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Karas Kuželički N, Doljak B. Congenital Heart Disease and Genetic Changes in Folate/Methionine Cycles. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:872. [PMID: 39062651 PMCID: PMC11276067 DOI: 10.3390/genes15070872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease is one of the most common congenital malformations and thus represents a considerable public health burden. Hence, the identification of individuals and families with an increased genetic predisposition to congenital heart disease (CHD) and its possible prevention is important. Even though CHD is associated with the lack of folate during early pregnancy, the genetic background of folate and methionine metabolism perturbations and their influence on CHD risk is not clear. While some genes, such as those coding for cytosolic enzymes of folate/methionine cycles, have been extensively studied, genetic studies of folate transporters (de)glutamation enzymes and mitochondrial enzymes of the folate cycle are lacking. Among genes coding for cytoplasmic enzymes of the folate cycle, MTHFR, MTHFD1, MTR, and MTRR have the strongest association with CHD, while among genes for enzymes of the methionine cycle BHMT and BHMT2 are the most prominent. Among mitochondrial folate cycle enzymes, MTHFD2 plays the most important role in CHD formation, while FPGS was identified as important in the group of (de)glutamation enzymes. Among transporters, the strongest association with CHD was demonstrated for SLC19A1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataša Karas Kuželički
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Bojan Doljak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
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2
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Vong KI, Lee S, Au KS, Crowley TB, Capra V, Martino J, Haller M, Araújo C, Machado HR, George R, Gerding B, James KN, Stanley V, Jiang N, Alu K, Meave N, Nidhiry AS, Jiwani F, Tang I, Nisal A, Jhamb I, Patel A, Patel A, McEvoy-Venneri J, Barrows C, Shen C, Ha YJ, Howarth R, Strain M, Ashley-Koch AE, Azam M, Mumtaz S, Bot GM, Finnell RH, Kibar Z, Marwan AI, Melikishvili G, Meltzer HS, Mutchinick OM, Stevenson DA, Mroczkowski HJ, Ostrander B, Schindewolf E, Moldenhauer J, Zackai EH, Emanuel BS, Garcia-Minaur S, Nowakowska BA, Stevenson RE, Zaki MS, Northrup H, McNamara HK, Aldinger KA, Phelps IG, Deng M, Glass IA, Morrow B, McDonald-McGinn DM, Sanna-Cherchi S, Lamb DJ, Gleeson JG. Risk of meningomyelocele mediated by the common 22q11.2 deletion. Science 2024; 384:584-590. [PMID: 38696583 DOI: 10.1126/science.adl1624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Meningomyelocele is one of the most severe forms of neural tube defects (NTDs) and the most frequent structural birth defect of the central nervous system. We assembled the Spina Bifida Sequencing Consortium to identify causes. Exome and genome sequencing of 715 parent-offspring trios identified six patients with chromosomal 22q11.2 deletions, suggesting a 23-fold increased risk compared with the general population. Furthermore, analysis of a separate 22q11.2 deletion cohort suggested a 12- to 15-fold increased NTD risk of meningomyelocele. The loss of Crkl, one of several neural tube-expressed genes within the minimal deletion interval, was sufficient to replicate NTDs in mice, where both penetrance and expressivity were exacerbated by maternal folate deficiency. Thus, the common 22q11.2 deletion confers substantial meningomyelocele risk, which is partially alleviated by folate supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keng Ioi Vong
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Sangmoon Lee
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Kit Sing Au
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - T Blaine Crowley
- 22q and You Center, Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Valeria Capra
- Genomics and Clinical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Jeremiah Martino
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, NY 10027, USA
| | - Meade Haller
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, TX 77030, USA
| | - Camila Araújo
- Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-900, Brazil
| | - Hélio R Machado
- Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-900, Brazil
| | - Renee George
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Bryn Gerding
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Kiely N James
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Valentina Stanley
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Nan Jiang
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Kameron Alu
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Naomi Meave
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Anna S Nidhiry
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Fiza Jiwani
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Isaac Tang
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Ashna Nisal
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Ishani Jhamb
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Arzoo Patel
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Aakash Patel
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Jennifer McEvoy-Venneri
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Chelsea Barrows
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Celina Shen
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Yoo-Jin Ha
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Robyn Howarth
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Madison Strain
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | | | - Matloob Azam
- Pediatrics and Child Neurology, Wah Medical College, Wah Cantt, Punjab 47000, Pakistan
| | - Sara Mumtaz
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Punjab 46000, Pakistan
| | - Gyang Markus Bot
- Neurosurgery Division, Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos 930105, Nigeria
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zoha Kibar
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Montreal and CHU Sainte Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Ahmed I Marwan
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Colorado, Colorado Fetal Care Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Gia Melikishvili
- Department of Pediatrics, MediClubGeorgia Medical Center, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia
| | - Hal S Meltzer
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Osvaldo M Mutchinick
- Department of Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - David A Stevenson
- Division of Medical Genetics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Henry J Mroczkowski
- Division of Medical Genetics, University of Tennessee Health Science Campus, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Betsy Ostrander
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Primary Children's Hospital, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA
| | - Erica Schindewolf
- Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Julie Moldenhauer
- Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Elaine H Zackai
- 22q and You Center, Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Beverly S Emanuel
- 22q and You Center, Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sixto Garcia-Minaur
- Clinical Genetics Section, Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics, University Hospital La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain
| | - Beata A Nowakowska
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Roger E Stevenson
- JC Self Research Institute of Human Genetics, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Maha S Zaki
- Clinical Genetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo 12311, Egypt
| | - Hope Northrup
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hanna K McNamara
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Kimberly A Aldinger
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Ian G Phelps
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Mei Deng
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Ian A Glass
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Bernice Morrow
- Division of Translational Genetics, Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Donna M McDonald-McGinn
- 22q and You Center, Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Human Biology and Medical Genetics, Sapienza University, 00185-Rome RM, Italy
| | - Simone Sanna-Cherchi
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, NY 10027, USA
| | - Dolores J Lamb
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Urology, Center for Reproductive Genomics, Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Joseph G Gleeson
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
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3
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Fernández-Santos B, Reyes-Corral M, Caro-Vega JM, Lao-Pérez M, Vallejo-Grijalba C, Mesa-Cruz C, Morón FJ, Ybot-González P. The loop-tail mouse model displays open and closed caudal neural tube defects. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050175. [PMID: 37589570 PMCID: PMC10481946 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common cause of congenital malformations and are often studied in animal models. Loop-tail (Lp) mice carry a mutation in the Vangl2 gene, a member of the Wnt-planar cell polarity pathway. In Vangl2+/Lp embryos, the mutation induces a failure in the completion of caudal neural tube closure, but only a small percentage of embryos develop open spina bifida. Here, we show that the majority of Vangl2+/Lp embryos developed caudal closed NTDs and presented cellular aggregates that may facilitate the sealing of these defects. The cellular aggregates expressed neural crest cell markers and, using these as a readout, we describe a systematic method to assess the severity of the neural tube dorsal fusion failure. We observed that this defect worsened in combination with other NTD mutants, Daam1 and Grhl3. Besides, we found that in Vangl2+/Lp embryos, these NTDs were resistant to maternal folic acid and inositol supplementation. Loop-tail mice provide a useful model for research on the molecular interactions involved in the development of open and closed NTDs and for the design of prevention strategies for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Fernández-Santos
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Marta Reyes-Corral
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - José Manuel Caro-Vega
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Miguel Lao-Pérez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Claudia Vallejo-Grijalba
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Cristina Mesa-Cruz
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Morón
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Patricia Ybot-González
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
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4
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Geng S, Paul F, Kowalczyk I, Raimundo S, Sporbert A, Mamo TM, Hammes A. Balancing WNT signalling in early forebrain development: The role of LRP4 as a modulator of LRP6 function. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1173688. [PMID: 37091972 PMCID: PMC10119419 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1173688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The specification of the forebrain relies on the precise regulation of WNT/ß-catenin signalling to support neuronal progenitor cell expansion, patterning, and morphogenesis. Imbalances in WNT signalling activity in the early neuroepithelium lead to congenital disorders, such as neural tube defects (NTDs). LDL receptor-related protein (LRP) family members, including the well-studied receptors LRP5 and LRP6, play critical roles in modulating WNT signalling capacity through tightly regulated interactions with their co-receptor Frizzled, WNT ligands, inhibitors and intracellular WNT pathway components. However, little is known about the function of LRP4 as a potential modulator of WNT signalling in the central nervous system. In this study, we investigated the role of LRP4 in the regulation of WNT signalling during early mouse forebrain development. Our results demonstrate that LRP4 can modulate LRP5- and LRP6-mediated WNT signalling in the developing forebrain prior to the onset of neurogenesis at embryonic stage 9.5 and is therefore essential for accurate neural tube morphogenesis. Specifically, LRP4 functions as a genetic modifier for impaired mitotic activity and forebrain hypoplasia, but not for NTDs in LRP6-deficient mutants. In vivo and in vitro data provide evidence that LRP4 is a key player in fine-tuning WNT signalling capacity and mitotic activity of mouse neuronal progenitors and of human retinal pigment epithelial (hTERT RPE-1) cells. Our data demonstrate the crucial roles of LRP4 and LRP6 in regulating WNT signalling and forebrain development and highlight the need to consider the interaction between different signalling pathways to understand the underlying mechanisms of disease. The findings have significant implications for our mechanistic understanding of how LRPs participate in controlling WNT signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Geng
- Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabian Paul
- Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Izabela Kowalczyk
- Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Raimundo
- Advanced Light Microscopy Technology Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Anje Sporbert
- Advanced Light Microscopy Technology Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Tamrat Meshka Mamo
- Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Tamrat Meshka Mamo, ; Annette Hammes,
| | - Annette Hammes
- Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Tamrat Meshka Mamo, ; Annette Hammes,
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Systems biology analysis of human genomes points to key pathways conferring spina bifida risk. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2106844118. [PMID: 34916285 PMCID: PMC8713748 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106844118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic investigations of most structural birth defects, including spina bifida (SB), congenital heart disease, and craniofacial anomalies, have been underpowered for genome-wide association studies because of their rarity, genetic heterogeneity, incomplete penetrance, and environmental influences. Our systems biology strategy to investigate SB predisposition controls for population stratification and avoids much of the bias inherent in candidate gene searches that are pervasive in the field. We examine both protein coding and noncoding regions of whole genomes to analyze sequence variants, collapsed by gene or regulatory region, and apply machine learning, gene enrichment, and pathway analyses to elucidate molecular pathways and genes contributing to human SB. Spina bifida (SB) is a debilitating birth defect caused by multiple gene and environment interactions. Though SB shows non-Mendelian inheritance, genetic factors contribute to an estimated 70% of cases. Nevertheless, identifying human mutations conferring SB risk is challenging due to its relative rarity, genetic heterogeneity, incomplete penetrance, and environmental influences that hamper genome-wide association studies approaches to untargeted discovery. Thus, SB genetic studies may suffer from population substructure and/or selection bias introduced by typical candidate gene searches. We report a population based, ancestry-matched whole-genome sequence analysis of SB genetic predisposition using a systems biology strategy to interrogate 298 case-control subject genomes (149 pairs). Genes that were enriched in likely gene disrupting (LGD), rare protein-coding variants were subjected to machine learning analysis to identify genes in which LGD variants occur with a different frequency in cases versus controls and so discriminate between these groups. Those genes with high discriminatory potential for SB significantly enriched pathways pertaining to carbon metabolism, inflammation, innate immunity, cytoskeletal regulation, and essential transcriptional regulation consistent with their having impact on the pathogenesis of human SB. Additionally, an interrogation of conserved noncoding sequences identified robust variant enrichment in regulatory regions of several transcription factors critical to embryonic development. This genome-wide perspective offers an effective approach to the interrogation of coding and noncoding sequence variant contributions to rare complex genetic disorders.
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Wolujewicz P, Steele JW, Kaltschmidt JA, Finnell RH, Ross ME. Unraveling the complex genetics of neural tube defects: From biological models to human genomics and back. Genesis 2021; 59:e23459. [PMID: 34713546 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a classic example of preventable birth defects for which there is a proven-effective intervention, folic acid (FA); however, further methods of prevention remain unrealized. In the decades following implementation of FA nutritional fortification programs throughout at least 87 nations, it has become apparent that not all NTDs can be prevented by FA. In the United States, FA fortification only reduced NTD rates by 28-35% (Williams et al., 2015). As such, it is imperative that further work is performed to understand the risk factors associated with NTDs and their underlying mechanisms so that alternative prevention strategies can be developed. However, this is complicated by the sheer number of genes associated with neural tube development, the heterogeneity of observable phenotypes in human cases, the rareness of the disease, and the myriad of environmental factors associated with NTD risk. Given the complex genetic architecture underlying NTD pathology and the way in which that architecture interacts dynamically with environmental factors, further prevention initiatives will undoubtedly require precision medicine strategies that utilize the power of human genomics and modern tools for assessing genetic risk factors. Herein, we review recent advances in genomic strategies for discovering genetic variants associated with these defects, and new ways in which biological models, such as mice and cell culture-derived organoids, are leveraged to assess mechanistic functionality, the way these variants interact with other genetic or environmental factors, and their ultimate contribution to human NTD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Wolujewicz
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain & Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - John W Steele
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Julia A Kaltschmidt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Margaret Elizabeth Ross
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain & Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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7
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Machado RA, Martelli-Junior H, Reis SRDA, Küchler EC, Scariot R, das Neves LT, Coletta RD. Identification of Novel Variants in Cleft Palate-Associated Genes in Brazilian Patients With Non-syndromic Cleft Palate Only. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:638522. [PMID: 34307341 PMCID: PMC8297955 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.638522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of genetic risk factors for non-syndromic oral clefts is of great importance for better understanding the biological processes related to this heterogeneous and complex group of diseases. Herein we applied whole-exome sequencing to identify potential variants related to non-syndromic cleft palate only (NSCPO) in the multiethnic Brazilian population. Thirty NSCPO samples and 30 sex- and genetic ancestry-matched healthy controls were pooled (3 pools with 10 samples for each group) and subjected to whole-exome sequencing. After filtering, the functional affects, individually and through interactions, of the selected variants and genes were assessed by bioinformatic analyses. As a group, 399 variants in 216 genes related to palatogenesis/cleft palate, corresponding to 6.43%, were exclusively identified in the NSCPO pools. Among those genes are 99 associated with syndromes displaying cleft palate in their clinical spectrum and 92 previously related to cleft lip palate. The most significantly biological processes and pathways overrepresented in the NSCPO-identified genes were associated with the folic acid metabolism, highlighting the interaction between LDL receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase (MTR) that interconnect two large networks. This study yields novel data on characterization of specific variants and complex processes and pathways related to NSCPO, including many variants in genes of the folate/homocysteine pathway, and confirms that variants in genes related to syndromic cleft palate and cleft lip-palate may cause NSCPO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Assis Machado
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas (FOP), Piracicaba, Brazil.,Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil
| | - Hercílio Martelli-Junior
- Stomatology Clinic, School of Dental, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Brazil.,Center for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, School of Dental, UNIFENAS - Universidade José do Rosario Vellano, Alfenas, Brazil
| | | | | | - Rafaela Scariot
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Health Science, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Lucimara Teixeira das Neves
- Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil.,Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (FOB), Bauru, Brazil
| | - Ricardo D Coletta
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas (FOP), Piracicaba, Brazil
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8
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Maldonado E, Martínez-Sanz E, Partearroyo T, Varela-Moreiras G, Pérez-Miguelsanz J. Maternal Folic Acid Deficiency Is Associated to Developing Nasal and Palate Malformations in Mice. Nutrients 2021; 13:251. [PMID: 33467180 PMCID: PMC7830789 DOI: 10.3390/nu13010251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Craniofacial development requires extremely fine-tuned developmental coordination of multiple specialized tissues. It has been evidenced that a folate deficiency (vitamin B9), or its synthetic form, folic acid (FA), in maternal diet could trigger multiple craniofacial malformations as oral clefts, tongue, or mandible abnormalities. In this study, a folic acid-deficient (FAD) diet was administered to eight-week-old C57/BL/6J female mouse for 2-16 weeks. The head symmetry, palate and nasal region were studied in 24 control and 260 experimental fetuses. Our results showed a significant reduction in the mean number of fetuses per litter according to maternal weeks on FAD diet (p < 0.01). Fetuses were affected by cleft palate (3.8%) as well as other severe congenital abnormalities, for the first time related to maternal FAD diet, as head asymmetries (4.6%), high arched palate (3.5%), nasal septum malformed (7.3%), nasopharynx duct shape (15%), and cilia and epithelium abnormalities (11.2% and 5.8%). Dysmorphologies of the nasal region were the most frequent, appearing at just four weeks following a maternal FAD diet. This is the first time that nasal region development is experimentally related to this vitamin deficiency. In conclusion, our report offers novel discoveries about the importance of maternal folate intake on midface craniofacial development of the embryos. Moreover, the longer the deficit lasts, the more serious the consequent effects appear to be.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estela Maldonado
- Departamento de Anatomía y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.-S.); (J.P.-M.)
- Grupo UCM de Investigación nº 920202 “Investigación en Desarrollo del Paladar y Fisura Palatina. Desarrollo Craneofacial”, Facultad de Odontología, Plaza de Ramón y Cajal, 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Martínez-Sanz
- Departamento de Anatomía y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.-S.); (J.P.-M.)
- Grupo UCM de Investigación nº 920202 “Investigación en Desarrollo del Paladar y Fisura Palatina. Desarrollo Craneofacial”, Facultad de Odontología, Plaza de Ramón y Cajal, 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa Partearroyo
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Salud, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Alcorcón, 28925 Madrid, Spain; (T.P.); (G.V.-M.)
- Grupo USP-CEU de Excelencia “Nutrición para la vida (Nutrition for life)”, ref: E02/0720, Alcorcón, 28925 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gregorio Varela-Moreiras
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Salud, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Alcorcón, 28925 Madrid, Spain; (T.P.); (G.V.-M.)
- Grupo USP-CEU de Excelencia “Nutrición para la vida (Nutrition for life)”, ref: E02/0720, Alcorcón, 28925 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juliana Pérez-Miguelsanz
- Departamento de Anatomía y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.-S.); (J.P.-M.)
- Grupo UCM de Investigación nº 911308 “Mecanismos Moleculares Cronobiológicos”, Plaza de Ramón y Cajal, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), C/ del Prof. Martín Lagos, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Abstract
During embryonic development, the central nervous system forms as the neural plate and then rolls into a tube in a complex morphogenetic process known as neurulation. Neural tube defects (NTDs) occur when neurulation fails and are among the most common structural birth defects in humans. The frequency of NTDs varies greatly anywhere from 0.5 to 10 in 1000 live births, depending on the genetic background of the population, as well as a variety of environmental factors. The prognosis varies depending on the size and placement of the lesion and ranges from death to severe or moderate disability, and some NTDs are asymptomatic. This chapter reviews how mouse models have contributed to the elucidation of the genetic, molecular, and cellular basis of neural tube closure, as well as to our understanding of the causes and prevention of this devastating birth defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene E Zohn
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
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10
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Mei X, Qi D, Zhang T, Zhao Y, Jin L, Hou J, Wang J, Lin Y, Xue Y, Zhu P, Liu Z, Huang L, Nie J, Si W, Ma J, Ye J, Finnell RH, Saiyin H, Wang H, Zhao J, Zhao S, Xu W. Inhibiting MARSs reduces hyperhomocysteinemia-associated neural tube and congenital heart defects. EMBO Mol Med 2020; 12:e9469. [PMID: 32003121 PMCID: PMC7059139 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201809469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia is a common metabolic disorder that imposes major adverse health consequences. Reducing homocysteine levels, however, is not always effective against hyperhomocysteinemia-associated pathologies. Herein, we report the potential roles of methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MARS)-generated homocysteine signals in neural tube defects (NTDs) and congenital heart defects (CHDs). Increased copy numbers of MARS and/or MARS2 were detected in NTD and CHD patients. MARSs sense homocysteine and transmit its signal by inducing protein lysine (N)-homocysteinylation. Here, we identified hundreds of novel N-homocysteinylated proteins. N-homocysteinylation of superoxide dismutases (SOD1/2) provided new mechanistic insights for homocysteine-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and Wnt signalling deregulation. Elevated MARS expression in developing and proliferating cells sensitizes them to the effects of homocysteine. Targeting MARSs using the homocysteine analogue acetyl homocysteine thioether (AHT) reversed MARS efficacy. AHT lowered NTD and CHD onsets in retinoic acid-induced and hyperhomocysteinemia-induced animal models without affecting homocysteine levels. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence to show that MARSs are previously overlooked genetic determinants and key pathological factors of hyperhomocysteinemia, and suggest that MARS inhibition represents an important medicinal approach for controlling hyperhomocysteinemia-associated diseases.
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11
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Louden AR, Suhl J, Kancherla V, Caspers Conway KM, Makelarski J, Howley MM, Hoyt AT, Olney RS, Olshan AF, Romitti PA. Association between maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption and neural tube defects: Findings from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011. Birth Defects Res 2020; 112:427-439. [PMID: 32104984 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural tube defects (NTD)s are common birth defects with a multifactorial etiology. Findings from human studies examining environmental (non-inherited) exposures tend to be inconclusive. In particular, although animal studies of alcohol exposure and NTDs support its teratogenic potential, human studies are equivocal. Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS), associations between maternal periconceptional (1 month before through 1 month after conception) alcohol consumption and NTDs in offspring were examined. METHODS NTD cases and unaffected live born singleton controls with expected dates of delivery from October 1997-December 2011 were enrolled in the NBDPS. Interview reports of alcohol consumption (quantity, frequency, variability, type) from 1,922 case and 11,251 control mothers were analyzed. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR)s and 95% confidence intervals (CI)s for alcohol consumption and all NTDs combined and selected subtypes (spina bifida, anencephaly, encephalocele) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Among mothers in the NBDPS, 28% of NTD case and 35% of control mothers reported any periconceptional alcohol consumption. For each measure of alcohol consumption, inverse associations were observed for all NTDs combined (aORs = 0.6-1.0). Results for NTD subtypes tended to be similar, but CIs for spina bifida and encephalocele were more likely to include the null. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest a lack of positive associations between maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption and NTDs. Future studies should continue to evaluate the association between maternal alcohol consumption and NTDs in offspring accounting for methodological limitations such as potential misclassification from self-reported alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adia R Louden
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jonathan Suhl
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Vijaya Kancherla
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Jennifer Makelarski
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Meredith M Howley
- Congenital Malformations Registry, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
| | - Adrienne T Hoyt
- Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Richard S Olney
- Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California
| | - Andrew F Olshan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Paul A Romitti
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
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12
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Insights into the Etiology of Mammalian Neural Tube Closure Defects from Developmental, Genetic and Evolutionary Studies. J Dev Biol 2018; 6:jdb6030022. [PMID: 30134561 PMCID: PMC6162505 DOI: 10.3390/jdb6030022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The human neural tube defects (NTD), anencephaly, spina bifida and craniorachischisis, originate from a failure of the embryonic neural tube to close. Human NTD are relatively common and both complex and heterogeneous in genetic origin, but the genetic variants and developmental mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we review the numerous studies, mainly in mice, of normal neural tube closure, the mechanisms of failure caused by specific gene mutations, and the evolution of the vertebrate cranial neural tube and its genetic processes, seeking insights into the etiology of human NTD. We find evidence of many regions along the anterior–posterior axis each differing in some aspect of neural tube closure—morphology, cell behavior, specific genes required—and conclude that the etiology of NTD is likely to be partly specific to the anterior–posterior location of the defect and also genetically heterogeneous. We revisit the hypotheses explaining the excess of females among cranial NTD cases in mice and humans and new developments in understanding the role of the folate pathway in NTD. Finally, we demonstrate that evidence from mouse mutants strongly supports the search for digenic or oligogenic etiology in human NTD of all types.
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13
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Ross ME, Mason CE, Finnell RH. Genomic approaches to the assessment of human spina bifida risk. Birth Defects Res 2018; 109:120-128. [PMID: 27883265 DOI: 10.1002/bdra.23592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 10/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Structural birth defects are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children world-wide, affecting as much as 6% of all live births. Among these conditions, neural tube defects (NTDs), including spina bifida and anencephaly, arise from a combination of complex gene and environment interactions that are as yet poorly understood within human populations. Rapid advances in massively parallel DNA sequencing and bioinformatics allow for analyses of the entire genome beyond the 2% of the genomic sequence covering protein coding regions. Efforts to collect and analyze these large datasets hold promise for illuminating gene network variations and eventually epigenetic events that increase individual risk for failure to close the neural tube. In this review, we discuss current challenges for DNA genome sequence analysis of NTD affected populations, and compare experience in the field with other complex genetic disorders for which large datasets are accumulating. The ultimate goal of this research is to find strategies for optimizing conditions that promote healthy birth outcomes for individual couples. Birth Defects Research 109:120-128, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Elizabeth Ross
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Nutritional Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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14
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Do Gametes Woo? Evidence for Their Nonrandom Union at Fertilization. Genetics 2018; 207:369-387. [PMID: 28978771 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental tenet of inheritance in sexually reproducing organisms such as humans and laboratory mice is that gametes combine randomly at fertilization, thereby ensuring a balanced and statistically predictable representation of inherited variants in each generation. This principle is encapsulated in Mendel's First Law. But exceptions are known. With transmission ratio distortion, particular alleles are preferentially transmitted to offspring. Preferential transmission usually occurs in one sex but not both, and is not known to require interactions between gametes at fertilization. A reanalysis of our published work in mice and of data in other published reports revealed instances where any of 12 mutant genes biases fertilization, with either too many or too few heterozygotes and homozygotes, depending on the mutant gene and on dietary conditions. Although such deviations are usually attributed to embryonic lethality of the underrepresented genotypes, the evidence is more consistent with genetically-determined preferences for specific combinations of egg and sperm at fertilization that result in genotype bias without embryo loss. This unexpected discovery of genetically-biased fertilization could yield insights about the molecular and cellular interactions between sperm and egg at fertilization, with implications for our understanding of inheritance, reproduction, population genetics, and medical genetics.
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15
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Han M, Evsikov AV, Zhang L, Lastra-Vicente R, Linask KK. Embryonic exposures of lithium and homocysteine and folate protection affect lipid metabolism during mouse cardiogenesis and placentation. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 61:82-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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16
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Anderson MJ, Schimmang T, Lewandoski M. An FGF3-BMP Signaling Axis Regulates Caudal Neural Tube Closure, Neural Crest Specification and Anterior-Posterior Axis Extension. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006018. [PMID: 27144312 PMCID: PMC4856314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During vertebrate axis extension, adjacent tissue layers undergo profound morphological changes: within the neuroepithelium, neural tube closure and neural crest formation are occurring, while within the paraxial mesoderm somites are segmenting from the presomitic mesoderm (PSM). Little is known about the signals between these tissues that regulate their coordinated morphogenesis. Here, we analyze the posterior axis truncation of mouse Fgf3 null homozygotes and demonstrate that the earliest role of PSM-derived FGF3 is to regulate BMP signals in the adjacent neuroepithelium. FGF3 loss causes elevated BMP signals leading to increased neuroepithelium proliferation, delay in neural tube closure and premature neural crest specification. We demonstrate that elevated BMP4 depletes PSM progenitors in vitro, phenocopying the Fgf3 mutant, suggesting that excessive BMP signals cause the Fgf3 axis defect. To test this in vivo we increased BMP signaling in Fgf3 mutants by removing one copy of Noggin, which encodes a BMP antagonist. In such mutants, all parameters of the Fgf3 phenotype were exacerbated: neural tube closure delay, premature neural crest specification, and premature axis termination. Conversely, genetically decreasing BMP signaling in Fgf3 mutants, via loss of BMP receptor activity, alleviates morphological defects. Aberrant apoptosis is observed in the Fgf3 mutant tailbud. However, we demonstrate that cell death does not cause the Fgf3 phenotype: blocking apoptosis via deletion of pro-apoptotic genes surprisingly increases all Fgf3 defects including causing spina bifida. We demonstrate that this counterintuitive consequence of blocking apoptosis is caused by the increased survival of BMP-producing cells in the neuroepithelium. Thus, we show that FGF3 in the caudal vertebrate embryo regulates BMP signaling in the neuroepithelium, which in turn regulates neural tube closure, neural crest specification and axis termination. Uncovering this FGF3-BMP signaling axis is a major advance toward understanding how these tissue layers interact during axis extension with important implications in human disease. During embryological development, the vertebrate embryo undergoes profound growth in a head-to-tail direction. During this process, formation of different structures within adjacent tissue layers must occur in a coordinated fashion. Insights into how these adjacent tissues molecularly communicate with each other is essential to understanding both basic embryology and the underlying causes of human birth defects. Mice lacking Fgf3, which encodes a secreted signaling factor, have long been known to have premature axis termination, but the underlying mechanism has not been studied until now. Through a series of complex genetic experiments, we show that FGF3 is an essential factor for coordination of neural tube development and axis extension. FGF3 is secreted from the mesodermal layer, which is the major driver of extending the axis, and negatively regulates expression of another class of secreted signaling molecules in the neuroepithelium, BMPs. In the absence of FGF3, excessive BMP signals cause a delay in neural tube closure, premature specification of neural crest cells and negatively affect the mesoderm, causing a premature termination of the embryological axis. Our work suggests that FGF3 may be a player in the complex etiology of the human birth defect, spina bifida, the failure of posterior neural tube closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Anderson
- Genetics of Vertebrate Development Section, Cancer and Developmental Biology Lab, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas Schimmang
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Mark Lewandoski
- Genetics of Vertebrate Development Section, Cancer and Developmental Biology Lab, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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17
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Lee JA, Shinn P, Jaken S, Oliver S, Willard FS, Heidler S, Peery RB, Oler J, Chu S, Southall N, Dexheimer TS, Smallwood J, Huang R, Guha R, Jadhav A, Cox K, Austin CP, Simeonov A, Sittampalam GS, Husain S, Franklin N, Wild DJ, Yang JJ, Sutherland JJ, Thomas CJ. Novel Phenotypic Outcomes Identified for a Public Collection of Approved Drugs from a Publicly Accessible Panel of Assays. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130796. [PMID: 26177200 PMCID: PMC4503722 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic assays have a proven track record for generating leads that become first-in-class therapies. Whole cell assays that inform on a phenotype or mechanism also possess great potential in drug repositioning studies by illuminating new activities for the existing pharmacopeia. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) pharmaceutical collection (NPC) is the largest reported collection of approved small molecule therapeutics that is available for screening in a high-throughput setting. Via a wide-ranging collaborative effort, this library was analyzed in the Open Innovation Drug Discovery (OIDD) phenotypic assay modules publicly offered by Lilly. The results of these tests are publically available online at www.ncats.nih.gov/expertise/preclinical/pd2 and via the PubChem Database (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) (AID 1117321). Phenotypic outcomes for numerous drugs were confirmed, including sulfonylureas as insulin secretagogues and the anti-angiogenesis actions of multikinase inhibitors sorafenib, axitinib and pazopanib. Several novel outcomes were also noted including the Wnt potentiating activities of rotenone and the antifolate class of drugs, and the anti-angiogenic activity of cetaben.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A. Lee
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Paul Shinn
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Susan Jaken
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Sarah Oliver
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Francis S. Willard
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Steven Heidler
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Robert B. Peery
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Oler
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Shaoyou Chu
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Noel Southall
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas S. Dexheimer
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Smallwood
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Ruili Huang
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rajarshi Guha
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ajit Jadhav
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Karen Cox
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Christopher P. Austin
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Anton Simeonov
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - G. Sitta Sittampalam
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Saba Husain
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Natalie Franklin
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - David J. Wild
- Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jeremy J. Yang
- Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey J. Sutherland
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JJS); (CJT)
| | - Craig J. Thomas
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JJS); (CJT)
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18
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Li BI, Matteson PG, Ababon MF, Nato AQ, Lin Y, Nanda V, Matise TC, Millonig JH. The orphan GPCR, Gpr161, regulates the retinoic acid and canonical Wnt pathways during neurulation. Dev Biol 2015; 402:17-31. [PMID: 25753732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The vacuolated lens (vl) mouse mutation arose on the C3H/HeSnJ background and results in lethality, neural tube defects (NTDs) and cataracts. The vl phenotypes are due to a deletion/frameshift mutation in the orphan GPCR, Gpr161. A recent study using a null allele demonstrated that Gpr161 functions in primary cilia and represses the Shh pathway. We show the hypomorphic Gpr161(vl) allele does not severely affect the Shh pathway. To identify additional pathways regulated by Gpr161 during neurulation, we took advantage of naturally occurring genetic variation in the mouse. Previously Gpr161(vl-C3H) was crossed to different inbred backgrounds including MOLF/EiJ and the Gpr161(vl) mutant phenotypes were rescued. Five modifiers were mapped (Modvl: Modifier of vl) including Modvl5(MOLF). In this study we demonstrate the Modvl5(MOLF) congenic rescues the Gpr161(vl)-associated lethality and NTDs but not cataracts. Bioinformatics determined the transcription factor, Cdx1, is the only annotated gene within the Modvl5 95% CI co-expressed with Gpr161 during neurulation and not expressed in the eye. Using Cdx1 as an entry point, we identified the retinoid acid (RA) and canonical Wnt pathways as downstream targets of Gpr161. QRT-PCR, ISH and IHC determined that expression of RA and Wnt genes are down-regulated in Gpr161(vl/vl) but rescued by the Modvl5(MOLF) congenic during neurulation. Intraperitoneal RA injection restores expression of canonical Wnt markers and rescues Gpr161(vl/vl) NTDs. These results establish the RA and canonical Wnt as pathways downstream of Gpr161 during neurulation, and suggest that Modvl5(MOLF) bypasses the Gpr161(vl) mutation by restoring the activity of these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo I Li
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States.
| | - Paul G Matteson
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Myka F Ababon
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Alejandro Q Nato
- Department of Genetics; Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Yong Lin
- Division of Biometrics, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Vikas Nanda
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States; Department of Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Tara C Matise
- Department of Genetics; Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - James H Millonig
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States; Department of Genetics; Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States.
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19
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Wilde JJ, Petersen JR, Niswander L. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental contributions to neural tube closure. Annu Rev Genet 2014; 48:583-611. [PMID: 25292356 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-120213-092208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The formation of the embryonic brain and spinal cord begins as the neural plate bends to form the neural folds, which meet and adhere to close the neural tube. The neural ectoderm and surrounding tissues also coordinate proliferation, differentiation, and patterning. This highly orchestrated process is susceptible to disruption, leading to neural tube defects (NTDs), a common birth defect. Here, we highlight genetic and epigenetic contributions to neural tube closure. We describe an online database we created as a resource for researchers, geneticists, and clinicians. Neural tube closure is sensitive to environmental influences, and we discuss disruptive causes, preventative measures, and possible mechanisms. New technologies will move beyond candidate genes in small cohort studies toward unbiased discoveries in sporadic NTD cases. This will uncover the genetic complexity of NTDs and critical gene-gene interactions. Animal models can reveal the causative nature of genetic variants, the genetic interrelationships, and the mechanisms underlying environmental influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Wilde
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045;
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Nakouzi GA, Nadeau JH. Does dietary folic acid supplementation in mouse NTD models affect neural tube development or gamete preference at fertilization? BMC Genet 2014; 15:91. [PMID: 25154628 PMCID: PMC4151023 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-014-0091-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common birth defect in humans. Dietary folic acid (FA) supplementation effectively and safely reduces the incidence of these often debilitating congenital anomalies. FA plays an established role in folate and homocysteine metabolism, but the means by which it suppresses occurrence of NTDs is not understood. In addition, many cases remain resistant to the beneficial effects of folic acid supplementation. To better understand the molecular, biochemical and developmental mechanisms by which FA exerts its effect on NTDs, characterized mouse models are needed that have a defined genetic basis and known response to dietary supplementation. Results We examined the effect of FA supplementation, at 5-fold the level in the control diet, on the NTD and vertebral phenotypes in Apobtm1Unc and Vangl2Lp mice, hereafter referred to as Apob and Lp respectively. The FA supplemented diet did not reduce the incidence or severity of NTDs in Apob or Lp mutant homozygotes or the loop-tail phenotype in Lp mutant heterozygotes, suggesting that mice with these mutant alleles are resistant to FA supplementation. Folic acid supplementation also did not affect the rate of resorptions or the size of litters, but instead skewed the embryonic genotype distribution in favor of wild-type alleles. Conclusion Similar genotypic biases have been reported for several NTD models, but were interpreted as diet-induced increases in the incidence and severity of NTDs that led to increased embryonic lethality. Absence of differences in resorption rates and litter sizes argue against induced embryonic lethality. We suggest an alternative interpretation, namely that FA supplementation led to strongly skewed allelic inheritance, perhaps from disturbances in polyamine metabolism that biases fertilization in favor of wild-type gametes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph H Nadeau
- Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Hansler A, Chen Q, Gray JD, Ross ME, Finnell RH, Gross SS. Untargeted metabolite profiling of murine embryos to reveal metabolic perturbations associated with neural tube closure defects. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 100:623-32. [PMID: 25115437 DOI: 10.1002/bdra.23272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Revised: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural tube closure defects (NTDs) are among the most common congenital malformation in human, typically presenting in liveborns as spina bifida. At least 240 gene mutations in mouse are known to increase the risk of NTD. There is a growing appreciation that environmental factors significantly contribute to NTD expression, and that NTDs likely arise from complex gene-environment interactions. Because maternal folic acid supplementation reduces human NTD risk in some populations by 60 to 70%, it is likely that NTD predisposition is often associated with a defect in folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism. A comprehensive, untargeted metabolic survey of NTD-associated changes in embryo metabolism would provide a valuable test of this assumption. We sought to establish a metabolic profiling platform that is capable of broadly assessing metabolic aberrations associated with NTD-promoting gene mutations in early-stage mouse embryos. METHODS A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolite profiling platform was used to broadly identify significant differences in small molecule levels (50-1000 Da) in NTD-affected embryonic day (E) 9.5 mouse embryos (Lrp6(-) (/) (-) ) versus unaffected (Lrp6(+/+) ) control embryos. RESULTS Results provide proof-of-principal feasibility for the broad survey of the metabolome of individual E9.5 mouse embryos and identification of metabolic changes associated with NTDs and gene mutations. Levels of 30 different metabolites were altered in association with Lrp6 gene deletion. Some metabolites link to folate-dependent one-carbon transfer reactions, as anticipated, while others await structure elucidation and pathway integration. CONCLUSION Whole-embryo metabolomics offers the potential to identify metabolic changes in genetically determined NTD-prone embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Hansler
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Program in Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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Kur E, Mecklenburg N, Cabrera RM, Willnow TE, Hammes A. LRP2 mediates folate uptake in the developing neural tube. J Cell Sci 2014; 127:2261-8. [PMID: 24639464 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.140145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 2 (LRP2) is a multifunctional cell-surface receptor expressed in the embryonic neuroepithelium. Loss of LRP2 in the developing murine central nervous system (CNS) causes impaired closure of the rostral neural tube at embryonic stage (E) 9.0. Similar neural tube defects (NTDs) have previously been attributed to impaired folate metabolism in mice. We therefore asked whether LRP2 might be required for the delivery of folate to neuroepithelial cells during neurulation. Uptake assays in whole-embryo cultures showed that LRP2-deficient neuroepithelial cells are unable to mediate the uptake of folate bound to soluble folate receptor 1 (sFOLR1). Consequently, folate concentrations are significantly reduced in Lrp2(-/-) embryos compared with control littermates. Moreover, the folic-acid-dependent gene Alx3 is significantly downregulated in Lrp2 mutants. In conclusion, we show that LRP2 is essential for cellular folate uptake in the developing neural tube, a crucial step for proper neural tube closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Kur
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert Rössle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nora Mecklenburg
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert Rössle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert M Cabrera
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78723, USA
| | - Thomas E Willnow
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert Rössle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Annette Hammes
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert Rössle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
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High-Throughput Translational Medicine: Challenges and Solutions. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 799:39-67. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-8778-4_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Abstract
STUDY DESIGN To inhibit β-catenin specifically signaling in chondrocytes Col2-ICAT transgenic mice were generated. Anomalies in caudal vertebrae were detected during embryonic and postnatal stages of Col2-ICAT transgenic mice. OBJECTIVE To determine the role of canonical β-catenin signaling in caudal vertebral development. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA β-catenin signaling plays a critical role in skeletal development. Col2-ICAT transgenic mice were generated to selectively block β-catenin signaling by overexpression of the ICAT gene in chondrocytes. METHODS Tails of E16.5 transgenic embryos and adult Col2-ICAT transgenic mice and their wild-type littermates were collected and analyzed. Skeletal preparation, 3-dimensional micro-computed tomographic and histological analyses were performed to evaluate changes in the structure of caudal vertebrae. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling was performed to evaluate changes in chondrocyte proliferation in caudal vertebrae. RESULTS Skeletal preparation and 3-dimensional micro-computed tomographic analyses revealed bone deformation and angulated deformities in tail tissue in Col2-ICAT transgenic mice. Histological studies revealed abnormal bone development and dysplastic caudal vertebrae in Col2-ICAT transgenic mice. Inhibition of β-catenin signaling in cartilage resulted in vertebral dysplasia leading to aberrant resegmenting process. Thus, 2 poorly developed sclerotomes failed to fuse to form a complete vertebrae. BrdU labeling revealed a decreased chondrocyte proliferation in both cartilageous templates of transgenic embryos and the growth plate of adult Col2-ICAT transgenic mice. CONCLUSION Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays an important role in vertebral development. Inhibition of β-catenin signaling in chondrocytes results in caudal vertebra deformity in mice, which may occur as early as in the stage of sclerotome formation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N/A.
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Kappen C. Modeling anterior development in mice: diet as modulator of risk for neural tube defects. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS. PART C, SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2013; 163C:333-56. [PMID: 24124024 PMCID: PMC4149464 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Head morphogenesis is a complex process that is controlled by multiple signaling centers. The most common defects of cranial development are craniofacial defects, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, and neural tube defects, such as anencephaly and encephalocoele in humans. More than 400 genes that contribute to proper neural tube closure have been identified in experimental animals, but only very few causative gene mutations have been identified in humans, supporting the notion that environmental influences are critical. The intrauterine environment is influenced by maternal nutrition, and hence, maternal diet can modulate the risk for cranial and neural tube defects. This article reviews recent progress toward a better understanding of nutrients during pregnancy, with particular focus on mouse models for defective neural tube closure. At least four major patterns of nutrient responses are apparent, suggesting that multiple pathways are involved in the response, and likely in the underlying pathogenesis of the defects. Folic acid has been the most widely studied nutrient, and the diverse responses of the mouse models to folic acid supplementation indicate that folic acid is not universally beneficial, but that the effect is dependent on genetic configuration. If this is the case for other nutrients as well, efforts to prevent neural tube defects with nutritional supplementation may need to become more specifically targeted than previously appreciated. Mouse models are indispensable for a better understanding of nutrient-gene interactions in normal pregnancies, as well as in those affected by metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity.
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Gray JD, Kholmanskikh S, Castaldo BS, Hansler A, Chung H, Klotz B, Singh S, Brown AMC, Ross ME. LRP6 exerts non-canonical effects on Wnt signaling during neural tube closure. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 22:4267-81. [PMID: 23773994 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 6 (Lrp6) mutational effects on neurulation were examined using gain (Crooked tail, Lrp6(Cd)) and loss (Lrp6(-)) of function mouse lines. Two features often associated with canonical Wnt signaling, dorsal-ventral patterning and proliferation, were no different from wild-type (WT) in the Lrp6(Cd/Cd) neural tube. Lrp6(-/-) embryos showed reduced proliferation and subtle patterning changes in the neural folds. Cell polarity defects in both Lrp6(Cd/Cd) and Lrp6(-/-) cranial folds were indicated by cell shape, centrosome displacement and failure of F-actin and GTP-RhoA accumulation at the apical surface. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from Lrp6(Cd/Cd) or Lrp6(-/-) embryos exhibited elevated and decreased RhoA basal activity levels, respectively. While ligand-independent activation of canonical Wnt signaling, bypassing Lrp-Frizzled receptors, did not activate RhoA, non-canonical Wnt5a stimulation of RhoA activity was impaired in Lrp6(-/-) MEFs. RhoA inhibition exacerbated NTDs in cultured Lrp6 knockout embryos compared with WT littermates. In contrast, a ROCK inhibitor rescued Lrp6(Cd/Cd) embryos from NTDs. Lrp6 co-immunoprecipitated with Disheveled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (DAAM1), a formin promoting GEF activity in Wnt signaling. Biochemical and cell biological data revealed intracellular accumulation of Lrp6(Cd) protein where interaction with DAAM1 could account for observed elevated RhoA activity. Conversely, null mutation that eliminates Lrp6 interaction with DAAM1 led to lower basal RhoA activity in Lrp6(-/-) embryos. These results indicate that Lrp6 mediates not only canonical Wnt signaling, but can also modulate non-canonical pathways involving RhoA-dependent mechanisms to impact neurulation, possibly through intracellular complexes with DAAM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason D Gray
- Brain and Mind Research Institute and Department of Neurology
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Salbaum JM, Kruger C, Kappen C. Mutation at the folate receptor 4 locus modulates gene expression profiles in the mouse uterus in response to periconceptional folate supplementation. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:1653-61. [PMID: 23651732 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2012] [Revised: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Periconceptional supplementation of folic acid to the diet of women is considered a great success for a public health intervention. Higher folate status, either by supplementation, or via the mandatory fortification of grain products in the United States, has led to significant reduction in the incidence of neural tube defects. Besides birth defects, folate deficiency has been linked to a variety of morbidities, most notably to increased risk for cancer. However, recent evidence suggests that excess folate may be detrimental - for birth defect incidence or in the progression of cancer. How folate mediates beneficial or detrimental effects is not well understood. It is also unknown what molecular responses are elicited in women taking folate supplements, and thus experience a bolus of folate on top of the status achieved by fortification. To characterize the response to a periconceptional regimen of supplementation with folinic acid, we performed gene expression profiling experiments on uterus tissue of pregnant mice with either wildtype alleles or targeted disruption at the folate receptor 4 locus. We observed that, depending on the genetic background, folinic acid supplementation affects expression of genes that contribute to lipid metabolism, protein synthesis, mitochondrial function, cell cycle, and cell activation. The extent of the response is strongly modulated by the genetic background. Finally, we provide evidence that folinic acid supplementation in the mutant paradigm affects histone methylation status, a potential mechanism of gene regulation in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Michael Salbaum
- Department of Regulation of Gene Expression, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.
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Wallingford JB, Niswander LA, Shaw GM, Finnell RH. The continuing challenge of understanding, preventing, and treating neural tube defects. Science 2013; 339:1222002. [PMID: 23449594 DOI: 10.1126/science.1222002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 318] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Human birth defects are a major public health burden: The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1 of every 33 United States newborns presents with a birth defect, and worldwide the estimate approaches 6% of all births. Among the most common and debilitating of human birth defects are those affecting the formation of the neural tube, the precursor to the central nervous system. Neural tube defects (NTDs) arise from a complex combination of genetic and environmental interactions. Although substantial advances have been made in the prevention and treatment of these malformations, NTDs remain a substantial public health problem, and we are only now beginning to understand their etiology. Here, we review the process of neural tube development and how defects in this process lead to NTDs, both in humans and in the animal models that serve to inform our understanding of these processes. The insights we are gaining will help generate new intervention strategies to tackle the clinical challenges and to alleviate the personal and societal burdens that accompany these defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B Wallingford
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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Rosenquist TH. Folate, Homocysteine and the Cardiac Neural Crest. Dev Dyn 2013; 242:201-18. [DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.23922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2012] [Revised: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas H. Rosenquist
- Department of Genetics; Cell Biology and Anatomy; University of Nebraska Medical Center; Omaha; Nebraska
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Joiner DM, Ke J, Zhong Z, Xu HE, Williams BO. LRP5 and LRP6 in development and disease. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2013; 24:31-9. [PMID: 23245947 PMCID: PMC3592934 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2012.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2012] [Revised: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Low-density lipoprotein-related receptors 5 and 6 (LRP5/6) are highly homologous proteins with key functions in canonical Wnt signaling. Alterations in the genes encoding these receptors or their interacting proteins are linked to human diseases, and as such they have been a major focus of drug development efforts to treat several human conditions including osteoporosis, cancer, and metabolic disease. Here, we discuss the links between alterations in LRP5/6 and disease, proteins that interact with them, and insights gained into their function from mouse models. We also highlight current drug development related to LRP5/6 as well as how the recent elucidation of their crystal structures may allow further refinement of our ability to target them for therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danese M. Joiner
- Center for Skeletal Disease Research, Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Carcinogenesis, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Jiyuan Ke
- Center for Structural Biology and Drug Discovery, Laboratory of Structural Sciences, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Zhendong Zhong
- Center for Skeletal Disease Research, Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Carcinogenesis, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - H. Eric Xu
- Center for Structural Biology and Drug Discovery, Laboratory of Structural Sciences, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Bart O. Williams
- Center for Skeletal Disease Research, Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Carcinogenesis, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
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Rawson JB, Sun Z, Dicks E, Daftary D, Parfrey PS, Green RC, Gallinger S, McLaughlin JR, Wang PP, Knight JA, Bapat B. Vitamin D intake is negatively associated with promoter methylation of the Wnt antagonist gene DKK1 in a large group of colorectal cancer patients. Nutr Cancer 2012; 64:919-28. [PMID: 22966878 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2012.711418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Diet and lifestyle influence colorectal cancer (CRC) risk but the molecular events that mediate these effects are poorly characterized. Several dietary and lifestyle factors can modulate DNA methylation suggesting that they may influence CRC risk through epigenetic regulation of cancer-related genes. The Wnt regulatory genes DKK1 and Wnt5a are important contributors to colonic carcinogenesis and are often silenced by promoter hypermethylation in CRC; however, the dietary contributions to these events have not been explored. To investigate the link between dietary/lifestyle factors and epigenetic regulation of these Wnt signaling genes, we assessed promoter methylation of these genes in a large cohort of Canadian CRC patients from Ontario (n = 549) and Newfoundland (n = 443) and examined associations to dietary/lifestyle factors implicated in CRC risk and/or DNA methylation including intake of vitamins, fats, cholesterol, fiber, and alcohol as well as body mass index (BMI), and smoking status. Several factors were associated with methylation status including alcohol intake, BMI, and cigarette smoking. Most significantly, however, dietary vitamin D intake was strongly negatively associated with DKK1 methylation in Newfoundland (P = 0.001) and a similar trend was observed in Ontario. These results suggest that vitamin D and other dietary/lifestyle factors may alter CRC risk by mediating extracellular Wnt inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B Rawson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Tsang V, Fry RC, Niculescu MD, Rager JE, Saunders J, Paul DS, Zeisel SH, Waalkes MP, Stýblo M, Drobná Z. The epigenetic effects of a high prenatal folate intake in male mouse fetuses exposed in utero to arsenic. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2012; 264:439-50. [PMID: 22959928 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2012.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Revised: 08/20/2012] [Accepted: 08/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a complete transplacental carcinogen in mice. Previous studies have demonstrated that in utero exposure to iAs promotes cancer in adult mouse offspring, possibly acting through epigenetic mechanisms. Humans and rodents enzymatically convert iAs to its methylated metabolites. This reaction requires S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) as methyl group donor. SAM is also required for DNA methylation. Supplementation with folate, a major dietary source of methyl groups for SAM synthesis, has been shown to modify iAs metabolism and the adverse effects of iAs exposure. However, effects of gestational folate supplementation on iAs metabolism and fetal DNA methylation have never been thoroughly examined. In the present study, pregnant CD1 mice were fed control (i.e. normal folate, or 2.2 mg/kg) or high folate diet (11 mg/kg) from gestational day (GD) 5 to 18 and drank water with 0 or 85 ppm of As (as arsenite) from GD8 to 18. The exposure to iAs significantly decreased body weight of GD18 fetuses and increased both SAM and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) concentrations in fetal livers. High folate intake lowered the burden of total arsenic in maternal livers but did not prevent the effects of iAs exposure on fetal weight or hepatic SAM and SAH concentrations. In fact, combined folate-iAs exposure caused further significant body weight reduction. Notably, iAs exposure alone had little effect on DNA methylation in fetal livers. In contrast, the combined folate-iAs exposure changed the CpG island methylation in 2,931 genes, including genes known to be imprinted. Most of these genes were associated with neurodevelopment, cancer, cell cycle, and signaling networks. The canonical Wnt-signaling pathway, which regulates fetal development, was among the most affected biological pathways. Taken together, our results suggest that a combined in utero exposure to iAs and a high folate intake may adversely influence DNA methylation profiles and weight of fetuses, compromising fetal development and possibly increasing the risk for early-onset of disease in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verne Tsang
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Wu CI, Hoffman JA, Shy BR, Ford EM, Fuchs E, Nguyen H, Merrill BJ. Function of Wnt/β-catenin in counteracting Tcf3 repression through the Tcf3-β-catenin interaction. Development 2012; 139:2118-29. [PMID: 22573616 DOI: 10.1242/dev.076067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway classically functions through the activation of target genes by Tcf/Lef-β-catenin complexes. In contrast to β-catenin-dependent functions described for Tcf1, Tcf4 and Lef1, the known embryonic functions for Tcf3 in mice, frogs and fish are consistent with β-catenin-independent repressor activity. In this study, we genetically define Tcf3-β-catenin functions in mice by generating a Tcf3ΔN knock-in mutation that specifically ablates Tcf3-β-catenin. Mouse embryos homozygous for the knock-in mutation (Tcf3(ΔN/ΔN)) progress through gastrulation without apparent defects, thus genetically proving that Tcf3 function during gastrulation is independent of β-catenin interaction. Tcf3(ΔN/ΔN) mice were not viable, and several post-gastrulation defects revealed the first in vivo functions of Tcf3-β-catenin interaction affecting limb development, vascular integrity, neural tube closure and eyelid closure. Interestingly, the etiology of defects indicated an indirect role for Tcf3-β-catenin in the activation of target genes. Tcf3 directly represses transcription of Lef1, which is stimulated by Wnt/β-catenin activity. These genetic data indicate that Tcf3-β-catenin is not necessary to activate target genes directly. Instead, our findings support the existence of a regulatory circuit whereby Wnt/β-catenin counteracts Tcf3 repression of Lef1, which subsequently activates target gene expression via Lef1-β-catenin complexes. We propose that the Tcf/Lef circuit model provides a mechanism downstream of β-catenin stability for controlling the strength of Wnt signaling activity during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-I Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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Marean A, Graf A, Zhang Y, Niswander L. Folic acid supplementation can adversely affect murine neural tube closure and embryonic survival. Hum Mol Genet 2011; 20:3678-83. [PMID: 21693562 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddr289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs), a common birth defect in humans, result from the failure of the embryonic neural tube (NT) to close properly. NT closure is a complex, poorly understood morphogenetic process influenced by genes and environment. The most effective environmental influence in decreasing the risk for NTDs is folic acid (FA) fortification and supplementation, and these findings led to the recommendation of periconceptual FA intake and mandatory fortification of the US grain supply in 1998. To explore the relationship between genetics and responsiveness to FA supplementation, we used five mouse NTDs models-Zic2, Shroom3, Frem2, Grhl2 (Grainyhead-like 2) and L3P (Line3P)-and a long-term generational FA supplementation scheme. Contrary to expectations, we find that three genetic mutants respond adversely to FA supplementation with increased incidence of NTDs in homozygous mutants, occurrence of NTDs in heterozygous embryos and embryonic lethality prior to NT closure. Because of these unexpected responses, we examined NTD risk after short-term FA supplementation. Our results indicate that, for the same genetic allele, NTD risk can depend on the length of FA exposure. Our data indicate that, depending on the gene mutation, FA supplementation may adversely influence embryonic development and NT closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Marean
- HHMI and Department of Pediatrics, Programs in Molecular Biology, University of Colorado AnschutzMedical Campus and Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Mayanil CS, Ichi S, Farnell BM, Boshnjaku V, Tomita T, McLone DG. Maternal intake of folic acid and neural crest stem cells. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2011; 87:143-73. [PMID: 22127242 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-386015-6.00028-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Maternal folic acid (FA) intake has beneficial effects in preventing neural tube defects and may also play a role in the prevention of adult onset diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, neuropsychiatric disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebral ischemia. This review will focus on the effects of maternal FA intake on neural crest stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Although FA is generally considered beneficial, it has the potential of promoting cell proliferation at the expense of differentiation. In some situations, this may lead to miscarriage or postnatal developmental abnormalities. Therefore, a blind approach such as "FA for everyone" is not necessarily the best course of action. Ultimately, the best approach for FA supplementation, and potentially other nutritional supplements, will include customized patient genomic profiles for determining dose and duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra S Mayanil
- Developmental Biology Program, Children's Memorial Research Center, Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Memorial Medical Center and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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