1
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Antounians L, Zani A. Beyond the diaphragm and the lung: a multisystem approach to understanding congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Pediatr Surg Int 2023; 39:194. [PMID: 37160490 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-023-05471-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a birth defect characterized by the incomplete closure of the diaphragm and herniation of abdominal organs into the chest during gestation. This invariably leads to an impairment in fetal lung development (pulmonary hypoplasia) that involves the pulmonary vessels (vascular remodeling) leading to postnatal pulmonary hypertension. Moreover, approximately 60% of CDH survivors have long-term comorbidities, including critical cardiac anomalies, neurodevelopmental impairment, gastroesophageal reflux, and musculoskeletal malformations. While the pathophysiology of the diaphragmatic defect and pulmonary hypoplasia have been studied in detail over the decades, less is known about the other organs affected in CDH. In this review, we searched the literature for reports on other organs beyond the lung and diaphragm in human and experimental models of CDH. We found studies reporting gross morphometric changes and alterations to biological pathways in the heart, brain, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, and musculoskeletal system. Given the paucity of literature and the importance that these comorbidities play in the life of patients with CDH, further studies are needed to comprehensively uncover the pathophysiology of the changes observed in these other organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Antounians
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, M5G 0A4, Canada
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, 1524C-555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Augusto Zani
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, M5G 0A4, Canada.
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, 1524C-555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5T 1P5, Canada.
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2
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Watson MC, Williams C, Wang RM, Perreault LR, Sullivan KE, Stoppel WL, Black LD. Extracellular matrix and cyclic stretch alter fetal cardiomyocyte proliferation and maturation in a rodent model of heart hypoplasia. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:993310. [PMID: 36518682 PMCID: PMC9744115 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.993310] [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: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Birth defects, particularly those that affect development of the heart, are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and young children. Babies born with heart hypoplasia (heart hypoplasia) disorders often have a poor prognosis. It remains unclear whether cardiomyocytes from hypoplastic hearts retain the potential to recover growth, although this knowledge would be beneficial for developing therapies for heart hypoplasia disorders. The objective of this study was to determine the proliferation and maturation potential of cardiomyocytes from hypoplastic hearts and whether these behaviors are influenced by biochemical signaling from the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cyclic mechanical stretch. Method Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)-associated heart hypoplasia was induced in rat fetuses by maternal exposure to nitrofen. Hearts were isolated from embryonic day 21 nitrofen-treated fetuses positive for CDH (CDH+) and from fetuses without nitrofen administration during gestation. Results and discussion CDH+ hearts were smaller and had decreased myocardial proliferation, along with evidence of decreased maturity compared to healthy hearts. In culture, CDH+ cardiomyocytes remained immature and demonstrated increased proliferative capacity compared to their healthy counterparts. Culture on ECM derived from CDH+ hearts led to a significant reduction in proliferation for both CDH+ and healthy cardiomyocytes. Healthy cardiomyocytes were dosed with exogenous nitrofen to examine whether nitrofen may have an aberrant effect on the proliferative ability of cardiomyocyte, yet no significant change in proliferation was observed. When subjected to stretch, CDH+ cardiomyocytes underwent lengthening of sarcomeres while healthy cardiomyocyte sarcomeres were unaffected. Taken together, our results suggest that alterations to environmental cues such as ECM and stretch may be important factors in the pathological progression of heart hypoplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C. Watson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Corin Williams
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Raymond M. Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Luke R. Perreault
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Kelly E. Sullivan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Whitney L. Stoppel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Lauren D. Black
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
- Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Program, Sackler School for Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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3
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Marulanda K, Tsihlis ND, McLean SE, Kibbe MR. Emerging antenatal therapies for congenital diaphragmatic hernia-induced pulmonary hypertension in preclinical models. Pediatr Res 2021; 89:1641-1649. [PMID: 33038872 PMCID: PMC8035353 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-01191-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)-related deaths are the largest contributor to in-hospital neonatal deaths in children with congenital malformations. Morbidity and mortality in CDH are directly related to the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Current treatment consists of supportive measures. To date, no pharmacotherapy has been shown to effectively reverse the hallmark finding of pulmonary vascular remodeling that is associated with pulmonary hypertension in CDH (CDH-PH). As such, there is a great need for novel therapies to effectively manage CDH-PH. Our review aims to evaluate emerging therapies, and specifically focuses on those that are still under investigation and not approved for clinical use by the Food and Drug Administration. Therapies were categorized into antenatal pharmacotherapies or antenatal regenerative therapies and assessed on their method of administration, safety profile, the effect on pulmonary vascular pathophysiology, and overall efficacy. In general, emerging antenatal pharmaceutical and regenerative treatments primarily aim to alleviate pulmonary vascular remodeling by restoring normal function and levels of key regulatory factors involved in pulmonary vascular development and/or in promoting angiogenesis. Overall, while these emerging therapies show great promise for the management of CDH-PH, most require further assessment of safety and efficacy in preclinical models before translation into the clinical setting. IMPACT: Emerging antenatal therapies for congenital diaphragmatic hernia-induced pulmonary hypertension (CDH-PH) show promise to effectively mitigate vascular remodeling in preclinical models. Further investigation is needed in preclinical and human studies to evaluate safety and efficacy prior to translation into the clinical arena. This review offers a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of emerging therapies currently under investigation in experimental animal models. There is no cure for CDH-PH. This review explores emerging therapeutic options for the treatment of CDH-PH and evaluates their impact on key molecular pathways and clinical markers of disease to determine efficacy in the preclinical stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Marulanda
- Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Nick D Tsihlis
- Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sean E McLean
- Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Melina R Kibbe
- Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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4
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Mous DS, Buscop-van Kempen MJ, Wijnen RMH, Tibboel D, Morty RE, Rottier RJ. Opposing Effects of TGFβ and BMP in the Pulmonary Vasculature in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:642577. [PMID: 33777983 PMCID: PMC7991367 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.642577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Pulmonary hypertension is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Mutations in several genes that encode signaling molecules of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathways have previously been associated with CDH. Since studies on the activation of these pathways in CDH are scarce, and have yielded inconsistent conclusions, the downstream activity of both pathways was assessed in the nitrofen-CDH rat model. Methods and Results: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with nitrofen at embryonic day (E) 9.5 to induce CDH in offspring. At E21, lungs were screened for the expression of key factors of both signaling pathways, at both the mRNA transcript and protein levels. Subsequently, paying particular attention to the pulmonary vasculature, increased phosphorylation of SMAD2, and decreased phosphorylation of Smad5 was noted in the muscular walls of small pulmonary vessels, by immunohistochemistry. This was accompanied by increased proliferation of constituent cells of the smooth muscle layer of these vessels. Conclusions: Increased activation of the TGFβ pathway and decreased activation of the BMP pathway in the pulmonary vasculature of rats with experimentally-induced CDH, suggesting that the deregulated of these important signaling pathways may underlie the development of pulmonary hypertension in CDH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne S Mous
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marjon J Buscop-van Kempen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rene M H Wijnen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dick Tibboel
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rory E Morty
- Department of Lung Development and Remodelling, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine (Pulmonology), University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Giessen, Germany
| | - Robbert J Rottier
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Gonçalves AN, Correia-Pinto J, Nogueira-Silva C. ROBO2 signaling in lung development regulates SOX2/SOX9 balance, branching morphogenesis and is dysregulated in nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Respir Res 2020; 21:302. [PMID: 33208157 PMCID: PMC7672875 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-020-01568-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Characterized by abnormal lung growth or maturation, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) affects 1:3000 live births. Cellular studies report proximal (SOX2+) and distal (SOX9+) progenitor cells as key modulators of branching morphogenesis and epithelial differentiation, whereas transcriptome studies demonstrate ROBO/SLIT as potential therapeutic targets for diaphragm defect repair in CDH. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that (a) experimental-CDH could changes the expression profile of ROBO1, ROBO2, SOX2 and SOX9; and (b) ROBO1 or ROBO2 receptors are regulators of branching morphogenesis and SOX2/SOX9 balance. Methods The expression profile for receptors and epithelial progenitor markers were assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry in a nitrofen-induced CDH rat model. Immunohistochemistry signals by pulmonary structure were also quantified from embryonic-to-saccular stages in normal and hypoplastic lungs. Ex vivo lung explant cultures were harvested at E13.5, cultures during 4 days and treated with increasing doses of recombinant rat ROBO1 or human ROBO2 Fc Chimera proteins for ROBO1 and ROBO2 inhibition, respectively. The lung explants were analyzed morphometrically and ROBO1, ROBO2, SOX2, SOX9, BMP4, and β-Catenin were quantified by Western blot. Results Experimental-CDH induces distinct expression profiles by pulmonary structure and developmental stage for both receptors (ROBO1 and ROBO2) and epithelial progenitor markers (SOX2 and SOX9) that provide evidence of the impairment of proximodistal patterning in experimental-CDH. Ex vivo functional studies showed unchanged branching morphogenesis after ROBO1 inhibition; increased fetal lung growth after ROBO2 inhibition in a mechanism-dependent on SOX2 depletion and overexpression of SOX9, non-phospho β-Catenin, and BMP4. Conclusions These studies provided evidence of receptors and epithelial progenitor cells which are severely affected by CDH-induction from embryonic-to-saccular stages and established the ROBO2 inhibition as promoter of branching morphogenesis through SOX2/SOX9 balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana N Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Jorge Correia-Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cristina Nogueira-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Gualtar, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal.
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Montalva L, Antounians L, Zani A. Pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital diaphragmatic hernia: factors and pathways involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling. Pediatr Res 2019; 85:754-768. [PMID: 30780153 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-019-0345-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a severe birth defect that is characterized by pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension (PHTN). PHTN secondary to CDH is a result of vascular remodeling, a structural alteration in the pulmonary vessel wall that occurs in the fetus. Factors involved in vascular remodeling have been reported in several studies, but their interactions remain unclear. To help understand PHTN pathophysiology and design novel preventative and treatment strategies, we have conducted a systematic review of the literature and comprehensively analyzed all factors and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary vascular remodeling secondary to CDH in the nitrofen model. Moreover, we have linked the dysregulated factors with pathways involved in human CDH. Of the 358 full-text articles screened, 75 studies reported factors that play a critical role in vascular remodeling secondary to CDH. Overall, the impairment of epithelial homeostasis present in pulmonary hypoplasia results in altered signaling to endothelial cells, leading to endothelial dysfunction. This causes an impairment of the crosstalk between endothelial cells and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, resulting in increased smooth muscle cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, and vasoconstriction, which clinically translate into PHTN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Montalva
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lina Antounians
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Augusto Zani
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. .,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
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Assessment of the nitrofen model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and of the dysregulated factors involved in pulmonary hypoplasia. Pediatr Surg Int 2019; 35:41-61. [PMID: 30386897 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-018-4375-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To study pulmonary hypoplasia (PH) associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), investigators have been employing a fetal rat model based on nitrofen administration to dams. Herein, we aimed to: (1) investigate the validity of the model, and (2) synthesize the main biological pathways implicated in the development of PH associated with CDH. METHODS Using a defined strategy, we conducted a systematic review of the literature searching for studies reporting the incidence of CDH or factors involved in PH development. We also searched for PH factor interactions, relevance to lung development and to human PH. RESULTS Of 335 full-text articles, 116 reported the incidence of CDH after nitrofen exposure or dysregulated factors in the lungs of nitrofen-exposed rat fetuses. CDH incidence: 54% (27-85%) fetuses developed a diaphragmatic defect, whereas the whole litter had PH in varying degrees. Downregulated signaling pathways included FGF/FGFR, BMP/BMPR, Sonic Hedgehog and retinoid acid signaling pathway, resulting in a delay in early epithelial differentiation, immature distal epithelium and dysfunctional mesenchyme. CONCLUSIONS The nitrofen model effectively reproduces PH as it disrupts pathways that are critical for lung branching morphogenesis and alveolar differentiation. The low CDH rate confirms that PH is an associated phenomenon rather than the result of mechanical compression alone.
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8
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Zimmer J, Takahashi T, Hofmann AD, Puri P. Downregulation of Forkhead box F1 gene expression in the pulmonary vasculature of nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Pediatr Surg Int 2016; 32:1121-1126. [PMID: 27663689 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-016-3967-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE High mortality and morbidity in infants born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are attributed to pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension (PH). Forkhead box (Fox) transcription factors are known to be crucial for cell proliferation and homeostasis. FoxF1 is essential for lung morphogenesis, vascular development, and endothelial proliferation. Mutations in FoxF1 and also the Fox family member FoxC2 have been identified in neonates with PH. In human and experimental models of arterial PH, the Fox protein FoxO1 was found to be downregulated. We hypothesized that Fox expression is altered in the lungs of the nitrofen-induced CDH rat model and investigated the expression of FoxF1, FoxC2, and FoxO1. METHODS Following ethical approval (Rec 913b), time-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received nitrofen or vehicle on gestational day (D9). Fetuses were sacrificed on D21, inspected for CDH and divided into CDH (n = 11) and control group (n = 11). Gene expression of FoxF1, FoxC2, and FoxO1 was evaluated with qRT-PCR. Detected alterations of mRNA levels were subsequently assessed on the protein level by performing western blot analysis and laser scanning confocal microscopy. RESULTS The relative mRNA level of FoxF1 was significantly downregulated in CDH lungs compared to controls (FoxF1 CDH 1.047 ± 0.108, FoxF1 Ctrl 1.419 ± 0.01, p = 0.014). Relative mRNA levels of FoxC2 and FoxO1 were not found to be altered between the experimental groups (FoxC2 CDH 30.74 ± 8.925, FoxC2 Ctrl 27.408 ± 7.487, p = 0.776; FoxO1 CDH 0.011 ± 0.002, FoxO1 Ctrl 0.011 ± 0.001, p = 0.809). On the protein level, western blotting demonstrated a reduced pulmonary protein expression of FoxF1 in CDH lungs. Confocal microscopy showed a markedly diminished expression of FoxF1 in the pulmonary vasculature of CDH lungs compared to controls. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates a strikingly reduced expression of FoxF1 in the pulmonary vasculature of nitrofen-induced CDH. Altered FoxF1 gene expression during embryogenesis may participate in vascular maldevelopment resulting in PH in this animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Zimmer
- National Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Gate 5, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - T Takahashi
- National Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Gate 5, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - A D Hofmann
- National Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Gate 5, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Prem Puri
- National Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Gate 5, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland. .,School of Medicine and Medical Science and Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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9
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Varisco BM, Sbragia L, Chen J, Scorletti F, Joshi R, Wong HR, Lopes-Figueira R, Oria M, Peiro J. Excessive Reversal of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Ephrin Signaling Following Tracheal Occlusion in Rabbit Model of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. Mol Med 2016; 22:398-411. [PMID: 27452320 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2016.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) causes severe pulmonary hypoplasia from herniation of abdominal contents into the thorax. Tracheal occlusion (TO) for human CDH improves survival, but morbidity and mortality remain high, and we do not fully understand the cellular pathways and processes most severely impacted by CDH and TO. We created a left diaphragmatic hernia (DH) in rabbit fetuses with subsequent TO and collected left lung sections for NextGen mRNA sequencing. DH, TO, and DHTO fetuses had comparable body and organ growth to control except for lower lung weights in DH (p<0.05). Of 13,687 expressed genes, DHTO had 687 differentially expressed genes compared to DH, but no other group-group comparison had more than 10. Considering genes in combination, many of the genes reduced in DH were more highly expressed in DHTO than in control. Benchmarking fetal rabbit lung gene expression to published lung development data, both DH and DHTO lungs were more highly correlated with the gene expression of immature lung. DNA synthesis was upregulated in DHTO compared to DH and ribosome and protein synthesis pathways were downregulated. DH reduced total and epithelial cell proliferation by half and two-thirds respectively, and DHTO increased proliferation by 2.5 and 3.4-fold respectively. Signaling pathways downregulated by DH and upregulated in DHTO were epidermal growth factor receptor signaling, ephrin signaling, and cell migration; however, levels of ephrin and EGFR signaling in DHTO exceeded that of control. Identification and inhibition of the ligands responsible for this dysregulated signaling could improve lung development in CDH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Varisco
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Division of Critical Care Medicine
| | - Lourenco Sbragia
- CCHMC Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery.,The Center for Fetal, Cellular, and Molecular Therapy (CCHMC)
| | - Jing Chen
- CCHMC Division of Biomedical Informatics
| | - Federico Scorletti
- CCHMC Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery.,The Center for Fetal, Cellular, and Molecular Therapy (CCHMC)
| | - Rashika Joshi
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Division of Critical Care Medicine
| | - Hector R Wong
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Division of Critical Care Medicine
| | - Rebecca Lopes-Figueira
- CCHMC Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery.,The Center for Fetal, Cellular, and Molecular Therapy (CCHMC)
| | - Marc Oria
- CCHMC Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery.,The Center for Fetal, Cellular, and Molecular Therapy (CCHMC)
| | - Jose Peiro
- CCHMC Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery.,The Center for Fetal, Cellular, and Molecular Therapy (CCHMC)
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10
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Maruyama H, Dewachter C, Sakai S, Belhaj A, Rondelet B, Remmelink M, Vachiéry JL, Naeije R, Dewachter L. Bosentan reverses the hypoxia-induced downregulation of the bone morphogenetic protein signaling in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Life Sci 2016; 159:111-115. [PMID: 27188586 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2016.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of chronic hypoxic lung diseases. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and endothelin-1 signaling pathways have been shown to be altered in hypoxic PH and to play crucial roles in the associated pulmonary artery remodeling. We, therefore, aimed to study the potential link between hypoxia and the alteration of BMP and endothelin-1 signaling observed in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) in hypoxic PH. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human PA-SMCs were treated with hypoxia-mimetic agent cobalt chloride (CoCl2; 100μM), with or without pretreatment with a dual endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan (10μM). Expressions of preproendothelin-1 (PPET1), BMP type 2 receptor (BMPR-2), and one BMP signaling target gene, the inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1) were evaluated by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. BMP2-treated PA-SMCs were assessed for Smad1/5/8 signaling activation by Western Blotting. KEY FINDINGS Treatment of PA-SMCs with CoCl2 increased PPET1 gene expression, while it did not alter expressions of endothelin converting enzyme, endothelin receptor type A or type B. Hypoxia-mimetic agent CoCl2 decreased the expressions of BMPR-2 and ID1 maximally after 3- and 6-hour treatment respectively, while CoCl2 treatment progressively increased noggin expression. Bosentan pretreatment restored expressions of BMPR-2 and ID1, as well as the activation (by phosphorylation) of Smad1/5/8 signaling induced by BMP2. SIGNIFICANCE Hypoxia induces the downregulation of the BMP signaling in PA-SMCs, at least, partly through the endothelin system. In hypoxic PH, increased endothelin-1 production might therefore contribute to the altered BMP signaling and subsequent PA-SMC hyperplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidekazu Maruyama
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium,.
| | - Céline Dewachter
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Satoshi Sakai
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Asmae Belhaj
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Erasmus University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Benoit Rondelet
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Erasmus University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Myriam Remmelink
- Department of Anatomopathology, Erasmus University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Luc Vachiéry
- Department of Cardiology, Erasmus University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robert Naeije
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Dewachter
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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11
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Hopper RK, Abman SH, Ivy DD. Persistent Challenges in Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension. Chest 2016; 150:226-36. [PMID: 26836930 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Revised: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 01/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension and related pulmonary vascular diseases cause significant morbidities and high mortality and present many unique challenges toward improving outcomes in neonates, infants, and children. Differences between pediatric and adult disease are reflected in controversies regarding etiologies, classification, epidemiology, diagnostic evaluations, and therapeutic interventions. This brief review highlights several key topics reflecting recent advances in the field and identifies persistent gaps in our understanding of clinical pediatric pulmonary hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K Hopper
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
| | - Steven H Abman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - D Dunbar Ivy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
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Engels AC, Brady PD, Kammoun M, Finalet Ferreiro J, DeKoninck P, Endo M, Toelen J, Vermeesch JR, Deprest J. Pulmonary transcriptome analysis in the surgically induced rabbit model of diaphragmatic hernia treated with fetal tracheal occlusion. Dis Model Mech 2016; 9:221-8. [PMID: 26744354 PMCID: PMC4770142 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.021626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a malformation leading to pulmonary hypoplasia, which can be treated in utero by fetal tracheal occlusion (TO). However, the changes of gene expression induced by TO remain largely unknown but could be used to further improve the clinically used prenatal treatment of this devastating malformation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the pulmonary transcriptome changes caused by surgical induction of diaphragmatic hernia (DH) and additional TO in the fetal rabbit model. Induction of DH was associated with 378 upregulated genes compared to controls when allowing a false-discovery rate (FDR) of 0.1 and a fold change (FC) of 2. Those genes were again downregulated by consecutive TO. But DH+TO was associated with an upregulation of 157 genes compared to DH and controls. When being compared to control lungs, 106 genes were downregulated in the DH group and were not changed by TO. Therefore, the overall pattern of gene expression in DH+TO is more similar to the control group than to the DH group. In this study, we further provide a database of gene expression changes induced by surgical creation of DH and consecutive TO in the rabbit model. Future treatment strategies could be developed using this dataset. We also discuss the most relevant genes that are involved in CDH. Summary: Rabbit fetuses with induced diaphragmatic hernia and treated with prenatal tracheal occlusion have a similar pulmonary transcriptome as unaffected controls. This study describes a valuable database of gene expressions in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C Engels
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ System Cluster, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division Woman and Child, University Hospitals KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul D Brady
- Department of Human Genetics, Centre for Human Genetics, University Hospitals KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Molka Kammoun
- Department of Human Genetics, Centre for Human Genetics, University Hospitals KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Julio Finalet Ferreiro
- Department of Human Genetics, Centre for Human Genetics, University Hospitals KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philip DeKoninck
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ System Cluster, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division Woman and Child, University Hospitals KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Masayuki Endo
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ System Cluster, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jaan Toelen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ System Cluster, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Clinical Department of Pediatrics, Division Woman and Child, University Hospitals KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joris R Vermeesch
- Department of Human Genetics, Centre for Human Genetics, University Hospitals KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Deprest
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ System Cluster, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division Woman and Child, University Hospitals KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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13
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Makanga M, Maruyama H, Dewachter C, Da Costa AM, Hupkens E, de Medina G, Naeije R, Dewachter L. Prevention of pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary vascular remodeling by antenatal simvastatin treatment in nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2015; 308:L672-82. [PMID: 25617377 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00345.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has a high mortality rate mainly due to lung hypoplasia and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Simvastatin has been shown to prevent the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in experimental models of PH. We, therefore, hypothesized that antenatal simvastatin would attenuate PPHN in nitrofen-induced CDH in rats. The efficacy of antenatal simvastatin was compared with antenatal sildenafil, which has already been shown to improve pathological features of PPHN in nitrofen-induced CDH. On embryonic day (E) 9.5, nitrofen or vehicle was administered to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats. On E11, nitrofen-treated rats were randomly assigned to antenatal simvastatin (20 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1) orally), antenatal sildenafil (100 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1) orally), or placebo administration from E11 to E21. On E21, fetuses were delivered by cesarean section, killed, and checked for left-sided CDH. Lung tissue was then harvested for further pathobiological evaluation. In nitrofen-induced CDH, simvastatin failed to reduce the incidence of nitrofen-induced CDH in the offspring and to increase the body weight, but improved the lung-to-body weight ratio and lung parenchyma structure. Antenatal simvastatin restored the pulmonary vessel density and external diameter, and reduced the pulmonary arteriolar remodeling compared with nitrofen-induced CDH. This was associated with decreased lung expression of endothelin precursor, endothelin type A and B receptors, endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase, together with restored lung activation of apoptotic processes mainly in the epithelium. Antenatal simvastatin presented similar effects as antenatal therapy with sildenafil on nitrofen-induced CDH. Antenatal simvastatin improves pathological features of lung hypoplasia and PPHN in experimental nitrofen-induced CDH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Makanga
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Hidekazu Maruyama
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Celine Dewachter
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Agnès Mendes Da Costa
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Emeline Hupkens
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Geoffrey de Medina
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Robert Naeije
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Laurence Dewachter
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
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Emmerton-Coughlin HMA, Martin KK, Chiu JSS, Zhao L, Scott LA, Regnault TRH, Bütter A. BMP4 and LGL1 are Down Regulated in an Ovine Model of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. Front Surg 2014; 1:44. [PMID: 25593968 PMCID: PMC4286986 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2014.00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Purpose: The molecular pathophysiology of lung hypoplasia in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains poorly understood. The Wnt signaling pathway and downstream targets, such as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) 4 and other factors such as late gestation lung protein 1 (LGL1), are essential to normal lung development. Nitrofen-induced hypoplastic CDH rodent lungs demonstrate down regulation of the Wnt pathway including BMP4 and reduced LGL1 expression. The aim of the current study was to examine the molecular pathophysiology associated with a surgically induced CDH in an ovine model. Methods: Left thoracotomy was performed at 80 days in 14 fetal sheep; CDH was created in seven experimental animals. Lungs were harvested at 136 days (term = 145 days). Lung weight (LW) and mean terminal bronchiole density (MTBD) were measured to determine the degree of pulmonary hypoplasia. Quantitative real time PCR was undertaken to analyze Wnt2, Wnt7b, BMP4, and LGL1 mRNA expression. Results: Total LW was decreased while MTBD was increased in the CDH group (p < 0.05), confirming pulmonary hypoplasia. BMP4 and LGL1 mRNA was significantly reduced in CDH lungs (p < 0.05). Wnt2 mRNA was decreased, although not significantly (p < 0.06). Conclusion: For the first time, down regulation of BMP4 and LGL1 are reported in an ovine CDH model. In contrast to other animal models, these changes are persistent to near term. These findings suggest that mechanical compression from herniated viscera may play a more important role in causing pulmonary hypoplasia in CDH, rather than a primary defect in lung organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K Kathryn Martin
- Division of General Surgery, London Health Sciences Centre, The University of Western Ontario , London, ON , Canada
| | - Jacky S S Chiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, London Health Sciences Centre, The University of Western Ontario , London, ON , Canada
| | - Lin Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, London Health Sciences Centre, The University of Western Ontario , London, ON , Canada
| | - Leslie A Scott
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital, The University of Western Ontario , London, ON , Canada
| | - Timothy R H Regnault
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, London Health Sciences Centre, The University of Western Ontario , London, ON , Canada ; Children's Health Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario , London, ON , Canada ; Lawson Health Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario , London, ON , Canada
| | - Andreana Bütter
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital, The University of Western Ontario , London, ON , Canada ; Lawson Health Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario , London, ON , Canada
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