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Kuscu C, Mallisetty Y, Naik S, Han Z, Berta CJ, Kuscu C, Kovesdy CP, Sumida K. Circulating microRNA Profiles for Premature Cardiovascular Death in Patients with Kidney Failure with Replacement Therapy. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5010. [PMID: 37568412 PMCID: PMC10419472 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12155010] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients with kidney failure with replacement therapy (KFRT) suffer from a disproportionately high cardiovascular disease burden. Circulating small non-coding RNAs (c-sncRNAs) have emerged as novel epigenetic regulators and are suggested as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease; however, little is known about the associations of c-sncRNAs with premature cardiovascular death in KFRT. METHODS In a pilot case-control study of 50 hemodialysis patients who died of cardiovascular events as cases, and 50 matched hemodialysis controls who remained alive during a median follow-up of 2.0 years, we performed c-sncRNAs profiles using next-generation sequencing to identify differentially expressed circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) between the plasma of cases and that of controls. mRNA target prediction and pathway enrichment analysis were performed to examine the functional relevance of differentially expressed c-miRNAs to cardiovascular pathophysiology. The association of differentially expressed c-miRNAs with cardiovascular mortality was examined using multivariable conditional logistic regression. RESULTS The patient characteristics were similar between cases and controls, with a mean age of 63 years, 48% male, and 54% African American in both groups. We detected a total of 613 miRNAs in the plasma, among which five miRNAs (i.e., miR-129-1-5p, miR-500b-3p, miR-125b-1-3p, miR-3648-2-5p, and miR-3150b-3p) were identified to be differentially expressed between cases and controls with cut-offs of p < 0.05 and log2 fold-change (log2FC) > 1. When using more stringent cut-offs of p-adjusted < 0.05 and log2FC > 1, only miR-129-1-5p remained significantly differentially expressed, with higher levels of miR-129-1-5p in the cases than in the controls. The pathway enrichment analysis using predicted miR-129-1-5p mRNA targets demonstrated enrichment in adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and oxytocin signaling pathways. In parallel, the circulating miR-129-1-5p levels were significantly associated with the risk of cardiovascular death (adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.68 [1.01-2.81] for one increase in log-transformed miR-129-1-5p counts), independent of potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS Circulating miR-129-1-5p may serve as a novel biomarker for premature cardiovascular death in KFRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canan Kuscu
- Transplant Research Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (S.N.); (C.K.)
| | - Yamini Mallisetty
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (Y.M.); (Z.H.); (C.J.B.); (C.P.K.)
| | - Surabhi Naik
- Transplant Research Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (S.N.); (C.K.)
| | - Zhongji Han
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (Y.M.); (Z.H.); (C.J.B.); (C.P.K.)
| | - Caleb J. Berta
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (Y.M.); (Z.H.); (C.J.B.); (C.P.K.)
| | - Cem Kuscu
- Transplant Research Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (S.N.); (C.K.)
| | - Csaba P. Kovesdy
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (Y.M.); (Z.H.); (C.J.B.); (C.P.K.)
- Nephrology Section, Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN 38104, USA
| | - Keiichi Sumida
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (Y.M.); (Z.H.); (C.J.B.); (C.P.K.)
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Song L, Wang Y, Feng Y, Peng H, Wang C, Duan J, Liu K, Shen X, Gu W, Qi Y, Jin S, Pang L. Bioinformatics-Based Identification of CircRNA-MicroRNA-mRNA Network for Calcific Aortic Valve Disease. Genet Res (Camb) 2023; 2023:8194338. [PMID: 37234568 PMCID: PMC10208756 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8194338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common native valve disease. Valvular interstitial cell (VIC) osteogenic differentiation and valvular endothelial cell (VEC) dysfunction are key steps in CAVD progression. Circular RNA (circRNAs) is involved in regulating osteogenic differentiation with mesenchymal cells and is associated with multiple disease progression, but the function of circRNAs in CAVD remains unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect and potential significance of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks in CAVD. Methods Two mRNA datasets, one miRNA dataset, and one circRNA dataset of CAVD downloaded from GEO were used to identify DE-circRNAs, DE-miRNAs, and DE-mRNAs. Based on the online website prediction function, the common mRNAs (FmRNAs) for constructing circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks were identified. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on FmRNAs. In addition, hub genes were identified by PPI networks. Based on the expression of each data set, the circRNA-miRNA-hub gene network was constructed by Cytoscape (version 3.6.1). Results 32 DE-circRNAs, 206 DE-miRNAs, and 2170 DE-mRNAs were identified. Fifty-nine FmRNAs were obtained by intersection. The KEGG pathway analysis of FmRNAs was enriched in pathways in cancer, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, cell cycle, and MAPK signaling pathway. Meanwhile, transcription, nucleolus, and protein homodimerization activity were significantly enriched in GO analysis. Eight hub genes were identified based on the PPI network. Three possible regulatory networks in CAVD disease were obtained based on the biological functions of circRNAs including: hsa_circ_0026817-hsa-miR-211-5p-CACNA1C, hsa_circ_0007215-hsa-miR-1252-5p-MECP2, and hsa_circ_0007215-hsa-miR-1343-3p- RBL1. Conclusion The present bionformatics analysis suggests the functional effect for the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in CAVD pathogenesis and provides new targets for therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghong Song
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases (First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University), Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yubing Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases (First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University), Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yufei Feng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases (First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University), Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Hao Peng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases (First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University), Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chengyan Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases (First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University), Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Juncang Duan
- Department of Cardiology, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kejian Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xihua Shen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases (First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University), Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Wenyi Gu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Yan Qi
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases (First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University), Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Department of Pathology, Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang and Zhanjiang Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Shan Jin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases (First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University), Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lijuan Pang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases (First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University), Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Department of Pathology, Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang and Zhanjiang Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
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Jiang C, Zhang Y. Current updates on arrhythmia within Timothy syndrome: genetics, mechanisms and therapeutics. Expert Rev Mol Med 2023; 25:e17. [PMID: 37132248 PMCID: PMC10407238 DOI: 10.1017/erm.2023.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Timothy syndrome (TS), characterised by multiple system malfunction especially the prolonged corrected QT interval and synchronised appearance of hand/foot syndactyly, is an extremely rare disease affecting early life with devastating arrhythmia. In this work, firstly, the various mutations in causative gene CACNA1C encoding cardiac L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (LTCC), regard with the genetic pathogeny and nomenclature of TS are reviewed. Secondly, the expression profile and function of CACNA1C gene encoding Cav1.2 proteins, and its gain-of-function mutation in TS leading to multiple organ disease phenotypes especially arrhythmia are discussed. More importantly, we focus on the altered molecular mechanism underlying arrhythmia in TS, and discuss about how LTCC malfunction in TS can cause disorganised calcium handling with excessive intracellular calcium and its triggered dysregulated excitation-transcription coupling. In addition, current therapeutics for TS cardiac phenotypes including LTCC blockers, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, sodium channel blocker, multichannel inhibitors and pacemakers are summarised. Eventually, the research strategy using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells is recommended as one of the promising future directions for developing therapeutic approaches. This review updates our understanding on the research progress and future avenues to study the genetics and molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of devastating arrhythmia within TS, and provides novel insights for developing therapeutic measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congshan Jiang
- National Regional Children's Medical Centre (Northwest), Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine to Pediatric Diseases of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Children's Health and Diseases, Shaanxi Institute for Pediatric Diseases, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Affiliated Children's Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710003, China
| | - Yanmin Zhang
- National Regional Children's Medical Centre (Northwest), Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine to Pediatric Diseases of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Children's Health and Diseases, Shaanxi Institute for Pediatric Diseases, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Affiliated Children's Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710003, China
- Department of Cardiology, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Affiliated Children's Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710003, China
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Cordani R, Tobaldini E, Rodrigues GD, Giambersio D, Veneruso M, Chiarella L, Disma N, De Grandis E, Toschi-Dias E, Furlan L, Carandina A, Prato G, Nobili L, Montano N. Cardiac autonomic control in Rett syndrome: Insights from heart rate variability analysis. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1048278. [PMID: 37021139 PMCID: PMC10067665 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1048278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare and severe neurological disorder mainly affecting females, usually linked to methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene mutations. Manifestations of RTT typically include loss of purposeful hand skills, gait and motor abnormalities, loss of spoken language, stereotypic hand movements, epilepsy, and autonomic dysfunction. Patients with RTT have a higher incidence of sudden death than the general population. Literature data indicate an uncoupling between measures of breathing and heart rate control that could offer insight into the mechanisms that lead to greater vulnerability to sudden death. Understanding the neural mechanisms of autonomic dysfunction and its correlation with sudden death is essential for patient care. Experimental evidence for increased sympathetic or reduced vagal modulation to the heart has spurred efforts to develop quantitative markers of cardiac autonomic profile. Heart rate variability (HRV) has emerged as a valuable non-invasive test to estimate the modulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to the heart. This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge on autonomic dysfunction and, in particular, to assess whether HRV parameters can help unravel patterns of cardiac autonomic dysregulation in patients with RTT. Literature data show reduced global HRV (total spectral power and R-R mean) and a shifted sympatho-vagal balance toward sympathetic predominance and vagal withdrawal in patients with RTT compared to controls. In addition, correlations between HRV and genotype and phenotype features or neurochemical changes were investigated. The data reported in this review suggest an important impairment in sympatho-vagal balance, supporting possible future research scenarios, targeting ANS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Cordani
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Unit for Research & Innovation in Anesthesia, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Eleonora Tobaldini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Donatella Giambersio
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Veneruso
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Chiarella
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicola Disma
- Unit for Research & Innovation in Anesthesia, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Elisa De Grandis
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Edgar Toschi-Dias
- Health Psychology Program, Methodist University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Psychology, Development and Public Policy Program, Catholic University of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ludovico Furlan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelica Carandina
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Prato
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Lino Nobili
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
- Lino Nobili,
| | - Nicola Montano
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Nicola Montano,
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Cardiac Functional and Structural Abnormalities in a Mouse Model of CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065552. [PMID: 36982627 PMCID: PMC10059787 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
CDKL5 (cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5) deficiency disorder (CDD) is a severe neurodevelopmental disease that mostly affects girls, who are heterozygous for mutations in the X-linked CDKL5 gene. Mutations in the CDKL5 gene lead to a lack of CDKL5 protein expression or function and cause numerous clinical features, including early-onset seizures, marked hypotonia, autistic features, gastrointestinal problems, and severe neurodevelopmental impairment. Mouse models of CDD recapitulate several aspects of CDD symptomology, including cognitive impairments, motor deficits, and autistic-like features, and have been useful to dissect the role of CDKL5 in brain development and function. However, our current knowledge of the function of CDKL5 in other organs/tissues besides the brain is still quite limited, reducing the possibility of broad-spectrum interventions. Here, for the first time, we report the presence of cardiac function/structure alterations in heterozygous Cdkl5 +/− female mice. We found a prolonged QT interval (corrected for the heart rate, QTc) and increased heart rate in Cdkl5 +/− mice. These changes correlate with a marked decrease in parasympathetic activity to the heart and in the expression of the Scn5a and Hcn4 voltage-gated channels. Interestingly, Cdkl5 +/− hearts showed increased fibrosis, altered gap junction organization and connexin-43 expression, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased ROS production. Together, these findings not only contribute to our understanding of the role of CDKL5 in heart structure/function but also document a novel preclinical phenotype for future therapeutic investigation.
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Ng KM, Ding Q, Tse YL, Chou OHI, Lai WH, Au KW, Lau YM, Ji Y, Siu CW, Tang CSM, Colman A, Tsang SY, Tse HF. Isogenic Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem-Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Reveal Activation of Wnt Signaling Pathways Underlying Intrinsic Cardiac Abnormalities in Rett Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415609. [PMID: 36555252 PMCID: PMC9779632 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by MeCP2 mutations. Nonetheless, the pathophysiological roles of MeCP2 mutations in the etiology of intrinsic cardiac abnormality and sudden death remain unclear. In this study, we performed a detailed functional studies (calcium and electrophysiological analysis) and RNA-sequencing-based transcriptome analysis of a pair of isogenic RTT female patient-specific induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) that expressed either MeCP2wildtype or MeCP2mutant allele and iPSC-CMs from a non-affected female control. The observations were further confirmed by additional experiments, including Wnt signaling inhibitor treatment, siRNA-based gene silencing, and ion channel blockade. Compared with MeCP2wildtype and control iPSC-CMs, MeCP2mutant iPSC-CMs exhibited prolonged action potential and increased frequency of spontaneous early after polarization. RNA sequencing analysis revealed up-regulation of various Wnt family genes in MeCP2mutant iPSC-CMs. Treatment of MeCP2mutant iPSC-CMs with a Wnt inhibitor XAV939 significantly decreased the β-catenin protein level and CACN1AC expression and ameliorated their abnormal electrophysiological properties. In summary, our data provide novel insight into the contribution of activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade to the cardiac abnormalities associated with MeCP2 mutations in RTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwong-Man Ng
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Center for Translational Stem Cell Biology, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qianqian Ding
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yiu-Lam Tse
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Oscar Hou-In Chou
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wing-Hon Lai
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ka-Wing Au
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yee-Man Lau
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yue Ji
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chung-Wah Siu
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Clara Sze-Man Tang
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Alan Colman
- Harvard Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Suk-Ying Tsang
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (iTERM), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hung-Fat Tse
- Center for Translational Stem Cell Biology, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Hong Kong-Guangdong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong and Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Heart and Vascular Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, China
- Correspondence:
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Fukui K, Takahashi T, Matsunari H, Uchikura A, Watanabe M, Nagashima H, Ishihara N, Kakuma T, Watanabe Y, Yamashita Y, Yoshino M. Moving towards a novel therapeutic strategy for hyperammonemia that targets glutamine metabolism. J Inherit Metab Dis 2022; 45:1059-1069. [PMID: 35866457 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Patients with urea cycle disorders intermittently develop episodes of decompensation with hyperammonemia. Although such an episode is often associated with starvation and catabolism, its molecular basis is not fully understood. First, we attempted to elucidate the mechanism of such starvation-associated hyperammonemia. Using a mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) culture system, we found that glucose starvation increases ammonia production, and that this increase is associated with enhanced glutaminolysis. These results led us to focus on α-ketoglutarate (AKG), a glutamate dehydrogenase inhibitor, and a major anaplerotic metabolite. Hence, we sought to determine the effect of dimethyl α-ketoglutarate (DKG), a cell-permeable AKG analog, on MEFs and found that DKG mitigates ammonia production primarily by reducing flux through glutamate dehydrogenase. We also verified that DKG reduces ammonia in an NH4 Cl-challenged hyperammonemia mouse model and observed that DKG administration reduces plasma ammonia concentration to 22.8% of the mean value for control mice that received only NH4 Cl. In addition, we detected increases in ornithine concentration and in the ratio of ornithine to arginine following DKG treatment. We subsequently administered DKG intravenously to a newborn pig with hyperammonemia due to ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency and found that blood ammonia concentration declined significantly over time. We determined that this effect is associated with facilitated reductive amination and glutamine synthesis. Our present data indicate that energy starvation triggers hyperammonemia through enhanced glutaminolysis and that DKG reduces ammonia accumulation via pleiotropic mechanisms both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, cell-permeable forms of AKG are feasible candidates for a novel hyperammonemia treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Fukui
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Takahashi
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Cognitive and Molecular Research Institute of Brain Diseases, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Hitomi Matsunari
- Meiji University International Institute for Bio-Resource Research, Kawasaki, Japan
- Laboratory of Medical Engineering, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Ayuko Uchikura
- Laboratory of Medical Engineering, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Masahito Watanabe
- Meiji University International Institute for Bio-Resource Research, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nagashima
- Meiji University International Institute for Bio-Resource Research, Kawasaki, Japan
- Laboratory of Medical Engineering, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Naotada Ishihara
- Department of Protein Biochemistry, Institute of Life Science, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan
| | | | - Yoriko Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
- Research Institute of Medical Mass Spectrometry, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Yushiro Yamashita
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Makoto Yoshino
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Cognitive and Molecular Research Institute of Brain Diseases, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
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Wang J, Wang D, Chen Y, Li H, Zhang Y, Wu Y. Rett syndrome with atrial tachycardia in a girl. Pediatr Investig 2022; 6:302-304. [PMID: 36582268 PMCID: PMC9789929 DOI: 10.1002/ped4.12346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Juanli Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular MedicineChildren's Hospital affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Duan Wang
- Child Healthcare DepartmentChildren's Hospital affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Yanni Chen
- Xi'an Jiaotong University School of MedicineXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Huan Li
- Department of Cardiovascular MedicineChildren's Hospital affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Yanmin Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular MedicineChildren's Hospital affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Yue Wu
- Xi'an Jiaotong University School of MedicineXi'anShaanxiChina
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Cheng H, Charles I, James AF, Abdala AP, Hancox JC. QT c interval and ventricular action potential prolongation in the Mecp2 Null/+ murine model of Rett syndrome. Physiol Rep 2022; 10:e15437. [PMID: 36200140 PMCID: PMC9535259 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a congenital, X-chromosome-linked developmental disorder characterized by developmental delay, dysautonomia, and breathing irregularities. RTT is also associated with sudden death and QT intervals are prolonged in some RTT patients. Most individuals with RTT have mutations in the MECP2 gene. Whilst there is some evidence for QT prolongation in mouse models of RTT, there is comparatively little information on how loss of Mecp2 function affects ventricular action potentials (APs) and, to-date, none on ventricular APs from female RTT mice. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to determine ECG and ventricular AP characteristics of Mecp2Null/+ female mice. ECG recordings from 12-13 month old female Mecp2Null/+ mice showed prolonged rate corrected QT (QTc) intervals compared to wild-type (WT) controls. Although Mecp2Null/+ animals exhibited longer periods of apnoea than did controls, no correlation between apnoea length and QTc interval was observed. Action potentials (APs) from Mecp2Null/+ myocytes had longer APD90 values than those from WT myocytes and showed augmented triangulation. Application of the investigational INa,Late inhibitor GS-6615 (eleclazine; 10 μM) reduced both APD90 and AP triangulation in Mecp2Null/+ and WT myocytes. These results constitute the first direct demonstration of delayed repolarization in Mecp2Null/+ myocytes and provide further evidence that GS-6615 may have potential as an intervention against QT prolongation in RTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Cheng
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and NeuroscienceUniversity WalkBristolUK
| | - Ian Charles
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and NeuroscienceUniversity WalkBristolUK
| | - Andrew F. James
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and NeuroscienceUniversity WalkBristolUK
| | - Ana P. Abdala
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and NeuroscienceUniversity WalkBristolUK
| | - Jules C. Hancox
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and NeuroscienceUniversity WalkBristolUK
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10
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Rengel BD, Kowalski TW, Bremm JM, do Amaral Gomes J, Schüler-Faccini L, Vianna FSL, Fraga LR. Genetic evaluation of HAND2 gene and its effects on thalidomide embryopathy. Birth Defects Res 2022; 114:1354-1363. [PMID: 36177858 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2092] [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: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HAND2 is a transcription factor important for embryonic development, required for limbs and cardiovascular development. Thalidomide is a drug responsible to a spectrum of congenital anomalies known as Thalidomide Embryopathy (TE), which includes mainly limb and heart defects. It is known that HAND2 interaction with TBX5, an important protein for limbs and heart development, is inhibited by Thalidomide. The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize HAND2 in the context of TE, and to evaluate its variability in TE individuals. METHODS DNA from 35 TE subjects was extracted from saliva samples and PCR was performed for amplification and Sanger sequencing of HAND2 coding sequence. RESULTS The analysis showed only one variant; a synonymous variant p.P51 (rs59621536) in exon 1 found in three individuals. Further in silico evaluation confirmed highly HAND2 conservation, being the 3'UTR the most polymorphic region of the gene. Additional computational analyses classified the variant as neutral, without alteration in splicing and miRNA sites. In silico predictions pointed to alteration of two CpG islands adjacent to the variant; however, we did not observe any alterations on the methylation pattern of HAND2 gene in our sample. Moreover, alteration of the binding site of MeCP2, a nuclear protein involved in DNA methylation, was predicted along with alteration in HAND2 mRNA structure. CONCLUSIONS Considering HAND2 being a well conserved gene, further studies with a larger sample should be performed to evaluate the role this gene on genetic susceptibility to TE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Duarte Rengel
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Brazilian Teratogen Information Service (SIAT), Medical Genetics Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Genomic Medicine Laboratory at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Thayne Woycinck Kowalski
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Brazilian Teratogen Information Service (SIAT), Medical Genetics Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Genomic Medicine Laboratory at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Population Medical Genetics (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Bioinformatics Core, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Centro Universitário CESUCA, Cachoeirinha, Brazil
| | - João Matheus Bremm
- Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Julia do Amaral Gomes
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Brazilian Teratogen Information Service (SIAT), Medical Genetics Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Genomic Medicine Laboratory at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Population Medical Genetics (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lavínia Schüler-Faccini
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Brazilian Teratogen Information Service (SIAT), Medical Genetics Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Population Medical Genetics (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Sales Luiz Vianna
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Brazilian Teratogen Information Service (SIAT), Medical Genetics Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Genomic Medicine Laboratory at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Population Medical Genetics (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lucas Rosa Fraga
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Brazilian Teratogen Information Service (SIAT), Medical Genetics Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Genomic Medicine Laboratory at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Morphological Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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11
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Delayed Ventricular Repolarization and Sodium Channel Current Modification in a Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105735. [PMID: 35628543 PMCID: PMC9147596 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe developmental disorder that is strongly linked to mutations in the MECP2 gene. RTT has been associated with sudden unexplained death and ECG QT interval prolongation. There are mixed reports regarding QT prolongation in mouse models of RTT, with some evidence that loss of Mecp2 function enhances cardiac late Na current, INa,Late. The present study was undertaken in order to investigate both ECG and ventricular AP characteristics in the Mecp2Null/Y male murine RTT model and to interrogate both fast INa and INa,Late in myocytes from the model. ECG recordings from 8-10-week-old Mecp2Null/Y male mice revealed prolongation of the QT and rate corrected QT (QTc) intervals and QRS widening compared to wild-type (WT) controls. Action potentials (APs) from Mecp2Null/Y myocytes exhibited longer APD75 and APD90 values, increased triangulation and instability. INa,Late was also significantly larger in Mecp2Null/Y than WT myocytes and was insensitive to the Nav1.8 inhibitor A-803467. Selective recordings of fast INa revealed a decrease in peak current amplitude without significant voltage shifts in activation or inactivation V0.5. Fast INa 'window current' was reduced in RTT myocytes; small but significant alterations of inactivation and reactivation time-courses were detected. Effects of two INa,Late inhibitors, ranolazine and GS-6615 (eleclazine), were investigated. Treatment with 30 µM ranolazine produced similar levels of inhibition of INa,Late in WT and Mecp2Null/Y myocytes, but produced ventricular AP prolongation not abbreviation. In contrast, 10 µM GS-6615 both inhibited INa,Late and shortened ventricular AP duration. The observed changes in INa and INa,Late can account for the corresponding ECG changes in this RTT model. GS-6615 merits further investigation as a potential treatment for QT prolongation in RTT.
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12
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Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by neurodevelopmental regression between 6 and 18 months of life and associated with multi-system comorbidities. Caused mainly by pathogenic variants in the MECP2 (methyl CpG binding protein 2) gene, it is the second leading genetic cause of intellectual disability in girls after Down syndrome. RTT affects not only neurological function but also a wide array of non-neurological organs. RTT-related disorders involve abnormalities of the respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, metabolic, skeletal, endocrine, muscular, and urinary systems and immune response. Here, we review the different aspects of RTT affecting the main peripheral groups of organs and sometimes occurring independently of nervous system defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Borloz
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, MMG, U1251, Faculté de médecine Timone, 13385, Marseille, France
| | - Laurent Villard
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, MMG, U1251, Faculté de médecine Timone, 13385, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Roux
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, MMG, U1251, Faculté de médecine Timone, 13385, Marseille, France
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13
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Emerging physiological and pathological roles of MeCP2 in non-neurological systems. Arch Biochem Biophys 2021; 700:108768. [PMID: 33485848 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.108768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Numerous neurological and non-neurological disorders are associated with dysfunction of epigenetic modulators, and methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is one of such proteins. Initially identified as a transcriptional repressor, MeCP2 specifically binds to methylated DNA, and mutations of MeCP2 have been shown to cause Rett syndrome (RTT), a severe neurological disorder. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that ubiquitously expressed MeCP2 also plays a central role in non-neurological disorders including cardiac dysfunction, liver injury, respiratory disorders, urological dysfunction, adipose tissue metabolism disorders, movement abnormality and inflammatory responses in a DNA methylation dependent or independent manner. Despite significant progresses in our understanding of MeCP2 over the last few decades, there is still a considerable knowledge gap to translate the in vitro and in vivo experimental findings into therapeutic interventions. In this review, we provide a synopsis of the role of MeCP2 in the pathophysiology of non-neurological disorders, MeCP2-based research directions and therapeutic strategies for non-neurological disorders are also discussed.
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14
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Sbardella D, Tundo GR, Cunsolo V, Grasso G, Cascella R, Caputo V, Santoro AM, Milardi D, Pecorelli A, Ciaccio C, Di Pierro D, Leoncini S, Campagnolo L, Pironi V, Oddone F, Manni P, Foti S, Giardina E, De Felice C, Hayek J, Curatolo P, Galasso C, Valacchi G, Coletta M, Graziani G, Marini S. Defective proteasome biogenesis into skin fibroblasts isolated from Rett syndrome subjects with MeCP2 non-sense mutations. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165793. [PMID: 32275946 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a rare X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder which affects about 1: 10000 live births. In >95% of subjects RTT is caused by a mutation in Methyl-CpG binding protein-2 (MECP2) gene, which encodes for a transcription regulator with pleiotropic genetic/epigenetic activities. The molecular mechanisms underscoring the phenotypic alteration of RTT are largely unknown and this has impaired the development of therapeutic approaches to alleviate signs and symptoms during disease progression. A defective proteasome biogenesis into two skin primary fibroblasts isolated from RTT subjects harbouring non-sense (early-truncating) MeCP2 mutations (i.e., R190fs and R255X) is herewith reported. Proteasome is the proteolytic machinery of Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS), a pathway of overwhelming relevance for post-mitotic cells metabolism. Molecular, transcription and proteomic analyses indicate that MeCP2 mutations down-regulate the expression of one proteasome subunit, α7, and of two chaperones, PAC1 and PAC2, which bind each other in the earliest step of proteasome biogenesis. Furthermore, this molecular alteration recapitulates in neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells upon silencing of MeCP2 expression, envisaging a general significance of this transcription regulator in proteasome biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Sbardella
- IRCSS-Fondazione GB Bietti, Via Livenza, 3, 00198 Rome, Italy
| | - Grazia Raffaella Tundo
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Grasso
- Department of Chemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Raffaella Cascella
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; Molecular Genetics Laboratory UILDM, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Caputo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; Molecular Genetics Laboratory UILDM, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Danilo Milardi
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, Catania, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pecorelli
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Plant for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| | - Chiara Ciaccio
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Donato Di Pierro
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Leoncini
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, University Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese (AOUS), Siena, Italy; Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese (AOUS), Siena, Italy
| | - Luisa Campagnolo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Virginia Pironi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | | | - Priscilla Manni
- Ophthalmology Unit, St. Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, NESMOS Department, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Foti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Emiliano Giardina
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; Molecular Genetics Laboratory UILDM, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio De Felice
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese (AOUS), Siena, Italy
| | - Joussef Hayek
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese (AOUS), Siena, Italy; "Isola di Bau", Multi-Specialist Centre, Certaldo (Florence), Italy
| | - Paolo Curatolo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Cinzia Galasso
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Plant for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| | - Massimiliano Coletta
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Marini
- Dept of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
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15
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Characterized by enlarged ventricle and loss of systolic function, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has the highest morbidity among all the cardiomyopathies. Although it is well established that DCM is typically caused by mutations in a large number of genes, there is an emerging appreciation for the contribution of epigenetic alteration in the development of DCM. RECENT FINDINGS We present some of the recent progress in the field of epigenetics in DCM by focusing on the four major epigenetic modifications, that is, DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling as well as the noncoding RNAs. The major players involved in these DCM-related epigenetic reprogramming will be highlighted. Finally, the diagnostic and the therapeutic implications for DCM based on new knowledge of epigenetic regulation will also be discussed. SUMMARY As a rapidly expanding field, epigenetic studies in DCM have the promise to yield both novel mechanistic insights as well as potential new avenues for more effective treatment of the disease.
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16
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Cordone V, Pecorelli A, Amicarelli F, Hayek J, Valacchi G. The complexity of Rett syndrome models: Primary fibroblasts as a disease-in-a-dish reliable approach. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ddmod.2019.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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17
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Krishnaraj R, Haase F, Coorey B, Luca EJ, Wong I, Boyling A, Ellaway C, Christodoulou J, Gold WA. Genome-wide transcriptomic and proteomic studies of Rett syndrome mouse models identify common signaling pathways and cellular functions as potential therapeutic targets. Hum Mutat 2019; 40:2184-2196. [PMID: 31379106 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The discovery that Rett syndrome is caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene has provided a major breakthrough in our understanding of the disorder. However, despite this, there is still limited understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of the disorder hampering the development of curative treatments. Over the years, a number of animal models have been developed contributing to our knowledge of the role of MECP2 in development and improving our understanding of how subtle expression levels affect brain morphology and function. Transcriptomic and proteomic studies of animal models are useful in identifying perturbations in functional pathways and providing avenues for novel areas of research into disease. This review focuses on published transcriptomic and proteomic studies of mouse models of Rett syndrome with the aim of providing a summary of all the studies, the reported dysregulated genes and functional pathways that are found to be perturbed. The 36 articles identified highlighted a number of dysfunctional pathways as well as perturbed biological networks and cellular functions including synaptic dysfunction and neuronal transmission, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These data reveal biological insights that contribute to the disease process which may be targeted to investigate curative treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Krishnaraj
- Genetic Metabolic Disorders Research Unit, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Florencia Haase
- Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Bronte Coorey
- Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Edward J Luca
- University Library, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ingar Wong
- Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Alexandra Boyling
- Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Carolyn Ellaway
- Genetic Metabolic Disorders Research Unit, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Genetic Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John Christodoulou
- Genetic Metabolic Disorders Research Unit, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Genetic Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Brain and Mitochondrial Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wendy A Gold
- Genetic Metabolic Disorders Research Unit, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Kids Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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18
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Sanfeliu A, Kaufmann WE, Gill M, Guasoni P, Tropea D. Transcriptomic Studies in Mouse Models of Rett Syndrome: A Review. Neuroscience 2019; 413:183-205. [PMID: 31229631 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a neurological disorder mainly associated with mutations in the X-linked gene coding for the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2). To assist in studying MECP2's function, researchers have generated Mecp2 mouse mutants showing that MECP2's product (MeCP2) mostly functions as a transcriptional regulator. During the last two decades, these models have been used to determine the genes that are regulated by MeCP2, slowly dissecting the etiological mechanisms underlying RTT. In the present review, we describe the findings of these transcriptomic studies, and highlight differences between them, and discuss how studies on these genetic models can sharpen our understanding of the human disorder. We conclude that - while there's large variability regarding the number of differentially expressed genes identified - there are overlapping features that inform on the biology of RTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Sanfeliu
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, School of Medicine, Trinity Center for Health Sciences, St James Hospital D8, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Walter E Kaufmann
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine and Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Michael Gill
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, School of Medicine, Trinity Center for Health Sciences, St James Hospital D8, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paolo Guasoni
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, D9, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Daniela Tropea
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, School of Medicine, Trinity Center for Health Sciences, St James Hospital D8, Dublin, Ireland; Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd Building, D2, Dublin, Ireland.
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19
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Treating Rett syndrome: from mouse models to human therapies. Mamm Genome 2019; 30:90-110. [PMID: 30820643 PMCID: PMC6606665 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-019-09793-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Rare diseases are very difficult to study mechanistically and to develop therapies for because of the scarcity of patients. Here, the rare neuro-metabolic disorder Rett syndrome (RTT) is discussed as a prototype for precision medicine, demonstrating how mouse models have led to an understanding of the development of symptoms. RTT is caused by mutations in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). Mecp2-mutant mice are being used in preclinical studies that target the MECP2 gene directly, or its downstream pathways. Importantly, this work may improve the health of RTT patients. Clinical presentation may vary widely among individuals based on their mutation, but also because of the degree of X chromosome inactivation and the presence of modifier genes. Because it is a complex disorder involving many organ systems, it is likely that recovery of RTT patients will involve a combination of treatments. Precision medicine is warranted to provide the best efficacy to individually treat RTT patients.
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20
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Shioda T, Takahashi S, Kaname T, Yamauchi T, Fukuoka T. MECP2 mutation in a boy with severe apnea and sick sinus syndrome. Brain Dev 2018; 40:714-718. [PMID: 29631775 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene, which encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). It almost exclusively affects the female sex and is considered lethal in the male sex. However, an increasing number of male patients with MECP2 mutations have been reported, including patients who suddenly died of unknown causes. We report a case of MECP2 mutation in a male patient who exhibited neonatal encephalopathy. He developed severe apnea, epilepsy, and psychomotor developmental delay and died suddenly of sick sinus syndrome at 17 months of age. Severe bradycardia had been noticed since 16 months of age. His older brother followed a similar clinical course and died at 30 months of age. The brother had also experienced severe bradycardia. This familial case might help to clarify the causes of sudden death in cases of MECP2 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Shioda
- Department of Pediatrics, Shizuoka Saiseikai General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tadashi Kaname
- Department of Genome Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toyohiro Yamauchi
- Department of General Pediatrics, Shizuoka Children's Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Fukuoka
- Department of Pediatrics, Shizuoka Saiseikai General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
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21
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Kyle SM, Vashi N, Justice MJ. Rett syndrome: a neurological disorder with metabolic components. Open Biol 2018; 8:170216. [PMID: 29445033 PMCID: PMC5830535 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurological disorder caused by mutations in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), a ubiquitously expressed transcriptional regulator. Despite remarkable scientific progress since its discovery, the mechanism by which MECP2 mutations cause RTT symptoms is largely unknown. Consequently, treatment options for patients are currently limited and centred on symptom relief. Thought to be an entirely neurological disorder, RTT research has focused on the role of MECP2 in the central nervous system. However, the variety of phenotypes identified in Mecp2 mutant mouse models and RTT patients implicate important roles for MeCP2 in peripheral systems. Here, we review the history of RTT, highlighting breakthroughs in the field that have led us to present day. We explore the current evidence supporting metabolic dysfunction as a component of RTT, presenting recent studies that have revealed perturbed lipid metabolism in the brain and peripheral tissues of mouse models and patients. Such findings may have an impact on the quality of life of RTT patients as both dietary and drug intervention can alter lipid metabolism. Ultimately, we conclude that a thorough knowledge of MeCP2's varied functional targets in the brain and body will be required to treat this complex syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Kyle
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Neeti Vashi
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1
| | - Monica J Justice
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1
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Sbardella D, Tundo GR, Campagnolo L, Valacchi G, Orlandi A, Curatolo P, Borsellino G, D'Esposito M, Ciaccio C, Cesare SD, Pierro DD, Galasso C, Santarone ME, Hayek J, Coletta M, Marini S. Retention of Mitochondria in Mature Human Red Blood Cells as the Result of Autophagy Impairment in Rett Syndrome. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12297. [PMID: 28951555 PMCID: PMC5614985 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12069-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett Syndrome (RTT), which affects approximately 1:10.000 live births, is a X-linked pervasive neuro-developmental disorder which is caused, in the vast majority of cases, by a sporadic mutation in the Methyl-CpG-binding protein-2 (MeCP2) gene. This is a transcriptional activator/repressor with presumed pleiotropic activities. The broad tissue expression of MeCP2 suggests that it may be involved in several metabolic pathways, but the molecular mechanisms which provoke the onset and progression of the syndrome are largely unknown. In this paper, we report that primary fibroblasts that have been isolated from RTT patients display a defective formation of autophagosomes under conditions of nutrient starvation and that the mature Red Blood Cells of some RTT patients retain mitochondria. Moreover, we provide evidence regarding the accumulation of the p62/SQSTM1 protein and ubiquitin-aggregated structures in the cerebellum of Mecp2 knockout mouse model (Mecp2−/y) during transition from the non-symptomatic to the symptomatic stage of the disease. Hence, we propose that a defective autophagy could be involved in the RTT clinical phenotype, which introduces new molecular perspectives in the pathogenesis of the syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Sbardella
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Grazia Raffaella Tundo
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Campagnolo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Plant for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| | - Augusto Orlandi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Curatolo
- Department of Medicine of Systems, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio D'Esposito
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "A.Buzzati Traverso", Naples, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzuoli, (Is), Italy
| | - Chiara Ciaccio
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Cesare
- University Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Donato Di Pierro
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Galasso
- Department of Medicine of Systems, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Joussef Hayek
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, University Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese (AOUS), Siena, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Coletta
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Marini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
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23
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Pathogenesis of Lethal Aspiration Pneumonia in Mecp2-null Mouse Model for Rett Syndrome. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12032. [PMID: 28931890 PMCID: PMC5607245 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12293-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder mainly caused by mutations in the gene encoding the transcriptional regulator Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), located on the X chromosome. Many RTT patients have breathing abnormalities, such as apnea and breathing irregularity, and respiratory infection is the most common cause of death in these individuals. Previous studies showed that MeCP2 is highly expressed in the lung, but its role in pulmonary function remains unknown. In this study, we found that MeCP2 deficiency affects pulmonary gene expression and structures. We also found that Mecp2-null mice, which also have breathing problems, often exhibit inflammatory lung injury. These injuries occurred in specific sites in the lung lobes. In addition, polarizable foreign materials were identified in the injured lungs of Mecp2-null mice. These results indicated that aspiration might be a cause of inflammatory lung injury in Mecp2-null mice. On the other hand, MeCP2 deficiency affected the expression of several neuromodulator genes in the lower brainstem. Among them, neuropeptide substance P (SP) immunostaining was reduced in Mecp2-null brainstem. These findings suggest that alteration of SP expression in brainstem may be involved in autonomic dysregulation, and may be one of the causes of aspiration in Mecp2-null mice.
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Zhu H, Liu Z, Zhou Y, Yin X, Xu B, Ma L, Liu X. Lack of β2-AR Increases Anxiety-Like Behaviors and Rewarding Properties of Cocaine. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:49. [PMID: 28348522 PMCID: PMC5346996 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that β-adrenoceptors (β-ARs) play a critical role in emotional arousal and stressful events, but the specific contributions of the β2-AR subtype to the psychological disorders are largely unknown. To investigate whether β2-AR are involved in anxiety-like behavior and reward to addictive drugs, we conducted a series of behavioral tests on β2-AR knock-out (KO) mice. β2-AR KO mice exhibited increased preference for the dark compartment and closed arm in tests of Light/Dark box and elevated plus maze, indicating that β2-AR deletion elevates level of anxiety or innate fear. β2-AR KO mice also showed decreased immobility in tail suspension test (TST), suggesting that β2-AR deletion inhibits depression-like behavior. Interestingly, β2-AR ablation did not change basal locomotion but significantly increased locomotor activity induced by acute cocaine administration. β2-AR KO mice showed enhanced place preference for cocaine, which could be attenuated by β1-selective AR antagonist betaxolol. Consistently, β2-AR agonist suppressed cocaine-conditioned place preference (CPP). These data indicate that β2-AR deletion enhances acute response and reward to cocaine. Our results suggest that β2-AR regulates anxiety level, depression-like behavior and hedonic properties of cocaine, implicating that β2-AR are the potential targets for the treatment of emotional disorders and cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiwen Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and the Institutes of Brain Science, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and the Institutes of Brain Science, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Yiming Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and the Institutes of Brain Science, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Xuming Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and the Institutes of Brain Science, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and the Institutes of Brain Science, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Lan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and the Institutes of Brain Science, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Xing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and the Institutes of Brain Science, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University Shanghai, China
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Millar-Büchner P, Philp AR, Gutierrez N, Villanueva S, Kerr B, Flores CA. Severe changes in colon epithelium in the Mecp2-null mouse model of Rett syndrome. Mol Cell Pediatr 2016; 3:37. [PMID: 27868160 PMCID: PMC5116442 DOI: 10.1186/s40348-016-0065-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rett syndrome is best known due to its severe and devastating symptoms in the central nervous system. It is produced by mutations affecting the Mecp2 gene that codes for a transcription factor. Nevertheless, evidence for MECP2 activity has been reported for tissues other than those of the central nervous system. Patients affected by Rett presented with intestinal affections whose origin is still not known. We have observed that the Mecp2-null mice presented with episodes of diarrhea, and decided to study the intestinal phenotype in these mice. Methods Mecp2-null mice or bearing the conditional intestinal deletion of MECP2 were used. Morphometirc and histologic analysis of intestine, and RT-PCR, western blot and immunodetection were perfomed on intestinal samples of the animals. Electrical parameters of the intestine were determined by Ussing chamber experiments in freshly isolated colon samples. Results First we determined that MECP2 protein is mainly expressed in cells of the lower part of the colonic crypts and not in the small intestine. The colon of the Mecp2-null mice was shorter than that of the wild-type. Histological analysis showed that epithelial cells of the surface have abnormal localization of key membrane proteins like ClC-2 and NHE-3 that participate in the electroneutral NaCl absorption; nevertheless, electrogenic secretion and absorption remain unaltered. We also detected an increase in a proliferation marker in the crypts of the colon samples of the Mecp2-null mice, but the specific silencing of Mecp2 from intestinal epithelium was not able to recapitulate the intestinal phenotype of the Mecp2-null mice. Conclusions In summary, we showed that the colon is severely affected by Mecp2 silencing in mice. Changes in colon length and epithelial histology are similar to those observed in colitis. Changes in the localization of proteins that participate in fluid absorption can explain watery stools, but the exclusive deletion of Mecp2 from the intestine did not reproduce colon changes observed in the Mecp2-null mice, indicating the participation of other cells in this phenotype and the complex interaction between different cell types in this disease. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40348-016-0065-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Millar-Büchner
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Avenida Arturo Prat 514, 511046, Valdivia, Chile.,Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amber R Philp
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Avenida Arturo Prat 514, 511046, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Noemí Gutierrez
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Avenida Arturo Prat 514, 511046, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Sandra Villanueva
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Avenida Arturo Prat 514, 511046, Valdivia, Chile.,Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Bredford Kerr
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Avenida Arturo Prat 514, 511046, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Carlos A Flores
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Avenida Arturo Prat 514, 511046, Valdivia, Chile.
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Kyle SM, Saha PK, Brown HM, Chan LC, Justice MJ. MeCP2 co-ordinates liver lipid metabolism with the NCoR1/HDAC3 corepressor complex. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:3029-3041. [PMID: 27288453 PMCID: PMC5181597 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT; OMIM 312750), a progressive neurological disorder, is caused by mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2; OMIM 300005), a ubiquitously expressed factor. A genetic suppressor screen designed to identify therapeutic targets surprisingly revealed that downregulation of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway improves neurological phenotypes in Mecp2 mutant mice. Here, we show that MeCP2 plays a direct role in regulating lipid metabolism. Mecp2 deletion in mice results in a host of severe metabolic defects caused by lipid accumulation, including insulin resistance, fatty liver, perturbed energy utilization, and adipose inflammation by macrophage infiltration. We show that MeCP2 regulates lipid homeostasis by anchoring the repressor complex containing NCoR1 and HDAC3 to its lipogenesis targets in hepatocytes. Consistently, we find that liver targeted deletion of Mecp2 causes fatty liver disease and dyslipidemia similar to HDAC3 liver-specific deletion. These findings position MeCP2 as a novel component in metabolic homeostasis. Rett syndrome patients also show signs of peripheral dyslipidemia; thus, together these data suggest that RTT should be classified as a neurological disorder with systemic metabolic components. We previously showed that treatment of Mecp2 mice with statin drugs alleviated motor symptoms and improved health and longevity. Lipid metabolism is a highly treatable target; therefore, our results shed light on new metabolic pathways for treatment of Rett syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Kyle
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
| | - Pradip K Saha
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Lawrence C Chan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Monica J Justice
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada .,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
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