1
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Xiao J, Zhu H, Kong W, Jiang X, Wu C, Chen JG, Li X. Stabilizing axin leads to optic nerve hypoplasia in a mouse model of autism. Exp Eye Res 2024; 245:109988. [PMID: 38964496 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109988] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopment disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, and repetitive or stereotyped behavior. Autistic children are more likely to have vision problems, and ASD is unusually common among blind people. However, the mechanisms behind the vision disorders in autism are unclear. Stabilizing WNT-targeted scaffold protein Axin2 by XAV939 during embryonic development causes overproduction of cortical neurons and leads to autistic-like behaviors in mice. In this study, we investigated the relationship between vision abnormality and autism using an XAV939-induced mouse model of autism. We found that the mice receiving XAV939 had decreased amplitude of bright light-adaptive ERG. The amplitudes and latency of flash visual evoked potential recorded from XAV939-treated mice were lower and longer, respectively than in the control mice, suggesting that XAV939 inhibits visual signal processing and conductance. Anatomically, the diameters of RGC axons were reduced when Axin2 was stabilized during the development, and the optic fibers had defective myelin sheaths and reduced oligodendrocytes. The results suggest that the WNT signaling pathway is crucial for optic nerve development. This study provides experimental evidence that conditions interfering with brain development may also lead to visual problems, which in turn might exaggerate the autistic features in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
| | - Hao Zhu
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, China
| | - Weixi Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Xuefeng Jiang
- The Third Hospital of Nanchang, Nanchang, 330000, China
| | - Chunping Wu
- The Third Hospital of Nanchang, Nanchang, 330000, China
| | - Jie-Guang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Xue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
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2
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Zhu X, Huang Q, Jiang L, Nguyen VT, Vu T, Devlin G, Shaima J, Wang X, Chen Y, Ma L, Xiang K, Wang E, Rong Q, Zhou Q, Kang Y, Asokan A, Feng L, Hsu SWD, Shen X, Yao J. Longitudinal intravital imaging of mouse placenta. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk1278. [PMID: 38507481 PMCID: PMC10954206 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk1278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Studying placental functions is crucial for understanding pregnancy complications. However, imaging placenta is challenging due to its depth, volume, and motion distortions. In this study, we have developed an implantable placenta window in mice that enables high-resolution photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging of placental development throughout the pregnancy. The placenta window exhibits excellent transparency for light and sound. By combining the placenta window with ultrafast functional photoacoustic microscopy, we were able to investigate the placental development during the entire mouse pregnancy, providing unprecedented spatiotemporal details. Consequently, we examined the acute responses of the placenta to alcohol consumption and cardiac arrest, as well as chronic abnormalities in an inflammation model. We have also observed viral gene delivery at the single-cell level and chemical diffusion through the placenta by using fluorescence imaging. Our results demonstrate that intravital imaging through the placenta window can be a powerful tool for studying placenta functions and understanding the placental origins of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Qiang Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710004, China
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Laiming Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Van-Tu Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Tri Vu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Garth Devlin
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Jabbar Shaima
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Xiaobei Wang
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Lijun Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Kun Xiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ergang Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Qiangzhou Rong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Qifa Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Yubin Kang
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Aravind Asokan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Liping Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Shiao-Wen D. Hsu
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Xiling Shen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Junjie Yao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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3
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Cerio DG, Llera Martín CJ, Hogan AVC, Balanoff AM, Watanabe A, Bever GS. Differential growth of the adductor muscles, eyeball, and brain in the chick Gallus gallus with comments on the fossil record of stem-group birds. J Morphol 2023; 284:e21622. [PMID: 37585232 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21622] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
The avian head is unique among living reptiles in its combination of relatively large brain and eyes, coupled with relatively small adductor jaw muscles. These derived proportions lend themselves to a trade-off hypothesis, wherein adductor size was reduced over evolutionary time as a means (or as a consequence) of neurosensory expansion. In this study, we examine this evolutionary hypothesis through the lens of development by describing the jaw-adductor anatomy of developing chickens, Gallus gallus, and comparing the volumetric expansion of these developing muscles with growth trajectories of the brain and eye. Under the trade-off hypothesis, we predicted that the jaw muscles would grow with negative allometry relative to brain and eyes, and that osteological signatures of a relatively large adductor system, as found in most nonavian dinosaurs, would be differentially expressed in younger chicks. Results did not meet these expectations, at least not generally, with muscle growth exhibiting positive allometry relative to that of brain and eye. We propose three, nonmutually exclusive explanations: (1) these systems do not compete for space, (2) these systems competed for space in the evolutionary past, and growth of the jaw muscles was truncated early in development (paedomorphosis), and (3) trade-offs in developmental investment in these systems are limited temporally to the perinatal period. These explanations are considered in light of the fossil record, and most notably the skull of the stem bird Ichthyornis, which exhibits an interesting combination of plesiomorphically large adductor chamber and apomorphically large brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald G Cerio
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Catherine J Llera Martín
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Aneila V C Hogan
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Amy M Balanoff
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Akinobu Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
- Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, New York, USA
- Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Gabriel S Bever
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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4
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Kmecick M, Vieira da Costa MC, Ferreira EDC, Prodocimo MM, Ortolani-Machado CF. Critical Evaluation of Embedding Media for Histological Studies of Early Stages of Chick Embryo Development. Methods Protoc 2023; 6:mps6020038. [PMID: 37104020 PMCID: PMC10146326 DOI: 10.3390/mps6020038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A histological examination is an important tool in embryology, developmental biology, and correlated areas. Despite the amount of information available about tissue embedding and different media, there is a lack of information regarding best practices for embryonic tissues. Embryonic tissues are considered fragile structures, usually small in size, and frequently challenging to position correctly in media for the subsequent histological steps. Here, we discuss the embedding media and procedures that provided us with appropriate preservation of tissue and easier orientation of embryos at early development. Fertilized Gallus gallus eggs were incubated for 72 h, collected, fixed, processed, and embedded with paraplast, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or historesin. These resins were compared by the precision of tissue orientation, the preview of the embryos in the blocks, microtomy, contrast in staining, preservation, average time, and cost. Paraplast and PEG did not allow correct embryo orientation, even with agar–gelatin pre-embedded samples. Additionally, structural maintenance was hindered and did not allow detailed morphological assessment, presenting tissue shrinkage and disruption. Historesin provided precise tissue orientation and excellent preservation of structures. Assessing the performance of the embedding media contributes significantly to future developmental research, optimizing the processing of embryo specimens and improving results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melyssa Kmecick
- Laboratory of Embryotoxicology, Department of Cell Biology, Biological Sciences Sector, Federal University of Paraná, Av. Cel. Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, Curitiba 81.531-980, PR, Brazil
| | - Mariliza Cristine Vieira da Costa
- Laboratory of Embryotoxicology, Department of Cell Biology, Biological Sciences Sector, Federal University of Paraná, Av. Cel. Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, Curitiba 81.531-980, PR, Brazil
| | - Eduardo da Costa Ferreira
- Laboratory of Embryotoxicology, Department of Cell Biology, Biological Sciences Sector, Federal University of Paraná, Av. Cel. Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, Curitiba 81.531-980, PR, Brazil
| | - Maritana Mela Prodocimo
- Laboratory of Cell Toxicology, Department of Cell Biology, Biological Sciences Sector, Federal University of Paraná, Av. Cel. Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, Curitiba 81.531-980, PR, Brazil
| | - Claudia Feijó Ortolani-Machado
- Laboratory of Embryotoxicology, Department of Cell Biology, Biological Sciences Sector, Federal University of Paraná, Av. Cel. Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, Curitiba 81.531-980, PR, Brazil
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5
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Ghosal R, Borrego-Soto G, Eberhart JK. Embryonic ethanol exposure disrupts craniofacial neuromuscular integration in zebrafish larvae. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1131075. [PMID: 36824468 PMCID: PMC9941677 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1131075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Forming a vertebrate head involves the meticulous integration of multiple tissue types during development. Prenatal alcohol exposure is known to cause a variety of birth defects, especially to tissues in the vertebrate head. However, a systematic analysis of coordinated defects across tissues in the head is lacking. Here, we delineate the effects of ethanol on individual tissue types and their integration during craniofacial development. We found that exposure to 1% ethanol induced ectopic cranial muscle and nerve defects with only slight effects on skeletal pattern. Ectopic muscles were, however, unaccompanied by ectopic tendons and could be partially rescued by anesthetizing the larvae before muscle fibers appeared. This finding suggests that the ectopic muscles result from fiber detachment and are not due to an underlying muscle patterning defect. Interestingly, immobilization did not rescue the nerve defects, thus ethanol has an independent effect on each tissue even though they are linked in developmental time and space. Time-course experiments demonstrated an increase in nerve defects with ethanol exposure between 48hpf-4dpf. Time-lapse imaging confirmed the absence of nerve pathfinding or misrouting defects until 48hpf. These results indicate that ethanol-induced nerve defects occur at the time of muscle innervation and after musculoskeletal patterning. Further, we investigated the effect of ethanol on the neuromuscular junctions of the craniofacial muscles and found a reduced number of postsynaptic receptors with no significant effect on the presynaptic terminals. Our study shows that craniofacial soft tissues are particularly susceptible to ethanol-induced damage and that these defects appear independent from one another. Thus, the effects of ethanol on the vertebrate head appear highly pleiotropic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Johann K. Eberhart
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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6
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Yoon B, Yeung P, Santistevan N, Bluhm LE, Kawasaki K, Kueper J, Dubielzig R, VanOudenhove J, Cotney J, Liao EC, Grinblat Y. Zebrafish models of alx-linked frontonasal dysplasia reveal a role for Alx1 and Alx3 in the anterior segment and vasculature of the developing eye. Biol Open 2022; 11:bio059189. [PMID: 35142342 PMCID: PMC9167625 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular and genetic mechanisms that coordinate formation of facial sensory structures with surrounding skeletal and soft tissue elements remain poorly understood. Alx1, a homeobox transcription factor, is a key regulator of midfacial morphogenesis. ALX1 mutations in humans are linked to severe congenital anomalies of the facial skeleton (frontonasal dysplasia, FND) with malformation or absence of eyes and orbital contents (micro- and anophthalmia). Zebrafish with loss-of-function alx1 mutations develop with craniofacial and ocular defects of variable penetrance, likely due to compensatory upregulation in expression of a paralogous gene, alx3. Here we show that zebrafish alx1;alx3 mutants develop with highly penetrant cranial and ocular defects that resemble human ALX1-linked FND. alx1 and alx3 are expressed in anterior cranial neural crest (aCNC), which gives rise to the anterior neurocranium (ANC), anterior segment structures of the eye and vascular pericytes. Consistent with a functional requirement for alx genes in aCNC, alx1; alx3 mutants develop with nearly absent ANC and grossly aberrant hyaloid vasculature and ocular anterior segment, but normal retina. In vivo lineage labeling identified a requirement for alx1 and alx3 during aCNC migration, and transcriptomic analysis suggested oxidative stress response as a key target mechanism of this function. Oxidative stress is a hallmark of fetal alcohol toxicity, and we found increased penetrance of facial and ocular malformations in alx1 mutants exposed to ethanol, consistent with a protective role for alx1 against ethanol toxicity. Collectively, these data demonstrate a conserved role for zebrafish alx genes in controlling ocular and facial development, and a novel role in protecting these key midfacial structures from ethanol toxicity during embryogenesis. These data also reveal novel roles for alx genes in ocular anterior segment formation and vascular development and suggest that retinal deficits in alx mutants may be secondary to aberrant ocular vascularization and anterior segment defects. This study establishes robust zebrafish models for interrogating conserved genetic mechanisms that coordinate facial and ocular development, and for exploring gene--environment interactions relevant to fetal alcohol syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baul Yoon
- Departments of Integrative Biology and Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Genetics Ph.D. Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Pan Yeung
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, 02114, USA
| | - Nicholas Santistevan
- Departments of Integrative Biology and Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Genetics Ph.D. Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Lauren E. Bluhm
- Departments of Integrative Biology and Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Kenta Kawasaki
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, 02114, USA
| | - Janina Kueper
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, 02114, USA
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Richard Dubielzig
- Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW), University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jennifer VanOudenhove
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Justin Cotney
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Eric C. Liao
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, 02114, USA
| | - Yevgenya Grinblat
- Departments of Integrative Biology and Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Genetics Ph.D. Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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7
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Shang W, Dai Z, Zhang J, Shen F, Sui N, Liang J. Embryonic opioid exposure impairs inhibitory transmission of striatum in day‐old chicks. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22273. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.22273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wen Shang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health Institute of Psychology Beijing China
- Department of Psychology University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Zhonghua Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health Institute of Psychology Beijing China
- Department of Psychology University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jianjun Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health Institute of Psychology Beijing China
- Department of Psychology University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Fang Shen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health Institute of Psychology Beijing China
- Department of Psychology University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Nan Sui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health Institute of Psychology Beijing China
- Department of Psychology University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jing Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health Institute of Psychology Beijing China
- Department of Psychology University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- Sino‐Danish Center for Education and Research University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
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8
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Fan H, Li Y, Yuan F, Lu L, Liu J, Feng W, Zhang HG, Chen SY. Up-regulation of microRNA-34a mediates ethanol-induced impairment of neural crest cell migration in vitro and in zebrafish embryos through modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting Snail1. Toxicol Lett 2022; 358:17-26. [PMID: 35038560 PMCID: PMC9058190 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.01.004] [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: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal ethanol exposure can impair neural crest cell (NCC) development, including NCC survival, differentiation and migration, contributing to the craniofacial dysmorphology in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in regulating the migration of NCCs. The objective of this study is to determine whether ethanol exposure can suppress NCC migration through inhibiting EMT and whether microRNA-34a (miR-34a) is involved in the ethanol-induced impairment of EMT in NCCs. We found that exposure to 100 mM ethanol significantly inhibited the migration of NCCs. qRT-PCR and Western Blot analysis revealed that exposure to ethanol robustly reduced the mRNA and protein expression of Snail1, a critical transcriptional factor that has a pivotal role in the regulation of EMT. Ethanol exposure also significantly increased the mRNA expression of the Snail1 target gene E-cadherin1 and inhibited EMT in NCCs. We also found that exposure to ethanol significantly elevated the expression of miR-34a that targets Snail1 in NCCs. In addition, down-regulation of miR-34a prevented ethanol-induced repression of Snail1 and diminished ethanol-induced upregulation of Snail1 target gene E-cadherin1 in NCCs. Inhibition of miR-34a restored EMT and prevented ethanol-induced inhibition of NCC migration in vitro and in zebrafish embryos in vivo. These results demonstrate that ethanol-induced upregulation of miR-34a contributes to the impairment of NCC migration through suppressing EMT by targeting Snail1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huadong Fan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Yihong Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Fuqiang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Lanhai Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Wenke Feng
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Huang-Ge Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Shao-yu Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA,To whom correspondence should be sent: Shao-yu Chen, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40292 Phone: (502) 852-8677 FAX: (502) 852-8927.
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9
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Burton DF, Boa-Amponsem OM, Dixon MS, Hopkins MJ, Herbin TA, Toney S, Tarpley M, Rodriguez BV, Fish EW, Parnell SE, Cole GJ, Williams KP. Pharmacological activation of the Sonic hedgehog pathway with a Smoothened small molecule agonist ameliorates the severity of alcohol-induced morphological and behavioral birth defects in a zebrafish model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:1585-1601. [PMID: 35014067 PMCID: PMC9271529 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol exposure during the early stages of embryonic development can lead to a range of morphological and behavioral differences termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). In a zebrafish model, we have shown that acute ethanol exposure at 8-10 hr postfertilization (hpf), a critical time of development, produces birth defects similar to those clinically characterized in FASD. Dysregulation of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway has been implicated as a molecular basis for many of the birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. We observed in zebrafish embryos that shh expression was significantly decreased by ethanol exposure at 8-10 hpf, while smo expression was much less affected. Treatment of zebrafish embryos with SAG or purmorphamine, small molecule Smoothened agonists that activate Shh signaling, ameliorated the severity of ethanol-induced developmental malformations including altered eye size and midline brain development. Furthermore, this rescue effect of Smo activation was dose dependent and occurred primarily when treatment was given after ethanol exposure. Markers of Shh signaling (gli1/2) and eye development (pax6a) were restored in embryos treated with SAG post-ethanol exposure. Since embryonic ethanol exposure has been shown to produce later-life neurobehavioral impairments, juvenile zebrafish were examined in the novel tank diving test. Our results further demonstrated that in zebrafish embryos exposed to ethanol, SAG treatment was able to mitigate long-term neurodevelopmental impairments related to anxiety and risk-taking behavior. Our results indicate that pharmacological activation of the Shh pathway at specific developmental timing markedly diminishes the severity of alcohol-induced birth defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek F Burton
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Oswald M Boa-Amponsem
- Integrated Biosciences PhD Program, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Maria S Dixon
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael J Hopkins
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Te-Andre Herbin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Shiquita Toney
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael Tarpley
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Blanca V Rodriguez
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Eric W Fish
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Scott E Parnell
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gregory J Cole
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kevin P Williams
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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10
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Studdert JB, Bildsoe H, Masamsetti VP, Tam PPL. Visualization of the Cartilage and Bone Elements in the Craniofacial Structures by Alcian Blue and Alizarin Red Staining. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2403:43-50. [PMID: 34913115 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1847-9_4] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Craniofacial morphogenesis is underpinned by orchestrated growth and form-shaping activity of skeletal and soft tissues in the head and face. Disruptions during development can lead to dysmorphology of the skull, jaw, and the pharyngeal structures. Developmental disorders can be investigated in animal models to elucidate the molecular and cellular consequences of the morphogenetic defects. A first step in determining the disruption in the development of the head and face is to analyze the phenotypic features of the skeletal tissues. Examination of the anatomy of bones and cartilage over time and space will identify structural defects of head structures and guide follow-up analysis of the molecular and cellular attributes associated with the defects. Here we describe a protocol to simultaneously visualize the cartilage and bone elements by Alcian blue and Alizarin red staining, respectively, of wholemount specimens in mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua B Studdert
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
| | - Heidi Bildsoe
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Patrick P L Tam
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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11
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Fernandes Y, Lovely CB. Zebrafish models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Genesis 2021; 59:e23460. [PMID: 34739740 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) describes a wide range of structural deficits and cognitive impairments. FASD impacts up to 5% of children born in the United States each year, making ethanol one of the most common teratogens. Due to limitations and ethical concerns, studies in humans are limited in their ability to study FASD. Animal models have proven critical in identifying and characterizing the mechanisms underlying FASD. In this review, we will focus on the attributes of zebrafish that make it a strong model in which to study ethanol-induced developmental defects. Zebrafish have several attributes that make it an ideal model in which to study FASD. Zebrafish produced large numbers of externally fertilized, translucent embryos. With a high degree of genetic amenability, zebrafish are at the forefront of identifying and characterizing the gene-ethanol interactions that underlie FASD. Work from multiple labs has shown that embryonic ethanol exposures result in defects in craniofacial, cardiac, ocular, and neural development. In addition to structural defects, ethanol-induced cognitive and behavioral impairments have been studied in zebrafish. Building upon these studies, work has identified ethanol-sensitive loci that underlie the developmental defects. However, analyses show there is still much to be learned of these gene-ethanol interactions. The zebrafish is ideally suited to expand our understanding of gene-ethanol interactions and their impact on FASD. Because of the conservation of gene function between zebrafish and humans, these studies will directly translate to studies of candidate genes in human populations and allow for better diagnosis and treatment of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohaan Fernandes
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA
| | - C Ben Lovely
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Alcohol Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
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12
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Luptakova L, Dvorcakova S, Demcisakova Z, Belbahri L, Holovska K, Petrovova E. Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Morphological, Histological, and Molecular View on Developing Chicken Liver. TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9030055. [PMID: 33809222 PMCID: PMC8001493 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9030055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is widely used as a solvent for small hydrophobic drug molecules. However, the safe volume allowing to avoid its embryotoxic effect has been poorly studied. In this study, we documented the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the developing chicken embryo at morphological, histological, and molecular levels. We focused on the developing chicken liver as the main organ involved in the process of detoxification. In our study, 100% DMSO was administered subgerminally onto the eggshell membrane (membrana papyracea) at various volumes (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 50 µL) on 4th embryonic day (ED). We focused on histopathological alterations of the liver structure, and noticed the overall impact of DMSO on developing chicken embryos (embryotoxicity, malformation). At the molecular level, we studied cytochrome P450 complex (CYP) isoform's activities in relation to changes of CYP1A5, CYP3A37, and CYP3A80 gene expression. Total embryotoxicity after application of different doses of DMSO on ED 4, and the embryo lethality increased with increasing DMSO amounts. Overall mortality after DMSO administration ranged below 33%. Mortality was increased with higher amounts of DMSO, mainly from 20 µL. The highest mortality was observed for the highest dose of DMSO over 35 µL. The results also showed a decrease in body weight with increased application volumes of DMSO. At the histological level, we observed mainly the presence of lipid droplets and dilated bile canaliculi and sinusoids in samples over the administration of 25 µL of DMSO. While these findings were not statistically significant, DMSO treatment caused a significant different up-regulation of mRNA expression in all studied genes. For CYP1A5, CYP3A37, and CYP3A80 DMSO volumes needed were 15 µL, 10 µL, and 20 µL, respectively. A significant down-regulation of all studied CYP isoform was detected after application of a DMSO dose of 5 µL. Regarding the morphological results, we can assume that the highest safe dose of DMSO without affecting chicken embryo development and its liver is up to 10 µL. This conclusion is corroborated with the presence of number of malformations and body weight reduction, which correlates with histological findings. Moreover, the gene expression results showed that even the lowest administered DMSO volume could affect hepatocytes at the molecular level causing down-regulation of cytochrome P450 complex (CYP1A5, CYP3A37, CYP3A80).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Luptakova
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +421-918-919-686
| | - Simona Dvorcakova
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia;
| | - Zuzana Demcisakova
- Department of Morphological Disciplines, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia; (Z.D.); (K.H.); (E.P.)
| | - Lassaad Belbahri
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of Neuchatel, 2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland;
| | - Katarina Holovska
- Department of Morphological Disciplines, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia; (Z.D.); (K.H.); (E.P.)
| | - Eva Petrovova
- Department of Morphological Disciplines, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia; (Z.D.); (K.H.); (E.P.)
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13
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Rieblinger B, Sid H, Duda D, Bozoglu T, Klinger R, Schlickenrieder A, Lengyel K, Flisikowski K, Flisikowska T, Simm N, Grodziecki A, Perleberg C, Bähr A, Carrier L, Kurome M, Zakhartchenko V, Kessler B, Wolf E, Kettler L, Luksch H, Hagag IT, Wise D, Kaufman J, Kaufer BB, Kupatt C, Schnieke A, Schusser B. Cas9-expressing chickens and pigs as resources for genome editing in livestock. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2022562118. [PMID: 33658378 PMCID: PMC7958376 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022562118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically modified animals continue to provide important insights into the molecular basis of health and disease. Research has focused mostly on genetically modified mice, although other species like pigs resemble the human physiology more closely. In addition, cross-species comparisons with phylogenetically distant species such as chickens provide powerful insights into fundamental biological and biomedical processes. One of the most versatile genetic methods applicable across species is CRISPR-Cas9. Here, we report the generation of transgenic chickens and pigs that constitutively express Cas9 in all organs. These animals are healthy and fertile. Functionality of Cas9 was confirmed in both species for a number of different target genes, for a variety of cell types and in vivo by targeted gene disruption in lymphocytes and the developing brain, and by precise excision of a 12.7-kb DNA fragment in the heart. The Cas9 transgenic animals will provide a powerful resource for in vivo genome editing for both agricultural and translational biomedical research, and will facilitate reverse genetics as well as cross-species comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Rieblinger
- Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Hicham Sid
- Reproductive Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Denise Duda
- Reproductive Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Tarik Bozoglu
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Internal Medicine I, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- Munich Heart Alliance, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Romina Klinger
- Reproductive Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Antonina Schlickenrieder
- Reproductive Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Kamila Lengyel
- Reproductive Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Krzysztof Flisikowski
- Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Tatiana Flisikowska
- Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Nina Simm
- Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Alessandro Grodziecki
- Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Carolin Perleberg
- Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Andrea Bähr
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Internal Medicine I, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- Munich Heart Alliance, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Lucie Carrier
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mayuko Kurome
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Valeri Zakhartchenko
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Barbara Kessler
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Lutz Kettler
- Zoology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Harald Luksch
- Zoology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Ibrahim T Hagag
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Wise
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, CB2 1QP Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jim Kaufman
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, CB2 1QP Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3FL Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Benedikt B Kaufer
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Christian Kupatt
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Internal Medicine I, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany;
- Munich Heart Alliance, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Angelika Schnieke
- Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany;
| | - Benjamin Schusser
- Reproductive Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany;
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14
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Munir MT, Javed MT, Rehman A, Reyes Reyes JD. Effects of ethanol on health and performance of poultry. WORLD POULTRY SCI J 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00439339.2020.1866962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tanveer Munir
- Laboratoire Innovation Matériau Bois Habitat Apprentissage (LIMBHA), Ecole supérieur du Bois, Nantes, France
| | - Muhammad Tariq Javed
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Rehman
- Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Jennifer Danaidae Reyes Reyes
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l’Alimentation (ONIRIS), Nantes, France
- Pilgrim’s, C.P 76100 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro, México
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15
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Knudsen TB, Pierro JD, Baker NC. Retinoid signaling in skeletal development: Scoping the system for predictive toxicology. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 99:109-130. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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16
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Gomez DA, May PA, Tabachnick BG, Hasken JM, Lyden ER, Kalberg WO, Hoyme HE, Manning MA, Adam MP, Robinson LK, Jones KL, Buckley D, Abdul-Rahman OA. Ocular measurements in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Am J Med Genet A 2020; 182:2243-2252. [PMID: 32677343 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) describe a range of physical, behavioral, and neurologic deficits in individuals exposed to alcohol prenatally. Reduced palpebral fissure length is one of the cardinal facial features of FASD. However, other ocular measurements have not been studied extensively in FASD. Using the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Epidemiologic Research (FASER) database, we investigated how inner canthal distance (ICD), interpupillary distance (IPD), and outer canthal distance (OCD) centiles differed between FASD and non-FASD individuals. We compared ocular measurement centiles in children with FASD to non-FASD individuals and observed reductions in all three centiles for ICD, IPD, and OCD. However, when our non-FASD children who had various forms of growth deficiency (microcephaly, short-stature, or underweight) were compared to controls, we did not observe a similar reduction in ocular measurements. This suggests that reductions in ocular measurements are a direct effect of alcohol on ocular development independent of its effect on growth parameters, which is consistent with animal models showing a negative effect of alcohol on developing neural crest cells. Interpupillary distance centile appeared to be the most significantly reduced ocular measure we evaluated, suggesting it may be a useful measure to be considered in the diagnosis of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Gomez
- College of Arts and Sciences, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Philip A May
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, & Addictions, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Barbara G Tabachnick
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Northridge, California, USA
| | - Julie M Hasken
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Lyden
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Wendy O Kalberg
- Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, & Addictions, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - H Eugene Hoyme
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Sanford Children's Genomic Medicine Consortium, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Melanie A Manning
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Margaret P Adam
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Luther K Robinson
- Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Kenneth Lyons Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - David Buckley
- Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, & Addictions, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Omar A Abdul-Rahman
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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17
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Lovely CB. Animal models of gene-alcohol interactions. Birth Defects Res 2019; 112:367-379. [PMID: 31774246 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Most birth defects arise from complex interactions between multiple genetic and environmental factors. However, our current understanding of how these interactions and their contributions affect birth defects remains incomplete. Human studies are limited in their ability to identify the fundamental causes of birth defects due to ethical and practical limitations. Animal models provide a great number of resources not available to human studies and they have been critical in advancing our understanding of birth defects and the complex interactions that underlie them. In this review, we discuss the use of animal models in the context of gene-environment interactions that underlie birth defects. We focus on alcohol which is the most common environmental factor associated with birth defects. Prenatal alcohol exposure leads to a wide range of cognitive impairments and structural deficits broadly termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). We discuss the broad impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing embryo and elaborate on the current state of gene-alcohol interactions. Additionally, we discuss how animal models have informed our understanding of the genetics of FASD. Ultimately, these topics will provide insight into the use of animal models in understanding gene-environment interactions and their subsequent impact on birth defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Benjamin Lovely
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Alcohol Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
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18
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Williams AL, Bohnsack BL. What's retinoic acid got to do with it? Retinoic acid regulation of the neural crest in craniofacial and ocular development. Genesis 2019; 57:e23308. [PMID: 31157952 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA), the active derivative of vitamin A (retinol), is an essential morphogen signaling molecule and major regulator of embryonic development. The dysregulation of RA levels during embryogenesis has been associated with numerous congenital anomalies, including craniofacial, auditory, and ocular defects. These anomalies result from disruptions in the cranial neural crest, a vertebrate-specific transient population of stem cells that contribute to the formation of diverse cell lineages and embryonic structures during development. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the RA-mediated regulation of cranial neural crest induction at the edge of the neural tube and the migration of these cells into the craniofacial region. Further, we discuss the role of RA in the regulation of cranial neural crest cells found within the frontonasal process, periocular mesenchyme, and pharyngeal arches, which eventually form the bones and connective tissues of the head and neck and contribute to structures in the anterior segment of the eye. We then review our understanding of the mechanisms underlying congenital craniofacial and ocular diseases caused by either the genetic or toxic disruption of RA signaling. Finally, we discuss the role of RA in maintaining neural crest-derived structures in postembryonic tissues and the implications of these studies in creating new treatments for degenerative craniofacial and ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antionette L Williams
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Brenda L Bohnsack
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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19
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Al-Shaer AE, Flentke GR, Berres ME, Garic A, Smith SM. Exon level machine learning analyses elucidate novel candidate miRNA targets in an avian model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1006937. [PMID: 30973878 PMCID: PMC6478348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestational alcohol exposure causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and is a prominent cause of neurodevelopmental disability. Whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) offer insights into mechanisms underlying FASD, but gene-level analysis provides limited information regarding complex transcriptional processes such as alternative splicing and non-coding RNAs. Moreover, traditional analytical approaches that use multiple hypothesis testing with a false discovery rate adjustment prioritize genes based on an adjusted p-value, which is not always biologically relevant. We address these limitations with a novel approach and implemented an unsupervised machine learning model, which we applied to an exon-level analysis to reduce data complexity to the most likely functionally relevant exons, without loss of novel information. This was performed on an RNA-Seq paired-end dataset derived from alcohol-exposed neural fold-stage chick crania, wherein alcohol causes facial deficits recapitulating those of FASD. A principal component analysis along with k-means clustering was utilized to extract exons that deviated from baseline expression. This identified 6857 differentially expressed exons representing 1251 geneIDs; 391 of these genes were identified in a prior gene-level analysis of this dataset. It also identified exons encoding 23 microRNAs (miRNAs) having significantly differential expression profiles in response to alcohol. We developed an RDAVID pipeline to identify KEGG pathways represented by these exons, and separately identified predicted KEGG pathways targeted by these miRNAs. Several of these (ribosome biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation) were identified in our prior gene-level analysis. Other pathways are crucial to facial morphogenesis and represent both novel (focal adhesion, FoxO signaling, insulin signaling) and known (Wnt signaling) alcohol targets. Importantly, there was substantial overlap between the exomes themselves and the predicted miRNA targets, suggesting these miRNAs contribute to the gene-level expression changes. Our novel application of unsupervised machine learning in conjunction with statistical analyses facilitated the discovery of signaling pathways and miRNAs that inform mechanisms underlying FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abrar E. Al-Shaer
- Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - George R. Flentke
- Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mark E. Berres
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Ana Garic
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Susan M. Smith
- Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States of America
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20
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Petrelli B, Bendelac L, Hicks GG, Fainsod A. Insights into retinoic acid deficiency and the induction of craniofacial malformations and microcephaly in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Genesis 2019; 57:e23278. [DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Berardino Petrelli
- Regenerative Medicine Program and the Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Liat Bendelac
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel‐CanadaFaculty of Medicine, Hebrew University Jerusalem Israel
| | - Geoffrey G. Hicks
- Regenerative Medicine Program and the Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Abraham Fainsod
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel‐CanadaFaculty of Medicine, Hebrew University Jerusalem Israel
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21
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Kumar A, Davies TG, Itasaki N. Developmental abnormalities of the otic capsule and inner ear following application of prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitors in chick embryos. Birth Defects Res 2018; 110:1194-1204. [PMID: 30079508 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Naturally hypoxic conditions in amniote embryos play important roles in normal development. We previously showed that a hypoxic condition is required to produce a sufficient amount of neural crest cells (NCCs) during embryogenesis and that promoting a hypoxic response by prolyl-hydroxylase (PHD) inhibitors increases NCCs. Given that PHD inhibitors are considered as a potential treatment for anemia and ischemic diseases, we investigated the phenotypic effect of PHD inhibitors on embryonic development. METHODS Chick embryos were administered with PHD inhibitors prior to the induction of NCCs on day 1.5. Three main events relating to hypoxia, NCCs induction, vasculogenesis and chondrogenesis, were examined. RESULTS PHD inhibitors caused an increase of Sox10-positive NCCs in vivo. Vasculogenesis was promoted temporarily, although rapid vasculogenesis diminished the effect by day 5 in cephalic and pharyngeal regions. Studies on chondrogenesis at day 7 showed advanced development of the otic capsule, a cartilaginous structure encapsulating the inner ear. Analysis by X-ray micro-computed-tomography (μCT) revealed smaller otic capsule, suggesting premature differentiation. This in turn, deformed the developing semicircular canals within it. Other skeletal structures such as the palate and jaw were unaffected. The localized effect on the otic capsule was considered a result of the multiple effects from the hypoxic responses, increased NCCs and promoted chondrogenesis. CONCLUSION Given the wide range of clinical applications being considered for PHD inhibitors, this study provides crucial information to caution and guide use of PHD inhibitors when treating women of childbearing age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshay Kumar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas G Davies
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Nobue Itasaki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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22
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J Liu
- King's College London, Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom.
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23
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Kapur BM, Baber M. FASD: folic acid and formic acid — an unholy alliance in the alcohol abusing mother. Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 96:189-197. [DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy remains a significant cause of preventable birth defects and developmental disabilities; however, the mechanism of toxicity remains unclear. Methanol is present as a congener in many alcoholic beverages and is formed endogenously. Because ethanol is preferentially metabolized over methanol, it has been found in the sera and cerebro-spinal fluid of alcoholics. Toxicity resulting from methanol has been attributed to formic acid. Formic acid is present in significantly higher quantities in the biofluids of alcoholics. These higher levels can be cytotoxic and cause neuronal cell death. However, the adverse effects can be mitigated by adequate levels of hepatic folic acid, because formic acid elimination depends on folic acid. During pregnancy, folate concentrations are at least 2-fold higher in cord blood then in maternal blood, owing to increased folate requirements. The reverse has been demonstrated in pregnancies with alcohol abuse, suggesting downregulation of folate transporters and low fetal folate levels. Moreover, formic acid can cross the placenta and its adverse effects can be mitigated by folic acid. Thus, the combination of low fetal folate levels and presence of formic acid form a potent cytotoxic combination that may play a significant role in the etiology of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhushan M. Kapur
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Marta Baber
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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24
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Fainsod A, Kot-Leibovich H. Xenopus embryos to study fetal alcohol syndrome, a model for environmental teratogenesis. Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 96:77-87. [DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate model systems are central to characterize the outcomes of ethanol exposure and the etiology of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), taking advantage of their genetic and morphological closeness and similarity to humans. We discuss the contribution of amphibian embryos to FASD research, focusing on Xenopus embryos. The Xenopus experimental system is characterized by external development and accessibility throughout embryogenesis, large clutch sizes, gene and protein activity manipulation, transgenesis and genome editing, convenient chemical treatment, explants and conjugates, and many other experimental approaches. Taking advantage of these methods, many insights regarding FASD have been obtained. These studies characterized the malformations induced by ethanol including quantitative analysis of craniofacial malformations, induction of fetal growth restriction, delay in gut maturation, and defects in the differentiation of the neural crest. Mechanistic, biochemical, and molecular studies in Xenopus embryos identified early gastrula as the high alcohol sensitivity window, targeting the embryonic organizer and inducing a delay in gastrulation movements. Frog embryos have also served to demonstrate the involvement of reduced retinoic acid production and an increase in reactive oxygen species in FASD. Amphibian embryos have helped pave the way for our mechanistic, molecular, and biochemical understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Fainsod
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel–Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel–Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Hadas Kot-Leibovich
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel–Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel–Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
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25
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Fernandes Y, Buckley DM, Eberhart JK. Diving into the world of alcohol teratogenesis: a review of zebrafish models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 96:88-97. [PMID: 28817785 PMCID: PMC7413215 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The term fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) refers to the entire suite of deleterious outcomes resulting from embryonic exposure to alcohol. Along with other reviews in this special issue, we provide insight into how animal models, specifically the zebrafish, have informed our understanding of FASD. We first provide a brief introduction to FASD. We discuss the zebrafish as a model organism and its strengths for alcohol research. We detail how zebrafish has been used to model some of the major defects present in FASD. These include behavioral defects, such as social behavior as well as learning and memory, and structural defects, disrupting organs such as the brain, sensory organs, heart, and craniofacial skeleton. We provide insights into how zebrafish research has aided in our understanding of the mechanisms of ethanol teratogenesis. We end by providing some relatively recent advances that zebrafish has provided in characterizing gene-ethanol interactions that may underlie FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohaan Fernandes
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
| | - Desire M Buckley
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
| | - Johann K Eberhart
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
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26
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Battistoni M, Mercurio S, Ficetola GF, Metruccio FC, Menegola E, Pennati R. The Ascidian Embryo Teratogenicity assay in Ciona intestinalis as a new teratological screening to test the mixture effect of the co-exposure to ethanol and fluconazole. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2018; 57:76-85. [PMID: 29223040 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2017.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the Ascidian Embryo Teratogenicity assay (AET) as new alternative invertebrate model to test the developmental effects of the co-exposure to ethanol and fluconazole. Ciona intestinalis embryos were exposed to the azolic fungicide fluconazole, (FLUCO, 7.8-250μM), to ethanol (Eth, 0.01-0.5%) and to their mixture (0.01% Eth+FLUCO 7.8-250μM) from neurula to larval stage. At the end of the exposure period, larvae were morphologically evaluated and benchmark analysis performed by using the PROAST modelling software. Both compounds were teratogenic in a concentration-related manner, particularly affecting the pigmented organs. The co-exposure to Eth enhanced the effects of FLUCO, the additive hypothesis was not rejected by the modelling. The results demonstrated that AET could be considered a good vertebrate-free alternative model for toxicological investigation in embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Battistoni
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Mercurio
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Gentile Francesco Ficetola
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Cristiana Metruccio
- International Centre for Pesticides and Health Risk Prevention (ICPS), University Hospital Luigi Sacco, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Menegola
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Roberta Pennati
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy
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27
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Long Term Depression in Rat Hippocampus and the Effect of Ethanol during Fetal Life. Brain Sci 2017; 7:brainsci7120157. [PMID: 29182556 PMCID: PMC5742760 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci7120157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol (ethanol) disturbs cognitive functions including learning and memory in humans, non-human primates, and laboratory animals such as rodents. As studied in animals, cellular mechanisms for learning and memory include bidirectional synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation (LTP), and long-term depression (LTD), primarily in the hippocampus. Most of the research in the field of alcohol has analyzed the effects of ethanol on LTP; however, with recent advances in the understanding of the physiological role of LTD in learning and memory, some authors have examined the effects of ethanol exposure on this particular signal. In the present review, I will focus on hippocampal LTD recorded in rodents and the effects of fetal alcohol exposure on this signal. A synthesis of the findings indicates that prenatal ethanol exposure disturbs LTD concurrently with LTP in offspring and that both glutamatergic and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmissions are altered and contribute to LTD disturbances. Although the ultimate mode of action of ethanol on these two transmitter systems is not yet clear, novel suggestions have recently appeared in the literature.
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28
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Eason J, Williams AL, Chawla B, Apsey C, Bohnsack BL. Differences in neural crest sensitivity to ethanol account for the infrequency of anterior segment defects in the eye compared with craniofacial anomalies in a zebrafish model of fetal alcohol syndrome. Birth Defects Res 2017; 109:1212-1227. [PMID: 28681995 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 05/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ethanol (ETOH) exposure during pregnancy is associated with craniofacial and neurologic abnormalities, but infrequently disrupts the anterior segment of the eye. In these studies, we used zebrafish to investigate differences in the teratogenic effect of ETOH on craniofacial, periocular, and ocular neural crest. METHODS Zebrafish eye and neural crest development was analyzed by means of live imaging, TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assay, immunostaining, detection of reactive oxygen species, and in situ hybridization. RESULTS Our studies demonstrated that foxd3-positive neural crest cells in the periocular mesenchyme and developing eye were less sensitive to ETOH than sox10-positive craniofacial neural crest cells that form the pharyngeal arches and jaw. ETOH increased apoptosis in the retina, but did not affect survival of periocular and ocular neural crest cells. ETOH also did not increase reactive oxygen species within the eye. In contrast, ETOH increased ventral neural crest apoptosis and reactive oxygen species production in the facial mesenchyme. In the eye and craniofacial region, sod2 showed high levels of expression in the anterior segment and in the setting of Sod2 knockdown, low levels of ETOH decreased migration of foxd3-positive neural crest cells into the developing eye. However, ETOH had minimal effect on the periocular and ocular expression of transcription factors (pitx2 and foxc1) that regulate anterior segment development. CONCLUSION Neural crest cells contributing to the anterior segment of the eye exhibit increased ability to withstand ETOH-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. These studies explain the rarity of anterior segment dysgenesis despite the frequent craniofacial abnormalities in fetal alcohol syndrome. Birth Defects Research 109:1212-1227, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Eason
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Antionette L Williams
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Bahaar Chawla
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Christian Apsey
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Brenda L Bohnsack
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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29
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Laufer BI, Chater-Diehl EJ, Kapalanga J, Singh SM. Long-term alterations to DNA methylation as a biomarker of prenatal alcohol exposure: From mouse models to human children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Alcohol 2017; 60:67-75. [PMID: 28187949 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Revised: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Rodent models of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have revealed that prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) results in differential DNA cytosine methylation in the developing brain. The resulting genome-wide methylation changes are enriched in genes with neurodevelopmental functions. The profile of differential methylation is dynamic and present in some form for life. The methylation changes are transmitted across subsequent mitotic divisions, where they are maintained and further modified over time. More recent follow up has identified a profile of the differential methylation in the buccal swabs of young children born with FASD. While distinct from the profile observed in brain tissue from rodent models, there are similarities. These include changes in genes belonging to a number of neurodevelopmental and behavioral pathways. Specifically, there is increased methylation at the clustered protocadherin genes and deregulation of genomically imprinted genes, even though no single gene is affected in all patients studied to date. These novel results suggest further development of a methylation based strategy could enable early and accurate diagnostics and therapeutics, which have remained a challenge in FASD research. There are two aspects of this challenge that must be addressed in the immediate future: First, the long-term differential methylomics observed in rodent models must be functionally confirmed. Second, the similarities in differential methylation must be further established in humans at a methylomic level and overcome a number of technical limitations. While a cure for FASD is challenging, there is an opportunity for the development of early diagnostics and attenuations towards a higher quality of life.
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30
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Lovely C, Rampersad M, Fernandes Y, Eberhart J. Gene-environment interactions in development and disease. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2017; 6:10.1002/wdev.247. [PMID: 27626243 PMCID: PMC5191946 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Developmental geneticists continue to make substantial jumps in our understanding of the genetic pathways that regulate development. This understanding stems predominantly from analyses of genetically tractable model organisms developing in laboratory environments. This environment is vastly different from that in which human development occurs. As such, most causes of developmental defects in humans are thought to involve multifactorial gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. In this review, we discuss how gene-environment interactions with environmental teratogens may predispose embryos to structural malformations. We elaborate on the growing number of gene-ethanol interactions that might underlie susceptibility to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. WIREs Dev Biol 2017, 6:e247. doi: 10.1002/wdev.247 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lovely
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Mindy Rampersad
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Yohaan Fernandes
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Johann Eberhart
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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31
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Lovely CB, Fernandes Y, Eberhart JK. Fishing for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Zebrafish as a Model for Ethanol Teratogenesis. Zebrafish 2016; 13:391-8. [PMID: 27186793 PMCID: PMC5035362 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2016.1270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) describes a wide array of ethanol-induced developmental defects, including craniofacial dysmorphology and cognitive impairments. It affects ∼1 in 100 children born in the United States each year. Due to the pleiotropic effects of ethanol, animal models have proven critical in characterizing the mechanisms of ethanol teratogenesis. In this review, we focus on the utility of zebrafish in characterizing ethanol-induced developmental defects. A growing number of laboratories have focused on using zebrafish to examine ethanol-induced defects in craniofacial, cardiac, ocular, and neural development, as well as cognitive and behavioral impairments. Growing evidence supports that genetic predisposition plays a role in these ethanol-induced defects, yet little is understood about these gene-ethanol interactions. With a high degree of genetic amenability, zebrafish is at the forefront of identifying and characterizing the gene-ethanol interactions that underlie FASD. Because of the conservation of gene function between zebrafish and humans, these studies will directly translate to studies of candidate genes in human populations and allow for better diagnosis and treatment of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yohaan Fernandes
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas
| | - Johann K Eberhart
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas
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