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Larsen EG, Cho TS, McBride ML, Feng J, Manivannan B, Madura C, Klein NE, Wright EB, Wickstead ES, Garcia-Verdugo HD, Jarvis C, Khanna R, Hu H, Largent-Milnes TM, Bhattacharya MRC. Transmembrane protein TMEM184B is necessary for interleukin-31-induced itch. Pain 2022; 163:e642-e653. [PMID: 34629389 PMCID: PMC8854445 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Nociceptive and pruriceptive neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) convey sensations of pain and itch to the spinal cord, respectively. One subtype of mature DRG neurons, comprising 6% to 8% of neurons in the ganglia, is responsible for sensing mediators of acute itch and atopic dermatitis, including the cytokine IL-31. How itch-sensitive (pruriceptive) neurons are specified is unclear. Here, we show that transmembrane protein 184B (TMEM184B), a protein with roles in axon degeneration and nerve terminal maintenance, is required for the expression of a large cohort of itch receptors, including those for interleukin 31 (IL-31), leukotriene C4, and histamine. Male and female mice lacking TMEM184B show reduced responses to IL-31 but maintain normal responses to pain and mechanical force, indicating a specific behavioral defect in IL-31-induced pruriception. Calcium imaging experiments indicate that a reduction in IL-31-induced calcium entry is a likely contributor to this phenotype. We identified an early failure of proper Wnt-dependent transcriptional signatures and signaling components in Tmem184b mutant mice that may explain the improper DRG neuronal subtype specification. Accordingly, lentiviral re-expression of TMEM184B in mutant embryonic neurons restores Wnt signatures. Together, these data demonstrate that TMEM184B promotes adult somatosensation through developmental Wnt signaling and promotion of proper pruriceptive gene expression. Our data illuminate a new key regulatory step in the processes controlling the establishment of diversity in the somatosensory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik G Larsen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ, United States
| | - Tiffany S Cho
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ, United States
| | - Matthew L McBride
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ, United States
| | - Jing Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | | | - Cynthia Madura
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Nathaniel E Klein
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ, United States
| | - Elizabeth B Wright
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ, United States
| | - Edward S Wickstead
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ, United States
| | | | - Chelsea Jarvis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ, United States
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Hongzhen Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Tally M Largent-Milnes
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, United States
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RNA m6A Methyltransferase Mettl3 Regulates Spatial Neural Patterning in Xenopus laevis. Mol Cell Biol 2021; 41:e0010421. [PMID: 33972392 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00104-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal RNA modification and has a widespread impact on mRNA stability and translation. Methyltransferase-like 3 (Mettl3) is a methyltransferase responsible for RNA m6A modification, and it is essential for early embryogenesis before or during gastrulation in mice and zebrafish. However, due to the early embryonic lethality, loss-of-function phenotypes of Mettl3 beyond gastrulation, especially during neurulation stages when spatial neural patterning takes place, remain elusive. Here, we address multiple roles of Mettl3 during Xenopus neurulation in anteroposterior neural patterning, neural crest specification, and neuronal cell differentiation. Knockdown of Mettl3 causes anteriorization of neurulae and tailbud embryos along with the loss of neural crest and neuronal cells. Knockdown of the m6A reader Ythdf1 and mRNA degradation factors, such as 3' to 5' exonuclease complex component Lsm1 or mRNA uridylation enzyme Tut7, also show similar neural patterning defects, suggesting that m6A-dependent mRNA destabilization regulates spatial neural patterning in Xenopus. We also address that canonical WNT signaling is inhibited in Mettl3 morphants, which may underlie the neural patterning defects of the morphants. Altogether, this study reveals functions of Mettl3 during spatial neural patterning in Xenopus.
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3
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Alrefaei AF, Münsterberg AE, Wheeler GN. Expression analysis of chick Frizzled receptors during spinal cord development. Gene Expr Patterns 2021; 39:119167. [PMID: 33460819 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2021.119167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Frizzleds (Fzds) are transmembrane receptors that can transduce signals dependent upon binding of Wnts, a large family of secreted glycoproteins homologous to the Drosophila wingless gene. FZDs are critical for a wide variety of normal and pathological developmental processes. In the nervous system, Wnts and Frizzleds play an important role in anterior-posterior patterning, cell fate decisions, proliferation, and synaptogenesis. Here, we preformed a comprehensive expression profile of Wnt receptors (FZD) by using situ hybridization to identify FZDs that are expressed in dorsal-ventral regions of the neural tube development. Our data show specific expression for FZD1,2,3,7,9 and 10 in the chick developing spinal cord. This expression profile of cFZD receptors offers the basis for functional studies in the future to determine roles for the different FZD receptors and their interactions with Wnts during dorsal-ventral neural tube development in vivo. Furthermore, we also show that co-overexpression of Wnt1/3a by in vivo electroporation affects FZD7/10 expression in the neural tube. This illustrates an example of Wnts-FZDs interactions during spinal cord neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea E Münsterberg
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Grant N Wheeler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
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4
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Shi Z, Zhang Z, Schaffer L, Huang Z, Fu L, Head S, Gaasterland T, Wang X, Li X. Dynamic transcriptome landscape in the song nucleus HVC between juvenile and adult zebra finches. ADVANCED GENETICS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2021; 2:e10035. [PMID: 36618441 PMCID: PMC9744550 DOI: 10.1002/ggn2.10035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Male juvenile zebra finches learn to sing by imitating songs of adult males early in life. The development of the song control circuit and song learning and maturation are highly intertwined processes, involving gene expression, neurogenesis, circuit formation, synaptic modification, and sensory-motor learning. To better understand the genetic and genomic mechanisms underlying these events, we used RNA-Seq to examine genome-wide transcriptomes in the song control nucleus HVC of male juvenile (45 d) and adult (100 d) zebra finches. We report that gene groups related to axon guidance, RNA processing, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial functions show enriched expression in juvenile HVC compared to the rest of the brain. As juveniles mature into adulthood, massive gene expression changes occur. Expression of genes related to amino acid metabolism, cell cycle, and mitochondrial function is reduced, accompanied by increased and enriched expression of genes with synaptic functions, including genes related to G-protein signaling, neurotransmitter receptors, transport of small molecules, and potassium channels. Unexpectedly, a group of genes with immune system functions is also developmentally regulated, suggesting potential roles in the development and functions of HVC. These data will serve as a rich resource for investigations into the development and function of a neural circuit that controls vocal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Shi
- Neuroscience Center of ExcellenceLouisiana State University School of MedicineNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
| | - Zeyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Network BiologyInstitute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | | | - Zhi Huang
- Neuroscience Center of ExcellenceLouisiana State University School of MedicineNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
| | - Lijuan Fu
- Neuroscience Center of ExcellenceLouisiana State University School of MedicineNew OrleansLouisianaUSA,Present address:
California Medical Innovations InstituteSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Steven Head
- Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Terry Gaasterland
- Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaCaliforniaUSA,University of California at San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Xiu‐Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Network BiologyInstitute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - XiaoChing Li
- Neuroscience Center of ExcellenceLouisiana State University School of MedicineNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
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5
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Zhao Y, Ren J, Hillier J, Lu W, Jones EY. Caffeine inhibits Notum activity by binding at the catalytic pocket. Commun Biol 2020; 3:555. [PMID: 33033363 PMCID: PMC7544826 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01286-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Notum inhibits Wnt signalling via enzymatic delipidation of Wnt ligands. Restoration of Wnt signalling by small molecule inhibition of Notum may be of therapeutic benefit in a number of pathologies including Alzheimer's disease. Here we report Notum activity can be inhibited by caffeine (IC50 19 µM), but not by demethylated caffeine metabolites: paraxanthine, theobromine and theophylline. Cellular luciferase assays show Notum-suppressed Wnt3a function can be restored by caffeine with an EC50 of 46 µM. The dissociation constant (Kd) between Notum and caffeine is 85 µM as measured by surface plasmon resonance. High-resolution crystal structures of Notum complexes with caffeine and its minor metabolite theophylline show both compounds bind at the centre of the enzymatic pocket, overlapping the position of the natural substrate palmitoleic lipid, but using different binding modes. The structural information reported here may be of relevance for the design of more potent brain-accessible Notum inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuguang Zhao
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.
| | - Jingshan Ren
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - James Hillier
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Weixian Lu
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Edith Yvonne Jones
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.
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6
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Alrefaei AF, Münsterberg AE, Wheeler GN. FZD10 regulates cell proliferation and mediates Wnt1 induced neurogenesis in the developing spinal cord. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0219721. [PMID: 32531778 PMCID: PMC7292682 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt/FZD signalling activity is required for spinal cord development, including the dorsal-ventral patterning of the neural tube, where it affects proliferation and specification of neurons. Wnt ligands initiate canonical, β -catenin-dependent, signaling by binding to Frizzled receptors. However, in many developmental contexts the cognate FZD receptor for a particular Wnt ligand remains to be identified. Here, we characterized FZD10 expression in the dorsal neural tube where it overlaps with both Wnt1 and Wnt3a, as well as markers of dorsal progenitors and interneurons. We show FZD10 expression is sensitive to Wnt1, but not Wnt3a expression, and FZD10 plays a role in neural tube patterning. Knockdown approaches show that Wnt1 induced ventral expansion of dorsal neural markes, Pax6 and Pax7, requires FZD10. In contrast, Wnt3a induced dorsalization of the neural tube is not affected by FZD10 knockdown. Gain of function experiments show that FZD10 is not sufficient on its own to mediate Wnt1 activity in vivo. Indeed excess FZD10 inhibits the dorsalizing activity of Wnt1. However, addition of the Lrp6 co-receptor dramatically enhances the Wnt1/FZD10 mediated activation of dorsal markers. This suggests that the mechanism by which Wnt1 regulates proliferation and patterning in the neural tube requires both FZD10 and Lrp6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulmajeed Fahad Alrefaei
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, England, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea E. Münsterberg
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, England, United Kingdom
| | - Grant N. Wheeler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, England, United Kingdom
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7
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Williams RM, Winkfein RJ, Ginger RS, Green MR, Schnetkamp PP, Wheeler GN. A functional approach to understanding the role of NCKX5 in Xenopus pigmentation. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180465. [PMID: 28692664 PMCID: PMC5503238 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
NCKX5 is an ion exchanger expressed mostly in pigment cells; however, the functional role for this protein in melanogenesis is not clear. A variant allele of SLC24A5, the gene encoding NCKX5, has been shown to correlate with lighter skin pigmentation in humans, indicating a key role for SLC24A5 in determining human skin colour. SLC24A5 expression has been found to be elevated in melanoma. Knockdown analyses have shown SLC24A5 to be important for pigmentation, but to date the function of this ion exchanger in melanogenesis has not been fully established. Our data suggest NCKX5 may have an alternative activity that is key to its role in the regulation of pigmentation. Here Xenopus laevis is employed as an in vivo model system to further investigate the function of NCKX5 in pigmentation. SLC24A5 is expressed in the melanophores as they differentiate from the neural crest and develop in the RPE of the eye. Morpholino knockdown and rescue experiments were designed to elucidate key residues and regions of the NCKX5 protein. Unilateral morpholino injection at the 2 cell stage resulted in a reduction of pigmentation in the eye and epidermis of one lateral side of the tadpole. Xenopus and human SLC24A5 can rescue the morpholino effects. Further rescue experiments including the use of ion exchange inactive SLC24A5 constructs raise the possibility that full ion exchanger function of NCKX5 may not be required for rescue of pigmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth M. Williams
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J. Winkfein
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Rebecca S. Ginger
- Unilever Research and Development, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Martin R. Green
- Unilever Research and Development, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Paul P. Schnetkamp
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Grant N. Wheeler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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8
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Developmental transcriptome analysis and identification of genes involved in formation of intestinal air-breathing function of Dojo loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31845. [PMID: 27545457 PMCID: PMC4992823 DOI: 10.1038/srep31845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dojo loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus is a freshwater fish species of the loach family Cobitidae, using its posterior intestine as an accessory air-breathing organ. Little is known about the molecular regulatory mechanisms in the formation of intestinal air-breathing function of M. anguillicaudatus. Here high-throughput sequencing of mRNAs was performed from six developmental stages of posterior intestine of M. anguillicaudatus: 4-Dph (days post hatch) group, 8-Dph group, 12-Dph group, 20-Dph group, 40-Dph group and Oyd (one-year-old) group. These six libraries were assembled into 81300 unigenes. Totally 40757 unigenes were annotated. Subsequently, 35291 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were scanned among different developmental stages and clustered into 20 gene expression profiles. Finally, 15 key pathways and 25 key genes were mined, providing potential targets for candidate gene selection involved in formation of intestinal air-breathing function in M. anguillicaudatus. This is the first report of developmental transcriptome of posterior intestine in M. anguillicaudatus, offering a substantial contribution to the sequence resources for this species and providing a deep insight into the formation mechanism of its intestinal air-breathing function. This report demonstrates that M. anguillicaudatus is a good model for studies to identify and characterize the molecular basis of accessory air-breathing organ development in fish.
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9
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Hatch VL, Marin-Barba M, Moxon S, Ford CT, Ward NJ, Tomlinson ML, Desanlis I, Hendry AE, Hontelez S, van Kruijsbergen I, Veenstra GJC, Münsterberg AE, Wheeler GN. The positive transcriptional elongation factor (P-TEFb) is required for neural crest specification. Dev Biol 2016; 416:361-72. [PMID: 27343897 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Regulation of gene expression at the level of transcriptional elongation has been shown to be important in stem cells and tumour cells, but its role in the whole animal is only now being fully explored. Neural crest cells (NCCs) are a multipotent population of cells that migrate during early development from the dorsal neural tube throughout the embryo where they differentiate into a variety of cell types including pigment cells, cranio-facial skeleton and sensory neurons. Specification of NCCs is both spatially and temporally regulated during embryonic development. Here we show that components of the transcriptional elongation regulatory machinery, CDK9 and CYCLINT1 of the P-TEFb complex, are required to regulate neural crest specification. In particular, we show that expression of the proto-oncogene c-Myc and c-Myc responsive genes are affected. Our data suggest that P-TEFb is crucial to drive expression of c-Myc, which acts as a 'gate-keeper' for the correct temporal and spatial development of the neural crest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Hatch
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Marta Marin-Barba
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Simon Moxon
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Christopher T Ford
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Nicole J Ward
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Matthew L Tomlinson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Ines Desanlis
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Adam E Hendry
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Saartje Hontelez
- Radboud University, Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ila van Kruijsbergen
- Radboud University, Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Jan C Veenstra
- Radboud University, Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea E Münsterberg
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Grant N Wheeler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
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10
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Newnham LE, Wright MJ, Holdsworth G, Kostarelos K, Robinson MK, Rabbitts TH, Lawson AD. Functional inhibition of β-catenin-mediated Wnt signaling by intracellular VHH antibodies. MAbs 2015; 7:180-91. [PMID: 25524068 PMCID: PMC4622660 DOI: 10.4161/19420862.2015.989023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway is of central importance in embryogenesis, development and adult tissue homeostasis, and dysregulation of this pathway is associated with cancer and other diseases. Despite the developmental and potential therapeutic significance of this pathway, many aspects of Wnt signaling, including the control of the master transcriptional co-activator β-catenin, remain poorly understood. In order to explore this aspect, a diverse immune llama VHH phagemid library was constructed and panned against β-catenin. VHH antibody fragments from the library were expressed intracellularly, and a number of antibodies were shown to possess function-modifying intracellular activity in a luciferase-based Wnt signaling HEK293 reporter bioassay. Further characterization of one such VHH (named LL3) confirmed that it bound endogenous β-catenin, and that it inhibited the Wnt signaling pathway downstream of the destruction complex, while production of a control Ala-substituted complementarity-determining region (CDR)3 mutant demonstrated that the inhibition of β-catenin activity by the parent intracellular antibody was dependent on the specific CDR sequence of the antibody.
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11
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Klhl31 attenuates β-catenin dependent Wnt signaling and regulates embryo myogenesis. Dev Biol 2015; 402:61-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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12
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Vanbekbergen N, Hendrickx M, Leyns L. Growth differentiation factor 11 is an encephalic regionalizing factor in neural differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells. BMC Res Notes 2014; 7:766. [PMID: 25352416 PMCID: PMC4228095 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The central nervous system has a complex structural organization and consists of different subdomains along the antero-posterior axis. However, questions remain about the molecular mechanisms leading to the regionalization of this organ. We used a previously developed methodology to identify the novel patterning role of GDF11, a TGF-β signaling factor. Findings Using an assay based on neural differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells, GDF11 is shown to induce diencephalic (posterior forebrain), mesencephalic (midbrain) and metencephalic (anterior hindbrain) fates at the expense of telencephalic (anterior forebrain) specification. GDF11 has not previously been implicated in the early patterning of the nervous system. In addition, inhibition of the TGF-β type I receptors Alk4, Alk5 and Alk7 by the pharmacological inhibitor SB431542 caused a strong anteriorization of the cells. Conclusions Our findings suggest that GDF11 is involved in the earliest steps of the brain patterning during neurogenesis in the vertebrate embryo and is shown to be a regionalizing factor of the regional fate in the developing brain. This regionalization is not a typical posteriorizing signal as seen with retinoic acid, FGF or BMP molecules. To our knowledge, this is the first time that GDF11 is implicated in the earliest steps of the patterning of the neural plate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luc Leyns
- Department of Biology, Lab for Cell Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 2 Pleinlaan, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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13
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Galli LM, Munji RN, Chapman SC, Easton A, Li L, Onguka O, Ramahi JS, Suriben R, Szabo LA, Teng C, Tran B, Hannoush RN, Burrus LW. Frizzled10 mediates WNT1 and WNT3A signaling in the dorsal spinal cord of the developing chick embryo. Dev Dyn 2014; 243:833-843. [PMID: 24599775 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND WNT1 and WNT3A drive a dorsal to ventral gradient of β-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling in the developing spinal cord. However, the identity of the receptors mediating downstream functions remains poorly understood. RESULTS In this report, we show that the spatiotemporal expression patterns of FZD10 and WNT1/WNT3A are highly correlated. We further show that in the presence of LRP6, FZD10 promotes WNT1 and WNT3A signaling using an 8xSuperTopFlash reporter assay. Consistent with a functional role for FZD10, we demonstrate that FZD10 is required for proliferation in the spinal cord. Finally, by using an in situ proximity ligation assay, we observe an interaction between FZD10 and WNT1 and WNT3A proteins. CONCLUSIONS Together, our results identify FZD10 as a receptor for WNT1 and WNT3A in the developing chick spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Galli
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Roeben N Munji
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Susan C Chapman
- Clemson University, Biological Sciences, Long Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Ann Easton
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Lydia Li
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Ouma Onguka
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Joseph S Ramahi
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Rowena Suriben
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Linda A Szabo
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Camilla Teng
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Baouyen Tran
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Rami N Hannoush
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Laura W Burrus
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
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Yi T, Lee HJ, Cho YK, Jeon MS, Song SU. Molecular Characterization of Neurally Differentiated Human Bone Marrow-derived Clonal Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Immune Netw 2014; 14:54-65. [PMID: 24605081 PMCID: PMC3942508 DOI: 10.4110/in.2014.14.1.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent, with the ability to differentiate into different cell types. Additionally, the immunomodulatory activity of MSCs can downregulate inflammatory responses. The use of MSCs to repair injured tissues and treat inflammation, including in neuroimmune diseases, has been extensively explored. Although MSCs have emerged as a promising resource for the treatment of neuroimmune diseases, attempts to define the molecular properties of MSCs have been limited by the heterogeneity of MSC populations. We recently developed a new method, the subfractionation culturing method, to isolate homogeneous human clonal MSCs (hcMSCs). The hcMSCs were able to differentiate into fat, cartilage, bone, neuroglia, and liver cell types. In this study, to better understand the properties of neurally differentiated MSCs, gene expression in highly homogeneous hcMSCs was analyzed. Neural differentiation of hcMSCs was induced for 14 days. Thereafter, RNA and genomic DNA was isolated and subjected to microarray analysis and DNA methylation array analysis, respectively. We correlated the transcriptome of hcMSCs during neural differentiation with the DNA methylation status. Here, we describe and discuss the gene expression profile of neurally differentiated hcMSCs. These findings will expand our understanding of the molecular properties of MSCs and contribute to the development of cell therapy for neuroimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tacghee Yi
- Translational Research Center, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea. ; Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences of Biomedical Sciences, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea. ; HomeoTherapy Co. Ltd., Incheon 400-711, Korea
| | - Hyun-Joo Lee
- Drug Development Program, Department of Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea
| | | | - Myung-Shin Jeon
- Translational Research Center, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea. ; Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences of Biomedical Sciences, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea
| | - Sun U Song
- Translational Research Center, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea. ; Translational Research Center, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-712, Korea
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15
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Panaccione I, Napoletano F, Forte AM, Kotzalidis GD, Del Casale A, Rapinesi C, Brugnoli C, Serata D, Caccia F, Cuomo I, Ambrosi E, Simonetti A, Savoja V, De Chiara L, Danese E, Manfredi G, Janiri D, Motolese M, Nicoletti F, Girardi P, Sani G. Neurodevelopment in schizophrenia: the role of the wnt pathways. Curr Neuropharmacol 2013; 11:535-58. [PMID: 24403877 PMCID: PMC3763761 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x113119990037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2012] [Revised: 03/28/2013] [Accepted: 05/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To review the role of Wnt pathways in the neurodevelopment of schizophrenia. METHODS SYSTEMATIC PUBMED SEARCH, USING AS KEYWORDS ALL THE TERMS RELATED TO THE WNT PATHWAYS AND CROSSING THEM WITH EACH OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS: normal neurodevelopment and physiology, neurodevelopmental theory of schizophrenia, schizophrenia, and antipsychotic drug action. RESULTS Neurodevelopmental, behavioural, genetic, and psychopharmacological data point to the possible involvement of Wnt systems, especially the canonical pathway, in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and in the mechanism of antipsychotic drug action. The molecules most consistently found to be associated with abnormalities or in antipsychotic drug action are Akt1, glycogen synthase kinase3beta, and beta-catenin. However, the extent to which they contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia or to antipsychotic action remains to be established. CONCLUSIONS The study of the involvement of Wnt pathway abnormalities in schizophrenia may help in understanding this multifaceted clinical entity; the development of Wnt-related pharmacological targets must await the collection of more data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Panaccione
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Napoletano
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Maria Forte
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio D. Kotzalidis
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Del Casale
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Rapinesi
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Brugnoli
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Serata
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Caccia
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Cuomo
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Ambrosi
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Simonetti
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Savoja
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lavinia De Chiara
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Danese
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Manfredi
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Delfina Janiri
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Ferdinando Nicoletti
- NEUROMED, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Girardi
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
- Centro Lucio Bini, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
- Centro Lucio Bini, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Department of Clinical and Behavioural Neurology, Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Rome, Italy
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16
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Abstract
The Wnt pathway is a major embryonic signaling pathway that controls cell proliferation, cell fate, and body-axis determination in vertebrate embryos. Soon after egg fertilization, Wnt pathway components play a role in microtubule-dependent dorsoventral axis specification. Later in embryogenesis, another conserved function of the pathway is to specify the anteroposterior axis. The dual role of Wnt signaling in Xenopus and zebrafish embryos is regulated at different developmental stages by distinct sets of Wnt target genes. This review highlights recent progress in the discrimination of different signaling branches and the identification of specific pathway targets during vertebrate axial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Hikasa
- Division of Cancer Genetics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
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17
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Wheeler GN, Liu KJ. Xenopus: An ideal system for chemical genetics. Genesis 2012; 50:207-18. [DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Revised: 12/21/2011] [Accepted: 12/23/2011] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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18
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Park BY, Hong CS, Weaver JR, Rosocha EM, Saint-Jeannet JP. Xaml1/Runx1 is required for the specification of Rohon-Beard sensory neurons in Xenopus. Dev Biol 2011; 362:65-75. [PMID: 22173066 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2011] [Revised: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 11/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Lower vertebrates develop a unique set of primary sensory neurons located in the dorsal spinal cord. These cells, known as Rohon-Beard (RB) sensory neurons, innervate the skin and mediate the response to touch during larval stages. Here we report the expression and function of the transcription factor Xaml1/Runx1 during RB sensory neurons formation. In Xenopus embryos Runx1 is specifically expressed in RB progenitors at the end of gastrulation. Runx1 expression is positively regulated by Fgf and canonical Wnt signaling and negatively regulated by Notch signaling, the same set of factors that control the development of other neural plate border cell types, i.e. the neural crest and cranial placodes. Embryos lacking Runx1 function fail to differentiate RB sensory neurons and lose the mechanosensory response to touch. At early stages Runx1 knockdown results in a RB progenitor-specific loss of expression of Pak3, a p21-activated kinase that promotes cell cycle withdrawal, and of N-tub, a neuronal-specific tubulin. Interestingly, the pro-neural gene Ngnr1, an upstream regulator of Pak3 and N-tub, is either unaffected or expanded in these embryos, suggesting the existence of two distinct regulatory pathways controlling sensory neuron formation in Xenopus. Consistent with this possibility Ngnr1 is not sufficient to activate Runx1 expression in the ectoderm. We propose that Runx1 function is critically required for the generation of RB sensory neurons, an activity reminiscent of that of Runx1 in the development of the mammalian dorsal root ganglion nociceptive sensory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung-Yong Park
- Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
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19
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Expression profile of frizzled receptors in human medulloblastomas. J Neurooncol 2011; 106:271-80. [PMID: 21850537 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-011-0682-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2011] [Accepted: 08/03/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Secreted WNT proteins signal through ten receptors of the frizzled (FZD) family. Because of the relevance of the WNT/β-catenin (CTNNB1) signaling pathway in medulloblastomas (MBs), we investigated the expression of all ten members of the FZD gene family (FZD1-10) in 17 human MBs, four MB cell lines and in normal human cerebellum, using real-time PCR. We found that FZD2 transcript was over-expressed in all MBs and MB cell lines. Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of FZD2 at the protein level. Moreover, the levels of FZD2 transcript were found to correlate with those of ASPM transcript, a marker of mitosis essential for mitotic spindle function. Accordingly, ASPM mRNA was expressed at a very low level in the adult, post-mitotic, human cerebellum, at higher levels in fetal cerebellum and at highest levels in MB tissues and cell lines. Unlike FZD2, the other FZDs were overexpressed (e.g., FZD1, FZD3 and FZD8) or underexpressed (e.g., FZD7, FZD9 and FZD10) in a case-restricted manner. Interestingly, we did not find any nuclear immuno-reactivity to CTNNB1 in four MBs over-expressing both FZD2 and other FZD receptors, confirming the lack of nuclear CTNNB1 staining in the presence of increased FZD expression, as in other tumor types. Overall, our results indicate that altered expression of FZD2 might be associated with a proliferative status, thus playing a role in the biology of human MBs, and possibly of cerebellar progenitors from which these malignancies arise.
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Min TH, Kriebel M, Hou S, Pera EM. The dual regulator Sufu integrates Hedgehog and Wnt signals in the early Xenopus embryo. Dev Biol 2011; 358:262-76. [PMID: 21839734 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2011] [Revised: 07/01/2011] [Accepted: 07/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hedgehog (Hh) and Wnt proteins are important signals implicated in several aspects of embryonic development, including the early development of the central nervous system. We found that Xenopus Suppressor-of-fused (XSufu) affects neural induction and patterning by regulating the Hh/Gli and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Microinjection of XSufu mRNA induced expansion of the epidermis at the expense of neural plate tissue and caused enlargement of the eyes. An antisense morpholino oligonucleotide against XSufu had the opposite effect. Interestingly, both gain- and loss-of-function experiments resulted in a posterior shift of brain markers, suggesting a biphasic effect of XSufu on anteroposterior patterning. XSufu blocked early Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as indicated by the suppression of XWnt8-induced secondary axis formation in mRNA-injected embryos, and activation of Wnt target genes in XSufu-MO-injected ectodermal explants. We show that XSufu binds to XGli1 and Xβ-catenin. In Xenopus embryos and mouse embryonic fibroblasts, Gli1 inhibits Wnt signaling under overexpression of β-catenin, whereas β-catenin stimulates Hh signaling under overexpression of Gli1. Notably, endogenous Sufu is critically involved in this crosstalk. The results suggest that XSufu may act as a common regulator of Hh and Wnt signaling and contribute to intertwining the two pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tan H Min
- Stem Cell Center, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
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