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Yu H, Chiang A, Rubinstein M, Low MJ. The homeodomain transcription factor Six3 regulates hypothalamic Pomc expression and its absence from POMC neurons induces hyperphagia and mild obesity in male mice. Mol Metab 2024; 87:101993. [PMID: 39025297 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons release potent anorexigenic neuropeptides, which suppress food intake and enhance energy expenditure via melanocortin receptors. Although the importance of central melanocortin in physiological regulation is well established, the underlying genetic mechanisms that define the functional identity of melanocortin neurons and maintain hypothalamic Pomc expression remain to be fully determined. In this study, we investigate the functional significance of Six3, a transcriptional regulator notably expressed in embryonic and adult mouse POMC neurons, in the regulation of hypothalamic Pomc expression and downstream physiological consequences. METHODS We first evaluated the expression of Six3 in the developing and adult hypothalamus by double fluorescence in situ hybridization. Next, we assessed POMC immunoreactivity in mutant mice selectively lacking Six3 from Pomc-expressing neurons and quantified Pomc mRNA levels in a tamoxifen-inducible Six3 knockout mouse model activated at embryonic E9.5 days. We also determined glucose and insulin sensitivity, daily food intake, body composition and body weight in adult male and female mice lacking Six3 specifically from POMC neurons. Lastly, we assessed the physiological consequences of ablating Six3 from POMC neurons in adult mice. RESULTS Six3 and Pomc were co-expressed in mouse hypothalamic neurons during development and adulthood. Mouse embryos deficient in Six3 showed reduced Pomc expression in the developing hypothalamus. Targeted deletion of Six3 specifically from POMC neurons resulted in decreased hypothalamic Pomc expression, increased daily food intake, enhanced glucose sensitivity and mild obesity in male but not in female mice. Finally, conditional removal of Six3 from POMC neurons in adult mice led to a reduction in hypothalamic POMC immunoreactivity with no significant effects in body weight or food intake. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our results demonstrate that Six3 plays an essential role in the early establishment of POMC neuron identity and the maintenance of physiological levels of hypothalamic Pomc expression. In addition, our study demonstrates that the functional significance of Six3 expression in POMC neurons is sexually dimorphic and age-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yu
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States; Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, United States.
| | - Angelika Chiang
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Marcelo Rubinstein
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States; Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Malcolm J Low
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States.
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Jovanovic VM, Narisu N, Bonnycastle LL, Tharakan R, Mesch KT, Glover HJ, Yan T, Sinha N, Sen C, Castellano D, Yang S, Blivis D, Ryu S, Bennett DF, Rosales-Soto G, Inman J, Ormanoglu P, LeClair CA, Xia M, Schneider M, Hernandez-Ochoa EO, Erdos MR, Simeonov A, Chen S, Singeç I, Collins FS, Doege CA, Tristan CA. Scalable Hypothalamic Arcuate Neuron Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Suitable for Modeling Metabolic and Reproductive Disorders. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.27.601062. [PMID: 39005353 PMCID: PMC11244856 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.27.601062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The hypothalamus, composed of several nuclei, is essential for maintaining our body's homeostasis. The arcuate nucleus (ARC), located in the mediobasal hypothalamus, contains neuronal populations with eminent roles in energy and glucose homeostasis as well as reproduction. These neuronal populations are of great interest for translational research. To fulfill this promise, we used a robotic cell culture platform to provide a scalable and chemically defined approach for differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), somatostatin (SST), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal subpopulations with an ARC-like signature. This robust approach is reproducible across several distinct hPSC lines and exhibits a stepwise induction of key ventral diencephalon and ARC markers in transcriptomic profiling experiments. This is further corroborated by direct comparison to human fetal hypothalamus, and the enriched expression of genes implicated in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Genome-wide chromatin accessibility profiling by ATAC-seq identified accessible regulatory regions that can be utilized to predict candidate enhancers related to metabolic disorders and hypothalamic development. In depth molecular, cellular, and functional experiments unveiled the responsiveness of the hPSC-derived hypothalamic neurons to hormonal stimuli, such as insulin, neuropeptides including kisspeptin, and incretin mimetic drugs such as Exendin-4, highlighting their potential utility as physiologically relevant cellular models for disease studies. In addition, differential glucose and insulin treatments uncovered adaptability within the generated ARC neurons in the dynamic regulation of POMC and insulin receptors. In summary, the establishment of this model represents a novel, chemically defined, and scalable platform for manufacturing large numbers of hypothalamic arcuate neurons and serves as a valuable resource for modeling metabolic and reproductive disorders.
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Rojo D, Hael CE, Soria A, de Souza FSJ, Low MJ, Franchini LF, Rubinstein M. A mammalian tripartite enhancer cluster controls hypothalamic Pomc expression, food intake, and body weight. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322692121. [PMID: 38652744 PMCID: PMC11067048 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322692121] [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: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Food intake and energy balance are tightly regulated by a group of hypothalamic arcuate neurons expressing the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene. In mammals, arcuate-specific POMC expression is driven by two cis-acting transcriptional enhancers known as nPE1 and nPE2. Because mutant mice lacking these two enhancers still showed hypothalamic Pomc mRNA, we searched for additional elements contributing to arcuate Pomc expression. By combining molecular evolution with reporter gene expression in transgenic zebrafish and mice, here, we identified a mammalian arcuate-specific Pomc enhancer that we named nPE3, carrying several binding sites also present in nPE1 and nPE2 for transcription factors known to activate neuronal Pomc expression, such as ISL1, NKX2.1, and ERα. We found that nPE3 originated in the lineage leading to placental mammals and remained under purifying selection in all mammalian orders, although it was lost in Simiiformes (monkeys, apes, and humans) following a unique segmental deletion event. Interestingly, ablation of nPE3 from the mouse genome led to a drastic reduction (>70%) in hypothalamic Pomc mRNA during development and only moderate (<33%) in adult mice. Comparison between double (nPE1 and nPE2) and triple (nPE1, nPE2, and nPE3) enhancer mutants revealed the relative contribution of nPE3 to hypothalamic Pomc expression and its importance in the control of food intake and adiposity in male and female mice. Altogether, these results demonstrate that nPE3 integrates a tripartite cluster of partially redundant enhancers that originated upon a triple convergent evolutionary process in mammals and that is critical for hypothalamic Pomc expression and body weight homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rojo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires1428, Argentina
| | - Clara E. Hael
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires1428, Argentina
| | - Agustina Soria
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires1428, Argentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires1428, Argentina
| | - Flávio S. J. de Souza
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires1428, Argentina
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires1428, Argentina
| | - Malcolm J. Low
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48105
| | - Lucía F. Franchini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires1428, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Rubinstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires1428, Argentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires1428, Argentina
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48105
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Leon S, Simon V, Lee TH, Steuernagel L, Clark S, Biglari N, Lesté-Lasserre T, Dupuy N, Cannich A, Bellocchio L, Zizzari P, Allard C, Gonzales D, Le Feuvre Y, Lhuillier E, Brochard A, Nicolas JC, Teillon J, Nikolski M, Marsicano G, Fioramonti X, Brüning JC, Cota D, Quarta C. Single cell tracing of Pomc neurons reveals recruitment of 'Ghost' subtypes with atypical identity in a mouse model of obesity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3443. [PMID: 38658557 PMCID: PMC11043070 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47877-2] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus contains a remarkable diversity of neurons that orchestrate behavioural and metabolic outputs in a highly plastic manner. Neuronal diversity is key to enabling hypothalamic functions and, according to the neuroscience dogma, it is predetermined during embryonic life. Here, by combining lineage tracing of hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (Pomc) neurons with single-cell profiling approaches in adult male mice, we uncovered subpopulations of 'Ghost' neurons endowed with atypical molecular and functional identity. Compared to 'classical' Pomc neurons, Ghost neurons exhibit negligible Pomc expression and are 'invisible' to available neuroanatomical approaches and promoter-based reporter mice for studying Pomc biology. Ghost neuron numbers augment in diet-induced obese mice, independent of neurogenesis or cell death, but weight loss can reverse this shift. Our work challenges the notion of fixed, developmentally programmed neuronal identities in the mature hypothalamus and highlight the ability of specialised neurons to reversibly adapt their functional identity to adult-onset obesogenic stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Leon
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Vincent Simon
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas H Lee
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Lukas Steuernagel
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Samantha Clark
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Nasim Biglari
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Nathalie Dupuy
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Astrid Cannich
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Luigi Bellocchio
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Philippe Zizzari
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Camille Allard
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Delphine Gonzales
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Yves Le Feuvre
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Emeline Lhuillier
- University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, INSERM, Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires, U1297, 31400, France; GeT-Santé, Plateforme Génome et Transcriptome, GenoToul, Toulouse, France
| | - Alexandre Brochard
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean Charles Nicolas
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jérémie Teillon
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, BIC, US4, UAR 3420, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Macha Nikolski
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Bioinformatics Center, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IBGC UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
| | - Giovanni Marsicano
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Xavier Fioramonti
- University of Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jens C Brüning
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- National Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Daniela Cota
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Carmelo Quarta
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
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Song J, Choi SY. Arcuate Nucleus of the Hypothalamus: Anatomy, Physiology, and Diseases. Exp Neurobiol 2023; 32:371-386. [PMID: 38196133 PMCID: PMC10789173 DOI: 10.5607/en23040] [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: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus is part of the diencephalon and has several nuclei, one of which is the arcuate nucleus. The arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus (ARH) consists of neuroendocrine neurons and centrally-projecting neurons. The ARH is the center where the homeostasis of nutrition/metabolism and reproduction are maintained. As such, dysfunction of the ARH can lead to disorders of nutrition/metabolism and reproduction. Here, we review various types of neurons in the ARH and several genetic disorders caused by mutations in the ARH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhyun Song
- Department of Anatomy, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea
| | - Seok-Yong Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea
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Lu HL, Li L, Miao YL, Liang H, Zou JM, You JJ, Liang XF, He S. Effects and regulatory pathway of proopinmelanocortin on feeding habit domestication in mandarin fish. Gene 2023:147581. [PMID: 37336270 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is a hormone precursor, and has been reported to participate in domestication. However, its effects on feeding habit domestication in fish are poorly understood. Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) feeds solely on live prey fish since first-feeding. In the present study, the high expression of pomc in mandarin fish, both the pomc siRNA and MC4R inhibitor treatments increased the success rate of domestication from live prey fish to dead prey fish and food intake of dead prey fish, suggesting the role of pomc on the special feeding habit of live prey fish in mandarin fish. In addition, one c-fos binding site was identified in the region that from -1053 bp to -931 bp upstream of the transcription start site of pomc, and this region exhibited positive promoter activity. The mandarin fish brain cells treated with c-fos siRNA displayed suppressed pomc mRNA expression, indicating that c-fos positively regulated pomc expression. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of c-fos was higher in the mandarin fish which were more difficult to domesticate. The results of ChIP assay and inhibitor treatment confirmed that the activation of c-fos gene by histone H3K4me3 was catalyzed by Setd1b in mandarin fish. Three open peaks were found at the upstream regulatory region of setd1b by ATAC-seq, and the mRNA expression of setd1b was higher in the mandarin fish which were more difficult to domesticate. These results indicated that Setd1b could methylate histone H3K4 to activate the c-fos transcription, maintaining the high expression of pomc, which might contribute to the special feeding habit of mandarin fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Lin Lu
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ling Li
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yun-Liang Miao
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hui Liang
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jia-Ming Zou
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jun-Jie You
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xu-Fang Liang
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shan He
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China.
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Lin CY, Yeh KY, Lai HH, Her GM. AgRP Neuron-Specific Ablation Represses Appetite, Energy Intake, and Somatic Growth in Larval Zebrafish. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020499. [PMID: 36831035 PMCID: PMC9953713 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal circuits regulating appetite are dominated by arcuate nucleus neurons, which include appetite-promoting and -suppressing neurons that release the orexigenic neuropeptide agouti-related protein (AgRP) and anorexigenic neuropeptide pro-opiomelanocortin, respectively, to compete for melanocortin receptors to modulate feeding behavior. In this study, we expressed novel agrp promoters, including different lengths of the 5' flanking regions of the agrp gene (4749 bp) in the zebrafish genome. We used the agrp promoter to derive the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-nitroreductase (NTR) fusion protein, allowing expression of the green fluorescence signal in the AgRP neurons. Then, we treated the transgenic zebrafish AgRP4.7NTR (Tg [agrp-EGFP-NTR]) with metronidazole to ablate the AgRP neurons in the larvae stage and observed a decline in their appetite and growth. The expression of most orexigenic and growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis genes decreased, whereas that of several anorexigenic genes increased. Our findings demonstrate that AgRP is a critical regulator of neuronal signaling for zebrafish appetite and energy intake control. Thus, AgRP4.7NTR can be used as a drug-screening platform for therapeutic targets to treat human appetite disorders, including obesity. Furthermore, the unique agrp promoter we identified can be a powerful tool for research on AgRP neurons, especially AgRP neuron-mediated pathways in the hypothalamus, and appetite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiu-Ya Lin
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung City 202, Taiwan
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Yun Yeh
- Division of Hemato-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung City 204, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Hung Lai
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Guor Mour Her
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-2826-7000 (ext. 67990)
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Yan CY, Wu FY, Sun F, Fang Y, Zhang RJ, Zhang CR, Zhang CX, Wang Z, Yang RM, Yang L, Dong M, Zhang QY, Ye XP, Song HD, Zhao SX. The isl2a transcription factor regulates pituitary development in zebrafish. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:920548. [PMID: 36824359 PMCID: PMC9941339 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.920548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND ISL LIM homeobox 2, also known as insulin gene enhancer protein ISL-2 (ISL2), is a transcription factor gene that participates in a wide range of developmental events. However, the role of ISL2 in the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis is largely unknown. In the present study, we characterized the expression patterns of ISL2 and revealed its regulative role during embryogenesis using zebrafish. METHODS We used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to successfully establish homozygous ISL2-orthologue (isl2a and isl2b) knockout zebrafish. Moreover, we utilized these knockout zebrafish to analyze the pituitary and thyroid phenotypes in vivo. For further molecular characterization, in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence were performed. RESULTS The isl2a mutant zebrafish presented with thyroid hypoplasia, reduced whole-body levels of thyroid hormones, increased early mortality, gender imbalance, and morphological retardation during maturity. Additionally, thyrotropes, a pituitary cell type, was notably decreased during development. Importantly, the transcriptional levels of pituitary-thyroid axis hormones-encoding genes, such as tshba, cga, and tg, were significantly decreased in isl2a mutants. Finally, the thyroid dysplasia in isl2a mutant larvae may be attributed to a reduction in proliferation rather than changes in apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS In summary, isl2a regulates the transcriptional levels of marker genes in hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis, and isl2a knockout causing low thyroid hormone levels in zebrafish. Thus, isl2a identified by the present study, is a novel regulator for pituitary cell differentiation in zebrafish, resulting in thyroid gland hypoplasia and phenotypes of hypothyroidism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Yan Yan
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Geriatric Medicine Center, Department of Endocrinology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feng-Yao Wu
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Sun
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya Fang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui-Jia Zhang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang-Run Zhang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cao-Xu Zhang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui-Meng Yang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei Dong
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian-Yue Zhang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Ye
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huai-Dong Song
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Shuang-Xia Zhao, ; Huai-Dong Song,
| | - Shuang-Xia Zhao
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Shuang-Xia Zhao, ; Huai-Dong Song,
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Eachus H, Ryu S, Placzek M, Wood J. Zebrafish as a model to investigate the CRH axis and interactions with DISC1. CURRENT OPINION IN ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2022; 26:100383. [PMID: 36632608 PMCID: PMC9823094 DOI: 10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from CRH neurons activates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, one of the main physiological stress response systems. Complex feedback loops operate in the HPA axis and understanding the neurobiological mechanisms regulating CRH neurons is of great importance in the context of stress disorders. In this article, we review how in vivo studies in zebrafish have advanced knowledge of the neurobiology of CRH neurons. Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) mutant zebrafish have blunted stress responses and can be used to model human stress disorders. We propose that DISC1 influences the development and functioning of CRH neurons as a mechanism linking DISC1 to psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eachus
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Soojin Ryu
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marysia Placzek
- School of Biosciences and Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Wood
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience and Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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10
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Place E, Manning E, Kim DW, Kinjo A, Nakamura G, Ohyama K. SHH and Notch regulate SOX9+ progenitors to govern arcuate POMC neurogenesis. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:855288. [PMID: 36033614 PMCID: PMC9404380 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.855288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-expressing neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) play key roles in feeding and energy homoeostasis, hence their development is of great research interest. As the process of neurogenesis is accompanied by changes in adhesion, polarity, and migration that resemble aspects of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), we have characterised the expression and regulation within the prospective ARC of transcription factors with context-dependent abilities to regulate aspects of EMT. Informed by pseudotime meta-analysis of recent scRNA-seq data, we use immunohistochemistry and multiplex in situ hybridisation to show that SOX2, SRY-Box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), PROX1, Islet1 (ISL1), and SOX11 are sequentially expressed over the course of POMC neurogenesis in the embryonic chick. Through pharmacological studies ex vivo, we demonstrate that while inhibiting either sonic hedgehog (SHH) or Notch signalling reduces the number of SOX9+ neural progenitor cells, these treatments lead, respectively, to lesser and greater numbers of differentiating ISL1+/POMC+ neurons. These results are consistent with a model in which SHH promotes the formation of SOX9+ progenitors, and Notch acts to limit their differentiation. Both pathways are also required to maintain normal levels of proliferation and to suppress apoptosis. Together our findings demonstrate that hypothalamic neurogenesis is accompanied by dynamic expression of transcription factors (TFs) that mediate EMTs, and that SHH and Notch signalling converge to regulate hypothalamic cellular homoeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsie Place
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Manning
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Dong Won Kim
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Arisa Kinjo
- Department of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Go Nakamura
- Department of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kyoji Ohyama
- Department of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Molecular profile and response to energy deficit of leptin-receptor neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13374. [PMID: 35927440 PMCID: PMC9352899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16492-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptin exerts its effects on energy balance by inhibiting food intake and increasing energy expenditure via leptin receptors in the hypothalamus. While LepR neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, the primary target of leptin, have been extensively studied, LepR neurons in other hypothalamic nuclei remain understudied. LepR neurons in the lateral hypothalamus contribute to leptin's effects on food intake and reward, but due to the low abundance of this population it has been difficult to study their molecular profile and responses to energy deficit. We here explore the transcriptome of LepR neurons in the LH and their response to energy deficit. Male LepR-Cre mice were injected in the LH with an AAV carrying Cre-dependent L10:GFP. Few weeks later the hypothalami from fed and food-restricted (24-h) mice were dissected and the TRAP protocol was performed, for the isolation of translating mRNAs from LepR cells in the LH, followed by RNA sequencing. After mapping and normalization, differential expression analysis was performed with DESeq2. We confirm that the isolated mRNA is enriched in LepR transcripts and other known neuropeptide markers of LepRLH neurons, of which we investigate the localization patterns in the LH. We identified novel markers of LepRLH neurons with association to energy balance and metabolic disease, such as Acvr1c, Npy1r, Itgb1, and genes that are differentially regulated by food deprivation, such as Fam46a and Rrad. Our dataset provides a reliable and extensive resource of the molecular makeup of LH LepR neurons and their response to food deprivation.
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12
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Benevento M, Hökfelt T, Harkany T. Ontogenetic rules for the molecular diversification of hypothalamic neurons. Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; 23:611-627. [PMID: 35906427 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00615-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamus is an evolutionarily conserved endocrine interface that, among other roles, links central homeostatic control to adaptive bodily responses by releasing hormones and neuropeptides from its many neuronal subtypes. In its preoptic, anterior, tuberal and mammillary subdivisions, a kaleidoscope of magnocellular and parvocellular neuroendocrine command neurons, local-circuit neurons, and neurons that project to extrahypothalamic areas are intermingled in partially overlapping patches of nuclei. Molecular fingerprinting has produced data of unprecedented mass and depth to distinguish and even to predict the synaptic and endocrine competences, connectivity and stimulus selectivity of many neuronal modalities. These new insights support eminent studies from the past century but challenge others on the molecular rules that shape the developmental segregation of hypothalamic neuronal subtypes and their use of morphogenic cues for terminal differentiation. Here, we integrate single-cell RNA sequencing studies with those of mouse genetics and endocrinology to describe key stages of hypothalamus development, including local neurogenesis, the direct terminal differentiation of glutamatergic neurons, transition cascades for GABAergic and GABAergic cell-derived dopamine cells, waves of local neuronal migration, and sequential enrichment in neuropeptides and hormones. We particularly emphasize how transcription factors determine neuronal identity and, consequently, circuit architecture, and whether their deviations triggered by environmental factors and hormones provoke neuroendocrine illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Benevento
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tomas Hökfelt
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum 7D, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Tibor Harkany
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum 7D, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
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13
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Croizier S, Bouret SG. Molecular Control of the Development of Hypothalamic Neurons Involved in Metabolic Regulation. J Chem Neuroanat 2022; 123:102117. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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14
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Formation of the Mouse Internal Capsule and Cerebral Peduncle: A Pioneering Role for Striatonigral Axons as Revealed in Isl1 Conditional Mutants. J Neurosci 2022; 42:3344-3364. [PMID: 35273083 PMCID: PMC9034787 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2291-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The projection neurons of the striatum, the principal nucleus of the basal ganglia, belong to one of the following two major pathways: the striatopallidal (indirect) pathway or the striatonigral (direct) pathway. Striatonigral axons project long distances and encounter ascending tracts (thalamocortical) while coursing alongside descending tracts (corticofugal) as they extend through the internal capsule and cerebral peduncle. These observations suggest that striatal circuitry may help to guide their trajectories. To investigate the developmental contributions of striatonigral axons to internal capsule formation, we have made use of Sox8-EGFP (striatal direct pathway) and Fezf2-TdTomato (corticofugal pathway) BAC transgenic reporter mice in combination with immunohistochemical markers to trace these axonal pathways throughout development. We show that striatonigral axons pioneer the internal capsule and cerebral peduncle and are temporally and spatially well positioned to provide guidance for corticofugal and thalamocortical axons. Using Isl1 conditional knock-out (cKO) mice, which exhibit disrupted striatonigral axon outgrowth, we observe both corticofugal and thalamocortical axon defects with either ventral forebrain- or telencephalon-specific Isl1 inactivation, despite Isl1 not being expressed in either cortical or thalamic projection neurons. Striatonigral axon defects can thus disrupt internal capsule formation. Our genome-wide transcriptomic analysis in Isl1 cKOs reveals changes in gene expression relevant to cell adhesion, growth cone dynamics, and extracellular matrix composition, suggesting potential mechanisms by which the striatonigral pathway exerts this guidance role. Together, our data support a novel pioneering role for the striatal direct pathway in the correct assembly of the ascending and descending axon tracts within the internal capsule and cerebral peduncle.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The basal ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei with established roles in the coordination of voluntary motor programs, aspects of cognition, and the selection of appropriate social behaviors. Hence, disruptions in basal ganglia connectivity have been implicated in the motor, cognitive, and social dysfunction characterizing common neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and tic disorder. Here, we identified a novel role for the striatonigral (direct) pathway in pioneering the internal capsule and cerebral peduncle, and in guiding axons extending to and from the cortex. Our findings suggest that the abnormal development of basal ganglia circuits can drive secondary internal capsule defects and thereby may contribute to the pathology of these disorders.
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15
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Bouret SG. Developmental programming of hypothalamic melanocortin circuits. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:403-413. [PMID: 35474338 PMCID: PMC9076880 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-021-00625-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin system plays a critical role in the central regulation of food intake and energy balance. This system consists of neurons producing pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), melanocortin receptors (MC4Rs), and the endogenous antagonist agouti-related peptide (AgRP). Pomc and Mc4r deficiency in rodents and humans causes early onset of obesity, whereas a loss of Agrp function is associated with leanness. Accumulating evidence shows that many chronic diseases, including obesity, might originate during early life. The melanocortin system develops during a relatively long period beginning during embryonic life with the birth of POMC and AgRP neurons and continuing postnatally with the assembly of their neuronal circuitry. The development of the melanocortin system requires the tight temporal regulation of molecular factors, such as transcription factors and axon guidance molecules, and cellular mechanisms, such as autophagy. It also involves a complex interplay of endocrine and nutritional factors. The disruption of one or more of these developmental factors can lead to abnormal maturation and function of the melanocortin system and has profound metabolic consequences later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastien G Bouret
- Inserm, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition Research Center, UMR-S 1172, Lille, 59000, France.
- University of Lille, FHU 1,000 Days for Health, Lille, 59000, France.
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16
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Yu H, Rubinstein M, Low MJ. Developmental single-cell transcriptomics of hypothalamic POMC neurons reveal the genetic trajectories of multiple neuropeptidergic phenotypes. eLife 2022; 11:e72883. [PMID: 35044906 PMCID: PMC8806186 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus are essential to regulate food intake and energy balance. However, the ontogenetic transcriptional programs that specify the identity and functioning of these neurons are poorly understood. Here, we use single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to define the transcriptomes characterizing Pomc-expressing cells in the developing hypothalamus and translating ribosome affinity purification with RNA-sequencing (TRAP-seq) to analyze the subsequent translatomes of mature POMC neurons. Our data showed that Pomc-expressing neurons give rise to multiple developmental pathways expressing different levels of Pomc and unique combinations of transcription factors. The predominant cluster, featured by high levels of Pomc and Prdm12 transcripts, represents the canonical arcuate POMC neurons. Additional cell clusters expressing medium or low levels of Pomc mature into different neuronal phenotypes featured by distinct sets of transcription factors, neuropeptides, processing enzymes, cell surface, and nuclear receptors. We conclude that the genetic programs specifying the identity and differentiation of arcuate POMC neurons are diverse and generate a heterogeneous repertoire of neuronal phenotypes early in development that continue to mature postnatally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yu
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Marcelo Rubinstein
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos AiresArgentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos AiresBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Malcolm J Low
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
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17
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Pahl MC, Doege CA, Hodge KM, Littleton SH, Leonard ME, Lu S, Rausch R, Pippin JA, De Rosa MC, Basak A, Bradfield JP, Hammond RK, Boehm K, Berkowitz RI, Lasconi C, Su C, Chesi A, Johnson ME, Wells AD, Voight BF, Leibel RL, Cousminer DL, Grant SFA. Cis-regulatory architecture of human ESC-derived hypothalamic neuron differentiation aids in variant-to-gene mapping of relevant complex traits. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6749. [PMID: 34799566 PMCID: PMC8604959 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27001-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus regulates metabolic homeostasis by influencing behavior and endocrine systems. Given its role governing key traits, such as body weight and reproductive timing, understanding the genetic regulation of hypothalamic development and function could yield insights into disease pathogenesis. However, given its inaccessibility, studying human hypothalamic gene regulation has proven challenging. To address this gap, we generate a high-resolution chromatin architecture atlas of an established embryonic stem cell derived hypothalamic-like neuron model across three stages of in vitro differentiation. We profile accessible chromatin and identify physical contacts between gene promoters and putative cis-regulatory elements to characterize global regulatory landscape changes during hypothalamic differentiation. Next, we integrate these data with GWAS loci for various complex traits, identifying multiple candidate effector genes. Our results reveal common target genes for these traits, potentially affecting core developmental pathways. Our atlas will enable future efforts to determine hypothalamic mechanisms influencing disease susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Pahl
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Claudia A Doege
- Department of Pathology, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kenyaita M Hodge
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Sheridan H Littleton
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Michelle E Leonard
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Sumei Lu
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Rick Rausch
- Department of Pediatrics, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - James A Pippin
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Maria Caterina De Rosa
- Department of Pediatrics, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alisha Basak
- Department of Pediatrics, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan P Bradfield
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Reza K Hammond
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Keith Boehm
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Robert I Berkowitz
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Chiara Lasconi
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Chun Su
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Alessandra Chesi
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Matthew E Johnson
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Andrew D Wells
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin F Voight
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Rudolph L Leibel
- Division of Molecular Genetics (Pediatrics) and the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Diana L Cousminer
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- GSK, Human Genetics and Computational Biology, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Struan F A Grant
- Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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18
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López JM, Jiménez S, Morona R, Lozano D, Moreno N. Analysis of Islet-1, Nkx2.1, Pax6, and Orthopedia in the forebrain of the sturgeon Acipenser ruthenus identifies conserved prosomeric characteristics. J Comp Neurol 2021; 530:834-855. [PMID: 34547112 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The distribution patterns of a set of conserved brain developmental regulatory transcription factors were analyzed in the forebrain of the basal actinopterygian fish Acipenser ruthenus, consistent with the prosomeric model. In the telencephalon, the pallium was characterized by ventricular expression of Pax6. In the subpallium, the combined expression of Nkx2.1/Islet-1 (Isl1) allowed to propose ventral and dorsal areas, as the septo-pallidal (Nkx2.1/Isl1+) and striatal derivatives (Isl1+), respectively, and a dorsal portion of the striatal derivatives, ventricularly rich in Pax6 and devoid of Isl1 expression. Dispersed Orthopedia (Otp) cells were found in the supracommissural and posterior nuclei of the ventral telencephalon, related to the medial portion of the amygdaloid complex. The preoptic area was identified by the Nkx2.1/Isl1 expression. In the alar hypothalamus, an Otp-expressing territory, lacking Nkx2.1/Isl1, was identified as the paraventricular domain. The adjacent subparaventricular domain (Spa) was subdivided in a rostral territory expressing Nkx2.1 and an Isl1+ caudal one. In the basal hypothalamus, the tuberal region was defined by the Nkx2.1/Isl1 expression and a rostral Otp-expressing domain was identified. Moreover, the Otp/Nkx2.1 combination showed an additional zone lacking Isl1, tentatively identified as the mamillary area. In the diencephalon, both Pax6 and Isl1 defined the prethalamic domain, and within the basal prosomere 3, scattered Pax6- and Isl1-expressing cells were observed in the posterior tubercle. Finally, a small group of Pax6 cells was observed in the pretectal area. These results improve the understanding of the forebrain evolution and demonstrate that its basic bauplan is present very early in the vertebrate lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús M López
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Jiménez
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ruth Morona
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Lozano
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea Moreno
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
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19
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Quarta C, Claret M, Zeltser LM, Williams KW, Yeo GSH, Tschöp MH, Diano S, Brüning JC, Cota D. POMC neuronal heterogeneity in energy balance and beyond: an integrated view. Nat Metab 2021; 3:299-308. [PMID: 33633406 PMCID: PMC8085907 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-021-00345-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hypothalamic AgRP and POMC neurons are conventionally viewed as the yin and yang of the body's energy status, since they act in an opposite manner to modulate appetite and systemic energy metabolism. However, although AgRP neurons' functions are comparatively well understood, a unifying theory of how POMC neuronal cells operate has remained elusive, probably due to their high level of heterogeneity, which suggests that their physiological roles might be more complex than initially thought. In this Perspective, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates POMC neuronal heterogeneity with appetite regulation, whole-body metabolic physiology and the development of obesity. We highlight emerging evidence indicating that POMC neurons respond to distinct combinations of interoceptive signals and food-related cues to fine-tune divergent metabolic pathways and behaviours necessary for survival. The new framework we propose reflects the high degree of developmental plasticity of this neuronal population and may enable progress towards understanding of both the aetiology and treatment of metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Quarta
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, INSERM U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Marc Claret
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lori M Zeltser
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin W Williams
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Giles S H Yeo
- MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthias H Tschöp
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Medicine, Technische Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabrina Diano
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jens C Brüning
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- National Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Daniela Cota
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, INSERM U1215, Bordeaux, France.
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20
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Brinkmeier ML, Bando H, Camarano AC, Fujio S, Yoshimoto K, de Souza FS, Camper SA. Rathke's cleft-like cysts arise from Isl1 deletion in murine pituitary progenitors. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:4501-4515. [PMID: 32453714 DOI: 10.1172/jci136745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor ISL1 is expressed in pituitary gland stem cells and the thyrotrope and gonadotrope lineages. Pituitary-specific Isl1 deletion causes hypopituitarism with increased stem cell apoptosis, reduced differentiation of thyrotropes and gonadotropes, and reduced body size. Conditional Isl1 deletion causes development of multiple Rathke's cleft-like cysts, with 100% penetrance. Foxa1 and Foxj1 are abnormally expressed in the pituitary gland and associated with a ciliogenic gene-expression program in the cysts. We confirmed expression of FOXA1, FOXJ1, and stem cell markers in human Rathke's cleft cyst tissue, but not craniopharyngiomas, which suggests these transcription factors are useful, pathological markers for diagnosis of Rathke's cleft cysts. These studies support a model whereby expression of ISL1 in pituitary progenitors drives differentiation into thyrotropes and gonadotropes and without it, activation of FOXA1 and FOXJ1 permits development of an oral epithelial cell fate with mucinous cysts. This pituitary-specific Isl1 mouse knockout sheds light on the etiology of Rathke's cleft cysts and the role of ISL1 in normal pituitary development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Brinkmeier
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Hironori Bando
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Adriana C Camarano
- Institute of Physiology, Molecular Biology, and Neurosciences-IFIBYNE-CONICET, Pabellon IFIBYNE, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Shingo Fujio
- Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Koji Yoshimoto
- Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Flávio Sj de Souza
- Institute of Physiology, Molecular Biology, and Neurosciences-IFIBYNE-CONICET, Pabellon IFIBYNE, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sally A Camper
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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21
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Huisman C, Kim YA, Jeon S, Shin B, Choi J, Lim SJ, Youn SM, Park Y, K C M, Kim S, Lee SK, Lee S, Lee JW. The histone H3-lysine 4-methyltransferase Mll4 regulates the development of growth hormone-releasing hormone-producing neurons in the mouse hypothalamus. Nat Commun 2021; 12:256. [PMID: 33431871 PMCID: PMC7801453 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20511-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, inactivating mutations in MLL4, which encodes a histone H3-lysine 4-methyltransferase, lead to Kabuki syndrome (KS). While dwarfism is a cardinal feature of KS, the underlying etiology remains unclear. Here we report that Mll4 regulates the development of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)-producing neurons in the mouse hypothalamus. Our two Mll4 mutant mouse models exhibit dwarfism phenotype and impairment of the developmental programs for GHRH-neurons. Our ChIP-seq analysis reveals that, in the developing mouse hypothalamus, Mll4 interacts with the transcription factor Nrf1 to trigger the expression of GHRH-neuronal genes. Interestingly, the deficiency of Mll4 results in a marked reduction of histone marks of active transcription, while treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor AR-42 rescues the histone mark signature and restores GHRH-neuronal production in Mll4 mutant mice. Our results suggest that the developmental dysregulation of Mll4-directed epigenetic control of transcription plays a role in the development of GHRH-neurons and dwarfism phenotype in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Huisman
- Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Young A Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Shin Jeon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 142604, USA
| | - Bongjin Shin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 142604, USA
| | - Jeonghoon Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Su Jeong Lim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Life Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung Min Youn
- Department of Bioinformatics and Life Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Younjung Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 142604, USA
| | - Medha K C
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 142604, USA
| | - Sangsoo Kim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Life Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Soo-Kyung Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 142604, USA
| | - Seunghee Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Jae W Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 142604, USA.
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22
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Madelaine R, Ngo KJ, Skariah G, Mourrain P. Genetic deciphering of the antagonistic activities of the melanin-concentrating hormone and melanocortin pathways in skin pigmentation. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009244. [PMID: 33301440 PMCID: PMC7755275 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic origin of human skin pigmentation remains an open question in biology. Several skin disorders and diseases originate from mutations in conserved pigmentation genes, including albinism, vitiligo, and melanoma. Teleosts possess the capacity to modify their pigmentation to adapt to their environmental background to avoid predators. This background adaptation occurs through melanosome aggregation (white background) or dispersion (black background) in melanocytes. These mechanisms are largely regulated by melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone (α-MSH), two hypothalamic neuropeptides also involved in mammalian skin pigmentation. Despite evidence that the exogenous application of MCH peptides induces melanosome aggregation, it is not known if the MCH system is physiologically responsible for background adaptation. In zebrafish, we identify that MCH neurons target the pituitary gland-blood vessel portal and that endogenous MCH peptide expression regulates melanin concentration for background adaptation. We demonstrate that this effect is mediated by MCH receptor 2 (Mchr2) but not Mchr1a/b. mchr2 knock-out fish cannot adapt to a white background, providing the first genetic demonstration that MCH signaling is physiologically required to control skin pigmentation. mchr2 phenotype can be rescued in adult fish by knocking-out pomc, the gene coding for the precursor of α-MSH, demonstrating the relevance of the antagonistic activity between MCH and α-MSH in the control of melanosome organization. Interestingly, MCH receptor is also expressed in human melanocytes, thus a similar antagonistic activity regulating skin pigmentation may be conserved during evolution, and the dysregulation of these pathways is significant to our understanding of human skin disorders and cancers. Melanocytes produce melanin, a natural skin pigment, for body coloration which helps to protect and camouflage an organism and to attract mates. Melanocytes are ubiquitous pigment cells in vertebrates and the genes underlying their development are well conserved, making fishes that possess the ability to modify their pigmentation, biologically relevant and successful models for human skin disorders. Many human skin diseases including albinism, vitiligo, and melanoma are derived from mutations in conserved pigmentation genes. However, much of the conserved molecular mechanisms behind these diseases and human pigmentation remain unknown. For instance, melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) was originally identified as a peptide that when injected, could make fish paler by promoting melanin aggregation but no mutants demonstrating an endogenous function for MCH in pigmentation have been reported. Here, we use zebrafish mutants of MCH and the MCH receptor to determine their specific genetic function in pigmentation. Additionally, we demonstrate that MCH has an antagonistic pigmentation function to the melanocortin system, where MCH expression promotes lighter pigmentation and melanocortin activity promotes darkening. Thus, we find that the balance between the MCH and melanocortin system activities are likely required for skin pigmentation and dysregulation of these pathways could underlie adverse human skin conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Madelaine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Keri J. Ngo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Gemini Skariah
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Philippe Mourrain
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- INSERM 1024, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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23
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Yu H, Thompson Z, Kiran S, Jones GL, Mundada L, Rubinstein M, Low MJ. Expression of a hypomorphic Pomc allele alters leptin dynamics during late pregnancy. J Endocrinol 2020; 245:115-127. [PMID: 32027603 DOI: 10.1530/joe-19-0576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) are essential for normal energy homeostasis. Maximal ARC Pomc transcription is dependent on neuronal Pomc enhancer 1 (nPE1), located 12 kb upstream from the promoter. Selective deletion of nPE1 in mice decreases ARC Pomc expression by 70%, sufficient to induce mild obesity. Because nPE1 is located exclusively in the genomes of placental mammals, we questioned whether its hypomorphic mutation would also alter placental Pomc expression and the metabolic adaptations associated with pregnancy and lactation. We assessed placental development, pup growth, circulating leptin and expression of Pomc, Agrp and alternatively spliced leptin receptor (LepR) isoforms in the ARC and placenta of Pomc∆1/∆1 and Pomc+/+ dams. Despite indistinguishable body weights, lean mass, food intake, placental histology and Pomc expression and overall pregnancy outcomes between the genotypes, Pomc ∆1/∆1 females had increased pre-pregnancy fat mass that paradoxically decreased to control levels by parturition. However, Pomc∆1/∆1 dams had exaggerated increases in circulating leptin, up to twice of that of the typically elevated levels in Pomc+/+ mice at the end of pregnancy, despite their equivalent fat mass. Pomc∆1/∆1dams also had increased placental expression of soluble leptin receptor (LepRe), although the protein levels of LEPRE in circulation were the same as Pomc+/+ controls. Together, these data suggest that the hypomorphic Pomc∆1/∆1 allele is responsible for the perinatal super hyperleptinemia of Pomc∆1/∆1 dams, possibly due to upregulated leptin secretion from individual adipocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yu
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Zoe Thompson
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sylee Kiran
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,School of Literature, Science, and Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Graham L Jones
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Lakshmi Mundada
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Marcelo Rubinstein
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Malcolm J Low
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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24
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Zhou X, Zhong S, Peng H, Liu J, Ding W, Sun L, Ma Q, Liu Z, Chen R, Wu Q, Wang X. Cellular and molecular properties of neural progenitors in the developing mammalian hypothalamus. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4063. [PMID: 32792525 PMCID: PMC7426815 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17890-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuroendocrine hypothalamus is the central regulator of vital physiological homeostasis and behavior. However, the cellular and molecular properties of hypothalamic neural progenitors remain unexplored. Here, hypothalamic radial glial (hRG) and hypothalamic mantle zone radial glial (hmRG) cells are found to be neural progenitors in the developing mammalian hypothalamus. The hmRG cells originate from hRG cells and produce neurons. During the early development of hypothalamus, neurogenesis occurs in radial columns and is initiated from hRG cells. The radial glial fibers are oriented toward the locations of hypothalamic subregions which act as a scaffold for neuronal migration. Furthermore, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal progenitor subtypes in human developing hypothalamus and characterize specific progenitor genes, such as TTYH1, HMGA2, and FAM107A. We also demonstrate that HMGA2 is involved in E2F1 pathway, regulating the proliferation of progenitor cells by targeting on the downstream MYBL2. Different neuronal subtypes start to differentiate and express specific genes of hypothalamic nucleus at gestational week 10. Finally, we reveal the developmental conservation of nuclear structures and marker genes in mouse and human hypothalamus. Our identification of cellular and molecular properties of neural progenitors provides a basic understanding of neurogenesis and regional formation of the non-laminated hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Suijuan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Honghai Peng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong, 250013, China
| | - Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wenyu Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Le Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qiang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zeyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ruiguo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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25
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Marijuana and Opioid Use during Pregnancy: Using Zebrafish to Gain Understanding of Congenital Anomalies Caused by Drug Exposure during Development. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8080279. [PMID: 32784457 PMCID: PMC7460517 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8080279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Marijuana and opioid addictions have increased alarmingly in recent decades, especially in the United States, posing threats to society. When the drug user is a pregnant mother, there is a serious risk to the developing baby. Congenital anomalies are associated with prenatal exposure to marijuana and opioids. Here, we summarize the current data on the prevalence of marijuana and opioid use among the people of the United States, particularly pregnant mothers. We also summarize the current zebrafish studies used to model and understand the effects of these drug exposures during development and to understand the behavioral changes after exposure. Zebrafish experiments recapitulate the drug effects seen in human addicts and the birth defects seen in human babies prenatally exposed to marijuana and opioids. Zebrafish show great potential as an easy and inexpensive model for screening compounds for their ability to mitigate the drug effects, which could lead to new therapeutics.
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26
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Haddad-Tóvolli R, Altirriba J, Obri A, Sánchez EE, Chivite I, Milà-Guasch M, Ramírez S, Gómez-Valadés AG, Pozo M, Burguet J, Velloso LA, Claret M. Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuron translatome signatures underlying obesogenic gestational malprogramming in mice. Mol Metab 2020; 36:100963. [PMID: 32283518 PMCID: PMC7152705 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2020.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Maternal unbalanced nutritional habits during embryonic development and perinatal stages perturb hypothalamic neuronal programming of the offspring, thus increasing obesity-associated diabetes risk. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study we sought to determine the translatomic signatures associated with pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuron malprogramming in maternal obesogenic conditions. METHODS We used the RiboTag mouse model to specifically profile the translatome of POMC neurons during neonatal (P0) and perinatal (P21) life and its neuroanatomical, functional, and physiological consequences. RESULTS Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) exposure did not interfere with offspring's hypothalamic POMC neuron specification, but significantly impaired their spatial distribution and axonal extension to target areas. Importantly, we established POMC neuron-specific translatome signatures accounting for aberrant neuronal development and axonal growth. These anatomical and molecular alterations caused metabolic dysfunction in early life and adulthood. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides fundamental insights on the molecular mechanisms underlying POMC neuron malprogramming in obesogenic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Haddad-Tóvolli
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jordi Altirriba
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Arnaud Obri
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Elena Eyre Sánchez
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Iñigo Chivite
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Maria Milà-Guasch
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Sara Ramírez
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alicia G Gómez-Valadés
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Macarena Pozo
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jasmine Burguet
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78000, Versailles, France.
| | - Licio A Velloso
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil.
| | - Marc Claret
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain; School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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27
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Chen X, Wyler SC, Li L, Arnold AG, Wan R, Jia L, Landy MA, Lai HC, Xu P, Liu C. Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses of Developing Melanocortin Neurons Reveal New Regulators for the Anorexigenic Neuron Identity. J Neurosci 2020; 40:3165-3177. [PMID: 32213554 PMCID: PMC7159888 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0155-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite their opposing actions on food intake, POMC and NPY/AgRP neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) are derived from the same progenitors that give rise to ARH neurons. However, the mechanism whereby common neuronal precursors subsequently adopt either the anorexigenic (POMC) or the orexigenic (NPY/AgRP) identity remains elusive. We hypothesize that POMC and NPY/AgRP cell fates are specified and maintained by distinct intrinsic factors. In search of them, we profiled the transcriptomes of developing POMC and NPY/AgRP neurons in mice. Moreover, cell-type-specific transcriptomic analyses revealed transcription regulators that are selectively enriched in either population, but whose developmental functions are unknown in these neurons. Among them, we found the expression of the PR domain-containing factor 12 (Prdm12) was enriched in POMC neurons but absent in NPY/AgRP neurons. To study the role of Prdm12 in vivo, we developed and characterized a floxed Prdm12 allele. Selective ablation of Prdm12 in embryonic POMC neurons led to significantly reduced Pomc expression as well as early-onset obesity in mice of either sex that recapitulates symptoms of human POMC deficiency. Interestingly, however, specific deletion of Prdm12 in adult POMC neurons showed that it is no longer required for Pomc expression or energy balance. Collectively, these findings establish a critical role for Prdm12 in the anorexigenic neuron identity and suggest that it acts developmentally to program body weight homeostasis. Finally, the combination of cell-type-specific genomic and genetic analyses provides a means to dissect cellular and functional diversity in the hypothalamus whose neurodevelopment remains poorly studied.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT POMC and NPY/AgRP neurons are derived from the same hypothalamic progenitors but have opposing effects on food intake. We profiled the transcriptomes of genetically labeled POMC and NPY/AgRP neurons in the developing mouse hypothalamus to decipher the transcriptional codes behind the versus orexigenic neuron identity. Our analyses revealed 29 transcription regulators that are selectively enriched in one of the two populations. We generated new mouse genetic models to selective ablate one of POMC-neuron enriched transcription factors Prdm12 in developing and adult POMC neurons. Our studies establish a previously unrecognized role for Prdm12 in the anorexigenic neuron identity and suggest that it acts developmentally to program body weight homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiameng Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypothalamic Research Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Steven C Wyler
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypothalamic Research Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Li Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypothalamic Research Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Amanda G Arnold
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypothalamic Research Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Rong Wan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypothalamic Research Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Lin Jia
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypothalamic Research Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Mark A Landy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Helen C Lai
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Pin Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypothalamic Research Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
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28
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Hael CE, Rojo D, Orquera DP, Low MJ, Rubinstein M. The transcriptional regulator PRDM12 is critical for Pomc expression in the mouse hypothalamus and controlling food intake, adiposity, and body weight. Mol Metab 2020; 34:43-53. [PMID: 32180559 PMCID: PMC7011018 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2020.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Regulation of food intake and energy balance depends on a group of hypothalamic neurons that release anorexigenic melanocortins encoded by the Pomc gene. Although the physiological importance of central melanocortins is well appreciated, the genetic program that defines the functional identity of melanocortin neurons and assures high levels of hypothalamic Pomc expression is only beginning to be understood. This study assessed whether the transcriptional regulator PRDM12, identified as a highly expressed gene in adult mouse POMC neurons, plays an important role in the identity and function of melanocortin neurons. METHODS We first determined the cellular distribution of PRDM12 in the developing hypothalamus. Then we studied mutant mice with constitutively inactivated Prdm12 to evaluate possible changes in hypothalamic Pomc expression. In addition, we characterized conditional mutant mice specifically lacking Prdm12 in ISL1-positive or POMC neurons during development. Finally, we measured food intake, body weight progression up to 16 weeks of age, adiposity, and glucose tolerance in adult mice lacking Prdm12 selectively from POMC neurons. RESULTS PRDM12 co-expressed with POMC in mouse hypothalamic neurons from early development to adulthood. Mice lacking Prdm12 displayed greatly reduced Pomc expression in the developing hypothalamus. Selective ablation of Prdm12 from ISL1 neurons prevented hypothalamic Pomc expression. The conditional ablation of Prdm12 limited to POMC neurons greatly reduced Pomc expression in the developing hypothalamus and in adult mice led to increased food intake, adiposity, and obesity. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our results demonstrate that PRDM12 plays an essential role in the early establishment of hypothalamic melanocortin neuron identity and the maintenance of high expression levels of Pomc. Its absence in adult mice greatly impairs Pomc expression and leads to increased food intake, adiposity, and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara E Hael
- Institute of Investigations in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, National Council of Scientific and Technological Research, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Rojo
- Institute of Investigations in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, National Council of Scientific and Technological Research, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela P Orquera
- Institute of Investigations in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, National Council of Scientific and Technological Research, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Malcolm J Low
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
| | - Marcelo Rubinstein
- Institute of Investigations in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, National Council of Scientific and Technological Research, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA; Department of Physiology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, School of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Loid P, Mustila T, Mäkitie RE, Viljakainen H, Kämpe A, Tossavainen P, Lipsanen-Nyman M, Pekkinen M, Mäkitie O. Rare Variants in Genes Linked to Appetite Control and Hypothalamic Development in Early-Onset Severe Obesity. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:81. [PMID: 32153512 PMCID: PMC7047210 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Context: The hypothalamic circuit has an essential role in the regulation of appetite and energy expenditure. Pathogenic variants in genes involved in the hypothalamic leptin-melanocortin pathway, including melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R), have been associated with monogenic obesity. Objective: To determine the rate and spectrum of rare variants in genes involved in melanocortin pathway or hypothalamic development in patients with severe early-onset obesity (height-adjusted weight >60% before age 10 years). Methods: We used a custom-made targeted exome sequencing panel to assess peripheral blood DNA samples for rare (minor allele frequency <0.5%), pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in 24 genes related to the hypothalamic circuit in 92 subjects (51% males, median age 13.7 years) with early-onset severe obesity (median body mass index (BMI) Z-score + 4.0). Results: We identified a novel frameshift deletion in MC4R (p.V103Afs5*) in two unrelated patients and a previously reported MC4R variant (p.T112M) in one patient. In addition, we identified rare heterozygous missense variants in ADCY3 (p.G1110R), MYT1L (p.R807Q), ISL1 (p.I347F), LRP2 (p.R2479I, and p.N3315S) and a hemizygous missense variant in GRPR (p.L87M) (each in one patient), possibly contributing to the obesity phenotype in these patients. Altogether 8 % (7/92) of the subjects had rare pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in the studied genes. Conclusions: Rare genetic variants within the hypothalamic circuit are prevalent and contribute to the development of severe early-onset obesity. Targeted exome sequencing is useful in identifying affected subjects. Further studies are needed to evaluate the variants' clinical significance and to define optimal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Loid
- Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Genetics Research Program, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- *Correspondence: Petra Loid
| | - Taina Mustila
- Department of Pediatrics, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland
- City of Turku, Welfare Division, Preventive Healthcare, Turku, Finland
| | - Riikka E. Mäkitie
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Genetics Research Program, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Hammersmith Campus, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Heli Viljakainen
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Genetics Research Program, Helsinki, Finland
- The Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anders Kämpe
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, and Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Päivi Tossavainen
- Department of Children and Adolescents, PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Marita Lipsanen-Nyman
- Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Minna Pekkinen
- Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Genetics Research Program, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Mäkitie
- Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Genetics Research Program, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, and Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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30
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Huisman C, Cho H, Brock O, Lim SJ, Youn SM, Park Y, Kim S, Lee SK, Delogu A, Lee JW. Single cell transcriptome analysis of developing arcuate nucleus neurons uncovers their key developmental regulators. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3696. [PMID: 31420539 PMCID: PMC6697706 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11667-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the crucial physiological processes governed by neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), such as growth, reproduction and energy homeostasis, the developmental pathways and regulators for ARC neurons remain understudied. Our single cell RNA-seq analyses of mouse embryonic ARC revealed many cell type-specific markers for developing ARC neurons. These markers include transcription factors whose expression is enriched in specific neuronal types and often depleted in other closely-related neuronal types, raising the possibility that these transcription factors play important roles in the fate commitment or differentiation of specific ARC neuronal types. We validated this idea with the two transcription factors, Foxp2 enriched for Ghrh-neurons and Sox14 enriched for Kisspeptin-neurons, using Foxp2- and Sox14-deficient mouse models. Taken together, our single cell transcriptome analyses for the developing ARC uncovered a panel of transcription factors that are likely to form a gene regulatory network to orchestrate fate specification and differentiation of ARC neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Huisman
- Neuroscience Section, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Hyeyoung Cho
- Neuroscience Section, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Olivier Brock
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Su Jeong Lim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Life Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung Min Youn
- Department of Bioinformatics and Life Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Younjung Park
- Neuroscience Section, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Sangsoo Kim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Life Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Soo-Kyung Lee
- Neuroscience Section, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Alessio Delogu
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 9RS, UK.
| | - Jae W Lee
- Neuroscience Section, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
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31
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The Homeodomain Transcription Factor NKX2.1 Is Essential for the Early Specification of Melanocortin Neuron Identity and Activates Pomc Expression in the Developing Hypothalamus. J Neurosci 2019; 39:4023-4035. [PMID: 30886014 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2924-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Food intake is tightly regulated by a group of neurons present in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, which release Pomc-encoded melanocortins, the absence of which induces marked hyperphagia and early-onset obesity. Although the relevance of hypothalamic POMC neurons in the regulation of body weight and energy balance is well appreciated, little is known about the transcription factors that establish the melanocortin neuron identity during brain development and its phenotypic maintenance in postnatal life. Here, we report that the transcription factor NKX2.1 is present in mouse hypothalamic POMC neurons from early development to adulthood. Electromobility shift assays showed that NKX2.1 binds in vitro to NKX binding motifs present in the neuronal Pomc enhancers nPE1 and nPE2 and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays detected in vivo binding of NKX2.1 to nPE1 and nPE2 in mouse hypothalamic extracts. Transgenic and mutant studies performed in mouse embryos of either sex and adult males showed that the NKX motifs present in nPE1 and nPE2 are essential for their transcriptional enhancer activity. The conditional early inactivation of Nkx2.1 in the ventral hypothalamus prevented the onset of Pomc expression. Selective Nkx2.1 ablation from POMC neurons decreased Pomc expression in adult males and mildly increased their body weight and adiposity. Our results demonstrate that NKX2.1 is necessary to activate Pomc expression by binding to conserved canonical NKX motifs present in nPE1 and nPE2. Therefore, NKX2.1 plays a critical role in the early establishment of hypothalamic melanocortin neuron identity and participates in the maintenance of Pomc expression levels during adulthood.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Food intake and body weight regulation depend on hypothalamic neurons that release satiety-inducing neuropeptides, known as melanocortins. Central melanocortins are encoded byPomc, and Pomc mutations may lead to hyperphagia and severe obesity. Although the importance of central melanocortins is well appreciated, the genetic program that establishes and maintains fully functional POMC neurons remains to be explored. Here, we combined molecular, genetic, developmental, and functional studies that led to the discovery of NKX2.1, a transcription factor that participates in the early morphogenesis of the developing hypothalamus, as a key player in establishing the early identity of melanocortin neurons by activating Pomc expression. Thus, Nkx2.1 adds to the growing list of genes that participate in body weight regulation and adiposity.
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Baeuml SW, Biechl D, Wullimann MF. Adult islet1 Expression Outlines Ventralized Derivatives Along Zebrafish Neuraxis. Front Neuroanat 2019; 13:19. [PMID: 30863287 PMCID: PMC6399416 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2019.00019] [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: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Signals issued by dorsal roof and ventral floor plates, respectively, underlie the major patterning process of dorsalization and ventralization during vertebrate neural tube development. The ventrally produced morphogen Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is crucial for vertebrate hindbrain and spinal motor neuron development. One diagnostic gene for motor neurons is the LIM/homeodomain gene islet1, which has additional ventral expression domains extending into mid- and forebrain. In order to corroborate motor neuron development and, in particular, to improve on the identification of poorly documented zebrafish forebrain islet1 populations, we studied adult brains of transgenic islet1-GFP zebrafish (3 and 6 months). This molecular neuroanatomical analysis was supported by immunostaining these brains for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), respectively, revealing zebrafish catecholaminergic and cholinergic neurons. The present analysis of ChAT and islet1-GFP label confirms ongoing adult expression of islet1 in zebrafish (basal plate) midbrain, hindbrain, and spinal motor neurons. In contrast, non-motor cholinergic systems lack islet1 expression. Additional presumed basal plate islet1 positive systems are described in detail, aided by TH staining which is particularly informative in the diencephalon. Finally, alar plate zebrafish forebrain systems with islet1 expression are described (i.e., thalamus, preoptic region, and subpallium). We conclude that adult zebrafish continue to express islet1 in the same brain systems as in the larva. Further, pending functional confirmation we hypothesize that the larval expression of sonic hedgehog (shh) might causally underlie much of adult islet1 expression because it explains findings beyond ventrally located systems, for example regarding shh expression in the zona limitans intrathalamica and correlated islet1-GFP expression in the thalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan W Baeuml
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniela Biechl
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Mario F Wullimann
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Quarta C, Fisette A, Xu Y, Colldén G, Legutko B, Tseng YT, Reim A, Wierer M, De Rosa MC, Klaus V, Rausch R, Thaker VV, Graf E, Strom TM, Poher AL, Gruber T, Le Thuc O, Cebrian-Serrano A, Kabra D, Bellocchio L, Woods SC, Pflugfelder GO, Nogueiras R, Zeltser L, Grunwald Kadow IC, Moon A, García-Cáceres C, Mann M, Treier M, Doege CA, Tschöp MH. Functional identity of hypothalamic melanocortin neurons depends on Tbx3. Nat Metab 2019; 1:222-235. [PMID: 32694784 PMCID: PMC8291379 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-018-0028-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Heterogeneous populations of hypothalamic neurons orchestrate energy balance via the release of specific signatures of neuropeptides. However, how specific intracellular machinery controls peptidergic identities and function of individual hypothalamic neurons remains largely unknown. The transcription factor T-box 3 (Tbx3) is expressed in hypothalamic neurons sensing and governing energy status, whereas human TBX3 haploinsufficiency has been linked with obesity. Here, we demonstrate that loss of Tbx3 function in hypothalamic neurons causes weight gain and other metabolic disturbances by disrupting both the peptidergic identity and plasticity of Pomc/Cart and Agrp/Npy neurons. These alterations are observed after loss of Tbx3 in both immature hypothalamic neurons and terminally differentiated mouse neurons. We further establish the importance of Tbx3 for body weight regulation in Drosophila melanogaster and show that TBX3 is implicated in the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into hypothalamic Pomc neurons. Our data indicate that Tbx3 directs the terminal specification of neurons as functional components of the melanocortin system and is required for maintaining their peptidergic identity. In summary, we report the discovery of a key mechanistic process underlying the functional heterogeneity of hypothalamic neurons governing body weight and systemic metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Quarta
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Alexandre Fisette
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Yanjun Xu
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Gustav Colldén
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Beata Legutko
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Yu-Ting Tseng
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Reim
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Michael Wierer
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Maria Caterina De Rosa
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Valentina Klaus
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Rick Rausch
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vidhu V Thaker
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisabeth Graf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tim M Strom
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Anne-Laure Poher
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tim Gruber
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ophélia Le Thuc
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Alberto Cebrian-Serrano
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Dhiraj Kabra
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Luigi Bellocchio
- INSERM U1215, NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux, France
- Université de Bordeaux, NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux, France
| | - Stephen C Woods
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Metabolic Diseases Institute, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Gert O Pflugfelder
- Institute of Developmental and Neurobiology. Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Rubén Nogueiras
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lori Zeltser
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ilona C Grunwald Kadow
- Technical University of Munich, School of Life Sciences, ZIEL - Institute for Food and Health, Freising, Germany
| | - Anne Moon
- Department of Molecular and Functional Genomics, Geisinger Clinic, Danville PA, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Cristina García-Cáceres
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Mann
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Mathias Treier
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia A Doege
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthias H Tschöp
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany.
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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Newman EA, Wu D, Taketo MM, Zhang J, Blackshaw S. Canonical Wnt signaling regulates patterning, differentiation and nucleogenesis in mouse hypothalamus and prethalamus. Dev Biol 2018; 442:236-248. [PMID: 30063881 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamus is a small, but anatomically and functionally complex region of the brain whose development is poorly understood. In this study, we have explored its development by studying the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, generating gain and loss of function mutations of beta-catenin (Ctnnb1) in both hypothalamic and prethalamic neuroepithelium. Deletion of Ctnnb1 resulted in an anteriorized and hypoplastic hypothalamus. Posterior structures were lost or reduced, and anterior structures were expanded. In contrast, overexpression of a constitutively active mutant form of Ctnnb1 resulted in severe hyperplasia of prethalamus and hypothalamus, and expanded expression of a subset of posterior and premamillary hypothalamic markers. Moderate defects in differentiation of Arx-positive GABAergic neural precursors were observed in both prethalamus and hypothalamus of Ctnnb1 loss of function mutants, while in gain of function mutants, their differentiation was completely suppressed, although markers of prethalamic progenitors were preserved. Multiple other region-specific markers, including several specific posterior hypothalamic structures, were also suppressed in Ctnnb1 gain of function mutations. Severe, region-specific defects in hypothalamic nucleogenesis were also observed in both gain and loss of function mutations of Ctnnb1. Finally, both gain and loss of function of Ctnnb1 also produced severe, non-cell autonomous disruptions of pituitary development. These findings demonstrate a central and multifaceted role for canonical Wnt signaling in regulating growth, patterning, differentiation and nucleogenesis in multiple diencephalic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Newman
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dan Wu
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Makoto Mark Taketo
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jiangyang Zhang
- Department of Radiology, NYU Langone School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Human Systems Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Development of neuroendocrine neurons in the mammalian hypothalamus. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 375:23-39. [PMID: 29869716 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2859-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The neuroendocrine system consists of a heterogeneous collection of (mostly) neuropeptidergic neurons found in four hypothalamic nuclei and sharing the ability to secrete neurohormones (all of them neuropeptides except dopamine) into the bloodstream. There are, however, abundant hypothalamic non-neuroendocrine neuropeptidergic neurons developing in parallel with the neuroendocrine system, so that both cannot be entirely disentangled. This heterogeneity results from the workings of a network of transcription factors many of which are already known. Olig2 and Fezf2 expressed in the progenitors, acting through mantle-expressed Otp and Sim1, Sim2 and Pou3f2 (Brn2), regulate production of magnocellular and anterior parvocellular neurons. Nkx2-1, Rax, Ascl1, Neurog3 and Dbx1 expressed in the progenitors, acting through mantle-expressed Isl1, Dlx1, Gsx1, Bsx, Hmx2/3, Ikzf1, Nr5a2 (LH-1) and Nr5a1 (SF-1) are responsible for tuberal parvocellular (arcuate nucleus) and other neuropeptidergic neurons. The existence of multiple progenitor domains whose progeny undergoes intricate tangential migrations as one source of complexity in the neuropeptidergic hypothalamus is the focus of much attention. How neurosecretory cells target axons to the medial eminence and posterior hypophysis is gradually becoming clear and exciting progress has been made on the mechanisms underlying neurovascular interface formation. While rat neuroanatomy and targeted mutations in mice have yielded fundamental knowledge about the neuroendocrine system in mammals, experiments on chick and zebrafish are providing key information about cellular and molecular mechanisms. Looking forward, data from every source will be necessary to unravel the ways in which the environment affects neuroendocrine development with consequences for adult health and disease.
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Moreno N, López JM, Morona R, Lozano D, Jiménez S, González A. Comparative Analysis of Nkx2.1 and Islet-1 Expression in Urodele Amphibians and Lungfishes Highlights the Pattern of Forebrain Organization in Early Tetrapods. Front Neuroanat 2018; 12:42. [PMID: 29867380 PMCID: PMC5968111 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression patterns of Nkx2.1 and Islet-1 (Isl1), which encode transcription factors that are key in the regionalization of the forebrain, were analyzed by combined immunohistochemical methods in young adult specimens of two lungfishes (Neoceratodus forsteri and Protopterus dolloi) and a urodele amphibian (Pleurodeles waltl). We aimed to get insights into the possible organization of the forebrain in the common ancestor of all tetrapods because of the pivotal phylogenetic significance of these two groups, being lungfishes the closest living relatives of tetrapods, and representing urodeles a model of simple brain organization with most shared features with amniotes. These transcription factors display regionally restricted expression domains in adult (juvenile) brains that are best interpreted according to the current prosomeric model. The regional patterns observed serve to identify regions and compare between the three species studied, and with previous data reported mainly for amniotes. We corroborate that Nkx2.1 and Isl1 expressions have very similar topologies in the forebrain. Common features in all sarcopterygians (lungfishes and tetrapods) have been observed, such as the Isl1 expression in most striatal neurons, whereas Nkx2.1 is restricted to migrated interneurons that reach the ventral pallium (VP). In the pallidal derivatives, the combination of both markers allows the identification of the boundaries between the ventral septum, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and the preoptic commissural region. In addition, the high Isl1 expression in the central amygdala (CeA), its boundary with the lateral amygdala (LA), and the scattered Nkx2.1 expression in the medial amygdala (MeA) are also shared features. The alar and basal hypothalamic territories, and the prethalamus and posterior tubercle (TP) in the diencephalon, have maintained a common pattern of expression. This regional distribution of Isl1 and Nkx2.1 observed in the forebrain of urodeles and lungfishes contributes further to our understanding of the first terrestrial vertebrates and their ancestors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Moreno
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús M López
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ruth Morona
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Lozano
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Jiménez
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Agustín González
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Zhu X, Li Y, Meng Q. Islet-1 promotes the proliferation and invasion, and inhibits the apoptosis of A375 human melanoma cells. Int J Mol Med 2018; 41:3680-3690. [PMID: 29568936 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the insulin gene enhancer-binding protein, islet-1 (ISL1), on the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of the human melanoma cell line, A375. An ISL1 overexpression lentiviral vector was constructed and transfected into the A375 cells. The proliferation of the A375 cells transfected with the ISL1 vector (termed A375/ISL1 cells) was examined by MTT assay, flow cytometry and TUNEL assay, and cell invasion was examined by Transwell assay. The expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were measured by qPCR and western blot analysis; the expression levels of Akt and p-Akt were measured in the cells treated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the PI3K/Akt inhibitor, LY294002, by western blot analysis. The optical density value of the A375/ISL1 cells was increased after 12 h of culture (P<0.001), as shown by MTT assay. The ratio of apoptotic A375/ISL1 cells was significantly decreased (P<0.001), as shown by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. In addition, the average penetration rate of the A375/ISL1 cells significantly increased (P<0.001), as shown by Transwell assay. The expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly increased in the A375/ISL1 cells, as shown by qPCR and western blot analysis (P<0.001). Moreover, treatment of the A375/ISL1 cells with VEGF for 48 h increased the expression of Akt and p-Akt compared with the control cells transfected with A375/green fluorescent protein (GFP) (P<0.05; P<0.001, respectively). In addition, in the A375/ISL1 cells treated with the LY294002 inhibitor for 24 and 48 h, the level of Akt was also found to increase compared to the control A375/GFP cells (P<0.05). On the whole, the findings of this study indicate that the overexpression of ISL1 promotes the proliferation and invasion, and inhibits the apoptosis of A375 melanoma cells. ISL1 thus plays an important role in A375 cell survival, and these effects are possibly mediate via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
| | - Yuzhen Li
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P.R. China
| | - Qinggang Meng
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
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Alié A, Devos L, Torres-Paz J, Prunier L, Boulet F, Blin M, Elipot Y, Retaux S. Developmental evolution of the forebrain in cavefish, from natural variations in neuropeptides to behavior. eLife 2018; 7:32808. [PMID: 29405116 PMCID: PMC5800845 DOI: 10.7554/elife.32808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The fish Astyanax mexicanus comes in two forms: the normal surface-dwelling and the blind depigmented cave-adapted morphs. Comparing the development of their basal forebrain, we found quantitative differences in numbers of cells in specific clusters for six out of nine studied neuropeptidergic cell types. Investigating the origins of these differences, we showed that early Shh and Fgf signaling impact on the development of NPY and Hypocretin clusters, via effect on Lhx7 and Lhx9 transcription factors, respectively. Finally, we demonstrated that such neurodevelopmental evolution underlies behavioral evolution, linking a higher number of Hypocretin cells with hyperactivity in cavefish. Early embryonic modifications in signaling/patterning at neural plate stage therefore impact neuronal development and later larval behavior, bridging developmental evolution of a neuronal system and the adaptive behavior it governs. This work uncovers novel variations underlying the evolution and adaptation of cavefish to their extreme environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Alié
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Université Paris Sud, CNRS UMR9197, Université Paris-Saclay, Avenue de la terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lucie Devos
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Université Paris Sud, CNRS UMR9197, Université Paris-Saclay, Avenue de la terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jorge Torres-Paz
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Université Paris Sud, CNRS UMR9197, Université Paris-Saclay, Avenue de la terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lise Prunier
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Université Paris Sud, CNRS UMR9197, Université Paris-Saclay, Avenue de la terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Fanny Boulet
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Université Paris Sud, CNRS UMR9197, Université Paris-Saclay, Avenue de la terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Maryline Blin
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Université Paris Sud, CNRS UMR9197, Université Paris-Saclay, Avenue de la terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Yannick Elipot
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Université Paris Sud, CNRS UMR9197, Université Paris-Saclay, Avenue de la terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Sylvie Retaux
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Université Paris Sud, CNRS UMR9197, Université Paris-Saclay, Avenue de la terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Xie Y, Dorsky RI. Development of the hypothalamus: conservation, modification and innovation. Development 2017; 144:1588-1599. [PMID: 28465334 DOI: 10.1242/dev.139055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamus, which regulates fundamental aspects of physiological homeostasis and behavior, is a brain region that exhibits highly conserved anatomy across vertebrate species. Its development involves conserved basic mechanisms of induction and patterning, combined with a more plastic process of neuronal fate specification, to produce brain circuits that mediate physiology and behavior according to the needs of each species. Here, we review the factors involved in the induction, patterning and neuronal differentiation of the hypothalamus, highlighting recent evidence that illustrates how changes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling during development may lead to species-specific form and function of this important brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Xie
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Richard I Dorsky
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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40
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Rubinstein M, Low MJ. Molecular and functional genetics of the proopiomelanocortin gene, food intake regulation and obesity. FEBS Lett 2017; 591:2593-2606. [PMID: 28771698 PMCID: PMC9975356 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A specter is haunting the world, the specter of obesity. During the last decade, this pandemia has skyrocketed threatening children, adolescents and lower income families worldwide. Although driven by an increase in the consumption of ultraprocessed edibles of poor nutritional value, the obesogenic changes in contemporary human lifestyle affect people differently, revealing that some individuals are more prone to develop increased adiposity. During the last years, we performed a variety of genetic, evolutionary, biochemical and behavioral experiments that allowed us to understand how a group of neurons present in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus regulate the expression of the proopiomelanocortin (Pomc) gene and induce satiety. We disentangled the neuronal transcriptional code of Pomc by identifying the cis-acting regulatory elements and primary transcription factors controlling hypothalamic Pomc expression and determined their functional importance in the regulation of food intake and adiposity. Altogether, our studies reviewed here shed light on the power and limitations of the mammalian central satiety pathways and may contribute to the development of individual and collective strategies to reduce the debilitating effects of the self-induced obesity pandemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Rubinstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina,Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina,Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Malcolm J. Low
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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41
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Klein MO, MacKay H, Edwards A, Park S, Kiss ACI, Felicio LF, Abizaid A. POMC and NPY mRNA expression during development is increased in rat offspring brain from mothers fed with a high fat diet. Int J Dev Neurosci 2017; 64:14-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Orlandini Klein
- Department of NeuroscienceCarleton UniversityOttawaONCanada
- Department of PharmacologyInstitute of Biomedical Science, University of São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
| | - Harry MacKay
- Department of NeuroscienceCarleton UniversityOttawaONCanada
| | | | - Su‐Bin Park
- Department of NeuroscienceCarleton UniversityOttawaONCanada
| | | | - Luciano Freitas Felicio
- Department of PharmacologyInstitute of Biomedical Science, University of São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
- Department of PathologySchool of Veterinary Medicine, University of São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
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Lee B, Lee S, Lee SK, Lee JW. The LIM-homeobox transcription factor Isl1 plays crucial roles in the development of multiple arcuate nucleus neurons. Development 2016; 143:3763-3773. [PMID: 27578785 DOI: 10.1242/dev.133967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus relay and translate important cues from the periphery into the central nervous system. However, the gene regulatory program directing their development remains poorly understood. Here, we report that the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Isl1 is expressed in several subpopulations of developing arcuate neurons and plays crucial roles in their fate specification. Mice with conditional deletion of the Isl1 gene in developing hypothalamus display severe deficits in both feeding and linear growth. Consistent with these results, their arcuate nucleus fails to express key fate markers of Isl1-expressing neurons that regulate feeding and growth. These include the orexigenic neuropeptides AgRP and NPY for specifying AgRP-neurons, the anorexigenic neuropeptide αMSH for POMC-neurons, and two growth-stimulatory peptides, growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) for GHRH-neurons and somatostatin (Sst) for Sst-neurons. Finally, we show that Isl1 directly enhances the expression of AgRP by cooperating with the key orexigenic transcription factors glucocorticoid receptor and brain-specific homeobox factor. Our results identify Isl1 as a crucial transcription factor that plays essential roles in the gene regulatory program directing development of multiple arcuate neuronal subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Lee
- Neuroscience Section, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.,Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Seunghee Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Soo-Kyung Lee
- Neuroscience Section, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.,Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.,Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jae W Lee
- Neuroscience Section, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA .,Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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43
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Czapiewski P, Gorczynski A, Radecka K, Wiewiora C, Haybaeck J, Adam P, Fend F, Zakrzewska M, Zakrzewski K, Liberski PP, Biernat W. Expression of SOX11, PAX5, TTF-1 and ISL-1 in medulloblastoma. Pathol Res Pract 2016; 212:965-971. [PMID: 27623204 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The aim of our study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of SOX11, PAX5, TTF-1 and ISL-1 in medulloblastoma (MB) to investigate their diagnostic usefulness. METHODS Immunohistochemical expression of PAX5 (two antibodies: Dako, DAK-Pax5; and BD, clone 24), TTF-1 (Dako, 8G7G3/1), SOX11 (CL0142; Abcam) and ISL-1 (1 H9, Abcam) was analyzed using the h-score and Remmele score in 25 cases of MB. RESULTS There were 18 MBs of classic and 7 of desmoplastic type. SOX11 was strongly expressed in all tumors. The expression of PAX5 was higher and more frequent in a case of DAK-Pax5 clone (25/25) than clone 24 (6/25). ISL-1 was positive in 11 (44%) and TTF-1 in 3 (12%) cases. ISL-1 expression correlated positively (p<0.001), while TTF-1 correlated negatively with the age of patients (p=0.039). PAX5 expression correlated with ISL-1 (p=0.039) and showed a trend toward higher expression in the desmoplastic subtype (p=0.069). CONCLUSIONS SOX11 is strongly and robustly expressed in MBs. PAX5 expression pattern differs substantially among two antibody clones. TTF-1 and ISL-1 is associated with the age of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Czapiewski
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Adam Gorczynski
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
| | | | | | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Patrick Adam
- Department of Pathology Ingolstadt, Pathologie Ingolstadt, Germany
| | - Falko Fend
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Magdalena Zakrzewska
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Zakrzewski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute, Lodz, Poland
| | - Pawel P Liberski
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Wojciech Biernat
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
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44
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Galiano MR, Goitea VE, Hallak ME. Post-translational protein arginylation in the normal nervous system and in neurodegeneration. J Neurochem 2016; 138:506-17. [PMID: 27318192 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Post-translational arginylation of proteins is an important regulator of many physiological pathways in cells. This modification was originally noted in protein degradation during neurodegenerative processes, with an apparently different physiological relevance between central and peripheral nervous system. Subsequent studies have identified a steadily increasing number of proteins and proteolysis-derived polypeptides as arginyltransferase (ATE1) substrates, including β-amyloid, α-synuclein, and TDP43 proteolytic fragments. Arginylation is involved in signaling processes of proteins and polypeptides that are further ubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome. In addition, it is also implicated in autophagy/lysosomal degradation pathway. Recent studies using mutant mouse strains deficient in ATE1 indicate additional roles of this modification in neuronal physiology. As ATE1 is capable of modifying proteins either at the N-terminus or middle-chain acidic residues, determining which proteins function are modulated by arginylation represents a big challenge. Here, we review studies addressing various roles of ATE1 activity in nervous system function, and suggest future research directions that will clarify the role of post-translational protein arginylation in brain development and various neurological disorders. Arginyltransferase (ATE1), the enzyme responsible for post-translational arginylation, modulates the functions of a wide variety of proteins and polypeptides, and is also involved in the main degradation pathways of intracellular proteins. Regulatory roles of ATE1 have been well defined for certain organs. However, its roles in nervous system development and neurodegenerative processes remain largely unknown, and present exciting opportunities for future research, as discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio R Galiano
- Centro de Investigaciones de Química Biológica de Córdoba, CIQUIBIC, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Victor E Goitea
- Centro de Investigaciones de Química Biológica de Córdoba, CIQUIBIC, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marta E Hallak
- Centro de Investigaciones de Química Biológica de Córdoba, CIQUIBIC, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, Argentina
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45
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Orquera DP, Nasif S, Low MJ, Rubinstein M, de Souza FSJ. Essential function of the transcription factor Rax in the early patterning of the mammalian hypothalamus. Dev Biol 2016; 416:212-224. [PMID: 27212025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamus is a region of the anterior forebrain that controls basic aspects of vertebrate physiology, but the genes involved in its development are still poorly understood. Here, we investigate the function of the homeobox gene Rax/Rx in early hypothalamic development using a conditional targeted inactivation strategy in the mouse. We found that lack of Rax expression prior to embryonic day 8.5 (E8.5) caused a general underdevelopment of the hypothalamic neuroepithelium, while inactivation at later timepoints had little effect. The early absence of Rax impaired neurogenesis and prevented the expression of molecular markers of the dorsomedial hypothalamus, including neuropeptides Proopiomelanocortin and Somatostatin. Interestingly, the expression domains of genes expressed in the ventromedial hypothalamus and infundibulum invaded dorsal hypothalamic territory, showing that Rax is needed for the proper dorsoventral patterning of the developing medial hypothalamus. The phenotypes caused by the early loss of Rax are similar to those of eliminating the expression of the morphogen Sonic hedgehog (Shh) specifically from the hypothalamus. Consistent with this similarity in phenotypes, we observed that Shh and Rax are coexpressed in the rostral forebrain at late head fold stages and that loss of Rax caused a downregulation of Shh expression in the dorsomedial portion of the hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela P Orquera
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sofia Nasif
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Malcolm J Low
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States
| | - Marcelo Rubinstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States; Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Flávio S J de Souza
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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46
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Drouin J. 60 YEARS OF POMC: Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of POMC gene expression. J Mol Endocrinol 2016; 56:T99-T112. [PMID: 26792828 DOI: 10.1530/jme-15-0289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Expression of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene integrates numerous inputs that reflect the developmental history of POMC-expressing cells of the pituitary and hypothalamus, as well as their critical role in the endocrine system. These inputs are integrated at specific regulatory sequences within the promoter and pituitary or hypothalamic enhancers of the POMC locus. Investigations of developmental mechanisms and transcription factors (TFs) responsible for pituitary activation of POMC transcription led to the discovery of the Pitx factors that have critical roles in pituitary development and striking patterning functions in embryonic development. Terminal differentiation of the two pituitary POMC lineages, the corticotrophs and melanotrophs, is controlled by Tpit; mutations of the human TPIT gene cause isolated adrenocorticotrophic hormone deficiency. Intermediate lobe and melanotroph identity is provided by the pioneer TF Pax7 that remodels chromatin to reveal a new repertoire of enhancers for Tpit action. Many signaling pathways regulate POMC transcription including activation by hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone acting through the orphan nuclear receptors of the Nur family and feedback repression by glucocorticoids and their glucocorticoid receptor. TFs of the basic helix-loop-helix, Smad, Stat, Etv, and nuclear factor-B families also mediate signals for control of POMC transcription. Whereas most of these regulatory processes are conserved in different species, there are also notable differences between specific targets for regulation of the human compared with mouse POMC genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Drouin
- Laboratoire de génétique moléculaireInstitut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
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47
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Abstract
The neuroendocrine hypothalamus is composed of the tuberal and anterodorsal hypothalamus, together with the median eminence/neurohypophysis. It centrally governs wide-ranging physiological processes, including homeostasis of energy balance, circadian rhythms and stress responses, as well as growth and reproductive behaviours. Homeostasis is maintained by integrating sensory inputs and effecting responses via autonomic, endocrine and behavioural outputs, over diverse time-scales and throughout the lifecourse of an individual. Here, we summarize studies that begin to reveal how different territories and cell types within the neuroendocrine hypothalamus are assembled in an integrated manner to enable function, thus supporting the organism's ability to survive and thrive. We discuss how signaling pathways and transcription factors dictate the appearance and regionalization of the hypothalamic primordium, the maintenance of progenitor cells, and their specification and differentiation into neurons. We comment on recent studies that harness such programmes for the directed differentiation of human ES/iPS cells. We summarize how developmental plasticity is maintained even into adulthood and how integration between the hypothalamus and peripheral body is established in the median eminence and neurohypophysis. Analysis of model organisms, including mouse, chick and zebrafish, provides a picture of how complex, yet elegantly coordinated, developmental programmes build glial and neuronal cells around the third ventricle of the brain. Such conserved processes enable the hypothalamus to mediate its function as a central integrating and response-control mediator for the homeostatic processes that are critical to life. Early indications suggest that deregulation of these events may underlie multifaceted pathological conditions and dysfunctional physiology in humans, such as obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Burbridge
- Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Iain Stewart
- Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Marysia Placzek
- Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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48
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Crispo M, Schlapp G, Meikle MN, Mulet AP, Barrera N, Cuadro F, Dos Santos-Neto PC, Menchaca A. Advances in the Generation of Genetically Modified (GM) Animal Models: Meeting report. Transgenic Res 2015; 24:1087-90. [PMID: 26507268 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-015-9913-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M Crispo
- Unidad de Animales Transgénicos y de Experimentación (UATE), Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - G Schlapp
- Unidad de Animales Transgénicos y de Experimentación (UATE), Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - M N Meikle
- Unidad de Animales Transgénicos y de Experimentación (UATE), Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - A P Mulet
- Unidad de Animales Transgénicos y de Experimentación (UATE), Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - N Barrera
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Uruguay, Fundación IRAUy, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - F Cuadro
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Uruguay, Fundación IRAUy, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - P C Dos Santos-Neto
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Uruguay, Fundación IRAUy, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - A Menchaca
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Uruguay, Fundación IRAUy, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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49
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Kim N, Park C, Jeong Y, Song MR. Functional Diversification of Motor Neuron-specific Isl1 Enhancers during Evolution. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005560. [PMID: 26447474 PMCID: PMC4598079 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional diversification of motor neurons has occurred in order to selectively control the movements of different body parts including head, trunk and limbs. Here we report that transcription of Isl1, a major gene necessary for motor neuron identity, is controlled by two enhancers, CREST1 (E1) and CREST2 (E2) that allow selective gene expression of Isl1 in motor neurons. Introduction of GFP reporters into the chick neural tube revealed that E1 is active in hindbrain motor neurons and spinal cord motor neurons, whereas E2 is active in the lateral motor column (LMC) of the spinal cord, which controls the limb muscles. Genome-wide ChIP-Seq analysis combined with reporter assays showed that Phox2 and the Isl1-Lhx3 complex bind to E1 and drive hindbrain and spinal cord-specific expression of Isl1, respectively. Interestingly, Lhx3 alone was sufficient to activate E1, and this may contribute to the initiation of Isl1 expression when progenitors have just developed into motor neurons. E2 was induced by onecut 1 (OC-1) factor that permits Isl1 expression in LMCm neurons. Interestingly, the core region of E1 has been conserved in evolution, even in the lamprey, a jawless vertebrate with primitive motor neurons. All E1 sequences from lamprey to mouse responded equally well to Phox2a and the Isl1-Lhx3 complex. Conversely, E2, the enhancer for limb-innervating motor neurons, was only found in tetrapod animals. This suggests that evolutionarily-conserved enhancers permit the diversification of motor neurons. During evolution, motor neurons became specialized to control movements of different body parts including head, trunk and limbs. Here we report that two enhancers of Isl1, E1 and E2, are active together with transcription factors in motor neurons. Surprisingly, E1 and its response to transcription factors has been conserved in evolution from the lamprey to man, whereas E2 is only found in animals with limbs. Our study provides an evolutionary example of how functional diversification of motor neurons is achieved by a dynamic interplay between enhancers and transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namhee Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Cell Dynamics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chungoo Park
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongsu Jeong
- Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Ryoung Song
- School of Life Sciences, Cell Dynamics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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Castinetti F, Brinkmeier ML, Mortensen AH, Vella KR, Gergics P, Brue T, Hollenberg AN, Gan L, Camper SA. ISL1 Is Necessary for Maximal Thyrotrope Response to Hypothyroidism. Mol Endocrinol 2015; 29:1510-21. [PMID: 26296153 DOI: 10.1210/me.2015-1192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
ISLET1 is a homeodomain transcription factor necessary for development of the pituitary, retina, motor neurons, heart, and pancreas. Isl1-deficient mice (Isl1(-/-)) die early during embryogenesis at embryonic day 10.5 due to heart defects, and at that time, they have an undersized pituitary primordium. ISL1 is expressed in differentiating pituitary cells in early embryogenesis. Here, we report the cell-specific expression of ISL1 and assessment of its role in gonadotropes and thyrotropes. Isl1 expression is elevated in pituitaries of Cga(-/-) mice, a model of hypothyroidism with thyrotrope hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Thyrotrope-specific disruption of Isl1 with Tshb-cre is permissive for normal serum TSH, but T4 levels are decreased, suggesting decreased thyrotrope function. Inducing hypothyroidism in normal mice causes a reduction in T4 levels and dramatically elevated TSH response, but mice with thyrotrope-specific disruption of Isl1 have a blunted TSH response. In contrast, deletion of Isl1 in gonadotropes with an Lhb-cre transgene has no obvious effect on gonadotrope function or fertility. These results show that ISL1 is necessary for maximal thyrotrope response to hypothyroidism, in addition to its role in development of Rathke's pouch.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Castinetti
- Human Genetics, University of Michigan (F.C., M.L.B., A.H.M., P.G., S.A.C.), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (K.R.V., A.N.H.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215; Aix-Marseille University (F.C., T.B.), Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France 13000; and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (L.G.), Rochester, New York 14642
| | - M L Brinkmeier
- Human Genetics, University of Michigan (F.C., M.L.B., A.H.M., P.G., S.A.C.), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (K.R.V., A.N.H.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215; Aix-Marseille University (F.C., T.B.), Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France 13000; and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (L.G.), Rochester, New York 14642
| | - A H Mortensen
- Human Genetics, University of Michigan (F.C., M.L.B., A.H.M., P.G., S.A.C.), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (K.R.V., A.N.H.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215; Aix-Marseille University (F.C., T.B.), Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France 13000; and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (L.G.), Rochester, New York 14642
| | - K R Vella
- Human Genetics, University of Michigan (F.C., M.L.B., A.H.M., P.G., S.A.C.), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (K.R.V., A.N.H.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215; Aix-Marseille University (F.C., T.B.), Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France 13000; and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (L.G.), Rochester, New York 14642
| | - P Gergics
- Human Genetics, University of Michigan (F.C., M.L.B., A.H.M., P.G., S.A.C.), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (K.R.V., A.N.H.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215; Aix-Marseille University (F.C., T.B.), Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France 13000; and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (L.G.), Rochester, New York 14642
| | - T Brue
- Human Genetics, University of Michigan (F.C., M.L.B., A.H.M., P.G., S.A.C.), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (K.R.V., A.N.H.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215; Aix-Marseille University (F.C., T.B.), Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France 13000; and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (L.G.), Rochester, New York 14642
| | - A N Hollenberg
- Human Genetics, University of Michigan (F.C., M.L.B., A.H.M., P.G., S.A.C.), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (K.R.V., A.N.H.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215; Aix-Marseille University (F.C., T.B.), Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France 13000; and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (L.G.), Rochester, New York 14642
| | - L Gan
- Human Genetics, University of Michigan (F.C., M.L.B., A.H.M., P.G., S.A.C.), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (K.R.V., A.N.H.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215; Aix-Marseille University (F.C., T.B.), Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France 13000; and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (L.G.), Rochester, New York 14642
| | - S A Camper
- Human Genetics, University of Michigan (F.C., M.L.B., A.H.M., P.G., S.A.C.), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (K.R.V., A.N.H.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215; Aix-Marseille University (F.C., T.B.), Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie et Neurophysiologie de Marseille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France 13000; and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (L.G.), Rochester, New York 14642
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