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Lasser M, Bolduc J, Murphy L, O'Brien C, Lee S, Girirajan S, Lowery LA. 16p12.1 Deletion Orthologs are Expressed in Motile Neural Crest Cells and are Important for Regulating Craniofacial Development in Xenopus laevis. Front Genet 2022; 13:833083. [PMID: 35401697 PMCID: PMC8987115 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.833083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Copy number variants (CNVs) associated with neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by extensive phenotypic heterogeneity. In particular, one CNV was identified in a subset of children clinically diagnosed with intellectual disabilities (ID) that results in a hemizygous deletion of multiple genes at chromosome 16p12.1. In addition to ID, individuals with this deletion display a variety of symptoms including microcephaly, seizures, cardiac defects, and growth retardation. Moreover, patients also manifest severe craniofacial abnormalities, such as micrognathia, cartilage malformation of the ears and nose, and facial asymmetries; however, the function of the genes within the 16p12.1 region have not been studied in the context of vertebrate craniofacial development. The craniofacial tissues affected in patients with this deletion all derive from the same embryonic precursor, the cranial neural crest, leading to the hypothesis that one or more of the 16p12.1 genes may be involved in regulating neural crest cell (NCC)-related processes. To examine this, we characterized the developmental role of the 16p12.1-affected gene orthologs, polr3e, mosmo, uqcrc2, and cdr2, during craniofacial morphogenesis in the vertebrate model system, Xenopus laevis. While the currently-known cellular functions of these genes are diverse, we find that they share similar expression patterns along the neural tube, pharyngeal arches, and later craniofacial structures. As these genes show co-expression in the pharyngeal arches where NCCs reside, we sought to elucidate the effect of individual gene depletion on craniofacial development and NCC migration. We find that reduction of several 16p12.1 genes significantly disrupts craniofacial and cartilage formation, pharyngeal arch migration, as well as NCC specification and motility. Thus, we have determined that some of these genes play an essential role during vertebrate craniofacial patterning by regulating specific processes during NCC development, which may be an underlying mechanism contributing to the craniofacial defects associated with the 16p12.1 deletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaela Lasser
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Jessica Bolduc
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Luke Murphy
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Caroline O'Brien
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Sangmook Lee
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Santhosh Girirajan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States
| | - Laura Anne Lowery
- Alfred B. Nobel Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Laura Anne Lowery,
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Chen CP, Wang LK, Chern SR, Wu PS, Chen SW, Wu FT, Chen LF, Chen YY, Wang W. Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome: Prenatal diagnosis and molecular cytogenetic characterization of a de novo distal deletion of 4p (4p16.1 → pter) in a fetus with facial cleft and preaxial polydactyly. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2021; 59:425-431. [PMID: 32416892 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2020.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We present prenatal diagnosis and molecular cytogenetic characterization of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) in a fetus with facial cleft and preaxial polydactyly. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 37-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis at 18 weeks of gestation because of advanced maternal age, and the result showed an aberrant chromosome 4 or 46,XX,add(4) (p15.3). The woman consulted our clinics at 22 weeks of gestation and requested for repeat amniocentesis. Prenatal ultrasound revealed intrauterine growth restriction, facial cleft, vermian hypoplasia of cerebellum, micrognathia and absent stomach. Conventional cytogenetic analysis was performed on cultured amniocytes, parental bloods and cord blood. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) were performed on the DNAs extracted from uncultured amniocytes and parental bloods. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed on cultured metaphase amniocytes. RESULTS aCGH analysis on uncultured amniocytes revealed arr 4p16.3p16.1 (74,447-8,732,731) × 1.0 [GRCh37 (hg19)] with an 8.66-Mb deletion of 4p16.3-p16.1 encompassing 70 [Online Mendelian Inheritance of in Man (OMIM)] genes including ZNF141, FGFRL1, TACC3, LETM1, NSD2 and NELFA. QF-PCR revealed a paternal origin of the distal 4p deletion. Conventional cytogenetic analysis revealed 46,XX,del(4) (p16.1)dn in the fetus. Metaphase FISH analysis confirmed a 4p16 deletion. The parental karyotypes were normal. The pregnancy was subsequently terminated, and a malformed fetus was delivered with typical WHS facial dysmorphism, bilateral cleft lip and palate, and preaxial polydactyly on the right hand. CONCLUSION aCGH, QF-PCR and FISH help to delineate the nature of a prenatally defected aberrant chromosome, and the acquired information is useful for genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Ping Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Liang-Kai Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Schu-Rern Chern
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Shin-Wen Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Tzu Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Feng Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Yi Chen
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wayseen Wang
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Bioengineering, Tatung University, Taipei, Taiwan
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3
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Çelik G, Batu Oto B, Kızılay O, Kılıçarslan O, Toptan HH. An unusual ophthalmic presentation of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. Ophthalmic Genet 2021; 42:326-328. [PMID: 33599186 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2021.1888130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a rare inherited disease caused by the deletion in short arm of 4th chromosome. Various ocular manifestations in WHS have been described previously. We present an extraordinary clinical case of WHS associated with optic nerve head malformation and optic nerve sheath enlargement in the same eye.Methods: Case reportResults: A male infant was delivered by Caesarean section at 38 weeks with a birth weight of 2040 gr and admitted to neonatal intensive care unit due to multi-systemic abnormalities. The infant had multiple congenital anomalies; a cleft palate, microcephalia, micrognathia, renal pelvicalyceal ectasia, atrial septal defect, transvers arcus hypoplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, hypospadias and undescended testicle. Fundus examination revealed optic disc coloboma of both eyes. Two weeks later, at the second examination, the left optic disc margins were indistinct with vessels radiating from the disc margins which resembles morning glory disc anomaly (MGDA). The MRI demonstrated corpus callosum agenesis and a T1 hypointense, T2 hyperintense, 12 × 9 mm optic nerve sheath enlargement in the retrobulbar area.Conclusion: The case presented here demonstrates that, the optic nerve head malformations and optic nerve sheath enlargement may be due to incomplete closure of choroidal fissure and subsequent accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid may result in a spectrum of optic nerve head malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gökhan Çelik
- Department of Ophthalmology, ROP Screening, Treatment and Training Center, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Disease Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bilge Batu Oto
- Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Osman Kızılay
- Department of Ophthalmology, ROP Screening, Treatment and Training Center, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Disease Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Oğuzhan Kılıçarslan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Handan Hakyemez Toptan
- Department of Pediatrics, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Disease Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
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CHD7 regulates cardiovascular development through ATP-dependent and -independent activities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:28847-28858. [PMID: 33127760 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2005222117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CHD7 encodes an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factor. Mutation of this gene causes multiple developmental disorders, including CHARGE (Coloboma of the eye, Heart defects, Atresia of the choanae, Retardation of growth/development, Genital abnormalities, and Ear anomalies) syndrome, in which conotruncal anomalies are the most prevalent form of heart defects. How CHD7 regulates conotruncal development remains unclear. In this study, we establish that deletion of Chd7 in neural crest cells (NCCs) causes severe conotruncal defects and perinatal lethality, thus providing mouse genetic evidence demonstrating that CHD7 cell-autonomously regulates cardiac NCC development, thereby clarifying a long-standing controversy in the literature. Using transcriptomic analyses, we show that CHD7 fine-tunes the expression of a gene network that is critical for cardiac NCC development. To gain further molecular insights into gene regulation by CHD7, we performed a protein-protein interaction screen by incubating recombinant CHD7 on a protein array. We find that CHD7 directly interacts with several developmental disorder-mutated proteins including WDR5, a core component of H3K4 methyltransferase complexes. This direct interaction suggested that CHD7 may recruit histone-modifying enzymes to target loci independently of its remodeling functions. We therefore generated a mouse model that harbors an ATPase-deficient allele and demonstrates that mutant CHD7 retains the ability to recruit H3K4 methyltransferase activity to its targets. Thus, our data uncover that CHD7 regulates cardiovascular development through ATP-dependent and -independent activities, shedding light on the etiology of CHD7-related congenital disorders. Importantly, our data also imply that patients carrying a premature stop codon versus missense mutations will likely display different molecular alterations; these patients might therefore require personalized therapeutic interventions.
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5
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Reynolds K, Zhang S, Sun B, Garland MA, Ji Y, Zhou CJ. Genetics and signaling mechanisms of orofacial clefts. Birth Defects Res 2020; 112:1588-1634. [PMID: 32666711 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Craniofacial development involves several complex tissue movements including several fusion processes to form the frontonasal and maxillary structures, including the upper lip and palate. Each of these movements are controlled by many different factors that are tightly regulated by several integral morphogenetic signaling pathways. Subject to both genetic and environmental influences, interruption at nearly any stage can disrupt lip, nasal, or palate fusion and result in a cleft. Here, we discuss many of the genetic risk factors that may contribute to the presentation of orofacial clefts in patients, and several of the key signaling pathways and underlying cellular mechanisms that control lip and palate formation, as identified primarily through investigating equivalent processes in animal models, are examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Reynolds
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California; University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.,Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (BMCDB) Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Shuwen Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California; University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Bo Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California; University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Michael A Garland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California; University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Yu Ji
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California; University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.,Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (BMCDB) Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Chengji J Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California; University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.,Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (BMCDB) Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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6
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Noble M, Lin QT, Sirko C, Houpt JA, Novello MJ, Stathopulos PB. Structural Mechanisms of Store-Operated and Mitochondrial Calcium Regulation: Initiation Points for Drug Discovery. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3642. [PMID: 32455637 PMCID: PMC7279490 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) is a universal signaling ion that is essential for the life and death processes of all eukaryotes. In humans, numerous cell stimulation pathways lead to the mobilization of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum (S/ER) stored Ca2+, resulting in the propagation of Ca2+ signals through the activation of processes, such as store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). SOCE provides a sustained Ca2+ entry into the cytosol; moreover, the uptake of SOCE-mediated Ca2+ by mitochondria can shape cytosolic Ca2+ signals, function as a feedback signal for the SOCE molecular machinery, and drive numerous mitochondrial processes, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and distinct cell death pathways. In recent years, tremendous progress has been made in identifying the proteins mediating these signaling pathways and elucidating molecular structures, invaluable for understanding the underlying mechanisms of function. Nevertheless, there remains a disconnect between using this accumulating protein structural knowledge and the design of new research tools and therapies. In this review, we provide an overview of the Ca2+ signaling pathways that are involved in mediating S/ER stored Ca2+ release, SOCE, and mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, as well as pinpoint multiple levels of crosstalk between these pathways. Further, we highlight the significant protein structures elucidated in recent years controlling these Ca2+ signaling pathways. Finally, we describe a simple strategy that aimed at applying the protein structural data to initiating drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Noble
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A5C1, Canada; (M.N.); (Q.-T.L.); (C.S.); (M.J.N.)
| | - Qi-Tong Lin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A5C1, Canada; (M.N.); (Q.-T.L.); (C.S.); (M.J.N.)
| | - Christian Sirko
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A5C1, Canada; (M.N.); (Q.-T.L.); (C.S.); (M.J.N.)
| | - Jacob A. Houpt
- Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A5C1, Canada;
| | - Matthew J. Novello
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A5C1, Canada; (M.N.); (Q.-T.L.); (C.S.); (M.J.N.)
| | - Peter B. Stathopulos
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A5C1, Canada; (M.N.); (Q.-T.L.); (C.S.); (M.J.N.)
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7
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Yuan S, Natesan R, Sanchez-Rivera FJ, Li J, Bhanu NV, Yamazoe T, Lin JH, Merrell AJ, Sela Y, Thomas SK, Jiang Y, Plesset JB, Miller EM, Shi J, Garcia BA, Lowe SW, Asangani IA, Stanger BZ. Global Regulation of the Histone Mark H3K36me2 Underlies Epithelial Plasticity and Metastatic Progression. Cancer Discov 2020; 10:854-871. [PMID: 32188706 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-19-1299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial plasticity, reversible modulation of a cell's epithelial and mesenchymal features, is associated with tumor metastasis and chemoresistance, leading causes of cancer mortality. Although different master transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers have been implicated in this process in various contexts, the extent to which a unifying, generalized mechanism of transcriptional regulation underlies epithelial plasticity remains largely unknown. Here, through targeted CRISPR/Cas9 screening, we discovered two histone-modifying enzymes involved in the writing and erasing of H3K36me2 that act reciprocally to regulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal identity, tumor differentiation, and metastasis. Using a lysine-to-methionine histone mutant to directly inhibit H3K36me2, we found that global modulation of the mark is a conserved mechanism underlying the mesenchymal state in various contexts. Mechanistically, regulation of H3K36me2 reprograms enhancers associated with master regulators of epithelial-to-mesenchymal state. Our results thus outline a unifying epigenome-scale mechanism by which a specific histone modification regulates cellular plasticity and metastasis in cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: Although epithelial plasticity contributes to cancer metastasis and chemoresistance, no strategies exist for pharmacologically inhibiting the process. Here, we show that global regulation of a specific histone mark, H3K36me2, is a universal epigenome-wide mechanism that underlies epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition in carcinoma cells. These results offer a new strategy for targeting epithelial plasticity in cancer.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 747.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salina Yuan
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ramakrishnan Natesan
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Jinyang Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Natarajan V Bhanu
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Taiji Yamazoe
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jeffrey H Lin
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Allyson J Merrell
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yogev Sela
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Stacy K Thomas
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yanqing Jiang
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jacqueline B Plesset
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Junwei Shi
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Scott W Lowe
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, New York
| | - Irfan A Asangani
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. .,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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8
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Hong YM, Cho DH, Kim JK. Nonossified cervical vertebrae in Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e18268. [PMID: 31852098 PMCID: PMC6922484 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000018268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome (WHS) is a rare disorder caused by the loss of the distal part of the short arm of chromosome 4, and has various phenotypes depending on the deletion size. Although many articles report on urinary tract malformations or ophthalmologic abnormalities, there are few descriptions of the skeletal anomalies. This is an extremely rare case of cervical dysplasia in WHS. PATIENT CONCERNS A 24-year-old pregnant woman was transferred to our hospital at 21 gestational weeks for intrauterine growth retardation and oligohydramnios and decided to preserve the pregnancy after evaluation. A female was born at full term by normal vaginal delivery, weighing 1791 g. The patient was suspected to have congenital dysplasia of the cervical vertebrae on the routine newborn chest radiograph, and cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed nonossification of the C3 and C4 vertebral bodies. DIAGNOSIS The newborn had the "Greek warrior helmet" face typical of WHS. A deletion was detected in the distal portion of the short arm of chromosome 4 (p 16.3) by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. INTERVENTIONS She was hospitalized for nutritional management and congenital anomaly evaluation for a month before being discharged with rehabilitation and antiepileptic drugs. OUTCOMES The patient has been readmitted with seizure attacks 5 times to date. At one year of age, she still shows severe head lag and feeding problems. Her last weight was below the 3rd centile. LESSONS Although cervical dysplasia is a rarely reported morphology in WHS, it may provide artefacts for diagnosing WHS as cervical anomalies, unlike facial anomalies or developmental delays, are seldom found in congenital disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Mi Hong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chonbuk National University School of Medicine
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University–Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Hyu Cho
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chonbuk National University School of Medicine
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University–Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Kyu Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University School of Medicine
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University–Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
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9
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Lasser M, Pratt B, Monahan C, Kim SW, Lowery LA. The Many Faces of Xenopus: Xenopus laevis as a Model System to Study Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. Front Physiol 2019; 10:817. [PMID: 31297068 PMCID: PMC6607408 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a rare developmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability and various physical malformations including craniofacial, skeletal, and cardiac defects. These phenotypes, as they involve structures that are derived from the cranial neural crest, suggest that WHS may be associated with abnormalities in neural crest cell (NCC) migration. This syndrome is linked with assorted mutations on the short arm of chromosome 4, most notably the microdeletion of a critical genomic region containing several candidate genes. However, the function of these genes during embryonic development, as well as the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the disorder, are still unknown. The model organism Xenopus laevis offers a number of advantages for studying WHS. With the Xenopus genome sequenced, genetic manipulation strategies can be readily designed in order to alter the dosage of the WHS candidate genes. Moreover, a variety of assays are available for use in Xenopus to examine how manipulation of WHS genes leads to changes in the development of tissue and organ systems affected in WHS. In this review article, we highlight the benefits of using X. laevis as a model system for studying human genetic disorders of development, with a focus on WHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaela Lasser
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Benjamin Pratt
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Connor Monahan
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Seung Woo Kim
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Laura Anne Lowery
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
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10
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Tian TV, Di Stefano B, Stik G, Vila-Casadesús M, Sardina JL, Vidal E, Dasti A, Segura-Morales C, De Andrés-Aguayo L, Gómez A, Goldmann J, Jaenisch R, Graf T. Whsc1 links pluripotency exit with mesendoderm specification. Nat Cell Biol 2019; 21:824-834. [PMID: 31235934 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-019-0342-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
How pluripotent stem cells differentiate into the main germ layers is a key question of developmental biology. Here, we show that the chromatin-related factor Whsc1 (also known as Nsd2 and MMSET) has a dual role in pluripotency exit and germ layer specification of embryonic stem cells. On induction of differentiation, a proportion of Whsc1-depleted embryonic stem cells remain entrapped in a pluripotent state and fail to form mesendoderm, although they are still capable of generating neuroectoderm. These functions of Whsc1 are independent of its methyltransferase activity. Whsc1 binds to enhancers of the mesendodermal regulators Gata4, T (Brachyury), Gata6 and Foxa2, together with Brd4, and activates the expression of these genes. Depleting each of these regulators also delays pluripotency exit, suggesting that they mediate the effects observed with Whsc1. Our data indicate that Whsc1 links silencing of the pluripotency regulatory network with activation of mesendoderm lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian V Tian
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Bruno Di Stefano
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Grégoire Stik
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Vila-Casadesús
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Luis Sardina
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enrique Vidal
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alessandro Dasti
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carolina Segura-Morales
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luisa De Andrés-Aguayo
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Gómez
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Johanna Goldmann
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rudolf Jaenisch
- The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Thomas Graf
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain. .,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
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11
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Mills A, Bearce E, Cella R, Kim SW, Selig M, Lee S, Lowery LA. Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome-Associated Genes Are Enriched in Motile Neural Crest Cells and Affect Craniofacial Development in Xenopus laevis. Front Physiol 2019; 10:431. [PMID: 31031646 PMCID: PMC6474402 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome (WHS) is a human developmental disorder arising from a hemizygous perturbation, typically a microdeletion, on the short arm of chromosome four. In addition to pronounced intellectual disability, seizures, and delayed growth, WHS presents with a characteristic facial dysmorphism and varying prevalence of microcephaly, micrognathia, cartilage malformation in the ear and nose, and facial asymmetries. These affected craniofacial tissues all derive from a shared embryonic precursor, the cranial neural crest (CNC), inviting the hypothesis that one or more WHS-affected genes may be critical regulators of neural crest development or migration. To explore this, we characterized expression of multiple genes within or immediately proximal to defined WHS critical regions, across the span of craniofacial development in the vertebrate model system Xenopus laevis. This subset of genes, whsc1, whsc2, letm1, and tacc3, are diverse in their currently-elucidated cellular functions; yet we find that their expression demonstrates shared tissue-specific enrichment within the anterior neural tube, migratory neural crest, and later craniofacial structures. We examine the ramifications of this by characterizing craniofacial development and neural crest migration following individual gene depletion. We observe that several WHS-associated genes significantly impact facial patterning, cartilage formation, neural crest motility in vivo and in vitro, and can separately contribute to forebrain scaling. Thus, we have determined that numerous genes within and surrounding the defined WHS critical regions potently impact craniofacial patterning, suggesting their role in WHS presentation may stem from essential functions during neural crest-derived tissue formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Mills
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Bearce
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Rachael Cella
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Seung Woo Kim
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Megan Selig
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Sangmook Lee
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Laura Anne Lowery
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
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12
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The biological significance of histone modifiers in multiple myeloma: clinical applications. Blood Cancer J 2018; 8:83. [PMID: 30190472 PMCID: PMC6127133 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-018-0119-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal plasma cell disorder that is characterized by a variety of genetic alterations. Recent studies have highlighted not only the importance of these genetic events but also epigenetic aberrations including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs in the biology of MM. Post-translational modifications of histone, such as methylation and acetylation, contribute to chromatin dynamics, and are modulated by histone modifying enzymes, and dysregulation of these enzymes is implicated in the pathogenesis of cancers, including MM. Histone modifiers also have non-histone substrates and enzymatically independent roles, which are also involved in tumorigenesis. Here we review and provide comprehensive insight into the biologic significance of histone methyl- and acetyl-modifiers in MM, and further provide an overview of the clinical applications of histone modifier inhibitors, especially histone deacetylase inhibitors. These findings underline the emerging roles of histone modifiers in the pathogenesis of MM, and further highlight the possibility of novel epigenetic therapies in MM.
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13
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Chen CP, Chen CY, Chern SR, Wu PS, Chen SW, Lai ST, Chuang TY, Yang CW, Chen LF, Wang W. Prenatal diagnosis of a 1.6-Mb 4p16.3 interstitial microdeletion encompassing FGFRL1 and TACC3 associated with bilateral cleft lip and palate of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome facial dysmorphism and short long bones. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 56:821-826. [PMID: 29241927 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2017.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We present prenatal diagnosis of a 4p16.3 interstitial microdeletion associated with bilateral cleft lip and palate and short long bones on prenatal ultrasound, and we discuss the genotype-phenotype correlation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 32-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis at 22 weeks of gestation because of bilateral cleft lip and palate and short limbs on prenatal ultrasound. Conventional cytogenetic analysis was performed on cultured amniocytes and parental bloods. Oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was performed on the DNAs extracted from uncultured amniocytes, parental bloods and umbilical cord. Metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on cultured amniocytes. RESULTS Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 46,XY. The parental karyotypes were normal. aCGH analysis on uncultured amniocytes revealed a 1.66-Mb interstitial microdeletion at 4p16.3 encompassing 23 Online Mendelian Inheritance of in Man (OMIM) genes including FGFRL1 and TACC3. The parents did not have such a deletion. The pregnancy was subsequently terminated, and a malformed fetus was delivered with typical Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) facial appearance and bilateral cleft lip and palate. aCGH analysis of the umbilical cord confirmed the prenatal diagnosis with a result of arr 4p16.3 (72,447-1,742,649) × 1.0 [GRCh37 (hg19)]. Metaphase FISH analysis of cultured amniocytes confirmed a 4p16.3 microdeletion. CONCLUSION Haploinsufficiency of FGFRL1 and TACC3 at 4p16.3 can be associated with bilateral cleft lip and palate of WHS facial dysmorphism and short long bones. Prenatal diagnosis of facial cleft with short long bones should raise a suspicion of chromosome microdeletion syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Ping Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Chen-Yu Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan; MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Schu-Rern Chern
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Shin-Wen Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ting Lai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yun Chuang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Wen Yang
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Feng Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wayseen Wang
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Bioengineering, Tatung University, Taipei, Taiwan
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14
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Zhen L, Fan SS, Huang LY, Pan M, Han J, Yang X, Li DZ. Prenatal diagnosis of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome: Ultrasonography and molecular karyotyping results. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018; 225:19-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.03.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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