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Leal H, Carvalhas-Almeida C, Álvaro AR, Cavadas C. Modeling hypothalamic pathophysiology in vitro for metabolic, circadian, and sleep disorders. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2024; 35:505-517. [PMID: 38307813 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The hypothalamus, a small and intricate brain structure, orchestrates numerous neuroendocrine functions through specialized neurons and nuclei. Disruption of this complex circuitry can result in various diseases, including metabolic, circadian, and sleep disorders. Advances in in vitro models and their integration with new technologies have significantly benefited research on hypothalamic function and pathophysiology. We explore existing in vitro hypothalamic models and address their challenges and limitations as well as translational findings. We also highlight how collaborative efforts among multidisciplinary teams are essential to develop relevant and translational experimental models capable of replicating intricate neural circuits and neuroendocrine pathways, thereby advancing our understanding of therapeutic targets and drug discovery in hypothalamus-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Leal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Catarina Carvalhas-Almeida
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Álvaro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Cavadas
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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2
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Chinnaiya K, Placzek M. A Methodology for the Enzymatic Isolation of Embryonic Hypothalamus Tissue and Its Acute or Post-Culture Analysis by Multiplex Hybridisation Chain Reaction. Bio Protoc 2023; 13:e4898. [PMID: 38125731 PMCID: PMC10730952 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4898] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus is an evolutionarily ancient part of the vertebrate ventral forebrain that integrates the dialogue between environment, peripheral body, and brain to centrally govern an array of physiologies and behaviours. Characterizing the mechanisms that control hypothalamic development illuminates both hypothalamic organization and function. Critical to the ability to unravel such mechanisms is the skill to isolate hypothalamic tissue, enabling both its acute analysis and its analysis after explant and culture. Tissue explants, in which cells develop in a manner analogous to their in vivo counterparts, are a highly effective tool to investigate the extrinsic signals and tissue-intrinsic self-organising features that drive hypothalamic development. The hypothalamus, however, is induced and patterned at neural tube stages of development, when the tissue is difficult to isolate, and its resident cells complex to define. No single molecular marker distinguishes early hypothalamic progenitor subsets from other cell types in the neural tube, and so their accurate dissection requires the simultaneous analysis of multiple proteins or mRNAs, techniques that were previously limited by antibody availability or were arduous to perform. Here, we overcome these challenges. We describe methodologies to precisely isolate early hypothalamic tissue from the embryonic chick at three distinct patterning stages and to culture hypothalamic explants in three-dimensional gels. We then describe optimised protocols for the analysis of embryos, isolated embryonic tissue, or cultured hypothalamic explants by multiplex hybridisation chain reaction. These methods can be applied to other vertebrates, including mouse, and to other tissue types. Key features • Detailed protocols for enzymatic isolation of embryonic chick hypothalamus at three patterning stages; methods can be extended to other vertebrates and tissues. • Brief methodologies for three-dimensional culture of hypothalamic tissue explants. • Optimised protocols for multiplex hybridisation chain reaction for analysis of embryos, isolated embryonic tissues, or explants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marysia Placzek
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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3
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Huang H, Chen Q, Xu Z, Liu F. FGF3 Directs the Pathfinding of Prethalamic GABAergic Axons. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14998. [PMID: 37834446 PMCID: PMC10573444 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914998] [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: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The thalamus plays a crucial role in ensuring the faithful transfer of sensory information, except olfactory signals, to corresponding cortical areas. However, thalamic function is not simply restricted to relaying information to and from the cerebral cortex. The ability to modulate the flow of sensory information is supported by a second abundant neuronal type in the prethalamus, the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) neurons, which project inhibitory GABAergic axons to dorsal thalamic glutamatergic neurons. Interestingly, during the trajectory of pioneer prethalamic axons, morphogen fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-3 is expressed in the ventral chick hypothalamus. Using in vitro analyses in chick explants, we identify a chemorepellent effect of FGF3 on nearby prethalamic GABAergic axons. Furthermore, inhibition of FGF3 guidance functions indicates that FGF3 signaling is necessary to navigate prethalamic axons correctly. Gene expression analyses and loss of function studies demonstrate that FGF3 mediates prethalamic axonal guidance through the downstream pathway of the FGF receptor (FGFR)-1. Together, these results suggest that FGF3 expressed in the hypothalamus functions as a chemorepellent molecule to direct the pathway selection of neighboring GABAergic axons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Huang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Medical Experimental Teaching Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Qingyi Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Medical Experimental Teaching Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Zhengang Xu
- Medical Experimental Teaching Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Medical Experimental Teaching Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
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4
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Makrygianni EA, Chrousos GP. Neural Progenitor Cells and the Hypothalamus. Cells 2023; 12:1822. [PMID: 37508487 PMCID: PMC10378393 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141822] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) capable of self-renewing and differentiating into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. In the postnatal/adult brain, NPCs are primarily located in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles (LVs) and subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). There is evidence that NPCs are also present in the postnatal/adult hypothalamus, a highly conserved brain region involved in the regulation of core homeostatic processes, such as feeding, metabolism, reproduction, neuroendocrine integration and autonomic output. In the rodent postnatal/adult hypothalamus, NPCs mainly comprise different subtypes of tanycytes lining the wall of the 3rd ventricle. In the postnatal/adult human hypothalamus, the neurogenic niche is constituted by tanycytes at the floor of the 3rd ventricle, ependymal cells and ribbon cells (showing a gap-and-ribbon organization similar to that in the SVZ), as well as suprachiasmatic cells. We speculate that in the postnatal/adult human hypothalamus, neurogenesis occurs in a highly complex, exquisitely sophisticated neurogenic niche consisting of at least four subniches; this structure has a key role in the regulation of extrahypothalamic neurogenesis, and hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic neural circuits, partly through the release of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, extracellular vesicles (EVs) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Evanthia A Makrygianni
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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5
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Chinnaiya K, Burbridge S, Jones A, Kim DW, Place E, Manning E, Groves I, Sun C, Towers M, Blackshaw S, Placzek M. A neuroepithelial wave of BMP signalling drives anteroposterior specification of the tuberal hypothalamus. eLife 2023; 12:e83133. [PMID: 36718990 PMCID: PMC9917434 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The tuberal hypothalamus controls life-supporting homeostatic processes, but despite its fundamental role, the cells and signalling pathways that specify this unique region of the central nervous system in embryogenesis are poorly characterised. Here, we combine experimental and bioinformatic approaches in the embryonic chick to show that the tuberal hypothalamus is progressively generated from hypothalamic floor plate-like cells. Fate-mapping studies show that a stream of tuberal progenitors develops in the anterior-ventral neural tube as a wave of neuroepithelial-derived BMP signalling sweeps from anterior to posterior through the hypothalamic floor plate. As later-specified posterior tuberal progenitors are generated, early specified anterior tuberal progenitors become progressively more distant from these BMP signals and differentiate into tuberal neurogenic cells. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments in vivo and ex vivo show that BMP signalling initiates tuberal progenitor specification, but must be eliminated for these to progress to anterior neurogenic progenitors. scRNA-Seq profiling shows that tuberal progenitors that are specified after the major period of anterior tuberal specification begin to upregulate genes that characterise radial glial cells. This study provides an integrated account of the development of the tuberal hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavitha Chinnaiya
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of Sheffield, SheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Sarah Burbridge
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of Sheffield, SheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Aragorn Jones
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of Sheffield, SheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Dong Won Kim
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Elsie Place
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of Sheffield, SheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Manning
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of Sheffield, SheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Ian Groves
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of Sheffield, SheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Changyu Sun
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Matthew Towers
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of Sheffield, SheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Marysia Placzek
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of Sheffield, SheffieldUnited Kingdom
- Bateson Centre, University of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
- Neuroscience Institute, University of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
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6
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Place E, Manning E, Kim DW, Kinjo A, Nakamura G, Ohyama K. SHH and Notch regulate SOX9+ progenitors to govern arcuate POMC neurogenesis. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:855288. [PMID: 36033614 PMCID: PMC9404380 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.855288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-expressing neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) play key roles in feeding and energy homoeostasis, hence their development is of great research interest. As the process of neurogenesis is accompanied by changes in adhesion, polarity, and migration that resemble aspects of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), we have characterised the expression and regulation within the prospective ARC of transcription factors with context-dependent abilities to regulate aspects of EMT. Informed by pseudotime meta-analysis of recent scRNA-seq data, we use immunohistochemistry and multiplex in situ hybridisation to show that SOX2, SRY-Box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), PROX1, Islet1 (ISL1), and SOX11 are sequentially expressed over the course of POMC neurogenesis in the embryonic chick. Through pharmacological studies ex vivo, we demonstrate that while inhibiting either sonic hedgehog (SHH) or Notch signalling reduces the number of SOX9+ neural progenitor cells, these treatments lead, respectively, to lesser and greater numbers of differentiating ISL1+/POMC+ neurons. These results are consistent with a model in which SHH promotes the formation of SOX9+ progenitors, and Notch acts to limit their differentiation. Both pathways are also required to maintain normal levels of proliferation and to suppress apoptosis. Together our findings demonstrate that hypothalamic neurogenesis is accompanied by dynamic expression of transcription factors (TFs) that mediate EMTs, and that SHH and Notch signalling converge to regulate hypothalamic cellular homoeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsie Place
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Manning
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Dong Won Kim
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Arisa Kinjo
- Department of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Go Nakamura
- Department of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kyoji Ohyama
- Department of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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7
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Croizier S, Bouret SG. Molecular Control of the Development of Hypothalamic Neurons Involved in Metabolic Regulation. J Chem Neuroanat 2022; 123:102117. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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8
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Bouret SG. Developmental programming of hypothalamic melanocortin circuits. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:403-413. [PMID: 35474338 PMCID: PMC9076880 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-021-00625-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin system plays a critical role in the central regulation of food intake and energy balance. This system consists of neurons producing pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), melanocortin receptors (MC4Rs), and the endogenous antagonist agouti-related peptide (AgRP). Pomc and Mc4r deficiency in rodents and humans causes early onset of obesity, whereas a loss of Agrp function is associated with leanness. Accumulating evidence shows that many chronic diseases, including obesity, might originate during early life. The melanocortin system develops during a relatively long period beginning during embryonic life with the birth of POMC and AgRP neurons and continuing postnatally with the assembly of their neuronal circuitry. The development of the melanocortin system requires the tight temporal regulation of molecular factors, such as transcription factors and axon guidance molecules, and cellular mechanisms, such as autophagy. It also involves a complex interplay of endocrine and nutritional factors. The disruption of one or more of these developmental factors can lead to abnormal maturation and function of the melanocortin system and has profound metabolic consequences later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastien G Bouret
- Inserm, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition Research Center, UMR-S 1172, Lille, 59000, France.
- University of Lille, FHU 1,000 Days for Health, Lille, 59000, France.
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9
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Mäkitie RE, Toiviainen-Salo S, Kaitila I, Mäkitie O. A Novel Osteochondrodysplasia With Empty Sella Associates With a TBX2 Variant. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:845889. [PMID: 35311234 PMCID: PMC8927981 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.845889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal dysplasias comprise a heterogenous group of developmental disorders of skeletal and cartilaginous tissues. Several different forms have been described and the full spectrum of their clinical manifestations and underlying genetic causes are still incompletely understood. We report a three-generation Finnish family with an unusual, autosomal dominant form of osteochondrodysplasia and an empty sella. Affected individuals (age range 24-44 years) exhibit unusual codfish-shaped vertebrae, severe early-onset and debilitating osteoarthritis and an empty sella without endocrine abnormalities. Clinical characteristics also include mild dysmorphic features, reduced sitting height ratio, and obesity. Whole-exome sequencing excluded known skeletal dysplasias and identified a novel heterozygous missense mutation c.899C>T (p.Thr300Met) in TBX2, confirmed by Sanger sequencing. TBX2 is important for development of the skeleton and the brain and three prior reports have described variations in TBX2 in patients portraying a complex phenotype with vertebral anomalies, craniofacial dysmorphism and endocrine dysfunctions. Our mutation lies near a previously reported disease-causing variant and is predicted pathogenic with deleterious effects on protein function. Our findings expand the current spectrum of skeletal dysplasias, support the association of TBX2 mutations with skeletal dysplasia and suggest a role for TBX2 in development of the spinal and craniofacial structures and the pituitary gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riikka E. Mäkitie
- Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- *Correspondence: Riikka E. Mäkitie,
| | - Sanna Toiviainen-Salo
- Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Medical Imaging Center, Pediatric Radiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilkka Kaitila
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Mäkitie
- Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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10
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Kim DW, Place E, Chinnaiya K, Manning E, Sun C, Dai W, Groves I, Ohyama K, Burbridge S, Placzek M, Blackshaw S. Single-cell analysis of early chick hypothalamic development reveals that hypothalamic cells are induced from prethalamic-like progenitors. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110251. [PMID: 35045288 PMCID: PMC8918062 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Won Kim
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elsie Place
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Kavitha Chinnaiya
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Elizabeth Manning
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Changyu Sun
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Weina Dai
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ian Groves
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Kyoji Ohyama
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Department of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sarah Burbridge
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Marysia Placzek
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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11
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nr0b1 (DAX1) loss of function in zebrafish causes hypothalamic defects via abnormal progenitor proliferation and differentiation. J Genet Genomics 2021; 49:217-229. [PMID: 34606992 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear receptor DAX-1 (encoded by the NR0B1 gene) is presented in the hypothalamic tissues in humans and other vertebrates. Human patients with NR0B1 mutations often have hypothalamic-pituitary defects, but the involvement of NR0B1 in hypothalamic development and function is not well understood. Here, we report the disruption of the nr0b1 gene in zebrafish causes abnormal expression of gonadotropins, a reduction in fertilization rate, and an increase in post-fasting food intake, which is indicative of abnormal hypothalamic functions. We find that loss of nr0b1 increases the number of prodynorphin (pdyn)-expressing neurons but decreases the number of pro-opiomelanocortin (pomcb)-expressing neurons in the zebrafish hypothalamic arcuate region (ARC). Further examination reveals that the proliferation of progenitor cells is reduced in the hypothalamus of nr0b1 mutant embryos accompanying with the decreased expression of genes in the Notch signaling pathway. Additionally, the inhibition of Notch signaling in wild-type embryos increases the number of pdyn neurons, mimicking the nr0b1 mutant phenotype. In contrast, ectopic activation of Notch signaling in nr0b1 mutant embryos decreases the number of pdyn neurons. Taken together, our results suggest that nr0b1 regulates neural progenitor proliferation and maintenance to ensure normal hypothalamic neuron development.
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12
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Boschen KE, Fish EW, Parnell SE. Prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts Sonic hedgehog pathway and primary cilia genes in the mouse neural tube. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 105:136-147. [PMID: 34492310 PMCID: PMC8529623 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Neurulation-stage alcohol exposure (NAE; embryonic day [E] 8-10) is associated with midline craniofacial and CNS defects that likely arise from disruption of morphogen pathways, such as Sonic hedgehog (Shh). Notably, midline anomalies are also a hallmark of genetic ciliopathies such as Joubert syndrome. We tested whether NAE alters Shh pathway signaling and the number and function of primary cilia, organelles critical for Shh pathway transduction. Female C57BL/6 J mice were administered two doses of alcohol (2.9 g/kg/dose) or vehicle on E9. Embryos were collected 6, 12, or 24 h later, and changes to Shh, cell cycle genes, and primary cilia were measured in the rostroventral neural tube (RVNT). Within the first 24 h post-NAE, reductions in Shh pathway and cell cycle gene expression and the ratio of Gli3 forms in the full-length activator state were observed. RVNT volume and cell layer width were reduced at 12 h. In addition, altered expression of multiple cilia-related genes was observed at 6 h post-NAE. As a further test of cilia gene-ethanol interaction, mice heterozygous for Kif3a exhibited perturbed behavior during adolescence following NAE compared to vehicle-treated mice, and Kif3a heterozygosity exacerbated the hyperactive effects of NAE on exploratory activity. These data demonstrate that NAE downregulates the Shh pathway in a region of the neural tube that gives rise to alcohol-sensitive brain structures and identifies disruption of primary cilia function, or a "transient ciliopathy", as a possible cellular mechanism of prenatal alcohol pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E Boschen
- Bowles Center on Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eric W Fish
- Bowles Center on Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Scott E Parnell
- Bowles Center on Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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13
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Guy B, Zhang JS, Duncan LH, Johnston RJ. Human neural organoids: Models for developmental neurobiology and disease. Dev Biol 2021; 478:102-121. [PMID: 34181916 PMCID: PMC8364509 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Human organoids stand at the forefront of basic and translational research, providing experimentally tractable systems to study human development and disease. These stem cell-derived, in vitro cultures can generate a multitude of tissue and organ types, including distinct brain regions and sensory systems. Neural organoid systems have provided fundamental insights into molecular mechanisms governing cell fate specification and neural circuit assembly and serve as promising tools for drug discovery and understanding disease pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss several human neural organoid systems, how they are generated, advances in 3D imaging and bioengineering, and the impact of organoid studies on our understanding of the human nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Guy
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Jingliang Simon Zhang
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Leighton H Duncan
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Robert J Johnston
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
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14
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Cheng AH, Cheng HYM. Genesis of the Master Circadian Pacemaker in Mice. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:659974. [PMID: 33833665 PMCID: PMC8021851 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.659974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is the central circadian clock of mammals. It is responsible for communicating temporal information to peripheral oscillators via humoral and endocrine signaling, ultimately controlling overt rhythms such as sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, and locomotor activity. Given the heterogeneity and complexity of the SCN, its genesis is tightly regulated by countless intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Here, we provide a brief overview of the development of the SCN, with special emphasis on the murine system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur H. Cheng
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hai-Ying Mary Cheng
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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15
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Liu K, Lv Z, Huang H, Yu S, Xiao L, Li X, Li G, Liu F. FGF3 from the Hypothalamus Regulates the Guidance of Thalamocortical Axons. Dev Neurosci 2021; 42:208-216. [PMID: 33684917 DOI: 10.1159/000513534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Thalamus is an important sensory relay station: afferent sensory information, except olfactory signals, is transmitted by thalamocortical axons (TCAs) to the cerebral cortex. The pathway choice of TCAs depends on diverse diffusible or substrate-bound guidance cues in the environment. Not only classical guidance cues (ephrins, slits, semaphorins, and netrins), morphogens, which exerts patterning effects during early embryonic development, can also help axons navigate to their targets at later development stages. Here, expression analyses reveal that morphogen Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-3 is expressed in the chick ventral diencephalon, hypothalamus, during the pathfinding of TCAs. Then, using in vitro analyses in chick explants, we identify a concentration-dependent effect of FGF3 on thalamic axons: attractant 100 ng/mL FGF3 transforms to a repellent at high concentration 500 ng/mL. Moreover, inhibition of FGF3 guidance functions indicates that FGF3 signaling is necessary for the correct navigation of thalamic axons. Together, these studies demonstrate a direct effect for the member of FGF7 subfamily, FGF3, in the axonal pathfinding of TCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical college of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhongsheng Lv
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical college of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hong Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical college of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Shuyang Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical college of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Li Xiao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical college of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiang Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical college of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Gang Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical college of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Fang Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical college of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China,
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16
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Diaz C, Puelles L. Developmental Genes and Malformations in the Hypothalamus. Front Neuroanat 2020; 14:607111. [PMID: 33324176 PMCID: PMC7726113 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2020.607111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus is a heterogeneous rostral forebrain region that regulates physiological processes essential for survival, energy metabolism, and reproduction, mainly mediated by the pituitary gland. In the updated prosomeric model, the hypothalamus represents the rostralmost forebrain, composed of two segmental regions (terminal and peduncular hypothalamus), which extend respectively into the non-evaginated preoptic telencephalon and the evaginated pallio-subpallial telencephalon. Complex genetic cascades of transcription factors and signaling molecules rule their development. Alterations of some of these molecular mechanisms acting during forebrain development are associated with more or less severe hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunctions, which may be associated with brain malformations such as holoprosencephaly or septo-optic dysplasia. Studies on transgenic mice with mutated genes encoding critical transcription factors implicated in hypothalamic-pituitary development are contributing to understanding the high clinical complexity of these pathologies. In this review article, we will analyze first the complex molecular genoarchitecture of the hypothalamus resulting from the activity of previous morphogenetic signaling centers and secondly some malformations related to alterations in genes implicated in the development of the hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Diaz
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine and Institute for Research in Neurological Disabilities, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Luis Puelles
- Department of Human Anatomy and Psychobiology and IMIB-Arrixaca Institute, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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17
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Hamdi-Rozé H, Ware M, Guyodo H, Rizzo A, Ratié L, Rupin M, Carré W, Kim A, Odent S, Dubourg C, David V, de Tayrac M, Dupé V. Disrupted Hypothalamo-Pituitary Axis in Association With Reduced SHH Underlies the Pathogenesis of NOTCH-Deficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 105:5836893. [PMID: 32403133 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT In human, Sonic hedgehog (SHH) haploinsufficiency is the predominant cause of holoprosencephaly, a structural malformation of the forebrain midline characterized by phenotypic heterogeneity and incomplete penetrance. The NOTCH signaling pathway has recently been associated with holoprosencephaly in humans, but the precise mechanism involving NOTCH signaling during early brain development remains unknown. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between SHH and NOTCH signaling to determine the mechanism by which NOTCH dysfunction could cause midline malformations of the forebrain. DESIGN In this study, we have used a chemical inhibition approach in the chick model and a genetic approach in the mouse model. We also reported results obtained from the clinical diagnosis of a cohort composed of 141 holoprosencephaly patients. RESULTS We demonstrated that inhibition of NOTCH signaling in chick embryos as well as in mouse embryos induced a specific downregulation of SHH in the anterior hypothalamus. Our data in the mouse also revealed that the pituitary gland was the most sensitive tissue to Shh insufficiency and that haploinsufficiency of the SHH and NOTCH signaling pathways synergized to produce a malformed pituitary gland. Analysis of a large holoprosencephaly cohort revealed that some patients possessed multiple heterozygous mutations in several regulators of both pathways. CONCLUSIONS These results provided new insights into molecular mechanisms underlying the extreme phenotypic variability observed in human holoprosencephaly. They showed how haploinsufficiency of the SHH and NOTCH activity could contribute to specific congenital hypopituitarism that was associated with a sella turcica defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houda Hamdi-Rozé
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
- Service de Génétique Moléculaire et Génomique, CHU, Rennes, France
| | - Michelle Ware
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
| | - Hélène Guyodo
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
| | - Aurélie Rizzo
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
| | - Leslie Ratié
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
| | - Maïlys Rupin
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
| | - Wilfrid Carré
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
- Service de Génétique Moléculaire et Génomique, CHU, Rennes, France
| | - Artem Kim
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
| | - Sylvie Odent
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
- Service de Génétique Clinique, CHU, Rennes, France
| | - Christèle Dubourg
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
- Service de Génétique Moléculaire et Génomique, CHU, Rennes, France
| | - Véronique David
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
| | - Marie de Tayrac
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
- Service de Génétique Moléculaire et Génomique, CHU, Rennes, France
| | - Valérie Dupé
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR - Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes - UMR6290, Rennes, France
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18
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Muley VY, López-Victorio CJ, Ayala-Sumuano JT, González-Gallardo A, González-Santos L, Lozano-Flores C, Wray G, Hernández-Rosales M, Varela-Echavarría A. Conserved and divergent expression dynamics during early patterning of the telencephalon in mouse and chick embryos. Prog Neurobiol 2019; 186:101735. [PMID: 31846713 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.101735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian and the avian telencephalon are nearly indistinguishable at early embryonic vesicle stages but differ substantially in form and function at their adult stage. We sequenced and analyzed RNA populations present in mouse and chick during the early stages of embryonic telencephalon to understand conserved and lineage-specific developmental differences. We found approximately 3000 genes that orchestrate telencephalon development. Many chromatin-associated epigenetic and transcription regulators show high expression in both species and some show species-specific expression dynamics. Interestingly, previous studies associated them to autism, intellectual disabilities, and mental retardation supporting a causal link between their impaired functions during telencephalon development and brain dysfunction. Strikingly, the conserved up-regulated genes were differentially enriched in ontologies related to development or functions of the adult brain. Moreover, a differential enrichment of distinct repertoires of transcription factor binding motifs in their upstream promoter regions suggest a species-specific regulation of the various gene groups identified. Overall, our results reveal that the ontogenetic divergences between the mouse and chick telencephalon result from subtle differences in the regulation of common patterning signaling cascades and regulatory networks unique to each species at their very early stages of development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Carlos Lozano-Flores
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Gregory Wray
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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19
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Zhou B, Ho SS, Greer SU, Spies N, Bell JM, Zhang X, Zhu X, Arthur JG, Byeon S, Pattni R, Saha I, Huang Y, Song G, Perrin D, Wong WH, Ji HP, Abyzov A, Urban AE. Haplotype-resolved and integrated genome analysis of the cancer cell line HepG2. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:3846-3861. [PMID: 30864654 PMCID: PMC6486628 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
HepG2 is one of the most widely used human cancer cell lines in biomedical research and one of the main cell lines of ENCODE. Although the functional genomic and epigenomic characteristics of HepG2 are extensively studied, its genome sequence has never been comprehensively analyzed and higher order genomic structural features are largely unknown. The high degree of aneuploidy in HepG2 renders traditional genome variant analysis methods challenging and partially ineffective. Correct and complete interpretation of the extensive functional genomics data from HepG2 requires an understanding of the cell line’s genome sequence and genome structure. Using a variety of sequencing and analysis methods, we identified a wide spectrum of genome characteristics in HepG2: copy numbers of chromosomal segments at high resolution, SNVs and Indels (corrected for aneuploidy), regions with loss of heterozygosity, phased haplotypes extending to entire chromosome arms, retrotransposon insertions and structural variants (SVs) including complex and somatic genomic rearrangements. A large number of SVs were phased, sequence assembled and experimentally validated. We re-analyzed published HepG2 datasets for allele-specific expression and DNA methylation and assembled an allele-specific CRISPR/Cas9 targeting map. We demonstrate how deeper insights into genomic regulatory complexity are gained by adopting a genome-integrated framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Steve S Ho
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stephanie U Greer
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Noah Spies
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Genome-scale Measurements Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - John M Bell
- Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Xianglong Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Xiaowei Zhu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joseph G Arthur
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Seunggyu Byeon
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, South Korea
| | - Reenal Pattni
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ishan Saha
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yiling Huang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Giltae Song
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, South Korea
| | - Dimitri Perrin
- Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Wing H Wong
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Department of Biomedical Data Science, Bio-X Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hanlee P Ji
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Alexej Abyzov
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Alexander E Urban
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Tashia and John Morgridge Faculty Scholar, Stanford Child Health Research Institute, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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20
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Sagai T, Amano T, Maeno A, Ajima R, Shiroishi T. SHH signaling mediated by a prechordal and brain enhancer controls forebrain organization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:23636-23642. [PMID: 31685615 PMCID: PMC6876251 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1901732116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling plays a pivotal role in 2 different phases during brain development. Early SHH signaling derived from the prechordal plate (PrCP) triggers secondary Shh induction in the forebrain, which overlies the PrCP, and the induced SHH signaling, in turn, directs late neuronal differentiation of the forebrain. Consequently, Shh regulation in the PrCP is crucial for initiation of forebrain development. However, no enhancer that regulates prechordal Shh expression has yet been found. Here, we identified a prechordal enhancer, named SBE7, in the vicinity of a cluster of known forebrain enhancers for Shh This enhancer also directs Shh expression in the ventral midline of the forebrain, which receives the prechordal SHH signal. Thus, the identified enhancer acts not only for the initiation of Shh regulation in the PrCP but also for subsequent Shh induction in the forebrain. Indeed, removal of the enhancer from the mouse genome markedly down-regulated the expression of Shh in the rostral domains of the axial mesoderm and in the ventral midline of the forebrain and hypothalamus in the mouse embryo, and caused a craniofacial abnormality similar to human holoprosencephaly (HPE). These findings demonstrate that SHH signaling mediated by the newly identified enhancer is essential for development and growth of the ventral midline of the forebrain and hypothalamus. Understanding of the Shh regulation governed by this prechordal and brain enhancer provides an insight into the mechanism underlying craniofacial morphogenesis and the etiology of HPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Sagai
- Mammalian Genetics Laboratory, Genetic Strains Research Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
- Information Resource Research Center, Association for Propagation of the Knowledge of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
| | - Takanori Amano
- Mammalian Genetics Laboratory, Genetic Strains Research Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
- Next Generation Human Disease Model Team, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba 305-0074, Japan
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
| | - Akiteru Maeno
- Mammalian Genetics Laboratory, Genetic Strains Research Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
- Plant Cytogenetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
| | - Rieko Ajima
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
- Mammalian Development Laboratory, Genetic Strains Research Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
- Mouse Research Supporting Unit, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Shiroishi
- Mammalian Genetics Laboratory, Genetic Strains Research Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan;
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
- RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba 305-0074, Japan
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21
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Mariniello K, Ruiz-Babot G, McGaugh EC, Nicholson JG, Gualtieri A, Gaston-Massuet C, Nostro MC, Guasti L. Stem Cells, Self-Renewal, and Lineage Commitment in the Endocrine System. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:772. [PMID: 31781041 PMCID: PMC6856655 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocrine system coordinates a wide array of body functions mainly through secretion of hormones and their actions on target tissues. Over the last decades, a collective effort between developmental biologists, geneticists, and stem cell biologists has generated a wealth of knowledge related to the contribution of stem/progenitor cells to both organogenesis and self-renewal of endocrine organs. This review provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the role of tissue stem cells in the development and self-renewal of endocrine organs. Pathways governing crucial steps in both development and stemness maintenance, and that are known to be frequently altered in a wide array of endocrine disorders, including cancer, are also described. Crucially, this plethora of information is being channeled into the development of potential new cell-based treatment modalities for endocrine-related illnesses, some of which have made it through clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia Mariniello
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gerard Ruiz-Babot
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Emily C. McGaugh
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James G. Nicholson
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Angelica Gualtieri
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carles Gaston-Massuet
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Cristina Nostro
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leonardo Guasti
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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22
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Fu T, Pearson C, Towers M, Placzek M. Development of the basal hypothalamus through anisotropic growth. J Neuroendocrinol 2019; 31:e12727. [PMID: 31050853 PMCID: PMC6563594 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The adult hypothalamus is subdivided into distinct domains: pre-optic, anterior, tuberal and mammillary. Each domain harbours an array of neurones that act together to regulate homeostasis. The embryonic origins and the development of hypothalamic neurones, however, remain enigmatic. Here, we summarise recent studies in model organisms that challenge current views of hypothalamic development, which traditionally have attempted to map adult domains to correspondingly located embryonic domains. Instead, new studies indicate that hypothalamic neurones arise from progenitor cells that undergo anisotropic growth, expanding to a greater extent than other progenitors, and grow in different dimensions. We describe in particular how a multipotent Shh/ Fgf10-expressing progenitor population gives rise to progenitors throughout the basal hypothalamus that grow anisotropically and sequentially: first, a subset displaced rostrally give rise to anterior-ventral/tuberal neuronal progenitors; then a subset displaced caudally give rise to mammillary neuronal progenitors; and, finally, a subset(s) displaced ventrally give rise to tuberal infundibular glial progenitors. As this occurs, stable populations of Shh+ive and Fgf10+ive progenitors form. We describe current understanding of the mechanisms that induce Shh+ive /Fgf10+ive progenitors and begin to direct their differentiation to anterior-ventral/tuberal neuronal progenitors, mammillary neuronal progenitors and tuberal infundibular progenitors. Taken together, these studies suggest a new model for hypothalamic development that we term the "anisotropic growth model". We discuss the implications of the model for understanding the origins of adult hypothalamic neurones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis Fu
- Department of Biomedical ScienceBateson CentreUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Caroline Pearson
- Department of Biomedical ScienceBateson CentreUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Matthew Towers
- Department of Biomedical ScienceBateson CentreUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Marysia Placzek
- Department of Biomedical ScienceBateson CentreUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
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23
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Corman TS, Bergendahl SE, Epstein DJ. Distinct temporal requirements for Sonic hedgehog signaling in development of the tuberal hypothalamus. Development 2018; 145:dev.167379. [PMID: 30291164 DOI: 10.1242/dev.167379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh) plays well characterized roles in brain and spinal cord development, but its functions in the hypothalamus have been more difficult to elucidate owing to the complex neuroanatomy of this brain area. Here, we use fate mapping and conditional deletion models in mice to define requirements for dynamic Shh activity at distinct developmental stages in the tuberal hypothalamus, a brain region with important homeostatic functions. At early time points, Shh signaling regulates dorsoventral patterning, neurogenesis and the size of the ventral midline. Fate-mapping experiments demonstrate that Shh-expressing and -responsive progenitors contribute to distinct neuronal subtypes, accounting for some of the cellular heterogeneity in tuberal hypothalamic nuclei. Conditional deletion of the hedgehog transducer smoothened (Smo), after dorsoventral patterning has been established, reveals that Shh signaling is necessary to maintain proliferation and progenitor identity during peak periods of hypothalamic neurogenesis. We also find that mosaic disruption of Smo causes a non-cell autonomous gain in Shh signaling activity in neighboring wild-type cells, suggesting a mechanism for the pathogenesis of hypothalamic hamartomas, benign tumors that form during hypothalamic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya S Corman
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6145, USA
| | - Solsire E Bergendahl
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6145, USA
| | - Douglas J Epstein
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6145, USA
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24
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Qin C, Li J, Tang K. The Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus: Development, Function, and Human Diseases. Endocrinology 2018; 159:3458-3472. [PMID: 30052854 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH), located in the ventral diencephalon adjacent to the third ventricle, is a highly conserved brain region present in species from zebrafish to humans. The PVH is composed of three main types of neurons, magnocellular, parvocellular, and long-projecting neurons, which play imperative roles in the regulation of energy balance and various endocrinological activities. In this review, we focus mainly on recent findings about the early development of the hypothalamus and the PVH, the functions of the PVH in the modulation of energy homeostasis and in the hypothalamus-pituitary system, and human diseases associated with the PVH, such as obesity, short stature, hypertension, and diabetes insipidus. Thus, the investigations of the PVH will benefit not only understanding of the development of the central nervous system but also the etiology of and therapy for human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Qin
- Queen Mary School, Medical Department, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jiaheng Li
- Queen Mary School, Medical Department, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ke Tang
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Precise Genome Engineering Center, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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25
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Newman EA, Wu D, Taketo MM, Zhang J, Blackshaw S. Canonical Wnt signaling regulates patterning, differentiation and nucleogenesis in mouse hypothalamus and prethalamus. Dev Biol 2018; 442:236-248. [PMID: 30063881 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamus is a small, but anatomically and functionally complex region of the brain whose development is poorly understood. In this study, we have explored its development by studying the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, generating gain and loss of function mutations of beta-catenin (Ctnnb1) in both hypothalamic and prethalamic neuroepithelium. Deletion of Ctnnb1 resulted in an anteriorized and hypoplastic hypothalamus. Posterior structures were lost or reduced, and anterior structures were expanded. In contrast, overexpression of a constitutively active mutant form of Ctnnb1 resulted in severe hyperplasia of prethalamus and hypothalamus, and expanded expression of a subset of posterior and premamillary hypothalamic markers. Moderate defects in differentiation of Arx-positive GABAergic neural precursors were observed in both prethalamus and hypothalamus of Ctnnb1 loss of function mutants, while in gain of function mutants, their differentiation was completely suppressed, although markers of prethalamic progenitors were preserved. Multiple other region-specific markers, including several specific posterior hypothalamic structures, were also suppressed in Ctnnb1 gain of function mutations. Severe, region-specific defects in hypothalamic nucleogenesis were also observed in both gain and loss of function mutations of Ctnnb1. Finally, both gain and loss of function of Ctnnb1 also produced severe, non-cell autonomous disruptions of pituitary development. These findings demonstrate a central and multifaceted role for canonical Wnt signaling in regulating growth, patterning, differentiation and nucleogenesis in multiple diencephalic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Newman
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dan Wu
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Makoto Mark Taketo
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jiangyang Zhang
- Department of Radiology, NYU Langone School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Human Systems Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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26
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Liu N, Schoch K, Luo X, Pena LDM, Bhavana VH, Kukolich MK, Stringer S, Powis Z, Radtke K, Mroske C, Deak KL, McDonald MT, McConkie-Rosell A, Markert ML, Kranz PG, Stong N, Need AC, Bick D, Amaral MD, Worthey EA, Levy S, Wangler MF, Bellen HJ, Shashi V, Yamamoto S. Functional variants in TBX2 are associated with a syndromic cardiovascular and skeletal developmental disorder. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 27:2454-2465. [PMID: 29726930 PMCID: PMC6030957 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 04/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The 17 genes of the T-box family are transcriptional regulators that are involved in all stages of embryonic development, including craniofacial, brain, heart, skeleton and immune system. Malformation syndromes have been linked to many of the T-box genes. For example, haploinsufficiency of TBX1 is responsible for many structural malformations in DiGeorge syndrome caused by a chromosome 22q11.2 deletion. We report four individuals with an overlapping spectrum of craniofacial dysmorphisms, cardiac anomalies, skeletal malformations, immune deficiency, endocrine abnormalities and developmental impairments, reminiscent of DiGeorge syndrome, who are heterozygotes for TBX2 variants. The p.R20Q variant is shared by three affected family members in an autosomal dominant manner; the fourth unrelated individual has a de novo p.R305H mutation. Bioinformatics analyses indicate that these variants are rare and predict them to be damaging. In vitro transcriptional assays in cultured cells show that both variants result in reduced transcriptional repressor activity of TBX2. We also show that the variants result in reduced protein levels of TBX2. Heterologous over-expression studies in Drosophila demonstrate that both p.R20Q and p.R305H function as partial loss-of-function alleles. Hence, these and other data suggest that TBX2 is a novel candidate gene for a new multisystem malformation disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Liu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kelly Schoch
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Xi Luo
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Loren D M Pena
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Mary K Kukolich
- Department of Genetics, Cook Children’s Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Sarah Stringer
- Department of Genetics, Cook Children’s Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Zöe Powis
- Clinical Genomics, Ambry Genetics, Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
| | - Kelly Radtke
- Clinical Genomics, Ambry Genetics, Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
| | | | - Kristen L Deak
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Marie T McDonald
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allyn McConkie-Rosell
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - M Louise Markert
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Peter G Kranz
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nicholas Stong
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna C Need
- Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David Bick
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | | | | | - Shawn Levy
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | | | - Michael F Wangler
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vandana Shashi
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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27
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Oriel C, Lasko P. Recent Developments in Using Drosophila as a Model for Human Genetic Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E2041. [PMID: 30011838 PMCID: PMC6073706 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19072041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Many insights into human disease have been built on experimental results in Drosophila, and research in fruit flies is often justified on the basis of its predictive value for questions related to human health. Additionally, there is now a growing recognition of the value of Drosophila for the study of rare human genetic diseases, either as a means of validating the causative nature of a candidate genetic variant found in patients, or as a means of obtaining functional information about a novel disease-linked gene when there is little known about it. For these reasons, funders in the US, Europe, and Canada have launched targeted programs to link human geneticists working on discovering new rare disease loci with researchers who work on the counterpart genes in Drosophila and other model organisms. Several of these initiatives are described here, as are a number of output publications that validate this new approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Oriel
- Maternal Infant Child Youth and Research Network, V2-230, 950 West 28th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Paul Lasko
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 3649 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada.
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Development of neuroendocrine neurons in the mammalian hypothalamus. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 375:23-39. [PMID: 29869716 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2859-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The neuroendocrine system consists of a heterogeneous collection of (mostly) neuropeptidergic neurons found in four hypothalamic nuclei and sharing the ability to secrete neurohormones (all of them neuropeptides except dopamine) into the bloodstream. There are, however, abundant hypothalamic non-neuroendocrine neuropeptidergic neurons developing in parallel with the neuroendocrine system, so that both cannot be entirely disentangled. This heterogeneity results from the workings of a network of transcription factors many of which are already known. Olig2 and Fezf2 expressed in the progenitors, acting through mantle-expressed Otp and Sim1, Sim2 and Pou3f2 (Brn2), regulate production of magnocellular and anterior parvocellular neurons. Nkx2-1, Rax, Ascl1, Neurog3 and Dbx1 expressed in the progenitors, acting through mantle-expressed Isl1, Dlx1, Gsx1, Bsx, Hmx2/3, Ikzf1, Nr5a2 (LH-1) and Nr5a1 (SF-1) are responsible for tuberal parvocellular (arcuate nucleus) and other neuropeptidergic neurons. The existence of multiple progenitor domains whose progeny undergoes intricate tangential migrations as one source of complexity in the neuropeptidergic hypothalamus is the focus of much attention. How neurosecretory cells target axons to the medial eminence and posterior hypophysis is gradually becoming clear and exciting progress has been made on the mechanisms underlying neurovascular interface formation. While rat neuroanatomy and targeted mutations in mice have yielded fundamental knowledge about the neuroendocrine system in mammals, experiments on chick and zebrafish are providing key information about cellular and molecular mechanisms. Looking forward, data from every source will be necessary to unravel the ways in which the environment affects neuroendocrine development with consequences for adult health and disease.
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Santos-Durán GN, Ferreiro-Galve S, Menuet A, Mazan S, Rodríguez-Moldes I, Candal E. The Shark Basal Hypothalamus: Molecular Prosomeric Subdivisions and Evolutionary Trends. Front Neuroanat 2018; 12:17. [PMID: 29593505 PMCID: PMC5861214 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus is a key integrative center of the vertebrate brain. To better understand its ancestral morphological organization and evolution, we previously analyzed the segmental organization of alar subdivisions in the catshark Scyliorhinus canicula, a cartilaginous fish and thus a basal representative of gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates). With the same aim, we deepen here in the segmental organization of the catshark basal hypothalamus by revisiting previous data on ScOtp, ScDlx2/5, ScNkx2.1, ScShh expression and Shh immunoreactivity jointly with new data on ScLhx5, ScEmx2, ScLmx1b, ScPitx2, ScPitx3a, ScFoxa1, ScFoxa2 and ScNeurog2 expression and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity. Our study reveals a complex genoarchitecture for chondrichthyan basal hypothalamus on which a total of 21 microdomains were identified. Six belong to the basal acroterminal region, the rostral-most point of the basal neural tube; seven are described in the tuberal region (Tu/RTu); four in the perimamillar region (PM/PRM) and four in the mamillar one (MM/RM). Interestingly, the same set of genes does not necessarily describe the same microdomains in mice, which in part contributes to explain how forebrain diversity is achieved. This study stresses the importance of analyzing data from basal vertebrates to better understand forebrain diversity and hypothalamic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel N Santos-Durán
- Grupo BRAINSHARK, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Susana Ferreiro-Galve
- Grupo BRAINSHARK, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Arnaud Menuet
- UMR7355, CNRS, University of Orleans, Orleans, France
| | - Sylvie Mazan
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, UMR7232, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Isabel Rodríguez-Moldes
- Grupo BRAINSHARK, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Eva Candal
- Grupo BRAINSHARK, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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BMP/SMAD Pathway Promotes Neurogenesis of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons In Vivo and in Human Induced Pluripotent and Neural Stem Cells. J Neurosci 2018; 38:1662-1676. [PMID: 29321139 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1540-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The embryonic formation of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons in vivo provides critical guidelines for the in vitro differentiation of mDA neurons from stem cells, which are currently being developed for Parkinson's disease cell replacement therapy. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/SMAD inhibition is routinely used during early steps of stem cell differentiation protocols, including for the generation of mDA neurons. However, the function of the BMP/SMAD pathway for in vivo specification of mammalian mDA neurons is virtually unknown. Here, we report that BMP5/7-deficient mice (Bmp5-/-; Bmp7-/-) lack mDA neurons due to reduced neurogenesis in the mDA progenitor domain. As molecular mechanisms accounting for these alterations in Bmp5-/-; Bmp7-/- mutants, we have identified expression changes of the BMP/SMAD target genes MSX1/2 (msh homeobox 1/2) and SHH (sonic hedgehog). Conditionally inactivating SMAD1 in neural stem cells of mice in vivo (Smad1Nes) hampered the differentiation of progenitor cells into mDA neurons by preventing cell cycle exit, especially of TH+SOX6+ (tyrosine hydroxylase, SRY-box 6) and TH+GIRK2+ (potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily-J member-6) substantia nigra neurons. BMP5/7 robustly increased the in vitro differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells and induced neural stem cells to mDA neurons by up to threefold. In conclusion, we have identified BMP/SMAD signaling as a novel critical pathway orchestrating essential steps of mammalian mDA neurogenesis in vivo that balances progenitor proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, we demonstrate the potential of BMPs to improve the generation of stem-cell-derived mDA neurons in vitro, highlighting the importance of sequential BMP/SMAD inhibition and activation in this process.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We identify bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/SMAD signaling as a novel essential pathway regulating the development of mammalian midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons in vivo and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of this process. BMP5/7 regulate MSX1/2 (msh homeobox 1/2) and SHH (sonic hedgehog) expression to direct mDA neurogenesis. Moreover, the BMP signaling component SMAD1 controls the differentiation of mDA progenitors, particularly to substantia nigra neurons, by directing their cell cycle exit. Importantly, BMP5/7 increase robustly the differentiation of human induced pluripotent and induced neural stem cells to mDA neurons. BMP/SMAD are routinely inhibited in initial stages of stem cell differentiation protocols currently being developed for Parkinson's disease cell replacement therapies. Therefore, our findings on opposing roles of the BMP/SMAD pathway during in vitro mDA neurogenesis might improve these procedures significantly.
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Abstract
The hypothalamus is an evolutionarily conserved brain structure that regulates an organism's basic functions, such as homeostasis and reproduction. Several hypothalamic nuclei and neuronal circuits have been the focus of many studies seeking to understand their role in regulating these basic functions. Within the hypothalamic neuronal populations, the arcuate melanocortin system plays a major role in controlling homeostatic functions. The arcuate pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in particular have been shown to be critical regulators of metabolism and reproduction because of their projections to several brain areas both in and outside of the hypothalamus, such as autonomic regions of the brain stem and spinal cord. Here, we review and discuss the current understanding of POMC neurons from their development and intracellular regulators to their physiological functions and pathological dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitoku Toda
- Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; .,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - Anna Santoro
- Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; .,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - Jung Dae Kim
- Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; .,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - Sabrina Diano
- Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; .,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520.,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520.,Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
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32
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Fu T, Towers M, Placzek MA. Fgf10+ progenitors give rise to the chick hypothalamus by rostral and caudal growth and differentiation. Development 2017; 144:3278-3288. [PMID: 28807896 PMCID: PMC5612254 DOI: 10.1242/dev.153379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Classical descriptions of the hypothalamus divide it into three rostro-caudal domains but little is known about their embryonic origins. To investigate this, we performed targeted fate-mapping, molecular characterisation and cell cycle analyses in the embryonic chick. Presumptive hypothalamic cells derive from the rostral diencephalic ventral midline, lie above the prechordal mesendoderm and express Fgf10Fgf10+ progenitors undergo anisotropic growth: those displaced rostrally differentiate into anterior cells, then those displaced caudally differentiate into mammillary cells. A stable population of Fgf10+ progenitors is retained within the tuberal domain; a subset of these gives rise to the tuberal infundibulum - the precursor of the posterior pituitary. Pharmacological approaches reveal that Shh signalling promotes the growth and differentiation of anterior progenitors, and also orchestrates the development of the infundibulum and Rathke's pouch - the precursor of the anterior pituitary. Together, our studies identify a hypothalamic progenitor population defined by Fgf10 and highlight a role for Shh signalling in the integrated development of the hypothalamus and pituitary.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew Towers
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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33
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Xie Y, Dorsky RI. Development of the hypothalamus: conservation, modification and innovation. Development 2017; 144:1588-1599. [PMID: 28465334 DOI: 10.1242/dev.139055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamus, which regulates fundamental aspects of physiological homeostasis and behavior, is a brain region that exhibits highly conserved anatomy across vertebrate species. Its development involves conserved basic mechanisms of induction and patterning, combined with a more plastic process of neuronal fate specification, to produce brain circuits that mediate physiology and behavior according to the needs of each species. Here, we review the factors involved in the induction, patterning and neuronal differentiation of the hypothalamus, highlighting recent evidence that illustrates how changes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling during development may lead to species-specific form and function of this important brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Xie
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Richard I Dorsky
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Rizzoti K, Lovell-Badge R. Pivotal role of median eminence tanycytes for hypothalamic function and neurogenesis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017; 445:7-13. [PMID: 27530416 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Along with the sub-ventricular zone of the forebrain lateral ventricles and the sub-granular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus, the hypothalamus has recently emerged as a third gliogenic and neurogenic niche in the central nervous system. The hypothalamus is the main regulator of body homeostasis because it centralizes peripheral information to regulate crucial physiological functions through the pituitary gland and the autonomic nervous system. Its ability to sense signals originating outside the brain relies on its exposure to blood-born molecules through the median eminence, which is localized outside the blood brain barrier. Within the hypothalamus, a population of specialized radial glial cells, the tanycytes, control exposure to blood-born signals by acting both as sensors and regulators of the hypothalamic input and output. In addition, lineage-tracing experiments have recently revealed that tanycytes represent a population of hypothalamic stem cells, defining them as a pivotal cell type within the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic neurogenesis has moreover been shown to have an important role in feeding control and energy metabolism, which challenges previous knowledge and offers new therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Rizzoti
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
| | - Robin Lovell-Badge
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
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35
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Cheung LYM, Davis SW, Brinkmeier ML, Camper SA, Pérez-Millán MI. Regulation of pituitary stem cells by epithelial to mesenchymal transition events and signaling pathways. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017; 445:14-26. [PMID: 27650955 PMCID: PMC5590650 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The anterior pituitary gland is comprised of specialized cell-types that produce and secrete polypeptide hormones in response to hypothalamic input and feedback from target organs. These specialized cells arise from stem cells that express SOX2 and the pituitary transcription factor PROP1, which is necessary to establish the stem cell pool and promote an epithelial to mesenchymal-like transition, releasing progenitors from the niche. The adult anterior pituitary responds to physiological challenge by mobilizing the SOX2-expressing progenitor pool and producing additional hormone-producing cells. Knowledge of the role of signaling pathways and extracellular matrix components in these processes may lead to improvements in the efficiency of differentiation of embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells into hormone producing cells in vitro. Advances in our basic understanding of pituitary stem cell regulation and differentiation may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for patients with hypopituitarism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Y M Cheung
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5618, USA.
| | - Shannon W Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208-0001, USA.
| | - Michelle L Brinkmeier
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5618, USA.
| | - Sally A Camper
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5618, USA.
| | - María Inés Pérez-Millán
- Institute of Biomedical Investgations (UBA-CONICET), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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36
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Matsubara H, Saito D, Abe G, Yokoyama H, Suzuki T, Tamura K. Upstream regulation for initiation of restricted Shh expression in the chick limb bud. Dev Dyn 2017; 246:417-430. [PMID: 28205287 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The organizing center, which serves as a morphogen source, has crucial functions in morphogenesis in animal development. The center is necessarily located in a certain restricted area in the morphogenetic field, and there are several ways in which an organizing center can be restricted. The organizing center for limb morphogenesis, the ZPA (zone of polarizing activity), specifically expresses the Shh gene and is restricted to the posterior region of the developing limb bud. RESULTS The pre-pattern along the limb anteroposterior axis, provided by anterior Gli3 expression and posterior Hand2 expression, seems insufficient for the initiation of Shh expression restricted to a narrow, small spot in the posterior limb field. Comparison of the spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression between Shh and some candidate genes (Fgf8, Hoxd10, Hoxd11, Tbx2, and Alx4) upstream of Shh expression suggested that a combination of these genes' expression provides the restricted initiation of Shh expression. CONCLUSIONS Taken together with results of functional assays, we propose a model in which positive and negative transcriptional regulatory networks accumulate their functions in the intersection area of their expression regions to provide a restricted spot for the ZPA, the source of morphogen, Shh. Developmental Dynamics 246:417-430, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Matsubara
- Department of Developmental Biology and Neurosciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aobayama Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Daisuke Saito
- Department of Developmental Biology and Neurosciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aobayama Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.,Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Aobayama Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Gembu Abe
- Department of Developmental Biology and Neurosciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aobayama Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Yokoyama
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, 036-8561, Japan
| | - Takayuki Suzuki
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-Cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Koji Tamura
- Department of Developmental Biology and Neurosciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aobayama Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
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Nesan D, Kurrasch DM. Genetic programs of the developing tuberal hypothalamus and potential mechanisms of their disruption by environmental factors. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2016; 438:3-17. [PMID: 27720896 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamus is a critical regulator of body homeostasis, influencing the autonomic nervous system and releasing trophic hormones to modulate the endocrine system. The developmental mechanisms that govern formation of the mature hypothalamus are becoming increasingly understood as research in this area grows, leading us to gain appreciation for how these developmental programs are susceptible to disruption by maternal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals or other environmental factors in utero. These vulnerabilities, combined with the prominent roles of the various hypothalamic nuclei in regulating appetite, reproductive behaviour, mood, and other physiologies, create a window whereby early developmental disruption can have potent long-term effects. Here we broadly outline our current understanding of hypothalamic development, with a particular focus on the tuberal hypothalamus, including what is know about nuclear coalescing and maturation. We finish by discussing how exposure to environmental or maternally-derived factors can perhaps disrupt these hypothalamic developmental programs, and potentially lead to neuroendocrine disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinushan Nesan
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Deborah M Kurrasch
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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Gao Y, Sun T. Molecular regulation of hypothalamic development and physiological functions. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 53:4275-85. [PMID: 26223804 PMCID: PMC4733441 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9367-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamus is composed of many heterogeneous nuclei that control distinct physiological functions. Investigating molecular mechanisms that regulate the specification of these nuclei and specific neuronal subtypes, and their contribution to diverse hypothalamic functions, is an exciting research focus. Here, we begin by summarizing the hypothalamic functions of feeding regulation, sleep-wake cycles, stress responses, and circadian rhythm, and describing their anatomical bases. Next, we review the molecular regulation of formation of hypothalamic territories, specification of nuclei and subnuclei, and generation of specific neurons. Finally, we highlight physiological and behavioral consequences of altered hypothalamic development. Identifying molecules that regulate hypothalamic development and function will increase our understanding of hypothalamus-related disorders, such as obesity and diabetes, and aid in the development of therapies aimed specifically at their etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Gao
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Tao Sun
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, Box 60, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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Aujla PK, Bogdanovic V, Naratadam GT, Raetzman LT. Persistent expression of activated notch in the developing hypothalamus affects survival of pituitary progenitors and alters pituitary structure. Dev Dyn 2016; 244:921-34. [PMID: 25907274 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the pituitary gland develops, signals from the hypothalamus are necessary for pituitary induction and expansion. Little is known about the control of cues that regulate early signaling between the two structures. Ligands and receptors of the Notch signaling pathway are found in both the hypothalamus and Rathke's pouch. The downstream Notch effector gene Hes1 is required for proper pituitary formation; however, these effects could be due to the action of Hes1 in the hypothalamus, Rathke's pouch, or both. To determine the contribution of hypothalamic Notch signaling to pituitary organogenesis, we used mice with loss and gain of Notch function within the developing hypothalamus. RESULTS We demonstrate that loss of Notch signaling by conditional deletion of Rbpj in the hypothalamus does not affect expression of Hes1 within the posterior hypothalamus or expression of Hes5. In contrast, expression of activated Notch within the hypothalamus results in ectopic Hes5 expression and increased Hes1 expression, which is sufficient to disrupt pituitary development and postnatal expansion. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results indicate that Rbpj-dependent Notch signaling within the developing hypothalamus is not necessary for pituitary development, but persistent Notch signaling and ectopic Hes5 expression in hypothalamic progenitors affects pituitary induction and expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paven K Aujla
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Vedran Bogdanovic
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - George T Naratadam
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Lori T Raetzman
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois.,Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
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40
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Orquera DP, Nasif S, Low MJ, Rubinstein M, de Souza FSJ. Essential function of the transcription factor Rax in the early patterning of the mammalian hypothalamus. Dev Biol 2016; 416:212-224. [PMID: 27212025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamus is a region of the anterior forebrain that controls basic aspects of vertebrate physiology, but the genes involved in its development are still poorly understood. Here, we investigate the function of the homeobox gene Rax/Rx in early hypothalamic development using a conditional targeted inactivation strategy in the mouse. We found that lack of Rax expression prior to embryonic day 8.5 (E8.5) caused a general underdevelopment of the hypothalamic neuroepithelium, while inactivation at later timepoints had little effect. The early absence of Rax impaired neurogenesis and prevented the expression of molecular markers of the dorsomedial hypothalamus, including neuropeptides Proopiomelanocortin and Somatostatin. Interestingly, the expression domains of genes expressed in the ventromedial hypothalamus and infundibulum invaded dorsal hypothalamic territory, showing that Rax is needed for the proper dorsoventral patterning of the developing medial hypothalamus. The phenotypes caused by the early loss of Rax are similar to those of eliminating the expression of the morphogen Sonic hedgehog (Shh) specifically from the hypothalamus. Consistent with this similarity in phenotypes, we observed that Shh and Rax are coexpressed in the rostral forebrain at late head fold stages and that loss of Rax caused a downregulation of Shh expression in the dorsomedial portion of the hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela P Orquera
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sofia Nasif
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Malcolm J Low
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States
| | - Marcelo Rubinstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States; Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Flávio S J de Souza
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Abstract
The neuroendocrine hypothalamus is composed of the tuberal and anterodorsal hypothalamus, together with the median eminence/neurohypophysis. It centrally governs wide-ranging physiological processes, including homeostasis of energy balance, circadian rhythms and stress responses, as well as growth and reproductive behaviours. Homeostasis is maintained by integrating sensory inputs and effecting responses via autonomic, endocrine and behavioural outputs, over diverse time-scales and throughout the lifecourse of an individual. Here, we summarize studies that begin to reveal how different territories and cell types within the neuroendocrine hypothalamus are assembled in an integrated manner to enable function, thus supporting the organism's ability to survive and thrive. We discuss how signaling pathways and transcription factors dictate the appearance and regionalization of the hypothalamic primordium, the maintenance of progenitor cells, and their specification and differentiation into neurons. We comment on recent studies that harness such programmes for the directed differentiation of human ES/iPS cells. We summarize how developmental plasticity is maintained even into adulthood and how integration between the hypothalamus and peripheral body is established in the median eminence and neurohypophysis. Analysis of model organisms, including mouse, chick and zebrafish, provides a picture of how complex, yet elegantly coordinated, developmental programmes build glial and neuronal cells around the third ventricle of the brain. Such conserved processes enable the hypothalamus to mediate its function as a central integrating and response-control mediator for the homeostatic processes that are critical to life. Early indications suggest that deregulation of these events may underlie multifaceted pathological conditions and dysfunctional physiology in humans, such as obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Burbridge
- Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Iain Stewart
- Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Marysia Placzek
- Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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Arber C, Precious SV, Cambray S, Risner-Janiczek JR, Kelly C, Noakes Z, Fjodorova M, Heuer A, Ungless MA, Rodríguez TA, Rosser AE, Dunnett SB, Li M. Activin A directs striatal projection neuron differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. Development 2016; 142:1375-86. [PMID: 25804741 DOI: 10.1242/dev.117093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The efficient generation of striatal neurons from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is fundamental for realising their promise in disease modelling, pharmaceutical drug screening and cell therapy for Huntington's disease. GABAergic medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) are the principal projection neurons of the striatum and specifically degenerate in the early phase of Huntington's disease. Here we report that activin A induces lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) characteristics in nascent neural progenitors derived from hESCs and hiPSCs in a sonic hedgehog-independent manner. Correct specification of striatal phenotype was further demonstrated by the induction of the striatal transcription factors CTIP2, GSX2 and FOXP2. Crucially, these human LGE progenitors readily differentiate into postmitotic neurons expressing the striatal projection neuron signature marker DARPP32, both in culture and following transplantation in the adult striatum in a rat model of Huntington's disease. Activin-induced neurons also exhibit appropriate striatal-like electrophysiology in vitro. Together, our findings demonstrate a novel route for efficient differentiation of GABAergic striatal MSNs from human pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Arber
- Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Sophie V Precious
- Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Serafí Cambray
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Jessica R Risner-Janiczek
- Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Claire Kelly
- Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Zoe Noakes
- Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Marija Fjodorova
- Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Andreas Heuer
- Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Mark A Ungless
- Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Tristan A Rodríguez
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Anne E Rosser
- Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Stephen B Dunnett
- Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Meng Li
- Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine and School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
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43
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Miquelajáuregui A, Sandoval-Schaefer T, Martínez-Armenta M, Pérez-Martínez L, Cárabez A, Zhao Y, Heide M, Alvarez-Bolado G, Varela-Echavarría A. LIM homeobox protein 5 (Lhx5) is essential for mamillary body development. Front Neuroanat 2015; 9:136. [PMID: 26578897 PMCID: PMC4621302 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2015.00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The mamillary body (MM) is a group of hypothalamic nuclei related to memory and spatial navigation that interconnects hippocampal, thalamic, and tegmental regions. Here we demonstrate that Lhx5, a LIM-HD domain transcription factor expressed early in the developing posterior hypothalamus, is required for the generation of the MM and its derived tracts. The MM markers Foxb1, Sim2, and Lhx1 are absent in Lhx5 knock-out mice from early embryonic stages, suggesting abnormal specification of this region. This was supported by the absence of Nkx2.1 and expansion of Shh in the prospective mamillary area. Interestingly, we also found an ectopic domain expressing Lhx2 and Lhx9 along the anterio-posterior hypothalamic axis. Our results suggest that Lhx5 controls early aspects of hypothalamic development by regulating gene expression and cellular specification in the prospective MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaya Miquelajáuregui
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Teresa Sandoval-Schaefer
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Miriam Martínez-Armenta
- Laboratorio de Neuroinmunobiología, Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Leonor Pérez-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Neuroinmunobiología, Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Alfonso Cárabez
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Yangu Zhao
- Program on Genomics of Differentiation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michael Heide
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Alfredo Varela-Echavarría
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Querétaro, Mexico
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44
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Elson AE, Simerly RB. Developmental specification of metabolic circuitry. Front Neuroendocrinol 2015; 39:38-51. [PMID: 26407637 PMCID: PMC4681622 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2015.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Revised: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamus contains a core circuitry that communicates with the brainstem and spinal cord to regulate energy balance. Because metabolic phenotype is influenced by environmental variables during perinatal development, it is important to understand how these neural pathways form in order to identify key signaling pathways that are responsible for metabolic programming. Recent progress in defining gene expression events that direct early patterning and cellular specification of the hypothalamus, as well as advances in our understanding of hormonal control of central neuroendocrine pathways, suggest several key regulatory nodes that may represent targets for metabolic programming of brain structure and function. This review focuses on components of central circuitry known to regulate various aspects of energy balance and summarizes what is known about their developmental neurobiology within the context of metabolic programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E Elson
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Richard B Simerly
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
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45
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Ellis PS, Burbridge S, Soubes S, Ohyama K, Ben-Haim N, Chen C, Dale K, Shen MM, Constam D, Placzek M. ProNodal acts via FGFR3 to govern duration of Shh expression in the prechordal mesoderm. Development 2015; 142:3821-32. [PMID: 26417042 PMCID: PMC4712875 DOI: 10.1242/dev.119628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The secreted glycoprotein sonic hedgehog (Shh) is expressed in the prechordal mesoderm, where it plays a crucial role in induction and patterning of the ventral forebrain. Currently little is known about how Shh is regulated in prechordal tissue. Here we show that in the embryonic chick, Shh is expressed transiently in prechordal mesoderm, and is governed by unprocessed Nodal. Exposure of prechordal mesoderm microcultures to Nodal-conditioned medium, the Nodal inhibitor CerS, or to an ALK4/5/7 inhibitor reveals that Nodal is required to maintain both Shh and Gsc expression, but whereas Gsc is largely maintained through canonical signalling, Nodal signals through a non-canonical route to maintain Shh. Further, Shh expression can be maintained by a recombinant Nodal cleavage mutant, proNodal, but not by purified mature Nodal. A number of lines of evidence suggest that proNodal acts via FGFR3. ProNodal and FGFR3 co-immunoprecipitate and proNodal increases FGFR3 tyrosine phosphorylation. In microcultures, soluble FGFR3 abolishes Shh without affecting Gsc expression. Further, prechordal mesoderm cells in which Fgfr3 expression is reduced by Fgfr3 siRNA fail to bind to proNodal. Finally, targeted electroporation of Fgfr3 siRNA to prechordal mesoderm in vivo results in premature Shh downregulation without affecting Gsc. We report an inverse correlation between proNodal-FGFR3 signalling and pSmad1/5/8, and show that proNodal-FGFR3 signalling antagonises BMP-mediated pSmad1/5/8 signalling, which is poised to downregulate Shh. Our studies suggest that proNodal/FGFR3 signalling governs Shh duration by repressing canonical BMP signalling, and that local BMPs rapidly silence Shh once endogenous Nodal-FGFR3 signalling is downregulated. Highlighted article: In the chick prechordal mesoderm, the Nodal precursor proNodal acts via a non-canonical route to inhibit BMP signalling and thus maintain Shh expression
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela S Ellis
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Sarah Burbridge
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Sandrine Soubes
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Kyoji Ohyama
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Nadav Ben-Haim
- ISREC, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Epalinges CH 1066, Switzerland
| | - Canhe Chen
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics & Development, Columbia University Medical Center, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Kim Dale
- College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Michael M Shen
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics & Development, Columbia University Medical Center, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Daniel Constam
- ISREC, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Epalinges CH 1066, Switzerland
| | - Marysia Placzek
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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46
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Heide M, Zhang Y, Zhou X, Zhao T, Miquelajáuregui A, Varela-Echavarría A, Alvarez-Bolado G. Lhx5 controls mamillary differentiation in the developing hypothalamus of the mouse. Front Neuroanat 2015; 9:113. [PMID: 26321924 PMCID: PMC4536661 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2015.00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Acquisition of specific neuronal identity by individual brain nuclei is a key step in brain development. However, how the mechanisms that confer neuronal identity are integrated with upstream regional specification networks is still mysterious. Expression of Sonic hedgehog (Shh), is required for hypothalamic specification and is later downregulated by Tbx3 to allow for the differentiation of the tubero-mamillary region. In this region, the mamillary body (MBO), is a large neuronal aggregate essential for memory formation. To clarify how MBO identity is acquired after regional specification, we investigated Lhx5, a transcription factor with restricted MBO expression. We first generated a hypomorph allele of Lhx5—in homozygotes, the MBO disappears after initial specification. Intriguingly, in these mutants, Tbx3 was downregulated and the Shh expression domain abnormally extended. Microarray analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation indicated that Lhx5 appears to be involved in Shh downregulation through Tbx3 and activates several MBO-specific regulator and effector genes. Finally, by tracing the caudal hypothalamic cell lineage we show that, in the Lhx5 mutant, at least some MBO cells are present but lack characteristic marker expression. Our work shows how the Lhx5 locus contributes to integrate regional specification pathways with downstream acquisition of neuronal identity in the MBO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Heide
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yuanfeng Zhang
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xunlei Zhou
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tianyu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Oral Disease and Biomedical Sciences, Stomatological Hospital, Chongqing Medical University Chongqing, China
| | - Amaya Miquelajáuregui
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Alfredo Varela-Echavarría
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Querétaro, Mexico
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47
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Coughlin GM, Kurrasch DM. Protocadherins and hypothalamic development: do they play an unappreciated role? J Neuroendocrinol 2015; 27:544-55. [PMID: 25845440 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2015] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Normal brain development requires coordinated cell movements at precise times. It has long been established that cell-cell adhesion proteins of the cadherin superfamily are involved in the adhesion and sorting of cells during tissue morphogenesis. In the present review, we focus on protocadherins, which form the largest subfamily of the cadherin superfamily and mediate homophilic cell-cell adhesion in the developing brain. These molecules are highly expressed during neural development and the exact roles that they play are still emerging. Although, historically, protocadherins were considered to provide mechanical and chemical connections between adjacent cells, recent research suggests that they may also serve as molecular identity markers of neurones to help guide cell recognition and sorting, cell migration, outgrowth of neuronal processes, and synapse formation. This phenomenon of single cell diversity stems, in part, from the vast variation in protein structure, genomic organisation and molecular function of the protocadherins. Although expression profiles and genetic manipulations have provided evidence for the role of protocadherins in the developing brain, we have only begun to construct a complete understanding of protocadherin function. We examine our current understanding of how protocadherins influence brain development and discuss the possible roles for this large superfamily within the hypothalamus. We conclude that further research into these underappreciated but vitally important genes will shed insight into hypothalamic development and perhaps the underlying aetiology of neuroendocrine disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Coughlin
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - D M Kurrasch
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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48
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Abstract
Significant progress has been made recently in unravelling the embryonic events leading to pituitary morphogenesis, both in vivo and in vitro. This includes dissection of the molecular mechanisms controlling patterning of the ventral diencephalon that regulate formation of the pituitary anlagen or Rathke's pouch. There is also a better characterisation of processes that underlie maintenance of pituitary progenitors, specification of endocrine lineages and the three-dimensional organisation of newly differentiated endocrine cells. Furthermore, a population of adult pituitary stem cells (SCs), originating from embryonic progenitors, have been described and shown to have not only regenerative potential, but also the capacity to induce tumour formation. Finally, the successful recapitulation in vitro of embryonic events leading to generation of endocrine cells from embryonic SCs, and their subsequent transplantation, represents exciting advances towards the use of regenerative medicine to treat endocrine deficits. In this review, an up-to-date description of pituitary morphogenesis will be provided and discussed with particular reference to pituitary SC studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Rizzoti
- Division of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental GeneticsMRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
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49
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Bedont JL, Newman EA, Blackshaw S. Patterning, specification, and differentiation in the developing hypothalamus. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2015; 4:445-68. [PMID: 25820448 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Owing to its complex structure and highly diverse cell populations, the study of hypothalamic development has historically lagged behind that of other brain regions. However, in recent years, a greatly expanded understanding of hypothalamic gene expression during development has opened up new avenues of investigation. In this review, we synthesize existing work to present a holistic picture of hypothalamic development from early induction and patterning through nuclear specification and differentiation, with a particular emphasis on determination of cell fate. We will also touch on special topics in the field including the prosomere model, adult neurogenesis, and integration of migratory cells originating outside the hypothalamic neuroepithelium, and how these topics relate to our broader theme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L Bedont
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Newman
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,High-Throughput Biology Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Haddad-Tóvolli R, Paul FA, Zhang Y, Zhou X, Theil T, Puelles L, Blaess S, Alvarez-Bolado G. Differential requirements for Gli2 and Gli3 in the regional specification of the mouse hypothalamus. Front Neuroanat 2015; 9:34. [PMID: 25859185 PMCID: PMC4373379 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2015.00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Secreted protein Sonic hedgehog (Shh) ventralizes the neural tube by modulating the crucial balance between activating and repressing functions (GliA, GliR) of transcription factors Gli2 and Gli3. This balance—the Shh-Gli code—is species- and context-dependent and has been elucidated for the mouse spinal cord. The hypothalamus, a forebrain region regulating vital functions like homeostasis and hormone secretion, shows dynamic and intricate Shh expression as well as complex regional differentiation. Here we asked if particular combinations of Gli2 and Gli3 and of GliA and GliR functions contribute to the variety of hypothalamic regions, i.e., we wanted to approach the question of a possible hypothalamic version of the Shh-Gli code. Based on mouse mutant analysis, we show that: (1) hypothalamic regional heterogeneity is based in part on differentially stringent requirements for Gli2 or Gli3; (2) another source of diversity are differential requirements for Shh of neural vs. non-neural origin; (3) the medial progenitor domain known to depend on Gli2 for its development generates several essential hypothalamic nuclei plus the pituitary and median eminence; (4) the suppression of Gli3R by neural and non-neural Shh is essential for hypothalamic specification. Finally, we have mapped our results on a recent model which considers the hypothalamus as a transverse region with alar and basal portions. Our data confirm the model and are explained by it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Haddad-Tóvolli
- Department of Medical Cell Biology and Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabian A Paul
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn Bonn, Germany
| | - Yuanfeng Zhang
- Department of Medical Cell Biology and Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xunlei Zhou
- Department of Medical Cell Biology and Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Theil
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, UK
| | - Luis Puelles
- Department of Morphology, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria, School of Medicine, University of Murcia Murcia, Spain ; Facultad de Medicina, University of Murcia Murcia, Spain
| | - Sandra Blaess
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn Bonn, Germany
| | - Gonzalo Alvarez-Bolado
- Department of Medical Cell Biology and Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
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