1
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Zeni C, Komiya Y, Habas R. Formin Binding Protein 1 (FNBP1) regulates non-canonical Wnt signaling and vertebrate gastrulation (12 words). Dev Biol 2024; 515:18-29. [PMID: 38945423 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The Formin protein Daam1 is required for Wnt-induced cytoskeletal changes during gastrulation, though how it accomplishes this remains unresolved. Here we report the characterization of Formin Binding Protein 1 (FNBP1) as a binding partner of Daam1. The interaction of Daam1 with FNBP1 and its domains required for this interaction were delineated. Immunofluorescence studies showed FNBP1 co-localizes with Daam1, and is an integral component of the actin cytoskeletal complex that is responsive to Wnt stimulation. Specifically, FNBP1 can induce intracellular tubule-like structures and localize to focal adhesions suggesting a role for FNBP1 in cell migration. Functional FNBP1 studies in Xenopus embryos uncover a critical role for FNBP1 in regulating vertebrate gastrulation. Additionally, suboptimal doses of Daam1 and FNBP1 synergize to produce severe gastrulation defects, indicating FNBP1 and Daam1 may function within the same signaling pathway. These results together show FNBP1 is an integral component of Daam1-regulated non-canonical Wnt signaling required for vertebrate gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Zeni
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Yuko Komiya
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Raymond Habas
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
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2
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Yoon J, Kumar S, Lee H, Rehman ZU, Park S, Lee U, Kim J. Sizzled (Frzb3) physically interacts with noncanonical Wnt ligands to inhibit gastrulation cell movement. Mol Cells 2024; 47:100068. [PMID: 38759887 PMCID: PMC11225558 DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2024.100068] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The coordinated movement of germ layer progenitor cells reaches its peak at the dorsal side, where the Bmp signaling gradient is low, and minimum at the ventral side, where the Bmp gradient is high. This dynamic cell movement is regulated by the interplay of various signaling pathways. The noncanonical Wnt signaling cascade serves as a pivotal regulator of convergence and extension cell movement, facilitated by the activation of small GTPases such as Rho, Rab, and Rac. However, the underlying cause of limited cell movement at the ventral side remains elusive. To explore the functional role of a key regulator in constraining gastrulation cell movement at the ventral side, we investigated the Bmp4-direct target gene, sizzled (szl), to assess its potential role in inhibiting noncanonical Wnt signaling. In our current study, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of szl led to gastrulation defects in a dose-dependent manner without altering cell fate specification. Overexpression of szl resulted in decreased elongation of Activin-treated animal cap and Keller explants. Furthermore, our immunoprecipitation assay unveiled the physical interaction of Szl with noncanonical Wnt ligand proteins (Wnt5 and Wnt11). Additionally, the activation of small GTPases involved in Wnt signaling mediation (RhoA and Rac1) was diminished upon szl overexpression. In summary, our findings suggest that Bmp4 signaling negatively modulates cell movement from the ventral side of the embryo by inducing szl expression during early Xenopus gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeho Yoon
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Haeryung Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Zia Ur Rehman
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Soochul Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Unjoo Lee
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaebong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do 24252, Republic of Korea
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Carroll SH, Schafer S, Kawasaki K, Tsimbal C, Jule AM, Hallett SA, Li E, Liao EC. Genetic requirement of dact1/2 to regulate noncanonical Wnt signaling and calpain 8 during embryonic convergent extension and craniofacial morphogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.07.566024. [PMID: 37986847 PMCID: PMC10659360 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.07.566024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Wnt signaling plays a crucial role in the early embryonic patterning and development, to regulate convergent extension during gastrulation and the establishment of the dorsal axis. Further, Wnt signaling is a crucial regulator of craniofacial morphogenesis. The adapter proteins Dact1 and Dact2 modulate the Wnt signaling pathway through binding to Disheveled. However, the distinct relative functions of Dact1 and Dact2 during embryogenesis remain unclear. We found that dact1 and dact2 genes have dynamic spatiotemporal expression domains that are reciprocal to one another and to wnt11f2, that suggest distinct functions during zebrafish embryogenesis. We found that both dact1 and dact2 contribute to axis extension, with compound mutants exhibiting a similar convergent extension defect and craniofacial phenotype to the wnt11f2 mutant. Utilizing single-cell RNAseq and gpc4 mutant that disrupts noncanonical Wnt signaling, we identified dact1/2 specific roles during early development. Comparative whole transcriptome analysis between wildtype, gpc4 and dact1/2 mutants revealed a novel role for dact1/2 in regulating the mRNA expression of the classical calpain capn8. Over-expression of capn8 phenocopies dact1/2 craniofacial dysmorphology. These results identify a previously unappreciated role of capn8 and calcium-dependent proteolysis during embryogenesis. Taken together, our findings highlight the distinct and overlapping roles of dact1 and dact2 in embryonic craniofacial development, providing new insights into the multifaceted regulation of Wnt signaling.
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Bu T, Wang L, Wu X, Gao S, Li X, Yun D, Yang X, Li L, Cheng CY, Sun F. The Planar Cell Polarity Protein Fat1 in Sertoli Cell Function. Endocrinology 2024; 165:bqae041. [PMID: 38553880 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqae041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
Fat (FAT atypical cadherin) and Dchs (Dachsous cadherin-related protein) in adjacent Sertoli:Sertoli, Sertoli:spermatid, and spermatid:spermatid interfaces create an important intercellular bridge whose adhesive function is in turn supported by Fjx1, a nonreceptor Ser/Thr protein kinase. This concept is derived from earlier studies of Drosophila, which has been confirmed in this and earlier reports as well. Herein, we use the approach of knockdown of Fat1 by RNAi using primary cultures of Sertoli cells that mimicked the blood-testis barrier (BTB) in vivo, and a series of coherent experiments including functional assays to monitor the Sertoli cell tight junction (TJ) permeability barrier and a functional in vitro TJ integrity assay to assess the role of Fat1 in the testis. It was shown that planar cell polarity (PCP) protein Fat1 affected Sertoli cell function through its modulation of actin and microtubule cytoskeletal function, altering their polymerization activity through the Fat1/Fjx1 complex. Furthermore, Fat1 is intimately associated with β-catenin and α-N-catenin, as well as with Prickle 1 of the Vangl1/Prickle 1 complex, another PCP core protein to support intercellular interactions to confer PCP. In summary, these findings support the notion that the Fat:Dchs and the Vangl2:Fzd PCP intercellular bridges are tightly associated with basal ES/TJ structural proteins to stabilize PCP function at the Sertoli:Sertoli, Sertoli:spermatid, and spermatid:spermatid interface to sustain spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiao Bu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Xiaolong Wu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
| | - Sheng Gao
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Xinyao Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Damin Yun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Xiwen Yang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Linxi Li
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Innovation and Application of Intelligent Radiotherapy Technology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Chuen Yan Cheng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
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5
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Martins-Costa C, Wilson V, Binagui-Casas A. Neuromesodermal specification during head-to-tail body axis formation. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 159:232-271. [PMID: 38729677 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The anterior-to-posterior (head-to-tail) body axis is extraordinarily diverse among vertebrates but conserved within species. Body axis development requires a population of axial progenitors that resides at the posterior of the embryo to sustain elongation and is then eliminated once axis extension is complete. These progenitors occupy distinct domains in the posterior (tail-end) of the embryo and contribute to various lineages along the body axis. The subset of axial progenitors with neuromesodermal competency will generate both the neural tube (the precursor of the spinal cord), and the trunk and tail somites (producing the musculoskeleton) during embryo development. These axial progenitors are called Neuromesodermal Competent cells (NMCs) and Neuromesodermal Progenitors (NMPs). NMCs/NMPs have recently attracted interest beyond the field of developmental biology due to their clinical potential. In the mouse, the maintenance of neuromesodermal competency relies on a fine balance between a trio of known signals: Wnt/β-catenin, FGF signalling activity and suppression of retinoic acid signalling. These signals regulate the relative expression levels of the mesodermal transcription factor Brachyury and the neural transcription factor Sox2, permitting the maintenance of progenitor identity when co-expressed, and either mesoderm or neural lineage commitment when the balance is tilted towards either Brachyury or Sox2, respectively. Despite important advances in understanding key genes and cellular behaviours involved in these fate decisions, how the balance between mesodermal and neural fates is achieved remains largely unknown. In this chapter, we provide an overview of signalling and gene regulatory networks in NMCs/NMPs. We discuss mutant phenotypes associated with axial defects, hinting at the potential significant role of lesser studied proteins in the maintenance and differentiation of the progenitors that fuel axial elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Martins-Costa
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - V Wilson
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - A Binagui-Casas
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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Kimura E, Mongan M, Xiao B, Christianto A, Wang J, Carreira VS, Bolon B, Zhang X, Burns KA, Biesiada J, Medvedovic M, Puga A, Xia Y. MAP3K1 regulates female reproductive tract development. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050669. [PMID: 38501211 PMCID: PMC10985838 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050669] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein 3 kinase 1 (MAP3K1) has a plethora of cell type-specific functions not yet fully understood. Herein, we describe a role for MAP3K1 in female reproductive tract (FRT) development. MAP3K1 kinase domain-deficient female mice exhibited an imperforate vagina, labor failure and infertility. These defects corresponded with shunted Müllerian ducts (MDs), the embryonic precursors of FRT, that manifested as a contorted caudal vagina and abrogated vaginal-urogenital sinus fusion in neonates. The MAP3K1 kinase domain is required for optimal activation of the Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and cell polarity in the MD epithelium, and for upregulation of WNT signaling in the mesenchyme surrounding the caudal MD. The MAP3K1-deficient epithelial cells and MD epithelium had reduced expression of WNT7B ligands. Correspondingly, conditioned media derived from MAP3K1-competent, but not -deficient, epithelial cells activated a TCF/Lef-luciferase reporter in fibroblasts. These observations indicate that MAP3K1 regulates MD caudal elongation and FRT development, in part through the induction of paracrine factors in the epithelium that trans-activate WNT signaling in the mesenchyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiki Kimura
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Maureen Mongan
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Bo Xiao
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Antonius Christianto
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Vinicius S. Carreira
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Brad Bolon
- GEMpath Inc., Longmont, CO 80501-1846, USA
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Katherine A. Burns
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Jacek Biesiada
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Mario Medvedovic
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Alvaro Puga
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
| | - Ying Xia
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
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7
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Bai B, Wan C, Xiao Z, Li D, Liu L, Zhang K, Zhang T, Zhang Q. High Homocysteine-Thiolactone Leads to Reduced MENIN Protein Expression and an Impaired DNA Damage Response: Implications for Neural Tube Defects. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04033-7. [PMID: 38386135 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04033-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
DNA damage is associated with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) and neural tube defects (NTDs). Additionally, HHcy is a risk factor for NTDs. Therefore, this study examined whether DNA damage is involved in HHcy-induced NTDs and investigated the underlying pathological mechanisms involved. Embryonic day 9 (E9) mouse neuroectoderm cells (NE4C) and homocysteine-thiolactone (HTL, active metabolite of Hcy)-induced NTD chicken embryos were studied by Western blotting, immunofluorescence. RNA interference or gene overexpression techniques were employed to investigate the impact of Menin expression changes on the DNA damage. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate the epigenetic regulation of histone modifications. An increase in γH2AX (a DNA damage indicator) was detected in HTL-induced NTD chicken embryos and HTL-treated NE4C, accompanied by dysregulation of phospho-Atr-Chk1-nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. Further investigation, based on previous research, revealed that disruption of NER was subject to the epigenetic regulation of low-expressed Menin-H3K4me3. Overexpression of Menin or supplementation with folic acid in HTL-treated NE4C reversed the adverse effects caused by high HTL. Additionally, by overexpressing the Mars gene, we tentatively propose a mechanism whereby HTL regulates Menin expression through H3K79hcy, which subsequently influences H3K4me3 modifications, reflecting an interaction between histone modifications. Finally, in 10 human fetal NTDs with HHcy, we detected a decrease in the expression of Menin-H3K4me3 and disorder in the NER pathway, which to some extent validated our proposed mechanism. The present study demonstrated that the decreased expression of Menin in high HTL downregulated H3K4me3 modifications, further weakening the Atr-Chk1-NER pathway, resulting in the occurrence of NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoling Bai
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Yabao Road 2, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Chunlei Wan
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, 101101, China
| | - Zonghui Xiao
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Yabao Road 2, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, 101101, China
| | - Lingyun Liu
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Yabao Road 2, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Kexin Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Yabao Road 2, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Yabao Road 2, Beijing, 100020, China.
| | - Qin Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Yabao Road 2, Beijing, 100020, China.
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8
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Li L, Wang L, Zhang L. Therapeutic Potential of Natural Compounds from Herbs and Nutraceuticals in Alleviating Neurological Disorders: Targeting the Wnt Signaling Pathway. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:2411-2433. [PMID: 38284360 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
As an important signaling pathway in multicellular eukaryotes, the Wnt signaling pathway participates in a variety of physiological processes. Recent studies have confirmed that the Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in neurological disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. The regulation of Wnt signaling by natural compounds in herbal medicines and nutraceuticals has emerged as a potential strategy for the development of new drugs for neurological disorders. Purpose: The aim of this review is to evaluate the latest research results on the efficacy of natural compounds derived from herbs and nutraceuticals in the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders by regulating the Wnt pathway in vivo and in vitro. A manual and electronic search was performed for English articles available from PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect from the January 2010 to February 2023. Keywords used for the search engines were "natural products,″ "plant derived products,″ "Wnt+ clinical trials,″ and "Wnt+,″ and/or paired with "natural products″/″plant derived products", and "neurological disorders." A total of 22 articles were enrolled in this review, and a variety of natural compounds from herbal medicine and nutritional foods have been shown to exert therapeutic effects on neurological disorders through the Wnt pathway, including curcumin, resveratrol, and querctrin, etc. These natural products possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic properties, confer neurovascular unit and blood-brain barrier integrity protection, and affect neural stem cell differentiation, synaptic formation, and neurogenesis, to play a therapeutic role in neurological disorders. In various in vivo and in vitro studies and clinical trials, these natural compounds have been shown to be safe and tolerable with few adverse effects. Natural compounds may serve a therapeutic role in neurological disorders by regulating the Wnt pathway. This summary of the research progress of natural compounds targeting the Wnt pathway may provide new insights for the treatment of neurological disorders and potential targets for the development of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning PR China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning PR China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 39 Huaxiang Road, Tiexi District, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning PR China
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9
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Gautam S, Fenner JL, Wang B, Range RC. Evolutionarily conserved Wnt/Sp5 signaling is critical for anterior-posterior axis patterning in sea urchin embryos. iScience 2024; 27:108616. [PMID: 38179064 PMCID: PMC10765061 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies across a diverse group of metazoan embryos indicate that Wnt signaling often activates the transcription factor Sp5, forming a signaling 'cassette' that plays critical roles in many developmental processes. This study explores the role of Wnt/Sp5 signaling during the specification and patterning of the primary germ layers during early anterior-posterior axis formation in the deuterostome sea urchin embryo. Our functional analyses show that Sp5 is critical for endomesoderm specification downstream of Wnt/β-catenin in posterior cells as well as anterior neuroectoderm patterning downstream of non-canonical Wnt/JNK signaling in anterior cells. Interestingly, expression and functional data comparisons show that Wnt/Sp5 signaling often plays similar roles in posterior endomesoderm as well as neuroectoderm patterning along the AP axis of several deuterostome embryos, including vertebrates. Thus, our findings provide strong support for the idea that Wnt-Sp5 signaling cassettes were critical for the establishment of early germ layers in the common deuterostome ancestor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujan Gautam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Fenner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Boyuan Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Ryan C. Range
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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10
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Derrick CJ, Szenker-Ravi E, Santos-Ledo A, Alqahtani A, Yusof A, Eley L, Coleman AHL, Tohari S, Ng AYJ, Venkatesh B, Alharby E, Mansard L, Bonnet-Dupeyron MN, Roux AF, Vaché C, Roume J, Bouvagnet P, Almontashiri NAM, Henderson DJ, Reversade B, Chaudhry B. Functional analysis of germline VANGL2 variants using rescue assays of vangl2 knockout zebrafish. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:150-169. [PMID: 37815931 PMCID: PMC10772043 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental studies have shown that the evolutionarily conserved Wnt Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) pathway is essential for the development of a diverse range of tissues and organs including the brain, spinal cord, heart and sensory organs, as well as establishment of the left-right body axis. Germline mutations in the highly conserved PCP gene VANGL2 in humans have only been associated with central nervous system malformations, and functional testing to understand variant impact has not been performed. Here we report three new families with missense variants in VANGL2 associated with heterotaxy and congenital heart disease p.(Arg169His), non-syndromic hearing loss p.(Glu465Ala) and congenital heart disease with brain defects p.(Arg135Trp). To test the in vivo impact of these and previously described variants, we have established clinically-relevant assays using mRNA rescue of the vangl2 mutant zebrafish. We show that all variants disrupt Vangl2 function, although to different extents and depending on the developmental process. We also begin to identify that different VANGL2 missense variants may be haploinsufficient and discuss evidence in support of pathogenicity. Together, this study demonstrates that zebrafish present a suitable pipeline to investigate variants of unknown significance and suggests new avenues for investigation of the different developmental contexts of VANGL2 function that are clinically meaningful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Derrick
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Adrian Santos-Ledo
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ahlam Alqahtani
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Amirah Yusof
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), A*STAR, 60 Biopolis St, 138672, Singapore
| | - Lorraine Eley
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Alistair H L Coleman
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Sumanty Tohari
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 61 Biopolis Dr, Proteos, 138673, Singapore
| | - Alvin Yu-Jin Ng
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 61 Biopolis Dr, Proteos, 138673, Singapore
- MGI Tech Singapore Pte Ltd, 21 Biopolis Rd, 138567, Singapore
| | - Byrappa Venkatesh
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 61 Biopolis Dr, Proteos, 138673, Singapore
| | - Essa Alharby
- Center for Genetics and Inherited Diseases, Taibah University, 7534 Abdul Muhsin Ibn Abdul Aziz, Al Ihn, Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah 42318, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Janadah Bin Umayyah Road, Tayba, Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah 42353, Saudi Arabia
| | - Luke Mansard
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, 163 Rue Auguste Broussonnet, 34090 Montpellier, France
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, Inserm, 80 Av. Augustin Fliche, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | | | - Anne-Francoise Roux
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, 163 Rue Auguste Broussonnet, 34090 Montpellier, France
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, Inserm, 80 Av. Augustin Fliche, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Christel Vaché
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, 163 Rue Auguste Broussonnet, 34090 Montpellier, France
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, Inserm, 80 Av. Augustin Fliche, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Joëlle Roume
- Département de Génétique, CHI Poissy, St Germain-en-Laye, 10 Rue du Champ Gaillard, 78300 Poissy, France
| | - Patrice Bouvagnet
- CPDPN, Hôpital MFME, CHU de Martinique, Fort de France, Fort-de-France 97261, Martinique, France
| | - Naif A M Almontashiri
- Center for Genetics and Inherited Diseases, Taibah University, 7534 Abdul Muhsin Ibn Abdul Aziz, Al Ihn, Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah 42318, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Janadah Bin Umayyah Road, Tayba, Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah 42353, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deborah J Henderson
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno Reversade
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), A*STAR, 60 Biopolis St, 138672, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 61 Biopolis Dr, Proteos, 138673, Singapore
- Smart-Health Initiative, BESE, KAUST, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Medical Genetics Department, Koç Hospital Davutpaşa Caddesi 34010 Topkapı Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bill Chaudhry
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom
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11
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Boer LL, Winter E, Gorissen B, Oostra RJ. Phenotypically Discordant Anomalies in Conjoined Twins: Quirks of Nature Governed by Molecular Pathways? Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3427. [PMID: 37998563 PMCID: PMC10669976 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13223427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A multitude of additional anomalies can be observed in virtually all types of symmetrical conjoined twins. These concomitant defects can be divided into different dysmorphological patterns. Some of these patterns reveal their etiological origin through their topographical location. The so-called shared anomalies are traceable to embryological adjustments and directly linked to the conjoined-twinning mechanism itself, inherently located within the boundaries of the coalescence area. In contrast, discordant patterns are anomalies present in only one of the twin members, intrinsically distant from the area of union. These dysmorphological entities are much more difficult to place in a developmental perspective, as it is presumed that conjoined twins share identical intra-uterine environments and intra-embryonic molecular and genetic footprints. However, their existence testifies that certain developmental fields and their respective developmental pathways take different routes in members of conjoined twins. This observation remains a poorly understood phenomenon. This article describes 69 cases of external discordant patterns within different types of otherwise symmetrical mono-umbilical conjoined twins and places them in a developmental perspective and a molecular framework. Gaining insights into the phenotypes and underlying (biochemical) mechanisms could potentially pave the way and generate novel etiological visions in the formation of conjoined twins itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas L. Boer
- Department of Medical Imaging, Section Anatomy and Museum for Anatomy and Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Eduard Winter
- Pathologisch-Anatomische Sammlung im Narrenturm-NHM, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ben Gorissen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Section Anatomy and Museum for Anatomy and Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roelof-Jan Oostra
- Department of Medical Biology, Sections Clinical Anatomy & Embryology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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12
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Li C, Furth EE, Rustgi AK, Klein PS. When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It: Wnt Signaling Activates Multiple Pathways through the APC/Axin/GSK-3 Complex. Cells 2023; 12:2256. [PMID: 37759479 PMCID: PMC10528086 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182256] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway is a highly conserved regulator of metazoan development and stem cell maintenance. Activation of Wnt signaling is an early step in diverse malignancies. Work over the past four decades has defined a "canonical" Wnt pathway that is initiated by Wnt proteins, secreted glycoproteins that bind to a surface receptor complex and activate intracellular signal transduction by inhibiting a catalytic complex composed of the classical tumor suppressor Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC), Axin, and Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3). The best characterized effector of this complex is β-catenin, which is stabilized by inhibition of GSK-3, allowing β-catenin entrance to the nucleus and activation of Wnt target gene transcription, leading to multiple cancers when inappropriately activated. However, canonical Wnt signaling through the APC/Axin/GSK-3 complex impinges on other effectors, independently of β-catenin, including the mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), regulators of protein stability, mitotic spindle orientation, and Hippo signaling. This review focuses on these alternative effectors of the canonical Wnt pathway and how they may contribute to cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Li
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Emma E. Furth
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anil K. Rustgi
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Peter S. Klein
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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13
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Gelineau-van Waes J, van Waes MA, Hallgren J, Hulen J, Bredehoeft M, Ashley-Koch AE, Krupp D, Gregory SG, Stessman HA. Gene-nutrient interactions that impact magnesium homeostasis increase risk for neural tube defects in mice exposed to dolutegravir. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1175917. [PMID: 37377737 PMCID: PMC10292217 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1175917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2018, data from a surveillance study in Botswana evaluating adverse birth outcomes raised concerns that women on antiretroviral therapy (ART) containing dolutegravir (DTG) may be at increased risk for neural tube defects (NTDs). The mechanism of action for DTG involves chelation of Mg2+ ions in the active site of the viral integrase. Plasma Mg2+ homeostasis is maintained primarily through dietary intake and reabsorption in the kidneys. Inadequate dietary Mg2+ intake over several months results in slow depletion of plasma Mg2+ and chronic latent hypomagnesemia, a condition prevalent in women of reproductive age worldwide. Mg2+ is critical for normal embryonic development and neural tube closure. We hypothesized that DTG therapy might slowly deplete plasma Mg2+ and reduce the amount available to the embryo, and that mice with pre-existing hypomagnesemia due to genetic variation and/or dietary Mg2+ insufficiency at the time of conception and initiation of DTG treatment would be at increased risk for NTDs. We used two different approaches to test our hypothesis: 1) we selected mouse strains that had inherently different basal plasma Mg2+ levels and 2) placed mice on diets with different concentrations of Mg2+. Plasma and urine Mg2+ were determined prior to timed mating. Pregnant mice were treated daily with vehicle or DTG beginning on the day of conception and embryos examined for NTDs on gestational day 9.5. Plasma DTG was measured for pharmacokinetic analysis. Our results demonstrate that hypomagnesemia prior to conception, due to genetic variation and/or insufficient dietary Mg2+ intake, increases the risk for NTDs in mice exposed to DTG. We also analyzed whole-exome sequencing data from inbred mouse strains and identified 9 predicted deleterious missense variants in Fam111a that were unique to the LM/Bc strain. Human FAM111A variants are associated with hypomagnesemia and renal Mg2+ wasting. The LM/Bc strain exhibits this same phenotype and was the strain most susceptible to DTG-NTDs. Our results suggest that monitoring plasma Mg2+ levels in patients on ART regimens that include DTG, identifying other risk factors that impact Mg2+ homeostasis, and correcting deficiencies in this micronutrient might provide an effective strategy for mitigating NTD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Gelineau-van Waes
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | | | - J. Hallgren
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - J. Hulen
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - M. Bredehoeft
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - A. E. Ashley-Koch
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - D. Krupp
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - S. G. Gregory
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - H. A. Stessman
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
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Caetano da Silva C, Ostertag A, Raman R, Muller M, Cohen-Solal M, Collet C. wnt11f2 Zebrafish, an Animal Model for Development and New Insights in Bone Formation. Zebrafish 2023; 20:1-9. [PMID: 36795617 PMCID: PMC9968865 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2022.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling is a key regulator of osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in humans and animals, mediated by the canonical Wnt/β-catenin and noncanonical signaling pathways. Both pathways are crucial in regulating osteoblastogenesis and bone formation. The zebrafish silberblick (slb) carries a mutation in wnt11f2, a gene that contributes to embryonic morphogenesis; however, its role in bone morphology is unknown. wnt11f2 was originally known as wnt11; it was recently reclassified to avoid confusion in comparative genetics and disease modeling. The goal of this review is to summarize the characterization of the wnt11f2 zebrafish mutant and to deliver some new insights concerning its role in skeletal development. In addition to the previously described defects in early development in this mutant as well as craniofacial dysmorphia, we show an increase in tissue mineral density in the heterozygous mutant that points to a possible role of wnt11f2 in high bone mass phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Caetano da Silva
- INSERM U1132 and Université Paris-Cité, Reference Centre for Rare Bone Diseases, Hospital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - Agnes Ostertag
- INSERM U1132 and Université Paris-Cité, Reference Centre for Rare Bone Diseases, Hospital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - Ratish Raman
- Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration (LOR), GIGA-Research, Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - Marc Muller
- Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration (LOR), GIGA-Research, Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - Martine Cohen-Solal
- INSERM U1132 and Université Paris-Cité, Reference Centre for Rare Bone Diseases, Hospital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - Corinne Collet
- INSERM U1132 and Université Paris-Cité, Reference Centre for Rare Bone Diseases, Hospital Lariboisière, Paris, France.,UF de Génétique Moléculaire, Hôpital Robert Debré, APHP, Paris, France
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