulation and epigenetic changes. As a consequence, AIRE displays gender-biased thymic expression, with females showing a lower expression compared with males, a finding that could explain the female susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. So far, FEZF2 has not been related to an increased gender bias in autoimmune disease. PRDM1 expression has not been shown to display gender-differential thymic expression, but its expression level and its gene polymorphisms are associated with female-dependent autoimmune disease risk. Altogether, various studies have demonstrated that increased female susceptibility to autoimmune diseases is in part a consequence of hormone-driven reduced thymic AIRE expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Berrih-Aknin
- UPMC Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Rozen Le Panse
- UPMC Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Nadine Dragin
- UPMC Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
- Inovarion, Paris, France
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26
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Büdefeld T, Spanic T, Vrecl M, Majdic G. Fezf1 is a novel regulator of female sex behavior in mice. Horm Behav 2018; 97:94-101. [PMID: 29080672 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.10.010] [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: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Female sexual behavior is a complex process regulated by multiple brain circuits and influenced by sex steroid hormones acting in the brain. Several regions in the hypothalamus have been implicated in the regulation of female sexual behavior although a complete circuitry involved in female sexual behavior is not understood. Fez family zinc finger 1 (Fezf1) gene is a brain specific gene that has been mostly studied in the context of olfactory development, although in a recent study, FEZF1 has been identified as one of the genes responsible for the development of Kallman syndrome. In the present study, we utilized shRNA approach to downregulate Fezf1 in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) with the aim to explore the role of this gene. Adult female mice were stereotaxically injected with lentiviral vectors encoding shRNA against Fezf1 gene. Mice injected with shRNA against Fezf1 had significantly reduced female sexual behavior, presumably due to the downregulation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), as the number of ERα-immunoreactive cells in the VMN of Fezf1 mice was significantly lower in comparison to controls. However, no effect on body weight or physical activity was observed in mice with downregulated Fezf1, suggesting that the role of Fezf1 in the VMN is limited to the regulation of sexual behavior. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Fezf1 gene has been identified in the present study as a regulator of female sexual behavior in mice. Regulation of the female sexual behavior could be through the regulation of estrogen receptor alpha expression in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, as the expression of this receptor was reduced in mice with downregulated Fezf1. As expression of Fezf1 is very specific in the brain, this gene could present a potential target for the development of novel drugs regulating hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women, if similar function of FEZF1 will be confirmed in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomaz Büdefeld
- Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbiceva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tanja Spanic
- Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbiceva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Milka Vrecl
- Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbiceva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Majdic
- Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbiceva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
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27
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Allalou A, Wu Y, Ghannad-Rezaie M, Eimon PM, Yanik MF. Automated deep-phenotyping of the vertebrate brain. eLife 2017; 6:e23379. [PMID: 28406399 PMCID: PMC5441873 DOI: 10.7554/elife.23379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we describe an automated platform suitable for large-scale deep-phenotyping of zebrafish mutant lines, which uses optical projection tomography to rapidly image brain-specific gene expression patterns in 3D at cellular resolution. Registration algorithms and correlation analysis are then used to compare 3D expression patterns, to automatically detect all statistically significant alterations in mutants, and to map them onto a brain atlas. Automated deep-phenotyping of a mutation in the master transcriptional regulator fezf2 not only detects all known phenotypes but also uncovers important novel neural deficits that were overlooked in previous studies. In the telencephalon, we show for the first time that fezf2 mutant zebrafish have significant patterning deficits, particularly in glutamatergic populations. Our findings reveal unexpected parallels between fezf2 function in zebrafish and mice, where mutations cause deficits in glutamatergic neurons of the telencephalon-derived neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Allalou
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
- Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yuelong Wu
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Mostafa Ghannad-Rezaie
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
- ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Peter M Eimon
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Mehmet Fatih Yanik
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
- ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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28
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Li X, Xie Y, Zhu S. Notch maintains Drosophila type II neuroblasts by suppressing expression of the Fez transcription factor Earmuff. Development 2016; 143:2511-21. [PMID: 27151950 DOI: 10.1242/dev.136184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Notch signaling is crucial for maintaining neural stem cell (NSC) self-renewal and heterogeneity; however, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. In Drosophila, loss of Notch prematurely terminates the self-renewal of larval type II neuroblasts (NBs, the Drosophila NSCs) and transforms type II NBs into type I NBs. Here, we demonstrate that Notch maintains type II NBs by suppressing the activation of earmuff (erm) by Pointed P1 (PntP1). We show that loss of Notch or components of its canonical pathway leads to PntP1-dependent ectopic Erm expression in type II NBs. Knockdown of Erm significantly rescues the loss-of-Notch phenotypes, and misexpression of Erm phenocopies the loss of Notch. Ectopically expressed Erm promotes the transformation of type II NBs into type I NBs by inhibiting PntP1 function and expression in type II NBs. Our work not only elucidates a key mechanism of Notch-mediated maintenance of type II NB self-renewal and identity, but also reveals a novel function of Erm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosu Li
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Yonggang Xie
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Sijun Zhu
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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29
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Perry JSA, Hsieh CS. Development of T-cell tolerance utilizes both cell-autonomous and cooperative presentation of self-antigen. Immunol Rev 2016; 271:141-55. [PMID: 27088912 PMCID: PMC4837647 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The development of T-cell self-tolerance in the thymus is important for establishing immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmunity. Here, we review the components of T-cell tolerance, which includes T-cell receptor (TCR) self-reactivity, costimulation, cytokines, and antigen presentation by a variety of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) subsets. We discuss the current evidence on the process of regulatory T (Treg) cell and negative selection and the importance of TCR signaling. We then examine recent evidence showing unique roles for bone marrow (BM)-derived APCs and medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) on the conventional and Treg TCR repertoire, as well as emerging data on the role of B cells in tolerance. Finally, we review the accumulating data that suggest that cooperative antigen presentation is a prominent component of T -ell tolerance. With the development of tools to interrogate the function of individual APC subsets in the medulla, we have gained greater understanding of the complex cellular and molecular events that determine T-cell tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin S A Perry
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Chyi-Song Hsieh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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30
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Takaba H, Morishita Y, Tomofuji Y, Danks L, Nitta T, Komatsu N, Kodama T, Takayanagi H. Fezf2 Orchestrates a Thymic Program of Self-Antigen Expression for Immune Tolerance. Cell 2015; 163:975-87. [PMID: 26544942 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 248] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Self-tolerance to immune reactions is established via promiscuous expression of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), leading to the elimination of T cells that respond to self-antigens. The transcriptional regulator Aire has been thought to be sufficient for the induction of TRAs, despite some indications that other factors may promote TRA expression in the thymus. Here, we show that the transcription factor Fezf2 directly regulates various TRA genes in mTECs independently of Aire. Mice lacking Fezf2 in mTECs displayed severe autoimmune symptoms, including the production of autoantibodies and inflammatory cell infiltration targeted to peripheral organs. These responses differed from those detected in Aire-deficient mice. Furthermore, Fezf2 expression and Aire expression are regulated by distinct signaling pathways and promote the expression of different classes of proteins. Thus, two independent factors, Fezf2 and Aire, permit the expression of TRAs in the thymus to ensure immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Takaba
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Takayanagi Osteonetwork Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology Program, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Morishita
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Tomofuji
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Lynett Danks
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Takayanagi Osteonetwork Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology Program, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takeshi Nitta
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Noriko Komatsu
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiko Kodama
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Department of Systems Biology and Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takayanagi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Takayanagi Osteonetwork Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology Program, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
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31
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Mutual regulation between Satb2 and Fezf2 promotes subcerebral projection neuron identity in the developing cerebral cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:11702-7. [PMID: 26324926 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1504144112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of distinct cortical projection neuron subtypes during development relies in part on repression of alternative neuron identities. It was reported that the special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 (Satb2) is required for proper development of callosal neuron identity and represses expression of genes that are essential for subcerebral axon development. Surprisingly, Satb2 has recently been shown to be necessary for subcerebral axon development. Here, we unravel a previously unidentified mechanism underlying this paradox. We show that SATB2 directly activates transcription of forebrain embryonic zinc finger 2 (Fezf2) and SRY-box 5 (Sox5), genes essential for subcerebral neuron development. We find that the mutual regulation between Satb2 and Fezf2 enables Satb2 to promote subcerebral neuron identity in layer 5 neurons, and to repress subcerebral characters in callosal neurons. Thus, Satb2 promotes the development of callosal and subcerebral neurons in a cell context-dependent manner.
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32
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Heterogeneously expressed fezf2 patterns gradient Notch activity in balancing the quiescence, proliferation, and differentiation of adult neural stem cells. J Neurosci 2015; 34:13911-23. [PMID: 25319688 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1976-14.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Balancing quiescence, self-renewal, and differentiation in adult stem cells is critical for tissue homeostasis. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain incompletely understood. Here we identify Fezf2 as a novel regulator of fate balance in adult zebrafish dorsal telencephalic neural stem cells (NSCs). Transgenic reporters show intermingled fezf2-GFP(hi) quiescent and fezf2-GFP(lo) proliferative NSCs. Constitutive or conditional impairment of fezf2 activity demonstrates its requirement for maintaining quiescence. Analyses of genetic chimeras reveal a dose-dependent role of fezf2 in NSC activation, suggesting that the difference in fezf2 levels directionally biases fate. Single NSC profiling coupled with genetic analysis further uncovers a fezf2-dependent gradient Notch activity that is high in quiescent and low in proliferative NSCs. Finally, fezf2-GFP(hi) quiescent and fezf2-GFP(lo) proliferative NSCs are observed in postnatal mouse hippocampus, suggesting possible evolutionary conservation. Our results support a model in which fezf2 heterogeneity patterns gradient Notch activity among neighbors that is critical to balance NSC fate.
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