1
|
Țarcă E, Al Namat D, Luca AC, Lupu VV, Al Namat R, Lupu A, Bălănescu L, Bernic J, Butnariu LI, Moscalu M, Hînganu MV. Omphalocele and Cardiac Abnormalities-The Importance of the Association. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13081413. [PMID: 37189514 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13081413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Omphalocele is the most common ventral abdominal wall defect. Omphalocele is associated with other significant anomalies in up to 80% of cases, among which the cardiac ones are the most frequent. The aim of our paper is to highlight, through a review of the literature, the importance and frequency of association between the two malformations and what impact this association has on the management and evolution of patients with these pathologies. We reviewed the titles, the available abstracts, and the full texts of 244 papers from the last 23 years, from three medical databases, to extract data for our review. Due to the frequent association of the two malformations and the unfavorable effect of the major cardiac anomaly on the prognosis of the newborn, the electrocardiogram and echocardiography must be included in the first postnatal investigations. The timing of surgery for abdominal wall defect closure is mostly dictated by the cardiac defect severity, and usually the cardiac defect takes priority. After the cardiac defect is medically stabilized or surgically repaired, the omphalocele reduction and closure of the abdominal defect are performed in a more controlled setting, with improved outcomes. Compared to omphalocele patients without cardiac defects, children with this association are more likely to experience prolonged hospitalizations, neurologic, and cognitive impairments. Major cardiac abnormalities such as structural defects that require surgical treatment or result in developmental delay will significantly increase the death rate of patients with omphalocele. In conclusion, the prenatal diagnosis of omphalocele and early detection of other associated structural or chromosomal anomalies are of overwhelming importance, contributing to the establishment of antenatal and postnatal prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Țarcă
- Department of Surgery II-Pediatric Surgery, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iassy, Romania
| | - Dina Al Namat
- "Saint Mary" Emergency Children Hospital, 700309 Iassy, Romania
| | - Alina Costina Luca
- Department of Mother and Child Medicine-Pediatrics, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iassy, Romania
| | - Vasile Valeriu Lupu
- Department of Mother and Child Medicine-Pediatrics, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iassy, Romania
| | - Razan Al Namat
- Faculty of Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iassy, Romania
| | - Ancuța Lupu
- Department of Mother and Child Medicine-Pediatrics, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iassy, Romania
| | - Laura Bălănescu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery and Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Jana Bernic
- Discipline of Pediatric Surgery, "Nicolae Testemițanu" State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2025 Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Lăcrămioara Ionela Butnariu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iassy, Romania
| | - Mihaela Moscalu
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Interdisciplinarity, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iassy, Romania
| | - Marius Valeriu Hînganu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iassy, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bedei I, Gloning KP, Joyeux L, Meyer-Wittkopf M, Willner D, Krapp M, Scharf A, Degenhardt J, Heling KS, Kozlowski P, Trautmann K, Jahns KM, Geipel A, Tekesin I, Elsässer M, Wilhelm L, Gottschalk I, Baumüller JE, Birdir C, Schröer A, Zöllner F, Wolter A, Schenk J, Gehrke T, Spaeth A, Axt-Fliedner R. Turner syndrome-omphalocele association: Incidence, karyotype, phenotype and fetal outcome. Prenat Diagn 2023; 43:183-191. [PMID: 36600414 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Omphalocele is known to be associated with genetic anomalies like trisomy 13, 18 and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, but not with Turner syndrome (TS). Our aim was to assess the incidence of omphalocele in fetuses with TS, the phenotype of this association with other anomalies, their karyotype, and the fetal outcomes. METHOD Retrospective multicenter study of fetuses with confirmed diagnosis of TS. Data were extracted from a detailed questionnaire sent to specialists in prenatal ultrasound. RESULTS 680 fetuses with TS were included in this analysis. Incidence of small omphalocele in fetuses diagnosed ≥12 weeks was 3.1%. Including fetuses diagnosed before 12 weeks, it was 5.1%. 97.1% (34/35) of the affected fetuses had one or more associated anomalies including increased nuchal translucency (≥3 mm) and/or cystic hygroma (94.3%), hydrops/skin edema (71.1%), and cardiac anomalies (40%). The karyotype was 45,X in all fetuses. Fetal outcomes were poor with only 1 fetus born alive. CONCLUSION TS with 45,X karyotype but not with X chromosome variants is associated with small omphalocele. Most of these fetuses have associated anomalies and a poor prognosis. Our data suggest an association of TS with omphalocele, which is evident from the first trimester.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivonne Bedei
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Therapy, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Luc Joyeux
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,MyFetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Daria Willner
- Center for Prenatal Medicine and Human Genetics, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Krapp
- Center for Prenatal Medicine on Elbe, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Kai-Sven Heling
- Center of Prenatal Diagnosis and Human Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Kozlowski
- Praenatal.de, Prenatal Medicine and Genetics Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Kai M Jahns
- Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Annegret Geipel
- Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Michael Elsässer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Ingo Gottschalk
- Division of Prenatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Cahit Birdir
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Felix Zöllner
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Therapy, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Aline Wolter
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Therapy, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Johanna Schenk
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Therapy, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tascha Gehrke
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Therapy, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Alicia Spaeth
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Therapy, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Roland Axt-Fliedner
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Therapy, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
Abdominal wall defects are one of the most frequently encountered human congenital anomalies. They are seen in as many as 1 in 2,000 live births with evidence to suggest that their incidence is increasing. While often discussed together abdominal wall defects consist mainly of two entities namely gastroschisis and omphalocele. There are marked differences in their theories of embryo-pathogenesis, clinical presentation/anatomy and overall outcomes. There is no clear consensus explaining the precise embryological mechanisms leading to the development of abdominal wall defects. Many clinicians and embryologists have attempted to explain the genesis of congenital abdominal wall defects because of failure of progression of various phases of normal embryonic development. This review summarizes the mechanisms involved in normal and abnormal development of the ventral abdominal wall leading to the development of gastroschisis and omphalocele.
Collapse
|
4
|
Raitio A, Tauriainen A, Leinonen MK, Syvänen J, Kemppainen T, Löyttyniemi E, Sankilampi U, Gissler M, Hyvärinen A, Helenius I. Extended spectrum penicillins reduce the risk of omphalocele: A population-based case-control study. J Pediatr Surg 2021; 56:1590-1595. [PMID: 33250216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2020.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Omphalocele is a major congenital anomaly associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Regardless, the influence of maternal use of prescription drugs on the risk of omphalocele has only been addressed in a handful of studies. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of maternal risk factors and prescription drugs in early pregnancy on the risk of omphalocele. METHODS We performed a nationwide register-based case-control study in Finland. The analysis is based on the Finnish Register of Congenital Malformations and Drugs and Pregnancy databases, both upheld by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. All omphalocele cases were identified between Jan 1, 2004, and Dec 31, 2014. Five age-matched controls from the same geographical region were randomly selected for each case. The main outcome measures were maternal risk factors for omphalocele. Our analysis compared the maternal characteristics and the use of prescription drugs during the first trimester of pregnancy between case and control mothers. RESULTS Mothers of 359 omphalocele cases were compared with 1738 randomly selected age and area-matched mothers of healthy infants between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014. Both maternal obesity (BMI ≥30) and diabetes increased the risk for omphalocele, and their co-occurrence accumulated this risk (aOR 5.06, 95% Cl 1.19-21.4). Similarly, history of multiple miscarriages was an independent risk factor (2.51, 1.16-5.43). The oral use of extended spectrum penicillins during the first trimester of pregnancy had a significant, protective influence (0.17, 0.04-0.71). These analyses were adjusted for sex, parity, and risk factors reported above. No significant changes in risk were observed with any other medication used during the first trimester. CONCLUSION In conclusion, these findings may suggest that extended spectrum penicillins in the first trimester reduces the risk of omphalocle formation. Additionally, consistent with earlier studies, previous repeated miscarriages, maternal obesity, and diabetes were significant risk factors for omphalocele.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arimatias Raitio
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, PL 52, 20521, Turku, Finland.
| | - Asta Tauriainen
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Puijonlaaksontie 2, 70210, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Maarit K Leinonen
- Information Services Department, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, PL 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Syvänen
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, PL 52, 20521, Turku, Finland
| | - Teemu Kemppainen
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Eliisa Löyttyniemi
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Ulla Sankilampi
- Department of Paediatrics, Kuopio University Hospital, Puijonlaaksontie 2, 70210, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mika Gissler
- Information Services Department, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, PL 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland; Karolinska Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Solnavägen 1, 17177, Solna, Sweden
| | - Anna Hyvärinen
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Tampere University Hospital and Tampere University, Elämänaukio, Kuntokatu 2, 33520, Tampere, Finland
| | - Ilkka Helenius
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Woodruff ED, Gutierrez GC, Van Otterloo E, Williams T, Cohn MJ. Anomalous incisor morphology indicates tissue-specific roles for Tfap2a and Tfap2b in tooth development. Dev Biol 2021; 472:67-74. [PMID: 33460639 PMCID: PMC8018193 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Mice possess two types of teeth that differ in their cusp patterns; incisors have one cusp and molars have multiple cusps. The patterning of these two types of teeth relies on fine-tuning of the reciprocal molecular signaling between dental epithelial and mesenchymal tissues during embryonic development. The AP-2 transcription factors, particularly Tfap2a and Tfap2b, are essential components of such epithelial-mesenchymal signaling interactions that coordinate craniofacial development in mice and other vertebrates, but little is known about their roles in the regulation of tooth development and shape. Here we demonstrate that incisors and molars differ in their temporal and spatial expression of Tfap2a and Tfap2b. At the bud stage, Tfap2a is expressed in both the epithelium and mesenchyme of the incisors and molars, but Tfap2b expression is restricted to the molar mesenchyme, only later appearing in the incisor epithelium. Tissue-specific deletions show that loss of the epithelial domain of Tfap2a and Tfap2b affects the number and spatial arrangement of the incisors, notably resulting in duplicated lower incisors. In contrast, deletion of these two genes in the mesenchymal domain has little effect on tooth development. Collectively these results implicate epithelial expression of Tfap2a and Tfap2b in regulating the extent of the dental lamina associated with patterning the incisors and suggest that these genes contribute to morphological differences between anterior (incisor) and posterior (molar) teeth within the mammalian dentition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily D Woodruff
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | | | - Eric Van Otterloo
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Trevor Williams
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Martin J Cohn
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Boer LL, Schepens-Franke AN, Winter E, Oostra RJ. Characterizing the coalescence area of conjoined twins to elucidate congenital disorders in singletons. Clin Anat 2021; 34:845-858. [PMID: 33533057 PMCID: PMC8451816 DOI: 10.1002/ca.23725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Shared anomalies, always located close to the area of coalescence and observable in virtually every type of conjoined twinning, are currently seen as separate anomalies caused by mostly unknown and seemingly unrelated pathways rather than being connected to the twinning mechanism itself. Therefore, most (case) reports about conjoined twins are mere descriptions of (external) dysmorphologies lacking reflections on the possible origin of their concomitant anomalies. As we will demonstrate in this article, shared anomalies are influenced, and in some cases solely and sequentially explained, by interaction aplasia and neo‐axial orientation; two embryological mechanisms to which each set of conjoined twins is subjected and are responsible for their ultimate phenotypical fate. In this review, we consider how the ventral, lateral and caudal conjunction types and their intermediates determine the phenotypic presentation of the twins, including patterns of shared malformations and anomalies, which in themselves can be indistinguishable from those encountered in singleton cases. Hence, it can be hypothesized that certain anomalies in singletons originate in a fashion similar to that in conjoined twins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas L Boer
- Department of Imaging, Section Anatomy and Museum for Anatomy and Pathology, Radboud University, Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Annelieke N Schepens-Franke
- Department of Imaging, Section Anatomy and Museum for Anatomy and Pathology, Radboud University, Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Eduard Winter
- Pathologisch-anatomische Sammlung im Narrenturm-NHM, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roelof-Jan Oostra
- Department of Medical Biology, Sections Clinical Anatomy & Embryology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ginzel M, Martynov I, Haak R, Lacher M, Kluth D. Midgut development in rat embryos using microcomputed tomography. Commun Biol 2021; 4:190. [PMID: 33580156 PMCID: PMC7881192 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01702-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of the mammalian gut was first described more than a century ago. Since then, it has been believed that a series of highly orchestrated developmental processes occur before the intestine achieves its final formation. The key steps include the formation of the umbilicus, the so-called "physiological herniation" of the midgut into the umbilical cord, an intestinal "rotation", and the "return of the gut" into the abdominal cavity. However, this sequence of events is predominantly based on histological sections of dissected embryos, a 2D technique with methodological limitations. For a better understanding of spatial relationships in the embryo, we utilized microcomputed tomography (µCT), a nondestructive 3D imaging method. Here, we show the detailed processes and mechanisms of intestinal development in rat embryos, including the development of the umbilicus, the formation of loops inside the umbilical coelom, and the subsequent shift of these loops into the abdominal cavity. Our 3D datasets of developing intestines will substantially advance the understanding of normal mammalian midgut embryology and offer new possibilities to reveal unknown mechanisms in the pathogenesis of congenital disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Ginzel
- Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Illya Martynov
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rainer Haak
- Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Periodontology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Lacher
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dietrich Kluth
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Faisal M, Kim JH, Yoo KH, Roh EJ, Hong SS, Lee SH. Development and Therapeutic Potential of NUAKs Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2020; 64:2-25. [PMID: 33356242 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
NUAK isoforms, NUAK1 (ARK5) and NUAK2 (SNARK), are important members of the AMPK family of protein kinases. They are involved in a broad spectrum of physiological and cellular events, and sometimes their biological roles overlap. NUAK isoform dysregulation is associated with numerous pathological disorders, including neurodegeneration, metastatic cancer, and diabetes. Therefore, they are promising therapeutic targets in metabolic diseases and cancers; consequently, various NUAK-targeted inhibitors have been disclosed. The first part of this review comprises a brief discussion of the homology, expression, structure, and characteristics of NUAK isoforms. The second part focuses on NUAK isoforms' involvement in crucial biological operations, including mechanistic findings, highlighting how their abnormal functioning contributes to disease progression and quality of life. The third part summarizes the key findings and applications of targeting NUAK isoforms for treating multiple cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. The final part systematically presents a critical review and analysis of the literature on NUAK isoform inhibitions through small molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Faisal
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Ho Kim
- Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Ho Yoo
- Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Joo Roh
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.,Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Sun Hong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - So Ha Lee
- Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Boylan M, Anderson MJ, Ornitz DM, Lewandoski M. The Fgf8 subfamily (Fgf8, Fgf17 and Fgf18) is required for closure of the embryonic ventral body wall. Development 2020; 147:dev189506. [PMID: 32907848 PMCID: PMC7595690 DOI: 10.1242/dev.189506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The closure of the embryonic ventral body wall in amniotes is an important morphogenetic event and is essential for life. Defects in human ventral wall closure are a major class of birth defect and a significant health burden. Despite this, very little is understood about how the ventral body wall is formed. Here, we show that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) ligands FGF8, FGF17 and FGF18 are essential for this process. Conditional mouse mutants for these genes display subtle migratory defects in the abdominal muscles of the ventral body wall and an enlarged umbilical ring, through which the internal organs are extruded. By refining where and when these genes are required using different Cre lines, we show that Fgf8 and Fgf17 are required in the presomitic mesoderm, whereas Fgf18 is required in the somites. This study identifies complex and multifactorial origins of ventral wall defects and has important implications for understanding their origins during embryonic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Boylan
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Lab, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Matthew J Anderson
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Lab, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - David M Ornitz
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Mark Lewandoski
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Lab, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Johnson AL, Schneider JE, Mohun TJ, Williams T, Bhattacharya S, Henderson DJ, Phillips HM, Bamforth SD. Early Embryonic Expression of AP-2α Is Critical for Cardiovascular Development. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2020; 7:jcdd7030027. [PMID: 32717817 PMCID: PMC7570199 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd7030027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital cardiovascular malformation is a common birth defect incorporating abnormalities of the outflow tract and aortic arch arteries, and mice deficient in the transcription factor AP-2α (Tcfap2a) present with complex defects affecting these structures. AP-2α is expressed in the pharyngeal surface ectoderm and neural crest at mid-embryogenesis in the mouse, but the precise tissue compartment in which AP-2α is required for cardiovascular development has not been identified. In this study we describe the fully penetrant AP-2α deficient cardiovascular phenotype on a C57Bl/6J genetic background and show that this is associated with increased apoptosis in the pharyngeal ectoderm. Neural crest cell migration into the pharyngeal arches was not affected. Cre-expressing transgenic mice were used in conjunction with an AP-2α conditional allele to examine the effect of deleting AP-2α from the pharyngeal surface ectoderm and the neural crest, either individually or in combination, as well as the second heart field. This, surprisingly, was unable to fully recapitulate the global AP-2α deficient cardiovascular phenotype. The outflow tract and arch artery phenotype was, however, recapitulated through early embryonic Cre-mediated recombination. These findings indicate that AP-2α has a complex influence on cardiovascular development either being required very early in embryogenesis and/or having a redundant function in many tissue layers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy-Leigh Johnson
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK; (A.-L.J.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | | | | | - Trevor Williams
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anshutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
| | - Shoumo Bhattacharya
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK;
| | - Deborah J. Henderson
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK; (A.-L.J.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | - Helen M. Phillips
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK; (A.-L.J.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | - Simon D. Bamforth
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK; (A.-L.J.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-191-241-8764
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Feldkamp ML, Krikov S, Gardner J, Madsen MJ, Darlington T, Sargent R, Camp NJ. Shared genomic segments in high‐risk multigenerational pedigrees with gastroschisis. Birth Defects Res 2019; 111:1655-1664. [DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcia L. Feldkamp
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of PediatricsUniversity of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City Utah
| | - Sergey Krikov
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of PediatricsUniversity of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City Utah
| | - John Gardner
- Department of Internal Medicine and Huntsman Cancer InstituteUniversity of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City Utah
| | - Myke J. Madsen
- Department of Internal Medicine and Huntsman Cancer InstituteUniversity of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City Utah
| | | | - Rob Sargent
- Department of Internal Medicine and Huntsman Cancer InstituteUniversity of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City Utah
| | - Nicola J. Camp
- Department of Internal Medicine and Huntsman Cancer InstituteUniversity of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City Utah
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chambers BE, Gerlach GF, Clark EG, Chen KH, Levesque AE, Leshchiner I, Goessling W, Wingert RA. Tfap2a is a novel gatekeeper of nephron differentiation during kidney development. Development 2019; 146:dev.172387. [PMID: 31160420 DOI: 10.1242/dev.172387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Renal functional units known as nephrons undergo patterning events during development that create a segmental array of cellular compartments with discrete physiological identities. Here, from a forward genetic screen using zebrafish, we report the discovery that transcription factor AP-2 alpha (tfap2a) coordinates a gene regulatory network that activates the terminal differentiation program of distal segments in the pronephros. We found that tfap2a acts downstream of Iroquois homeobox 3b (irx3b), a distal lineage transcription factor, to operate a circuit consisting of tfap2b, irx1a and genes encoding solute transporters that dictate the specialized metabolic functions of distal nephron segments. Interestingly, this regulatory node is distinct from other checkpoints of differentiation, such as polarity establishment and ciliogenesis. Thus, our studies reveal insights into the genetic control of differentiation, where tfap2a is essential for regulating a suite of segment transporter traits at the final tier of zebrafish pronephros ontogeny. These findings have relevance for understanding renal birth defects, as well as efforts to recapitulate nephrogenesis in vivo to facilitate drug discovery and regenerative therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brooke E Chambers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Gary F Gerlach
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Eleanor G Clark
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Karen H Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Anna E Levesque
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Ignaty Leshchiner
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Genetics and Gastroenterology Division, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Wolfram Goessling
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Genetics and Gastroenterology Division, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Rebecca A Wingert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bioinformatic Analysis of Gene Variants from Gastroschisis Recurrence Identifies Multiple Novel Pathogenetic Pathways: Implication for the Closure of the Ventral Body Wall. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20092295. [PMID: 31075877 PMCID: PMC6539040 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated whether likely pathogenic variants co-segregating with gastroschisis through a family-based approach using bioinformatic analyses were implicated in body wall closure. Gene Ontology (GO)/Panther functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction analysis by String identified several biological networks of highly connected genes in UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A5, UGT1A6, UGT1A7, UGT1A8, UGT1A9, UGT1A10, AOX1, NOTCH1, HIST1H2BB, RPS3, THBS1, ADCY9, and FGFR4. SVS–PhoRank identified a dominant model in OR10G4 (also as heterozygous de novo), ITIH3, PLEKHG4B, SLC9A3, ITGA2, AOX1, and ALPP, including a recessive model in UGT1A7, UGT1A6, PER2, PTPRD, and UGT1A3. A heterozygous compound model was observed in CDYL, KDM5A, RASGRP1, MYBPC2, PDE4DIP, F5, OBSCN, and UGT1A. These genes were implicated in pathogenetic pathways involving the following GO related categories: xenobiotic, regulation of metabolic process, regulation of cell adhesion, regulation of gene expression, inflammatory response, regulation of vascular development, keratinization, left-right symmetry, epigenetic, ubiquitination, and regulation of protein synthesis. Multiple background modifiers interacting with disease-relevant pathways may regulate gastroschisis susceptibility. Based in our findings and considering the plausibility of the biological pattern of mechanisms and gene network modeling, we suggest that the gastroschisis developmental process may be the consequence of several well-orchestrated biological and molecular mechanisms which could be interacting with gastroschisis predispositions within the first ten weeks of development.
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Congenital abdominal wall defects are one of the most common human birth defects with an incidence of about 1 in 2000 live births. While often discussed together abdominal wall defects consist mainly of two distinct entities namely gastroschisis and omphalocele. There is no clear consensus explaining the precise embryological mechanisms leading to the development of an omphalocele. Many clinicians and embryologists have attempted to explain congenital malformation as a result of failure of progression of normal embryonic development. This review summarizes the mechanisms involved in normal and abnormal development of the ventral abdominal wall.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Faraz A Khan
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Loma Linda University College of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Asra Hashmi
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Loma Linda University College of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Saleem Islam
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Rd. P.O. Box 10019, Gainesville, FL USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Takahashi M, Tamura M, Sato S, Kawakami K. Mice doubly deficient in Six4 and Six5 show ventral body wall defects reproducing human omphalocele. Dis Model Mech 2018; 11:dmm.034611. [PMID: 30237319 PMCID: PMC6215434 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.034611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Omphalocele is a human congenital anomaly in ventral body wall closure and may be caused by impaired formation of the primary abdominal wall (PAW) and/or defects in abdominal muscle development. Here, we report that mice doubly deficient in homeobox genes Six4 and Six5 showed the same ventral body wall closure defects as those seen in human omphalocele. SIX4 and SIX5 were localized in surface ectodermal cells and somatic mesoderm-derived mesenchymal and coelomic epithelial cells (CECs) in the PAW. Six4-/-;Six5-/- fetuses exhibited a large omphalocele with protrusion of both the liver and intestine, or a small omphalocele with protrusion of the intestine, with complete penetrance. The umbilical ring of Six4-/-;Six5-/- embryos was shifted anteriorly and its lateral size was larger than that of normal embryos at the E11.5 stage, before the onset of myoblast migration into the PAW. The proliferation rates of surface ectodermal cells in the left and right PAW and somatic mesoderm-derived cells in the right PAW were lower in Six4-/-;Six5-/- embryos than those of wild-type embryos at E10.5. The transition from CECs of the PAW to rounded mesothelial progenitor cells was impaired and the inner coelomic surface of the PAW was relatively smooth in Six4-/-;Six5-/- embryos at E11.25. Furthermore, Six4 overexpression in CECs of the PAW promoted ingression of CECs. Taken together, our results suggest that Six4 and Six5 are required for growth and morphological change of the PAW, and the impairment of these processes is linked to the abnormal positioning and expansion of the umbilical ring, which results in omphalocele.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Takahashi
- Division of Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan
| | - Masaru Tamura
- Technology and Development Team for Mouse Phenotype Analysis, RIKEN BioResource Center, 3-1-1, Koyadai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0074, Japan
| | - Shigeru Sato
- Division of Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Kawakami
- Division of Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Takahashi C, Miyatake K, Kusakabe M, Nishida E. The atypical mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK3 is essential for establishment of epithelial architecture. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:8342-8361. [PMID: 29674317 PMCID: PMC5986203 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.000992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelia contribute to physical barriers that protect internal tissues from the external environment and also support organ structure. Accordingly, establishment and maintenance of epithelial architecture are essential for both embryonic development and adult physiology. Here, using gene knockout and knockdown techniques along with gene profiling, we show that extracellular signal-regulated kinase 3 (ERK3), a poorly characterized atypical mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), regulates the epithelial architecture in vertebrates. We found that in Xenopus embryonic epidermal epithelia, ERK3 knockdown impairs adherens and tight-junction protein distribution, as well as tight-junction barrier function, resulting in epidermal breakdown. Moreover, in human epithelial breast cancer cells, inhibition of ERK3 expression induced thickened epithelia with aberrant adherens and tight junctions. Results from microarray analyses suggested that transcription factor AP-2α (TFAP2A), a transcriptional regulator important for epithelial gene expression, is involved in ERK3-dependent changes in gene expression. Of note, TFAP2A knockdown phenocopied ERK3 knockdown in both Xenopus embryos and human cells, and ERK3 was required for full activation of TFAP2A-dependent transcription. Our findings reveal that ERK3 regulates epithelial architecture, possibly together with TFAP2A.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chika Takahashi
- From the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan and
| | - Koichi Miyatake
- From the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan and
| | - Morioh Kusakabe
- From the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan and
| | - Eisuke Nishida
- From the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan and
- AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chang CN, Kioussi C. Location, Location, Location: Signals in Muscle Specification. J Dev Biol 2018; 6:E11. [PMID: 29783715 PMCID: PMC6027348 DOI: 10.3390/jdb6020011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscles control body movement and locomotion, posture and body position and soft tissue support. Mesoderm derived cells gives rise to 700 unique muscles in humans as a result of well-orchestrated signaling and transcriptional networks in specific time and space. Although the anatomical structure of skeletal muscles is similar, their functions and locations are specialized. This is the result of specific signaling as the embryo grows and cells migrate to form different structures and organs. As cells progress to their next state, they suppress current sequence specific transcription factors (SSTF) and construct new networks to establish new myogenic features. In this review, we provide an overview of signaling pathways and gene regulatory networks during formation of the craniofacial, cardiac, vascular, trunk, and limb skeletal muscles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Ning Chang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
- Molecular Cell Biology Graduate Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Chrissa Kioussi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
- Molecular Cell Biology Graduate Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Aldeiri B, Roostalu U, Albertini A, Behnsen J, Wong J, Morabito A, Cossu G. Abrogation of TGF-beta signalling in TAGLN expressing cells recapitulates Pentalogy of Cantrell in the mouse. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3658. [PMID: 29483576 PMCID: PMC5826924 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21948-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentalogy of Cantrell (PC) is a rare multi-organ congenital anomaly that impedes ventral body wall closure and results in diaphragmatic hernia, intra- and pericardial defects. The underlying cellular and molecular changes that lead to these severe developmental defects have remained unknown largely due to the lack of representative animal models. Here we provide in depth characterization of a mouse model with conditional ablation of TGFβRII in Transgelin (Tagln) expressing cells. We show that Tagln is transiently expressed in a variety of cells that participate in the embryonic development and patterning of ventral structures. Genetic ablation of TGFβRII in these cells leads to ventral midline closure defect, diaphragmatic hernia, dilated cardiac outflow tract and aberrant cardiac septation, providing a reliable model to study the morphological changes leading to PC. We show that myogenisis in the diaphragm is independent of TGFβ and the diaphragmatic hernia arises from fibroblast-specific migration defect. In the dorsal body wall Tagln expression is initiated after the closure process, revealing a remarkable difference between ventral and dorsal body walls development. Our study demonstrates the use of micro-CT scanning to obtain a 3-dimensional high-resolution overview of embryonic anomalies and provides the first mechanistic insight into the development of PC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bashar Aldeiri
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. .,Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK.
| | - Urmas Roostalu
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Alessandra Albertini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCSS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Julia Behnsen
- Henry Moseley X-Ray Imaging Facility, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jason Wong
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Manchester University Hospitals, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Antonino Morabito
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Giulio Cossu
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Green RM, Fish JL, Young NM, Smith FJ, Roberts B, Dolan K, Choi I, Leach CL, Gordon P, Cheverud JM, Roseman CC, Williams TJ, Marcucio RS, Hallgrímsson B. Developmental nonlinearity drives phenotypic robustness. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1970. [PMID: 29213092 PMCID: PMC5719035 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02037-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Robustness to perturbation is a fundamental feature of complex organisms. Mutations are the raw material for evolution, yet robustness to their effects is required for species survival. The mechanisms that produce robustness are poorly understood. Nonlinearities are a ubiquitous feature of development that may link variation in development to phenotypic robustness. Here, we manipulate the gene dosage of a signaling molecule, Fgf8, a critical regulator of vertebrate development. We demonstrate that variation in Fgf8 expression has a nonlinear relationship to phenotypic variation, predicting levels of robustness among genotypes. Differences in robustness are not due to gene expression variance or dysregulation, but emerge from the nonlinearity of the genotype–phenotype curve. In this instance, embedded features of development explain robustness differences. How such features vary in natural populations and relate to genetic variation are key questions for unraveling the origin and evolvability of this feature of organismal development. Developmental processes often involve nonlinearities, but the consequences for translating genotype to phenotype are not well characterized. Here, Green et al. vary Fgf8 signaling across allelic series of mice and show that phenotypic robustness in craniofacial shape is explained by a nonlinear effect of Fgf8 expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Green
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and McCaig Bone and Joint Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jennifer L Fish
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA
| | - Nathan M Young
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
| | - Francis J Smith
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Benjamin Roberts
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA
| | - Katie Dolan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA
| | - Irene Choi
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Courtney L Leach
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and McCaig Bone and Joint Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Paul Gordon
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - James M Cheverud
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Charles C Roseman
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Trevor J Williams
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Ralph S Marcucio
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA.
| | - Benedikt Hallgrímsson
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and McCaig Bone and Joint Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bedeschi MF, Calvello M, Paganini L, Pezzani L, Baccarin M, Fontana L, Sirchia SM, Guerneri S, Canazza L, Leva E, Colombo L, Lalatta F, Mosca F, Tabano S, Miozzo M. Sequence variants identification at the KCNQ1OT1:TSS differentially Methylated region in isolated omphalocele cases. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2017; 18:115. [PMID: 29047350 PMCID: PMC5648441 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-017-0470-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Omphalocele is a congenital midline ventral body wall defect that can exist as isolated malformation or as part of a syndrome. It can be considered one of the major and most frequent clinical manifestation of Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS) in case of loss of methylation at KCNQ1OT1: Transcription Star Site-Differentially Methylated Region (TSS-DMR) or in presence of CDKN1C mutations. The isolated form of the omphalocele accounts approximately for about the 14% of the total cases and its molecular etiology has never been fully elucidated. Methods Given the tight relationship with BWS, we hypothesized that the isolated form of the omphalocele could belong to the heterogeneous spectrum of the BWS associated features, representing an endophenotype with a clear genetic connection. We therefore investigated genetic and epigenetic changes affecting BWS imprinted locus at 11p15.5 imprinted region, focusing in particular on the KCNQ1OT1:TSS DMR. Results We studied 21 cases of isolated omphalocele detected during pregnancy or at birth and identified the following rare maternally inherited variants: i) the non-coding variant G > A at nucleotide 687 (NR_002728.3) at KCNQ1OT1:TSS-DMR, which alters the methylation pattern of the imprinted allele, in one patient; ii) the deletion c.624-629delGGCCCC at exon 1 of CDKN1C, with unknown clinical significance, in two unrelated cases. Conclusions Taken together, these findings suggest that KCNQ1OT1:TSS-DMR could be a susceptibility locus for the isolated omphalocele. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12881-017-0470-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Francesca Bedeschi
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Mariarosaria Calvello
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Leda Paganini
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lidia Pezzani
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Fontana
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia M Sirchia
- Department of Health Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvana Guerneri
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorena Canazza
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Ernesto Leva
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Colombo
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano and Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Faustina Lalatta
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Mosca
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano and Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Tabano
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Miozzo
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Aldeiri B, Roostalu U, Albertini A, Wong J, Morabito A, Cossu G. Transgelin-expressing myofibroblasts orchestrate ventral midline closure through TGFβ signalling. Development 2017; 144:3336-3348. [PMID: 28807903 PMCID: PMC5612253 DOI: 10.1242/dev.152843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Ventral body wall (VBW) defects are among the most common congenital malformations, yet their embryonic origin and underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly characterised. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signalling is essential for VBW closure, but the responding cells are not known. Here, we identify in mouse a population of migratory myofibroblasts at the leading edge of the closing VBW that express the actin-binding protein transgelin (TAGLN) and TGFβ receptor (TGFβR). These cells respond to a temporally regulated TGFβ2 gradient originating from the epithelium of the primary body wall. Targeted elimination of TGFβR2 in TAGLN+ cells impairs midline closure and prevents the correct subsequent patterning of the musculature and skeletal components. Remarkably, deletion of Tgfbr2 in myogenic or chondrogenic progenitor cells does not manifest in midline defects. Our results indicate a pivotal significance of VBW myofibroblasts in orchestrating ventral midline closure by mediating the response to the TGFβ gradient. Altogether, our data enable us to distinguish highly regulated epithelial-mesenchymal signalling and successive cellular migration events in VBW closure that explain early morphological changes underlying the development of congenital VBW defects. Summary: A population of migratory myofibroblasts at the leading edge of the closing ventral body wall expresses cytoskeletal components and TGFβR2 and responds to an epithelial TGFβ2 morphogen gradient to drive midline closure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bashar Aldeiri
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.,Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Urmas Roostalu
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Alessandra Albertini
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jason Wong
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.,University Hospitals of South Manchester, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
| | - Antonino Morabito
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.,Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Giulio Cossu
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Suzuki K, Matsumaru D, Matsushita S, Murashima A, Ludwig M, Reutter H, Yamada G. Epispadias and the associated embryopathies: genetic and developmental basis. Clin Genet 2016; 91:247-253. [PMID: 27649475 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The abnormalities in the urogenital organs are frequently observed as human developmental diseases. Among such diseases, the defects in the upper part of external genitalia are rather rare named epispadias. The cleft in the dorsal part of external genitalia often reaches to the urethra. In general, the urogenital abnormalities accompany defects in the adjacent tissues and organs. The ventral body wall and bladder can also be affected in the patients with dorsal defects of the external genitalia. Therefore, such multiple malformations are often classified as bladder exstrophy and epispadias complex (BEEC). Because of the lower frequency of such birth defects and their early embryonic development, animal models are required to analyze the pathogenic mechanisms and the functions of responsible genes. Mutant mouse analyses on various signal cascades for external genitalia and body wall development are increasingly performed. The genetic interactions between growth factors such as bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmp) and transcription factors such as Msx1/2 and Isl1 have been suggested to play roles for such organogenesis. The significance of epithelial-mesenchymal interaction (EMI) is suggested during development. In this review, we describe on such local interactions and developmental regulators. We also introduce some mutant mouse models displaying external genitalia-body wall abnormalities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Suzuki
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan
| | - D Matsumaru
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan
| | - S Matsushita
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan
| | - A Murashima
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan.,Division of Human Embryology, Department of Anatomy, Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Japan
| | - M Ludwig
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - H Reutter
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - G Yamada
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Reutter H, Keppler-Noreuil K, E Keegan C, Thiele H, Yamada G, Ludwig M. Genetics of Bladder-Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex (BEEC): Systematic Elucidation of Mendelian and Multifactorial Phenotypes. Curr Genomics 2016; 17:4-13. [PMID: 27013921 PMCID: PMC4780475 DOI: 10.2174/1389202916666151014221806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Bladder-Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex (BEEC) represents the severe end of the uro-rectal malformation spectrum, and has a profound impact on continence, and on sexual and renal function. While previous reports of familial occurrence, in-creased recurrence among first-degree relatives, high concordance rates among monozygotic twins, and chromosomal aberra-tions were suggestive of causative genetic factors, the recent identification of copy number variations (CNVs), susceptibility regions and genes through the systematic application of array based analysis, candidate gene and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide strong evidence. These findings in human BEEC cohorts are underscored by the recent description of BEEC(-like) murine knock-out models. Here, we discuss the current knowledge of the potential molecular mechanisms, mediating abnormal uro-rectal development leading to the BEEC, demonstrating the importance of ISL1-pathway in human and mouse and propose SLC20A1 and CELSR3 as the first BEEC candidate genes, identified through systematic whole-exome sequencing (WES) in BEEC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Reutter
- Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care; Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kim Keppler-Noreuil
- Human Development Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Catherine E Keegan
- Department of Pediatric Genetics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Michigan, USA
| | - Holger Thiele
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gen Yamada
- Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Japan
| | - Michael Ludwig
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Snowball J, Ambalavanan M, Cornett B, Lang R, Whitsett J, Sinner D. Mesenchymal Wnt signaling promotes formation of sternum and thoracic body wall. Dev Biol 2015; 401:264-75. [PMID: 25727890 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Revised: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Midline defects account for approximately 5% of congenital abnormalities observed at birth. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of the ventral body wall are not well understood. Recent studies linked mutations in Porcupine-an O-acetyl transferase mediating Wnt ligand acylation-with defects in the thoracic body wall. We hypothesized that anomalous Wnt signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of defective closure of the thoracic body wall. We generated a mouse model wherein Wntless (Wls), which encodes a cargo receptor mediating secretion of Wnt ligands, was conditionally deleted from the developing mesenchyme using Dermo1Cre mice. Wls(f/f);Dermo1(Cre/+) embryos died during mid-gestation. At E13.5, skeletal defects were observed in the forelimbs, jaw, and rib cage. At E14.5, midline defects in the thoracic body wall began to emerge: the sternum failed to fuse and the heart protruded through the body wall at the midline (ectopia cordis). To determine the molecular mechanism underlying the phenotype observed in Wls(f/f);Dermo1(Cre/+) embryos, we tested whether Wnt/β-catenin signaling was operative in developing the embryonic ventral body wall using Axin2(LacZ) and BatGal reporter mice. While Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity was observed at the midline of the ventral body wall before sternal fusion, this pattern of activity was altered and scattered throughout the body wall after mesenchymal deletion of Wls. Mesenchymal cell migration was disrupted in Wls(f/f);Dermo1(Cre/+) thoracic body wall partially due to anomalous β-catenin independent Wnt signaling as determined by in vitro assays. Deletion of Lrp5 and Lrp6 receptors, which mediate Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the mesenchyme, partially recapitulated the phenotype observed in the chest midline of Wls(f/f);Dermo1(Cre/+) embryos supporting a role for Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity in the normal formation of the ventral body wall mesenchyme. We conclude that Wls-mediated secretion of Wnt ligands from the developing ventral body wall mesenchyme plays a critical role in fusion of the sternum and closure of the secondary body wall. Thus, impaired Wls activity in the ventral body wall mesenchyme is a mechanism underlying ectopia cordis and unfused sternum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Snowball
- The Perinatal Institute Division of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati, OH 4522, USA
| | - Manoj Ambalavanan
- The Perinatal Institute Division of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati, OH 4522, USA
| | - Bridget Cornett
- The Perinatal Institute Division of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati, OH 4522, USA
| | - Richard Lang
- The Visual Systems Group Division of Developmental Biology and Ophthalmology, Cincinnati Children׳s Medical Center Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Jeffrey Whitsett
- The Perinatal Institute Division of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati, OH 4522, USA; University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Debora Sinner
- The Perinatal Institute Division of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati, OH 4522, USA; University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Green RM, Feng W, Phang T, Fish JL, Li H, Spritz RA, Marcucio RS, Hooper J, Jamniczky H, Hallgrímsson B, Williams T. Tfap2a-dependent changes in mouse facial morphology result in clefting that can be ameliorated by a reduction in Fgf8 gene dosage. Dis Model Mech 2015; 8:31-43. [PMID: 25381013 PMCID: PMC4283648 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.017616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Failure of facial prominence fusion causes cleft lip and palate (CL/P), a common human birth defect. Several potential mechanisms can be envisioned that would result in CL/P, including failure of prominence growth and/or alignment as well as a failure of fusion of the juxtaposed epithelial seams. Here, using geometric morphometrics, we analyzed facial outgrowth and shape change over time in a novel mouse model exhibiting fully penetrant bilateral CL/P. This robust model is based upon mutations in Tfap2a, the gene encoding transcription factor AP-2α, which has been implicated in both syndromic and non-syndromic human CL/P. Our findings indicate that aberrant morphology and subsequent misalignment of the facial prominences underlies the inability of the mutant prominences to fuse. Exencephaly also occured in some of the Tfap2a mutants and we observed additional morphometric differences that indicate an influence of neural tube closure defects on facial shape. Molecular analysis of the CL/P model indicates that Fgf signaling is misregulated in the face, and that reducing Fgf8 gene dosage can attenuate the clefting pathology by generating compensatory changes. Furthermore, mutations in either Tfap2a or Fgf8 increase variance in facial shape, but the combination of these mutations restores variance to normal levels. The alterations in variance provide a potential mechanistic link between clefting and the evolution and diversity of facial morphology. Overall, our findings suggest that CL/P can result from small gene-expression changes that alter the shape of the facial prominences and uncouple their coordinated morphogenesis, which is necessary for normal fusion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Green
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Denver, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Weiguo Feng
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Denver, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Tzulip Phang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Denver, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jennifer L Fish
- University of California San Francisco, Orthopaedic Trauma Institute, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Denver, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Richard A Spritz
- Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12800 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Ralph S Marcucio
- University of California San Francisco, Orthopaedic Trauma Institute, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Joan Hooper
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Denver, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Heather Jamniczky
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N3Z6, Canada
| | - Benedikt Hallgrímsson
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N3Z6, Canada. Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N3Z6, Canada
| | - Trevor Williams
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Denver, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12800 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Denver, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Gustafsson R, Stachtea X, Maccarana M, Grottling E, Eklund E, Malmström A, Oldberg A. Dermatan sulfate epimerase 1 deficient mice as a model for human abdominal wall defects. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 100:712-20. [PMID: 25186462 PMCID: PMC4233991 DOI: 10.1002/bdra.23300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Revised: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dermatan sulfate (DS) is a highly sulfated polysaccharide with a variety of biological functions in extracellular matrix organization and processes such as tumorigenesis and wound healing. A distinct feature of DS is the presence of iduronic acid, produced by the two enzymes, DS-epimerase 1 and 2, which are encoded by Dse and Dsel, respectively. METHODS We have previously shown that Dse knockout (KO) mice in a mixed C57BL/6-129/SvJ background have an altered collagen matrix structure in skin. In the current work we studied Dse KO mice in a pure NFR genetic background. RESULTS Dse KO embryos and newborns had kinked tails and histological staining revealed significantly thicker epidermal layers in Dse KO mice when compared with heterozygote (Het) or wild-type (WT) littermates. Immunochemical analysis of the epidermal layers in newborn pups showed increased expression of keratin 5 in the basal layer and keratin 1 in the spinous layer. In addition, we observed an abdominal wall defect with herniated intestines in 16% of the Dse KO embryos. Other, less frequent, developmental defects were exencephaly and spina bifida. CONCLUSION We conclude that the combination of defective collagen structure in the dermis and imbalanced keratinocyte maturation could be responsible for the observed developmental defects in Dse KO mice. In addition, we propose that Dse KO mice could be used as a model in pathogenetic studies of human fetal abdominal wall defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renata Gustafsson
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Zhang L, Li H, Yu J, Cao J, Chen H, Zhao H, Zhao J, Yao Y, Cheng H, Wang L, Zhou R, Yao Z, Guo X. Ectodermal Wnt signaling regulates abdominal myogenesis during ventral body wall development. Dev Biol 2014; 387:64-72. [PMID: 24394376 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Revised: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Defects of the ventral body wall are prevalent birth anomalies marked by deficiencies in body wall closure, hypoplasia of the abdominal musculature and multiple malformations across a gamut of organs. However, the mechanisms underlying ventral body wall defects remain elusive. Here, we investigated the role of Wnt signaling in ventral body wall development by inactivating Wls or β-catenin in murine abdominal ectoderm. The loss of Wls in the ventral epithelium, which blocks the secretion of Wnt proteins, resulted in dysgenesis of ventral musculature and genito-urinary tract during embryonic development. Molecular analyses revealed that the dermis and myogenic differentiation in the underlying mesenchymal progenitor cells was perturbed by the loss of ectodermal Wls. The activity of the Wnt-Pitx2 axis was impaired in the ventral mesenchyme of the mutant body wall, which partially accounted for the defects in ventral musculature formation. In contrast, epithelial depletion of β-catenin or Wnt5a did not resemble the body wall defects in the ectodermal Wls mutant. These findings indicate that ectodermal Wnt signaling instructs the underlying mesodermal specification and abdominal musculature formation during ventral body wall development, adding evidence to the theory that ectoderm-mesenchyme signaling is a potential unifying mechanism for the origin of ventral body wall defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Zhang
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hanjun Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jian Yu
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jingjing Cao
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Huihui Chen
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Haixia Zhao
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jianzhi Zhao
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yiyun Yao
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Huihui Cheng
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Rujiang Zhou
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhengju Yao
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xizhi Guo
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Matsumaru D, Haraguchi R, Moon AM, Satoh Y, Nakagata N, Yamamura KI, Takahashi N, Kitazawa S, Yamada G. Genetic analysis of the role of Alx4 in the coordination of lower body and external genitalia formation. Eur J Hum Genet 2013; 22:350-7. [PMID: 23942202 PMCID: PMC3925283 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2013.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2012] [Revised: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although several syndromes include abnormalities of both the ventral body wall and external genitalia, the developmental bases of this correlation are largely unknown. Naturally occurring mutations in Aristaless-like 4 (Alx4, Strong's luxoid: Alx4Lst) have ventral body wall and pelvic girdle abnormalities. We sought to determine whether the development of the genital tubercle (GT) and its derivatives, the external genitalia, is affected by this mutation. We thus performed genetic and tissue labeling analyses in mutant mice. Alx4Lst/Lst mutants displayed hypoplasia of the dorsal GT and reduced expression of Fibronectin. We analyzed cell migration during GT formation by tissue labeling experiments and discovered that the cells located in the proximal segment of the umbilical cord (infra-umbilical mesenchyme) migrate toward the dorsal part of the GT. The Alx4Lst/Lst mutants also displayed augmented expression of Hh signal-related genes. Hence, we analyzed a series of combinatorial mutants for Alx4, Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and GLI-Kruppel family member 3 (Gli3). These phenotype–genotype analyses suggested a genetic interaction between Alx4 and Hh signaling during GT formation. Moreover, Hh gain-of-function mutants phenocopied some of these phenotypes. These observations reveal novel information regarding the pathogenic mechanisms of syndromic lower ventral body malformations, which are largely unknown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Matsumaru
- 1] Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan [2] Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Ryuma Haraguchi
- 1] Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan [2] Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan [3] Department of Molecular Pathology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan
| | - Anne M Moon
- Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA, USA
| | - Yoshihiko Satoh
- 1] Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan [2] Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Naomi Nakagata
- Division of Reproductive Engineering, Center for Animal Resources and Development, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Ken-ichi Yamamura
- Division of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Naoki Takahashi
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sohei Kitazawa
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan
| | - Gen Yamada
- 1] Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan [2] Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Rittler M, Vauthay L, Mazzitelli N. Gastroschisis is a defect of the Umbilical ring: Evidence from Morphological evaluation of stillborn fetuses. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 97:198-209. [DOI: 10.1002/bdra.23130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2012] [Revised: 02/23/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Rittler
- Medical Genetics Section, Department of Neonatology, Hospital Materno Infantil Ramón Sardá; University of Buenos Aires; Argentina
| | - Liliana Vauthay
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology, Embryology, and Genetics; School of Medicine; University of Buenos Aires; Argentina
| | - Nancy Mazzitelli
- Pathology Unit, Department of Diagnostics, Hospital Materno Infantil Ramón Sardá; University of Buenos Aires; Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Rodríguez-Vázquez JF, Verdugo-López S, Garrido JM, Murakami G, Kim JH. Morphogenesis of the Manubrium of Sternum in Human Embryos: A New Concept. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2012; 296:279-89. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.22623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 09/21/2012] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
|
31
|
Nichol PF, Corliss RF, Yamada S, Shiota K, Saijoh Y. Muscle patterning in mouse and human abdominal wall development and omphalocele specimens of humans. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2012; 295:2129-40. [PMID: 22976993 DOI: 10.1002/ar.22556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2010] [Revised: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 07/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Human omphalocele is a congenital defect of the abdominal wall in which the secondary abdominal wall structures (muscle and connective tissue) in an area centered around the umbilicus are replaced by a translucent membranous layer of tissue. Histological examination of omphalocele development and moreover the staging of normal human abdominal wall development has never been described. We hypothesized that omphalocele is the result of an arrest in the secondary abdominal wall development and predicted that we would observe delays in myoblast maturation and an arrest in secondary abdominal wall development. To look for evidence in support of our hypothesis, we performed a histological analysis of normal human abdominal wall development and compared this to mouse. We also conducted the first histological analysis of two human specimens with omphalocele. In these two omphalocele specimens, secondary abdominal wall development appears to have undergone an arrest around Carnegie Stage 19. In both specimens disruptions in the unidirectional orientation of myofibers were observed in the external and internal obliques, and rectus abdominis but not in the transversus abdominis. These latter findings support a model of normal abdominal wall development in which positional information instructs the orientation of myoblasts as they organize into individual muscle groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter F Nichol
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, University of Wisconsin SMPH, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Yang JD, Hwang HP, Kim JH, Rodríguez-Vázquez JF, Abe SI, Murakami G, Cho BH. Development of the rectus abdominis and its sheath in the human fetus. Yonsei Med J 2012; 53:1028-35. [PMID: 22869489 PMCID: PMC3423835 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2012.53.5.1028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Although the rectus abdominis and its sheath are well known structures, their development in the human fetus is poorly understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS We examined rectus abdominis and sheath development in semiserial horizontal sections of 18 fetuses at 5-9 weeks of gestation. RESULTS Rectus muscle differentiation was found to commence above the umbilicus at 6 weeks and extend inferiorly. Until closure of the anterior chest wall via fusion of the bilateral sternal anlagen (at 7 weeks), the anterior rectal sheath originated from the external oblique and developed towards the medial margin of the rectus abdominis at all levels, including the supracostal part. After formation of the anterior sheath, fascial laminae from the internal oblique and transversus abdominis contributed to formation of the posterior rectus sheath. However, the posterior sheath was absent along the supracostal part of the rectus abdominis, as the transversus muscle fibers reached the sternum or the midline area. Therefore, it appeared that resolution of the physiological umbilical hernia (8-9 weeks) as well as chest wall closure was not required for development of the rectus abdominis and its sheath. Conversely, in the inferior part of the two largest fetal specimens, after resolution of the hernia, the posterior sheath underwent secondary disappearance, possibly due to changes in mechanical stress. CONCLUSION Upward extension of the rectus abdominis suddenly stopped at the margin of the inferiorly developing pectoralis major without facing the external intercostalis. The rectus thoracis, if present, might correspond to the pectoralis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jae Do Yang
- Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Hong Pil Hwang
- Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Ji Hyun Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
| | | | - Shin-ichi Abe
- Oral Health Science Center hrc-8 and Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan
| | - Gen Murakami
- Division of Internal Medicine, Iwamizawa Kojin-kai Hospital, Iwamizawa, Japan
| | - Baik Hwan Cho
- Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The present study was conducted to evaluate the expression and function of AP-2α isoforms in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. METHODS The expression of AP-2α was evaluated at the RNA level by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and at the protein level by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Its function as a transcription factor was evaluated in transient transfection experiments: DNA binding properties by electromobility shift assay and transactivation capabilities by luciferase assay. RESULTS Multiple alternative splicing events of AP-2α messenger occurred in all human pancreatic cancer cell lines, including a novel isoform, termed variant 6, which was not present in HeLa cells. At the protein level, except for 1 cell line, all pancreatic cancer cell lines expressed high nuclear levels of AP-2α. We also showed that AP-2α expressed by the pancreatic cancer cell lines could bind its cognate recognition site and activate transcription. However, variant 6, although not able to activate transcription, did not act in a dominant negative manner when cotransfected with the full-length protein. CONCLUSIONS Multiple isoforms of AP-2α are highly expressed in pancreatic cancer cell lines including a new isoform, AP-2α variant 6, which seems to be pancreatic cancer specific and is deprived of transcriptional activity.
Collapse
|
34
|
Nordentoft I, Dyrskjøt L, Bødker JS, Wild PJ, Hartmann A, Bertz S, Lehmann J, Orntoft TF, Birkenkamp-Demtroder K. Increased expression of transcription factor TFAP2α correlates with chemosensitivity in advanced bladder cancer. BMC Cancer 2011; 11:135. [PMID: 21489314 PMCID: PMC3103475 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-11-135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2010] [Accepted: 04/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The standard treatment for patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is platin based chemotherapy. Only approximately 50% of the patients respond to chemotherapy. Therefore, molecular predictive markers for identification of chemotherapy sensitive subgroups of patients are highly needed. We selected the transcription factor TFAP2α from a previously identified gene expression signature for chemotherapy response. METHODS TFAP2α expression and localization was assessed by immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray (TMA) containing 282 bladder cancer tumors from patients with locally advanced (pT2-T4(b) and N(1-3)) or metastatic (M(1)) disease. All patients had received cisplatin containing chemotherapy. Furthermore, QPCR analysis of three TFAP2α isoforms was performed on tumor specimens of advanced muscle invasive bladder cancers (T2-4). Using the bladder cell lines T24 and SW780 the relation of TFAP2α and cisplatin and gemcitabine sensitivity as well as cell proliferation was examined using siRNA directed TFAP2α knockdown. RESULTS TFAP2α protein expression was analyzed on a TMA with cores from 282 advanced bladder cancer tumors from patients treated with cisplatin based combinational chemotherapy. TFAP2α was identified as a strong independent predictive marker for a good response and survival after cisplatin-containing chemotherapy in patients with advanced bladder cancer. Strong TFAP2α nuclear and cytoplasmic staining predicted good response to chemotherapy in patients with lymph node metastasis, whereas weak TFAP2α nuclear staining predicted good response in patients without lymph node metastasis. In vitro studies showed that siRNA mediated knockdown of TFAP2α increased the proliferation of SW780 cells and rendered the cells less sensitive to cisplatin and gemcitabine. In contrast to that T24 bladder cells with mutated p53 showed to be more drug sensitive upon TFAP2α depletion. CONCLUSIONS High levels of nuclear and cytoplasmic TFAP2α protein were a predictor of increased overall survival and progression free survival in patients with advanced bladder cancer treated with cisplatin based chemotherapy. TFAP2α knockdown increased the proliferation of the SW780 bladder cells and reduced cisplatin and gemcitabine induced cell death. The inverse effect was observed in the TP53 mutated T24 cell line where TFAP2α silencing augmented cisplatin and gemcitabine sensitivity and did not stimulate proliferation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iver Nordentoft
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Pyrgaki C, Liu A, Niswander L. Grainyhead-like 2 regulates neural tube closure and adhesion molecule expression during neural fold fusion. Dev Biol 2011; 353:38-49. [PMID: 21377456 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2010] [Revised: 02/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/16/2011] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Defects in closure of embryonic tissues such as the neural tube, body wall, face and eye lead to severe birth defects. Cell adhesion is hypothesized to contribute to closure of the neural tube and body wall; however, potential molecular regulators of this process have not been identified. Here we identify an ENU-induced mutation in mice that reveals a molecular pathway of embryonic closure. Line2F homozygous mutant embryos fail to close the neural tube, body wall, face, and optic fissure, and they also display defects in lung and heart development. Using a new technology of genomic sequence capture and high-throughput sequencing of a 2.5Mb region of the mouse genome, we discovered a mutation in the grainyhead-like 2 gene (Grhl2). Microarray analysis revealed Grhl2 affects the expression of a battery of genes involved in cell adhesion and E-cadherin protein is drastically reduced in tissues that require Grhl2 function. The tissue closure defects in Grhl2 mutants are similar to that of AP-2α null mutants and AP-2α has been shown to bind to the promoter of E-cadherin. Therefore, we tested for a possible interaction between these genes. However, we find that Grhl2 and AP-2α do not regulate each other's expression, E-cadherin expression is normal in AP-2α mutants during neural tube closure, and Grhl2;AP-2α trans-heterozygous embryos are morphologically normal. Taken together, our studies point to a complex regulation of neural tube fusion and highlight the importance of comparisons between these two models to understand more fully the molecular pathways of embryonic tissue closure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Pyrgaki
- HHMI, Department of Pediatrics, Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and The Children's Hospital, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Matsumaru D, Haraguchi R, Miyagawa S, Motoyama J, Nakagata N, Meijlink F, Yamada G. Genetic analysis of Hedgehog signaling in ventral body wall development and the onset of omphalocele formation. PLoS One 2011; 6:e16260. [PMID: 21283718 PMCID: PMC3024424 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2010] [Accepted: 12/12/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background An omphalocele is one of the major ventral body wall malformations and
is characterized by abnormally herniated viscera from the body trunk. It has
been frequently found to be associated with other structural malformations,
such as genitourinary malformations and digit abnormalities. In spite of its
clinical importance, the etiology of omphalocele formation is still controversial.
Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is one of the essential growth factor signaling pathways
involved in the formation of the limbs and urogenital system. However, the
relationship between Hh signaling and ventral body wall formation remains
unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings To gain insight into the roles of Hh signaling in ventral body wall formation
and its malformation, we analyzed phenotypes of mouse mutants of Sonic
hedgehog (Shh), GLI-Kruppel family member
3 (Gli3) and Aristaless-like homeobox 4
(Alx4). Introduction of additional Alx4Lst
mutations into the Gli3Xt/Xt background resulted
in various degrees of severe omphalocele and pubic diastasis. In addition,
loss of a single Shh allele restored the omphalocele and
pubic symphysis of Gli3Xt/+; Alx4Lst/Lst
embryos. We also observed ectopic Hh activity in the ventral body wall region
of Gli3Xt/Xt embryos. Moreover, tamoxifen-inducible
gain-of-function experiments to induce ectopic Hh signaling revealed Hh signal
dose-dependent formation of omphaloceles. Conclusions/Significance We suggest that one of the possible causes of omphalocele and pubic diastasis
is ectopically-induced Hh signaling. To our knowledge, this would be the first
demonstration of the involvement of Hh signaling in ventral body wall malformation
and the genetic rescue of omphalocele phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Matsumaru
- Global COE "Cell Fate Regulation
Research and Education Unit", Department of Organ Formation, Institute of
Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Ryuma Haraguchi
- Global COE "Cell Fate Regulation
Research and Education Unit", Department of Organ Formation, Institute of
Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shinichi Miyagawa
- Global COE "Cell Fate Regulation
Research and Education Unit", Department of Organ Formation, Institute of
Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Jun Motoyama
- Department of Medical Life Systems,
Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naomi Nakagata
- Center for Animal Resources and
Development (CARD), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Frits Meijlink
- Hubrecht Institute, KNAW and University
Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gen Yamada
- Global COE "Cell Fate Regulation
Research and Education Unit", Department of Organ Formation, Institute of
Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Eng D, Campbell A, Hilton T, Leid M, Gross MK, Kioussi C. Prediction of regulatory networks in mouse abdominal wall. Gene 2010; 469:1-8. [PMID: 20797427 PMCID: PMC2956860 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2010.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2010] [Revised: 08/11/2010] [Accepted: 08/16/2010] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Sequence specific transcription factors are essential for pattern formation and cell differentiation processes in mammals. The formation of the abdominal wall depends on a flawless merge of several developmental fields in time and space. The absence of Pitx2 leads to an open abdominal wall in mice, while mutations in humans result in umbilical defects, suggesting that a single homeobox transcription factor coordinates the formation and patterning of this anatomical structure. Gene expression analysis from abdominal tissue including the abdominal wall after removal of the major organs, of wild type, Pitx2 heterozygote and mutant mice, at embryonic day 10.5, identified 275 genes with altered expression levels. Pitx2 target genes were clustered using the "David Bioinformatics Functional Annotation Tool" web application, which bins genes according to gene ontology (GO) key word enrichment. This provided a way to both narrow the target gene list and to start identifying potential gene families regulated by Pitx2. Target genes in the most enriched bins were further analyzed for the presence and the evolutionary conservation of Pitx2 consensus binding sequence, TAATCY, on the -20 kb, intronic and coding gene sequences. Twenty Pitx2 target genes that passed all the above criteria were classified as genes involved in cell transport and growth. Data from these studies suggest that Pitx2 acts as an inhibitor of protein transport and cell apoptosis contributing to the open body wall phenotype. This work provides the framework to which the developmental network leading to abdominal wall syndromes can be built.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Eng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Adam Campbell
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Traci Hilton
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Mark Leid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Michael K. Gross
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Chrissa Kioussi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Reid BS, Sargent TD, Williams T. Generation and characterization of a novel neural crest marker allele, Inka1-LacZ, reveals a role for Inka1 in mouse neural tube closure. Dev Dyn 2010; 239:1188-96. [PMID: 20175189 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies identified Inka1 as a gene regulated by AP-2alpha in the neural crest required for craniofacial morphogenesis in fish and frog. Here, we extend the analysis of Inka1 function and regulation to the mouse by generating a LacZ knock-in allele. Inka1-LacZ allele expression occurs in the cephalic mesenchyme, heart, and paraxial mesoderm prior to E8.5. Subsequently, expression is observed in the migratory neural crest cells and their derivatives. Consistent with expression of Inka1 in tissues of the developing head during neurulation, a low percentage of Inka1(-/-) mice show exencephaly while the remainder are viable and fertile. Further studies indicate that AP-2alpha is not required for Inka1 expression in the mouse, and suggest that there is no significant genetic interaction between these two factors during embryogenesis. Together, these data demonstrate that while the expression domain of Inka1 is conserved among vertebrates, its function and regulation are not.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bethany S Reid
- Department of Craniofacial Biology and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Danzer E, Layne MD, Auber F, Shegu S, Kreiger P, Radu A, Volpe M, Adzick NS, Flake AW. Gastroschisis in mice lacking aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein is associated with a defect in neuromuscular development of the eviscerated intestine. Pediatr Res 2010; 68:23-8. [PMID: 20386491 DOI: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e3181e17c75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mice lacking aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein (ACLP) exhibit a gastroschisis (GS) like abdominal wall defect. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the pathophysiological features of GS in ACLP mice and to characterize the neuromuscular development of the eviscerated intestine (EI). ACLP mice were created by heterozygous mating from previously generated mice with targeted disruption of ACLP. Specimens were processed for H&E, and immunohistochemistry for smooth muscle cells [SMC, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) antibody], interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC, c-kit-antibody), neural crest cells (NCC, Hox-b5-antibody), and enteric neurons (EN, PGP9.5-, alpha-internexin, and synaptophysin antibody). From 47 fetuses genotyped, 13 (27.7%) were wild type, 20 (42.5%) were heterozygous, and 14 (29.8%) were ACLP homozygous. In GS mice, expression of c-kit, Hox-b5, PGP-9.5, alpha-internexin, and synaptophysin were almost completely absent and only faint alpha-SMA expression was seen in the EI. In contrast, c-kit, Hox-b5, PGP9.5, alpha-internexin, synaptophysin, and alpha-SMA expression in intra-abdominal intestine in GS fetuses was the same as control intestine. The defect observed in ACLP mice closely resembles GS. Absence of ICC, NCC, EN, and immature differentiation of SMC supports an associated defect in neuromuscular development that is restricted to the EI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Danzer
- The Center for Fetal Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Hilton T, Gross MK, Kioussi C. Pitx2-dependent occupancy by histone deacetylases is associated with T-box gene regulation in mammalian abdominal tissue. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:11129-42. [PMID: 20129917 PMCID: PMC2856990 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.087429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2009] [Revised: 01/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The homeodomain transcription factor Pitx2 and the T-box transcription factors are essential for organogenesis. Pitx2 and T-box genes are induced by growth factors and function as transcriptional activators or repressors. Gene expression analyses on abdominal tissue were used to identify seven of the T-box genes of the genome as Pitx2 target genes in the abdomen at embryonic day.10.5. Pitx2 activated Tbx4, Tbx15, and Mga and repressed Tbx1, Tbx2, Tbx5, and Tbx6 expression. As expected, activated genes showed reduced expression patterns, and repressed T-box genes showed increased expression patterns in the abdomen of Pitx2 mutants. Pitx2 occupied chromatin sites near all of these T-box genes. Co-occupancy by coactivators, corepressors, and histone acetylation at these sites was frequently Pitx2-dependent. Genes repressed by Pitx2 generally showed increased histone acetylation and decreased histone deacetylase (HDAC)/corepressor occupancy in Pitx2 mutants. The lower N-CoR, HDAC1, and HDAC3 occupancy observed at multiple sites along Tbx1 chromatin in mutants is consistent with the model that increased histone acetylation and gene expression of Tbx1 may result from a loss of recruitment of corepressors by Pitx2. Genes activated by Pitx2 showed less consistent patterns in chromatin analyses. Reduced H4 acetylation and increased HDAC1/nuclear receptor corepressor (N-CoR) occupancy at some Tbx4 sites were accompanied by increased H3 acetylation and reduced HDAC3 occupancy at the same or other more distal chromatin sites in mutants. Pitx2-dependent occupancy by corepressors resulted in alteration of the acetylation levels of several T-box genes, whereas Pitx2-dependent occupancy by coactivators was more site-localized. These studies will provide the basic scientific underpinning to understand abdominal wall syndromes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Traci Hilton
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Michael K. Gross
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Chrissa Kioussi
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Van Dorp DR, Malleis JM, Sullivan BP, Klein MD. Teratogens inducing congenital abdominal wall defects in animal models. Pediatr Surg Int 2010; 26:127-39. [PMID: 19756655 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-009-2482-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2009] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Congenital abdominal wall defects are common anomalies which include gastroschisis, omphalocele and umbilical cord hernia. Recent reports indicate that gastroschisis is increasing in prevalence, whereas omphalocele has remained steady, suggesting that environmental factors may play a part in their pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to review animal teratogen studies resulting in abdominal wall defects to investigate their possible causes. Each report was examined not only for the teratogens causing the defects, but also to carefully identify the defect occurring and its correlation with the known clinical anomalies. We found many discrepancies between the nomenclature used by animal teratology investigators and that used by clinicians. We were able to confirm the induction of gastroschisis by 22 teratogens, omphalocele by 9 teratogens and umbilical cord hernia by 8. There is no doubt that environmental factors may be responsible, at least in part, for all three of the clinical abdominal wall defects. Future studies should take care to appreciate the differences between these anomalies and describe them in detail, so that accurate and meaningful conclusions can be obtained.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis R Van Dorp
- Departments of Surgery, Wayne State University and Children's Hospital of Michigan, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Williams T. Animal models of ventral body wall closure defects: A personal perspective on gastroschisis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2008; 148C:186-91. [DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.30179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
43
|
Thompson J, Wong L, Lau PS, Bannigan J. Adherens junction breakdown in the periderm following cadmium administration in the chick embryo: distribution of cadherins and associated molecules. Reprod Toxicol 2007; 25:39-46. [PMID: 18031986 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2007.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2007] [Revised: 09/18/2007] [Accepted: 10/02/2007] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The teratogenic metal cadmium (Cd) has been found to cause ventral body wall defects similar to human omphalocele when administered to post-gastrulation chick embryos prior to body wall folding. From 4h after Cd, affected embryos demonstrate varying degrees of cell junction breakdown and desquamation in the periderm. We examined the effect of Cd on tissue and cell distribution of cadherins and their intracellular associates. METHODS Chicks were explanted and given 50microl of 50microM Cd solution at 60h incubation (Hamburger-Hamilton stage 16-17). To examine peridermal junctions, embryos were processed into resin and ultra-thin sections examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Tissue was processed into paraffin and 6microm sections treated according to standard protocols for immunohistochemical detection of L-CAM, pan-cadherin, beta-catenin, alpha-1 and alpha-2 catenin. To examine actin distribution, frozen sections were cut at 10-20microm, stained with oragon green phalloidin and nuclei counter-stained with propidium iodide. RESULTS The overall tissue distribution of L-CAM, pan-cadherin and the alpha-catenins did not appear to be altered following Cd. However, beta-catenin changed from its normal sub-membranous location to a more general cytoplasmic distribution, with translocation to the nucleus in both peridermal and ectodermal cells. Similarly, actin distribution in the periderm in embryos demonstrating cell junction breakdown was markedly altered, with clumping and disorganization after 4h. CONCLUSIONS Although L-CAM is distributed normally after Cd, post-translational modification may occur causing breakdown of its normal association with the catenins and actin, and allowing beta-catenin to translocate to the nucleus in peri-ectodermal tissue, mimicking the canonical Wnt pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Thompson
- School of Medicine and Medical Science and Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Feldkamp ML, Carey JC, Sadler TW. Development of gastroschisis: review of hypotheses, a novel hypothesis, and implications for research. Am J Med Genet A 2007; 143A:639-52. [PMID: 17230493 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.31578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Gastroschisis, a ventral body wall defect, is a continuing challenge and concern to researchers, clinicians, and epidemiologists seeking to identify its cause(s) and pathogenesis. Concern has been renewed in recent years because, unlike most other birth defects, rates of gastroschisis are reportedly increasing in many developed and developing countries. No tenable explanation or specific causes have been identified for this trend. Rates of gastroschisis are particularly high among pregnancies of very young women. Such an intriguing association, not observed to this degree with other birth defects, may afford clues to the defect's cause. Understanding the causes of gastroschisis may provide insight to the defect's origin. In pursuing such causal studies, it would be helpful to understand the embryogenesis of gastroschisis. To date, four main embryologic hypotheses have been proposed: (1) Failure of mesoderm to form in the body wall; (2) Rupture of the amnion around the umbilical ring with subsequent herniation of bowel; (3) Abnormal involution of the right umbilical vein leading to weakening of the body wall and gut herniation; and (4) Disruption of the right vitelline (yolk sac) artery with subsequent body wall damage and gut herniation. Although based on embryological phenomena, these hypotheses do not provide an adequate explanation for how gastroschisis would occur. Therefore, we propose an alternative hypothesis, based on well described embryonic events. Specifically, we propose that abnormal folding of the body wall results in a ventral body wall defect through which the gut herniates, leading to the clinical presentation of gastroschisis. This hypothesis potentially explains the origin of gastroschisis as well as that of other developmental defects of the ventral wall.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcia L Feldkamp
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ventral body wall (VBW) defects occur in 1:2000 live births. We examined the association of VBW defect with somite abnormality and lordosis in the chick using in vitro and in ovo methods. METHODS Explanted chick embryos were treated at 60 hours with 50 microL sodium acetate or 0.001% cadmium acetate solution to produce VBW defects. Mortality and abnormality rates were assessed. A further cohort of chicks was treated in ovo by dropping 50 microL 0.001% to 0.01% cadmium acetate onto the embryo and allowing development to 16.5 days for further assessment of the defect and skeletal staining with alcian blue and alizarin red. RESULTS Cadmium treatment at 24 hours induced VBW defects in chicks treated in both shell-less culture and in ovo. Material herniating through the VBW defects was covered by a membrane in all fresh specimens. Membrane removal revealed large defects containing liver and bowel. These criteria clearly indicate that the defect observed is an omphalocele. Affected embryos had reduced somite numbers within 24 hours. Chicks exhibiting exomphalos at 16.5 days invariably had lumbosacral lordosis. CONCLUSIONS The cadmium-treated chick embryo is a reliable model for exomphalos. A positive association was found between exomphalos and lumbar lordosis in the chick.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Thompson
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences and Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Sun J, Liu YH, Chen H, Nguyen MP, Mishina Y, Upperman JS, Ford HR, Shi W. Deficient Alk3-mediated BMP signaling causes prenatal omphalocele-like defect. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007; 360:238-43. [PMID: 17588538 PMCID: PMC1987715 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.06.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2007] [Accepted: 06/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BMP signaling plays important roles in many embryonic developmental processes. Alk3 is one of two BMP type I receptors that transduces BMP signal from the cell surface into cell. Conventional knockout of Alk3 resulted in early embryonic lethality around E7.5-E9.5. In this study, we have generated embryonic mesoderm-specific Alk3 conditional knockout by crossing Dermo1-Cre and floxed Alk3 mice. Abrogation of Alk3-mediated BMP signaling in this mouse resulted in severe defect of secondary ventral body wall formation, replicating the omphalocele phenotype in human. Our finding suggests that Alk3 plays an essential role in the formation of embryonic ventral abdominal wall, and abrogation of BMP signaling activity due to gene mutations in its signaling components could be one of the underlying causes of omphalocele at birth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Sun
- Developmental Biology Program, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
| | - Yi-Hsin Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Hui Chen
- Developmental Biology Program, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
| | - Manuel P. Nguyen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Yuji Mishina
- Molecular Developmental Biology Group, Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - Jeffrey S. Upperman
- Developmental Biology Program, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
| | - Henri R. Ford
- Developmental Biology Program, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
| | - Wei Shi
- Developmental Biology Program, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Vauthay L, Mazzitelli N, Rittler M. Patterns of severe abdominal wall defects: Insights into pathogenesis, delineation, and nomenclature. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 79:211-20. [PMID: 17183587 DOI: 10.1002/bdra.20339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the last decade, descriptions of malformation complexes involving an abdominal wall defect (AWD) have repeatedly appeared in the literature, and there has been frequent confusion regarding nomenclature, definitions, and delineations. The aims of this work were to evaluate possible embryological relationships among AWD cases, review the related nomenclature, identify patterns involving AWDs, and stress the importance of complete clinical descriptions. METHODS Cases diagnosed as AWD complexes were selected from live--and stillborn infants of the Hospital Materno Infantil Ramón Sardá, Buenos Aires, and from the Laboratory of Perinatal Pathology, Buenos Aires, Argentina. They were sorted by the location of the AWD, the umbilical cord length, and the presence or absence of a persistent cloaca. The findings in 26 cases were described, according to proposed definitions. RESULTS Three patterns could be identified: 1) the AWD involving the umbilical ring, a persistent or exstrophic cloaca, and a spinal cord anomaly; 2) the AWD extending laterally to the umbilical ring, severe unilateral limb defects, and same-sided agenesis of abdominal organs; and 3) the AWD not involving the umbilical ring, clefts, exencephaly, and amputations. Furthermore, overlapping among these patterns was observed, and possible involved mechanisms are discussed. CONCLUSIONS The observed overlapping among patterns suggested that malformation complexes involving AWDs might not be independent conditions but rather belong to a common and broader spectrum of anomalies. Complete clinical descriptions, the avoidance of synonyms and generalizations, and strictly defined inclusion criteria are proposed for a better understanding of pathogenetic pathways in, and relationships among, AWD complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Vauthay
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology, Embryology and Genetics, First Academic Unit, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Yamada G, Suzuki K, Haraguchi R, Miyagawa S, Satoh Y, Kamimura M, Nakagata N, Kataoka H, Kuroiwa A, Chen Y. Molecular genetic cascades for external genitalia formation: an emerging organogenesis program. Dev Dyn 2006; 235:1738-52. [PMID: 16598715 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.20807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
External genitalia are anatomical structures located at the posterior embryonic region as part of several urogenital/reproductive organs. The embryonic anlage of the external genitalia, the genital tubercle (GT) develops as a bud-shaped structure with an initial urethral plate and later urethra. Embryonic external genitalia are considered to be one of the appendages. Recent experiments suggest that essential regulatory genes possess similar functions for the outgrowth regulation of the GT and limb appendages. The transient embryonic epithelia located in the distal GT are called the distal urethral epithelium (DUE) regulating, at least in part, the (distal) GT development. This review covers the available data about early patterning of GT and discusses the molecular developmental similarities and points of divergence between the different appendages. Development of the male and female external genitalia is also reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Yamada
- Center for Animal Resources and Development (CARD), Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Hirano M, Kiyonari H, Inoue A, Furushima K, Murata T, Suda Y, Aizawa S. A new serine/threonine protein kinase, Omphk1, essential to ventral body wall formation. Dev Dyn 2006; 235:2229-37. [PMID: 16715502 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.20823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we report a new serine/threonine protein kinase of the SNF1 subfamily Omphk1. Two Omphk homologues exist in each vertebrate species, and one homologue exists in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans; the kinase domain is highly conserved among these homologues, and several domains are conserved among vertebrate Omphk. Omphk1 expression dynamically changes in the developing central nervous system, is found ubiquitously in epidermis, and is present uniquely in several other tissues. Its expression is also found in each tissue associated with the ventral body wall closure: the primary body wall composed of primitive ectoderm and each component of the secondary body wall. Concomitantly, its null mutant exhibits omphalocele with a failure in closure of the secondary body wall. There are no apparent gross morphological defects in brain, however, despite the unique Omphk1 expression in this tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Hirano
- Laboratory for Vertebrate Body Plan, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN Kobe, Minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Thumkeo D, Shimizu Y, Sakamoto S, Yamada S, Narumiya S. ROCK-I and ROCK-II cooperatively regulate closure of eyelid and ventral body wall in mouse embryo. Genes Cells 2005; 10:825-34. [PMID: 16098146 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2005.00882.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) is a serine/threonine kinase working in the Rho signaling to actin cytoskeleton. We previously reported that loss of ROCK-I results in the eyelid open at birth (EOB) and omphalocele phenotype in mice, while loss of ROCK-II results in placental dysfunction leading to intrauterine growth retardation and fetal death. Here, we report that after backcross to the C57BL/6 N genetic background, ROCK-II knockout (KO) neonates are born also with open eyelid and umbilical hernia, a phenotype similar to that of ROCK-I KO mice. ROCK-II KO embryos show impaired extension of the eyelid epithelial sheet with disorganized actin bundles in the leading edge of the sheet. These results suggest that ROCK-I and ROCK-II cooperatively regulates the assembly of actin bundles essential for closure of the eyelid and ventral body wall in mouse embryos. Consistently, ROCK-I(+/-)ROCK-II(+/-) double heterozygous mice also show the EOB and omphalocele phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dean Thumkeo
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|