1
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Aguilar C, Williams D, Kurapati R, Bains RS, Mburu P, Parker A, Williams J, Concas D, Tateossian H, Haynes AR, Banks G, Vikhe P, Heise I, Hutchison M, Atkins G, Gillard S, Starbuck B, Oliveri S, Blake A, Sethi S, Kumar S, Bardhan T, Jeng JY, Johnson SL, Corns LF, Marcotti W, Simon M, Wells S, Potter PK, Lad HV. Pleiotropic brain function of whirlin identified by a novel mutation. iScience 2024; 27:110170. [PMID: 38974964 PMCID: PMC11225360 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite some evidence indicating diverse roles of whirlin in neurons, the functional corollary of whirlin gene function and behavior has not been investigated or broadly characterized. A single nucleotide variant was identified from our recessive ENU-mutagenesis screen at a donor-splice site in whirlin, a protein critical for proper sensorineural hearing function. The mutation (head-bob, hb) led to partial intron-retention causing a frameshift and introducing a premature termination codon. Mutant mice had a head-bobbing phenotype and significant hyperactivity across several phenotyping tests. Lack of complementation of head-bob with whirler mutant mice confirmed the head-bob mutation as functionally distinct with compound mutants having a mild-moderate hearing defect. Utilizing transgenics, we demonstrate rescue of the hyperactive phenotype and combined with the expression profiling data conclude whirlin plays an essential role in activity-related behaviors. These results highlight a pleiotropic role of whirlin within the brain and implicate alternative, central mediated pathways in its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Aguilar
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Debbie Williams
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Ramakrishna Kurapati
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Rasneer S. Bains
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Philomena Mburu
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Andy Parker
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Jackie Williams
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Danilo Concas
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Hilda Tateossian
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Andrew R. Haynes
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Gareth Banks
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Pratik Vikhe
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Ines Heise
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Marie Hutchison
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Gemma Atkins
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Simon Gillard
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Becky Starbuck
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Simona Oliveri
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Andrew Blake
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Siddharth Sethi
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Saumya Kumar
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Tanaya Bardhan
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jing-Yi Jeng
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
| | - Stuart L. Johnson
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
| | - Lara F. Corns
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
| | - Walter Marcotti
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK
| | - Michelle Simon
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Sara Wells
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Paul K. Potter
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Heena V. Lad
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
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2
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Birch S, McGee L, Provencher C, DeMio C, Plachetzki D. Phototactic preference and its genetic basis in the planulae of the colonial Hydrozoan Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.28.585045. [PMID: 38617216 PMCID: PMC11014542 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.28.585045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Marine organisms with sessile adults commonly possess motile larval stages that make settlement decisions based on integrating environmental sensory cues. Phototaxis, the movement toward or away from light, is a common behavioral characteristic of aquatic and marine metazoan larvae, and of algae, protists, and fungi. In cnidarians, behavioral genomic investigations of motile planulae larvae have been conducted in anthozoans (corals and sea anemones) and scyphozoans (true jellyfish), but such studies are presently lacking in hydrozoans. Here, we examined the behavioral genomics of phototaxis in planulae of the hydrozoan Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus. Results A behavioral phototaxis study of day 3 planulae indicated preferential phototaxis to green (523 nm) and blue (470 nm) wavelengths of light, but not red (625 nm) wavelengths. A developmental transcriptome study where planula larvae were collected from four developmental time points for RNA-seq revealed that many genes critical to the physiology and development of ciliary photosensory systems are dynamically expressed in planula development and correspond to the expression of phototactic behavior. Microscopical investigations using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization demonstrated that several transcripts with predicted function in photoreceptors, including cnidops class opsin, CNG ion channel, and CRX-like transcription factor, localize to ciliated bipolar sensory neurons of the aboral sensory neural plexus, which is associated with the direction of phototaxis and the site of settlement. Conclusions The phototactic preference displayed by planulae is consistent with the shallow sandy marine habitats they experience in nature. Our genomic investigations add further evidence of similarities between cnidops-mediated photoreceptors of hydrozoans and other cnidarians and ciliary photoreceptors as found in the eyes of humans and other bilaterians, suggesting aspects of their shared evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Birch
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences; University of New Hampshire; Durham, NH, 03824; USA
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of North Carolina Charlotte; Charlotte, NC, 28223; USA
| | - Lindy McGee
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences; University of New Hampshire; Durham, NH, 03824; USA
| | - Curtis Provencher
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences; University of New Hampshire; Durham, NH, 03824; USA
| | - Christine DeMio
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences; University of New Hampshire; Durham, NH, 03824; USA
| | - David Plachetzki
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences; University of New Hampshire; Durham, NH, 03824; USA
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3
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Logan DR, Hall J, Bianchi L. A helping hand: roles for accessory cells in the sense of touch across species. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1367476. [PMID: 38433863 PMCID: PMC10904576 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1367476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
During touch, mechanical forces are converted into electrochemical signals by tactile organs made of neurons, accessory cells, and their shared extracellular spaces. Accessory cells, including Merkel cells, keratinocytes, lamellar cells, and glia, play an important role in the sensation of touch. In some cases, these cells are intrinsically mechanosensitive; however, other roles include the release of chemical messengers, the chemical modification of spaces that are shared with neurons, and the tuning of neural sensitivity by direct physical contact. Despite great progress in the last decade, the precise roles of these cells in the sense of touch remains unclear. Here we review the known and hypothesized contributions of several accessory cells to touch by incorporating research from multiple organisms including C. elegans, D. melanogaster, mammals, avian models, and plants. Several broad parallels are identified including the regulation of extracellular ions and the release of neuromodulators by accessory cells, as well as the emerging potential physical contact between accessory cells and sensory neurons via tethers. Our broader perspective incorporates the importance of accessory cells to the understanding of human touch and pain, as well as to animal touch and its molecular underpinnings, which are underrepresented among the animal welfare literature. A greater understanding of touch, which must include a role for accessory cells, is also relevant to emergent technical applications including prosthetics, virtual reality, and robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Bianchi
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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4
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Crane R, Tebbe L, Mwoyosvi ML, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Expression of the human usherin c.2299delG mutation leads to early-onset auditory loss and stereocilia disorganization. Commun Biol 2023; 6:933. [PMID: 37700068 PMCID: PMC10497539 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05296-x] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is the leading cause of combined deafness and blindness, with USH2A being the most prevalent form. The mechanisms responsible for this debilitating sensory impairment remain unclear. This study focuses on characterizing the auditory phenotype in a mouse model expressing the c.2290delG mutation in usherin equivalent to human frameshift mutation c.2299delG. Previously we described how this model reproduces patient's retinal phenotypes. Here, we present the cochlear phenotype, showing that the mutant usherin, is expressed during early postnatal stages. The c.2290delG mutation results in a truncated protein that is mislocalized within the cell body of the hair cells. The knock-in model also exhibits congenital hearing loss that remains consistent throughout the animal's lifespan. Structurally, the stereocilia bundles, particularly in regions associated with functional hearing loss, are disorganized. Our findings shed light on the role of usherin in maintaining structural support, specifically in longer inner hair cell stereocilia, during development, which is crucial for proper bundle organization and hair cell function. Overall, we present a genetic mouse model with cochlear defects associated with the c.2290delG mutation, providing insights into the etiology of hearing loss and offering potential avenues for the development of effective therapeutic treatments for USH2A patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Crane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Lars Tebbe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Maggie L Mwoyosvi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Muayyad R Al-Ubaidi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA.
| | - Muna I Naash
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA.
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5
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Toms M, Toualbi L, Almeida PV, Harbottle R, Moosajee M. Successful large gene augmentation of USH2A with non-viral episomal vectors. Mol Ther 2023; 31:2755-2766. [PMID: 37337429 PMCID: PMC10491995 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.06.012] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
USH2A mutations are a common cause of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Usher syndrome, for which there are currently no approved treatments. Gene augmentation is a valuable therapeutic strategy for treating many inherited retinal diseases; however, conventional adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy cannot accommodate cDNAs exceeding 4.7 kb, such as the 15.6-kb-long USH2A coding sequence. In the present study, we adopted an alternative strategy to successfully generate scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR) DNA plasmid vectors containing the full-length human USH2A coding sequence, a GFP reporter gene, and a ubiquitous promoter (CMV or CAG), reaching a size of approximately 23 kb. We assessed the vectors in transfected HEK293 cells and USH2A patient-derived dermal fibroblasts in addition to ush2au507 zebrafish microinjected with the vector at the one-cell stage. pS/MAR-USH2A vectors drove persistent transgene expression in patient fibroblasts with restoration of usherin. Twelve months of GFP expression was detected in the photoreceptor cells, with rescue of Usher 2 complex localization in the photoreceptors of ush2au507 zebrafish retinas injected with pS/MAR-USH2A. To our knowledge, this is the first reported vector that can be used to express full-length usherin with functional rescue. S/MAR DNA vectors have shown promise as a novel non-viral retinal gene therapy, warranting further translational development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Toms
- Development, Ageing, and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Lyes Toualbi
- Development, Ageing, and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Patrick V Almeida
- DNA Vector Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard Harbottle
- DNA Vector Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mariya Moosajee
- Development, Ageing, and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Genetics, Moorfields Eye Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
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6
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Schellens RT, Broekman S, Peters T, Graave P, Malinar L, Venselaar H, Kremer H, De Vrieze E, Van Wijk E. A protein domain-oriented approach to expand the opportunities of therapeutic exon skipping for USH2A-associated retinitis pigmentosa. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 32:980-994. [PMID: 37313440 PMCID: PMC10258241 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in USH2A are among the most common causes of syndromic and non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We previously presented skipping of USH2A exon 13 as a promising treatment paradigm for USH2A-associated RP. However, RP-associated mutations are often private, and evenly distributed along the USH2A gene. In order to broaden the group of patients that could benefit from therapeutic exon skipping strategies, we expanded our approach to other USH2A exons in which unique loss-of-function mutations have been reported by implementing a protein domain-oriented dual exon skipping strategy. We first generated zebrafish mutants carrying a genomic deletion of the orthologous exons of the frequently mutated human USH2A exons 30-31 or 39-40 using CRISPR-Cas9. Excision of these in-frame combinations of exons restored usherin expression in the zebrafish retina and rescued the photopigment mislocalization typically observed in ush2a mutants. To translate these findings into a future treatment in humans, we employed in vitro assays to identify and validate antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) with a high potency for sequence-specific dual exon skipping. Together, the in vitro and in vivo data demonstrate protein domain-oriented ASO-induced dual exon skipping to be a highly promising treatment option for RP caused by mutations in USH2A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renske T.W. Schellens
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hearing and Genes, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne Broekman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hearing and Genes, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Theo Peters
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hearing and Genes, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Pam Graave
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Lucija Malinar
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Hanka Venselaar
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Hannie Kremer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hearing and Genes, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Erik De Vrieze
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hearing and Genes, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Erwin Van Wijk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hearing and Genes, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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7
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Guan Y, Du H, Yang Z, Wang Y, Ren R, Liu W, Zhang C, Zhang J, An W, Li N, Zeng X, Li J, Sun Y, Wang Y, Yang F, Yang J, Xiong W, Yu X, Chai R, Tu X, Sun J, Xu Z. Deafness-Associated ADGRV1 Mutation Impairs USH2A Stability through Improper Phosphorylation of WHRN and WDSUB1 Recruitment. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2205993. [PMID: 37066759 PMCID: PMC10238197 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The ankle-link complex (ALC) consists of USH2A, WHRN, PDZD7, and ADGRV1 and plays an important role in hair cell development. At present, its architectural organization and signaling role remain unclear. By establishing Adgrv1 Y6236fsX1 mutant mice as a model of the deafness-associated human Y6244fsX1 mutation, the authors show here that the Y6236fsX1 mutation disrupts the interaction between adhesion G protein-coupled receptor V subfamily member 1 (ADGRV1) and other ALC components, resulting in stereocilia disorganization and mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) deficits. Importantly, ADGRV1 inhibits WHRN phosphorylation through regional cAMP-PKA signaling, which in turn regulates the ubiquitination and stability of USH2A via local signaling compartmentalization, whereas ADGRV1 Y6236fsX1 does not. Yeast two-hybrid screening identified the E3 ligase WDSUB1 that binds to WHRN and regulates the ubiquitination of USH2A in a WHRN phosphorylation-dependent manner. Further FlAsH-BRET assay, NMR spectrometry, and mutagenesis analysis provided insights into the architectural organization of ALC and interaction motifs at single-residue resolution. In conclusion, the present data suggest that ALC organization and accompanying local signal transduction play important roles in regulating the stability of the ALC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Guan
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of EducationDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University
Jinan250012China
| | - Hai‐Bo Du
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental BiologyShandong University School of Life SciencesQingdao266237China
- Air Force Medical CenterPLABeijing100142China
| | - Zhao Yang
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of EducationDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University
Jinan250012China
| | - Yu‐Zhu Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular DynamicsHefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the MicroscaleSchool of Life SciencesUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefei230022China
| | - Rui Ren
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental BiologyShandong University School of Life SciencesQingdao266237China
| | - Wen‐Wen Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck SurgeryShandong Provincial ENT HospitalCheeloo College of MedicineShandong UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of EducationDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University
Jinan250012China
| | - Jia‐Hai Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular DynamicsHefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the MicroscaleSchool of Life SciencesUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefei230022China
| | - Wen‐Tao An
- Advanced Medical Research InstituteCheeloo College of MedicineShandong UniversityJinan250012China
| | - Na‐Na Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental BiologyShandong University School of Life SciencesQingdao266237China
| | - Xiao‐Xue Zeng
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of EducationDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University
Jinan250012China
| | - Jie Li
- School of Life SciencesIDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at TsinghuaTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Yi‐Xiao Sun
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental BiologyShandong University School of Life SciencesQingdao266237China
| | - Yan‐Fei Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental BiologyShandong University School of Life SciencesQingdao266237China
| | - Fan Yang
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of EducationDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University
Jinan250012China
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of EducationDepartment of PhysiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong UniversityJinan250012China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual SciencesMoran Eye CenterUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUT84132USA
| | - Wei Xiong
- School of Life SciencesIDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at TsinghuaTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of EducationDepartment of PhysiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong UniversityJinan250012China
| | - Ren‐Jie Chai
- MOE Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human DiseaseInstitute of Life SciencesJiangsu Province High‐Tech Key Laboratory for Bio‐Medical ResearchSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Xiao‐Ming Tu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular DynamicsHefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the MicroscaleSchool of Life SciencesUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefei230022China
| | - Jin‐Peng Sun
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of EducationDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University
Jinan250012China
- Advanced Medical Research InstituteCheeloo College of MedicineShandong UniversityJinan250012China
- Department of Physiology and PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesPeking UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular ScienceMinistry of EducationBeijing100191China
| | - Zhi‐Gang Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental BiologyShandong University School of Life SciencesQingdao266237China
- Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Cell BiologyShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
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8
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Wang H, Du H, Ren R, Du T, Lin L, Feng Z, Zhao D, Wei X, Zhai X, Wang H, Dong T, Sun JP, Wu H, Xu Z, Lu Q. Temporal and spatial assembly of inner ear hair cell ankle link condensate through phase separation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1657. [PMID: 36964137 PMCID: PMC10039067 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37267-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Stereocilia are actin-based cell protrusions of inner ear hair cells and are indispensable for mechanotransduction. Ankle links connect the ankle region of developing stereocilia, playing an essential role in stereocilia development. WHRN, PDZD7, ADGRV1 and USH2A have been identified to form the so-called ankle link complex (ALC); however, the detailed mechanism underlying the temporal emergence and degeneration of ankle links remains elusive. Here we show that WHRN and PDZD7 orchestrate ADGRV1 and USH2A to assemble the ALC through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Disruption of the ALC multivalency for LLPS largely abolishes the distribution of WHRN at the ankle region of stereocilia. Interestingly, high concentration of ADGRV1 inhibits LLPS, providing a potential mechanism for ALC disassembly. Moreover, certain deafness mutations of ALC genes weaken the multivalent interactions of ALC and impair LLPS. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that LLPS mediates ALC formation, providing essential clues for understanding the pathogenesis of deafness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huang Wang
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Haibo Du
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China
- Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, 100074, China
| | - Rui Ren
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China
| | - Tingting Du
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Lin
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Zhe Feng
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Dange Zhao
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xiaoxi Wei
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhai
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- College of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Audiology and Vestibular Medicine, Chinese PLA Institute of Otolaryngology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, 28 Fuxing Road, 100853, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, 28 Fuxing Road, 100853, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Dong
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-Peng Sun
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhigang Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China.
- Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China.
| | - Qing Lu
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China.
- Bio-X-Renji Hospital Research Center, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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9
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Sharkova M, Chow E, Erickson T, Hocking JC. The morphological and functional diversity of apical microvilli. J Anat 2023; 242:327-353. [PMID: 36281951 PMCID: PMC9919547 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory neurons use specialized apical processes to perceive external stimuli and monitor internal body conditions. The apical apparatus can include cilia, microvilli, or both, and is adapted for the functions of the particular cell type. Photoreceptors detect light through a large, modified cilium (outer segment), that is supported by a surrounding ring of microvilli-like calyceal processes (CPs). Although first reported 150 years ago, CPs remain poorly understood. As a basis for future study, we therefore conducted a review of existing literature about sensory cell microvilli, which can act either as the primary sensory detector or as support for a cilia-based detector. While all microvilli are finger-like cellular protrusions with an actin core, the processes vary across cell types in size, number, arrangement, dynamics, and function. We summarize the current state of knowledge about CPs and the characteristics of the microvilli found on inner ear hair cells (stereocilia) and cerebral spinal fluid-contacting neurons, with comparisons to the brush border of the intestinal and renal epithelia. The structure, stability, and dynamics of the actin core are regulated by a complement of actin-binding proteins, which includes both common components and unique features when compared across cell types. Further, microvilli are often supported by lateral links, a glycocalyx, and a defined extracellular matrix, each adapted to the function and environment of the cell. Our comparison of microvillar features will inform further research into how CPs support photoreceptor function, and also provide a general basis for investigations into the structure and functions of apical microvilli found on sensory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sharkova
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Erica Chow
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Timothy Erickson
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Jennifer C Hocking
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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10
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Robillard KN, de Vrieze E, van Wijk E, Lentz JJ. Altering gene expression using antisense oligonucleotide therapy for hearing loss. Hear Res 2022; 426:108523. [PMID: 35649738 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2022.108523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hearing loss affects more than 430 million people, worldwide, and is the third most common chronic physical condition in the United States and Europe (GBD Hearing Loss Collaborators, 2021; NIOSH, 2021; WHO, 2021). The loss of hearing significantly impacts motor and cognitive development, communication, education, employment, and overall quality of life. The inner ear houses the sensory organs for both hearing and balance and provides an accessible target for therapeutic delivery. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) use various mechanisms to manipulate gene expression and can be tailor-made to treat disorders with defined genetic targets. In this review, we discuss the preclinical advancements within the field of the highly promising ASO-based therapies for hereditary hearing loss disorders. Particular focus is on ASO mechanisms of action, preclinical studies on ASO treatments of hearing loss, timing of therapeutic intervention, and delivery routes to the inner ear.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erik de Vrieze
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, RUMC, Geert Grooteplein 10, Route 855, GA, Nijmegen 6525, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, RUMC, Nijmegen, NL
| | - Erwin van Wijk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, RUMC, Geert Grooteplein 10, Route 855, GA, Nijmegen 6525, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, RUMC, Nijmegen, NL.
| | - Jennifer J Lentz
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, LSUHSC, New Orleans, LA, USA; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, LSUHSC, 2020 Gravier Street, Lions Building, Room 795, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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11
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Li W, Jiang XS, Han DM, Gao JY, Yang ZT, Jiang L, Zhang Q, Zhang SH, Gao Y, Wu JH, Li JK. Genetic Characteristics and Variation Spectrum of USH2A-Related Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome. Front Genet 2022; 13:900548. [PMID: 36110214 PMCID: PMC9468824 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.900548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purposes: We aimed to characterize the USH2A genotypic spectrum in a Chinese cohort and provide a detailed genetic profile for Chinese patients with USH2A-IRD.Methods: We designed a retrospective study wherein a total of 1,334 patients diagnosed with IRD were included as a study cohort, namely 1,278 RP and 56 USH patients, as well as other types of IEDs patients and healthy family members as a control cohort. The genotype-phenotype correlation of all participants with USH2A variant was evaluated.Results: Etiological mutations in USH2A, the most common cause of RP and USH, were found in 16.34% (n = 218) genetically solved IRD patients, with prevalences of 14.87% (190/1,278) and 50% (28/56). After bioinformatics and QC processing, 768 distinct USH2A variants were detected in all participants, including 136 disease-causing mutations present in 665 alleles, distributed in 5.81% of all participants. Of these 136 mutations, 43 were novel, nine were founder mutations, and two hot spot mutations with allele count ≥10. Furthermore, 38.5% (84/218) of genetically solved USH2A-IRD patients were caused by at least one of both c.2802T>G and c.8559–2 A>G mutations, and 36.9% and 69.6% of the alleles in the RP and USH groups were truncating, respectively.Conclusion: USH2A-related East Asian-specific founder and hot spot mutations were the major causes for Chinese RP and USH patients. Our study systematically delineated the genotype spectrum of USH2A-IRD, enabled accurate genetic diagnosis, and provided East Asian and other ethnicities with baseline data of a Chinese origin, which would better serve genetic counseling and therapeutic targets selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Wei Li, ; Ya Gao, ; Ji-Hong Wu, ; Jian-Kang Li,
| | - Xiao-Sen Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dong-Ming Han
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jia-Yu Gao
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zheng-Tao Yang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Laizhou City People’s Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sheng-Hai Zhang
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya Gao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Wei Li, ; Ya Gao, ; Ji-Hong Wu, ; Jian-Kang Li,
| | - Ji-Hong Wu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Wei Li, ; Ya Gao, ; Ji-Hong Wu, ; Jian-Kang Li,
| | - Jian-Kang Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Wei Li, ; Ya Gao, ; Ji-Hong Wu, ; Jian-Kang Li,
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12
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Zaw K, Carvalho LS, Aung-Htut MT, Fletcher S, Wilton SD, Chen FK, McLenachan S. Pathogenesis and Treatment of Usher Syndrome Type IIA. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2022; 11:369-379. [PMID: 36041150 DOI: 10.1097/apo.0000000000000546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common form of deaf-blindness, with an estimated prevalence of 4.4 to 16.6 per 100,000 people worldwide. The most common form of USH is type IIA (USH2A), which is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the USH2A gene and accounts for around half of all USH cases. USH2A patients show moderate to severe hearing loss from birth, with diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa in the second decade of life and variable vestibular involvement. Although hearing aids or cochlear implants can provide some mitigation of hearing deficits, there are currently no treatments aimed at preventing or restoring vision loss in USH2A patients. In this review, we first provide an overview of the molecular biology of the USH2A gene and its protein isoforms, which include a transmembrane protein (TM usherin) and an extracellular protein (EC usherin). The role of these proteins in the inner ear and retina and their impact on the pathogenesis of USH2A is discussed. We review animal cell-derived and patient cell-derived models currently used in USH2A research and conclude with an overview of potential treatment strategies currently in preclinical development and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khine Zaw
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Livia S Carvalho
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - May T Aung-Htut
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sue Fletcher
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Steve D Wilton
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Fred K Chen
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Samuel McLenachan
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
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13
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Ziolkowski LH, Gracheva EO, Bagriantsev SN. Tactile sensation in birds: Physiological insights from avian mechanoreceptors. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 74:102548. [PMID: 35489134 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The sense of touch is ubiquitous in vertebrates and relies upon the detection of mechanical forces in the skin by the tactile end-organs of low-threshold mechanoreceptors. Significant progress has been made in understanding the mechanism of tactile end-organ function using mammalian models, but the detailed mechanics of touch sensation in Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles, the principal detectors of transient touch and vibration, remain obscure. The avian homologs of these corpuscles present an opportunity for functional study of mechanosensation in these structures, due to their relative accessibility and high abundance in the bill skin of tactile-foraging waterfowl. Here, we review the current knowledge of mechanosensory end-organs in birds and highlight the utility of the avian model to understand general principles of touch detection in the glabrous skin of vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke H Ziolkowski
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Elena O Gracheva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Sviatoslav N Bagriantsev
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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14
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Maudoux A, Vitry S, El-Amraoui A. Vestibular Deficits in Deafness: Clinical Presentation, Animal Modeling, and Treatment Solutions. Front Neurol 2022; 13:816534. [PMID: 35444606 PMCID: PMC9013928 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.816534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The inner ear is responsible for both hearing and balance. These functions are dependent on the correct functioning of mechanosensitive hair cells, which convert sound- and motion-induced stimuli into electrical signals conveyed to the brain. During evolution of the inner ear, the major changes occurred in the hearing organ, whereas the structure of the vestibular organs remained constant in all vertebrates over the same period. Vestibular deficits are highly prevalent in humans, due to multiple intersecting causes: genetics, environmental factors, ototoxic drugs, infections and aging. Studies of deafness genes associated with balance deficits and their corresponding animal models have shed light on the development and function of these two sensory systems. Bilateral vestibular deficits often impair individual postural control, gaze stabilization, locomotion and spatial orientation. The resulting dizziness, vertigo, and/or falls (frequent in elderly populations) greatly affect patient quality of life. In the absence of treatment, prosthetic devices, such as vestibular implants, providing information about the direction, amplitude and velocity of body movements, are being developed and have given promising results in animal models and humans. Novel methods and techniques have led to major progress in gene therapies targeting the inner ear (gene supplementation and gene editing), 3D inner ear organoids and reprograming protocols for generating hair cell-like cells. These rapid advances in multiscale approaches covering basic research, clinical diagnostics and therapies are fostering interdisciplinary research to develop personalized treatments for vestibular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Maudoux
- Unit Progressive Sensory Disorders, Pathophysiology and Therapy, Institut Pasteur, Institut de l'Audition, Université de Paris, INSERM-UMRS1120, Paris, France
- Center for Balance Evaluation in Children (EFEE), Otolaryngology Department, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert-Debré University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Vitry
- Unit Progressive Sensory Disorders, Pathophysiology and Therapy, Institut Pasteur, Institut de l'Audition, Université de Paris, INSERM-UMRS1120, Paris, France
| | - Aziz El-Amraoui
- Unit Progressive Sensory Disorders, Pathophysiology and Therapy, Institut Pasteur, Institut de l'Audition, Université de Paris, INSERM-UMRS1120, Paris, France
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15
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The genetic and phenotypic landscapes of Usher syndrome: from disease mechanisms to a new classification. Hum Genet 2022; 141:709-735. [PMID: 35353227 PMCID: PMC9034986 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-022-02448-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common cause of deaf–blindness in humans, with a prevalence of about 1/10,000 (~ 400,000 people worldwide). Cochlear implants are currently used to reduce the burden of hearing loss in severe-to-profoundly deaf patients, but many promising treatments including gene, cell, and drug therapies to restore the native function of the inner ear and retinal sensory cells are under investigation. The traditional clinical classification of Usher syndrome defines three major subtypes—USH1, 2 and 3—according to hearing loss severity and onset, the presence or absence of vestibular dysfunction, and age at onset of retinitis pigmentosa. Pathogenic variants of nine USH genes have been initially reported: MYO7A, USH1C, PCDH15, CDH23, and USH1G for USH1, USH2A, ADGRV1, and WHRN for USH2, and CLRN1 for USH3. Based on the co-occurrence of hearing and vision deficits, the list of USH genes has been extended to few other genes, but with limited supporting information. A consensus on combined criteria for Usher syndrome is crucial for the development of accurate diagnosis and to improve patient management. In recent years, a wealth of information has been obtained concerning the properties of the Usher proteins, related molecular networks, potential genotype–phenotype correlations, and the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the impairment or loss of hearing, balance and vision. The advent of precision medicine calls for a clear and more precise diagnosis of Usher syndrome, exploiting all the existing data to develop a combined clinical/genetic/network/functional classification for Usher syndrome.
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16
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Chen BJ, Qian XQ, Yang XY, Jiang T, Wang YM, Lyu JH, Chi FL, Chen P, Ren DD. Rab11a Regulates the Development of Cilia and Establishment of Planar Cell Polarity in Mammalian Vestibular Hair Cells. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:762916. [PMID: 34867187 PMCID: PMC8640494 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.762916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vestibular organs have unique planar cell polarity (Figure 1A), and their normal development and function are dependent on the regular polarity of cilia (Figure 1B) requires. Rab11a is a small G protein that participates in the transportation of intracellular and extracellular materials required for polarity formation; however, our understanding of the mechanisms of the actions of Rab11a in vestibular organs is limited. Here, we showed that the general shape of the utricle was abnormal in Rab11a CKO/CKO mice. These mice also showed abnormal morphology of the stereocilia bundles, which were reduced in both length and number, as well as disturbed tissue-level polarity. Rab11a affected the distribution of polarity proteins in the vestibular organs, indicating that the normal development of cilia requires Rab11a and intraflagellar transportation. Furthermore, small G protein migration works together with intraflagellar transportation in the normal development of cilia. FIGURE 1Morphological changes of stereocilia in the extrastriolar hair cells from Rab11a single or Rab11a/IFT88 double-mutant utricles. (A) Medial view of a mouse left inner ear with its five vestibular sensory organs (gray). Enlarged are the utricle showing their subdivisions, LPR (yellow line), and striola (blue). LES, lateral extrastriola; MES, medial extrastriola; LPR, line of polarity reversal. (B) Schematic view of vestibular hair cell. Kinocilium is marked with ace-tubulin. Basal body is marked with γ-tubulin. (C,C1,D,D1) Normal appearance of the stereocilia of extrastriolar hair cells of wild-type controls. (E,E1,F,F1) Altered morphology in Rab11a CKO/CKO animals. (G,G1,H,H1) The changes in the stereocilia morphology were more severe in Rab11a CKO/CKO /IFT 88 CKO/+ mice. (I-L) Higher magnification of confocal images of hair cells. (M-P) Scanning electron microscopy images of hair cells from wild-type controls and Rab11a mutants. (I,M) Morphology of normal. hair cells of wild-type controls. (J,N) The number of stereocilia on a single hair cell was deceased in the Rab11a mutant. (K,O) Stereocilia were shorter in mutants compared to the wild-type controls. (L,P) The staircase-like hair bundle architecture of hair cells was lost in Rab11a mutant mice. (Q) The percentage of hair cells with abnormal development of static cilia bundles in the extrastriola region was counted as a percentage of the total (n = 5). The percentage of abnormal hair cells was higher in Rab11a CKO/CKO , IFT88 CKO/+ mice compared to Rab11a CKO/CKO . The abnormal ratios of single and double knockout hair cells were 42.1 ± 5.7 and 71.5 ± 10.4, respectively. In (A-J), for all primary panels, hair cell stereociliary bundles were marked with phalloidin (green), the actin-rich cuticular plate of hair cells was labeled with β-spectrin (red), while the basal body of the hair cell was labeled with γ-tubulin (blue). Scale bars: 10 μm (C-H1), 5 μm (J-N). *P < 0.05.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin-Jun Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ENT Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Qing Qian
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ENT Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Yang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ENT Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ENT Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan-Mei Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ENT Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji-Han Lyu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ENT Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang-Lu Chi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ENT Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Department of Otolaryngology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Dong-Dong Ren
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ENT Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Auditory Medical Center, Shanghai, China
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17
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Yoshimura H, Nishio S, Usami S. Milestones toward cochlear gene therapy for patients with hereditary hearing loss. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2021; 6:958-967. [PMID: 34693000 PMCID: PMC8513455 DOI: 10.1002/lio2.633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A number of genes are reportedly responsible for hereditary hearing loss, which accounts for over 50% of all congenital hearing loss cases. Recent advances in genetic testing have enabled the identification of pathogenic variants in many cases, and systems have been developed to provide personalized treatment based on etiology. Gene therapy is expected to become an unprecedented curative treatment. Several reports have demonstrated the successful use of cochlear gene therapy to restore auditory function in mouse models of genetic deafness; however, many hurdles remain to its clinical application in humans. Herein, we focus on the frequency of deafness genes in patients with congenital and late-onset progressive hearing loss and discuss the following points regarding which genes need to be targeted to efficiently proceed with clinical application: (a) which cells' genes are expressed within the cochlea, (b) whether gene transfer to the targeted cells is possible using vectors such as adeno-associated virus, (c) what phenotype of hearing loss in patients is exhibited, and (d) whether mouse models exist to verify the effectiveness of treatment. Moreover, at the start of clinical application, gene therapy in combination with cochlear implantation may be useful for cases of progressive hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidekane Yoshimura
- Department of OtorhinolaryngologyShinshu University School of MedicineMatsumotoNaganoJapan
| | - Shin‐Ya Nishio
- Department of Hearing Implant SciencesShinshu University School of MedicineMatsumotoNaganoJapan
| | - Shin‐Ichi Usami
- Department of Hearing Implant SciencesShinshu University School of MedicineMatsumotoNaganoJapan
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18
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Characteristics of Retinitis Pigmentosa Associated with ADGRV1 and Comparison with USH2A in Patients from a Multicentric Usher Syndrome Study Treatrush. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910352. [PMID: 34638692 PMCID: PMC8509029 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to USH2A, variants in ADGRV1 are a minor cause of Usher syndrome type 2, and the associated phenotype is less known. The purpose of the study was to characterize the retinal phenotype of 18 ADGRV1 patients (9 male, 9 female; median age 52 years) and compare it with that of 204 USH2A patients (111 male, 93 female; median age 43 years) in terms of nyctalopia onset, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) features. There was no statistical difference in the median age at onset (30 and 18 years; Mann–Whitney U test, p = 0.13); the mean age when 50% of the patients reached legal blindness (≥1.0 log MAR) based on visual acuity (64 years for both groups; log-rank, p = 0.3); the risk of developing advanced retinal degeneration (patch or atrophy) with age (multiple logistic regression, p = 0.8); or the frequency of cystoid macular edema (31% vs. 26%, Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.4). ADGRV1 and USH2A retinopathy were indistinguishable in all major functional and structural characteristics, suggesting that the loss of function of the corresponding proteins produces similar effects in the retina. The results are important for counseling ADGRV1 patients, who represent the minor patient subgroup.
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Toms M, Dubis AM, de Vrieze E, Tracey-White D, Mitsios A, Hayes M, Broekman S, Baxendale S, Utoomprurkporn N, Bamiou D, Bitner-Glindzicz M, Webster AR, Van Wijk E, Moosajee M. Clinical and preclinical therapeutic outcome metrics for USH2A-related disease. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:1882-1899. [PMID: 31998945 PMCID: PMC7372554 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
USH2A variants are the most common cause of Usher syndrome type 2, characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing loss and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and also contribute to autosomal recessive non-syndromic RP. Several treatment strategies are under development; however, sensitive clinical trial endpoint metrics to determine therapeutic efficacy have not been identified. In the present study, we have performed longitudinal retrospective examination of the retinal and auditory symptoms in (i) 56 biallelic molecularly confirmed USH2A patients and (ii) ush2a mutant zebrafish to identify metrics for the evaluation of future clinical trials and rapid preclinical screening studies. The patient cohort showed a statistically significant correlation between age and both rate of constriction for the ellipsoid zone length and hyperautofluorescent outer retinal ring area. Visual acuity and pure tone audiograms are not suitable outcome measures. Retinal examination of the novel ush2au507 zebrafish mutant revealed a slowly progressive degeneration of predominantly rods, accompanied by rhodopsin and blue cone opsin mislocalization from 6 to 12 months of age with lysosome-like structures observed in the photoreceptors. This was further evaluated in the ush2armc zebrafish model, which revealed similar changes in photopigment mislocalization with elevated autophagy levels at 6 days post fertilization, indicating a more severe genotype-phenotype correlation and providing evidence of new insights into the pathophysiology underlying USH2A-retinal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Toms
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Adam M Dubis
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Erik de Vrieze
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525 HR, The Netherlands
| | - Dhani Tracey-White
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Andreas Mitsios
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Matthew Hayes
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Sanne Broekman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525 HR, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Baxendale
- Bateson Centre and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Nattawan Utoomprurkporn
- UCL Ear Institute, University College London, London WC1X 8EE, UK.,Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Doris Bamiou
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | | | - Andrew R Webster
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Erwin Van Wijk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525 HR, The Netherlands
| | - Mariya Moosajee
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK.,UCL Ear Institute, University College London, London WC1X 8EE, UK
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20
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Genetics, pathogenesis and therapeutic developments for Usher syndrome type 2. Hum Genet 2021; 141:737-758. [PMID: 34331125 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02324-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is a rare, autosomal recessively inherited disorder resulting in a combination of sensorineural hearing loss and a progressive loss of vision resulting from retinitis pigmentosa (RP), occasionally accompanied by an altered vestibular function. More and more evidence is building up indicating that also sleep deprivation, olfactory dysfunction, deficits in tactile perception and reduced sperm motility are part of the disease etiology. USH can be clinically classified into three different types, of which Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2) is the most prevalent. In this review, we, therefore, assess the genetic and clinical aspects, available models and therapeutic developments for USH2. Mutations in USH2A, ADGRV1 and WHRN have been described to be responsible for USH2, with USH2A being the most frequently mutated USH-associated gene, explaining 50% of all cases. The proteins encoded by the USH2 genes together function in a dynamic protein complex that, among others, is found at the photoreceptor periciliary membrane and at the base of the hair bundles of inner ear hair cells. To unravel the pathogenic mechanisms underlying USH2, patient-derived cellular models and animal models including mouse, zebrafish and drosophila, have been generated that all in part mimic the USH phenotype. Multiple cellular and genetic therapeutic approaches are currently under development for USH2, mainly focused on preserving or partially restoring the visual function of which one is already in the clinical phase. These developments are opening a new gate towards a possible treatment for USH2 patients.
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21
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Mullin NK, Voigt AP, Cooke JA, Bohrer LR, Burnight ER, Stone EM, Mullins RF, Tucker BA. Patient derived stem cells for discovery and validation of novel pathogenic variants in inherited retinal disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 83:100918. [PMID: 33130253 PMCID: PMC8559964 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of inherited retinal disease has benefited immensely from molecular genetic analysis over the past several decades. New technologies that allow for increasingly detailed examination of a patient's DNA have expanded the catalog of genes and specific variants that cause retinal disease. In turn, the identification of pathogenic variants has allowed the development of gene therapies and low-cost, clinically focused genetic testing. Despite this progress, a relatively large fraction (at least 20%) of patients with clinical features suggestive of an inherited retinal disease still do not have a molecular diagnosis today. Variants that are not obviously disruptive to the codon sequence of exons can be difficult to distinguish from the background of benign human genetic variations. Some of these variants exert their pathogenic effect not by altering the primary amino acid sequence, but by modulating gene expression, isoform splicing, or other transcript-level mechanisms. While not discoverable by DNA sequencing methods alone, these variants are excellent targets for studies of the retinal transcriptome. In this review, we present an overview of the current state of pathogenic variant discovery in retinal disease and identify some of the remaining barriers. We also explore the utility of new technologies, specifically patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based modeling, in further expanding the catalog of disease-causing variants using transcriptome-focused methods. Finally, we outline bioinformatic analysis techniques that will allow this new method of variant discovery in retinal disease. As the knowledge gleaned from previous technologies is informing targets for therapies today, we believe that integrating new technologies, such as iPSC-based modeling, into the molecular diagnosis pipeline will enable a new wave of variant discovery and expanded treatment of inherited retinal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel K Mullin
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Andrew P Voigt
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jessica A Cooke
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Laura R Bohrer
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Erin R Burnight
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Edwin M Stone
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Robert F Mullins
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Budd A Tucker
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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22
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Fuster-García C, García-Bohórquez B, Rodríguez-Muñoz A, Aller E, Jaijo T, Millán JM, García-García G. Usher Syndrome: Genetics of a Human Ciliopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6723. [PMID: 34201633 PMCID: PMC8268283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessive syndromic ciliopathy characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, retinitis pigmentosa and, sometimes, vestibular dysfunction. There are three clinical types depending on the severity and age of onset of the symptoms; in addition, ten genes are reported to be causative of USH, and six more related to the disease. These genes encode proteins of a diverse nature, which interact and form a dynamic protein network called the "Usher interactome". In the organ of Corti, the USH proteins are essential for the correct development and maintenance of the structure and cohesion of the stereocilia. In the retina, the USH protein network is principally located in the periciliary region of the photoreceptors, and plays an important role in the maintenance of the periciliary structure and the trafficking of molecules between the inner and the outer segments of photoreceptors. Even though some genes are clearly involved in the syndrome, others are controversial. Moreover, expression of some USH genes has been detected in other tissues, which could explain their involvement in additional mild comorbidities. In this paper, we review the genetics of Usher syndrome and the spectrum of mutations in USH genes. The aim is to identify possible mutation associations with the disease and provide an updated genotype-phenotype correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Fuster-García
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Belén García-Bohórquez
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Rodríguez-Muñoz
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Elena Aller
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Genetics Unit, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Teresa Jaijo
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Genetics Unit, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - José M. Millán
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Gema García-García
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
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23
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Reurink J, Dockery A, Oziębło D, Farrar GJ, Ołdak M, ten Brink JB, Bergen AA, Rinne T, Yntema HG, Pennings RJE, van den Born LI, Aben M, Oostrik J, Venselaar H, Plomp AS, Khan MI, van Wijk E, Cremers FPM, Roosing S, Kremer H. Molecular Inversion Probe-Based Sequencing of USH2A Exons and Splice Sites as a Cost-Effective Screening Tool in USH2 and arRP Cases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126419. [PMID: 34203967 PMCID: PMC8232728 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A substantial proportion of subjects with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) or Usher syndrome type II (USH2) lacks a genetic diagnosis due to incomplete USH2A screening in the early days of genetic testing. These cases lack eligibility for optimal genetic counseling and future therapy. USH2A defects are the most frequent cause of USH2 and are also causative in individuals with arRP. Therefore, USH2A is an important target for genetic screening. The aim of this study was to assess unscreened or incompletely screened and unexplained USH2 and arRP cases for (likely) pathogenic USH2A variants. Molecular inversion probe (MIP)-based sequencing was performed for the USH2A exons and their flanking regions, as well as published deep-intronic variants. This was done to identify single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number variants (CNVs) in 29 unscreened or partially pre-screened USH2 and 11 partially pre-screened arRP subjects. In 29 out of these 40 cases, two (likely) pathogenic variants were successfully identified. Four of the identified SNVs and one CNV were novel. One previously identified synonymous variant was demonstrated to affect pre-mRNA splicing. In conclusion, genetic diagnoses were obtained for a majority of cases, which confirms that MIP-based sequencing is an effective screening tool for USH2A. Seven unexplained cases were selected for future analysis with whole genome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Reurink
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
| | - Adrian Dockery
- The School of Genetics & Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland; (A.D.); (G.J.F.)
| | - Dominika Oziębło
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, 02-042 Warsaw/Kajetany, Poland; (D.O.); (M.O.)
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - G. Jane Farrar
- The School of Genetics & Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland; (A.D.); (G.J.F.)
| | - Monika Ołdak
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, 02-042 Warsaw/Kajetany, Poland; (D.O.); (M.O.)
| | - Jacoline B. ten Brink
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (J.B.t.B.); (A.A.B.); (A.S.P.)
| | - Arthur A. Bergen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (J.B.t.B.); (A.A.B.); (A.S.P.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tuula Rinne
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Helger G. Yntema
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
| | - Ronald J. E. Pennings
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | | | - Marco Aben
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Jaap Oostrik
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Hanka Venselaar
- Centre for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Astrid S. Plomp
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (J.B.t.B.); (A.A.B.); (A.S.P.)
| | - M. Imran Khan
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Erwin van Wijk
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Frans P. M. Cremers
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
| | - Susanne Roosing
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
| | - Hannie Kremer
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence:
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de Joya EM, Colbert BM, Tang PC, Lam BL, Yang J, Blanton SH, Dykxhoorn DM, Liu X. Usher Syndrome in the Inner Ear: Etiologies and Advances in Gene Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3910. [PMID: 33920085 PMCID: PMC8068832 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder with ~466 million people worldwide affected, representing about 5% of the population. A substantial portion of hearing loss is genetic. Hearing loss can either be non-syndromic, if hearing loss is the only clinical manifestation, or syndromic, if the hearing loss is accompanied by a collage of other clinical manifestations. Usher syndrome is a syndromic form of genetic hearing loss that is accompanied by impaired vision associated with retinitis pigmentosa and, in many cases, vestibular dysfunction. It is the most common cause of deaf-blindness. Currently cochlear implantation or hearing aids are the only treatments for Usher-related hearing loss. However, gene therapy has shown promise in treating Usher-related retinitis pigmentosa. Here we review how the etiologies of Usher-related hearing loss make it a good candidate for gene therapy and discuss how various forms of gene therapy could be applied to Usher-related hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan M. de Joya
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (E.M.J.); (B.M.C.); (P.-C.T.); (S.H.B.)
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Brett M. Colbert
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (E.M.J.); (B.M.C.); (P.-C.T.); (S.H.B.)
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Pei-Ciao Tang
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (E.M.J.); (B.M.C.); (P.-C.T.); (S.H.B.)
| | - Byron L. Lam
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Jun Yang
- John A. Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA;
| | - Susan H. Blanton
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (E.M.J.); (B.M.C.); (P.-C.T.); (S.H.B.)
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Derek M. Dykxhoorn
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Xuezhong Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (E.M.J.); (B.M.C.); (P.-C.T.); (S.H.B.)
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Kawakami T, Jensen MK, Slavney A, Deane PE, Milano A, Raghavan V, Ford B, Chu ET, Sams AJ, Boyko AR. R-locus for roaned coat is associated with a tandem duplication in an intronic region of USH2A in dogs and also contributes to Dalmatian spotting. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248233. [PMID: 33755696 PMCID: PMC7987146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural variations (SVs) represent a large fraction of all genetic diversity, but how this genetic diversity is translated into phenotypic and organismal diversity is unclear. Explosive diversification of dog coat color and patterns after domestication can provide a unique opportunity to explore this question; however, the major obstacle is to efficiently collect a sufficient number of individuals with known phenotypes and genotypes of hundreds of thousands of markers. Using customer-provided information about coat color and patterns of dogs tested on a commercial canine genotyping platform, we identified a genomic region on chromosome 38 that is strongly associated with a mottled coat pattern (roaning) by genome-wide association study. We identified a putative causal variant in this region, an 11-kb tandem duplication (11,131,835–11,143,237) characterized by sequence read coverage and discordant reads of whole-genome sequence data, microarray probe intensity data, and a duplication-specific PCR assay. The tandem duplication is in an intronic region of usherin gene (USH2A), which was perfectly associated with roaning but absent in non-roaned dogs. We detected strong selection signals in this region characterized by reduced nucleotide diversity (π), increased runs of homozygosity, and extended haplotype homozygosity in Wirehaired Pointing Griffons and Australian Cattle Dogs (typically roaned breeds), as well as elevated genetic difference (FST) between Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (roaned) and Labrador Retriever (non-roaned). Surprisingly, all Dalmatians (N = 262) carried the duplication embedded in identical or similar haplotypes with roaned dogs, indicating this region as a shared target of selection during the breed’s formation. We propose that the Dalmatian’s unique spots were a derived coat pattern by establishing a novel epistatic interaction between roaning “R-locus” on chromosome 38 and an uncharacterized modifier locus. These results highlight the utility of consumer-oriented genotype and phenotype data in the discovery of genomic regions contributing to phenotypic diversity in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Kawakami
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ARB); (TK)
| | - Meghan K. Jensen
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Andrea Slavney
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Petra E. Deane
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ausra Milano
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vandana Raghavan
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Brett Ford
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Erin T. Chu
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Aaron J. Sams
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Adam R. Boyko
- Embark Veterinary, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ARB); (TK)
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Fahimi H, Behroozi S, Noavar S, Parvini F. A novel recessive PDZD7 bi-allelic mutation in an Iranian family with non-syndromic hearing loss. BMC Med Genomics 2021; 14:37. [PMID: 33530996 PMCID: PMC7852090 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-021-00884-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) is genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous with over 110 genes causally implicated in syndromic and non-syndromic hearing loss. Here, we investigate the genetic etiology of deafness in two GJB2 and GJB6 negative patients presenting with pre-lingual, progressive, severe hearing loss. METHODS Targeted exome sequencing (TES) using Next Generation Illumina Sequencing was used to analyze the exonic and some other important genomic regions of 154 genes in the proband. Subsequently, the mutation found was confirmed by Sanger sequencing in other affected sibling and healthy family members. The possible impact of the reported mutation on the corresponding protein was also evaluated by using bioinformatics tools. Moreover, the affected patients underwent audiological and ophthalmic evaluations. RESULTS TES identified a novel homozygous missense mutation c.251T>C (p.I84T) in exon 3 of PDZD7 gene. In addition, segregation and phenotype-genotype correlation analysis as well as in-silico evaluations confirmed the autosomal recessive inheritance pattern and disease-causing nature of mutation found. CONCLUSIONS In overall, our finding could expand the pathogenic mutations spectrum and strengthens the clinical importance of the PDZD7 gene in ARNSHL patients. It can also aid to conduct genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis and clinical management of these types of genetic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Fahimi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Behroozi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadaf Noavar
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farshid Parvini
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, 35131-19111 Iran
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Schwaller F, Bégay V, García-García G, Taberner FJ, Moshourab R, McDonald B, Docter T, Kühnemund J, Ojeda-Alonso J, Paricio-Montesinos R, Lechner SG, Poulet JFA, Millan JM, Lewin GR. USH2A is a Meissner's corpuscle protein necessary for normal vibration sensing in mice and humans. Nat Neurosci 2021. [PMID: 33288907 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.01.180919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Fingertip mechanoreceptors comprise sensory neuron endings together with specialized skin cells that form the end-organ. Exquisitely sensitive, vibration-sensing neurons are associated with Meissner's corpuscles in the skin. In the present study, we found that USH2A, a transmembrane protein with a very large extracellular domain, was found in terminal Schwann cells within Meissner's corpuscles. Pathogenic USH2A mutations cause Usher's syndrome, associated with hearing loss and visual impairment. We show that patients with biallelic pathogenic USH2A mutations also have clear and specific impairments in vibrotactile touch perception, as do mutant mice lacking USH2A. Forepaw rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors innervating Meissner's corpuscles, recorded from Ush2a-/- mice, showed large reductions in vibration sensitivity. However, the USH2A protein was not found in sensory neurons. Thus, loss of USH2A in corpuscular end-organs reduced mechanoreceptor sensitivity as well as vibration perception. Thus, a tether-like protein is required to facilitate detection of small-amplitude vibrations essential for the perception of fine-grained tactile surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Schwaller
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Valérie Bégay
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gema García-García
- Research Group on Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine Health Research, Institute La Fe and Joint Unit for Rare Diseases CIPF-IIS La Fe, Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco J Taberner
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain
| | - Rabih Moshourab
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Mitte, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Anesthesiology, Helios Klinikum Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Brennan McDonald
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Trevor Docter
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Life Sciences Addition, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Johannes Kühnemund
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Ojeda-Alonso
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ricardo Paricio-Montesinos
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan G Lechner
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - James F A Poulet
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jose M Millan
- Research Group on Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine Health Research, Institute La Fe and Joint Unit for Rare Diseases CIPF-IIS La Fe, Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gary R Lewin
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
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Xing D, Zhou H, Yu R, Wang L, Hu L, Li Z, Li X. Targeted exome sequencing identified a novel USH2A mutation in a Chinese usher syndrome family: a case report. BMC Ophthalmol 2020; 20:485. [PMID: 33302902 PMCID: PMC7727220 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-020-01711-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Usher syndrome is a disease with a heterogeneous phenotype and genotype. Our purpose was to identify the gene mutation in a Chinese family with Usher syndrome type 2 and describe the clinical features. Case presentation A 23-year-old man complained of a 10-year duration of nyctalopia and a 3-year decline in visual acuity of both eyes accompanied by congenital dysaudia. To clarify the diagnosis, the clinical symptoms were observed and analysed in combination with comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations as well as genetic analysis (targeted exome sequencing, TES). A typical clinical presentation of Usher syndrome of the fundus was found, including a waxy yellow-like disc, bone-spicule formations and retinal vessel stenosis. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) showed loss of the ellipsoid zone and a reduction in paracaval vessel density in both eyes. Genetic analysis identified a novel homozygous c.8483_8486del (p.Ser2828*) mutation in USH2A. The mutation resulted in premature termination of translation and caused the deletion of 19 fibronectin type 3 domains (FN3), transmembrane (TM) region and PDZ-binding motif domain, which play an important role in protein binding. After combining the clinical manifestations and genetic results, the patient was diagnosed with Usher syndrome type 2. Conclusion We found a novel c.8483_8486del mutation in the USH2A gene through TES techniques. The results broaden the spectrum of mutations in Usher syndrome type 2 and suggest that a combination of clinical information and molecular diagnosis via TES could help Usher syndrome patients obtain a better diagnosis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-020-01711-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjun Xing
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Huaiyu Zhou
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Rongguo Yu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Linni Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Liying Hu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Zhiqing Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Tianjin, 300384, China.
| | - Xiaorong Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Tianjin, 300384, China.
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Schwaller F, Bégay V, García-García G, Taberner FJ, Moshourab R, McDonald B, Docter T, Kühnemund J, Ojeda-Alonso J, Paricio-Montesinos R, Lechner SG, Poulet JFA, Millan JM, Lewin GR. USH2A is a Meissner’s corpuscle protein necessary for normal vibration sensing in mice and humans. Nat Neurosci 2020; 24:74-81. [DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-00751-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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30
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Toualbi L, Toms M, Moosajee M. USH2A-retinopathy: From genetics to therapeutics. Exp Eye Res 2020; 201:108330. [PMID: 33121974 PMCID: PMC8417766 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Bilallelic variants in the USH2A gene can cause Usher syndrome type 2 and non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa. In both disorders, the retinal phenotype involves progressive rod photoreceptor loss resulting in nyctalopia and a constricted visual field, followed by subsequent cone degeneration, leading to the loss of central vision and severe visual impairment. The USH2A gene raises many challenges for researchers and clinicians due to a broad spectrum of mutations, a large gene size hampering gene therapy development and limited knowledge on its pathogenicity. Patients with Usher type 2 may benefit from hearing aids or cochlear implants to correct their hearing defects, but there are currently no approved treatments available for the USH2A-retinopathy. Several treatment strategies, including antisense oligonucleotides and translational readthrough inducing drugs, have shown therapeutic promise in preclinical studies. Further understanding of the pathogenesis and natural history of USH2A-related disorders is required to develop innovative treatments and design clinical trials based on reliable outcome measures. The present review will discuss the current knowledge about USH2A, the emerging therapeutics and existing challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyes Toualbi
- Development, Ageing and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Maria Toms
- Development, Ageing and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Mariya Moosajee
- Development, Ageing and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Genetics, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, EC1V 2PD, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH, UK.
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31
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Zhu Y, Delhommel F, Cordier F, Lüchow S, Mechaly A, Colcombet-Cazenave B, Girault V, Pepermans E, Bahloul A, Gautier C, Brûlé S, Raynal B, Hoos S, Haouz A, Caillet-Saguy C, Ivarsson Y, Wolff N. Deciphering the Unexpected Binding Capacity of the Third PDZ Domain of Whirlin to Various Cochlear Hair Cell Partners. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:5920-5937. [PMID: 32971111 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Hearing is a mechanical and neurochemical process, which occurs in the hair cells of inner ear that converts the sound vibrations into electrical signals transmitted to the brain. The multi-PDZ scaffolding protein whirlin plays a critical role in the formation and function of stereocilia exposed at the surface of hair cells. In this article, we reported seven stereociliary proteins that encode PDZ binding motifs (PBM) and interact with whirlin PDZ3, where four of them are first reported. We solved the atomic resolution structures of complexes between whirlin PDZ3 and the PBMs of myosin 15a, CASK, harmonin a1 and taperin. Interestingly, the PBM of CASK and taperin are rare non-canonical PBM, which are not localized at the extreme C terminus. This large capacity to accommodate various partners could be related to the distinct functions of whirlin at different stages of the hair cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlei Zhu
- Unité Récepteurs-Canaux, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France; Complexité du Vivant, Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Florent Delhommel
- Unité Récepteurs-Canaux, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France; Complexité du Vivant, Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | | | - Ariel Mechaly
- Plateforme de Cristallographie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Baptiste Colcombet-Cazenave
- Unité Récepteurs-Canaux, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France; Complexité du Vivant, Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Elise Pepermans
- Complexité du Vivant, Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France; Unité de génétique et physiologie de l'audition, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Amel Bahloul
- Unité de génétique et physiologie de l'audition, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Candice Gautier
- Istituto Pasteur - Fondazione C. Bolognetti, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Sébastien Brûlé
- Plateforme de Biophysique Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Bertrand Raynal
- Plateforme de Biophysique Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Sylviane Hoos
- Plateforme de Biophysique Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Ahmed Haouz
- Plateforme de Cristallographie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Ylva Ivarsson
- Department of Chemistry-BMC, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Nicolas Wolff
- Unité Récepteurs-Canaux, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France.
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32
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Whatley M, Francis A, Ng ZY, Khoh XE, Atlas MD, Dilley RJ, Wong EYM. Usher Syndrome: Genetics and Molecular Links of Hearing Loss and Directions for Therapy. Front Genet 2020; 11:565216. [PMID: 33193648 PMCID: PMC7642844 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.565216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessive (AR) disorder that permanently and severely affects the senses of hearing, vision, and balance. Three clinically distinct types of USH have been identified, decreasing in severity from Type 1 to 3, with symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and vestibular dysfunction. There are currently nine confirmed and two suspected USH-causative genes, and a further three candidate loci have been mapped. The proteins encoded by these genes form complexes that play critical roles in the development and maintenance of cellular structures within the inner ear and retina, which have minimal capacity for repair or regeneration. In the cochlea, stereocilia are located on the apical surface of inner ear hair cells (HC) and are responsible for transducing mechanical stimuli from sound pressure waves into chemical signals. These signals are then detected by the auditory nerve fibers, transmitted to the brain and interpreted as sound. Disease-causing mutations in USH genes can destabilize the tip links that bind the stereocilia to each other, and cause defects in protein trafficking and stereocilia bundle morphology, thereby inhibiting mechanosensory transduction. This review summarizes the current knowledge on Usher syndrome with a particular emphasis on mutations in USH genes, USH protein structures, and functional analyses in animal models. Currently, there is no cure for USH. However, the genetic therapies that are rapidly developing will benefit from this compilation of detailed genetic information to identify the most effective strategies for restoring functional USH proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meg Whatley
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Abbie Francis
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Emergency Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Zi Ying Ng
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Xin Ee Khoh
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Marcus D. Atlas
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Rodney J. Dilley
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Elaine Y. M. Wong
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
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Fu J, Cheng J, Zhou Q, Khan MA, Duan C, Peng J, Lv H, Fu J. Novel compound heterozygous nonsense variants, p.L150* and p.Y3565*, of the USH2A gene in a Chinese pedigree are associated with Usher syndrome type IIA. Mol Med Rep 2020; 22:3464-3472. [PMID: 32945453 PMCID: PMC7453661 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome refers to a group of genetically and clinically heterogeneous autosomal recessive diseases with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and hearing deficiencies. The association between Usher syndrome-causative genes and resultant Usher syndrome phenotypes in patients are highly variable. In the present study, a Chinese family with Usher syndrome was recruited, and targeted next-generation sequencing, Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis were performed. The expression profiles and functional effects of the pathogenic variants of USH2A identified were analyzed. Novel nonsense compound heterozygous variants, c.T449G (p.L150*) and c.T10695A (p.Y3565*), were identified in the USH2A gene, which showed co-segregation with the disease phenotype causing Usher syndrome type IIA in the recruited Chinese pedigree. The p.L150* variant was predicted to produce a truncated protein which lacked almost all the functional domains of USH2A, whereas the p.Y3565* variant is located in one of the fibronectin type 3 domains, resulting in the loss of several fibronectin type 3 domains at the C-terminus of USH2A by producing the truncated protein. It was shown that Ush2a mRNA expression levels were higher in the retina compared with those in the eye tissues (lens, sclera and cornea), uterus, ovary, breast, testis, spleen, kidney, liver, intestine, brain, skeletal muscle and blood. Additionally, the protein structure was shown to be highly conserved by comparing Homo sapiens USH2A to eight other species. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to identify two novel pathogenic variants, c.T449G (p.L150*) and c.T10695A (p.Y3565*), in the USH2A gene in a patient with Usher syndrome type IIA, thereby expanding the known spectrums of USH2A causative mutations. The present discovery may assist in understanding the molecular pathogenesis underlying the development of RP and Usher syndrome type IIA, and in the development of diagnostic, therapeutic and genetic counseling strategies in patients with Usher syndrome type IIA disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiewen Fu
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Jingliang Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Qi Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Md Asaduzzaman Khan
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Chengxia Duan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Jiangzhou Peng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Hongbin Lv
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Junjiang Fu
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000
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Perrino PA, Talbot L, Kirkland R, Hill A, Rendall AR, Mountford HS, Taylor J, Buscarello AN, Lahiri N, Saggar A, Fitch RH, Newbury DF. Multi-level evidence of an allelic hierarchy of USH2A variants in hearing, auditory processing and speech/language outcomes. Commun Biol 2020; 3:180. [PMID: 32313182 PMCID: PMC7170883 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0885-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Language development builds upon a complex network of interacting subservient systems. It therefore follows that variations in, and subclinical disruptions of, these systems may have secondary effects on emergent language. In this paper, we consider the relationship between genetic variants, hearing, auditory processing and language development. We employ whole genome sequencing in a discovery family to target association and gene x environment interaction analyses in two large population cohorts; the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) and UK10K. These investigations indicate that USH2A variants are associated with altered low-frequency sound perception which, in turn, increases the risk of developmental language disorder. We further show that Ush2a heterozygote mice have low-level hearing impairments, persistent higher-order acoustic processing deficits and altered vocalizations. These findings provide new insights into the complexity of genetic mechanisms serving language development and disorders and the relationships between developmental auditory and neural systems. Peter Perrino et al. identify variants in USH2A linked to a dominant language disorder in a human family and find that these variants are also associated with low-frequency hearing at the population level. They investigate the function of USH2A variants in mice, showing that mutations in this gene are responsible for hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Perrino
- Department of Psychological Science/Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.,UConn Institute of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; UConn Murine Behavioral Neurogenetics Facility, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Lidiya Talbot
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Rose Kirkland
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.,School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Amanda Hill
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Amanda R Rendall
- Department of Psychological Science/Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.,UConn Institute of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; UConn Murine Behavioral Neurogenetics Facility, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Hayley S Mountford
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Jenny Taylor
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | | | - Alexzandrea N Buscarello
- Department of Psychological Science/Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.,UConn Institute of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; UConn Murine Behavioral Neurogenetics Facility, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Nayana Lahiri
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Sciences, St George's, University of London & St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Anand Saggar
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Sciences, St George's, University of London & St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - R Holly Fitch
- Department of Psychological Science/Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA. .,UConn Institute of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; UConn Murine Behavioral Neurogenetics Facility, Storrs, CT, USA.
| | - Dianne F Newbury
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
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Gao FJ, Wang DD, Chen F, Sun HX, Hu FY, Xu P, Li J, Liu W, Qi YH, Li W, Wang M, Zhang S, Xu GZ, Chang Q, Wu JH. Prevalence and genetic-phenotypic characteristics of patients with USH2A mutations in a large cohort of Chinese patients with inherited retinal disease. Br J Ophthalmol 2020; 105:87-92. [PMID: 32188678 PMCID: PMC7788223 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-315878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Aims To investigate the frequency of USH2A mutation and the clinical and genetic differences between Usher syndrome type II (USH2) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in a large cohort of Chinese patients. Methods A total of 1381 patients with inherited retinal disease (IRD) were recruited. The phenotypic and genotypic information of patients with USH2A mutations was evaluated. Results The prevalence of patients with USH2A mutations was 15.75%, which was the most frequently detected gene in this cohort of patients. Hotspot of USH2A mutations was c.8559-2A >G and c.2802T >G. Patients with USH2 had an earlier and more serious decline of visual function and damage to retina structure than did patients with RP in the first 10 years (p<0.05), but there was no difference in the visual prognosis between the two groups when the course of disease exceeded 10 years (p>0.05). Missense variants had less severe consequences and were found more commonly in RP, whereas more deleterious genotypes were associated with an earlier onset of disease and were found more commonly in USH2. Conclusions This study provides detailed clinical–genetic assessment of patients with USH2A mutations of Chinese origin, enabling precise genetic diagnoses, better management of these patients and putative therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Juan Gao
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
| | - Dan-Dan Wang
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
| | - Fang Chen
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Birth Defects Screening, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Fang-Yuan Hu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
| | - Ping Xu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
| | - Jiankang Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,Dept of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
| | - Yu-He Qi
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
| | - Wei Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ming Wang
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
| | - Shenghai Zhang
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
| | - Ge-Zhi Xu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
| | - Qing Chang
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
| | - Ji-Hong Wu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shang Hai, China .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shang Hai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission, Shang Hai, China
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He C, Liu X, Zhong Z, Chen J. Mutation screening of the USH2A gene reveals two novel pathogenic variants in Chinese patients causing simplex usher syndrome 2. BMC Ophthalmol 2020; 20:70. [PMID: 32093671 PMCID: PMC7038606 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-020-01342-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Usher syndrome (USH) is the most prevalent cause of the human genetic deafness and blindness. USH type II (USH2) is the most common form of USH, and USH2A is the major pathogenic gene for USH2. For expanding the spectrum of USH2A mutations and further revealing the role of USH2A in USH2, we performed the USH2A gene variant screening in Chinese patients with USH2. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of unrelated Chinese USH2 patients, we designed specific primers for amplifying the coding region (exons 2–72) of the USH2A gene. Sanger sequencing was used to study alleles. Silico prediction tools were used to predict the pathogenicity of the variants identified in these patients. Results Five heterozygous pathogenic variants were detected in four patients. Two patients were found to have two-mutations and two patients only have one. Two novel variants c.4217C > A (p.Ser1406X) and c.11780A > G (p.Asp3927Gly)) were predicted deleterious by computer prediction algorithms. In addition, three reported mutations (c.8559-2A > G, c.8232G > C and c.11389 + 3A > T) were also found in this study. Conclusions We identified five heterozygous pathogenic variants in the USH2A gene in Chinese patients diagnosed with Usher syndrome type 2, two of which were not reported. It expands the spectrum of USH2A variants in USH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhao He
- Birth defect group, Translation Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200081, China.,Department of Medical Genetics, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Department of Pediatrics of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Birth defect group, Translation Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200081, China.,Department of Medical Genetics, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Department of Pediatrics of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zilin Zhong
- Birth defect group, Translation Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200081, China.,Department of Medical Genetics, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Department of Pediatrics of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Department of Ophthalmology of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Tongji Eye Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Birth defect group, Translation Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200081, China. .,Department of Medical Genetics, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China. .,Department of Pediatrics of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China. .,Department of Ophthalmology of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and Tongji Eye Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China. .,Birth defect group, Medical wing building, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1239 SipingRoad Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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37
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Richardson GP, Petit C. Hair-Bundle Links: Genetics as the Gateway to Function. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2019; 9:cshperspect.a033142. [PMID: 30617060 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a033142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Up to five distinct cell-surface specializations interconnect the stereocilia and the kinocilium of the mature hair bundle in some species: kinocilial links, tip links, top connectors, shaft connectors, and ankle links. In developing hair bundles, transient lateral links are prominent. Mutations in genes encoding proteins associated with these links cause Usher deafness/blindness syndrome or nonsyndromic (isolated) forms of human hereditary deafness, and mice with constitutive or conditional alleles of these genes have provided considerable insight into the molecular composition and function of the different links. We describe the structure of these links and review evidence showing CDH23 and PCDH15 are components of the tip, kinocilial, and transient-lateral links, that stereocilin (STRC) and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPRQ) are associated with top and shaft connectors, respectively, and that USH2A and ADGRV1 are associated with the ankle links. Whereas tip links are required for mechanoelectrical transduction, all link proteins play key roles in the normal development and/or the maintenance of hair bundle structure and function. Recent crystallographic and single-particle analyses of PCDH15 and CDH23 provide insight as to how the structure of tip link may contribute to the elastic element predicted to lie in series with the hair cell's mechanoelectrical transducer channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy P Richardson
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Petit
- Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.,Collège de France, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
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38
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Du H, Zou L, Ren R, Li N, Li J, Wang Y, Sun J, Yang J, Xiong W, Xu Z. Lack of PDZD7 long isoform disrupts ankle-link complex and causes hearing loss in mice. FASEB J 2019; 34:1136-1149. [PMID: 31914662 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901657rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is the most frequent form of combined hereditary deafness-blindness, characterized by hearing loss and retinitis pigmentosa, with or without vestibular dysfunction. PDZD7 is a PDZ domain-containing scaffold protein that was suggested to be a USH modifier and a contributor to digenic USH. In the inner ear hair cells, PDZD7 localizes at the ankle region of the stereocilia and constitutes the so-called ankle-link complex together with three other USH proteins Usherin, WHRN, and ADGRV1. PDZD7 gene is subjected to alternative splicing, which gives rise to two types of PDZD7 isoforms, namely the long and short isoforms. At present, little is known which specific isoform is involved in ankle-link formation and stereocilia development. In this work, we showed that PDZD7 long isoform, but not short isoforms, localizes at the ankle region of the stereocilia. Moreover, we established Pdzd7 mutant mice by introducing deletions into exon 14 of the Pdzd7 gene, which causes potential premature translational stop in the long isoform but leaves short isoforms unaffected. We found that lack of PDZD7 long isoform affects the localization of other ankle-link complex components in the stereocilia. Consequently, Pdzd7 mutant mice showed stereocilia development deficits and hearing loss as well as reduced mechanotransduction (MET) currents, suggesting that PDZD7 long isoform is indispensable for hair cells. Furthermore, by performing yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified a PDZD7 long isoform-specific binding partner PIP5K1C, which has been shown to play important roles in hearing and might participate in the function and/or transportation of PDZD7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Du
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Linzhi Zou
- School of Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Ren
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Nana Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Li
- School of Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfei Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jinpeng Sun
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Wei Xiong
- School of Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhigang Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China.,Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
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39
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Wang L, Wei B, Fu X, Wang Y, Sui Y, Ma J, Gong X, Hao J, Xing S. Identification of whirlin domains interacting with espin: A study of the mechanism of Usher syndrome type II. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:5111-5117. [PMID: 31638198 PMCID: PMC6854525 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome is the most common condition of combined blindness and deafness and is classified into three types (USH1-USH3). USH2 is the most commonly diagnosed of all Usher syndrome cases. There are three identified proteins (usherin, GPR98 and whirlin) that form the USH2 complex. Defects in any of these proteins may cause failure in the formation of the USH2 complex, which is the primary cause of USH2. Whirlin is a scaffold protein and is essential for the assembly of the USH2 protein complex. It has been reported that espin is an interacting partner protein for whirlin. However, which fragment of whirlin interacts with espin remains unclear. In the present study, whirlin N- and C-terminal fragments in the pEGFP-C2 vectors were constructed. The recombinant plasmids were transfected into COS-7 cells to observe the co-localization by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The interactions between whirlin and espin were investigated by co-immunoprecipitation using the 293 cell line. It was demonstated that only the whirlin N-terminal fragment was able to interact with espin and the PR (proline-rich) region in whirlin may be important for the interaction. However, the present study did not investigate the interaction between whirlin and espin without the PR domain which warrants future research. Our findings elucidated a primary mechanism of interaction between whirlin and espin, which are crucial for further study on the USH2 complex and USH2 pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Bo Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, China‑Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130033, P.R. China
| | - Xueqi Fu
- Edmond H. Fischer Signal Transduction Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, P.R. China
| | - Yuchen Wang
- Edmond H. Fischer Signal Transduction Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Sui
- Edmond H. Fischer Signal Transduction Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, P.R. China
| | - Junfeng Ma
- Edmond H. Fischer Signal Transduction Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, P.R. China
| | - Xianhui Gong
- Department of Opthalmology, Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, P.R. China
| | - Jilong Hao
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Shu Xing
- Edmond H. Fischer Signal Transduction Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, P.R. China
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40
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PKHD1L1 is a coat protein of hair-cell stereocilia and is required for normal hearing. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3801. [PMID: 31444330 PMCID: PMC6707252 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11712-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The bundle of stereocilia on inner ear hair cells responds to subnanometer deflections produced by sound or head movement. Stereocilia are interconnected by a variety of links and also carry an electron-dense surface coat. The coat may contribute to stereocilia adhesion or protect from stereocilia fusion, but its molecular identity remains unknown. From a database of hair-cell-enriched translated proteins, we identify Polycystic Kidney and Hepatic Disease 1-Like 1 (PKHD1L1), a large, mostly extracellular protein of 4249 amino acids with a single transmembrane domain. Using serial immunogold scanning electron microscopy, we show that PKHD1L1 is expressed at the tips of stereocilia, especially in the high-frequency regions of the cochlea. PKHD1L1-deficient mice lack the surface coat at the upper but not lower regions of stereocilia, and they develop progressive hearing loss. We conclude that PKHD1L1 is a component of the surface coat and is required for normal hearing in mice. There is little known about the function or molecular identity of the electron-dense stereocilia coat, which is transiently present at the surface of stereocilia. In this study authors screened a database of hair-cell-enriched translated proteins to identify the expression of Polycystic Kidney and Hepatic Disease 1-Like 1 (PKHD1L1), a large, mostly extracellular protein, and show that it forms the coat at the tips of stereocilia and is required for normal hearing in mice
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41
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Li X, Yu X, Chen X, Liu Z, Wang G, Li C, Wong EYM, Sham MH, Tang J, He J, Xiong W, Liu Z, Huang P. Localization of TMC1 and LHFPL5 in auditory hair cells in neonatal and adult mice. FASEB J 2019; 33:6838-6851. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.201802155rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofen Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringHong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)Hong KongChina
| | - Xiaojie Yu
- Division of Life ScienceHong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)Hong KongChina
| | - Xibing Chen
- Division of Life ScienceHong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)Hong KongChina
| | - Zhengzhao Liu
- Division of Life ScienceHong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)Hong KongChina
| | - Guangqin Wang
- Institute of NeuroscienceChinese Academy of ScienceShanghaiChina
| | - Chao Li
- Institute of NeuroscienceChinese Academy of ScienceShanghaiChina
| | - Elaine Y. M. Wong
- School of Biomedical SciencesLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- Ear Science Institute AustraliaSubiacoWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Mai Har Sham
- Ear Science Institute AustraliaSubiacoWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Jie Tang
- Department of PhysiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Jufang He
- Department of Biomedical SciencesCity University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Wei Xiong
- School of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of NeuroscienceChinese Academy of ScienceShanghaiChina
| | - Pingbo Huang
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringHong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)Hong KongChina
- Division of Life ScienceHong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)Hong KongChina
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular NeuroscienceHong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)Hong KongChina
- Shenzhen Research InstituteHong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)Hong KongChina
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42
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Krey JF, Barr-Gillespie PG. Molecular Composition of Vestibular Hair Bundles. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2019; 9:cshperspect.a033209. [PMID: 29844221 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a033209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The vertebrate hair bundle, responsible for transduction of mechanical signals into receptor potentials in sensory hair cells, is an evolutionary masterpiece. Composed of actin-filled stereocilia of precisely regulated length, width, and number, the structure of the hair bundle is optimized for sensing auditory and vestibular stimuli. Recent developments in identifying the lipids and proteins constituting the hair bundle, obtained through genetics, biochemistry, and imaging, now permit a description of the consensus composition of vestibular bundles of mouse, rat, and chick.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn F Krey
- Oregon Hearing Research Center and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Peter G Barr-Gillespie
- Oregon Hearing Research Center and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239
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43
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Knockout of ush2a gene in zebrafish causes hearing impairment and late onset rod-cone dystrophy. Hum Genet 2018; 137:779-794. [PMID: 30242501 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-018-1936-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Most cases of Usher syndrome type II (USH2) are due to mutations in the USH2A gene. There are no effective treatments or ideal animal models for this disease, and the pathological mechanisms of USH2 caused by USH2A mutations are still unknown. Here, we constructed a ush2a knockout (ush2a-/-) zebrafish model using TALEN technology to investigate the molecular pathology of USH2. An early onset auditory disorder and abnormal morphology of inner ear stereocilia were identified in the ush2a-/- zebrafish. Consequently, the disruption of Ush2a in zebrafish led to a hearing impairment, like that in mammals. Electroretinography (ERG) test indicated that deletion of Ush2a affected visual function at an early stage, and histological analysis revealed that the photoreceptors progressively degenerated. Rod degeneration occurred prior to cone degeneration in ush2a-/- zebrafish, which is consistent with the classical description of the progression of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Destruction of the outer segments (OSs) of rods led to the down-regulation of phototransduction cascade proteins at late stage. The expression of Ush1b and Ush1c was up-regulated when Ush2a was null. We also found that disruption of fibronectin assembly at the retinal basement membrane weakened cell adhesion in ush2a-/- mutants. In summary, for the first time, we generated a ush2a knockout zebrafish line with auditory disorder and retinal degeneration which mimicked the symptoms of patients, and revealed that disruption of fibronectin assembly may be one of the factors underlying RP. This model may help us to better understand the pathogenic mechanism and find treatment for USH2 in the future.
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44
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DiStefano MT, Hemphill SE, Cushman BJ, Bowser MJ, Hynes E, Grant AR, Siegert RK, Oza AM, Gonzalez MA, Amr SS, Rehm HL, Abou Tayoun AN. Curating Clinically Relevant Transcripts for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants. J Mol Diagn 2018; 20:789-801. [PMID: 30096381 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2018.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Variant interpretation depends on accurate annotations using biologically relevant transcripts. We have developed a systematic strategy for designating primary transcripts and have applied it to 109 hearing loss-associated genes that were divided into three categories. Category 1 genes (n = 38) had a single transcript; category 2 genes (n = 33) had multiple transcripts, but a single transcript was sufficient to represent all exons; and category 3 genes (n = 38) had multiple transcripts with unique exons. Transcripts were curated with respect to gene expression reported in the literature and the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project. In addition, high-frequency loss-of-function variants in the Genome Aggregation Database and disease-causing variants in ClinVar and the Human Gene Mutation Database across the 109 genes were queried. These data were used to classify exons as clinically significant, insignificant, or of uncertain significance. Interestingly, 6% of all exons, containing 124 reportedly disease-causing variants, were of uncertain significance. Finally, we used exon-level next-generation sequencing quality metrics generated at two clinical laboratories and identified a total of 43 technically challenging exons in 20 different genes that had inadequate coverage and/or homology issues that might lead to false-variant calls. We have demonstrated that transcript analysis plays a critical role in accurate clinical variant interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina T DiStefano
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Sarah E Hemphill
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Brandon J Cushman
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Mark J Bowser
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Elizabeth Hynes
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Andrew R Grant
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Rebecca K Siegert
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Andrea M Oza
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Michael A Gonzalez
- Division of Genomic Diagnostics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sami S Amr
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Heidi L Rehm
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medical and Population Genetics, The Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Ahmad N Abou Tayoun
- Division of Genomic Diagnostics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Genetics Department, Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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45
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Li T, Bellen HJ, Groves AK. Using Drosophila to study mechanisms of hereditary hearing loss. Dis Model Mech 2018; 11:11/6/dmm031492. [PMID: 29853544 PMCID: PMC6031363 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.031492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Johnston's organ - the hearing organ of Drosophila - has a very different structure and morphology to that of the hearing organs of vertebrates. Nevertheless, it is becoming clear that vertebrate and invertebrate auditory organs share many physiological, molecular and genetic similarities. Here, we compare the molecular and cellular features of hearing organs in Drosophila with those of vertebrates, and discuss recent evidence concerning the functional conservation of Usher proteins between flies and mammals. Mutations in Usher genes cause Usher syndrome, the leading cause of human deafness and blindness. In Drosophila, some Usher syndrome proteins appear to physically interact in protein complexes that are similar to those described in mammals. This functional conservation highlights a rational role for Drosophila as a model for studying hearing, and for investigating the evolution of auditory organs, with the aim of advancing our understanding of the genes that regulate human hearing and the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to deafness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongchao Li
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andrew K Groves
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA .,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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46
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Dona M, Slijkerman R, Lerner K, Broekman S, Wegner J, Howat T, Peters T, Hetterschijt L, Boon N, de Vrieze E, Sorusch N, Wolfrum U, Kremer H, Neuhauss S, Zang J, Kamermans M, Westerfield M, Phillips J, van Wijk E. Usherin defects lead to early-onset retinal dysfunction in zebrafish. Exp Eye Res 2018; 173:148-159. [PMID: 29777677 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in USH2A are the most frequent cause of Usher syndrome and autosomal recessive nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa. To unravel the pathogenic mechanisms underlying USH2A-associated retinal degeneration and to evaluate future therapeutic strategies that could potentially halt the progression of this devastating disorder, an animal model is needed. The available Ush2a knock-out mouse model does not mimic the human phenotype, because it presents with only a mild and late-onset retinal degeneration. Using CRISPR/Cas9-technology, we introduced protein-truncating germline lesions into the zebrafish ush2a gene (ush2armc1: c.2337_2342delinsAC; p.Cys780GlnfsTer32 and ush2ab1245: c.15520_15523delinsTG; p.Ala5174fsTer). Homozygous mutants were viable and displayed no obvious morphological or developmental defects. Immunohistochemical analyses with antibodies recognizing the N- or C-terminal region of the ush2a-encoded protein, usherin, demonstrated complete absence of usherin in photoreceptors of ush2armc1, but presence of the ectodomain of usherin at the periciliary membrane of ush2ab1245-derived photoreceptors. Furthermore, defects of usherin led to a reduction in localization of USH2 complex members, whirlin and Adgrv1, at the photoreceptor periciliary membrane of both mutants. Significantly elevated levels of apoptotic photoreceptors could be observed in both mutants when kept under constant bright illumination for three days. Electroretinogram (ERG) recordings revealed a significant and similar decrease in both a- and b-wave amplitudes in ush2armc1 as well as ush2ab1245 larvae as compared to strain- and age-matched wild-type larvae. In conclusion, this study shows that mutant ush2a zebrafish models present with early-onset retinal dysfunction that is exacerbated by light exposure. These models provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology underlying USH2A-associated RP and a unique opportunity to evaluate future therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margo Dona
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ralph Slijkerman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Kimberly Lerner
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA
| | - Sanne Broekman
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeremy Wegner
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA
| | - Taylor Howat
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA
| | - Theo Peters
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lisette Hetterschijt
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nanda Boon
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik de Vrieze
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nasrin Sorusch
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Johannes-von-Muellerweg 6, D-55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Uwe Wolfrum
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Johannes-von-Muellerweg 6, D-55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Hannie Kremer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stephan Neuhauss
- University of Zürich, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich, CH - 8057, Switzerland
| | - Jingjing Zang
- University of Zürich, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich, CH - 8057, Switzerland
| | - Maarten Kamermans
- Retinal Signal Processing Lab, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Physics, Academisch Medisch Centrum, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Monte Westerfield
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA
| | - Jennifer Phillips
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA
| | - Erwin van Wijk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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47
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Zou J, Chen Q, Almishaal A, Mathur PD, Zheng T, Tian C, Zheng QY, Yang J. The roles of USH1 proteins and PDZ domain-containing USH proteins in USH2 complex integrity in cochlear hair cells. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:624-636. [PMID: 28031293 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common cause of inherited deaf-blindness, manifested as USH1, USH2 and USH3 clinical types. The protein products of USH2 causative and modifier genes, USH2A, ADGRV1, WHRN and PDZD7, interact to assemble a multiprotein complex at the ankle link region of the mechanosensitive stereociliary bundle in hair cells. Defects in this complex cause stereociliary bundle disorganization and hearing loss. The four USH2 proteins also interact in vitro with USH1 proteins including myosin VIIa, USH1G (SANS), CIB2 and harmonin. However, it is unclear whether the interactions between USH1 and USH2 proteins occur in vivo and whether USH1 proteins play a role in USH2 complex assembly in hair cells. In this study, we identified a novel interaction between myosin VIIa and PDZD7 by FLAG pull-down assay. We further investigated the role of the above-mentioned four USH1 proteins in the cochlear USH2 complex assembly using USH1 mutant mice. We showed that only myosin VIIa is indispensable for USH2 complex assembly at ankle links, indicating the potential transport and/or anchoring role of myosin VIIa for USH2 proteins in hair cells. However, myosin VIIa is not required for USH2 complex assembly in photoreceptors. We further showed that, while PDZ protein harmonin is not involved, its paralogous USH2 proteins, PDZD7 and whirlin, function synergistically in USH2 complex assembly in cochlear hair cells. In summary, our studies provide novel insight into the functional relationship between USH1 and USH2 proteins in the cochlea and the retina as well as the disease mechanisms underlying USH1 and USH2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhuang Zou
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Ali Almishaal
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Utah, 390 South 1530 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Pranav Dinesh Mathur
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.,Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, 20 North 1900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Tihua Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Cong Tian
- Department of Otolaryngology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Qing Y Zheng
- Department of Otolaryngology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.,Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, 20 North 1900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.,Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
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48
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Sengillo JD, Cabral T, Schuerch K, Duong J, Lee W, Boudreault K, Xu Y, Justus S, Sparrow JR, Mahajan VB, Tsang SH. Electroretinography Reveals Difference in Cone Function between Syndromic and Nonsyndromic USH2A Patients. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11170. [PMID: 28894305 PMCID: PMC5593892 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11679-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome is an inherited and irreversible disease that manifests as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and bilateral neurosensory hearing loss. Mutations in Usherin 2A (USH2A) are not only a frequent cause of Usher syndrome, but also nonsyndromic RP. Although gene- and cell-based therapies are on the horizon for RP and Usher syndrome, studies characterizing natural disease are lacking. In this retrospective analysis, retinal function of USH2A patients was quantified with electroretinography. Both groups had markedly reduced rod and cone responses, but nonsyndromic USH2A patients had 30 Hz-flicker electroretinogram amplitudes that were significantly higher than syndromic patients, suggesting superior residual cone function. There was a tendency for Usher syndrome patients to have a higher distribution of severe mutations, and alleles in this group had a higher odds of containing nonsense or frame-shift mutations. These data suggest that the previously reported severe visual phenotype seen in syndromic USH2A patients could relate to a greater extent of cone dysfunction. Additionally, a genetic threshold may exist where mutation burden relates to visual phenotype and the presence of hearing deficits. The auditory phenotype and allelic hierarchy observed among patients should be considered in prospective studies of disease progression and during enrollment for future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Sengillo
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.,State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Thiago Cabral
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil.,Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kaspar Schuerch
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jimmy Duong
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Winston Lee
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine Boudreault
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Yu Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xin Hua Hospital affiliate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Sally Justus
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Janet R Sparrow
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Stem Cell Initiative (CSCI), Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vinit B Mahajan
- Omics Laboratory, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. .,Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA. .,Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Stem Cell Initiative (CSCI), Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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49
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Cunningham CL, Wu Z, Jafari A, Zhao B, Schrode K, Harkins-Perry S, Lauer A, Müller U. The murine catecholamine methyltransferase mTOMT is essential for mechanotransduction by cochlear hair cells. eLife 2017; 6:e24318. [PMID: 28504928 PMCID: PMC5462538 DOI: 10.7554/elife.24318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair cells of the cochlea are mechanosensors for the perception of sound. Mutations in the LRTOMT gene, which encodes a protein with homology to the catecholamine methyltransferase COMT that is linked to schizophrenia, cause deafness. Here, we show that Tomt/Comt2, the murine ortholog of LRTOMT, has an unexpected function in the regulation of mechanotransduction by hair cells. The role of mTOMT in hair cells is independent of mTOMT methyltransferase function and mCOMT cannot substitute for mTOMT function. Instead, mTOMT binds to putative components of the mechanotransduction channel in hair cells and is essential for the transport of some of these components into the mechanically sensitive stereocilia of hair cells. Our studies thus suggest functional diversification between mCOMT and mTOMT, where mTOMT is critical for the assembly of the mechanotransduction machinery of hair cells. Defects in this process are likely mechanistically linked to deafness caused by mutations in LRTOMT/Tomt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Cunningham
- The Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Zizhen Wu
- The Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Aria Jafari
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Bo Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Kat Schrode
- Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Sarah Harkins-Perry
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, United States
| | - Amanda Lauer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Ulrich Müller
- The Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
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50
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Yang X, Qian X, Ma R, Wang X, Yang J, Luo W, Chen P, Chi F, Ren D. Establishment of planar cell polarity is coupled to regional cell cycle exit and cell differentiation in the mouse utricle. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43021. [PMID: 28230212 PMCID: PMC5322371 DOI: 10.1038/srep43021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory hair cells are coordinately oriented within each inner ear sensory organ to exhibit a particular form of planar cell polarity (PCP) necessary for mechanotransduction. However, the developmental events associated with establishing PCP in the vestibule are unclear, hindering data interpretation and employment of the vestibule for PCP studies. Herein, we investigated PCP of the mouse vestibular organs. We further characterised cell cycle exit, cell differentiation, and PCP establishment in the utricle. We found that hair cells formed first in the striolar and medial extrastriolar (MES) regions of the utricle at embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5), while cells in the lateral extrastriolar region (LES) mostly formed at E13.5. Cell differentiation was initiated in the striolar region, which expanded first toward the MES, then to the LES by E15.5. The polarity of hair cells was established at birth along a putative line of polarity reversal (LPR), lateral to the striolar region. Core PCP protein Vangl2 emerged in the cell boundaries since E11.5, while cell intrinsic polarity protein Gαi3 appeared at E12.5, then polarized to the bare zone of individual hair cell at E13.5. These findings provide a blueprint of the developmental events associated with establishing PCP in the utricle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Yang
- Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Hearing Medicine, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaoqing Qian
- Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Hearing Medicine, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Rui Ma
- Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Hearing Medicine, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.,Department of Research Center, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xinwei Wang
- Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Hearing Medicine, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Juanmei Yang
- Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Hearing Medicine, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wenwei Luo
- Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Hearing Medicine, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Fanglu Chi
- Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Hearing Medicine, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dongdong Ren
- Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.,Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Hearing Medicine, Eye &ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
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