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Driesen J, Van Hoecke H, Maes L, Janssens S, Acke F, De Leenheer E. CHD7 Disorder-Not CHARGE Syndrome-Presenting as Isolated Cochleovestibular Dysfunction. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:643. [PMID: 38790272 PMCID: PMC11120670 DOI: 10.3390/genes15050643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
CHARGE syndrome, characterized by a distinct set of clinical features, has been linked primarily to mutations in the CHD7 gene. Initially defined by specific clinical criteria, including coloboma, heart defects, choanal atresia, delayed growth, and ear anomalies, CHARGE syndrome's diagnostic spectrum has broadened since the identification of CHD7. Variants in this gene exhibit considerable phenotypic variability, leading to the adoption of the term "CHD7 disorder" to encompass a wider range of associated symptoms. Recent research has identified CHD7 variants in individuals with isolated features such as autism spectrum disorder or gonadotropin-releasing hormone deficiency. In this study, we present three cases from two different families exhibiting audiovestibular impairment as the primary manifestation of a CHD7 variant. We discuss the expanding phenotypic variability observed in CHD7-related disorders, highlighting the importance of considering CHD7 in nonsyndromic hearing loss cases, especially when accompanied by inner ear malformations on MRI. Additionally, we underscore the necessity of genetic counseling and comprehensive clinical evaluation for individuals with CHD7 variants to ensure appropriate management of associated health concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jef Driesen
- Department of Head and Skin, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Helen Van Hoecke
- Department of Head and Skin, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Leen Maes
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sandra Janssens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Frederic Acke
- Department of Head and Skin, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Els De Leenheer
- Department of Head and Skin, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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2
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Warin J, Vedrenne N, Tam V, Zhu M, Yin D, Lin X, Guidoux-D’halluin B, Humeau A, Roseiro L, Paillat L, Chédeville C, Chariau C, Riemers F, Templin M, Guicheux J, Tryfonidou MA, Ho JW, David L, Chan D, Camus A. In vitro and in vivo models define a molecular signature reference for human embryonic notochordal cells. iScience 2024; 27:109018. [PMID: 38357665 PMCID: PMC10865399 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the emergence of human notochordal cells (NC) is essential for the development of regenerative approaches. We present a comprehensive investigation into the specification and generation of bona fide NC using a straightforward pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-based system benchmarked with human fetal notochord. By integrating in vitro and in vivo transcriptomic data at single-cell resolution, we establish an extended molecular signature and overcome the limitations associated with studying human notochordal lineage at early developmental stages. We show that TGF-β inhibition enhances the yield and homogeneity of notochordal lineage commitment in vitro. Furthermore, this study characterizes regulators of cell-fate decision and matrisome enriched in the notochordal niche. Importantly, we identify specific cell-surface markers opening avenues for differentiation refinement, NC purification, and functional studies. Altogether, this study provides a human notochord transcriptomic reference that will serve as a resource for notochord identification in human systems, diseased-tissues modeling, and facilitating future biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Warin
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Nicolas Vedrenne
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
- Inserm, Univ. Limoges, Pharmacology & Transplantation, U1248, CHU Limoges, Service de Pharmacologie, toxicologie et pharmacovigilance, FHU SUPORT, 87000 Limoges, France
| | - Vivian Tam
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mengxia Zhu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Danqing Yin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xinyi Lin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bluwen Guidoux-D’halluin
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Antoine Humeau
- Inserm, Univ. Limoges, Pharmacology & Transplantation, U1248, CHU Limoges, Service de Pharmacologie, toxicologie et pharmacovigilance, FHU SUPORT, 87000 Limoges, France
| | - Luce Roseiro
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Lily Paillat
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Claire Chédeville
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Caroline Chariau
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, BioCore, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Frank Riemers
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Markus Templin
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Jérôme Guicheux
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Marianna A. Tryfonidou
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua W.K. Ho
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Laurent David
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, BioCore, 44000 Nantes, France
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Inserm, CR2TI, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Danny Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Anne Camus
- Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS, UMR 1229, 44000 Nantes, France
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3
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Szoszkiewicz A, Bukowska-Olech E, Jamsheer A. Molecular landscape of congenital vertebral malformations: recent discoveries and future directions. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2024; 19:32. [PMID: 38291488 PMCID: PMC10829358 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-024-03040-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Vertebral malformations (VMs) pose a significant global health problem, causing chronic pain and disability. Vertebral defects occur as isolated conditions or within the spectrum of various congenital disorders, such as Klippel-Feil syndrome, congenital scoliosis, spondylocostal dysostosis, sacral agenesis, and neural tube defects. Although both genetic abnormalities and environmental factors can contribute to abnormal vertebral development, our knowledge on molecular mechanisms of numerous VMs is still limited. Furthermore, there is a lack of resource that consolidates the current knowledge in this field. In this pioneering review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the latest research on the molecular basis of VMs and the association of the VMs-related causative genes with bone developmental signaling pathways. Our study identifies 118 genes linked to VMs, with 98 genes involved in biological pathways crucial for the formation of the vertebral column. Overall, the review summarizes the current knowledge on VM genetics, and provides new insights into potential involvement of biological pathways in VM pathogenesis. We also present an overview of available data regarding the role of epigenetic and environmental factors in VMs. We identify areas where knowledge is lacking, such as precise molecular mechanisms in which specific genes contribute to the development of VMs. Finally, we propose future research avenues that could address knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Szoszkiewicz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 8, 60-806, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Ewelina Bukowska-Olech
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 8, 60-806, Poznan, Poland
| | - Aleksander Jamsheer
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 8, 60-806, Poznan, Poland.
- Centers for Medical Genetics GENESIS, Dąbrowskiego 77A, 60-529, Poznan, Poland.
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4
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Williams RJ, Laagland LT, Bach FC, Ward L, Chan W, Tam V, Medzikovic A, Basatvat S, Paillat L, Vedrenne N, Snuggs JW, Poramba-Liyanage DW, Hoyland JA, Chan D, Camus A, Richardson SM, Tryfonidou MA, Le Maitre CL. Recommendations for intervertebral disc notochordal cell investigation: From isolation to characterization. JOR Spine 2023; 6:e1272. [PMID: 37780826 PMCID: PMC10540834 DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lineage-tracing experiments have established that the central region of the mature intervertebral disc, the nucleus pulposus (NP), develops from the embryonic structure called "the notochord". However, changes in the cells derived from the notochord which form the NP (i.e., notochordal cells [NCs]), in terms of their phenotype and functional identity from early developmental stages to skeletal maturation are less understood. These key issues require further investigation to better comprehend the role of NCs in homeostasis and degeneration as well as their potential for regeneration. Progress in utilizing NCs is currently hampered due to poor consistency and lack of consensus methodology for in vitro NC extraction, manipulation, and characterization. Methods Here, an international group has come together to provide key recommendations and methodologies for NC isolation within key species, numeration, in vitro manipulation and culture, and characterization. Results Recommeded protocols are provided for isolation and culture of NCs. Experimental testing provided recommended methodology for numeration of NCs. The issues of cryopreservation are demonstrated, and a pannel of immunohistochemical markers are provided to inform NC characterization. Conclusions Together we hope this article provides a road map for in vitro studies of NCs to support advances in research into NC physiology and their potential in regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Williams
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism Medical School, The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield UK
| | - Lisanne T Laagland
- Department of Clinical Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Frances C Bach
- Department of Clinical Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Lizzy Ward
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health The University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Wilson Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong China
| | - Vivian Tam
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong China
| | - Adel Medzikovic
- Department of Clinical Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Shaghayegh Basatvat
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism Medical School, The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield UK
| | - Lily Paillat
- Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1229 Nantes France
| | - Nicolas Vedrenne
- Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1229 Nantes France
| | - Joseph W Snuggs
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism Medical School, The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield UK
| | - Deepani W Poramba-Liyanage
- Department of Clinical Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Judith A Hoyland
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health The University of Manchester Manchester UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre Central Manchester Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre Manchester UK
| | - Danny Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong China
| | - Anne Camus
- Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, RMeS Nantes Université, Oniris, CHU Nantes, INSERM, UMR 1229 Nantes France
| | - Stephen M Richardson
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health The University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Marianna A Tryfonidou
- Department of Clinical Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Christine L Le Maitre
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism Medical School, The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield UK
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5
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Samanta A, Lufkin T, Kraus P. Intervertebral disc degeneration-Current therapeutic options and challenges. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1156749. [PMID: 37483952 PMCID: PMC10359191 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1156749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is a normal part of aging. Due to the spine's declining function and the development of pain, it may affect one's physical health, mental health, and socioeconomic status. Most of the intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) therapies today focus on the symptoms of low back pain rather than the underlying etiology or mechanical function of the disc. The deteriorated disc is typically not restored by conservative or surgical therapies that largely focus on correcting symptoms and structural abnormalities. To enhance the clinical outcome and the quality of life of a patient, several therapeutic modalities have been created. In this review, we discuss genetic and environmental causes of IVDD and describe promising modern endogenous and exogenous therapeutic approaches including their applicability and relevance to the degeneration process.
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Wang L, Liu Z, Zhao S, Xu K, Aceves V, Qiu C, Troutwine B, Liu L, Ma S, Niu Y, Wang S, Yuan S, Li X, Zhao L, Liu X, Wu Z, Zhang TJ, Gray RS, Wu N. Variants in the SOX9 transactivation middle domain induce axial skeleton dysplasia and scoliosis. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.05.29.23290174. [PMID: 37398377 PMCID: PMC10312849 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.29.23290174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
SOX9 is an essential transcriptional regulator of cartilage development and homeostasis. In humans, dysregulation of SOX9 is associated with a wide spectrum of skeletal disorders, including campomelic and acampomelic dysplasia, and scoliosis. The mechanism of how SOX9 variants contribute to the spectrum of axial skeletal disorders is not well understood. Here, we report four novel pathogenic variants of SOX9 identified in a large cohort of patients with congenital vertebral malformations. Three of these heterozygous variants are in the HMG and DIM domains, and for the first time, we report a pathogenic variant within the transactivation middle (TAM) domain of SOX9 . Probands with these variants exhibit variable skeletal dysplasia, ranging from isolated vertebral malformation to acampomelic dysplasia. We also generated a Sox9 hypomorphic mutant mouse model bearing a microdeletion within the TAM domain ( Sox9 Asp272del ). We demonstrated that disturbance of the TAM domain with missense mutation or microdeletion results in reduced protein stability but does not affect the transcriptional activity of SOX9. Homozygous Sox9 Asp272del mice exhibited axial skeletal dysplasia including kinked tails, ribcage anomalies, and scoliosis, recapitulating phenotypes observed in human, while heterozygous mutants display a milder phenotype. Analysis of primary chondrocytes and the intervertebral discs in Sox9 Asp272del mutant mice revealed dysregulation of a panel of genes with major contributions of the extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, and ossification-related processes. In summary, our work identified the first pathologic variant of SOX9 within the TAM domain and demonstrated that this variant is associated with reduced SOX9 protein stability. Our finding suggests that reduced SOX9 stability caused by variants in the TAM domain may be responsible for the milder forms of axial skeleton dysplasia in humans.
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7
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Sharifnia T, Wawer MJ, Goodale A, Lee Y, Kazachkova M, Dempster JM, Muller S, Levy J, Freed DM, Sommer J, Kalfon J, Vazquez F, Hahn WC, Root DE, Clemons PA, Schreiber SL. Mapping the landscape of genetic dependencies in chordoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1933. [PMID: 37024492 PMCID: PMC10079670 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37593-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying the spectrum of genes required for cancer cell survival can reveal essential cancer circuitry and therapeutic targets, but such a map remains incomplete for many cancer types. We apply genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function screens to map the landscape of selectively essential genes in chordoma, a bone cancer with few validated targets. This approach confirms a known chordoma dependency, TBXT (T; brachyury), and identifies a range of additional dependencies, including PTPN11, ADAR, PRKRA, LUC7L2, SRRM2, SLC2A1, SLC7A5, FANCM, and THAP1. CDK6, SOX9, and EGFR, genes previously implicated in chordoma biology, are also recovered. We find genomic and transcriptomic features that predict specific dependencies, including interferon-stimulated gene expression, which correlates with ADAR dependence and is elevated in chordoma. Validating the therapeutic relevance of dependencies, small-molecule inhibitors of SHP2, encoded by PTPN11, have potent preclinical efficacy against chordoma. Our results generate an emerging map of chordoma dependencies to enable biological and therapeutic hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanaz Sharifnia
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
| | - Mathias J Wawer
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Kojin Therapeutics, Boston, MA, 02210, USA
| | - Amy Goodale
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Yenarae Lee
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Mariya Kazachkova
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | | | - Sandrine Muller
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Joan Levy
- Chordoma Foundation, Durham, NC, 27702, USA
- Melanoma Research Alliance, Washington, D.C., 20005, USA
| | | | | | - Jérémie Kalfon
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | - William C Hahn
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - David E Root
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Paul A Clemons
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Stuart L Schreiber
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
- Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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8
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Alini M, Diwan AD, Erwin WM, Little CB, Melrose J. An update on animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain: Exploring the potential of artificial intelligence to improve research analysis and development of prospective therapeutics. JOR Spine 2023; 6:e1230. [PMID: 36994457 PMCID: PMC10041392 DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models have been invaluable in the identification of molecular events occurring in and contributing to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and important therapeutic targets have been identified. Some outstanding animal models (murine, ovine, chondrodystrophoid canine) have been identified with their own strengths and weaknesses. The llama/alpaca, horse and kangaroo have emerged as new large species for IVD studies, and only time will tell if they will surpass the utility of existing models. The complexity of IVD degeneration poses difficulties in the selection of the most appropriate molecular target of many potential candidates, to focus on in the formulation of strategies to effect disc repair and regeneration. It may well be that many therapeutic objectives should be targeted simultaneously to effect a favorable outcome in human IVD degeneration. Use of animal models in isolation will not allow resolution of this complex issue and a paradigm shift and adoption of new methodologies is required to provide the next step forward in the determination of an effective repairative strategy for the IVD. AI has improved the accuracy and assessment of spinal imaging supporting clinical diagnostics and research efforts to better understand IVD degeneration and its treatment. Implementation of AI in the evaluation of histology data has improved the usefulness of a popular murine IVD model and could also be used in an ovine histopathological grading scheme that has been used to quantify degenerative IVD changes and stem cell mediated regeneration. These models are also attractive candidates for the evaluation of novel anti-oxidant compounds that counter inflammatory conditions in degenerate IVDs and promote IVD regeneration. Some of these compounds also have pain-relieving properties. AI has facilitated development of facial recognition pain assessment in animal IVD models offering the possibility of correlating the potential pain alleviating properties of some of these compounds with IVD regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Alini
- AO Research Institute Davos Platz Switzerland
| | - Ashish D. Diwan
- Spine Service, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. George & Sutherland Campus, Clinical School University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - W. Mark Erwin
- Department of Surgery University of Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Chirstopher B. Little
- Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratory Kolling Institute, Sydney University Faculty of Medicine and Health, Northern Sydney Area Health District, Royal North Shore Hospital St. Leonards New South Wales Australia
| | - James Melrose
- Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratory Kolling Institute, Sydney University Faculty of Medicine and Health, Northern Sydney Area Health District, Royal North Shore Hospital St. Leonards New South Wales Australia
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering The University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
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9
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Integrative Bioinformatics Analysis Revealed Mitochondrial Dysfunction-Related Genes Underlying Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:1372483. [PMID: 36267810 PMCID: PMC9578809 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1372483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). We aim to explore the pathways and key genes that cause mitochondrial dysfunction during IDD and to further reveal the pathogenesis of IDD based on bioinformatic analyses. Methods Datasets GSE70362 and GSE124272 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of mitochondrial dysfunction between IDD patients and healthy controls were screened by package limma package. Critical genes were identified by adopting gene ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. We collected both degenerated and normal disc tissues obtained surgically, and we performed western blot and qPCR to verify the key DEGs identified in intervertebral disc tissues. Results In total, 40 cases of IDD and 24 healthy controls were included. We identified 152 DEGs, including 67 upregulated genes and 85 downregulated genes. Four genes related to mitochondrial dysfunction (SOX9, FLVCR1, NR5A1 and UCHL1) were screened out. Of them, SOX9, FLVCR1, and UCHL1 were down-regulated in peripheral blood and intervertebral disc tissues of IDD patients, while NR5A1 was up-regulated. The analysis of immune infiltration showed the concentrations of mast cells activated were significantly the highest in IDD patients. Compared with the control group, the level of T cells CD4 memory resting was the lowest in the patients. In addition, 24 cases of IDD tissues and 12 cases of normal disc tissues were obtained to verify the results of bioinformatics analysis. Both western blot and qPCR results were consistent with the results of bioinformatics analysis. Conclusion We identified four genes (SOX9, FLVCR1, NR5A1 and UCHL1) associated with mitochondrial dysfunction that play an important role in the progress of disc degeneration. The identification of these differential genes may provide new insights for the diagnosis and treatment of IDD.
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10
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Sá da Bandeira D, Kilpatrick AM, Marques M, Gomez-Salazar M, Ventura T, Gonzalez ZN, Stefancova D, Rossi F, Vermeren M, Vink CS, Beltran M, Henderson NC, Jung B, van der Linden R, van de Werken HJG, van Ijcken WFJ, Betsholtz C, Forbes SJ, Cuervo H, Crisan M. PDGFRβ + cells play a dual role as hematopoietic precursors and niche cells during mouse ontogeny. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111114. [PMID: 35858557 PMCID: PMC9638014 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) generation in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros region requires HSC specification signals from the surrounding microenvironment. In zebrafish, PDGF-B/PDGFRβ signaling controls hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) generation and is required in the HSC specification niche. Little is known about murine HSPC specification in vivo and whether PDGF-B/PDGFRβ is involved. Here, we show that PDGFRβ is expressed in distinct perivascular stromal cell layers surrounding the mid-gestation dorsal aorta, and its deletion impairs hematopoiesis. We demonstrate that PDGFRβ+ cells play a dual role in murine hematopoiesis. They act in the aortic niche to support HSPCs, and in addition, PDGFRβ+ embryonic precursors give rise to a subset of HSPCs that persist into adulthood. These findings provide crucial information for the controlled production of HSPCs in vitro. PDGFRβ deletion affects hematopoietic development in the AGM in vivo The transcriptome and hematopoietic support of the PDGFRβ-KO niche are altered The osteogenic gene profile and differentiation of KO AGM MSCs are affected PDGFRβ+ early embryonic precursors contribute to EC and HSPC lineages in vivo
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Sá da Bandeira
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK; Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alastair Morris Kilpatrick
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Madalena Marques
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mario Gomez-Salazar
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Telma Ventura
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Zaniah Nashira Gonzalez
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK; Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Dorota Stefancova
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Fiona Rossi
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Matthieu Vermeren
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Chris Sebastiaan Vink
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mariana Beltran
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK
| | - Neil Cowan Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK; MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, EH4 2XU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Bongnam Jung
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; Harvard Medical School, Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Reinier van der Linden
- Hubrecht Institute, Department van Oudenaarden Quantitative Biology, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Harmen Jan George van de Werken
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Cancer Computational Biology Center, and Departments of Urology and Immunology, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wilfred F J van Ijcken
- Center for Biomics, Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, 3015 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Christer Betsholtz
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Stuart John Forbes
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Henar Cuervo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Mihaela Crisan
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK; Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, EH16 4UU Edinburgh, UK.
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11
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Direct Reprogramming and Induction of Human Dermal Fibroblasts to Differentiate into iPS-Derived Nucleus Pulposus-like Cells in 3D Culture. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23074059. [PMID: 35409417 PMCID: PMC8999916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23074059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc (IVD) diseases are common spinal disorders that cause neck or back pain in the presence or absence of an underlying neurological disorder. IVD diseases develop on the basis of degeneration, and there are no established treatments for degeneration. IVD diseases may therefore represent a candidate for the application of regenerative medicine, potentially employing normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) induced to differentiate into nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Here, we used a three-dimensional culture system to demonstrate that ectopic expression of MYC, KLF4, NOTO, SOX5, SOX6, and SOX9 in NHDFs generated NP-like cells, detected using Safranin-O staining. Quantitative PCR, microarray analysis, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting revealed that the induced NP cells exhibited a fully differentiated phenotype. These findings may significantly contribute to the development of effective strategies for treating IVD diseases.
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12
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Bach FC, Poramba-Liyanage DW, Riemers FM, Guicheux J, Camus A, Iatridis JC, Chan D, Ito K, Le Maitre CL, Tryfonidou MA. Notochordal Cell-Based Treatment Strategies and Their Potential in Intervertebral Disc Regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:780749. [PMID: 35359916 PMCID: PMC8963872 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.780749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic low back pain is the number one cause of years lived with disability. In about 40% of patients, chronic lower back pain is related to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. The standard-of-care focuses on symptomatic relief, while surgery is the last resort. Emerging therapeutic strategies target the underlying cause of IVD degeneration and increasingly focus on the relatively overlooked notochordal cells (NCs). NCs are derived from the notochord and once the notochord regresses they remain in the core of the developing IVD, the nucleus pulposus. The large vacuolated NCs rapidly decline after birth and are replaced by the smaller nucleus pulposus cells with maturation, ageing, and degeneration. Here, we provide an update on the journey of NCs and discuss the cell markers and tools that can be used to study their fate and regenerative capacity. We review the therapeutic potential of NCs for the treatment of IVD-related lower back pain and outline important future directions in this area. Promising studies indicate that NCs and their secretome exerts regenerative effects, via increased proliferation, extracellular matrix production, and anti-inflammatory effects. Reports on NC-like cells derived from embryonic- or induced pluripotent-stem cells claim to have successfully generated NC-like cells but did not compare them with native NCs for phenotypic markers or in terms of their regenerative capacity. Altogether, this is an emerging and active field of research with exciting possibilities. NC-based studies demonstrate that cues from developmental biology can pave the path for future clinical therapies focused on regenerating the diseased IVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances C. Bach
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Frank M. Riemers
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jerome Guicheux
- UMR 1229-RMeS, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, Université de Nantes, ONIRIS, Nantes, France
- UFR Odontologie, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
- PHU4 OTONN, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Anne Camus
- UMR 1229-RMeS, Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, Université de Nantes, ONIRIS, Nantes, France
| | - James C. Iatridis
- Leni and Peter W. May Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Danny Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Keita Ito
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Christine L. Le Maitre
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Marianna A. Tryfonidou
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Marianna A. Tryfonidou,
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13
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Current Status of the Instructional Cues Provided by Notochordal Cells in Novel Disc Repair Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010427. [PMID: 35008853 PMCID: PMC8745519 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous publications over the past 22 years, beginning with a seminal paper by Aguiar et al., have demonstrated the ability of notochordal cell-secreted factors to confer anabolic effects upon intervertebral disc (IVD) cells. Since this seminal paper, other scientific publications have demonstrated that notochordal cells secrete soluble factors that can induce anti-inflammatory, pro-anabolic and anti-cell death effects upon IVD nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in vitro and in vivo, direct human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells toward an IVD NP-like phenotype and repel neurite ingrowth. More recently these factors have been characterized, identified, and used therapeutically to induce repair upon injured IVDs in small and large pre-clinical animal models. Further, notochordal cell-rich IVD NPs maintain a stable, healthy extracellular matrix whereas notochordal cell-deficient IVDs result in a biomechanically and extracellular matrix defective phenotype. Collectively this accumulating body of evidence indicates that the notochordal cell, the cellular originator of the intervertebral disc holds vital instructional cues to establish, maintain and possibly regenerate the intervertebral disc.
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14
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Ekram S, Khalid S, Salim A, Khan I. Regulating the fate of stem cells for regenerating the intervertebral disc degeneration. World J Stem Cells 2021; 13:1881-1904. [PMID: 35069988 PMCID: PMC8727226 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i12.1881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lower back pain is a leading cause of disability and is one of the reasons for the substantial socioeconomic burden. The etiology of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is complicated, and its mechanism is still not completely understood. Factors such as aging, systemic inflammation, biochemical mediators, toxic environmental factors, physical injuries, and genetic factors are involved in the progression of its pathophysiology. Currently, no therapy for restoring degenerated IVD is available except pain management, reduced physical activities, and surgical intervention. Therefore, it is imperative to establish regenerative medicine-based approaches to heal and repair the injured disc, repopulate the cell types to retain water content, synthesize extracellular matrix, and strengthen the disc to restore normal spine flexion. Cellular therapy has gained attention for IVD management as an alternative therapeutic option. In this review, we present an overview of the anatomical and molecular structure and the surrounding pathophysiology of the IVD. Modern therapeutic approaches, including proteins and growth factors, cellular and gene therapy, and cell fate regulators are reviewed. Similarly, small molecules that modulate the fate of stem cells for their differentiation into chondrocytes and notochordal cell types are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sobia Ekram
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Shumaila Khalid
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Asmat Salim
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Irfan Khan
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Sindh, Pakistan
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15
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Liu W, Li N, Zhang M, Arisha AH, Hua J. The role of Eif2s3y in mouse spermatogenesis. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 17:750-755. [PMID: 34727865 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x16666211102091513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit 3 and structural gene Y-linked (Eif2s3y) gene, the gene encoding eIF2γ protein, is located on the mouse Y chromosome short arm. The Eif2s3y gene is globally expressed in all tissues and plays an important role in regulating global and gene-specific mRNA translation initiation. During the process of protein translation initiation, Eif2s3x(its homolog) and Eif2s3y encoded eIF2γ perform similar functions. However, it has been noticed that Eif2s3y plays a crucial role in spermatogenesis, including spermatogonia mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis of spermatids, which may account for infertility. In the period of spermatogenesis, the role of Eif2s3x and Eif2s3y are not equivalent. Importance of Eif2s3y has been observed in ESC and implicated in several aspects, including the pluripotency state and the proliferation rate. Here, we discuss the functional significance of Eif2s3y in mouse spermatogenesis and self-renewal of ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100 . China
| | - Na Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100 . China
| | - Mengfei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100 . China
| | - Ahmed H Arisha
- Department of physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig El_Sharkia 44519 . Egypt
| | - Jinlian Hua
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100 . China
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16
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Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Chen P, Ma CY, Li C, Au TYK, Tam V, Peng Y, Wu R, Cheung KMC, Sham PC, Tse HF, Chan D, Leung VY, Cheah KSE, Lian Q. Directed Differentiation of Notochord-like and Nucleus Pulposus-like Cells Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cell Rep 2021; 30:2791-2806.e5. [PMID: 32101752 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.01.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration might be amenable to stem cell therapy, but the required cells are scarce. Here, we report the development of a protocol for directed in vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into notochord-like and nucleus pulposus (NP)-like cells of the disc. The first step combines enhancement of ACTIVIN/NODAL and WNT and inhibition of BMP pathways. By day 5 of differentiation, hPSC-derived cells express notochordal cell characteristic genes. After activating the TGF-β pathway for an additional 15 days, qPCR, immunostaining, and transcriptome data show that a wide array of NP markers are expressed. Transcriptomically, the in vitro-derived cells become more like in vivo adolescent human NP cells, driven by a set of influential genes enriched with motifs bound by BRACHYURY and FOXA2, consistent with an NP cell-like identity. Transplantation of these NP-like cells attenuates fibrotic changes in a rat disc injury model of disc degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuelin Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Zhao Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Peikai Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chui Yan Ma
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Cheng Li
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tiffany Y K Au
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Vivian Tam
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yan Peng
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ron Wu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kenneth Man Chee Cheung
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Pak C Sham
- Centre for PanorOmic Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Hung-Fat Tse
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Danny Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Victor Y Leung
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kathryn S E Cheah
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Qizhou Lian
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China; The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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17
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Tsingas M, Ottone OK, Haseeb A, Barve RA, Shapiro IM, Lefebvre V, Risbud MV. Sox9 deletion causes severe intervertebral disc degeneration characterized by apoptosis, matrix remodeling, and compartment-specific transcriptomic changes. Matrix Biol 2020; 94:110-133. [PMID: 33027692 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
SOX9 plays an important role in chondrocyte differentiation and, in the developing axial skeleton, maintains the notochord and the demarcation of intervertebral disc compartments. Diminished expression is linked to campomelic dysplasia, resulting in severe scoliosis and progressive disc degeneration. However, the specific functions of SOX9 in the adult spinal column and disc are largely unknown. Accordingly, employing a strategy to conditionally delete Sox9 in Acan-expressing cells (AcanCreERT2Sox9fl/fl), we delineated these functions in the adult intervertebral disc. AcanCreERT2Sox9fl/fl mice (Sox9cKO) showed extensive and progressive remodeling of the extracellular matrix in nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF), consistent with human disc degeneration. Progressive degeneration of the cartilaginous endplates (EP) was also evident in Sox9cKO mice, and it preceded morphological changes seen in the NP and AF compartments. Fate mapping using tdTomato reporter, EdU chase, and quantitative immunohistological studies demonstrated that SOX9 is crucial for disc cell survival and phenotype maintenance. Microarray analysis showed that Sox9 regulated distinct compartment-specific transcriptomic landscapes, with prominent contributions to the ECM, cytoskeleton-related, and metabolic pathways in the NP and ion transport, the cell cycle, and signaling pathways in the AF. In summary, our work provides new insights into disc degeneration in Sox9cKO mice at the cellular, molecular, and transcriptional levels, underscoring tissue-specific roles of this transcription factor. Our findings may direct future cell therapies targeting SOX9 to mitigate disc degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsingas
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Jefferson College of Life Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Olivia K Ottone
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Jefferson College of Life Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Abdul Haseeb
- Department of Surgery/Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ruteja A Barve
- Department of Genetics, Genome Technology Access Centre at the McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Irving M Shapiro
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Véronique Lefebvre
- Department of Surgery/Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Makarand V Risbud
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Jefferson College of Life Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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18
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Establishment and functional characterization of a murine primary Sertoli cell line deficient of connexin43. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 381:309-326. [PMID: 32328805 PMCID: PMC7369266 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03203-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The Sertoli cell (SC) specific connexin43 (Cx43) knockout (SCCx43KO) mouse line is ideal to gain insight into the mechanistic gap junction formation in SC and the seminiferous epithelium. A method for developing primary SC cultures from these mice was established, validated and successfully characterized via polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence (IF), and Western blots (WB). It was evident that both knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) primary cell cultures were similar in morphology. These highly pure SC cultures were subjected to cell proliferation assays indicating no notable proliferation in cultures of both genotypes. Measurements of cell monolayer integrity indicated significant increases in transepithelial electrical resistance and consequently in tight junction expression of the KO cultures. Using semi-quantitative WB and IF, tight junction protein claudin-11 was analyzed. These results support a role for Cx43 in regulating blood-testis barrier (BTB) function, composition, and dynamics in vitro. Thus, the SC deficient Cx43 cell cultures may provide a valuable in vitro tool for a better understanding of the mechanistic role of Cx43 in spermatogenesis and BTB assembly.
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19
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Xu G, Liu Y, Zhang C, Zhou Y, Hou S, Tang J, Li Z. Temporal and spatial expression of Sox9, Pax1, TGF-β1 and type I and II collagen in human intervertebral disc development. Neurochirurgie 2020; 66:168-173. [PMID: 32201238 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2019.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE An accurate understanding of cellular biochemical changes in human intervertebral disc (IVD)s and the corresponding mechanisms during the developmental process still remain unknown and important for investigating the function of critical factors in normal IVD development as well as ascertaining the therapeutic targets for the IVD degeneration. METHODS Under ethical conditions, human fetal cervical IVDs at 4, 5, and 6 months of pregnancy were collected at abortion surgery. Normal adult human C3-C7 cervical IVDs were taken from cadaveric donors. Sox9, Pax1, TGF-β1 and type I/II collagen protein and RNA were detected. The number of positive cells was counted to calculate the optical density value for each factor. RESULTS Sox9, Pax1, and TGF-β1 expression in the IVD was remarkably reduced with the developmental stage. The location of high expression of Sox9, Pax1, and TGF-β1 changed with the developmental stage, and migrated from the nucleus pulposus to the annulus fibrosus and endplate. Higher Sox9, Pax1, and TGF-β1 expression was finally observed around the sclerotome of the vertebral body. The anabolism of type I/II collagens is significantly increased in the IVD in the mid-trimester fetus. CONCLUSIONS Sox9, Pax1 and TGF-β1 participate in the developmental process of the human IVD and vertebral body. However, these factors show a separate expression of mRNA and protein, suggesting that they are expressed in the strict time and spatial order.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Xu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Mechanism for Repair and Remodeling of Orthopaedic Diseases Liaoning Province, Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, 116011 Dalian, People's Republic of China
| | - Y Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, 100048 Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - C Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, 100048 Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Y Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, 100048 Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - S Hou
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, 100048 Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - J Tang
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, 100048 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Z Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Mechanism for Repair and Remodeling of Orthopaedic Diseases Liaoning Province, Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, 116011 Dalian, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Nakamichi R, Asahara H. The transcription factors regulating intervertebral disc development. JOR Spine 2020; 3:e1081. [PMID: 32211592 PMCID: PMC7084052 DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Damage to the intervertebral discs (IVDs) occurs due to aging or excessive mechanical stress, causing a series of IVD-related degenerative diseases, such as spinal disc herniation and spondylosis. These IVD-related diseases are difficult to cure, partially because the regeneration ability of IVDs is not sufficient. As a novel strategy for treatment of IVD-related diseases, mesenchymal stem cell transplantation to the damaged discs has been reported in animal studies. To further develop and improve this approach, it is necessary to gain a better understanding of the molecular network regulating IVD development by critical transcription factors. Recent findings reveal that during IVD development, nucleus pulposus and annuls fibrosus differentiation is coordinated by a series of transcription factors, such as Mkx, Pax1, 9, Shh, Foxa1, 2, T-Brachyury, and Sox5, 6, 9. The combination of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation with the regulation of these molecules may provide a novel strategy for treatment of degenerative disc diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Nakamichi
- Department of Molecular and Experimental MedicineThe Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaCalifornia
- Department of Orthopaedic SurgeryOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Hiroshi Asahara
- Department of Molecular and Experimental MedicineThe Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaCalifornia
- Department of Systems BiomedicineTokyo Medical and Dental UniversityTokyoJapan
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21
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NOTO Transcription Factor Directs Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Mesendoderm Progenitors to a Notochordal Fate. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020509. [PMID: 32102328 PMCID: PMC7072849 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The founder cells of the Nucleus pulposus, the centre of the intervertebral disc, originate in the embryonic notochord. After birth, mature notochordal cells (NC) are identified as key regulators of disc homeostasis. Better understanding of their biology has great potential in delaying the onset of disc degeneration or as a regenerative-cell source for disc repair. Using human pluripotent stem cells, we developed a two-step method to generate a stable NC-like population with a distinct molecular signature. Time-course analysis of lineage-specific markers shows that WNT pathway activation and transfection of the notochord-related transcription factor NOTO are sufficient to induce high levels of mesendoderm progenitors and favour their commitment toward the notochordal lineage instead of paraxial and lateral mesodermal or endodermal lineages. This study results in the identification of NOTO-regulated genes including some that are found expressed in human healthy disc tissue and highlights NOTO function in coordinating the gene network to human notochord differentiation.
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22
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Du J, Liu Y, Song C, Cui Z. Discovery of sex-related genes from embryonic development stage based on transcriptome analysis in Eriocheir sinensis. Gene 2019; 710:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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23
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Mohanty S, Pinelli R, Dahia CL. Characterization of Krt19 CreERT allele for targeting the nucleus pulposus cells in the postnatal mouse intervertebral disc. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:128-140. [PMID: 31187500 PMCID: PMC6778700 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration and associated back pain are relatively common but sparsely understood conditions, affecting over 70% of the population during some point of life. Disc degeneration is often associated with a loss of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Genetic mouse models offer convenient avenues to understand the cellular and molecular regulation of the disc during its formation, growth, maintenance, and aging. However, due to the lack of inducible driver lines to precisely target NP cells in the postnatal mouse disc, progress in this area of research has been moderate. NP cells are known to express cytokeratin 19 (Krt19), and tamoxifen (Tam)‐inducible Krt19CreERT allele is available. The current study describes the characterization of Krt19CreERT allele to specifically and efficiently target NP cells in neonatal, skeletally mature, middle‐aged, and aged mice using two independent fluorescent reporter lines. The efficiency of recombination at all ages was validated by immunostaining for KRT19. Results show that following Tam induction, Krt19CreERT specifically drives recombination of NP cells in the spine of neonatal and aged mice, while no recombination was detected in the surrounding tissues. Knee joints from skeletally mature Tam‐treated Krt19CreERT/+; R26tdTOM mouse show the absence of recombination in all tissues and cells of the knee joint. Thus, this study provides evidence for the use of Krt19CreERT allele for genetic characterization of NP cells at different stages of the mouse life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarthak Mohanty
- Orthopaedic Soft Tissue Research, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York
| | - Robert Pinelli
- Orthopaedic Soft Tissue Research, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York
| | - Chitra Lekha Dahia
- Orthopaedic Soft Tissue Research, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, New York
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24
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Xia K, Gong Z, Zhu J, Yu W, Wang Y, Wang J, Xu A, Zhou X, Tao H, Li F, Liang C. Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells into Nucleus Pulposus Progenitor Cells for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2019; 14:57-64. [PMID: 30227822 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x13666180918095121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Low back pain (LBP) is one of the world's most common musculoskeletal diseases and is frequently associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). While the main cause of IDD is commonly attributed to a reduced number of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, current treatment strategies (both surgical and more conservative) fail to replenish NP cells or reverse the pathology. Cell replacement therapies are an attractive alternative for treating IDD. However, injecting intervertebral disc (IVD) cells, chondrocytes, or mesenchymal stem cells into various animal models of IDD indicate that transplanted cells generally fail to survive and engraft into the avascular IVD niche. Whereas pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs), hold great potential for revolutionizing regenerative medicine, current protocols for differentiating these cells into NP-like cells are inadequate. Nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs), which are derived from the embryonic notochord, can not only survive within the harsh hypoxic environment of the IVD, but they also efficiently differentiate into NP-like cells. Here we provide an overview of the latest progress in repairing degenerated IVDs using PSCs and NPPCs. We also discuss the molecular pathways by which PSCs differentiate into NPPCs in vitro and in vivo and propose a new, in vivo IDD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaishun Xia
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Zhe Gong
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Jian Zhu
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Wei Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Yitian Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Junjie Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Ankai Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Xiaopeng Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Huimin Tao
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Fangcai Li
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Chengzhen Liang
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jie Fang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, No. 88, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China
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25
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Mohanty S, Dahia CL. Defects in intervertebral disc and spine during development, degeneration, and pain: New research directions for disc regeneration and therapy. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2019; 8:e343. [PMID: 30977275 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Intervertebral discs are cartilaginous joints present between vertebrae. The centers of the intervertebral discs consist of a gelatinous nucleus pulposus derived from the embryonic notochord. With age or injury, intervertebral discs may degenerate, causing neurological symptoms including back pain, which affects millions of people worldwide. Back pain is a multifactorial disorder, and disc degeneration is one of the primary contributing factors. Recent studies in mice have identified the key molecules involved in the formation of intervertebral discs. Several of these key molecules including sonic hedgehog and Brachyury are not only expressed by notochord during development, but are also expressed by neonatal mouse nucleus pulposus cells, and are crucial for postnatal disc maintenance. These findings suggest that intrinsic signals in each disc may maintain the nucleus pulposus microenvironment. However, since expression of these developmental signals declines with age and degeneration, disc degeneration may be related to the loss of these intrinsic signals. In addition, findings from mouse and other mammalian models have identified similarities between the patterning capabilities of the embryonic notochord and young nucleus pulposus cells, suggesting that mouse is a suitable model system to understand disc development and aging. Future research aimed at understanding the upstream regulators of these developmental signals and the modes by which they regulate disc growth and maintenance will likely provide mechanistic insights into disc growth and aging. Further, such findings will likely provide insights relevant to the development of effective therapies for treatment of back pain and reversing the disc degenerative process. This article is categorized under: Birth Defects > Organ Anomalies Vertebrate Organogenesis > Musculoskeletal and Vascular Adult Stem Cells, Tissue Renewal, and Regeneration > Regeneration Adult Stem Cells, Tissue Renewal, and Regeneration > Stem Cells and Aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarthak Mohanty
- Orthopedic Soft Tissue Research Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York
| | - Chitra L Dahia
- Orthopedic Soft Tissue Research Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, New York, New York
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26
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Abstract
SOX transcription factors participate in the specification, differentiation and activities of many cell types in development and beyond. The 20 mammalian family members are distributed into eight groups based on sequence identity, and while co-expressed same-group proteins often have redundant functions, different-group proteins typically have distinct functions. More than a handful of SOX proteins have pivotal roles in skeletogenesis. Heterozygous mutations in their genes cause human diseases, in which skeletal dysmorphism is a major feature, such as campomelic dysplasia (SOX9), or a minor feature, such as LAMSHF syndrome (SOX5) and Coffin-Siris-like syndromes (SOX4 and SOX11). Loss- and gain-of-function experiments in animal models have revealed that SOX4 and SOX11 (SOXC group) promote skeletal progenitor survival and control skeleton patterning and growth; SOX8 (SOXE group) delays the differentiation of osteoblast progenitors; SOX9 (SOXE group) is essential for chondrocyte fate maintenance and differentiation, and works in cooperation with SOX5 and SOX6 (SOXD group) and other types of transcription factors. These and other SOX proteins have also been proposed, mainly through in vitro experiments, to have key roles in other aspects of skeletogenesis, such as SOX2 in osteoblast stem cell self-renewal. We here review current knowledge of well-established and proposed skeletogenic roles of SOX proteins, their transcriptional and non-transcriptional actions, and their modes of regulation at the gene, RNA and protein levels. We also discuss gaps in knowledge and directions for future research to further decipher mechanisms underlying skeletogenesis in health and diseases and identify treatment options for skeletal malformation and degeneration diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Lefebvre
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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27
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Sharifnia T, Wawer MJ, Chen T, Huang QY, Weir BA, Sizemore A, Lawlor MA, Goodale A, Cowley GS, Vazquez F, Ott CJ, Francis JM, Sassi S, Cogswell P, Sheppard HE, Zhang T, Gray NS, Clarke PA, Blagg J, Workman P, Sommer J, Hornicek F, Root DE, Hahn WC, Bradner JE, Wong KK, Clemons PA, Lin CY, Kotz JD, Schreiber SL. Small-molecule targeting of brachyury transcription factor addiction in chordoma. Nat Med 2019; 25:292-300. [PMID: 30664779 PMCID: PMC6633917 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-018-0312-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Chordoma is a primary bone cancer with no approved therapy1. The identification of therapeutic targets in this disease has been challenging due to the infrequent occurrence of clinically actionable somatic mutations in chordoma tumors2,3. Here we describe the discovery of therapeutically targetable chordoma dependencies via genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening and focused small-molecule sensitivity profiling. These systematic approaches reveal that the developmental transcription factor T (brachyury; TBXT) is the top selectively essential gene in chordoma, and that transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors targeting CDK7/12/13 and CDK9 potently suppress chordoma cell proliferation. In other cancer types, transcriptional CDK inhibitors have been observed to downregulate highly expressed, enhancer-associated oncogenic transcription factors4,5. In chordoma, we find that T is associated with a 1.5-Mb region containing 'super-enhancers' and is the most highly expressed super-enhancer-associated transcription factor. Notably, transcriptional CDK inhibition leads to preferential and concentration-dependent downregulation of cellular brachyury protein levels in all models tested. In vivo, CDK7/12/13-inhibitor treatment substantially reduces tumor growth. Together, these data demonstrate small-molecule targeting of brachyury transcription factor addiction in chordoma, identify a mechanism of T gene regulation that underlies this therapeutic strategy, and provide a blueprint for applying systematic genetic and chemical screening approaches to discover vulnerabilities in genomically quiet cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ting Chen
- New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qing-Yuan Huang
- New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Barbara A Weir
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Janssen R&D, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ann Sizemore
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Matthew A Lawlor
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Amy Goodale
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Glenn S Cowley
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Janssen R&D, Spring House, PA, USA
| | | | - Christopher J Ott
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Joshua M Francis
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Gritstone Oncology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Slim Sassi
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Paul A Clarke
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Julian Blagg
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Paul Workman
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | | | - Francis Hornicek
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - David E Root
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - William C Hahn
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James E Bradner
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kwok K Wong
- New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Joanne D Kotz
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Jnana Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Stuart L Schreiber
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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28
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Ulici V, Kelley KL, Longobardi L, McNulty MA, Livingston EW, Bateman TA, Séguin CA, Louer CR, Loeser RF. Impaired Annulus Fibrosus Development and Vertebral Fusion Cause Severe Scoliosis in Mice with Deficiency of c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinases 1 and 2. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2019; 189:868-885. [PMID: 30664861 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2018.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinases, including c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), play an important role in the development and function of a large variety of tissues. The skeletal phenotype of JNK1 and JNK2 double-knockout (dKO) mice (JNK1fl/flCol2-Cre/JNK2-/-) and control genotypes were analyzed at different embryonic and postnatal stages. JNK1/2 dKO mice displayed a severe scoliotic phenotype beginning during development that was grossly apparent around weaning age. Alcian blue staining at embryonic day 17.5 showed abnormal fusion of the posterior spinal elements. In adult mice, fusion of vertebral bodies and of spinous and transverse processes was noted by micro-computed tomography, Alcian blue/Alizarin red staining, and histology. The long bones developed normally, and histologic sections of growth plate and articular cartilage revealed no significant abnormalities. Histologic sections of the vertebral column at embryonic days 15.5 and 17.5 revealed an abnormal organization of the annulus fibrosus in the dKOs, with chondrocyte-like cells and fusion of dorsal processes. Spinal sections in 10-week-old dKO mice showed replacement of intervertebral disk structures (annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus) by cartilage and bone tissues, with cells staining for markers of hypertrophic chondrocytes, including collagen X and runt-related transcription factor 2. These findings demonstrate a requirement for both JNK1 and JNK2 in the normal development of the axial skeleton. Loss of JNK signaling results in abnormal endochondral bone formation and subsequent severe scoliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Ulici
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kathryn L Kelley
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Lara Longobardi
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Margaret A McNulty
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Eric W Livingston
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Ted A Bateman
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Cheryle A Séguin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Bone and Joint Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Craig R Louer
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Richard F Loeser
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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29
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Li K, Kapper D, Youngs B, Kocsis V, Mondal S, Kraus P, Lufkin T. Potential biomarkers of the mature intervertebral disc identified at the single cell level. J Anat 2018; 234:16-32. [PMID: 30450595 PMCID: PMC6284444 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and trauma is a major socio-economic burden and the focus of cell-based regenerative medicine approaches. Despite numerous ongoing clinical trials attempting to replace ailing IVD cells with mesenchymal stem cells, a solid understanding of the identity and nature of cells in a healthy mature IVD is still in need of refinement. Although anatomically simple, the IVD is comprised of heterogeneous cell populations. Therefore, methods involving cell pooling for RNA profiling could be misleading. Here, by using RNA in situ hybridization and z proportion test, we have identified potential novel biomarkers through single cell assessment. We quantified the proportion of RNA transcribing cells for 50 genetic loci in the outer annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) in coccygeal bovine discs isolated from tails of four skeletally mature animals. Our data reconfirm existing data and suggest 10 novel markers such as Lam1 and Thy1 in the outer AF and Gli1, Gli3, Noto, Scx, Ptprc, Sox2, Zscan10 and LOC101904175 in the NP, including pluripotency markers, that indicate stemness potential of IVD cells. These markers could be added to existing biomarker panels for cell type characterization. Furthermore, our data once more demonstrate heterogeneity in cells of the AF and NP, indicating the need for single cell assessment by methods such as RNA in situ hybridization. Our work refines the molecular identity of outer AF and NP cells, which can benefit future regenerative medicine and tissue engineering strategies in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangning Li
- Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Devin Kapper
- Department of Mathematics, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Brittany Youngs
- Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Victoria Kocsis
- Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Sumona Mondal
- Department of Mathematics, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Petra Kraus
- Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Thomas Lufkin
- Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
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30
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Bertolini F, Schiavo G, Tinarelli S, Santoro L, Utzeri VJ, Dall'Olio S, Nanni Costa L, Gallo M, Fontanesi L. Exploiting phenotype diversity in a local animal genetic resource: Identification of a single nucleotide polymorphism associated with the tail shape phenotype in the autochthonous Casertana pig breed. Livest Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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31
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Séguin CA, Chan D, Dahia CL, Gazit Z. Latest advances in intervertebral disc development and progenitor cells. JOR Spine 2018; 1:e1030. [PMID: 30687811 PMCID: PMC6338208 DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper is a concise review aiming to assemble the most relevant topics presented by the authors at ORS-Philadelphia Spine Research Society Fourth International Spine Research Symposium. It centers on the latest advances in disc development, its main structural entities, and the populating cells, with emphasis on the advances in pivotal molecular pathways responsible for forming the intervertebral discs (IVD). The objective of finding and emphasizing pathways and mechanisms that function to control tissue formation is to identify and to explore modifications occurring during normal aging, disease, and tissue repair. Thus, to comprehend that the cellular and molecular basis of tissue degeneration are crucial in the study of the dynamic interplay that includes cell-cell communication, gene regulation, and growth factors required to form a healthy and functional tissue during normal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryle A Séguin
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry Bone and Joint Institute, The University of Western Ontario London ON Canada
| | - Danny Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Chitra L Dahia
- Hospital for Special Surgery Weill Cornell Medical College New York New York
| | - Zulma Gazit
- Department of Surgery Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles California
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32
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Lawson LY, Harfe BD. Developmental mechanisms of intervertebral disc and vertebral column formation. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2017; 6. [DOI: 10.1002/wdev.283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Y. Lawson
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Genetics Institute University of Florida, College of Medicine; Gainesville FL USA
| | - Brian D. Harfe
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Genetics Institute University of Florida, College of Medicine; Gainesville FL USA
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33
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Chen H, Garbutt CC, Spentzos D, Choy E, Hornicek FJ, Duan Z. Expression and Therapeutic Potential of SOX9 in Chordoma. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:5176-5186. [PMID: 28606919 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Conventional chemotherapeutic agents are ineffective in the treatment of chordoma. We investigated the functional roles and therapeutic relevance of the sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box 9 (SOX9) in chordoma.Experimental Design: SOX9 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using 50 chordoma tissue samples. SOX9 expression in chordoma cell lines was examined by Western blot and immunofluorescent assays. We used synthetic human SOX9 siRNA to inhibit the expression of SOX9. Cell proliferation ability and cytotoxicity of inhibiting SOX9 were assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and clonogenic assays. The effect of SOX9 knockdown on chordoma cell motility was evaluated by a wound-healing assay and a Transwell invasion chamber assay. Knockdown of SOX9 induced apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest, as well as decreased expression of cancer stem cell markers were determined by Western blot and flow cytometric assays. The effect of the combination of SOX9 siRNA and the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin/cisplatin on chordoma cells was assessed by an MTT assay.Results: Tissue microarray and IHC analysis showed that SOX9 is broadly expressed in chordomas and that higher expression levels of SOX9 correlated with a poor prognosis. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of SOX9 inhibited chordoma cell growth, decreased cell motility, and induced apoptosis as well as cell-cycle arrest. Moreover, the combination of SOX9 inhibition and chemotherapeutic drugs had an enhanced anti-cancer effect on chordoma cells.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that SOX9 plays a crucial role in chordoma. Targeting SOX9 provides a new rationale for treatment of chordoma. Clin Cancer Res; 23(17); 5176-86. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Chen
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Emergency Surgery, ShenZhen People's Hospital, 2nd Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Cassandra C Garbutt
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dimitrios Spentzos
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Edwin Choy
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Francis J Hornicek
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Zhenfeng Duan
- Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Sreenivasan R, Gordon CT, Benko S, de Iongh R, Bagheri-Fam S, Lyonnet S, Harley V. Altered SOX9 genital tubercle enhancer region in hypospadias. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2017; 170:28-38. [PMID: 27989796 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Human mutations in the SOX9 gene or its regulatory region can disrupt testicular development, leading to disorders of sex development (DSDs). Our previous work involving the genomic analysis of isolated DSD patients revealed a 78kb minimal sex determining region (RevSex) far upstream of SOX9 that was duplicated in 46,XX and deleted in 46,XY DSDs. It was postulated that RevSex contains a gonadal enhancer. However, the most highly conserved sub-region within RevSex, called SR4, was neither responsive to sex determining factors in vitro nor active in the gonads of transgenic mice, suggesting that SR4 may not be functioning as a testicular enhancer. Interestingly, SR4 transgenic mice showed reporter activity in the genital tubercle, the primordium of the penis and clitoris, a previously unreported domain of Sox9 expression. SOX9 protein was detected in the genital tubercle, notably in the urethral plate epithelium, preputial glands, ventral surface ectoderm and corpus cavernosa. SR4 may therefore function as a Sox9 genital tubercle enhancer, mutations of which could possibly lead to hypospadias, a birth defect seen in the DSD patients in the RevSex study. SR4 activity and the observed SOX9 expression pattern suggest that SR4 may function as a Sox9 genital tubercle enhancer. However, conditional ablation of Sox9 in the genital tubercle using Shh-Cre/+;Sox9flox/flox mice revealed no genital tubercle abnormalities, possibly due to compensation by similar Sox factors. To conclude, we have identified a novel regulatory enhancer driving Sox9 expression during external genitalia development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajini Sreenivasan
- Molecular Genetics and Development, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher T Gordon
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Congenital Malformations, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1163, Institut Imagine, Paris, France; Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Institut Imagine, Paris, France
| | - Sabina Benko
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Congenital Malformations, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1163, Institut Imagine, Paris, France; Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Institut Imagine, Paris, France
| | - Robb de Iongh
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stefan Bagheri-Fam
- Molecular Genetics and Development, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stanislas Lyonnet
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Congenital Malformations, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1163, Institut Imagine, Paris, France; Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Institut Imagine, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Harley
- Molecular Genetics and Development, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Ghannam M, Jumah F, Mansour S, Samara A, Alkhdour S, Alzuabi MA, Aker L, Adeeb N, Massengale J, Oskouian RJ, Tubbs RS. Surgical anatomy, radiological features, and molecular biology of the lumbar intervertebral discs. Clin Anat 2017; 30:251-266. [PMID: 27997062 DOI: 10.1002/ca.22822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a joint unique in structure and functions. Lying between adjacent vertebrae, it provides both the primary support and the elasticity required for the spine to move stably. Various aspects of the IVD have long been studied by researchers seeking a better understanding of its dynamics, aging, and subsequent disorders. In this article, we review the surgical anatomy, imaging modalities, and molecular biology of the lumbar IVD. Clin. Anat. 30:251-266, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malik Ghannam
- An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Fareed Jumah
- An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Shaden Mansour
- An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Amjad Samara
- An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Saja Alkhdour
- An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
| | | | - Loai Aker
- An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Nimer Adeeb
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, Massachusetts
| | - Justin Massengale
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, Massachusetts
| | | | - R Shane Tubbs
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, Grenada.,Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, Washington
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Kamper M, Paulsson M, Zaucke F. Absence of collagen IX accelerates hypertrophic differentiation in the embryonic mouse spine through a disturbance of the Ihh-PTHrP feedback loop. Cell Tissue Res 2016; 367:359-367. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-016-2501-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Mohawk promotes the maintenance and regeneration of the outer annulus fibrosus of intervertebral discs. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12503. [PMID: 27527664 PMCID: PMC4990710 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The main pathogenesis of intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation involves disruption of the annulus fibrosus (AF) caused by ageing or excessive mechanical stress and the resulting prolapse of the nucleus pulposus. Owing to the avascular nature of the IVD and lack of understanding the mechanisms that maintain the IVD, current therapies do not lead to tissue regeneration. Here we show that homeobox protein Mohawk (Mkx) is a key transcription factor that regulates AF development, maintenance and regeneration. Mkx is mainly expressed in the outer AF (OAF) of humans and mice. In Mkx−/− mice, the OAF displays a deficiency of multiple tendon/ligament-related genes, a smaller OAF collagen fibril diameter and a more rapid progression of IVD degeneration compared with the wild type. Mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing Mkx promote functional AF regeneration in a mouse AF defect model, with abundant collagen fibril formation. Our results indicate a therapeutic strategy for AF regeneration. Homeobox protein Mohwak (Mkx) is involved in tendon and ligament development. Here the authors show that Mkx in the outer annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc plays a role in maintenance of the IVD, showing that stem cells overexpressing Mkx enhance therapeutic IVD regeneration in mice.
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Abstract
Our skeletons evolved from cartilaginous tissue, but it remains a mystery how cartilage itself first arose in evolution. Characterization of cartilage in cuttlefish and horseshoe crabs reveals surprising commonalities with chordate chondrocytes, suggesting a common evolutionary origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaut Brunet
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69017 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Detlev Arendt
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69017 Heidelberg, Germany.
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Burns FR, Lanham KA, Xiong KM, Gooding AJ, Peterson RE, Heideman W. Analysis of the zebrafish sox9b promoter: Identification of elements that recapitulate organ-specific expression of sox9b. Gene 2015; 578:281-9. [PMID: 26721460 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.12.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Revised: 11/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The SRY-related high-mobility box 9 (SOX9) gene is expressed in many different tissues. To better understand the DNA elements that control tissue-specific expression, we cloned and sequenced a 2.5 kb fragment lying 5' to the zebrafish sox9b gene transcriptional start site. Three regions of this clone contained stable secondary structures that hindered cloning, sequencing, and amplification. This segment and smaller fragmentswere inserted 5' of an EGFP reporter and transgenic fish were raised with the different reporters. Reporter expression was also observed in embryos directly injected with the constructs to transiently express the reporter. Heart expression required only a very short 5' sequence, as a 0.6 kb sox9b fragment produced reporter expression in heart in transgenic zebrafish, and transient experiments showed heart expression from a minimal sox9b promoter region containing a conserved TATA box and an EGR2 element (-74/+29 bp). Reporter expression in transgenic skeletal muscle was consistently lower than in other tissues. Jaw, brain, and notochord expression was strong with the full-length clone, but was dramatically reduced as the size of the fragment driving the reporter decreased from approximately 1.8 to 0.9 kb. The 2.5 kb region 5' of the sox9b contained 7 conserved non-coding elements (CNEs) that included putative hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), CAAT box (CCAAT), early growth response protein 2 (EGR2), and core promoter elements. While a synthetic fragment containing all 7 CNEs produced some degree of reporter expression in muscle, jaw, heart and brain, the degree of reporter expression was considerably lower than that produced by the full length clone. These results can account for the tissue-specific expression of sox9b in the developing zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe R Burns
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Kevin A Lanham
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Kong M Xiong
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 420 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Immunoassay Research and Development, Beckman Coulter Inc., 1000 Lake Hazeltine Dr., Chaska, MN 55318, USA
| | - Alex J Gooding
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Richard E Peterson
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Warren Heideman
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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Fleming A, Kishida MG, Kimmel CB, Keynes RJ. Building the backbone: the development and evolution of vertebral patterning. Development 2015; 142:1733-44. [PMID: 25968309 DOI: 10.1242/dev.118950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The segmented vertebral column comprises a repeat series of vertebrae, each consisting of two key components: the vertebral body (or centrum) and the vertebral arches. Despite being a defining feature of the vertebrates, much remains to be understood about vertebral development and evolution. Particular controversy surrounds whether vertebral component structures are homologous across vertebrates, how somite and vertebral patterning are connected, and the developmental origin of vertebral bone-mineralizing cells. Here, we assemble evidence from ichthyologists, palaeontologists and developmental biologists to consider these issues. Vertebral arch elements were present in early stem vertebrates, whereas centra arose later. We argue that centra are homologous among jawed vertebrates, and review evidence in teleosts that the notochord plays an instructive role in segmental patterning, alongside the somites, and contributes to mineralization. By clarifying the evolutionary relationship between centra and arches, and their varying modes of skeletal mineralization, we can better appreciate the detailed mechanisms that regulate and diversify vertebral patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeleen Fleming
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Marcia G Kishida
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Charles B Kimmel
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403-1254, USA
| | - Roger J Keynes
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
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Corallo D, Trapani V, Bonaldo P. The notochord: structure and functions. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:2989-3008. [PMID: 25833128 PMCID: PMC11114051 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1897-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The notochord is an embryonic midline structure common to all members of the phylum Chordata, providing both mechanical and signaling cues to the developing embryo. In vertebrates, the notochord arises from the dorsal organizer and it is critical for proper vertebrate development. This evolutionary conserved structure located at the developing midline defines the primitive axis of embryos and represents the structural element essential for locomotion. Besides its primary structural function, the notochord is also a source of developmental signals that patterns surrounding tissues. Among the signals secreted by the notochord, Hedgehog proteins play key roles during embryogenesis. The Hedgehog signaling pathway is a central regulator of embryonic development, controlling the patterning and proliferation of a wide variety of organs. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on notochord structure and functions, with a particular emphasis on the key developmental events that take place in vertebrates. Moreover, we discuss some genetic studies highlighting the phenotypic consequences of impaired notochord development, which enabled to understand the molecular basis of different human congenital defects and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Corallo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Valeria Trapani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonaldo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padua, Italy
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Patel P, Brooks C, Seneviratne A, Hess DA, Séguin CA. Investigating microenvironmental regulation of human chordoma cell behaviour. PLoS One 2014; 9:e115909. [PMID: 25541962 PMCID: PMC4277432 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment is complex and composed of many different constituents, including matricellular proteins such as connective tissue growth factor (CCN2), and is characterized by gradients in oxygen levels. In various cancers, hypoxia and CCN2 promote stem and progenitor cell properties, and regulate the proliferation, migration and phenotype of cancer cells. Our study was aimed at investigating the effects of hypoxia and CCN2 on chordoma cells, using the human U-CH1 cell line. We demonstrate that under basal conditions, U-CH1 cells express multiple CCN family members including CCN1, CCN2, CCN3 and CCN5. Culture of U-CH1 cells in either hypoxia or in the presence of recombinant CCN2 peptide promoted progenitor cell-like characteristics specific to the notochordal tissue of origin. Specifically, hypoxia induced the most robust increase in progenitor-like characteristics in U-CH1 cells, including increased expression of the notochord-associated markers T, CD24, FOXA1, ACAN and CA12, increased cell growth and tumour-sphere formation, and a decrease in the percentage of vacuolated cells present in the heterogeneous population. Interestingly, the effects of recombinant CCN2 peptide on U-CH1 cells were more pronounced under normoxia than hypoxia, promoting increased expression of CCN1, CCN2, CCN3 and CCN5, the notochord-associated markers SOX5, SOX6, T, CD24, and FOXA1 as well as increased tumour-sphere formation. Overall, this study highlights the importance of multiple factors within the tumour microenvironment and how hypoxia and CCN2 may regulate human chordoma cell behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Patel
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Courtney Brooks
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ayesh Seneviratne
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - David A. Hess
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cheryle A. Séguin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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Tsirimonaki E, Fedonidis C, Pneumaticos SG, Tragas AA, Michalopoulos I, Mangoura D. PKCε signalling activates ERK1/2, and regulates aggrecan, ADAMTS5, and miR377 gene expression in human nucleus pulposus cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82045. [PMID: 24312401 PMCID: PMC3842981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The protein kinase C (PKC) signaling, a major regulator of chondrocytic differentiation, has been also implicated in pathological extracellular matrix remodeling, and here we investigate the mechanism of PKCε-dependent regulation of the chondrocytic phenotype in human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells derived from herniated disks. NP cells from each donor were successfully propagated for 25+ culture passages, with remarkable tolerance to repeated freeze-and-thaw cycles throughout long-term culturing. More specifically, after an initial downregulation of COL2A1, a stable chondrocytic phenotype was attested by the levels of mRNA expression for aggrecan, biglycan, fibromodulin, and lumican, while higher expression of SOX-trio and Patched-1 witnessed further differentiation potential. NP cells in culture also exhibited a stable molecular profile of PKC isoforms: throughout patient samples and passages, mRNAs for PKC α, δ, ε, ζ, η, ι, and µ were steadily detected, whereas β, γ, and θ were not. Focusing on the signalling of PKCε, an isoform that may confer protection against degeneration, we found that activation with the PKCε-specific activator small peptide ψεRACK led sequentially to a prolonged activation of ERK1/2, increased abundance of the early gene products ATF, CREB1, and Fos with concurrent silencing of transcription for Ki67, and increases in mRNA expression for aggrecan. More importantly, ψεRACK induced upregulation of hsa-miR-377 expression, coupled to decreases in ADAMTS5 and cleaved aggrecan. Therefore, PKCε activation in late passage NP cells may represent a molecular basis for aggrecan availability, as part of an PKCε/ERK/CREB/AP-1-dependent transcriptional program that includes upregulation of both chondrogenic genes and microRNAs. Moreover, this pathway should be considered as a target for understanding the molecular mechanism of IVD degeneration and for therapeutic restoration of degenerated disks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Spiros G. Pneumaticos
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Orthopedics, Athens Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | - Dimitra Mangoura
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- * E-mail:
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Postma AV, Alders M, Sylva M, Bilardo CM, Pajkrt E, van Rijn RR, Schulte-Merker S, Bulk S, Stefanovic S, Ilgun A, Barnett P, Mannens MMAM, Moorman AFM, Oostra RJ, van Maarle MC. Mutations in the T (brachyury) gene cause a novel syndrome consisting of sacral agenesis, abnormal ossification of the vertebral bodies and a persistent notochordal canal. J Med Genet 2013; 51:90-7. [PMID: 24253444 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2013-102001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The T gene (brachyury gene) is the founding member of the T-box family of transcription factors and is vital for the formation and differentiation of the mesoderm and the axial development of all vertebrates. RESULTS We report here on four patients from three consanguineous families exhibiting sacral agenesis, a persistent notochordal canal and abnormal ossification of the vertebral bodies, and the identification and characterisation of their underlying genetic defect. Given the consanguineous nature and the similarity of the phenotypes between the three families, we performed homozygosity mapping and identified a common 4.1 Mb homozygous region on chromosome 6q27, containing T, brachyury homologue (mouse) or T. Sequencing of T in the affected individuals led to the identification of a homozygous missense mutation, p.H171R, in the highly conserved T-box. The homozygous mutation results in diminished DNA binding, increased cell growth, and interferes with the normal expression of genes involved in ossification, notochord maintenance and axial mesoderm development. CONCLUSIONS We have identified a shared homozygous mutation in three families in T and linked it to a novel syndrome consisting of sacral agenesis, a persistent notochordal canal and abnormal ossification of the vertebral bodies. We suggest that screening for the ossification of the vertebrae is warranted in patients with sacral agenesis to evaluate the possible causal involvement of T.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Postma
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology & Physiology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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From notochord formation to hereditary chordoma: the many roles of Brachyury. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:826435. [PMID: 23662285 PMCID: PMC3626178 DOI: 10.1155/2013/826435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare, but often malignant, bone cancer that preferentially affects the axial skeleton and the skull base. These tumors are both sporadic and hereditary and appear to occur more frequently after the fourth decade of life; however, modern technologies have increased the detection of pediatric chordomas. Chordomas originate from remnants of the notochord, the main embryonic axial structure that precedes the backbone, and share with notochord cells both histological features and the expression of characteristic genes. One such gene is Brachyury, which encodes for a sequence-specific transcription factor. Known for decades as a main regulator of notochord formation, Brachyury has recently gained interest as a biomarker and causative agent of chordoma, and therefore as a promising therapeutic target. Here, we review the main characteristics of chordoma, the molecular markers, and the clinical approaches currently available for the early detection and possible treatment of this cancer. In particular, we report on the current knowledge of the role of Brachyury and of its possible mechanisms of action in both notochord formation and chordoma etiogenesis.
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Chen S, Tao J, Bae Y, Jiang MM, Bertin T, Chen Y, Yang T, Lee B. Notch gain of function inhibits chondrocyte differentiation via Rbpj-dependent suppression of Sox9. J Bone Miner Res 2013; 28:649-59. [PMID: 22991339 PMCID: PMC3548081 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.1770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Revised: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Notch signaling plays a critical role during development by directing the binary cell fate decision between progenitors and differentiated cells. Previous studies have shown sustained Notch activation in cartilage leads to chondrodysplasia. Genetic evidence indicates that Notch regulates limb bud mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into chondrocytes via an Rbpj-dependent Notch pathway. However, it is still unknown how Notch governs chondrogenesis in the axial skeleton where Notch serves a primary patterning function. We hypothesized that both Rbpj-dependent and Rbpj-independent Notch signaling mechanisms might be involved. Cartilage-specific Notch gain-of-function (GOF) mutant mice display chondrodysplasia accompanied by loss of Sox9 expression in vertebrae. To evaluate the contribution of an Rbpj-dependent Notch signaling to this phenotype, we deleted Rbpj on the Notch GOF background. These mice showed persistent spine abnormalities characterized by "butterfly" vertebrae suggesting that removal of Rbpj does not fully rescue the axial skeleton deformities caused by Notch GOF. However, Sox9 protein level was restored in Rbpj-deficient Notch GOF mice compared with Notch GOF mutants, demonstrating that regulation of Sox9 expression is canonical or Rbpj-dependent. To further understand the molecular basis of this regulation, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays and detected the recruitment of the Rbpj/NICD transcription complex to Rbpj-binding sites upstream of the Sox9 promoter. The association of the Rbpj/NICD complex with the Sox9 promoter is associated with transcriptional repression of Sox9 in a cellular model of chondrocyte differentiation. Hence, Notch negatively regulates chondrocyte differentiation in the axial skeleton by suppressing Sox9 transcription, and Rbpj-independent Notch signaling mechanisms may also contribute to axial skeletogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Chen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Henry SP, Liang S, Akdemir KC, de Crombrugghe B. The postnatal role of Sox9 in cartilage. J Bone Miner Res 2012; 27:2511-25. [PMID: 22777888 PMCID: PMC3502666 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.1696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2012] [Revised: 06/05/2012] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Sox9 is an essential transcription factor for the differentiation of the chondrocytic lineage during embryonic development. To test whether Sox9 continues to play a critical role in cartilaginous tissues in the adult mice, we used an inducible, genetic strategy to disrupt the Sox9 gene postnatally in these tissues. The postnatal inactivation of Sox9 led to stunted growth characterized by decreased proliferation, increased cell death, and dedifferentiation of growth plate chondrocytes. Upon postnatal Sox9 inactivation in the articular cartilage, the sulfated proteoglycan and aggrecan content of the uncalcified cartilage were rapidly depleted and the degradation of aggrecan was accompanied by higher ADAMTS5 immunostaining and increased detection of the aggrecan neoepitope, NITEGE. In spite of the severe loss of Collagen 2a1 mRNA, the Collagen II protein persisted in the articular cartilage, and no histopathological signs of osteoarthritis were observed. The homeostasis of the intervertebral disk (IVD) was dramatically altered upon Sox9 depletion, resulting in disk compression and subsequent degeneration. Inactivation of Sox9 in the IVD markedly reduced the expression of several genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins, as well as some of the enzymes responsible for their posttranslational modification. Furthermore, the loss of Sox9 in the IVD decreased the expression of cytokines, cell-surface receptors, and ion channels, suggesting that Sox9 coordinates a large genetic program that is instrumental for the proper homeostasis of the cells contained in the IVD postnatally. Our results indicate that Sox9 has an essential role in the physiological control of cartilaginous tissues in adult mice. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Henry
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Houston, TX, USA.
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Yamashita S, Miyaki S, Kato Y, Yokoyama S, Sato T, Barrionuevo F, Akiyama H, Scherer G, Takada S, Asahara H. L-Sox5 and Sox6 proteins enhance chondrogenic miR-140 microRNA expression by strengthening dimeric Sox9 activity. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:22206-15. [PMID: 22547066 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.343194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sox9 plays a critical role in early chondrocyte initiation and promotion as well as repression of later maturation. Fellow Sox family members L-Sox5 and Sox6 also function as regulators of cartilage development by boosting Sox9 activation of chondrocyte-specific genes such as Col2a1 and Agc1; however, the regulatory mechanism and other target genes are largely unknown. MicroRNAs are a class of short, non-coding RNAs that act as negative regulators of gene expression by promoting target mRNA degradation and/or repressing translation. Analysis of genetically modified mice identified miR-140 as a cartilage-specific microRNA that could be a critical regulator of cartilage development and homeostasis. Recent findings suggest Sox9 promotes miR-140 expression, although the detailed mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study we demonstrate that the proximal upstream region of pri-miR-140 has chondrogenic promoter activity in vivo. We found an L-Sox5/Sox6/Sox9 (Sox trio) response element and detailed binding site in the promoter region. Furthermore, detailed analysis suggests the DNA binding and/or transactivation ability of Sox9 as a homodimer is boosted by L-Sox5 and Sox6. These findings provide new insight into cartilage-specific gene regulation by the Sox trio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Yamashita
- Department of Systems Biomedicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
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Bagheri-Fam S, Sreenivasan R, Bernard P, Knower KC, Sekido R, Lovell-Badge R, Just W, Harley VR. Sox9 gene regulation and the loss of the XY/XX sex-determining mechanism in the mole vole Ellobius lutescens. Chromosome Res 2012; 20:191-9. [PMID: 22215485 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-011-9269-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In most mammals, the Y chromosomal Sry gene initiates testis formation within the bipotential gonad, resulting in male development. SRY is a transcription factor and together with SF1 it directly up-regulates the expression of the pivotal sex-determining gene Sox9 via a 1.3-kb cis-regulatory element (TESCO) which contains an evolutionarily conserved region (ECR) of 180 bp. Remarkably, several rodent species appear to determine sex in the absence of Sry and a Y chromosome, including the mole voles Ellobius lutescens and Ellobius tancrei, whereas Ellobius fuscocapillus of the same genus retained Sry. The sex-determining mechanisms in the Sry-negative species remain elusive. We have cloned and sequenced 1.1 kb of E. lutescens TESCO which shares 75% sequence identity with mouse TESCO indicating that testicular Sox9 expression in E. lutescens might still be regulated via TESCO. We have also cloned and sequenced the ECRs of E. tancrei and E. fuscocapillus. While the three Ellobius ECRs are highly similar (94-97% sequence identity), they all display a 14-bp deletion (Δ14) removing a highly conserved SOX/TCF site. Introducing Δ14 into mouse TESCO increased both basal activity and SF1-mediated activation of TESCO in HEK293T cells. We propose a model whereby Δ14 may have triggered up-regulation of Sox9 in XX gonads leading to destabilization of the XY/XX sex-determining mechanism in Ellobius. E. lutescens/E. tancrei and E. fuscocapillus could have independently stabilized their sex determination mechanisms by Sry-independent and Sry-dependent approaches, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Bagheri-Fam
- Molecular Genetics & Development Division, Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia
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Integrated microarray and ChIP analysis identifies multiple Foxa2 dependent target genes in the notochord. Dev Biol 2011; 360:415-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2010] [Revised: 09/26/2011] [Accepted: 10/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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