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Esvald EE, Tuvikene J, Kiir CS, Avarlaid A, Tamberg L, Sirp A, Shubina A, Cabrera-Cabrera F, Pihlak A, Koppel I, Palm K, Timmusk T. Revisiting the expression of BDNF and its receptors in mammalian development. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1182499. [PMID: 37426074 PMCID: PMC10325033 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1182499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes the survival and functioning of neurons in the central nervous system and contributes to proper functioning of many non-neural tissues. Although the regulation and role of BDNF have been extensively studied, a rigorous analysis of the expression dynamics of BDNF and its receptors TrkB and p75NTR is lacking. Here, we have analyzed more than 3,600 samples from 18 published RNA sequencing datasets, and used over 17,000 samples from GTEx, and ~ 180 samples from BrainSpan database, to describe the expression of BDNF in the developing mammalian neural and non-neural tissues. We show evolutionarily conserved dynamics and expression patterns of BDNF mRNA and non-conserved alternative 5' exon usage. Finally, we also show increasing BDNF protein levels during murine brain development and BDNF protein expression in several non-neural tissues. In parallel, we describe the spatiotemporal expression pattern of BDNF receptors TrkB and p75NTR in both murines and humans. Collectively, our in-depth analysis of the expression of BDNF and its receptors gives insight into the regulation and signaling of BDNF in the whole organism throughout life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli-Eelika Esvald
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jürgen Tuvikene
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
- dxlabs LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Carl Sander Kiir
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Annela Avarlaid
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Laura Tamberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Alex Sirp
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Anastassia Shubina
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | | | - Indrek Koppel
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
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Mulvey B, Frye HE, Lintz T, Fass S, Tycksen E, Nelson EC, Morón JA, Dougherty JD. Cnih3 Deletion Dysregulates Dorsal Hippocampal Transcription across the Estrous Cycle. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0153-22.2023. [PMID: 36849260 PMCID: PMC10027183 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0153-22.2023] [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: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In females, the hippocampus, a critical brain region for coordination of learning, memory, and behavior, displays altered physiology and behavioral output across the estrous or menstrual cycle. However, the molecular effectors and cell types underlying these observed cyclic changes have only been partially characterized to date. Recently, profiling of mice null for the AMPA receptor trafficking gene Cnih3 have demonstrated estrous-dependent phenotypes in dorsal hippocampal synaptic plasticity, composition, and learning/memory. We therefore profiled dorsal hippocampal transcriptomes from female mice in each estrous cycle stage, and contrasted it with that of males, across wild-type (WT) and Cnih3 mutants. In wild types, we identified only subtle differences in gene expression between the sexes, while comparing estrous stages to one another revealed up to >1000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These estrous-responsive genes are especially enriched in gene markers of oligodendrocytes and the dentate gyrus, and in functional gene sets relating to estrogen response, potassium channels, and synaptic gene splicing. Surprisingly, Cnih3 knock-outs (KOs) showed far broader transcriptomic differences between estrous cycle stages and males. Moreover, Cnih3 knock-out drove subtle but extensive expression changes accentuating sex differential expression at diestrus and estrus. Altogether, our profiling highlights cell types and molecular systems potentially impacted by estrous-specific gene expression patterns in the adult dorsal hippocampus, enabling mechanistic hypothesis generation for future studies of sex-differential neuropsychiatric function and dysfunction. Moreover, these findings suggest an unrecognized role of Cnih3 in buffering against transcriptional effects of estrous, providing a candidate molecular mechanism to explain estrous-dependent phenotypes observed with Cnih3 loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Mulvey
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Hannah E Frye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Tania Lintz
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Stuart Fass
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Eric Tycksen
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Elliot C Nelson
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Jose A Morón
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Joseph D Dougherty
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
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3
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Hippocampal Changes Elicited by Metabolic and Inflammatory Stressors following Prenatal Maternal Infection. Genes (Basel) 2022; 14:genes14010077. [PMID: 36672818 PMCID: PMC9859158 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus participates in spatial navigation and behavioral processes, displays molecular plasticity in response to environmental challenges, and can play a role in neuropsychiatric diseases. The combined effects of inflammatory prenatal and postnatal challenges can disrupt the hippocampal gene networks and regulatory mechanisms. Using a proven pig model of viral maternal immune activation (MIA) matched to controls and an RNA-sequencing approach, the hippocampal transcriptome was profiled on two-month-old female and male offspring assigned to fasting, mimetic viral, or saline treatments. More than 2600 genes presented single or combined effects (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.05) of MIA, postnatal stress, or sex. Biological processes and pathways encompassing messenger cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) signaling were enriched with genes including gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR) predominantly over-expressed in the MIA-exposed fasting males relative to groups that differed in sex, prenatal or postnatal challenge. While this pattern was amplified in fasting offspring, the postnatal inflammatory challenge appeared to cancel out the effects of the prenatal challenge. The transcription factors C-terminal binding protein 2 (CTBP2), RE1 silencing transcription factor (REST), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), and SUZ12 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit were over-represented among the genes impacted by the prenatal and postnatal factors studied. Our results indicate that one environmental challenge can influence the effect of another challenge on the hippocampal transcriptome. These findings can assist in the identification of molecular targets to ameliorate the effects of pre-and post-natal stressors on hippocampal-associated physiology and behavior.
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Sirp A, Shubina A, Tuvikene J, Tamberg L, Kiir CS, Kranich L, Timmusk T. Expression of alternative transcription factor 4 mRNAs and protein isoforms in the developing and adult rodent and human tissues. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1033224. [PMID: 36407762 PMCID: PMC9666405 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1033224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor 4 (TCF4) belongs to the class I basic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors (also known as E-proteins) and is vital for the development of the nervous system. Aberrations in the TCF4 gene are associated with several neurocognitive disorders such as schizophrenia, intellectual disability, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome, a rare but severe autism spectrum disorder. Expression of the human TCF4 gene can produce at least 18 N-terminally distinct protein isoforms, which activate transcription with different activities and thus may vary in their function during development. We used long-read RNA-sequencing and western blot analysis combined with the analysis of publicly available short-read RNA-sequencing data to describe both the mRNA and protein expression of the many distinct TCF4 isoforms in rodent and human neural and nonneural tissues. We show that TCF4 mRNA and protein expression is much higher in the rodent brain compared to nonneural tissues. TCF4 protein expression is highest in the rodent cerebral cortex and hippocampus, where expression peaks around birth, and in the rodent cerebellum, where expression peaks about a week after birth. In human, highest TCF4 expression levels were seen in the developing brain, although some nonneural tissues displayed comparable expression levels to adult brain. In addition, we show for the first time that out of the many possible TCF4 isoforms, the main TCF4 isoforms expressed in the rodent and human brain and other tissues are TCF4-B, -C, -D, -A, and-I. Taken together, our isoform specific analysis of TCF4 expression in different tissues could be used for the generation of gene therapy applications for patients with TCF4-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Sirp
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Anastassia Shubina
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jürgen Tuvikene
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia,Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Laura Tamberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Carl Sander Kiir
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Laura Kranich
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia,Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia,*Correspondence: Tõnis Timmusk,
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Ocañas SR, Ansere VA, Tooley KB, Hadad N, Chucair-Elliott AJ, Stanford DR, Rice S, Wronowski B, Pham KD, Hoffman JM, Austad SN, Stout MB, Freeman WM. Differential Regulation of Mouse Hippocampal Gene Expression Sex Differences by Chromosomal Content and Gonadal Sex. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:4669-4702. [PMID: 35589920 PMCID: PMC9119800 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02860-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Common neurological disorders, like Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and autism, display profound sex differences in prevalence and clinical presentation. However, sex differences in the brain with health and disease are often overlooked in experimental models. Sex effects originate, directly or indirectly, from hormonal or sex chromosomal mechanisms. To delineate the contributions of genetic sex (XX v. XY) versus gonadal sex (ovaries v. testes) to the epigenomic regulation of hippocampal sex differences, we used the Four Core Genotypes (FCG) mouse model which uncouples chromosomal and gonadal sex. Transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses of ~ 12-month-old FCG mouse hippocampus, revealed genomic context-specific regulatory effects of genotypic and gonadal sex on X- and autosome-encoded gene expression and DNA modification patterns. X-chromosomal epigenomic patterns, classically associated with X-inactivation, were established almost entirely by genotypic sex, independent of gonadal sex. Differences in X-chromosome methylation were primarily localized to gene regulatory regions including promoters, CpG islands, CTCF binding sites, and active/poised chromatin, with an inverse relationship between methylation and gene expression. Autosomal gene expression demonstrated regulation by both genotypic and gonadal sex, particularly in immune processes. These data demonstrate an important regulatory role of sex chromosomes, independent of gonadal sex, on sex-biased hippocampal transcriptomic and epigenomic profiles. Future studies will need to further interrogate specific CNS cell types, identify the mechanisms by which sex chromosomes regulate autosomes, and differentiate organizational from activational hormonal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Ocañas
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Victor A Ansere
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Kyla B Tooley
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | | | - Ana J Chucair-Elliott
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - David R Stanford
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Shannon Rice
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Benjamin Wronowski
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Kevin D Pham
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Jessica M Hoffman
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Steven N Austad
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Michael B Stout
- Aging & Metabolism Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Willard M Freeman
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
- Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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6
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Fels JA, Casalena GA, Manfredi G. Sex and oestrogen receptor β have modest effects on gene expression in the mouse brain posterior cortex. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab 2021; 4:e00191. [PMID: 33532622 PMCID: PMC7831211 DOI: 10.1002/edm2.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sex differences in brain cortical function affect cognition, behaviour and susceptibility to neural diseases, but the molecular basis of sexual dimorphism in cortical function is still largely unknown. Oestrogen and oestrogen receptors (ERs), specifically ERβ, the most abundant ER in the cortex, may play a role in determining sex differences in gene expression, which could underlie functional sex differences. However, further investigation is needed to address brain region specificity of the effects of sex and ERβ on gene expression. The goal of this study was to investigate sex differences in gene expression in the mouse posterior cortex, where sex differences in transcription have never been examined, and to determine how genetic ablation of ERβ affects transcription. Methods In this study, we performed unbiased transcriptomics on RNA from the posterior cortex of adult wild-type and ERβ knockout mice (n = 4/sex/genotype). We used unbiased clustering to analyse whole-transcriptome changes between the groups. We also performed differential expression analysis on the data using DESeq2 to identify specific changes in gene expression. Results We found only 27 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in wild-type (WT) males vs females, of which 17 were autosomal genes. Interestingly, in ERβKO males vs females all the autosomal DEGs were lost. Gene Ontology analysis of the subset of DEGs with sex differences only in the WT cortex revealed a significant enrichment of genes annotated with the function 'cation channel activity'. Moreover, within each sex we found only a few DEGs in ERβKO vs WT mice (8 and 5 in males and females, respectively). Conclusions Overall, our results suggest that in the adult mouse posterior cortex there are surprisingly few sex differences in gene expression, and those that exist are mainly related to cation channel activity. Additionally, they indicate that brain region-specific functional effects of ERβ may be largely post-transcriptional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine A. Fels
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research InstituteWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNYUSA
| | | | - Giovanni Manfredi
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research InstituteWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNYUSA
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7
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Wan YW, Al-Ouran R, Mangleburg CG, Perumal TM, Lee TV, Allison K, Swarup V, Funk CC, Gaiteri C, Allen M, Wang M, Neuner SM, Kaczorowski CC, Philip VM, Howell GR, Martini-Stoica H, Zheng H, Mei H, Zhong X, Kim JW, Dawson VL, Dawson TM, Pao PC, Tsai LH, Haure-Mirande JV, Ehrlich ME, Chakrabarty P, Levites Y, Wang X, Dammer EB, Srivastava G, Mukherjee S, Sieberts SK, Omberg L, Dang KD, Eddy JA, Snyder P, Chae Y, Amberkar S, Wei W, Hide W, Preuss C, Ergun A, Ebert PJ, Airey DC, Mostafavi S, Yu L, Klein HU, Carter GW, Collier DA, Golde TE, Levey AI, Bennett DA, Estrada K, Townsend TM, Zhang B, Schadt E, De Jager PL, Price ND, Ertekin-Taner N, Liu Z, Shulman JM, Mangravite LM, Logsdon BA. Meta-Analysis of the Alzheimer's Disease Human Brain Transcriptome and Functional Dissection in Mouse Models. Cell Rep 2020; 32:107908. [PMID: 32668255 PMCID: PMC7428328 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a consensus atlas of the human brain transcriptome in Alzheimer's disease (AD), based on meta-analysis of differential gene expression in 2,114 postmortem samples. We discover 30 brain coexpression modules from seven regions as the major source of AD transcriptional perturbations. We next examine overlap with 251 brain differentially expressed gene sets from mouse models of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. Human-mouse overlaps highlight responses to amyloid versus tau pathology and reveal age- and sex-dependent expression signatures for disease progression. Human coexpression modules enriched for neuronal and/or microglial genes broadly overlap with mouse models of AD, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and aging. Other human coexpression modules, including those implicated in proteostasis, are not activated in AD models but rather following other, unexpected genetic manipulations. Our results comprise a cross-species resource, highlighting transcriptional networks altered by human brain pathophysiology and identifying correspondences with mouse models for AD preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Wooi Wan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurologic Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rami Al-Ouran
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurologic Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Carl G Mangleburg
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurologic Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Tom V Lee
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurologic Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Katherine Allison
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurologic Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vivek Swarup
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Cory C Funk
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Chris Gaiteri
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mariet Allen
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Neuroscience, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Minghui Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hui Zheng
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hongkang Mei
- Neuroscience DPU, Shanghai R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhong
- Neuroscience DPU, Shanghai R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Shanghai, China
| | - Jungwoo Wren Kim
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Valina L Dawson
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Adrienne Helis Malvin & Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundations, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ted M Dawson
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Adrienne Helis Malvin & Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundations, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ping-Chieh Pao
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jean-Vianney Haure-Mirande
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Michelle E Ehrlich
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Paramita Chakrabarty
- Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yona Levites
- Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Xue Wang
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Neuroscience, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA; Mayo Clinic, Department of Health Sciences Research, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Eric B Dammer
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sandeep Amberkar
- Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK; Molecular Oncology Lab, Cancer Research UK - Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Wenbin Wei
- Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK; Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Winston Hide
- Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Ayla Ergun
- Translational Genome Sciences, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Phillip J Ebert
- Eli Lilly & Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
| | - David C Airey
- Eli Lilly & Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
| | | | - Lei Yu
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hans-Ulrich Klein
- Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for the Study of Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; Cell Circuits Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - David A Collier
- Eli Lilly & Company, Erl Wood Manor, Sunninghill Road, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH, UK
| | - Todd E Golde
- Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Allan I Levey
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Karol Estrada
- Translational Genome Sciences, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Eric Schadt
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Philip L De Jager
- Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for the Study of Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; Cell Circuits Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Neuroscience, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA; Mayo Clinic, Department of Neurology, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Zhandong Liu
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurologic Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Joshua M Shulman
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurologic Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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8
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Datta U, Schoenrock SE, Bubier JA, Bogue MA, Jentsch JD, Logan RW, Tarantino LM, Chesler EJ. Prospects for finding the mechanisms of sex differences in addiction with human and model organism genetic analysis. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 19:e12645. [PMID: 32012419 PMCID: PMC7060801 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite substantial evidence for sex differences in addiction epidemiology, addiction-relevant behaviors and associated neurobiological phenomena, the mechanisms and implications of these differences remain unknown. Genetic analysis in model organism is a potentially powerful and effective means of discovering the mechanisms that underlie sex differences in addiction. Human genetic studies are beginning to show precise risk variants that influence the mechanisms of addiction but typically lack sufficient power or neurobiological mechanistic access, particularly for the discovery of the mechanisms that underlie sex differences. Our thesis in this review is that genetic variation in model organisms are a promising approach that can complement these investigations to show the biological mechanisms that underlie sex differences in addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udita Datta
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaine
| | - Sarah E. Schoenrock
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, Department of GeneticsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth Carolina
| | - Jason A. Bubier
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaine
| | - Molly A. Bogue
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaine
| | - James D. Jentsch
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, PsychologyState University of New York at BinghamtonBinghamtonNew York
| | - Ryan W. Logan
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, PsychiatryUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvania
| | - Lisa M. Tarantino
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, Department of GeneticsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth Carolina
| | - Elissa J. Chesler
- Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction, The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaine
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9
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Tchessalova D, Tronson NC. Enduring and Sex-specific Changes in Hippocampal Gene Expression after a Subchronic Immune Challenge. Neuroscience 2020; 428:76-89. [PMID: 31917350 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Major illnesses, including heart attack and sepsis, can cause cognitive impairments, depression, and progressive memory decline that persist long after recovery from the original illness. In rodent models of sepsis or subchronic immune challenge, memory deficits also persist for weeks or months, even in the absence of ongoing neuroimmune activation. This raises the question of what mechanisms in the brain mediate such persistent changes in neural function. Here, we used RNA-sequencing as a large-scale, unbiased approach to identify changes in hippocampal gene expression long after a subchronic immune challenge previously established to cause persistent memory impairments in both males and females. We observed enduring dysregulation of gene expression three months after the end of a subchronic immune challenge. Surprisingly, there were striking sex differences in both the magnitude of changes and the specific genes and pathways altered, where males showed persistent changes in both immune- and plasticity-related genes three months after immune challenge, whereas females showed few such changes. In contrast, females showed striking differential gene expression in response to a subsequent immune challenge. Thus, immune activation has enduring and sex-specific consequences for hippocampal gene expression and the transcriptional response to subsequent stimuli. Together with findings of long-lasting memory impairments after immune challenge, these data suggest that illnesses can cause enduring vulnerability to, cognitive decline, affective disorders, and memory impairments via dysregulation of transcriptional processes in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Tchessalova
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
| | - Natalie C Tronson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
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10
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Griffin K, Bejoy J, Song L, Hua T, Marzano M, Jeske R, Sang QXA, Li Y. Human Stem Cell-derived Aggregates of Forebrain Astroglia Respond to Amyloid Beta Oligomers. Tissue Eng Part A 2019; 26:527-542. [PMID: 31696783 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2019.0227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are vital components in neuronal circuitry and there is increasing evidence linking the dysfunction of these cells to a number of central nervous system diseases. Studying the role of these cells in human brain function in the past has been difficult due to limited access to the human brain. In this study, human induced pluripotent stem cells were differentiated into astrospheres using a hybrid plating method, with or without dual SMAD inhibition. The derived cells were assessed for astrocytic markers, brain regional identity, phagocytosis, calcium-transient signaling, reactive oxygen species production, and immune response. Neural degeneration was modeled by stimulation with amyloid-β (Aβ) 42 oligomers. Finally, co-culture was performed for the derived astrospheres with isogenic neurospheres. Results indicate that the derived astroglial cells express astrocyte markers with forebrain dorsal cortical identity, secrete extracellular matrix, and are capable of phagocytosing iron oxide particles and responding to Aβ42 stimulation (higher oxidative stress, higher TNF-α, and IL-6 expression). RNA-sequencing results reveal the distinct transcriptome of the derived cells responding to Aβ42 stimulation for astrocyte markers, chemokines, and brain regional identity. Co-culture experiments show the synaptic activities of neurons and the enhanced neural protection ability of the astroglial cells. This study provides knowledge about the roles of brain astroglial cells, heterotypic cell-cell interactions, and the formation of engineered neuronal synapses in vitro. The implications lie in neurological disease modeling, drug screening, and studying progression of neural degeneration and the role of stem cell microenvironment. Impact Statement Human pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocytes are a powerful tool for disease modeling and drug screening. However, the properties regarding brain regional identity and the immune response to neural degeneration stimulus have not been well characterized. Results of this study indicate that the derived astroglial cells express astrocyte markers with forebrain dorsal cortical identity, secrete extracellular matrix (ECM), and are capable of phagocytosing iron oxide particles and responding to amyloid-β oligomers, showing the distinct transcriptome in astrocyte markers, chemokines, and brain regional identity. This study provides knowledge about the roles of brain astroglial cells, heterotypic cell-cell interactions, and engineering neural tissues in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Griffin
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Julie Bejoy
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Liqing Song
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Thien Hua
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Mark Marzano
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Richard Jeske
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Qing-Xiang Amy Sang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.,Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.,Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
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11
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Bejoy J, Yuan X, Song L, Hua T, Jeske R, Sart S, Sang QXA, Li Y. Genomics Analysis of Metabolic Pathways of Human Stem Cell-Derived Microglia-Like Cells and the Integrated Cortical Spheroids. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:2382534. [PMID: 31827525 PMCID: PMC6885849 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2382534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain spheroids or organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are still not capable of completely recapitulating in vivo human brain tissue, and one of the limitations is lack of microglia. To add built-in immune function, coculture of the dorsal forebrain spheroids with isogenic microglia-like cells (D-MG) was performed in our study. The three-dimensional D-MG spheroids were analyzed for their transcriptome and compared with isogenic microglia-like cells (MG). Cortical spheroids containing microglia-like cells displayed different metabolic programming, which may affect the associated phenotype. The expression of genes related to glycolysis and hypoxia signaling was increased in cocultured D-MG spheroids, indicating the metabolic shift to aerobic glycolysis, which is in favor of M1 polarization of microglia-like cells. In addition, the metabolic pathways and the signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, cell death, PIK3/AKT/mTOR signaling, eukaryotic initiation factor 2 pathway, and Wnt and Notch pathways were analyzed. The results demonstrate the activation of mTOR and p53 signaling, increased expression of Notch ligands, and the repression of NF-κB and canonical Wnt pathways, as well as the lower expression of cell cycle genes in the cocultured D-MG spheroids. This analysis indicates that physiological 3-D microenvironment may reshape the immunity of in vitro cortical spheroids and better recapitulate in vivo brain tissue function for disease modeling and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Bejoy
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Xuegang Yuan
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Liqing Song
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Thien Hua
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Richard Jeske
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Sébastien Sart
- Hydrodynamics Laboratory (LadHyX)-Department of Mechanics, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS-UMR7646, 91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Qing-Xiang Amy Sang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
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12
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Song L, Yuan X, Jones Z, Vied C, Miao Y, Marzano M, Hua T, Sang QXA, Guan J, Ma T, Zhou Y, Li Y. Functionalization of Brain Region-specific Spheroids with Isogenic Microglia-like Cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11055. [PMID: 31363137 PMCID: PMC6667451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47444-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Current brain spheroids or organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) still lack a microglia component, the resident immune cells in the brain. The objective of this study is to engineer brain region-specific organoids from hiPSCs incorporated with isogenic microglia-like cells in order to enhance immune function. In this study, microglia-like cells were derived from hiPSCs using a simplified protocol with stage-wise growth factor induction, which expressed several phenotypic markers, including CD11b, IBA-1, CX3CR1, and P2RY12, and phagocytosed micron-size super-paramagnetic iron oxides. The derived cells were able to upregulate pro-inflammatory gene (TNF-α) and secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., VEGF, TGF-β1, and PGE2) when stimulated with amyloid β42 oligomers, lipopolysaccharides, or dexamethasone. The derived isogenic dorsal cortical (higher expression of TBR1 and PAX6) and ventral (higher expression of NKX2.1 and PROX1) spheroids/organoids displayed action potentials and synaptic activities. Co-culturing the microglia-like cells (MG) with the dorsal (D) or ventral (V) organoids showed differential migration ability, intracellular Ca2+ signaling, and the response to pro-inflammatory stimuli (V-MG group had higher TNF-α and TREM2 expression). Transcriptome analysis exhibited 37 microglia-related genes that were differentially expressed in MG and D-MG groups. In addition, the hybrid D-MG spheroids exhibited higher levels of immunoreceptor genes in activating members, but the MG group contained higher levels for most of genes in inhibitory members (except SIGLEC5 and CD200). This study should advance our understanding of the microglia function in brain-like tissue and establish a transformative approach to modulate cellular microenvironment toward the goal of treating various neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Song
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xuegang Yuan
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Zachary Jones
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Cynthia Vied
- The Translational Science Laboratory, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Yu Miao
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Mark Marzano
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Thien Hua
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Qing-Xiang Amy Sang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Jingjiao Guan
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Teng Ma
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.
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13
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Farkas C, Fuentes-Villalobos F, Rebolledo-Jaramillo B, Benavides F, Castro AF, Pincheira R. Streamlined computational pipeline for genetic background characterization of genetically engineered mice based on next generation sequencing data. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:131. [PMID: 30755158 PMCID: PMC6373082 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5504-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetically engineered mice (GEM) are essential tools for understanding gene function and disease modeling. Historically, gene targeting was first done in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the 129 family of inbred strains, leading to a mixed background or congenic mice when crossed with C57BL/6 mice. Depending on the number of backcrosses and breeding strategies, genomic segments from 129-derived ESCs can be introgressed into the C57BL/6 genome, establishing a unique genetic makeup that needs characterization in order to obtain valid conclusions from experiments using GEM lines. Currently, SNP genotyping is used to detect the extent of 129-derived ESC genome introgression into C57BL/6 recipients; however, it fails to detect novel/rare variants. RESULTS Here, we present a computational pipeline implemented in the Galaxy platform and in BASH/R script to determine genetic introgression of GEM using next generation sequencing data (NGS), such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNA-Seq. The pipeline includes strategies to uncover variants linked to a targeted locus, genome-wide variant visualization, and the identification of potential modifier genes. Although these methods apply to congenic mice, they can also be used to describe variants fixed by genetic drift. As a proof of principle, we analyzed publicly available RNA-Seq data from five congenic knockout (KO) lines and our own RNA-Seq data from the Sall2 KO line. Additionally, we performed target validation using several genetics approaches. CONCLUSIONS We revealed the impact of the 129-derived ESC genome introgression on gene expression, predicted potential modifier genes, and identified potential phenotypic interference in KO lines. Our results demonstrate that our new approach is an effective method to determine genetic introgression of GEM.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Farkas
- Laboratorio de Transducción de Señales y Cáncer. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular. Facultad Cs. Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - F Fuentes-Villalobos
- Laboratorio de Transducción de Señales y Cáncer. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular. Facultad Cs. Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | | | - F Benavides
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, USA
| | - A F Castro
- Laboratorio de Transducción de Señales y Cáncer. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular. Facultad Cs. Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - R Pincheira
- Laboratorio de Transducción de Señales y Cáncer. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular. Facultad Cs. Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
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14
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Yagi S, Galea LAM. Sex differences in hippocampal cognition and neurogenesis. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:200-213. [PMID: 30214058 PMCID: PMC6235970 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0208-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences are reported in hippocampal plasticity, cognition, and in a number of disorders that target the integrity of the hippocampus. For example, meta-analyses reveal that males outperform females on hippocampus-dependent tasks in rodents and in humans, furthermore women are more likely to experience greater cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and depression, both diseases characterized by hippocampal dysfunction. The hippocampus is a highly plastic structure, important for processing higher order information and is sensitive to the environmental factors such as stress. The structure retains the ability to produce new neurons and this process plays an important role in pattern separation, proactive interference, and cognitive flexibility. Intriguingly, there are prominent sex differences in the level of neurogenesis and the activation of new neurons in response to hippocampus-dependent cognitive tasks in rodents. However, sex differences in spatial performance can be nuanced as animal studies have demonstrated that there are task, and strategy choice dependent sex differences in performance, as well as sex differences in the subregions of the hippocampus influenced by learning. This review discusses sex differences in pattern separation, pattern completion, spatial learning, and links between adult neurogenesis and these cognitive functions of the hippocampus. We emphasize the importance of including both sexes when studying genomic, cellular, and structural mechanisms of the hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunya Yagi
- Department of Psychology, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Liisa A M Galea
- Department of Psychology, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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15
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Bundy JL, Vied C, Badger C, Nowakowski RS. Sex-biased hippocampal pathology in the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease: A multi-omic analysis. J Comp Neurol 2018; 527:462-475. [PMID: 30291623 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia. Like many neurological disorders, Alzheimer's disease has a sex-biased epidemiological profile, affecting approximately twice as many women as men. The cause of this sex difference has yet to be elucidated. To identify molecular correlates of this sex bias, we investigated molecular pathology in females and males using the 5XFamilial Alzheimer's disease mutations (5XFAD) genetic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. We profiled the transcriptome and proteome of the mouse hippocampus during early stages of disease development (1, 2, and 4 months of age). Our analysis reveals 42 genes that are differentially expressed between disease and wild-type animals at 2 months of age, prior to observable plaque deposition. In 4-month-old animals, we detect 1,316 differentially expressed transcripts between transgenic and control 5XFAD mice, many of which are associated with immune function. Additionally, we find that some of these transcriptional perturbations are correlated with altered protein levels in 4-month-old transgenic animals. Importantly, our data indicate that female 5XFAD mouse exhibit more profound pathology than their male counterparts as measured by differences in gene expression. We also find that the 5XFAD transgenes are more highly expressed in female 5XFAD mice than their male counterparts, which could partially account for the sex-biased molecular pathology observed in this dataset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L Bundy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Cynthia Vied
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida.,Translational Science Laboratory, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Crystal Badger
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Richard S Nowakowski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
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16
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Chakera AJ, Hurst PS, Spyer G, Ogunnowo-Bada EO, Marsh WJ, Riches CH, Yueh CY, Markkula SP, Dalley JW, Cox RD, Macdonald IA, Amiel SA, MacLeod KM, Heisler LK, Hattersley AT, Evans ML. Molecular reductions in glucokinase activity increase counter-regulatory responses to hypoglycemia in mice and humans with diabetes. Mol Metab 2018; 17:17-27. [PMID: 30146176 PMCID: PMC6197723 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Appropriate glucose levels are essential for survival; thus, the detection and correction of low blood glucose is of paramount importance. Hypoglycemia prompts an integrated response involving reduction in insulin release and secretion of key counter-regulatory hormones glucagon and epinephrine that together promote endogenous glucose production to restore normoglycemia. However, specifically how this response is orchestrated remains to be fully clarified. The low affinity hexokinase glucokinase is found in glucose-sensing cells involved in glucose homeostasis including pancreatic β-cells and in certain brain areas. Here, we aimed to examine the role of glucokinase in triggering counter-regulatory hormonal responses to hypoglycemia, hypothesizing that reduced glucokinase activity would lead to increased and/or earlier triggering of responses. METHODS Hyperinsulinemic glucose clamps were performed to examine counter-regulatory responses to controlled hypoglycemic challenges created in humans with monogenic diabetes resulting from heterozygous glucokinase mutations (GCK-MODY). To examine the relative importance of glucokinase in different sensing areas, we then examined responses to clamped hypoglycemia in mice with molecularly defined disruption of whole body and/or brain glucokinase. RESULTS GCK-MODY patients displayed increased and earlier glucagon responses during hypoglycemia compared with a group of glycemia-matched patients with type 2 diabetes. Consistent with this, glucagon responses to hypoglycemia were also increased in I366F mice with mutated glucokinase and in streptozotocin-treated β-cell ablated diabetic I366F mice. Glucagon responses were normal in conditional brain glucokinase-knockout mice, suggesting that glucagon release during hypoglycemia is controlled by glucokinase-mediated glucose sensing outside the brain but not in β-cells. For epinephrine, we found increased responses in GCK-MODY patients, in β-cell ablated diabetic I366F mice and in conditional (nestin lineage) brain glucokinase-knockout mice, supporting a role for brain glucokinase in triggering epinephrine release. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that glucokinase in brain and other non β-cell peripheral hypoglycemia sensors is important in glucose homeostasis, allowing the body to detect and respond to a falling blood glucose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali J Chakera
- Institute of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Paul S Hurst
- Wellcome Trust/ MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gill Spyer
- Institute of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Emmanuel O Ogunnowo-Bada
- Wellcome Trust/ MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - William J Marsh
- Wellcome Trust/ MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Christine H Riches
- Wellcome Trust/ MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Chen-Yu Yueh
- Wellcome Trust/ MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - S Pauliina Markkula
- Wellcome Trust/ MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jeffrey W Dalley
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Roger D Cox
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ian A Macdonald
- MRC-ARUK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing and NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust/ University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie A Amiel
- Division of Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Kenneth M MacLeod
- Institute of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Lora K Heisler
- Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew T Hattersley
- Institute of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, United Kingdom.
| | - Mark L Evans
- Wellcome Trust/ MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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17
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Lee AG, Hagenauer M, Absher D, Morrison KE, Bale TL, Myers RM, Watson SJ, Akil H, Schatzberg AF, Lyons DM. Stress amplifies sex differences in primate prefrontal profiles of gene expression. Biol Sex Differ 2017; 8:36. [PMID: 29096718 PMCID: PMC5667444 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-017-0157-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress is a recognized risk factor for mood and anxiety disorders that occur more often in women than men. Prefrontal brain regions mediate stress coping, cognitive control, and emotion. Here, we investigate sex differences and stress effects on prefrontal cortical profiles of gene expression in squirrel monkey adults. METHODS Dorsolateral, ventrolateral, and ventromedial prefrontal cortical regions from 18 females and 12 males were collected after stress or no-stress treatment conditions. Gene expression profiles were acquired using HumanHT-12v4.0 Expression BeadChip arrays adapted for squirrel monkeys. RESULTS Extensive variation between prefrontal cortical regions was discerned in the expression of numerous autosomal and sex chromosome genes. Robust sex differences were also identified across prefrontal cortical regions in the expression of mostly autosomal genes. Genes with increased expression in females compared to males were overrepresented in mitogen-activated protein kinase and neurotrophin signaling pathways. Many fewer genes with increased expression in males compared to females were discerned, and no molecular pathways were identified. Effect sizes for sex differences were greater in stress compared to no-stress conditions for ventromedial and ventrolateral prefrontal cortical regions but not dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS Stress amplifies sex differences in gene expression profiles for prefrontal cortical regions involved in stress coping and emotion regulation. Results suggest molecular targets for new treatments of stress disorders in human mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex G Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 1201 Welch Rd MSLS Room P104, Stanford, CA, 94305-5485, USA
| | - Megan Hagenauer
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Devin Absher
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - Kathleen E Morrison
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tracy L Bale
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Richard M Myers
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - Stanley J Watson
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Huda Akil
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Alan F Schatzberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 1201 Welch Rd MSLS Room P104, Stanford, CA, 94305-5485, USA
| | - David M Lyons
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 1201 Welch Rd MSLS Room P104, Stanford, CA, 94305-5485, USA.
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18
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DiCarlo LM, Vied C, Nowakowski RS. The stability of the transcriptome during the estrous cycle in four regions of the mouse brain. J Comp Neurol 2017; 525:3360-3387. [PMID: 28685836 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
We analyzed the transcriptome of the C57BL/6J mouse hypothalamus, hippocampus, neocortex, and cerebellum to determine estrous cycle-specific changes in these four brain regions. We found almost 16,000 genes are present in one or more of the brain areas but only 210 genes, ∼1.3%, are significantly changed as a result of the estrous cycle. The hippocampus has the largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (82), followed by the neocortex (76), hypothalamus (63), and cerebellum (26). Most of these DEGs (186/210) are differentially expressed in only one of the four brain regions. A key finding is the unique expression pattern of growth hormone (Gh) and prolactin (Prl). Gh and Prl are the only DEGs to be expressed during only one stage of the estrous cycle (metestrus). To gain insight into the function of the DEGs, we examined gene ontology and phenotype enrichment and found significant enrichment for genes associated with myelination, hormone stimulus, and abnormal hormone levels. Additionally, 61 of the 210 DEGs are known to change in response to estrogen in the brain. 50 of the 210 genes differentially expressed as a result of the estrous cycle are related to myelin and oligodendrocytes and 12 of the 63 DEGs in the hypothalamus are oligodendrocyte- and myelin-specific genes. This transcriptomic analysis reveals that gene expression in the female mouse brain is remarkably stable during the estrous cycle and demonstrates that the genes that do fluctuate are functionally related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M DiCarlo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Cynthia Vied
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida.,Translational Science Laboratory, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Richard S Nowakowski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
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19
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Bundy JL, Vied C, Nowakowski RS. Sex differences in the molecular signature of the developing mouse hippocampus. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:237. [PMID: 28302071 PMCID: PMC5356301 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3608-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A variety of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, major depressive disorder, dyslexia and autism, are differentially prevalent between females and males. To better understand the possible molecular basis for the sex-biased nature of neurological disorders, we used a developmental series of female and male mice at 1, 2, and 4 months of age to assess both mRNA and protein in the hippocampus with RNA-sequencing and mass-spectrometry, respectively. RESULTS The transcriptomic analysis identifies 2699 genes that are differentially expressed between animals of different ages. The bulk of these differentially expressed genes are changed in both sexes at one or more ages, but a total of 198 transcripts are differentially expressed between females and males at one or more ages. The number of transcripts that are differentially expressed between females and males is greater in adult animals than in younger animals. Additionally, we identify 69 transcripts that show complex and sex-specific patterns of temporal regulation through postnatal development, 8 of which are heat-shock proteins. We also find a modest correlation between levels of mRNA and protein in the mouse hippocampus (Rho = 0.53). CONCLUSION This study adds to the substantial body of evidence for transcriptomic regulation in the hippocampus during postnatal development. Additionally, this analysis reveals sex differences in the transcriptome of the developing mouse hippocampus, and further clarifies the need to include both female and male mice in longitudinal studies involving molecular changes in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L Bundy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Cynthia Vied
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.,Translational Science Laboratory, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Richard S Nowakowski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
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20
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Sex Differences in Drosophila Somatic Gene Expression: Variation and Regulation by doublesex. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2016; 6:1799-808. [PMID: 27172187 PMCID: PMC4938635 DOI: 10.1534/g3.116.027961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in gene expression have been widely studied in Drosophila melanogaster. Sex differences vary across strains, but many molecular studies focus on only a single strain, or on genes that show sexually dimorphic expression in many strains. How extensive variability is and whether this variability occurs among genes regulated by sex determination hierarchy terminal transcription factors is unknown. To address these questions, we examine differences in sexually dimorphic gene expression between two strains in Drosophila adult head tissues. We also examine gene expression in doublesex (dsx) mutant strains to determine which sex-differentially expressed genes are regulated by DSX, and the mode by which DSX regulates expression. We find substantial variation in sex-differential expression. The sets of genes with sexually dimorphic expression in each strain show little overlap. The prevalence of different DSX regulatory modes also varies between the two strains. Neither the patterns of DSX DNA occupancy, nor mode of DSX regulation explain why some genes show consistent sex-differential expression across strains. We find that the genes identified as regulated by DSX in this study are enriched with known sites of DSX DNA occupancy. Finally, we find that sex-differentially expressed genes and genes regulated by DSX are highly enriched on the fourth chromosome. These results provide insights into a more complete pool of potential DSX targets, as well as revealing the molecular flexibility of DSX regulation.
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