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Liskova P, Dudakova L, Evans CJ, Rojas Lopez KE, Pontikos N, Athanasiou D, Jama H, Sach J, Skalicka P, Stranecky V, Kmoch S, Thaung C, Filipec M, Cheetham ME, Davidson AE, Tuft SJ, Hardcastle AJ. Ectopic GRHL2 Expression Due to Non-coding Mutations Promotes Cell State Transition and Causes Posterior Polymorphous Corneal Dystrophy 4. Am J Hum Genet 2018; 102:447-459. [PMID: 29499165 PMCID: PMC5985340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In a large family of Czech origin, we mapped a locus for an autosomal-dominant corneal endothelial dystrophy, posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy 4 (PPCD4), to 8q22.3-q24.12. Whole-genome sequencing identified a unique variant (c.20+544G>T) in this locus, within an intronic regulatory region of GRHL2. Targeted sequencing identified the same variant in three additional previously unsolved PPCD-affected families, including a de novo occurrence that suggests this is a recurrent mutation. Two further unique variants were identified in intron 1 of GRHL2 (c.20+257delT and c.20+133delA) in unrelated PPCD-affected families. GRHL2 is a transcription factor that suppresses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and is a direct transcriptional repressor of ZEB1. ZEB1 mutations leading to haploinsufficiency cause PPCD3. We previously identified promoter mutations in OVOL2, a gene not normally expressed in the corneal endothelium, as the cause of PPCD1. OVOL2 drives mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) by directly inhibiting EMT-inducing transcription factors, such as ZEB1. Here, we demonstrate that the GRHL2 regulatory variants identified in PPCD4-affected individuals induce increased transcriptional activity in vitro. Furthermore, although GRHL2 is not expressed in corneal endothelial cells in control tissue, we detected GRHL2 in the corneal "endothelium" in PPCD4 tissue. These cells were also positive for epithelial markers E-Cadherin and Cytokeratin 7, indicating they have transitioned to an epithelial-like cell type. We suggest that mutations inducing MET within the corneal endothelium are a convergent pathogenic mechanism leading to dysfunction of the endothelial barrier and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Liskova
- Research Unit for Rare Diseases, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Ke Karlovu 2, Prague 128 08, Czech Republic; Department of Ophthalmology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, U Nemocnice 2, Prague 128 08, Czech Republic; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK.
| | - Lubica Dudakova
- Research Unit for Rare Diseases, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Ke Karlovu 2, Prague 128 08, Czech Republic
| | - Cerys J Evans
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Karla E Rojas Lopez
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Nikolas Pontikos
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Dimitra Athanasiou
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Hodan Jama
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Josef Sach
- Institute of Pathology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Faculty Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Srobarova 50, Prague 100 34, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlina Skalicka
- Research Unit for Rare Diseases, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Ke Karlovu 2, Prague 128 08, Czech Republic; Department of Ophthalmology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, U Nemocnice 2, Prague 128 08, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Stranecky
- Research Unit for Rare Diseases, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Ke Karlovu 2, Prague 128 08, Czech Republic
| | - Stanislav Kmoch
- Research Unit for Rare Diseases, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Ke Karlovu 2, Prague 128 08, Czech Republic
| | - Caroline Thaung
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Martin Filipec
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, U Nemocnice 2, Prague 128 08, Czech Republic
| | - Michael E Cheetham
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Alice E Davidson
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Alison J Hardcastle
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
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Chung DD, Frausto RF, Lin BR, Hanser EM, Cohen Z, Aldave AJ. Transcriptomic Profiling of Posterior Polymorphous Corneal Dystrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017; 58:3202-3214. [PMID: 28654985 PMCID: PMC5488878 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-21423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the molecular basis of posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) by examining the PPCD transcriptome and the effect of decreased ZEB1 expression on corneal endothelial cell (CEnC) gene expression. Methods Next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses of corneal endothelium from two PPCD-affected individuals (one with PPCD3 and one of unknown genetic cause) compared with two age-matched controls, and primary human CEnC (pHCEnC) transfected with siRNA-mediated ZEB1 knockdown. The expression of selected differentially expressed genes was validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and/or assessed by in situ hybridization in the corneal endothelium of four independent cases of PPCD (one with PPCD3 and three of unknown genetic cause). Results Expression of 16% and 46% of the 104 protein-coding genes specific to ex vivo corneal endothelium was lost in the endothelium of two individuals with PPCD. Thirty-two genes associated with ZEB1 and 3 genes (BMP4, CCND1, ZEB1) associated with OVOL2 were differentially expressed in the same direction in both individuals with PPCD. Immunohistochemistry staining and RNA-seq analyses demonstrated variable expression of type IV collagens in PPCD corneas. Decreasing ZEB1 expression in pHCEnC altered expression of 711 protein-coding genes, many of which are associated with canonical pathways regulating various cellular processes. Conclusions Identification of the altered transcriptome in PPCD and in a cell-based model of PPCD provided insight into the molecular alterations characterizing PPCD. Further study of the differentially expressed genes associated with ZEB1 and OVOL2 is expected to identify candidate genes for individuals with PPCD and without a ZEB1 or OVOL2 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug D Chung
- Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Ricardo F Frausto
- Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Benjamin R Lin
- Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Evelyn M Hanser
- Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Zack Cohen
- Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Anthony J Aldave
- Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
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Active transforming growth factor-β2 in the aqueous humor of posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy patients. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175509. [PMID: 28414732 PMCID: PMC5393593 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) is characterized by abnormal proliferation of corneal endothelial cells. It was shown that TGF-β2 present in aqueous humor (AH) could help maintaining the corneal endothelium in a G1-phase-arrest state. We wanted to determine whether the levels of this protein are changed in AH of PPCD patients. Methods We determined the concentrations of active TGF-β2 in the AH of 29 PPCD patients (42 samples) and 40 cadaver controls (44 samples) by ELISA. For data analysis the PPCD patients were divided based on either the molecular genetic cause of their disease as PPCD1 (37 samples), PPCD3 (1 sample) and PPCDx (not linked to a known PPCD loci, 4 samples) or on the presence (17 samples) or absence (25 samples) of secondary glaucoma or on whether they had undergone penetrating keratoplasty (PK, 32 samples) or repeated PK (rePK, 7 samples). Results The level of active TGF-β2 in the AH of all PPCD patients (mean ± SD; 386.98 ± 114.88 pg/ml) in comparison to the control group (260.95 ± 112.43 pg/ml) was significantly higher (P = 0.0001). Compared to the control group, a significantly higher level of active TGF-β2 was found in the PPCD1 (P = 0.0005) and PPCDx (P = 0.0022) groups. Among patients the levels of active TGF-β2 were not significantly affected by gender, age, secondary glaucoma or by the progression of dystrophy when one or repeated PK were performed. Conclusion The levels of active TGF-β2 in the AH of PPCD patients are significantly higher than control values, and thus the increased levels of TGF-β2 could be a consequence of the PPCD phenotype and can be considered as another feature characterizing this disease.
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Oliver VF, Vincent AL. The Genetics and Pathophysiology of IC3D Category 1 Corneal Dystrophies: A Review. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2016; 5:272-81. [PMID: 27213768 DOI: 10.1097/apo.0000000000000205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal dystrophies are a group of inherited disorders affecting the cornea, many of which lead to visual impairment. The International Committee for Classification of Corneal Dystrophies has established criteria to clarify the status of the various corneal dystrophies, which include the knowledge of the underlying genetics. In this review, we discuss the International Committee for Classification of Corneal Dystrophies category 1 (second edition) corneal dystrophies, for which a clear genetic link has been established. We highlight the various mechanisms underlying corneal dystrophy pathology, including structural disorganization, instability or maladhesion, aberrant protein stability and deposition, abnormal cellular proliferation or apoptosis, and dysfunction of normal enzymatic processes. Understanding these genetic mechanisms is essential for designing targets for therapeutic intervention, especially in the age of gene therapy and gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verity Frances Oliver
- From the *Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; and †Eye Department, Greenlane Clinical Centre, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
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Davidson A, Liskova P, Evans C, Dudakova L, Nosková L, Pontikos N, Hartmannová H, Hodaňová K, Stránecký V, Kozmík Z, Levis H, Idigo N, Sasai N, Maher G, Bellingham J, Veli N, Ebenezer N, Cheetham M, Daniels J, Thaung C, Jirsova K, Plagnol V, Filipec M, Kmoch S, Tuft S, Hardcastle A. Autosomal-Dominant Corneal Endothelial Dystrophies CHED1 and PPCD1 Are Allelic Disorders Caused by Non-coding Mutations in the Promoter of OVOL2. Am J Hum Genet 2016; 98:75-89. [PMID: 26749309 PMCID: PMC4716680 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy 1 (CHED1) and posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy 1 (PPCD1) are autosomal-dominant corneal endothelial dystrophies that have been genetically mapped to overlapping loci on the short arm of chromosome 20. We combined genetic and genomic approaches to identify the cause of disease in extensive pedigrees comprising over 100 affected individuals. After exclusion of pathogenic coding, splice-site, and copy-number variations, a parallel approach using targeted and whole-genome sequencing facilitated the identification of pathogenic variants in a conserved region of the OVOL2 proximal promoter sequence in the index families (c.−339_361dup for CHED1 and c.−370T>C for PPCD1). Direct sequencing of the OVOL2 promoter in other unrelated affected individuals identified two additional mutations within the conserved proximal promoter sequence (c.−274T>G and c.−307T>C). OVOL2 encodes ovo-like zinc finger 2, a C2H2 zinc-finger transcription factor that regulates mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and acts as a direct transcriptional repressor of the established PPCD-associated gene ZEB1. Interestingly, we did not detect OVOL2 expression in the normal corneal endothelium. Our in vitro data demonstrate that all four mutated OVOL2 promoters exhibited more transcriptional activity than the corresponding wild-type promoter, and we postulate that the mutations identified create cryptic cis-acting regulatory sequence binding sites that drive aberrant OVOL2 expression during endothelial cell development. Our data establish CHED1 and PPCD1 as allelic conditions and show that CHED1 represents the extreme of what can be considered a disease spectrum. They also implicate transcriptional dysregulation of OVOL2 as a common cause of dominantly inherited corneal endothelial dystrophies.
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Liskova P, Evans CJ, Davidson AE, Zaliova M, Dudakova L, Trkova M, Stranecky V, Carnt N, Plagnol V, Vincent AL, Tuft SJ, Hardcastle AJ. Heterozygous deletions at the ZEB1 locus verify haploinsufficiency as the mechanism of disease for posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy type 3. Eur J Hum Genet 2015; 24:985-91. [PMID: 26508574 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2015.232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A substantial proportion of patients with posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) lack a molecular diagnosis. We evaluated 14 unrelated probands who had a clinical diagnosis of PPCD who were previously determined to be negative for mutations in ZEB1 by direct sequencing. A combination of techniques was used including whole-exome sequencing (WES), single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array copy number variation (CNV) analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, and long-range PCR. Segregation of potentially pathogenic changes with disease was confirmed, where possible, in family members. A putative run of homozygosity on chromosome 10 was identified by WES in a three-generation PPCD family, suggestive of a heterozygous deletion. SNP array genotyping followed by long-range PCR and direct sequencing to define the breakpoints confirmed the presence of a large deletion that encompassed multiple genes, including ZEB1. Identification of a heterozygous deletion spanning ZEB1 prompted us to further investigate potential CNVs at this locus in the remaining probands, leading to detection of two additional heterozygous ZEB1 gene deletions. This study demonstrates that ZEB1 mutations account for a larger proportion of PPCD than previously estimated, and supports the hypothesis that haploinsufficiency of ZEB1 is the underlying molecular mechanism of disease for PPCD3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Liskova
- Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Ophthalmology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Marketa Zaliova
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Second Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lubica Dudakova
- Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Trkova
- Gennet, Centre for Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Genetics, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Stranecky
- Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nicole Carnt
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK.,Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - Andrea L Vincent
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Eye Department, Greenlane Clinical Centre, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
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Hübner S, Efthymiadis A. Recent progress in histochemistry and cell biology. Histochem Cell Biol 2012; 137:403-57. [PMID: 22366957 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-012-0933-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Studies published in Histochemistry and Cell Biology in the year 2011 represent once more a manifest of established and newly sophisticated techniques being exploited to put tissue- and cell type-specific molecules into a functional context. The review is therefore the Histochemistry and Cell Biology's yearly intention to provide interested readers appropriate summaries of investigations touching the areas of tissue biology, developmental biology, the biology of the immune system, stem cell research, the biology of subcellular compartments, in order to put the message of such studies into natural scientific-/human- and also pathological-relevant correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Hübner
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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