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Kim RK, Truby NL, Silva GM, Picone JA, Miller CS, Baldwin AN, Neve RL, Cui X, Hamilton PJ. Histone H1x in mouse ventral hippocampus associates with, but does not cause behavioral adaptations to stress. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:239. [PMID: 38834575 PMCID: PMC11150540 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02931-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Prior research has identified differential protein expression levels of linker histone H1x within the ventral hippocampus (vHipp) of stress-susceptible versus stress-resilient mice. These mice are behaviorally classified based on their divergent responses to chronic social stress. Here, we sought to determine whether elevated vHipp H1x protein levels directly contribute to these diverging behavioral adaptations to stress. First, we demonstrated that stress-susceptible mice uniquely express elevated vHipp H1x protein levels following chronic stress. Given that linker histones coordinate heterochromatin compaction, we hypothesize that elevated levels of H1x in the vHipp may impede pro-resilience transcriptional adaptations and prevent development of the resilient phenotype following social stress. To test this, 8-10-week-old male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly assigned to groups undergoing 10 days of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) or single housing, respectively. Following CSDS, mice were classified as susceptible versus resilient based on their social interaction behaviors. We synthesized a viral overexpression (OE) vector for H1x and transduced all stressed and single housed mice with either H1x or control GFP within vHipp. Following viral delivery, we conducted social, anxiety-like, and memory-reliant behavior tests on distinct cohorts of mice. We found no behavioral adaptations following H1x OE compared to GFP controls in susceptible, resilient, or single housed mice. In sum, although we confirm elevated vHipp protein levels of H1x associate with susceptibility to social stress, we observe no significant behavioral consequence of H1x OE. Thus, we conclude elevated levels of H1x are associated with, but are not singularly sufficient to drive development of behavioral adaptations to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Kijoon Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Natalie L Truby
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Gabriella M Silva
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Joseph A Picone
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Cary S Miller
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Amber N Baldwin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Rachael L Neve
- Gene Delivery Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xiaohong Cui
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Peter J Hamilton
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Kim RK, Truby NL, Silva GM, Picone JA, Miller CS, Neve RL, Cui X, Hamilton PJ. Histone H1x in mouse ventral hippocampus correlates with, but does not cause behavioral adaptations to stress. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.06.565881. [PMID: 37986938 PMCID: PMC10659322 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.06.565881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Prior research has identified differential protein expression levels of linker histone H1x within the ventral hippocampus (vHipp) of stress-susceptible versus stress-resilient mice. These mice are behaviorally classified based on their divergent responses to chronic social stress. Here, we sought to determine whether elevated vHipp H1x protein levels directly contribute to these diverging behavioral adaptations to stress. First, we demonstrate that stress-susceptible mice uniquely express elevated vHipp H1x protein levels following chronic stress. Given that linker histones coordinate heterochromatin compaction, we hypothesize that elevated levels of H1x in the vHipp may impede pro-resilience transcriptional adaptations and prevent development of the resilient phenotype following social stress. To test this, 8-10-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to stressed and unstressed groups undergoing 10 days of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) or single housing respectively. Following CSDS, mice were classified as susceptible versus resilient based on their social interaction behaviors. We synthesized a viral overexpression (OE) vector for H1x and transduced experimental mice with either H1x or control GFP within vHipp. Following viral delivery, we conducted social, anxiety-like, and memory-reliant behavior tests on distinct cohorts of mice. We found no behavioral adaptations following H1x OE compared to GFP controls in susceptible, resilient, or unstressed mice. In sum, although we confirm vHipp protein levels of H1x correlate with susceptibility to social stress, we observe no significant behavioral consequence of H1x OE. Thus, we conclude elevated levels of H1x are correlated with, but are not singularly sufficient to drive development of behavioral adaptations to stress.
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Chiodi V, Rappa F, Lo Re O, Chaldakov GN, Lelouvier B, Micale V, Domenici MR, Vinciguerra M. Deficiency of histone variant macroH2A1.1 is associated with sexually dimorphic obesity in mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19123. [PMID: 37926763 PMCID: PMC10625986 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46304-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity has a major socio-economic health impact. There are profound sex differences in adipose tissue deposition and obesity-related conditions. The underlying mechanisms driving sexual dimorphism in obesity and its associated metabolic disorders remain unclear. Histone variant macroH2A1.1 is a candidate epigenetic mechanism linking environmental and dietary factors to obesity. Here, we used a mouse model genetically depleted of macroH2A1.1 to investigate its potential epigenetic role in sex dimorphic obesity, metabolic disturbances and gut dysbiosis. Whole body macroH2A1 knockout (KO) mice, generated with the Cre/loxP technology, and their control littermates were fed a high fat diet containing 60% of energy derived from fat. The diet was administered for three months starting from 10 to 12 weeks of age. We evaluated the progression in body weight, the food intake, and the tolerance to glucose by means of a glucose tolerance test. Gut microbiota composition, visceral adipose and liver tissue morphology were assessed. In addition, adipogenic gene expression patterns were evaluated in the visceral adipose tissue. Female KO mice for macroH2A1.1 had a more pronounced weight gain induced by high fat diet compared to their littermates, while the increase in body weight in male mice was similar in the two genotypes. Food intake was generally increased upon KO and decreased by high fat diet in both sexes, with the exception of KO females fed a high fat diet that displayed the same food intake of their littermates. In glucose tolerance tests, glucose levels were significantly elevated upon high fat diet in female KO compared to a standard diet, while this effect was absent in male KO. There were no differences in hepatic histology. Upon a high fat diet, in female adipocyte cross-sectional area was larger in KO compared to littermates: activation of proadipogenic genes (ACACB, AGT, ANGPT2, FASN, RETN, SLC2A4) and downregulation of antiadipogenic genes (AXIN1, E2F1, EGR2, JUN, SIRT1, SIRT2, UCP1, CCND1, CDKN1A, CDKN1B, EGR2) was detected. Gut microbiota profiling showed increase in Firmicutes and a decrease in Bacteroidetes in females, but not males, macroH2A1.1 KO mice. MacroH2A1.1 KO mice display sexual dimorphism in high fat diet-induced obesity and in gut dysbiosis, and may represent a useful model to investigate epigenetic and metabolic differences associated to the development of obesity-associated pathological conditions in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Chiodi
- National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanita', Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rappa
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria
- International Clinical Research Center (FNUSA-ICRC), St'Anne University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - George N Chaldakov
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria
| | | | - Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Domenici
- National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanita', Rome, Italy
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria.
- International Clinical Research Center (FNUSA-ICRC), St'Anne University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science (LCCS), Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
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Liorni N, Napoli A, Castellana S, Giallongo S, Řeháková D, Re OL, Koutná I, Mazza T, Vinciguerra M. Integrative CUT&Tag-RNA-Seq analysis of histone variant macroH2A1-dependent orchestration of human induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming. Epigenomics 2023; 15:863-877. [PMID: 37846557 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0267] [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] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are inefficiently derived from somatic cells by overexpression of defined transcription factors. Overexpression of H2A histone variant macroH2A1.1, but not macroH2A1.2, leads to increased iPSC reprogramming by unclear mechanisms. Materials & methods: Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) allows robust epigenomic profiling of a low cell number. We performed an integrative CUT&Tag-RNA-Seq analysis of macroH2A1-dependent orchestration of iPSCs reprogramming using human endothelial cells. Results: We demonstrate wider genome occupancy, predicted transcription factors binding, and gene expression regulated by macroH2A1.1 during reprogramming, compared to macroH2A1.2. MacroH2A1.1, previously associated with neurodegenerative pathologies, specifically activated ectoderm/neural processes. Conclusion: CUT&Tag and RNA-Seq data integration is a powerful tool to investigate the epigenetic mechanisms occurring during cell reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Liorni
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Napoli
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Stefano Castellana
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Giallongo
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Biomedical & Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Daniela Řeháková
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna (RIMUV), 9002, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Irena Koutná
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tommaso Mazza
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna (RIMUV), 9002, Varna, Bulgaria
- Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, L2 2ER, Liverpool, UK
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Siddiq MM, Toro CA, Johnson NP, Hansen J, Xiong Y, Mellado W, Tolentino RE, Johnson K, Jayaraman G, Suhail Z, Harlow L, Dai J, Beaumont KG, Sebra R, Willis DE, Cardozo CP, Iyengar R. Spinal cord injury regulates circular RNA expression in axons. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1183315. [PMID: 37692100 PMCID: PMC10483835 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1183315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Neurons transport mRNA and translational machinery to axons for local translation. After spinal cord injury (SCI), de novo translation is assumed to enable neurorepair. Knowledge of the identity of axonal mRNAs that participate in neurorepair after SCI is limited. We sought to identify and understand how axonal RNAs play a role in axonal regeneration. Methods We obtained preparations enriched in axonal mRNAs from control and SCI rats by digesting spinal cord tissue with cold-active protease (CAP). The digested samples were then centrifuged to obtain a supernatant that was used to identify mRNA expression. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGS) after SCI and mapped them to various biological processes. We validated the DEGs by RT-qPCR and RNA-scope. Results The supernatant fraction was highly enriched for mRNA from axons. Using Gene Ontology, the second most significant pathway for all DEGs was axonogenesis. Among the DEGs was Rims2, which is predominately a circular RNA (circRNA) in the CNS. We show that Rims2 RNA within spinal cord axons is circular. We found an additional 200 putative circRNAs in the axonal-enriched fraction. Knockdown in primary rat cortical neurons of the RNA editing enzyme ADAR1, which inhibits formation of circRNAs, significantly increased axonal outgrowth and increased the expression of circRims2. Using Rims2 as a prototype we used Circular RNA Interactome to predict miRNAs that bind to circRims2 also bind to the 3'UTR of GAP-43, PTEN or CREB1, all known regulators of axonal outgrowth. Axonally-translated GAP-43 supports axonal elongation and we detect GAP-43 mRNA in the rat axons by RNAscope. Discussion By enriching for axonal RNA, we detect SCI induced DEGs, including circRNA such as Rims2. Ablation of ADAR1, the enzyme that regulates circRNA formation, promotes axonal outgrowth of cortical neurons. We developed a pathway model using Circular RNA Interactome that indicates that Rims2 through miRNAs can regulate the axonal translation GAP-43 to regulate axonal regeneration. We conclude that axonal regulatory pathways will play a role in neurorepair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa M. Siddiq
- Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Carlos A. Toro
- Spinal Cord Damage Research Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nicholas P. Johnson
- Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jens Hansen
- Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yuguang Xiong
- Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Rosa E. Tolentino
- Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kaitlin Johnson
- Spinal Cord Damage Research Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Gomathi Jayaraman
- Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Zaara Suhail
- Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lauren Harlow
- Spinal Cord Damage Research Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jinye Dai
- Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kristin G. Beaumont
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Studies, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Robert Sebra
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Studies, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dianna E. Willis
- Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christopher P. Cardozo
- Spinal Cord Damage Research Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ravi Iyengar
- Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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Berger F, Muegge K, Richards EJ. Seminars in cell and development biology on histone variants remodelers of H2A variants associated with heterochromatin. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 135:93-101. [PMID: 35249811 PMCID: PMC9440159 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.02.026] [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: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Variants of the histone H2A occupy distinct locations in the genome. There is relatively little known about the mechanisms responsible for deposition of specific H2A variants. Notable exceptions are chromatin remodelers that control the dynamics of H2A.Z at promoters. Here we review the steps that identified the role of a specific class of chromatin remodelers, including LSH and DDM1 that deposit the variants macroH2A in mammals and H2A.W in plants, respectively. The function of these remodelers in heterochromatin is discussed together with their multiple roles in genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Berger
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Kathrin Muegge
- Epigenetics Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
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Di Bartolomeo M, Stark T, Di Martino S, Iannotti FA, Ruda-Kucerova J, Romano GL, Kuchar M, Laudani S, Palivec P, Piscitelli F, Wotjak CT, Bucolo C, Drago F, Di Marzo V, D’Addario C, Micale V. The Effects of Peripubertal THC Exposure in Neurodevelopmental Rat Models of Psychopathology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043907. [PMID: 36835313 PMCID: PMC9962163 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescent exposure to cannabinoids as a postnatal environmental insult may increase the risk of psychosis in subjects exposed to perinatal insult, as suggested by the two-hit hypothesis of schizophrenia. Here, we hypothesized that peripubertal Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (aTHC) may affect the impact of prenatal methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) or perinatal THC (pTHC) exposure in adult rats. We found that MAM and pTHC-exposed rats, when compared to the control group (CNT), were characterized by adult phenotype relevant to schizophrenia, including social withdrawal and cognitive impairment, as revealed by social interaction test and novel object recognition test, respectively. At the molecular level, we observed an increase in cannabinoid CB1 receptor (Cnr1) and/or dopamine D2/D3 receptor (Drd2, Drd3) gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of adult MAM or pTHC-exposed rats, which we attributed to changes in DNA methylation at key regulatory gene regions. Interestingly, aTHC treatment significantly impaired social behavior, but not cognitive performance in CNT groups. In pTHC rats, aTHC did not exacerbate the altered phenotype nor dopaminergic signaling, while it reversed cognitive deficit in MAM rats by modulating Drd2 and Drd3 gene expression. In conclusion, our results suggest that the effects of peripubertal THC exposure may depend on individual differences related to dopaminergic neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Di Bartolomeo
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Tibor Stark
- Scientific Core Unit Neuroimaging, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Serena Di Martino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Fabio Arturo Iannotti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Jana Ruda-Kucerova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Giovanni Luca Romano
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Martin Kuchar
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, 16628 Prague, Czech Republic
- Psychedelic Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 25067 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Samuele Laudani
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Petr Palivec
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, 16628 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Carsten T. Wotjak
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research (CNSDR), Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Claudio Bucolo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, Faculty of Medicine, Agricultural and Food Sciences, CRIUCPQ, INAF and Centre NUTRISS, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Claudio D’Addario
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +39-095-4781199
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8
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Guberovic I, Farkas M, Corujo D, Buschbeck M. Evolution, structure and function of divergent macroH2A1 splice isoforms. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 135:43-49. [PMID: 35422391 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The replacement of replication-coupled histones with non-canonical histone variants provides chromatin with additional properties and contributes to the plasticity of the epigenome. MacroH2A histone variants are counterparts of the replication-coupled histone H2A. They are characterized by a unique tripartite structure, consisting of a histone fold, an unstructured linker, and a globular macrodomain. MacroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 are the result of alternative splicing of the MACROH2A1 gene and can have opposing biological functions. Here, we discuss the structural differences between the macrodomains of the two isoforms, resulting in differential ligand binding. We further discuss how this modulates gene regulation by the two isoforms, in cases resulting in opposing role of macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 in development and differentiation. Finally, we share recent insight in the evolution of macroH2As. Taken together, in this review, we aim to discuss in unprecedented detail distinct properties and functions of the fascinating macroH2A1 splice isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Guberovic
- Cancer and Leukaemia Epigenetics and Biology Program, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain
| | - Marina Farkas
- Cancer and Leukaemia Epigenetics and Biology Program, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain
| | - David Corujo
- Cancer and Leukaemia Epigenetics and Biology Program, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain
| | - Marcus Buschbeck
- Cancer and Leukaemia Epigenetics and Biology Program, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain; Program for Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (PMPPC-IGTP), Badalona, Spain.
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9
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Braghini MR, Lo Re O, Romito I, Fernandez-Barrena MG, Barbaro B, Pomella S, Rota R, Vinciguerra M, Avila MA, Alisi A. Epigenetic remodelling in human hepatocellular carcinoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:107. [PMID: 35331312 PMCID: PMC8943959 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02297-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver cancer, being the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. As other heterogeneous solid tumours, HCC results from a unique synergistic combination of genetic alterations mixed with epigenetic modifications.In HCC the patterns and frequencies of somatic variations change depending on the nearby chromatin. On the other hand, epigenetic alterations often induce genomic instability prone to mutations. Epigenetics refers to heritable states of gene expression without alteration to the DNA sequence itself and, unlike genetic changes, the epigenetic modifications are reversible and affect gene expression more extensively than genetic changes. Thus, studies of epigenetic regulation and the involved molecular machinery are greatly contributing to the understanding of the mechanisms that underline HCC onset and heterogeneity. Moreover, this knowledge may help to identify biomarkers for HCC diagnosis and prognosis, as well as future new targets for more efficacious therapeutic approaches.In this comprehensive review we will discuss the state-of-the-art knowledge about the epigenetic landscape in hepatocarcinogenesis, including evidence on the diagnostic and prognostic role of non-coding RNAs, modifications occurring at the chromatin level, and their role in the era of precision medicine.Apart from other better-known risk factors that predispose to the development of HCC, characterization of the epigenetic remodelling that occurs during hepatocarcinogenesis could open the way to the identification of personalized biomarkers. It may also enable a more accurate diagnosis and stratification of patients, and the discovery of new targets for more efficient therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rita Braghini
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale S. Paolo, 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Ilaria Romito
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale S. Paolo, 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Maite G Fernandez-Barrena
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Barbara Barbaro
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale S. Paolo, 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Matias A Avila
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Alisi
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale S. Paolo, 15, 00146, Rome, Italy.
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10
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Stark T, Iannotti FA, Di Martino S, Di Bartolomeo M, Ruda-Kucerova J, Piscitelli F, Wotjak CT, D’Addario C, Drago F, Di Marzo V, Micale V. Early Blockade of CB1 Receptors Ameliorates Schizophrenia-like Alterations in the Neurodevelopmental MAM Model of Schizophrenia. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12010108. [PMID: 35053256 PMCID: PMC8773886 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In agreement with the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia, prenatal exposure of Sprague-Dawley rats to the antimitotic agent methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) at gestational day 17 produces long-lasting behavioral alterations such as social withdrawal and cognitive impairment in adulthood, mimicking a schizophrenia-like phenotype. These abnormalities were preceded at neonatal age both by the delayed appearance of neonatal reflexes, an index of impaired brain maturation, and by higher 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) brain levels. Schizophrenia-like deficits were reversed by early treatment [from postnatal day (PND) 2 to PND 8] with the CB1 antagonist/inverse agonist AM251 (0.5 mg/kg/day). By contrast, early CB1 blockade affected the behavioral performance of control rats which was paralleled by enhanced 2-AG content in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). These results suggest that prenatal MAM insult leads to premorbid anomalies at neonatal age via altered tone of the endocannabinoid system, which may be considered as an early marker preceding the development of schizophrenia-like alterations in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tibor Stark
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic; (T.S.); (J.R.-K.)
- Scientific Core Unit Neuroimaging, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Fabio Arturo Iannotti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (F.A.I.); (F.P.); (V.D.M.)
| | - Serena Di Martino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.M.); (F.D.)
| | - Martina Di Bartolomeo
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.B.); (C.D.)
| | - Jana Ruda-Kucerova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic; (T.S.); (J.R.-K.)
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (F.A.I.); (F.P.); (V.D.M.)
| | - Carsten T. Wotjak
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research (CNSDR), Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany;
| | - Claudio D’Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.B.); (C.D.)
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.M.); (F.D.)
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (F.A.I.); (F.P.); (V.D.M.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de l’Université et Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Centre NUTRISS, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.M.); (F.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-095-4781199
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11
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Beierle JA, Yao EJ, Goldstein SI, Scotellaro JL, Sena KD, Linnertz CA, Willits AB, Kader L, Young EE, Peltz G, Emili A, Ferris MT, Bryant CD. Genetic basis of thermal nociceptive sensitivity and brain weight in a BALB/c reduced complexity cross. Mol Pain 2022; 18:17448069221079540. [PMID: 35088629 PMCID: PMC8891926 DOI: 10.1177/17448069221079540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermal nociception involves the transmission of temperature-related noxious information from the periphery to the CNS and is a heritable trait that could predict transition to persistent pain. Rodent forward genetics complement human studies by controlling genetic complexity and environmental factors, analysis of end point tissue, and validation of variants on appropriate genetic backgrounds. Reduced complexity crosses between nearly identical inbred substrains with robust trait differences can greatly facilitate unbiased discovery of novel genes and variants. We found BALB/cByJ mice showed enhanced sensitivity on the 53.5°C hot plate and mechanical stimulation in the von Frey test compared to BALB/cJ mice and replicated decreased gross brain weight in BALB/cByJ versus BALB/cJ. We then identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 13 for hot plate sensitivity (LOD = 10.7; p < 0.001; peak = 56 Mb) and a QTL for brain weight on chromosome 5 (LOD = 8.7; p < 0.001). Expression QTL mapping of brain tissues identified H2afy (56.07 Mb) as the top transcript with the strongest association at the hot plate locus (FDR = 0.0002) and spliceome analysis identified differential exon usage within H2afy associated with the same locus. Whole brain proteomics further supported decreased H2AFY expression could underlie enhanced hot plate sensitivity, and identified ACADS as a candidate for reduced brain weight. To summarize, a BALB/c reduced complexity cross combined with multiple-omics approaches facilitated identification of candidate genes underlying thermal nociception and brain weight. These substrains provide a powerful, reciprocal platform for future validation of candidate variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Beierle
- Program in Biomolecular Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily J Yao
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stanley I Goldstein
- Program in Biomolecular Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Network Systems Biology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julia L Scotellaro
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Network Systems Biology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine D Sena
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Network Systems Biology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Colton A Linnertz
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Adam B Willits
- Neuroscience Program, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Leena Kader
- Neuroscience Program, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Erin E Young
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Gary Peltz
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Preoperative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Emili
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Network Systems Biology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Martin T Ferris
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Camron D Bryant
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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